but newly ended Frances the Duke of Guise being murdered the chiefe and most expert Captaines dead finally the Constable hymselfe a man of a most spightful and cankered stomack against the Protestantes was afraid and trembled at the remeÌ„brance of the bloudy slaughters that were before committed and was very loth to fight againe a fresh any new battailes Wherefore they take another way and deuysed new fetches and sleightes to compasse that which by open force they could not atchieue Of which deuises the Cardinall of Lorraine an olde enemie of the reformed Churches had coined great store and put them foorth to be practised The Counsaile at Trent that had bin often before renewed by great diligence was now again summoned Thither went the Cardinalâ—… of Lorraine in the name of all the Popishe Prelates of Fraunce hauinge before he tooke his iourney by the helpe and counsaile of some of the counsailours of Paris deuised and protested a grenous and sharpe accusation againste the Admirall as though he had commaunded Merae to kill the Duke of Guise and giuen him money for that purpose Mere was now already dispached out of the waye with extreame punnishment as we haue before declared and a wryting published abrode in the tyme of war of his examination wherein the Admirall was called the aucthor and procurer of that murder The Admirall as also is exprest in the former booke had made aunswere to that wryting in which his aunswere he first requested that Merae might bee kept a liue to the entent the accuser mighte appeare face to face with the accused accordinge to order of Lawe and iustice But after that execution was done vppon Merae he complained that the same was done in such poste haste to the end all meanes to purge himselfe by the accuser beinge taken from him preiudicat and hurtfull opinions of false accusations mighte be conceyued against him But the Cardinall laboured by all meanes possible vnder pretence of that accusation to procure hatred againste the Admirall and had replenyshed many mennes mindes with displeasure and malice against him alwaies laying abrode and shewing the horror and vnwoorthines of that murther so shamefully committed by treason vppon so woorthy and noble a man. And besides a great number that were welwillers and followers of the dead Duke he stirred vp the harts of forrein Princes against him and wrote to the Emperour Ferdinando of the same matter and to diuers other Princes of Germany And this was the cause and beginning of many and great troubles â–ª The Kinge of Spaine also being moued thereunto by the often letters of the Cardinal did write vnto the King that there was no peace to be obserued and kept with such betrayinge Traitores that had defiled themselues with the bloud of a man so notable and famouse The Admirall wrote to the King to the Quéene his mother and as much as he can purgeth himselfe and shifteth of his accusations complaininge that they were but iniuries offered vnto him by the Cardinall of Lorreine and publisheth abrode for his owne defence a certaine writinge as hereafter followeth Those thinges saith he which I aunswered to the accusation of Merae in my former writing gyuen vp to the Queene the Kinges mother and published abroade throughout the whole kingdome ought to be sufficient to discharge and free me of all kinde of blame with all men of wisdome and discreation and not before them only which haue had triall and knowledge howe I haue led my lyfe heretofore but with them also which knowe and vnderstand howe naturall and vnfayned the hewe and colour of truth is and how simplye and plainly she vseth to tell her tale Especially seeinge I did so earnestly request that my accuser Merae might be reserued to appeare against me VVhich certainly I would neuer haue done had I not bin therto moued by an assured cleare conscience of my iust cause and innocencie This my request was not in vaine nor to cloke the matter for I did not aske it by violence forcibly nor yet for a fashion slightly but only for this one end and purpose that the truthe mighte be knowen and made manifeste to all the world But this request beeinge denied me I did verely thinke with my selfe and esteeme all the iudgementes that the parliamente of Paris had giuen againste me as void and of none effect vvhose entent was as by the hasty and spedy execution of my aduersary it did appeare to pres me with false and preiudicial surmises al meanes of reprouing conuincing mine accuser being quight cut of I haue therefore done that which my duty requyred and requested that the matter might be handled and knowen according to order of law And whereas besides the letters I seÌ„t to the Quene of this matter I haue newpublished this writing abroad I haue not done it with out great and waighty cause and the aduise and counsaile of wyse and pollitique men For by that my request I was in good hope to haue stayed the spedy expedition of the execution which the Iudges being very sore bent against me did hasten and helpe forward all that they could Also by this meanes I thought the end of the broiles and troubles that were then being vncertaine to haue satisfied the desires of many men which desired to know the matter especially of forreiners and straungers amongst whom I was euill spoken of by infamous Libelles and false malicious sclaunders vntill such time as I hauing my aduersarie before me might haue better occasion more clearely to purge my selfe Moreouer I did know for a certainty not only that Merae had vtterly denyed and renounced his former accusation against me whereby it was manifeste that he did that which he did by plaine force and threatninges but also that his priuy and secret confessions were in my ememies handes by which â—…e did declare me to be innocent and guiltles of the matter All other accusations therefore wherewith Merae did charge me and yet if he had flatly and without all doubt pronounced me as guiltie my aunswer all men know might be ready â–ª that forasmuch as I could not bee suffered to talke with him all these thinges which are obiected against me were violently extorted and wringed out of him eyther in hope to escape death or els to moderate and lessen the torment and furie of his punnishment I hold and take as forged and faigned seeing that it may appeare by the testimony of many good and very worthy men that Merae had often tymes said that he had declared before the Iudges that I was cleare and free from all maner blame in that matter and that when he was drawen and had to execution he expresly and openly said that those accusations against me were written and penned downe by my enemies before them only who had left no way in this cause vntried that might seeme to further my accusation and for their sakes in winning of whose fauour al men might
the Religion which had anye charge in hand during the troubles MY L. of Gwiche I vnderstand that the. iij. brethren Daggonels and one Porcher the host at the signe of the Aduenture Mossoner Crispine and Captaine Grise which were the principall of the faction in Burgundie and were the cause of the taking and recouering of the Citie of Mascon in the late troubles and of all the decay which happened in that countrey bee kept prisoners in Mascon And bycause I vnderstande they hope to escape out by ransome which I would in no wise should be done I ordeyne and commaūd that you kepe them safe for as much as I hope by their meanes to discouer a great many things which greatly touch the weale of my seruice And if there be any other prisoners of the new religion in Mascon which haue bene factious you shal likewise kepe thē so that they escape not by paying ransome for I would not for any thing in the world that there shuld be taking of rasome among my subiects And thus my L. of Gwich I pray God kepe you in his holy tuitiō VVrittē at Paris the. xiiij of September 1572. Signed Charles and vnde◅neath Brulard THE KINGS LETTERS TO MONSIEVR DE Gordes his Lieutenant generall in Daulphine wherein ◅e sendeth him worde that the best proof of his doings is the accusations and complaintes of them of the Religion against him wherevnto be should haue care to answere MOnsieur de Gordes by your letters of the first of this moneth I perceyued the order which you appointed in your Gouernement since the aduertisement which you had of the execution of the Admirall and his adherentes and since I am sure you forgot nothing which you thought might serue for your assuraunce of those places wherof you had occasion to doubt And to the intent you shoulde haue the more meanes to make your selfe knowne I haue prepared that the souldiers of Corsica which I had appointed to go into Prouince should returne to you and therevpon haue written too my Cousin the Counte of Tende who will not faile to send them vntoo you ◅or as much as there is no neede of them now in that countrey He should also send you word of the tyme of their departing to the ende that you might haue leysure to prouide to receyue them and appoint their places where they should be in garrison I haue seen that which you writ too mee concerning the continuall payment in Daulphine what is due for the last yeare wherevpon I will aduise of the state of my fines the meanes that may be and according thervnto there shall be no fault but they shall be prouided for For the reparation of the Bridge of Grenoble they of the same place must deuise the meanes wherby they should best helpe them ◅elues therein and when they haue aduertised me I will appoint them necessarie prouision Touching the souldiers appointed ◅or the Baron of Adresse bycause the occasion why I appointed them to be leuied now ◅easeth I haue written to him to send them backe and dismisse them againe wherfore there is no neede to make prouision for their main◅enance nor likewise to tell you any thing else concerning the answeres which you haue made too the remembrances which they of the Religion haue presented against you For your doings are well knowne and playne vnto mee and therevpon I will take no better proofe than their accusation VVherfore you shall put your selfe to no more paine on that side Moreouer I haue herewith sent you a copie of the declaration which I made of the Admirals death and his adherents and made to be vnderstoode that it should be obserued and followed and that all murders sackings and violences should cease Neuerthelesse I haue heard complaints of diuerse places that such extraordinary wayes continue which is a thing that doth much displease mee By the meanes whereof I aduise you in doing this charge once againe put vntoo you that you giue order throughout your gouernement to cause all hostilitie force and violence to cease and that the sayd declaration be straightly obserued and kept with punishing those that withstand so rigorously that the demonstration thereof may serue for an example seyng my intent is that they should be punished as behoueth and to marke them which wincke or dissemble therat This present letter shall serue also for an aduise of the receipt of those letters which you wrote the. 5. of this present wherby you send me word that you receyued no message by word of mouth from me but only letters of the. xxij xxiiij and. xxviij of the moneth passed whereof put your selfe to no further pai◅e for that charge was only for such as thē were neere about me which is al that I haue at this tyme to say vnto you Praying herevpon the Creator to kepe you in his holy and worthy tuicion VVritten at Paris the. xiiij day of September Signed Charles and beneath Fizes And aboue To M. de Gordes knight THE KINGS LETTERS TO THE DVKE of Guise his Lieutenant generall in Champaigne and in Prie. COusin although in all my former letters I haue giuen you too vnderstand well inough how much I desire that al my subiects as wel of the nobilitie as others which professe the new Religiō and quietly vse them selues in your gouernement should by you bee maintayned and preserued in all suretie vnder my protection and safegard without giuing them any hinderance by trouble in their persons goods and families yet neuerthelesse I haue beene aduerti◅ed that in certaine places of my Realme there haue bene many sackings and pillings done by such as dwell in the hou◅es of them of the sayd new Religion as well in the fieldes as in the Cities vnder colou◅ of the commotion which happened in my Citie of Paris the xxiiij day of August last a thing beyond all measure displeasant and disagreable vnto me and for the which I would haue prouision and remedie VVherfore I pray you Cousin that aboue all things as you desire that I should knowe the good affection you beare to the good weal of my seruice you take that matter next your hart too perserue and maintaine within your gouernment according too that which I haue so playnely told and written too you heretofore that all suche of the newe Religion which behaue them selues quietly take no wrong or violence whether it bee for the preseruation of their goodes or persons no more than too my Catholike subiectes And where any wrong or outrage shal bee offered them against my will as I haue before declared so doe I nowe by these presentes declare I will and intend that you shal make some euident and notorious punishment of such as are herein culpable so that their correction may serue for an example to al other that I may see my self throughly obeyd herein as I would be and my cōmaundements receyued amōgst all my subiects in another sorte than they haue bene heretofore Assuring you
whiche they knowe that thereby it may be knowne how necessary it is to haue either a generall counsell or a Nationall counsell For it is verye profitable to call and assemble all the states together that all men may perceiue and sée how wel the Realme is gouerned And thus he made an ende When they had thus vttered their sentences and minds the King and Quéene gaue thankes to the whole assembly whose Counsell they saide they were readye to followe graunting vnto them that whereupon they had concluded namely That all the states of the Realme should be assembled togither and that if there coulde not be a generall councell there shoulde be with all speede a Nationall Councell Therefore they determined and concluded that the states of the Realme should be at Meldis the tenth day of the moneth of December nexte comming excepte it shoulde please the kings maiestie to appointe some other place And that the States belonging to euerye prouince should make in their prouince an assembly and consultation particular before that time to the ende that those things which should be debated of in the general assemblies might be vnderstoode Also that bycause it was in a maner agréed of a generall Coūcell betwéene the Pope the Emperour and the Christian princes the Bishops should come the tenth day of Ianuary next comming to the king that they might agrée conclude of the sending to the generall Councel or else of the hauing of a particular and Nationall Councell And that in the meane time the Bishops should get them to their Diocesses both to prepare them selues and also diligently to note and marke those things which lacke reformation In like maner that the Ciuill and substituted Magistrates shoulde kéepe the people in peace and obedience sparing and omitting neuerthelesse paynes and punishmentes due to offenders excepte it be to suche as put themselues in armes and moue sedition and yet notwithstanding the King to reserue vnto him selfe his power and authoritie to punishe those which are counted the authors of seditions and tumultes This was the conclusion of that consultation the which shall appéere wonderfull if we consider the state of the former times For that libertie which as yet is but little but before lesse being restored frō fiery flames and from death it selfe so preuailed before the King that it increased more and more But for all that the aduersaryes ceassed not their wicked Councels and practises what faire and paynted wordes so euer they vsed who by and by againe burst forth shewed them selues by these occasions There was a certaine seruant belonging to the King of Nauar whose name was Sagua who being come to a place called Fontisbellaquaeum and méeting with a certain souldier called Banna talked with him earnestly persuaded with him that he would not serue vnder the Guises for sayth he there are wayes deuised to punishe and handle them as they haue deserued and at the laste made rehersal of certaine things more particularly Banna the souldier hearing this went and tolde the whole circumstance to Marshall Brissacus who exhorted him to goe to the Duke of Guise To him therfore he went and tolde him all the whole matter in order Then the Guise desired him to faine friendship and familiaritie toward this Sagua and to fawne vpon him often times to repeate their former communication also to shewe him to one of his householde seruants The which this Banna did And Sagua was apprehended by the Guise There were also taken in the hands of Sagua certaine letters of Monsier Vidam of Carnutum to the Prince of Conde in the which he declared That if the Prince would take any thing in hande worthy of kinglike seruice he was ready to serue him and for his sake to spende both goods and life Upon the onely occasion of these letters the king gaue commaundement that Monsier Vidā of Carnutū shuld be takē The which was with all diligence broughte to passe by the Guises In the meane time there came from Lions frō the Abbat Sauignius letters concerning the bewrayed frustrated practises of Malignius who was said to go about to take Lions Sauignius for his rewarde receiued the Archbishopricke of Orleans By the meanes of these newe tumultes the king came from Fontisbellaquaeum to the Citie Sangerman But the cause and mischiefe of all these things was layde vpon the Prince of Conde who was openlye accused to séeke the alteration of the state of the common weale and also to be the author of the tumulte of Ambaxian Then was Cursolensis sente to the King of Nauarre to commaunde him to come vnto the King and to bring his brother the Prince of Conde with him In the meane time Monsier Vidame althoughe he was very sicke yet was he very straitly imprisoned in so much that his owne wife might not come to visite him And being straitly syfted by those whiche were appointed to examine him concerning the meaning of his letters he still made this answere namely That he did write expresly of those things which appertained to the obedience of the king and of whatsoeuer else that shoulde be done by the kings commaundement Also he saide that he was a néere kinsman and friend of the Duke of Guises yet for all that if there were any priuate controuersie betwéene him and tho King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde he woulde rather take part with them thā with him in so much that for them two namely for the King of Nauar and for the Prince of Conde he would spend both life and goods On the other part the familliar friends of the Prince of Conde with whome he was thoughte to haue conference and consultation were dayly caste in prison and the suspicions of the Huguenotes dayly increased more more for by this newe and straunge name were the faithfull of the reformed Church then called Then was there a newe Edict made That no Prince or any other man whatsoeuer shoulde contribute money armor horses and such like to the setting forth of Souldiers and that he which shoulde be founde to doe this should be counted a Traitor to the King. There was yet a seconde messenger sent to the King of Nauar that he and his brother should come with all spéede This Messenger was Cardinall Burbonius their brother Publique supplicatiōs for the peace of the kingdome were euery where forbidden And wheras the assembly of States was determined before to be holden at Meldis it was now translated and remoued to Aurelias Marshall Termensis being sente with two hundred armed men to kepe the citie At the feast of Saint Michaels order Monsier Vidam being one of the foresaide order put vp a certaine supplication by the Cardinall of Loraine as by the Chauncelor of that order desiring that according to the auncient custome he mighte be iudged of all those that were of that honorable order of Saint Michael and that for those causes onely for
more to suche a matter To whom the Bishop sayd that he prayed God that his worde might profite and take place euery where The day folowing the Constable and the Duke of Guise went together to a sermon of a certaine Monke and from that tyme their myndâ—… began to be altenated and drawne away After which tyme the Constable was angrie with the Admirall his nephew openly bicause he did freely and publikely professe the Gospel And the wife of the Constable greatly pricked him forward to this euill who was greatly offended that the familie and stocke of the Chastillion shoulde bee aduaunced hir brother the Earle Villarius being not in that estimation that she woulde haue had him Therfore she moued prouoked him wyth these prickes saying that the Admirall wente aboute to depriue him of that benefite which the Quéene had bestowed vpon him that he did instaÌ„tly persuade the Quéene to promote set forth the true religioÌ„ for the king of Nauars sake that the CoÌ„stable ought not to suffer y authoritie of the church of Rome to be diminished he being not onely the chiefe officer oâ—… the king but also such a one as had his original ofspring of the firste Christian of the kingdome of Fraunce as the poelie of his armes did verie well testifie whiche was this Protegat Deus primum Christianum that is God defende the firste christian Also the Marshall Santandrae a suttle craftie and malicious man blew in his care that by the suttle procurement of the Admirall he was put vp by the assemblie of States to be a bryber and an extorcioner By thys meanes he thoughte to staye him for he feared that the Constable would not easily be brought to their wicked religion except it were by these persuasions Therfore he proceeded saying that he whiche came of so noble a stock and hadde doone suche woorthie and notable seruice in the kyngdome of Fraunce gouernyng the kingdome fortie yeares oughte not to suffer newe religions to be brought in to the hurte of the catholike churche The lyke persuasions also vsed the Earle Villarius hys wyues brother bearing no lesse spite and malice agaynste the Admirall than his sister did and that bycause hee vnderstoode that the Admirall did disproue before those of the kings priuie counsell that whiche he had done in Narbon against Religion Therfore they withdrewe the Constable all that they coulde The whiche thyng Marshall Momorentiuâ—… fearing and foreséeing a daungerous tempest lyke to aryse by the meanes of these dissentions hée shewed to his father the Constable so muche as he could what he thought néedfull to be doone And least he shoulde be drawne awaye from the greatest parte of his strength leaste he shoulde chaunge awaye certaine frendship for that which was vncertain and leaste he should ioyne hymself with newe reconciled fréendes he repeated vnto him their olde enmities and fallings out Adding moreouer that hée shoulde peruerte and ouerthrowe the greatest foundations of his stocke and kinred when he should alienate and withdraw himselfe from the Prince of Conde from the Chastillions from the Earle of Rupefocaldensis and from the rest which professe the reformed Religion beside this he should loose thereby the good will and fauor of the king of Nauarre and peraduenture the Quéenes fauoure too It is better sayeth hee to suffer the Chastillions and the Guiles to contende togyther than for you to take parte and yet neuerthelesse you shall kéepe youre faythe Affirming also that yf the Guyses were ouercome as it is moste lykely bycause they haue procured the hatred of all the assemblies agaynste themselues then shoulde his prudence experience and goodnesse bring to passe that he shoulde be a moderatour and a iudge of the reformation of the Churche the errours of the whiche Churche he ought not to defend bycause he was the chiefe officer vnder the King and the successour also of the firste Christian that was in Fraunce Also he sayde that he ought not to count it an iniurie that mention was made of hym by those that were of the Assemblie at Paris seing that he had doone nothing but by the authoritie of Kings and of the hyghest powers and séeing also that he hadde receyued so little of kyng Henrye that there was no manne but hée woulde iudge hym woorthie of greater rewardes bothe in consideration of the office whyche hée had so long and also for the money whiche hee bestowed in the Kings seruice Moreouer hée sayde that it appeared by the Bookes of accompte that the gyftes whyche the kyng gaue hym were not so muche by the seuenth parte as those giftes were whiche were bestowed vpon the Marshal Santandrae so farre they were from being compared with the Guises gifts and with the giftes of the Duchesse of Valentien To these persuasions onely of Momorentius the Constable made answer saying That Religion coulde not be altered without the mutation of the state ciuil regiment that he was a faithfull seruant of the king and of his brethren also that he feared not to be found guiltie that notwithstanding he woulde not suffer the actes and deedes of the Kyngs deceassed to be reproued and disalowed That hée desyred that hys nephews the Chastillions might be so good Christians in verie déede as they séemed to bée in woordes also that hée dyd willingly forgiue those that had offended him whatsoeuer they had doone After this verie shortly the Chastillions Odetus the Cardinal the Admiral the Andelot came oftentimes vnto him protesting that they bare no hatred in their heartes agaynst the Guises but went only about to frustrate their practizes and deuyses whiche as it euidently appeared tended both to their destruction and of the realme also Whome the Constable saye they oughte to resiste aboue all others But they persuaded in vayne for his mynd was drawne awaye and was linked in the freendship of the Guyses by diuers that allured him therto Thus dissentioÌ„s grew dayly more and more by the meanes of Religion and openly burste foorthe insomuche that both partes sought to iniurie and to reproche one another the fauourers of the Popes doctrine calling the professours of the Gospell Huguenotes and the Protestantes callyng them agayne Papistes Herevpon came a rumour abroade of Seditions the Popes chaplains in their Sermons mouing and pricking the people forward to the same Wherfore the king sent his letters to the Magistrates of euerye Prouince the summe and effect wherof was That no man shoulde call another contumeliously by the name of Huguenot or Papist that no man shuld abuse that ho nest libertie which euery maÌ„ ought to enioy either in his own house or wheÌ„ he is in his freds house that no maÌ„ shuld enter ei ther with gret or smal nuÌ„ber vpoÌ„ other meÌ„s houses vnder proteÌ„ce of the former edicts which prohibited forbad vnlauful assemblyes That they which were kept in bondes for Religions sake should be by and by deliuered and set at libeâ—…e before the first Edicte made
of these confusions tumultes God himselfe the Prince of Princes shewed his singular prouidence care which hee hath effectually towardes mankind but especially peculiarly towards his church to preserue and stablish the same mightely in the iniddest of al worldly troubles neither by one meanes only bnt by sundry meanes as it hath seemed good to him in the diuers formes of rule gouernment to assigne vnto his church an abyding place as of old time in the gouerning of the primitiue Church immediatly after the Apostels and in our tyme in Germany Switserland England Scotland and in other places it hath appeared and more of late in these our countrey of Fraunce is euidently seene not that in this varietie we should ascribe any thing to the rule of fortune but that the manifold and maruailouse efficacy of the wisdome of God might be considered which doth singularly wateh ouer the safety of the Church And if it may please thee to consider the second middell causes and reasons of the Instruments which God vsed in the beginning of this worke you shall see how cōtrary they be and how variable On the one side the wicked and vnbridled iustes of men proue to worke mischief doo appeare a colour of religion is pretended to worke the ouerthrowe of Religion the kinges name is vsurped when they go about to suppresse the King himself and in the meane time the gospeil is accused as a common enemy and the subuersion of the same is conspyred On y other side God styrreth vp many men to preserue defend his church in those troubles because the destruction of the same was chiefly desired Ther appeareth in those mē as the history plainly sheweth a desire of the safety of the church of the Kings dignitie authoritie of the publique peace and yet in the ex◅ution of that their laudable desire it appeareth that they were not vtterly faultlesse yet is the Church preserued in the middest of all these misorders that as it is manifest that men cannot be sayd to be the very authors keepers therof so must we nedes confesse that God is the very author preseruer and keeper of the same Therfore the church doth not triumphe as hauing gotten the victory by mans ayde neither doth it lye vtterly prostrat by the violence of worldly tumultes which being fashoned like vnto her head raigning in the middest of hi◅ enemies doth so stryue in continual conflictes in this world because she certainly knoweth that the heauenly Iudge hath prouided ◅ time when they shall fully triumph The church hath heretofore ben exercised in many battails how many are behind God knoweth bycause the time which is appointed for the last victory is vnknown yet the promise of the heauēly reward is most true which that most valiant Chāpion hath pronounced with his own mouth saying That through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heauen If the promise of God as touching y victory of his church were included within the limites of this world surely it should triumphe in this world by the vertue power of the omnipotent euerlasting God but that her triumph is appointed elswher the often greuouse spoyles and calamities of the same declare In the meane time let vs consider these things contemplate wher in what partes of the world the tokens of that Catholike true church do appeare let vs aduaunce the prouidence wisdom bountifulnes and power of God in preseruing gouerning the same least if the blind ignorance of men be reprehended that worthely because they see not God who hath not left himself as saith the Apost◅e without witnesse in this world we also be much more worthy of blame who see not the light before our ◅yes ▪ nor the Sunne beames glistering throughout the whole world neyther do reuerence Iesus Christ diuersely triumphing by the mighty working of the Gospell Truly gentle reader this is my counsaill purpose in writing these Commentaries to giue thee occasion by preseruing the memory of these things to contemplate reuerence the prouidence of God in the gouernment of his church wherof we be members and that we thereby while the whole body is assaulted enduring manfully our own particular conflicts might with all our mind long for the reward of the heauenly victory Moreouer what soeuer in this litle work wherin I haue traueled faithfully belongeth vnto me I dedicate the same wholy liberaly frankly to thee Christian Reader neither shall it greeue mee too beare the censure of diuers iudgements so that thou by reading these s◅iender Cōmen taries mayest be encouraged and prepared to reade a iust history FARE WELL. The Table A ACtes done by M des Adretz in Dolphini in the countie of V◅ ayas 143 Aunswere made by the Prince of Conde to the supplicatiō which was put vp too the King and Queene by the Guises 91 Aunswere made by the Prince of Conde and his friends to the decree of the Senate of Paris 148 Assault giuen too Cesteron by the Papistes a citie in Prouance 181 Auinion a Citie in Prouance yeeldeth to the faithfull 80 Aide commeth from the Princes of Germanie the Protestants to the Prince of Conde to Orleans 214 B Blesa and Towers taken by the Papistes 137 Breach of the Edict of Ianuary cau sed the Ciuill warres 2 Burges besieged by the Papistes 199 C Cane in Normandie woon by the Admirall 259 Ciuill warre caused by the breach of the Edict of Ianuary 2 Ciuill warres begon 124 Complaint made by the faithful of the slaughter at Vassie 14 Comparison made betweene the Princes request and the request of the Guises 110 Conde forsaketh Paris 19 Conde commeth to Orleans 21 Conde enclined to peace 24 Conde perswaded to take the protection of the young King. 26 Conde complaineth too the olde Queene of the murther done a◅ Sens 34 Conde sory for the slaugher of Mot recondrine 085 Conde returneth to Orleans with his armie 173 Conditions of peace offered by the King to the faithfull 124 Conditions offered by the Prince of Conde at the first parley 219 Conspiracies made against the Gos pell by the Guises the Marshall of Saint Andrew and the Constable 4 Craftie pollicies wrought by the cō spiratours to seduce the King of Nauar to take their partes 5 Conspiracie against Languedocke 184 Crueltie vsed at the takinge of Orange 140 Coūsaile holden at Orleans by thē of the reformed Religion 72 D Declaration set forth by the Prince of Conde the second time 56 Decrees made by the Senate of Paris against the men of Orleās 145 E Edicts set forth in the kings name promising peace to them which had and would forsake the Admirall 245. F Foure speciall constitutions in the kings minoritie 168. G Great cruelty vsed by the papistes to the inhabitants of Orange 140. Great slaughter of the papistes 194. Guyses vnder collour of pence seke to dec◅e the prince of Cōde 130. Guyses
seeme to goe home to their houses 134. Guyses remoue their armye from Bogencia and take Blesa and towers 137. Guyses ayded by the Germans and Switsers 145. Guyses authours of moste horrible murder done at Vassy 10. Guyses come to Paris againste the Queenes commaundement 16. Guyses hauing gotten Paris seke to get the king also 19. Gnyses seeke to staye the Prince of Conde from ioyning wyth the Englishmen 237. Guyse being at the siege of Orleans was slaine by treason 258. H Horrible murder done to them of Towers by the Guyses after they had won the towne 137. Horrible murder coÌ„mitted at MoÌ„bâ—…yse by Baron des Adretze 183. Helpe desired by the Prince of Con de of the Queene of England the princes of Germany 146. I Idols broken downe and defaced at the Citties of Towers and Blayse 50. Idols broken downe at OrleaÌ„s 50. K King of Nauarie being shotte into the shoulder with a small pellâ—…t dyeth 202. L League made betwene the Nobles and the Prince of Conde 25. Letters sent by the olde Queene to the Prince 31. Letters sent from the Prince of Con de to the reformed churches 47. Letters sent by the olde Queene to the Prince 50. Letters sent froÌ„ the prince of CoÌ„de to the Emperour 70. Letters sent from the Senate at Paris to the Prince of Conde 51. Letters sent from the Prince of CoÌ„de to the Prince of Palatine 71. Letters sent to euery congregation from the Counsell holden at Orleans 73. Letters sent to the countie Palatine from the Synode at Orleans 76. Letters from the Prince of Conde to the Queene 115. Letters from the Prince to the king of Nauar. 118. Letters sent by the Prince of Conde to the Queene of Englande and the German princes for aide 146 Letters found in the Papistes tentâ—… after they were put to flight bewraying their hole purpose 195. Letters sent to the Germanes which were in the hoast of the Guyses by the Priaces of Germany to disâ—…ade them to take his part 210. Letters parents giuen out to them which had started awaye froÌ„ the Prince of Conde 212 Letters written to the Germanes which were in the princes of CoÌ„de his army to dehort them from his seruice 2540 M Marshall of S. Andrew being taken and wounded in the head dyeth in the fielde 243. Momorantius the Constable ioyned in amitie with the Guises 3. Montauban taken by the Faythfull 74. Monsieur Montbron put to flighte with his army 181. Monsieur â—…oyse besieged Montpelier 185. Monsieur Bularges got a wonderfull victory ouer the enemy 193. Monsieur de Adretze his acts done in Dolphiny and in the countie of Venayas 143. Mottecondrine slaine 81. N Names of the Captaines ouer the faithfull 139 Narbone is left by the faithfull too the tuition of the Papistes 79 Nemeaux otherwise called Nemis is taken by the faithfull 80 Nemours winneth Vienna 248 Nemours deceiued by an Inhabitant of Lions 249 Noble men of the Prince of CoÌ„des side went too parley with the Queene 133 Nonay cruelly spoyled 252 O Orenge assaulted and taken by the Papistes 140 Orleans vexed with a greeuous pestilence 146 Orleans besieged by the Papists 255 P Paris being gotten by the Guises they seke to get the King also 19 Parleyes hadde betweene the olde Queene the Admirall and the Prince of Conde 2â—…4 Peace offered by the king too the faithfull but vppon conditions 124 Peace taken on bothe partes 260 Poictiers woon by the Maâ—…shall of Saint Andrew 145 Pollicies wrought by the Guises to expell the Conde out of Paris 17 Prince of Conde becoÌ„meth pledge 131 Practises to take the Prince of Conde 131 Prince of Conde returneth to his ar mie backe againe 136 Prince of Conde forsaketh Paris 17 Prince of Conde specially inclined to peace 24 Prince of Conde coÌ„plaineth of the murther done at Sens. 34. Prince of Conde receiueth letters from the Senate at Paris 51 Prince of Conde returneth from Paris to ioyne with the EnglishmeÌ„ 237 Prince of CoÌ„de taken prisoner 242 Purpose of the Guises concerninge warre 22 Pultrot sent from Lions to Orleans with letters 256 Pultrot sâ—…apeth the Guise and by the meere prouideÌ„ce of God is taken againe 258 Pultrot is drawne in peeces with horse for killing the Guises 265 Q Queene of Scottes promised to bee giuen in mariage to the king of Nauar. 7 Queene mother denieth thevse of the reformed Religion too the Prince of Conde 134 Queene mother would haue the Prince of Conde and his friendes banished 135 Queene of Nauar sheweth her self to be a vertuous Lady 202 R. Requestes made by the faithful 124 Roan in Normandye besieged but in vayne 138 Roan besieged the second time 201 Ruzeus a professour of the Gospel commaunded to ward 23 S. Saltanus Lieuetenant of Lyons anenemie to the gospell 82 Slaughter at Tholoze 79 Slaughter of the faythfull at Vassy coÌ„mitted by the Duke of Guise page 10 Supplication offered to the King Queene in the name of the Triumuiri 87 Supplication offered the seconde time to the King and Queen by the Guises and his confederates pag. 90 Suze his army in Dolphiny greatly anoyed the faithful 146 T Talke betwixt the King of Nauar the Old Queene and the Prince of Conde 115 Talke betwene the old Queen and the Nobles on the Prince of CoÌ„de his side 133 The second declaratioÌ„ of the prince pag. 59. The true cause of the firste warres pag. 168 The beginning of the ciuill warres pag. 124 The reasons that stayed the Prince of Conde from going into exile pag. 222 The forme of the gouernement of the realme in the Kings minoritie 222 The order of the meeting of booth the battailes on the plane of Dreux 238 The first battaile wherein the Constable was taken and many Swit sers taken and slaine 240 The Admirall goeth into Normandie 257 V Valentia taken by the faithfull 81 Vienna woon by the Papistes 248 IV VVarre purposed by the Guises 22 VVickednes almost vncredible com mitted by the Papists against the faithfull in Prouance 185 VVritings published by the Queen of England coÌ„cerning the helpe she sent to the Prince of Conde page 203 VVritinges published by the Prince of Conde wherin hee declareth himselfe not to be the beginner of these warres 215 FINIS Faultes escaped in Printing both in the second part and also in the last part Page 57. line 7 leaue out of the which Page 88. line 10. for and reade an Page 97. line last for They then sayd read Thus much they said at that time Page 105. line last for they read the. Page 133. line 13. for orget read forget Page 147. line 13 for oh read of Page 169. line 27. for Bishoppes read Kyngs Page 175. line 6. for a read as Page 174. line 28. for the read then Page 176. line â—…6 for rnd read and. Page 187. line 8. for breathe read bredth Page 188. line 22. for ayy read any Page 204. line 30. for my sée read maye sée Page 224. for it it
aucthoritie and estimation among the Parisians thrée counsels of the Citie sumptuously apparelled and a great concoursâ—… of the Citizens crying God preserue the Duke of Guise The which acclamation is proper only to Kinges Now when they were come there were many doubtfull and vncertaine reportes in the Citie and the conspiracy betweene the Guise the Constable and the Martiall of S. Andrew euidently appeared to all men Who ioyning with them certayne of the Senators of Paris sate in counsell euery daye The Prince of Conde also came to Paris accompanied with certaine noble men and exhorted the faithfull not to forsake him in so great perill and daunger The Guises were very sory for this comming of the Prince of Conde which they iudged would be very hurtfull for them For although the common sort of people of the Citie of Paris were foolish hawtie stout at the first by the coÌ„ming of the Guises yet notwithstanding their courage and pride was brideled and abated euen with the name of the Prince of Conde insomuch that they stayed from open outrage Therfore the Citie by the comming of the Prince of Conde was quieted and as it were newly altered But this thing did very much hinder the purpose of the Guises which greatly desired to obtayne Paris being the chiefe Citie of the kyngdome and a very fit place to bring their matters to passe Therfore first of all they saw that they must bring to passe that the Prince of Conde might depart from the citie Wheruppon they practised by the King of Nauar that Marshall Memorencie the Lefetenant of the citie might be called backe againe and that the Cardinall of Borbon which woulde be at their commaundement might be sent in his stede the necessitie of the tyme saye they greatly requiring this thing The Constable brought to passe that his sonne Momorencie should not greatly refuse this thing who if hée had coÌ„stantly withstoode them and denied their request they had very hardly brought their purpose to effect hée being a man of excellent wisdome and experience but yet withall a tyme seruer By this tyme the King of Nauar was come to the King and the Quéene which lay at Moncaulx thither came also out of hand the chief master of the MarchaÌ„ts an Authour of Seditions hyred and sent by the Guises This fellow declared to the King and Quéene that the Prince of Conde wrought sedition at Paris the whiche would shortly tourne to great mischief except he departed from thence the which if it should come to passe hée to whom authoritie was giuen to prouide remedies for the same should beare all the blame So that with hys often complaynts to the Quéene he brought about that according to his request the king of Nauar should goe out of hand to Paris Then the Guises ioyning with theÌ„ certayne of the Senate of Paris that were fittest for their purpose and séeking to haue the greater authority through the presence of the king of Nauar which was chiefe Uicegerent they determined to haue a common counsell to the which they neuer called the Prince of Conde And this they called The Kings Counsel The king of Nauar by the decrée of this counsel wrote out of haÌ„â—… to the Quéene that it was necessary that the Prince of CoÌ„de should departe from Paris and get him home to hys house except she would haue present perill of sedition by reason of his presence to burst foorth into open and manifest perturbation and garboyle Notwithstanding it was to be doubted what would come to passe For a man might beholde thoroughout the citie the diuersitie of mennes myndes by diuers shewes Somewhile they trembled somewhile they triumphed both partes in one hower chauÌ„ged Diâ—…ers rumours were disperst abroade In so much that there appeared euident and most certayne tokens of imminent sedition Great was the power of the Guises through the authoritie of the king of Nauar The Senat had the handling of the cause The greatest part of the people consented the common multitude being easely led On the other parte the authoritie of the Prince of Conde was not small his name hauing suche a maiestie that the people trembled at the same great also was the number of the faythfull and no lesse was their power In so much that there was no great inequalitie betwéene both partes yet 〈◊〉 the twayne the Popes number was the greater yea by many Also the Prince of Conde perceyued well enough all the practises of the Guises and how they went about to bring the king and Quéene to Paris But hée was not as yet fully determined what to doe for he feared least hée forsaking Paris the Guises should possesse the same and if hée should abyde at Paris that then by the Counsels of the Guises the King and the Quéene should bée wonne from him Notwithstanding he wayed and considered with himselfe the graâ—…itie and wisedome of the Quéene of whom he was fully persuaded that shée would withstande the practises of the Guises And hée could not be altogyther certiâ—…ied That his brother the king of Nauar would be so blynd as to preferre straungers before his owne bloud Being therefore doutefull what way to take hée was the more colde in his busâ—…nesse In the meane tyme the Queene being stirred and prouoked with the dayly complayntes of the Marchant maister wrote vnto the Prince of Conde wisshing him to forsake Paris and to come to the King And the Prince of Conde was dayly disturbed and persuaded hereunto by the Cardinall of Bâ—…urbon his brother who was sent as we sayd before to kepe the Citie Therefore he went from Paris to his house called Fertea in his owne Dominion purposing to goe from thence to the Kinge as the Queene had giuen commaundement Things being thus appointed and the Guises being free from their gâ—…t feare by the departure of the Prince of Conde they appointed a very great and strong garrison of soldiours ordayned before by the Marchant maister to keepe Paris Thus when they had gotten the citie according to their own desire they seekâ—… to atchieue and bring about another principall poynt of their counsels and deuises Therefore they made hast with an armie of men to the king who at that tyme was at Fontainbleau The Queene being amased and afrayd at his sodein preparation looked for the Prince of Conde who euen now also had taken his iourney to come Of the which when the Duke of Guise had intelligence fearing least the Prince of Conde would enter into Paris hée gaue charge and commaundement to the Marchantmaister to looke diligently thereunto Uppon this commaundement the Marchantmaister warned the Captaynes to haue their Souldiours armed and in a readinesse appointed watch and ward to be in euery place of the citie and planted péeces of Ordinance in suche places as he thought néedefull Therefore when the Prince of Conde came néere the citie notwithstanding mynding not to enter therein the whole citie roonge and sounded with the
of al vanities and wickednes I speake not these things vnaduisedly the Quéene knoweth these things to be true as wel as I. These Suppliants therfore haue made a more pernicious and hurtfull conspiracy to this Realme than euer was that which Sylla which Caesar and which the Triumuiri made And it had by this time caused much mischiefe to be done if I my selfe had not with all my might withstode the same vnto this daye I marueyle that they so impudently contend before the Quéene in wordes and I doe wonder that the Quéene will hearken and agrée to their wordes as though she had neuer heard any thing of their wicked counselles the which truly playnly declareth that she is more than a captiue And truly if she were not afeard to be stifeled or strangeled in her bed which they haue threatned to her as I appeale to her selfe if she may speake her conscience she would not haue giuen her consent to their Supplication but would haue tolde them to their téeth that their couetousnes and Ambition is the cause of all these troubles Séeing therfore at this time the Quéene in so great perill cannot speake of the matter as she would nor restst those which abuse her with feare to bring their purpose to passe I my selfe am constrayned to defend her aucthoritie and the Kinges also to answere to their suppliant petitions in the King and Quéenes name of whose libertie I confesse my selfe to be a defender And why should I not trust that God will prosper my indenours and that good will which he hath giuen to mée and the Kinges faythfull subiectes also doing their duty in so honest and godly a cause 1 First of all they begin with their titles of dignitie séeking therby to get the more aucthoritie and magnificently paynt forth the memory of their actiōs in time past and would haue men to iudge of their minds and meanings by these their actions Truly it is necessary that so glorious a beginning shuld haue as euil base an end set against it And why so They haue very well behaued themselues towards their Kinges they say in times past is that sufficient not only to couer their faultes at this time but also so to countenaunce them that wicked actes shal be taken for meritorious déedes If they haue done any thing profitable or worthy of commendation for their Kings as they haue done nothing so farre as I know if they haue not in all this time receiued their deserued recompence it doth not followe that they should so importunatly craue to bée recompenced at this time to the ruine and destruction of the King and the Realme But they thrée séeke so great ly for their profite and are such carefull followers of gayne that they would not tary so long before they would craue and receiue a reward for their deserts if they euer deserued any thing For probation wherof what say you to this That their profites and yerely re uenewes do amount aboue the summe of two hundred and fiftie thousand french Crownes more than their patrimony beside other helpes On the contrary part let them remember if any of them will say that they haue not ben fully satisfied in all thinges How many good and singular men by their meanes were cast in prison how many Noble families haue ben by them destroyed in the raigne of Henry the second and Fraunce the second In so much that it may euidently appeare that they abused the fauour of those Kinges not onely to the inriching of them selues but also to the reuenging of their malicious mindes to the ruine and destruction of many Wherefore if they will haue their mindes and counsayles as they say to bee examined tried and iudged by their actions in time past go to then and let them haue that triall and iudgement and let them denie if they can whether their doinges haue not ben such that they ought to be reproued and resisted by all the Kynges true and faythfull subiects Further more they saye that the Kyng and the Realme are in great perill and least they should fall into that meuitable destruction they offer vnto him certayne sure remedies but say they with all reuerence and obedience If it should be demaunded of them what were the very cause of this destruction and if they aunswered truly as their conscience beareth them witnesse they must néedes impute the cause and the whole blame hereof vnto themselues For after the proclamation of the Edict of January there was peace throughout all partes of the Realme Now if they will denie that they were not the disturbers and breakers of this peace then they shall denie a thing so manifest that all men can giue testimonie against them For in what state was the kyngdome when the Duke of Guise began warre and committed horrible murther at Uassi To what end were the conspiracies of the Constable and the Marshiall of Saint Andrewes What ment the beastly barbarous rudenes and rude barbarousnesse shewed at Paris For where as they professe their reuerence and obedience to the Kyng how incredible séemeth that in the eares of all men Those thrée often times contemned the Quéenes commaundements as when the Quene commaunded thē to go to their Mannors Lordships when by her commaundement also in tyme ef perill they were sent for to Monceaulx is this to shewreuerence and obedience to the king and quéene They came also contrary to the Quéenes commaundement to Paris with an armye of men and would not departe from thence for any thing that the quene could do either by intreaty or otherwise Whereas I my selfe to obey the quéenes commaundementes went from Paris they abyding in Paris at their pleasure when they had made there al things sure came to the king and quéene with an army of men brought them whether they would or no violentlye from Fontainbleau to Paris I appeale to the conscience of the Quéene for testimony of these things if shée may fréely speake They were fully determined to rule all thinges at their owne pleasure But this is their obedience toward the king which they shewe by the open breaking of the kinges Edictes This is their loue toward theyr countrey to destroy the which they thinke it not sufficient to arme thmselues and theirs except also they cause the aunciente enemyes of the Realme to arme themselues against the same 3 They seke to haue a perpetual edict made for religiō but to what end Whē wée desired to haue the Edict of January kept vntil the king came to sufficient age him selfe they sayd it was a very vnlawfull request adding that the king might order change amplify and restrain the Edictes when and how it pleased him and that we in desiring that the same which was decréed by the king and his Counsell might be kept vntill he came to his full and ripe age went about to make the king a bonde man and to shut him vp as it were into prison which would limitte
his power and authoritye with these exceptions They then saide And now they go about to make that an euerlasting and irreuocable lawe which they thrée themselues haue deuised and decréed Truly we may with better reason and truth conclude that they go about to make the king a captiue and bonâ—…man vnto them not only in this his minoriti but in his maiority also Who séeth not their sondry and contrary deuises Who séeth not that they go aboute not only to haue the king in their handes and to rule him at theyr pleasure but the whole Realme also when as in a mat ter of so great waight and perillouse they dare take vpon them to determine decre what they theÌ„selues list Dyd euer those Triumuiri of Rome namely Augustus Antonius and Lepidus which by their conspiracie peruerted the lawes and the common wealth of Rome any thing more bould and presumptiouse If they had ben moued by the loue of peace as they say and not by the outragiouse heate of sedition if they had ben moued by zeale of Religion and not by the force of ambition they would not haue begon those their counsailes with force and murder they would haue come reuerentlie and modestly they would haue declared the causes whi they could not allow of the Edict of January And they would haue intreated the kinge and quéene to consulte with their CouÌ„sail for the remedeing of those troubles to the glory of God the dignity of the king and the conseruation of the Realme And so they should haue declared that they were moued by zeale of their consciences But while they go about these things they sufficiently declare that they take Religion but for a colloure to the end that they may draw away the Kinges subiectes to take their part that by their help by the help of strauÌ„gers they may bring al things to their rule Can the Princes the kings kinsmen suffer this that strauÌ„gers shal make lawes Edictes to rule the king the whole Realme 4 They require to haue the church of Rome which they call Catholike and Apostolicall to be alone through out the whole Realme and that the vse and administration of the reformed religion should be forbidden Let this be the Edict of the Duke of Guise a straunger of the Constable Momorentius and of the Marshall of saint Andrew the kinges seruauntes Let their willes mindes and decrese be set against the authority of the kinges Edict which the king the quéene the king of Nauar the Princes the kinges kinsmen the kinges Counsel and forty chosen men out of euery court of the realm haue made Let them oppose and set this their Edicte both against the decrées of the nobility and the cominaltye by their supplicatioÌ„ which they offered to the king first at Orleans then at saint German concerning the orderinge of ReligioÌ„ after this maner theÌ„ they must nedes acknowledge and confesse that their Edict will be the cause of ciuil warres and in tyme the destruction of the realme But blinde Ambition carieth them out of the way to bind the king and the Realme to them as they saye by these merits For this I affirme that the Duke of Guise and his brethren can not deny but that while they go about to molest trouble those that are of the reformed Religion what zeale soeuer they pretende they brynge the Realme into greate perill Let them remember what happened of late almost in the same counsel to theÌ„ in Scotland There both sortes of men that is to say both papistes and Protestants liued peaceably obediently vnder the gouernement of the Quéene vntill it was commaunded by the aucthority of the Guises that no other religion should be there receyued then that which is of Rome Then a certen smal nomber of men for this cause being raised and appointed to battaile by the wisdome of the quene and by the help of the Nobility were easely put down again The which thing ought to haue made the Guises sease from their former purpose for feare of greater trroubles whiche would ensue by the meanes of those Edictes But they on the contrary part more obstinately went forwarde with their purpose to hinder the reformed religion writing sharp letters vnto the Quéen because shée shewed hirself so fauourable and perswaded with hir that it was necessary that the principal authours and many of the Noble men should be put to death Therefore to bring that to passe in déed which they vttered in woordes they sent an army of meÌ„ into Scotland with M. Brosseus the Bishop of Atniens At whose comming most seuere Edictes were made coÌ„cerning the obseruation of popish rytes and comming to Masse The Bishop said that he would soone cal those that were gone astray as hée sayd to the obedience of the Church of Rome and monsieur Brosseus said that hée would quickly within few dayes by force of armes put all the rebels to flight And as cruelty hath always couetousnesse ioyned with it they beheld considered the landes and possessions of the noble men and wrot to the Guises that they could both make the people tributary to pay vnto the Frenche king two hundred thousande Crownes and also assigne to a thousand Noble men of France which should continually maintayne warre in Scotland houses and land The Guises hearinge of the which were glad but the Quéene Osellus a noble maÌ„ of Scotland said vnto M. Brosseus that the Scotts could not be so easely coÌ„quered who if they were coÌ„strayned would craue helpe of straungees which imbracinge the same Religion would not desire to haue better occasion to banish the Popes Religion out of Scotland whereby the Kings Royall estate should come in peril But they refusing these admonitions of the Quéene Osellus said that the Quéene with hir facilitie and sufferance would marre all and they called Osellus foole and dastard Ther fore these wise men so wrought that the greatest parte of the nobility gathered vnto them an army of men and within few dayes eyther slewe or put to flight the Papistes and sacrifising priests which if this had not ben might haue liued peaceably And thus thei which before would binde Beares and which triumphed before the victory â–ª did not only dishonour the Duke of Guise but also lost the aucthoritie of the Church of Rome By this example the Guises ought to acknowledge their fault and to leaue of their enterprise also to haue no more in their mouthes these wordes One of those two Religions must be banished the realme and some muste needes giue place to other some These proud words become not subiectes and seruaunts but a king of full and perfect age And whereas they would haue no religion but the Romish religion established within the realme which they go about to defende by force of armes they bring the realme into great perill and daunger And truly it were a great deale better to kéepe both partes in peace and concord and
to pacefie the present troubles To be short her behauiour towardes me and my fellowes when we and shée were together at Baugence do so playnely proue her consent and agréement in this matter that it shall be néedelesse to repeate many other arguments to proue this thing For there before seuen Noble men shée speaking of our dutifull obedience protested vnto vs that she did acknowledge that we by our déedes had preserued her life and the Kynges These thinges considered haue our aduersaries any reason nay haue they any coniecture of Rebellion against vs By whose aucthoritie shall we be sayd to be Rebelles Shall we be sayd to be Rebelles by the Kyng and Quéenes authoritie who haue giuen vs expresse coÌ„maundements to arme our selues who flée vnto vs for succour in these perilles who by their will letters and messages like of our doings giue vs thankes and approue the same as profitable for the preseruasion of this Realme Furthermore all men know that those our enemies haue abused the Kyng Quéenes names whose willes also they haue captiued vnto them â–ª The which is the only cause why I and my fellowes haue hitherto testified and as yet also do vnfainedly protest That we will not receiue any Edicts Rescripts or Decrées comming forth in the Kynges name so long as he enioyeth not his libertie For probation wherof this example may serue namely That the Quéene complayned vnto vs oftentimes in hir letters that she could not therfore graunt vnto vs our requestes because the contrary part was mightier and the people armed And although the Kinges name since the Moneth of Aprill last past hath ben so abused yet notwithstanding the matter thereby hath the more playnely appeared but most playnely by those letters which the Quéene sent by Monsure de Villars and MoÌ„sure Vieilleuill the xxiiy day of May In the which shée wrote that shée deliuered the Kyng into other mens handes vnderstanding by these woordes other mens handes our aduersaries Whereuppon it followeth that this sentence of Rebellion and all other thinges done in the Kynges name ought to be iudged to be done by our enemies séeing the Kyng is in their handes as appeareth by the testimony of the Quéene Let men iudge therfore what sentence that is against the condemned being pronounced by those which are both aduersaries and Iudges But let vs sée what great fault of Rebellion that is which is layed to our charge and why it is ob iected to vs Because say they they will not vnarme them selues If this be the fault I demaund what they are to be called which comming to the Court armed although they had no enemies in Armes yet notwithstanding would not vnarme them selues at the commaundemeÌ„t of the Kyng and Quéene and which continew in the same boldnes and presumption still But who is hée which at the commaundement of the enemie will laye aside the sword which he hath drawne to fight What doth the enemy els in commaunding me to vnarme my selfe than to will me to commit my goods to the spoile and my life to crueltie and also to receiue the lawe at the handes of an outlawe Is not that to breake the fence with the which God hath inclosed his Church that being destitute of fence and inunition men may fall in to the handes of their cruell and fierce enemies Furthermore all men know very well that I alwayes offered to laye aside my Armour so soone as my enemies vnarming them selues had restored the Kyng to his former libertie Was it not méete that they which were the first that put them selues in Armour and that without commauÌ„dement and aucthoritie and against the expresse Edicts and commaundements of the Kyng and Quéene should bée the first in like maner that shoulde vnarme them selues rather than they which by their example put on Armoure that is to saye by the commaundement of the Kyng and Quéene to preserue them and also to defend the Edictes from the oppression and violence of others To be short let all my actes done vntill this day be examined and it shal be found that my aunsweres my declarations conditions and all my actions are testimonies of my innocencie What condition of peace agréeable to reason and equitie haue I aâ—…any time refused nay rather I and my fellowes haue desired the same How often tymes haue I refused straungers least they should enter into thys Realme Haue I not signified the equitie of my cause to forreyne Princes that haue ben in league with thys Realme and desired them that they would be meanes to take vp and pacefie these controuersies With what modesty haue I behaued my selfe in those Cities which were in my handes Was there euer any signe shewed of violence or vniust dealing Whereas the enimies assaulting the Kings Cities and taking away the benefite of the Kings Edictes concerning Religion did all things with barbarouse crueltie in so much that they filled the streates of the Cities with deade bodies and caused the earth to flowe with innocent bloud Let men therefore iudge by the effectes who they bee that are worthy to be counted gilty of Rebellion Am I and my fellowes which haue armed our selues to defende and mayntayne the Kings Lawes made by solemne acte of Parliament so to be counted or our enemies who putting themselues in armoure without the Kings authoritie haue broken the Edictes spoiled Cities brought the Kings subiects to the slaughter and taking awaye the Kinges Edictes and specially that notable and worthy Edict of Ianuary haue made newe Edictes themselues Therefore if all the partes of this cause be vprightly wayed it shal be found that I and my fellowes are falsly accused of Rebellion of those which are theÌ„selues rebelles in déed and of sedition by those which haue ben themselues since the dayes of King Henry the causes of all those troubles which haue afflicted the Realme also of treason by those which go about to oppresse the king depraue the Kings Edictes and abuse his name and authoritie to enriche them selues to his ruine and decaye They euen they are gilty of diuine treason against the maiestie of the liuing God whose actions haue alwais declared that Ambition is their GOD Couetousnesse their Religion and worldly Pleasures their felicitie who haue proclaymed open warre agaynst the sonne of God and agaynst the professours of his word who play the Anabaptistes rebaptizing infantes again who haue their houses full of rapines and their handes defiled with innocent bloud And they are gilty of humane trea son which contemne the Kings lawes kéepe the Kinge as a captiue beset with armed men on euery syde and which seeke the destruction of the King and the Realm And to conclude they are gilty of Treason which haue encouraged and brought the whole Realme to wickednesse and to oppresse the libertie of the Gospell and which doe bind the Kinges subiectes vnto them in seruice by an othe Those outragiouse kindes of wickednesse and horrible actes do crye that the Guises
the Protestantes he came with ranged and warlike armies as though he had ment to haue encountred with some enemie By his commaundement also there was watch and ward appointed at euery gate and flagges set out vpon the battlementes of the walles lyke as the manner is in Cities that be vanquished by force Moreouer he very straightly commaunded the Protestantes that they should bring all their armour to the common halles of euery Citie and charged his owne men that they should ransacke all the houses of the faithfull At Nemaux he caused one to be beaten with cudgelles bycause he had brought in hys armour somewhat to late and vnder colour and cloke of that example did very haynously sclaunder before the King the whole company of the faithful in Languedoc as obstinate and stubborne And deuidinge Garrisons of Souldiers into euery Citie where any congregation was surueyed and vewed them hymselfe and with certain troupes of Horsemen whom he had reclaymed to his owne lure and made fit for his owne pitch did spoile and waste all thinges wheresoeuer he came The Souldiers that were in Garrison and also they which waited vppon the Anuille began very cruelly to rage against the whole families of the faythfull euen as though they had bin taken captiue in war neither did they abstaine from robberies and rauishing of Uirgines but did scotfrée and without checke commit horrible murders the Anuille being in the meane tyme wholy giuen ouer to the filthy loue of whores beastly excesse of that good and gentle wyne of Languedoc and for these two causes he went diuers times to Auinion and there did compell a sight truly almost of incredible impudencie his owne wyfe a noble woman of the wor thy honorable house of the Duke of Bullion to salute entertain at her owne table an whore of that towne a wydowe whom he being taken with her bewty had caused to run headlong after filthy gayne And whereas fhere was an order appointed by the Profestantâ—…s in the Court of Nemaux that before they tooke any thing in hand thereshould be prayers made vnto God whose aide and helpe in administring iustice ought to be craued and sought for the Anuille commaundeth that that custome should be fortwith layde aside and when the chiefe Justice had said vnto him who then shall teach vs true Justice if the righteous and iust God be not called vppon He made aunswere that if he or any of his had anye care or regard of that inuocation or calling vpon Gods name yet not withstanding it was not the Kinges pleasure to lay any such burden vpon them who did little set by any such customes and rytes as that was and so at the commaundement of the Anuille the inuocation of Gods name was vtterly banished out of the Court of Nemaux Through the vnreasonable outrage of this furious raging president ther were diuers iniuries and damages wrought againste the Protestantes eyther vnder coloure of the Edict or els by playne and open force Of the which these thinges that follow being taken out of almost an infinit nomber of other may be sufficient examples The Kinges Edicte of peace did giue frée liberty to exercise the reformed Religion in all those Cities in which it had bin practised the vii day of March as it was prouided by flat expres wordes of the v. braunch of the Edicte besides other Cities that were seuerally to be appointed throughout all and euery one of the Prouinces Against this did the Auuille set this interpre â—…acion So that it be thought Lawfull by the chiefe Lordes of those places And so by these meanes he hindered the vse of the reformed religion in many places and euery wher scatered and dispersed abrode the congregations And although by the expresse tenure and forme of the Edicte liberty of Religion and conscience was graunted to all and in all places of the Kingdome yet he did so curtall and weaken the lihertie of the Edicte that he did not only compell those which were newly come out of the Cloisters and Abbies or els had forsaken some other Popish Rites in the tyme of warre but also those who long a go had left that kind of life and were entred into some better trade of lyuinge to take againe their former lyfe of monkish supersticion and to put awaye their wiues if they had maried any or els to depart out of the boundes and limites of his Prouince And by these meanes he plucked away many of the ministers of Godes woord from their congregations and droue them out of al the Countrey where he ruled A notable example of this extremitie was shew ed in Moton the minister of the congregation Who hauing long before forsaken all kynde of Monkery had maried a wife in honest and lawfull matrimonie and laboured verâ—… frutefully there in that Church To him straight commaundement was giuen eyther quight to forsake hys wife and leaue the ministery and then to take vpon him h is former kind of lyfe or els to depart out of the coast of Languedoc within thre daies who when he had made answer that he was content to depart for that he was so commaunded and hauing prouided al thinges necessarie for his familie and being set forward on his iourney as he passed by Monfrin a little towne of Languedoc by the way that leades to Auinion he went to visit the congregation ther and was requested by the elders of that Church that according to the custome he would preach a sermon to the people Moton was content and preached The matter was signified vnto MoÌ„scur Anuil who by and by coÌ„maunded the chiefe executioner forthwith to hang vp Moton as guilty of breaking the kings Edicte for that he had preached contrary to his forbidding Wherfore Moton was violently apprehended the â—…earefull Protestanteâ—… of the Church of Monfrin standing round about him and being haled and drawen out of his wiueâ—… armes that pitifully cryed out was bound vnto an almon trée Where after that he had comforted his wife and protested that he did willingly seale there with his bloud the truth of his doctrine for which vnwor thely he was so troubled he was strangled to death by the coÌ„mon hangman All which time while this was in doing MoÌ„suer Anâ—…ll lay carelesly at AuinioÌ„ wallowing in the filthye pleasures of whoores and wyne The churches of Languedoc did complaine of these iniâ—…ryes to the Kings maiesty and the Quéene his mother The like did the Prince of Conde being desired there vnto by them of Languedoc but all was in vain For the Constable was a careful maintainer of his lonnes mischiefes and so wrought that all the complaintes that were put vp against his sonne were voyd and to no purpose in so much that they which complayned were in perill and daunger â–ª Whereby it came to passe that â—…he congregations in Languedoc which had any thinge at all borne out the bruntes of the former warre were very hardly
faythefully to mayntayne and kéepe the peace Monsieur de Anuill was therby more earnest and hâ—…te and did straightly charge the Consuls of the Citie for so they in that Countrey do cal their chief Officers that they should leaue of their sute and enterprise otherwise they should be sure to smart for the common peoples faultes wherewith they being terrified made answere that they were ready to obeye him in whatsoeuer it pleased him to lay vpon them and calling the commons togither to an assembly did bitterly and very sharply rebuke them for their stubburnes But the commons on the other side protested that it was agaynst all law and right and that it was done con trary to the tenor and forme of the peace concluded that they would rather complayne to the King of the tyranny of thâ—… President Finally that they would not for any cause commit themselues their goods their wyues and children into the handes of the Lieuetenant being as he was so sore incensed and angrye against them But whilest wordes went too and fro amongest them there begaÌ„ a whot contention betwixt the Magistrates and the commons The people being set on a furie chased away the Magistrates and forthwith fortified and â—…ensed the citie and no entrance would be graunted to M. de Anuilles garrison Who coÌ„plaining to the King of the matter receyued commission from him to punnishe the offenders very seuerely with commaundement also that the Townsmen should receiue in the Garrison The King also sent thither Monsieur 〈◊〉 a noble man with charge that they should eyther receyue such Garrison as the Lieuftenant the Anuill should appoint or els to be greuously punnished who comming thither to the Citie was forthwith receiued in by the Citizens who declared vnto him that they had not committed that fact in way of rebellion but were ready to obey the King their chiefe soueraigne Lord and gouernour that it happened through the rashe and hasty dealing of the Magistrats that the commons being moued and stirred vp with feare of further harme to ensue had behaued themselues otherwyse against them then became them finally that they did willingly and gladly submit them selues their children and goodes to the Kinges will and pleasure So vppon this M. Ramâ—… being entered the Citie certified M. de Anuill of the Townsmennes minds who straight waies comming thither accompanied and garded with certaine bandes of horsmen and footemen was very reuerentlie and humbly receyued of the Citizens But he was no sooner entered the Towne but he immediatly began to vse and handle them as enemies The Citie was spoyled of all her priuiledges the walles razed the Noble men diuersly fined and punnisht many of them beheaded their Minister haÌ„ged their goodes giuen ouer to the Souldiours for a pray and a spoyle the furiouse Souldiers were let loose vppon the honest matrones and Uirgines of the Citie to the number of 800. Citisens were banished to be short that worthy Citie was vtterly wasted spoiled made desolate of the greatest parte of her inhabitantes by the cruell and detestable villany of the Anuill Aboute this tyme there came newes abrode of the Kinges prograce throughout the whole Realme and forsooth there was a cause of this prograce deuised and that was that it stoode the Kinge vppon to take a suruey and a vew of his whole kingedome that he in his owne person might heare and receaue the complaintes of his subiectes and with present remedy help and ease their gréeâ—…ed mindes and that with his presence hee might confirme and encourage euery on to do his duty And though this cause was pretended yet the Quéens had another fetch purpose in her head Whereof the Cardinall of Lorraine both knew and was also authour and first inuenter of it although for other causes hee was not in this prograce the marke she shot at as it is reported of diuers that were more thorowly acquainted with the matter was the King himselfe as it being ignorant of it that the sacred league with the King of Spaine which was begon in the Counsaile of Trent might bee ratified and confirmed and that in the meane season the tender mind of the youug king might be by all meanes possible prouoked and stirred vp against the reformed Religion and al thinges were of set purpose so ordered in euery Citie where the Kinge should come that the Protestantes might complaime as long as they would but al should be in vain and to no purpose yea and they themselues rather accompted and taken for the causers and authours of troubles then obtain any thing where by to redresse their wronges and iniuries Whilest preparation was made for this iourney there came a coÌ„maundement from the King to all those Cities that were holden of the Protestantes in the time of warre VVhere as now after pacification of all former troubles therâ—… is nothing that we more wish and desire than that peace and quietnes may be restored in al partes and quarters of our kingdome wee do now will and commaund to the intent all occasion of new broiles may be remoued and quight taken away that all such munitions fortifications and bulwarkes as were made and built in the tyme of warre for the defence of your Cities bee quight defaced and taken away that all our subiectes hereafter may quietly and without feare of further danger kepe and maintain our peace especially for that our faith and promise sufficiently declared in our Edicte ought to be to all true and faithfull subiectes in sâ—…eede of a sure wall and sheild of defence c. So by this meanes all kind of munition and fortifications was defaced in diuers Cities as in Orleans Mountaubane valence and diuers other of the most famous Cities in France to the great discommoditie and destruction of the whole Realme And that chiefely in 〈◊〉 a moste necessarie and profitable Citie to the whole countrey yea and that in the moste daungerous times of the Kinges and kingdome especially in the tyme of Charles the vii 〈◊〉 the Englishmen were conquerers farre and neare and when all Normandy and Paris the Metropollitane Citie of the Realme were wâ—…nne and vanquished togither with the Countries to them adioyning all the Kingdome in an vprore with enemyes then was Orleans a chiefe and special place of succour and refuge both for the King and all his Notwithstanding these Cities were defaced and marked with the tokens and blemishes of Rebellion for that in tyme of trouble they had preserued a nomber of good and true subiectes especially Orleans was shamefully spoiled and made almoste a poore simple Oraunge or Uillage and a Castle builte at the gate it leades to Paris to gouerne and kepe vnder the Citizens and a very cruell Carrison of Souldiours placed there And yet for all this the administration of Religion was not left of there Like crueltie was exercised vpon Montaubane bycause they had manfully and couragiously defended themselues against the assaultes
Arci retourned with all his souldiers againe beset the house and then slew all Cipieres men But when they could not find Cipiere among the slaine carcasses ' Baron de Arsi sent for the consulles demaūded of them where Cipiere was for the consulles had caried him away to another place and promised that if they would tell him where he was hée would saue his life for he him selfe he sayd was carefull for him But so soone as Cipiere was deliuered vnto him hee stabbed him in with his Dagger And thus the young man with many woūds was slaine and the dead carcasse much deformed with diuers hacks and cuttes In the same Moneth also one of Monsure Cipieres seruants was slaine in the day time before the Castell of Lower at Paris I am ashamed truely to repeate all that I could concerning the butcherly murthers cōmitted The whole Realme was replenished with sobbing sighes and pitifull teares of widowes and fatherlesse children No place was frée from bloudshed yea widowes before the bloude of their slaine husbandes was through cold were pertakers also of the same Cup. Honest young women before their husbandes faces were defyled and forced and afterwardes caryed away from their husbandes by the rude and ruffianly Souldiers Within the space of lesse than thrée Monethes ther were more than ten thousand Protestants slaine as hath bin well approued by iuste accountes where as in the former warre there were scarse fyue hundered slaine in sixe monethes space This was the goodly end of the peace made and confirmed by the Catholikes The rememberance wherof deserueth to be cronacled for euer that all posterities may sée and knowe with what deceites with what falshood treachery treason furor and brutish madnesse all humanitie set aside Antichrist abusing the outragious furyes of Kinges and Nations goeth about to establishe his kingdome These things were done in the Monethes of Aprill May and Iune These great calamities caused the Prince of Conde to complayne oftentymes by his letters vnto the king but he receyued nothing againe but bare wordes without effecte and he was dayly admonished both by messengers and also by the nearenesse of the kings Garrisons to looke to himselfe Whereupon after notice gyuen to the King by his letters he came to Noyers wyth his wife and children which is a little towne in Burgun dy And the Admirall being beset with garrisons round about where he was remoued to Tanlay whiche was within the libertie of his brother the Andelot and néere to the Castell of Noyers The Andelot was in Brittain The Cardinall of Lorraine was sore offended and gréeued that he fayled of his purpose in takinge of the prince of Conde and the Admiral which might haue ben done so easely and conueniently But he ment to assaye agayne by other meanes thinking it best to sée what he could doe by plain force notwithstanding so craftely and couertly that his lying in wayte might not be perceyued Therefore he sent some to Noyers to measure the altitute or height of the castle minding this way too take the prince of Conde and the Admiral who came oftentymes thyther to conferre with the prince And the Spye which was sent to Noyers was wonderfully taken by the seruaunts of the Prince of Conde as hereafter shal be declared Moreouer to weary the prince of Conde there came letters vnto him in the Kings name straytly chargyng him to make payment of a great sūme of money which the king had payed to the Germane horsemen that were souldiours vnder the prince of Conde The summe amounted to 900000. Franks which was exacted of the faythfull beside the great expences of the warres for payment of the which the prince of Conde and diuers other Noble men stood bound to the king Notwithstanding the King signified vnto him that he vnderstood not the sayde money was required of all those of the reformed religion but only of those which had borne armor vnder his conducts And this was vrged agayne with new letters To the which letters of the king the prince of Conde made aunswere that in this matter he was greatly vrged and to much burthened complayning of the subtill dealing of his aduersaries in that they went about too offer vnto him and to all the reste of the reformed Religion open and manifest iniuries The Edictes sayeth he are by them broken the faythfull are worse entreated than if they were straungers and the most wicked creatures in the whole earth they are neyther in sauetie in their owne houses nor in the fields My house is garded with garrisons of souldiours which was neuer séene before that any of the princes the Kinges kinsemen should be so handeled Moreouer of late a certayn Spye was takē which came to take the measure of the height of the Castel of Noyers ▪ wher I lye that I might sodenly and ere I was ware béé taken And vaunte is made abroad by the Catholiques that after Haruest Grape gathering there shal not be left one Huguenote in Fraunce without excepting of women and children yea they presume so farre that they dare saye that if so be your bighnesse wil haue peace they will make them a new King of a Monke Furthermore by the sufferāce of the Lieuetenants of the prouinces there are many conuenticles and brotherhoodes which they call Confra ternities of the Holy Ghost by which many thinges are wrought contrary to the peace Wherefore among so many iniuries I beséech your Maiestie and all other Christians to way and consider I haue and do behaue my selfe and not only I but also all that are of my profession Therefore if your Maiestiè suffer the Edicte so violently in the sight of all men to be broken and the offendours to escape vnpunished it cannot be but there will ensue moste gréeuouse troubles This letter was sent by Theligny a noble man whom he commaunded to declare diuers other particular mat ters which I meane not heare to repeate About this tyme the King sent to the Lieuetenantes of euery prouince a certain forme of an Othe according to the which the professours of the reformed Religion but specially the Noble mē should be caused to swear To this the Noble men made excuse and sayd That by this peculiar othe they should haue great iniury done vnto them as though thei were not to be counted in the number of the rest of the Kings subiectes whiche also was done contrary to the expresse wordes of the Edict in the which as the prince of Conde is acknowledged too be the Kings faythfull kinsman and seruaunte so are they expressely called the Kings faythfull seruaunts Therfore thei beséeched the kinge the they might not bée constrayned hereunto more than other men if al other men of the contrary religion were vrged so to sweare they would not refuse they sayd to doe the like séeinge they could not doe to much in shewinge their obedience to the King. And because this Othe was published in
those to bée slaine murthered and spoyled of all they haue whom your maiestie is bound by your dutie too defend and shield from all harme and distresse To be short is there any thing so coÌ„trary to Iustice and equitie as to winke at these infinite murthers and intollerable iniuries which by the Cardinalles procurement and allowance do so gréeuously aflict this whole kingdome and are by them and his fellowes falsely fathered to be your Maiesties procéedings Wherfore séeing this is euident and plaine as in deede it can not be denied that it gréeueth your Maiesty as you haue often written to the Admirall and me to be bereaued of lawfull and due obedience and to haue Iustice defiled and corrupted and haue theruppon desired your mother that all things might be done quietly without any kind of tumult and that the Edict might be obserued and all occasions eschewed that might pro cure ciuill warres againe being the extréeme destructi on of your kingdome if I say your Maiestie haue done all these things and notwithstanding your faithfull true subiects do perceiue that the Cardinall who hath conspired our death hath as it were violently and frau duntly possessed your authoritie and abusing the same doth charge your host and souldiers contrariâ—… to the publique warrant graunted to vs to take both me and the Admirall by treason and ambushe and doth also en force your Maiestie to do al thinges contrary to the dutie of a good and gracious Kyng to the entent he might weaken and slaken the good will and loue of your subiectes Wese him also rule and gouerne the whole coÌ„mon wealth according to his owne filthy lust to bring all thinges to such narrow streites that euery mans hart is ready to flame out with euerlasting fire of dead ly hatred by reason of so many horible murthers that escaped al vnpunished scotfrée séeing therfore that these thinges are so manifest what els can your subiects doe in this extréeme desperation but to suppresse that wicked Cardinall author and beginner of all mischiefe And surely the cause that vrgeth them to séeke this remedie is both iust and lawfull séeing they can not suffer any man to raigne ouer them but your Maiestie sée moreouer your dignitie and Crowne their religion honour goods and liues to bee in the handes of their deadly enemies nor haue nor can haue any protection wherewith to shield them selues from such iniuries as openly are both threatned and offered them How can they either hope or suffer any longer foreséeing in their mindes that terrible and blustering tempest of troubles that is like to ensue Wherof they haue full many a time aduertised your Maiestie setting before your graces eyes the fearefull lamentable state of things haue very often most humbly craued remedie at your handes These are the causes O Kyng that haue enforced me and the Admirall and diuers others of your subiectes who had rather to hazard their liues and die valiantly and honorably then to suffer so great iniurie villanie to be wrought against your Maiestie and the whole Realme after long and earnest sute for other lawfull meanes to take this thing vppon vs Wherfore we all desiring and crauing the helpe and aide of all Princes Noble men confederate to succour your Maiestie in these extréeme daungers do protest before God and all the world that this is our only entent desire to haue The Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes and that it is they only whom we seeke as the very rootes causes and maintayners of all trouble and mischiefe Which threaten destruction desolation to this kingdome and to pursue them as periured robbers violaters of peace chiefe and deadly enemies of all good orders and quietnes Wherefore let no man hereafter marueile if I and my fellowes refuse to obey any thing that shal be ordeyned in your Maiesties counsell where in the Cardinall is present not that wee will disobethem as come from your highnes but as coygned and framed by the Cardinall and his companions whome we vtterly refuse renounce both in publique affaires that concerne the common wealth and also in priuate matters that only touch vs to the entent wee bee not charged with the troubles that may arise hereof but he rather who is the authour and father of them the Cardinall I meane and his adherents These letters and this supplication therefore béeing deliuered to the King the prince of Conde went to Noiers with his wyfe great with childe and with his childreÌ„ also of which some were in their tender infancie The Admirall also caried with him his whole familie his brother the Andelots wife with her Sonne which was then of the age of two yeares with this weake Army the Prince of Conde went to Noyers but not without great perill of the garrisons of souldioures wich were at hande Notwithstanding the Prince of Conde what with his owne men and what with the housholde seruaunts of the Admirall and certaine other Noble meÌ„ which came to ayde them had an hundred and fifty horsmen to garde his trayne But being in great perill and necessitie found out a remedie though full of daunger aduenture Therefore because the Hauens Portes Bridges and passages were warded with garrisons of souldiours so that they could not passe thei determined to goe ouer the Riuer of Loyer This Riuer is in all places for the most part so déepe that a shippe may passe by the same Notwithstanding because the force of the streame fretteth worketh vp great heapes of sandes oftentimes there is in certain places the lesse plenty of water By reason hereof they found by and by a shallow foorde ouer the which when an horse had safely passed the whole multitude followed in like manner The which passage was wonderfull séeing the very same place within two dayes after was so depe that no man might in the same manner passe ouer againe The selfe same day certain armies of footemen whiche we sayd were sent for to leaue the siege of Rochell and to come to take the Prince of Conde came to Sangodon a village almost thrée miles distant from that parte of the Riuer ouer the whiche the Prince of Conde had passed Therefore when the Prince of Conde had a cléere passage he made the more spéede in his iorney towardes the house of the Rouchfaucalt in the territorie of Santonge shoonning all Townes and places where he knew Garrisons of Souldioures to bee set and hée wrote letters to Marshall Vielleuil which was then at Poyctiers and to Monsieur Monluce Lieuetenant of Guian signifying vnto them that his purpose was to go to the house of Rochefocault only to leaue his family in safetie and there to abyde himselfe vntill such time as hée had receyued an aunswere of his letters of which wée spake before from the king About this time also the aduersaries lay in wayte to take the Cardinall Odet Chastillon abydinge in the
French as Italian who charged altogyther so violently vpon the Lord de Mouy and de la Loue that they were enforced to endure and take the charge retiring thorow the battel of the Lanceknights which gréeued them sore notwithstanding the Admirall supplyed the charge and gaue with such furie vpon the Catholke Reisters that he cut great numbers of them in péeces and immediatly with the remainder of his horsmen of the Uauntgard repulsed with force the vauntgarde of the enemie whereupon was raised a crye on the Admi rals side Uictory victory the same sounding with such noyse of comfort in the eares of the maine battell that diuers ranne thither to follow the victorie when loe the Catholique mayne battell aduaunced bending directly vpon the Princes battell where they were in person To the Catholiquas battell ioyned a wing of horsemen which came from the vauntgarde At the beginninge the battell of the Princes sustayned the charge albeit finding and féeling their owne weaknesse as being not able to fight togyther as the Catholiques did were enforced to disorder and fel out of aray the horsmen of the vauntgarde dispersed héere and there without order not drawne as yet into any safe pollicie or gard of war followed also the others whereby both the Frenche and Almaine footemen were left naked whereof the French men were first forced to breake aray and then the Papistes horsemen on the one side and the Suyzers on the other side began to buckle with the Launceknightes who séeing themselues enuironed on all sides neyther present helpe nor cause of further hope the rather for that the artillery was planted euen at their féete let fal their pykes and prostrat themselues vpon their knées amongst whom rushed with no small fury the horsmen and certayne Swizers â–ª vsing butchers mercy cut them all in péeces The Counte Mansfeld and Lodowike retired alwayes in order of battell a thing worthy to bee noted in so generall disorder hauing about them xiii cornets of Reisters which had not followed the others with whom they gathered togyther certayn cornets of Frenchmen and so retired and neuer were charged After the ouerthrow and spoyle of the Launceknights the Kings brother pursued the victory half a league and no further and so encamped in the playn of Cron wher the battell was gyuen he was farre stronger in horssemen and footmen than the Princes who had not aboue vi thousand horsemen of all sortes as well straungers as others viii thousand footmen French and most har quebuziers and lastly thrée thousand launceknights In this battaile the Princes lost their launceknightes a thousand or xii hundred French footemen and about an hundred horses vi Canons two Coluerines three little field pieces The lord de Autricour Captayne of a hundred light horsemen a very foreward and galland Gentleman was there killed the lorde de Acier and la Noue taken prisoners and the lorde Admirall lightly hurt in the chéeke In the Catholiques army were viii or ix thousand horsemen and xvi or xviii thousand footmen with great store of artillery They lost few footemen because they fought not so that their greatest losse consisted in horsemen which what with the chaunce of that day the encounter before touched grew to great numbers with diuers of no small estate as the Counte Mansfield and the Ringraue the Marques of Baden the yong Counte Cieremont Daulphinoys with many other Lordes and Knightes of the Order the Duke of Guyse and the Ringraues brother hurt The retraite of the Princes and their army was to Partenay about vii leagues froÌ„ the place of the battell where as they arriued the night folowing at midnight so the next morning the iiii of this moneth they departed from thence with the Admirall Counte Mansfelde the Counte Lodowike and Henry de Nassau bretheren with other great numbers of Lordes Gentlemen and Capteynes coÌ„ming the same day to Nyort where they found the Queene of Nauarre remayning there euer since they departed In the meane time they layde the wayes and quarters by the Marshals of the campe to the ende the dispersed sorte might eftsoones resorte to their Enseignes which was performed the same daye by the most part of the horssemen Notwithstanding this laste successe losse at Mont-gontour dyd both gréeue and amaze the princes yet they were not vnmindfull to reassemble their forces wherof the most part of the horsemen was forthwith vnder their staÌ„derds which the footmeÌ„ could not do with such spéede in respect of their long retrait and therefore the vauntgarde of the battell were disposed seuerally into sondry quarters villages néere to Nyort by the which meane the Frenche footemen who in respecte of theyr good order were not much distressed in this conflict resorted readily to their Ensignes and companies In the meane while the Princeâ—… deliberated in the said town vpon the sequell of their affaires to whome albeit the losse seemed great yet considering that in a generall calamitie euery one hath his fortune they couered theyr present gréete and as the necessitie of their state required with ioyfull countenaunce they assured â—…tsoones the remaynder of their dispersed companyes In the euening the Quéene of Nauarre departing from Nyort wente to Rochereul and the Princes the nexte morning toke their way to Saintonge leauing within Nyort both to make head against the catholikes let them to passe further the Lord of Mouy with his regimen of horsemeÌ„ and. ii regimens of footemen beside the ordinarie garrison being perhaps iii. hundred shot Such was the brute and heauy noyse of this battell that many coÌ„panies of the Princes armie as wel footemen as horsemen bestowed in seuerall charges in sundry castles and townes as well in Poyctou as Touraine determined to leaue their garrisons as not able to endure a spéedy siege in respect they were weake within themselues and also had small hope to be succoured in sufficient time As they which were wythin Chauigny vppon Vien at Rochâ—…ose Captayne Belon within the Castle de Angle with Chesnebruâ—…le his ensign bearer which was at Pru ly together with captaine Teil captaine of the Castle of Cleruaut with his cornet of shot on horsebacke departed and abandoned their seueral charges taking their way to Charyte captaine Lornay gouernour of Chastelleraut assone as the sâ—…ege was raised left the towne the vii of October at xi of the clocke before noone with hys owne company of footemen and two others wherof one was vnder captaine Morâ—…s beyng in all about thrée huÌ„dred footemen and two hundred horsemen and tooke theyr way towardes Charyte passing by la blanc in Berry and from thence came to Bourgdien a towne belonging to the Byshop of Bourges and heretofore taken by skaling by the Lord de Bournay there they ioyned with the rest aforesayde and also the Lorde Bricquemau the Elder who taried there with his companyes in respecâ—… of hys sicknesse In the meane while the kings brother following his victorie came to Partnay which he
the which he deserued to be dismist of the same This thing at the length was graunted through the earnest sute of the Constable and the selfe same day that Monsier Vidam was dismist of the order of Saint Michael there were xvij into the same honorable order by a newe and vnacustomed maner chosen by the trauaile and meanes of the Guyses ▪ to the intent they might bynde many vnto them by that benefite or promotion While the king of Nauar and the Prince of Conde were loked for commaundement was giuen to the Gouernour of Poictiers to goe to Pictauium and not to suffer the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde his brother to come into the Citie But for al this at the length by the kings letters and commaundement the King of Nauar was receiued of the Marshall Termensis into Pictauium with all his trayne being neuerthelesse on euerye side beset with armed men the which suspicions the King of Nauarre toke in verye euill part Then the King came frō Sangermane to Paris with a great armie both of footemen and horsemen in battaile aray the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine attending vpon him From thence he went to Aurelias with the same army and in warlike order entered into the Citie being reported abroade that the King came thither for two causes the one was to kéepe the Citie from the treason of the king of Nauarre the other was to call and summon a Parliament Many therefore were made afearde but speciallye they which were chosē to be of the assembly or Parliament whē they hearde that so greate an armie of men came with the king Then cōmaundemēt was giuē that euery one should rehearse confesse the confessiō of his faith according to the prescript rule of those articles which were set forth by the Papistes in the yéere of our Lord God M. D. XLII and it was reported for truth that the Cardinal of Loraine had drawn forth in writing those things which shoulde be inacted and established in that assemblye There was also watche and ward throughout the whole Citie appointed to be kept euen as if the enimie had come to assaulte the same Againe commaundement was sent to the King of Nauar that he should come with al spéede and bring his brother the Prince of Conde with him many also were sent into diuers partes of the Realme to take the names of all those that were noted to be of the reformed Religion At the length the king of Nauar the Prince of Conde his brother came to Aurelias there to salute the king But so soone as they had saluted the King the chiefe principall of the kings Garde as they were cōmaūded layd hands vpō the Prince of Conde caried him to the next hold prepared for y same purpose The which holdes were forthwith fortified and made strong with Irō grates in euery window a Castell was hard vy the same erected built to receiue the footemen Thē were there certain mē chosē to watch kepe the King of Nauar whose Chaūcelor also was taken by by with al spéede was the Lady Roye mother in lawe to the Prince of Conde takē and arrested brought to the citie Sangerman to whose charge it was layde that she was giltie of treason The Magistrates were ready to take receiue hir opened the prison dores to bring hir in Straight after this also was Hieroine Grostotius the Gouernour of Aurelias taken in whose house the king lodged being accused of negligence and stouth in searching out the heretikes Howbeit he was quit and discharged of this matter by the decrée Iudgemēt of the Senate of Paris But the Andelote whē he had saluted the King and the Duke of Guise had excused himselfe by the disobedience of the French hoast of footemen departed in very good time otherwise as the most likly report went he should haue bene taken with the Prince In the meane time there were subtile deuises and craftie meanes inuented to assault and trouble the Prince of Conde And when Iudges were chosen oute of the Senate of Paris as Fagus and Viollaeus the Lieutenant of Thou the kings Solicitour was commaunded to open the cace now in controuersie and to procede with the same But the Prince alleaging for himselfe his noble bloud princely state standeth with them vpon this point that he ought not to be iudged of them but rather of the king him selfe of no other in the Senate of Paris the Peeres and Nobles of the Realme beyng assembled together Therfore he saide that he appealed to the king Then the appeale was brought vnto the Priuye Counsell the which appeale they said was nothing and of no force And this was done often times But at the laste they concluded that excepte the Prince woulde answere before those Iudges he should be condemned of hie treason Then the Prince of Condes wife desired of the King that so much libertie might be graunted to hir husband as to cōsult with learned counsell The which was graūted vnto hir in so much the he was permitted to take y coūsel of two lawyers namely of Petrus Robertus Frāciscus Marillacus coūlellers in the court of Paris but he was no otherwise permitted to haue them thā vpon this conditiō that whensoeuer he cōsulted with then the king to haue vmpires indifferent mē to be present at their talke The Prince also required the it might be lawful for him beside these two counsellers to consult confer with his two brethrē the king of Nauar the Cardinal of Burbō also with his wife to ioyne with thē what vmpires witnesses soeuer it shoulde please the King affirming that he was very loth to doe any thing without his brethrē specially in a matter of so great waite The which request notwithstanding was denied him only he obtained leaue to write vnto them his minde At the length being come to the matter in controuersie he said to his counsellers that were present that the affliction which he now suffered was not laid vpon him by God for that he had gone about to worke any thing against the kings maiestie but rather that by this affliction he might trye his constancie Also he said that he did not thinke him selfe to be Captiue seing that he inioyed the fredome of minde and a pure and sound conscience but rather that he thought those to be captiues which had their mindes consciences bound and clogged with the burthen of their sinnes and wickednesses in a body set at libertie When he had thus spoken he gaue certaine notes of the defence of his cause vnto his Counsellers For king Frances by the subtill meanes and false persuasions of the Guises was fully persuaded that the Prince of Conde conspired his death and that therefore he was giltie of treason and worthy to suffer condigne punishment for the same Therefore while the bloudy
slaughter was a preparing and whilest all men loked to sée great things come to passe beholde sodaine and vnloked for alterations happen For the king had a ceataine paine and disease in his eares Of the which after he had bene sicke a while he dyed the fifth day of December in the yeare of Lorde god M. D. LX. At the which sodaine alteration the Guyses were not a little dismayde When King Fraunces was deade the Quéene his mother sent vnto the Constable who had detracted the time to come to Aurelias assuring him of hir friendship and promising vnto him that neuer hereafter none should intrude him selfe into an other mans office and praying him also that he would come vnto hir with all spéede There the Constable came to hir to Aurelias without delay with Martiall Momorencius his sonne and saluted the newe king Neuerthelesse the Prince of Conde was kept in holde still but not without greate reuerence of his kéepers shewed towardes him and continusd in prison after the death of the King by the space of ten dayes denying to go out of prison vntill he knewe his aduersarie in this matter layde to his charge But all the matter was layde vpon the King deceased Therfore by a wonderfull and straunge way or meane as by the death of the King the subtill practises of the aduersaries were brought to naught whose funerall was so slenderlye celebrated that he was depriued of that vsuall pompe which Kings commonly haue at their buriall all men wondering that the Guises woulde suffer the same the which also was very wel noted by a publike Epigram or libel sent abrode There were truly within a short time wonderfull manifest signes of Gods iust iudgemeÌ„t against many Princes the which al meÌ„ at that time did plainly sée acknowledge Concerning the which these verses folowing were made Charles a Tyrant King of all kings that before him went Most craftily by counsell gainst Christ his force he bent Till that his foolish madnesse of children being espied In midst of all his mischiefe most sodenly he died And thou O Henrie eke by men that wicked were nought VVast too much led and therfore greedily hast sought The bloud of godly men thereof to drinke thy fill But he that sittes aboue restrainde thee of thy will. For in thy witlesse mode thy rashnes great thou didst declare therfore wouÌ„d of deth by spere thou hadst ere thou wast ware And so thy bleding corps eÌ„brued the earth with blood Bicause to kill the Saints to thee it seemde so good Frances that was his sonne vnhappie childe did so direct His fete in his yll wayes that Christes voice he did neglect He stopt his eares as deafe when Christ to him did crie And therfore putrefacted eares did cause hiÌ„ streight to die Be warnde therefore O Kings by these examples iust VVisedomes doctrine to receiue or else to turne to dust Thus rumors were spred euerywhere abroade that so wonderous a thing had happened the lyke wherof was neuer heard of before namely that they which were brought to that passe that they should haue bene put to death were now aduaunced to great honor And contrarywise that it was come to passe that they which thought their authoritie to be confirmed for a long time sawe the same taken awaye and were brought to their former state and degree They which were of the assemblie of States trembling and quaking before for feare tooke now vnto themselues a bolde courage and with one consent make petition that the king of Nauar may be the ruler gouernor of the kingdome during the time of the Kings nonage minoritie also that the Princes the kings nere kinsemen with the Constable the Admiral the Andelote with the rest of the Nobles might be always of the kings CouÌ„selâ—… that Cardinals Bishops should be sent to their diocesses to discharge their Ecclesiastical offices according to the rule of the canoÌ„s in that behalf The Kinges mother tooke it not in good part that so great good will and fauour should be shewed to the king of Nauar whom she demed not long ago to be hir enimie they increased these suspitions which went about to coÌ„firme their authority by their dissentioÌ„s working hatred spite against the king of Nauar through the sentence of the assembly of the parliament which wished him to haue the rule of the kingdome And thus the minds of the Nobles being diuided into two factions one part helde of the Quéene another part with the king of Nauar. Insomuch that a man might sée the Constable the Admiral his two brethren alwais in the coÌ„pany of the king of Nauar On the other part the Guises Nemorosius the Marshal Santandrae the Marshal Brislac the cardinal of TurnoÌ„ always were about the Quéene stode w thir So that now there was great daunger of present seditioÌ„ but the king of Nauar by his courtesie suffrance put away all this daunger like to arise yéelding vnto the Quéene authoritie to gouerne the kingdome Then the Quéene being somewhat appeased plainly saide that she knew nowe the causes of all the troubles past namely that all the Princes which were of the Kings blouds were displeased that they were not accouÌ„ted off according to their worthinesse which thing she said she woulde sée reformed euer afterward By this occasion the stomacking and taking of parts betwéene them séemed somewhat to be repressed There folowed therfore a wonderful alteration chauÌ„ge and all men began to talke one to another to say that the companies of armed meÌ„ were prepared gathered togither to some other vse purpose than for the safetie of the King that their couÌ„sels and meanings were otherwise which had arrogated vnto themselues authoritie also that their practises shoulde not so easily haue successe nowe But the churches now which before were in great perplexity fear obtained peace and all men hoped nowe for a better state For amidst those sundrie troubles and manifolde afflictions which happened vnder the raigne of king Frances the administration of the sacraments the preaching of Gods worde neuer ceased in the reformed Churches although the number that were assembled were but small though also the same was not done without great daunger warinesse For at that time there were cruell conspiracies against the Church which woulde haue done great harme to the same had not the Lorde by his prouidence tourned them away Then did the reformed Churches coÌ„maunde solemne prayers with fasting to be vsed and they which were the gouernors and chiefe of the congregation exhorted their brethren to be of good chéere and comforted them willing them paciently to looke for helpe from the Lorde So that after so great afflictions and feare there followed excéeding ioye and the sodennesse of the chaunce made the matter to seeme more wonderfull Then was there newes brought of the death of