Nauar that the Constable didde it not vpon the same consideration aâ—…d in that order but in respecte of his office of the Câ—…nstableship the same thyng proprely appertayning to his office But herevpon was kindeled a more fyerie contention and sharpe and bitter wordes passed on bothe partes and in suche sort that the next day the king of Nauarre made himselfe readie to depart and his caâ—…iage and sumpter horsses béeing sent before he himselfe was now readie to mount on horsebacke and with him were readie to goe all the Princes the kings néere kinsmen the Constable the Chastillions and the greatest part of the Nobles the which if it had come to passe the Guises and they of their parte shuld haue ben left only with the king And the report was that they would go no further than Paris that there calling the assemblie of states together they might fully determine concerning the gouernment of the kingdome The Quéene béeing verie sorie for this sodaine intention and purpose by the aduise of the Cardinall of Turnon called vnto hir the Constable and to the ende she mighte stay and deferre hys going she brought to passe that king Charles hir sonne two Secretaries being called to make record commaunded and charged the Constable in this necessitie to abyde with him as one of the chiefe officers that might not be spared This charge so stayed the Constable that he neuer durst as hée had promised follow the king of Nauarre for all the persuasuasions that duke Momorencius could vse who persuaded him to the same Therfore the king of Nauar was let of his purpose But it was euery where reported that the Quene for the hatred she bare vnto the king of Nauar made muche of the Guyses The which rumour broughte to passe that they which should come to Paris to the particular assemblies of the States as in other prouinces of the realme they did also came the more spéedily In the whiche assemblie many things were moued concerning the order and maner of gouerning the realme as concernyng the remouing and placing some from and to the most honourable offices concerning the Guyses accompt to make of the money whiche was spent in the tyme of king Frances the seconde concerning their euill behauiour in the tyme of king Henrie and concerning their briberie and vnlawfull receyuing of money In the whiche crime also the Marshall Santandrae the Duchesse of Valentien and others were guiltie All whiche were forbidden to be of the Kings priuie Counsell vntill suche tyme as they had made their accompt Then they whiche were for this cause assembled togither at Paris as it is declared before were forbidden to doe any thing concerning the gouernment of the kingdom but they notwithstandyng go forwarde with that whiche they had begonne affirming that the same did specially appertayne to the assemblie of States to be talked of and not to be left to the determination and will of the Princes and kings kinsmen only When the Queene heard this she was oute of meaâ—…ure troubled and fynding no better way or remedie than to be reconciled to the king of Nauarre she desired the Constable that he woulde endeuour himselfe all that he coulde to bring the same to passe And at the length the Constable béeing a meane there was a newe couenaunte and league made betwéene them namely That the King of Nauarre shoulde bee taken for the Vicegerent or Regent throughoute the whole Realme And that the Queene neuer after would doe any thing withoute his counsell and will. This and the rest whiche tended to this effect were confirmed and fully agreed vpon both by words and writings and Registred by the Kings Secretaries in publike record These conditions beeing concluded and agréed vpon all the Princes the Kings kynsmen and the Prince of Conde being for this cause sente for from Paris subscribed to the same The Duke of Guyse in lyke manner subscribed with them promising from thence forwarde to shewe him selfe morâ—… obediente to the Kyng of Nauarre Then commaundemente was giuen to the Marshall Momorentius that he shoulde with all spéed cause the states particularly assembled at Paris to be reuoked and called backe agayn and that the same whiche was done at the first concernyng thâ—… order of gouerning the kingdome should be quietly amended and corrected The which thing was wysely brought to pâ—…sse by him to the great pleasure of the Quéene and also without any offence to the king of Nauarre Among the Ambassadoures of forreyne Princes and nations whiche came into Fraunce to gratifie the newe kyng Charles there was the Ambassadoure of Denmarke called Georgius Gluchus For this man the king of Nauarre made a feaste and desired him to tell his lorde the kyng of Denmarke that be would before a yeare came came about bring to passe that the Gospell should be openly and fréely preached thoroughoute the whole realme of Fraunce â–ª For the whiche thing when thankes was giuen to God and the good intent and purpose of the king of Nauarre commended Georgius Gluchus the Ambassadoure prayed him that hée woulde take héede that the doctrine of Caluine and of the Heluetians myght not be receyued in France but rather the doctrine of Martine Luther Whyche doctrine the king of Denmarke his Lorde and the kyng of Sueuia and many other kings and Princes whose dominion and power is no lesse than theirs whiche acknowledge the bishop of Rome and his Churche doo followe To this the king of Nauarre answered that Martine Luther and Iohn Caluine did wholly disagrée from the Pope in fortie Articles and of those fortie Articles they agréed betwéene themselues in nine and thirtie So that there is but one betwene them in controuersie Wherfore sayeth he both parts must endeuor themselues mutnally to beÌ„d their minds force first of al against the Pope that he being once ouercome they may seriously togither consider confer and come to agréement in that article in controuersie and so the Churche at the length may be brought to his former puritie But the Constable when the Quéene and king of Nauar were made frendeu obteyned great fauour on bothe sydis perswading himselfe that he had not ben a lâ—…ttle beneficiall to both of them by this meanes he was verie familiar with them bothe But when he saw that in Leâ—…t flesh was commonly eaten and openly vought and solde and that there were lermons openly preached in the prince of Condes chamber heard also the Quéen opeÌ„ly say that it was the kings pleasure and hirs also that there should be godly Sermons euery day in the kings house he began to suspecte that the king of Nauarre and the Quéen had secretly agréed together concerning religion And there preached before the Kyng one Ianuâ—… Monlucius Bishop of Valentine at whose preaching the Constable and the duke of Guise were â—…euer but once and the Constable being verie angrie with the bishop of Valentine sayde that it was inough for him to come once and no
the one seeking warres horrible murther the other peace and the generall profiâ—…e of all men yet notwithstanding the Quéene may iudge determine of the whole matter But and if shée cannot at this time fréely declare hir iudgement eyther beinge stayed by violence or else because shée will not for other causes offend them yet notwithstanding this thing wée craue and request at her hands séeing these times great ly requireth the same namely That their supplication and myne may be registred in the publike Commentaries of the Senate That the Edict of Ianuary maye bée obserued and that both partes laying asyde their weapons may depart to their own houses vntill the Kinge comming to ryper yeares shal be able to iudge and order the whole matter as it shall please him or else till the Quéene with the aduise of hir counsaile shal determine of the same The remedie appertayneth to both partes neither caÌ„ any man complaine that hée receyueth any preiudice it is so easy to be done the whosoeuer shall refuse y same cannot deny himself to be an enemy to the king and the realme Neither can it be but that they shal be iudged of all men to be in the blame which refuse the remedye so easie to be had for so great misery and calamitie lyke too ensue It shal be iudged also who is a traytour and an open enemie to the king and the realme eyther he which willingly offereth to vnarme himselfe or he which had rather destroy all than restore the King agayne to hys former liberty But because ciuil warres haue alwayes euill successe the soldiers minds and handes being not easie to bée restrayned I protest before God and men that I put my self in armour and prepare my soldiers to battaill with great grief of mind and doe hartely desire that so great calamities and miseries as are like to come by these ciuill warres might be auerted and appeased by my bloud only if it might so please god But bicause my reasonable request is reiected and séeing my aduersaries wil be Iudges in this cause I protest agayn that my only purpose and intent is to restore the king and Quéene into their former liberty and to bring the gouernement of y kingdome to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar and to deliuer the greatest part of the people from the tyraÌ„nie and oppression of such as haue vsurped the gouernement of the realme I haue no regard to my owne priuate commoditie or gayne in this cause I am not led by ambition by a desire to reuenge or by couetousnesse as knoweth the Lord whose glory and truth I séeke to defende with the dignitie of the King and peace and tranquillitie of the Realme While the matter was thus canuassed too and fro by writing and the Guises with their compartners bearing only an outward shew to the Quéene of reuerence and séeking notwithstanding daily more and more to rule gouerne the realme themselues the Quéen by hir effeminat and timerouse nature was very doubtful being carefull for hir libertie authoritie which shée had lost and fearing also the ambition of the Guises and his adherents And being afeard of their great power she stood in doubt whether she should incline to them or leane to the Prince of Conde Notwithstanding shée wrote often letters vnto him by faithfull messengers and sometime she sent her mind by word of mouth not daring to send by letters Of some of the which letters we haue here put downe the Coppies I Sée such sights dayly to my great grief my welbeloued Cosin that except I looked for helpe froÌ„ God dyd coÌ„fort my self with the trust which I haue in you wherby I am perswaded that you wil preseÌ„tly seke to preserue me the realme and the king my Son I should be much more gréeued than I am But I hope that all thinges shal be very well ordered by vs with the helpe of your good Counsel to the frustrating of all their actions and practises which séeke to destroy al thinges But because I haue at large declared the whole matter vnto this messenger I wil be here the more briefe Only I besech you to credit that which he shall tell you concerning al those things which I haue giuen him in charge to declare vn to you two Your Cosin CATHARINE Also this which foloweth is the copie of another of her letters I giue you harty thankes my deare Cosine for that you so oftentymes certifie me of your affaires and because I trust to sée you ere it be long face to face and to talke with you my selfe I wil not now write much vnto you Only this I request of you that you fully perswade your selfe that I wil neuer forget those things which you haue done for my sake And if it fortune that I did before I shal be able to acknowledge recompeÌ„ce so great a benefit I wil giue my children charge to supply such lacke in mée to requite the same I haue commaunded this messenger to tell you many things Thus much only I certify you of that I do as I do and behauâ—… my selfe as you knowe to worke if it might be peace and concord the which I knowe that you my welbeloued Cosin desier no lesse than I. Salute I pray you in my name your wyfe your wyues Mother and your Uncle Your deare and louing Cosin CATHARINE Whereas the Quéene complaineth in these letters that shée is in great sorrowe and greefe and noteth also many authours of troubles she speaketh of the Guises and his fellowes whom notwithstanding shée durst not openly resiste neyther yet take part with the Prince of Conde And whereas shée sayeth that shée trusteth it wil shortly come to passe that shée shall sée him face to face the occasion was this when nothing went forward neither by letters nor yet by messengers sent from one to another the Quene made peticion to the Prince of Conde that he would come talke with the King of Nauar to the intent they might haue mutuall conference of the whole matter and might deuise some way for peace and concorde The Prince of Conde yelded to the request the place and time for their meting was appointed namely the first of Iune At which tyme the Quéene the Kynge of Nauar and the Prince of Conde met togither in the Region of Beausse in the mid way betwéene Paris and Orleans At this their méeting they commoned of many thinges of the which we will speake hereafter as they were publiquely put downe in writinge by the Prince of Conde The Quene durst not graunt any thing to the Prince of Conde neither did the king of Nauar his brother shew himself any whit tractable or frendly Wher vpon they brake of and departed without any profite by their méeting and conference their minds being therby not a little exasperated and grudge raysed against one another The Quéene and the Kyng of Nauar plainely denied to the Prince
Prince of Conde and also the falsehood trechery and vniust dealing of our aduersaries may appeare as is more at large set forth in those writinges published concerning this matter Of the which matters because thou art certified alreadie most noble Emperour we will at this tyme be no longer tediouse vnto thée This one thing the Prince of Conde requesteth at your highnes hand that you will take into your custody the crowne of our yong King from those thrée priuate persones which haue brought him into so great daunger and to restraine them of their willes séeing it is manyfest that these thrée priuate persones the one of them a strauÌ„ger the other two not comparable to the Prince of Conde in no condition haue caused Ciuill warres to the destruction of the Realme And aboue all thinges this he requesteth that you would deliuer the King the Quéene and the Realm from their presumption tiranny and falsehoode and that you would helpe the states of the Realme to their authoritie and the Kinges Subiectes to peace and to the benefite of the Kings Edictes Also because vnder the couller of defendinge the King the Rokendolfe and the Rhengraue haue brought troupes of horsemen out of Germanie into Fraunce notwithstanding meaning to helpe our aduersaries whereby there cannot chuse but ensue great hurte to the King and to the realme the Prince of Conde humbly beséecheth you that by your commaundement and by the commaundementes of your noble Princes they may with all spede be called backe againe and may be seuerely straightly charged not to beare armoure against vs and also that hereafter it be lawful for none within the limmits of the empire to musture either horsemen or footemen to serue the Guises which vse not but abuse the Kinges name and authoritie The which dede most noble Emperour shal become you very wel since God hath made you a refuge for the afflicted in time of trouble and a helpe for Kings especially when they are in daunger of men by reason of their tender yeares Defend therefore our Kinge oure Quéene his mother the Kingdome and the lawes and states of the Realme from the tyrrannie of the Triumuiri Concerning the vayne assaulte that was giuen to Cesteron a Towne in Prouance by Monsuer Sommeriue a Captain on the Papistes side we haue spoken before Yet notwithstanding they came to the same place again the xxvi day of August with a greater armie with al maner of artillery better appointed carying with them from Marsiles certain great fielde péeces Therefore the Citie began to be battered with greater force of ordinance than it was before TheÌ„ word was brought that Monsuer Monbrun came with an Army of men to rayse the siege his Army contained a thousand footemen and two hundred horsemen Monsuer de Suze hearing of this went out to méete him with a company of wel appointed Souldiers and geuing the on set vppon Monsuer Monbrun he slew an hundred and fiftie of his Souldiers and put the rest to flight Monsuer Monbrun also himselfe fledde leauing behinde him two field péeces which afterward came into the handes of Monsuer de Suze At the coÌ„maundement of Baron des Adretz Monsuer Monbrun came to Cesteron minding with the ayd rescue of moÌ„suer de Adretz which on the other part had inuaded the County of Venaâ—… both to remoue the siege from Cesteron and also with the greater force to assault Prouance Against the men of Auinion which went about to resist hym Baron des Adretz preuailed and had the victory geuing vnto theÌ„ the ouerthrow at a village called Orgo Notwithstanding when Baron des Adretz heard that Monsuer Monbrun was put to flight he retourned into Dolpheny New Monsuer Someriue and his Souldiers at the returne and good successe of Monsuer de Suze and his men were not a little incouraged in so much that with greater force vehemency they began to assault the city wheÌ„ by battery they had made a great breach in the wals the soldiers began with great violâ—…ce to enter therat who notwithstanding were coÌ„strained to retire again many of theÌ„ being sâ—…ain by the faithfull But when their vitualles were wel nigh spent and that they were dayly oppressed more and more with penury and scarsitie Monsuer Senaz the lifetenaunt of the Towne Monsuer Mouens whose helpe he greatly vsed began to consider concerning the yéelding vp of the Citie and placing certaine Souldiers in the breach of the wall to kepe the Citie accordinge to the custome of warres they in the night without noyse caried out a great multitude of the Townsmen with Wemen and Children and aged persones at a certaine place to the which the enemy could scarcely come being let with a riuer and a hill which lay betwene them The enemyes scoutes were wary of the noyse and gaue intelligence thereof vnto the Army but rather thinkinge that some came to helpe them than that the faithfull went out of the City suspected nothinge and therefore held themselues still in their tentes Thus Monsuer Mouens and a great multitude of people escaped the peril But Mon suer Someriue being certyfied of the whole matter by the Papistes of the Towne entered into the Citye and there slew all that he found in the Citye both Papistes and Protestantes without respecte of persones Monsuer Mouens caried the people which he brought out of Cesterâ—… most miraculously through diuers places which were possessed by the enemy yet notwithstanding escaped their handes and came at the last to Gratianople a Citie in Dolpheny And so all Prouans when the faithfull were ouercome yelded to the Papistes by whom all kind of cruelty beside the custome of warre was committed in Cityes and Townes as at Marsiles and at Aijques and in that whole Region Many Women also in those Cityes were so outragious best lyke cruell â–ª contrary to their kind that it is almost incredible to be tould These when they had gathered themselues to gyther to a sufficient nomber would in the night as if they had bin dronke or out of their wittes go vp down the Citie searching and ransackinge the houses of the faithfull and when they had founde a woman they led her and scourged her through the Citie vntill she came to the common place of slaughter which they had prepared for the purpose and then hanged her vp by the féete the which being done they draue vp a wedge or wodden pin into the body through the shame and secrete part of the woman and so slewe her an acte most horrible and shamefull to be eyther spoken or heard Euery where robbery rapine and spoyle was committed the Senate in the meane tyme not only suffering these thinges to escape vnpunished but also approuing the same Upon the Territorie of Lions there bordereth a Region called Forestes the chief Citie wherof is Monbriso Therefore the inhabitants of Forrestes hauing Monsuer Monselas their Captayne anoyed the
in no perell hereafter by any maner of meanes eyther for wearing armour or for Religion commaundinge that all sentences pronounced againste him for these causes to be voyde and of none effect and that his goodes substance which hath bin brought into our treasury be giuen restored to him again and commanding also the watch ward about his house to cease whatsoeuer hath bin ordeyned and decréed in our Parlements for this matter notwithstanding Also that it shal not be nedefull for the said T. R. our suppliant to haue any other argument or proofe to declare our will and pleasure herin but these our letters only Notwith standing prouided that he be no author of seditions of rapines or of spoyling of Churches nor that he secretly conuey to our enemis either money or armour and also vpon this condition that he liue euer hereafter Catholicly and come not to the seruice or rytes of the new Religion that he neuer hereafter beare armour against vs nor do ayde and assiste those that are our enemyes any maner of way But as by these meanes snares were layed to trap entangle the simple and héedelesse sort as shortly after appeared in many when they were come home so there was no staye of excommunications thoondered out at Paris at Tbolouze and at Bordeaulx and in other places where the papistes ruled against such as were counted Huguenotes strayt charge being geuen to al meÌ„ to detect such persones the payne appointed threatened to suche as should conceale any such so suspected and a rewarde promised to him that would detect any such person the Kings Attorney being commaunded to inquire and â—…nd out such causes and to bring them with all spéede before the Senate Then after the publishing of those letters of warrant from the King whereof we spake before the Senate or Parliament of Paris decréed that all those men which came from Burges Poytiers Meaulx Roane Lions and from other Cities which were kepte by the Prince of Conde to Paris should be taken and that they should be punished according to the prescript of the Kings Edicte which commaundeth al men of the new Religion to goe out of Paris notwithstandinge that they had gotten the Kinges letters of warrant and had made a Catholique confession as they terme it of their fayth Roane being wonne as we declared before the army of the Guise came to Paris about the beginning of Nouember the rumour increasing more and more concerning the ayde of the Germanes and of the Englishe men which should come to the Priuce of Conde very shortly Therefore Roan being fortified agayne the breaches of the walles being builded vp and a Garrison left in the towne the Duke of Guise retourned backe agayn with his armie to Paris In the meane tyme came the armies out of Germanie to Orleans sent by the protestant Princes vnder the conduct and charge of the Marshall of Hessen They were thirtéen enseignes of horsemen contayning in iust number 2600 and eleuen enseignes of footemen contayning thrée thousand souldiours Then the Prince of Conde when hée had gathered togyther an armye mynded to remoue from Orleans and to goe to Paris But before his departure from thence hée published a writing in the which he cleareth himselfe from being the author of the first motions and of the ciuill warre deryuing and laying the same vpon the Guises his fellowes and protesteth that dutie moueth him too enter into warre to deliuer the Kinge and the whole Realme from those iniuries and violence This which followeth is the summe of his letter I haue hitherto sufficiently sayeth he by many writings published and sent abroad euidently declared that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew are the authours and the first and true causes of those troubles which we sée at this tyme to be so hote outra giouse in the Realme because they tooke disdayne that they should be remoued from the gouernement whiche they vsurped in the dayes of King Fraunces the seconde and were offended at the decrée of the States of the Realme in which thei are commaunded to make an accompt of the excéeding number of giftes which they had receyued in the former Kings dayes and of the ordering and bestowing of the Kings money greatly refusinge not onely to be deliuered from this account but also vsing their former subtilties to enriche and set vp them selues by the ruine and decay of others After that I shewed the diuers Counselles and secret deliberations had they couering their conspiracies with the cloake of Religion and how they began to arme them selues by their owne prinate authoritie contrary to the expresse commaundements of the Quéene and the Decrée of the States breaking the common peace how they contemning the Quéenes authoritie the decree of the States by which they were commaunded to goe home to their owne houses came with an army ofmen and tooke the King and Quéene into their handes perforce with so much grief to the King that hée declared the same with teares openly I haue also declared and will euer euidently declare that I haue for iust and necessary causes and by the expresse commaundements of the Quéen her selfe as may appeare by letters sealed with her owne hand armed my selfe and haue ben nominated and elected by her to take vpon me the defence of this cause as can testifie Monsure Jarnac Monsure Soubize and moÌ„sieur Pordillan to whoÌ„ shée expresly declared that it was her will that the Kings faithfull subiectes should obeye mée and that they should at my commaundement withstand the counselles and practises of the Kinges aduersaries to restrayne their licenciouse willes And as for me if I should not take the sword in hand the King and Quéenes Maiesties and the Realme cannot choose but be ruled by the wills of the aduersaries whom experience hath shewed of late to be the tyraunts of Fraunce And now although I haue the testimonie of a good conscience towardes God and the Quéen who hath power and authoritie to gouerne the Realme and although I haue already declared all my actions and the trueth of my cause by diuers writings yet neuerthelesse because my aduersaries according to their wonted wicked custome do send abroad into forreyne nations many false reportes and sclaunders in writing impudently burthening mée with false lyes making mée the authour and cause of all these troubles I which desire to haue a good name and report among all Christian Princes Nobles and among the Kinges faythfull subiectes which desire to kéepe my honor and dignity thought good after many other to publishe this writing also To the ende all men may vnderstand how carefully euen vntill this present daye I haue laboured sought by al meanes possible to mitigat and pacefie those troubles raysed by their wickednesse not onely because I know what great destruction will come thereby but also because I haue a singular care and desire both to stablish the
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
and grieuance of the Guises Furthermore we will declare what great alterations came to passe after this the yong King Charles comming to the Crowne As the great peace and tranquilitie giuen and graunted to the Churches by the benefite of the Kings Edictes the daily increase of the faithfull the flourishing of the Gospell in euery place the defacing of the Popes doctrine by solemne Court of Parliament the truth also embraced of many of the Nobles And here we will shewe what séedes of dissention were sowne by the subtile practises of the Guises betwéene the Nobles Then I will speake somewhat of the Actes of the parling of Possiacen Last of all I will declare the summe of the Edict of Ianuarye by which greater libertie was graunted to the Churches And bicause about that time there were great troubles of warres I will there make an ende of thys booke leauing the declaration of the rest vntill a more conuenient time Notwithstanding part thereof that is to say the explication of the first Ciuil warres shall be declared in our thrée latter bookes we looking to haue occasions offered to describe other matters which are behinde The booke of Commentaries concerning Religion vnder the reignes of Henrie the seconde Fraunces the seconde and Charles the ninth THe doctrine of Religion which in our time is amended and reformed came at the last into Fraunce But they were hardly delt withall which receyued that doctrine they were banished burnt and with all maner of torments vexed they were also called Lutheranes which name then was made a common reproch to the godly Notwithstanding all this that doctrine did more largely and vehemently spreaâ—…e it selfe abroade and the more that men were toriâ—…ented the more they came â—…o the same by flocks Many to the end they might escape the crueltie of their punishments â—… might enioy the frée vse of religioÌ„ weâ—…t vnto those places â—…n the which y same was purely publikely set forth amâ—…ng which the greatest part went to Geneua From whence many bookeÌ„s and letters being written a great number were brought to the knowledge of that doctrine The which dailie increasing more and more great matters afterwardes came to passe those things which were done in the beginning with feare and secretely were afterwarde frée and common for euery man to vse vntill such time as punishments being repressed torments taken away and the fierie flames quite extinguished that doctrine was receyued of noble men of Gentlemen and of all estates but on the other side the aduersaries of the reformed religion Resisting y same there arose great tumults which by mortall and ciuill warres vexed and much endamaged the great and noble kingdome of Fraunce But these first beginnings are particularly touched in other bookes in the which the noble and excellent triumphes of Martyrs are described I will therfore begin at that yeare since the which matters of Religion being more opeÌ„ly set forth and more vehemently againe resisted haue more happily and euidently appeared And then this was the state of the kingdome After sundrie and long warres betwéene Henrie the seconde King of Fraunce and Charles the fyfth Emperour at the length both their Legates wheÌ„ they could not by peace ende the controuersies which were betwéene them concluded a truce or peace for fyue yeares the which being shortly after broken by the Cardinall of Lorraine the warre began a freshe betwene the two kings And Fraunces Duke of Guise taketh his iourney into Italie with a great armye And Philip king of Spaine and sonne of the Emperour Charles goeth into Picardie who making hast to the towne of Sanquintine gaue the Constable which came out to mete him a great ouerthrow and toke him with a great number of Gentlemen This ouerthrowe and great slaughter of men was called Laurence day bicause it chaunced at the feast of S. Laurence â–ª After this Sanquintine was taken and certaine cities nere vnto the same So that what with the rumor of the sodeine slaughter what with the feare of the enimie which now approched to Paris the chiefe citie of the kingdome all men were wonderfully afrayde While these things were thus a working there began to be a great fame and rumor of the increase of the Lutheranes by reason whereof there followed a notable persecution against them which by the popular and vulgar name is called The winning of S. Iames streete and it was so called for this cause When the faithfull perceyued the great perill and dauÌ„ger that hong ouer the whole kingdome of France by reason of this newe plague and punishment they gaue themselues to prayer and therfore congregated themselues togither by a great number the fourth daye of September in certaine houses of S. Iames stréete in Paris and that in the night for in the daye time they might by no meanes come togither minding to heare the worde preached and to haue the supper of the Lorde celebrated But they being bewrayed the common sort of people with weapons in a great tumult ranne with all haste to this stréetâ—… of S. Iames where the faithfull were assembled who being in those houses before mentioned and séeing themselues to be compassed on euerye side with the furor and rage of the multitude had small hope to escape howbeit part of them when they sawe a waye to be made for them through a certaine gate which wonderfully opened for the safegarde of many when the houses on â—…uery side were beset repeated their former prayers and escaped by flight without harme euen as though God himselfe had gone before them the greater part were taken of the Magistrates among whom were many noble women and women of great parentage and as they were led away by the officers were shamefully intreated and vnhonestly handled of the people Now the matter being in question concerning this asseÌ„bly it was first founde that when the people were assembled togither there was a Lecture of the holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue secondly that all the congregation knéeling prayers were made by the Minister thirdly that the Minister expounded the place of the eleuenth Chapter of S. Paules first Epistle to the Corinthians in the which the vse of the Lords supper is declared fourthly that then prayers were made for the King for Princes Magistrates for all estates of people for peace and quietnesse of the kingdom and last of all that the breade end wine of the Lords supper was communicated and giuen to those which were not iudged vnworthie For these offences they were taken Being therefore taken and cruelly intreated of the people by the way were notwithstanding very vâ—…courteously delt withall in prison For théeues and murtherers and such as by the lawe deserued to die were taken out of their colde and noysome prisons and these men put into the same in their steade all men forbidden to haue any recourse vnto them Notwithstanding it was brought to passe by the singular prouidence of God bicause
to their confession which latelye they defended might go vntroubled and vnconstreyned to doe anye thyng agaynste their conscience that nothing myght bée deuysed to put them in peryll of lyfe and goodes and that they whiche were in prison myght bée sette at libertie To conclude they affirme that they perceyue that their earnest requestes shall no lesse preuayle with him than the cryings and importunitie of the aduersaries of the truth hath done The which if it come to passe according to their expectatioÌ„ he shall fulfill the commaundement of the sonne of God who specially committeth his Church which he hath redéemed with his most precious bloude to Princes also shall shewe great mercie and compassion and be very beneficiall towardes his subiectes if so be he woulde giue them leaue to inuocate and worship God aright In reknowledging whereof they testifie themselues to be ready and vpon this condicion will constantly avide for euer the Kinges friendes To these letters subscribed the Earle of Palatine the Duke of Saxâ—…nie Marchio of Brandeburge VVolfgangus Earle of Weldentsius and the Duke of Wirtemberge The king when he had suluted the Ambassadours according to the maner and custome maketh a very short aunswere in this forme saying that he will forthwith sende such an aunswere that he trusted thereby sufficiently to satisfie them But notwithstanding the Ambassadours of the Princes were as yet scarcely departed but that the fire of persecution which séemed to be extinguished before by their comming burned the faithfull a freshe Moreouer the causes of those Counsellers who as we sayd before were taken in the Senate of Paris came now in question Iudges also were chosen which shoulde consider the cause of Annas Burgaeus but not indifferent Iudges but such as were great enimies to that which he defended And among others the Bishop of Paris and Demochares the Inquisitor were chosen for this purpose the which Iudges when Burgaeus refused desiring that he might be iudged of the whole felowship and assemblie of the Senate according to the ancient and accustomed lawe of the Senate of Paris he was commaunded by the Kings letters patents to aunswere before those iudges The which letters when he had hearde them red he affirmed that for obedience sake to the King he woulde aunswere otherwise he woulde haue made no aunswere at all therefore they demaunding of him he made aunswere to all those principall points of Popish religion which are at this day in controuersis as to the traditions of the Church to inuocation of Saints to Purgatorie to the Masse and to the rest All the which he dislyking and gaynsaying was at the last condemned by the Bishop of Paris for an heretike and bicause he had taken certayne orders as they call them the same Bishop giueth commaundement that he shoulde be disgraded and so giuen ouer to the secular power The which sentence as it was falslye giuen so Burgaeus appealed from the same to the celestiall Iudge And nowe at this time those outragious stormes of persecution did seeme to beate vpon euery corner of the church of christ The King sent new letters to euery Parliament in the which he commaundeth that the Lutheranes shoulde be most seuerely persecuted Heretofore sayth he in the troublesome time of warres the Lutheranes greatly increased but now that he had inioyed and gotten peace he wold wholy bende himselfe and all his force vtterlye to race and destroy them wherefore he exhorteth them to vse the same diligence in doing the like If they want power and stregth he promiseth that he will prouide for them a bande of souldiers to be redy to ayde theÌ„ at al néede In any wise he willed them not to be colde in their businesse as some began to be for if they were he woulde first begin with them and make them féele the smart of punishment prepared for others Therefore all the Courtes Senates and Assemblies being with this general commauÌ„dement of the King mooued they thunder out and shake â–ª both heauen and earth with newe threatnings and Edicts In the middest of this great distresse and troubles of the faithfull there was great ioye triumph solemnitie and feasting for the peace confirmed betweene the two Kinges by the knot of matrimonie all which ioy and pleasure was by and by sodenly turned into great sorrowe and wo. For King Henrie to solemnise the matrimonie willed a Iusting or running at Tylt to be prepared the which being done and diuers of his Péeres and Nobles armed in a readinesse he himselfe desired among all others to runne against Momgomerie Captaine of his garde who being very loth and vnwilling so to doe was commauÌ„ded earnestly of the King to run against him the King himselfe putting a speare into Momgomeries hande and running togither in a broade way that leadeth to S. Anthonies stréete not farre from the Castell into the which the two Counsellers of whome we spake before were put a péece of one of the Speares or iusting staues by the great force and violence of their running strake the King through the helmet into the eye and so to the brayne wherewith he was sore hurt Then the wounded King after much bléeding was caried into the house called the smal towers Manye men report that he sayde in his greatest griefe and payne that he greatly â—…eared that he had committed wickednesse and done iniurie agaynst his two CouÌ„sellers but the Cardinall of Loraine did labor earnestly to turne his minde from that opinion often crying and inculcating these wordes into his eares The aduersarie of the faith tempteth thee perseuere constantly in the faith The King by the earnest and continuall perswasion of that Cardinall had bene verye cruellye minded and bent against those Counsellers in so much that threatening he spake these wordes I my selfe will see the burning of Burgaeus It was noted of manye that the King was wounded and stayne by him whome he commaunded to carie Burgaeus to prison who was as is sayde before Momgomerie a mortall enimie at that time to the reformed Religion the which he vehementlye persecuted vpon the straite commandements and charge giuen vnto him for the same purpose But afterwarde he was brought to the knowledge of the truth became a very profitable member of the Church of christ And thus king Henrie being weary of his mortall life through extreme griefe and paine surrendred the same againe to him that gaue it in the yeare of our Lorde god M. D. LIX the. x. day of August By this sodaine chaunce the ioy and mirth was turned into sorrowe and beauinesse all men woondring to beholde so sodeyne an alteration and chaunge The Court which was séeled pergitted sumptuouslye decked and prepared for dauncing leaping and other pastyme to make a pleasant and ioyfull mariage was nowe conuerted to another vse namely to kéepe the Kings deade bodie There bewaylings were made with dolefull and lamentable songs in blacke and mourning garments the space of fortie days and fortie nightes
procéede in his well doing promising vnto him great things and to the ende he might not séeme to dallie he gaue vnto him a summe of money for an earnest peny and for the newes he brought him he called him Saint Paule the Conuert To be short this fellowe perceyuing some fruite and profite to come vnto him for his treacherie and playing the Iudas part added yet to his former wickednesse another mischiefe So many as he knew to be weak and not fully seâ—…led in the ChristiaÌ„ profession he perswaded to go to the Inquisitor and to desire his friendship that they might be absolued and discharged of the punishment ensuing Also he caried with him Catchpoles to so many of the houses of the faithfull as he knew that by them they might be apprehended By this his secrete treason he made all the chiefe of the Church to flée Nowe the other which was the Painters seruant enuying his maister for due correction ministred vnto his deserts went and tolde the Iudges that he had frequented the Lutheranes companie by the commaundement and will of his maister Whome the Judges séeing to be so readye to accuse inticed him by many faire promises to bewraye such as he knewe to be Lutheranes The which request of theirs he satisfied to the vttermost saying that the common report was true namely that they satisfied their filthie lustes one with another and saying also that he himselfe had to doe with diuers yong maydens whome he named For the which cause he required that those Maidens with their mothers might be brought before the Judge face to face and the matter throughly examined The which matter at the length being manifestly proued false this wicked accuser was constrayned to confesse that he was procured by Democharis the Inquisitor and one of the chiefe of the Senate to forge these things Howbeit this slaunderous rumor did much harme for it was noysed abroade that all maner of wickednesse was committed by the Lutheranes when they came togither The same wherof being brought to the eares of the yong King made him more cruell against the faithfull And so persecution waxed hote and vehement againe the Iudges Flyes for so were the Inquisitors called flying abrode in euery corner Insomuch that for the space of nyne monethes the faithfull were cast in prison banished murthered and their houses and goodes confiscate Notwithstanding all these things God preserued the remnant of his Church and suffered not for all this the preaching of his worde to be taken away Manye therefore were then burned for the Gospels sake whose coÌ„stancie wan many to the same And among the rest which suffered for the testimonie of the Gospell there was one woman called Margaret Riche a booke sellers wife of wonderfull constancie This woman by the falshoode deceit of hir husband was betrayed into the hands of the Judges who notwithstanding was the first that instructed hir in the truth brought hir to know reiect hir former errors Annas Burgaeus affirmed that he was much encouraged by the constancy of this woman which was kept in bonds when he liued Thus the Kingdome of the yong King Frances being gouerned as it pleased the Guises who hauing gotten the superioritie thought and deuised nowe howe to bring two things to passe which séemed to be so necessary for theÌ„ that without the obtaining of them they could not get their purpose the which two thinges were these the extinguishing and taking away of the libertie of Fraunce and the libertie of the Gospell But while they went about to bring these things to passe many complaintes of them and libeâ—…s that touched the practise of these things were cast abrode namely that the Guises did not secretly go about to conspire against the kingdome that they went about in the dayes of King Henrie by subtil sinister meanes to subuert and wast the Duchie of Andegauensis and the Countie of Prouince that they oftentimes complained that the King had doâ—…e them iniurie in this thing that they went about to proue by learned men whoÌ„ they had taken to search the Chronicles that they came by true lineall discent of Carolus Magnus that Hugo Capetus of whom come the kings of Vales that now raigne vsurped the kingdome that they sayd that they hoped for a time to come at the length when they should haue more coÌ„uenient time to reason iudge of this matter And therfore that the Guises hauing practised these things in the dayes of Henrie the King had now greater hope in these days of the yong king to bring their purpose to passe that it was done against all the lawes of the Realme that they shoulde arrogate to themselues the gouernement of the Kingdome séeing the same pertained to the Princes which were the Kings neare kinsmen whom notwithstanding they had excluded froÌ„ that lawful dignitie appertaining to them that the kingdome could not be committed vnto them without great daunger specially séeing they contended for the same that it wanted not great suspition that they banished the auncient kinsfolks of the king froÌ„ the Court to the intent they might do al things as theÌ„ listed that they did chauÌ„ge the gouernors of Prouinces and Cities to the ende such might beare office as would be ruled by them that it appeared by manye things that their gouernment was pernicious and hurtfull for the kingdome as both by the freshe memorie of the late wicked acte done in the dayes of King Henrie concerning that notable viage to Naples by which the one was minded to make himselfe Pope and the other purposed to make himselfe King and also by the sundrie exactions with the which the people were oppressed when they shoulde rather haue bene eased considering the great warres and charge that they had bene at before being charged with warre a freshe carying the souldiers that were wearied in the former warres into Seotlande and all vnder the pretence of religion And here for examples sake the dealings of those were brought in who vnder the colour of custodie protection and wardship had inuaded the kingdomes of Orphantes These were the contents of those libels dispersed abrode coÌ„cluding also that it was no offence at all but well done with the sworde to resist the tirannie of the Guises While these things were published abrode and on both sides writings of defence dispersed manye rumors were brought from farre Countries to the Guises but among the rest this in especiall namely that manye had made a conspiracie to set vpon them euen in the Kinges house The Guises therefore being moued with these writings and rumors layde the cause of all these things to the Lutheranes charge and went about to perswade the King that the Lutheranes disdaining to be so greatlye afflicted had made a conspiracie to destroy him And for the more safetie of the King they caried him to Ambaxia being a litle towne and fortified with a Castell appointing watch and warde to be in euery place through
neyther that he coulde so be proued by any meanes This one thing he cōfessed to be true that he went about to resist the tyrannie of the Guises with a great number of the Nobilitie of Fraunce if this were to offende the Kings maiestie sayde he they must be called Kings before I and they can iustly be condemned of treason And séeing they might not haue libertie to appeale to mortall Iudges he sayde that he appealed to the celestiall Iudge for so vniust iudgement giuen vpon him the which ere it be long will take vengeance on innocent bloude so vniustly shed The like also many others affirming and committing their innocencie to God caused manye to lament their state with teares And among the rest one whose name was Villemongius bathing his handes in the bloude of his fellowes which were newlye slayne lifted vp his handes imbrued with bloude to heauen crying Lord this is the bloud of thy seruants thou shalt take vengeance Nowe therefore these horrible slaughters a man woulde thinke had bene sufficient to make Renaudius forsake his former purpose but he notwithstanding continued in the same Wherefore he went about to gather togither againe his men which were dispersed as you haue heard euē now the which while he assayed he met with a horseman of hys enimies side who shot of at Renaudius his dag but missing him was at the last by Renaudius slayne But Renaudius by a souldiour standing by being the seruaunt of the horseman that was slaine was also wounded to death with the shot of a Dagge whome notwithstanding before he died Renaudius also manfully slue But streight after by the grieuousnesse of the wounde he dyed Whose deade carcas being brought to Ambaxia was hanged vp with this title RENAVDIVS captaine of Rebels and Author of Sedition After this it was deuided or quartered into foure partes and set vp in diuers places and his heade set vpon a forke A wonderfull and straunge thing it was that so many men should come togither from all parts of the Realme and yet be séene of none But this was not the ende of this tumult The Guises against whome this conspiracie was made made great search and inquiry for those that were suspected to be guiltie of this conspiracie Moreouer the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde in this contention tooke part against the Guises as hereafter shall be declared The Constable at the commaundement of the King went to the Senate of Paris and there opened the whole matter concerning the tumulte of Ambaxia commending the great diligence of the Guises in pacifying of the same But bicause he sayde that this conspiracie was made against those that were in chiefe authoritie about the King the Guises tooke the same in very euil part who would haue had all men perswaded that it was made for the destruction of the King and the whole Realme that all good order being taken away euery man might rule and gouerne as him lysted At this time Oliuarius the Kinges high Chauncelour who had condemned those that were taken in the tumult of Ambaxia was grieuously taken with sickenesse and being very extréemely handled therewith sayde that he had iustly deserued the same for that those whome he had condemned had great iniurie done vnto them Moreouer hée made exclamation against the cardinal of Loraine who hearing of his extreme sicknesse came to sée him saying Thou O Cardinall art he that bringeth destruction to vs all And so fetching déepe sighes grieuous grones be ended his life Nowe there came forth a newe Edict very cruell against those which followed the newe Religion as they termed it Notwithstanding the late conspiracie being founde to come through the cruell punishmentes layde vpon men whereat they boldly repined brought to passe that the Guises being afrayde thought it best to temper and mittigate those punishments Therefore there were sent abrode letters of pardon in the which the King declared that he would not in the first yere of his reigne begin with the miserable slaughter of his subiects although they had deserued the same but wold rather folow the example of our heauenly father to retain his seruāts by his lenitie mercie than by seueritie and punishments Therfore he sayd he sorgaue all offences concerning religion and gaue generall pardon notwithstanding vpon that condition that they which enioyed the benefite therof should liue catholikely as others did Moreouer the same that came by the conspiracie troubled also the Cardinall of Loraine being a man by nature verye fearefull and wauering insomuch that now after a sort he shewed himselfe very gentle toward the fauourers of the Gospell yea and hearde willingly many of the Ministers of Gods worde which were not afearde to talke with him concerning the chiefe pointes of the Religion nowe in controuersie affirming also that he himselfe did agrée with them in many points But the Quéene to the ende she might vnderstande the true causes of the tumult of Ambaxian and might sée also what remedies might be had for those troubles which were nowe readie to come vpon the kingdome sent for one called Planchaeus bicause he was sayde to be a man that had by long vse great experience who being come and brought into hir priuie chamber she declared that she had sent for him to this ende that she might vnderstande by him what were the causes of the troubles nowe at hande and also what remedies might be prouided for the same Of which she sayde no man coulde better satisfie hir than he Who when he coulde by no excuse shift off or denie this request at the last affirmed that for his obedience sake he woulde take this thing vpon him and so farre as he coulde satisfie hir request First therefore he began thus saying there are two sortes of them who hauing their names altered were no more called Lutheranes but Huguenotes I saye of these there are two factions the one of religious persons the other of Ciuile or politike persons Of the whiche two factions the first for their afflicted Religion the other for that the gouernement of the Realme was put into the handes of the Guises the Princes the Kings neare kinsemen beyng defrauded of the same were greatlye displeased These were the verye causes of these troubles to remedie the which there is no waye but to satisfie both their wylles The first namely the religious persons may easilye be perswaded if so be godly and learned men were gathered togither and disputation made of those articles nowe in controuersie But the others which were of the Temporaltie can not be so easilye pacified bicause they thinke that they haue iust occasion to put themselues in armour and to resist This therefore is the onely remedie if the Princes the Kings neare kinsemen be kept and set in their owne proper degrée and dignitye and the Guises by some faire and gentle meanes remooued from gouerning the Kingdome For the Nobilitie will not suffer the Princes
the greatest principall point to heale the which at the least may stay theÌ„ least dispayring they shoulde séeke an alteration remedy If on the coÌ„trary part the king aledge for him self the calamitie and trouble of the long continued warres the diuers and manifolde charges and costes that grewe thereof the scarsitie and emptinesse of his Treasurie and also the greate arrerages and debte in the which he founde the Crowne when he came first to the same Is not this a complaint to be considered and talked of in the assembly of States If the people alledge that the King oughte to maintaine himselfe and his traine by his yeerely reuenewes and that he ought to hold and maintaine warres with his subsidies and to set forth armies with his customes and tributes the which things were for this cause graunted in time paste If in like maner the king declare that he found almost al his demeines distracted deuided and conueyed awaye the greatest part of the subsidies taken vp before hande and yet he himselfe greatly burthened and indebted to the ende he might obtaine by the consent of the people that those burthens being somewhat eased mighte remaine as yet for a time vntil meanes and wayes which are dayly deuised to recouer againe his demeines may be brought to effect But is there no other better waye to be had to bring things to passe than by the assembly of the States To speake briefely if there be anye maner of complaint whatsoeuer pretenced or otherwise where can it be better put forth thaÌ„ in the generall assembly of the States and if it be a iuste complaint where can he haue a more present remedie than that which shal be deuised by so many men but if it be vniust where can the same be sooner found out thaÌ„ in the assembly There is also another consideration of necessitie wherof there arise great daungers seing in these straites and extâ—…emities there is no ordinary remedie vsed First of all the King is scarcely obeyed in his Edictes and statutes the which is one of the greatest signes of sedition For when the people are not heard in those things wherof they do complaine it commeth therevpon that they cast away all hope to haue redresse and so they fall into such desperation that they dare enterprise to ease and vnburden them selues without the hauing of any consideration of the kings coÌ„maundement or his officers yea they arme prepare theÌ„ selues against all perils as though nothing were more sharpe intollerable On the other part they which say that they are greued captiously take this coÌ„plaint of the people increase y same do al that they can to amplifie and enlarge that with newe lyes which they haue once falsely tolde and reported for a truth Herevpon commeth the vnhonest publishing and casting abrode of slaunderous bookes and publique writings And the people being exulcerated and vexed with their owne disease willingly receiueth that which appertaineth to their disease and by the ignorance of the kings matters doe flyde and fall into these sinister and wrong opinioÌ„s Of the which things to haue so great and manifolde destructions arise is great daunger many examples whereof we see dayly To auoide which destructions it séemeth most necessarie to call an assembly of the states And although the causes hytherto spoken of shewe no necessitie yet not withstanding the necessitie of the assembly of these men is such that it ought to be wished for of all men For what is more to be desired méete for a yong King to gouerne his kingdome than to be taught the things that concerne his kingdome that he may know the maners of his people and those things also which belong to the order and gouerning them Therefore let him learne to spende as he may and not to excéede and let hym play the part of a good shepherd who in shearing of his shepe doth not flea and pull of skin and all but leaueth the skinne that he maye receiue the fléece at another time againe and let him consider that whatsoeuer he spendeth more than his ordinarie reuenewes tribute custome and tallage is as it were the substance and bloud of the people whome he is set to gouerne by Gods appointment Herevpon shall come honest and godly education herevpon shall come both good beginnings and happie successe of all things and at the last the king shal get vnto him that Magnificent name with great glorye as to be called Pater Patriae The father of the countrey as King Lodowic the twelth was which leaueth a notable memorie behinde to all the posteritie is more to be desired than the Laureat crowne for victorie in warre Another commoditie also will ensue and that is this The people of Fraunce being chéered vp and comforted by this demonstration they will séeke all that euer they be able to ease those burtheÌ„s for they once vnderstanding their kings businesse and néede will imploye all that euer they haue to doe their king seruice But we must take héede least that prompte willingnesse being to often styrred doe not turne at the laste to impacient and brutishe madnesse And these commodities are ioyned with great honestie for that the king if it please him maye in the beginning of his raigne examine olde customes and lawes the which is the onely waye to correct and amende matters that are out of order For althoughe the king alone be the author of the law he onely can rule yet notwithstanding those things which he hath constituted and ordained by this assembly of the states are of greater force and efficacie and those will the people more willingly obey and kéepe bicause they vnderstande that they were confirmed by many mens opinions and Judgements wheras otherwise onely a fewe being assembled together they Judge that the matter was done according to the mind and phantasie of a fewe the reasons not examined wayed which might haue bene brought against the same For by these meanes the FrenchmeÌ„ haue preserued them selues and the kingdome vnto this daye neither is there anye well ordered kingdome in the which this order of assemblies is not obserued the which ought to be of great waight and highly estemed For seing so many kings do confesse that they féele and perceiue so many commodities to spring and growe of thys good order and that they doe counte the same the staye and strength of their scepter we can not certainely well and honestly departe from so ancient commendable a custome And as for the contrarie reasons which were wonte to be broughte to hinder these assemblies they can preuaile nothing at all seing the perill of those things which happened at another time are by no meanes to be feared the Kings authoritie at this day being so firmely established and confirmed by the counsell of the Quéene and by so many consents of Princes and Nobles that if these reasons might be receiued and take place there
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
Monsieur Vidame of Carnutum who was kept at Paris in holde for those causes whereof we haue spoken before Whose death many of the Nobles tooke very heinously Then were certaine thinges appointed and determined concerning the gouernment of the kingdome the imperie and rule was deuided betwéene the Quéene and the King of Nauarre and that in such order that the chiefest authoritie to gouerne the Realme was giuen to the Quéene against all law and auncient custome of France Wherfore by reason of this sodaine chaunge the assemblye of States were interrupted and brake vp for a certaine space But they were assembled togither againe in the same place the. xiii daye of December Charles the King the Quéene and the Princes according to the maner accompanying them Then the Chancelour at the commaundement of the King declared that there was no lesse willingnesse in the King than there was in his brother before him to haue an assemblie of States and that the rather bicause the King himselfe was newlye come vnto the Kingdome And he procéeded speaking very seriously and plentifully of the cause ende and vse of calling an assemblie of States and why the same being omitted for the space of eight and twentie yeres shoulde nowe againe be brought in vse And when he had shewed the King and the Subiectes also their duties he came to speake of those causes more particularly which brought to passe that there should be an assembly of States that is to say of the Seditions which he wished might be taken quite away for that they were like to bring so great troubles to the whole Realme And to finde out spéedye and profitable Remedies for the same he sayde the causes of so great euill must first of all bée noted and knowne We must sayth he in euery respect and condicion disalowe and vtterlye condemne sedition the which is nothing else but a separation and a pulling awaye of the subiectes from the Kingdome and Common wealth And it springeth of diuers causes First of feare of some imminent euill which may come by iniurie and oppression and also of the expectation of great things to put awaye penurie and scarcenesse But the speciall cause is Religion And this is very straunge and most wonderfull bicause God the only true author and preseruer of Religion as he is an enimy to dissention so is he the defēder and preseruer of peace Christian Religion néedeth not the defence of Armes neither doth the beginning or conseruation therof stand vpon force of armes Neither is their aunswere to be allowed which say That they take not armes and force in hande to offend any man but to defende themselues For by no meanes is it lawfull for the subiect to ryse against the Prince yea it is no lesse vnlawfull for him so to doe than for the children to resist their parents whether they be good and courteous or sharpe and cruell Thus did the godly Christians in tyme past set forth and maintaine Christian Religion namely by long sufferance and pacience also by deuout prayer for wicked Emperors which ouercame their crueltie The very Ethnikes truly praysed highly cōmended those which had suffered iniuries and reproches for their countrie But we which are Christians ought not to allowe the opinions of the Gréekes and Romaynes concerning the killyng of tyrantes If men were such as they ought to be there should neuer come any strife or contention for Religion But it is manifest that there is no greater force than the first conceyued opinion of Religion whether y same be good or euill There is no peace to be hoped for betwéene men of contrarie Religion There is nothing that doth more violently assaile the hearts of men and that doth more inuade them there is no affection that is of greater power and more violent either to bring friendship or to bring hatred than Religion The Jewes hated all other Nations as prophane And all other Nations hated the Jewes But wherefore for Religion What and howe great hatred was there in time past between the fathers and the Arrians But I omit such ancient examples and I will come nearer euen to our selues England and France embracing al one Religion shall be more surely linked and knit in frendship and loue one towardes another thā they which disagréeing in Religion are of one Countrie kinred and name Diuersitie of Religion dissolueth all the bondes of loue it setteth the father against the children and the children against the father brother against brother the man against the wife and the wife against hir husbande according to this place of Scripture I came not to sende peace ▪ but a sworde Herevpon it commeth to passe that in all Realmes there are oftentimes grieuous seditions For if it come to passe that there be variāce disagréement betwéene those that are by nature so fast linked togither by the meanes of Religion what maye we thinke of others Not the diuersitie of tongues but the diuersitie of Religion maketh diuision of Kingdomes and of Common weales Herevpon commeth that olde Prouerbe Vna Fides vna Lex vnus Rex that is to say One fayth one Lawe and one king Among these diuisions and discordes howe can it be that violence and force of armes shoulde not be vsed For warre followeth alwayes discorde and dissention according to these verses Discordia that Ladie of stryfe and of wo hath with hir Bellona hir handmaide also VVho alwayes doth carie a most bloudy scurdge the vndoubted reuenge of strife and of grudge Therefore the principall and chiefe cause of this disease and mischiefe is the discrepance and varietie of Religion To cure the which mischiefe there is not a more present remedie than to haue a Councell as it was lately concluded at Fontubellaquaeum and we haue nowe great hope to obtaine the same at the hands of the Pope In the meane time let vs shewe our due obedience vnto the yong king Let vs not for Gods sake receyue newe opinions according to our owne fantasie Let vs in time with wisedome consider of the matter and let vs diligently seeke to vnderstande the same It is no trifle that we haue in hande but it is the saluation of our soules that is in question If it maye be lawfull for euery man at his owne discretion to receyue what Religion him lysteth take héede that there bée not so many Religions as there be men Thou sayest that thy Religion is better than mine and I defende that which I embrace whether is it more meete that I followe thy opinion or thou mine Who shall ende our controuersies but the holy Councell In the meane time let vs not alter any thing rashlye least by seditions we bring warre into our Kingdome and so there followe a confusion The King and the Queene will leaue nothing vndone that may procure a Councell and if this remedie maye not be had they will séeke other remedies And nowe our Prelates and
foreséen that the office of an Ecclesiasticall person might not be committed to an vnlearned vnapte and ignoraunt person affirming it to be vnlawfull for them to dwell from their flockes in other places at their owne pleasure and so giuing them selues to worldly businesse wholy to neglecte their offices but sayth he it is the Kings duetie to cal them to their office againe And in the ende he made earnest peticion that there might be wayes taken in time to stop the seditions at hande and also that it wold please the king to haue regard consideration to his nobles as his auncetours had done before him When he had thus spoken he put vp a Supplication in the which peticion was made in the name of the nobilitie that temples might be graunted for the vse and seruice of the reformed Religion After this man one Quintinus Heduus who was chosen to be the speaker for the Clergie when he had commended the king and Quéene to their face saying that the kings of Fraunce were specially chosen euē as if they had béen borne and appointed to be defenders of the Churche of Rome and that therefore they had that moste auncient name from all ages as to be called Most Christian Princes he sayde that this assembly of States or court of Parliament was verye well called The causes of the which assemblye saith he is that the complayntes of the people mighte be hearde and holpen and that meanes and remedyes might be prepared for the scarsitie of the kings treasure and substāce But this saith he is the greatest cause of all whiche I speake with great sorrowe and griefe and yet notwithstanding muste néedes speake the same namely that the corruptions and notable faultes of Ecclesiasticall persons myghte bée refourmed and amended For sayth he the matter is nowe come to thys passe that they thē selues which shuld declare this Ecclesiasticall holynesse by their life are more afrayde of the kings Edictes than they are of Gods word and of the Gospell of christ Notwithstanding we muste therefore thinke saith he that the reformatiō of the Church is sought for which hath not erred neither can erre but a correction only of those most greuous faults in those men which were the chiefe gouerners of the Church which correction must procéede from the king but so notwithstanding the king must vse correctiē that he follow the steppes of those kings that haue gone before him who alwayes fauored the Church Adding to this also that those kings his auncetours woulde neuer haue suffered the wicked practises of these newe fellowes which falsely and wickedly of late time take vnto them selues the profession of the Gospell that they mighte therby both refuse all ecclesiastical order and also abolishe if they might al Ciuill power and authoritie For saith he the king ought to this ende specially to exercise his authoritie and draw his swerde to punishe and vtterly to roote out all heretikes giltie of criminall punishments Therefore he desired that Churches might not be graunted to those horrible men for so he termed them and that they also might be counted punished as heretikes which durst offer the supplications of Heretikes to the king This truely saith he hath bene the olde subtill practise of Sathan to bring this libertie to heretikes that they might the more securely and without feare of punishment destroy the Gospell the which subtill practises he hath nowe also in hande and therefore the more diligent héede saith he ought to be taken In like maner also he desired the king that according to the doyngs of his Auucetours and also according to the example of Charles the great whose name he bare he wold constraine all his subiectes to liue according to the Canons rules of the fathers For detestable sayth he is the boldnesse of these new heretikes which scoffing at the authoritie of the fathers and reiecting the doctrines and Canons of the Churche saye that they will haue nothing but the true Gospell onely as thoughe the promise of Christ were vaine and to no effect who promised that he would neuer forsake his Churche and as thoughe that they were wiser than so many Fathers which left so many godly Canons behynde them in writing also as though they alone vnderstoode the word of god Horrible boldnesse reebllion is that sayth he which casteth of the yoake of the Church and what else will they do at the last but murmur and grudge also against the power and authoritie of the Ciuill Magistrate Moreouer he said that the notes badges of the Church were not obscure which these new men wanted as the euerlasting and continuall successiō from the Apostles time and the Canons and rules which the Fathers left behinde them which badges the Church of Rome hath Therefore saith he that they may neuer hereafter abuse the name of the Churche we must plainely pronounce and affirme That the Church of Rome is the Catholique or vniuersall Church But if these newe men take vnto them the name of the Church we will not denie it them but we saye that they are not of the True Catholique Church but of the Malignant Church Also he made petition that they which had fled the Realme for Religions sake might be banished men for euer that they might loose all maner of priuilege and that they mighte be handled euen as if they were forraine enimyes Furthermore he saide that aboue all things that drowning floud which had flowed out of the diches of Geneua was most pernicious and therfore he exhorted the king that he would to the vtmost of his power roote out all such as came from that place and not to holde the yong childe excused if so be he came from thence seyng that God would call him to an accounte for the doing of his duetie And perswaded Queene Katherine also the kings mother by the example of that Katherine of whome Eusebius maketh mention to ouerthrow and roote out these newe Heretikes Therefore he sayde that this was the onely cause of the great mischief at hande that there were so many heretikes in euery place to the destruction of the Realme and all estates Moreouer he desired of the King that Ecclesiasticall persons might be defended and maintayned accordyng to the commaundement of God bycause they are The Lordes Christes or annointed as their badges that is to say their shauē crownes doe declare Also he complayned that the authoritie to chose Prelates was taken from the Clergy and giuen to Kings saying that it was done against Gods word against the holye Canons and againste the approued examples of the Elders and that euer since that tyme namely from the yeare of oure Lorde god M. D. XUII. when the same was first vsurped all things haue had euyll successe For saith he in that very yeare in the which that lawfull right was abrogated from Ecclesiasticall persons began that damnable heresie of Luther whiche afterwarde soke suche rooting
commaundement they embraced one another and promysed to put away all grudge and malyce and to be euer afterwarde true and faithfull friendes This reconciliation gaue the Constable occasion more fréely to ioyne him selfe and to kepe company with the Guises and to begyn afreshe to suppresse Religion the which he had alwayes obstinately resisted We sayde before that the assembly of States or Courte of Parliament was delayed and put off vntill the moneth of May. Therefore they resorted agayne in the moneth of August to Pontosia a towne in Picardie and by and by there arose dissention betwéene the Princes and the Cardinalls aboute the order of sitting the Princes denying to sitte belowe the Cardinalls Wherevpon the Cardinals Turnon Lorayne and Guyse went away verye angry But when the Earles and Nobles were gathered together the Chauncelor proposed the matter according to custome shewing the cause of their comming together and willing euerye man fréely to vtter that which he had to say Therefore the Legates or Speakers for the thrée estates made their seuerall orations in the which they spake much concerning the duetie of the King and of the subiectes and of those matters which are commonly handeled in Ciuill conuocations the whiche we meane not to repeate for bicause they appertaine not to our purpose Notwithstanding this is not to be pretermitted that the Legate for the comminaltie complained very muche of the corruptions of Ecclesiasticall persons bycause they ought to teach the people and to exhorte them both by their doctrine and also by their example to a pure and honest lyfe but foule and filthy ignorance was among them and their corrupte and vnchaste lyâ—…e was a greate offence to all men Moreouer he said that they were hyrelings and carefull for nothing lesse than for â—…oyng their dueties but were whollye gyuen to filthy pleasure and this thing sayth he ariseth hereof for that they bée more plentifully fedde and fatted than their offices wyll beare what hath béene the cause sayth he in tymes paste of all the corruptions in the Churche but the too much ease and lyuing of Ecclesiasticall persons Also he made petition in the name of the thirde state whiche we call the comminaltie that the King woulde refourme these greate faultes and woulde so temper and order the lyuings and reuenewes of Ecclesiasticall persons that they mighte not lyue too licenciously at their ease Moreouer he declared that it was the office of a King to take vpon hym the defence of Religion and bycause so manye troubles daylye did aryse for this cause throughout the whole Realme he sayde it was a presente remedie to pacifie them to call forthwith a Nationall Counsell and to gyue to all men leaue to come vnder safe conducte and that it woulde please the King also with the Princes hys Kinsmen to bée present at the same and to call for learned and godly men to come to that parley and also to remoue all those that might be suspected Furthermore that they whiche thinke that they can not wyth a safe conscience come to the Ceremonyes of the Churche of Rome myghte haue libertie freely and quietly to come together into some temple or other publique place where they maye be taughte the worde of God in theyr vulgar tongue and maye haue the rytes of their Religion Ministred And bycause many things maye be sayde to be done amisse in those assemblyes he wished that the King woulde commaunde certaine of his officers to be presente in those assemblyes to see what shoulde be done Also he sayd that they oughte not to be counted for heretikes whiche were condemned their cause not hearde but should be tried and iudged by the word of God. Finallye he made humble supplications that it woulde please the King to graunte suche reasonable requestes the which also the Nobilitie with one consent required but the Ecclesiasticall order or Clergie soughte diligentlye by all meanes possible to defend their cause But to the ende it maye more plainely appeare what greate alterations haue happened within a shorte tyme it shall not be amisse to repeate certayne things whiche were done in that assemblye concernyng matters Ciuill and yet those things onely which also seeme to be more neere to Religion the state wherof to shewe we meane Therefore these remedyes were deuised to discharge the Kyng of that debte and paymentes of money wyth the whiche wee sayde before the Kyng at that tyme was greatlye burthened Firste that they whiche had had the occupying of the Kyngs Treasure shoulde come to accounte In the meane tyme that so manye as were of the Kings Priuye Counsell shoulde bee forbydden to come into that assemblye vntyll they hadde playnelye made theyr accountes also that all shoulde make an accounte the Queene onely excepted of all excéedyng giftes rewardes and doles That so manye as in their owne persons did not discharge their Ecclesiasticall offices should loose all their reuenewes sauyng some parte which shoulde bee lefte them for the deuine seruice and for aimes deedes That all the reuenewes of Benefices in controuersie should be brought to the kings Treasurie That so many Benefices as had their pastors resident if they were worthe fiue hundred pounde in money shoulde paye vnto the King the fourth parte if they were worthe a thousande pounde the thirde parte if they were worth three thousande pounde that then they shoulde paye vnto the King the one halfe Also that they which had in yearely reuenewes comming vnto them twelue thousande poundes shoulde haue onely remaining to them of the same three thousande and the reste to be payde to the King. That from the Cartusian Fryers the Minimi the Mathurines and the Moniakes should be taken all their reuenews that surmounted and came to more than would finde them ordinarie meate drinke and clothe bycause by the order of their rytes and vowe they ought to haue no more Also they saide they had yet a better and more compendious way and that was this if all the landes of Ecclesiasticall persons belonging to their benefices and spirituall promotions sauyng onely a house for the Bishop Canon Maister of the Colledge or person to dwell in were solde And of some parte of the money for the same the Kings debtes should be payde and the rest to be distributed to Ecclesiasticall persons that had more neede of the same Also to the ende the king with the rest might perceyue howe profitable a way this would be they declared that the reuenews of those ecclesiasticall landes woulde be worth fortie thousand pounde and their proper liuing and remainder neuerthelesse twelue hundred thousand poundes And they sayde that these lands would the sooner be solde because they were frée from tribute were all most lords within themselues Adding moreouer that Ecclesiasticall persons should sustaine no harme hereby for they should neuerthelesse haue inough to liue vpon and the king of the ouerplus of those yearely reuenewes should both pay his debtes and also haue euery yeare a great
churches any diuisions for this matter Then Beza proceeding with his former purpose sayd Beza Concerning the seconde we doe not saye that the mâ—…rites of the death and passion of Christ are onely signified by the outward signes of bread and wine but also that the verie bodie of Christe which was cruâ—…ified for vs his bloud which was shed for vs is by them represented Also that Iesus Christ very God and perfect man is offered vnto vs by visible signes that our myndes being lifted vp by faith to heauen wher Christ now is may spiritually behold him receiue enioy all his graces to euerlasting life and that so certainly and truely as we sée and receyue and eate and drinke the corporall and visible signes To this the Cardinall of Loraine agreed affirming that he was glad to heare those wordes for so muche as he perceiued that the doctrine of the Faithfull was otherwise than he thought it to bée Beza Concerning the thirde there is greate difference betwéene common water and that with the which we are washed in baptisme betwéene the bread and wine whiche we dayly vse and that whiche is vsed in the Supper For the water of Baptisme the breade and wyne of the Supper are Sacramentes that is to saye visible sygnes and Testimonies of the bodie and bloud of the Lorde But we denie saith he that there is any such mutatioÌ„ in the substaÌ„ce of the Elements but we affirme that the change is in this that they are applyed to an other vse than that which is naturall bycause they seruing of themselues by their owne nature for the nutriment of the body being Sacraments they signifie that thing whiche doth feede our seules Furthermore we doe not assigne the cause of this mutation to the words or to the mynd and purpose of him that pronouÌ„ceth them but to the vertue and power of God whose will is reuealed in his word Therfore bycause the thing signified is offred vnto vs and so truly giuen vnto vs as the signe it selfe we muste also acknowledge by the same reason the coniunction of signes with the thing signifyed And by this meanes the body and bloude of Iesus Chryste in that they are truely giuen vnto vs are in the administration of the Supper and not with vnder or in the breade or in any other place than in heauen where as he is â—…an he is contained vntill he shall come to iudge both the quicke and dead The Cardinal also agréed to the same and affirmed that he did not allow Transubstantiation but thought rather that Chryste shoulde be sought in heauen Notwithstanding as one in dout he added other sayings of certayne Germanes to the end he might therby séeme not to haue greatly trauelled in this matter excusing himselfe to be let from the same by other businesse Then sayde Beza I graunte that we and certaine Germanes doe disagrée in this thyrde Article but in this notwithstanding we agree that we altogyther ioyntly with one consent denie your Transubstantiation Card. Lor. Doe ye confesse that we are truely and substancially partakers of the body and bloud of Chryst Beza This is the fourthe principall poynt whiche before I noted and resteth to be declared In suÌ„me therefore we do affirme that the visible signes whiche are naturally eaten and dronken are touched with the handes that the matter of the Sacrament that is to say the body bloud of Chryst Iesus is offered truely and without deceyte to all men that the same is receyued by faythe and not by naturall reason but yet that the same is so truely giuen vnto vs by faythe as if we were naturally ioyned with Chryst. Then the Cardinall affirmed that Beza hadde satisfyed him in this poynte and very friendly and louingly desired Bâ—…za that he might haue conference with him Notwithstanding it was reported that the Cardinall had confuted Bâ—…za by these firste small tryalles and assayes And so they fully persuaded themselues to haue the victorie But when they which were the chosen meÌ„ of the Churches to dispute lawe that new delayes were founde out day by day they vrged that their petitions whereof we spake before might be graunted vnto them and they desired also to vnderstande the Kings mynde in writing At the length they receyued this answere of the Queene that the Prelates shoulde not be their Iudges but that there shoulde be graunted vnto them certayne of the Kings Secretaries that the matter should be ruled wholy by the word of God and that the King with the Princes his kinsmen woulde be at the disputation And herewith she admonished them to behaue themselues modestly and to seeke onely the glorie of GOD whiche she thought she sayde they greatly desired But to graunt them any thing in writing she thought it not expedient séeing their wordes might serue well inough When the chosen men of the Churches hadde receyued this answere and were departed there came strayght way vnto the Queene certaine Papistes beseeching hir that she woulde not heare these men of the newe religion and if she were mynded to heare them that she would at the least beware and sée that the yong king came not to their disputations bycause it was daungerous least hée in his yong and tender yeares shoulde be taken and snared therewith For say they it is not meete that they shoulde be hearde which not long agoe were conuicted of heresie To whome the Quéene onely answered that she woulde doe nothing without due Counsell and aduise and that they shoulde well vnderstande that the matter shoulde not be handled after the wil and pleasure of those men of the new doctrine as they termed them The next daye after which was the ninth day of September was the time appoynted to begin the disputation Therefore the King and the Quéene his mother the Duke Aurelian the Kings brother Margareâ—… his Sister the King and Queene of Nauarre the Prince of Conde with the reste of the Princes the Kings kinsmeÌ„ and the Priuie Counsel and a greate number also of Noble men and Gentlemen were assembled together in a verye large hall which men commonlye call the Hâ—…ll of the holye Virgins of Posiac Hyther came also the Popes chiefe Prelates the Cardinals the Archebyshoppes and Bishoppes to the number of fiftie beside a great many substitutes and deputies in the places of those that were absent a great many diuines and men of learning counted standing about them In the highest place sat the King and harde beside him according to custome the Princes his kinsmen the Bishops sitting all a long on both sides the hall vpon gréeces one aboue another Then were brought in the chosen men for disputation of the reformed Churches which were twelue Ministers and twentie others which were sent also of the same Churches whom the Kings Gard at the commaundement of the king had brought from Sangerman thyther least there should be some tumult raised against them When euery man
controuersies of oure aduersaries concerning this matter of the which there are eight in number It is better to abide in the approued opinion and iudgemente of the Catholike Church which is that the very body of God of our Lord Iesus Christ his very bloude also is present and receiued in this Sacrament according as it is sayd This is my bodie The which wordes excepte they be in déede of as great force as they sounde and séeme to be why are they so diligently repeated in like wordes of all the Euangelistes and of the Apostle Paule also Why did not the other three Euangelistes the Apostle Paule which wrote after Mathew writ after that maner that our Sacramentaries would write specially seyng in a matter of lesse waight they doe one of them expounde another and that which one of them setteth forth obscurely another plainely declareth This is the mynde of the Testator which by no maner of meanes ought to be disalowed or violated This is also the iudgement and doctrine of all the ancient writers that not onely the breade is giuen by the Priest but also the very body of Christ really Therefore I imbrace this stable hole some opinion and I doe abhorre with all my hearte the curious opinions and sayings of these newe men which seme so to represent Christe as if they shoulde bring him forthe in a Tragedie or Comedie As thoughe it were not better to retaine and kepe the simple wordes of our Lorde and saâ—…iour than the false imaginations of men seyng that this is most firme and certaine that we are not onely ioyned to Christe by faithe but also by the force and efficacie of the Euchariste beyng rightlye worthily and really receyued yea and to speake more playnelye Substantially Naturally and Corporally And here he alledged many things out of the ancient fathers and plainely reprehended Beza bicause he vsed the words of Austen in his epistle to Dardanus in this matter of the Sacramentes seyng in that epistle he intreated nothing at all of the Sacramentes also bicause he had condemned the opinion of certaine Germaines concerning Consubstantiation contrarye to his owne opinion And then he concluded his oration with these wordes I come yelde sayth he to your opinion of the Sacramente excepte ye thinke that Iesus Christe as touching his fleshe is in this world from the time of his ascention and that more nowe than he was before he toke vpon him our fleshe excepte ye thinke that Christ hath some other bodye than that whiche is visible excepte ye thinke that he is otherwise in the Sacrament than in the preaching of the worde if ye thinke it to be all one to put on Christ in Baptisme and to eate his body and bloude and to be shorte if ye thinkâ—… that he is so in heauen that he is not in earth also and that he is no otherwise in the Supper than he is in the Myer we which are taughte that the Supper is not in heauen but celebrated in earth and which are not so curious that we woulde by ingenius and wise speculations bryng and separate Christe from the Supper â–ª to answere you fullye affirme that we are so far from your opinion as the heauen is hyer from the lowest parte of the earth Let them therefore sée and consider which iudge and examine oure Religion not by Philosophie but by Diuinitie which of vs two doe attribute more to the power of God and to Iesus christ And so praying to God to roote out these daungerous and deadly opinions and not to suffer these controuersies to be in his Churche he exhorted the king and the Quéene that they woulde take vpon them the patrocinie and defence of thys matter and protested in the name of the Prelates of the French Churche that he would liue and die in the defence of this doctrine which he had set forth After this all the Prelates which were present rose vp and came néere vnto the king and in their name the Cardinal of Turnon protested that this was the confessioÌ„ of their faith which they woulde seale with their owne bloude being the vndoubted truth of the holy mother the Church The which the king oughte to imbrace and followe according to the manner and example of his elders But if they whiche had separated themselues from the Churche of Rome would subscribe to that confession then they shoulde be receyued and be heard more fully in other articles in the which they sayde they woulde be satisfyed otherwyse they oughte not to be hearde at all And it is the Kinges parte to banishe them oute of his Realme the which he must earnestly desired him to doe Then Beza vehementlye desired of the King by and by leaue to make answere oute of hande to the oration of the Cardinall of Loraine For the ministers feared that they shoulde haue no more leaue to come together againe fame reporting euery where that the prelates had determined from that day forward to deale with them no more but by excommunications Notwithstanding thoughe the Ministers that day could obtaine no leaue to answere yet obtained they another day the which neuerthelesse by reason of diuers rumors was deferred vntill the day following Bicause of these detractions of times the ministers fearing that the disputation shoulde be ended they determined to offer vnto the King a supplication praying him that for so much as at his commaundement they were come thether from so far countreys quietly to confer with the Prelates for the rooting out of errors which so manye yeares had oppressed the Church they mighte haue leaue to confer together and to declare their cause that he him selfe woulde take vpon him the defence of Religion whiche they sayde was the meane and way to raygne and rule himself and to preserue his kingdome in peace and tranquillitie When they had offered this Supplication oftentymes to the King at the last they obtayned leaue to haue the conference continued not in publique but in priuate place Therefore at the length the assembly was renewed agayne which a long time was broken off a small number of men the King and Quéene the king of Nauarre the Prelates and twelue chosen Ministers and a few others being only present Then the Cardinall of Loraine began to shew that this assembly was gathered togyther that the Ministers might be heard what answere they would make to those things which he had lately expounded Beza therfore in the name of his fellowes began thus saying When we haue called vpon the name of God that he woulde aide and assist vs in a matter of so great waight and would bring to passe that this assemblie might be gathered together to the glory of his name to your dignitie and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of the king and Quéene of the whole Christian common wealth and kingdome we will briefelye answere to that which was lately propounded by the Lorde Cardinall of Loraine concerning
the Edicts which haue ben made in these our kings dayes pertaine to no other end than to kéepe the kings subiectes in their obedience and to auoyde seditions vntill such time as the kyng were come to his full age for all those Edictes are temporall and serue but for a tyme to the intent they may be chaunged â–ª if so be necessitie and experience of things shall so declare it to be best The Edict of Iuly was not so soone made as abrogated at the making wherof you your selfe were present and yet notwithstanding the same ought not therfore to be defended by violence â–ª After this there was made another Edict in the moneth of Ianuary And least it should rather bring trouble than tranquillitie at the first we doubted to confirme the same but when we had good hope of peace and tranquillitie we confirmed the same otherwise we would not haue doon it And vppon the same hope of peace thrée dayes agoe we confirmed and published another Edict like to the Edict of Ianuary in euery poynt sauing that Paris the Metropolitane Citie is excepted The which exception was not made without great cause For when the sedition which was there of late dayes wared more gréeuous than in other places it could not be otherwise appeased The end of those Edicts was not to bring in news Religions but as it is sayd already to kéepe the people in peace and tranquillitie If the offence be as great in the first as in the second the Kyng hath power of himself to continew or to alter lawes and not the subiects by priuate aucthoritie by force of Armes The whiib thinge truly wee cannot couller or hide séeing wée read in your declaration how that you say that you and fiftie thousaÌ„d more which are of the same mind wil speÌ„d your liues in this cause We wish that you may receiue this our admonition to your profite to consider that it is a great deale more méet for you being the kings néer kinsman to defend his dignitie than to ioyne your selfe to others which are not in the same conditioÌ„ If by your following of other counselles the dignity of the king be deminished the greater blame reproch shal be youres You know that we haue maintained your InnoceÌ„cie and do perswade wyth you to vse wholesom Counsell least you hurt your selfe We cannot offer vnto you a better testimonye of our good wil ready to serue you which we wil constantly retaine so long as you shew all due obedience to the King and Quéene Concerning other matters which are written in the same your declaration because they doe not appertaine vnto vs you shall vnderstande the Kings will to whome they do appertaine This one thing we adde That the examination of the slaughter committed at Uassi is appoynted to vs to be examined the which shall be handeled of our parte according to oure office and manner wyth iustice and equitie WE haue spoken before concernyng the letters which the Quéene sent to the Prince of Conde In the which shée perswaded him to come vnto the King vnweapened and wythout Armor that the matter might be ended quietly among them and that he might by his presence put away those slanders which were reported of him For there went diuers euell reportes abrode of hym and the more by reason of the Declaration which he caused to be published the Kings Letters being set forth against the same insomuch that the causes of all the troubles were openly layd vpon him Wherevpon the Prince of Conde published another wryting the. ix of May in the which he declared that the Guises whych were called the Triumuiri and not he were the causes of al the troubles declaring reasons by which it might appeare that he had soughte peace did and would still séeke the same And although sayth he I haue alwayes hitherto declared by vndoubted Arguments not only a singuler loue and an obedient mind towards the King and Quéene but also a notable desire and care for the profite and concorde of the Realme the which also of late I declared when as I deferred the putting my self in Armor euen vntil the very pinche and extréeme necessitye at what time I was constrained to doe it that I might resist their violence which threatned to kill and slay and made great bragges and which of late when they had gotten an Army of men contrary to the King and Quéenes commaundement armed them selues entred into Paris where I was at that time being not ignorant what they ment to do yet notwithstanding I made no sturre or do least I should put the City in pearill Yea I hauing no consideration of my estate and condition although I was not the first that put my self in Armor yet notwithstanding at the first commaundement of the Quéene least I might séeme to omit any thing lawful that might bring peace I with mine weÌ„t from Paris minding to get me home to my own house and to dismisse al my train thinking that my aduersaries would haue done the same who notwithstanding coÌ„trarywise kéeping Paris still and doing many things there against their office and also hauing vsurped the Kings authoritye kept the King and Quéene captiues not only in body but also in minde I on the contrarye part ceassed not from that time forward to propounde al reasonable conditions that might be to the end all things might be ended peaceably as testify my wrytings and those men them selues whome I vsed as meanes to bring matters to quiet ende although I say all these things were done thus by me that it might plainly appeare that I desired nothing more than the Kings dignity and the peace and tranquilâ—…ity of the Realme yet notwithstanding fearing least my answers to the Rescripts from the Quéene after I had offered the conditions of peace be not so truely and wholely brought to her handes as they passed from me I thoughte good to haue the whole matter put in wryting both to the ende they may be considered of the King and Quéene and also that they being published throughout all Christian Realmes may be known to all Princes to our Frends in Fraunce and specially to all Courts and ParliameÌ„ts of this Realme of the which but specially of the Court of Paris to the which before this time I haue sent my Declaration I require and craue that these explications of my reasons may be put in the publique Regester to the ende I may geue accounte of all my actions to my Prince and soueraigne Lord the King at what time be shal come to that age that he may Iudge of the merites of his subiects and of their euell desertes also which haue don any thing during the time of the kings Minoritie First of all this I thinke for a suertie that it neyther can nor ought to be sayd that I haue ben the cause either of stirring vp or of maintaining these commotions and troubles when as my ennemies them selues wil
aucthoritie to giue commaundement vnto them to vnarme themselues and to go home to their houses and afterward to make them answere to the same But admit that they had aucthority to abide stil with the Kyng against right and all approued customes being but his seruants only and to beset him round about with such souldiours as they haue gathered together by their priuate aucthoritie yet notwithstāding it cānot be denied but that I haue great iniury I I say which shoulde haue this prerogatiue before them beinge the Kinges néere kinsman and which haue not put on Armour but by them constrayned only for this cause to defend the Kyng the Quéene and my selfe from violence these thinges I say considered I haue great iniury except I haue leaue in like mauer for mée mine to be about the kyng which are sworne as well as others vnto him and which I say and affirme are the Kynges faithfull subiectes and seruants as they haue both shewed already and also will shew hereafter at what time they shall be commaunded by the kyng of Nauar the kynges Deputie to defend the kynges libertie and the aucthority of the Quéene and of the kyng of Nauar being ready for the same to spende both their life and goods But and if they will not suffer the Quéene to vse that equallitie that she ought let her not leane to the one part more than to the other howbeit if she be more inclined to any part she should rather be inclined to me being a Prince and the kynges néere kinsman and let her vse her aucthoritie to remedy the mischtefe at hand otherwise than she hath done before for no man wyll thinke that any thing hath ben done by her consent séeing that shée is of such wisedome and so carefull for the preseruation of the kyng her Sonnes dignitie that she woulde not bée negligent to do her dutie in a matter of so great waight But there is no doubt but that which shée did was for feare of them which hauing hir in holde pulled her from doing of her dutie When as also it is manifest that the King is broughte to that state that he is constrained to graunte manye things against his will. To proue this thing their chusing of new Counsellers shall serue whom they therfore chose that vnder the pretence of a Counsell the Quéene might be constrained to do what they wold by a more clenly way For it is knowne in what order it was done and in what estimation they nowe haue the Quéene who deliverate and take counsell together by them selues a parte and do conclude whatsoeuer they them selues do like of They do many things by their owne priuate authority and when they haue don then they come to aske her minde and opinion And what soeuer they them selues lust to haue done they cause the high Courte of Parliament to confirme the same And in very déede they preuatle more wyth those of the Parliament than the Quéene her selfe can Finallye who will deny that it is necessarye at this time to deliuer the Quéene from feare of this violence that shée may recouer her former authority and so they to lay aside their Armor and to goe home to their houses that all suspicion of violence being taken away there maye be more quietnesse héereafter and the perrils of great calamities auoided For I and all that are wyth me he fully perswaded and bent that except the matter be vprightly and indifferently handled rather to abide the extremity and to sèe the end than that they which haue vsurped to them selues power against all law right to the great hurt and detrement of the Kings subiectes hitherto and also as yet going about to worke their vtter destruction by so many horrible murthers cruelly committed against the kings Edicts should still héereafter impudently procéede in their Insolencie And to take away all occasion of slaunder whych they may haue against me héereafter wheras they say that the kings letters were taken away frō the kings Postes by my cōmaundement I answere that I haue geuen contrary commaundement to those that attend vppon me neither were there letters at any time taken by them which were sent eyther to the king to the Quéene or to the king of Nauar. This I confesse to be true that there haue bene many letters taken which haue bene sent to diuers priuate persons by which are to be séene an infinite number of sclaunders false rumours counselles and practises against me many thinges being quite contrary to those promises which they haue made vnto me concerning peace and concorde But concerning the casting downe of the Images at Towers and at Blais I protest that I was very sory for the same in so much that I signified to the kinges Officers which are in those places that I would ayde and assist them to punish those according to the kings lawes which should be found gilty in the fact This is and may be an Argument of my will and meaninge the which also I haue done and doe as yet at Orleans Euery one of what state and condition so euer he be of prayseth and commendeth the moderation and behauiour of al those which are with me which liue peaceably and quietly with the Townes men without any maner of offence or breach in any poynt of the Edicte of Ianuary And as touching those which kéepe in hould certayn Cities I affirme that they do it for no other cause than to keepe those Cities for the vse of the Kinge and not to suffer them to come into their handes which abusing both the Kings name and his Artillery do séeke to get power for their owne priuate profite For so sone as the Quéene shal be restored to her former liberty and into that state wherin she was within these thrée Monethes she shal wel perceiue and vnderstand that those Cities will shew all obedience to the Kinge and to her as they had euer done before and will alwayes continue in the same so faithfull that in that point they will geue place to no Citie within the Kings dominion no not to Paris which of late hath gone about to cause this ciuill warre spending great store of money to that end and all vnder pretence of Religion And nowe I and mine are so farre from forgetting these thinges and buryinge them in silence as we are wished to do that we would rather haue thē to be chronicled for euer to be written in Tables and to be portrayed in letters of Golde and to be shrilly proclaymed throughout all Christian realmes that they may sée our dutifull obedience and faithfull trust shewed towardes our King greatly iniured in this his younge and tender yeres and also that so notable an example of my courage concord with the rest of the Nobilitie of France which haue ioyned our selues together with one hart consent to preserue the dignity of the kinge Quéene may be a memorial for euer in writing to the posteritie I for
though he had neuer heard any thing concerning the truth neyther yet had had experience of the mindes of the Guises Therfore he was wholely led and caried by the Guises whethersoeuer they would haue him who to make him more sure on their side insâ—…ared him with harlots and with other intiseing vaine pleasures in the which they perceiued the King of Nauar to haue most delight He therefore fulfilling the minds of the Guises in euery point stoutly thondred out the Kings authority against the Prince of Conde and his fellowes These were the first beginninges of this Ciuill warre the kingedome and the Church of God being cast into great extremities â–ª So greatly may the subtil deuises of vngodly men disturbe the societie of the godly vnlesse the prouidence of God do gouern the euent and pronide a prosperouse ende amiddest so great outrage There were certain letters brought in the kings name to the Prince of Conde to his fellowes the which promised peace vnto them after a sort vpon these coÌ„dicions namely If the Prince of Conde and his fellowes according to their former coÌ„maundement froÌ„ the king wold out of hand vnarme themselues and would yéeld vp into the Kings power their cities The which if thei wold doo the Guises the Constable the Martial of S. Andrewe promised as they had also done before that they would go home to their houses Also that the King of Nauar should haue at his commaundement all maner of Artillery and should take and chuse out of the armye of the Prince of Conde for the vse of the King and the realme whatsoeuer séemed good vnto him To these thinges if they would yéeld and graunt the King would forgyue pardon their offence in putting themselues in armour and would leaue to euery man the frée vse of Religion so that euery man should liue peaceably at home without receyuing of any hurt for Religion This was don the twelueth day of June the Martial Vielle and the aarle Villarius being sent with the letters for this matter To these letters the Comparteners of the Prince of Conde made this aunswer First We render all humble thanks to your Maiestie for that you seeme to haue so great a care and coÌ„sideration for our peace and safety But whereas it is thought that the putting of our armour would be a great cause of the same it séemeth too vs otherwise for that you stand in néed of our ayd against those which séeke the destruction of you of your realme and of your faithful subietces For by these meanes we may séeke to restore your Maiestie and your mother too that liberty authority which ye had before the Duke of Guise came into the court It séemeth vnto vs at this time that neyther you nor your mother are at libertie as may be perceyued by the effects This we request that the Edict of January may be generally obserued kept throughout the Realme that in certayne places in the which there is most daunger of sedition the faithful mai haue leaue to haue their Temples within the Cities that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew may depart from the Court and that they come not into the same agayn nor haue any maner of gouern ment of the kingdom during the Kings minoritie Also that whatsoeuer hath ben done by the kings counsaile from that time since the which the Guises haue kept the King and Quéen in their custody by force of armes may be boyd and of none effect Furthermore wée request that the Cardinall of Ferrar a prâ—…uoker and mouer of warres may forthwith depart the Realme and spéede him to Rome and that he certefie the Pope that if hée will appoint a common counsell either at Lions Auinion or Bezance they were ready by the Kinges leaue to come to that Counsell But whereas it is sayd that wée shall haue pardon for putting on armour there séemeth to vs no cause why we should need any pardone Since we haue not horne armour against the king but for the King yea wée are sofarre fâ—…om deseruing blame herefore that wee rather deserue all commendation prayse and rewarde Which shall well appeare to the Kinge when hée commeth to that rypenesse of yeares that he may iudge of our merites and well deseruing vntill which time we desire that the writings of the Prince of Conde and of the Triumuiri might be registred in all the Courtes of Paris Moreouer it séemeth not necessary vnto vs that any manner of artillerie should be taken awaye onely it is necessary to bring to passe that the Triumuiri which are the authours and causes of the war and these troubles do lay asyde their armour for wée desire nothinge more than peace As for the Cities which we haue fortified we doe and will euer acknowledge them to be the Kings And wée vtterly mislike that the Triumuiri sould bring into the Realme any forrain power Wherefore we desire not that the armies of forrein Princes be brought into the realm but that they would only be suerties for the performance of the Condicions Therefore we desire the Emperour the Princes Electors the Quéenes of England and Scotland the King of Spaine the common wealth of Vennize and the Switzers to giue their warrantise and suertiship for the performance of these condiâ—…ions These thinges notwithstanding were attempted in vayne mens myndes on both sydes béeing inflamed to warres The Prince of Conde and those of his syde trusted to the goodnesse of their cause howbeit they sought all that they coulde for peace and concorde althoughe both in number and also in courage they farre excéeded their aduersaries perswading themselues to haue the victorye The Guises and hys fellowes greatly leaned to the Kinges authoritie and had in their custodye the Kinges treasure So that what with their own subtill practises and what with the helpe of the Kinge of Nauar they brought many things to passe For the kings name and authority carieth with it such a maiestie and reuerence throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce as euer the name of a king hath done or may in any Kingdome the subiectes hauing in them a certaine naturall loue as it were ingraffed By which name how greatly the Guises haue preuailed experience hath taughte The Guises also were holpen by the Spaniards by the Italians and by the Swizers whâ—…se helpe the Guises required euen wheÌ„ they tooke their couÌ„saile first to begin warres The Guises had also on their part the Citie of Paris the Senate the people and many other great and mightie Cities So that they were very strong on both partes insomuch that all thinges considered it was not easie to be diâ—…erned which was the stronger part At this first beginning the Prince of Conde his part were both in number and courage far surpassing the Guises but the Guises and his adherents excéeded the other part in pollicie and subtill sleightes Notwithstanding God did so moderate
the euills like to ensue Finally I will and desire that the league whiche I haue made with the Princes Péeres Nobles and with all those that follow me and shall follow me may be established confirmed by this my writing To the which my fellowes I promise and vow that séeing it hath plea sed God to aduaunce me to so great honor as to make me the Captain and principall of that league and to be a deliuerer of the reformed churches liuing vnder the Kings Edictes from the iniuries and violence of the enemies I wil be the first that will spend my lyfe goods to maintayne the pure worship of God to defende the true professours and followers thereof to restore the King to his former libertie and authoritie and his Edictes and the lawes of the Realme to their proper dignitie In like manner I pray and beséeche all my Confederates that they abyde in the same mind courage and constancy that I am of in this so godly and commendable a purpose hauing alwayes respect vnto the vprightnesse of our cause reposing all their trust in the power of God being fully perswaded of this that fighting for the glory of God for the preseruation of his Church and for the conseruation of the King and the Realme God the mighty Lord of hoastes will stretch forth his mighty hand to helpe Whom I most humbly beséeche to take vpon him the patrociny and defence of our cause and to enter into the Throne of his iudgement before whom I shew and reueale the horrible blasphemies which our aduersaries haue breathed out against his Maiestie the cruelties which thei shewed vpon his poore afflicted meÌ„bers the innocent bloud of so many of his seruauntes that hath ben shed and the bloudy and mischeuouse coun sailes against his glory and the lyfe and safetie of hys Saincts so that hée taking his people vnder his protection would shew his power Iustice and wisdome both in destroying his aduersaries and also in blessing those which séeke to defend his people whereby all the world may know that hée is a refuge for the afflicted in time of trouble a deliuerer of his Church and an enemie anâ—… Iudge of his enemies About this time also the Prince of Condes fellowes sent letters to the Emperour Ferdinande to whom they declared their cause and rendered a reason of all theyr dooings and frustrated the rumors of their aduersaries praying him that hee would be carefull to defende thys cause and also that hée would call backe the Germanes that were gone to helpe the Guises And although saye they the reportes of the troubles which were in France were euery where spred abroad and were come also to the Emperours eares by letters sent from both partes yet notwithstandinge the Prince of Conde sent to the Emperoure whom he vnderstoode should come to an honorable assembly the causes of all his actions that the Emperour himselfe might certefie the whole assembly of the same seeing so great and waighty matters were obiected against him by his aduersaries the Prince of Conde thinking that it became him in a matter of so great waight to shewe the causes of all his dooings to all men and to the Emperour himself being of so highe calling that he might leaue to the whole world euident testimony of his innocency To bring the which matter to passe he may be glad that he hath gotten so good occasion to craue helpe to be ayded in this iust cause for the preseruation of the yong King of France being of suche age that the same of itselfe requireth and ought to obtayne helpe It is no new thing neyther wanteth it exaÌ„ples that Kyngs in their minoritie and infancâ—…e haue receyued the Kyngdome of Fraunce as appeareth by the late times of Charles the sixt and the eight and of others In whose time of minoritie we do not read that there was any contention about the gouernement of the Realme because the Princes which were the Kynges kinsmen left alwayes the gouernement of the Realme to thein which were elected and created by the States of the Realme of Fraunce to whom the gouernement of the Realme was committed so long as the King coÌ„tinuing in his minoritie which was vntill he came to the age of fouretéene yeares The which order of gouernement in the Kyngs Neâ—…age hath ben alwayes so approued that Kyngs haue warely prouided in their Testaments that if they should disceace before their Sonnes were come to their perfect age to gouerne the Realme then the States should prouide for the same gouernement The which doth sufficiently declare that this kind of gouernement doth in no poynt deminish the Kynges aucthoritie or power whom whosoeuer resisteth resisteth the ordinaunce of God but is rather necessary to preserue and defend them so long as they are vnméete to take vppon them any such gouernement through the defect and imbecillitie of Nature But when the Kyng shall come to the age of fouretéene yeres that vicary or substituted gouernemeÌ„t doth cease and all things do so retourne to the Kyng that whatsoeuer he shall will or decrée shall be ratified In the dayes of Charles the sixt after he had raigned many yeres and that it pleased GOD for the sinnes of the people to depriue him of his witte and sences and when the time came that the Realme must of necessitie be gouerned there arose a certaine contention among the Princes that were the Kyngs kinsmen about the same gouernement but this was neuer heard of that a forreyne Prince would euer intrude him selfe into the gouernement of the Realme and that against the will ordinance and decrée of the States as doth now the Duke of Guise at the first with force of armes and afterwardes vnder the coullour and name of the Kyng of Nauar corrupting and breaking all Lawes constitutions and customes that by all meanes possible he might satisfie his ambicious minde and get the gouernement of the Realme into his handes And say they most renowmed Emperour you must not thinke that he is moued to do these things for the loue he beareth to any Religion but doth only make Religion a cleake to fulfill his ambicious desire but vnder this pretence he hath drawne a great part of the people vnto him whom he hath so stirred to outrage crueltie promising that they shall escape vnpunished whatsoeuer they do that now the mad and franticke people throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce do nothing els but kill spoyle and shew al maner of violence After the death of Henry the second and Fraunces the second Kynges of Fraunce it was expedient according to the auncient vse of the lawes that the States of FrauÌ„ce should be called together and that in the greater number because Charles our Kyng was of tender yeres Then the States as it was méete made certayne lawes and statutes the which should only stand in force and strength duringe this time of the Kynges minority according to the institution and
maner of our elders The which is the only foundatioÌ„ of those things which haue happened since that time to the which all those things ought to be referred and brought as to the toutchstone that they may be discerned whether they be good or euill Those lawes and constitutions were deuided into foure principall heades 1 The first concerned the custodie and protection of the Kyng and the Gouernour of the Realme 2 The second concerned those which should be of the Kyngs Counsell for that time 3 The third concerned prouision for warre and all maner of Artillary 4 The fourth concerned Religion and the staying of such troubles as might ensue by occasion therof As touching the first vppon great causes and reasons wise waighed and considered the States or whole body of the Realme haue decréed that the Quéene the Kyngs mother shal haue not only the charge and custodie of the Kynges maiestie her sonne but the gouerment also of the Realme in her owne person and the same not to be put ouer to any other without her consent will and pleasure And this decrée of the States was confirmed and approued by Princes the Kynges kinsmen Also the States decréed that the Queene Mother should be by them so directed that she by her wise ordering and disposing of thinges should discharge the great debt which remained to be paied after the death of king Henry and Fraunces and so the people to be disburthened from such great exactions and payments as they had aforetime payed And that she for her part should endeuour her selfe to bring all thinges to their former state and condition and that the people might liue euery where in peace and tranquillitie The second principall poynt was concerning the Kynges Counsaile The which the States desired to haue furnished with men that were vertuous wise carefull for the Kyng and the Realme Therfore they thought good that the Kynges Counsayle should consist of such men as were not sworne to any forreyne Prince or power as Cardinalles Bishoppes Abbats all such which they call Ecclesiasticall persons both for that they ought to followe their ordinary and proper office and calling and also for the oth which they haue sworne and vowed to the Bishoppes of Rome concerning temporall obedience which haue ben oftentimes enemies to the Bishoppes of Fraunce Therfore they prohibite and disalow any of them to be of the Kynges Counsayle or that there shoulde come vnto that Counsell two bretherne or more together according to the example of other Parliaments NotwithstaÌ„ding here thei except those which are Princes and the Kyngs kinsmen to whom it appertaineth without limitation of number by right to bée of the Kyngs Counsayle except the States haue any thing to obiect against them to the contrary Also they forbid such to be of the Kyngs Counsaile as haue had the ouersight vse and disposing of the Kyngs treasure vntill such time as they haue made their accompts And last of all bicause the Kinges Counsailers are bound to make account to the King of their iuste and lawfull counsaile and also to preserue and maintayne the Kinges treasure and when the Kinges treasurie hath smal store of money in it not to receiue of the King or to suffer to be giuen to any great and large gyftes the states do appoint and determine that all such giftes shal be reuoked and that so many as haue receyued such gyftes be constrained to restore them backe againe and in the meane tyme not to be of the Kinges counsaile Upon this second point dependeth the occasion of the â—…uill warre and sedition which at this day shaketh and violently assalteth the whole Realme of Fraunce the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Santandre perceyuing that they by thys meanes should not only be exclu ded out of the Kinges counsaile but also be constrayned to restore those giftes againe which they haue receyued of the Kinges thereby greatly in riched themselues And so they haue ioyned themselues and coÌ„spired togyther specially to hinder and frustrate that decrée It is no new thing that giftes which Kings haue bestowed contrary to the lawes appointed should be nothing regarded not only of the States which are chiefe in authoritie in the tyme of the Kings nonage but also of the ordinary Iudges of the exchecker by whose indgemeÌ„ts the Kinges afore tyme haue ben put to great expences in gyftes contrary to the lawes of the realme Of these thinges we haue many examples as of the Constable Clisson in the dayes of Charles the vi who was depryued of his office because he had gayned by the seruyce of the King to the valew of sixtene thousand pound But there is greater and more vehement cause at this tyme why they which are bound by the decrée of the states should be called to giue an account of that which they haue receyued and seing that now there is found in the kinges Treasurie the suÌ„me of 330000 poundes which was neuer séene before and yet the people at this present are more burthened with exactions and tributes than euer they were before And it is manifest that King Frauncis the first of that name which had diuers warres for the space of thrée and thirty yeares paied for his discharge a great summe of money and toke not so great and so many tributes of the people lefte notwithstanding in his treasury a greate masse of money Therefore the states demaunde the cause of so great expence And because it is likely that they were spenders and wasters whose dutye it was to husband and increase the same the States vppon verie good consideration do desier to haue an account that restitution and allowance may be made of such vnmeasurable expences The which truly is the verie cause why those thrée haue brought the Realme of Fraunce into these troubles to ouerthrowe those decrées of the states that the same may appeare most true which we saide before namely that they conspire not for religioÌ„s sake but for because they are couetously and ambitiously minded which Religion notwithstanding they take for a cloake to couer and hyde their wickednesse withall The third principall point of their costitutions is this The States would haue it in their power and authoritie during the tyme of the Kinges minoritie to order and appoint warres and at their pleasure to commaund the subiectes to arme themselues Because before they take warres in hand they should vnderstand the causes thereof and by what meanes they might be appeased Therfore also they would haue this authoritie that they which haue prouoked the people to Ciuyll warre might be made knowne to be the authoures of all the calamities and detrements which come by these warres The fourth principal point is that which concerneth Religion by which the states haue decréed that there must be a difference made betwene the cause of Religion and the cause of sedition in so much that for Religions sake no man ought to be condemned
Religious were not so contrary that the Christian name should not euery where be retayned As for that Religion which I and my fellowes imbrace it is the true and reformed Religion which is also receiued and imbraced of great Nations and pourged from Romish Idolatries and superstitions And to make the matter more plaine what say you to the late example of the Emperour Charles the fifth who after he had assayed to establish in Germany that Religion which he him selfe approued and coulde not bring it to passe thought it to be the best waye although he had gotten the victory by force of Armes to let euery man vse what Religion he would for quietnes sake What shoulde I néede to repeate many other examples when as experience teacheth vs that this is a necessary remedy to kéepe the people of this Realme in peace To let them haue the vse of what Religion they like best But for all that I could saye or do in that Parley the Quéene durst not go from that which was prescribed vnto her to speake So that the Armies were prepared on both partes againe Then we entered into parley againe by which they went about very subtilly to betray me First I yeelded vnto my brother the King of Nauar the Towne of Baugence the which he ment to vse for him and his family during the time of intreaty for peare which I had good hope to obtaine by the meanes of the Quéenes letters Then I did put my selfe into my enemies hands minding therby to winne peace The Guises and his fellowes fayned a departure away but they were not far of but had incamped themselues within the compasse of thrée miles minding to oppresse me as appeared afterwardes by their Letters which came to my handes At y length I and certaine of my fellowes came in parley and conference with the Quéene At the first we were denied to haue the liberty of our consciences We straight way affirmed that the libertie of our conscieÌ„ce was to vs the most precious thing of all and the chiefest thing that we desired and added this also that if the departure of a few would be an occasion of peace and of the libertie of Religion we our selues woulde willingly go into crile euen to the vtmost partes of the world The Queene tooke our offer and liked of the coÌ„dition and when she had made a long protestation of hir good will toward vs she perswaded vs to prepare our selues to take our iourney and she would send vnto me whether soeuer I wold appoynt ten thousand Crowns promising there withall that my exile shoulde not bee long But when I was certified of the platforme and snare which the Guises had made for me at the intreatie of my fellowes I made hast backe againe to my Armie Then theÌ„ Quéene before my departure required of vs an aunswere the which we referred to the common counsell and aduise of my fellowes affirming notwithstanding for our selues that we were ready not only to go into exile but also to suffer any maner of extremitie willingly for a common wealth But afterward I had taken deliberation and consulted with my fellowes they aunswered That except I would forsake God the Kyng and my Countrey I could not nor ought to go to any other place declaring vnto me that the auncient and approued Lawes and constitutions of the Realme were that when the king by reason of his younge and tender yeres cannot take vppon him the Gouernement of the Realme the Princes that were the Kinges néere kinsmen with the couÌ„sell and aduise of the States should prouide a forme of Gouernement The which during the time of the kings ninoritie ought to abide firme and immutable At the first begining of this kings raigne the States whose authoritie hath brideled alway their ambition which would abuse the tender age and facility of kings decréed with the consent of the Princes the Kings kinsmen That the gouernement of the King and the realm should be committed to the Quéene and that shée shold discharge and pay that debt which the Kings auÌ„cetours had left the Crowne in and should also mayntayne the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme of Fraunce Diuers other things and they decréed more particularly concerning such as had taken any otheâ—… to serue forreyn power whetheâ—… they should be of the Kinges Counsell or no and whether twoo bretheren at once excepte the Princes the Kings kinsmen should be of the same coun sell concerning also an account to be made by suche as had the trust of treasure committed vnto them in the former Kings dayes and diuers other things they decréed as is to be séene in my former declarations in writing published But amongst all other it was decréed by the Quéene that matters concerning Religion should be established for peace and vnities sake First of all therefore the matter was handeled by Disputation at Possit but in vayne Then the Queene caused an assembly to be made of the Princes the Kings kinsmen of the Kings Counsellers and of certaine choosen out of all Parliamentes of the Realme that they might make an Edict concerning this matter Then there was an Edict made in the Kings Counsel to the which they were all sworne and they also which at this day haue broken the same and which was published and confirmed according to custome throughout all Courtes in the realm by the benefite whereof the Realme in euery place séemed to be at peace Notwithstanding this thrée priuate men offended with the Kinges Counsell and inflamed with their owne desires because they knewe that they were bound to obey their Decrées aud to giue vp their accountes conspired togyther how they might remoue the Quéene from her authoritie gathered an army of men togyther without the coÌ„maundement of that Quéen contrary to the authoritie and decrées of the States denyed to go home to their owne Prouinces at the commaundement of the Quéen and to vnarme themselues came armed to the Kinge and so tooke him stirred vp warre and put the king to great expences not only entered into the kings Counsel from which they were secluded by the Decrées of the States but also did put in and put out such as it pleased theÌ„ and finally they brake the kings Edict solemly made and confirmed by the aduise and determination of the States from the time that they armed them selues they haue not suffered the same to be kept without the which notwithstanding it it not possible that the publique peace should stande By which their wicked actes and presumption they haue broken the authoritie of Magistrates and Lawes haue playnly declared themselues to be enemies to God to the king to the Realme and to coÌ„mon peace For these causes my friends sayd vnto me considering my state and calling in the Realme that it was not meete that I shold gyue place vnto them which by violence had gone about already to confound all thinges Neyther that I should forsake the
dealt withall and felt that peace was more greuous then warres and many of them thorough the cruell gouernment of that president were scatered abrode In the Countie of Venaâ—…s beinge parte of the Popes Dominion a very frutful soile and a coÌ„modious countrey the Protestants by the Popes commaundement were erceding cruelly entreated and the goodes of all them forfaited that did professe the reformed Religion neither could the kings Edict case theÌ„ by anie meanes notwithstanding both the Kinge and the Quéene were â—…iuers tymes sued to by supplâ—…ations Wherefore the greatest part of the Protestantes of Uenais being spoiled of their goodes went to Dolphiney and Orenge where the vse of the reformed Religion was fréelye allowed both by warrant of the Kinges Edict and also through sufferance and fauour of the Prince of Orâ—…nge The vse of the reformed religion was banished out of Paris by especial commaundement of the Edict Not withstandinge the Protestantes of Paris that were retourned home began to deuise and consult among them selues â–ª for the renewing and gathering togyther again of the congregation Wherefore straglinge abrode in sendry companies they enioyed the preaching of Gods word but alwayes there resorted but a small nomber togyther in one company least they should be accused and condemned as breakers and violaters of the kings decrées And yet although the Parliment of Paris was very sore offended and moued against the faithfull and the Guises spies and promouters also were very busie and left nothing that might be done vntried not withstanding through the pollicie and wisdome of the Marshall Momorency who was President there a certaine kind of peace and quietnes was kept which was as it were sauced and entermingles nowe and than with bitter and greuous vexations In Picardie the Prince of Condies Prouince the pro testantes through the faithfull and diligent trauaile of the President liued almost in euery pointe according to the order prescribed in the Edict Heuerthelesse very few congregations were in that countrey both bicause the people of themselues were much giuen to popishe ceremonies and also they were stirred vp againste the protestantes that were there by dyuers of the Noble men Moreouer in Britannie chiefly by the meanes of the Andelot who held a great part of that countrey by hys wyfe which was Heire of the countye of Lauall and in Normaudy there were some Churches that liued quietly and yet many tymes were in great feare Amongst the Gascoignes for at Burdeux the thief City was a famous church the Santones the men of Poictures and other countries of the prouince of Guian wher were very many congregations the protestantes were diuersly molested and wronged by the Liuetenantes Monsieur Monluc Mousieur de Beri Monsieur de Lude and Monsieur de la Taride And yet the Quéene of Nauar hauing the chief rule almost ouer al those countries being a very godly christian woman did what possible she could do that al things ther might be don in peaceable quietnes and according to the order appointed in the Edict She had also in the Dominion of Bearne it is a Countrye on this side the Mountaines Pyranaeis and part of the kingdome of Nauar where she rained in soueraign and princely aucthority graunted frée libertie of the reformed ReligioÌ„ but as then she gouerned her subiectes according to the prescripte order of the French Edict There was to be séene the churches lyue in perfecte peace vnder a good and Godly Princesse In the Countrey of Mets which had bin long before kept by the Kinges Garrison the Church did enioy the benefit of the Edict and many of the Captaines of the Garrison and the Souldiers themselues did frequent the Sermons They had also at that tyme their Leuftenant Monsienr Auancie enclyninge to and fauouringe their procedinges very much The Churches that were in those Cities of Predmont which were holden by the French king and those in the Marquesdome of Salus defended themselues by the warrant of the Edict Thus al the Churches dispersed through the whole kingdome of Franec were in diuers states and condicions and the greatest part of them enioyed the benefite of the peace taken but euill fauoredly and all through default of the common Courtes and of those that were appointed comissioners for the execution of the Edicte and others the Lieftenantes of the prouinces The papists had raised and bruted a rumor abrod that the king beinge in his nonage and enforced by necessitie of the time had made that Edict but for a certaine space but when he attained vnto more ripe and discreet yeares he would vtterly roote out and pluck vp the séedes of that new Religion and bring home againe his Subiectes to an vniformitie of one Religion And this forsooth was the will and pleasure of the King his Mother the Quéene and almost of al other the Péers and Nobles of the Realme and that they of the new religion should eyther consent vnto this order â–ª or els be vtterly destroied by the King or at least be spoiled of theiâ—… Godes and banished out of all partes of the Kingdome So that by the voice of the papistes the faithfull had graunted vnto theÌ„ but as it were the loane of the Edict for a very short space and at their pleasure and that to with many great troubles and iniuries In so much that a man might perceiue very much to be taken from the former Edict made in January and the peace graunted by the benefit therof greatly diminished NotwithstaÌ„ding the rage and troubles of that moste cruell and vnnaturall war being pacified the churches were miraculusly preserued in the tyme of truce and by dispersing of some congregations others wore wonderfully augmented It was easely perceyued how the Guises were enflamed against the protestantes and highly effended that the vse of their religioÌ„ was after a certain fort graunted vnto them in France and that by warrant of the kings Edict but yet there were many thinges which stayed them that they burst not out into open war for the present and vrgent state of thinges that had moued the Quéene to make peace would not suffer anye newe broiles or troubles to be raised againe They perceyued also that they could not frame her mind to their pitch although she were of her selfe froward inough against the protestantes and very fauorable to them and their partes For the Queene greatly feared new tumultes and did therfore faine to be very careful both to maintaine the Edict and also to sée it put in execution for the protestants sake whom she flattered very subtilly and against her stomacke especiallye the Prince of Conde whom of all other she chiefly by all meanes and waies possible desired to win and draw vnto her To these lettes also was added the extreme difficultie and almost impossibilitie of takinge any new matter or exploite in hand so hastely as it wer in the neck of so great wars
long before to talke of the murthering of the Guâ—…se and yet it appeareth by his owne sayinge that I neuer spake vnto him or had any knowledge of him before the time that he brought Monsieur Subize his letters vnto me VVhere vppon I may truly conclude that it is neyther true nor like to be true that I should be the author of that thinge which he long before had conceiued and purposed in his mind Moreouer where as Merae was very nere of kinne to M. Rainold whom the Duke had caused to be slaine it was likely that he was enflamed and stirred vp againste the Guise by some priuate quarell and speciall hatred And as I haue declared beefore euen so of a truth the case standes vvhereby me thinke it is euident and plain that they who perswade themselues that I was the author and procurer of this murther besides that they vse very fonde and childishe reasons to proue the same do not know my nature for if so be I had charged him to doo any more then that I haue before declared I would not feare to confesse it with like franknes and boldnes And truly I would gladly aske this question of them whether they imâ—…gin that there was any other cause why I should cause my other answer to be published then that I desired the matter might be vnderstanded of all men And it there were any thing else why should I dissemble why should I cloake it why should I not confesse it who euer was a more deadly and open enemie vnto mee than the Duke of Guise for what other cause did he besiege Orleans but that he might vtterly destroy and cast awaye mee my wyfe and children and whatsoeuer else I held as deare and precious vnto mee yea there are men of great credite that can and will testifie that he vsed often to bragge and make his vaunts that whensoeuer the Citie were taken he would spare none neyther man woman yong nor old Neyther needeth any man to doubt that amongest all them that were in the battayle at Dreux it was he I sought for and chiefely he with whom I wished to meete And certaine it is that if I myselfe could haue discharged anie shot at him I would ful glad ly haue done it yea truely if I had ben Captain ouer ten thousand gunners I would haue charged them that they should euery one haue leueled and shot at him alone To be short I would haue left no deuise that might stande with the law of armes vntried so that I might by any meanes deliuer my selfe from an enemie so spightfull and deadly against mee and myne all good men And last of all I protest before God and his Aungelles that I commaunded nothing else but that which I haue declared in these my writings If there be any man that desiteth to knowe more let him repaire too mee and I will make him aunswer Whilest these things happened in Fraunce the Popish Prelates sat still at Trent labouring very diligently to prouide and establish the estate of Poperie with a long rable of Decrées the exact rehearsall whereof being at large already set out in a booke for that purpose shall not be néedfull to be brought in here in these oure Commentaries especially for that our onely purpose intent is briefly to shew the estate and condicion of the faithfull in Fraunce and how thei were troubled vexed in the time of Truce and how afterward they were enforced to breake out into open warre The Councell of Trent therefore did very carefully trauell in maintayning and defending the Popes authoritie and dignitie in the kingdome of Fraunce and this matter as a thing of greatest waight and importance was thorowly and most earnestly laboured of all sides And the great and large reuenew that came out of Fraunce whiche thing did chiefely enflame the zeale of those reuerend Fathers and the great daunger and present hazard they were in to loose them if the reformed Religion had preuayled did make them busily to besturre them and to take the matter in hand There was present at the Councell the Cardinall of Lorraine hauing great knowledge and experieÌ„ce in the affaires of Fraunce and a subtill and sleighty old coygner of new fetches and besides that the matter for hys owne cause stood him vppon he was also incensed with an outragious hatred and malice against the men of the reformed religion and chiefly against the trueth it self which he both knew and renounced At his request and setting on they began to consult how they might vtterly deface and roote vpp the reformed Religion out of Fraunce the readiest and fittest waye for that matter that they could deuise was that there should be a league made betwixt the King of Spayne and the King of FraÌ„ce and that the King of Spayne because it was a thing of great difficultie and could not without much a doe bée brought to passe should helpe the French Kinge at all tymes with such ayde as should be néedfull and that all wayes and meanes should be sought to abolish and disannull the Edict wherin was graunted the libertie and vse of the reformed Religion This league which was made for the rooting out of true religion the holy fathers of the Councell of Trent dyd call the Sacred and holye League The Cardinall of Lorayne doth promise all possible diligence and trauaill in this matter and that hée will perswade the King to finish the league and as for the Quéene being of herselfe prone enclining to their parte and the consents of the Nobles he accounted him selfe sure of them As the Cardinall a most bitter enemie to the reformed Religion did what possible he could for the accomplishement of these matters in the Councell at Trent the enemies of the Gospell were not idell at home in Fraunce in defacing and putting downe the Edicte and the Quéene was not onely euery day more wayward disliking of the reformed religion but was also very furiously incensed against it and dyd by all meanes shée could denise goe about to engraffe and so we hatred and malice in the tender mind of the yong King against religion that then he might proclayme perpetuall and euerlasting warre against al the reformed Churches in Fraunce The Constable Momorencie was also very forward in this matter and was very maliciously bent againste the truth bicause he purchased so great infamy and dishonour in the former warres So that the Edict had in France enemies both many in nomber and greate in power and authoritie About this time the Kinge being of the age of xiiii yeres was declared to be of ful lawfull age by the decrées and iudgemente as the maner was of all the high Courtes of parliament and within few dayes after was according to the custome solemly crowned and all such estates as had to do with the administration of the Realme as vicegerents and protectours and such other were displaced very profitablie fitly both
Spanishe King their neighbour if so be that the reformed religion dyd take place there Wherefore the Quéene burst not openly disalowe those executions done vpon the Papistes but woulde rather when the Protestantes came to complaine to hir praise them and make as thoughe she liked very well of them and all to shewe what desire she had that lawe and Iustice shoulde be administred to euery man equally without partialitie At the earnest importunate sute of the Protestantes one place was chosen oute of all that Prouince for the assemblyes to haue the vse and administration of the reformed Religion â–ª but it was inconuenient by reason of the vneuenesse and crookednesse of the way to Merindoll Notwithstanding by the great prouidence of God it came to passe that the same place which a little before had receyued the trueth of the Gospell in the darke and dusky dayes of papistrye and had suffered much calamity for that cause should by the Kings Edict be made a receptacle and mansion place for the Gospell and the faythfull and thereby made very famouse and noble Therefore the faythfull came out of all places of Prouance to Merin dol hauing frée libertie to heare the word of God. After this the King came to Aâ—…inion that frâ—…m thence he might goe into Languedock And as he traueiled he was very princely receyued of euery Citye wherethorough he passed and had very large and stately gyftes gyuen vnto him of the which to make relation pertayneth not to our purpose When the King was come to Nemaux there came thyther a great multitude of protestants making great mone and lamentation in so much that the crying and pitiefull voyce of the people came to the house wher the King lodged who might heare them crying and calling for Iustice of their soueraigne Lorde and requiring of the Christian King the libertie of the reformed Religion This noyse of wéeping and crying was so great and so shrill in the Kings eares that the mynd of the yonge King at the hearing of the same was somwhat abashed and straightway demaunded what the matter was the standers by dissembled and excused the matter but hée with angry moode aunswered and sayde I sée that my people are euill entreated and turning to the Quéâ—…ne sayd How chaunce this people are not satisfied I will Lady sayeth he that this my people haue Iustice Notwithstandinge they by and by put in his head that they were seditiouse people which were wont after that fashion to do all things with tumult And then this multitude being dryuen away with violence by the Kinges Garde the Elders gouernours of their Church were called for and being come they were sharply reproued that thei had suffered the vnruly multitude to come thither in such tumultuouse order and were commaunded to deliuer their grief in wryting to the Maister of Requestes and to come to Montpellier to receyue an answere according to the same The like complayntes also were made by the men of Montpellier when the king came thyther but they with the men of Nismes were sent to Blitters and after this the churches of Blitters those thereaboutes making the lyke complayntes destring reformation had the lyke successe they being puâ—… of from day to day and from one place to another The Constable being sore offended that so many coÌ„plaintes should be made against his sonne d' Anuile And beside the infinite verations of d' Anuille which he brought vpon them the Senat of Tholoze left nothing vndone to make the cause of the reformed churches odiouse before the Kinge These were the mendes made for so great iniuries and this was the profit that ensued the Kings iourney THE new yeare brought with it a certeine rumour of the Kings progresse into Baione which was kept secret vntill this present tyme Therefore consultation being had of the matter with the chiefest of the Senate of Tholoze the king passing through Guian comming to euery citie came at the last to Baione in the moneth of Iuly Thither to her brother the king came Elizabeth wife to King Phillip of Spayne and was very pompously receyued of the whole Courte But the cause why Phillip her husband came not thyther with her notwithstanding that the same place bordered vpon his kingdome was as it is reported that the league concerning the destroying of the reformed religion might the more secretly be confirmed Others attribute the cause of his absence to ambition â–ª for that he would not séeme in any thing to séeke to the King of Fraunce Notwithstanding by the comming of Elizabeth that holy league as they termed it was ratifâ—…ed and established by which was ment as is aforesaide to banish and abandon the reformed religion And to the ende the Realme of Fraunce might be an vtter enemy to the professours of that religion the king of Spayn promised vnto the king of FraÌ„ce so great power and ayde as he could the lyke promyse also made the king of France to the king of Spayne both of theÌ„ promisinge one to the other to embrace obserue the doctrine of Rome with the rites cerimonies therof and to do all that they could to remoue take away all lettes and impediments to the same and so to take the next occasions offered to bring this matter to passe After the confirmation of this league to the ruin of the Church there followed lamentable effectes But notwithstanding the secret conclusion of this matter the prince of Conde and all the Noble men of the reformeâ—… Religion vnderstoode the same whose deathes hereby were sought Thus when the king had viewed all the Region of Guian he returned back agayne into that part of FraÌ„ce called by the Frenchmen Francâ—…ys towarde the latâ—…er ende of this yeare IN this yeare and in the next following there was truce taken betwene the Churches and the faithfull had some reste and breathing tyme notwithstandinge not without sustayning diuers iniuries Yea there wer snaring baytes layed and priuy platformes practised agaynst the Admirall and the Andelot which were espied manifestly reuealed and brought before the king but in vayne The kings longe looked for occasions to put their league in execution It shall not be from our purpose if we note certayne thinges concerning the affaires of the lowe Countrey called Belgio â–ª aboute this time for matters concerning religion both for that the cause is all one and also bycause the same Countrey bordereth vpon Fraunce notwithstanding obseruing the order of time we will inserte those thinges whiche specially appertaine to oure history Therefore ye shall vnderstande that this noble and plentifnll countrey was exercised and muche troubled aboute this time with diuers and sondrye contentious conflictes for religions sake Wherby we haue diuers examples set forth vnto vs of the wonderfull prouidâ—…ce of God in ordering and framing of his Churche quite contrary to humaine reason that is to say whereby we may plainly perceiue that the Church is not the
the Images as done againste all order and the publique authority of Magistrats They refused also the letters of the Duches of Parme as to helpe any thing at all the offenders herein Therefore gatheringe togyther a great number of Souldiers to serue their turne they toke many in all places of the protestantes and cast them into prison and after examination put them to death After this also Norcam Manques of Berge a notable enemy to the reformed Religion came with foure bandes of horsmen v. Ensignes of footmen minding to besiéege Ualencia toke as he came a Towne called Sainctaman and committed their most cruell tyrannye as rapine murther and the defiling of Uirgins beside most horrible kindes of torment then practised Thys was done in the moneth of Nouember By these cruell actes of the papistes which threatned extreame destruction the protestants sawe that it was now hygh time to prouide for themselues Therefore dyuers practised sondry wayes meanes for theyr defence but God altering and orderinge all thinges by his prouidence would not suffer theÌ„ to come to good effect Great was the multitude of people and great was their courage but they wanted Counsayle and Captaynes to guyde them There were sufficient men enough which could haue gouerned them and conducted them both with wisdome and pollicie agayn the number of Noblemen was not smal that fauoured that side who if they had taken parte with them there had bene good hope of victory and to haue had more quiet gouern ment But such as were of highest calling standing stil as lookers on and séeking neyther to defende nor to resist the one nor the other all good occasion to bring any thing happely to passe was lost The whiche brought great ruine to the protestantes of the lowe Countrey and great calamity to those noble men themselues So hard perillouse a thing it is for a man to séeke to serue two maisters so coÌ„trary the one to the other The grea test part of the Nobilitie professed the reformed religion and yet there was scarse one of them which came at any tyme to the sermons of that Religion Wherefore we must néedes confesse that our sinnes haue caused the Lord not to finish that good worke which he had begonne Herevpon came the pitiefull calamitie of the churches of the low countrey The Protestantes therefore were both destitute of counsaile and also of a goide but the Catholiques waÌ„ted neyther of them both Wherefore their cities were dayly fortified with garrisons and they besieged as is sayd before Valencia which was quight voyde and destitute of any Captayne There came diuers bandes of Souldiours also as scattered shéepe to ayde the Protestants at ValeÌ„cia and that with good courage and while they vainly looked for a Captayne the greatest part coÌ„ueyed themselues away Therefore al this mouth was spent with diuers troubles and diuers cities of the pro testantes were wonne and the inhabitants therof put to flight Antwerpe being vnder the authoritie and gouernement of the prince of Orange was not pertaker of those troubles that other places felt But the foolish men being weary of peace and ease and as though there were not at Antwerpe troublesome heades ynough they sent for Matthâ—…us Illyricus and for Flaccus Spangenberge and other to contende with the men of the reformed religion about the Supper of the Lord and the presence in the Sacrament All things growing daylye from euill to woorse the Protestantes offered vp at diuers tymes Supplications to the Magistrates to whom most humbly and reuerently they committed themselues and their cause promising vnto them a great summe of money vppon condition that they might be in safety Also when dyuers of the Princes of Germany had sought to intreat the matter and could not obtayne that which they wisshed Brederode and certayn noble men confederat with him offered vp a Supplication the eight day of February which consisted of these speciall poyntes That the agreement made betweene him and the Duches of Parme in the moneth of August might be obserued and kept that the libertie of Religion might be graunted and that the soldiours gathered togither contrary to the forme of the othe might be dismist To this within a while after the Du chesse of Parma made answere That shee neuer ment to graunt the publique administration of the Religion nor the vse of Sermons Sacraments and Consistories and as fos the interpretation of the agreemeÌ„t that saith shee dependeth vpon mee Concerning the Request to haue the souldiours dismist all men may see whereunto that tendeth VVherefore sayeth shee I pray and com maund euery man vppon payne of the Kinges displeasure to goe home to his owne house This aunswere made Brederode and his fellowes to doubt to feare the calamitie lyke to ensue And when they had taryed in vayne thirtéene dayes at Antwenpe they got them home to Uian a towne in the borders of Holland and thyther strayghtway a great many fled The reste of the moneth of February was spente with diuers troubles the faithfull Protestants beinge dayly anoyed and vexed more and more with proscriptions banishments and such lyke All this while was continued the siege of Valence which at the laste by the letters of the Duches of Parma wherein shée promysed all clemeney and fauour was surrendered to Noircarm the xxiii day of March. After the which it cannot be expressed what great cruelty was showeÌ„ vpon the townsmen the chief both of the Citie and also of the Church were taken prisoners and among these two ministers the one called Guido Bresse the other Peregrine Grage and certayne other honest Citizens were put to death for that they had Sermones in the Citie without the Kings will and pleasure and had also vsed the administration of Sacramentes In the middest of these garboyles it was reported that Fraunces de Tolede Duke of Alba was comming with a great army to ouercome and subdue all the lowe Countrey otherwyse called Belgio IN this yéere also â–ª the Churches of Fraunce were not a little troubled occasion being taken of the cruel murther committed in the lowe Countrey the whiche the Cardinall of Loraine thoughte fitte for his purpose to afflict and destroy the Churches of Fraunce with the help of the Duke of Alba of whose comming he was truely certifyed by the letters of Granuellan The same Cardinall also procured the Popes letters and the letters of King Philip to the Quéene putting her in minde therby of her promyse of the holy league Therfore this yéere they mynded to worke the vtter ruyne and destruction of the Churches of Fraunce So that they hauing theyr consultations at Marches and at Monseaux at whiche places the King and Quéene moste commonly aboade determined to prouide out of hande bandes of souldiers and to require the helpe and ayde of the Switzers all the which they determined to do vnder the collonr that the Duke of Alba with the Spaniardes ment to giue some
possessed by the Protestantes and so was Rochell In al partes of the realm thoâ—…e was some number or other of Protestantes but they were banished out of the Cities whiche made the army of the Prince of Conde to be the greater The misdemeanour and cruelty of the inhabitantes of Lions made the protestants in other places that wer more mighty in power to aryse Therfore diuers murthers were committed in diuers places and because the Catholiques had burned the churches of the protestants they in lyke manner burned their Churches to requite their crueltie In so much that in all those cities which the protestantes possessed there was not almost a church to be found which thei had not burned spoyled and beaten down to the ground the people crying that all the remnaunts of superstition must bee so taken away that afterward there may be no remembrance or signe thereof to be found While this businesse and garboyle was abroade in diuers places at Paris the papists were very extréeme and cruell agaynst such as they could but suspecte to bée fauourers of the reformed religion All men therefore were set vpon warre and tumult In the meane tyme the prince of Conde wayted for his souldiours at Sandionyse and waxed dayly more strong with new ayde The Constable being verily persuaded that he should oppresse ouercome the prince of Conde marched with all the power he was able to make from Paris takinge with him great gonnes bragging boastinge that the prince of Conde had none such to put him in perill withall but his bragges and boastes had euill successe For after that the Parisians had discharged their great shot and that the battayle began to waxe whote they being not able to abyde the charge of the Prince of Conde and his souldiours though they were the smaller number began at the first to retire and afterwards when their araye was brokeÌ„ to quayle and to flée séeking to recouer the gates of the Citie so fast as they could In this battayle the Constable was sore wounded with a shot his horse also and falling to the grounde was wounded agayne and then was spéedely caryed away by certayn horsmen to Paris after the which within certayn dayes after he dyed This man had liued fiue kinges raignes being of great authoritie in Fraunce many yeres yeâ—… he was the second person in the realme he was also a faythfull and trusty seruaunt to the King being wyse circumspect to auoyde the daunger of his enemies vntill such time as he ioyned himselfe vnto them for the hatred of Religion Concerning the calamitie of the churches of Belgio we spake before After therefore that the people were in good hope by reason of the authoritie and promises of the Noble men that were of the Confederacy they receyued notwithstanding at length the aunswere of the Noble men which séemed to bee of greatest power in these matters That it séemed good vnto them to commit the whole matter to Maximilian the Emperour and the Princes of the Empyre whereby they should be sure to enioye the libertie of the confession of Ausburg But Valence being left destitute of ayde and therefore cruelly spoyled and the whole countrey being desolat that their purpose was frustrate For the protestantes fledd out from all places of the borders of Belgio by heapes also the Ministers chiefe Gouerners of the church of Antwerp yea and the Prince of Orange himselfe leauing his sonne at Louayne fled out of the countrey and that in good tyme as the pitiefull deathes of Counte Egmond and Horne afterwarde declared of the which we will speake anon A great parte of the Protestantes of the low Countrey fled into Englande and part into Germany and into Cleueland the Quene of Enland the princes of Germany but specially the Countye Palatyne graunting vnto them Cities to dwell in God thus prouided for his people who is always a continuall preseruer and vphoulder of his Church the whiche when horrible destruction coÌ„meth he buildeth vp with out the helpe of man. The Duke of Alba therefore came into Belgio otherwyse called the Lowe Countrey where he placed in diuers Cities garrisons of Spayniardes and then proclaimed the Kings Edicte concerninge the establishing of the Inquisition by whiche hée willed and commaunded the reformed religion to be altered and ordered Then also he ordeyned a new senate consisting of twelue men comonly called the Bloudy Counsaile which should sit vppon all matters concerning lyfe and death He displaced also dyuers Magistrates and set others in their roome After this he tooke a great number and cast them into prison hauing no regard or consideration of them what Religion soeuer they professed to such as were fled the countrey he appointed a day for their return and before the day was fully expired he adiudged their goodes to be confiscate Howbeit in the beginning he dissembled this cruelty and made the people beléeue that whatsoeuer had bin done before tyme for religion should be pardoned by the Kings Edict And thus were County Egmond Horne Noble men brought caught in the snare And when sharp lawes wer made concerning the inquisition the inquisitoures were not idle but played their part and cast a great number into pryson Infantes whych had bin baptised before in the reformed Churches were constrained to be rebaptised Women whose husbandes were fled for religion were constrained to be maried agayn to new husbandes and at the commaundement of the Duke de Alba many of them were forced to mary with his soulders Now the Spanish souldier began to pray and spoile in euery City Also when the dissembled clemency of Duke de Alba shewed at the first had drawen a great many home to their houses againe the Bloudy Senate was set a worke some were beheaded some hanged and some had their tungues first of all cutte out of their heades and then a bodkin thrust through their lippes these lamentable sightes were dayly to be sene but specially at Brusselles and at Antwerp Diuers Noblemen also were partakers of these punishmentes as the Battemburges which were Bretheren of a noble house and were cruelly put to death but these had more coÌ„pany for heapes were brought at once to the place of execution And at the same time County Egmond and County Horne noble men and such as afore time had borne great offices and done to their King and Countrey good seruice wer also with this bitter reward of cruel tyranny requited and after they were beheaded their heades were set vp on forkes County Horne all the tyme of his imprisonment and euen in death shewed a singuler zeale of religion It was reported that the Duke of Alba bare towardes both of these an olde grudge but specially towardes the County Egmond for that which he had done in the affaires of France not for religions sake which neyther of them at any tyme had professed These thinges were done in the yeare of our Lord 1568 the which we haue
writing it shall not be amisse to set downe the same accordinge to the very tenour thereof that all men may sée howe the aduersaries of the trueth go about to abuse the name of God to bring their owne willes to passe Ye may reade of the like in the African History in Hunrich Wandallet tyme practised by him agaynst the Christians The protestantes sayde that because in the forme of that othe exhibited vnto them the Catholiques so called were not comprehended they playnly perecyued that their fidelitie and obedience past and to come was now called in questioÌ„ and that the security of the kings protection was to them vncertayne Also they sayd séeing they were fully perswaded that the Kings Maiesty had spoken nothing vnto them hytherto but the whiche was true and vnfayned without all dissimulation they could not nor would thinke that the same forme of the othe offered vnto them was knowne to the Kinge but rather deuised by some notable enemy both to him and also to the publique peace of all meÌ„ But neuerthelesse because we desire this one thing say they aboue all the reste namely to shewe our true and sincere obedience which we owe to our King and naturall Prince Charles the ninth we modestly humbly desire to make our aunswere to that othe praying beséeching the Kings Maiestie that before he procéede any further in establishing the forme of the same othe it maye please him to consider these our petitions whiche with all reuerence and submission of mynde wée propose in manner and forme following The Forme of the Oathe VVe proteste before God and sweare by his name That wee acknowledge King Charles the nynth too be our soueraigne Lord and naturall King. The Answere We will neuer doubt or stay to sweare in so good and iust a cause but we most humbly beséech our king so to iudge of vs as he hath himselfe spoken of vs in his Edict For our conscience beareth vs witnesse that we neuer had any thing in our mindes contrary to the form and meaning of this Oathe Oathe And are ready to giue vnto him all honor obedience and Submission Answer â–ª To this we wil most gladly and willingly sweare séeing that this exception can not be denyed vs That according to the tenor of hys Edictes we haue graunted to vs the libertie of our consciences the vse of the reformed religion Oathe And that we will neuer beare armour but at his expresse commaundementes as shall appeare vnto vs by his owne letters And that we will neither consent vnto them nor helpe them with Counsaile with Money with vittailes or with any other necessary thing which may arme them against vs. Answer To this also we willingly swere for seing we haue two Edictes of pacification for certaine and plaine demonstrations vnto vs of his wil and meaning we wil account all other commaundements contrary to those two Edictes for false and counterfaite And we will neuer bear armor neither haue we so don at any time vnlesse we haue bene plainely constrained to defende our selues from the iniuries and oppression of those meÌ„ whiche breaking the commaundementes of his maiesties Edictes haue gone about to oppresse vs contrary to his will. Oathe Neither will we make anye collections of Money vnder the collour of anye occasion withoute his expresse commaundement Answere We trust that in this braunche the Money whiche necessarily we gather for the releuing of our Ministers the poore and for the repairing of oure Churches and for other necessarye vses is not comprehended The which being gathered we sweare beyng ordinarilye called that we will not vse them deceytâ—…ully to anye other ende Oathe VVe will not haue any secrete Counsailes nor priuie leagues neither wil we consent vnto them but contrariwise we promise and sweare that we will certifie hym or his officers faithfully of all those things which shall be practised against his Maiestie against the tranquilitie of the Realme or against anye that are neere vnto hys Maiestie Answer By the order of this Article whosoeuer was the author of the same we séeme to be accused as though we had hytherto behaued oure selues otherwise than wée ought to haue done the which certainly we wil neuer confesse For the Kinges Edictes of pacification will not suffer vs so to do séeing it hath pleased his Maiesty by them to acknowledge vs for suche manner of men as in déede we are namely for his lawfull and faithfull Subiectes This being added we will sweare that we will with the helpe of God constantly retain vnto the death this Article of the Oathe Oathe VVe pray and besech with all reuerence and submission of mind his Maiestie that it may please him to extende towardes vs his accustomed clemencie and goodnesse â–ª and to accounte vs for his faithfull and obedient seruaunts and to kepe vs vnder his protection to whom next vnder God we flee vnto Answerâ—… â–ª As we neuer doubted of the clemencie and goodnes of oure King whom we haue acknowledged and do acknowledge for our naturall Prince and supreme Lord next vnto God so are we ready most humbly to praye and beséeche him â–ª to coâ—…tinue the same his good wil vnto vs â–ª his most obedient and faithfull subiectes Notwithstanding if it may be spoken with his highnes fauour and leaue we haue no néede to craâ—…e his fauour and pardon for the time paste seyng by the goodnesse of God our consciences doe beare vs witnesse that we haue neither done nor thought any thing against hys Maiestie and therefore we trustâ—…â—…hat this is not so ment or spoken Oathe To whom we will pray vncessantly for the conseruation of his life and dignitie and for the happy estate of the Queene his mother and of his brethren Answer We haue and alwayes will God willing make our prayers from the bottome of our hart vnto the Lorde And we gyue thankes vnto the Kyng that it pleaseth him to think better of vs than our aduersaries do who both by their wordes writings report vs to be wicked and call our prayers blasphemies Oathe And we do submit our selues willingly to all rygor of paynes and punishments if there shal happen any troubles or tumultes through our default in this Citie Expessing the name of the Citie for the defence whereof vnder the Kinges authoritie and at the commaundement of his Ministers we will willingly spende and bestow our liues and goods Answâ—â— To this Article we answere with all reuerence This being so generally put downe experience hathe taught vs that it will be a ready way and fitte occasion for them of whose mindes we haue had of late to large testimonies to kill vs at their pleasure either by preteÌ„ding iudgement or else by some seditious tumult of which things they are skilfull workemen Therefore as euery one of vs would willingly sweare vnto these things so we most hartely pray and beséech the Kings Maiestie to sée diligently that we maye haue Iustice more truely
of the garrisons which were so nie Againe they told him that it was certainely reported that the purpose of his aduersaries was to take him and the Admirall Therfore when the Prince of Conde had consulted with the Admirall they perceiuing that they had no longer time to tary they commended the successe of al thinges to the prouidence of God and tooke with them their wiues and their children and fled the xxij daye of August the same day the Prince of Condes letters being deliuered to the Kyng in the which he declared vnto him the cause of his departure and complained also of the iniuries offered vnto him I AM SORY saith he most Christian King that in all my letters which I haue sent vnto you since the proclimation of the Edict you haue found nothing but complaints and lamentations of your subiects and yet I am constrained too write of the same vnto you still For if euer any subiect had iust cause to complaine and lament to his Prince and soueraigne Lord then I and the rest of my bretherne haue cause so to do who a long time haue ben abused and oppressed miserably with all kind of iniuries and violence ▪ The which they haue borne the more paciētly because they haue thought that time at the last would ease them of all their euils and because they wold let passe al occasions that might renue the wounds of former warres although ▪ by the goodnes of God they might haue repelled those iniuries many wayes The causes wherof we know O King are not to bee imputed vnto you who of your selfe are so well inclined and disposed that you are an vtter enemie to such waies The which you haue often times declared vnto me by your letters and also by the communication which you had of late with your Mother the Quéene by which you declared how odious the renuing of troubles was vnto you when as you requested her to séeke to pacefie all thinges and to bring to passe that the ciuil warres might be no more begon which could not chuse but bring in time extréeme destruction But we impute the cause of these troubles to the Cardinall of Loraine and to his fellowes your aduersaries and enemies to your Crowne and dignitie by whose wicked counsaile and familiaritie which they haue with the Kyng of Spaeine dissentions and hartburnings haue ben continued these sixe yeres among your subiectes and are miserably fostered and increased by murthers which are dayly committed euery where at their becke vppon those which refuse to ioyne with them Wherin they do openly abuse your Maiesty that they may make your selfe the instrument of the detestable destruction of your Realme and they do also obscure your Maiesties fame while they go about to constraine you to violate the warrant of your faith openly giuen and confirmed by your othe that this one thing might be to all your subiectes and to all forreine Nations an example neuer to credite your faith hereafter whatsoeuer by woordes you shall professe the which how perilous and pernicious a thing it is for the conser uation of your state do ye not sée For what shall they say which haue heard of our prompt and readie obediēce which we haue shewed towards you in disarming our selues and in dismissing our armies with all spéede go ing home to our houses voyde of armour and discouering our naked brestes to the sharpe swordes of our aduersaries and all vnder trust warrant of your faith Shall your faith be said to be a net and share to intangle and slay your better sort of subiects and shal their faithfull obedience be thus tried How long shall an armie at your cost and charge bee waged to gard and defend your enemies but to woorke the destruction of your good and faithfull subiects What shall they saye which vnderstand of the peace made Surely they wil say that we could not sléepe safe in our owne houses that to saue our liues we are constrained with our wife and children to flée from house to house I was no sooner come to this place in Burgandy but there were diuers spies sent to vew the walles therof and the altitude of the Castell And now because our aduersaries would not faile to bring their mischeuous purpose to passe they haue sent hither the chiefest part of their power to hem vs in and to set vppon vs Insomuch that wée are constrained to depart from hence and too wander vp downe vntill God shall appoint a place of refuge and all to auoyde the brutish madnes the furies and cruelties of the Cardinall and his compartners enemies to the Crowne of Fraunce Can there be found in any monument of histories and Cronicles an example of so great falshode and such detestable trechery executed vnder the pretenced name of the Kyng Will you suffer your faith your promise and name to be so abused by them and your subiects which serue you faithfully and truely to be so violently oppressed Shall an vnchast priest a Tiger and a cruell Tirant ▪ with a ra ble of such as he him selfe is rule you and the rest of your Princes the Péeres and Nobles of the realme How long shall your pacience suffer such Iauelles too abuse your authoritie and name and make you the author of your owne destruction How long shall they bée counted for faithfull subiects and seruants which séeke for your Crowne to deuide the same with straungers And how long shall they be counted for Rebelles and Traytors which willingly submit themselues to that obedience which they owe vnto you and desire only to liue peaceably vnder your protection I might be more tediouse vnto you most Christian King if I would speake all that I might to this effect the which séeing thei are more particularly declared in the Supplication which I haue sent to your highnesse by this bearer I refer my selfe to the same and I shall most humbly pray and beséeche your Maiestie to accept to consider and to way the same as procéeding frō him who seeketh so much the preseruation of youre dignitie and Royall estate as the Cardinall and his fellowes are mortall enemies to the same yea as procéeding frō him who only wisheth to liue and dye in that naturall subiection and loyall obedience which hée oweth vnto you Therefore the Prince of Conde sent with these letters a Supplication which although it be long and tediouse yet notwithstāding because it declareth the causes and reasons of great and gréeuouse complaints and sheweth also the necessitie of the warre which he tooke in hand the third tyme we will not let to put down the same in order And thus the Prince of Conde began Although I neuer doubted most Christian King of your Maiesties singular good will to haue your Edicts of pacification obserued because it is the only and most present remedy to establish the peace and tranquillitie of your Realme séeing also your Maiesty hath oftentymes signified vnto mée
Quéenes good will. But the Quéene of Nauar persisting in her former purpose sent letters to the King to the Quéene to the Duks of Aniou and to the Cardinall of Borbon In the which because she doth plainly she we the reasons of hir purpose it shall not be amisse to repeate the summe of them When saith she I receyued your letters I was rea dy to take my iorney hearing the rumor of so great alte ration the which notwithstanding was not vnlike to come our aduersaries beeinge so outragious that their madnesse could not but take awaye from vs all hope of peace which was offred vnto vs most Christian king by your Edict of patification the which notwithstaÌ„ding was not only euill obserued kept but plainly broken also by the subtil meanes of the Cardinal of Lorain who notwithstanding your promises which you haue made to your miserable subiectes hath not ceased both by letters to the parliaments and also to all those whose help he thought hee might haue to frustrate and adnihillate the force and effect of the Edict abusing our patience after he had made a way to an infinite sort of murthers he presumed to procéede farther and sought to preuaile against the Princes your neare kinsmen of the which we haue a manifest example in my brother the Prince of Conde who was so furiously assaulted that hee was constrained to craue aide of his kinsmen And bycause my Sonne and I are so neare of bloud vnto him wée could not chuse but offer vnto him that kindnesse which the Law of nature requireth Wée know sufficiently your mind which you haue declared both by woord and writinge which is to haue at our handes obedience the which we are ready to yéeld vnto you euen to â—…heading of the laste drop of our bloud And furthermore we know most Christian king that your naturall goodnes is wholy enclâ—…ned to preserue vs and not to destroy vs Seing therfore wée sée such practises against vs is ther any man which knowing you to be a faithfull and iuste king and séeing notwithstanding such contrary actions so manifest against your promises will not Iudge that these things are done withour your commaundement and that by the cankered malice and spight of the Cardinall of Loraine Therefore I pray and beséech you most ChristiaÌ„ King to take it in good part the I was gone froÌ„ home to serue our God you also which are our King and supreme Lord and of our owne bloud Wée setting our selues as vtter enemies against their practises so much as wée may which presumptuously go aboute to oppresse vs And I pray you to certifie your selfe that wee haue not put oure selues in armour but onely for these thrée causes least they should vtterly destroye vs as they haue gone about As touching mine owe part I say the the Cardinal hath done great iniurie vnto you in that he hath gone about to chaunge his power and authoritie into violence séeking to take away my Sonne from me perforce that he might be brought vnto you as though your onely commaundement could not sufficiently preuayle both with him and me But we saye and affirms O king and beséeche you so to thinke that we are your most louing and obedient seruaunts in so much that whensoeuer it shall please you to trye vs to compare our fayth with the falshood of the Cardinall and his fellowes I beléeue you shall finde more trueth and trust in my déedes than you shall finde faythfulnes in his wordes The which also we will alwayes performe with all willingnesse of mynd But to the Quéene the Kings mother she wrote after this manner I protest sayeth shée O Quéene before God and men that nothing hath ben is nor shal be hereafter more déere to me than the loue of God the King my Countrey and my own bloude The whiche haue ben so effectuall in me that Monsieur la Mott whoÌ„ you sent vnto me with letters founde mée gone from home with full purpose and intent to spend and bestow my life goodes and all that I haue for their sakes But I pâ—…ay you O Quéene if these my letters be ouer tediouse vnto you that you would impute it to the necessitie of the time which hath brought me into such extremities that I cannot choose but be long in repeating of them meaning thereby to declare vnto you my purpose and to set before your eyes my whole mynde in the which you may haue a liuely view of those things the which I know are after a contrary maner layd to my charge But I pray you gyue me leaue to repeate the whole matter from that tyme in the which the Guises shewed themselues to be enemies to the peace and tran quillitie of the whole realme at what time they flattered the King my husband disceased with fayre wordes making him beléeue that he should recouer his kingdoÌ„ You know with what kinde of men he was then beset on euery syde to my great griese and to your grieâ—…e I dare say also for I knew it then of your own mâ—…th I pray you remember how faythfull you haue alwayes found me when as for the coÌ„mon wealth of the realm â–ª I almost forsooke my husband and my children I pray you also remember what talke you haue had with me and what a trust you séemed to haue in me when I departed from you from Fontainbleau From that time I protest that I haue ben the same woman still And I pray you remember how faithfully I obeyed your letters which you sent vnto me when I was at Vendosme Remember what I did after that in GuiaÌ„ to obey your commaundements Then I lost the King my husband that I might be partaker of the common chaunce calamity of widowes I wil not repeate euery particular iniury that hath ben don to me seeing that I meane to speak of them all generally And I protest againe that the desire I haue to obey god the loue which I owe to my kinâ—…olkes and countrey haue so possessed my mind that I haue almost no respect or consideration of my selfâ—… Let me come therfore to the time of the extréeme troubles theÌ„ renued again when the Cardinal of Lorain brought vs into such straites as you al men know In the mean time I by their malice subtill practises aboad vnprofâ—… table in my own dominioÌ„ who sought al that thei could to intangle me And what I theÌ„ did you are so wel certified of y same that I shal not néed to make ani farther rehearsal therof Therefore to come to this my present state at what time I sée the Edicts of my King not only brokeÌ„ but also quight contemned set at naught his au thoritie despised his kingly promises not regarded all which come to passe by the wicked practises of the Cardinal of Loraine whom I can not so well point out O Quéene as he is knowne vnto you And beside the barbarouse cruelty which he
part was conducted by Monsieur Boisuerd a very good Captaine The Andelot taried at a village called Saintmalin there to take his dinner In the meane time a Monsieur Boysuerd chiefe Captaine of that army was conducting his souldiers to the riuer of Loyre there met him a younge man wonderfully dismayd and abashed and when he perceyued that Monsieur Boysuerd and the rest of his souldiers were protestantes he told Boisuerd that Monsieur Martyques was come with a great army of men the greatnesse whereof he said had made him sore afraide Monsieur Boysuerd regarded not this newes vntill he sawe certaine troupes of horsmen and then he sought with all spéede to defend himselfe and sought to make out of hand bulwarkes and trenches betwéene him and the enemy beside the riuer this was a good remedy but he could not haue his purpose the enemy marched so fast â—ne â–ª Then Monsieur Boysuerd with all spéede sent woord to the Andelot of the comminge of Martiques but before Boisuerd could set his men in their array Martiques rushed vpon him with a great troupe of horsemen dispersed his souldiers and made greate slaughter of them in the chase For that they had not sufficient store of horsmen Monsieur Boisuerd also himself was slaine many of the chiefe Captaines also were taken and many slaine Notwithstanding Monsieur Martiques marched forward with his army toward Saulmur with fiue hundred horsemen and ten ensignes of footemen The Andelot for all this supposed to haue the victory becausé his enemies were fewer in nomber as he thought but when he vnderstood that Boisuerd was slain and a great sort of hys souldiers also and that Monsieur Martiques had a strong army deuided into diuers parts when also he perceyued that hys armye had gotten the vantage of ground of him he shonned them and choseâ—… more conuenient ground suffering Martigues to pas by hym toward Saulmur many of the souldyours of the Andelot not knowing what the meaning hereof should be yéelding vnto him Then the Andelot gathering togi ther his men pursued with all spéede Monsieur Martigues the which when he perceiued he rode the faster tooke Saulmur which was then kept by the Garrisons of the papistes leauing behind them the spoile which they had taken from the Souldiers of the Andelot Now the bridges being stopte vp and cut awaye the Andelot was driuen to séeke other wayes to passe ouer the riuer of Lâ—…ire he sought therfore to go ouer at some shallow forde or other but he could not by reason of the wynter floudes which had caused the riuer to bee déepe in those places where otherwise there is little or no wa ter at all Notwithstanding at the last he found a place so shallow and fléete that his horsemen footemen Ordinance waggons and his whole army passed ouer the riuer without perill being moste wonderfull and the lyke seldome heard of before After this their safe passage they gaue thankes vnto God sang altogither the 73. Psalm beginning thus IN IVKY IS GOD KNOWNE HIS NAME IS GREAT IN ISRAEL And thus as they went foreward on their iorney they sawe certayne troupes of horsemen on that syde of the ryuer against whom wheÌ„ the Andelot had sent certayne troupes of horsemen he put them to flight and slew some of them After this they passing quietly on their iorney came at the last into the countrey of Poictou tooke a certayne Towne called Tuars by surrender then ioyned them selues with the Admiral which came to méete them After this coniunction of both armies they tooke a noble Citie called Partenay the Citizens willingly yéeldinge 〈◊〉 â–ª sauing certayne popisâ—… priestes who séeking to reâ—…st were slayne Then they iointly and togither besteged a noble Citie called Engolesme but when they had assaulted the same certaine dayes and were out of hope to winne it they tooke at the last a certayne yong man whiche was sent at the eaâ—…est intrâ—…aty of the townesmen to Monpensier to crâ—…ue ayde at his hands by which yong man they learned in what great necessitie the town was in Thereupon the Admirall gaue a new assault to the other side of the Town by battery made such breaches in the same that the Townsmen being voyd of al hope to defend themselues came straightway to compositioÌ„ with the Admirall for the surrender of the Towne So that this Citie came into the power of the Prince of Conde And straytâ—… after this that Noble Citie Niort came into his handes In so muche that it maye séeme wonderful that so many Noble Cities in so short while hauing so néere vnto them great ayde of the Catholikes to defend them shoulde be taken These things happened in the moneth of September Toward the ende of this Moneth a great Army being gathered togither at Orleans the Kings Edictes were théenderedout in one of the which Edictes the vse and administration of the reformed religioÌ„ was quight taken away and forbidden It contayned this summe Knowe all men that the Kinges our Aunâ—…etours of happy memory to the end they might shew themselues to be Christians and true defenders of the church haue vsed all lawfull ways and meanes to preserue the same Church and to take awaye the diuisions of Religion sprong vp by secrete sermons and by seattering abroad of râ—…probate bookes And after the vnfortunate disceasse of ouâ—… Father King Henry there were certayne Noble men stirreâ—… vp by the Ministers of this newe opinion which withdrew themselues and moued controuerâ—… and that vpon no zeale of religion but moued by ambition to haue the gouernement of this Realme vnder King Frances our brother albeit that he himselfe was of sufficient yeres by the lawes of this Realme and was able enough to gouern both for that he had authoritie and wisdome enough and also was ruled counsayled by the vertuouse and wise counsayle of the Quéen his mother â–ª of other singular Noble men which were still about him after the death of his Father king Henry who directed him in the steppes of oure Father as playnly appeared all the time of his raigne Who had no doubt brought the kingdome into that former State and condition in the which he founde it if the Lord had lent him longer life notwithstanding the state of the Kingdome was then troubled by certaine noble men who when they durst not openly bewray their myndes concerning the getting of the kingdome vnto them â–ª by the industery of their Ministers of this â—…ewe learning they caused the tumult of Ambâ—…yse vnder the collour of offering vp a supplication with a confession of faith to our brother the King who although he knewe them to be the authors of that mischiefe yet notwithstandyng with greate clemencie following the example of oure heauenlye Father he pardoned all his subiectes by an Edicte which had straied from faith and truth would come into the righte waye agayne thinking hereby to preuaile more than by the Rigor of punishments And
sicke he was of no lesse councell in matters of consultation than of courage in the execution his estate of the great Maister of the artillerie was giuen to the Lorde Ianlis his sonne in law with his cornet of horsemen And nowe to ouerslip nothing that was executed in this last April ther eis in the mountayns of Daulphyne a Castell nere to Bryanson wherein the King keepes an ordinarie dead pay of certeyn numbers of souldiours A Captein called Colombyn borne in Grenoble vnderstā ding by certain of the borough of Oysans that most part of the sayd dead pay men were issued out of thir charge toke the sayde Castel and finding no resistaunce other than the very captaine of the place who yéelded beyng hurt with a shotte he made him selfe Lord of it where neglecting one first and most necessarie policie in a victor he rather laboured to deface the images thā to furnish place y with conuenient prouision which being not vnmarked of certein euill neighbours purlewing vpō the Castle they forthwith enuironed him with a siege ▪ and so cut off his vittaill whereof they knew the castle had but slender store Their siege continuing about xv dayes enforced him at last to render the place vpon cōposition and onely reseruation of lyfe whiche notwithstanding was not kept for that all his souldiours were cut in péeces and he only led on liue to Grenoble After the generall view and muster of the Princes footemen the Lord de Pilles returned nowe from Gascoygne was sent to sease vpon the I le of Medoc a riche Ile lying betwene Rochell and Bordeaux conteyning in length about xvi or xvii leagues and 4. or 5. leagues in breadth he prouided necessary boates to passe the riuer of Gironde and embarking himselfe with two thousand footemen discended into the sayde I le and tooke hauen without any let he made himselfe maister of the yle vpon the sodaine and vnlooked for finding great foyson of riches wherwith he and his souldiours loaded themselues plentifully By meane of this yle he besieged Bourg a towne in Berdelois but being spéedely called back by the princes he raysed his siege and came agayne to the Campe At this siege died of a shot in his shoulder the Lord Ualphe uiere Lieuetenant to the late Lord d' Andelot of his regiment of footemen whose regiment was translated to the Lord of Rouray a gentleman of Fraunce This was vpon the end of May. The Kinges Brother being now retourned into the countrey of Angoulmois and after he had somwhat reléeued his army on that side to Villebois sent to sommōthe town of Angoulesme by a trompet wherein he was refused and so tooke way towardes Berry to ioyne his force witht the Duke de Aumall being in the sayd countrey the Count Montgomery charged vpon the tayle of his campe and discomfited certen of them The Lady Marquise of Rottelin vnderstāding of the death of the prince of Conde hir sonne in law put her vpon the way to come to Rochell where was the widow princesse her daughter shée passed to S. Iean de Angely so to Thony vpon Boutonne where the said princesse met her and so returned into Fraunce without her daughter whom shée purposed to haue with her But the princes excused her vpon hir children which were then at Rochel whether she also returned it was thought the Lady Marquise came to entreate a peace which was not so because her occasion was onely as is aforesayde ▪ this was in the end of May ▪ 1569. In the firste kindling of these warres the Princes hauing true intelligence of diuers nūbers of strangers entered the Realm for the strength of the Catholiques determined also to fortifie their army by the like mean. And therefore knowing that the prince Wolfgange the Duke de deux Pons had erected great numbers of men of armes as well on foote as on horsebacke the better to defend his owne countreys sent to him with request to yéeld them succours in their so vrgent and extréeme necessitie both with his army presently in poynt also such other powers as he might possibly leuye whervnto the sayd Duke condescended with promise to reléeue them with al his forces which albeit at that tyme were not fully assembled yet he forgot not within short tyme after to put an army in readinesse to come into France whereof the Duke de Aumale lying in Lorayne béeing enformed by speciall Intelligencers dispatched forthwith a Gentleman of his by whom he aduertised the Duke of the common brute that passed of the diligence he vsed in the leuyes of men of warre in Almayne and all to assist the conspiracies of such as arme themselues against the Crowne of Fraunce with displayed warre against the King which for his parte as he neyther had nor woulde beléeue so looking néerer into his magnificence and partes of a Prince he iudged him of no inclination to fauour rebells against their soueraigne maiestie considering withall the auncient respect of amitie so long continued betwéen the house of the electors of the countie Palatines of Rhine the scepter of France Albeit his maiestie desiring to vnderstand an absolute truth gaue him speciall charge to dispatch this speciall Messanger he also hauing authoritie of his Maiestie to withstande the entrie of any straungers to reléeue the enterprise of the said rebelles which he hoped to accomplish or else to leaue his life in the charge The Duke forbare to answere spedily vntyll his army were fully in poynt albeit after that he had receyued hys Riestres he begā to marche towards the county of Burgogne and as he lay vpon the frontiers of France tarrying for his Launceknyghtes hee aunswered the d'Aumales letter which he sent forthwith to the Kinge In the beginning he layd afore him howe in the yéeres afore many Reistermaisters passing through his Duchy without leaue gréeued so his Countrey that the continuall complaintes of his people forced him to draw into companies of armed men as well on horsebacke as on foote to withstand further offence to his people And that nowe in respecte his cousins and dearely beloued Princes of Nauar and Conde haue lamentably imparted with him the vniust quarell vrged vppon them as well to enforce their lyues and goods as to depriue the exercise of their Religion contrary to the Kings fayth and playn proetstation of his Edictes and that not only they but all the Nobilitie and others professinge the same religion haue and doo endure miserable oppressions as estraunged from their owne houses thruste out of their charges and offices their possessions wealths confliked into the Kings hands lastly that there be raised huge companies of men of warr ayded with sundry sortes of straungers to cut them in péeces as in other tymes of open hostilitie in these respects togither with their earnest motion and request for succours and lastly vpon an vpright view and consideration of their present calamitie he could nor ought do no lesse than ayde them
the Realme in the kings minoritie For though by the lawe of Fraunce neither the inheritance nor the administration of the Realme is graunted to women yet through the cowardly negligence of Anthonie king of Nauarre the sayde Gatherine de Medices the kinges mother against the custome of the Realme was ioyned with him in that office of protectorship She fearing the presumption and fierce pride of the Guisians wrote to the Prince of Conde with hir owne hand which letters are yet remayning and at the assemblie of the Princes of Germanie at Franckeford holden vnder Ferdinande the Emperoure were produced and opēly read about ten yeares past wherein shée earnestly besought him in so great hardnesse and distresse not to forsake hir but to account both the mother and the children that is both hir self and the king and the kyngs brethren committed to his faith and natural kindnesse that he should with al spéede prouide for their common safetie assuring him that she would so imprint in the kinges mind his trauel taken in that behalf that he should neuer be loser by it Within few daies after the Duke of Guise well knowing howe great authoritie the name of the king would carie in France and to the intēt that he would not séeme to attempt any thing rather of his own head than by the priuitie of the king hauing atteined fitte partners to ioyne with him in these enterprises he got the king into his power Which thing being knowen abrode many hard incombrances ther vpon sodainly rising a great part of the nobilitie of France maruelously troubled with it the Prince of Conde by aduise of his friends thought it best for him to take certaine towns furnish them with garrisons which was the beginning of the first ciuil warre For the Prince of Conde alleaged the cause of his taking armour to be the defence of the kings Edict wherin cōsisted the safetie of the common weale and that it could not be repealed without most assured vndoing of the nation of Fraunce destruction of the nobilitie by reason of the excéeding great multitude of those that dayly ioyned themselues to that Religion Of which number suche as being of noble birthe were in power dignitie wealth and credite aboue the rest thought it not méete for them to suffer the punishmentes and crueltie accustomed to be extended vpon the professors thereof beside that they helde them discontented that the Duke of Guise a newe come a straunger translated from the forestes of Loraine into Fraunce did take vppon him in Fraunce so great courage and so high dominion and power Thereto was added the Quéenes mothers singular care as was reported for cōseruation of peace and repressing the rage of the Guisians Upō whiche opinion it is certayne that aboue twentie thousande men hauing regarde onely to the Quéenes inclination ioyned themselues to the side of those of the Religion and to the defence of their profession which at that time had beūeged the force of the kinges power ▪ After certaine battailes and many losses on both paris the Duke of Guise slaine within a yéere peace was made with this cōdition that they of the Religion should haue frée libertie thereof and should haue assemblies preachings for the exercise of the same in certaine places This peace continued in force but not in all places during fiue yeares for in the moste townes and iurisdictions the officers that were affectionate to the Romishe side whom they commonly call Catholikes did all the displeasures they could to those of the Religion Therfore whē Ferdinando Aluares de Toledo commōly called Duke of Alua was leading an armie not farre from the frontiers of Fraunce against those of the lowe countrey which embraced the reformed Religiō against the will of the king of Spaine the Quéene mother caused to be leuied and brought into Fraunce sixe thousand Switzers for a defence as she caused it to be bruted but as the successe hathe proued for this intent that the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other Noble men of the Religion if they escaped the treasons prepared for them and listed to defende themselues by force and trie it by battaile might bée sodeinlye oppressed ere they were prouided For the courtiers whiche then had the managing of these matters did not at that time wel trust the souldiers of Fraunce Many things pertaining to the course of that time and the renewing of the warre must here for hast to our present purpose be necessarily omitted When the warre had endured about sixe monethes peace was made with the same conditions that wée haue aboue rehearsed that all men should haue frée libertie to followe and professe the Religiō reformed ▪ For this was euer one and the last condition vpon all the warres But within fewe dayes or monethes after it was plainly vnderstoode that the same peace was full of guile and treason and finally that it was no peace but most cruel warre cloaked vnder the name of peace For forthwith al those towns which they of the Religion had yelded vp were possessed and strengthened with garrisons of souldiers of the contrary side sauing onely one towne on the sea ceast of Xantoigne commonly called Rochell For the men of that towne about two hundreth yeares past had yelded themselues to the kinges power allegeance with this condition that they should neuer be constrayned against their will to receiue any garrison souldiers Also the Prince of Conde and the Admirall were aduertised that there was treason agayne prepared to entrappe them by Tauaignes a man giuen to murther and mischiefe which had lately bin made Marshall of Fraunce and that if they did not spedely auoyde the same it should shortly come to passe that they should be deceiued and taken by him and deliuered vp to the crueltie of their aduersaries Upon the receit of these aduertisementes they immediatly make haste to Rochell carying with them their wiues yong children which was the beginning of the thirde ciuill warre the most sharpe and miserable of all the rest There was at that time in the court Charles Cardinall of Loraine brother to the Duke of Guise whiche as is aboue saide was slayne in the first warre one accompted most subtill and craftie of all the rest but of a terrible cruell and troublesome disposition so as he was thought intollerable euen at Rome it selfe This man they of the reformed Religion reported to be the most sharpe and hatefull enimie of their profession and him they abhorred aboue all other for the crueltie of his nature and named him the firebrand of all ciuill flames He at the beginning of the third ciuill warre persuaded the king to publishe an Edict that no man professe any Religion but the Romishe or Popishe and that whosoeuer would embrace any other should be cōpted as traytours In that same Edict printed at Paris this sentence was expressely conteined and for the strangenesse of the matter and for that it stayned
obteyned that the Prince should haue all his goodes restored vnto him but with this condition that hée should haue no house within the territorie of the lowe countrie but settling his refidence and dwelling elsewhere he should fréely enioy all his reuenewes Which matter being reported to the Frenchâ—… king he immediatly sent messengers to the prince of Aurange willing him to looke for nothing by that dealing of the Emperour saying that it was but a fraude and guilefull deuise intended for this purpose only to breake vp his leuying of souldiers that he had begon in Germanie and assuring him that if he would credite and followe him he would giue him aide sufficient to recouer his estate The Prince of Aurenge perswaded by these promises of king Charles continued his musters and determined a whyle to beare the charges though they were heauie to him whyle such things as were necessarie for the warre were in preparing In the meanetime Lodouic in disguised apparel went to Paris to the king Forasmuch as the season of the yéere by this time séemed not commodious to leuie an armie for the winter was at hande by assent they deferred the matter till the next Sommer These thinges thus hanging the Prince of Aurenge his captaines by Sea did oftentimes set vâ—…n the Spaniards and Portingals such ships as they tooke tâ—…y brought into the hauen of Rochel which then was in the power of the Prince of Condees part and there they openly vttered and solde their prizes to the men of the towne and other merchantes of France whervpon the Embassadour of Spaine made often complaintes to the kinges priuie Couâ—…sell And forasmuch as they thought it very auaileable to this enterprise that Elizabeth Quéene of EnglaÌ„d might be brought into league with them the king committed the dealing in that matter to the Admirall For a few monethes before the king had with moste swete alluring letters gotteÌ„ him to the Court where he was most honorably enterteined and to take from him all occasion of distrust vpon his aduersaries or of otherwise suspecting of the kinges or Quéene mothers affection towardes him first all the Guisians of a set purpose departed the court Then the king gaue the Admirall free libertie to take with him what companie and with what furniture he would and bicause it was thought that he had more confidence in the Marshall Cosse than in the rest therefore the king commaunded the saide Marshall to be euer at hand with the Admirall to assiste him in the kings name if any nede were The matter of the league with Englande the Admirall so diligently and industriously handled that within shorte space after by Embassadours sent and by faithe giuen and receiued and othes solemnely taken on both parts it was confirmed Concerning the procurement of other leagues and amities such as might séeme to further the enterprise of the low countrey the Admiral also trauelled in the Kings name and by his commaundement and had in a maner brought al these things to an end And of all those leagues the first and principall coÌ„dition was that the libertie of Religion shoulde continue and that the king should most diligently and sincerely obserue this Edict of pacification Though these things séemed to be handled secretly yet by the letters both of Biragio the vicechancellor of whome we made mention before and of Moruilliers whom for his hypocriticall leanesse children commonly called the Chimera or bugge of the Court by aduertisement of Cardinal de Pelue a maÌ„ most fit either to inuent or execute any treason they were caried to the B. of Rome who by aduise of his Cardinals sent by by one of their number called Alexandrine in the midst of most sharp winter into France with these instructioÌ„s to persuade the king to enter into the societie of the league of Trent whereof the first principall article was that the confederats should ioyn their powers make war against the Turkes Heretikes meaning by the name of heretikes al those Princes that did permit the vse of the reformed Religion within their dominions The Cardinall Alexandrine was honorably receiued in the Court but yet dismissed without atchieuing his purpose For so was it bruted among the people and commonly beléeued throughout Fraunce albeit he himselfe secretly séemed to returne very mery and chéereful to the Pope and as it is reported did somtime say that he receiued such answere of the king as was néedeful not to be published that the King Quéene mother had largely satisfied him Forasmuch as it was thought a matter greatly auayling to the enterprise of the lowe countrey to sende certaine shippes into the English Seas that if any ayde should be sent into the lowe Countrey to the Duke of Alua out of Spayne it might so be stopped Strozzi and the Baron de la Garde were appoynted for that purpose to whome the King gaue in commaundemente to rigge forth certayne Shippes of Burdeaux and Rochell well armed and well appoynted and to prouide with al spéede all things néedefull for those Shippes The Ambassadour of Spayne somewhat moued with this preparation made diuers complaintes to the Kings Councell on the behalfe of the King his master and yet neuer receiued any other aunswere but that the King thoughte it not likely and that he woulde sende Commissioners to Burdeaux and to Rochell with letters and commaundemente that there shoulde be no preparation made to the Sea and if any had bene made it should be enquired of What instructions were secretly and closely vnder hande giuen to these two Captaines of that nauie we do not certainely knowe But this no man can doubt of but that they had commission to distresse all such Ships wherein any Spanishe Souldiers should be transported into the lowe countrie and that all this preparation to the sea was ordayned against the Spanishe King and the Duke of of Alua. And moreouer that the Admirall at the same time receiued commaundement from the King to sende Espials vnto Perâ—… an Islande of the newe founde worlde most plentifull of gold aboue all the other nowe béeing in the Spaniardes dominioÌ„ to learne if there were any good enterprise to be attempted or atchieued for the getting of it Which matter was committed to a certaine Gentleman one of the Admiralles trayne who went thyther accompanyed with a certayne Portingall a man most skilfull of those Nauigations whome the Admiral had ioyned with him by the Kings commaundemente and is not yet returned Nowe it cannot be expressed howe many and howe great tokens of most louing minde the King at that time shewed to the Admirall and to the Counte Rochfoucault and to Theligny and to the rest of the chief noblemen of the Religion First all such things as in the former warres had bene taken away in the Townes Fermes and Castles of the Admirall and d'Andelot the Kyng caused to bée sought oute and restored If there were any other whome the Kyng vnderstoode to be
beloued and estéemed of the Admirall or to haue attained any speciall honour in the saide late warres those he liberally benefited and rewarded To the Admirall himselfe he commaunded one daye to be giuen a hundred thousand pounds of his owne treasure in recompence of his former losses When his brother the Cardinall ChastillioÌ„ endowed with many great and welthy benefices was departed his life the king gaue him the fruites of one whole yéere Also the king wrote to Philibert Duke of Sauoy that he should do him a moste acceptable pleasure if he did not onely deale more gently with those that in the former warres had ayded those of the Religion but also would vse clemencie and mildnesse toward all other that professed the same Religion within his dominions And for that there was old enmitie betwene the Guisians the Admirall whereby it was to be doubted that perillous coÌ„tentions would arise in the Realme of France the king willed it to be signified to them both in his name that they should for his sake and the common weales giue ouer those displeasures and he prescribed them a certaine fourme of reconciliation and agréement the same whereof the foundations had bin layed almoste sixe yéeres before in the towne of Molins wher the king calling to him the greatest estates of his realme after consultation and deliberation had vpon the matter pronounced the admirall not guiltie of the death of the Duke of Guise wherewith he was charged by the yong Duke of Guise and his kinsmen and so the king by the aduise of his Counsell had ended that controuersie Furthermore the Cardinal of Loraine who as we haue said was the very forger of all the former warres to take away al ielousie of new practises was departed to Rome and tooke with him his familiar friend the late created Cardinall Peluey one reputed a moste subtill and craftie persone vnder pretence of going to the election of a newe Pope in place of the old Pope then lately deceassed But there was none greater and more assured token of publike peace and quietnesse than this that the king purposed to giue his sister Margaret in mariage to the Prince Henry the sonne of the Quéene of Nauarre which Prince had in the last warre defended the cause of the Religion and bin soueraigne of their armie Which mariage the king declared that it shuld be the moste streight bond of ciuill concorde and the most assured testimonie of his good will to those of the Religion Yea and also bicause it was alleaged that the said Prince Henry was restrained in conscience so as he might not marrie the Lady Margaret being of a contrarie Religion a Catholike and giuen to the rites of the Romishe Church the king for answere said that he would discharge hir of the Popes lawes and notwithstanding the crying out of all his courtiers to the contrary he permitted him that without all ceremonies in the porch of the great church of Paris the mariage should be celebrate in such a forme as the ministers of the reformed Churche mislyked not Which thing being by reporte and letters spread throughe the world it â—…n not be expressed how much it made the harts of those of the religion assured and out of care and how it cast out all feare and ielosies out of their minds what a confidence it brought them of the Kings good will toward them Finally how muche it reioyced foreine Princes and states that fauored the same Religion But the Admirals minde was muche more stablished by a letter which about the same time Theligny brought him with the Kings own hand and sealed wherein was conteined that whatsoeuer the Admiral should do for the matter of the intended warre of the lowe countrey the Kyng would allowe and ratifie the same as done by his owne commauÌ„demeÌ„t About that time Lodouic of Nassaw with the Quene of Nauarre a Lady most zelously affected to the Religion came to the Frenche court The league was made betwene King Charles and the Prince of Aurenge and the articles thereof put in writing The mariage was appointed to be holden in the towne of Paris For which cause the Quene of Nauarre during those few dayes repaired thether to prouide things for the solemnitie of the wedding For the same cause the King sente to the Admirall one Cauaignes a man of an excellent sharp witte whome for the Admirals sake the King had aduanced to great honor requiring the Admirall to go before to Paris as well for the saide preparation as also for the matter of the war of the lowe countrey promising that he himselfe woulde within few dayes followe after him assuring him that there was nowe no cause for him to feare the threatnings and mad outrages of the Parisians For in as much as the same towne is aboue all other giuen to superstitions and is with seditious preachings of Monkes and Friers dayly enflamed to crueltie it is harde to expresse howe bitterly they hated the Admirall and the professors of that Religion Whereto was added a griefe of their minde conceiued certaine dayes before by reason of a certaine stone crosse gilted and builte after the manner of a spire stéeple commonly called Gastignes crosse whiche the Admirall with great earnest fute obteyned of the King to be ouerthrowne for he alleaged that being erected in the midst of the rage of the ciuill warre as it were in trumphe to the reproche of one of the Religion it was a monument of ciuill dissention and so a matter offensiue to peace and concorde The King well knowing the deadly hate of the Parisians to the Admirall wrote his letters to Marcell the prouost of the Marchaunts which is the highest dignitie in Paris with sharp thretnings if ther shuld be raised any stir or trouble by reason of the Admirals comming To the same effect also the Duke of Aniow the Kings brother and the Quéene mother wrote to the same Marcell and the rest of the Magistrates of Paris so that nowe there séemed vtterly no occasion lefte for the Admirall to feare or distrust And within few dayes after the King sent Briquemault a man of great vertue and estimation to the Admirall with the same instructions saying that the matter of the low cuntrey could not wel be delt in without his presence The Admirall persuaded by thus many meanes and filled with good hope and courage determined to go to Paris where so soone as he was ariued and had ben honorably and louingly entertained of the King and his brethren and the Quéene mother and consultation entred among them about the preparation for the lowe countrey he declared to the King at large howe the Duke of Alua was in leuying of great power and preparing an armie and that if the King should dissemble his purpose it woulde come to passe that many thereby would shewe themselues slower and slacker to the enterprises and that nowe were offered great meanes to do good whiche if he let slippe he
should not easily recouer the like againe hereafter And therefore it was best to take the aduantage of this opportunitie A fewe dayes before Lodouic of Nassaw went secretely into the frontiers of the lowe countrey and toke with him as partners of his iourney and priuie to his councell thrée FrenchmeÌ„ of great credite with the Admirall namely Saucourt la Noue and Genlis to whome the King hadde giuen in charge to sée if they coulde by any meanes attempt and possesse any townes bordering vpon his Realme They gathering diuers other Gentlemen into their companie wente spéedily into the lowe countrey the Admirall not knowing of it Who as soone as he vnderstoode of their going thither wrote vnto them that he much maruelled what they ment saying that he well knewe there coulde be no power gotten readie before fortie days end and that they should be well aduised to do nothing rashly nor to ouerthrowe with hast their deuises that séemed not ripe to be executed The Countie of Nassaw inflamed with the sight and desire of his countrey and fearing the mutablenesse of the King did first at the sodaine set vpon Valentiennes but being repulsed by the Spanishe Souldiers that were in garrison in the Castell he hastily departed to Montz and toke the town being a place very strong by nature and well furnished with all things necessarie for the warre Which thing being by report and Messangers spread abroade into the lowe countrey and caried into Fraunce and Germanie bothe encouraged all them of the Religion with great hope and also séemed to haue now plainly and openly deciphered and disclosed the mynd of the French king Moreouer Genlis returning to Paris when he had made report to the King of all the matter as it had procéeded easily obtayned of him that by his assente he might leuie certaine bandes of footemen and horssemen of Fraunce and carie them to succoure Montz But by the way when he was entred into the bounds of the low countrie hauing with him to the number of 4000. footemen and about 400. horssemen they were beset by the Duke of Alua and the most parte of them distressed whiche thing was well knowne to haue bene wrought by the meanes of the Guisians whiche by dayly messages and letters aduertised the Duke of Alua of their purpose and preparation Which falsehood of theirs many moste affectionate to the Romish Religion were highly offended with bicause a great nuÌ„ber were addicted to the same Romish Religion in that coÌ„panie With this losse and with the rescue of the towne of Valentiennes the King semed to be much troubled for he feared least his counsels being disclosed to the Spanish King would at length bréede some cause of querell and warre Howbeit when he began to remember that a great part of his secretes was alreadie reuealed to the Duke of Alua he oftentimes resolued to vtter his minde plainly and to make open warre But he was withdrawne from that purpose by certaine men whiche the Admirall had long before conceiued that they woulde so doe Howbeit he gaue the Admirall libertie to sende what soeuer he thought meete to further the Prince of Aurenge his enterprise and as great supply either of footemen or of horssemen as he could to the armie which the Prince of Aurenge had leuied in Germanie When the Admiral for that cause had made request that he might leuie thirtie troupes of horssemen and as many ensignes of footemen he easily obtayned it For the entertainement of these footmen it behoued to haue money wherfore at the request of the Admirall the King called for his Tresurer and coÌ„maunded him to deliuer to the Admirall so muche money as the Admirall should thinke méete and charged him that he should not in any wise after the vsuall maner of the accompts of finances write the causes of the receipt but onely set it downe in this forme This summe of money was payde to the Admirall suche a daye by the Kings commaundement for certaine causes which the King hath coÌ„maunded not to be written and to this warrant the King subscribed with his owne hand Also the King wrote to Monducet his Embassadoure in the lowe countrey to trauell as earnestly as he could for their deliuerance that were taken at the ouerthrow of Genlis whiche commaundement it is sayde that Monducet did most faithfully and diligently execute Not long before this Ioane Quéene of Nauarre aboue mentioned died in the Court at Paris of a sodaine sicknesse béeing about the age of fortie and thrée yeres where as the suspition was great that she dyed of poyson and hir body being for that cause opened by the Phisitions there were no tokens of poyson espied But shortely after by the detection of one A. P. it hath ben founde that she was poysoned with a venomed smell of a payre of perfumed gloues dressed by one Renat the Kings Apothicarie an Italian that hath a shop at Paris vpon S. Michaels bridge neare vnto the Pallace which could not be espied by the Phisitions whiche did not open the heade nor loked into the brayne It is well knowne that the same man aboute certaine yeres past for the same intent gaue to Lewes Prince of Conde a poisoned Pomander which the Prince left with one le Grosse his Surgion le Grosse delighted with the same was by little and little poysoned therwith and so swelled that he hardly escaped with his life By hir death the Kingdome came to the Prince Henrie hir sonne to whome as is abouesaide the Kings sister was promised and contracted Thinges being as it séemed throughout al France in most peacible estate and the concord of all degrées well stablished the day was appointed for the mariage of the King of Nauar which day all they that fancied the Religion estéemed so much the more ioyfull to them bicause they sawe the King wonderfully bent thereunto and all good men iudged the same a most assured pleâ—…ge and establishment of ciuill concorde wheras on the contrarie part the Guisians and other enimies of common quietnesse greatly abhorred the same mariage When the day came the mariage was with royall pompe solemnized before the great Churche of Paris and a certaine forme of wordes so framed as disagréed with the Religion of neither side was by the Kings commaundement pronounced by the Cardinall of Buâ—…bon the King of Nauars vncle and so the matrimonie celebrate with great ioye of the King and all good men the bryde was with great traine and pompe led into the Church to heare Masse and in the meane time the brydgrome who mislyked these ceremonies togither with Henrie Prince of Conde sonne of Lewes and the Admirall and other noble meÌ„ of the same Religion walked without the Churche dore wayting for the Brides returne While these thinges were in doing at Paris Strozzi who as we haue sayde had the charge of the Kings power at the Sea houering vpon the coast of Rochel did now and then send of his Captains and
house and all the names of those of the Religion togither with the place of euery of their lodgings they put in bokes and wyth speede deliuered ouer the same bokes to those of whome they had receyued that commaundemente After noone the Quéene mother led out the King the Duke of Aniow Gonzague Tauaignes the Counte de Rhetz called Gondiâ—… into hir gardens called Tegliers This place bicause it was somewhat farre from resort she thought most fit for this their laste consultation There she shewed them howe those whome they hadde long bene in waite for were nowe sure in hold the Admirall lay in his bed maymed of both his armes and could not stir the King of Nauar and Prince of Conde were fast lodged in the Castle the gates were kept shut all nyghte and watches placed so as they were so snared that they coulde no way escape and the captaines thus taken it was not to be feared that any of the Religion woulde from thenceforth stir any more Now was a notable opportunitie saide she offred to dispatch the matter For all the chiefe Captaines were fast closed vp in Paris and the rest in other townes were all vnarmed and vnprepared and that there were scarcely to be found tenne enimies to a thousande Catholikes that the Parisians were in armour and were able to make thréescore thousande chosen fighting men and that within the space of one houre al the enimiâ—…s may be slayne and the whole name and race of those wicked meÌ„ be vtterly rooted out On the other side saith she if the King do not take the aduantage of the fitnesse of this time it is no doubt but that if the Admiral recouer his health al France will shortly be on fire with the fourth ciuill warre The Quéenes opinion was allowed Howbeit it was thought best partely for his age and partly for the affinities sake that the King of Nauars life should be saued As for the Prince of Conde it was doubted whether it were best to spare him for his age or to put him to death for hatred of his fathers name But herein the opinion of Gonzague toke place that he should with feare of death and torment be drawne from the Religion So that counsell brake vp with appoyntment that the matter should be put in execution the nexte night earely afore day and that the ordering and doing of all shoulde be committed to the Duke of Guise The Admirall being enformed of stirre and noyse of Armour and threatnings hearde euery where throughout the town and preparation of many things perteyning to tumult sent word thereof to the King who answered that there was no cause for the Admirall to feare for all was done by his coÌ„maundement and not euery where but in certayne places and that there were certayne appoynted by him to be in armour least the people shoulde rise and make any stirre in the towne When the Duke of Guise thought all things readie enough he called to him the abouesayde Marcell and charged him that he should a little after midnight assemble togither the masters of the streates whom they call Diziners into the townhouse for he had certaine strange and speciall matters in charge froÌ„ the King which his pleasure was to haue declared vnto them They all assembled bytime Carron the newe Prouost of merchauntes guarded with certaine Guisians and among the rest Entragne and Pnygallard made the declaration He sayde that the Kings meaning was to destroy all the Rebels whiche had in these late yeres borne armes against his Maiestie to roote out the race of those wicked men it was nowe very fitly hapned that the chieftaines and ringleaders of them were fast enclosed within the walles of the towne as in a pryson and that the same night they should first beginne with them and afterwarde for the rest assoone as possibly might be throughout all partes of the Realme the King would take order and the token to set vpon them should be giuen not with a trumpet but with tocksein or ringing of the great bel of the Palace which they knewe to be accustomed onely in great cases and the marke for them to be knowne from other should be a white linnen cloth hanged about their lefte arme and a white câ—…osse pinned vppon their cappes In the meane time the Duke of Guise made priuie therevnto the captains of the Kings guard both Gascoignes Frenchmen and Switzers and bad them be ready to go to it with good courage Shortly after the Duke of Guise and the bastard sonne of King Henry commonly called the Cheuaâ—…ier with a great band of armed men following theÌ„ went to the Admirals house which Cossin kept besieged with Harquebuziers placed in ordeâ—… on both sides of the streat The Admirall aduertised of the stirre and the noyse of the armour although he had scarcely ten persons in his house able to beare harnesse and in his Chamber onely two Surgions one Preacher and one or two seruitors yet could not be made afrayde trusting as he oft rehearsed vpon the â—…ings good wil toward him approued by so many and so great meanes of assuraunce hauing also coÌ„fidence that the câ—…mmonaltie of Paris if they once vnderstode the King to miâ—…ke of their mad furie how much soeuer they wer in ouâ—…rage yet so sone as they saw Cossin warding the gate they woulde be appeased He repeated also the othe for kéeping of the peace so oft openly sworne by the King and his brethren and their mother and entred in publike recordes the league lately made with the Quéene of Englande for the same cause the articles of treatie couenanted with the Prince of Aurenge the Kingâ—… faithe giuen to the Princes of Germanie some townes attempted and some takeÌ„ in the lowe countâ—…ey by the Kings commaundement the mariage of the Kings sisâ—…er solâ—…nized but sixe days before whiche it was not like that he would suffer to be defiled with bloude siually the iudgement of foraine nations and of pasteritie shame and the honor and constancie of a Prince publike faith and the sacred respecte of the lawe of nations all which it seemed monstrous and iucredible that the â—…ing could assâ—…nt to be stained with so outrageous a crueâ—…l déede Cossin when he saw the noblemen drawe neare â–ª knocked at the gate which as is abouesaide he was commaunded by the Duke of Aniâ—w to kéepe Wherevpon many applyed the olde prouerbe A goodly guarde to make the Woolfe keeper of the shéepe When he was entred without in manner any difficultie he caried in with him a great companie of armed men and after those followed the great Lords Such as Cossin found at the entrie of and within the porch of the house he slewe with a partisan that he had in his hand â–ª Which when the Admiral vnderstoode he caused those that were about him to lifte him out of his bâ—d casting on a nightgown vpon him he rose vpright on his feete he bad his friendes and seruants to flee
and make shift for themselues and to take no more care for him for he sayde that he was readie with most willing heart to reÌ„der into the handes of God now calling for it againe the spirit that he had lent him to vse for a time and sayde that this violent crueltie was prepared not so much for his destruction as for the dishonoring of Christe and the tormenting of so many Churches the defence of which Churches he had at the petition of all godly men with his many daungers and calamities sustained In the meane time there came vp the staires into the hier part of the house on Benuese a Germaine brought vp in the house of the Duke of Guise and to whome it is sayde that the Cardinall of Loraine had giuen one of his bastard daughters in mariage and with him came Cossin the Gascoine Attin a Picarde a retainer and familiar of the Duke d'Aumal one that a fewe yeres before sought to murder d'Andelot by treason and also one Hamfort an Auernois all weaponed with swordes and targets and armed with shirts of maile When they were broken into the Admiralles chamber Benuese came to him and bending his drawne sworde vpon him said Art not thou the Admirall he with a quiet and constant countenance as we haue since vnderstode by theÌ„selues answered I am so called And then seeing the sworde drawne vpon him he sayde yong man consider my age and the weake case that I am now in But the fellowe after blaspheming God fyrste thrust his sworde into the Admiralles breste and then also stroke him vpoÌ„ the head and Attin shot him through the brest with a pistol WheÌ„ thâ—… Admiral was with this wound not yet throughly deade Benuese gaue him the thirde wounde vpon the thygh and so he fell down for deade When the duke of Guise which stayed in the courte with the other noblemen heard this he cried out alowde hast thou done Benuese he answered I haue done Then said the Duke of Guise our Cheuelier meaning King Henries bastard abouesaide vnlesse he sée it with his eyes will not beléeue it throw him down at the window Then Benuese with the helpe of his fellowes toke vp the Admirals body and threwe it downe through the windowe When by reason of the wound in his head and his face couered with bloud they could not well discerne him the Duke of Guise knéeled down on the ground and wiped him with a napkin and sayde now I know him it is he And therewithal going out at the gate with the rest of the Lordes he cryed out to the multitude in armour saying my companions we haue had a good lucky beginning now let vs go forward to the rest for it is the Kings commaundement which words he did ofte repeat aloud saying Thus the King coÌ„maundeth This is the Kings wil this is his pleasure And then he coÌ„maunded the tokeÌ„ to be giuen by ringing tocksein with the great bel of the palace alarme to be raysed and he caused it to be published that the conspiratours wers in armour and about to kill the king Then a certaine Italian of Gonzagues band cut off the Admirals head sent it preserued with spices to Rome to the Pope and the Cardinall of Loreine Other cut off his hands and other his secrete partes Then the common laborers and rascalles thrée days togither dragged the deade bodie thus mangled and berayed with bloude and filth through the streates and afterward drewe it out of the towne to the common gallowes and hanged it vp with a rope by the féete In the meane time those of the noblemens bands brake into all the Chambers of the Admiralles house and such as they found either in their beds or hidden they mangled them with many wounds and so slaughtered them Of that number were two yong children Pages of honorable birth Ther was also the Count Rochfoucault which for the excellent pleasantnesse of his wit and for his valiantnesse was hiely beloued of Kyng Henry and so séemed for the same cause also to be beloued of the king Him was de Nance abouesaide commaunded to kyll but he refusing it for their olde acquaintance and familiaritie one Laberge an Auernois offred himselfe to the King to do it but with this condition that the King shoulde giue him the Captainship of horssemen which Count Rochfoucault had There was also slayne Theligny the Admirals sonne in lawe a yong man of singular towardnesse both of wit and courage to whoÌ„ the King these many yeres had both in words countenance made shew of so gret good wil as that no maÌ„ was thought to be more highly in his fauor He crying out that it was now grieuous to him to liue for that he had euer commended to his father in law the faithfulnesse of the King refused not the death offered him And many other most flourishing yong noblemen and Gentlemen were euery where butcherly murthered in that streat Then the noblemens bandes and Cossins soulders wente ransacking from house to house and the Admiralles house and all the other houses were all sacked and spoyled eueÌ„ in like manner as is vsed to be done by souldiers gréedy of pray in a towne taken by assault and many by this robberie were of beggers sodeinly become rich men For the Duke of Guise the duke of Monpensier the Cheualier king Henries bastard Gonzague Tauaignes the other great Lords did with the reward of the spoyle bootie encourage the multitude to the slaughter and cryed out aloude that this was the Kings will. So al the rest of the day from morning to euening the rascall multitude encouraged by spoyle and robberie ran with their bloudie swordes raging throughout all the towne they spared not the aged nor women nor the verie babes In ioye and tryumph they threw the slaine bodies out at the windowes so as there was not in manner any one streate or lane that séemed not strawed with murthered carcases While these things were thus a doing in the towne the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde whome the King had lodged in his owne Castle of the Louure were by the Kings coÌ„maundement sent for and conueyed vnto him But their company their seruitours of their Chambers their friendes retaining to them their scholemasters and those that had the bringing vp of them crying out aloude to the Kings fidelitie for succour were thrust out of the Chambers and by the Kyngs guarde of Switzers hewed in pieces and slaughtered in the Kings owne sight But of that number of persons slayne no mans case was so much lamented of many as Monsieur de Pilles in whome it is harde to expresse whether there were more godly zeale in Religion or prowesse in warre Whereby hauing in the late yeres specially in the defence of the towne of S. Iohn d'Angeli whiche the King then besieged gotten great honour of Cheualrie he was thought very well beloued and highly estéemed of the king Him and Leranne the
amoÌ„g them nowe speaketh thrée wordes without moste filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of god Who can longer beare the vile vnchastities the bawdes and Ruffians of the Court Finally very nature it selfe doth nowe as it were expostulate with God for his so long sufferance and for bearing and the very earth can no longer beare these monsters Nowe as touching the Admirals supposed conspiracie who can thinke it likely that he shoulde enterprise any suche thing within the walles of Paris For in the Court there is continually watching and warding a garrison of the Kings and at the entrie of his Castle the guards of Gascoines Scottes and Switzers are continually attending and the King himselfe both alwayes before and specially at that time by reason of his sisters mariage had a great trayn of Princes great Lords noblemen and Gentlemen about him Moreouer it was well knowne that in Paris within thrée houres space might be assembled and put in armour threescore thousand chosen armed men specially against the Admirall whome no man is ignorant that the Parisians most deadly hated beside that the noble yong men that came thither with the King of Nâ—…uar and the Prince of Conde by reson of the mariage and brought with them their wiues their sisters and their kinswomen thought at that time vpon nothing but vpon triumph and exercises of pastime and gay furniture of apparel and ornaments Finally at whither of these two times can it be likely that the Admirall attempted this conspiracie was it before he was hurt why at that time he founde the King his most louing or at least his most liberall and bountifull good Lord neither could he hope euer to haue a more fauorable soueraigne in France Was it then after he was hurte as though forsoth he lying sore of two so great woundes aged maimed of both his arms the one whereof the PhisitioÌ„s coÌ„sulted whether it were to be cut off accompanied with thrée hundreth yong men would set vpon thréescore thousande armed men or in so small a time coulde lay the plot for so great and so long and so haynous a facte for he lyued scarce fortie houres after his hurt in which time he was enioyned by the Phisitions to forbeare talke Againe if he had bene detected of any suche crime was he not committed to Cossin and to his kéeping and so enuironed all the wayes beset about him and so in the Kings power that if it had pleased the King he might at all times in a momeÌ„t be caried to pryson why was not orderly enquirie anâ—… iudiciall procéeding vsed according to the custome and lawes and generall right of nations and witnesses produced according to the forme of lawe but be it that the Admirall and a fewe other of his confederates and followers had conspired why yet procéeded the outragious crueltie vpon the reste that were innocent why vpon ancient matrones why vpon noble Ladies yong Gentlewomen and virgins that came thither for the honor of the wedding why were so manye women greate with childe against the lawes of all nations and of nature before their deliuery thrown into the Ryuer why were so many aged persons many that lay sicke in their beds many gownemen many Counsellers Aduocates Proctors Phisitions many singularly learned professors and teachers of good artes and among the rest Petrus Ramus that renoâ—…ed man throughout the worlde many yong students executed without hearing without pleading their cause without sentence of condemnation moreouer if the Admirall had â—…aine the thrée brethren who doubteth but that all couâ—…eys al Cities all Parliaments finally all sortes and degrées of men would haue spéedily taken armour and easily haue destroyed all of the Religion hauing them enclosed within their towns and hauing iust cause to render to all foreine nations fâ—…r their common slaughters and killing of them As to that whiche toucheth the King of 〈◊〉 what caÌ„ be imagined more absurd and vnlikely had not the Admirall him foure yeares in his power â–ª Did not he professe the same Religion that the Admirall did which of those 〈◊〉 the Religion which of them I say as Cassius was wont to reason should haue gained or receyued profit by the killing of the King of Nauarre did not the Catholikes hate him and the Admirall coulde not hope to haue any man more friendly to him nor by any other maÌ„s meanes to haue reueÌ„ge of his iniurie Lastly in their houses that were slaine what armour what weapons were found by which coÌ„iectures iudges vse to be lead to trace out a facte These matters wyse men throughout the towne of Paris commonly muttered But now to retourne to our purpose At such tyme as the Kings prâ—…hibition abouesayd was proclaimed at Paris not only in other townes as at Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre the like butcheries and slaughters were vsed but also in the towne of Paris it selfe in the verye gaoles that are ordeyned for the kéeping of prisoners if anye had escaped the crueltie of the day before they were now tumultuously slayne by the raging and outraging multitude in which number were thrée Gentlemen of greate reputation captaine Monins a man very famous in marciall prowesse Lomen the Kings secretarie a man of greate estimation for his long seruice in the Courte and Chappes a lawyer neare fourscore yeare olde a man of greate renowne in the Courte of Paris And bycause we haue made mention of Angiers we thinke it good not to omitte the case of Masson de Riuers This maÌ„ was a pastor of the church and estéemed a singular man both in vertuousnesse of life and in excellence of wit and learning and was the first that had layd the foundacion of the Churche at Paris As sone as the slaughter was begon at Paris Monsorel a most cruell enimie of the Religion was tente to Angiers in post to preuente al other that might carie tidings of the murdering As sone as he came into the towne he caused himself to be brought to Massons house There he met Massons wife in the entrie and geÌ„tly saluted hir and after the maner of Fraunce specially of the Court he kissed hir and asked hiâ—… where hir husband was she answered that he was walking in the garden and by and by she brought Monsorell to hir husbande who gently embraced Masson and sayde vnto him Canst thou tell why I am come hither it is to kyll thée by the Kings coÌ„maundement at this very instant time for so hath the King commaunded as thou mayste perceiue by these letters and therewith he shewed him his dagge ready charged Masson answered that he was not guiltie of any crime howbeit this one thing only he besought him to giue him space to call to the mercie of God and to commende his spirit into Gods hande Which prayer as soone as he had ended in fewe wordes he méekely receiued the death offered by the other and was shot through with a pellet and dyed Now to returne to Paris â–ª the Admirals
body being hanged vp by the héeles vpon the common gallowes of Paris as is aforesayde the Parisians went thither by heapes to sée it And the Quéene mother to féede hir eyes with that spectacle had a mynde also to goe thither and she caryed with hir the King and both hir other sonnes But the next night following the body was conueyed away and as it is thought buried About that time where as many of the Court secretly muttered that the King shoulde by this facte incurre dishonour not onely among foreine nations but also with all posteritie in time to come for euer Moruillier of whome we haue made mention before one that is accompted the principall lewde practiser wicked sycophant of all Fraunce and the firste authour and chiefe meane of bringing the Iesuites into Fraunce came to the Quéene mother and tolde hir that it was best that some of those that were lately taken sâ—…eyng and hyding themselues should for manner sake be brought to open iudgement and after the accustomed manner should be enquired vpon that they might be condemned by the sentence of certayne Iudges picked out for that purpose and so openly executed in sight of the people There were called to couÌ„sel here vpon Birage Liâ—…ege Thuan and Belâ—…eure They not only allowed Moruilliers opinion but also gaue aduise that a man of hey made in figure for the Admirall for his bodye as we haue sayde coulde not be founde shoulde be dragged by the Boureau thorough the streates his armes and ensignes of honoure broken his memorie coÌ„demned his castels and â—…ermes rased his childreÌ„ pronounced in famous vnâ—…oble and intestable and all the trees in his woods to be heweÌ„ down to the heigth of sixe foote There was among those that were apprehended one Cauaignes maister of Requests to the King and Briquemault of whome we haue before spoken This Briquemaâ—…lt had spente his time in seruice in the old warres in the tyme of King Frauncis and King Henry and was for the warre accompted a man of greate experience among the best now liuing and was neare about thréescore and ten yeares olde As sone as they were caried into prison there were presented vnto them all the tormenter and the hangman and they were threatned with torture and tearing their bodies in pieces vnlesse they woulde presentlye subscribe with their owne hand that they were of counsell with the Admirall to kill the King and his brethreÌ„ and the Quéene mother and the King of Nauarre They all cryed out that they were readye to suffer deathe most willingly forasmuche as the Kings pleasure was it shuld be so but so greate torture they coulde not beare and therefore humbly besought his royall goodnesse and clemencie too pardon them that torment and yet trusting vpon the mercie of God they hoped that they shoulde suffer exceeding greate paynes rather than staine themselues with so greate shame or confesse an vntrue crime against themselues They that were first assigned their iudges hearing their cries and defenses and fearing the iudgemente of the world said plainly that they would not drawe vpon themselues most assured infamie for condemning them Therefore there were newe iudges appointed in their places to them was adioyned such a tormenter and notarie as were thoughte fittest for the purpose And so Briquemault and Cauaignes were quickly condemned by a shadowed forme of lawe and led to the gibbet â–ª standing in the principall strete of the towne and in sight of many thousands of men gazing at them To this spectacle the Queene mother ledde the King and hir other sonnes and hir sonne in lawe the King of Nauarre It was thought coÌ„modious for playing of this last acte that Briquemault should in hearing of all the people aske pardon pardon of the King and for that purpose there were some suborned to put him in mind that if he wold he might easily purchase his life for the King was of nature ful of clemencie and mercie and if he would aske pardon of his maiestie with confessing his offence he shoulde easily obtaine it He answered with a valiant and bolde courage that it was not his parte but the Kings to aske pardon of God for his faulte and that he woulde neuer craue forgiueâ—…esse of that offence whereof he well knewe himselfe and hadde God so witnesse that he was cleare and innocent Neuerthelesse he â—…esought God to forgiue the King this faulte So were these two excellent and famous men with halters fastened aâ—…out their neckes throwne by the hangman from the ladder and hanged and therewithall also the man of strawe made for figure of the Admirall was tyed faste and hanged with them after a preposterous order of lawe whereby the Admirall was first slayne and then condemned But whereas in a manner in all townes there were great slaughters committed yet was there none more horrible nor more outrageous than the butcherly murther at Lions So sone as the letters from the court were brought to Mandelot gouernour of the towne first by a cryer and 〈◊〉 he caused to be proclaimed that all the professors of the Religion shoulde appeare presently before him at his house They without all delay repayred to him As sone as they were come he commaunded them al to suffer themselues to be led to pryson by suche officers as shoulde be assigned them They obeyed his worde and followed the officers that led them By reason of the great multitude they sorted them into sundry prysons Then Mandelot willed the common executioner to be commaunded in his name to take some to helpe him and to kyll those that were in pryson The executioner answered that he vsed not to execute the lawe vpon any but suche as were condemned and in publike and open places and therefore willed him to seeke an other slaughterman if he woulde Mandelot thus refuseâ—… by the executioner commaunded the garrison Souldiers of the Castle to do it The Souldiers answered that it was against their honour to vse weapon vpon men bounde and lying supplyant before them If they had raysed any rebellioÌ„ or had offended or prouoked them they sayd they would most readily haue fought with them Being thus refused by them also at the laâ—…t he committed the matter to the watermen and butchers Those fellowes being lette into the prysons went to it with chopping kniues and butchers axes Such as they faunde prostrate at their féete piteously holding vp their handes to heauen crying vpon the mercie of God and men they did for sport cut off their fingers and the toppes of their handes and throughout the whole town was heard suche a câ—…ye and lamentable howling of women and children that innumerable people euen suche as were zelously giuen euen to the Popishe Religion did detest that crueltie and iudged that not men but outrageous sauage beasâ—…es in shape of men were entred into the prysons It is well knowne that a great number of honest women in the towne great with childe were so flighted with the horrour of
the Church Canonicall Bookes Actes 17. 2. Peter 1. Cap. 6. lib. 2. in Hiere Hom. 49 in Math. 24. Basill in noua summa Mora. cap. 22. Espensius iâ—…e Sorbonist Succession ordiniarie and extraordinary Traditions of the Fathers Thre councels in S. August time Traditions couÌ„ ted of a Monk of greater force than the scriptures Tertullian Imposition of handes Signes of laufull calling The coÌ„firmâ—…tion of the ministerie Miracles The Gospell Truth will be truth still The place taken out of Tertullian explaned Titus 3. The place of Chrisostome expounded Cardinall of Lorain moderator of the controuersie Augustane confession The subtill sleighes of one Balduine Balduines inconstancie King of Nauar an Apostata 1. Timo. 3. Titus 1. The braule of the Cardinall with Beza Peter Martyr interrupted by the Cardinall The vnapte compaâ—…son of a Spanisha Monke Aust. ad Bonifacius â–ª How the SacrameÌ„tâ—… vnder the law were Figures Beza is here threatned The article agreed vpoÌ„ betvvene the Papistes and the protestantes concerning the presence The deceite of the Cardinall The end of the conference of Posâ—…cene King Philip by the suffâ—…rance of the Pope had certain yeares inioyed the king dome of Nauar which lyeth at that parte of Spaine that bordereth on the mountains Pyrenaei The sedition of Sanmedard The cause of the Edict of Ianuary The Edict of Ianuary SermoÌ„s without the cities permitted Protection of the protestaÌ„tes Inhibition of armour Synodes and Consistories Contribution of money Poll â—…ike laws to be obserued The oth of the Ministers Bookes of infamie The dutie of Magistrates Luke 13. Anno Domini 1561. The very cause of the Ciuill warres was the breaking of the Edict of Ianuary Momorentius the Constable made a friend to the Guises The conspi racie of the Guises the Constable and the Martiall of S. Andrew against the Gospell Queene of Scotts promised to be giuen in mariage to the king of Nauar. The slaugh ter at Vassi made by the Duke of Guise Complaint of the faiâ—…h full of the flaughter The Guise commeth to Paris against the Queenes commaundement The practi ses of the Guises to expell the Prince of Conde out of Paris The Prince of Conde forsaketh Paris The Guise hauing goâ—… ten Paris seke to geâ—… the King also The Prince of Conde commeth to Orleans The purpose of the Guises con cerning VVarre Ruzeus a professour of the Gos pell commaunded towarde The Prince of Conde specially in clined to peace The league betweene the Prince of Conde and the Nobles of Fraunce Letters of the Queen to the Prince of Condâ—… â–ª The prince of Conde complayneth of the murther Letters of the Prince of Conde sent to the reformed churches Certayne Idols broken down letters sent from the Queene to the Prince of Conde Letters froÌ„ the Senat of Paris to the Prince â–ª of Conde This name Triumuiri signifieth three choseÌ„ officers of equall authoritie The secoÌ„d declaratioÌ„ of the Prince of Conde A Tragedy beginneth merily but endeth sorowfully Letters of the prince of Conde to the Emperoure Letters sent to the prince of Palatine A Synode at Orleans Letters seÌ„t from the Synod Letters to the Countie Pallentine from the Synod Vasconia is Gascoyne the slaugh ther of Tolosa Mont aubon The actes of Narbon in general Nemaux otherwise called Nimes Auinion in Prouince Valentia taken Mottecondrinus slaine Saltanus LiefetenaÌ„t of Lions Saltain LiuetenaÌ„t of Lyon. Lions wonne by the Protestants The Prince of Conde sory for that Moâ—… condrin was slayne A Supplica tion offered in the name of the Tâ—…iumuiti Another supplicatioÌ„ offered to the Kinge by the Guise and his The Aunswer of the Prince of Conde to the Supplications â–ª Communication be twene the Quene the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde Letters of the Prince of Conde to the Queene The beginning of ciuill warres The conditions of peace offered by the king to the faithfull The petitions of the faythfull Triumuiri are these three Guise the CoÌ„stable and the Marshi all of Saint Andrew The Guises vnder the collour of peace seeke to deceiue the Prince of Conde The Guise go home to their houses the Prince of Conde became pledge The practise of the Guises to take the Prince of Conde They meane the Queene and the Kyng of Nauar. The nobles of the Prince of CoÌ„des side weÌ„t to the Queene The communicatioÌ„ betweene the queene and the Nobles The queen denieth the vse of the reformed Religion The queen woulde haue the Prince of Conde his friends banished The Prince of Conde retourned to his army The Guises remoue their army froÌ„ Bogencia take Blesa and Towers The Prince of Conde returneth to Orleans with his â–ª army Roan besie ged in vain by the Aumale Orenge assaulted takeÌ„ by the papistes The army of Suze in Dolpheny greatly anoyed the faithfull The actes of Monsuer de Adretze in Dolpheny and in the Countie of Venais The Marshiall of S. Andrew winneth Poictiers The Germanes and Swisers aid the Guises The decree of the Senate of Paris against the men of Orleans A greeuous pestilence at Oâ—…leans The Prince of Conde craueth helpe of the queene of England and of the Germane Princes The aunswer of the Prince of Conde his friends to the Decree of the Senat of Paris Of this Edict ther is mencion made in the 4. book going before He dehorteth the Germaines which came vnder the charge of the Rokendolfe and the Rhengraue from bearing armour against the King. By the states ye must vnderstand the Nobilitie the Clergy the Tempo 〈◊〉 The true cause of the first warres Power specâ—…all consti tutions in the Kyngs minority The first The secoÌ„d The third The fourth These things are touched before The assault geuen to Cesteron The Army of Monsuer Monbrun put to flight Great wickednes coÌ„mitted in Prouance against the faithfull The horrible slaughter at MoÌ„briso by Adretz CoÌ„spiracy against LaÌ„guedoc Monsieur Ioyse besie ged Montpellier A Franke is a peece of French coyne in value ij s. ij d. q. This great Prier was brother to the Cardinall of Loraine Chaimaiergon the proper name of Camargua A wonderfull victory gotten by Monsieur Bulargues Great slaughter of the Papistes Letters found Montpellier a towne of Surgery phisike The besieging of Burges in Berâ—…i The besieging of Roan in NormaÌ„dy The death of the king of Nauar. the Queen of Nauar a vertuouse Lady A writing published by the Queene of England concerning the helpe she sent to the Prince of Conde She meaneth â–ª Callice Shee meaneth the Scottish Queene Letters of the Princes of Germany to the Germaynes which wer in the army of the Guises â–ª Quillebedouius The Kings letters patents grauÌ„ted to those that started away from the Prince of Conde and the frutes there of The Guise tetourneth to Paris The Guise coÌ„meth to Paris Ayde commeth from the Princes of Germany to the Prince of Conde Another writing of the Prince of Conde Of this meÌ„ cion was made in the second booke
of coÌ„meÌ„taries The conditions offered by the Prince of Conde at the first par ley The reasoÌ„s that staied the Prince of Con de from going into exile The forme of the gouernement of the Realme in Kinges minoritie The Prince of Conde remoued from Paris to Ioyne to him the EnglishmeÌ„ The Duke of Guise se keth to stay the Prince of Conde froÌ„ ioyninge himselfe with the EnglishmeÌ„ Anno 1572 Decem. 19. If that geâ—… tle Reader thou loke in the printed battailes and descriptions of the skirmishes of the Ciuill warres of Fraunce this shal be much more plaine vnto thee for in them thou shalt haue a liuely vew The first battaile in the which the Consta ble was taken and the Swisers dispersed and slaine The second battaile The third battaile The Prince of Conde taken prisoner The fourth battaile The Kings Edict Nemours winneth Vienna Soubize LiefetenaÌ„t of Lions Nemours deceiued of his purpose The winning of Sanstephen and Nonays Nonay cruelly spoiled The Admi rall goeth into Normandy The siege of Orlean â–ª The Kings letters to win from the Prince the Germanes Pultrotseâ—…t from Lions to the Admirall Pultrot killeth the Guise Pultrot taken Peace takeÌ„ Cane in Normandi wonne The state of the com moÌ„ wealth of the church after peace was taken â–ª The state of the chur ch at Orlcaunce Odet Cardi nall of Cha stillon the state of the church at Lions Petrus Vire â—…us the state of the church in Dolpheny the state of the church in Burgun dy and Pro uance the gouern ment of M. Anuil ouer the Churches in Lan guedoc Albanoys The order of calling vppon god his name in Nemaux The Edict violently corrected by the Anuille Monsieur Anuille coÌ„ maundeth Moton to be hanged the state of the church of Venais The state of the chur ches of Orange The state of the churches of Paris The state of the chur ches of Picardie The churches of Brit tanny and Normandy The Churches of Gas coigne and of al Guian The Churches in the dominion of Bearne The Churches in the Cuntrey of Metz. The Churches of Pie mont The Papists brag of abolishing the Edict an D. 1563. The fetches of the Guises to disturbe the peace The craftie wiâ—… of the Quene the Kings mother The Cardinals sharp accusation against the Admirall The Admirall publisheth a wri ting wher in hee cleareth himselfe The words of Merae Monsieur Granmonâ—… Scoutes Monsieur Tranuie The Marshal Hesse The trauell of the CouÌ„ cell of Trent to hinder and stop religioÌ„ in Fraunce The King being of the age of 14. yeares iâ—… declared to be of ful lawfull agâ—… The suâ—…til and craftie deuises of the aduersariâ—…s against Religion violent and false interpÌ„tations of the Edict set â—…orth by the Kings commaundement New sleights put in practise to entice the Prince of Conde froÌ„ the reformed Religion The spoyle wasting of the congregation at Paniez by d'Anuille The Kings progresse causes therof MontaubaÌ„ MontaubaÌ„ agrements made betwene the King his brother the Duke of Orleans The Prince of Conde eseapeth the papists snares and baytes The death of the prin ces wife The slaugh ters of the faithfull Brother hodes of the papiste Monsieur Cure that famous valeant cap taine is slaine And yet scaped vnpunished Moâ—… interpretations of the Edict The Kings progresse The suÌ„me of all that was don in the time of the Kinges Progresse The Admirall adiudged free of the Dukes murther by the kings own iudgement The Guises and the Chastillon are charged to be reconciled The Kings comminge to Lions and what he did there An enterdiction for Sermones A fortresse built at Lyons Monfieur Saltane remoued froÌ„ the gouern ment of Ly ons mon suer Lossay succeded him The sundry troubles of the church at Lions The declaclaration of Rossillon a great ouerthrow to the Edict Restraine of Sinodes ProtestaÌ„ts coÌ„manded to returne to Monachisme The great slaughter of the faith full at Tours The Prince of Conde complaineth of these iniuries The greâ—…ous iniâ—…ries coÌ„mitted against the Protestantes The Kings letters to the Prince of Conde New proclamatioÌ„s for the obserua tion of the Edict The punnishment appointed for the mur ther done at Tours made frustrate The fond and foolish iorneâ—…s of the Cardynall the bloudy suruay that the Marshial of Burdillo made thorough out all Guian Merindol a place appointed for the reformed religion The kinge commeth to Langue doâ—… an do 1566 〈◊〉 do 1566 The affairs of the low Countrey â–ª The beginning enâ—… of the church of Flaunders King Philip certified of the increase of the protestantes in the lowe countrey aâ—… do 156â—… The supplication of the nobles of the confederacy The Duches of Par me causeth â–ª an assembly of States 〈◊〉 Serâ—…ones Images in Flaunders went to wracke The conference betweene the nobles the Duches of Parme. The Prince of Orange commeth to Antwerpe Valleucia besieged Valence surrendred an do 1567 The last coÌ„ spiracy of the Catholiqnes concerning the ruine of the Church of Fraunce The comming of the spanish army with the Duke of Alba. The King Quene remoue to Paris Letters of the Prince to the king The last pe tition of the Prince of Conde The state of the faith full in the beginning of this second war. The Cities townes that tooke part with the protestantes the slaugh rer of the Parisians at Sandioâ—…yse The CoÌ„sta ble wounded to the death The state of the chur ches of the low countrey after the comming of Duke de Alba. The Prince of Conde marcheth to Lorain The Duke of Aniou marcheth towarde Loraine The Kings Edict against the faithfull A battayle in Auuergne the pro testants ha uing the victory an do 1568 Chartres besieged Peace concluded and the summe of the kings Edict The deceit of the Catholiks by this Edict Greate iniures done to the Protestants VVatch ward at hauens bridges Violation â–ª of the Edict Violations of the Edict Troubles â—…t Lions Troubles at Paris 〈◊〉 Sermones Practise of the Cardinal to take the principall profes sors of the Religion Horrible murthers Cipiere cruelly slaine Ten thousand protestantes slain with in the com passe of three Monethes The prince of Conde remoueth to Noyers The Card â–ª of Lorrain practiseth to take the Prince of Conde The Spye taken 90000. Frankes is in our coin foure score and eightteen thousand and nyne hundred and seuen and thirtye poundes ten shillings Victor Vticensis lib. 3 pers Afric the answer of the faith full The coulered deceit in this oth Rochel coÌ„ maunded to be besie ged Musters of Souldiers Letters of the Catholikes souÌ„d out Amanzi a noble man slaine The Prince of Conde in greate perill Letters of the Prince of Conde sent to the Kyng The Prince of Conde goeth to Noyers The Cardi nall ChastilloÌ„ fleeeth into England The death of Charles sonne to King Philip Anno Domini 1568. in the moneth of Au gust The state and condition of both parts The Kings â–ª Decree The messeÌ„â—…er sent froÌ„ the Prince of Conde 〈◊〉 â–ª Discipline appointed by the Prince of Conde A descripâ—… on of tâ—…e disciplin of warre A practisâ—… to draw away the Prince of Nauar froÌ„ the Prince of Conde Letters of the Quene of Nauar to the Kinge Letters of the Quene of Nauar to the Quene Mother Cities yeelded to the Prince of Conde The Ande lot coÌ„meth to the Prince of Conde with a great Army Boysuerd slayne The Andelot passeth ouer the forde of Loyre The Andelot ioyneth with the Admirall An Edict prohibiting the vse of the reformed religion â–ª The Kinge was xii yeâ—… old when his brothâ—… Frances dyed Letters patâ—…es from the Pope Mouents and his souldiers slaine Lettees of the Quene oâ—… Nauar to the Quene of England England a succour to Fraunce The Prince of Conde seeketh to encounter with Monpensier The Duke of Angâ—…we put to the worse The Duke of Aniou by Pollicy delayeth to loyne battaile Duâ—…e Dau maâ—… in Loraine Prince of Orange in the lowe countrey Prince of Orenge seketh to ioyn with the Prince of Conde Tiranny of the Duke of Alba. The Germaneâ—… take both parts Duke of Deuxpous promiseth to helpe the Prince of Cond Mon sieur Cochao taken many of his men slaine Noyers wonne an D. 1569. the Abbay of Saintflo rent won spoyled Sancer besieged The batail in which the Prince of Conde Was slaine The oathe of the Prince of Nauar. l'Endureau reuoltes Brissac slaine Conte Pâ—… padon slaine The Lord Boccarde dead Charite besieged and taken The Duke de Deux Pons dead Description of the Dukes Campe. description of the princes army Snccours from the Pope â–ª the Quene mother en courageth the Souldiours The Lorde Strossi takeÌ„ Strossies men flame â–ª The death of â—…e lord of Moruill The siege of Niort The Lord pluneau succours it The protes tants request to the king for peace To whom the troubles ought to be imputed Luzig rendered Lordes Captains within poâ—… tyers Poictiâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…esieged Battry against Poytâ—…ers Battery against Poie Three assaults giueÌ„ to the suburbes of Roell Assault of Italians The Edict of peace Concord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Noble men that are 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Noble men of 〈◊〉 calling The Queene of 〈◊〉 All 〈◊〉 Places 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Kinges Courâ—… â–ª Paris 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â–ª Hospitals and Colleges The good will of the king toward â—…he prince of Conde and the rest The Duke of Sweburge other Princes The Queene of 〈◊〉 Priuiledges of Cities Offices Payments to be indifferent Deliuery of prisoners Raunsomes All vnder the Kings protecon Mouables restored Reuenewes Of houses castles cities Princes of Nassau Writings of Landes Iudgementes Abrogation of Sentences â–ª Obseruaaion of dollitique Lawes Instice equal ly ministred Appeales froÌ„ Parliaments â–ª Refusall of Iudges Foure Citties graunted for Securities sake Concerning this Edict Trafike Punishments for breaking this Edict Disanulling of all former Edictes The othe of Magistrates Solem proclamation of this Edict