to be dead although hee departed not his life till about fiue of the clocke at night not long before his death those of Guise went to shut themselues within their lodgings from whence in 36. houres after they neuer came foorth before such time as that they had a full assurance both from the Queene-mother and also from the king of Nauarre and before that they carried vnto their houses the summe of three or foure score thousand Frankes that rested in the treasor wherevnto no man resisted which made all men suppose that the Queene-mother suffered them to do it the better to maintaine her selfe in time to come A chaunge in the court Assoone as the king was dead the Queene-mother sent for the Constable vnto Estampes in all speed to repaire vnto the Court at his arriuall hee discharged the guard that were placed by those of Guise to keepe the Gates of Orleans the Prince of Conde continued prisoner in Orleans tenne ortwelue daies after the kings death he neuer hauing had the credit once to see him during his imprisonment after that he was sent with a guard vnto Han from whence hee went to Roye there to attend the issue of his proces in other sort then eyther his friendes or enemies once conceiued Deliuery of those of the Religion Those of the religion that had still remained in long continuall prayers in their most secret assemblies for certaine daies beganne to lift vp their heades being all prepared and readie to die if the king had liued but certaine weekes longer The king of Spaines troupes marching towards Bearn were countermanded and so retired without any exploit Monluc that was promised by those of Guise to be made Counte de Armignac and stayed for them in that countrie retired vnto his house as others adherents vnto them which did the like the most secret seruants that those of Guise could haue within the Court presented thēselues with al humilitie vnto the K. of Nauarre The inconstancie of the Court. discouering vnto him the certaintie of those affaires that should haue bin executed against his person But the Queen-mother would not permit that neither then nor at any time after such things should once be spoken of thereby fearing as she said some great trouble that might arise But it fell out cleane contrary for that for want of taking order therin whē time serued it grew to such an issue that both she and her sonnes hauing neuer seen any other thē mischiefs were deep sunck into them that before they died they neuer could find any certaine issue how to auoyde them The Admirall among the rest wheresoeuer hee came glorified the wonderfull workes of God Constancie of the Admarall who at that time had deliuered him out of the hands of his most mortall enemies euen at such time as they thought most to triumph ouer him Those of Guise besought the Queene to make him to bee silent yet he ceased not to offer and also to iustifie thē to be culpable of diuers poynts of treason if it pleased her to permit that iustice might bee giuen accordingly Shee not seeming to hearken therevnto desired him to thinke well of them and from that time to liue in peace assuring him to set good order among them His aunswere was that to shewe a good countenance vnto those that had purchased his death charged his honour procured the confiscation of his goods with the totall ruine and ouerthrow of his house his kinred and friends he could not do it without shewing a double hart which was a thing cleane contrary to his religion and not fitte for any honest man to do yet he remitted the vengeance vnto God that could well do it when hee should see his time seeing men would not permit him to haue iustice Those of Guise desiring not to bee farre from the assembly of the Estates wherein they feared some earnest matter would be propounded against them King Francis that had been so much mooued against those of the religion is buried after their manner caused the bodie of the dead king to bee conuaied by Sansac and la Brosse vnto Saint Denis where without any solemnitie or royall pompe it was buried The Duke of Guise as then great maister and hauing ceased vppon the last receipts of mony not long before the king died with whom hee kept companie in his life was much dispraised and euill thought of by reason of that great fault wherevnto his seruants aunswered that as then hee had no more neede of the kings helpe by whom he had serued his turne so wel but that thencefoorth hee was to looke vnto himselfe and to seeke to eleuate his house Such was the raigne of Francis the second that died at the age of 17. years lacking one month in the 17. month of his raigne the 17. day of his sicknesse and the 17. houre after midnight and because that during the short time of his raigne the seedes of ciuill dissention were sowen and scattered in France which hitherto haue endured for the space of twise seuenteene yeares I thought at large herein to declare all that had passed in this kings time the better to please the Readers mindes Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Francis the second Charles the ninth M.D.LX. The Regencie confirmed to the Queen mother FRANCIS the second being dead without issue Charles his third brother succeeded in his place Son to Henry the second the second called Louys dying an infant borne the 27. of Ianuarie 1550. vppon the 20. of December in open Councell where the yong king was brought accompanied with the king of Nauarre and other Princes of the blood with diuers Lords and principall Councellours an order was established for the mannaging of affaires and the Regencie confirmed vnto the Queene The Parliament Two daies after the Estates assembled in a great Hall within Orleans where the Chancellor made an Oration wherin he shewed to what end an assembly in that sort was to be holdē why they had assembled what good would happen therby wholly confuting those that were in doubt to haue them meet painting them out in all their colours After that hee propounded the means to appease all troubles The Chancellors Oration shewing wherein they might relieue both the Estate and religion inclining to a Councell exhorting them on all parts to a perfect vnion and quietnesse of mind lastly he spake of the kings debts which done hee ended his Oration and so for that time the assembly came foorth The next day after certain disputations were holden to know if the Deputies might as then enter into a Councell after the kings death De Rochefort for the Nobilitie whereby it seemed all their Commissions not to bee of any force which beeing decided they beganne with Orations Monsieur de Rochefort speaking for the Nobilitie approoued the Regencie of the Queen-mother complained of the iurisdictions vsurped by the
with them Hee likewise made a long answere touching the accusation made against the Prince of Conde shewing it to bee a meere falschood once to thinke or suppose that the enterprise of Amboise was thought or ment against the person of the king or for to trouble the Estate After that he desciphered the originall of those of Guise behauing himselfe in such sort in all his aunsweres like a good Politian and that with so good reasons that thereby hee escaped from the Court and nothing was done either touching him or against the Constable nor any of his Those of the religion next to God commit themselues vnto the protection of the Princes of the blood Those of the religion hauing vnderstood by aduises giuē thē by many Gentlemen in diuers Prouinces that their ouerthrow beganne to approach if with all speed and readinesse they prouided not for themselues Hauing recommended themselues by heartie prayers vnto God determined to cast themselues into the armes of the Princes of the blood as Fathers Tutors and Conseruers of the innocencies of the poore afflicted people and that by the natural lawes of the countrie were called vnto that charge during the minoritie of the kings And for the same cause certaine notable personages were appoynted among them to go vnto the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde at Nerac to whom with all their meanes he offered a large declaration containing a rehearsall of all the wrongs by those of Guise committed against the king and the Realme with a most humble supplication that it would please the said Princes to deuise the meanes to deliuer the king and his Estate out of their hands The explort of Monsieur de Mombrun About this time Monsieur de Mombrun a Gentleman well affected to thereligion beeing narrowly sifted by the Parliament of Grenoble and brauely escaped out of his enemies hands was desired by diuers of the Venitian Marchants to ayde and assist them against the violences and extortions vsed in their behalfes by the Popes Vicelegat contrary vnto their priuiledges and auncient franchises La Motte Goudrin Lieftenant for the Duke of Guise in Dauphine was likewise entertained by the Vicelegat to helpe him with all his forces And although Mombrun had very fewe men yet hee constrained his enemies to seeke for an accord which hauing but violated and broken in all the articles by the Vicelegat and la Motte Goudrin Mombrun raised armes againe and handled the Priests hardly that had slaine some of his men after the accord was made and sworne which done hee put a great number of la Motte Goudrins souldiers vnto the sword and vsed him in such sort that hee made him leaue his fence but hauing beene constrained to dispearse his little troupe and soone after betrayed by one of his domesticall seruants hee saued himselfe by flying out of the Realme hauing trauersed through many daungers and saued himselfe in the territories of Geneua and about the countrie of Berne The Princes counsels discouered by la Sagne wherof ensued the imprisonment of Vidame de Chartres To returne vnto the Princes they beeing much confirmed in the resolution by thē taken to discharge their duties touching the relieuing of the realme of France by the declarations and offers of those of the religion they began to deale therein and among other agents imployed in those affaires the Prince of Conde sent one named la Sagne vnto diuers great Lords to desire them not to saile him of their aydes La Sagne hauing receiued an answere from the Constable and Vidame de Chartres came vnto the Court where hee deliuered certaine letters and as hee stayed fro an aunswere hee was so vndiscreet that hee suffered himselfe to bee vndermined by one Captaine Bonual who hauing discouered it vnto those of Guise ranne after him and brought him prisoner to Fountainebleau where the letters of Vidame de Chartres beeing read wherein he promised the Prince to maintaine his iust quarrell against all men except the king his bretheren and the Queenes those of Guise sent to apprehend him within Parris and to keepe him prisoner in the Bastille where they vsed him with most great rigor vntill hee died They found not so good a baite in the Constables letters or at the least would make no shewe thereof because they would not trouble themselues with so many things at once La Sagne was well payed for his prating for that his nostrils were stretched in such sort that hee tolde all whatsoeuer hee knew and more then truth to prolong his miserable life Mean time his cōfessions made vppon the racke caused those of Guise in all haste to dispatch their affaires for first to their great dishonour and disaduantage of their kinswoman they agreed with the Queene of England prouided for the frontiers of Lorraine caused the olde troupes that came out of Dauphine and Piedemont to lye along by the riuer of Loire writing on both sides to their partakers A proposition in the Councell for calling a Parliament at Fontainebleau On the other side the Queene-mother that feared least shee should bee disgraced whatsoeuer might happen by the aduise of the Chancellor and the Admirall to whom as then she made shewe willingly to hearken she resolued to cause a motion to bee made in open councell that it were requisit that the king should assemble all the Princes Lords knights of the Order and men of authoritie in his Realme to take order for the pacifying of the troubles which they esteemed specially to proceed because of the persecutions against those of the religion Those of Guise found this resolution to bee good thinking thereby to finde a meanes to intrap both the king of Nauarre and his brother trusting likewise for that most part of those that should assemble were of their retinue that nothing should passe therein but for their aduantage and that this meeting would wholly breake off the calling of the generall States and by that meanes make a sure ground for their affaires Wherevppon they began to write into all places in the Kings name who desired euery man to bee at Fontainebleau vppon the 15. day of August for the causes aforesaid Those of Guise sent letters likewise from themselues full of all good promises and rewards The King likewise wrote vnto the King of Nauarre desiring him to bee there with his brother and all such Lords who as then were with him But couertly by the meanes of secret practises those of Guise dealt in such sort that the King of Nauarre resolued not to come and that against the aduise of the Constable and diuers great Lords who said and affirmed that as then the meanes presented it selfe whereby to put downe those of Guise and to reestablish the lawfull gouernment of the Realme And to conclude the Constable verilie supposing that the Princes would bee theee sayled not to come thither with aboue 800. horse which constrained those of Guise as then weake to flie softly
if his armie came thither while the Dukes Councell were consulting of the means to imploy his forces in other places those of the religion had time and leisure to ioyne themselues togither The Admirall brought the Princes of Nauarre and Conde from Saint Iohn to Tone Charante where hee met the Queene of Nauarre to incourage such as were in doubt and to take Councell what was to bee done Their horsemen were mustered whereof the Prince of Nauarre was appoynted Generall to whom all of them being the number of foure thousand Gentlemen made oathes of fidelitie The young Prince of Conde was ioyned with him d'Andelot went to the Garrisons to take a view of the footemen which done hee made a voyage into Poitou to assemble the dispearsed troupes to prouide for mony and to bridle the courses of the enemies but comming from thence The death of Monsieur d'Andelot beeing taken with a burning feuer hee went to Sainctes where hee died vppon the seuenteenth of May to the great greefe and sorrow of all his friends and seruants His bodie beeing opened was found to bee poysoned which not long after was practised against diuers Lords Gentlemen of the religion by the aduise of Rene de Birague an Italian as then Keeper of the seales and after Chancellor of France who vsed openly to say that it was not necessary to make warre with so much labour and charges but to imploy the Cookes meaning prisoners The estate of Colonell of the French Infanterie was giuen to Acier and his company to Beauuais la Nocle his Lieftenant but the charge of all the armie and the care of the principall affaires fell vppon the Admirall much respected by the Queene of Nauarre Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines and to bee short of both great and small that as then made profession of the religion The siege of Mucidan where Pompadon the Countie Brissac are slaine As concerning the Dukes army it ouerranne Xaintoigne Angoulesme and Limosin taking in some places namely Aubeterre The Countie de Brissac Colonel of the French footemen in that armie and Captaine of a Regiment of fortie Ensignes with the most part of their forces tooke vpon him the siege of Mucidan They that were within after they had a while defended the Towne set it on fire and retired into the Castle which they held valiantly and abide some assaults slew the notable men of the regements of Brissac Monluc and Cars among the rest the Vicount of Pompadou lastly Brissac himselfe who comming neare to view the breach and defences had no sooner put foorth his nose but a Harquebuse pearced his head and layde him starke dead vpon the Counterstarp hee was betweene fiue and six and twentie yeares of age and was much bewayled of many that hoped to haue seene him in time one of the greatest leaders of our daies A while after the besieged yeelding vpon composition to haue both liues and goods saued were scarce out of sight of the walles but that contrarie to faith and promise the most part were cut in peeces by the besiegers vpon a desperate reuenge of the death of their two Coronels and their best souldiers that they had there lost The taking of the I le of Medoc On the other side Captaine Piles tooke the Isle of Medoc lying betweene Rochel and Bourdeaux where all the souldiers inriched themselues And the Duke abandoned Guyen and tooke his way towards Berry there to ioyne with the forces of the D. d'Aumale that togither they might stop the Dutch armie brought in by the Duke of Deaxponts from ioyning with the Princes The Lords of Nouy Ienly Moruilliers Fequieres Esternay and others soone after the beginning of this third ciuill warre A small French army commeth in fit time to the Rutters throgh Frāce maugre all the enemies armies had gathered togither some fifteene or six hundreth horse and two thousand Harquebusiers whom when in regard of the difficultie of the passages they could not bring into Guyen they led into Brabant to the prince of Orenge and Countie Lodowick his brother who after they had a while with variable successe continued warre against the Spaniards passed ouer the riuer of Meuse maugre the duke of Alue to whom they offered battell which the Spaniard refused as hoping to waste them with want of victuals which grew so short that they were driuen to passe into France where comming to Vitry they consulted vpon their affaires whether it were best to passe further into the Realm alreadie daunted with so many armies and to returne toward Germanie and so to ioyne with the armie that VVolfgang Counte Palatine of Rhyne D. of Deux Ponts leuyed for the Princes but the second aduise tooke place Now more narrowly to consider what a long walke this Dutch armie made from the Rhine euen vnto Limosin togither with their great and continuall impeachment it cannot but breed much maruell that a forraine armie watched so narrowly and hauing so many backe-friends could thus compasse their drifts True it is that ciuill warres haue at al times made a plaine path to forraine nations who otherwise durst scarce looke towards the Gates without the support of the one partie But where the fauour is but small on the one side and the resistance great on the other we are the more to admire the exployts of those that do so aduenture themselues It was a great comfort to the Germaine Duke to haue the assistance of the Prince of Orenge the Countie Lodowick and the Countie VVolrad of Mansfield The description of the Dutch army with the French afore mentioned His troupes contained fiue thousand Lansquenets and sixe thousand Rutters With this small armie hee marched publishing by writing the causes of his iourney to the Princes The kings Councell finding themselues to seeke did speedily conclude of a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to stop this succour yet doubting of the weakenesse of such a Leader vnskilfull and vnfortunate in matter of warre leuied yet an other vnder the conduct of the Duke of Nemours a man in manner like vnto the other These two bodies assembled in footemen farre surmounted the Dutch Dukes but in horsemen hee was the stronger They were resoluted not to linger vntill hee entered France and so make hauocke but marched euen to the borders of Germanie and neare to Saumur where they defeated the regiment of Captain la Coche of Dauphine composed of sundrie parcels patched togither which purposed to haue ioyned with the Lansquenets Notwithstanding this defeate the Germaine Duke proceeded into France through Bourgongne where the enemie coasted him vntill hee had gotten to the riuer of Lotre hauing marched full fourescore leagues they neuer left him but were still in his flancke or vppon the taile yea many times the armies were each in sight of other and had many great skirmishes The Prince of Orenge hath since sundrie times reported that he maruelled that in so long and
the place was won for the King In Poictou the Barron de la Rocheposé the Lords of Preaux of Parabere and others for the King fought oftentimes with the Leaguers The Duke of Nemours after certaine sallies in and about Langres put himselfe within Lyons As for those of Chartres they defended themselues most couragiously for the space of two moneths and a halfe without beeing succoured by any in the end whereof perceiuing that the bridge which was made by the pollicie of the Lord de Chastillon to come vnto blows with them would be their ruine they entered into conditions of accord the Fryday before Easter the which contained that if within eighteene daies they were not assisted by the Duke de Maine who was then at Soissons three smal daies iourney from Chrartres they would yeelde themselues to the king Then they sent Deputies in post toward the Duke who for prouision dispatched a Maister of his housholde and two Maisters of the campe with tenne or twelue horse to trie if they could enter into the Cittie with charge to confime the Townesmen in their obstinacie But all the succours being taken on Fryday the ninteenth of Aprill about foure of the clocke in the after noone the king with his armie entered into Chartres where hee stayed Saturday and Sunday following The morrow after his enterance the Leaguers of the Cittie to the number of sixe or seuen hundreth went foorth of the Towne with their armies and suddainly the Marshall de Biron entered being followed with 1200. harguebuziers and about 300. horse the garrison assigned to him and the gouernment giuen againe to the Lord de Sourdis who before commanded ouer them They dislodged from thence certain Ladies and Gentlewomen of the leaguers in Coches and Chariots which they caused to be safely conducted to Orleans The K. being Maister of so faire strong a place leuied certain monies of the Inhabitants which had submitted themselues to his mercie Then hauing brought Aulneau and Dourdan to his obeysance hee returned to Senlis Leaguers ouerthrowne at Esperron At this time when Chartres was yeelded vp the Leaguers armie in Prouence consisting of a thousand Chieftaines and of sixteene or eighteen hundreth harguebuziers as well Prouencieux Spaniards as Sauoyans were othrowne at Esperrond de Pallieres by the Lords de la Valette and Diguieres who did the king excellent seruice For the league lost at that time near hand foure hundreth Chieftaines and fifteene hundreth shot leauing a great number of prisoners fifteen tents an infinit companie of horses baggage which were equally diuided among the victors they lost among the rest young Buous a braue and gallant Gentleman twentie souldiers and there were an hundreth hurt At Poictou also In Poictou certaine weekes after the Vicount de la Guierche commanding ouer certaine Regiments of footemen and horsemen and where hee found neare a thousand natural borne Spaniards newly come from Brittaine hauing an intent to do some great exployt they were charged to so good a purpose and with such high resolution by the Barron de la Roche posé and other of the kings chiefe seruitors that after they had giuen them a certaine fight la Guierche seeing on the cold earth more then three hundreth Gentlemen and his most assured fauourites tooke his flight toward the next riuer where finding the ferrie and thinking to go ouer easilie the throng was so great that the ferrie-boate and all the passengers suncke to the bottome La Guierche was there drowned with a great number of others There perished in the water and in the fight more then seuen hundreth Spaniards Some supposed this losse of the Leaguers to bee little lesse then that of Coutras by reason of the great number of the Nobilitie which died therein As for Guierche hee was but little lamented in respect of his vngodly life and disordered behauiour Chasteauthierri yeelded to the League The Duke de Maine hauing thus lost Chartres followed his intelligence vppon the Towne of Chasteauthierri the which was yeelded vnto him with the Castle by the Pinarts the father and the sonne who were commaunders of the same place The Spaniards sackt both the Towne and Castle spoyling in like sort diuers Gentlemens houses round about neuer caring of whole part or religion they were of After this exployt those of Guise beeing at Reims made there a new Archbishop dispatching Ianin sometime President of Diion to go into Spaine to the intent hee might there looke vnto their affaires The kings Edict for upholding the two religions in his kingdome On the other side the Princes and Romaine Catholicque Lords which were the kings partakers perswaded with him to frame himselfe to the exteriour profession of their religion and by the Duke of Luxenburg who had before made a voyage vnto Rome in their name they practised with the Pope to that end On the contrarie side the Protestant Lords beseeched the king to haue them in remembrance who were so faithfully constantly imployed for him Other of his Councel pressed vpon him to prouide for his peaceable subiects as well of the one as the other religion Also that hee would preuent the new attempts of the Pope and his adherents against France And these solicitations begat two Edicts which were brought foorth at Maâ—te in the beginning of Iulie The one established the decrees of pacification made by Henry the third deceased vpon the troubles of the Realme repealing abolishing that which had been made in Iuly 1585. and 1588. in fauour of the league The other contained in forme of letters pattents an ample declaration of the kings intent to maintaine in France the Romaine Church and religion which was surnamed Catholicque Apostolicque togither with the rights and auncient liberties of the Gallican Church An act made by the high court of Parliament at Chaalons at Tours against the Popes bulles his Nuntio and his legat in France It hath beene said before that the new Pope called Gregorie had sent Marcellin Landriano his Nuntio into France with monitarie bulles against the king The Court of Parliament of Paris sitting then at Chaalons in Champaigne hauing receiued and verified the two Edicts aboue mentioned added at the last making mention of the conseruation of the liberties of the Gallican Church that she admitted the Atturney generall to appeal touching the abuse of those bulles published by the Popes pretended Nuntio the thundring and execution of the same held him to bee wel relieued giuing him audience for the first day that commission should bee deliuered vnto him to informe against this pretended Nuntio and his adherents which information beeing made and brought throughout the Court and viewed then they wold decree that which should bee reason moreouer that the same Atturney should haue an act of protestation by him made to prooue himself for the counsell to come This Edict was giuen the first day of Iuly In the montth following there was a second
resolue on nothing till first he had taken aduice with the king of Spaine for the most expedient meanes to maintaine the Catholicque religion in France Leaguers receiued into grace thorow the mercie of their gracious soueraigne The Duke of Neuers was most royally receiued at Florence at Venice and at Mantoue from whence hee came into France Many memorable things came to passe in the month of Februarie On the one side the King cōstrained those of Milon and the Castle of Thierri to acknowledge him for their soueraigne Lord on the other he receiued into fauour the Cittie of Orleans Lyon Roane Poictiers Bourges Haure de Grace Ponteau de Mer Vernueil at Perche Pontoise Riom in Auuergne Peronne and Mondidier in Picardie agreed that they of Amiens and Abbeuille should remaine newters which shortly after acknowledged him because they would not open their gates to the Duke of Aumale one of the Captaines of the league nor to his troupes The Bishop of Orleans for his better obtaining of the kings pardon for al the Cittie procured that certaine mutinous persons of the league should bee whipt and the rest banished As for the Duke de Maine they tooke a packet of his letters that was sent to the king of Spaine containing a complaint of his miseries Hee sent Zamet his Agent to the king to vndertake his affaires but the kings aunswere was that hee would not deale with the Duke of Maine as with the chiefe of a faction That if he wold craue pardon of his soueraigne Lord he wold receiue him as his kinsman and allie The leaguers townes made their seueral intreats each one vpon their declaration obtained of the K. much more fauour then they looked for as much may be said of all the rest in particular which in great numbers submitted themselues to the king whom he receiued in gracious sort giuing them for the most part authoritie charge and was himselfe most liberall vnto many while his faithfull subiects and seruants of the religion were most hardly vsed and spightfully intreated in diuers Prouinces of the Realme Now resteth the Principall Cittie to bee spoken of that is the faire Cittie of Parris which was brought to the kings obeysance by meanes of the intelligences which they had within with the Lord of Billin their Gouernour the Earle of Brissac and others the two and twentieth of March The Duke de Maine had trust vp his baggage certaine daies before to be packing to Soissons There was once resistance made at the New gate by certaine Lance-knights who were torne in peeces and a Court of guard of the Leaguers toward the Pallace whom the Cittizens soone put to flight The Neapolitans made shewe as if they would proffer fight refusing to agree except it were by the consent of the Duke of Feria and Don Diego d'Euera their Generall They accepted soone after without resistance whatsoeuer it pleased the king to offer them as vnto their Captaines to witte that all of them should enioy their armes and so depart with bagge and baggage out of the Cittie from thence to haue safe conduct out of the Realme toward the borders of Picardie after they had promised the king neuer to beare armes in France against his seruice Heere was a thing woorthie to bee noted that foure thousand men on horse and foote entering armed into this little world of Parris should put the league to silence keepe so well the order prescribed vnto them and be so obedient that no souldier left his rancke to commit any outrage or violence That no Burgeous or Inhabitant was indomaged nor so much as wronged in his reputation person or goods that all the people mingled themselues presently with the men of war and other that entered with the king in such familiaritie as if they had alwaies dwelt togither filling the streetes with ioyful applaudes and maruellous reioycings euen as if they had escaped the hands of the hangman to beholde the face of their deare father or best beloued friend The Kings troupes entered the Cittie about foure of the clocke in the morning and within two houres the shoppes were all set open the Citie appearing so peaceable as if there had neuer been any change The most paine which the kings seruants had was to keepe the people with faire intreaties who required no other thing then to bee medling against the Spaniardes Neapolitans and VVallons who were in number nine hundreth men or thereabout to bee reuenged on them calling to minde the great iniuries which they had receiued by their meanes in times past All their Churches and Temples were filled soone after with praiers and songs of thansgiuing to God according to the order and custome of the same Cittie which was newes most pleasing and agreeable to the Inhabitants As much was done in all other places of the kings obeysance and namely in diuers parts out of France In short time after Bastille was yeelded and hee which commanded there for the league sent away with his souldiers The Cardinal of Plaisance the Popes Legat being sick at Paris had his safe conduct to bee gone who died soone after and so likewise did the Cardinall of Pelue This was the cause that other dispearsed Leaguers and seditious Preachers fled away some heere some there vnder the wings of the king of Spaine or toward the Duke de Maine who was gone to Soissons The most part were confounded with despight and sorrow The other do as yet bite on the bridle in Spaine and the lowe Countries and from one moneth to another followe their companies There were some found that hazarded themselues to enter into Parris but it was to be drawne to the gallowes where they receiued the guerdon due to their villainie The Parliament of Paris beeing established soone after this yeelding published a decree the thirtieth of March in these termes The Court hauing the twelfth day of Ianuarie last required the Duke de Maine to acknowledge the king whom God and the lawes hath giuen to this Realme for the establishing of peace and vnitie whereto hee would giue no eare through the deuises of the Spaniards and their adherents and God hauing since of his infinit goodnesse deliuered this Cittie of Parris from the hands of straungers and brought the same to obedience of her true naturall and lawfull king after solemne thansgiuing to God for this blessed successe would imploy the soueraigne authoritie and iustice of this Realme for the preseruation of the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romaine religion to see that vnder the false colour and pretext of the same straungers do not possesse the estate Calling all Princes Prelates Lords Gentlemen and other subiects to the grace fauour and clemencie of the king and to a generall reconciliation and to repaire that which the libertie of the warres hath altered or taken from the authoritie of the lawes foundation of the royall estate rights and honours of the Crowne These things hauing beene in deliberation all the
ouerrunne the plaine countrie of Sienois which he did with 12000. foote and one thousand fiue hundreth horse on the other side the king sent Monsieur de Termes that set good and strong Garrisons within all the places of the Segnerie of Siene hauing as then vnder the kings pay aboue twelue thousand foote not accounting the naturall countrimen sworne enemies vnto the Spaniards but very fewe horsemen And because the Emperours campe conducted by the Viceroy and Ascagne de la Corne seemed to threaten Siene they fortified the Towne with al diligence The Viceroy assailed Monselice Montelle Montalein where Monsieur de Termes tooke order and maintained himselfe in good sort vntill the king sent Pierre Strossi with a great companie of men and made him his Lieftenant Generall in Toscane Strossi came to Siene raised more Souldiers in Italie whereof Duke Cosme beeing aduertised solicited Pope Iulius and the Emperour in such sort that they ioyned with him to driue out the Frenchmen To this end Iaques de Medicis surnamed le Mediquin Marquis de Marignan hauing charge of the consederates armie about the beginning of the yeare 1554. besieged Siene and approaching it by night had almost surprised it by reason that as then the fortifications were not all finished but the Sienois withstood him and repulsed the Marques who at that time lost many of his men notwithstanding hee left not off to incampe himselfe before the towne and forraging the plaine countrie directed a furious batterie whereby in the end hee reduced the Inhabitants to great extremitie without the comming of Strossi who entering therein presently tooke order for the rampars and the reparation of the breaches not hauing forgotten to furnish all the places about Siene and because Rodolphus Baillon Generall of the Emperours horses and Ascagne de la Corne had made an enterprise vppon Chiusi Strossi by night went to meete them with sixe hundreth men and hauing taken them at an aduantage put their troupes in disorder slewe Baillon and sent la Corne prisoner into France The king with all speede sent new forces into Toscane and the I le of Corse wherein Monsieur de Termes had taken the Townes of S. Florent and S. Boniface a Port of the sea leauing good Garrison therin vnder the charge of Iourdan Vrsin with certaine Captaines Frenchmen and Gascous for the defence of the Yland part whereof as yet obeyed the Geneuois vppon whom being participants with the Emperour Monsieur de Termes had taken those Townes But to returne to Siene the last secorers that the king sent thither beeing of fiue thousand Switzers Gascons with some light-horse Strossi suddainly made a sallie with sixe thousand chosen footemen and fiue hundreth good horse and therewith tooke Montcatin and Montcarlo from the Duke of Florence which hee fortified The Marques of Marignan constrained to leaue the siege of Siene to ayde the Duke was in danger to bee wholly ouerthrowne if Storssi had taken occasion when it was offered But the Marques fortified with new ayde Strosci was constrained to bring his wearied forces to breath themselues within Siene meane time Leon Prior of Capoue and brother to Strossi hauing not the meanes to staye for the French Nauie ceased vpon certaine Geneuois shippes laden with corne and hauing filled them with Souldiers warred vppon the coast of Toscane and to spoyle the Ports of the sea belonging to the Duke of Florence After that hee went to lye before Scarlin where approaching to viewe the place he was stricken with a Harquebus-shot whereof hee died Strossi much greeued thereat went to continue the siege staying for the French ayde which not long after being arriued conducted by Monsieur de Monluc Strossi made his armie wherein he had sixe thousand Italians two thousand Gascons as many Switzers two thousand fiue hundreth Lansquenets and about a thousand horse wherewith he determined to set vppon his enemies if they would come foorth and perceiuing that they withdrewe themselues from Siene he committed the custodie thereof vnto Monsieur de Monluc and went to batter Ciuitelle lying in the territories of Florence to the ayde whereof the Marques of Marignan made so great hast that he had almost surprised the assaylants where there was much blood spilt on both sides Stressi constrained to discampe besieged Foyan a strong and very rich place which the first day of his arriuall was taken by force and Charlot Vrsin with all the souldiers that kept it put to the sword and the Towne spoyled and burnt The Marques hauing recouered certaine cannons approached the armie of Strossi that marched towards Montpulcian where the Italians began to forsake him and by that means his forces were lesse then those of the Marques which constrained him to retire The battell and ouerthrow of Strossi and the French armie in Toscan but in stead of dooing it couertly and by night for the safetie of his troupes he determined to march openly in the day time and to saue his Artillerie he sent it before him Whereof the Marques being aduertised with all speed pursued after him and hauing ouertaken him in the field betweene Martian Lucignan and Foyan gaue him battell where the fight was dangerous and bloodie but Strossi hauing the lesse and weaker companie the Frenchmen fled after Bighet an Italian Ensigne Coronel of the armie that first saued himself after that the horsemē were dispersed The Gascons Switzers that fought valiantly were ouerthrowne by aduancing thēselues too farre among their enemies and almost all their Leaders slaine in the field the number of the slaine is diuersly reported some said two thousand fiue hundreth others foure thousand besides many hurt that liued not long after and fiue or sixe hundreth prisoners The Marques wrote vnto the Emperour that all Strossies footemen were slaine at that bartaile but as then he forgot to pursue his victorie which if hee had done Strossi and all the Kings armie at that time had beene wholly ouerthrowne Strossi that had shewed maruellous prooses of his valour and noblenesse saued himselfe in Montalcin leauing Foyan that was presently taken by the Marques as also Martian Lucignan and other places wherewith the Sienois meruellously abashed were in mind to haue yeelded had it not been for Monluc that assured them and after did great seruice vnto the king as also to the Towne Bighet partly cause of the ouerthrowe of the armie and the Counte d'Alte that had cowardly yeelded vp Lucignan a most impregnable place were beheaded Presently after the Duke solicited those of Siene to yeeld vnto the Emperour and they about the end of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1554. answered him most brauely but yet to vse so great loftie words they had need of better means of resistance while these things were effected Monsieur de Lanssac beeing gone on ambassage to Rome diuers articles were there drawne and set down to end the troubles of Siene The Pope gaue charge to his Legats that laye residents by the
assure his capitall towne and at the same time raised a subsidie of 300000. Frankes to satisfie his most vrgent affaires while king Phillip receiuing the Ensignes taken from the Frenchmen and beholding the prisoners who in a maner were led before him as in a triumph contented himselfe with that victorie without enterprising at that time to enter further into France whereof neuerthelesse many Townes were in great feare King Henry by his Lieftenants prouided for his Frontier-townes and gathered his campe at Laon causing 14000. Switzers to be sent for Touching those that were besieged within Saint Quintins at the comming of d'Andelot The Towne of S. Quintins taken by assault they were relieued with foure hundreth souldiers and about 50. men of commandement with some Gentlemen of name and certaine Canoniers but king Phillip being arriued in his campe the batterie began most furious the assieged by no means could be ayded but onely with three hundreth men whereof a third part were slaine in entring The Towers and fortifications from S. Iohns Gate to the Tower standing vpon the water hauing been battered with the Cannon shotte the Spaniards became maisters of the Duches and vpon the 20. of August the Erenchmen diuided and placed in eleuen seuerall breaches sustained a generall assault and could not bee forced yet the Towne was taken by entring at a tower which no man guarded the French souldiers therein were most slaine the Admirall his brother that not long after saued himselfe Iarnac S. Remi de Humes and other Captaines and Gentlemen of name taken prisoners and the son of Monsseur de la Fayette the Captaines Saleuert Ogier Vicques la Barre l'Estang and Gourdes slaine During these stormes The King threatned to be slaine the king being in Parris as he went to masse a yong man named Caboche borne in Meaux who ordinarilie and of long time had followed the Court and because of his faire writing serued the kings Secretaries whether being out of his wits or stirred by some other motion presentented himselfe before him with a naked sword in hand and crying out said Stay King God hath commanded me to kill thee but presently the Switzers of the guard fell vpon him wherewith he was committed and by the Court of Parliament condemned to be hanged for that attempt After the taking of S. Quintins the Counte de Aremberg with 1200. horse and 3. Regiments of Lansquenets besieged Castellet The taking of Castellet where he made a furious batterie The Barron de Solignac that commanded therein peceiuing himselfe destitute of the ayde that had beene promised him and that the place was not strong ynough to defend an assault not hauing aboue three hundreth men therein and they not greatly bent to make resistance yeelded the place for which cause he was sent prisoner vnto Parris and if by chance he had not saued himselfe by an escape out of prison he had surely lost his life because as it was said he had made promise neuer to yeeld the place before hee had sustained an assault While the King of France assembled a great armie as well without as within his Realme and by his Lieftenants prouided for his townes in Picardie and that the Parrisians made generall Musters of their companies where were found between thirtie fiue and fortie thousand men The assembly in Same Iaques street discouered Those of the religion multiplied and began to increase in diuers parts of the Realme specially within the Cittie of Parris where hauing bin discouered in an assembly made by night in S. Iaques streete many were cast in prison some burnt and the rest escaped by diuers meanes in other places also many were taken and executed the people verilie imputing the causes of the troubles in France wholly to them But the king of Spaine imploying his armie Han taken by the Spaniards vppon the 12. of September tooke Han the Castle being yeelded and the Towne burnt by the Frenchmen themselues Besides that hee tooke all such places as might in any sort impeach or trouble that Castle and S. Quentin which hee ouerthrew and spoyled further his troupes surprised certaine companies of Scots within Noyon and tooke Chauni wherein he placed a great Garrison there to make prouision of wines wherewith to furnish the places which he had taken Ayde comming out of Almaine and Switzer-land into France the king for a time caused the troupes that came out of Italie Polleuille driuen out of Bresse vnder the conduct of the Duke de Guise and Aumalle to stay in Bresse and Lyonnois thereby to impeach the pretences of the Barron de Polleuille who with twelue thousand foote and one thousand two hundreth horse for the Prince of Piedemont came to besiege Bourg in Bresse from whence he was constrained in all haste to retire otherwise both he and all his troupes had wholly been spoyled who in dislodging dispearsed and separated themselues in such sort that in fewe daies after it could hardly be perceiued what had become of that great number of men The kings enterprise against Callais The Duke of Guise beeing arriued at the Court lying in S. Germaine in Laye because of the Constables imprisonment was appoynted Lieftenant Generall for the king in all his countries Wherevpon the secret practises long pretended were then pursued and fully executed in this sort Edward the third of that name King of England had taken Callais in the yeare of our Lord 1347. a Port of the sea and a place of great consequence for the Frenchmen since which time the said Towne had still continued in the Englishmens hands and by them much fortified The Constable long time before the battell of S. Lawrence by means of Monsieur de Senarpont Gouernour of Bullen had vsed such meanes and practises touching that Towne which is a parte of the ancient Domaine of the Crowne of France that without his ouerthrow and imprisonment it was most apparant he would haue executed his pretence In his absence it was concluded while king Phillips forces by reason of the winter season were dispearsed to execute that enterprise so much for the aduantage of the Realme of France And therevpon the king of France raised two armies one conducted by the Duke de Neuers making shewe to enter into the Duchie of Luxembourg the other ledde by the Duke of Guise vnder pretence therewith to hinder the victualling of S. Quentins The Duke de Neuers marching towards Luxenbourg the Spaniards and Wallons ranne thither to defend it but suddainely hee sent his forces to ioyne with the Duke of Guise that made shewe of victualling Amiens Ardres and Bullen and in great haste vppon the suddaine turned all his forces against the Towne of Callais wherein as then there was no Garrison The Princes of Conde and la Roche Suryon the Duke d'Aumalle and the Marques d'Elboeuf bretheren Strossi Marshall of France Montmorency the Constables eldest son Monsieurs de Termes d'Andelot de Sansac d'Estree great
Counsell giuen the king against the peace and quietnesse of his Realme The king hauing agreed with his forraine enemies with whom all men hoped a most sure and perpetuall alliance to be made was againe put in minde and counselled to redouble the hard and cruell punishments by him deuised against those of the religion who in the middle of those troubles had much increased thoughout all the Realme And so in steed of spirituall meanes to be vsed in things concerning the soule diuers euil Councellors to this Prince caused him to conceiue an extream hatred to those of the religion filling his eares with many vnworthie terrible reports against them Monsieur d'Andelot first felt it being for religion committed prisoner in Melun wherevpon many discontentments and suspitions grewe among the most noble houses whereof ensued diuers and many mischiefes which after the death of king Henry began to increase who hauing vnderstood that in the Parliament of Parris many and diuers iudgements were made touching the condemnation of such as were accused for religioÌ„ was counselled to sit in person at a Mercurialist iudgement Mercuriales and imprisonment of certaine Councellors in Parris within the Augustines because as then the Pallace was preparing and making readie for the marriages that there hee might heare and vnderstand the aduise of all his Presidents and Councellours Others of the same Councel esteemed that the presence of the king wold but abash such as seemed to oppose therin and that so those of the religion remaining without support and condemned they would in fine procure the execution of their desires But it fell out cleane contrary for that some Councellours said and flatly affirmed that it would be more conuenient to deale with lesse rigour against those of the religion vntill such time as by a free and generall counsell they had beene shewed their errour Hee that spake boldest and plainest was Anne de Bourg a man of great learning and pietie The king that neuer had heard any speech of such importance commaunded the Constable to leade du Bourg and other Councellours prisoners to aunswere their obiections swearing in great chollour that hee would see the end Wherevpon Monsieur Montgommery Captaine of the guard ledde du Bourg into the Bastille the rest into other places Meane time those of the religion were hardly pursued in euery place who during those troubles in the moneth of May caused a Sinode to be holden by all their Pastors A Sinode of the religion in Parris Deacons and ancients within the Towne of Parris wherein the Articles of the Doctrine and Discipline of the reformed Churches throughout all the Realme were written and set downe Meane time the Courtiers sought and deuised all the meanes of ioyes and pleasures they could inuent thereby to solemnise the royall marriages both of the Kings daughter and of his sister I speake not of the murther committed vppon the person of a renowmed Player of Comodies who at that time had made most magnificall preparations therewith to reioyce the Court that was slaine in the house of Reims by his owne seruants so that all his preparations were layd aside Preparation for the marriages neither yet of the Queenes Dreame nor of the apprehensions and discourses of diuers Politicians who were of opinion that this great Wheele of earthly prosperities would shortly turne about onely I will shew you that the sighes of prisoners for religion the horrible torments vsed to some of them and the earnest prayers of infinit numbers of families threatned and that wel perceiued that the peace had beene agreed vppon betweene the Frenchmen and the Spaniards thereby to make a warre with them that neuer should haue an end were the winds that hoysed vp the wonderful and strange alterations which the wise and prouident counsell of God in short time after made to appeare Marriage of the King of France his daughter with king Phillip Elizabeth of France hauing been solemnely ledde and conducted by the King her father > vnto the Cathedrall church of Parris and there most magnifically and in great triumph espoused by the Duke d'Alue Deputie for the king of Spaine his Maister The espousals done by the Cardinall de Bourbon and after fiers of ioy made for the peace the reioycings of the people glad of that rest quietnesse the Banquets Proclaimations and Ceremonies accustomed with all maiestie performed assisted by so many Noble Princes Lords Gentlemen Cardinals Officers and Domesticall seruants both of the King and Queenes houshould there likewise beeing present the Dukes of Sauoy and Alue the Prince of Aurange the Counte d'Aiguemont and other Lords of the lowe Countries in great numbers and after the sumptuous banquets playes maskes and daunces followed the last act which changed all those ioyfull and pleasant Comodies into bloodie and mornfull Tragedies wherein the king played the lamentable Prologue for that hauing published a running at Tilt to bee performed within S. Anthonies streete Atourney in S. Aâ—thoniesstreete where against the aduise of those that besought him to leaue that exercise to such as should shewe him pleasure therein he would in person be a principall actor seconded by the Dukes of Guise and Ferrare But the second day of his running hauing runne verie often the Queene desired him to leaue off saying that the Duke of Sauoy might supply his place He sent her word by the Marshall de Montmorency that hee would runne but once more and that for the loue of her Wherevppon hauing sent a Launce to the Counte de Montgommory commanding him to runne against him and the Counte earnestly excusing himselfe eyther for the respect hee bare vnto his Prince or fearing to faile as the first day hee had many times done not once touching any against whome hee ranne The King sent him expresse commaundement not to refuse him With that the Earle ranne and breaking his Launce vppon the Kinges Cuirasse The king sore hurt with a splinter of a lance a splinter thereof entered into the Kinges Vizarde not beeing well closed and by chaunce ranne into his eye so farre in that his head festered Wherewith the King presently beganne to fall by reason of the blowe but the Princes and Lordes ranne to him and ledde him into his Pallace of Touernelles where in great dolor and paine he died vpon the tenth day of Iuly He died in the flower of his age in the thirteenth yeare of his raigne and the fortie and two yeare of his age the day before his death he desired that the marriage of the Duke of Sauoy and Lady Margaret his sister should be celebrated in his Chamber and that whatsoeuer had beene accorded vnto by the treatie of peace touching the Duke should wholly bee performed His heart was buried in the Temple of Celestins in the Chappell of the Dukes of Orleans his royall Obsequies were celebrated vppon the thirteene day of August and his bodie buried at Saint Dennis in the Common
Tombe for the Kinges of France Of person hee was a goodly Prince courteous milde The description of king Henry the second louing his seruaunts and men of valour Much addicted to his pleasures and to beleeue such as knewe how to please his humour who many times caused him to vse muche rigour which hee could not so soone discouer the ambition and auarice of certaine men that prouoked him forwarde were the principall causes of the continuance of warres which heretofore we haue noted specially after the breache of truce set lawes Iustice Offices and benefices to sale diued into and emptied the purses of French men by infinit exactions whereof ensued most great mischiefs The estate of France vnder this Prince Two great sinnes raigned in France during the time of this Prince that is Atheisme and Magicque Whereunto may be added the corruption of learning For that the knowledge thereof induced by King Francis the first chaunged into diuers wicked and curious mindes cause of all mischiefe specially in the forme and phrase of French Poets who in the raigne of Henry by their impure rimes filled with all maner of blasphemies conuerted an infinit number of soules These sinnes and others in great abundance still increased drawing vpon both litle and great within the Realme of France the straunge punishments which in the raignes of the successors to this Henry full well appeared Fiue sonnes and fiue daughters By Catherin de Medicis his wife married in Anno. 1533 he had fiue sonnes and fiue daughters The eldest Francis the second borne the 20. of Ianuary 1543. The second Lois the Duke of Orleans that died at the ende of certaine months The third Charles Maxemilian borne the 20. of Iune 1550. King after the death of his brother The 4. Edward Alexandre after King and called Henry the third born the 19. of September 1551. The fift Hercules after called Francis Duke of Alencon Aniou and Berri and Counte du Maine borne the 18. of March 1554. The eldest daughter was Elizabeth promised to Edward the sixt King of England but marryed to Phillip king of Spaine borne the 11. of Aprill 1545. The second Claude maried to Charles Duke of Lorraine bonre the 12. of Nouember 1547. The third Margaret married to Henry de Bourbon King of Nauarre borne the 14. of May 1552. The fourth and fift named Iane and Victoire borne at one burthen vpon the 24. of Iune 1556 and died presently after In this Historie you may behold the successe and estate of the successors to this Henry beeing his sonnes with the first whereof I meane to begin Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Henry the second Francis the second M.D.LIX. The intent of King Henrie KING Henry by the counsell giuen him touching the rupture of the truce and by that which after ensued hauing somewhat discouered who and which they were that gaue him euill aduise concerning his estate was minded and fully resolued after the solemnization of the marriages to looke more particularly into such men therby to retaine some and send the rest vnto the places frō whence they came But the wrath of God lay vppon the Realme hauing striken the head pursued the members as heereafter it appeareth Francis the second yong in aduise The state of France vnder Francis the second The Nobilitie The Courtiers much more in yeares was wholly left to the gouernment of his mother and the vncles of his wife that ruled the land as you shal heare Part of the Nobilitie wearied with the troubles of so long warres desired nought but peace leauing all care of publike charges and casting their eyes vppon the surest side thereon to lay hold The Courtiers went which way the winde would blowe as touching the officers of Iustice most of them were friends or subiects vnto diuers Lords some good and vpright men yet resting in the Court of Parliament durst not almost proceed in any thing as beeing abashed at the suddaine blowe giuen vnto the chiefe and principall Court of Parliament the last Mercurialist The Ecclesiasticall persons The Ecclesiasticall persons held and accounted them for principall Pillers of the Church that were the greatest burners As touching the third estate the great charges and troubles of warres forepast had wholly bereaued them of al liuely feeling and moouing Two parties In the Court were two parts the one those that held with the Constable the other the Guisians The Princes of the blood had almost no care of the Common-wealth nor yet of their owne affaires The Queene-mother an Italian Florentine of the familie of Medicis and one that in 22. yeares wherin she had continued in France had some good time to knowe the humours both of the one and the other and behaued her selfe in such sort that shee onely ruled Those of Guise Which to attaine and desiring wholly to driue away the Constable whom shee did most suspect shee held on the other side and placed seruants about the King of Nauarre by them to know and vnderstand his minde Assoone as king Henry was deceased the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine led the King and his brethren with the Queenes vnto the Louure leauing the Prince of the Blood the Constable the Marshall the Admirall with diuers other knights of the Order and Lords that held with the Constable to attend vppon the dead body The beginning of the raigne of this young Prince promised much when suddainly they beheld Francis Oliuier a man of great reputation Francis Oliuier restored to be Chancellor restored againe vnto his place of Chauncellor that had been put out of the place by meanes of the Duches of Valentinois that wholly ruled the deceased king they were in further hope whē they perceiued this Duches to be wholly out of credit for that assoone as he was dead they caused her to yeeld vp the keyes of the kings closet with all his precious Iewels that then were giuen vnto the Queene Regent But this was onely a particular quarrell betweene women for in truth the Duches during king Henries life had been in all mens sight as Queen of France The Queen-mother that hated her extreamly was very glad to see her wholly dispoyled and driuen out of the Court contenting her selfe therewith not to leese the fauour of those of Guise who although they onely had their aduancement by the Duches meanes perceiuing her to bee as a rotten plancke left her to pleasure themselues another way They sent Bertrand from whom the seales were taken vnto Rome and tooke from d'Auancon the ruling of the Treasures Bertrand keeper of the Seales discharged of his office neuerthelesse hee continued still in the Court as beeing too well acquainted with their affaires and as yet it was not necessary to compell him to accept of any new partie The Marshall of S. Andre aduanced by the fauours of King Henry to whom he was a secret seruant and wholly
affaires the Dowries of the kings daughters and that of the late Queene Ellenor which as then the Princesse of Portingall enioyed the rest to be revnited vnto the Kings domaines ordinary receipts This reuocation was a Bowe to certaine Princes great Lords and notable personages who by such pollicie were defeated of their seruices and all rewards made vnto them by the late deceased King On the other side such as were in fauour with the house of Guise obtained other letters of exemption and by that meanes some were put out and others kept possession or else obtained some other new place The king of Nauarre solicited to come to the Court rideth thither The Constable perceiuing the King would die had sent vnto the King of Nauarre to counsell him with all speede to repaire vnto the Court and to ceise vppon the gouernment of the young King before any other This Prince not greatly desirous to deale with such affaires and as then somewhat distrusting the Constable stirred not giuing those of Guise the meanes leisure to thrust themselues into his place but certaine Princes Lords moouing him againe hee beganne to hearken vnto it communicating the same to foure of his principall Councellours being Iarnac the Bishop of Mande President of his Councell Descars his Chamberlin and Bouchart his Chancellour who were of aduise that without longer delay he should ride vnto the Court whereof those of Guise beeing aduertised promised hilles and mountaines to Mande and Descars if they could finde the meanes to staye him they mooued therewith staying till their maister was on horsebacke and onward of his iourney began to diswade him shewing him of certaine imminent daungers that were not to bee shunned by seeking to stand too much vppon his degree and that hee ought to proceede therein by indifferent meanes without seeking to hazard himselfe and to winne the good report and fauour of all men vpon this counsell beeing come to Poictiers where diuers Princes Noblemen went to meet him hee shewed many resolutions and gaue good hope and comfort vnto the Ministers of the Churches specially those in Parris Orleans and Tours desiring him that they might as yet bee ayded and assisted touching that which concerned the open profession of religion What entertainment hee had The first disliking shewed vnto him when hee approached neare the Court beeing at S. Germain in Laye was that his furriers found no place for him within the Castle and that the Duke of Guise said vnto his Marshall that it should cost him his life and tenne thousand more with him before any man should take the place and lodging which the king had giuen him to be neare vnto his person The second that not any of the Court went to meet and receiue him as the manner is specially to the Princes of the blood The third that being gone to do his dutie to the Queene-mother and after to the king those of Guise in stead of going to imbrace and bid him welcome stayed til he went vnto them and was constrained to accept the lodging of the Marshall of S. Andre who after the courtly manner had offered it vnto him not thinking to be so soone taken at his word The fourth that the next day in stead of being warned to sit in counsell no man was sent vnto him eyther to salute him or once to see what he did The fift that at the end of three or foure daies the king called him aside shewing him that his Vncle 's the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine had the whole charge of all affaires committed vnto them and that whosoeuer would seeke to please him must obey them in all things whatsoeuer But touching his pensions and estates hee confirmed them vnto him assuring him that whensoeuer he would come vnto the Court hee should be heartily welcome Diuers of the king of Nauarres traine perceiuing that he had quietly swallowed all those pilles withdrewe themselues or else claue to the surest side as Iarnac that ioyned with those of Guise Within fewe daies after this Prince went vnto Saint Dennis there to accomplish certaine ceremonies accustomed after the death of king Henry which done he went to Parris accompanied with his brother the Prince of Conde and some others but not many and beeing there hee sounded the aduise and minds of some whom he esteemed to be well affected vnto the Realme but he could not perceiue any thing by them Sacrying of the King as Reims Those of Guise following on their course vpon the 18. of September caused the king to be sacred at Reims and presently after the Queene-mother sent the Admirall and the Cardinall of Chastillon to the Constable to intreat him to resigne his place of Great-maister vnto the Duke of Guise to whom the yeare before king Henry had flatly denied it in exchange whereof she promised him one of the offices of Marshals of France for his eldest son The Constable resigneth his estate of great maister and the Admirall his gouernment which was giuen to Brissae The Constable resigned that office wholly into the kings hāds got the other with al speed to be giuen vnto his son the Duke of Guise was presently inuested therwith The Admirall being Gouernour of Picardie perceiuing that they sought to put him out and that for the same cause they had assayed to set diuision betweene him and the Prince of Conde and that they beganne to cut off some part of the mony that should bee imployed about the charges of the necessary fortifications of the Frontier-townes thereby to bring him in disgrace and so to thrust him out with shame preuented them and shewed the king that the same gouernment for many reasons belonged to the Prince of Gonde whose ancestors had long time held it He had no sooner spoken the word but they presently tooke him thereat as touching the resignation but not concerning the prouision for that in stead of giuing it to the Prince those of Guise got thē a new participant bestowing it vpon the Marshall de Brissac While in this sort Writings against the rule of strangers they vsed both the Princes and great Lords the meaner sort could not be content for that by diuers printed pamphlets whereof some were directed to the Queen-mother some in taunting verse and some in prose both by the behauiors past and present they fully discouered the intent of those of Guise A Target against those deuises whom they printed forth in all their colours they by those dealings perceiuing some secret matter working that their authoritie was but weakly built begā to think better vppō it which was the cause that at one time they made 18. knights of the order whereof sprang the common saying that the order of France is a collor for euery beast And because in those writings it was noted that to preuent such disorders it would bee necessarie to assemble and call a Parliament of all
of the administration of the affaires of the land Wherevppon Lois de Bourbon Prince of Conde was most instantly desired to hearken therevnto and by that meanes to hinder and impeach the to tall ruine both of the king and Queene The Prince of Conde much affected to the good of the king and of his Realme And as some haue lightly thought and written that all this whole proceeding after named the tumult of Amboise had been an enterprise of men wholly rash seditious enemies to God and the Estate prouoked by dispaire and induced by fury so is it found esteemed by others euil affected vnto the house memorie of this Prince that durst presume to charge him to haue bin mooued and pushed forward with some particular affection that entered into his minde and that it was but a meere quarrell against the house of Guise which by that meanes hee sought to end and after that to mooued some greater change but not to turne this smal Cronicle into a large Apologie it shall suffice simply to rehearse those things which for the most part are fresh and in the memorie of many a Frenchman as then liuing and such as were borne since and hauing beene faithfully informed thereof for as for men that are partiall who to gratifie such as held the sword ouer their heades while they caused the bookes wherein most impertinently they handle this matter to bee imprinted without saying woorse by them both the world present and to come will wholly reiect their witnesse as full of euident and meere passion and cleane repugnant to the truth and will auouch that the Prince therein shewed himselfe to be a true Frenchman and most affectionate friend vnto the good and seruice both of the king and Realme The Prince then with his most secret Councell hauing long and deliberately thought and consulted vppon this poynt wherein hee was desired to be assistant as in truth the sequell therof required first gaue expresse charge and commission to certaine wise expert and well approoued friends secretly carefully and exactly to inquire what were the principall thinges that might bee imposed against those of Guise which beeing knowne with a good and safe conscience hee might looke into that which should redownd vnto the good both of the king and of his Realme The informations made it was found and well known by men both of person and quallitie and such as were indifferent that they might well and lawfully bee charged with diuers poynts of treason as also with an infinit number of pillings and interceptions as well of the treasures of the Common-wealth as of particular persons And among other notable crimes he was assured and offered to haue it iustified by such as in a maner had beene their houshold seruants that they ment to cease vppon the Realme Abreefe collection of the informations made against those of Guise and put all the Princes of the blood to death assoone as they once had fully exterped those of the religion determining in short space to rid themselues of all their enemies hauing alreadie vnderstood by the Phisitians that the king could not liue long neither yet haue issue which in mans iudgement might easilie be effected considering that those of Guise had both iustice mony strong Townes men of warre and the people at their commandement Monsieur Renaudie vndertaketh the charge to cease vpon the bodies of the Guisians The question was these informations beeing made how the persons of those parties so charged might bee taken and ceased vpon This was the difficultie which Godfrey de la Remaudie surnamed la Forest Barron de Perigot and a Gentleman of an ancient house vndertooke to resolue accepting the mannaging thereof vnder the authoritie of the Prince who in person promised to bee at the day and in in the place where and when those of Guise should so bee taken vppon condition that nothing should bee sayd enterprised nor done in any sort whatsoeuer eyther against God the king his bretheren the Princes nor the Estate that in doing otherwise hee would himselfe bee he that first should seeke for to oppose against al those that vndertooke the contrary which conclusion was made about the end of the yeare 1559. 1560. The Lady Elizabeth of France married vnto the King of Spaine departed from the Court of Blois about the beginning of December beeing conducted by the king her brother and the Queene her mother as farre as Chastellerault and Poictiers and keeping on her way with the Cardinall of Bourbon the Prince de la Roche Suryon and other great Lords into Gascon at Bourdeax the King of Nauarre met her and so ledde her with great honour through his countries keeping her companie vntill hee entered vppon the borders of Spaine The Ladie Elizabeth leâ—de into Spaine where she was receiued by the Noblemen and Lords appointed by king Philip who with great pompe and magnificence they led vnto their Maister about the beginning of this yeare An order for prouision of Offices The first of Ianuarie a Proclamation was made in the kings name for the prouision of Iudiciall offices the nomination of the offices beeing committed vnto the Iudges and the Kings officers who nominating three persons for each office they should giue their names vnto the king that out of them hee might chuse him whom hee iudged to bee fit and capable for the place But this was but an ordinance in paper and wholly without effect as many others had been the same moneth and the next the proces against the Councellors Coucellors holden prisoners released la Porte de Foix du Faut and Fumee that had beene comitted prisoners with Anna du Bourg were ended and all they for a small fine were set at libertie They vsed all the meanes they could to condemne the Councellour Fumee but hee behaued himselfe so well and wifely against all the Iudges and other his aduersaries that in the end hee wound himselfe out of their hands Assembly at Nautes But to returne to that which is more important The first of February la Renaudie with a great number of the Nobilitie and others of all the Prouinces of the Realme met at Nautes where vnder colour of soliciting certaine proces in the Parliament of Britaigne which as then was holden therein they assembled where after certaine inuocations vpon the name of God al before recited was there by Renaudie exposed and declared And after diuers of theÌ„ had giuen their iudgements and esteemed the enterprise to be both iust necessary one among therest required that before they gaue their promise each of them should sweare and solemnely vowe to God not to enterprise or do any thing against the authoritie of the king or the Estate of France protesting for his part that if he might perceiue it that euen when the execution should bee brought to effect hee would aduertise the king and sooner suffer himselfe to bee slaine before his face then to
mee I will heare their complaints and doo them iustice Sometimes hee said to those of Guise I knowe not what the matter is but I vnderstand they haue nothing to say but vnto you I would that for a time you should absent your selues from hence to the end that men might see if it bee against mee or you that they complaine They very cunningly and presently bandied such blowes and to diuert the people from giuing credite vnto the demonstrations made touching the cause and iustification of their enterprise they sent letters in the kings name vnto all the Parliaments and Iudges of seuerall prouinces wherein those of the religion were accused to haue conspired against the King A combat of pennes against swords the Princes of the blood and the Estate of the Realme wherevnto was made a most large and ample aunswere wherein all the dealings of those of Guise were fully discouered with plaine and most euident proofes against them to bee guiltie of high treason and not those that had assembled to reduce the King and all his realme into true and perfect libertie There was likewise published an other pamphlet shewing by the example of Phillip de Commines in the last chap. of his first booke that such are open enemies vnto the Estate that say it is treason to speake o◠the assembly of a generall Parliament And that it is the meanes to lessen and diminish the kings authoritie There was likewise aduertisements vnto the people and complaints vnto the Parliament and so some ayded themselues with pen against the swords of their enemies Reuocation of the abolition giuen by the king The 22. of march other letters were sent foorth whereby the king declared that his meaning was not that the abolitiō of the 17. of March shuld extend further but vnto those that simply of ignorance had assembled and trauelled for the keeping of their promise and that therein were not comprehended such as had guided the conspiracie made against his person the Queens Princes and Noble personages that were about him in the which number are contained those that came in armes into the subburbes of the Towne and such as had beene taken about and within the Castle of Noisay which serued for a dispensation of the faith giuen by the Duke de Neuers vnto the Barron of Chastelnau and others Presently after these letters they returned to executions wherin neither day nor night passed but that a great number of prisoners were put to death and all men of quallitie some hanged some drowned the rest beheaded without any publike sentence giuen without declaring the causes of their deaths or without telling their names They constrained the king and his young bretheren to bee assistant at those spectacles Besides that the Duke of Guise many times for a pastime after his dinner caused some of those whom hee most hated of the prisoners to bee brought foorth and hanged out at his chamber windowes The Barron de Chastelnau made a maruellous proces against those of Guise and the Duke de Nemours they beeing present thereby made the Chauncellor stand still and all amazed that dealt in those affaires against his conscience and appealed from the sentence giuē against him before God the like did most of all the rest to the great astonishing of all the assistants perceiuing a most inuincible constancie in all those men but neither the stout courages of the prisoners nor yet the cries of both great and small that as then were present at those executions could not in any sort once mollifie the harts of those of Guise nor yet diuert the rigor of their cruelties A Gentleman named Villemongis beeing vppon the scaffold readie to bee beheaded hauing wet his hands in the blood of his companions lifting them vppe to heauen cryed out saying Lord behold the blood of thy children thou shalt reuenge our cause The death of the Chancellour Oliuier Among the prisoners that after the Barron spake most boldly vnto the Chancellor there were two the one named Picard the other Campagnac that shewed him his petegree from one poynt to the other but the last of them touched him so neare vnto the heart that with griefe thereof the poore Chancellour fell sicke wherein hee continually sighed and murmured to himselfe tormenting his bodie in most straunge manner for that all crooked aged as he was yet he stirred his bodie with such force that he made the bed to shake with greater force then a young man of Iustie yeares could doo The Cardinall going to visit him his paines beganne to increase and perceiuing him a farre of hee cried out and said Ha ha Cardinall thou haste made vs all to be damned But when the Cardinal went neare him saying vnto him that the wicked Spirit sought to seduce him and that hee should remaine constant in the faith That is well done now said hee and so turning his backe presently lost his speech in his great torments many times lamenting the death of the Councellour du Bourg Behold how the chiefe and principall condemners of the prisoners in Amboise was taken and first executed vppon the scaffold of the terrible and manifest iudgements of God The rest in time likewise were brought thither each of them in his turne Monsieur Michell de l'Hospitall an excellent man as then Chancellor of the Duchie of Sauoy was repealed from Nice where he remained to succeed in Oliuiers place and till he came Moruilliers Bishop of Orleans kept the Seales and vsed all the meanes hee could to please the house of Guise The Prince behaueth himselfe boldly in his innocencie against all men The Prince of Conde was in Amboise during those horrible tempests where hee behaued himselfe like a man wholly without feare as knowing himselfe to bee vnculpable Those of Guise animated the king against him setting and appoynting men to watch and looke into his behauiour whereof the Cardinall kept a Register specially of one word spoken by the Prince in chollor perceiuing certaine of the prisoners to bee executed at the Castle windowes saying that the king was counselled otherwise then hee ought to bee to cause such Lords and honest Gentlemen to bee put to death not considering the great seruices by them done vnto the late deceased king and all the Realme of whom beeing so depriued it was to bee feared that during those great troubles straungers would enterprise against the Realme and that if they should bee ayded by any of the Princes they would easilie ouercome it Presently after they caused du Vaux his Sewer to bee committed prisoner and caused the king to send for him into his chamber to shewe him that by the information giuen hee had vnderstood him to beee the chiefe of the conspiracie wherevpon the king added many sharpe threatnings The Prince for answere besought his Maiestie to assemble all the Princes and knights of the Order that as then were within Amboise togither with his priuie Councell to
Lorraine A Gentleman one of their Participants and in time past very familier with the Prince was appointed by them to conferre with him He pronounceth warre against the Guisians as also to sound his full meaning and intent and therewith to seeke to abate his courage which hee pretending the Prince desired him to shewe those of Guise that for his part hee hadde receiued so many and great wrongs and iniuries at theyr hands that their quarrell could neuer bee fully ended eyther at the swordes poynt or else by Lanuce which if hee coulde not effect yet hee hoped before his death to make them manifestly to bee knowne and founde culpable of those faultes by them imposed vppon him This most haughtie resolution caused them to sende for the President de Thou Barthollomewe Faye and Iaques Violle Counecllours of Parris certayne Maisters of the requests Bourdin Attourney Generall They seeke to make his processe and du Tillet the Clarke to examine the Prince vppon high Treason and that if they coulde not finde him guiltie thereof they shoulde then examine him vppon the Artickles of his fayth The Prince aunswered them that it belonged not vnto them to put any such questions vnto him not specifying diuers causes of refusing them therein which hee might well haue shewed specially against de Thou whome hee most sharpelye reprooued and when they enterprised to proceede further in lawe the Prince appealed vnto the King But the next day being the 15. of Nouember the peale was declared by the priuie Counsell to bee of no force from which the Prince hauing once againe appealed hee was commaunded vpon paine of high treason to aunswere before those Commissioners He purgeth himself of treason and openly professeth religion which he did hauing two Councellers to helpe him And before them he clearely acquited himselfe of treason and boldly confessed and auouched the religion Not long after the Secretary Robertet brought him a certaine paper containing diuers speeches pretended to haue beene spoken by him at Amboise beholding the execution of certaine prisoners Hee therewith at large expounded his meaning vpon those speeches yet was there no witnesses produced against him for the same no nor Bouchart himselfe that had faithfully promised vnto the Cardinall by word of mouth to shewe him many wonderfull things touching the Prince but they proceeded so farre that vppon his aunsweres hee had iudgement of death pronounced vppon him and his head to bee striken off vppon a Scaffold before the Kings Pallace vppon the tenth of December then next ensuing at the entering of the Estates into the Parliament He is condemned by the priuie Councell and participants of Guise It is affirmed and published by writing that this iudgement was vnderwritten and sealed by all the priuie Councell onely the Chauncellour and Monsieur de Mortier that delayed it off as also by diuers great Lords and Barrons by the eighteene knights of the Order newly chosen and by diuers others participants of the house of Guise and by more Maisters of Requests and Councellours of the Parliament which the king sent for and caused to come thither that not once dealt in the cause The Counte de Sancerre refused to signe it desiring the King with weeping eyes rather to cut off his head then once to mooue him therevnto whereat the King much abashed dismissed the Counte not pressing him any further therein They likewise vsed many rude and hard dealings towards the Princesse of Conde who very stoutly and with a meruellous courage sued for her husband Meanes and subtilties vsed that no speech should be had in the Parliament touching religion At the sametime the Pope published a Bull bearing date the twentieth of Nouember wherin hee promised a generall Councell for the ordering and determining of matters of religion assigning it to be holden within the towne of Trent vppon Easter day then next ensuing On the other side the Cardinall of Lorraine had giuen order to write and Register the names of all the principail of the religion in euery Prouince throughout France which rolles were made and diliuered vnto him All those that held on the Princes parts and with religion were as then iudged to die thereby to cease all quarrelles and that no more speech might once bee mooued touching the reformation of religion seeing as then the affaires concerning the same were in that estate which those of Guise desired and for the execution of so high and haughtie enterprises as the assembly of the Estates whereby the libertie of France should wholly haue beene ouerthrown the forces of the Realme diuided into foure parts vnder the conducts of the Duke d'Aumale the Marshals of Saint Andre de Brissac and de Termes marched to clear the Prouinces of all suspected persons touching religion to furnish the charges thereof they tooke the third part of all Ecclesiasticall reuenues the Gold and Siluer of Relicques and the Treasures of the Temple with promise that the confiscations should restore it all againe For supply of Souldiers the Pope dispensed with all the Cleargie and promised to furnish them with a great number of men of that calling As touching the extermination of the Princes and Lords they proceeded therein with time and leisure The King of Nauarre was to bee confined vnto the Castle of Leches the Admirall into the great Tower of Bourges with all his children his Nephewes in another Tower within Orleans which after that was called the Admirall hard by that of Saint Aignan prepared for the chiefe Cittizens of the Towne Determination to kil the king of Nanarre marnellously preserued The Marshals of Saint Andre and Brissac beeing arriued at the Court were of aduise that the King of Nauarre should bee slaine without troubling themselues to set a guard to keepe him wherevppon they determined to poyson him at a banquet and then vppon an euening to kill him as hee went from the kings chamber which taking no effect the king was desired to do it and to stabbe him with his Ponyard and so to shedde his owne blood which Gods mercifull prouidence would not permit although it seemed to bee almost vppon the poynt of execution the King hauing the Ponyard readie vnder his Gowne beeing alreadie entered into certaine rough speeches against the King of Nauarre who in presence of those of Guise made him so sufficient and good an aunswere that hee escaped An other pretence was sought to get him to ride abroade to hunt and in hunting to kill him The Constable had not as yet entered into the Lackes but they were minded to constraine him therevnto hauing alreadie sent out commission to laye hands vppon Monsieur d'Anuille his second sonne As touching the Admirall and his two bretheren the declaration by them made specially the Admiral d'Andelot to bee of the religion was cause sufficient to condemne them Meanes vsed to intrap and extirpe all those of the religion Which to effect the king sent commission to all
meete the Spaniards as then comming vnto Rayonne and with them to enter into Bearn The Viscounte d'Orthe Gouernour of Bayonne had commaundement from the King to put the Towne if neede were into the king of Spaines hands thereby to serue him for a passage for his armie to enter into the countie of Nauarre where hee was to wast and destroy all the land and then to proceede with the ouerthrow and vtter extirpation of all the Gentlemen and Lords who in those countries had fauoured the King of Nauarre or the enterprise of Amboise But a great part of those Lords and Gentlemen not minding to sell their skinnes so good cheape raised armes to the number of seuen or eight hundreth horse well mounted with fiue or sixe thousand footmen who were all appoynted so soone as Marshall de Termes should haue past Limoges to inclose him betweene two riuers whereof hee beeing aduertised and remembring Graueling hee retired in all haste vnto Poictiers giuing aduise vnto the Court what had happened vnto him whereat those of Guise beeing abashed and perceiuing the king to waxe weaker and euery day sicker then other determined with desperate minds to kill the king of Nauarre who not long before being aduertised thereof made his complaint vnto the Queen-mother which notwithstanding his enemies would not leaue off but by all means sought to effect it if it had not been for the Cardinall of Tournon that gaue them counsell to stay their enterprise vntill the Constable with his sonnes and Nephewes were come vnto the Court least that by killing the one they should chance to mooue a greater daunger and to stirre those vp that might procure farre greater trouble then the Princes could effect Meane time the king of Nauarre tooke great care to looke vnto himself yet all that he could do would not haue preuailed if his enemies had set vppon him The kings disease increasing more and more thâ—â—uke of Guise beganne to vtter his chollor against the Phisitians the Cardinall sent on Pilgrimages But no man can striue against God and vsed Friers Priests at Parris other places to make processions the king made a solemne promise vnto all the Saints in Picardie specially to our Ladie of Glery as they terme her that if it pleased them to helpe him he would wholly purge his Realme of all those Hereticques But as then began his more ruine and his Feuer still to increase wherat those of Guise being abashed what countenance soeuer they shewed assayed to perswade the Queene-mother that the kings bodie should be kept from buriall after his death vntill such time as they had taken order for their affaires and caused their vniust actions to be allowed by open Parliament to the end that no man might call them to account heereafter But that was vnpossible for that too many people daylie attending when the time would bee at the same time the Vidame de Chartres prisoner in the Bastille hauing beene carried from thence to remaine within his house in Saint Anthonies streete presently vppon his arriuall thither hee fell sicke and died The Bailiffe of Orleans was committed vnto the custodie of his mother in lawe And those of the religion as then were drowned in most ardent prayers teares and fastes thereby to obtaine some ayde and succour at the handes of God against so many imminent daungers that as then hung ouer their heads The Queen-mother establisheth her authoritie to sustaine those of Guise The Queene-mother perceuing her eldest sonne at such extremitie taking counsell with her selfe as also of those of Guise sent for the king of Nauarre willing him to come vnto her Chamber where beeing come and thinking to enter a Gentleman spake vnto him in his eare that at any hand hee should bee carefull not to refuse the Queen whatsoeuer she should demaund otherwise it would cost him his life Beeing entered hee found the Queene to bee accompanied with the Duke of Guise the Cardinall of Lorraine and a Secretarie who with a countenance framed vnto her passion made great complaints and declarations vnto the King of of Nauarre as touching things past discouering her minde likewise concerning things present and to come concluding that her meaning was and so she would haue it that the said king of Nauarre shuld release vnto her all the right and title that he might in any sort pretend or claime vnto the Regencie and gouernment of the king and of the Realme and neuer seeke to enioy require or once desire it and that if the States would giue it him hee should remitte it wholly vnto her and because it should be firmely holden by them shee said hee should confirme it vnto her by writing vnder his hand then her meaning was hee should reconcile himselfe vnto her Cousins of Guise and so deface the opinion by him conceiued against them saying that they ought to leaue all quarrelles and from thencefoorth liue in peace seeing the greatest and woorthiest Lords and Princes of the Land beganne to shew them the way After some excuses and effectuall aunsweres made by the King of Nauarre in the end he yeelded the Regencie vnto the Queene The Regencie of the Realme yeelded to the Queen-mother that he should be Lieftenant for the K. in France to take order for al the Marshal affaires and to receiue the packets which hauing opened and read hee should send theÌ„ vnto her againe and that nothing should be done without the aduise of him and the other Princes of the blood who from thencefoorth should otherwise be respected that done shee caused him to imbrase her Cousins of Guise and mutually on both parts to forget all quarrelles past From which time forwards they all beganne to salute and imbrace each other as if they neuer had beene at mortall strife Reconciliation of those of Guise with the king of Nauarre All this was done before the arriuall of the Constable and his Nephewes Further they caused the sicke king to say vnto the King of Nauarre that of his owne minde and wholly against the willes or consents of those of Guise hee had caused the Prince of Conde to bee committed prisoner asking his counsell and desiring him to beleeue him and for the loue of him and of the Queene his mother to deface and wholly remit all the euill will and opinions that in any sort he might conceiue of them which after serued them to some good end Those of Guise not well assured The feare of those of Guise notwithstanding all that had beene past obtained of the Queen-mother that the guardes of the Gates of Orleans might bee made stronger impeaching the entrie of many persons and commaundements made in paine of death that not any man whatsoeuer should speake vnto the Prince of Conde without expresse licence and commaundement from the Queen-mother or else that hee brought her signer The death of King Francis the second The 14. of December about noone they esteemed the king
Parris see clearer then others touching the gouernment of the Realme displacing of some and placing of others in principall offices to constraine those of Guise to yeeld an account touching the treasures by them receiued in the last Kings time as also of other their misbehauiours to recall the gifts made vnto the Duchesse of Valentinois thēselues and others that before their iustification they shuld not sit in coūsell The Queene-mother much troubled therat found no better nor no surer meanes then to make a new contract with the king of Mauarre and therein to imploy the Constable that by the accord between them the King of Nauarre was expresly declared Liestenant Generall for the King To breake their intent the Queene-mother agreeth with the King of Nauarre and order set downe that the Queene-mother should do nothing but by his aduise and consent This was written and signed by them both as also by the Councell and namely by the Duke of Guise who by the Queenes Counsell shewed himselfe much more tractable then euer hee did Diuers of the King of Nauarres Councell were of the contrary opinion although hee alleadged diuers great promises made vnto him from the Queene by word of mouth alledging that shee would wholly deny whatsoeuer shee had said that his Lieftenants place should be but in paper and that if the matter were ruled and ordered by the Estates both the Queene and those of Guise with all their adherents would bee so dealt withall that the realme would be restored vnto her pristinate gouernment and that to the contrary leauing things in that order France as then beeing at peace and quietnesse with forraine enemies would presently bee troubled in most straunge and extraordinary maner within it selfe for partiallities being great on both sides the one would seeke to ouerrunne the other and that it was to bee hoped that if the affaires of the estate were ruled ordered according to the lawes of the Realme men might easilie impeach and hinder wicked men from effecting that which by them is secretly pretended that then at the beginning it behoued them to looke vnto it and to bee well aduised thereby to establish peace and good gouernment in the affaires of the Realme But whatsoeuer they said it was to no effect whereby both the King of Nauarre himselfe the Princes of the blood and all the Realme in generall did after indure much woe the wound wherof as yet remaineth fresh The increase of the religion not supported Forth us it fell out those of the religion openly increasing within France and in the Court the King of Nauarre did seem to support them Sermons were made both in the prince of Condes the Admirals chambers as also both within and without the Court and the Queene-mother caused the Bishoppe of Valence to preach within the great Hall which Bishoppe followed not the Sorbonists doctrine such as desired nothing but new troubles thereby not to bee constrained to giue account for things past and that knewe full well that the sweete ayre of a firme and steadfast peace would soone melt and consume them or else reduce them into so miserable an estate that they should bee forced to hide their heades taking that occasion as it fell out They first inflamed the Constable by the daylie speeches and exclamations of his wife ordinarily accompanied and plyed by Priests and Friers and then by his kinsmen And lastly The perturbers solicite the Constable to begin their Tragedie by certaine persons purposely appoynted to that end by those of Guise as also by the Queene-mother against those of the religion saying that they went about wholly to abollish the Masse and all his Reliques and that vnder pretence of yeelding vppe of accounts and extraordinary giftes they sought to vnhorse him that for the space of fortie yeares had dealt in the greatest and most vrgent affaires of the Realme The Marshal of Saint Andre and Montpesat draue forward this wheele and therewith perswaded the Constable alreadie mooued in that hee sawe and openly perceiued the auncient traditions of the Romish Church to bee wholly despised both by great and small within the Court. His eldest sonne who beeing a Lord of great iudgement and perceiuing his Father vppon the poynt to bee separated and disioyned from the Prince of Conde and his Nephews de Chastillon other great Lords thereby to become the executioner of the Guisians passions vsed all the means he could to driue backe the blowe but he did no more therein then the Admirall and his brother the Cardinall de Chastillon The Constable remaining firme in that opinion that changing of religion would breed an alteration of the estate which he would not endure and to conclude not long after he and the Duke of Guise hauing made diuers banquets togither with the Duke de Montpensieur at Fontainbleau the Constable made a Supper to the Duke of Guise the Prince de Iainuille and the Marshall of Saint Andre the next day riding to Chantilly to the marriage of Thore his fift sonne the Duke of Guise not long after following him to Nantueil about fiue myles from thence where by letters they had many and seuerall conferences The common people in diuision following the example of the Nobilitie The people of France beeing vsed to cast their eyes vppon the Court perceiuing that there the great personages beganne to looke with strange countenances vpon each other they began to do the like There wāted no prouokers nor perswaders in the temples who without suppression spake of nothing else but fire and sword whereby in many places ensued great mutinies as in Beauuais Amiens Pontoise and other Townes wherein most great excesse and rigor was shewen to those of the religion who beeing as it were but a handfull in comparison to those of the Romish Church demaunded nought but peace sometimes certaine of them lesse patient then the rest not beeing able to indure the iniuries of those that termed them Huguenots and no Christians beganne to replye in like manner calling such as abused them Papistes and from such stinging words they fell to quarrelles which differences produced an edict made at Fontainbleau forbidding those reproaches and names of Huguenots and Papists also not to search any mans house nor to keepe any man prisoner for the religion vnder colour and pretence of certaine formes not well obserued An edict made at Fontainbleau as aremedy against the order taken by the Parliament which as then was almost broken The Parliament of Parris that likewise beganne to take a part in stead of opposing it selfe against commotions that might alter and change the quietnesse of the estate made great declarations vnto the King affirming most plainely that the diuersitie of religion is not to be indured in one estate condemning that by them termed to be a libertie of conscience and requiring the king to make and ordaine an open profession of the Romish religion and therevnto to
inioyne all his subiects whatsoeuer to obserue and keepe it vppon such paines and penalties as hee and his learned Councell should thinke most conuenient There were other declarations made touching the wordes of Papistes and to liue Catholickely contained within the edict wherevppon those of the Parliament propounded many difficulties to the great hurt and detriment of those of the religion that were wholly and openly condemned and the Pope expresly named the head and Gods Vicar vppon earth This winde serued but onely with more speede to assemble and bring togither the tempests of ciuill warres which at this day as yet continueth Sacrying of the king The Cardinals complaints In the moneth of Iune the king was sacred in Reims where were present thirteene Peeres of France the kings eldest brother beeing the first and all the other Princes of the blood sitting in their degrees there the Cardinall of Lorraine made great complaintes against those of the religion wherevpon it was determined that a new assembly of the Princes Lords and others of the priuie Councell should bee made in the Court of Parliament in Parrris to take order therein Not long after letters pattents were sent vnto the Presidents de Thou and Seguier to assemble the particular Estates of Parris but vpon the opposition framed by the Councellour Ruze in the name of the Nobilitie those assemblies of Estates were broken vppe without any resolution onely in one poynt which was that the payment of the Kings debts should bee imposed vppon the Cleargie About the same time the act for the clearing the Prince of Conde of treason was newly published proclaimed openly in the Court by President Baillet the doores being open and all the Iudges and Councellors being present in their Scarlet gownes within the great chamber where were present diuers Princes and Noblemen A decree in the Court of Parliament to iustifie the Prince of Conde and others the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine beeing of the traine There the Prince was declared innocent in that which had bin imposed against him and free libertie reserued vnto him to haue lawe against all such as hee therein suspected to bee his enemies and false accusers and such recompence in that case to bee allowed him as to a man of his estate might appertaine The like Actes were read and pronounced at the same time for Madame de Roye Vidame de Chartres deceased Monsieur de Cany and the Councellour de la Haye Not long after the king the Queene his mother and the priuie Councell came into the Parliament and there after many and diuers opinions giuen foorth concerning religion in the moneth of Iuly The edict of Iulie an edict was published vppon paine of death forbidding al iniurious speeches words whatsoeuer on both sides to bee vsed all leagues and things tending vnto sedition all slaunderous words against Preachers and assemblies forbidden to those of the religion who neuerthelesse could not haue beene condemned to indure a greater paine vnlesse it had beene bannishment out of the Realme all which prouision vntill a full and ample declaration should bee made by a generall Councell or by the next assembly of the Prelates all faults past in respect of those of the religion to bee remitted with commaundement to punnish all such as should seem to delay them Bastionadoes forbidden but onely to men of qualitie In like sort the Prelates were sent for to bee at the conference and safe conduct giuen vnto all Ministers freely to come and dispute of their religion Practises against the King of Nauarre The place beeing assigned at Poissy while those of the religion were in good hope because the Cardinall of Lorraine and others protested to reason quietly touching the articles debated by the parcelles of the holy scripture means was practised wholly to diuert the king of Nauarre from the affectiō by him shewed to those of the religion and by the means of the assembly at Poissy to breake off the Parliament as then reiourned vntil the month of August next after ensuing because the Queene-mother knewe full well that the Gentlemen and the Commons would aske to haue Churches allowed vnto them which being agreed vnto would make the Princes part too strong which she doubted Such order therefore was taken in that poynt that Descars before that Chamberlin to the king of Nauarre and put from his Maister Descars entertained hauing discouered him to bee a Pensioner to those of Guise was restored to his place and became in more fauour then euer hee had beene Also the Duke of Guise being returned from Callais where hee had been with Monsieur d'Anuille second sonne to the Constable and a great number of other Courtiers to conduct the Queene of Scots widdowe to Francis the second solicited the Prince of Conde An agreemēt between the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise to bee reconciled vnto him at the which agreement made at Saint Germaines in Laye vppon the 24. of August with the king and the Queene-mother there were present all the Princes Noblemen Cardinals Councellours and Knights of the Order The king hauing spoken of the cause of the assembly commannded the Duke of Guise to speake who turning vnto the Prince spake and said Sir I neither haue nor euer ment to do or execute any thing that should bee against your Honour neither was I eyther author meanes or moouer of your imprisonment The Prince of Conde answered him and said I esteeme them both for wicked and mischieuous persons that were the cause thereof The Duke replyed and said I beleeue it well but that toucheth not mee which done at the kings request they imbraced each other with promise from thenceforth to continue good friends and the Queene-mother to witnesse the ioy shee then conceiued that day held a solemne Feast The Queen-mother practise a both with great and small to maintaine her Regency As touching the Estates reiourned vnto Pontoire in the month of August as then it was no longer time to deferre them but the Queene playing secretly on both parts to ratifie the agreement made between her and the king of Nauarre touching the Regencie and to the end it should no more bee spoken of first sent thither the Councellour du Mortier that was sent backe againe finding so many that spake against him Wherewith the Queene calling her wits togither she remembred that he had alwaies borne a good countenance vnto the Admirall pretending in some earnest matter to imploye his ayde and occasion as then falling out this Lord was sought vnto by all meanes and thousands promises were made vnto him for the ease and reliefe of those of the religion hee perceiuing that the King of Nauarre had no desire to deale therein and after the manner of simple men trusting to many and great protestations made and vttered vnto him concerning his future good vsed Clarklike meanes imploying himselfe vnto the Estates for the
spoken with vnreuerēt speeches touching the presence of our Lord in his holy supper But he hauing in fewe words shewed the vanitie of the two first articles hee entered into a reasonable large discourse of the third wherein hee so well satisfied all the common questions of the Cardinall that hee said expresly vnto the Queene that hee was very well pleased to heare him speake and greatly in hope that the conference of Poissy wold proceed to a hat pie end with so courteous and reasonable disputation and with that speaking to Beza he said I am glad that I haue both seen and heard you speake I protest in the name of God that you shall conferre with me to the end that I may vnderstand your reasons and your minds and you shal finde that I am not so blacke as I am desciphered Beza thanked him and besought God to continue him in that good minde promising for his part to imploy himselfe for the aduancement of the good of Gods flocke as much as in him lay Madam de Crussul there vppon said as shee was alwaies bolde to speake that it would be necessarie to haue Inke and paper A pleasant and notable speeche of Madame de Crussull to cause the Cardinall to signe avow his saying For said shee in the morning hee will speake cleane contrary and she diuined right for in the morning a report was spread about the Court that at the first meeting the Cardinall had confounded and reduced Theodore de Beza In such manner that the Queene was costrained to tel the Constable who much reioyced thereat as thinking it to be certaine that hee was wrong informed Not long after the queen of Nauarre arriued at the court which made the assemblies to increase The second request of the Ministers The eight of September the ministers presented a second request wherein they shewed a reason of the articles propounded in their first requiring answere The Queene mother receiued this petition in the presence of the King of Nauarre the Prince the Admirall the Chancelor and one of his Secretaries which done she dismissed Beza and three others that accompanied him with good speeches and assurances that the Cleargie should not be their iudges The beginning of the conference at Poissy The next day about noone the king accompanied as his estate required entered into the great Refectorie of the noones in Poissy where the Princes and Princesses beeing set on each side and behinde him somewhat lower fat sixe Cardinals 36. Bishoppes and Archbishoppes and behinde them diuers Doctors and men of the Cleargie Right before him at the end of the hal stood his guard and behinde them a great number of men of all estates there hee made a short and small declaration touching the cause of that assembly commaunding the Chauncellour in larger manner to make it knowne vnto them The Cardinall de Tournon in the name of all the Prelates humbly thanked the king which done hee desired that the Chancellor might deliuer his proposition in writing and that leisure might be giuen them to consider thereof which was refused them Therevppon the Ministers to the number of twelue with 22. Deputies of the Churches in the Prouinces that assisted them The Ministers and deputies for the religion appeared before one of the greatest assemblies that euer was in our time and there confessed their faith being called and brought in by the Duke of Guise that had the charge with Monsieur de la Ferte Captaine of the guard were ledde vnto the barres where all bare-headed they stayed and Theodore de Beza being chosen by them all beganne to speake and first hauing made a briefe Preface vnto the king hee began his Oration with an humble and ardent prayer vnto God deuised and imployed to the time and occasion of that assembly which done standing vppe hee shewed the most singular contentment which al those of the relgion receiued at that time by hauing such recourse vnto their Soueraigne and lawfull Prince the Queene the Princes of the blood with all the Lords and notable persons at that time and in that place assembled that done hee shewed the sinceritie and good desire of all those of the religion which being ended he entered into the principal poynt making a most ample large collection of the articles of Christian doctrine not forgetting any poynt that is in controuersie but hee expounded it sufficiently withall saying somewhat touching the Discipline of the Church concluding that both hee and his companions with all those that were of the religion desired nothing but the reformation of the Church which onely desires to liue and die vnder the obedience and protection of the king detesting all those that soght the contrary praying to God for the prosperitie of the king his mother his Councell and the Estate and therevppon hauing made a great reuerence he pursued with his matter presenting to the king The confession deliuered to the king and receiued by him the confession of the faith of the Churches of France requiring that the conference might bee made vppon the same His long Oration was pronounced with a most acceptable voice to al the assistants and heard with a most singular contentment euen to the end where hee spake very openly to the Prelates likings against the opinion of the presences of the Lords bodie in the bread For this article put them in a great murmuration although before hee had spoken many other things that expresly condemned the Doctrine of the Church of Rome neuerthelesse hee proceeded and ended the king nor any of the Prelates not once offering to rise His Oration ended the king receiued the confession of the Churches by the hands of the aforesaid Monsieur de Ferte Captaine of the guard which hee deliuered vnto the Prelates The Prelates behauior after the Oration in the name of the Churches Among other Prelates that were in a hotte case the Cardinall de Tourno◠boyling in hotte chollour hauing desired the King to perseuer in the religion of his auncestor asked time to aunswere to that Oration saying that it should bee well aunswered and that hee hoped that the King hauing heard the answere would be reduced and remembring that word hee said not reduced but holden and kept in the good and perfect way the Queene sought to qualifie his chollor The next day Theodore de Beza wrote and sent the Queene an ample exposition of that which he had spoken touching the Lords Supper to the great misliking of the Prelates who beeing assembled to consult touching their affaires the Cardinall of Lorraine beganne with these words In my opinion I would that hee meaning Theodore de Beza had either beene dumbe or we deafe And after many opinions giuen it was determined that the Cardinall assisted by diuers Doctors The mean to be Iudges in their owne cause specially of Claude Despense that framed the answere and serued for a prompter vnto his Disciple should answere
of the Crowne hee departed with his bloodie troupes and laden with spoyles tooke the way that led to Reims where the Cardinall of Lorraine stayed for him but not content to haue delt so cruelly with those of Vassy he becaused certaine informations to bee made against them wherein the principall murtherers were witnesses And eight daies after the Duches Dowager of Guise sent Monsieur de Thou thither that made search for their weapons and would constraine them all to go to Masse which notwithstanding those of the religion tooke courage comforting themselues and assembling euery Sunday and Festiuall day to praise the Lord vntill such time as ciuill warres dispearsed and separated them The prince of Conde beeing at Parris and receiuing newes of that massacre hauing consulted with diuers Lords and Gentlemen that kept him company with all speed certified the Queene and others in the Court Iustice demaunded but in vaine for the massacre of Vassy all was past ouer in words or notable preductions of troubles what had happened and fallen out who thereby tooke it for an alarme and counselled him to seeke the meanes of preseruation for the Realme and those of the religion whom he presently aduertised looked vnto themselues The greatest part as Frenchmen are alway full of hopes imagined nothing but quietnesse and troubled themselues to build Churches not much thinking vppon warlike prouision therwith to defend themselues But by the Princes aduise they were indifferently awaked Much more the Lords and Gentlemen of the religion dispearced throughout the Prouinces which beganne to make prouision of armes and horses staying for news both from the Court and Parris from whence in the name of the Nobilitie Churches of France Monsieur de Francourt and Theodore de Beza beeing sent to Monceaux to aske iustice of the king against the Duke of Guise because of the massacre at Vassy The Queene made gentle aunswere but to the contrary the King of Nauarre beganne to be offended saying that whosoeuer presumed to touch but the fingers end of his brother the Duke of Guise should haue to doo with all his bodie Theodore de Beza thervpon hauing most humbly shewed him that the Iustice which kings ought to shewe vnto their subiects is the worke and rule of God and that to demaund iustice was no hurt or iniurie vnto any man Hee replyed that they had throwne stones at the Duke of Guise and that hee could not staye the furie of his troupe and that Princes are not to indure the dishonour to be cast at with stones Wherevppon Beza very grauely and with all due reuerence aunswered that if it were so the Duke of Cuise might haue had iustice against all those that in such vile maner had despised his estate and dignitie and therewith speaking vnto the King of Nauarre hee said My Lord it is most true that it belongeth to the Church of God in whose name I speake rather to take then giue blowes but may it please your Grace to remember that it is an anuile which hath indured many and seuerall hammers The Triumuirat coaseth vpon the King and Parris From that time the estate of France might well bee resembled vnto a Sea that beginneth to rise and rage in euery place for that in euery Prouince great and wonderfull troubles beganne to rise whereof in the end of the Historie of the first troubles wee meane to speake for now wee must returne vnto the principall instruments of the most bloodiest Tragedie that euer was seene in France Presently after the returne of Francourt and Beza those of Guise the Constable the Marshall de Saint Andre and after the King of Nauarre openly holding with them arriued in Parris from whence they constrained the Prince of Conde beeing very weake with a Towne beeing his enemie and such as in short space might swallow vppe both him and his The Prince went to Meaux thē to Orleans if they had beene tenne times as many more to withdrawe himselfe vnto the Towne of Meaux with a good troupe of Gentlemen It was straunge that as then his enemies fell not vppon him but the haste they had to assure themselues of Parris and the king and the feare that at that entrance she should bee constrained to fight and to hazard them ouermuch caused them to worke by great The Prince beeing at Meaux wrote vnto the Admirall and other Lords sending them word that want of courage had not constrained him to leaue Parris but rather want of ayde and that with all speed they should meete him which they did all armed which those of the contrary part had alreadie opēly discouered and beeing in minde to withdrawe themselues and to retire men came vnto them from all places and the Prince determining to ride vnto the Court to the end that beeing strong about the king who as then laye at Fontainbleau hee might constraine his enemies to seeke to agree hee vnderstood that they had gotten both the king and the Court into their power in such sort that the Prince rode towards Orleans whereon hee ceased and there beganne to take order in his affaires while those of Guise ledde the King and Queene to the Castle of Melun and that in the most part of the Prouinces of the Realme they vsed those of the religion withall the insolencies and cruelties that possibly may bee deuised From Melun the King and Queene were brought to Parris where the Constable had ouerthrowne and defaced ihe places Beginning of the first and horrible troubles in France where those of the religion vsed to assemble The people beginning to mutin to assemble in great troupes in such manner that both there and in other places where those of the Romish Church were strongest those of the religion receiued such entertainment as the most cruell Barbarians would haue beene ashamed to vse it which likewise in some places mooued those of the religion whereby the Churches Images some Priests and others bare away the blowes But this was little or nothing in respect of all the mischiefe that those of the Romish Churches indured throughout France in those first troubles in comparison of the miseries which those of the religion indured in one of the seuenteene Prouinces as the Histories published by Iohn le Frere de Laual Belleforest Monluc and others of the Guises part do witnesse and thereat reioyce and make great triumph If the massacre of Vassy had not chanced the Prince and the Admirall had bin constrained eyther to loose all or to haue forsaken the Realme because that before that time they neuer thought vppon defence The euill committed at Vassy cause of some good nor of any thing that after happened and fell out much lesse to bee offensiue The edict of Ianuary and the Queenes promises staying their hands but when the Lords and great Gentlemen of the religion dispearsed throughout the Realme had once heard of that bloodie exploit committed by the Duke of Guise by little
first to haue been signified to the Court of Parliament in Parris that the King ought not to permit the exercise of two religions within his Realme that the inhabitants of Parris ought not to be constrained to leaue their armes The Bishop in open tearmes seemed to charge de Thou and all his companions to shew but small vnderstanding in those affaires and much lesse conscience The twentie foure of September following by Decree of the priuie Councell the mawrite of the King or as some are of aduice the regencie and Soueraigntie authoritie of the Queene was confirmed The Pope abandoneth the Realm of Nauarre to him that could take is by force wherevnto the King opposeth At the same time an other deuise was wrought against those of the religion The Pope faining that he could no longer beare with the reformation of religion and doctrine vsed in the Realme of Nauarre and the Soueraigntie of Bearn in the moneth of September caused a declaration to bee published in Rome against Ieane d'Albert Queene of Nauarre who as then made publicque profession of the religion and had driuen the Masse out of her Countries This declaration was made in forme of an excommunication for a dispossession of all that land which as then remained vnto this Princesse by whom soeuer would take it in hand to enioy it as by conquest and his owne proper inheritance Shee was likewise cited to appeare before the Consistorie of Cardinalles within sixe moneths after for default whereof the Pope declared her hereticke her goods confiscate and abandoned as aforesaid The King formed an opposition against this papall thunder which as then was shewed but in Rome The King of Spaine hauing neither the desire nor the meanes to fall vppon that Princesse and the Councell of France esteemed it inconuenient to giue so manifest a shadowe vnto those that were of the religion The death of Charles de Cosse Marshal de Brissac that had done great seruice for the Realm of France in the warres of Piedemont made an ende of this yeare 1563. that dyed vpon the last of December Ann. 1564 In the beginning of this yeare it was permitted vnto the Clergie by an Edict to redeeme their landes that had bin alienated to the value of a hundreth thousand crownes yearely rent An Edict in fauour of the Clergie All this was but a point of cunning vsed to diue into the purses of those who during the warres and that France drowned in teares had sung and for the most part liued at their ease About the beginning of Februarie the Ambassadors of the Pope the Emperour the King of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy came to Fountainebleau desiring that the King would cause the Decrees of the Councell of Trent to bee wholely obserued within the Realme of France for the which cause The King solicited by the Spaniard to breake the Edict of pacification the Deputies were to be at Nancy vppon the the twentie fiue of March then next ensuing to reade the same in presence of the Ambassadors of all the Papisticall and Catholicque Romish Princes assembled togither there to make and frame a generall league against the Realmes principalities and estates that had withdrawne themselues from the obedience of the Pope They likewise desired the king wholly to cease the alienating of the goods of the Cleargie alleadging it to bee preiudiciall both against him and his Realme and contrarie to the word of God that the king of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy could not bee payed the monies due vnto them by reason of their mariages with the Cleargies mony desired that those of the religion might bee openly punished whom they disciphered according to their accustomed manner That the pardon and the edict of peace should bee made voyde that the king should doo iustice specially of those that were consenting vnto the death of the Duke of Guise And to effect these requests they added most faire and great offers thereby to cast the realme into the burning flame of a second ciuill warre Answere to the Ambassadors But the Queene and her Councell perceiuing it to bee a ticklish matter and distrusting in the promises of such men caused the young king to aunswere them that hee thanked their Maisters whom hee ment not to trouble hoping to maintaine his subiects in peace according to the institution of the Romish Church That hee had made the edict of pacification to put straunges out of his Realme that as then he could reenter into a new warre within his realme for certaine reasons which in writing he sent vnto them and that in those affaires hee would aske the Counsell and aduise of the Prince of his blood and the chiefe Lords of his Councell and of the Crowne The king of Spaine with that Ambassage deuising how hee might see his kinsmans house in new troubles tooke no order for his own in the lowe countries where as then warres beganne to bee hatched which not long after came foorth and as yet continue therein to his great shame and confusion In the beginning of March the Queene beganne the voyage of Bayonne to speake with the king of Spaine the pretence was that the king beeing Maior and about foureteene yeares of age Beginning of the voyage to Bayonne would ride about his Realme to visit his Prouinces and that his presence would bee a means to remedie many complaints and discontentments and withall strengthen and establish the edict of pacification But the effect that both approached and ensued did partly shewe the intents and secret practises of that woman and her Councell The king beganne that voyage in Champagne and Bourgongne from whence hee went to Lyons What a scita dell was built at Lyons and to the ende those of the religion should not haue the meanes to fortifie themselues therein as they had done at other times a scitadell was then begunne to bee erected and although at that time the plague raigned within the Towne yet the Queen and her Councell would not stirre from thence and kept the king there vntill that scitadell was almost finished But in the end the plague being entered into the Queens Chamber whereof one of her Gentlewomen fell sicke the king was ledde from thence While they built at Lyons to bridle those of the religion by that means to weaken their forces Defacing of Townes the Townes of Orleans and Montauban were vnwalled in other townes scitadels were made which by some were called Chastre-villaines by others the Nests of Tyrants Those of the religion indured all contenting themselues with simple declarations in paper and receiuing paper for payment For that about the beginning of this voyage the Romish Catholikes of Greuan in Bourgongne massacred diuers of the religion being assembled therein to exercise their religion Massacre of those of the religion complaints thereof beeing made vnto the Queene shee gaue faire words promising to send Commissioners to Creuan such as were honestly
enioy benefices without dispensation succeed their Parents and purchase lands and possessions as if they were seculer persons This is the course whereby they haue at chieued such wealth riches in this new order for al that falleth to these lesser obseruantiues by succession purchase chace or any other practise is incorporate into the whole bodie of Iesuites without repetition or reuocation for euen they to whom it falleth haue vowed obedience We are moreouer to note another especiall vow of these men which importeth that they shall in all cases in all places obey their Generall superior who alwaies is a Spaniard chosen by the K. of Spaine as hitherto it hath alwaies fallen out for among other the wordes of this vow they haue these that setting their eie vpō their Geneneral they are to acknowledge in him the person of Iesus Christ as present From these vows distinctions haue proceeded terrible enterprises year euen most heynous attempts against the liues and persons of Princes kings and Queens as the Histories of the low Countries England and Rome do plainly testifie wherof also we wil speak somewhat toward the end of the raigne of Hemy the third As touching the disorders happened in the two orders by thē deuised which are termed the one the great obseruants the other the Iesse Two decrees in the Iesuits sext in fauor whereof they may subdue all the world to the king of Spaine their Soueraigne Maister Pasquier discoueret it at large and time hath veresied it adding these words Seeing it is so said he that in their lesse obseruance there is neither vowe of virginitie nor prouerbe and therinto they receiue all kinds of people indifferently both Priests and Lay-men married vnmaired are not bound to be resident with the great obseruants but permitted to dwell among the commō people only that at certain fixed daies they assembled at their cōmon-house to be participants with their outward cerimonies so that according to this lawe and rule it is not impertinent to see a whole towne to be Iesuites The communication which they haue togither by means of confessions serueth to find out their booties to discouer the secrets both of great and small and because they are particularly affected to the king of Spaine their chiefe founder for whom also they make particular expresse and ordinary prayers it is not to be wondred at if since that time these new brethren both in France and elsewhere haue sought and trauelled so much to make him Monarch of all the world Besides this Maister Pasquier addeth that the Iesuites alluring vs with faire promises are ordained to gripe lay hold vpō our goods and to fil thēselues with our spoiles that they are Sophisters the are entred like fearfull foxes in the middle of vs therin by proces of time to raigne like Lyons that as the auncient Orators and teachers of the people by a kind of pleasing speech by litle litle got credite in Rome so by litle litle they ouerthrew the estate as all Pollititians iudged we must attend expect no lesse of the Iesuites if in the beginning both their race and roote be not extirped The aduise and decree of the Sorbonnists against the Iesuites In the same plea he doth also insert the aduice and decree of the facultie of diuinitie of Parris in the Colledge of Sorbonne of the yeare 1554. importing as followeth This new societie after a new waner attributing to it self only an vnaccustomed title of the name of Iesus so licentiously admitting all people howsoeuer criminall illegitimate or infamous vsing likewise no difference from secular Priests in their outward habit in their tousure in saying their canonical hours either priuately or singing the same publikely in the temples in Cloyster or in silence in choise of meat daies in fasts or in other the seuerall laws ceremonies that do distinguish preserue the estates of religions hauing attained so many diuers priuiledges intelligences liberties especially in regard of Masses confessions without distinction of place or persons likewise in the question of preaching reading or teaching to the great preiudice of ordinaries Curats all other orders of Monks and Fryers yea euen of Princes temporal Lords contrary to the priuiledges of the Vniuersities and to the great oppression of the people do seem to pollute the honestie of monasticall religion to weaken the studious deuoute and necessary exercise of vertue abstinence cerimonies and austeritie yea euen to minister occasion freely to shrink from al other religions to substract and draw away all obediēce subiection due to ordinaries doth wrongfully depriue both temporal Ecclesiasticall Lords of their rights breedeth troubles in al estates eyther pollicke or religious and many quarrels among the commons as suites strife discention enuie rebelliō sundrie schismes Al these considerations with many others diligently wayed and examined this societie seemeth dangerous to the estate of religion a disturbance to the peace and vnitie of the Church and subuerter of all mockerie and an inuention tending rather to destruction then edification Now let vs see what followeth A bitter censure against the Iejuiticall sect There neuer was faith M. Pasquier who protesteth himselfe to be of the Romish church in the faith wherof he voweth to liue die inuented so partial ambitious a sect neither any whose propositions imported more pernicious consequence then the Iesuites In her principles she is a schismatick cōsequently an hereticke Then doth he compare Ignace with Luther so cōcludeth that Ignace is more to be feared them the other for saith he mens consciences may easily be surprised made drunken with the poyson of the Ignatians and Iesuites in that they account them to be the principall protectors of the Romish religion against all hereticques whereof neuerthelesse they are the chiefe subuerters Vnder pretence of supporting the church of God they do subuert it wil at length vtterly ouerthrow it Soone after proceeding in his speech to the whole Court he saith I hope plainly to let you vnderstād that this sect in all their propositions worketh nothing but diuision between the christian and the Iesuit between the Pope the Ordinaries between all other Monks thēselues that so long as they be tollerated no Prince or Potentate can assure his estate against their attempts This sect was founded vpon the ignorance of Ignace euer since maintained and vpholden by the pride arrogancie of his secretaries After that he reproacheth thē terming thēselues Iesuits do degrade the ancient christians and blaspheme against God Further that in Portingal the Indes they term thēselues Apostles saith that as certain sectuaries in An. 1562. surnamed Iesuits others such proud persons were ouerwhelmed by the iust iudgement of God so we are to expect no other thing at the hāds of this mean sext of Iesuits what shew soeuer it maketh that these Ignaciās
any water to quench it For if wee should said they as many times heeretofore haue recourse to complaints wee doo plainly finde that so we shall sooner stirre vppe our aduersaries to more rage then procure our selues any remedie Againe if we take armes albeit it bee for our most iust necessary and vrgent defence yet what obloquie slaunder and curses shal we incurre at their hands who althogh wrongfully do impute vnto vs the whole blame of whatsoeuer miseries may ensue and will turne their rage which they cannot inflict vpon vs against our poore families scattered in sundrie places And therefore sith of many ineuitable mischiefes we are alwaies to chuse the least it were better to beare the violence of the enemie then by beginning with them to make our selues guiltie of a publicque and generall commotion Herevpon the la d'Andelot vrging the necessitie of the defensiue amongst tother speeches said If ye linger and driue off vntill ye bee banished into forraine countries cast bound into prisons ouerrunne with multitude of people contemned by the men of warre or condemned by the authoritie of the greatest all which is not now farre from vs what good shall wee reape of our patience and former humilitie what profit shall wee reape by our innocencie to whom shall we complaine nay who will affoord vs the hearing It is now time for vs to bee better aduised and to haue recourse to the defensiue which is no lesse iust theÌ„ necessary neither are we to care thogh we be accounted the Authors of the warre which is leuyed onely by thoâ—e who in so many sorts haue broken all publicque couenants and agreements and brought euen into our bowels six thousand forraine souldiers that haue alreadie in effect proclaimed it against vs. Now let vs likewise giue them so much aduantage as to smite the first blowes and so shall our mischiefes bee past all care And after many meetings and determinations had among them heerevppon they resolued vppon a prompt and readie defensiue resolution wherin there were diuers meanes disputed vpon touching the execution thereof In the end it was concluded to rise in armes and in that beginning of war to obserue foure things the first to hold but fewe townes but such as shuld bee of importance the second to raise a great armie the third to ouerthrow the Switzers by whose meanes the Catholicques would alwaies bee Maisters of the field the fourth to assay if they could driue the Cardinall of Lorraine from the Court because many imagined that hee onely was the man that still solicited the king to destroye all those of the religion But touching the two last poynts many and great difficulties were propounded some alleadging that the Cardinall and the Switzers marched continually with the king and that setting vpon the one and seeking to feare the other it would bee saide that the enterprise had been made against the Maiestie of the king and not against them Yet in fine they were confuted by this reply that the effects would plainly shew what the intent of the Prince and his associates was as the euent manifestly shewed in the actions of Charles the seuenth as then beeing but Dauphine when he raised armes yet neyther against his father nor the Realme Further that it was well knowne that the Frenchmen themselues neuer attempted any thing against their Prince Lastly that if this first successe fell out fauorably that it would be the means to cut off the course of a long and troublesom war because therby they shuld haue means to let the king know the truth of those things which were diguised vnto him wherevpon might ensue the confirmation of the Edicts specially when those that arme themselues to preuent shall finde themselues preuented The successe of the Princes resolution This as saith the Lord de la Noue in his discourses was the resolution of the Lords and Gentlemen that at that time were about the Prince who as hee addeth albeit they were men of great experience skill valor and wisdome yet al that they had so diligently pondered and so well forecast when it came to the effect fell out wonderfull short of their expectation whilest other things whereof they had so farre drempt as thinking them ouer sure or difficult redounded to their good and stood them in stead A while before they resolued vpon this necessitie as the Switzers marched on first the Prince and then the Admirall made a iourney to the Court where they declared each after other to the king to his mother and to the Councell that there was no reason neither any iust occasion to make this leuie of six thousand Switzers to bring them into the Realme vnlesse paradu enture they had some pretence to imploy them vpon the ruine of those of the religion of whom there were yet remaining a greater multitude then they imagined whereof the late warres might beare witnesse withall that if their enemies practised ought but good they would stand vpon their guard and not haue their throates cut by theeues and perturbers of the publike peace and heerevppon also they besought the king to take compassion of so many honest families throughout his Realme but they were denied and hardly intreated yea the Prince at one time was in great hazard of his life against whom the Courtiers had incensed the Duke of Aniou the kings brother who suddainly entered into a sharpe braule against him seeking all occasions to do him a shrewd turne but the Prince both wise and eloquent aunswered him so pertinently to whatsoeuer the questions and violent complaints of him whom hee was to reuerence who also was at that time inuironed with those that would not sticke to strike that the snare was broken whereby hee escaped and from that time came no more to the Court. To returne to the successe of the enterprise of the Prince and his partakers they were forced of necessitie eyther to oppose themselues against the cruell resolution of their enemirs in France The Princes preceedings or else to flie out of the Realme and so to leaue so many thousands of hou sholds families to the mercie of their massacring enemies For touching the first poynt they determined to surprise three townes onely that is Lyons Thoulouse and Troys all very commodious for the warres But the meanes vsed by those that tooke the charge vppon them were not well effected in regard they were ouer many people and of small experience and sucfficiencie in such affaires who held their consultations of that which should bee done while they lay in their beddes or sat in their counting-houses Touching their strength in field those of the religion had more in the beginning then the Catholicques but sixe weekes after the raising of armes about the end of Septemb. they found themselues the strongest whereby they constrained the Prince and the Admirall to seek refuge in Almaine from Duke Casimeire The execution against the Switzers succeeded but crosly because it
some rumours whereby the Duke de Montpensier and Martigues may bee aduertised of our departure in manner of a flight euery man seeking to saue one for this will easilie bee beleeued In the mean time let vs prepare and encourage our men to the field so that if they drawe after vs as vndoubtedly they will in hope rather of spoyle then of battell we may valiantly encounter them so shal we giue them such an ouerthrow that wee shall not need to feare any troupe that may dare to meete vs for one months space but that we may at ease either passe the riuers or get into Germanie Martiques by this passage purchased great honour but d'Andelot more commoditie by his by bringing himself all his troupes into safetie wherby within eight daies hee ioyned with the Prince Then was there sundrie consultations about their affaires how to imploye both men and the time whilest they leuyed a mightie armie for the duke of Aniou and that the duke of Montpersier assembled diuers troupes in Anion and the countries thereabout to go to it in earnest The Prince bringing some cannons out of Rochel set vpon such townes of Poitou and Xaintongue The Princes first exployts as were but weake and meanly furnished with Garrisons seizing vpon Nyort Fontenay S. Maixaut Saintes S. Iohn d'Angely Ponts and Coignac Depuys Blay and Angoulesme whereof some were gotten easily and others by force and assault To be short within two months space the Prince and his partakers of poore vacabondes as they were at the first became so wealthie that they were able to continue a long war In al these places they lodged some thirtie companies of footmen and seuen or eight cornets of horse which was a great sauing for the fielde and they formed a most pollitieque militarie order as wel for the French as for the conduct of their armie Thus throgh necessitie togither with occasion they of the religion found meanes to make vse of both and the Admiral was wont to their aduenture to attribute the ancient prouerbe of The mislocles saying to his familiers Had we not been lost we had been lost Meaning that had they not committed an ouersight they had not had so great a recouerie as that which did farre surpasse their former condition The delaies of the Romish Catholieques stood the Prince in great stead But if in time they had foreseen that those whō he had caused to dislodge in so great hast went to settle themselues farther off The delay of the one serued for the others good and made speede to impeach them by all apparance the Prince had remained inclosed within Rochell and the wars had not cōtinued But god by those obscure beginnings made an entrie into the notable iudgements which after that appeared It may be that the ioy they had at Parris to see the Townes and Prouinces left which had made so long and hard war against the Parrisians during the first second troubles made diuers of their harts so much in flamed that they disdaind their enemies that were so far off esteeming that Rochel alone could not resist them but y◠within 3. month after they shuld be inclosed therin which discourses are commonly made when our prosperitie is geater then we expect The Q. and her Councelors presently caused an edict to be published at Parris Edicts against those of the religion by y◠which after a long declaration made touching things happened to the realme by of the religion the king among other things declared that the Edict of ianuary by the which he promised the exercise of religion was but prouisionall vntill his Maioritie and that hee was not determined to haue the Edict made before that touching the religion should be any more obserued For which causes beeing atiained to the said age of Maioritie hee fore bad all exercise thereof in the countries of his obedience commaunding without reuocation that there should be no other exercise of religion but onely that of the Romish Church vpon paine of losse of bodie and goods And vppon the same paine commaunded all the Ministers of the religion to depart out of the Realme within fifteene daies after the publication thereof commaunding neuerthelesse that those of the religion should not in any sort be troubled for their consciences so they would liue peaceably in their houses At the same instant an other edict was published certifying that from thencefoorth the king intended not to bee serued with any offices beeing of that profession from that time forward discharging them of all their offices commaunding them to yeelde them vpto him within fifteene daies after otherwise hee would take some stricter order therein These Edicts had been long hatching but their hope was to intrappe the Prince and the Admirall The effects of such edicts wherein hauing failed to get mony of the Cleargie and the third estate the Queene and those of Guise serued themselues with this deuise which was to no great end For that besides the great charges of the Duke of Anious armie wherewith the most dearest Catholicques were twise greeued and offended before the warre was halfe ended diuers of the religion entered into the field who otherwise would haue stayed the rest and quietnesse promised them by the king and not haue left their houses But at this alarme they assayed to ioyne with the troupes further the commaunders sent certaine declarations into England and Almaine to shewe that they were not pursued as seditious persons or such as desired a Crown as their aduersaries reported but onely because of the religion which the Romish Catholicques sought to extirminate France which serued thē well for the furtherance of the leuie of Rutters which the next yeare came into France vnder the conduct of the Duke de Deux Ponts Also there were many about the king the Queen and the Duke of Aniou that desired nothing else but to see all the countrie flaming with fire some to robbe and spoyle without punishment others to execute their vengeances and reuenges the Pensionaries of Spaine to cause the Frenchmen to cut each others throat those of Guise by litle and litle to attaine to the aduancement of their deseignments which discouered themselues in the end of the raigne of Henry the thrid as you shall read After these Edicts the Duke of Aniou made preparation for all things necessarie for his voyage and so puissant an armie whereof by the king hee was made Lieftenant generall That which increased the Princes troupes was the Regiment of foot which Monsieur d'Acier brought out of Dauphine Prouence and Languedoc not long before the Prince had written vnto him as also to diuers Captaines in those Prouinces that they should vse all the means they could to prouide him a certaine number of men therewith to withstand the armie royall that came to assayle him that the Princes Lords and other commaunders might not indure so great disaduantage to bee assieged within a towne
of his armie But in stead of marching thither in all diligence after the passage of the Rutters he contented himselfe to command M. de Lansac to take order therin Hee neuer hauing had any commission of such importance thought that by strength of men and cannon shot he would do something And vpon the sixt of Iuly accompanied with 7000. footemen assembled out of the Garrisons of Orleans Bourges Chartres Neuers Gyan and other Townes With fiue or sixe hundreth horse he besieged la Charitee charged and recharged his batterie three or foure times sparing neither powder nor bullet and hauing made a breach to enter both with horse and waggons he commanded his souldiers to giue an assault who beeing men vsed to braue it in the streets of a Towne and to discharge their peeces in the presence of Ladies when they perceiued that the besieged resolued themselues to a stout and bold defence their hearts were turned to lyuers so that their Captaines Ensignes Sergeants and other officers were forced to supply their places of 100. of them there returned fiue againe but all ouerthrowne at the entrie of the breach An other thing was that a false report ranne in the campe of Lansac that the Princes armie came to ayde la Charitee and that Captaine Blosset was alreadie in Berry with 200. horse to marke out their lodgings to giue the first charge wherewith the assailants made such an alarme that without further inquirie they spied their Ensignes marching day night to nestle themselues in their Garrisons The siege continued almost a month where in the retrait the assailants lost almost 1000. men the town about 100. being deliuered from this siege and not long after strengthened by the companies of Blosset Boys and others that had left the campe to visit their houses and to refresh themselues the leaders made account to fourage the countrie and to seeke aduentures farre and neare With this resolution they tooke Douzi Pouilli Antrain S. Leonard and other small townes about the water running into Berry Niuernois the countries bordering vpon them to the great hurt and displeasure of the Romish Catholikes The Princes beeing in possession of Lusignan and Chastelleraud A breefe discourse of the siege of Poictiers diuers of their Councell were bent to the siege of Poictiers Twise they debated the matter in Councel where sundrie were of a contrary opinion as nothing liking of the siege of so greata town among the rest the Admirall who wished them rather to follow their first purpose namely to get S. Maixaut where they should find Onoux Colonell of one of the late Countie Brissacks Regiments who soone after entered into Poictiers then to seize vpon Saumur a towne at that time of small strength standing vpon the riuer of Loire and with all diligence to fortifie the same to the end afterward to haue a readie and safe passage in Antomne to transport the war to Parris the fountain of all the stormes that thus molested all France Hee alleaged that togither with the Dude of Guise and Maine there were come diuers Captains and companies both on horse and on foot to Poictiers which at that instant was as well prouided of souldiers as any town in France likewise that such great townes well guarded are ordinarily the graues of great armies and with all concluded that the best course was to march to S. Maixaut which could not long holde out but the chiefe Lords and Gentlemen of Poictou as well in Councell as else where vrged them not to omit so good opportunitie withall alleaging that the towne was of no estimation that the more people were therein the greater was the bodie that getting this place they should haue all Poictou a rich Prouince and so defeate the Dukes armie of a verie conuenient retrait but the authors of their Councell had forgotten to speake the resolution of those that kept Poictiers the great helps that they had for their defence their own smal store of artillery munitition powers to giue their assault with many other their discommodities For albeit the town in regard of the scituation were wholly inuironed with mountaines commanding in it so neare that they might greatly annoy the defendants yet had the Princes at that time such want that hauing begunne in one place they were not able couragiously to go through with their batterie and other workes but must needes giue the enemie two or three daies respite which was ynough to refortifie it againe whereby they should bee forced to beginne their batteries againe in an other place where they should incurre the like discommoditie The siege hauing continued some few weekes sundrie breaches being made with some assaults skirmishes and sallies lastly necesitie set vppon the besieged and sicknesse togither with want of munition the besiegers whereby their troupes were driuen by little and little to breake the besieged had lost diuers of their best Captaines and a number of souldiers and their necessitie grew to such a famine that asses and horses grew to be good meat The D. of Anion aduertised thereof The siege of Chastellerand as also of some discipation of the Princes armie tooke counsell to besiege Chastellerand beeing a good means to make the Princes leaue Poistiers if the Princes were not negligent to loose a place wherein their men were inclosed But this resolution of the Duke serued well for the Princes as beeing a good occasion for them to leaue the siege which notwithstanding they had done not hauing means to stay any longer before it And to conclude both defendants and assaylants were not in long time more troubled Then those of Poictiers and the Princes the valiant leaders following their haughtie desires for that hauing high mindes they applied them to such obiects as best fitted them but the common saying is most true that he which gripeth too much can neuer hold fast any thing The Dukes of Guise and Maine got the honour in their youths to haue bin of the number of commanders that kept so bad a place against their puisan◠enemies Touching the dukes armie it being before Chastellerand hauing made a breach the Italians sent by the Pope made request to giue the first assault which sel vnto thē by chance of dice wherevnto they went with bold courage the besieged vsing subtiltie with them suffered thē to mount vp being vpon the breach fought hand to hand with them and hauing slaine the leaders and some hundreths of the most resolute souldiers constrained the rest to put themselues in disorder Italians beaten at Chastollerand leauing in the breach fiue Ensignes and aboue 250. men dead The hurt men in great number died soone after this happened the 7. of September The Frenchmē appoynted to second the Italians disdained to follow them and hauing beene beholders of this spectacle which well rebated the presumption of the remainder determined to proceede to a second assault but they found the besieged so well
Court of France with all their principall seruants and there to giue them that entertainment which after fell out In March the Romish Catholicques at Roane murthered diuers protestants as they returned from a Sermon and beate others shrewdly meaning to haue proceeded further had not Marshal Montmorencie whom the king sent made the more haste to suppresse the violence of the seditious who after many pursuites hanged vp three or foure the rest escaped albeit 400. were guiltie of innocent blood Sixe weekes before the protestants had been most cruelly murthered at Aurange by their enemies whom Berchon soone after made Gouernour by Countie Lodowic found means to intrap and punish accordingly Not long after by the kings consent those of the religion were taxed to paye the 5. part of their reuenue towards the payment of the Rutters which produced much discontentmēt About the same time the king and the Queene made their enterie vpon seuerall daies into the capitall towne of the Realme with great pompe The protestants also held a Sinode nationall at Rochel wherein they confirmed the articles of the confession of their faith and discipline of their Churches in the presence of the Queene of Nauarre the Princes and many other of the Principall among them The king hauing made his entrie the eleuenth of March the Queene beeing crowned the 25. of the same moneth at Saint Deunis and the 29. receiued with great magnificence into Parris hee went to sit in his place of iustice in the Parliament where hee made a long Oration to his officers of the Court for the obseruation of his Edicts In witnesse whereof in the moneth ensuing the people of Parris beganne to mutine against those of the religion sacked certaine houses and began to proceed further prouoked by their Preachers because of a certaine Crosse placed in S. Dennis street in a place where in times past stood the house of Phillip de Gastines rased to the ground because that certaine sermons and the Lords Supper had beene made and celebrated therein Gastines for that cause hauing been executed to death during the troubles that had beene carried into S. Innocents Church-yeard This mutinie appeased the king that shewed great fauor to Teligny his companions sent them to the Q. of Nauarre the Princes in Rochel to assure them that all his desire was to maintaine the peace that for his owne part he bare them great affection procuring that the Q. his mother the Duke of Aniou his brother should from day to day leaue off their rigors And at their departure gaue them diuers presents giuing them likewise to vnderstand that his minde was to proceede with war against the Spaniard in the low Countries and to marrie his sister to the Prince of Nauarre Biron was sent after to certifie the like and men began to speake of that marriage in diuers sorts their opinions being diuided some esteeming it to bee a snare to intrap those of the religion others deeming the contrarie The king caused certaine consultations to be made in Rome because of the alliance between both the parties Pope Pius the fist seemed to bee much troubled about the same for that effect sending Cardinal Salutati into France who hauing had certaine conference by word of mouth with the king returned satisfied The effect of that the king said vnto him was that the king would alwaies shewe himselfe to deserue the name of the eldest sonne of the Romish Church and that all his intents tended to no other end but only to the suretie honour and aduancement of the Catholicque religion whereof the Pope should receiue great testimonies before long time should passe But notwithstanding that diuers maruelled much at this suddaine alteration of the king the Queene of Nauarre much sought vnto by diuers great persons of both partes went to the king followed by the Countie Lodowicke great numbers of Nobilitie The king and the Queene his mother were at Blois where they receiued and welcommed her with great ioy and good countenance and after many disputations touching diuers particular poynts specially the cerimonies the agreement vpon the marriage of her sonne with the kings sister was concluded and the place of the espousals assigned at Parris Not long after the Prince her son accompanied with fiue hundreth Gentlemen came to Blois where the marriage of Nenry de Bourbon Prince of Conde with the yongest daughter of the house of Neuers was agreed vpon During these parleyes of mariages with the Princes the Admirall that had buried Ladie Charlotte de Laual his wife a woman of excellent pietie that died at Orleans in the second troubles beeing in Rochel married the Counties of Ancremont in Sauoy and gaue Louyse his daughter in marriage to Monsieur de Teligny At the Court one named Lignerolles a simple Gentleman made knight of the Order Captaine of a company of launciers Gouernor of Bourbonnois and one of the Duke of Anious mignions was slaine openly in the Court for discouering certain of his Maisters secrets Lignerolles slaine by the D. cōmitted vnto him touching the enterprise that was ment against those of the religion On the other side Death of the Cardinall of Chastillon the Cardinal of Chast being readie to depart out of England to go to his brother the Admiral was poysoned by one of his Chamberlains and died to the great great griefe of all his friends and seruants The prisoner that did the fact beeing after taken at Rochel was executed Articles of marriage betweene the Prince of N. and the kings sister This is the yeare wherein is set downe the arriuing of the Queen of Nauarre the Princes and the Admirall in the Court the articles of the marriage of the prince of Nauarre and the kings sister were made at Blois the eleuenth of Aprill The Countie Lodowicke at the same time trauelled with the king touching warres to bee made in Flaunders to the which ende preparations were made at sea by Strossy and the Barron de la Garde but at the end of three moneths Flaunders was found to be Rochel Long before the king had caused the Admirall to bee solicited to come vnto the Court and to drawe him thither hee caused those of Guise to retire who thereat counterfetted to bee discontent The Marshall de Montmorency by letters assured his Cousin the Admirall that the king was fully determined to make them friends and to reconcile him with the Duke of Guise the better to be serued by him and his Councell touching the affaires of his Realme and beganne to fauour those of the religion and to put the Admirall out of all distrust the king sent him letters that he might bring fiftie Gentlemen armed with him vnto the Court whither in fine the Marshall de Cosse conducted him with diuers Gentlemen At his comming hee was honourably receiued and welcommed by the king that called him his father Welcomes to the Admirall and others of the religion in the Cout
Carroy battered and beaten downe all the towers and walles of the towne and continued and made plaine the breach which was aboue three hundreth paces wyde their white Ensigne Colonel followed by the rest shewed it selfe in order of battell all their men comming vnder couert A generall assault in sun drie places through their trenches euen to the edge of the Towne ditch where they gaue the assault as followeth Sarrieu his Regiment strooke in at the ende of the breach towardes the Goose-gate in a place called Londis Grange where the fight was greatest and to second him came in the Lord of Chastre Generall of the armie with his men at armes who with other Maisters alighted and that day fought on foote This first assault was famous for the assaylants came in good order and verie resolutely to the breach wherevpon they cambered seuen or eight of the best armed and couered came to handie blowes namely Captaine Ri◠Sarrieu his Ensigne who carried his Ensigne brought it backe againe After their repulse the Lord of Bonniuet the Gentlemen of the countrie and Captaine Cartier gaue the second charge whereto they came with such resolution that some of them twise entered the breach among others Fontain Carters Ensigne one that was reuolted frō the religion who was there hurt so returned lame halting In this second onset four Ensignes accōpanied with four or fiue hundreth souldiers valiantly entered the ditch but in liew of marching straight to the breach they ioyned close with the corner of the wall which they did still beare with the ordinance where they stayed with their Ensignes and could not bee indammaged by the Townsmen who were not able to stand vpon the wall that parted them by reason of the volies of cannon shot Easily might they haue beene beaten away with muskets and harguebuze-shot out of some flanquers that yet remained toward the Goose-gate but at that time there was neither muskettier nor harguebuzier there about Yet sel there out one aduenture to the preseruation of the besieged and that was this As the cannoniers did without intermission continue the batterie from a place called the Smithes Carroy thinking to lay the wall flat and so to discouer the patforme wherevppon the besieged did fight they followed their purpose so obstinatly that with the dischrarge of two or three vallies of cannons they beate down so many stones vpon the foure Ensignes and their souldiers that they were forced to retire as also it fell out well with the besieged that the cannoniers in this batterie wanted powder for had they beaten downe sixe or seuen foote more of the wall the platforme from whence the besieged fought in flancke and was their chiefe defence had been layd open and made a bridge for the assailants without let to haue entered the Towne for this platforme beeing made on the suddaine was not behinde cut off from the side of the Towne and in other places they could not haue resisted The sixe Ensignes of Goas Regiment assaulted the Rauelin of the olde gate and Boudins platforme supportee by the Lord of Montigny Liestenant to the Countie of Brienne and some other Gentlemen there was Cabassoles a Captaine of one of the companies of the olde bandes a valiant man and greatly bewailed among the besiegers The new companies except Tessiers set vppon the great breach and gaue the assault from the platforme of the olde gate euen to the other ende of the breach toward Saint Andrewes gate Captaine Tessier presented the escalade to Caezars gate which was at the other end of the Towne that so the assault might bee generall and the besieged busied in euerie corner Of the Sancerreans Captaine Flur his Lieftenant Chaillou and Montauban his Cornet defended the breach of Londis but before they could come to it or set their soldiers in array two of their men were carried away with a cannon shot The rest of the Captains had euery man his quarter appoynted where they all bare themselues most valiantly and the walles were euery where furnished besides a number left in the principall places to serue for accurrences During the assault the fifteene hundreth labourours in the vines before mentioned with their slings furnished with stones by the women and maides wrought wonders and wounded many of the enemies Euen in the chiefed of the fight a woman caught hold of a souldiers pike and stroue to wrest it out of his fist A young man of the Towne named Ialot being in fight taken by a target-man and ledde away as hee descended into the ditch called to his companions rather to shoote at him then to suffer him to be carried away wherevppon one of them lying on his face aymed so right that hee killed the target-man and then Ialot with his dagger slew an other that had hold on him and so escaping returned through the breach to his fellowes The defendants had no other fence but their small shot swoords and slings neither could they make vse of their other Engines in regard that this general assault was giuen sooner then they expected by reason of the batterie that had continued all the morning The Sancerreans in this assault had seuenteene souldiers either slaine or wounded to death beside a wench that was carried away with a cannon The assailants left in the ditch some threescore of the valiantest besides some two hundreth that hauing their deadly woundes died in their tents and lodgings and as many more wounded who albeit they did in time recouer yet carried the markes to their graues The assailāts determinatiō to famish the Towne Thence foorth the assaylants vnderstanding the state of the Towne resolued to shut vp and starue the Sancerreans through the multitude of forts that they erected hard by their wals which being made fenceable notwithstanding whatsoeuer the defendants skirmishes they planted two coluerins in the greatest and so returned the rest of their peeces to the towns where they tooke them alwaies leauing sufficient strength round about to stop the besieged from comming forth or receiuing any reliefe out of the countrie In the beginning of Aprill one of the towne souldiers slipping downe the Towne-wall came to the greater fort and assured them that the defendants began to famish Within two daies after the besieged in a sallie slewe some of their enemies who the surer to girt in the Towne erected fiue new small forts and nightly stood very carefully vpon their guard so that the defendants perceiued that they ment to take them rather by the throats then by the fifts Heerevpon they sent abroad for succour but some of their messengers wer takē prisoners others put to death one Cap. Fleur others came no more again or could not reenter neither could they whersoeuer they became get any such succor as they pretended neither in deed was there any meanes by mans helpe to relieue them Beeing thus euery way shut vppe by their irreconcileable enemies from the beginning of Aprill the
many prosperous sallies beeing alwaies prouided of a neare and sure retrait In the beginning of Februarie the Duke of Aniou Generall of the armie royall beeing come to Saint Maixant sent his letters to la Noue to summon him to deliuer vppe Rochel with promise of life and goods withall importing that if within three daies after his appoynted arriuall in his campe this were not performed he was resolued with his whole forces as well in camped as to come after him not to linger any minute but to besiege the Towne to force it and so to punish those that should be taken that their execution might bee an example to all others Now did the Rochelers beginne better to consider of the defensiue and to labour about their fortifications but because the campe vsually hindered their men from cutting and bringing in of faggots and other conuenient stuffe La Noue informed of their roâ—des vpon the sixt of Februarie layd an ambush both of horse and foote so fitly that suffering their skirmishers to come well forward hee inclosed them between his troupes and the towne and then cut in peeces all that were so insnared Besides not so content hee set vppon the lodging of Captaine Portes companie where he slew sixtie souldiers without losse of any more then one that day he returned with fortie prisoners who the next day were sent backe without ransome in regard that al the mony that wold be made of theÌ„ would neuer counteruaile their expeÌ„ces for a few daies yet such as were found to be murtherers were woorse entreated In the towne there were at that time a good number of Gentlemen horsemen eight companies of the Inhabitants nine of strangers besides the Maiors companie and one of Voluntaries formed by la Noue and consisting of twentie Muskettiers fiftie fiue Pike-men each in his corcelot at proofe and 30. harguebuziers of this companie two parts were Gentlemen and such as had born office in the wars The D. of Aniou arriued within 7. leagues of Rochel wrote vnto the Nobilitie Inhabitants two letters dated the 10. of Feb. wherin he exhorted theÌ„ to yeeld A notable skirmish The Duke of Aniou his letters with their answers threatned theÌ„ in case they refused Herevnto did the Rochelers answer in al humilitie declaring the necessitie of their defensiue intreating the D. to prouide for the tranquilitie of the realm to take such order that they might serue God in the exercise of their religioÌ„ As for the gentlemeÌ„ their answer imported that albeit they were affected to the kings seruice yet that through the malice of flatteres as could brooke no peace they were brought into his disgrace withall they shewed a reason for their taking of armes which was not voluntarie but necessitie that inforced them thereto as finding no better meanes to preserue both spirituall and temporall but to retire into the Forts places of defence their liues vntil it might please the king to take some order by a lawful assembly of the Estates and generall Councels They also besought the Duke of Aniou to consider of their iust complaints and not to impute vnto them that which proceeded of other mens faults and so offered to the king and him all obedience and seruice The next day the Duke arriued in the campe accompanied with his brother the Duke of Alencon the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and Dauphine the Dukes of Longueuille Bouillon Neuers Aumale and Guise the young Countie of Rochefaucaut the great Prior and other great Lords who tooke their lodgings at Nieul a long league from Rochel where they remained vntill the peace This one thing stood the Rochelers in good stead that in the enemies Councell they had many heads that shewed as many and diuers imagations and purposes Monlucs iudgement of the siege of Rochel Heereto will I adde the same that Monluc toward the end of his remembrances hath written to this purpose and of this whole enterprise in these words See all the world is come to Rochel my selfe among the rest am bidden to the banquet but when I resolued to go I made account to die and there to take my graue Beeing come I wondred to finde there so many people of so diuers humours that would haue been loth it should haue been taken The siege was great long and gallant well assaulted and better defended I will not stand to write all that was there done for I was but one neither will I speake hardly of any Monsieur who after was king and was General in that siege so far honouring me as to vse some conference wherby to gather my aduise knoweth well ynough I told him frankly what I thought This siege may teach all that were then present or that shal come heereafter that in those daies Towns of such importance must betaken by famine and inclosing by little little One great ouersight was there committed and that was the aduenturing of so many men in the assaults and a greater in keeping so bad watch to keepe the towne from succour of powder which came in by sea For to say my minde as others whatsoeuer shift the Rochelers could haue made wee had had them they cannot denie it I say with the halters about their neckes for the succours that the Countie Montgommery brought was retired and wee readie to buckle with them for all things failed them but at the same time my brother the B. of Valence was in Poland to procure the election of Monsieur for their King which hee archieued and the glorie thereof I thinke due to him alone but that caused all men to thinke vpon capitulation which at the last was compassed The Polonians Deputies came thither to salute him for their king All the troupes retired and leauing many dead and the Rochelers Lords of their Towne prepared to come to the feast of this new Crowne By Monsieurs speeches at his departure it seemed he had no great liking of this kingdome yet do I thinke it was a great honour to him and vs that so remote a kingdome should seeke a king from vs. This is Monlucs iudgement Now let vs coÌ„sider some particularities of this siege ContinuatioÌ„ of the siege of Rochel so far as the purpose of these collections may bear The town besieged both by sea land about the middest of Februarie continued her skirmishes vntill all was readie for the batterie â—he assailants from the Carraque discharged many cannon shot into the Towne and straight in case any vessell offered to passe in the night or mistes but of many hundreths none took either to kil or hurt except some two or three persons The 23. day of February after many consultations and messages the Lords of Byron Strossy Villequier and the Abbot of Gadaigne held a parley at Coignes gate with la Noue the Lieftenant generall Mortiers and Morisson Deputies for Rochel The Abbot discoursed of the kings intent and clemencie alleaging that heereafter
to Barbaste and held on his way towards Chastel-Ialoux and being about two myles neare the middle of the landes hee shewed his company what hee purposed to do and with twentie Gentlemen well mounted and tenne souldiers for his guard he rode towards Chaumont leauing the conduction of the rest of his troupes being about foure hundreth Argo litiers badly mounted and disarmed and about fifteen Harquebusiers of his guard to the Suur de la Raque to passe at S. Bazeille which hee did without resistance although the armie of Matignon lay not aboue three myles from thence The king of Nauarre beeing at Chaumont dined there at his ease and yet the Duke de Maine was not aboue two myles from the place where he pasted and after dinner hee went ouer without impeachment or losse of any of his men Arriued at Poictou vnder marshall Biron The next day going to Saint Foy with all his company where he continued for the space of three weekes hunting at his pleasure and from thence hee retired into Poitou where the Marshall Biron with a thousand or twelue hundreth horse and three or foure thousand foot besieged Marans but the agreement made betweene the king of Nauarre and him made him raise his siege and Marans continued quiet vsing both the one and the other religion the Duke Ioyeuse brother in lawe to the king brought a new armie and with it besieged Mexeut which hee constrained to compound And from thence went to Niort Exployts of the Duke Ioyeuse in Poictou battered Tonnay-Charente and set vpon the Rocheliers heeles but as then his armie was so afflicted with the plague that hauing made a little troupe vnder the conduction of Lauerdin he retired in great poste vnto Parris â—o prouide a new armie at the ouerthrow whereof he was despatched at Coutras as heereafter I will shewe you The Marshall Ioyeuse tooke Montesquiou in Lauragois and lost thirtie two Captaines and fiue hundreth Harquebusiers at the siege of Mas Saint Puelles The Marshall de Mommorancy caused the league to flie in many incounters in Languedoc as at Lodeue and Saint Pons the Sieur de la Valette aduanced the kings affaires in Prouince The Duke de Espernon Generall of the armie by the king sent thither arriued at Lyons with about eight hundreth horse to cause his foote to passe through the Towne but the Lord of Mandelot who from the first moouings of the league had alwaies bin vpon his guard to shew himselfe rather newter then participant fearing least with these troupes the D. of Pernon should take occasion to remember the throwing down of the Citadel was counselled by the Bishoppe of Lyons to looke vnto himselfe hauing both securitie and aduantage The Towne of Lyons being surprised in the first troubles by the Earle of Saux then Gouernour and yeelded vppe againe by the Edict of peace The last of April 1562 Peace in an 1593. K. Charles the 9. at LyoÌ„s 1564. A Citadell in Lyons After that the Duke de Nemours had vsed all the meanes hee could both by practise and armes to get it againe The king went thither and by his Enguiniers drewe out a goodly and strong Citadell by that bridle to restraine the ouer prompt and readie affections of the Cittie to those new alterations and would not depart from thence before hee had seene a great part thereof finished It being accomplished with all conuenient things belonging to such a Fortresse both for forme greatnesse Bulwarkes trenches munitions and commodities Hee made it the terror of the Huguenots while those that commaunded it affected the defence and protection of the Catholicques but after that in the said kings time the fauour of the Duke d'Espernon withdrew la Mante The taking of the Cuadell in Lyons therin to place le Passage Mandelot not beeing able to dissemble the disliking he had to the great aduancement hee had of that Duke deuised the means to cease vppon it and so thrust out the Gascons by him placed therein The newes of this surprising in so daungerous and suspicious a time abashed the king thinking it to bee one of the first effects of the league but beeing assured of the inuiolable affections and fidelitie of the Cittizens of Lyons that would neuer yeeld as long as his Maiestie liued Fortresse generally are more hurtful then necessary hee agreed to the throwing downe of the Citadell for the summe of fiftie thousand Crownes to him offered for the same But his Councell found that throwing downe of the Fort to bee very daungerous saying that a Towne composed of so many humours and seuerall motions inhabited by people of both religions stirring and desirous of change the keye and rampart of the Realme ought not to be without a Citadell Wherevnto the wisest Polititian aunswered that such fortifications serued onely eyther for the defence of the subiects or offending of enemies and that in the one they were daungerous and in the other not necessarie Meane time the king desired his mother to bee a meanes and instrument of a good and continuall peace in his Realme and shee beeing greeued that shee could not warme her selfe but with embers and sorrie that the miserie thereof surmounted the meanes that she could vse therein vndertooke a voyage into Poitou there to parley with the king of Nauarre who of his owne nature and by the aduise of his friends was more disposed to a good peace then to a simpletruce Meeting of the K. of Nauarre with the Queene-mother the 13. of December at S. Bris. And after they had both freely passed all the doubtfull scruples that could bee alleadged vnto them thereby to reuerse their good intents the place of meeting was appoynted at Saint Bris and truce agreed for fifteen daies whereat the Switzers and Almaines were much offended The first and second enterviewes were passed ouer onely in complaints excuses and goodly reasons The Queene-mother bathing them with her teares reproached the disobedience of the subiect to his Prince detested the stubburnnesse of newe opinions represented the necessitie that constrained the king to make peace and vndertake warres sweetly excusing the burning affection of the house of Guise that had raised the same thereby to preuent the mischiefe which the succession of an hereticke Prince wold bring into the estate besought charged the king to yeeld to the Catholicque Church and faith of his Maiestie to leaue his errors and not bee condemned Cause of the troubles Wherevnto hee aunswered that in his soule hee felt a most great torment of impatience in that the league made him the onely argument of those tragedies that his Maiestie esteemed him the subiect of his diuisions that all the mischiefe by the Realme of France indured and which in the end would ouerthrow it proceeded only from the breach of the Edicts of peace wherein depended all the welfare and felicitie of this estate Hee complained of the wrong that he himself in particular his house al
likely to haue ouerunne the Duke of Guises forces and as it was at the poynt to retire backe againe the Prince of Conde the Duke de Bouillon and the Lords of Chastillon and Cleruant promised to pay them all their wages so they would passe forward The hope of their paye made them to march in a time not much conuenient towards the forrest of Orleans The King perceiued that the longer their armie kept the field the greater would bee the ruine of his countrie and that being ioyned to the King of Nauarre it would doo much hurt caused the Sieurs of the Isle of Cormont to certifie the Coronels that if they would yeeld vppe their colours and sweare to beare no armes in France without the expresse commaundement of his Maiestie hee would giue them assurance to retire in safetie they perceiuing themselues farre from the king of Nauarre hardly handled by the Frenchmē beaten by the league pursued by the king Capitul ati◠the 20. of December 1587 and forsaken of the Switzers assembled themselues togither at Marsigni and accepted his Maisties offers sent by Monsieur d'Espernon that feasted them and made them drinke new muscat their bellies full Monsieur de Chastillon laying holde vppon the occasion of a safe retrait and for his purpose protested not to yeelde vppe his colours but to the King of Nauarre so tooke his way towards Roane to retire with a hundreth good horse and certaine Harquebusiers The Gouernour of Lyons entered into the field to impeach his passage but the little children of Coindrieu easilie iudged of his fortune the effect of that expedition which they called not the iourney of spurres but the battell shewing the backe and bring newes thereof before it was fully done For there they fought like the Scithians they that had their heeles best armed were most valiant The Scitheans fight flying The consideration of this encounter and the inequallitie of the forces and leaders maketh me beleeue that which many haue perswaded themselues to bee true which is that wisedome in warre is of little force For fooles commonly beate vvise men Beholde an olde Captaine armed with so many examples Olde Captaines commit young faults Paradoxe and glorious exploytes of war that had sharpened his iudgement by so many practises findeth himself contrained to yeeld the place to a small handfull of men halfe wearied It is said that good wines are best in the latter part of the yeare when time hath purged them of their fire and made them mylder but regard must bee had that they become not sowre Age causeth strange Metamorphoses in vs it breedeth euill fauored wrinckles in our hearts and alwaies there is somewhat that tasteth sharpe and mustie and beginneth to be faint or ranke Old men should sit in Councell and young march in the fielde olde men feare blowes The boyling and couragious heate of youth mother of braue exploytes is extinguished in them there it is too hotte for them They neuer sleepe without curtins and fire I make more account of a young Captaine whose vertue and valour groweth vp with his age and such as without dissimulation France hath found in Monsieur de Chastillon who in lesse then 4 moneths compassed a great part of France trauersed a hundreth daungers passed many places where hee found any thing either before behinde or on his sides but that opposed it selfe against him And like a braue Gentleman hauing separated himselfe from the mutinie of the Rutters and the leaguers forces although the Counte de Tournon and the Lord of Mandelot bereaued him of all means to passe away but onely by armes yet he passed through them like thunder that teareth and scattereth all whatsoeuer lyeth before it and made them know that the valour of a couragious heart is not subiect to long and tedious resolutions which are not executed but in words This place hath somewhat separarated me from the banket made by Monsieur d'Espernon to the Rutters and of the treatie that followed which gaue them libertie and assurance to retire They went vnto Geneua where diuers of the heads whether it were for griefe with languishing or by blows of musket yeelded vp the ghost There the Duke de Bouillon being in the fiue twentie yeare of his age died vppon the eleuenth of Ianuary hauing made his heire the Ladie Charlotte de la Marke his sister charging her to alter nothing in the state nor the religion of the soueranties of Sedan Iamets nor to marry without the aduises of the king of N. the Prince of Conde and Monsieur de Monpensier whom he appoynted his heire with his sonne the heire dying without children with the same charge not to alter any thing in his lands in the which case he substituted the king of Nauarre and after him the Prince of Conde Assoone as the Duke of Lorraine vnderstood of this Princes death hee sent his armies into his countries in defence wherof la Noue his executor entered into armes with protestation that the promise he had made for his deliuery vnto the king of Spaine not to beare armes against him bound him not to refuse his ayde in defence of a young childe against the vsurpation of the Lorraines The Marquesse du Pont eldest son to the Duke of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise against their faith giuen they followed not the armie but the miserable troupe of Rutters to the Mountaine of Saint Claude where they gaue thankes for the good successe of their company and from thence to please their hungrie troupes they trauersed the Counte of Bourgongne entering into the Countes of Mombeliard Hericourt where his men vsed diuers great cruelties and spared not the lands of the Bishoppe of Basle the example and ornament of the good Prelates of Germanie After the bloodie ceasing of so lamentable vengeance vppon a poore innocent people which as yet do feele the losses and destructions of two hundreth Villages the violence vsed to a number of women and maides the massacre of so many olde men the furious and beastly inhumanities of the league they bare the signes of their spoyles into Lorraine where they erected the great confusion that dispearsed it selfe through all the vaines of the estate neuerthelesse it was the glorie of the league the last poynt that ambition hath learned Time and humours are meruellously disposed therevnto All France shewed it selfe much bound vnto it that had deliuered them from the furies of straungers and assured all Catholicque minds The victorie of Auneau Maruaile that a king should be tealous of his vassall is an ordinary song among the people the reioycing of the Cleargie the brauerie of the Gentlemen Of the league the iealousie of the king that knew wel that this Lawrell was not giuen to the league but to disgrace his Maiestie although it was commō in the mouth of honest men that his Maiestie had cōstrained his enemies to yeelde There was no Preacher but
filthinesse of thy vilany nor wood ynough to burne the Registers and memories of this sedition But can we speake of the Barricadoes without remembring this incomprehensible motions of Gods prouidence which doth equally shine and appeare as wel in the establishing as pulling down of Empires dealetha swel with their fall as with their continuance And who will not say Read a notable discourse vppon this matter in the 2. Booke intituled the constancy and consolation of publicque calamities Henry the third a most religious Prince He led rather the life of a Monke then of a K. He hated the Huguenots that this great motion the spring of all the miseries ensuing was not a blowe of the hand of the inscrutable wisedome of God to punish the king and his Realm Hee that would debate this proposition by the circumstances of the kings person needeth not to seeke the causes thereof neither in the East nor in the West but onely to ground them vppon the eternall wheele of Gods iudgements What apparance was there for subiects to arme themselues and reuolt against a king what pretence could bee so close but in the end it would open and bee discouered The cause of religion which is one of the most violent passions of the people and the most assured meanes to alter an estate was so cleare and pure in him that many iudged his life to bee religious blamed his actions which was fitter for an Hermite then a Prince He kept more in a Monasterie then with his Councell he spake oftner with Iesuites Capucins and Fueillantins then to his Secretaries He detested nothing more then Huguenots and there was not any Huguenot in France that had receiued any commaundement at his hands he was more spoken and disliked of among them then any of the house of Lorraine they beheld him not but as the commet of their miseries and neuer remembred him but when they spake of S. Bartholomewes day that which they had indured at the hands of the duke of Guise was but roses in respect of that they had suffered at Iarnac And the Huguenots declared his life Moncontour Rochel and Parris in such manner that it were an extream absurditie to beleeue that he fauoured Hereticques and that hee would ouerthrow that religion whereof hee made so open profession He was assisted by the Princes of his house Therefore hee had no cause to feare any thing to bee done against him by the Catholicques and yet those are they that in the Capital Towne of his Realms Barricadoed themselues against him He had all the Princes of the blood for the defence of his Crowne for when the King of Nauarre for the libertie of his conscience had taken armes it was no longer but while they would constraine him and breake the decrees of peace that permitted him to bee free of conscience not to oppose himselfe against the Monarchie nor to an Anarchicall confusion of this estate The rest of the Princes that knew well that the reasons of the league were not so much to reforme the Realme as to ouerthrow it and therewith to bring them within the compasse of those ruines held themselues near vnto his Maiestie all the Nobilitie of France at the least nine of ten partes more particularly bound vnto his seruice for their honours dignities offices and benefiâ—s as also the iustices of the Realme not beeing of the minde to accomodate themselues to the humors of the Princes of the league and esteemed the essentiall forme thereof to be opposite and an ouerthrowing to the estate The GentlemeÌ„ of France foreseeing that the royaltie cannot be ouerthrown but that the Nobilitie must likewise beare the same burthen and that the subiect that refuse the obedience and faieltie of his Prince will not bee long before hee seeketh to free himselfe of the rents and reuenues hee oweth vnto the Lord of the soyle The greatest persons of the Cleargie consented not to those new mutinies acknowledging that their profession is more honoured and beautified vnder a King The chiefe of the Cleargie then by the confusions of a democration estate The king likewise had named and chosen them at his pleasure so that the obligation of his fauour retained them in his seruice Learned men published his prayses and in his raigne there were more bookes printed and dedicated to his Maiestie Learned meÌ„ then in the raigne of the great King Francis and his successors although most iustly hee was named the father and restorer of learning Some Preacher onely flattered sedition thereby to winne estimation among the commoÌ„ people desirous of a change In all the towns throughout euery Prouince there were officers who besides their naturall subiection were more bound to him by oath that he had taken of them giuing them charge of his treasures the power of his lawes and administration of his iustice with the order of pollicie they desired nothing more then the greatnesse of their King his rest and quietnesse beeing their onely preferment for that without libertie and peaceablenesse with his long life and prosperitie their offices were of little force as hauing exposed their fortunes to the hazard of the terme of his life I And yet he was not well assured in Parris n such manner that his Maiestie had not any thing more at his commaundement then men of that quallitie that only feared the perill of his holy and sacred person and the changing of this Monarchie Who would then beleeue that a king yea and a king of France in the middle of so many assurances in the brauest time of his raigne in the Capitall Cittie of his Kingdome among so many Princes Knights of the Order in the face of a Parliament the thunder against sedition and colonie of iustice and royaltie hauing in his power the Bastille and the Arsenal at his deuotion the Prouost of Merchants the Sheriffes and the Colonnelles and sixe thousand men of warre placed in the streetes and quarters of the Towne where hee desired should bee besieged in his Pallace of Louure by a people whom hee had so much cherished and inriched with the spoyles of his other subiects and by himselfe stirred vp vnder the false alarme of a Garrison sacking and spoyling constrained to saue himselfe by flight from the furie of his mutinous subiects Incluctabilis fatorum vis cuius fortunaÌ„ mutare constituit consilia corrumpit Velleius lib. 2. de Caesar es varo And can wee that haue seene and beheld it remember it without considering that the eternall power of him that ruleth all the world made the Spirits iudgements counselles and conductions of those that might diuert the mischiefes proper and fit to aduance them and suffered them to take effect to shewe his wrath striking the head to make members languish O fatall and once againe accursed day of Barricadoes the birth day of our miseries and funeralles of our ioys that vnloosed the windes to those stormes of blood
entered into it they were presently followed by those that respected nothing but the present time not cōsidering the miserable end of their sedition so that Vnde plures erant omnes suere Tacitus Which we perceiuing determined not to proceed any further with those common searches and presently to with draw our said forces which we had caused to enter only for that purpose it beeing very likely that if wee had had any other intent wee had attempted and it may bee fully executed the same at our pleasures before the raysing of the said Inhabitants that they had drawne chaines or set vpon their Barricadoes in the streets which they beganne presently after noone at the which time there beeing in all the streetes of the said towns certaine Gentelemen Captaines or other straungers sent by the said Duke of Guise appointed for the purpose that in short time had dispearsed thēselues in euery quarter l l The Switzers were charged they not once seeming to resist to auoyde danger for that finding themselues strangely compassed by that multitude of furious people without head conduct or assurance of the Kings intent they turned their backs perswading themselues that to be ouer valiant it may be thought they were too rash so that they rather chose to leaue their pikes then once to vse them in so violent an occasion A litle more vrgent courage resistance had sent the Parrissians back to the deepest places of their houses euery man would haue remembred his wife his children and his shoppe for that armes vsed by Cittizens in Townes commonly beginneth with more boldnesse then it is performed causeth more noyse then mischiefe Ferocior ad rebellandum quam ad bellandum Tit. Liu. and forcing the said companies of Switzers and French mē to retire to our great greef there was certaine caliuers shot and some blowes giuen by the said Inhabitants that hurt some of the saide Switzers whom we caused to retire and that euening to be lodged about our Pallace of Louure to attend the end of the commotion made by the said Inhabitants doing all we might to pacithe same the next day causing them to issue out of the Towne reseruing those that before their comming wee had placed for a gard about our castle m of Louure it beeing shewed vs that it would bee the means to pacifie the said Inhabitants Wee caused likewise to bee stayed certaine foote companies of the Regiment of Picardie that were at the least seuen or eight myles frō thence as also certaine Lords and Gentlemen our seruants that came vnto vs perceiuing their comming to be put into the peoples heads made a shadow of the said Inhabitants rising neuerthelesse m m At all times kings haue greate guards not so much for the assurance of their persons for that in an estate well gouerned and obedient they are not necessary but to shew the dignitie of that excellent Maiestie which separateth thē from the company of other people Salomon had thirtie thousand souldiers for his guard Romulus three hundreth Celeres the kings of Persia 365. Gētlemē of one liuerie the Princes of Greece were serued by the Scytes and Danes Iulius Caezar had Spaniards Caracalle Almains the kings of France in the beginning had their subiects that watched at the gates of their Pallace the Captaines were called Magistri Ostiariorum after that Scots Switzers and since they haue added one hundreth Gentlemen and to them the fortie fiue But all they could not assure the king in his towne his Pallace of Louure nor in his house but hee was constrained to double his forces against the mutinie of his subiects Three things make a Prince passe through the middle of al mutinies and conspiracies Vertues and the constant resolution of friends The gouernment of subiects And the prouidence and foresight of the Prince in steed of seeing it take effect as need required for their good our contentment they ceased not to make more Barricadoes and to strengthen their watches both day night approaching them nearer our said Castle of Louure so farre foorth as that they seemed to set vpon our ordinary Sentinelles likewise to cease vpon the keyes of the Town house and of n n It is a folly to looke for respect reason and obedience in seditious persons and to beleeue that the people will be appeased by flattery such burning feuers are not healed by plaisters but they must haue purgations and letting of blood the credit of the Queen-mother the valour of the Marshals of France the prudence and long experience of Monsieur de Bellieure the faire speeches of M. de Villequier nor all the kings Councell could do nothing therein The mad man reiecteth his medecines driueth his Phisitians from him Superfluum suadere quid fieri oporteat cum audientium assensus in deteriora rapitur Egesippus Saint Anthonies and other Gates of the Cittie in such manner k k The people followeth the first that assureth them it is a vessel that suffereth it selfe to bee stirred by him that first layeth hand vpon the rurther VVithout a head it was Princeps pauidus socors Tacitus that vpō the thirteenth of this month proceeded so farre that it seemed not in the power of man to impeach their great and violent commotion which beganne to proceed euen to the walles of our Castle which wee perceiuing o o The king counselled by certaine fearfull mindes not to fall violently vpon that mutinous company commaunded his souldiers not to stir A councell most sit for the debonaritie and goodnesse of his nature but contrary to the necessitie importance of those affairs for that as we must first threaten and then arme so there is daunger in wholly withdrawing our armes He himself ought to haue mounted on horsebacke with all the Noble men of his traine and entered into the Town-house a refuge for the most seditious when the people had seen that the cloude had burst out on that side and that the king would not deale but with the first authors of the faction their chollor would haue consumed into smoake they would haue withdrawne themselues peaceably without stroke striken and the boldest of them wold haue bin well content to bear the news of their dispersion vnto their own houses Ex ferocibus vniuersis singuli metu suo obediētes fuissent It was necessary in that great tēpest to vnlade the ships to keepe thē from sinking and prefer a generall before a particular for that all is of greater moment then a part the Citie more then the Cittizens desiring not to imploye our said forces against the said Inhabitants the conseruation of the saide Towne and good Cittizens thereof hauing alwaies bin as deare vnto vs as our owne liues as they in many sorts haue well tryed we determined the same day to depart and rather to absent our person from the thing we so much haue as yet do
any man I sent to the Lords of my Court namely to the D. of Guise to the end they should giue me a roll of their domesticall seruaunts and to send the rest away whom I vnderstood to be in great numbers at the least fifteen thousand which I did for the preseruation of my good Town of Parris with sureties of my subiects And therefore I will haue them to acknowledge their faults with greefe and true contrition I knowe well that they are put in minde and made beleeue that hauing offended mee in that sort my indignation is vnreconcileable but I would haue you to let them know that I am not so disposed to loose them and as God whose Image although vnwoorthie I beare heere vppon earth will not the death of a sinner so I desire not their ouerthrow I will trie the gentillest meanes and when they shall confesse their fault and shew by effect what sorrow they haue I will receiue and imbrace them as my subiects shewing my selfe like a father to his children yea a friend to his friend I will haue them to acknowledge mee for their good King and Maister which if they doo not but rather feede me with delayes withdrawing my hands as I can well do I will make them know their offences whereof the memorie shall remaine to all posterities for it beeing the chiefe and principall Towne honoured with the Supreme Court of my Realme and other Courts Priuiledges honours and Vniuersities I can as you know reuoke my Court of Parliament Chambers of accounts aydes and other Courts and vniuersities which would turne to their great decay For that ceasing their trafficques and other commodities would decrease yea and wholly decay as it happened in the yeare 1579. during the great plague by reason of my absence and the discontinuance of the Parliament a great number of my Councellours beeing retired so that the same yeare many of the shippes stood shut vp and the people liued idle spending their time in playing and walking in the streetes I knowe there are many honest men within my Towne of Parris and that of foure three parts are of that number which are greeued for the mischiefe that is happened then let them with speede procure my iust contentment that I be not constrained to vse rigor which to my great greefe I would bee loth to doo You know that patience once mooued turneth into fury and what a king that is displeased may doo For surely I will imploye all my power not leauing any meanes vnsought to reuenge my selfe on them although my minde bee not reuengetiue but I would that they would know that both my hart and courage is as great as any of my predecessors euer was I haue not as yet since my aduancement to the Crowne after my brothers death nor my returne out of Polonia vsed rigor to any man which you both knowe and can well witnesse neither I will that any man should abuse my clemencie and long suffering I am no vsurper I am lawfull king by succession as you all can testifie and of a race that hath alwaies commanded with benignitie It is in vaine to speake of religion I must take another course there is no Prince liuing in the world more Catholicque and desirous of the extirpation of heresies then I am which both mine actions and life hath shewed vnto my people I would it had cost mee an arme that the picture of the last Hereticque were painted here vpon my chamber wall Now you may returne to execute your charges and alwaies be of good courage for you need to feare nothing if I stand by you and I commaund you to let them vnderstand what I haue said Not long after the K. determined to go to Roane where the Inhabitants receiued him with great ioy shewing so many signes of their great desires to liue in his obedience that their fidelitie and loue mittigated the griefe of the reuolt and murenie of others The king goeth to Roane and not long before the Town of Lyons had expresly sent vnto the king to desire his Maiestie to come thither to acknowledge that their long and continuall fidelitie should appeare so much the firmer as by how much the more it was continually sought to be detected When the Duke of Guise perceiued that Parris in great haste returned vnder the kings obedience from the which it had so suddainely reuolted that the shame to bee without him made the boldest of them holde downe their heads that the violence of rebellion beganne to lessen by meanes of naturall reason that the sonne of the kings authoritie beganne to waxe hotte and that there was not any desperate leaguer but acknowledged that the absence of the Court would bee a hinderance to his purse his shop and his affaires hee determined to winne the kings fauour The Nobles of the league findes the day of the Barricadoes very greeuous thereby not to loose the ayde of those that found the action within Parris to bee ouer hardie All his seruants himself beginning returned to the wearing of their old cloaks of the K. authoritie which by their Barricadoes they had wholly troden vnder foote the third word that issued out of their fained and dissembling mouthes was the seruice of the king the obedience of his Maiestie the preseruation of the The Nobles of the league finds the day of the Barricadoes very greeuous estate there formations of disorders and the reliefe of the people beleeuing that this second enterprise would succeede with as much contentment and impunitie as the first and in steed of maintaining himself in the degree whervnto by so many paines daungers and troubles hee had as then attained he descended of a suddaine and went to finde the Queen-mother and with her to make some euill shapen coate the king reapeth more profit by his enemies then hee looked for Plutarche saith there was one that giuing a thrust with his sword into his enemies bodie by chance pearced an impostume therein which without doubt had killed him shortly after if that new Surgeon had not brokē it And so if the great mutinie of Parris had not suppressed the great aboundance of colde and heauie humours that long rest and pleasure hadde bredde and constrained the king to rise and bestirre himselfe hee had returned to his solitarie life and so most certanly had lost his Crowne before he could perceiue it The boldnesse of this enterprise filled his courage and from that time forward hee determined either to liue like a victorious king The profit which he hath of his enemies ordie vanquished But hee perceiued himselfe to bee reduced into two extremities both very daungerous in the middle whereof there stood a deep and profound pit the anker of his safetie is peace he could not make it both with the league and Huguenots togither if hee turned to the one side hee was assayled by the other if hee stayed in the middle hee was charged by them
Ouerseer of them a Great-maister or Steward of the Hospitall and sixtie two seruants There were religious persons proportionall to that great number first eight Obseruants of Castille 20. Obseruants of Portugall nine and twentie Friers of Castille Their Cleargie men ten Friers of Portugal 9. Augustins of Castille 14. Augustins of Portugall sixe Friers of Portugall of the Order called del Pagna twelue Carmes of Castille nine Carmes of Portugall eight Fryers of the third order of S. Francis in Portugall two and twentie Iacobins fifteene Iesuites of Castille and eight Iesuites of Portugall so that besides the number of fighting men there was almost tenne thousand that had nothing to do with armes An armie how great soeuer it bee and well conducted if it hath not prouisions and amunitions accordingly it receiueth but blasone shame and dishonor but the king of Spaine tooke not that great enterprise in hand without prouiding as great furniture as should bee requisite whereby the Generall had no cause to feare any want to put the armie out of courage Munitions and prouisions For they had eleuen thousand Quintals of Biscat foureteen thousand one hundreth and seuentie Pipes of Wine sixe thousand fiue hundreth Quintals of Bacon three thousand foure hundreth thirtie three Quintalles of cheese eight thousand Quintals of dried fishes of all sorts Rice to furnish euery vessell with three Quintals for sixe moneths six thousand three hundreth and twentie vesselles of beanes and pease eleuen thousand three hundreth ninetie eight roues or measures of oyle twentie three thousand eight hundreth and seuentie roues of vinegre and eleuen thousand eight hundreth and fiftie Pipes of fresh water besides the victuals and the necessaries of houshold that were in great number and of all sorts as platters goblets pots funnels and vessels of wood candlestickes lanterns lampes falots candles of waxe and tallowe plates of lead and Oxe hides to stoppe holes made with great shotte bags of leather canuaffe and buckeram hoopes for pipes and barrels eight thousand sadles of leather fiue thousand paire of common shooes eleuen thousand paire of shooes with strings cords nayles horses waggons wheeles milles apple trees and all whatsoeuer belongeth eyther by water or by land twelue great peeces for batterie and twelue field peeces with bagges of calues skins for powder and bullets The armes reserued for store were seuen thousand caliuers and their furnitures one thousand muskets tenne thousand launces one thousand partisans and halbardes sixe thousand pikes more pickaxes payles Their armes and other instruments then would serue for seuen hundreth pioners With this number and in this manner being prepared the armie departed out of Lisbon vnder the conduct of the Duke de Medina Sidonia assisted with two and twentie Lords of Estate Councell and experience eightie pages and tenne young Gentlemen or knights and seruants in great number But it had scarse entered into the sea sayling towards the Grongnes in Gallicia but there rose a storme with so great force that it was constrained to put to land and there staye till winde and weather serued hauing lost in that storme three Gallies of Portugals and many of them so scattered and brused that they were not seruiceable for that voyage The storme beeing ceased and the winde bettering about the two and twentieth day of the moneth of Iuly the Generall caused them to set sayle so fortunately that in lesse then fiue daies after they discouered the point or end of Cornwall and at the same time they were seene from Plimmouth by the Admiral of England and Sir Francis Drake Viceadmiral that made them turne their faces and gaue them such a skirmish and that so neare that the shippes were in disorder and a great gallion lost wherein was found a part of the treasures that the armie brought with it all the instructions that the Duke of Medina had what hee should do hauing conquered England At the last it got as farre as Calais where it should haue ioyned with the Duke of Parma but the armie of England that sought to impeach it followed it and that so neare that it was forced to leaue her anker-hold and confusedly to flie away Their principal Galleasse among other vesselles was by the streame cast vpon the sands hard by the Hauen of Calais and there with her ordinances was left for the Gouernours of Calais the rest of the shippes were strongly beaten with cannon shot and by the English shippes scattered abroad in such sort that in those skirmishes the armie was lessened of twelue shippes and aboue fiue thousand men Which done it made towards the North seas passing betweene Norway The scattering of the Spanish armie Scotland so towards Ireland where those Northen seas being as the risen according to the time of the year were very tempestious vsed the rest of the army very hardly for it drowned and sunke seuenteene great vesselles vpon the coast of Ireland and spoyled brake and ouerthrew diuers others in such manner that of one hundreth and thirtie shippes there were scarce thirtie that returned into Spaine The coppie of a Letter sent to Deepe touching the encoumer of the English and Spanish armie and howe the Spaniards had wonne the victorie The report of the successe of this Fleet was giuen out cleane contrary to that which happened vnto it or then was trueth and the innocency of diuers men was so great that they assured and affirmed for certaine that the Spaniards had the victorie for the which they made fiers of ioy and printed whole discourses thereby to couer the shamefull flight of the Duke de Medina that could make no other excuse vnto the king his Maister of that ouerthrow but the infidelitie and ignorance of the Sailors and the little experience they had of those Northen Seas the want of ayde from the Prince of Parma and the great stormes and tempests vpon the seas This great ouerthrow abashed not the league that more vnpatiently then euer it did pursued the execution of the Edict of vnion it sawe that the king by words and oaths not common but solemne had sworne in the Cathedrall Church of Roane in presence of the Cleargie Princes and Lords of the Court that hee had sent vnto the Bishoppes touching those affaires that their Priestes in euery Diocesse should cause their parisioners to make profession of their faith that the Huguenots should abiure their errors in open Courts of Parliaments Courts royall and publike places to make them obserue it but not contenting themselues therewith they would haue the Edict christened with the speciall name of a fondamentall lawe and because it could not bee done but by the third estates of France they besought the king to hold Parliament as by the said articles of peace hee had promised De Commines lib. 5. cap. 4. The authoritie which the Senate had among the Romanes the same authoritie hath the Parliament deuised by the first familie of the kings of France
for his part wrought the hearts and mindes of his Adherents by faire promises and most artificiall subtilties to procure the more strength on his side and to cause all the Deputies to haue no other desire and memoriall in their remembrances then the aduancement and triumph of the league The king that would not returne to Parris excusing himselfe by the preparation for the estates went first to Bloys to take order for their place of assembly partition of chambers and lodgings for the Deputies He gaue the charge of the preparation to the Lord of Marle one of the ordinary controwlers of his house in the absence of the Lord of Roddez Great-Maister of the ceremonies of France to take order for the commodious placings of so great a company cōmanded him to bring the deputies one after the other as they arriued into his chamber that he might see heare know them And because the number of those that made most haste were not sufficient in the the kings minde to debate such waightie affaires hee prolonged their meeting till the last day of the same moneth and in the meanetime all the Deputies arriued out of euery place So that in lesse then tenne daies Bloys was as it were the receptacle of all the Realme of France This most religious Prince desiring to begin this assembly with a publike inuocation vppon the name of God commaunded a solemne procession from the Church of Saint Saueor in the great Court of the Castle at Blois vnto the Church of our Ladie des Aydes in the subburbes of Vienne It was a generall shewe of the French pompe and magnificence and specially of the beautie of the Court of so great a king Their order was in this manner first there went the communalties of the Churches after them the Deputies of the people foure in a ranke then followed the Nobilitie seconded by Ecclesiasticall persons after them came Albon Bishops Archbishops and Cardinals foure knights of the Order of the holy Ghost carried the Canape the Archbishop of Aix bearing the holy Sacrament Then followed his Maieftic on foote with the Queenes Princes and Princesses Monsieur de Saintes Bishop of Eureux made the Sermon and the Archbishop of Bourges saide the Masse in our Lady Church all hanged with the kings richest hangings his Maiestie sat in the Quier vpon a seat couered with veluet This procession was made vpon Sunday the second of October and the next day they were to buy their meeting but as then all the Deputies were not come therefore that day there was nothing done but appoynting of places and chambers for conference The spiritualtie met in the Iacobins the Nobilitie in the Pallace the Deputies for the people in the Towne-house the Presidents and officers of euery Order were chosen the Cardinals of Bourbon Guise for the clargie in their absence the Archbishop of Bourges for the Nobilitie the Earles of Brissac the Lord of Marrignac For the third estate or people Michael Marteau Prouost of Merchants of the towne of Parris the Secretaries of the Cleargie were Master Iues le Tartier Dean of S. Stenens church in Troy Iohn Martin Cannon of Perigueux Deputies for the Cleargie of the same places For the Nobilitie Florimond de Dorne Lord of that place Bailiffe of S. Prerrele Monstier Claude de Moniournal Sieur de Sindre Deputies de Bourbonnois Francis d'Alonuille Sieur d'Oisonuille Deputie of the Baliage and Duchy of Estampes The Secretary of the chamber of the third estate was Iohn Courtin Sieur de Nanteuil Deputie for the 3. estate of the Baliage of Boys The first sitting was put off till the 17. day of the same month for two causes the first because they stayed the comming of the Princes of the blood that as then were not arriued in the Towne and the rest of the Deputies The other to haue time to auoyde the differences and iealousies that happened because of the preuentations and delaies made touching the elections and procurations of Deputies The king at that same time caused a fast to bee published and an abstinence from flesh for the space of three whole daies that men might prepare themselues to the holy communion which was receiued by the king in the Church of Saint Saueor within the Castle the Princes and Lords of the Court in diuers Churches all the other Deputies of the third Estate in the Couent of Iacobins where the Cardinall of Bourbon celebrated the Masse and communicated vnto them The sixteenth of October the Hall where the States should sit was opened which was in this maner It is in length fiue twentie paces and nine in bredth with sixe great stone Pillers in the middle hanged with rich cloth of Arras wrought with golde the Pillers couered with hangings of purple veluet imbrodered with flower deluces of gold the toppe of the Hall couered with Tapistrie betweene the third and fourth piller was placed a great seate in manner of a scaffold rising with three steppes about eleuen or twelue inches high fiue paces long and foure broad in the middle whereof stood a great footstoole about foure or fiue inches high foure foot long and eight foote broad and vppon that an other litle footestoole of sixe foote square whereon stood the kings chaire on the right side vppon the great footestoole was the Queene-mothers chaire on the other side the Queen the kings wife behinde their chaires stood the Captaines of the guard and all along the scaffold the two hundreth Gentlemen with their hatchets or poleaxes on the right hand of the king vppon the great scaffold there were two bankes togither couered with purple veluet imbrodred with flower deluces of gold vpon one of thērnearest towads the king sat the princes of the blood the Cardinal of Vendosme the Earle of Soissons and the D. de Monpeslier on the other banke somewhat further sat the Dukes of Nemours de Neuers and de Retz right against those bankes on the left hand the Cardinalles de Guise de Lenoncourt and de Gondy and behinde them two Priors of the Church the Archbishoppe of Langres and the Bishoppe of Chaalons Before the footeftoole vppon the scaffold there stood a chaire without abacke right before the king couered with purple veluet and imbrodered with flower deluces of gold for the Duke of Guise as great Maister of France his backe towards the king and his face to the people on the left hand and vppon the same scaffold stood a chaire for Monsieur de Monthelon keeper of the great seales of France his face towards the Princes of the blood and his backe to the Cardinalles of Guise and Lenoncourt the place at the kings foote that belonged to the Duke de Maine as Chamberlaine of France and that of the Marshall of France that should bee vppon the last steppe of the scaffold were emptie at the foote of the scaffold right before the kings chaire stood atable for the kings Secretaries beeing Monsieur Ruze Lord
of Beaulieu and Monsieur de Reuol their backs towards the king and their faces to the people and before them the Heralts on their knees and bare-headed on each side of this table stood the seates of the kings auditors of all affaires on the left hand Monsieur de Bellegarde chiese Gentleman of the kings chamber the Archbishoppe of Lyons Monsieur Miron the kings chiefe Phisitian on the left hand vpon an other banke Monsieur de Longenac an other of the Gentlemen of the kings chamber Monsieur des Escars Monsieur de Souuray Monsieur d'O three Commanders of the Order of the holy Ghost at the end of the bankes aforesaid there stood two banks one at the end of the other along on both sides that made an Allie about two or three foote broad vppon those of the right hand sat Messieurs of the Councel of estate of the long gowne Monsieur d'Espesse the kings Aduocate in the Parliament at Parris Monsieur de Chastelliers Monsieur Falcon Sieur de Riz Monsieur Marcel Receiuer of the Treasurie Monsieur de la Guesle Atturney generall for the king Monsieur Campigny Monsieur de Pont-carre Monsieur de Ville-roy Monsieur de Viart President of Metz Monsieur Petremol Sieur de Rosiers Receiuer of the finances Monsieur de Thou Sieur de Emery And vpon the other two bankes on the left hand sat the Councell of Estate of the short gowne Monsieur de Schomberg Earle of Nantueil Monsieur de Cleremont d'Antragues Monsieur de la Chastegneraye Monsieur de Rochefort Monsieur de Pongny Monsieur de Richelieu Monsieur de Liancourt Monsieur de Menneuille And vpon the other banke Monsieur de Chastre Monsieur de Grillon Monsieur de Birague Monsieur de Chemerault Monsieur de Manou all Commaunders of the Order of the holy Ghost except the Sieurs de Schomberg de Menneuille And these Lords were they that had the handling of cōmon causes for the ordinary of the Realme or other particular Gouernments of Townes Prouinces and affaires wherein the king onely might take order Behinde the bankes of the Councell of estate of the long gowne on the right hand of the king there stood eight great bankes before the scaffold for the Deputies of the Clargie on the other side vpon the left hand behind the Councellours of estate of the short gowne there stood nine great bankes for Deputies of the Nobilitie crosse hard by on the sides of those bankes was that of the Maisters of Requests and after them the Clarkes of the house and Crowne of France All these were inuironed and closed with great and strong railes of three foore high hauing but one entery that was right before the kings face Betweene the aforesaid third and fourth Pillers whereat the Deputies entered and within the inclosure of those Barricadoes round about were the bankes for them to sit vppon The space about the Railes without was in bredth betweene sixe or seuen foote for the better accesse and ease of the people to leane vppon them The Legate the Ambassadours the Lords and the Ladies of the Court were in the Galleries closed with latises vnder the which were erected diuiers scaffoldes eight or nine steppes higher one then the other thereon to place great numbers of people The Deputies according to the order were called a Hussier standing in a windowe that looked into the Castle-yeard such as hee called were receiued by the Heraults named Normandy d'Alencon and Valois apparrelled in their Coate-armours of purple veluet into the railes that stood at the foot of the steppes which they still shutte as the Deputies entered and from thence ledde them to the enterie of the railes of the Hall where the Herault Brittaine Dauphine receiued them and brought them to the Lords of Roddez and Marle Maisters of the ceremonies telling them of what Prouince they were Deputies and setting them in their places they beeing in that order ledde forward the Herault at the windowe called others which were receiued led and placed as the rest the order vsed in calling them was thus First the Towne-Prouost and Vicounte of Parris the Duchie of Bourgongne and Baliage of Dyon the Duchie of Normandie and by order the Baliages of Roane Caen Caux Constantin Eureux Gisors Alencon and Mortaing The Duchie of Guyenne and by order the Stewardship of Bourdeaux Bazas Perigort Rouergue Xaintongue Agenois the Countrie and Countie of Comminges the Stewardship of Launes S. Seuer Condounas High Limosin and the Towne of Limoges Lowe Limosin the Stewardship of Quercy The Duchie of Brittaine and her dependances the Earledome of Champagne and Baliages of Troye Chaumont in Bassigny Vitry Meaux Prouince Sesanne Sens and the Castle of Tyerrie The Earledome of Thoulouse and gouernment of Languedoc the Stewardship of Thoulouse Puy the Baliages of Velay Mompelier the Stewardship of Carcassonne Narbonne Beziers the Stewardship of Lauragais Vermandois Poictou Chastelleraut Fantenay and Niort the Stewardship of Aniou and of Maine the Baliages of Thouraine and Amboise the Stewardship of Loudunois the Baliages of Berry and S. Pierre le Monstier the Stewardship of Bourbonnois the Baliages of Forest and Beauioulois the Stewardship lowe countrie of Auuergne the Baliages of the Mountaines of Auuergne the Stewardship of Lyon the Baliages of Chartres Orleans Montargis Blois Dreux Mantes and Meulan the Baliages of Gien Percht Chasteauneuf Amiens the Stewardship of Ponthieu Boulonnois Peronne Montdidier and Roye the Baliages of Senlis Vallois Clermont and Beauuoisis Melun Nemours Nyuernois and Douziais The countrie of Dauphine and that which dependeth thereon the towne and gouernment of Rochel the Stewardship of Angoulmois the Baliages of Montfort Houdan Estampes Dourdan the Counte of Prouence Grasse Draguignan Marseille the Counte de la Marche both low high the Marquisat of Saluce and the Baliage of Beauuois in Beaunoisis So that to conclude the Clargie had 134. Deputies among the which were 4. Archbishops 21. Bishops two principals of orders the Nobilitie 180. Gentlemen and the third estate 191. Deputies The number of the Deputies all Ministers of iustice or of the short gowne The Deputies being entered and the Gate shut Monsieur de Guise sitting in his chaire apparelled in a roabe of white Satin the cape hanging backward about his shoulders with his eyes pearcing through all the assembly therein to know and distinguish his seruitors with one onely glance of his eye to strengthen them in the hope and assurance of his pretences greatnesse and fortunes and thereby without word to tell them that he saw them rose vp and hauing made a great reuerence to all the companie beeing followed by the 200. Gentlemen and the Captains of the guard he went to fetch the king that entered in great Maiestie with his principall order hanging about his necke When the company perceiued him to come downe the staires that went straight to the great scaffold euery man rose vp and stood bare-headed which done the king tooke his
this most true and certaine maxime that were the fault of treason against the diuinitie of God left vnpunished there the fault of treason against man will proceed so farre that in the end it will bee esteemed no offence Straungers authors of new impositions to oppresse the people They assured him that the greatest scourge of this Realme is the straunger from whose extreame auarice proceedeth all the inuentions of new imposts which most cruelly impouerish all the Realme of France that laugh at her ruine make them of great authoritie who alreadie haue made a great part of his people to become male contents and in the end will cause the rest to reuolt if they bee not speedily dispatched out of the Realme like the diuell that causeth perpetuall diuision still hindering the rest and quietnesse of the common people Disorders in pollicie Among diuers disorders crept into the common pollicie of the Realme they mooued him of two most great abuses which by continuance produced all the rest The first touching the giuing of benefices vnto all persons without choise or exception either of men or souldiers that all the Bishoppes of those daies some fewe onely excepted that as yet haue some remembrance of their estates and some sparke of the feare of God imprinted in their minds The pride and couetonsnesse of Prelates are daily seene not to shed teares before the Lord of heauen and by praiers to mittigate his wrath and furie bent against vs but proudly to walke within the Court and in all places with great troupes of men the most desperate and vaine persons that are within this Realme Their houses are not filled with the noyse of Himnes and Psalmes sung to the honour of God but with barking of dogges breeding of hawkes and all kindes of vaine and dissembling speeches And to bee short there is nothing seene but ignorance slaunders adulteries and shame among them the onely beholding of their countenances mooueth men more to go out of the Church then all the Ministers and Preachers of heresie are able to inforce them The second is the sale of offices and places of iustice which causeth the most wicked to bee most esteemed that the strongest without reproach oppressethe weak that without scruple of conscience they sell iustice by retaile which they themselues haue bought by grosse that Townes and Prouinces abound in murthers and diuers vnpunished crimes that there is no more order in pollicic nor faith in bargening no respect to the lawe nor loue to vertue The pollicie of the estate of the church and that a most vnbrideled libertie to all euill runneth throughout the whole Realme Which two abuses to extirpe they said vnto him Your Maiestie is not to deale in any sort with the spiritualtie but if you will vndertake so great a charge when you haue first taken order for your cruill pollicie you must imploy your time therein with all holinesse such as belongeth to the handling of diuine causes you are carefull to seeke and finde out men that are excellent and of good conscience to serue about your person but what excuse will you alleadge in beeing lesse carefull to prouide sufficient men for the seruice of God your Grace conceiueth not the importance of this fault you are the cause that a million of soules are lost and it is a most great fault in those that should aduertise your Maiestie thereof if they do it not If you repent not great and forepassed abuses and heereafter suffer it not to proceed any further it is most certaine you can neuer auoyde eternall damnation Ministers disturbers of the church of iustice and pollicie And let your Maiestie bee assured that if you diuert not these ruines that are likely to fall vpon vs if presently you do degrade a great number as well of Ecclesiasticall Prelates as ciuill Magistrates who at this day are officers in al your soueraigne Courts and iurisdictions you cannot preserue your estate you must degrade and punish with death a great number of the most manifest offenders therein for that hath already been done within your Realme and bred a great contentment Then you must inquire and search out for men of good and honest behauiour wherewith you must replenish your Councell and then God will bee assistant vnto them for Gods spirit is alwaies with the iust man and thereby your enterprises will surely take effect sooner by the hands of those whom he doth blesse then by such as are prophane persons whose works are accursed It is very true that we finde not so great numbers of honest men walking abroad Rari quippe boni yet how corrupt soeuer the world may be it was neuer known or found to be voyde of some most excellent vertuous men what numbers of excellent wits zealous persons are yet at this day in al the Prouinces of this Realme how many hereticall courages replenished with holy magnanimitie and incredible boldnesse as among the Nobilitie of this land not blasphemous Gentlemen but such as loue and feare God that neuer were in your Court but rather dwell and remaine in their owne houses without any imployment How many great rich and commendable wittes are distributed and lye hidde within the heads and mindes of men of all sorts and yet wholly despised of diuers persons who if they were imployed in diuers charges would within short time wholly redresse all the disorders and ruines of our estate but such men are onely knowne of GOD and of some honest men if in your Maiesties Court there were a zeale and a desire of saluation and amendment their places and habitations would be continually sought and found out Reformatiof the excesse and disorders in the court and men vppon their knees would intreate them desiring them to helpe to redresse this fauage and barbarous time wherein wee liue and that in steade of ciuill warres of pouertie of miserable seruitude and infinite other mischiefes they would bring vs a holy peace togither with the aboundance of all good things But the blinde prouidence of your Court is onely to finde out new meanes of recouering mony it onely regardeth that as an Angel of desence it placeth all her confidence in gold siluer wherein are seen nothing but Italian banquers and inuentions of new imposts it is much deceiued it is not the great and massy Scepter of golde as an auncient wise man saith that is not the great treasures that maketh Princes to flourish but rather the dutifull amitie of their subiects which proceedeth only from the good order of iustice and the election of capable persons fit for the gouernment of all estates Touching the proposition made to the king to cut off the superfluous number of officers and to abolish the corruption of the sale of offices from whence hee receiueth not one penny profit which is not tempered in the blood of the common people such as found themselues interested thereby fearing to loose the
and Bobier that had laboured for the space of sixe yeares to discouer the same couered and disguised with the Sophisteries and subtilties of their participants Meane time that the estates were busied in the Parliament let vs see what the kings forces did against the enemie The Duke de Neuers led one armie into Poitou and the Duke de Maine conducted the other into Dauphine The armie of the Duke of Neuers in Poictou The Duke de Neuers with a great and strong armie passed into Poitou promising not onely to reduce the whole Prouince vnder the kings obedience but to restore the losse hee had sustained by the battell of Coutrus by some profitable and woorthie exployt hee beeing assisted by Monsieur de la Chastigneraye Maister of the Campe of a Regiment of footemen Monsieur de Sagone Marshall of the light-horse Monsieur de Lauerdin and Monsieur de la Chastre Great-maister of the field the armie being composed of Frenchmen Switzers Italians and diuers voluntary Gentlemen The siege of Manleon The Towne of Manleon was the first place which they pretended to besiege and to the same end it was presently inuironed with great numbers of horse and footemen It is the lawe of armes to punish such as seeking to striue against the streame some to oppose themselues by rash and vaine resolution to hold a fort which of it selfe is wholly weak vndefensable And for that kinde of foolish hardinesse Anne de Monmorancy Constable of France hanged such as hee found in the Castle of Villane and all those that were in a Tower standing in the subburbes of Saint Anthony of Pauie Yet the Garrison of Manleon although they well perceiued both want of amunitions and weaknesse of their walles would neyther parley nor yet yeeld vntill they sawe the last extremitie but when they sought by articles to compound the assaylants vsing all inhumanitie against them beeing disarmed bathed their victorie in the blood of naturall Frenchmen Montague taken From thence they marched towards Montagu where Monsieur de Colombiere Gouernour of the Towne issued and skirmished with the Duke de Neuers forces with equall losse on both sides which done after some resistance made and certaine Cannons shotte against the Towne the souldier fearing the euent of cruel assault not long after drew to an honourable composition and so yeelded the Towne When Montagu had yeelded the armie went to batter la Ganache a Towne with a Castle lying betweene Poitou and Brittaine as I will shewe you heereafter The Duke de Maine at Lyons The Duke de Maine beeing at Lyons and from thence minding to passe into Dauphine found his affection as much cooled as at the first it had beene greatly inflamed and knowing such pretences to bee daungerous and ouer lightly grounded vppon the mutenie of the people hee stayed his proceedings expecting the issue of the Parliament and while hee continued at Lyons Monsieur de Mandelot died beeing in great feare to bee displaced from his gouernment by the Duke de Nemours that had the graunt thereof and for the same cause hee doubted the comming of the Duke de Maine to bee to that end Hee fell sicke about the end of the moneth of October troubled with a windie colicque The sicknesse death of the Lord de Mandelot and certaine fittes of an ague the goute likewise ceasing vppon him and all at once Yet hee seemed not to bee in any great daunger till Sunday the thirteenth of Nouember when hee changed in such sort that on wednesday after in the morning feeling his forces to decay hee began to thinke vppon his end and comforting his Ladie hee besought father Edmond Auger to shewe the king that hee died poore and indebted by reason of his Maiesties seruices Hee recommended his wife and children to the Sheriffes and Magistrates of Lyons desiring them not to shewe themselues friends to mutable fortune that they would not suffer him to die like a â—ancrout and that his goods and mooueables might be openly solde he made the like declaration to the Straungers in the Towne And vppon Saturday at night hee receiued the extreame vnction which done hee besought God that it would please him yet to giue him life for the space of two yeares longer if hee thought it good for the profit of the Church the seruice of the king and the commoditie of the Cittie of Lyons Presages of the leaguers affaires The next day the Duke de Maine went to visit him where for a certain time hee had some conference with him And this Gentleman that had alwaies had a great insight into the affaires of the League by a spirit although not propheticall yet prognosticating said vnto him that the end of the Parliament at Blois would not bee so agreeable as the beginning that the wound of the Barricadoes of Parris was yet bleeding and that the taking of the Marquisat of Saluces had much increased it that the Duke of Guise should neuer finde the meanes to pacifie the sea by him so much troubled and tormented and that the supposed ayde of straungers which hee expected would fayle him hee died the foure and twentieth of Nouember and was buryed vpon Saint Andrewes day at whose funerall the Ladie his wife shewed both by her apparrell honour and order that amitie continueth as well after as before mans death Father Edmond Auger made the funerall Sermon in presence of the Duke de Maine and among other things commending his person saide that hee had neuer subscribed to the League and that hee died constant in religion and the seruice of the King But now let vs returne againe vnto the Parliament where the king laboured with great paine to procure the remedies which hee expected from the wholesome counsell that should bee giuen vnto him and like a wise Pilot that scoureth and maketh clean the plankes of his shippe thereby to clense it of all filth that might hang vppon it and so to hinder the like fish from catching holde thereon which in the middle of the streame vseth to staye the course of the greatest shippe that is hee sought to cutte off all the difficulties that hindered his Realm from passing out of the troublesome waues of long and continuall warres Remore a fish stayeth a shippe and thereby could not arriue at the hauen of happie peace but as hee continued in his great labour and holy desire that goodly harmony of the assembly of the estates beganne to iarre vppon the newes of the taking of the Marquisat of Saluce Newes of the taking of Carmagnoles by the Duke of Sauoye and of Carmagnoles the Frontier-Towne of France and Italie The estate of the Duke of Sauoye I must heerevnto adde this discourse which of force I must declare at large the better to make it knowne first shewing the estate of the Duke of Sauoy then what were the principall causes of this enterprise the right and reasons wherewith hee defended
sent his letters pattents sealed with the great seale vnto the Inhabitants of Romorantin forbidding them not to administer victualles nor amunition to the company of Monsieur de Souuray and they had expresse commaundement to send vnto him That in presence of the Queene-mother hee had refused his Maiestie to subscribe to the ordinance which hee ment to publish concerning certaine treasons as then practised and pretended That his only intent was in his person as a supposed branch of the house of Charlemaine to reestablish the greatnesse and vsurped authoritie of the ancient Maiors of the Pallace to the ende the king should onely beare the name and that hee might deale with him as Charles Martel did with Chilperic Some that were present at this Councel the more to stirre vp the kings minde by the auncient perill of an vnrecouerable fall from his authoritie to shewe him that his Maiestie was to remember the dreame he had before the League beganne which was that the Lyons and wilde beasts by him nourished in his Castle of the Louure deuoured him The kings dreame or vision and that beeing mooued with this vision hee had caused them to bee killed and among the rest one Lyon being the most furious beast of them all Lastly they put the King in minde of Salcedoes processe which had discouered all the pretence of the Councell holden at Nancy the first article whereof was to cease vpon the Kings person of the Councell of fiue persons holden at Parris in the time of Lent in An. one thousand fiue hundreth eightie seuē wherin the Duke de Maine couertly inuayed against his Maiestie Of the memorials taken about the Aduocate Dauid of the letters sent by the Queene of Denmarke to her sonne the Duke of Lorraine which were found about the Abbot of Billy comming from Rome and withall the attempt of the Barricadoes was not forgotten therewith to end their Councell Considerations that stayed the kings minde But three things caused the kings minde to wauer and to staye long before hee resolued vpon it one the respect of the Pope the second his oath made touching the protection of the states and the third the troubles that this execution would breed by their meanes that fauoureth the Duke of Guise Touching the first it was shewed him that his holinesse beeing aduertised of the Duke of Guise at the erecting of the Barricadoes had ceased vpon the Bastille and Bois de Vincennes hee said vnto the Bishop of Parris that the enterprise was ouer bolde that it touched the estate and that the offence would prooue vnrecouerable That his holinesse had often written vnto his Maiestie that hee should assure himselfe of the estates what meanes soeuer hee made and that in these so apparant daungers there is no remedie whatsoeuer but it may bee vsed that hee needed not to inquire if it were lawfull to be done and that it was for the same cause that his Maiestie had obtained a Confessor by him to bee resolued of all things touching or concerning the holy Sea of Rome That the heads and authors of factions are so odious vnto Princes iealous of the quietnesse of the estate that therein they pardon not their owne blood as king Philip that pardoned not Charles his owne sonne that sought to surprise the low Countries And the Duke of Guise when speeches were vsed touching the disobediences of the Duke of Aniou deceased had alwaies this example of extreame iustice readie to produce It is knowne why the Cardinall of Caraffe was strangeled Pope Sixtus at this day liuing in the first yeare of his pontificates put to death the Counte de Pepoly one of the most famous families in all Italie because hee kept certaine banished persons his kinsmen secretly in his house In this Realme of France Iohn Earle of Harcourt of the blood royal of Scotland Lewis de Luxembourg Constable of France Iaques Counte de la Marche issued from the house of Castille diuers others of as great quallitie and estate as the Duke of Guise haue indured shamefull ends because they practised and made secret leagues with forraine Princes and kings The Pope thoght that the Duke of Guise had borne armes for the religiō but after the Barricadoes once erected hee beleeued it not and although religion were the cause of the warres yet should it not bee lawfull without the kings authoritie The example is both good and memorable in the Historie of the king of Spaine called Leoncilde both an hereticque and an Arrian This Barbarian pursued the Christians and pardoned not his owneson that had bin instructed and conuerted vnto Christian religion by Leander Bishop of Tolede hee banished him out of kingdome This young Prince being mooued at the miseries and persecutions of the Christians in his countrie Qui contra genitorem quamuis hereticum talia cogitarer didtwise raise armes against his father at the first he was ouerthrowne and sent into exile at the second time he was put to death and slaine vpon Easterday S. Gregory Archbishop of Tours in this example noteth the effects of the iudgements of God condemneth the boldnesse of this Prince that The king is not bound by oath nor obligation vnto his subiects rebelled against his father and his king although both an hereticque an Arrian Touching the oath which is the second consideration that stayed his Maiestie and which is neuer broken nor neglected but repentance followeth it was tolde the King that euen as betweene the bond-man and the Lord there is no obligation to bee made that there can bee no strickt promise betweene the subiect and the Prince that the promises made are not to bee obserued that if faith bee not to bee holden with him that cannot iustly bee called an enemie and that hath no authoritie to make warres who by the lawe is termed a theefe or a rouer the Prince is not bound to keepe his promise with a meane subiect who by his rebellion hath first violated his owne faith vnto his Prince Necessitie hath no lawe wee must vse time as occasion serueth that is when necessitie compelleth and when men break their faith and promise In great assemblies great examples of punishing rebelles are done and executed as at the marriage of the Emperour Zeno with the daughter of Ardaburis where the Bridegome was slaine Balisene and the Emperours father in lawe committed prisoners The kings of England and Polonia haue often summoned Parliaments therein to take and surprise the Lords that had rebelled against them Our kings haue arested them beeing at their bankets These great motions haue alwaies some extraordiry event but necessitie and publike vtilitie doth authorise them A league grounded vpon the good will of the people The third obiectiō of this vnresolued resolutiō was the great credit which the Duke of Guise had gotten among the people wherevpon it was shewed the king that as the said Princes part had no other credit but among the multitude
for the space of certain time ther had bin some about him that most manifestly practised in his presence elsewher by their adherents to renue raise deuision to cause his actions to be disliked wholly to suppresse his authoritie neuerthelesse with great patience and calamitie hee had tollerated the effects of the euill will in those respects appeared to bee in them assaying by all the fauours and courtesies hee could deuise to mollifie their hearts and to drawe them vnto those things that concerned reason with the good profit of his estate and the conseruation of religion That this notwithstanding they not beeing disswaded from their pernicious deuises by the aforesaide effects of his good and holy intents neither yet by any other considerations his Maiestie had discouered that they had proceeded so farre as by new inuentions to enterprise against both him and his estate That to withstand the same to his great greefe hee had bin constrained to preuent their sinister dealings but that for the singular loue and good wil naturall in him and which hee hath alwaies continued and will continue vnto his said Catholicque subiects with like care of the quietnesse safetie and conseruation of their liues as much as any father towards his children Hee had therein vsed so much clemencie and moderation that hee had restrained and layde the paine and punishment onely vppon the heads and authors of the euill sparing their adherents and seruants and fauourably receiued admitted them among the rest of his good subiects vpon promise by them made from thenceforth to become his true and faithfull subiects That although not only by his actions past as by this last proceeding hee hath giuen and declared by euident testimonies of his holy intent and clemencie that no man ought to doubt neuerthelesse to make it more manifest to all his subiects his Maiestie declareth and protesteth that this which hath happened hath beene effected by reason of the preuentions vsed against his Edict of Iuly and since that time And in the execution of that which is contained therein his will and meaning is to keep and cause it to bee kept and to obserue and maintaine it from poynt to poynt for a lawe as it hath been established and sworne in the Parliament according to the forme and tenor thereof Forgetting and wholly remitting all whatsoeuer is or hath bin done against dutie and fidelitie by those that haue participated in the said practises vppon condition that heereafter they shall depart and wholly forsake all leagues associations practises deuises and intelligences with all persons whatsoeuer both without and within the Realme The practises against the Edict of vnion wherevnto the King referreth the cause and motion of the death of the Cardinall and the Duke of Guise are specified in the treatie written concerning the troubles that ensued this execution Causes of putting the D. of Guise to death The first that assoone as the edict of vnion agreed vpon within the Cittie of Roane was published in the Parliament-house the principall heades of the League in stead of causing their partakers to leaue their armes had entertained them with further hopes and meanes contrary to the Edict sworne summoning them to bee in a readinesse to effect a great exployt The second that they had determined to seize vpon the Kings person and to coÌ„strain him to dismisse his Councel whom they thought to be most faithfull vnto him and least affected to the aduancement of their intents and to bereaue him of his authoritie yea and of the name of a king The third their practises leagues and deuises to breake the libertie of the Parliament and to hinder them from consulting with the king touching the good of his estate and the quietnesse of his people hauing a great number of the Deputies so much affected to their pretences that they neuer assembled before they had first consulted with the Councell of the Duke of Guise touching their aunsweres propositions and resolutions The fourth the fained perswasions deuised against the good intents of the king to disswade him from the easing of the long oppressioÌ„s of his people the Duke of Guise on the one side counselling him not to imbase his authoritie so much as to depriue himselfe of the meanes to maintaine the glory of his Maiestie royall by reducing the tallages to a lower rate then was conuenient and on the other side hee perswaded and pricked forward his participants to craue it by that meanes to make his Maiestie odious among them by refusing the easing of his peoples oppressions or else to force him therevnto The sift the confirmation of the treaties and confederacies made with forraine Princes as the king of Spaine the Duke of Sauoy and Lorraine and the fiue small Cantons the leagues and intelligences with diuers Lords and Gouernours of Townes and Prouinces within the Realme all contrary to the Edict of vnion which they had sworne and promised so religiously to obserue A great person in our time in the second part of the Historie of the League Vulgus audacia turbidum nisi vim metuat The second discourse of the state of France noteth the vnrecouerable fault of the king after that action that busied himselfe to iustifie his pretence and to flatter the people who by lenitie become obstinate by seueritie are constrained This great tree ouerthrown saith he such as shadowed themselues thereby were for a time discouered and without doubt the Duke of Guise himselfe was all the League hee onely had more parts and valour then all his participants togither And if the king had beene resolute to go forward with his actions and not to doo them by halues as his maner was and if within two houres after the act performed hee had mounted on horsebacke and so had added his presence his forces vnto the feares of the townes that helde with the League abashed at that great accident it is very likely hee had auoyded the mischiefe which after fell vpon him But God that derided the vaine enterprises of the one mocked the remedies by the other prouided This Prince who neuerthelesse wanted neither iudgement nor courage had no sooner perceiued his enemie dead put presently perswaded himselfe to haue no more in all the world and certainly being among his familiars he vsed this speech saying This day I am king and yet to the contrary from that day forward his royall estate begane to decline Incauta semper nimâ—â— presumptio sui negligents Egesippus This presumptioÌ„ caused him to be so carelesse in his affaires that he lost Orleans which he might haue saued by shewing himselfe vnto it that he suffred the D. de Maine to come fortifie himself with men munitioÌ„ he laughed at those the moued him with al diligeÌ„ce to send for his armie that laye in Poitou hee was offended against such as counselled him at the same time to vse the ayde of the king that now is
Vicars of Parishes by putting a dagger to their throates to baptize pardon mee if I vse this sacred word in an act so execrable calues sheepe lambes pigges goates chickens and capons and to giue them the names of pikes carpes barnobles soles turbots and herrings It was in diuers places and sundrie Innes that thus much was performed while Sorbonne and the Preachers thundred out against their souerâ—igne and lawful Prince to rauish women and virgins within the Temples to murther the poore prisoners hard at the Altar to run away with the Challice and to strip the Ecclesiasticall Officials was the essentiall forme of a good and zealous Leaguer if any alleadged that they were of the royall partie among a number of examples one shall suffise to discouer the Lyon as wee vsually say by his pawes One of the most insolent of the league named Commeronde had vnder him a Regiment of seuen or eight hundreth men and hauing ouerrun pilled and forraged the whole countries of Aniou and Countie Laual in the end of Aprill he lodged himselfe in the Borough of Arquenay appertaining to the Lord of Rambouillet and distant three myles from Laual There was in the same place a Temple which they call a Church as well furnished and set foorth as any in all the countrie hauing been of long time inriched and indowed with many donatories by the Lords of that place The Inhabitants had not laid apart nor shut vp any one thing of their or naments seeing they could not bee perswaded that vnder these goodly titles of zealous and vnited Catholickes so many erronious offences might bee hatched withall diuers of the religion had passed by that way before which did not so much as touch this Temple nor athing that was therein But Commeronde for his first warrelike exployt burned the Gates of the Church afterwards hee entered thereinto with his people which wholly pilled and spoyled it killed a poore man at the crucifix foot because he complained that in the self same place they had rauished his wife in his own presence they eased their bellies within the holy water stocke and in euery corner of the Church and of robes wherein were wrought certaine Aue Maries they made garments for change and setting foorth of their queanes For the top and height of this exployt they tooke the pixe of siluer wherein there was foure and twentie hostes one amongst the rest apparelled him-himselfe in Priestlike habite caused eighteene or twentie souldiers to fall downe vppon their knees and hauing his hands yet full of blood and sacriledge distributed these hostes throwing downe vppon the ground three or foure others that remained which were troden vnder foote At their departure they solde the Copes banner and relicques to the Moonkes of Eurons the Challices lampes boxes and crosse of siluer to them of Vague and not many daies after they did as much at Thorigni But expecting a particular Historie of the league wherein shall bee found renued all kindes of cruell and infamous Tragedies let vs returne to the armie of the league and to the Parisians The revnion of the two Kings made them see how it was time for the league to runne for this cause the Councell generall of the vnion addressed memorials letters and aduertisements both within and without the realm of whatsoeuer they thought expedient to assure and protect this building of confusion They sent men and large instructions vnto Rome to iustifie their actions to demaund a legate from the Pope to promise publication of the Councell of Trent to obtaine and fauour on all sides through the intercession of the Pope and his Cardinals One of their packets was surprised by the way so that their mynes by this meanes were blowen vp neuerthelesse their Deputies who were the Commaunders of Diou Councell our Coqueley the Abbot of Orbais and the Deane of Rheimes went forward about the end of May. Other dispatches were sent to the leaguer Townes for raising contribution for whole Cartlodes of siluer was behoofull for the disbursments of such young kings to fill the coffers of others most greedie for payments of some mens debts and for the purchase of other summes lands and Lordships Exployts by the king against the league In the meane while both within and round about the townes were infinit pillages incoursions thefts and depredations performed diuers of the royall partie were murthered heere and there In euerie place there was extreame libertie giuen and the furie seemed desperate that was vndertaken against the kings name There was no longer any question of a commotion in some small circuite of a countrie but a man might perceiue the fire of this reuolt to haue taken hold in the foure corners and even in the middest and heart of France so furiously as it is an horror to call it to mind The king had from the beginning of Aprill sent forces hither and thither and some towns not farre from Parris remained yet at his commandement Genlis which had done homage to the leagne was happily reduced to his obedience by the solicitation of some noble Burgesses and this because it was but a little daies iourny froÌ„ Parris towards Picardie was afterwards a thorn that mightily pricked the leaguers Duke MoÌ„tpensieur being in NormaÌ„die with forces for the K. assisted by the Lords of Halot Creuecoeur Baqueuille Larchan discomfited first the Garrison of Fallaize tooke three Captaines hewed in peeces the greater part of the men and dispearsed the rest There he besieged Falaize and receiuing newes that Countie Brissac accompanied with two or three hundreth Gentlemen leaguers some Priests and fiue or sixe thousand men were comming to succor hee left the siege to go and meete them Counte Brissac disconfited in Normandie by the Duke Montpensier They were lodged in three villages two of which hee entered by force killing all those that stood out valiantly the others neuer made offer of combat afterward Brissac himselfe fled away with al the Caualleriers The number of the leaguers then slaine were 3000. and more amongst whom were many Gentlemen the Conquerours had about one thousand or 1200. prisoners amongst whom there were some thirtie Gentlemen and of the principallest This was a bad presagement for the League In Beaussy by the Lord of Chastillon A month after or thereabouts that is to say the 18. of May the Lord of Chastillon hauing passed Bagency with 200. horse as many harguebuziers vnderstanding that some troupes of the Duke d'Aumale marched along to charge on the L. of Lorges who scoured the high-waies made forward towardes Bonneual with twentie Gentlemen conducted by Fonquerolles who encountred Arclenuille commander within Chastres for the league Hee would haue acknowledged them but they charged him and slew fiue of sixe of his men euen hard at his elbow so that galloping he retired and gaue the alarme to the troupes of Picardie ledde by the Lords of Sauenze and Brosses who had in their companie about 500. Gentlemen beeing
the Switzers armie ranged in battell and would needs passe through all the squadrons with so great demonstration of contentment ioy and entertainment to the heads as that all of them likewise made manifest vnto him the great affection they had to do him seruice Hauing all his forces togither which made a bodie of 45000. men he marched presently towards Parris and with shot of cannon made himselfe Maister of S. Clouis bridge Attempts by the heads of the League against the kings life The Duke de Maine other heads of the league with their most confident friends to the number of 46. within Parris beganne to renue their concels and seeing the king so neare them either to vrge them to battell or else straightly to inclose them and constrained the people to acknowledge him iudged by that in this progression of the kings affaires their own went to ruine and that there was no other means left to stād out being proclaimed guiltie of high treason against their chiefest head then by executing some notable villanie in procuring the death of the King their Maister Benefactor their Prince and soueraigne Lord. Some certaine weekes before a young Iacobine Monke called Fryer Iaques Clement borne as men report in a village called Sorbonne neare Seins a man drowned in all wickednesse hauing passed through the handes of certaine confessors and conferred with some Iesuites others was for a kind of dexteritie obserued in him found meete to strike so great a stroke The murther entended of long time He was vrged and put forward therein and in the end the Duke de Mayene the sister of Montpensieur and others had conference with him in diuers places they requested him to perseuer in this good determinatiō which they knew to rise in him by extraordinarie inspiratiōs to performe so renowmed a feruice to the holy vnion the Catholicque Church and his countrie They promised him Abbotships Bishoppricks whatsoeuer he would desire He remained for certain daies one whiles with the Duches Montp Who amōgst the Parisiās was termed the holy widow other whiles with his Prior sometimes with the Iesuites This Monke drunk in his own furie with so many aluremēts entertainmēts promises protestations of felicitie tēporal eternal resolued with himselfe and promised to kill the king The people who thought nothing nor knew not of their cruel practises talked of yeelding themselues had greatly rebated their spleene and collor Surce Duke de Maine and those of this complot caused the most zealous Sorbonnists Iesuites to preach that they should yet haue patience for seuen or eight daies they should perceiue some wonderfull matter come to passe that should make well with the vnion The Preachers of Roan Orleans and Amiens preached the like at the same time and in semblable termes The Moonke hauing taken order for his complot departed from Paris went towards S. Clou. So soone as hee was departed the Duke de Maine caused more then two hundreth of the principallest Cittizens and other rich men whom he knew to haue friends and credite with the kings partie to be taken prisoners for a gage to the end to saue his Moonke if after hee had attempted or executed the fact he were stayed or arrested The Monke being presented to speak to the king the first day of August saying that he had letters from the President of Harlay and credence on his part the king caused him to be called into his chamber where there was no other but the L. of Bellegarde chiefe Gentleman of the same and the Procuror general whom he procured to retire apart more priuately to giue eare vnto him which addressed himself as it seemed with a countenance very simple demure It is affirmed that in the selfe same chamber the Councels of the massacres in the month of August the year 1572. were surprised wherin the king that then was D. of Aniou was one of the chiefest The Moonk perceiuing himself alone opportunitie put into his hād cōfirming his countenāce more more drew out of one of sleeues a paper which he presented to the K. out of the other a knife with which violētly he sheathed a thrust within the kings smal ribs he being attentiue to read who perceiuing himself woūded plucked the knife out of the wound wherwith he strooke the Monke aboue the eie thervpō some Gentlemē came rūning in who moued with the indignitie of so execrable a fact could not contain but killed the murtherer with their swords who went to the place appointed for him was cannonized adored by the league but on the contrarie detested of those the cleaued to the dignitie royal partie of the religion In the annagratisme of his name Frier Iaques Clemēt were found these words in so many letters C'est l'enfer qui m'acreè which importeth It is hel the created or brought me forth For so it seemed that after this fact the furies themselues were come out of hel to ouerwhelme topsie turuie al France The King being caried to his bed the Phisitians and Surgions applied vnto him his first dressing and iudged that the wound was not mortal by means wherof the same day he procured writing and aduise to bee giuen of this attempt as also of the hope of his healing and recouerie as well to the Gouernours of Prouinces as to Princes straungers his friends and allies But the soueraigne King hauing otherwise disposed of the life of this Prince took him out of the world about 3. of the clock in the morning the day following A litle before his departure hee spoke with a moderate and confirmed mind named the King of Nauarre his good brother lawful successor to the Crowne exhorted his good subiects to obey him to remaine vnited and to referre the difference of religion to the conuocation of the Estates Obseruations vpon the life of king Hienry the third generall of the Realme who would thinke vpon conuenient remedies for the same to haue a care of religion and pietie and to pray to God for him vpon these words he gaue vp his ghost Touching the insolencies of the league within Parris and elsewhere after the kings death an other Historie shal declare the same for our intention is not to proceed any further in these collections In this Prince failed the Kings of the race of Valois which had raigned in France from the yeare 1515. to the yeare 1589. vnder their dominions almost all the wonders of former ages had been renued This last king was little bewailed of his subiects by reason of many faults he committed in his gouernment and administration The occasion of them without touching in any sort either his conscience or affaires of instice and pollicie was that in his polliticke gouernment hee could neuer well discerne except too late his friends from his enemies and the desire he had to lead his life in pleasure made him let slippe infinite exellent opportunities
of prouiding for the good of France and other countries His securitie imboldened his enemies both neare and farre of within and without the Realme to innouate much and in that he would not lay to his hand when he ought to haue done he at last found the gate shut against him perceiued himselfe driuen out of his own house and those whom many waies he had too much supported established in his place who gaue him right downe blowes vpon his head whereof he should haue bin warie in time Men talke diuersly touching his departure some iudging that he left the world too soone in respect of France her good others deeming the contrarie Howsoeuer it was his decease was to the whole Realme a beginning of particular calamities aboue all the rest as the Historie of king Henry the fourth of the race of Bourbon will giue testimonie Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Henry the third This is to giue the Reader to vnderstand that there is certaine Titles gone Henry the fourth that should haue bin Henry the third A BRIEFE RECITALL OF THE MOST MEMORABLE THINGS which came to passe in Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Henry the fourth since his first comming to the Crowne vntill the middle of the yeare 1598. The Frenchmens disposition after the death of Henry the 3. ALthough there were great sorrow greefe and lamentation made in the royall armie for the death of king Henry the third as much signe of ioy and gladnesse was there seene on the other side among the leaguers throughout al the Citie of Paris for the same in singing of songs and making mocking times therevpon The Duke de Maine with his Court and many others which since the execution of Blois wore black scarfes in signe of sorrow did heerevpon cast them aside and wore in stead of them scarfes of hopeful greene Then was there great feasting masking and other sportfull games made among them wherein and whereby the murthered king was cursed and banned in most horrible sort At that time the image and portrature of the traiterous Moonke which kild the king was by the commaundement of the chiefe of the league artificially framed in Brasse and other paintings wherewith they garnished both their houses Churches Then was he cannonized and among the supersticious prayed vnto as a new made Martyr whom they called by the name of Saint Iaques Clement All such as were knowne to bee of any kin vnto him were greatly inriched with almes gifts and publicke contributions Councels of the league The Duke de Maine which as yet durst not name himselfe king caused that title by proclamation to bee giuen throughout all Paris to the Cardinall of Bourbon beeing then prisoner stamping mony and gold as the coyne of king Charles the tenth The Duke disguising his vsurpation by his new and rediculous title of Lieftenant generall to the Estate and Crowne of France and perceiuing that the declarations made by the lawfull king did shake in the beginning of his proceedings a great part of the league published and sent abroad an Edict dated the first day of August in his owne name and the generall Councell of the holy vnion of Catholicques established at Parris who stayed there for the assembling of the estates of the kingdome to revnite as he said all Christian Frenchmen in the defence and conseruation of the Apostolicque Romane and Catholicque Church for the holding vp of the royall estate expecting the libertie and presence of king Charles the tenth Orders giuen to the king for the affairs of the armie King Henry the fourth which soone after the death of his predecessor had signified to the Princes and Lords in the armie his full intent vnderstāding that many of the Nobles made diuers bad attempts caused the principall of them to bee assembled before whom hee called vnto mind the recommendations of the oathes which the deceased king had caused him to make before them all for the tranquillitie of the Realme after his hurt perceiuing himselfe to drawe toward his end The first and chiefest poynt whereof was to maintaine the Frenchmen in the libertie exercise of the two religions that is to say the Romaine and the reformed Churches vntill such time as by a good and generall Councell it were otherwise determined These promises by oath he renued vnto them againe which appeased the controuersies And because hee might not securely stay at Paris by reason of this suddaine change and the sicknesses which afflicted the royall armie the king by aduise went into Normandie as well to receiue the succours which came from England as also for the fortifying of certaine places and passages which was fit for his purpose The league remooued on the other side and then the Earle of Randan one of the chiefest of them had surprised in Auuergne the Cittie d'Issoire about the tenth of August The Parliament of Bourdeaux published a decree the 19. of the same moneth whereby all those of their side were inioyned to keepe inuiolably the Edicts made by the holy vnion concerning the Apostolicque Catholicque and Romaine Church and all the declarations by them made Three daies after that at Thoulouse tearing the picture of the deceased K. bodie in peeces they ordained by an act made by the generall consent of the leaguers that euery yeare vpon the first day of August they should in making processions and publicke prayers acknowledge vnto God the great benefits which as vppon that day they receiued by the fearefull death of Henry the third whereby the happie deliuerance of Parris ensued with many other distressed Cities in the Realme forbidding al persons to acknowledge Henry of Bourbon king of Nauarre to be king of France whom that Court thoght a most vnfit man to succeed in the same kingdome because said the edict of the notorious and manifest crimes expressed against him in that bull of excommunication which was giuen out by Pope Sixtus the fift His genealogie The enuie of which partiall Parliament hath constrained mee once againe to set vnto your sight in briefe sort the true genealogie of King Henry the fourth Lewis the ninth surnamed the Saint beeing the 44. king of France came to the Crowne in the yeare 1227. and raigned till the yeare 1270. he had foure sonnes two of the which namely Peter and Robert died without issue and before their father The other twaine that suruiued was Philip and Robert the second of that name Philip surnamed the Hardie third of that name successiuely left these following from the father to the sonne from brother to brother and the nearest of blood to the nearest of blood Philip the fourth called the Faire Lewis the tenth surnamed Hutin Philip the fift surnamed the Longe Charles the fourth termed the faire Philip de Valois Iohn Charles the fift surnamed the wise Charles the sixth called the welbeloued Charles the seuenth Lewis the eleuenth Charles the eight all descending from Saint Lewis
indured three vollies of cannon shot and so yeelded the Towne The spoyle whereof was hoped for by the kings souldiers which by the wisedome and prudence of his Maiestie was spared and pardoned to the Inhabitants The rest of this moneth was spent in taking and compounding with many Citties Townes and Castles namely Sable Laual Chasteau-gontier Beaumont Toutesvoyes and Alencon chasing the leaguers out of the Prouinces of Vendosmots Touraine Aniou and of Maine where the Inhabitants perceiued after they had submitted themselues to the king namely those which had confederated with the leaguers that those whome they had before esteemed their best friends were indeed their woorst enemies For after they had them once vnder their power and if there were but speech of the comming of an armie presently the best shift they could make for the poore people was to cause their Townes Villages and possessions to bee burned and spoyled from that place round about causing the Cittizens to worke and labour night and day to make rampiers and intrenchments to defend them from their foes Moreouer at the sight of the cannon or the first shotte comming from it they fell to agreement for themselues that they might depart with their liues and goods leauing no other markes of their protection then the Towne halfe burnt to ashes the most part of their wiues and daughters deflowred and the neckes of the poore Inhabitants to the halter The Duke de Maine toward the later end of the yeare sound meanes to make himselfe Maister of Pontoise onely through the friendship of many of the Inhabitants that held vpon it side About which time the king met with the Earle of Brissac beeing within the Cittie of Falaise which be inforced to yeeld where he tooke the Earle prisoner at what time the leaguers being then neare ynough would not once come to his succour A fewe weekes before the leaguers Parliament beeing begun at Roane they continued their enuie against the king their soueraigne Lord beeing not ashamed to publish a most vile Edict wherin they declared guiltie of treason enemies to God to the Estate and Crown of France those that opposed thēselues against the league surnamed the holy vnion pronouncing them and their successors disgraded of all priuiledges of Nobilitie their estates voyde for euer and vnwoorthie to possesse any office benefit or dignitie within the kingdome confiscating also all their lands and goods notwithstanding this Edict did not any whit impaire the good affection of the kings seruants not much aduanced the affaires of the league The chiefe of the league beeing astonished in their hearts to see the kings prosperitie set neuerthelesse a very good face full of spite against him trusting very much on their intelligences both within and without the Realme Through euery Cittie which they held they set seditious Preachers to seduce the people during the whole feast of Christmasse thereby to inflame their hearts against the king On the other side they caused an infinit number of libels to bee imprinted and throwne about whereby they entertained those that had least iudgement with a certaine hope that they might bee able long to vpholde themselues in this bottomlesse pitte of confusion The Leaguers deuices to maintaine themselues The people of Parris and of other Citties pertaining to the leaguers were so bewitched with these deuices that they thoght no maner of taxes or imposts too much induring patiently the outrages of soldiers a thousand other calamities to maintaine them in their vniust warres against their soueraigne yet notwithstanding their powers waxed euery day more weaker then other beeing nothing able to hinder the kings exployts Therefore the Duke de Maine verie earnestly solicited the King of Spaine to send some speedie succours otherwise the league should bee constrained perforce to make composition with their enemies In the meane space the king chased the leaguers by sieges and assaults in the month of Ianuary quite out of base Normandie The parliament at Roane cried for warre to whom the Duke de Maine soone after sent an answere that hee would giue order for their affaires vsing great threatnings against his soueraigne Lord and Maister The king contrariwise hauing recouered the Cittie of Honleur which is a port of the sea came to raise the Duker siege which fifteen daies before he held before the Cittie and sort of Meulan distant from the saide Towne of Honfleu more then thirtie myles The king presenting himselfe offered occasion of sight which the Duke seemed to accept hauing at that time twise as many forces as the king Notwithstanding supposing hee had not aduantage ynough he thought it best to take vp first the succour of fifteene hundreth lances and about fiue hundreth hurguebuziers which the Duke of Parma had sent vnto him Meane space the king besieged Dreux where hee was aduertised that the Duke had ioyned with the forces of the lowe Countries conducted by the Earle d'Egmont wherevpon hee offered battell Those things were done in Ianuarie and Februarie Preparation to battell In the beginning of March the Duke with all his troupes came toward the riuer of Seine thereby to passe ouer the bridge of Mante which is about eight or nine myles from Dreux Whereof the king beeing aduertised prouided for his affaires and the twelfth of the same moneth hee set himselfe in the way to go against his enemies And on the morrow hauing set his battell in order he made in the presence of all his armie a most earnest prayer vnto God wher each one according to his conscience framed his thoughts to the like purpose according to the ceremonies both of the one and the other religion The Kings Armie On the thirteenth day the king mustered all his troupes vppon a very faire and large plaine neare vnto the Towne of Yury where hee had about two thousand and fiue hundreth horse among whom were two thousand Gentlemen brauely armed very wel appointed for the battel he had there foure Regiments of French footemen the regiments of the Gardes of Brigneux of Vignolles and S. Iran moreouer foure or fiue regiments of Switzers with certaine Ensignes of Grisons The Leaguers armie The armie of the leaguers consisted of foure thousand horse and twelue thousand footemen Yury is a great village hauing a bridge on the riuer of Vrte ouer the which the leaguers passed very speedily supposing that the royall armie had beene farre from that place but in short space the one lighted on the other by which meanes there was that day certaine skirmiges where the leaguers had euer the worst Many of the leaguers were there taken prisoners who confessed and gaue vs to vnderstand that their comming was rather to follow on their way alreadie begunne then to make triall of battell Now for so much as the day was spent both the armies repaired to their lodgings By the breake of day following which was the fourteenth of March the king by aduise of his Councell determined how
decree made containing these words The Court hath repealed reuoked and disanuled and by these presents doth repeale reuoke and disanul all those bulles of the legation of Cardinall Caietan and those other buls brought from Rome the first of March proceedings publications excommunications and thundrings made by Marcillius Landriano the Popes aforesaid Nuutio as false scandalous seditious full of corruption and madde against the holy decrees cannonicall constitutions approoued councels and against all the rights and liberties of the Gallican Church Haue ordained and by these presents do ordaine that if any haue been excommunicated by vertue of the aforesaid proceedings they are absolued thereof and that the said bulles and all the proceedings made by vertue of them shall bee burned in the Market-place of this Cittie by the hands of the executioner Againe it is ordained that the said Landriano the Popes pretended Nuntio entering priuily into this Realme without the kings leaue or licence shal bee personally taken and conueyed to the kings prison in this Cittie of Chaalons there to aunswere to all such things as shall bee alleadged against him And if his taking and apprehention cannot presently bee there shall be three daies libertie giuen for the same according to the accustomed manner And to him that shall deliuer him vp to the lawe shall bee giuen tenne thousand pound Straightly charging and forbidding all person persons of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer they bee to keepe receiue succour or harbour the saide pretended Nuntio on paine of death And all Archbishoppes Bishoppes and all other Ecclesiasticall persons to receiue nor publish nor suffer to be published any sentences or proceedings comming in the behalfe of the foresaid Nuntio vppon paine to bee punished as in case of high treason Also it is declared and we do declare the Cardinals beeing at Rome Archbishops and all all other Ecclesiasticall persons that haue counselled and signed the said bull and excommunication and that haue allowed that most inhumane most abhominable most detestable parriside traiterously committed on the person of the foresaid deceased Lord Henry the third the most Christian and the most Catholicque king of France worthily cast off from the pocession of those benefices held by them within this Realme Inioyning the Atturney generall to seize them into the kings hands and there to establish good and sufficient Commissioners forbidding all other his subiects to carrie or send gold or siluer to Rome or to sue to the Pope for the obtaining of benifices vntill it shall bee otherwise ordered by the king And the act of appeale shall be by the Atturney generall deferred vntil the next Councell lawfully assembled by Pope Gregorie the fourteenth c. The Parliament at Tours proclaimed the same decree adding moreouer in theirs these words VVee haue proclaimed and do proclaime Pope Gregorrie the 14. of that name an enemie to the common peace to the vnion of the Romain Catholicke Church to the King and to his royall estate adherent to the conspiracie of Spaine a fauourer of rebels guiltie of the most cruell most inhumane and most detestable Parriside traiterously committed on the person of Henry the third of most famous most Christian and most Catholicque memorie Certaine months after and about the end of the yeare the parliament of the League at Paris condemned and caused all those decrees to be burned which were giuen out against the Popes bulles and the Ministers of that sea As for Landriano and the Legat they were kept close and secret Finally after they had beene well feed they got safely out of France through the kings mercifull fauour carrying away great booties whereof they had small ioy because that soone after their returne they died The most part of the prisoners of Blois who then with the Duke and Cardinall of Guise should haue beene done to death escaped away some after one sort and some after another But one of their principalll men remained stil vnder sure gard in the Castle of Tours that is to say the Duke of Guise whom the multitude of the Leaguers and diuers Parisians did greatly desire saying many times that if after the death of his father and before the comming of his vncle de Maine hee had beene within Paris that of a certaine they had carried him to Reimes sacred and crowned king of France But his keepers held him sure ynough from them for the kings Councellours would not that the seditious should haue so fit a subiect to worke vppon nor such store of wood and oyle to increase the flames of their sedition On the other side the Duke de Maine hauing obtained his new title to bee Lieftenant generall of the estate and Crown of France desired not that his Nephewe should bee at more libertie Neither was the royall throne and seat bigge ynough for two to sit in and hee which was alreadie setled would not come downe to suffer a younger then himselfe to ascend thereinto Diuers other of the principall men of the League willing to counterchecke the Duke de Maine did all that possibly they could to preferre his young Nephew but all in vaine When the Kings Councell saw fit time to thwart the Dukes of Maine and Nemours which by diuers slights did daily robbe the Crowne as also diuers other straungers did would notwithstanding set on them againe and seeke to destroy the one by the other they caused their affaiers to bee so disposed for the keeping of this person that the Duke of Guise escaped the fifteenth day of August by a cord which was giuen him The Duke of Guise escapeth out of prison wherewith sliding down out of one of the windowes hee went quite away There was but small running after him who hauing found all things readie for his conueyance tooke his way to the Lord de la Chastre who kept him in a sure place Those which iudged not but superficially of these things namely the Leaguers made bonfires for ioye of this escape supposing that this young Prince should be so well prouided for that he should bee made king for the holy vnion But the Lieftenant generall his vncle and certaine others pretending to beare away the best part in that peece were of an other minde Noyon besieged and taken by the king The King all this while slept not hauing the selfe same moneth besieged Noyon a towne in Picardie held by the league and hauing ouerthrown by foure assaults the succours which the League had sent them slaine the most resolute men of war on their side taken a great number of prisoners put the rest to flight and constrained the besieged to yeelde The Duke de Maine with the Lords of Belin Vitri d'Alincourt and others had a great minde to set vppon Mante thinking to withdraw the king and afterward assayed to force the Switzers of Soleurre lodged at Houdan but all in vaine as also was their comming to Noyon For the king beeing neuer mooued with their bragges followed
came to passe in this moneth at the siege of Villemur doth woorthily deserue to bee written in this place wherein I will onely follow the notes of Monsieur de la Grange an excellent Historian and most eloquent among the exquisite wittes of our time The Duke of Ioyeuse his brother which was slaine at Coutras hauing about the ende of the moneth of lune done many outragious acts about Montauban became Maister of Monbequin Mâ—â—bartier and Monbeton from whence he assayled Bart which was yeelded vppon composition after hee had lost foure score gallant souldiers And against the faithfull promise which hee made hee caused the most part of the poore yeelding people to bee slaine Then hee battered and assayled the Castle of Mauzac and hauing giuen them three hundreth cannon shot it was yeelded vpon composition Saint Maurice fort beeing also yeelded vnto him hee besieged Villemer with the Lord of that place named Remiers commaunding ouer an hundreth and fiftie souldiers as well Inhabitants as straungers to whose ayde the Lord of Themines Seneshall of Querci a wise and valiant Gentleman speedily brought sixe and fortie men as well Curats as Harguebuziers vnder the conduct of the Lord de Pedone The Duke d'Espernon and Themenes constrained Ioycuse to raise his siege and to forsake one of his great cannons Thomenes his forces recouered againe the Castle of Maurac and other small holds The nineteenth of luly those troupes which Esperâ—â—â— hadde left with Themenes were surprised in the night by Duke Ioyeuse who slew foure hundreth of them hurt a great number and had it not beene for the great discretion of Themines he had discomfited all the rest and carriediwo of their coluerins to Montaubon While the Duke d'Espernon tooke his iourney into Prenence Ioyeuse came againe to the siege of Villemur the tenth of September Reniers committed the keeping of that place to the Barron of Mauzac to Chaâ—bert and to Chaize who were wise and warrelike Captaines while he gathered new succours at Montauban where at the same instant hee found Moâ—â—fâ—â—r de Desme with certaine forces who without more ado put himselfe with his troupes into Villemur Ioyeuse beeing counselled by two craftie Captaines to witte Onoux and Montherand did batter them with eight cannons and two coluerins Theâ—â—â—nes accompanied with sixe score Gentlemen and two hundreth harguebuziers marched couragiously to their succour but in the midway hee caused his horsemen to alight giuing order for the safe conueying of the horses into Montauban and then speedily hee got within Villemur vnespied of Ioyeuse or any of his companie who on the next day beeing the 20. of September gaue them a furious assault the which was manfully withstood to the losse of a great number of the assaylants Then on a suddaine Themenes commanded an alarme to be sounded by foure trumpers which he had brough with him and therewithall furiously assayled Ioyeuse and ouerthrew a Regiment of his footemen newly come thither whom they of Thoulouse had sent with a supply of powder bullets pickaxes and a great number of Iron forkes The quallitie of these footmen that would haue made so bloodie an attempt did dispatch the execution for these were all but boyes and rawe souldiers as vnskilfull in warre as they were accustomed to play the warriours in the streetes and to kill all the world with table talke In reuenge whereof the leaguers garrison at S. Leophaïre tooke a bootie of two hundreth and fortie oxen feeding in the fields Heerevpon the Marshall of Montmorencie Gouernor of Languedoc sent a good supply to the besieged vnder the conduct of Lecques Chambaut Hauing then chased all the robbers and spoylers from Saint Leophaire which had beene there harbored vppon the report which was made of the new forces that was come to Duke Ioyeuse they kept aloofe for certaine daies about what time Missalac Gouernour of Aùuergne tooke his way toward them which beeing by Ioyeuse vnderstood hee supposed it better to bee packing then to stay any longer And comming to assaile the kings troupes at Bellegard he had a pleasant beginning but a heauie and sorrowfull end of his attempt For flying the field heere tired with great losse Neuerthelesse beeing minded by a tricke of auncient warre to astonish his enemies he caused many great boâ—fires to bee kindled in his Campe as tokens of victorie and gladnesse wherâ—â— Themines and his followers could not forbeare laughing for whilest they were doing thereof Charnbant at one instant ouerthrew a company of lance-knights of whom there was threescore slaine in the same place Missac came to Montauban followed with an hundreth Gentlemen and a good number of harguebuziers which by the Counsell of the Barron of Mauzac and others was fully resolued to giue Duke Ioyeuse battel who reposing too much confidence in his forces and the ordinarie reports made vnto him by certaine faire Gentlewomen which were his fauourits and near neighbours to those of Montaubon lost both himselfe and his followers for his forces were found scattered at his most neede And the Ladies did too late aduertise him of Miss silacs departure who led the vantguard Chambant the maine battell and Lecques the reareward The nineteenth of October these warriours beeing resolutely aduanced forward to the Towne of Villemur ioyned directly with the Regiments of Clouzel and Montoison the outermost of Duke Ioyeuse trenches which was guarded with two hundreth soldiers presently succored with foure hundreth others neuerthelesse they were beaten and driuen to the next trench and there were they fought withall a good halfe houre being conducted by the Duke himselfe who seeing the rest of the kings armie come before him and Themines issuing out of the town at his backe was constrained to flie the field and to retire further off to a place called Condommes where his campe and artillerie lay but this retrait fell out so ill for him that his people seeing theÌ„selues pursued by the victorious armie fled in great disorder tumbled theÌ„selues headlong into the riuer of Tar. I he bridge which Ioyeuse had builded being cut vp was almost the cause of all their deaths which forsooke the land to passe the water Ioyeuse being ouercome with dispaire in this distresse was heard to vomit forth these words Farewel my great cannoÌ„s Ha. I renounce God I run this day a high fortune And therwithal desperately be plunged himselfe horse and all into the riuer Tar. There were two Gentlemen the one called Courtete the other Bidon that sought by all means to saue him but the riuer swallowed him as it were betwixt their hands And thus did God who is the true executioner of diuine iustice worke the ende of this cruell proude and blasphemous yong Duke who was much lamented of the leaguers for whom he had done many great exployts The kings horsemen hauing passed the forde charged those that were in the water and pursuing the fugiriues cut in peeces all those that withstood them At that time for the space of
quallitie soeuer they bee not to hearken to the poysoning inchantments of such rebellious and seditious persons but to continue the dutie of good and naturall Frenchmen and alwaies keepe and hold the loue and affection due to their king and countrie and not to holde with the deceits of such which vnder pretence of religion would spoyle the estate bring in barbarous Spaniards and other vsurpers Giuing most straight charge and commaundemen vnto all persons whatsoeuer neither to receiue nor keep in their houses or about them the said bull or to publish the same neither to assist or fauour the saide rebelles nor yet to assemble themselues to any Townes or places which might be appoynted or chosen for the foresaid pretended election vpon pain to the Nobilitie to bee disgraded of their honours and to bee proclaimed infamous both they and their posteritie for euer And to the Clargie to bee depriued thrust out of their possessions and benifices and to be punished togither for this their offence as traitors and disturbers of the publicke quiet and royall prerogatiue of their countrie without all hope to obtaine in such a case any fauour or pardon whatsoeuer And the like paine we pronounce to all townes that shall receiue the said rebels and seditious persons for the making of the said assembly or that doth lodge retaine or succour them And the said Court doth further ordaine that the place where the said deliberation shall bee kept togither with the Towne where the said assembly shall bee made shall bee raced and destroyed from the toppe to the bottome without all hope to haue it reedified or builded any more for a perpetuall remembrance to all posterities of their treason disloyaltie and vnfaithfulnesse joyning all persons to assault all those which shall repaire to the saide Cittie to bee present in that assembly And there shall be commission deliuered to the said Atturney generall to informe against all such as haue been the authors and procurers of such monopolies and conspiracies made against the estate and that haue fauoured or assisted them And this present Edict shall bee published by sound of trumpet and publickly proclaimed in all places of this Towne and sent to all places of this precinct there to bee red published and registred by the diligence of the substitudes belonging to the Atturney generall whereof they shall certifie the Court within one moneth on paine to loose their Offices for the contrarie The leaguers despising the kings authoritie flowted at the Edict of this Parliament and called the Deputies from all parts of the Prouinces and confederate Townes to bee present with the estates at Paris As for the chiefe and principall each one had a seuerall purpose beeing desirous to bee seated in their Soueraignes chaire without hauing any minde to bee seruants or fellows in this Anarchie maintained by them with the helpe of the double Pistolles of Spaine It came to passe in the moneth of Nouember that the Lord of Vaugrenan commanding for the king within the Towne of S. Iohn Delaune in Bourgondie ouerthrew seuenteene companies of footemen hard by the Towne of Diion wonne their colours weapons and other furniture Amongst the packets and coffers of the Barron de Tenissé who was a great leaguer and chiefe commaunder of these troupes were found certaine instructions and commissions which were sent from the Duke de Nemours to the said Barron to conferre with the Duke de Maine to this ende that Nemours might bee elected king by the estates of Parris This young Prince aymed at no other thing but soueraigntie and beeing misled by certaine euill Councellours which hee kept planted at Lyon and thereabout the foundations of his loftie purposes for the accomplishing whereof an hundreth yeares would bee farre too little but hauing builded vpon sand in fewe moneths his edefices fell downe wherewith he was confounded Now as the leaguers were promised great thinges by their estates of Parris and the partakers of Spaine held it for a most certaine troth that the Duke of Parma would returne yet the third time with puissant forces to doo some notable exployt thereby to couer the shame of his two former voyages and so to assure the Crowne of France to king Philip or to the Princesse his daughter The death of the Duke of Parma But death cut off the thrid of his life togither with his enterprises the second of December 1592. Many men thought that this blowe would rent those patches wherewith the league was attired But the Duke de Maine beeing deliuered of him of whom hee stood in doubt supposed that now the time presented it selfe wherein hee might bring his long desired purpose to effect heerevpon hee raised his Cornets of horse and did more mischiefe to Paris then before A little before these newes came hee gaue some eare to the conditions of peace which had beene happie for him if some euill counsell had not turned his mind from the same But the decease of him by whom he was ouer awed caused his humour to bee changed imagining that hee should shortly haue the title to bee Lieftenant generall to the King of Spaine in the conquest of France Therefore one of his attempts was to create the Lord de Rosne one of is chiefe familiars Marshall of France and Gouernor of the Isle of France constraining the Presidents and Councellors inclosed in Paris to receiue this Rosne into two offices which appertained to a Lord of a higher blood and estate The Parisians which before spake openly of peace and agreement durst now speake no more thereof except in secret In the feast of Christmas the Duke de Maine caused those decrees which were lately made at Chaalons against the bull of the Popes Legat to bee openly burned vpon the steps of his Pallace the Citie beeing all in armes Also the Dukes of Guise of Maine of Nemours of Sauoye the Marques of Pont wrought diuers slights to bee aduanced in the election The King of Spaine by his Agents did as much on the other side asuring himselfe that as hee had made many of the Leaguers his Pentioners so also knewe hee well that in time hee should finde opportunitie to ouerthrow and bring them all to destruction one after another and to make himselfe the absolute and supreme Lord. During these practises the king was fully resolued to assemble the principall Peeres of his Realme at Chartres to prouide and thinke vpon remedies against those euils which now beganne to present it selfe The warres continued in diuers Prouinces but slowly except in Lorraine where the Marshal de Bouillon tooke by plaine force and by a maruellous incounter the strong Towne of Dun vppon Meuse a little aboue Stenay and droue thence those of Lorraine The Duke de Maine publisheth a proclamation against the king Now for the closing vp of this yeare in the same moneth of December the Duke de Maine published a great writing intituled A declaration for the vniting againe
a litle Towne of his owne name Aneci scituat in Sauoy in the Countie of Geneuois During this generall truce many matters were intended for the establishment of the affaires of the kingdome The king which desired the agreement of his subiects and the abolishment of the pernicious league assayed by faire meanes to winne the Duke de Maine in making him offer of charge and honourable assurances of preferment The Duke which seemed yet to haue two strings to his bowe bargained promised refused aduanced gathered and stretched these matters to the length procuring vnder hand that the decision of the Sorbonnists in the yeare 1590. might take place that is to say that Henry of Bourbon was declared vnworthie of all right or pretence to the Crowne although hee made profession of the Romaine religion The Spanish Agents in France set this matter forward working with all their power for the preferment of the Duke of Neuers On the other side they induced both great and small to continue their accustomed request for the abolishing of one of the religions in France many other were of this opinion that the king could not be receiued except hee first promised expresly to driue away all those of the reformed religion or at least to abolish and put downe their publicque exercises This counsell did hatch or breed infinit vniust matters in the rest of the yeare through diuers parts of France where they of the religion could obtaine no true rest but in promise and papers being molested in effect with all reproaches that might bee imagined wherevnto they opposed themselues in nothing but in peaceable complaints and humble supplications Notwithstanding they obtained nothing the deuices of their enemies beeing such that all their forepassed and faithfull seruices were disdained and contrariwise the most part of the chiefe Captaines and leaguers Townes receiued into fauour cherished and raised vnto honour Briefly all the kings good and faithfull seruants were cast into the lake of forgetfulnesse and the enemies and conspirators of the estates set as it were in a chaire of triumph before whom iustice was so shamefully abused that the wronged cried vengeance from heauen to fall vppon their detestable dealings There were also at this time other deuices against the king There was also at this time an other sort of Courtiers that greatly fauored the League and yet notwithstanding fained to bee fauourers of the Commonweale and quiet of the Realme who daily spredde rude reports of the kings insufficiencie saying that all meanes failed him to make him be obeyed that his enemies were of two great a number and too mightie for him yea inuincible that they would ouerthrow him in short time That France vnder his raigne beeing scourged with so many warres then falling into a new sicknesse of desolations and shamefull deceits it could not but languish and that it would come to passe after once it hung the wing that she should remaine a pray for a greater Maister This was by their account the king of Spaine of whom they made great bragges of his honour reputation and greatnesse His double Pistolles had so bewitched their thoughts that they also supposed to make the Frenchmen afraid with the very name of this Prince remembring not at all that an hundreth yeares before Philip Artch-Duke of Austrige great Grandfather to the king of Spaine made homage within the towne of Arras to king Lewis the twelfth in the person of his Chancellor the Earles of Flanders Artois and Charrolois where on his bended knees hee called him his soueraigne Lord swearing to become true seruant vnto the said king Lewis promising to bee faithfull all daies of his life and in his behalfe to stand against al other to procure his welfare to preuent his harmes and in all things to behaue himself toward him as to his soueraigne Lord and Maister of which the Histories of these times do make true mention While yet this truce indured the king deliberated to assemble at Mante certaine of the chiefe Nobles of the Realme to take counsell on diuers matters at that time needfull The Deputies of the reformed Churches were there present about the end of Nouember whom the king caused to be called togither the twelfth day of the moneth following and hauing giuen them audience and heard the great sorrow which they made vpon the infinit contradictions of his decrees and their complaints of the greeuous wrongs done vnto them through all his Prouinces hee aunswered that the change of religion had not any whit changed his affection from thē that hee would redresse their greefes and make peace and concord among his subiects He receiued their billes of complaints to haue them perused But these affaires were drawn to such length that the distance of many yeares hath buried all And the Captaines of the league hauing plunged the Realme into new miseries those of the religion almost in all parts of the kingdom continued as greeuous vnder the crosse as before The war of Piedmont As for the warres on the other side of the mountaines their affaires fell out in this sort About the ende of the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth nintietwo the Lord of Diguieres beeing entered into Piedmont had taken there for the king Briqueras Cauours and three or foure other little townes hauing ouerthrowne the Duke of Sauoy in diuers incounters as hee did also in Prouence and on the frontiers of Dauphine hee chased them out of all these Prouinces and droue him to his owne house in such sort that if hee had beene strengthened in the yeare following with men money and munition hee had inforced the Duke to giue ouer all that which hee vsurped from the Crowne of France But the Duke who was not ignorant of the estate and affaires of France assayed to couer and hide the shame he had gotten in so many iournies as in the plaine of Pontcharra at Espernon de Pallieres and otherwise in so many incounters in Piedmont where hee had lost in two yeares as also about Geneue many of his best approoued good souldiers and a great number of Captaines hauing also consumed a maruellous heape of treasure and munition in these continuall warres Hee did then through his father in lawes fauor who furnished him with a new masse of money besiege batter assault and take by composition the Townes of Briqueras and Cauours beeing content to keepe them to himselfe without seeking any further in Prouence where his Garrisons could not long remaine without chase of the enemie the Towne of Berry onely accepted Thus did the Frenchmen loose in small time that which they had gotten in Piedmont whereof men do write in diuers sorts In these sieges the assayled did their duties maruellous well but being ouerwatcht by the multitude of the assailants and depriued of the principall commodities to withstand a siege destitute of succour and the passages stopt they were of necessitie constrained to yeeld while the said L. of Diguieres was as it
were bound hand and foote in the countrie of Dauphine and that many which should not haue forgotten his braue exployts but stretch out their hands for the relieuing of that distressed countrie and to make head against the Spaniardes euen at their very gates forsooke him in his neede thinking by their enuious deuises to eclips the glorie of this great Captain and commander crossing all his purposes that he could not recouer himself long time after hauing been depriued of all necessarie means to begin in which he did accōplish about four yeares after with no lesse courage and magnanimitie then before Thus haue wee briefly runne ouer that which the whole Historie doth more at large mention our intent beeing onely in this breuiarie to touch and passe ouer things as it were in a word The king considering that his enemies which required a prolonging of this truce sought no other thing then meanes to continue the Realme in miserie resolued no longer to beare the same wherefore hee caused in the beginning of this yeare a declaration to be published and imprinted containing an Oration of the mischiefes and vnfaithfull practises of the Leaguers which vnder a continuing of truce soght to establish their tyrannie He prescribed a moneths libertie as wel to the chiefe of the leaguers as to the Clargie cities towns Communalties yea to al men generally within the same to acknowledge him their king submit thēselues to his gouernmēt as it was requisite and in so doing he would place them again each one in his charge benefices lands and priuiledges The time once past he would reuoke his grace and fauour accounting them to be rebelles and guiltie of high treason for contempt of this kingly offer The report of this declaration and the preparations which the king made to chastise their stubborn opinions amazed the very principall of the league the most part of the rebellious townes and commons The Duke de Maine did now beat his braines to auoyde this danger but hauing no forces neither of his owne nor from others sufficient to remedie the same these matters fell out otherwise then he thought The Lord of Villeroy sent his opinion plainely to the Duke in letters which were intercepted and since that imprinted describing in most fit termes his owne insufficiencie and miserie Certaine Townes partaking with the Duke sent to the king crauing truce for two moneths more but he refused to graunt it The Leaguers townes forsake their rebellion This vnion then intangled by so many oathes deceits conspiracies and fellonies were seene to faile and part asunder the most obstinate beginning now to conceiue foresee their finall ruine if they perseuered in their former rebellion The preuentials taking example by the rigorous gouernment of the Duke d'Espernon against whom they had obstinately resisted beganne to abace their Pecockes plumes Those of Meaux in Brie a small iourney from Parris yeelded themselues to the king the eleuenth day of Ianuarie by the meanes of the Lord of Vitri their Gouernour who hauing drawne great summes of mony out of the treasures of Spaine wherewith hee builded a gorgious house forsooke the league and deliuered the Towne to the king with al the artillerie which the Duke of Parma brought thither from the low Countries Moreouer the Inhabitants of Meaux exhorted the Parisians by a pithie letter to follow their example They obtained of the king as also Vitri did euen whatsoeuer they would request The Parisians beganne to looke one vppon another and the kings Atturney generall in the Parliament made a long Oration in the open audience whereof the whole sum was that they should no longer stay from acknowledging their king except they would prepare themselues to indure greater miseries then before which wold produce a generall subuertion The Lord of Bellin Gouernour of the Cittie for the leaguers was of the same minde To preuent this eminent destruction of the league the Duke de Maine through enuie wrought such meanes that Bellin was put out of office and driuen out of Paris what time himselfe drew into the Cittie an armie of Spaniardes Italians and Wallons vnder the commaund of the Duke of Feria thinking to keep for the king of Spaine his good Cittie of Paris But the parliament more carefull for that which was to come ordained that the Duke de Maine should be required by one of the Presidents and sixe Councellours to prouide for the quiet of the Cittie within a month in such sort that a happie peace might make an end of all these disorders and that the king might bee by them acknowledged An act made by the Parliament of Paris against the Spanyards And during the time that they sought vaine excuses and strengthened the garrisons the Parliament made an act the fourteenth day of this month containing these words The Court with ful consent hath vowed and protested to oppose themselues against the euill and wicked purposes of the Spaniards and against such as would seeke to bring ayde or protect them within the Realme of France ordaining that all garrisons straungers shall depart the Cittie of Parsis and declaring their intent to hinder with all their might that the Lord of Billin should abandon or forsake the said cittie nor any Bourgeous of the same but either hee to stay with them or hee and they to depart altogither And wee inioyne the prouost of the Merchants to warne all the Citizēs togither to take counsel on things necessarie to ioyne with the same court for the better executiō of the said act And that the said Court shall forbear all other matters till such time as the said act is put in execution receiued Those of that bodie which had been before the greatest sustainers of the league were now the first that humbled themselues herevnto The Ambassadour of the Spanish part wrought at Rome an other occasion to hinder the accord twixt the Pope and the king of France who alleadged that the Kings penitence at S. Dennis was not sufficient to obtain absolution of the papall seat sent the Duke of Neuers with great presents to bee giuen to him and his son He parted from Rome the 15. of Ianuarie who met vpon the way the Cardinall of Ioyeuse and the Barron of Senescay who were speedily trauelling toward the Pope in the Duke de Maines name The shifts of the leaguers of Rome Their courtlike salutations was then forgotten both on the one side and other The Cardinall had audience the 24. of this month who demaunded succors for the league and 200000. Crownes otherwise all would bee vtterly lost But the Pope answered that vntill then the K. of Spaine had furnished the league both with men mony and promised so to continue As for the mony which they demanded he excused himselfe by means of warres with the Turkes Six daies after the Cardinal hauing by an other Oration shewen the meanes how to sustaine the league the Pope made answere he could
testified by the Historie of these times the Iesuites were banished out of Paris and other townes of the Realme but not out of all They sought to excuse themselues by diuers writings wherein they accused themselues in greater measure well expressing the enuie and poysoned minds which they carried to the realme of France which shall bee well preserued from all their attempts if any iustice do raigne there Open warre proclaimed against the King of Spaine The seuenteenth of Ianuary the King published his declaratiō of the making of open wars against the Spaniards by reason of his attempts made against his countrie of France the Cambernisces and against his royall person Two months after the King of Spaine answered the king of France whom in his letlers he called the Prince of Bearn against whom also he demanded open war A little before the Arch-duke of Ernest wrote to the Estates of Artois and of Hainaut to incourage them to armes the like he did to the Cōmons that they might wrathfully bend their force against the Frenchmen The D. of Lorraine hauing taken truce with the K. permitted his troupes to do him seruice vnder the conduct of the Barron of Ausonuill the L. of Tremblecourt of S. George who had leuied about 8000. foot and 1200. horse The leaguers of Soissons ouerthrown Mean space the garrison of Soissons conducted by the Barron of Conan Lieftenant of Ponsenac Gouernor of the Cittie and by Belfont chiefe principal Captain to the D. de Maine being aduanced as far as Crispe in Valoyes they were repulsed pursued charged and ouerthrown in the plaine of Villiers Cote-rets by the Lords of Cadancourt Beine Moussie and Edonuiel who slew in the field 50. of the principall of the leaguers troupes the most valiantest that were in France And hurt threescore so greeuously that in short time after the most of them died they tooke away aboue fourescore good horses much of their munition and other booties with a great number of prisoners Among those that were slaine were found two principall Captaines their Ancient and the Marshall of the field there were taken the Cornet of Belfont and thirteene Captaines so that there escaped but twentie persons of all the troup that went into the Towne of Soissons this was a new blood shed among the leaguers At the same time the Marshall of Bouillon tooke near vnto Vuirtun in the Duchie of Luxembourg The Spanish armie ouerthrowne by the Marshall of Bouillon in the Duchy of Luxembourg eleuen Cornets of horsemen of the Earle of Mansfields armie whom he charged vpon their dislodgement with such resolution that they were all ouercome in little space two hundreth and fiftie were there slaine the rest forsaking their armour horses other furniture saued themselues within a forrest neare vnto Vuirton Warres in Franche-Countie On the other side Tremblecourt and Saint George inuaded Franch-Countie in Bourgongne tooke Vezou Ionuille and other places spoyled diuers parts in these beginnings of troubles the countrie was greatly spoyled and many Bourgongnians slaine The Constable of Chastille Gouernor of Mylan ranne ouer them with diuers Spanish companies and Neapolitans recouered againe the places lost constraining the Lorraines to scatter themselues in requitall whereof the Inhabitants of Beaune hauing about the beginning of February valerously sacked the leaguers garrisons which had made themselues readie to cut al their throats opened their gates to the Marshall of Biron which being done hee laid siege before the Castle which in six weekes indured three thousand cannon shot and finally it was yeelded by composition The taking of Beaune dismayed the Duke of Maine who euer since did nothing as it were but fight with one hand sawe himselfe at the end of his last hopes dismayed of the one and detested by the other Autun Nuis and lastly Dyon followed the example of Beaune and yeelded themselues to the king which comming to passe in Bourgongne at the beginning of Iune they charged neare S. Sein certaine troupes of horsemen belonging to the Constable of Chastille whom he inforest to flie Diuers memorable exployts done here there A litle before this Vienne in Dauphine sold to the Duke of Nemours by Maugrion shooke of the yoke of this great leaguer and was brought vnder the kings authoritie who whilest he stayed for the leuying of mony from diuers places of Franch-Countie and iourneyes of small importance he lost in Picardie Chastelet Dourlans and Cambray Townes of great strength which were taken in the monethes of Iune Iuly and August to the great griefe of these good Lords by the fault of some that might haue remedied it if they had wold but they were not willing to see their countrey in peace The losse of men and munition was great in these ouerthrowes The Spanish souldiers bore away great booties The Earle of Fuentes and his Captaines won as great honour as Balagne and others did dishonour The Marshall of Bouillon the Marshall of Villars sought to succour Dourlans but beeing charged with a farre greater number of enemies Villars was slaine with certaine of his Captaines and many of his souldiers diuers carried prisoners into Arras from whence they were ransomed Beside these losses a little before the Lord of Humieres of Picardie and a faithfull seruaunt to the king was slaine in recouering the Towne of Han with twentie Gentlemen and an hundreth souldiers In reuenge whereof the Spanish garrison which was within the Towne to the number of seuen or eight hundreth men were cruelly slaine each mothers son The Marshall of Bouillon behaued himselfe most valiantly in this exployt A fewe weeks before to wit about the end of May this said Lord parted from Stenai to succour those of Ferte vpon Cher in the Duchie of Luxembourg which was besieged by Verdugo and Burlot Captains to the King of Spaine of whom hee slew fiue hundreth of the very best of their troupes constraining them to raise their siege and to retire to Vuirton Such were the chances of warre during this season in Picardie in the Duchie and Countie of Bourgondy and the countrie of Luxembourg all which were greeuoussy afflicted in diuers sorts Brittain was also vpon the point to become wholy for the Spaniard But ambition striuing with couetousnesse in Duke Mercoeur the affaires there went alwaies doubtfully In the end the king of Spaine was made frustrate of all his hopes in those parts The Duke of Maine obtaines pardon of the king The Duke of Maine seeing the Spaniards take other course then was accustomed his forces slaine his credit crackt and his destruction at the doore though late at last he sought by Mediators the kings fauor which he obtained in the month of October But he could not so easily haue it till he had renounced the vaine title of Lieftenant generall of the estate and Crowne of France and except such liberallities as it pleased his Maiestie to bestowe vppon him Each one said that
onely to two poynts that is touching the Church and the Lords Supper not to dispute thereof but that it should not bee thought they were without reply For the rest that they should frame a confession of the faith opposite to that of the Ministers which if they refused to approoue sentence of condemnation should bee solemnely pronounced against them and by that meanes the conference would bee ended without any more disputation The Ministers aduertised of this resolution contrary vnto all Ecclesiasticall conference by request made their complaint vnto the King which being presented to the Chancellor A new inuention of the Cardinall to disgrace the Ministers hee according to his wisedome prouided for it in such sort that the Prelates proceeded in another manner Touching the Cardinall hee bethought himselfe of a new expedition in his aduise very fitte thereby to confound the Ministers and with mockerie to send them from the Court for the which cause hee wrote vnto Monsieur de Vieilleuille Gouernour of Metz that with all speede he should procure certaine Theologians to bee sent out of Germaine who touching the Lords Supper did not agree in opiniō with those of the Churches of France pretending to cause those Theologians to striue and dispute against the Ministers and hauing had some pastime to heare them at variance to send them both away without any further conference Vieilleuille vsed such diligence that three or foure Doctors of Virtemberg and two Theologians of Heidelberg went presently into France but one of those of Virtemberg dying of the plague within the Citie of Parris and the two Theologians of Heidelberg beeing of the opinion of the Churches of France the Cardinals expectation therin was frustrate yet they offered him faire for that they determined to aske him and the rest of the Prelates if they ment to hold with the confession of Ausbourg hauing called some of those Doctors and asked them when the Cardinall would giue an answere who in fine was constrained to seeke some other places of refuge The Cardinals Oration The 6. of September the Cardinall in presence of the King the Princes and the Councell made his Oration containing a long deduction of two poynts agreed vpon by the Prelates which were touching the Church and the Lords Supper that done they most instantly besought the King to continue in the religion of his ancestors to summō the Ministers to vnderwrite that which the Cardinal had propounded which done they wold confer vpon the rest of their articles that if they denied it they shuld wholly be refused to be heard and presently sent out of the Realme wherein there ought to be but one faith one lawe and one king The Ministers requests The Ministers as then required to bee heard what they could answere vnto the Cardinall but it was referred vntill an other time and although that from that time foorth they vsed many meanes to be heard in open audience they could neuer obtaine it onely vppon the 24. day of the same moneth Theodore de Beza in presence of the king and his Councell aunswered vnto the Oration made by the Cardinall where were present fiue Cardinals and fifteene or sixteene Doctors Despense and Desanctes made certaine disputations where vnto Beza made answere The Cardinall of Lorraine had summoned the Ministers to knowe if they would allowe of the confession of Ausbourg and they desired him first to signe it which done they would followe but there hee was at a nonplus which was done vppon the 26. of March where once againe Despense discoursed of the Lords Supper Diuers conferences betweene the Ministers and Doctors that spake for the Prelates The resolution of Sorbonne and after him Doctor Martir in a large and ample manner but because he spake Italian the Cardinall said hee would not deale with any but such as spake the French tongue A Spaniard general of the Iesuites wold likewise haue spokē whom de Beza haue refuted he entered into disputation with Despense The rest of the Ministers also answered vnto certaine obiections propounded by other Doctors of Sorbonne touching the interpretation of the words in the institution of the Lords supper After that all was changed into a particular conference wherein it was impossible for the Ministers to induce the Deputies for the Prelates vnto any orderly disputation neither yet to the conclusion of any articles That of the holy Supper was oftentimes intreated of and sometimes it seemed that the parties were almost at an agreement but the Sorbonne Interpreted that very hardly which by the Doctors of the Deputies for the Prelates had beene allowed of and made an inuection in writing against the Ministers desiring that they might be driuen out of the Realme if they would not approoue and allowe of the doctrine of Sorbonne touching the Eucharistie The Ministers to the contrary humbly required that the confessions and articles of the doctrine on both parts might bee examined by the order vsually obserued at all times in any Ecclesiasticall conferences but their aduersaries who in most bold and euident manner shewed themselues to be their Iudges would neuer consent thereto The 13. of October the Prelates hauing thanked and discharged their Doctors sent them away and in the end withdrewe themselues hauing first taken order touching their cannons which concerned not any Christian doctrine onely discouering certaine disorders in their Cleargie the reformation whereof they referred vnto the Pope and the Councell of Trent that did nothing therein because their Church cannot erre At the same time certaine letters were discouered written in the Kings name vnto his Ambassador in Rome named Monsieurde l'Isle others from the Queen-mother which shewed that al their conference was but a deuise and meere inuention thereby to intrappe the Cleargie which agreed vnto some Tithes to saue the rest of their stakes The intent of the assembly at Poissy Aduancement of those of the religion and that was it whereof they sought to bee resolued and not of the religion nor yet of any thing that concerneth the conscience wherein diuers of them had in a maner playd Banckerrupt After the departure of the assembly those of the religion by little and little beganne to preach openly and in some places without resistance ceased vpon certaine Churches whereof ensued an edict made by the King bearing date the 3. of Nouember which commanded them to leaue them which they presently performed in the same moneth Those of Parris beeing assembled to preach in a Garden without the Church-gate called la Cerisaye at their return there was some blowes giuē but the hurt was lesse thē it was thoght to be because the conference of Poissy had reduced no remedie that the parties were still at difference and that the religion openly aduanced it selfe throughout all the Realme Counsell giuen to assemble the chiefe persons of the realm to take order touching those affaires The Queen was counselled to assemble the most notable
persons of all the Parliaments in France with the Princes of the blood Lords Councellours and maisters of Requests therby to aduise and make some new edict touching the gouernment and order of those of the religion as also to answere vnto the demand of the States that had most instantly desired to haue allowances of Temples The chiefe of the Romish Church and among the rest those of Guise found this counsell not to bee expedient alleadging that they ought to bee content with the edict of Iuly and withall they complained of the Queenes leuite openly accusing the king of Nauarre the Prince the Admiral and his bretheren The Queen that sought to assure her Regencie would not hearken therevnto wherby those of Guise tooke occasion to withdrawe themselues from the Court leauing certaine seruitors and solicitors to supply their places The Queene willingly gaue them leaue to depart assuring them of her good will both to them and their religion and desired them to returne assoone as possibly they might They went from thence about the end of Nouember and at the time of their departure there rose a most horrible extraordinary wind aforeshewing as some affirmed of the tēpest that not long after ensued At the same time likewise were brought and sold in the Court three great Pictures most excellently wrought whereof one was bought by the Prince of Conde wherein was represented the bloodie and horrible massacres of the auncient Triumuiras of Rome true Pictures shewes of the cruelties exercised the yeare ensuing by the support and in the presence of French Triumuirat vpon those of the religion Not long before their departure the Queene of Nauarre discouered an enterprise An enterprise of the Duke de Nemours made to take away the Duke of Orleans the Kings brother and to carry him into Lorraine for which cause the Duke de Nemours in all haste saued himselfe and returned not againe vntill the ciuill warres beganne to arise The report also was spread abroad that the King of Spaine and other Princes adherents to the Pope made preparations to ayde their participants in France and to dispearse the assembles of those of the religion The Queen inquireth what forces the religion could make All these things mooued the Queene to make inquirie of the forces and means of those of the religion whereof were found 2150. Churches and more for the which the Deputies had required Churches offering all seruice and obedience vnto the King both with bodies and goods at their owne charges but shee desired to knowe it more at large which by many of the Churches was thought to bee superstitious and thereby they made no such certificates because of the diuersitie of opinions although some of them thought it both good and necessarie to shewe the Queene the number of the forces as well horse as foote which by those of the religion might easilie bee raised iudging that such a power as it after appeared to bee had beene the meanes to drawe the Queene and by consequent the Kings and all the Princes of his part vnto them which would easilie haue stayed those of Guise and their partakers in apparance haue wholly hindered the discipation of the Churches stopping the passage vnto all strangers other suspecting the Queens intent and fearing least so open a discouerie should bee the cause the easlier to expose for a pray vnto their enemies would not proceede so farre The commotion of Medard These things beeing thus imbroyled about the end of the yeare there happened a great mutinie in Parris raised by certaine Priests of Saint Medards Church in the Subburbes of S. Marceau which rang a bell while those of the religion were assembled at a Sermon from whence proceeded wounds murthers and imprisonments where those of the religion not beeing the beginners payed a fine and foure of them one beeing Gabaston knight of the watch were executed to appease the people of Parris and yet not presently done 1562. The Edict of Ianuary In the beginning of the moneth of Ianuary and the absence of those of Cuise that thought vppon other matters as also of the Constable that would not be present a great assembly such as the like had not beene seene in France was made there by to take order touching the Estate and to ordaine an edict wherein after each man had said and propounded his minde touching the which was esteemed by them to bee most conuenient and necessary for the good and quietnesse of the Common-wealth in the end it was agreed to make that solemne edict which vntill this time beareth the name of the edict of Ianuary which being a true meanes to preuent and stoppe the mischiefes which as then threatned the Realme of France was neuerthelesse in the end turned vnto an occasion of the greatest calamities that euer happened therein By it the edict of Iuly was abollished permission graunted to those of the religion to assemble without the Townes and sufficient order taken that eyther part might liue in peace and quietnesse with each other which was agreed vpon and signed at Saint Germaines in Laye the seuenteenth day of Ianuary Difficulties in the same The execution of this edict mooued great difficulties specially on the part of those of the Romish Church Touching those of the religion their Ministers and Deputies hauing resolued vppon certaine doubts that might be made they ranged themseluelues wholly vnto the Kings pleasure The Parliaments onely two or three made much difficultie to publish it that of Diyon would neuer do it and that of Parris made great question vpon it The chiefe President Bourdin the Kings Atturney held firme for the Church of Rome assisted by Merle Prouost of Marchants Marcell Sheriffe and diuers others The King of Nauarre seduced by his enemies The winds that made them turne blew from the Constable and those of Guise yet they had done little or nothing at all if at that time the King of Nauarre had not suffered himselfe to be seduced by his most deadly enemies that had for instruments of his ouerthrow the Ambassadour of Spaine the Popes Legat and the Cardinall de Tournon ayded by two of his principall seruants Descars and the Bishoppe of Mande Hee not being ambitious suffered himselfe to bee perswaded that if bee would but shewe him as newter and cause the Prince his sonne but once to heare Masse the king of Spaine would peaceably yeeld vp the Realme Sardagne vnto him which they affirmed to bee an Iland no lesse in valewe then that of Sicile and foure times as much as his Realm of Nauarre which was as much as a man may say to present him with nothing betweene two dishes and thereby to bereaue him of the certaine and honourable meanes to recouer his Realme of Nauarre if hee would haue hearkened therevnto and continued to haue fauoured and supported those of the religion as he had done vntill the edict of Ienuary neuerthelesse the pernitious counsell of
Ienlis aduentures who had gathered foure thousand footemen and fiue hundreth horse Ienlis and his troupes defeated for the succor of Countie Lodowicke and la Noue whom the Duke of Alue had besieged in Monts In the meane time commeth the new dispensation toward the ende of Iuly wherewith the Cardinal seemeth satisfied and the eighteenth day of August is nominated for the marriage In the meane time commeth the news of Ienlis surprise and aduenture whereat the king seemeth to bee much agreeued who writeth to his Ambassadour in the lowe Countries to procure by all possible meanes the deliuerie of the prisoners taken in that surprise as also he suffereth the Admirall to send all the succour hee may to ioyne with the Rutters whom the Prince of Orenge had buried at the same time causing him to haue mony deliuered for the footemens paye who were thought to amount to foure Regiments besides some thirtie companies of men at armes The Ambassadour of Spaine seemed to be malecontent because the king went about to make war in Flaunders and for the same cause withdrew himselfe out of France the Queene-mother also played many parts in this tragedie faining not to haue knowne the kings proceedings and knowing them made as though she would haue left the Court in such manner that the Admiral Teligny his sonne in law and other Lords confirmed themselues more and more that the kings actions were correspondant to the Admirals aduice which was to make warre in the king of Spaines countries that had kindled it and pretended to make warre in France thereby in time to cease vppon it Rochel inuested prouideth for it selfe The last of Iuly the Rochelers wrote vnto the Admirall that the armie at sea approached neare them and that it spoyled the plaine Countri-men comming euery day from Xantongue and Gascon vsing terrible threatnings against their towne openly speaking of the spoyle thereof sending to aske his counsell therein specially touching the receiuing of eight hundreth men for Garrison which they sought to put into the Towne Hee made them an honourable aunswere dated the seuenth of August assuring them of the care hee had ouer them and added that hee sawe the king so well disposed to the entertainment of peace that all men had cause to commend him The Rochelers notwithstanding neglected not to looke vnto themselues and to fortifie their Towne In other Townes their ranne diuers mutterings and many were the threats of the Romish Catholicques against the Protestants which daunted some of them Others relied vppon the Admiralles presence in the Court and trusted to his answere deliuered as well by word of mouth as by writing vnto those that asked his aduice vppon all accurrences whose speeches were in effect as followeth That as concerning the Guisians whom they so vrged the King had taken order by setting them at vnitie and causing both parties to swear friendship that the marriage of the Ladie Margaret whom the King gaue saith hee not to the King of Nauarre onely but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to ioyne with them in an indissoluble vnion was the type of their peace and safetie Heerevpon hee often besought such as sent him any packets gaue him any aduice of the hatred of the King the Queene-mother the Duke of Anion or the house of Cuise against either himselfe or the Protestants no more to trouble him with any the passed calamities but rather to be content with their daily prayers to God to whom they were to giue thankes that hee had vouchsafed to bring all matters to so quiet an end In brief the Admiral euer like himselfe stood fast in all these motions not that hee knew not of the malice of infinite his aduersaries that inuironed him neither that beeing at Parris hee laye in the very goulf and deepest pit of death but because through constancie and long continuance he had framed himselfe to rely vpon Gods prouidence as also for the hauing secretly layed open vnto the King the very springs of the ciuill warres in France and most liuely painted foorth the practises of his secret enemies and treacherous seruants that aymed at the soueraigntie since it hath manifestly appeared hee supposed that he had left him in a faire path to preuent them For sure it is that the King albeit as then but yong had a very good wit and could reasonable wel perceiue the course of his affaires so that had not such bloodie and furious Councelles preuented and crossed his capacitie France had not incurred those calamities that since haue almost subuerted the whole estate thereof For in the end he found albeit ouer-late for his person and crown that they that termed themselues his seruants ment nothing lesse but were his most cruell enemies and such as had exiled and murthered his best subiects to the end afterward with more facilitie to ridde their hands of himselfe and so to seize vppon the Realme There happened yet an other matter as the waies of God are maruellous and vncomprehensible that more and more stopped the eares of the Admirall Negotiation of Polonia not to way so many aduertisements as daily were giuen him to depart out of Parris to take with him out of Parris such Lords Gentlemen and Captaines as the Queene-mother the Duke of Anion the Guisians and the Parrisians most vehemently hated For certaine weekes before it had been determined in the Councell to send Ambassadours into Polonia king Sigismond beeing dead to desire the Estates to chuse for their king the Duke of Anion whom the Admirall accounted an irreconcileable enemie to the Protestants The Admirall therefore perceiuing that the king was earnest to further that matter of Polonia for his brother that had great credite throughout the Realme of France iudged that the king had a good insight and desired to reduce all things to a sure and firme peace that the Duke of Anion confined in Poland his adherents would be constrained to become milder that the house of Guise destitute of such a staye and doubting the king that many times looked with a fierce countenance would bee carefull not to bee too busie that in time and not long the Queene-mother would bee constrained to leaue the conductions of the affaires of the Realme vnto her sonne wherevnto hee beganne to frame himselfe and perceiuing that the King and the Queene appoynted Iohn de Monluc Bishoppe of Valence a man of great iudgement and one that had effected many serious enterprises and at other times had trauelled into Polonia for the same purpose which voyage hee beganne the seuenteenth of August it put him in better hope Monluc to the contrarie perceiuing the tempest at hand desired nothing more then to get him out of France that hee might not bee a witnesse nor forced Councellour to the mischiefes which hee perceiued readie to fall vppon those of the religion A little before hee had wished the Countie of Rochefoucaut other Lords neuer to meddle in
this imaginarie flemish war but rather with speed to return to their houses telling them that they had no great cause to relie too much vpon the faire shewes of the Court neither to soiourne long there considering the enuie and mallice that most of the greatest and generally the whole cittie of Parris did beare them but God would not suffer them as then to hearken to this good counsell In the meane time the Barron de la Garde posting from Brouage to the Court The Rochelers stand vpon their guarde returning in great haft wrote the 14. of August to the Rochelers exhorting them to giue credite to the king to his mother and to the D. of of Anion not to mistrust the soldiers that lay round about withal promising them for his part al fauor intreating them to intreat his men well that came to their Towne for their necessaries Heerevpon they grew the more warie and with like quoine and as good speeches payd this spie who writ himselfe their most assured friend The 17. of August Henry king of Nauarre and Ladie Margaret of France sister to the king in the euening were conducted to the Louure The espoufals and mariage of the king of Nauarre and Lady Margaret and the next day married by the Cardinall of Bourbon in the sight of all the people vpon a great scaffold made before the gate of the great Church of Parris That day passed ouer in banquets daunces and maskes with strange mixsture of those of the religion with the Catholicques wherat diuers were no lesse mooued then at the bloodie butcherie which alreadie they began to doubt and that happened not long after While euery man imployed himselfe to bee merrie and make good cheare diuers that were sent for by the King the Queene-mother and the Duke of Guise that they might bee the stronger part arriued in the town The conclusion hauing beene made not long before and then fully performed as well in Parris as at S. Cloud wherin the Dukes of Anion and Guise were the principall actors not to suffer the Admirall to depart but rather to dispatch him in Parris with al such as wold defend him The Queen-mother with two or three of her most faithful and secret seruants had a counsell a part the end whereof tended not onely to kill the Admirall Counsell against the Admiral and his adhereÌ„ts but also to set other at strife that they might rule with more ease Those of Guise pretended to extirminate the Admirall and causing those of the religion to be massacred by the people in the kings name to saue such as they might to make the king his mother his brother so much more odious so by little and little to aduance their desires The Marshall de Montmorencie beeing come to the wedding perceiuing such confusion and doubting the Ambuscadoes of the house of Guise mortal enemies both to him and his vnder pretence of riding out to hunt went home to his house which fell out well for him his absence beeing cause that his bretheren were not slaine The 22. of August as the Admirall came out of the Louure where all that morning hee had beene with the Marshall de Cosse Vpon fryday the Admirall was hurt and Tauanes to end a quarrell between two GentlemeÌ„ going to dine in his lodging accompanied with twelue or fifteene Gentlemen being on foote about one hundreth paces from the Louure and reading a petition one shot at him with a harguebuze the bullet whereof tooke away the forefinger of his right hand and hurt him in the left arme He that shot it had a horse readie at the back-doore of his lodging whereon being mounted he escaped at Saint Autâ—omes gate where finding a Ienet of Spaine held readie for him he tooke poste and got him to a place before appointed for his retrait The doore of the house being burst open the harguebuze was found therein with a Lacquey an other seruant it was knowne that one Chally a Steward of the kings house and a dealer in the Duke of Guises affaires the day before had brought that harguebusier into that house belonging to Villemeur Tutor to the Duke recommeÌ„ding him most earnestly vnto the Hostes that the same Fryday in the morning the Harguebusier naming himselfe Bolland one of the kings guard but it was Maureuel sent his Lacquey to desire Chally to prouide that the Duke of Guises Groome of the stable should prouide the horse that hee had promised The Admirall brought to his lodging shewed most singular pietie constancie patience vnder his Surgeans hands was visited by diuers Lords and Gentlemen of the religion the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Coude asking licence of the king to depart as beeing but hardly assured within Parris The king complained to them of the mischiefe happened swearing and promising to vse and execute such iustice vppon the offender that the Admirall and his friends should thinke themselues satisfied In the meane time he stayed them with promise shortly to take order therein and presently commaunded pursuite to bee made after the offendor on the other side willing the Prouost of Merchants in Parris to appoynt certaine men to bee readie prepared to execute what should bee giuen them in charge by the Duke of Aniou caused all the gates to bee shut swearing and blaspheming as his manner was that hee would not that they which had done that fact should so escape suffering two gates to stand open for such as passed out and in where a great watch was holden that no man might passe through without licence and faining to take order for all things touching that search caused all the towne to rise in armes As also hee appoynted sundrie Lords and Gentlemen Protestants to bee lodged in the Admirals quarter and round about him for feare said hee least lying scattered abroad in the Towne they migh encur some danger but there should be defended by the soldiers of his guard Maureuel was but easily pursued and Chally went to the Duke of Guises chamber where no man sought for him Two houres after noone the king went to visite the Admirall to whom in presence of the Queene-mother the Admirall made a long declaration wherein hee forgot not to maintaine his fidilitie to the seruice of the countrie of France of others miseries of the same by reason the peace could not bee well obserued specially touching those of the religion whereof he specified some particularities desiring the K. to do iustice vpon the offendors to haue regard vnto his faith and promise and to the quietnesse of the realm The king made aunswere that he accounted him an honest man a good Frenchman and one that loued the increase of the Crowne that he esteemed of him as of a most discreet excellent Captain and that vpon that opinion he had so farre entered into his former resolutions that his whole desire was to haue his Edicts of peace fully
three of his houshold seruants gaue him fiue woundes with their swoords in his bedde carried away his horses and best stuffe which the next day they sold to the most giuer in a village where Captaine Saint Stephen was lodged This scandall troubled the Rochelers who ended it thus That Stephen and Guymeniere should depart from Rochel Besides the aunswere expresly giuen to Biron the Rochelers by seueral letters did greatly excuse thēselues of this mishap which fell out without their notice and to the great griefe of their Deputie beseeching him as also they did du Vigean not to impute vnto them such an action whereto they had giuen neither counsell nor consent but were wonderfully sorrie that Vigean should bee so wronged at his returne from his Ambassage Many misliked that Vigean a Gentleman of the religion and a man of calling should take vpon him such a commission but his reward caused him to bee afterward better aduised Now the Rochelers beeing diuersly aduertised that shortly they should see an armie before their walles also that their Towne was the marke whereat their enemies aymed gaue a new onset vppon the Countrie of Montgommery the Vidame of Chartres and other Noble men fledde into England to craue some succour at their hands Their Deputies set saile in the euening the fiue and twentieth day of October Thus was it open warre for so many as were known to be Rochelers were euery where taken prisoners and put to their ransome all vessels sayling towards their hauen stayed all marchandize found to belong to any Rocheler seized and confiscate to bee short all actions of hostilitie put in practise against them Neither were the Sancerreans at that time much quieter for Cadaillet one of the Groomes of the chamber and the kings Hunter sometimes seruant to the Earle of Sancerre a man well knowne in the Towne was sent to confer with them Hee played the cunning Courtier setting debate among them that before were good friends wherof ensued a tumult whilest one would grant and an other would denie the comming in of the Lord of Fontaines who was sent to roote out the protestants Hereof grew murther and confusion wherof wee will speake heereafter For the aduancement of the Bishop of Valence Negotiation in Poland where the French name was miserably rent in peeces and to cut off the deuises of the protestants both within and without the Realme Diuers deuises to extirpe those of the religion and to roote out their memorie The king was perswaded that it would bee good to take some of them that were found to haue escaped the massacre and as then kept in prison and to make processe against them in forme of iustice and to put to the torture some of those that had escaped the massacre and beeing fetched out of their corners had beene committed to prison that they might be condemned by sentence of certaine Iudges appoynted for the purpose and so executed in the presence of the people and to the same to adde a sentence against the Admirall of whose bodie taken away as I said before they should make a similitude or image which the executioner should drawe along the streetes and then hang it on the Gibbet Then that there might bee published the kings letters pattents wherein it should bee decreed that the protestants should bee preserued both in body and goods and suffered to liue in all libertie of conscience so to allure them peaceably by this declaration that afterward they might speede as the rest besides to publish many bookes in excuse of all that was past and the same to dispearse in all places especially in Poland and Almaine and withall to charge the Ambassadours in England Suizerland and other forraine countries to iustifie the king and the Romish Catholicques All this was diligently put in execution Notable persons executed vnder colour of iustice Touching the first poynt Briquemant the father a Gentleman of the age of seuentie yeares one that had valiantly imployed himselfe in the seruice of the kings of France hauing beene found in the house of the Ambassadour of England wherein hee had saued himselfe while the greatest furies of the massacre were executed was put in close prison with Cauagnes Maister of the Requests These two bare great affection both vnto the religion and the Admirall and otherwise were of great reputation in France they were threatned to be torne in peeces vppon the racke if they would not write and signe with their hands that they had conspired with the Admirall to kill the king his bretheren the Queene and the king of Nauarre but they hauing constantly refused to auouch so horrible a lye against their innocencies and themselues they were racked and cruelly tormented by sentence of the Court of Parliament in Parris dated the seuen and twentieth of October were declared guiltie of treason and condemned to be hanged vpon a Gibbot which was executed The Queen-mother leading the king her two other sonnes and the king of Nauarre her sonne in lawe to see the execution Her Councellours thinking that at that last exployt it would bee wrought if Briquemaut in presence of all the people would aske pardon of the king sending some vnto him to certifie him that so hee might easily saue his life that the king was mercifull and that hee should haue pardon if hee asked it confessing this fact wherewith hee was charged Briquemaut aunswered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not vnto him but to the king to aske pardon of God for such an offence that he wold neuer aske pardon for a fault wherin hee had not offended but knew himselfe to bee innocent whereof hee called God to witnesse desiring him to pardon the kings so great disloyaltie Cauagnes did the like vntill hee died in such sort that this execution serued to no other ende but more to publish theiniquitie of so many pernicious councels Asnare discouered and anoyded With these two notable persons they hung a man of haye made like the Admirall against whom also was pronounced a smal sentence of death Touching the declarations in fauour of those of the religion the Duke of Guise discouered the snare so that fewe of them were taken For that by letters sent by his mother the same day that Briquemaut was executed shee wrote vnto him that the king had the said day determined with his Councell wholly to roote out those of the religion whom hee termed seditious vermine not sparing the children nor straungers that had giuen them ayde therein discouering enterprises against the Prince of Orenge and others which vanished like smoke Among the Ambassadours that excused the king Monluc was one the easiler to aduance his affaires of Polonia whereof we meane not to recite any particularities as not pertaining properly to our intent The beginning of open war against the Sancerrans Yee heard before how Cadaillet had sowen diuision among the Sancerreans now shall you see the haruest of that graine
The ninth of Nouember the Lord of Fontaines brother surprised the Castle by intelligence with some of the Inhabitants that inclosed themselues therein with him albeit through the valour and resolution of the rest namely of the protestants he was forced to auoyde againe within foure and twentie houres after euen as Fontaines was comming with a strong succour After this the Sancerrcans beganne to stand better vpon their guard hauing about 650. souldiers vnder diuers Captaines and Lieftenants and Martignon Pilard Martinat la Fleur Chaillon Montauban Buisson Paquelon la Minee Doriual whose Generall was Andrew Ioanneau Bayliffe of the Towne They had moreouer one hundreth and fiftie labourours in their Vinyeards who vppon necessitie bare themselues very well either vppon the walles at the assaults and scalings or in the sallies with their slings which were termed Sancerrean Pistolles Neither were their women slacke during this siege which beganne about the twentieth day of Nouember but now for Rochel The seuenth of Nouember the Barron de la Garde sent two Gallies to take a view of the Towne vnder pretence of sending his letters But the Lord of Essars whom the Rochelers had made their Generall Also against the Rochelers sent the next night after the Barrons two Gallies whereof the one was taken an Inginer slaine and an other taken and the other hardly escaped Heerevpon ensued the publication of the Kings letters pattents dated the sixt of that moneth but not yet published wherein hee denounced open war to the Rochelers Howbeit before any defie there rested yet the last stratageme to bee put in practise because the king was loth to enter into armes as doubting least so hee might fall into new troubles which he hoped to bee now quite quenched The King the Queen-mother and others had earnestly sāluted la None whom the Duke of Alue after the taking of Montz in Henaut had sent backe into France to labor that the Rochelers who in regard of his vertues both loued and honoured him would grow to composition hee after many excuses as well in regard of the impossibilitie as also because in conscience hee could not counsell the Rochelers to yeelde their throates to their enemies vppon commandement accepted the message rather in purpose to serue the Rochelers as hee did and so to get from the Court then to hurt the professors of the religion which himself most constantly professed euen to the death For after he had performed his commission in the companie of the Abbot of Gadagne and giuen account of his Ambassage to the Lord of Biron who lay at Saint Iohn d'Angely hee returned straight to Rochel where hee so bare himselfe that he was one of the chief instruments that God vsed for the preseruation of the Towne during the siege Wheras contrariwise Captain Saint Stephen withdrew himselfe to his owne house and his Lieftenant Guymeniere who had a long time made profession of religion went to Landereau and others to helpe to warre vpon the Rochelers Sundry places of refuge for the Protestants Besides Sancerre and Rochel the Inhabitants of Montauban Nismes Milliaud Aubenas Priuas Mirebel Anduze with other hamlets as well in Viuaretz as in Seuenes began to helpe themselues yet not without many impeachments euen from those that ought most to haue encouraged them For at that time throughout all those parts it was a question whether it were lawfull for the subiects to stand vpon so iust and necessarie a defensiue Some wished patience others fight and the rather for that they could not possibly resist that euery thing seemed to bee past hope that there were not left either great Lord or famous leader to gather in the protestants also that there was not any forraine Prince that made any offer to stand in their defence Neuerthelesse the resolution of the two first named Townes drew diuers to breath vppon the matter namely those of Montauban who shutte their gates against the murtherers Nismes stood in a mummering but through the wisedome of Clausonne a man of great credite in those parts vppon summons to accept of a Garrison the Inhabitants with common aduice made answere that they would not open their gates vntill a more quiet season they were threatned and intimidated but that made them in the end but the more valiant Other Villages at the beginning diuersly espied were in great daunger but the carriage of some Captaines men of small account and many particular persons the king and his officers were brought into other conceipts Mombrun also a wise and valiant Gentleman of Dauphine was ridden vp and downe in diuers wise but he defended himselfe and afterward stood the protestants in good stead The ninth of Nouember there was a blazing starre seene in the ayre as great as the day starre hard by Cassiopee hauing a forme of soure corners like a lozenge A new and wonderfull starre in the ayre Cornelius Gemme other learned Doctors in Astronomie that imprinted bookes thereof said that it stirred not from the place for the space of three weekes esteeming it to be like the starre that appeared to the wise men that came to worship Iesus Christ in Bethlehem presently after his birth It continued in the ayre for the space of nine monethes togither or thereabout The ninteenth of the same moneth the king published an Edict repeating the former to reuoke his subiects to their owne houses vnder paine of losse of goods yet to small purpose for all men were before so scarred besides that they now saw such prouisions for warre that this reuocation was in vaine Such Cantons of the Switzers as made profession of the religion were solicited to bannish out of their Territories such as hadde there saued themselues but they would neuer consent to the Ambassadours petitions in that behalfe Sommieres besieged and yeelded Toward the end of the moneth Marshall d'Anuille Gouernour of Languedoc besieged Sommieres holden by the protestants and at foure moneths ende tooke it by composition hauing dispearsed an armie whereof men spake diuersly In the beginning of December Gordes the kings Lieftenant in Dauphine by friendly letters solicited Mombrun Mirebel Diguieres and other Gentlemen to forsake their religion and to turne to the Romish withall adding that the king was resolued to suffer no other within his dominions The fourth of December by the kings commandement Monsieur de Biron with seuen Cornets of horse and eighteen Ensignes of foote entered into the countrie of Onis to inclose the Rochelers and as then beganne open war All the rest of the month was imployed in skirmishes with some losse to those of Rochell onely in one wherein they lost Florac a Gentleman of Xaintongne much lamented for his valour 1573. The siege of Sancerre Most part of the yeare 1573. was imployed in the sieges of Sancerre Rochel and other places in molesting those of Languedoc and more and more to trouble the poore countrie of France The principall circumstances wee will set