as his Maiestie dooth the said Lord Duke so much honor as by the way to cause the Lord of Villiquire to visit him and to comunicate vnto him of his newes can hée not also forget as wel moste humbly to thank his maiestie as also plainly to declare vnto him that vnderstanding his intent to be such as the said Lord of Villiquire hath both giuen him to vnderstand and left with him in writing is vnto him newes indéed First because that this his Maiesties plesure is vtterly repugnant vnto the promises othes and assurances wherw t his Maiestie hath alwaies protested bothe by mouth and wrighting that he would maiÌ„tain his Edict of Pacification concluded and sealed by the autoritie of his Maiestie the Queene his mother the PriÌ„ces of his blood and his priuie counsail at such time as his Maiestie had such store of his power about him that easely he might haue doon what he had pleased and this he did to the end for euer to testifie that hée did conclude sweare and solemply confirme the same of his owne pure méere frée and liberall goodwil for the proffit and quietnesse of his Kingdome and Subiects as not onely the said Lady Queene his Mother the Princes and other Lords haue by woord of mouth protested vnto the said Lord Duke at the concluding of the said peace whervnto for the greater coÌ„fimation of the same they also requested the said Lord Duke to subscribe as indéed hée did but also his Maiestie him self hath bothe sent him woord and confirmed the same More ouer this his Maiesties intent séemeth so much the more straunge to the said Lord Duke as that to his great gréef he therby forséeth the finall perditioÌ„ whervnto his Maiestie for the putting of his determination in executioÌ„ dooth hedlong cast his owne person and whole Realme wherof togither with the present estate of his affaires and the generall ruin to come the said Lord with the rest of the Princes of Germany who doo wish the preseruation of the French Monarchie béeing dayly truely aduertised as the said Lord of Villiquier may by them selues vnderstand and shall sée the writings bothe written and printed which the said Lord Duke trusteth wil be sufficient to reuoke his said Maiestie from his resolution and wherby hée shall perceiue the malice of his SeruaÌ„ts hired héervnto who vsurpiÌ„g the title of the Estates in the name of all his subiects haue made this request wherof they neuer receiued commission of his Subiectes either were by them advowed as the said Lord of Villequier shall at his return very well vnderstand The said Lord Duke may thanks he to God plainly testifie that hée hath of moste faithful and sincere affection aduertised his Maiestie aswel by letters and Embassadours as by his Maiesties Messenger First béeiÌ„g in Fraunce hée warnded him of the holy league the frutes wherof hée may now euidently perceiue to be vtterly contrary to the faith and reputation of his Maiestie and quietnesse of his Subiects After being come home by Prayllon him self who is now héer present hée gaue his Maiestie to vnderstand of the true aduertismeÌ„ts which hee had receiued of the drifts and practises prepared for prouiding and corrupting in each parte and bringing to the deuotion of those whome wée doo perceiue suche as should enioy the title of the Estates that is to say to prouide that no Estates should be holden fréely â–ª lawfully and without respect of Religion where at might be present as at all times aunciently they haue béen accustomed the Princes of the blood togither with all such as haue wherof to complain Moreouer the said Lord Duke hath truely aduertised his maiestie after what maner the Edict of peace hath béene executed nothing is doon that the Estates haue béen ordered in such wise as already hée hath béen aduertised that the Princes of the blood haue thervnto béen called to the end to intrap them How such men haue béen fauoured as haue offered to lay houlde vppon their Parsons and to surprise those Townes where the Edict is lawfully and fincéerely executed togither with the places where those of the Religion haue béen forced to kéep them selues and not to forsake the same by reason of the euil execution of the Edict Hée hath béen moreouer truely aduertised of the othe lately made to his Maiestie the Copye wherof was suÌ„marely deliuered to the said Lord of Villequier a matter to say trueth horrible to be knowen among men and so straunge that the said Lord Duke could neuer haue beléeued it had not the continual and late contrauensions against the Edict moste manifestly declared the same the Kings proposition made by the said Villequier fully confirmed it as also the said matters doo ioyntly cause the said Lord Duke to beleeue that his Maiesties determination is correspondent to the declaration of the aforesaid Lord of Villequier Howbeit the said Lord Duke trusteth that in asmuch as it is a month since the departure of the said Lord of Villequier God hath otherwise inspired his Maiestie and caused him to smel out this poysoned counsail togither with the vanitie of the offers of these pretended Estates to the end to put his Maiestie in minde yea to cause him euen as it were with his finger to touch that which héertofore wisely and ripely hée hath had in woorthy consideration which also his faithfull and truely affected Seruants and Fréends not only in Fâ—auÌ„ce but also through out Christendome haue manifested vnto him which also finally necessitie it self hath giuen to vnderstand not only to his Maiestie but to his Predecessors by so much experience when they haue endeuoured but euer in vain to root out the reformed Religion and all exercise of the same by warres persecutions and other meanes euen horrible to be rehersed which the said Lord Duke could not ouer passe by reason of the sincere affection which he bereth to the conseruation of the mightines of his Maiestie And to the end to sée him at peace with his Subiects the way is to set before his Maiesties eyes this litle which followeth First that it may please his Maiestie to call to minde the couÌ„sail of Gamaliel that against that which commeth of God no power or practise of man can preuaile also that whatsoeuer is not of God wasteth and perisheth of it self Secondly that in matters of estate that is good which is necessary wherin his Maiestie may looke in the looking glasse of Germany Poland Hungary Boheme Suisserland and the lovv Country not as things are cloked but according to the trueth as him self hath séen for to compare a Prince of Germany with his maiestie or with all Fraunce is an absurde thing but to compare Fraunce with all Germany is an equall proportion Thirdly that his Maiestie perceiueth that all the same Contries doo floorish because they haue found meanes to content the consciences of their subiects by which Examples his maiestie may knowe that not the permission of the Religion but the
in his owne name only but also in the name of his whole armie requireth his maiestie to haue regarde to his honour and to kéep faith and promise wherby at the next faire at Francforte aswel the said Lord Duke as also his Colonels Reistremaisters and Captaines may be satisfied who in the name of the whole armie will méete at the said Citie of Francforte there to determine of their affaires according as the Lord Beuterich and the other Captaines sent with him may more amply aduertise his maiestie All this dooth the aforesaid Lord Duke moste hartely request the said Lord of Villequier to let his Maistie fully openly and at large vnderstande together with what soeuer he hath aunswerd by woord of mouth without any circumstances ▪ or difficultie with like plainesse affection and good will as the saide Lord Duke in making this answere hath procéeded and desireth euer to procéed toward his Maiestie †Thus subscribed I. Cassimire The Oration of the Lord of Buterich Embassadour from the most noble Prince Iohn Cassimir Countie Palatine of Rhine Duke of Bauier c. pronounced before the King in his tovvne of Bloys SIr we haue our commission on the behalfe of my Lord the Duke Iohn Cassimire Countie Palatine of Rhine Duke of Bauier c. aswell in his owne name as also in the name of all the Lords Colonels Rheystremaisters Captains and generally of all his men of warre who in his second voyage into Fraunce accompanyed him after their moste humble commendations to beséech your maiestie to fulfill that which you haue promised signed sealed oftentimes confirmed as wel by mouth as letters touching the pay and assuraunce of the said men of warre whiche is the cause of our ariuall in your Court. Truely it would cause vs to blush if particularly we should rehearse all that is wanting of the performance of the promises made vnto vs bothe before and after our departure out of this Realme The place whereof we doo claime our selues would séeme to make this matter much more odious were it not on the one parte the necessitie wherevnto we are bound by the commaūdement of them that haue sent vs and on the other parte the assurance which all they whome this matter concerneth haue conceiued that your Maiestie knowing the ground of this case how it goeth and what dependeth therof will take so good and spedy order that besides the increase of your reputation we shall receiue such satisfaction as bothe we doo promise our selues and ought to hope for of a King of Fraunce who hath made a solemne promise to a forraine nation especially vnto ours First your maiesties Obligation bearing date the 27. of Iuly 1576 doth expressy importe that at the faire of Francfort in September last past the third fourth and fifth moneths should haue bene paid That the 100000. francks which my Lord the Duke Iohn Cassimire lent to your Maiestie for the supplying of the payment of the two first moneths should at the same faire haue béene discharged That your maiestie before the same terme should haue sent Commissioners to take order for that which yet resteth due vnto my said Lord the Duke Iohn Cassimir since his first voyage together with that also which yet is behinde of the voyage of my late Lord the Duke of Deux ponts or two bridges That your Maiestie would with all expedition accomplish the promised number of hostages and that before our departure out of Fraunce These Articles together with many others are promised and signed by your Maiestie conter-signed by one Secretary of estate and one Secretary of your treasury and sealed with your brode seale the effect wherof or accomplishment we haue not hetherto found Leauing the reserch of the botome of these matters as the first agréement which my Lady your Mother made at Chesteau neuf immediatly after that my Lord had receiued the money of your maiestie shewing in effect by the law of an C. thousand franks of his owne for the supplying of the pay of two moneths how affectionate he was vnto your crown how he departed with al spéed out of Fraunce which all Beystres would not haue doon not minding by wayting for the perfect accomplishment of your promises to be gréeuous or trublesō to your people so that what so euer aduertisment he receiued as assuredly he had many and those from the best that there was some hidden mistery yet could they not so much win him as to cause him to shewe any token of mistrust so much did he assure him selfe in your worde Afterwarde your Maiestie gaue him to vnderstand by sundry letters that you could not according to promise satisfie him at the fair of September by reason of the assembly of the Estates who besides the confirmation of the Edict made by your owne absolute and royall power as we were promised should entreate vpon some meanes how to discharge your Maiestie towarde straungers and so to content vs also that at Christmas this fault should be amended Immediatly after Christmasse and before Newyéeres day your maiestie sent my Lord woord that the Estates had put a dout and let in the behalf of Castelas which could not so soone be decided also that in the meane time your Maiestie would cause to furnish at the faire of Strasbrough which was holden at the same season the partes of my Lord the Duke of Lorreine and my Lord the Duke of Vaudemont Sir wée are sory to say so much but the trueth is there wanteth 250000. which is in manner the one half which yet wée haue not receiued of those two parts and in the meane time my said Lord was personally at Strasbrough where were also sundry Colonels Reistremaisters Captaines and Souldiers at the least xv dayes and more to their great costs charges labour trauaile procured by the delay of the said payment Now is Easter fair which is to be holden at Francfort at hand at the which your maiesties promise should take place First concerning the former dets dewe vnto bothe my Lord the Elector Palatine next to my aforesaid Lord the Duke Iohn Cassimire Item touching the sixt and seuenth moneths pay for the armie Which articles we can if néed be specifie vnto your maiestie Hauing cōmission and expresse commandement to desire your maiestie to satisfie the same at this next faire at Fancfort which is to be holden at Easter next vnto eche and euery of them aswel for the time past as that which is to come which amounteth almost to 4. Millions of franks besides costs and domages The payment of which sum within such a tearme would go hard with any flourishing estate not indetted turmoyled or sacked with continuall wars for the space of xv or xvi yéers wheras if all had béene quiet and in reste all things might haue abounded so that now it cannot be but we must néedes much doubt therof And that that moste troubleth vs is that before our eyes we sée that you séek not the
Certaine Orations and Answeres made by Iohn Casimire Countie Palatine of Rhyne Duke of Bauier c. and his Embassadours vnto the French King his Embassadours in defence of the maintenance of his Peace and christian Religion ‡ ¶ Translated out of French. 1579. †Imprinted at London 1579. †The Charge of the Lord of Villiquier as he deliuered the same in vvrighting vnto my Lord the Duke Cassimir MY Lord as touching the request which it pleased your highnes this mornīg to make vnto me namely that I should in writing deliuer vnto you the charge which I haue receiued of my Maister the moste Christian King I am not minded to deny you 〈◊〉 for that by woord of mouth I haue not opened to you any other then the trueth which his Maiestie willeth and is minded to let you knowe His Maiestie therfore béeing sory to heare of the deceasse of my Lord the Countie Palatine your Father dooth neuerthelesse much reioyce and prayse God for that so wise a Prince as my Lord at this present Elector hath succeded him in the said Electorall Dignitie for the visitation of whome his Maiestie hath now sent mée commaunding mée by the way to sée your Highnesse to the end to assure the same that hée desireth nothing more then to looue you as in effect he hath alredy euen to this time giuen you to vnderstand Also the more to confirme the goodwill which he beareth you hée thought good by mée to giue you to vnderstād of his newes togither with the estate of his affaires which are as followeth His Maiestie hauing summoned the generall Estates of his Realme vnto his Towne of Bloys after many and large conferences among them holden within these thrée Months they haue with one generall assent in ful assembly whethery self was present requested his Maiestie no longer to permit within his Dominions any other then the exercise of the Catholick Apostolick and Romain Religion whervnto at my departure his Maiestie was determined to condiscend First therby to discharge the duty of his consciēce which mooueth him after the example of other Kings his Predecessors so to doo whotherby haue peaceably enioyed their estates Next by reason that hetherto hée hath perceiued that the diuersitie of Religions haue with them brought into all partes of his Kingdoome where they haue béen cstablished new occasions of discention among his Subiects yea euen amōg the quietest of them and haue béen the only meanes to maintain them in deuisions and perticuler hatred moreouer that it is to manifest that they haue not so much requested the exercise of their said pretended reformed Religiō for any satisfiing or contenting of their consciences as for the maintenaunce of factions practices and drifts ordinarily deuised against the autotie of his said Maiestie to whome by all meanes they endeuour to make them selues in power equall by dayly more and more fortifying them selues therby vpon euery occasion and oportunitie to disobey him and so to shake of the Yoke of obedience wher vnto naturally they are bound as the effects in each respect dooth make sufficiēt proofe notwithstandīg in woords they would showe them selues deuoid of all such matter As euen of late theire new supplying of la Charitie with fresh men of warre contrary to the agréement made to the end wholy to apropriate the same to thē selues doth manifestly declare as also their seazing vppon sundry towns and Castels in the Countries of Poictou Xantoigne Guyen Daulphine and Lan guedoc togither with diuers murders cruelties practised against the Catholicks doo showe the same Againe his Maiestie on the other side settīg before his eyes one thing woorthy consideration which is that hauing since the graunt of the last Edict taken all order possible to cause the tolleration of the exercise of the said pretendid reformed Religion in sūdry towns and places within his Dominios he hath not béen able to bring the same to passe by reasō of the oppositions of the Catholicks who could not supporte the folly wherw t they haue endeuoured to procéed And indéed perceiuing by all their déeds and demenures that they sought to encrease and multiply them selues to the ruin and ouerthrowe of them and their Catholicke Religion they haue among them selues made Fraternities Assotiations and leagues one with an other for the conseruation bothe of them selues their said Catholick Religiō also the therby they may the better prouide for their owne affaires Also where as it plesed you my Lord this morning to aleadge vnto me that in asmuch as the exercise of the afore said Religion was not fréely permitted in Fraunce it was an vtter breaking preuentīg of the Edict of pacification whervnto his Maiestie hath so solēnly sworne I doo aunswere that contrarywise for the satisfiing to one of the Articles therof this assembly of Estates was summoned to the end that after the hearing of the complaints and greeuances of his Subiects they might be prouided for as should séem requisit whervnto he could not better satisfie then in vsing this determination which is correspondent vnto the vniuersall request of the Deputies of the thrée orders of this Realme namely the Church the Nobilitie the third Estate agréeing also with the iudgement of his owne Consience against the which he should think him self dooing otherwise to erre Wherfore to conclude this is it which he thīketh may best serue and profit the generall common welth of his Realme and of all his Subiects Thus subscribed Villiquier †The Answere of my said Lord the Duke vnto the afore said Chardge THe Lord Duke Ihon Cassimire hauing heard of the Lord of Villiquier what so euer hee had to say to him in the behalfe of the King his Maister did request his Maiestie to take in good parte this answere from poinct to poinct and the same to receiue with as good a will as the said Lord Duke is affectionate to the aduancement cōmoditie and seruice of his Maiestie and the Crown of Fraunce First the said Lord the Duke most humbly thāketh his maiestie for the gréef which he séemeth to perticipate in for the death of his late Lord and Father assuring his Maiestie that he hath great cause so to doo in respect of the zeale care and singuler afection whiche he alwayes hare euen to the last gaspe of his life vnto the aduancement and preseruation of his Maiesties person togither with the comoditie and quietnesse of the whole Realme of Fraunce The said Lord Duke hopeth also that his Maiestie shall finde that my Lord the Elector his brother hath succéeded not only in the Electorall Dignitie but also in like goodwil and affection wherin hée the said Lord Duke dooth also assure his Maiestie that for his parte he wil follow the steps of his late Lord and Father so néere as possible he may and will alwaise by Gods help professe the same not only to his Country but also to his Maiestie with as good a wil as euer hée did Wherfore
hinderaunce of the exercise of the same hath engendred the mischéefs and calamities which now he beholdeth through all his Realme Fourthly that his Maiestie not béeing able to confirme the laste peace without his Edict of Pacification and not béeing able to kéepe that without maintaining the same and putting it in execution hée may plainly sée that the maintenance of his Edict is the only fundation and meanes of peace yea it is the very peace it self Fiftly like as the vpholding therof is a meane of peace and auoiding warres so is it the only way wherby his maiestie may recouer the obedience of his subiects for it is a thing most certain the a King becoming Captain of any faction among his subiects can neuer be wel obeyed for it is requisite that hée should shew him self a common Father to all his Subiects in endeuoring to reconsile them one to an other Also sixtly to deale and sweare against the vpholdiÌ„g therof is the only meane to briÌ„g his maiesties subiects in greater mistrust then before and so to areare more cruel warre then before time Seuenthly to alleadge the soueraigne autoritie of a King for the dooing or swering to such matters to bring his maiestie vnto a perpetuall rebuke among all the world wherby he shall be accouÌ„ted a Prince void of all faith lawe honor and vertue For his maiestie may call to minde how often he hath bothe by woord and writing professed himself to be a true Prince such a one as wil promise nothing but what he entendeâ—h to performe yea and mindeth rather to promise nothing so that no man of honour can otherwise conclude but that either he ought not to haue made the contents of the edict or else he ought to obserue it as his maiestie in his owne person hath vsed to say For the eighth especially the Lord Duke assureth him self that his maiesty may wel perceiue that with any man who would obserue the couteÌ„ts of their othe or folow the counsail of these pretended states which is no other then the othe it selfe notwithstanding it had neuer béene sworne it would be vnpossible to haue any trafique because that neither worde promise othe obligation seale or other thing whatsoeuer ordinary and lawfull for the assurance of faith among men especially betwéen the Prince and his subiects considering the imbecilitie of the said subiects would be of any more force but contrariwise should serue only for nets and snares wherwith to entrap eche other Ninthly his Maiestie ought to consider that neighbours and straungers cannot assure them selues of that Prince whose subiects cannot trust him as they of the Religion who haue ouermuch béene perswaded For to showe that they began not we néede no other argument then the proposition of the said Lord of Villequier namely that the King is not minded to obserue the principall point of his Edict As touching the example of the Quéene of England it is sufficiently knowen that that Ladyes hart is such as if shée had among her subiects found such numbers of Princes Lordes gentlemen and others of the Romaine Religion within her dominions who should as his Maiesties subiects haue doon so ofteÌ„ haue requested her rather than to haue incurred such spoyles and once onely falsifyed her faith and promise her maiestie would haue permitted them the exercise of their Roomish Religion Tenthly that his maiestie should beare at the least asmuch affection vnto his owne Subiects as he hath shewed vnto the estates of the lowe Countryes in reioysing with them for the determination that they haue taken for the recouery of their libertie hauing also béene a mediatour to the saide Estates for the restoring againe of the Countie of Egmonde into his estates and honours wherin he hath the more to consider of the pollicie of the Spaniarde who séeketh nothiÌ„g but to continue warres in Fraunce to the end thereby to turne away the tempest from his owne Countryes after his good and vsuall maner Finally whereas his Maiestie alleageth that willingly hée would leaue his Subiects the libertie of their consciences that were much more to be mistrusted because it is moste vndoubted that hée who can liue without exercise of his Religion is vtterly deuoyd of all conscience so that it is as much as if his maiestie should say I will graunt my subiects their liues but in the meane time he should take froÌ„ them their foode wherein the Papists doo showe a sufficient argument that they cannot liue without Masse so that the said Lord Duke cannot giue his Maiestie any better counsaile except that if hée minde to remaine a King and to show him self such a Prince that a man may deale and trafique and trust to his maiestie that theÌ„ he maintaine his Edict and obserue his faith in procuring the abuses of these pretended Estates wherof his maiestie speaketh to be refourmed by such meanes as shall be thought reasonable for the said assembly cannot be taken for true frée and lawfull Estates but rather for traytors to his maiestie his crowne neither are they the persons promised by the Edict for they should be kept for the maintenaunce and confirmation of the peace but not for the subuerting thereof to which end they haue moste vilanously béene subbourned as many times his Lordship hath aduertised his maiestie The rehearsall of all which things the said Lord Duke could very well forbeare were he not constrayned as well by the plainesse of his conscience and honour which is engaged in the subscription of the peace as also by reason of the singular affection which he beareth to the commoditie aduauncement and seruice of his maiestie in which minde he will continue all his life time hauing nothing in more recoÌ„mendatition then to bring to the crown of Fraunce and the tranquilitie of his maiesties subiects what so euer meanes or counsaile God shall euer giue him without sparing ought which the said Lord Duke moste humbly desireth his maiestie to beléeue and for such a one to account him placing him in the number of his moste faithfull and affectionate fréends and seruants This is all which the said Lord Duke can imparte to his maiestie in ought that appertaineth to his person But as concerning his armie that was in Fraunce the said Lord Duke his Colonels Reystremaisters and Captains hauing héeretofore thought it straunge that his maiestie kept not with them the promises which he had bothe made and so often reitreated vnto them as well at Francfort as at Strasbrough touching their payment and hostages doe now thincke it muche more straunge and a matter almoste impudent that such a Lord as the Lord of Villequier comming into these partes as Embassador for his maiestie hath not onely not brought any assuraunce of the same but also not so much as is spoken thereof sauiÌ„g by the way yea and which is more that the effect of his message is vtterly repugnaunt vnto the Obligations and promises of his maiestie Therfore the said Lord Duke not