of the extreame couetousnesse of certayne persons who felt not the hand of God fierce vpon them in that so miserable time For as shall bee declared heereafter in Iuly and in the beginning of August a pounde of Horseflesh was solde at eyghteene twenty and two and twenty sowses And notwithstanding all the order and pollicy that could be taken the best chepe was betweene tenne and thirteene sowses the pound and the offals thereof were yet much more excessiuely deerer whiche thyng did maruellously greeue the poore people And I must heere tell you that horse fleshe by the reporte of suche as tasted well of them both is better than the fleshe of Asses or Mules For although it be more nesh rawe than sodden yet is it more fyrme and substantiall and it agreeth better with the nature of it to be boyled than rosted And if a man will make good pottage with it whether he put it into the pot fresh or poudred he must giue it longer seething than to beef The taste of it is somewhat like Porke but yet somewhat nearer the taste of Beefe If a man wyll bake it he must neyther perboyle it nor seeth it before but season it with salte vineger and pepper and let it bake sokingly in the crust The fat of it is like the fat of Porke and byteth not the delicate tong and the lyuer is yet delicater than the rest But the famine increased more and more and the Cats also hauing their turne were within a little while all killed slayne and eaten vp as Conyes in somuch that the store and increase of them fayled and in lesse than fiftiene dayes they were solde at .xv. sowses the quarter Moreouer by reason of the penury wherewith many men were pinched they fell to catching of Rats Moles and Mice and the hunger that pressed them made them to deuise inuent and finde out all manner of traps and ye should haue seene the poore children glad and well apayed when they had caught any Mice which they broyled vpon the coales most commonly without fleaing or bulking of thē By reason of the great scarcitie of them men did rather deuour them than eate them and there was neyther tayle of beast feete nor skynne whiche was not suddenly gathered together to serue for sustenance to a great number of needy people Those that were not dryuen to so great necessitie did eate rosted Rattes howbeit they are much better stewed Yea and which thing I would not haue beleeued without I had had experience of it or at least wise were well assured of it Dogges were not spared but without lothing or mislyking they were killed as ordinarily for meate as men kyll sheepe at other times Some of them were snetched kylled and solde for an hundred sowses and for sixe poundes Turnoys a peece and it was noueltie to buy a quarter of a Dogge for .xx. and xxv sowses suche as did eate of them sayde that the fleshe of them is verie good and they made great cheare with the feete the inwards and bellyes of them stewed with spices and herbs In so much that the heads of Calues Horses and Lambs and the legges of Greyhoundes and Houndes being rosted were thought to be fine meate and eaten as the inwardes of an Hare But specially the yong sucking and the little whelpes were taken for yong Rabbet suckers Neuerthelesse to say what I knowe by tasting thereof my selfe Dogges fleshe is very flashe and wallowish sweete About the beginning of Iuly when there remayned yet twentie Horses of seruice which were spared against the vttermost extremitie the belly whiche hath no eares and necessitie the Scholemistresse of cunning made dyuers men to try whether the skyns of Oxen Kyne Sheepe and other cattell whiche hung a drying in mennes store houses and Garrets could supply the place of theyr bodyes And out of doubt after that men had assayed it and well washed scraped and scalded them they found such sauour in them that as soone as it was knowne as many as had any skynnes dressed them after the foresayde manner and roasted them vppon a Gredyron like Trypes Such as had any suet greace or tallow made Fricases of them in a pot and other some dyd eate them with vinegar Howbeit aboue all skynnes the Calues skynnes were founde to be exceeding good and I haue eaten of them so delycate that if I had not beene tolde of it I woulde haue thought that I had eaten of the beste Trypes in the worlde Afterwarde the skynnes of Horses and of all other beastes came into the play and the eares that remayned vpon the Asses skynnes were not lefte behynde but were helde and esteemed to be as tender and good meate as Hogges souse The beste manner of dressing all sortes of Hydes and skinnes is not to pyll them and scalde them as I sayde afore but to nayle them and strayne them vpon a boorde and so to sindge and scrapt off the hayre of them more easily as men do sindge Bacon hogges Afterwarde they must lye soaking a daye or twayne in water and the water must be chaunged often times and then they must be dreast and sodden as we dressed them at oure returne from a voyage whiche I made into the lande of Brazilie called America in the yeere of oure Lorde 1558. where hauing continued fyue monethes vpon the sea without setting foote on lande when as the hunger lasted still whiche we had indured by the space of a moneth before we were dryuen to eate the drye Hydes of beastes as bigge as a Bullocke of a yeere olde whiche the wylde people call a Tappirowson for we dyd but lay them vppon the coales and had not the skill to soften them as men dyd the dry skynnes at Sanserre The dearth was so great that one foote of leather or one pounde wayght of any maner of beastes skynnes whatsoeuer they were was solde for twelue or fyfteene Sowses and some skynnes were retayled for more than thyrtie Frankes selling them vpon Tallyes and Skores as in a Caterie or victualing house And for as much as the prouision of skinnes fayled by reason of the narowe searche of suche as were pinched with hunger The finer witted sorte beganne to worke maisteries with Parchment which taking good successe made the people fall to it as to other things before in so muche that not onely the skynnes of cleane Parchment were eaten but also the Letters Scrolles and Bookes as well prynted as in written hande were eaten without any stoppe and the oldest and auncientest Bookes of an hundred or sixscore yeeres olde were sought out euerie where and eaten vp wythout seething of them The manner of the dressing of them was to steepe them a daye or twaine as neede required chaunging the water often and to scrape them with a knyfe as I tolde you afore of the skynnes Then they boyled them a day or twaine till they became soft and tender which was perceiued by this that in drawing them out
pray and bootie they were beseeged the ninth day of Ianuary of thys presente yeere with a copious armie contayning fyue hundred horsemen and fyue thousande footemen besyde those whych were borne and dwelling in that countrey who came thither of their owne accord to get them renowne The Lorde of Chastre knight of the order the kings gouernour of the countrey was general of the Armie He had for the batterie sixtiene great peeces and he caused a greate number of trenches and bulwarkes to be made for their defence in the seege When they of the towne sawe them selues besieged and then too late fearing the scarcitie of corne they determined to thrust out of the Citie the rusticall multitude But they to whome the executing heereof was committed so handled the matter that the greater part of the common people remayned still in the Citie wherevpon ensued both to the miserable people and also to the whole Citie an intollerable mischiefe So many groase ouersights coulde not but bring great calamitie to them of Sanserre The Lord of Chastre sending an Heralt summoned them of Sanserre to yeeld vp the towne the which if they would doe willingly he promised that he would perswade the Kyng to deale with them in clemencie but if they refused he threatned to shew all seueritie agaynst them To this the Sanserreans made no answeare but stayed the Heralt from returning agayne and kept him in the Citie the whych acte was agaynste the lawe of armes and committed by the vndiscrete counsayle of the chiefe rulers which notwithstanding was disliked of the most part of the townesmen This Acte tourned afterward to the great displeasure of mons Iohanneau the author of the same Thus the Sanserreans prepared themselues for their defence being greatly incouraged by the good successe of theyr former beseeging of the which we haue spoken in another place They disquieted the enemie by often eruption by the good conduct of mons Flore an expert and valiant Captayne who both tooke great paynes and also had happy successe in his affayres And it is certayne so farre foorth as we may iudge of humane matters humanly that if the Sanserreans had prouided in time sufficient store of corne the enemie had had the same successe whiche he had in the former warre All thyngs necessary for the siege beyng diligently prouided by the Lorde of Chastre the syxteene day of February of thys present yeere the walles of the Citie began to be battered with sixteene great peeces of ordināce two of the which were planted vpon a higher place of ground and bent against the face of the Citie to the great anoyance of the townesmen But before that time of the batterie there was fled a certayne souldier out of the Kings armie vnto the townesmen which bewrayed the place which the enemie by batterie intended to make sauteable to the which place the townesmen came with speede fortifying the same with a new countermure notwithstanding they sawe the enemie bend his force againste another place of lesse strength Yet neuerthelesse by proofe hee found the same contrary to hys expectation so well fortefyed that when he had for the space of three dayes done nothing but batter the same for in those three dayes space there were certaynely tolde three thousande and fyue hundred shot of ordinance they had made a very small breach in the wall Also credible persons whiche abode in this seege euen vntill the end of the same report a wonderfull thing worthy to be remembred namely that amiddest so many terrible thundryng shot there was not one hurt except one onely damsell whyche was slayne not with the shot but with the fyery flame of a peece howbeit houses in diuers places of the towne were shaken and rent and the weapons in the hands of soldiers broken in peeces also the helmets taken off from some of their heads and the rubbish and stone worke flewe about the eares of many withoute doyng them any hurt Also at what time there was a sermon the house it selfe wherin the people were assembled togeather was fylled with the rubbish of the next houses were beaten downe whiche things I would not report except they were approued true that it may appeare that not without cause the Sanserreans almost all perished with famine which were deliuered out of so great perilles but that God by his singular prouidence ordered the whole matter in whose hande is both life and death The breach beyng made as is aforesayd the L. Chastre determined to approche the walles with Engines that hee mighte winne the gate Viet which was next vnto the breach Also at other partes of the wall the soldiers vndermined that with dyuers assalts made together the Sanserreans might be vnable to resist The ninetienth day of March the Kings armie bente with might and mayne gaue an assalt at the breach and in the mean time the ordinance whiche was planted on the higher grounde discharged lustely at the face of the towne The townesmen feared the shaking and blowing vp of the mines standyng in doubt least they should breake foorth at those places where they were and fearing least while they were occupyed in one place on the other part an entrie mighte be made for the enimie So that they were in sore conflict with dyuers extremities Notwithstandyng they had suche successe in the ende that the enimie was not only repulsed but slayne also with a greate slaughter in somuch that he was discouraged any more to giue any assalt vnto the towne beeyng taught by the example of the former warres Wherefore the L. of Chastre perceyuing that it was but lost labour besyde the great spoyle also of his men to giue any more assalts to the towne and beeing warned by the error of mons Martinenge who aforetime was generall in the other seege but in vayne deuised another way of beseeging thinking it good to leaue off the assalting of the same and rather wyth strong bulwarkes to inclose it that neyther they whiche were within the Citie might come foorth nor yet those whych were without myght haue accesse to them whych were within that so he might cōstrayne the townesmē beyng brought to extreame famine to giue vp the towne the which in deede came to passe Therefore the daye following whiche was the twenty of March he displaced hys Artillerie and ouerthrewe and brente the fortifications which he had erected about the Citie and the whole armie almost trussed vp bagge and baggage Then the townesmen thought that the L. Chastre beeyng out of hope to take the Citie discamped but his intente was otherwise for he practised another kynde of strayt seege as we haue sayd Therefore the L. Chastre erected seauen bulwarks seuerally situated according to the conueniencie of the place in necessary places fortifyed such places of the hamlets adioyning therevnto as serued hys turne hemde in the Citie with broade trenches that the townesmen myghte haue a narrowe space left them betweene the Citie and
vtter destructiō Wherevpon the Kings officers were not so forwarde in theyr affayres as else they would haue bin thinking that they did but lose their labour in a matter most easie to be finished Notwithstanding an armie was prepared and the King by his letters instantly required Monsieur Beleur whiche was hys Lidgar in Switzerlande for the same purpose to sende with all speede a band of Switzers FOR there remayned as yet certayne cities whiche were held and garded by those that were left of the Religion as Rochel Sanxer and in Languedoc Montauban Castres Nismes Milliaud Aubenac Priuac Mirebel Ganges Anduz and certaine other townes of no fame in the territorie of Viuaueretz and Seuenats Notwithstanding it seemed to many yea and to the most part of such as professed the Religion greate folly ioyned with madnes after so great a slaughter almost of all that professed the Religion the kings power being nothing deminished hauing the whole kingdom redy at his cōmandemēt for thē to enterprise presume to defend them selues against the armie of so mighty a king after so great cōsternatiō feare whē as not only none of the Princes but also not one noble mā almost was lefte in Frāce which durst so much as professe the loue he bare to the Religion There were also and that not a few whiche sayd that it was great wickednesse vnlawful for subiects hauing no authoritie from princes or chiefe magistrates to beare armour agaynste their king though he were wicked that by the effect and successe it selfe it had appeared that the forceable resistance of them of the Religion hitherto was vngodly though it were collected by the authoritie of the princes and by lawfull titles both for that the king was in his minoritie and also bycause the breaking of the kings Edicts might be lawfully punished for that the kings wil was in expresse words declared That in this enterprise all things faile and that the king is a man that there wante Princes to whome the aucthoritie of gouerning the kingdome shuld belong and that the king doth playnely professe that he wil not hurt them of the Religion but that he commaunded that murder to be committed with purpose to destroy the Admiral and other the chiefe aucthors and instrumentes of the warre that the kingdome afterwarde might remaine in peace And that although in this matter he exceeded the rule of reason yet it was not lawful for the subiect to rebell against him or for the subiect to punishe his lorde and king for his offence There were also some which vtterly condemned the gouernment of the prince of Conde and of the Admirall in their actes and exployts of the yeeres past and through the enuie of the lamentable successe haue brought the whole cause in hatred And those false accusations of Carpenter and Pibrach in their Epistle to that famous man Stanislaw Heluidius were oftentimes obiected by exulcerated and gaulled mindes to make the remembrance of the former warres detestable So that a man woulde haue thought that the Religion had bin extinguished for euer in Fraunce and concerning this matter many of them disputed with odious wordes whiche in time of the former warres had highly commended the causes to take the same in hand And thus calamitie was counted for great reproch and shame such is the greate rashnesse of men in iudging of matters ALSO in those Cities whiche as yet had not receyued the Kings Garrisons these dissentions were very ryfe and the Citizens being distract and vncertayne what to do seemed not so much to delay and deferre the Kings Garrison as to spend the tyme to the ende that euery one myght get for him selfe the more conuenient oportunitie and occasion to flee and escape away or els to get fauour agayne thys was the common will and purpose of the Townesmen Notwithstanding God vsed the diligence of a fewe to bring the rest to a constant purpose and the feare of the cruell murders committed perswaded the people to defende them selues that for somuch as they were in vndoubted perill of death they myght if it so pleased the Lorde choose the more honest kinde of death by the lawfull right of necessary defence the Magistrate him selfe vrging them therevnto THEREFORE amidst so many and so great difficulties and extremities it seemed impossible that Religiō should stand by any manner of meanes and so euerlasting destruction seemed to be broughte vppon the Churches of Fraunce In these straits of great calamitie the prouidence of God of such beginnings as were so weake and so farre from the iudgemente of humane reason made a way for so much more glory as the disorder and confusion of all thinges was past hope of recouerie The chiefe Captaynes were gone the ayde and help of forreine Princes wanted yet notwithstanding the present helpe and helping fauour of God in due tyme fayled not Yet for all that there remayne suche greate things of so weake and feeble a beginning euen vntill this day that this same seemeth to be especially the counsaile and finger of God that the force and strēgth of noblemen beyng cut off he alone mighte be counted the author of his worke and mighte make manifest his manyfolde wisdome in this worke I may not dissemble and in making this a preface for the narration to come I swarue not from my purpose both those noble men and ringleaders which tooke vppon them the ordering and defence of this cause and also in part they of the Religion themselues in the former yeeres past offended many wayes Much disorder verily and many faults came by the ciuill warres in somuch that among those of the Religion the puritie of Religion beeing contaminated and defyled with true occasions of true accusations was euill spoken of For it is well knowen that the Admirall him selfe in those former warres protested not once but often That he had rather dye any kinde of death than he would be counted any longer a Gouernour and Captayne of such a leawde and wicked route of common souldiers most vnworthy of the bare name of Religion for such he knew many of his band to be God therefore iustly punished those mē which abused his Religion neuerthelesse hee dyd not neyther wyll hee leaue vnfinished the worke which he hath begonne But is there any man so blynde which seeth not what great punishments remayne for those which for the mortall hatred they beare to the poore Religion haue set to theyr helping hand to commit a most detestable fact seeing that to fyll vp the measure of extreme wickednesse all shewe of right and equitie is set asyde in so much that there remayneth no excuse for the same But to returne to our purpose agayne THEREFORE this fourth warre is more wonderfull than the three first bycause of most weake and feeble beginnings it had greater and more notable successe in so much that when the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other noble
season of sowre grapes whereof many folkes lyued came now in very good time Some did eate them rawe some baked in an Ouen some boyled in water and othersome fryed and sawced with Mustard and spices The ripe Bullaces and other wylde frutes that coulde bee gathered among the Vines and Bushes about the Towne were narrowly sought for and solde at the pleasure of suche as brought them Also the Thistles serued vs in steede of Ortichoks and Nettles in stede of Spinage To conclude this small discourse in lesse than three moneths during the siege of Sanserre there was eaten moe than two hundred Horses Mares Colts Asses Mules and other beasts of burthen so that of all the number that were in the Towne after the beseeging of it there was but one left alyue in stede whereof there was slayne an Asse that was caught among the Vineyardes At the beginning of August the dearth and famine had killed more than foure tymes as many in Sanserre in sixe weeks as the sworde had done in seuen moneths and a halfe duryng which time the seege lasted For in the Muster booke kepte of all the Souldiers and other people that were slayne from the begynning of the seege to the twentie of August as well with shot of Canon and Hargubusse as otherwise wer found but fourescore and tenne and I am sure that the number of such as died for hunger in the Towne and of suche as were about those that were shut vp in the same was more than foure hundred persons Who would not quake now at the hearing of such iudgements which God executed vpon the towne of Sanserre For they that were beseeged felt by experience how true the saying of the Prophet is that such as scape the Swoord shall be ouertaken with hunger and that the hande of GOD as the Psalme writer sayth stretcheth out whether soeuer he listeth Neuerthelesse let not suche as reade thys Booke thynke that they which were beseeged in Sanserre were the wickeddest and most abhominable sinners in the worlde For although they acknowledge theyr synnes before God and haue sufficient warning to walke better in hys feare heereafter yet is it not to be concluded that suche as are chastised most roughly are therefore moste wicked For as it is sayde in the Scripture the Chylde whome the father loueth shall not be exempted from the Rod. And as our Lorde Iesus Christe sayde to the Iewes of hys tyme Those vpon whome the Tower in Silo fell and those men whose bloud Pilate mingled with theyr Sacrifice were no greater sinners than other men But if they that haue knowledge of these things amend not theyr lyfe they shall all perishe miserably Whyche thyng I speake by the way to the intent that the seege and famin of Sanserre may serue for an example not only to suche as were at it but also generally to all men and specially to those that are Protestantes who haue iustly lost a parte of theyr libertie whiche they hadde to serue God openly and so hathe almost the whole Realme bycause they vsed it not to theyr profyte And therefore I must not rest so muche vppon seconde causes nor take vpon me to discourse of diuers thinges that haue come to passe in thys Realme within one yeere against the intent of our King. For God who gouerneth all things by his wonderfull prouidence hath guyded and directed the whole in suche wise according as he sayth in his worde that it is he that smiteth and maketh the wound and it is he that healeth it againe There is no more for vs to do but to profit our selues by the things that are past by amending our liues heereafter IN these great extremities the chiefe gouernours of the towne knewe not what to doe and to yeelde them selues into the hands of the enimie seemed vnto them more cruel than deathe it selfe they had sente messengers into dyuers places to craue ayde and succour of their fellowes but in vayne They which had some abilitie to helpe the miserable beseeged Sanserreans therefore refused to ayde them not that they misliked of theyr cause or thought them woorthy of so greate miseries but bycause they wanted money the whiche in this vnhappy tyme was hard to come by Notwithstandyng the Kings treasure was spent in leuying bands of horsemē and footemē to destroy the remaynder of miserable men They whiche had a good wyll to helpe were in so greate extremities that being brought them selues into greate perill were scarse able to withstande their assayling enimies When they sawe that theyr fyrst messengers could not speede of theyr purpose they sente agayne at the last namely the .24 of Iuly Mons Flore Mine and Crucian the chiefe Captaynes to prooue whether their presence might preuayle more to get help succors than their fellowes had done before These wente out of the Citie with greate perill within certayn dais wer taken slaine by their enimies AFTER newes herof was brought to the Sanserreans they notwithstanding determined with them selues to continue constant vnto the ende being still in hope to receyue succours Thus whyle they armed them selues to perseuerāce with new promises tidings was brought them that the king had taken peace with them of Rochell and Languedoc but that there was no mētiō made at al of them so that ther seemed to be no hope at al of ayd Therfore while contentiōs arose among the townesmen some thinking it best to persist other affirming that so to do was mad wilfulnesse and that they had rather dye once with the sworde than to make a long death with famine Mons Ioanneau the gouernour of the Towne came at the last to parley with Mons Martinenge a noble man in whome the Sanserreans reposed great trust The townesmen could scarsly be perswaded that they should escape with lyfe But when the Lord Chastre had at the fyrst by Mons Martinenge and afterward by letters perswaded the Sanserreans that euery one shoulde haue theyr lyues pardoned then all men were glad hoping for peace and that so greate miseries would haue an end at the last Therefore after certayne dayes conference with the Lorde Chastre they agreed together vpon these Articles FIRST that the Sanserreans and those which were come vnto them out of other cities of the Realme shoulde be vnder the benefyte of the pacificatorie Edict made the fourth day of August with the Rochellians that is to saye that they shoulde haue the free vse of the Religion which others expressed in the same Edict had Secondly that the townesmen shoulde be pardoned for all those faults which were committed in the time of this warre with faythfull promise made vnto them by the Lorde Chastre that no manner of dishonest violence should be offered to theyr liues wiues and daughters Thirdly that they shoulde bee restored to the possession of theyr goodes that they shoulde bee free from confiscation and that all sentences of confiscation already pronounced shoulde be reuoked Fourthly that the
townesmen shoulde pay vnto the Lorde Chastre forty thousand frankes for the payment whereof they shoulde haue theyr goodes preserued from the spoyle of the Souldiers and it shoulde be lawfull for them to carry or sell the same else where at theyr owne pleasure the whiche money was distributed to the Souldiers by the appoyntment of the Lord Chastre That the Kyng should confyrme thys agreemente by hys authoritie And last of all that the townesmen should promise vnto the King al obedience euer after And that they shuld giue twelue such hostages as the Lorde Chastre shoulde name vntill these things were fully perfourmed and accomplished Therefore the last day of August the Lorde Chastre entred into the citie with a greate trayne of armed men And by by were taken away from the Sanserreans their drummes trumpets and ensignes Mons Ianneau within certayne days after was secretly slayne and neuer knowne how There was placed in the towne a verie great garrizon And ouer and aboue the foresayde summe of fortie thousande Frankes they were very straightly charged to pay newe tributes And concerning the vse of Religion the which notwithstanding was promised in the first article of the agreement there was neyther speach nor performance to this day The king sent the armies of the Switzers into Daulphine to terrifie the inhabitants of Languedoc and mons Monbrune that they might receiue the couenant of the peace of Rochel Notwithstanding when they had remayned certayne weekes in Daulphine when also Monbrune had trauelled diligently to and fro to withstande them and could not rayse them of Languedoc in so much that a great masse of money shoulde haue bene spent to no purpose those returned againe into their countrey which were returned from the siege of Rochel had escaped the perils of their iourney ¶ The twelfth Booke of Commentaries concerning the Temporall and Ecclesiasticall state of the Kingdome of France in the raigne of Charles the ninth THE Rochelleans had made a peace with the King withoute the knowledge of them of Nismes and others of Languedoc although they also were expresly contayned in the couenants of agreemente Notwithstanding the Edict beyng read did not satisfye them but affyrmed that the experiments of the former tymes replenished with diuers murders did proue that these pacificatorie meanes were snares to intercept and intangle those with the pretence of peace whome they coulde not by force of Armes with warre ouercome Therfore they thought good to consult and participate this matter with their fellowes and perceyue it needefull to prouide for the same by a common assembly of the Churches whiche were left So that after tydings was brought vnto them of the Edict made they sente into the Armie a messenger to the Duke of Anjou to giue him thanks on their behalfe beseeching him that for so muche as the cause in hand was generall and bycause it belonged to many of the reformed Religion to know these things in conuenient time that he would giue them leaue to assemble them selues together in a fit place and that to the same ende he woulde graunt them his letters patents for their assurance These letters patents were graunted and made and all they of the Religion to whome knowledge might be gyuen were warned to be at Milliaud in Languedoc Wherevpon there came many from all partes of the Realme according as the tyme would suffer them THIS was a notable occasion to prouide for thinges againe time to come For in this assembly they considered and scanned how they might order their affayres afterwarde and so prouided for thē selues both lawes ciuill and also martiall In the large prouince of Languedoc there are many prouinces the which were replenished with a great number of the Religious whiche helde diuers cities and Townes in sundry parts of the same hauing also amongst them the Catholiques in somuch that the keeping of those places was very perillous by reason that their enimies were so mixed with them Therefore to the ende their affayres might euer afterwarde be ordred after a more firme constant maner they appointed two generalties or Lieftenantships for the territorie of the Religion in the whiche all the Religious of that prouince were contayned namely the Liefetenantship of Montauban and the Liefetenātship of Nismes Montauban to haue the preheminēce ouer those parts of the higher Languedoc and Nismes of the lower in the which the territorie of Seuenatz and Viuaretz were coprehēded They apoynted to euery Liefetenantship a Liefetenant which was some famous noble man And they appointed the office of these Liefetenantships to endure so lōg as the ciuill war should hold eyther opēly or secretly that they might haue the chiefe authoritie in martiall affayres notwithstanding so that their power might be subiect to the iudgemente of the Senate Euery coūtrey or diocesse had his senate according to the ancient maner of France and they continue in vse especially in that part euē vnto this day these Senats they call particular states But the Liefetenātship in the which many diocesses are contayned is called the chiefe or high Senate whiche consisteth of certayne choice men out of euery countrey or shyre notwithstanding so that the sentences of euery Senate in matters of great waight were examined and straightly ouerlooked It was also ordeyned that by the decree of that high Senate or court the Lefetenant shuld rule and gouerne those affayres which belonged vnto the warre These Liefetenants had a certayne stipend assigned vnto them the whole rule and charge of the treasure belonged to the Senate the Liefetenant by his office hauing nothing to do with the same AND to mayntaine warre they tooke these wayes namely that the people might be restrayned so muche as might be from martiall robbing and that countreys might not be wasted and spoyled they charge the townes and villages by a writ out of the kings Excheaker to pay tribute yea and those townes also in the whiche the Catholikes inhabited lenying suche a summe as might be sufficient to mayntaine garrizons in them They call for a Cōtribution Thus they were gently intreated which payed the commaunded tribute husbandry also was permitted and mayntained So that those places inhabited by the Catholikes did obey for feare of robbing spoiling and burning Thus they went about to cut off all occasion of martiall libertie so much as might be taken away among so many outrageous furies of warre and they prouided for the continuance of longer warre if so be no reasonable and indifferent condition were offered by the king Furthermore they gathered the tythes and reuenues of the priestes and appoynted collectors for the same Hytherto all occasion to holde warre seemed after so great slaughters of men made to be taken away from the Religious but this way which they nowe deuised brought to passe that they of the Religion were able to mayntaine garrizons in diuers places the which when neede required being come together in one by the commaundement of the Lieftenant
Duke of Alba which loused from Antwerpe to carrie victuall to Middelburge part whereof they chased away and the rest came to Middelburge Furthermore the Prince of Orange tooke the towne of Mounts in Brabant The twentith of September the Orangians fought wyth happy successe vpon the coast of Amsterdam in the whiche fyght the Duke of Alba had a great ouerthrow with losse of a great number of his Shippes and also of his men The eleuenth day of October the Orangians after a long battayle fought vpon the sea got the victorie of the King of Spaynes nauie of whome they slue a great number and tooke the County Bossu Lord Admirall of the whole nauie In the beginning of December the Duke of Alba forsaking his authoritie of gouernment in the low countrey being Brussels by the authoritie and cōmission of the kings letters put ouer his said office to Lewis de Requizence great Commaunder of Castile and then prepared for his returne into Spayne THE new King of Polonia notwithstanding that the Ambassadors of Polonia made great hast found dayly new delayes to deferre his iourney whether it wer for the pleasure and delight which he had in his owne countrey or for greefe to leaue a more noble kingdome the assured possession whereof his mother had promised vnto him The king him selfe vrged his departure in somuch that it is reported he sayde in anger That eyther he or himselfe must needes goe into Polonia For the secret grudges of emulation which was in eyther of them could not be so couertly restrayned but that often times they brast foorthe The Queene loued the Duke of Aniou more than the king whose great towardnesse she greatly feared It is certainly reported that the Queene sayde to Henry beeing very carefull cōcerning his departure Be of good cheere only goe thou shalt not remayne long in Polonia By the rumor heereof many thought that the Queene meant little good vnto the King and that hereof that euill which happened within a while after vnto him proceeded the whiche verily I would not set downe if so be the same had not bin obiected vnto the Queene hir selfe by letters written by certayne Courtiers whiche knew well ynough the affayres of the court Yea it is most certayne that the Quene was so addicted vnto hir sonne Henry that she hated hir other two sonnes HENRY hauing couenaunted and agreed with hys brother concerning those thinges whiche appertayned to their affayres departed at the length from Paris the eyght and twenty of September The king sayd that he would bring him on his way to the boundes and limits of hys kingdome The which he could not performe for that he fel sicke of a soare feuer at Vitri a towne in Champaigne most menne thinking that he was poysoned Therefore the king tooke his leaue of his brother and went no further who wente through Germany as his iourney lay and was curteously entertayned of the Princes of the same notwithstanding he hearde them in euery place greeuously detest the murders of Fraunce the principall cause whereof was layd to his charge in obeying the wicked counsayles of hys mother About the same tyme Frauncis Hotomanus a famous Lawyer a man endued with godlinesse and singular learning published a booke which he intituled Francogallia and dedicated the same to Frederic Countie Palatine In the same booke the sayde Hotomanus declareth with exquisite reason what was the state of the kingdome of France in olde time bringing the same to memorie againe out of the ancient antiquities of the historie of France And he declareth that although the Frenche Gaules tooke in olde time theyr kings from the Nobilitie and therefore chose them suche kings as were come of kingly race had bin royally trayned and brought vp whether the same were of the number of their childrē or of their neere kinsmen yet neuerthelesse the kingdome of France of olde time was wont to be gyuen not by right of inheritance as a priuate patrimonie but by the iudgemēt free electiōs of the people For proofe wherof he bringeth many things out of the expresse words of the Testamēt of Charles the great out of the elections of Pharamund of the sonnes of Pipin of Charles and of Charlemain of Chilperic of Clothar of Ottho and of other kings of whome he hath made a lōg catalogue alleaging the very wordes of the histories notwithstāding so that the kingdome shuld be deuided by the decree consent of the states one while to one sometime to moe of the sonnes of the kings And that as the authority to choose kings so also the power to displace and depose them from their rule was in old time in the handes of the states of the people in the publique assembly of the Realm Therefore that kings wer created in France by fyrme lawes not tyrāts ordeyned with free authoritie power to do what soeuer them listeth For the which matter he bringeth many examples namely of the two Childerickes which kings were deposed frō the kingdome by the decree of the states of Theoderic which was displaced with Ebroin his Lord great master of Chilperic of Charles the grosse also of Ottho which was chosen king in stede of Charles the sonne of Lewis the stutter and he taketh the credite of their iudgements and most vrgent causes out of the very midst of the historie He sheweth also what things were specially handled in the solemne assembly of the states and also what was the authoritie of the same And first of al concerning the creating or displacing of a king secondly concerning peace warre and common lawes thirdly concerning greate honors high offices and gouernments of the common welth Fourthly concerning the assigning of the patrimonie in part to the children of the king being deceased and concerning the appointing of dowry to daughters finally concerning al those things which appertayne to the weale publique The power of the sayd assembly of States was such saieth he that without the authoritie or sentence of the same the king coulde determine nothing but must folowe the authoritie and will of the States which said authoritie and will were called The decrees of the states And now when as this kingdom of France hath cōtinued almost a thousand two hūdred yeeres ther are said to be in al this time only three houses of kings that is to say of the Merouins who taking their originall of Meroue continued that stock two hūdred fourscore three yeres of Charlouins who springing frō Charles the great grew in that stocke three hūdred thirty seuē yeres of Capenites who beginning at Hugh Capet haue now held the kingdome fiue hundred fourescore yeres The which Hugh Capet got the royal dignitie that Charlouins being deposed namely Lewis the fifth the .xxxj. king of France the .xij. king of the stocke of the Charlouins his children being dead in warde And then hee proueth by many examples that the royal dignitie stood
fyrme by the decree of the States in the times of the firste raigne both of the Merouins also of the Charlouins was continued also in the house of the Capenites And first by that notable cōtrouersie celebrated and made famous with the monumēts of the French histories and with the great warres which rose of the same betweene Philip Valoys and Edward borne of Isabel the sister of Charles Who when king Charles the fayre dyed without heires male contended for the kingdome When the matter grew thus to contention it pleased the States to preferre Philip Valoys being of royall line to whom the kingdom was adiudged Another example he broughte from the lamentab e tyme of King Iohn who ioyning battayle with the English men neare vnto Poictiers was taken carried prisoner into England So great calamitie being receyued the hope was left in the authoritie of the states alone Therefore by the decree of the saide States there were approued men of all sortes and conditions chosen to whome the charge and affayres of the Realme were committed howbeit there were three of the Kings sonnes namely Charles Lewis and Iohn of the whiche three the eldest was of lawfull age to gouerne A third example he bringeth from the yeare of our lord M.CCCLXXV at what time Charles the fyfth surnamed wise appoynted by his will and testament Philip Duke of Borbon his wiues brother to bee the tutor and gardian of his sonnes and Lewes Duke of Aniou his brother to be the gouernour of the Realme vntill such time as Charles hys sonne came vnto his full and lawfull age neuerthelesse it was decreed by a counsayle holden at Paris that the will should be frustrate and the gouernmente of the kingdome committed to the sayd Lewis the childes vncle vpon condition that in his gouernment he woulde do nothing without the aduice and consente of other honest and approued persons in the sayde counsayle and also that the wardship and education of the childe shoulde bee committed to the Duke of Borbon A fourth example he bringeth from the yere of our Lorde M.CCCXCII at what time Charles the sixth sonne of the said King sodaynely fell madde it was decreed by the authoritie of the states that the gouernement of the Realme should be committed to the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy Also he fetcheth a fifth example from the yeare M. CCCCXXVI when as Philip Duke of Burgundy and Humfrey Duke of Glocester were at mortall debate to the great detriment of the common wealth and at the length agreed betweene them selues to make an end of all controuersies by combate In this contention the States were vmpiers and decreed that both of them should put off their armour and rather ende their controuersies by lawe than by dinte of sworde Then he alleageth a sixt example from the yeare M. CCCC.Lxxxiiij when as Lewis the .xj. being dead and leauing behinde him his sonne Charles of the age of thirtene yeares it was decreed by an assembly of States at Towers that the education of the childe should bee committed to Anne the kings sister and that the gouernment of the Realme should bee set ouer to certayne choyse and approued persons in the sayd assembly notwithstanding that Lewis Duke of Orleans being the next of kinne required the same He setteth downe also a seuenth Argument taken from that warre which was helde in the tyme of the sayd Lewis the eleuenth which was of all other kings the most craftie and subtill which also greatly diminished the authoritie of the States at what time the kingdom was so gouerned by him that in many things the duetie of a good prince and of one louing his countrey was wanting the authoritie of the States began to be required that by the same the common wealth might be prouided for and so by the ayde of many Princes and noble men warre was holden which was therefore called the warre of the common wealth And verely at that tyme the authoritie of the States began to decay ▪ the which notwithstanding Lewis fayned to haue in great estimation Finally he handeleth that question Whether the gouernmēt of the kingdom of France by the lawe of France ought to come to the Distaffe and by many reasons and examples he sheweth that women ought to bee remoued from the gouernment of the Realme no lesse than from the inheritance of the same And thus disputing he offereth to the secret iudgementes of men by the state of the auncient kingdom an expresse Image of those calamities by which all things at the last in the kingdome of France are come to great disorder and confusion the authoritie of the states of the Realme being ouerthrowen and suppressed and a straunge woman hauing gotten into hir handes the royall gouernment M. Mombrune tooke about this time Monerb a walled town in the County of Venaiz Nium a towne bordering vppon the Countie of Daulphine and new small townes bandes of men specially out of Prouance came dayly vnto him And he inuaded the territorie of Grenoble to the great terror and feare of those that dwelt in the same Hee tooke also the riche Abbay of Viri and slew the Garrisons which kepte the same The Monkes of the great Charterhouse fearing to haue so ill a neighbour fortifyed themselues with Garrisons of Souldiers Thus M. Mombrune was feared in all that countrey rounde about Againe truce was taken for a moneth and a halfe Neuerthelesse the burning desire of warres was great in Languedoc and in Daulphine And vnder the pretence of that truce the King Queene made a great shewe that they desired peace but in deed they practised nothing els but bloudy warre Puygallard of Poictou to get Rochell byred with the kings money and by the kings commaundement certayne Souldiers of Rochell to betray the Citie And the chief of this conspiracie in the towne was mons Grandfiefe a famous man who valiantly behaued himselfe in the tyme of warre for the defence of Rochell Thus it was agreed amongst them that a Bulwarke and one of the Gates should bee taken to the which Puygallard should come incontinent with certayne bandes of Souldiers The conspiracie was discouered They of Rochell tooke many of the townsmen M. Grandfiefe was slayne And when enquirie was made of this conspiracie the conspirators answered that they had done nothing without the kings commaundement mons Puygallard being the author the which also certain letters found about Grandfiefe did plainly testify They of Rochell made complaint hereof to the king The king denied the said enterprise to be taken in hand by his commaundement willing them to punish those that were founde giltie of the conspiracie saying that he gaue them leaue and authoritie so to doe only he willed them to beware that they did nothing contrary to the Edicte Therefore they of Rochell according to their maner of execution put many of the Conspirators to death by the while of the which many were Citizens This was done about the the
late perill of his life in the furious murthers the remēbrance of the war of Rochell to destroy those who had valiantly behaued thēselues vnder his cōduct to defend his house stock Also vehement causes stirred vp the house of Momorencie For by the death of the Admirall which was so cruelly slaine the bloud of Momorencies brethren no doubt was sought they were not ignorant the their names were valde in the nūber of those which were slayne on Saint Barthelmewes day that if they might haue bene shut vp altogether they had dyed with the Admiral and his fellowes For the Queene enuied the authoritie of the house of Momorencie And it euidently appeared the Marshall Cosse and all other which by consanguinitie affinitie or by any other meanes belonged vnto these houses were appointed for the same slaughter Yea there was occasion of these newe matters sowen in the kings own lyne The Duke of Alancō the kings yongest brother being hated of his mother greatly misliked his in others gouernment and detested that wicked and horrible facte of the bloudy mariage So that the Duke of Alancon seemed to be of their side Therefore for this cause hee was hated of his mother These were the beginnings of great matters the which what successe they had we will shew hereafter The countreys being wearyed with long calamities of warres required of the king that there might be an assembly of the States that extreame necessitie at the last might prouide a remedy for so great troubles The Queene answered that the king she did like very well of this request for the king being dayly more and more sicke the Queene of hir selfe had the gouernment of all things and shee appoynted the assembly of States at Compien The Prince of Orange helde the greatest parte of Zealand as we sayd before except Midelburge the chiefe Citie of that countrey and Armac the most famous hauen of that Citie and of the whole Isle The same he beseeged with all the forces of the inhabitants of the Islelande and with other succors appertayning to the same The kings Nauy to succour them of Middelburge loosed from Andwarpe the xxv of Ianuary In this preparation the kings Souldiers sustayned great dammage and hurte For sodaynly a great Iron peece brake in the Ship by the violent breach wherof thirtie mē were slain certain also which stood vppō the shore The Ship it self was by and by dasht in peeces vppō the flat another ship after this was ouertakte with waues And when they came within the sight of the towne of Mountes the Souldiers of the Nauie to salute the kings Garrison gaue them a peale of shotte By occasion whereof fyer being vnwittingly cast into the goonpoulder which was in one of the shippes most horribly brent all the Souldiers that were in the same For all this they went forward with their iorney toward Middelburge The Nauie of the prince of Orange encoūtred with thē the Duke Reguisence the kings Lieftenāt in the low coūtrey loking vppon thē frō the shoare of the towne of Barrow Then began a fierce battaile betwene them both partes manfully quiting thēselues Notwithstanding .v. of the kings Shippes being at the first ouercome the Admirall hir selfe also was constrayned to flee and to forsake hir fellowes The chiefe Captayne whose name was Iulian Roman a man of great fame among the Spaniardes sliding out of the ship by a roape into a skiffe forsooke the Nauie The Prince of Orange his Nauie being conquerers pursued the chase tooke ninetene Shippes of warre The Admirall himself was slain All the Spaniardes and spectally the olde Souldiers of seruice which were taken were cast ouer boorde to feede fishes Then the Prince of Orange more vehemently vrged the siege of Middelburge and so within fewe dayes it was brought to passe that Moundragon being without all hope of helpe yelded vp the Citie of Middelburge and Armac This was the ninetene of Februarie of this yeare The trueltie shewed at the seege of Harlem was not here recompenced The Prince of Orange rather conquered with lenitie and gentlenes than otherwise he graunted lyfe also to the morrow masse Priestes but the Captaines Centurions he sent prisoners to Elishing hauing giuen leaue to Mountdragon their chief Captaine to redeeme them for the which cause he leauing behynde him assurance of faith and twelue hostages went to Andwerpe that he might make exchaunge of Captiues This Mountdragon so highly commended the humanitie clemencie fayth of the Prince of Orange vnto the kings Lefetenant Regnisence that he brought himselfe in suspicion with him and also into great perill ABOVT this tyme Mongon an experte Captaine in the fyrst ciuill warres of great name fame for killing of Mottecondrin tooke certayne small townes in the countrey of Velay and certayne strong Castelles and he was now approched to the Citie of Puij which was full of riche Marthants hauing already taken the Castell Espaule which was within see sight of the Citie by the subtill practise of Guiard of Puij a man of no religion and yet pretending to be of the religion Now the spoyling Souldier being made rich with the praye bought of the Souldiers of the Castell of Espaule one of the Captayne 's being corrupted with money by the men of Puij both the head of mons Guiard and the Castell it selfe Also M. Mongon himselfe on the other parte was by treason slaine And thus within fewe dayes they of the Religion were driuen out of the countrey of Velay by the treacherie and wickednesse of the spoyling irreligious Souldiers There standeth vppon the bancke of the Riuer of Rosne a Castell called Perand This Castell did the Lord of the same who from the tyme of the slaughter at Paris fayned the abiuration of Religion take a little towne also called Andace fortifying the sayd Castell with a Garrison of Souldiers of the Religion About the same tyme also by his meanes was taken the Castell Maleuall in the countrey of Forrest By reason whereof the entercourse of them of Lions was much endammaged Therefore they being styrred vp by this their anoyance beseeged the Castell Perand and within certayne dayes assalted wonne the same M. Sanroman making small hast to succour it ◠and then ouerthrew all the forces thereof that it might neuer anoy them afterward CONCERNING the assembly of states appoynted to be holden by the Queene we haue spoken before The auncient manner of France is that before the generall assembly of States the perticular assemblies of the states of euery prouince Assie together that by deliberation they might determine what should be handled in the generall assembly This manner the Queene shunneth of purpose and geueth charge to certaine exquisite persons to go into euery prouince and to heare the complayntes of the people and to bring the same vnto the king and to hir The same authoritie she gaue also to them of the Religion for whose affayres special prouision seemed
predecessours But they nowe to their extreme greeke considering that all their former supplications are as nothing regarded and in vaine and that all other the remonstrances of sundrye Princes and Potentates haue sorted no such effect as might haue turned to their comfort and consolation and they in their consciences assuring themselues that your Maiestie hath no reasonable occasion vpon euil wil or displeasure so to alienate and turne your selfe from your lamentable subiectes can not but vndoubtedly suspect that through malice and false information of some who hauing more regarde to their priuate lust and appetite thā to the seruice of your Maiesty haue dayly laboured to bring your Maiesties countryes into your displeasure Wherein they haue alwayes most manifestly and vnfainedly pretended and trauayled not onely by letting and defending that our humble supplications and faithfull warnings shoulde come to your Maiesties eares misconstruing the same to the worst and peruersly accusing them to your Maiestie therby to bring the countrey into dissention and commotion and so vnder your name to suppresse and make desolate the same and so with the goods and bloud of your subiectes to quench their greedy and vnsatiable appetite This is that O most soueraigne King which your sayd subiectes do and haue not without occasion esteemed to be the greatest calamitie that might happen vnto them as cōsidering that the way and meanes wherby they might complayne and shewe their griefes to your Maiestie as to their bountiful and natural Protector so by God appointed as a refuge in their extremitie is by the vngodly dealing of their enimies taken away from them a thing whiche alwayes hath bin permitted to vnreasonable creatures namely to suffer them in their extremitie and neede to sue for remedy and redresse And therfore although they had resolued taken in hand with patience to attende the time of redresse thinking that your Maiestie would at last haue opened your eares and eyes to heare and see their miserable estate frō which your Maiesty by reason of their said euil willers is now letted But now considering in the end their suppression the longer the more to encrease and to become more vnsufferable tending not onely to their damage and destruction but also of your maiesties heritage countries which in times past haue florished in all prosperitie now come to ruine they could not for the faithfull obedience and aliance sake wherin they are bound to your Maiestie and their natiue countrey but nowe once againe by writing request your Maiestye to consider and weigh the originall occasion of the desolation of your countries and by whose meanes the same is come to passe and consequently execute the office of a true King in defending the righteous and deliuering your countries from this tiranny and oppression And first wee humbly beseeche your Maiestie to call to minde and consider that these your countries in times past hauing bin deuided amongst sundry Lordes and rulers are since by mariages agreementes and mutual treaties in time and orderly by lawfull succession and conueniences come vnder the house of Burgondie and afterwardes by meanes of mariages contracted with the most famous house of Austria and consequently allied with the moste mightie kingdome of Spaine yet alwayes with expresse condition that euery and singular the countries and prouinces should possesse and enioy their owne policies rights and liberties in tymes paste accustomed without that any prouince or countrey should be burdened of the dominion of the other or by any meanes be depriued of their customes or liberties but be bound ioyntly to lyue one with another vnder one Prince and head as many children vnder one father to the intent with one accorde to defende their Prince and common weale against al strangers and forraine force Also the Princes of the countrey willing as fathers to shewe and declare their loue and affection to euery one did at their solemnizatiō and entring into their dominion and rule by a solempne othe bynde themselues to vse and kepe eche country in their rightes and franchises without suffering that any of them should be enfringed or deminished or that the one Prouince shold haue dominion or rule ouer the other much lesse be subiect vnto any foraine dominion or power vppon which conditions he is accepted and taken as a supreme Lord and Gouernour ouer the countries and thereuppon receyueth the othe of obedience and faithfulnesse of his subiectes Of which the premises needeth not any further or larger rehersal whilest that vndoubtedly your maiestie doth sufficiently remembre howe that the Emperour Charles of most noble memorie following the presidentes of his predecessours and acknowledging that the sayde othe of solemnization is the onely and right fundation vpon which doth consist aswel the might and authoritie of a Prince as the faith and obedience of his subiectes did in his life time presence of your maiestie cause your Maiestie to receiue the sayde countries vnder the sayde othe and sware your Maiestie to the ioyful income in al the landes most of the townes as next successour and onely heire of his emperiall maiestie and afterwardes the same Emperal maiestie departing out of these countries and your Maiesty receiuing the full dominion and administration of the Lande did once againe in presence of the deputied of the countries then assembled rehearse strongly confirme the saide priuileges So that in al times past the sayde countries haue enioyed bin ruled by their former priuileges liberties Out of which hath followed such faithfulnesse and obedience of the subiectes towards their Prince and such vnitie and loue amongest eche other that the countries by god his prouidence haue florished with most happie prosperitie the Princes then adorned with all honour and high dignities and greatly redoubted and feared of their enimies And because it needes not to rehearse any thing out of the olde histories being notwithstanding explenished with many presidents it hath appeared in all the warres of the Emperiall maiestye what earnest care hee had to the defence and mayntenaunce of his countries in rest and quietnesse Likewise your Maiesty can wel remember that he taking his leaue of these coūtries did specially and earnestly recommend the state thereof vnto your maiestye Yea your maiestie being at his arriuall burdened with greeuous warres and extreeme charges hath by experience founde that all your subiectes both great and smal euerye one to his state abilitie haue bin readie to venture bothe life and goods in seruice of your Maiestie Wherein aswell the Lords and nobles as commons haue so acquited and behaued themselues that your maiestie hath vanquished and ouercome your enimies gotten great prayse and renowne of al kings and potentates and made a finall end of al warres dissentions wherwith many yeares before your auncetors and countries were troubled Now if it might please your Maiestie which your lamentable and faithful subiectes do most humbly require to enquire of and consider the original occasions