A CATHOLICKE APOLOGIE AGAINST THE LIBELS DECLARATIONS ADVICES AND CONSVLTATIONS MADE WRITTEN and published by those of the League perturbers of the quiet Estate of the Realme of France Who are risen since the decease of the late Monsier the Kings onely brother By E. D. L. I. C. Answere a foole according to his folly least he should thincke him selfe wise Prouerb 26. ⧠Imprinted at London for Edward Aggas THE PREFACE to the Reader O Christian and Catholick Frenchman neuer was there offered better meanes then at this time to discouer and smel out the subtelties of our enemies with what money Sathan vsually paieth his seruants whē we see some of thē so blinded that beeing vppon the poynt of their destruction they promise to themselues all assuraunce still coueting to conceale their abhominable wickednesse with sleights shiftes and lyes Neuerthelesse when they do most hide themselues they are foonest spied For to say the trueth what goodlier or more apparant pretēce could the perturbers of the quiet of our Fraunce take holde of then Religion and the reliefe of the people but as the enemie of trueth hath allured thē vnto him by lyes so hath hee for their repaste left them no other foode vpon his Table and yet doth that also faile them when they make it an vsuall messe and trueth remaineth Mistresse According hereto the lyes and horrible slaūders that to this day haue bene spued foorth against the King of Nauarre the Lord Prince of Condie by certaine straungers enemies to this Crowne the Royall Progenie vnder the pretence of zeale of Religion doth ouerthrowe them because cōtinually they haue sought to perswade our souraigne Lord the King and all the French Nation that these Princes were his euill seruaunts Rebels and disobedient persons enemies to his Estate in the preseruation and encrease whereof they haue greater interest then any other worldly person next vnto his Maiestie vnto whom they haue the honor very nerely to appertaine As also in truth we are hartely to giue GOD thankes especially in that after so many false and slaunderous inductions made vnto the most Christian Maiestie against these two Princes his good kinsmen and most faithfull subiects and seruants by whose reliefe this feeble weake and pale Realme hath oftentimes escaped falling it hath pleased him to open the Kings eyes to let him perceiue that all the illusions vnto him presented tended only to the ouerthrow of himself his Crowne and Estate in offering hetherto to his viewe one thing in liewe of an other For herevpon his Maiestie smelling out the causes of passed mischiefe hath finally in earnest done as the good Phisitiō who whē he seeth his Patient pale weake faint and grieuously sicke beginneth his cure with bringing him to his bed discharging him frō all painfull toyle causing him to take some rest euen so our King casting his eyes vpō his poore realm afflicted with ciuill warres which so long haue bene kindled vnder a false and slaunderous pretence to the end to begin the cure hath first sought to set it in peace that after some time of rest he might haue better opportunitie to heale the rest of the causes of the disease to put from about him those who vnder his authoritie had by their false wicked perswasiōs so hardly entreated it Which when his euill Councellors perceiued seeing that they could no longer goe forward in the same path they haue sought with open play to compasse that which so lōg they had craftely practised now haue plainly shewed that it was the State Crowne that they leueled at procuring the writing of diuers Libels aduices and consultations of their suffragās to the end not only to diminish and blemish the King of Nauarres vndoubted lawfull succession if it should please God to worke his will of the Kings Maiestie without leauing any issue Male but also to aduaūce their own false slaunderous and supposed titles and pretēces Howbeit although the said Lord King of Nauarre neede not yet to pleade his cause or presently to aunswere all these sleights and counsailes of the wicked in respect of the sufficient terme small likelihood of occasion euer to put the same in executiō cōsidering the King is thāks be to God yong in health in good disposition together with the small interest that in my opinion the sayd Lord King of Nauarre pretendeth to any such successiō as being a Prince both wise circumspect such a one as hath not so smal forecast but that he knoweth vndoubtedly that the greatest wealth reliefe good hap contentation that may redound to him cōsisteth in the prosperitie health long and happie life of the King his Lord to the ende perpetually to be vnder him the same that he is to liue vnder his liking in his protection wherby vnder the fauour wherof he shalbe not only preserued from the cōspiraties which his enemies worke against him but also which is more if it please God to encrease him he shal alwaies be by the King fauoured aduanced vnto whō he hath the honor to be the first Prince of his bloud Neuerthelesse how euer it be I do not thinke that any man at this day cā with reason and iudgement conceiue any bad or sinister opinion of the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre though he lay open his iust causes sith those that haue no right and for whō there can be no likelihood at all are so impudent rash vndiscreete as to bring to the barre a matter wherevpon euen their most affectionate seruāts durst not before haue thought which to saye the trueth is one of the cōsideratiōs that moued me to set hand to the pen to the aunswering of such diffamatorie Lybelles discourses aduices cōsultatiōs as within this yeere haue come to my hands and I protest that I haue done it without either cōmaundemēt or commission of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre vnto whom I neuer had the honor to approach neither is it of any affectiō or desire to aduaunce the Religiō that he professeth sith my self am and all my life time haue bene a Catholick and liued vnder the authoritie of the Apostolicke Romish Church But the onely cause hath bene that being borne a Frenchman I haue thought it my duetie to vphold the rightful cause of the French Princes vnto whome after his soueraigne Maiestie for whose seruice we are naturally bounde and holden to procure all honor wealth prosperitie to maintain and defend them from slaūders and such deceipts as Sathan would stirre vp against their excellēcie greatnesse besides that euery mā may perceiue that these Tragedies are kindled to the vtter ruine losse fubuertion of this miserable Realm so as the loue of my Countrey Christian piety and that compassiō that I take in beholding my fellow Citizens and my self with them in daunger to consume our selues in that fire that by those ciuill warres which vnder this
Colledges and Vniuersities of this Realmes are abrogated as are also the conseruators Ecclesiasticall of the Vniuersities together with the priuiledged of this Crowne It forbiddeth such as haue made vowe of Religion in any wise to dispose of their gotten goodes whether moueable or immoueable contrary to the ordinance of the States of Orleans conformably with the decree of the Counsaile of Mogonce holden in y e time of Charlemaign It permitteth the begging Fryers to enioye and possesse rents landes reuenues and immoueable goodes contrary to the Counsaile of Vienna holden in the yeere of 1310. and infinite auncient arrestes of the Court It taketh from the King the nomination in Couents and Monasteries reguler which to him apperteyneth also the Triennalitie of Abbesses and Prioresses appointed by the sayde Estates It permitteth Munckes to meete and hold congregations and Chapters generall which in an Estate is perilous and daungerous and a matter whereby they bee accustomed to withdrawe themselues from vnder the authoritie and power of the King and all other temporall Magistrates in respect whereof also such assemblies haue by the arrest of the Court bene many tymes declared abusiue It giueth the Bishop authoritie to institute newe Feastes which haue bene reproued by many arrestes of Parliament namely by the prouinciall Counsayle holden at Sens in the yeere 1527. It encrocheth Lay patronages if the patrones by authenticall writings proue not the presentations continued and hauing taken effect 50. yeeres together and reiecteth al other kinde of proofe It giueth to the Ecclesiasticall Iudge notice of the right and possession of the sayd patronages obteyned by foundation donation or construction within these fortie yeeres which is a great intrusion vpon the King and his Magistrates It erecteth a newe kind of Iudges delegate whom it calleth Apostolick and authorizeth the Bishops to choose them euery one in his owne Dioces without the Kings knowledge or authoritie which are so many creatures not subiect to that Maiestie where-vnder they liue It declareth the Pope to be aboue him and forbiddeth Bishops to humble and submit themselues to Kings and Lordes It commaundeth all Clergie hauing of right and custome voyce in the prouincial Counsaile to receiue this preteÌ„ded Counsaile to sweare obedience to the Pope and thereof to make publicke profession It enioyneth Vniuersities not to teach any thing but what shalbe conformable to the decrees of the sayde Counsaile and to take solemne and yeerely oathes to his holinesse It commaundeth all Lordes Princes to keepe the sayd Canons renewing the auncient vsurpatorie Decretals of Boniface the eight and others heretofore abrogated in Fraunce as well by Edicts and ordenances Royall as by the arrestes of the Courtes of Parliament and great Counsaile By the sayd Counsaile the causes of our French Bishops are drawne to the Court of Rome and Popes Consistorie contrary to the dignitie of the royall Maiestie and the auncient Canons of the vniuersall Church whereby the criminall causes of Bishops yea in cace the same concerned their depriuation or discharging did belong to the Bishops of the Countrey or Synodes prouinciall and not to the Pope as by many the arrestes of the Court concurring with the generall Counsailes of Constantinople and Carthage it doth appeare besides that herein the sayd Counsaile greatly derogateth froÌ„ the Kings soueraigntie and Iurisdiction that euermore he hath had ouer the Bishops of his Realm witnesse the examples of Giles Bishop of Rheims of Pretextatus Bishop of RoaÌ„ of Didier Archbishop of Vienna and many others of whom Gregory of Tours Aimoinus Ado Vincent the Historiall doe make mention In brief to vse few words this pretended Counsaile taketh away the most auncient liberties of our Church so to make a Proppe to the Popes abuâ—ions It also dissolueth reuoketh and maketh voyde Mariages not contracted in the face of the Romish Church wherein consisteth the Seede of a million of troubles Ouarels Processes and strifes in infinite families of this realme which vnder the authoritie of the King with his good liking and vnder the protection of his Edicts of pacification haue contracted Matrimony and begotten Children who thereby should be declared illegitimate depriued of their Parents Successions and their â—Wues denounced Concubines Harlots to their true Housbands contrarie to all equitie which in summe is as much as to bend themselues against God to erect in other mens Realmes assemblies of people not subiect to the same to bring into the Church a greater deformation and to make the King of Fraunce his Serieant or executioner of his commaundements yea such a one as should haue no authoritie to order his Realme So that those which now so earnestly doe prosecute that publication of the sayd Counsaile shall neuer perswade mee that they are French men but rather that they shewe them selues Solliciters of the Popes affayres and dignitie rather his Seruants theÌ„ their Kings and soueraigne lords Thus doe you seee howe by the aduice and iudgement of the honestest greatest French Catholikes liuing vnder the traditions of the Romish Church this Counsaile of Trent may not be accompted other then a notorious conspiracie and coniuration against the authoritie and dignitie of this Crowne aud of the Subiectes thereof of whatsoeuer calling that shall find them selues offended and therfore we should greatly iniury any one of ours of whatsoeuer estate in calling him Heretick for not obeying submitting him selfe or consenting against his Countrey to the malicious conspiracies of the Pope and straungers that doe enuie the greatnesse of this Estate Especially the King of Nauarre whome the matter chiefliest doth concerne should haue greatest cause to be agrieued in respect that at this day he hath the Honor to be the principall branch of the Royall tree of France and so consequently more neerely bound then any other to preserue and mainteyne the rightes liberties and dignities of this glorious and redoubtable Monarchie 56 Moreouer the sayd Lord King of Nauarre demaundeth of you by vertue of what doe you esteeme hym an Heretick and obstinat parson For it is certaine that he onely may be tearmed an Heretick who vpholdeth a false doctrine contrary to the holy Scriptures of the ould and newe Testament beleeuing amisse in any one of the Articles of our faith as did y e Manicheans Nestorians Sabellians Arrians and their like Now to say trueth they would perswade vs that the opinion houlden by the saide Lorde King of Nauarre was monstrous we haue bene hallowed after them like Dogges wee haue bene forbidden their company as of infidels and miscreants I beseech you therefore let vs carefully looke into the confession of their faith and we shall find them Christians such as agree with vs in the articles of our belief doe worship the same God seeking saluation in the same Iesus Christ Chrildren of the same father beleeuing the same Bible assuring them selues in the same Gospell as in the same Buckler of their faith requiring part in the same inheritance and in vertue of
doe now sufficiently lay open the trueth when vnder pretence of withstanding the King of Nauarre and hindering him from so much as the very shadowe of any vayne hope of succession they dare presently take armes against our Kings Maiestie and shake his Estate so to make themselues Lordes vnder the couerture of a sacke dipped in a fewe Imaginary rights as perniciously as lightly inuented For good men will euer confesse that it is not propter Iesum that now they runne to armes but rather for the satisfying of their insatiable ambition whereof how bad soeuer the intent be yet will the effects be more detestable except God take pittie vpon vs and the people with the Kings good seruants doe open their eyes to see clerely into this matter and to acknowledge it to be the catastrophe or last act of that Tragedie which these wicked people haue long played in this Realm vnder the shadow of zeale to Catholick ReligioÌ„ with the cloke whereof they goe about to shroude the most foolish in an irreconciliable diuorce from the King their soueraigne Lord and the naturall French Princes and perticulerly against the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre the neerest in bloud to his Maiestie whose destruction lieth them more vpon then all the rest 2 In his respect I will onely say that the crime of Treazon whereof falsly they accuse him ought not to be iudged by the sole occasion sayth Modestin for the reuerence of the Princes Maiestie but for the trueth Plinie writing in commendation of Traian sayth The crime of treazon was wont to bee singuler and almost peculier to him that could not bee charged of any other matter wherefore Traian abolished the same as one that contented himself with the force of other accusations this Prince holding opinion that sueh Monarkes as were so ieloux of their Maiestie had none at all And for the same cause was this kinde of accusation likewise abolished in the tyme of Claudius Adrian Pertinax Alexander Seuerus and other good Princes who deemed other publick accusations to be sufficient for punishment of euill liuers how farre soeur they should forget themselues Howesoeuer the case standeth coÌ„cerning the King of Nauarre he may yet more boldly speake in the presence and face of his enemies then might Cruentius Cordus beeing vnder Tyberius accused for saying that Cassius was the last Romaine when he shewed the Senat that they would punish him for his wordes because his deedes were irreprehensible For this Prince thankes be to God neuer offended his King in worde nor deede neither can his sclaunderers either generally or perticulerly taxe him of any action nere to rebellion or disobedience yea the whole pretence that these trouble some persons do take of his Religion is suppressed beaten downe by their owne ordinary and publick confession by the Princes Edicts and declarations and by infinite other writinges approâ—ued in all the Courts of Parliament of this Realme And in deede the whole rebellion fellonie wherwith they may charge him is that he would not suffer the knife to cut his throate but did quietly withdrawe himselfe out of the prease when he see that his enemies would force him to beare infinite iniuries vnworthy his greatnesse Otherwise who can say that euer he refused the duetie faith obedience and subiection which hee is bound to yeeld to the King his soueraigne Lord much lesse then that he hath coÌ„spired against his person that he hath sought to make himselfe King or enterprized any thing preiudiciall to the aduauncement and peace of the French Commonwealth Shewed hee euer any token of desire to bee named his Maiesties heire or successor Hath he chaunged his garment or augmented his Estate for his approach to the King through the euill hap and misfortune of this Realme growne vpon the losse of the late Mounsier the Kings onely brother Hath he called together his friends or craued the counsaile of Atturneyes to learne whether himselfe bee now the neerest of the bloud Royall Who can shew that euer he vsed any confederacies which iustly he might haue made as King of Nauarre and soueraigne Lord of Bearne or did euer employ any other then to the seruice of the King and wealth of this Crowne who will bee so malicious vnnaturall and sencelesse as to impute to fellonie y e withdrawing and cherishing of his fellowe Citizens the professors of the same Religion wherein hee was borne bred and brought vp euen from his cradle when he found them in like misfortune as himselfe and oppressed with the force of their aduersaries who vnder the cloake of the Kings authoritie haue often endeuoured to roote them out either the withstanding of the stripes and fortefying of himselfe for the safegarde of his life Sith so soone as it hath pleased his Maiestie to stretch forth his arme to them and to offer them such conditions of peace as himself liked of with libertie of conscience he hath not onely together with them vnarmed himselfe and yeelded his Houldes into the handes and power of his Maiestie and fallen downe at his feete but which is more haue returned their whole power together against those that haue come to his and their succour witnesse the siege of Newhauen and haue disunited themselues from all confederaties and Leagues which in respect thereof they were entered into with straungers and all this to the ende to submit them selues to the Kings good will who hath liked thereof and so confessed in all his Edictes of Pacification with other the perticuler good deedes and fauours which the sayde King of Nauarre confesseth to haue receiued of the hand and good will of his Maiestie who hath freely and liberally for the wealth of his Estate permitted to those of the sayd Religion the free exercize thereof notwithstanding the coÌ„spired enemies to this Crowne and to the Princes of the bloud haue often gone about to bring into suspition the actions not onely of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre but also of all other the Princes of Bourbon who onely of the Royall famelie doe remaine Besides I assure my selfe if any man would endeuour as it were necessary and meete by effectual reazoÌ„s debated in a lawful assembly of Gods Church to enforme the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre that hetherto hee hath bene deceiued and that his bringing vp in his Religion hath bene very bad hee is not obstinate but easely may be reduced and brought to submit himselfe to sentence giuen by force of Gods worde In the meane tyme we cannot blame him whoÌ„ his mother hath noursed brought vp in a certaine Religion publickly permitted by his Maiesties Edicts and ordenances for standing firme in the same and desiring to continue in that which he beleueth to belong to his saluation O Frenchmen is it meete the Kings Edicts should stand the wicked in stead of a bayt to roote out with the sword or guile more then barbarous to destroye the hearts liues of the Princes whoÌ„ God hath graunted
to bee borne ouer vs Will wee graunt that to force that belongeth to reason In my opinion we deceiue our selues if we weene by weapons to wrest any thing from Mars especially in whatsoeuer concerneth Religion which among honest and the best men goeth nearer and is of greater efficacie then all other humaine actions So as to the contrary I doe stedfastly beleeue that wee haue the more cause to hope well of the gouernment of the said Lord King of Nauarre if it should happen For sith his enemies are forced to coÌ„fesse that of himself he is a Prince wise well taught discreete and reasonable also that our selues see him assured and by weapons in expugnable in that which from his infancie hee hath bene perswaded to bee good for him in respect of y t feare that he hath of God how great a peece of the work soeuer offereth it self to his view or whatsoeuer humaine hazard there be any apparance that he should feare in the conseruation of a mightie earthly Kingdome whereof as yet he is presumptiue heire it is an inuincible argument for vs to knowe that hee loueth and feareth God aboue all things Let vs therefore giue him a taste of our reasons sith he is so very capable to the ende we may at his hand winne that we desire and which wee ought and may spedely hope for without perticulerly hating his person without offending him without prouoking him and without encurring the wrath of God by procuring the shedding of the innocent bloud of so many thousands of our brethren and together with them the destroying of our poore Countrey As yet in troth it is too great an abuse to terme the said Lord King of Nauarre a Rebell or Traytor to the Kings Maiestie for keeping himselfe from being slayne and for opposing to his enemies the walles of those who being shadowed in their owne houses did onely withall instance and most humble petition require the King to permit them to liue in peace of conscience vnder his obedience against the which they did nâ—uer striue neither would euer had recourse vnto or craued the said Lord King of Nauarres protection whome they know neuer to haue so much loued any thing as to liue his Maiesties most humble most obedient subiect whereof wee all in our consciences are eye witnesses neither neede we any greater proofe for the iustification of him who neither doth neither euer did desire of the King his Lorde any other thing then to liue in his good fauour and to bee of him accoumpted a most humble and most obedient subiect and kinsman 3 For this cause in this action let al good Frenchmen coÌ„sider that the sayd Lord King of Nauarre is as they the Kinges good subiect a Christian one that feareth God and a louer of his Countrey so as for his sake wee neede not take armes or beate our braynes as doe some that be perswaded by the wicked counsaile of these firebrandes he is the sonne of the famely he is not a Spaniard that commeth to your walles and to y e doores of your houses he is a true Frenchman one that desireth peace and one that would obey the King his Lord in whatsoeuer lyeth in him he is a louer of the lawes of the Realme a sworne enemy to the sedicious an oppressor of the wicked and a defender of the Commonwealth Besides he hath aboue all other the French nation the honor to bee the first Prince of the bloud royal heire apparant to the Crowne in case God should cal our King without leauing any issue male of his body Let euery one therefore consider that al his enemies obiections are but meere cauillations Let the French nation iudge whether they haue not more cause or are not greatlier bound to loue and acknowledge the King of Nauarre then and other next to the Maiestrie of our soueraigne Lord the King seeing we haue chosen for our tutors gouernours and lawfull administrators the most noble and couragious famelie of the Capets to bee our Kinges of Fraunce from whence is discended in right masculine ligne on the fathers side the sayde Lord King of Nauarre as is aforesayde also that euery other way he hath thence taken his originall for his Grandmother on the fathers side was Lady Frances of Alencon daughter to Rene Duke of Alencon and sister to Charles last deceased all discended in right ligne of y e males of Charles of Valois who first tooke the name and title of Alenâ—oÌ„ and was brother to Philip of Valois King of France both sonnes to Charles of Valois brother to King Philip the Faire which two were sonnes to Philip y e Bould eldest sonne to S. Lewes and his successor in the Realm Againe the sayd King of Nauarres Grandmother by the mother was Lady Margaret of Fraunce sister to King Frances the first As for the Kings of Nauarre whom by his mother Iane of Albret daughter and heire to Henry of Albret King of Nauarre whom he hath succeeded they also are discended from father to the sonne of the house of France by the interposition of daughters capable of succession in the Realme of Nauarre for Henry Earle of Champagne and Brye by his mother Blanch King of Nâ—uarrâ— maried a daughter of Robert Earle of Arthois sonne to King Lewes the 8. of Francâ— and brother to S. Lewes of which marriage was borne Iane heire of 〈◊〉 and wife of Phillip the Faire King of France of them two came Lewes Hutin successor in the Realmes of France and Nauarre when he dyed he left a daughter Iane who after her Vnkles Phil. the Long Charles y t Faire was Queene of Nauarre she maried Phil. of Eureux sonne to Lewes of Eureux Sonne to Phillip the bould King of France and brother to Phillip the fayre Of their mariage issued among other children Charles King of Nauarre who maried the daughter of King Iohn of FraÌ„ce and of them was borne a Sonne of the same name for whose sake King Charles the sixt erected the lande of Nemours into a Dutchy At his decease hee left two Daughters of which Blanch the elder succeeded in the sayd Realme and of her and Iohn of Castile her houseband issued Eleoner wife to Gaston of Foix who seazed vpon the Succession of the realme of Nauarre and other great goods Of that mariage came Gaston of Foix that maried Magdalein of France sister to King Lewes the eleuenth who had Frances Phebus king of Nauarre after his grandmother Eleoner and Catherin who succeeded her brother Phebus shee maried with Iohn of Albret father to Henry of Albret and grandfather to Queene Iane late deceased at Paris mother to the said King of Nauarre now raigning So as it adpeareth that he is on euery side true french and issued of the bloud royall of Fraunce Let vs not therefore any longer giue eare to these sclauuders but only haue recourse to God by hartie praier that if the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre or
matters wherein can no roume or place be found but for one in which cause it is more meete to preferre nature that is to say the vncle who naturally is nearest rather then the Neuew who can not bee so accompted but by the fiction of the Emperours decree the vnproper explication of the worde proximus which is yet more odious because it conteineth alteration of the Law whereby the neerer onely is admitted to succession and in the same cause the Emperor Decius speaking to the sister of the deceased writeth Vnto thee rather that art in the second degree doth the inheritance belong then to thy brothers children who are in the third Because also in cace of inheritaunce wee admit rather the immediat cause then that which is farther of according to y ◠that is argued de eo qui filio impuberi sub hac formula substituerat Quisquis sibi haeres esset So that it was not in vaine that the Emperours Theodosius and Valentinean the third saide that in this cace the children should not be made worse then the Neuewes who are neerer then the elder brothers Sonne in both age and degree Thus they should be thought more capable so that in what so euer concerneth the Neuewe The cause of birthright ceasing the effect also should be none because a cace by Lawe omitted is to be adiudhed os omitted otherwise this writer addeth a trimme consequence which importeth that in the cace now in question the children of the late Lord Prince of Conde being foure in number should deuide with their vnkle the sayd Lorde of Bourbon and the King of Nauarre their cousen whereby the succession of the Realme of France should be deuided into three partes or portions The first heades of this Reason might bee true if we should consider the Neuewe onely and in his owne person but in this action we regard him as substitute in the continuation of his late Fathers right and yet not by any extraordinary fiction or priuiledge whatsoeuer as they say but by the proper interpretation of the Lawe and mans naturall motion whereby the father is said to liue so long as the sonne remeyneth and the senne is termed the naturall portion of his fathers body so that it is no odious explication but by our men is called an extensiue interpretation by naturall reason induced which neuer was forbidden but contrariwise haue alwayes iustly bene receiued in caces most stricely obserued and such as can not beare euen the least alteration that may be Consequently therefore although before Iustinians brothers childrē could not concurre with their Vnckle in collaterall ligne because the auncients would not corrupt but so little as might bee the degrees of kindered yet this Prince considering that there is no greater reason to make this substitution and paternall continuation in direct ligue then in collaterall also that nature of her selfe was each way alike he did iustly and natually in all sortes of successiue lignes continue the person of the father by the substitution and succession of his posteritie which hath also bene imitated in feudall customes as is aforesaid So that to omit nothing ex eo nec prior aetate nec gradu propior patruus iudicari poterit quin causam huius successionis in nepote conspicimus The effect whereof should withall ensue without thinking this case omitted sith that by naturall interpretation an other like to the first doth followe or rather to say the same which is considered of the father in the person of his sonne whereof the second brother cannot cōplaine no more then he that hath promised or constituted some reall seruitude for the benefite of his neighbours land which afterward was obteyned and fallen into the handes of many and diuers heires of whom euery one vseth that whole seruice so as if the maner thereby be ouer sore charged yet as is the Lord of the seruing manor compelled to suffer it as being the nature of the thing And merueilous vnlearned is the consequence that our Atturney maketh when he sayth because the King of Nauarre will haue like degree of proximitie as his Vnckle therefore the children of the late Lorde Prince of Conds might saye as much for it is euident to all men that the King of Nauarres reason hath no communitie with the pretēce that this man imagineth of others because the sayd Lord King of Nauarre representeth the elder and is substituted in his roume place by vertue of which substitution he excludeth not his Cossens only beeing children to the yonger but also the sayd Lord Cardinall who had bene more capable then they whereby wee are come to the rule If I ouercome him that ouercōmeth thee much more shall I ouercome thee considering that the Realme and soueraigne Lordship is not yet subiect iudicio familiae Hercis neither can brooke the light of two Sunnes 9 Yet are we to annswer the deduction of Iames de Per. where he saith that the reason why Robert King of Sicill Lewes Duke of Bourbon and Robert Earle of Arthois succeeded not Charles y ◠Faire King of France but that Phillip Earle of Valois his Cossen germaine obteyned it was because hee was found to be in the fourth degree to the deceased King and the Earle of Arthois in the 8. and the King of Sicill in the 7. But immediatly he cutteth off himself againe when he confesseth that the Duke of Bourbon was also in the 4. and therefore by reason should as soone haue succeeded not that we must deny that the succession of the Crowne of France non deferatur proximiori agnato but I saye first that we haue more then sufficiently verefied that the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre is not vlterior gradu then the sayd Lord Cardinall his Vnkle and that according to naturall and ciuill reason But I will moreouer add in the example by this writer propounded that the proximitie of degrees was not the cause of the alleadged iudgemēt in fauour of Phil. of Valois but it was because certainly when once the succession of a Realme is entred one ligne and progenie the rest of all that braunch must faile before we may passe into an other or inhable the same how neere soeuer it bee The reason is most euident because sith the Kingdome is gotten to their kinsman they al are accompted more capable then any other kindred feudorum exemplo wherein to them onely and to all those that are of the same ligne whereof the deceased was the commoditie doth apperteyne and that is it that is sayd ad proximiores deferri because these are accompted proximiores in respect of other lignes These are the wordes of the text in feudall cases This was the reason why the King of Sicil neither the Earle of Arthois could pretende nothing in the Crowne of France which once obteined to S. Lewes excluded the ligne of the aforesayd who discended of Robert Earle of Arthois
naturall princes mainteine the one part which is least plausible and agreeable with the French nation much lesse aucthorised by Princes and forrein potentates whose weapons they hope to vse when neede shall require To the end also with lesse labor and greater pretence to hoyst vp the Ladder of their driftes they haue procured the writing of a number of bookes which within these fewe yeres are come to euery mans hands concerning the discents of the Princes of Lorrain whome gladly they would bring aboord into this quarrell if possibly they could meaning with them in mens hartes to imprint falsely to perswade that our Kings and Princes are no lawfull Successors but tyrants and vsurpers of this crowne from those of the auncient race of whome they would make the Lorrains to be discended so to procure them to be Captains of their conspiracie 2 But these Princes haue euermore sought to bee accompted too wise iust and vpright dealers to haue their eares so ticklish as to let them selues be led with such false inductions which could bring them no other but speedy shame perpetuall ignominie of their race for doing as the husbandmans Serpent who when hee had well refreshed himselfe at his fier would haue driuen him also out of his house As also to shewe that they neuer thought vpon so detestable a deede That euery man therefore may knowe it to be too euident an abuse to say that they be come of the famely of Charlemagne I will vse onely that Booke that themselues did in the yere 1549. to cause Edmond of Boulay the chief Herault and King of Armes of their house to publish wherein with the common opinion they doe mainteine that Charles of Lorrayn brother to Lothair King of France the last of Charlemagnes posteritie of whom the seditious do make so great accompt left a Sonne named Ottho who was Duke of Lorrain and died without issue so as in him ended the males of Charlemagne In deede the said aucthor saith that Godfrey with the beard Earle of Ardenne succeeded his Cossen If then he were Cousen to the said Ottho the same kindred might come by beeing discended of a daughter of the said Charles wife to LaÌ„bert Earle of Bergues or Monts who was Merquize of the Empire Earle of Brabant so consequently by the Salique Lawe vncapable of this Realme By reason whereof Pope Benedict the eight beeing at Pauy with the Emperour Henry the second and Robert sonne to Hugh Capet in the yere a thousand two hundred and three declared the sayd Robert to be lawfull King and Lord of the Crowne of Fraunce Besides the Author is forced to confesse that this Male ligne of Godfrey Countie of Arden failed againe and fel into the person of Ide wife to Eustace Countie of Bolongne on the Sea the father and mother to Godfrey of BoloÌ„gne King of Hierusalem who in Lorrain succeeded his vâ—kle by the mother Godfrey with the crouch backe so doe the Males of the house of Bologne are by the same writer continued vntil Lady Isabell the onely daughter and heire of Charles Duke of Lorrein who in the yeere 1418. maried Rene of Aniew pety sonne to King Iohn of Fraunce Thus we see by the domesticall testimony of the Princes of Lorrein the third distaffe in the house of Lorrein since the sayd pretended Ottho Sonne to Charles of France of which the first had bene sufficient to depriue them of the Succession Royall not withstanding their auncesters had drawen their Orriginall from the Masculine house of the saide Charlemagne For in respect of the house of Aniew extract out of the royall stocke of Fraunce and grafted into the Dutchy of Lorrain by the marriage of the said Rene with Isabell of Lorrain the same Lorrain Historiographer agreeth y t it ceased in Nicolas Marquize of Pont sonne to Iohn the second that dyed in y e yere 1433. whose succession was gathered vp by his Sister Yolland wife to Ferry of Vaâ—demont who was the yonger of the auncient house of Lorraine sonne to Antony sonne to Ferri brother to Charles Father to the foresaid Isabell 3 I will and that truely auowe that the house of Lorrain now being is so farre from being issued out of the race of Charlemagne either by Male or Female farre or néere that contrariwise the Dutchy of Lorraine hath chaunged stock or family fower or fiue times since the posteritie of Charlemaigne First in the house of the Counties of Ardenne when after the decease of Ottho Sonne to Charles of France in the yere 1005. Henry the second Emperour gaue Lorraine to Godfrey the sonne of Godfrey Earle of Ardenne whose seruice he had vsed against the sonnes by whome the Duke of Lorrain had bene emprisoned and soone after deceased without issue After hym succeeded his brother Gothelo in the yere 1019. in the time of Robert King of France Then in the yere 1033. Conrade the Emperour gaue to Gothelo Mosele after the decease of Frederick Earle thereof so as hee grewe mightier in Lorrain then before Against this Gothelo marched Odo Earle of ChaÌ„pagne seazed vpon Bar but the Lorrain gaue him battaile wherein the said Odo deceased Gothelo had a sonne named Godfrey vnto whom the Emperour Henry the fowerth refused to giue the Dutchy of Mosele and therefore hee would not also be Duke of Lorrain but in the yere 1044. rebelled against the Emperour who tooke him prisoner and after released him taking his sonne for Hostage who being dead the father reuolted again stirred vp Baldwin Earle of Flanders to help him to warre vpon him And this Godfrey slew Albert to whom the Emperour had giued Mosele for which cause the Emperour inuested Euerard of Alsatie in Mosele Fredericke vnckle to Baldwine of Flanders in the Dutchy of Lorraine Godfrey seeing him selfe so oppressed passed into Italie and there maried the daughter of Marquize Boniface but was by the Emperour soone after driuen out of Lomberdie wherefore he retired into Flanders and accompanied with the saide Baldwine besieged Fredericke in Antwarpe but the Lorrains came to his succour This Godfrey had a brother called Frederick sonne to Gothelo who retourning from Constantinople became a Monck at Mount Cassin and was after y e 157. Pope called Steuen in the time of Henry King of France After the decease of Frederick of Flanders inuested in the Dutchy of Lorraine Euerard of Alsatye was Duke of Lorrain but both the said Godfrey Euerard being dead in the yere 1070. the Emperor gaue Mosele to Deoderick son of the saide Euerard and restored Godfrey with the crooke back sonne of Godfrey aforesaid to Lorraine This man wholy destroyed the Frizons but was in the end slaine by Richarius in the yere 1089. so as by his death began the second house of Lorrain in the person of Ide sister to the last Godfrey with the crouche backe and wife to Eustace Earle of Bolongne whose Children were Dukes of Lorrain
such writings as guiltie of treazon haue dissembled this meane and flatly disaduowed the miserable wretches who for the publishing of these vntrueths had hazarded their liues But returning into the path of their first entent since the death of Mounsier the Kings onely Brother they haue perswaded themselues that his Maiestie may one day happen to dye without issue But howsoeuer it be prouiding long before for their affayres they haue coasted and sought to winne one of the first Princes of the blood discended of the house of Bourbon the true and onely Heyre of the Crowne if it should please God so farre to punish vs as to depriue vs of our good King without issue male and haue gone about to perswade this Prince that it is he who ought to be the lawfull successor and therefore that he had neede presently and alreadie to cause the same openly and with effectual and stroÌ„g reasons to be published 6 Wherein both the one and the other doe highly offend the Kings owne person in that in his life tyme they dispute of succession which if it might please God to sende him a sonne to enioye it shall neuer fall to them besides that thus thei seme to coÌ„spire his death which in effect is as much as to league themselues against nature against good maners against Christian pietie against that good will which we owe to our King vnto whome we are bound to pray for good wish for good and prognosticate good and therfore to waite for such his hap and misfortune is repugnant to all lawes ciuill and naturall Neither can good men like that against the Kings will and during his life men should argue or call into questioÌ„ the doubt of his succession which is nothing so long as it shall please God to leaue him in the world Vpon this cause did the fifth Counsaile of Toledo in Spayne which was holden during the Popedome of Honorius the first about the yeere 622. in the tyme of Heraclius the Emperour and Chintillus King of Spayne by decree excommunicate all such as do enquire or seeme to haue any care or doe seeke to vnderstande who shal be their King after him that hath the Scepter Because then saith the text it is repugnant to pietie and daungerous to man to thinke vpon vnlawfull matters to come or to enforme themselues of the accidents of Princes or in respect thereof to prouide for the time to come for it is written It is not for you to knowe the seazons and tymes which the Lorde hath reserued to himselfe wee doe by this decree ordeyne that if there be any informer of such matters and who during the Kings life respecteth any other in hope of the Realme or that allureth any vnto him in that respect that the same be by senteÌ„ce of excommunication banished the companie of the Catholickes The same decree was reiterated in the sixt Counsaile holden in the sayd Towne of Toledo whereto was added a very conuenient reason whereby the Authors of such discourses are reproued as men curious of the tyme to come whom God will not peradueÌ„ture permit to attaine thereto Mark therefore how such people who would bee taken to be zealous of Catholicke religion and the Commonwealth do by making such questions offend God and his holy Church 7 Furthermore this good Prince of whom they seeke to make a buckler is if it please him to consider that these alterations are wouen for the subuertion of him and his famelie to the ende that beeing by the force of the same disunited and deuided the Authors of this faction may remaine Maisters of both partes and by the losse of the one may more easely disperce the other That this is so it appeareth by that Lybell that secretly they disperst abroade into our hands wherein is one of the most impudent maximes that they dare set downe namely That no one of the Princes of Bourbon and doe expressely name the person of the Cardinall vnder whom neuerthelesse they would shroud theÌ„selues is capable of the succession of the Crowne of FraÌ„ce because now they are growne beyonde the tenth degree of agnation to the royall house whereby onely enheritances and successions are by the Ciuill lawes deferred to the neerest and beyonde the which also the heritage beeing vacant shoulde come to the fisck which in this cace is the assembly of the Estates and Peeres of France who are to proceede to a newe election But herein they doe malitiously deceiue themselues because the royall title of the Crowne of Fraunce is not simply a patrimoniall enheritance or feudal neither runneth by simple enheritance ciuill but the neerest of the bloud royall is thereto called by succession and surrogation perpetuall without ende after the order of consanguinitie or masculine agnation whether he be or be not particuler heyre to the King deceased in his owne proper goodes Also say our Maisters this right of the Crowne is in deede not hereditarie but of the famelie and of whom soeuer appertaineth thereto notwithstanding no one of them might be heire to the deceased Wherevpon Balde others that haue particulerly written of the succession of this Realme doe vpholde that therein succeedeth the next of the Kings bloud being come of the male although he were 1000. degrees of and that by the right of bloud and perpetuall custome of the Realme therein bringing for especiall example the famelie of Bourbon which onely after the famelie now raigning is to succeede in the Crowne of Fraunce Besides that returning to our purpose all the reasons that may be alleadged in the behalf of this Prince or of any other whosoeuer except of the King of Nauarre haue so small likelihood that euery one may soone iudge that those that haue set abroach this matter are mere perturbers of the peace and lawes of this Crowne particuler enemies to the house of Fraunce but chiefly to the sayde Lord Cardinall of Bourbon in that they endeuour themselues to ship him in this so vniust a quâ—rrell and to perswade him to leaue such a blemish to his memorie that the posteritie maye saye that so great a Prince as hee wise and discreet a Clergie man euen from his youth being now come to y e Graues side should without reason bend hymselfe against his owne blood and peraduenture be an occasion or instrument to the enemies of his Family to depriue his blood of so faire great and mighty a realme which the lawes thereof hath prouided them if God should not send the King now raigning a sone 8 Now to the end to lay open mine intent I willl say no more but the trueth which is that among all such as professe obseruing of the estate and gouernment of auncient common wealthes this Realme of Fraunce will appeare to be one of the most assured and best ordered that euer was in the world which also through the Lawes and politicke gouernment thereof hath longer continued then euer did any other Monarchie howe
retourne to the line of Francis the Elder who maried Lady Mary of Luxembourg daughter to Sir Lewes Constable of France who brought great goods to that Famely in Picardy Artoys Flanders and other places Of these two issued diuers children namely Charles Frances Lewes Antoinet Loyse of Bourbon Charles the Eldest succeded in the Countie of Vendosme and procured it to be erected into a Dutchy and Pairry Francis had the Countie of Saint Paule and maried Lady Adriane of Touteuille daughter and heire of a great famely They had issue a daughter Lewes was a Cardinall Anthoinet was maried to the Lord of Guyze of whoÌ„ is discended the house of Guise now liuing Loise was abbesse of Fronteuault Now the said Charlâ—s the eldest maried Lady Francis of Alencon sister to the deceased sir Charles Duke of Alencon last deceased without children in the yere 1524. of this mariage issued Antonie Francis Charles Lewes Iohn Antony the Eldest and Heire of this family maried Iane of Albret Queene of Nauarre of whom came Henry of Bourbon now king of Nauarre who hath married Margaret of France Sister to the most Christian King Francis was named Lord of Anguien who gat the victory at the iorney of Serizoles died without issue Charles the third is Cardinal of Baurbon and Archbishop of Rouen Lewes was Lord Prince Conde who when he died left fower sonnes Henry Prince of Conde Francis Prince of Contie Charles Cardinall of Vendosme and Charles Countie of Soissons Iohn who after the decease of Francis was entituled Lord of Anguyen died also without Issue There were also some daughters of whom here we haue nothing to say as hauing in this argument to treate onely of the Succession of the house of FraÌ„ce which can not discend but to y â— Males of this famely The onely controuersie therefore and different that might through the Counsaile of the mischiuous be mooued resteth betweene Henry of Bourbon King of Nauarre sonne of Anthony the eldest of that famely and Charles Cardinall of Bourbon and Archbishop of Rouen his vncle by the father The end of the first part ⧠THE CONTENTS OF THE SEcond part of this Booke 1. Obiections moued against the King of Nauarre 2. The mariage betweene Lady Iane of Albret Princesse of Nauarre with the Duke of Cleue dissolued by the Ecclesiastical sentence the Popes dispensation auctorized in Parliament Also the marriage of the sayd Lady with Anthony Duke of Vendosme the eldest of the house of Bourbon from whom is discended the King of Nauarre 3. Marriage is by the Ciuill lawe voyde being contracted before age 4. The holy decrees haue inhibited the blessing of mariage of maidens before twelue yeeres of age of men before foretene the East Church haue proroged the Matrimonie of the man to fifteene and of the woman to thirteene 5. The honestie of Ciuill pollice forbiddeth mariage before age 6. Examples of mariages disanulled by reason of the noneage of the contracted 7 The explication of humaine pollicie wherefore hereticks are vncapable of successions 8. The right of Realmes is houlden immediatly of God by the continuation of the successiue lawes of the same Neither can the Estates depose a King vncapable or otherwise disabled Or the people transferre the right of their Lord vnto the person of any other to whom it ought not to be giuen 9. The office and duetie of the Clergie towarde Kings and Princes King Henry the second protested against the Counsell of Trent 10. Why those of the League would not take the Catholicke Princes of the blood therinto Those of the league haue sought to suborne those of the pretended reformed Religion 11. Kings are Stewardes of the Church goods The Church is in the Commonwealth not repugnant thereto Pollicie Iurisdiction and collation of Ecclesiasticall functions apperteineth to soueraigne Princes The Kings of Fraunce haue euermore preserued the state of the persons and goodes of the Clergie in their Crowne The Clergie were in olde tyme not capable to distribute Church goodes 12. The King neuer dyeth in France because of the successiue law thereof To what ende the Coronation of Kings was instituted The auncient maner of the Coronations of heathen Kings How long it is since anoynting was instituted and wherfore It is not necessary to annoynt or crowne Kings in one only place 13. Antiquitie is no necessary argument to auctorize common custome 14. The Church neuer disturbed the succession of Kings no not for heresie 15. Whether it be likely the K. of Na. wil force the conscience of his subiect 16. The estate of Bearne and Nauarre 17. The cause of the protestatioÌ„ that the King of Nauarre made the last yere at Montauban 18. The King cannot infringe the successiue law of the Realme The successor commeth not to the Crowne in the qualitie of heire to the deceased 19. The Popes reasons whereby he pretendeth aucthoritie to transferre Kingdomes The Popes haue euer exempted France out of their wonderfull power Gods lawe without polliticke confirmation is no sanction vpon earth Priestes haue no imperiall Iurisdiction Bishops and Popes haue acknowledged Kings and Emperors for their Lords The punishment of heretickes is executed by the seculer Magistrate 20. The opening of sundry places of Scripture concerning Ecclesiastical iurisdictioÌ„ Wicked Emperors were neuer deposed The Pope cannot excommunicate any body politick or Towne subiect to the King of France Appeales in cause of abuse from the Pope and other Clergie men obserued in France 21. The Church cannot excommunicate a Prince that is an euill liuer Subiects after the excommunication of their Lorde are not discharged of their dueties toward him 22. The sentence of the excommunication of a Prince cannot conteine any clause of depriuation from his Lordly rights 23. A Prince may lawfully arme himselfe against the Popes wrongful excommunication and appeale therefore as in abuse 24. The K. of Nauarres reason to proue him no Hereticke 25. The vsurpations of the Counsell of Trent ouer the Crowne of France 26. Most dauÌ„gerous drifts of y â— Leagued in the reformation of the Realme 27. The wicked entent of the Leagued Also what enuy they beare to the Duke of Espernon and others 28. The remembrances of Aduocate Dauid now put in execution by the Leagued The Kings duetie in matter of Religion 29. Forraine rule and gouernement is wretched FINIS THE SECOND PART OF the Cath. Apologie 1 SVch as mislike the king of Nauarres cause doe obiect against hym in this libell fonre principall points wherof three doe perticularly touche the qualitie of his owne personâ— the fourth concerneth the auncient controuersie betweene the Vncle and the sonne of the elder brother But we will endeâ—our to shewe that in all and throughout all they haue but a weake foundation Concerning the first they aleadge that the said Lorde King of Nauarre is not borne in lawfull matrimony of Anthony of Bourbon eldest sonne of the house of Bourbon because Ladie Iane of Albret mother to the said lord King
Greece Also among other the Ecclesiastical aunswers of the Patâ—iarkes of Constantinople is to bee seene this of Germanus to the Bishop of Ara who enquired how he was to proceed against a maiden that had bene blessed and corrupted before her ripe age also against the Priest that had ministred these ceremonies Whereto aunswer was made that the maid should be seperate and the Priest put from his charge 5 As in trueth in all well ordered Commonwealthes there haue euermore bene established a certaine age for the conioyning and mariage of the Citizens of the same because as saith Fulâ—entius the lawe of mariage is by the will of God ordeined fâ—r hauing of issue it is meete that it be contracted at lawfull age So as by the pollicie of some Citties it was considered that the tyme of generation doth for the most part by nature ende in the man at the 70. and in the woman at the fiftie yeere Aristotle is of opinioÌ„ that after that age mariage is not to be permitted Whereto seemeth to agree that which is found in the establishment of the Romaines Among whom those Citizens were not iudged to haue satisfied the lawe Iulia which was made for mariages who to the ende not to be subiect to the penalties limitted in detestation of vowed chastitie did contract matrimonie the man after sixtie yeres or the woman after fiftie For Iustinian also writeth that some accompted it almost a wonder in nature to see a woman with childe after she were fiftie yeres of age And it seemed such marriages were contracted not so much in hope of begetting children into the CommoÌ„-wealth as in respect of some wealth or other perticuler commoditie that the one hoped for of the other by which reazon wee reade that Antigonus perswaded his sonne Demetrius to marrie an old woman named Philla vsing the authoritie of Euripides which he altered to his purpose and in liew that the verse said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he sayd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the ende the sence might importe that for some benefite hee should not differ the mariage of a wife though of a contrary age As on the other side also ouermuch youth was neuer accoumpted meete for the coniunction of mariage because therein generation cannot bee but lame and vtterly vnperfect the mother in greater daunger at her childbirth the father more vndiscreete in the coniunction and so the more hindered from atteining to that perfection and force which Nature reserueth to their bodies wherevpon the auncients imagined that the Idoll of Apollo gaue the Trezenians warning when he had them beware of casting their seede ouer hastely vpon the fieldes of their countrey 6 Finally concerning this present argument although the sayd Lady Iane of Albret had offended in marying with the late Antonie of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme because she had beene afore married to the Duke of Cleue yet were that no let why the King of Nauarre now raigning should not bee borne of the lawfull mariage of the sayd Antony of Bourbon his father who doing amisse that vpon simplicitie vnder the authoritie and in the face of the Church with publicke credite did solemnize the said mariage in which cace there is no doubt but the ChildreÌ„ of a putatiue mariage as say the Canonistes are legitimate because in a doubtfull cace senteÌ„ce must passe in fauour of the marriage and of the children borne in the same the question depeÌ„ding vpoÌ„ the simple meaning conscience of him that meaneth to marrie a wife for by the lawes and decrees of the Church opinion hath the vpperhand of trueth so as by the common resolution it is enough for the legitimation of children that either the one or the other of the coÌ„tracters ment good faith in that coniunction beleeuing it to be a thing lawful for him Thus doe you briefly see how children borne of such mariages are legitimate In our cace wee haue moreouer aduowed that the pretended marriage of Lady Iane of Albret mother to the now raigning King of Nauarre was voyd and of no effect and for such by all reason iustly broken and disanulled by the iudgement of the Church with whose authoritie the sayd Lady Iane was permitted to marie where she pleased which was not done without president For wee reade in the auncient Chronickles that for the like cause the Emperour Ottho the fourth was diuorsed from Margaret Daughter to the Duke of Brabant Lewes Daulphin of Viennois sonne to King Charles y e sixt a litle before he dyed vsed as some say the like pretence to returne Catherin daughter to y e Duke of Bourgondy home again In later tyme King Charles the eight of Fraunce in the yeere 1480. was by his father Lewes the eleuenth before hee was foreteene yeeres old affianced by words present and so by indissoluble marriage vnto Margaret of Austrich daughter to the Emperour Maximilian who being then but two yeeres olde was conueyed into Fraunce and there brought vp for the space of ten whole yeeres after the which they were neuerthelesse diuorced by a dispensation from Pope Innocent the eight who also for the like reason dispensed with Lady Anne of Brittaine and gaue her leaue to marrie where she pleased notwithstaÌ„ding during her minoritie her father Francis Duke of Brittaine had matched her with the Emperour Maximilian by proxye had celebrated the sayd mariage Nicholas Duke of Lorrain while his father Duke Iohn liued did in the yeere 1460. by present words affiance Lady Iane of France daughter to King Lewes the eleuenth and yet comming to the age of foreteene yeeres he did through the Popes dispensatioÌ„ betroth Lady Mary of Bourgondy Daughter to Charles the last Duke of Bourgondy whom he was going to marrie when death euen during the preparatiues of the solemnitie of the mariage preuented him So the manifolde decrees and iudgements passed in like matters doe manifest vnto vs the exceeding malice of the enemies of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre 7 Their seconde obiection importeth that the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre is an Hereticke and therefore vnworthy to succeede in the Realme of Fraunce whose Kings are intituled most Christian in respect of the oath that they take at their sacring in the hands of the Archbishop of Rheimes which is that to their powers they shall defende the Catholicke Religion and faith which the sayd Lord King of Nauarre cannot doe as professing an opinion already condemned by the Church and so consequently can not pretend aught in the sayd Crowne neither may the subiects thereof obeye him according to the decree of the generall Counsaile holden at Roome vnder Innocent the third about the yeere 1215. repeated out of the auncient constitutions of Theodosius the yonger Valentinian the 3. and Martian all most Catholicke Princes vpon the confirmation of the general Counsailes of Ephesus and Chalcedon and afterward recited by Iustinian the first in the fifth Counsaile of
conspirators for it appeared more euidently wheÌ„ the Duke of Vendosme father to the now raigning King of Nauarre maried the heire of Nauarre whom one of their predecessors was very desirous to match withall The said Lord of Montpensier should be very blinde if he could not by the welcome that the parrisans gaue him lately at Orleans with Cannon shot perceiue that it is not Catholicke Religion that they fight for but the rooting out of the royall famelie As also before wheÌ„ in his absence while he was gone to accompanie the late Monsier the Duke brother to the King into Brabant they procured the taking away of the gouernement of Brittaine froÌ„ him which now they clayme to be theirs some in the right of their mother and other of their wife But I hope the King shall be able notwithstaÌ„ding they endeuour to dispossesse him to make himselfe whole to y e and after to heare them in their petitions if hee finde the same reasonable Moreouer to returne to you my Maisters of the Clergie I will set you downe most pertineÌ„t demonstrations of their zeale to the Catholicke Church and will tell you that after they had fayled of their enterprise against the Towne of Straus borowe by the spoyle whereof they hoped for meane sufficient to demaunde Mets Thoul Verdun and therewithall together with other the Townes vpon the shore of Rhine which easily they would haue forced to haue prosecuted their purpose for the rest of the Realme of Fraunce they endeuoured to winne those of the pretended reformed Religion vnto whom they promised not only such free exercize of their religioÌ„ as y â— King now raigning had permitted them but also if neede were with greater libertie and assurance and to the same ende offered to send their male children and young Cousens for hostages into Germany vnder the pretence of learning the Dutch tongue perswading the French of the sayd Religion that they should neuer liue assured vnder the King that by that which was passed they might beleeue that he would enfringe his Edicts of Pacification vpon his first oportunitie that neither y â— King of Nauarre neither the Prince of Condy had authoritie sufficient to defend them to be brief that it was their best to offer themselues into their protection who had both the men of warre the Clergie and the gouernors of the Prouinces at their deuotion To the same effect they also sent the late Lorde of May to Duke Casemire to winne hym into this League and also to practize the same with those of the pretended reformed Religion offering to commit their forces into his hands besides setting before him that he was discended of the race of Charlemagne as well as they that they might make the one a great Emperour the other a great King that the Capetiâ—s had ouer long enioyed their inheritance and that they were resolued no loÌ„ger to suffer it As in deede about the time of the siege of Fere the sayd May practized all that he perceiued discontented to signe the sayde conspiracie vntill he was wouÌ„ded at the said siege whereof when the chief of this drift had notice he posted from Paris vnto him to get from him the Articles of the League as also after the decease of the sayd May hee sent to his house to make search amoÌ„g al the papers remeÌ„brances of the sayd deceased Beleeue not therefore my Maisters that it is the loue of God that leadeth them either piety of Catholicke Religion but say boldly that it is no other but ambition a wicked and abhominable entent to lose and alter this Estate and to get it into their handes and so to make you bondmen to their passions or executioners of their tyrannie Wherefore I beseech you to call to minde the saying of Ioel. Awake my Maisters you that are dronken with your Wine weepe and lament for all your ioye and mirth is gone farre from you Put on your mourning weedes ye Priestes that serue at the Aulter for our land is become miserable and our fieldes doe now weepe sith they are become barren our Wines withered our Oyle diminished and our labourers brought into necessitie And againe weepe ye Clergie that serue God and in liew of other weapons say Lorde forgiue this people and forsake not thy enheritance As for your liues direct them after the example of the Apostle who sayth Wee are as young children among you or as the nurse preserueth her little ones euen so we doe merueilously loue you and doe couet not onely to teach you but to offer our liues for your preseruation Put awaye all hatred mallice guile emulation enuie and backbyting feede vpon milke that we growe therein to our saluation for almightie God is mercifull My Maisters I pray you pardon me I knowe I might haue spoken more gently vnto you but to what purpose is it only with the fingers to touch the wound or to annoynt onely the outside thereof with too easie an oyntment when you see it is tyme to crush it throughly to expell all corruption that marreth the whole body What had I bene the better to haue ministred a tent of lint when it wanted a sharpe corosiue Take therefore in good parte this that I say vnto you for it is the doctrine y â— I haue learned in the Schoole of the Catholicke Apostolicke and Romish Church the greatest Doctors whereof without humaine passions will graunt that al the Sermons and Preachings wherewith you stirre vp the people to take armes and shed bloud are no other then the deuilles TroÌ„pets and Drommes as also surely if you seeke any other weapons then clemencie and Christian pietie doe teach and that with Tertullian you say not you had rather be killed theÌ„ kil I do foreshew vnto you the wrath of God vpon you and that vndoubtedly the prophesie of Malachie will bee verefied in you in these wordes My wrath is kindled against the Shepeheards whom I will visite among the flockes 11 Much lesse are we also to care for the complaint that some of the vnwisest of your men doe lay vpon the King for exacting some of your tenths and vsing sometimes as the necessitie of his Estate requireth the temporalties of his Churches wherein they are much to blame and do ouergreatly abuse the libertie that the conniuence of Princes haue tollerated in your predecessors in respect of their pietie and endeuours in the distribution of their meanes possessions and almoses giuen to the poore vnto whoÌ„ the Church goods doe appertaine and not to you Besides that I will by the way tell you that the wealth of the Church is the onely poyson thereof for that the greatnesse thereof consisteth not in temporall goodes and worldly pompe as the deuill hath perswaded most of our Clergie but in the holy and commendable life of our Pastors and in that heauenly foode that they giue to their flockes ouer y â— which they watch night day And as Chrisostome doth well
an example to all other to the ende no straunger doe presume to violate and taint the Maiestie of the Realme of France 12 To all the premisses to the discourse of the duetie and respect that subiects owe in our cace to their Kings and Princes the disturbers of the peace lawes of this Realme doe aunswer perticulerly against the King of Nauarre y ◠he shal neuer be King of France before he bee after the auncient maner obserued as they weene euer since Clouis the first Christian King consecrated annoynted and crowned and that nature onely cannot make him King without the ordinary Ceremonies obserued at the comming in of a new Prince And so cōsequently they dare inferre that notwithstanding al our former discourse be true yet can it not bee applyed to the sayd Lord King of Nauarre to whom the French men cannot be boūd without his annointing and coronation which the Catholickes will neuer permit vnlesse he abiure the pretended reformed Religion Also that in cace they shoulde withstande him yet should they not thereby withstand their King but a pretender to the Realm But in trueth herein lyeth the difficultie of the matter wherwith they seeke to deceiue the ignoraunt For this they must know that in Realmes successiue as is ours the King liueth perpetually and leaueth the Realme to his neerest by vertue of the law successiue By reason whereof he is true and perfect Lord before he bee crowned neither doth his coronation serue but for a declaratiō and publication of the honor of the marke of his calling which was obteyned to him before both by nature and by the lawe of succession which needeth no further declaration of the successor in that it is not simply hereditarie to the deceased but custumary and legitimate at the very instant of the former Kings decease which seazeth not the natural successor of the Lordship and royall power onely but also of the possession and effectuall enioying of the same Wherevpon all our Interpretors doe maintaine that in feudall causes and matters the successor is in a maner seazed in his predecessors life tyme vnder whom he is halfe possessioner without any further inuestiture especially in our France where it is obserued without contradiction For that concerning the Realme the coronation ensuing is but the habite and royall ensigne and therefore al good men will graunt that the King is annoynted and crowned because he is King but contrariwise that he is not king because he is crowned for so theeues and Tyrants beeing the stronger might become lawfull Kings and with ouer much facilitie alter the cause of their possession through that ceremonie So was the Emperour of the Romaines lawfull after he had beene elected and saluted in testimonie and for a proofe of which election only he set a Crowne vpon his head a Scepter of Iuorie in his hand and beeing apparelled in a Purple robe did alwaies walke forth with fower and twentie Huissiers euery one bearing a Torch and an Axe It was was moreouer a custome to carie fire before the Emperour after the auncient maner of the Kings of Persia who went to Pasargades that the Priestes might there consecrate them in a Temple dedicated to one of the Goddesses of warres where the Prince putting of his own Robes did put on the same that the auncient Cirus vsed to weare before he was King he also did eate of a Cake made with Figges and Turpentine and drancke a potion made of Vineger and Milke The auncient Kings of Greece in liewe of a Diadem were wont to cary a Speare or a Staffe which the Grecians termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Romaines sent to him to whom they gaue the royal dignitie a Crowne of Golde a Cuppe and an Iuorie staffe and afterward added the seate or chaire fashioned like a Chariot Afterwarde when Christianitie was planted in the hearts of the people hauing proceeded to the election of the Emperour and being agreed of his person the maner was to cause him to sweare yea sometymes by his handwriting to subscribe that he would stay himselfe vpon the doctrine confirmed by the Catholick Church and the oecumenical Counsailes of the same and that he should not raise any trouble in the Church of God after which protestation the Patriarke of Constantinople in the peoples sight set a Crowne vpō his head girt a sword about him presented him a Scepter and put a gold Ring vpon his finger The tokens of the Germaine Emperours are by the decree of Charles the Great a Scepter a Sword a Speare a Cloake a Chaine a Crowne a Crosse like a Spheare a Buckler an Eagle with 2. heads a purple Ensigne all which are deliuered to him by the Archbishoppes of Cologne Mentz and Treues Like as the Archbishop of Toledo doth the office at the coronation of the King of Spayne the Archbishop of Canterbury at the King of Englands the Archbishop of Mentz at the Bohemians the Archbishop of Strigon at the Hūgarians the Archbishop of Guesne at the Polonians the Archbishop of Vpsale at the Danes the Archbishop of Tours at the auncient Kings of Armorica which we cal Brittaine the Bishop of Pampelune at the King of Nauarres euen as in our France it is the Archbishop of Rheimes that crowneth and annoynteth our King although sometymes it is done in other places As we reade of S. Lewes who was sacred at Soissons others at Orleance whom before the tyme of Christianitie they vsed to proclaime by lifting thē vp and shewing them vpon a buckler But it hath since beene thought more expedient to minister these ceremonies in the assembly of the Church there to call God to witnesse of that faith which the subiects vowed to their Prince and of that duetie wherein the King bound himselfe to his Estate to the ende also that afterward the people might knowe that from a priuat and perticuler man that he was wont to be he was now promoted to the Empire to the end to commaund Thus did Atatolius first deale with the Emperor Leo the first in the yere of Iesus Christ 461. and Euphemius with the Emperour Anastaze in the yeere 494. of whom hee exacted a perticuler promesse in writing because both before and at the tyme that he was proclaimed Emperour he had bene and still was an Eutichean hereticke whose errors had bene condemned by the decrees of the Counsaile of Chalcedō holden in the presence of the Emperor Martian in the yeere of Iesus Christ 455. Of later daies immediatly vpon the decease of Iustinian the first they added that the Patriark of Constantinople should after the example and imitation of the Kings of Iuda consecrate annoynt and crowne the Emperours with a Crowne of Golde in the assembly of the Church which was first obserued in the Emperour Iustin the second and afterward by Pope Leo the 3. translated into the West to the behalfe of Charles the Great before whom or
that Religion which with vniforme consent haue so many hundred yeres bene receiued in the Church especially considering that himself could not abide to haue his owne brought into bondage Moreouer with you ye trompets of sedition I doe agrée that then he should be no more able then now that such as would perswade him that the third part of the French are Huguenots are no good Arithmeticians also that for our preseruation in that estate wherein we now liue we neede no more but to set against him our walles I would therefore aske you what cause you should haue to feare that he would endeuour to force you to liue in any other Religion thē the same wherein he find you and your selues doe desire when in so doing he may happen to haue but euill successe and therewithall lose the loue of the whole worlde were not this as much as according to the Prouerbe to goe about to shaue an Egge 16 As also the obiection that they make namely that in the lands of Bearne and low Nauarre where he is soueraigne the Catholick Apostolick Romish Religion is not permitted is in trueth full of subteltie slaunder and enuie for hereunto he doth pertinently in my opinion aunswere that in respect of the land of Bearne it was not he that forbad it neither are his aduersaries able to proue any inhibition thereof in his name or frō him but contrariwise he assureth himselfe that it will appeare that immediatly or soone after the decease of the late Queene of Nauarre his mother his Maiestie by the Lord of Grāmont dispatched his Letters into the country of Bearne importing that his will was to restore and therein to set vp againe the exercize of the sayd Religion Vpon which commandement the States being assembled they denyed to put the same in executiō fearing such troubles and seditions as might ensue the people beeing haughtie mutinous and difficult enough to bee contented together with such small store of Catholickes in the sayde Countrey to prosecute the execution thereof if need should require What would you then haue him to doe more He did not the harme but wēt about to cure it there was none that desired to take his medicine What more can the Phisition doe to his Patient but prepare him the potion which may bee to his health and for want of the which if he lose himself is he not rather to blame his owne obstinacie then him that could not make him take his appointmēt For since that time the Estates beeing diuers tymes assembled in the sayde Countrey did nener require his Maiestie to restore the sayd Catholick Romish Religion which alwaies hee offered to doe and still so long as he liue wil if they doe require it As for lowe Nauarre the exercize of Catholicke Religion is there most free yea which is more throughout that Countrey there is no assembly of the pretended reformed Religiō but onely in two places as is most euidently knowne neither hath his Maiestie innouated any thing at his cōming throughout the sayd lands of Bearne or Nauarre But what is it meete for these feares and friuolous doubtes of a matter that neuer can come to passe to destroye this poore Realme with immortall warres and so make vs miserable before the tyme crye out before we be touched and to hasten and aduaunce the sorowes of our pretended mischiefes will you begin to crucifie and tye vs to a Caucasus for our whole life tyme or will you force vs here to begin our hell Is not the King thankes bee to God yong enough in good health and of sufficient dispositiō to see the raking both of the King of Nauarre and of the rest of the Princes of his age why thē should we mistrust the grace of God 17 As for the Protestation that the sayde Lord King of Nauarre made the yere 1584. in a Synode by the Ministers of his Religiō holden in the Towne of Montauban wherby he protested and declared that he would liue and dye therein and defend the same I wot not well why wee are so slye as for that cause to blame him or bee more vehement against him then before as in deede a number of persons too much ouerruled with vnreasonable passions haue misliked it and haue thervpon gathered some sinister iudgement of the affection of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre to the Catholickes whome most hartely I beseech with me to consider First that his protestation imported not the rooting of vs out neither together with vs the Religion of the Romish Church as the League doth him and his partakers so that his protestation is simply defensiue and could not therefore be more gentle for the which wee are rather to commend then to reproue him sith our selues are bound daily to make the like profession in the Catholicke Apostolicke Romish Church also that euery faithfull Christian is likewise bound by the Sacrament of Baptisme to make the like declaration especially Kings and Princes who ought to be mirors spectakles to their subiects yea the confession of their faith should serue for a publick example in the assemblies made for the Estate of the Church such as are y e Counsailes Sinodes and other like wherein it hath euermore bene noted that Emperours Kings and Princes thereat assistant did make profession of their faithes with protestation to defend the same Hereof wee haue for testimonie Constantine the Great in the Counsaile of Nice Theodose the Yonger in the Counsaile of Ephesus Martian in the Counsaile of Calcedon Iustinian the first in the Counsaile of Constantinople Charlemaigne in the Counsaile of Francfort with infinite other Christian and Catholicke Princes Sith therefore the King of Nauarre hath bene brought vp in that Religion which he holdeth and that the King by his Edicts permitteth the free exercize thereof throughout his Realme why should wee mislike that hee assisting at an assembly thereof protesteth to liue and dye in the defence of the same especially seing that it is no let but that when by a lawfull Counsaile either generall or nationall which the King and his Counsaile shall thincke most sufficient for that purpose we shall haue perswaded him not to bee caried awaye without reason hee may immediatly returne and protest that hee hath bene misled and that hee weareth not the sworde but for the defence of the Romish Church as now hee voweth the vpholding of his owne Moreouer I would that such as are offended at the sayd Protestation should know that the occasion that moued the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre to bee present at the sayd assembly at Montauban was not small neither of small importance to the reputation of him and his Estate for it is not vnknowne to all that his enemies had raised a speech aswell among al forraine Nations and throughout Europe as also perticulerly in this Realme that the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre had put from about his person the Ministers of his Religion that hee went to Masse to be
friuolous causes and of no importaÌ„ce whose sentence neuerthelesse was confirmed and againe published by Innocent the fourth successor to the sayd Gregorie and after by Boniface the eight inserted into his sixt booke of Decretals in which place he vseth these wordes of the Scripture Quodcúnque ligaueris c. as an authoritie wherein to ground the execution of his will Bald also and Iohn Andrew very Catholicke Glozers doe confesse that in deede he seemed rather a partie then a Iudge Niâ—holas the 3. who followed soone after seeking to take the whole gouernement of the Towne from all but the Pope forbad y t neither King Duke Earle or Marquize should be established or accept the authoritie of Senator or Gouernour therein declaring that the Iurisdiction thereof belonged priuatly to the holy Sea before all other not in respect of Constantines donation but through these wordes In omnem terram exiuit sonus eorum and such other which hee interpreteth as hee thincketh good Which in effect are the very reasons whereupon Boniface the eight excommunicated King Phillip the Faire of France and gaue his Realme for a praye to the first that could seaze vpon it as we reade in his constitution in deede extrauagant in the which he exempteth neither Emperour nor King from his subiection euen in Temporall causes as he saith Also by vertue of that great power Clement the fifth disanulled the sentence giuen by the Emperour Henry the seauenth of LuxeÌ„bourg against Robert King of Sicille after hee had procured the proysoning of the same Emperour by a Muncke in ministring to him the Eucharist Which Balde confesseth to haue bene a presumpteous and wrongfull deede Finally by those Tragedies that Iohn the 22. Benedict the 12. and Clement the 6. stirred vp throughout Christiandome against the Emperour Lewes of Bauiere as also in our daies Alexander the sixt and Iulius the second did no lesse neither had any other ground We may see the causes whereby the Popes do pretend authoritie to depose Kings subuert Realmes and giue them in pray to whomsoeuer they thinke good True it is that such of them as haue most dissembled haue euer exeÌ„pted the Realm of FraÌ„ce Innocent the third writing to the Prelates and French Nobilitie for Iohn without land King of England declareth that he will enterprize nothing against the Maiestie of the French King But Hostiensis who knewe the Storie doth in this place write that the Protestation was contrary to the effect because the sayd Innocent went about to hinder King Phillip Auguste from vsing his feudall right ouer the Dutches of Normandie Guyenne and other the Lands holden by the English and falleÌ„ into the lapse through the murder committed vpon Arthur his elder brothers sonne In an other decretal Epistle the same Pope confesseth that the French King in Temporall causes and gouernment of his Realme acknowledgeth no superiour Clement the fifth in his extrauagant for appeasing King Phillip the Faire who was stirred vp by the insolencie of Boniface the eight disanulled reuoked his declarations against the Realme of France and aduowed the same not to be subiect to his Sea by vertue of the sayd constitution The same Pope also protested that the power which his Officers vsed against the said Kings subiects during his being in the Realm was by the permission of the sayd Lord King as appeareth by the protestation the same time enrouled in the Court of ParliameÌ„t for in trueth it hath euer more bene resolued and is a cace most certaine that the King of France doth vpon earth acknowledge no superiour in whatsoeuer coÌ„cerneth the pollicie gouernement of his Crowne neither was euer subiect to the Romain Empire from the which he wrested the Gaules with the point of the sworde And although the French Kings were sometimes Emperours them selues yet did they neuer submit this Crowne to the Diadem Imperiall whereupon the Kings Atorney general would not suffer the Emperour Charles the fourth beeing in the Parliament there to make a Knight without king Charles the 5. his expresse permission As also the Emperor Charles the fifth passing through Fraunce obteyned the good will of King Frances the first to pardon sundry offenders because no other then his Maiestie hath power or authoritie ouer the temporall causes of his Realm among which is vndoubtedly the punishing of transgressions yea euen of heresie of the which wee now speake the notice and Iurisdiction whereof haue euer more bene left and with good reason belongeth to the seculer Magistrate because we ought to consider the lawe of God first in this world whereto the politicke and temporall Magistrate preseruer of the societie of men and earthly policie for the auoyding of confusion and trouble forceth euery one to obeye Secondly in the worlde to come wherein God onely iudgeth and punisheth not leauing in this worlde in respect of himselfe any Magistrate to be the auenger of the iniurie to him done in y â— transgression of his ordinances For the Priestes who are the guardians and Schoolemasters of Gods lawe are not coÌ„stituted Iudges but easie Phisitions to the soule and Gods commaundements are no such Sanctions as importe punishment but most louing doctrine and admonitious otherwise if by the sworde we should be forced to the obseruing of Gods lawe the desert were small Vppon which poynt the Apostle sayd Not that wee rulee ouer your faith but are helpers to your ioye And in an other place All Scripture is inspired froÌ„ aboue and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct to righteousnesse Hee saith not to force or to punish Chrisostome very carefully deuideth the royall power from the ministerie of the Gospell saying that the ministerie is a function committed by God to the ende to teach without weapons also that it is no power to giue or take awaye Realmes neither to make lawes for politick gouernment Our French Bishop S. Hilarie writeth as much to the Emperour Constantius also against Auxentius Bishop of Millan And this the good Fathers learned at the mouth of the Sonne of God our Lord Iesus Christ when he sayd to his Apostles The Kings of the nations haue dominion ouer them but it shall not be so with you In an other place hee promiseth them that they shall sit with the Sonne of God wheÌ„ he shal come in Maiestie to iudge mankinde but that contrariwise so long as they remaine in y e world exercizing their Ministerie they shall bee brought before Kings and politicke Magistrates for his sake so farre shall they be from being Kings and Iudges themselues The head of the Church euen Iesus Christ fled when they sought to make him King declaring y â— his Kingdome was not of this worlde wherfore he would not be iudge among those that were at controuersie yea he submitted himself to the Kings of the earth paying vnto them the tribute which was vnto
their owne and if they may to seaze vpon this Crowne which they haue leueled at euer since the decease of the late Henry the second without employing themselues in any other affaires then seeking the meanes to atteyne thereto yea euen partly they giue out that it were better to conquer the Realme of France then to goe to Hierusalem to seeke for the succession of Godfrey of Buillon I doe therefore most humbly beseech the Queene the Kings mother whom our Espaniolized Frenchmen doe call vpon for their succour to be ware of being deceiued in the faire pretences of these conspirators but to assure her selfe that notwithstanding whatsoeuer their flattering sweete tongue they will neuer bee satisfied but with the life and Scepter of her sonne her selfe Moreouer I beseech God to graunt the King the wisedome of SalomoÌ„ wheÌ„ his mother Bethsabe came to desire him to like of the mariage of Adonias with Abisag the Sunamite who had bene King Dauids Concubine in his latter daies vnder the pretence whereof he had vndertaken with the helpe of Abiathar the Priest Ioab and Semei to haue depriued the King of life and kingdome which this fountaine of wisedome speedely perceiuing after he had heard the petition of the Queene his mother in liew of graunting it and considering how this traytor vnder a false proposition had abused her commaunded to put him to death together with Ioab and Semei and depriued Abiathar of his Priestly office and function 28 Know we not the occasions of Dauid the Aduocates one of the wickedest men that euer liued iourney to the Pope and Court of Rome whose instructions these good Schollers doe from point to point ensue and those men that haue sene the same can tell whether their beginning and the course that still they take be not at large therein conteyned Who is he that perceiueth not the importaÌ„ce of the disputation holden at Sorbonne about three or foure yere since by a poore bachelâ—r draweÌ„ in who had dedicated his Theses to the Abbot of Cluny the late Card. of Lorrains Bastard Wherein hee did what in hym laye to prooue that it was lawfull for the people to depose driue out kill and murder tyrannous wicked euill liuing and Hereticall Kinges whereat the King beeing moued as at a most daungerous and detestable proposition this poore instrument of Satan was at the barre of the sayde Colledge of Sorbonne slaine by one who of late dayes haue withdrawen hym selfe loaden with Spanish Pistolets and Iewels and then cloked this goodly deede least the author of this so vnchristian learning and knowledge should by his mouth haue bene disclosed Might not we haue noted what seruants were procured to be placed abont Monsier the Kings brother and to what end amoÌ„g whom the forwardest had bene trayned vp in the Schole of these perturbers of our peace as being their creature witnesse that nowe he is with them and then vsed all his endeuour to plonge that yong Prince in all voluptuousnesse lechery and heate of youth yea hee did better his businesse for hee betrayed him to the King of Spaine sould the Spaniard to the States and the Huguenotes to all others Whereby hee made money of all with the price of the honor reputation and life of his Maiestie or rather of all France The like did also three or foure other bad parsons who all had bene brought vp and were giuen to his highnesse by one selfe hand to the ende to habandon hym for a praye to the first mischaunce that might happen among a greate number that night and day they deuised for the atteining to their entents yea they went so farre as to set him at debate with the King his brother and by meanes of some of theirs that were neere to either of them to cause nature and bloud to liue in mistrust of it selfe so to procure the ruine and losse of one or the other or of both togither and with them of this miserable Realme During which their sleightes they did neuerthelesse perticulerly thinck vpon the king whom when they found to be merueylous zealous in Catholike religion they began to practise some Spanish workemen to drawe vnto him and vnder the vaile of Religion to bewitch him and so wholy endeuoured themselues if they could to haue cast him headlong into some mishap as great as the same wherein they ê“longed poore King Sebastian of Portugall who by such meanes serued for a warme breakefast to the Spanish King and got hym a faire corner of lande through the subtelties of the Spanish Iesuites concurring with the Portingal Iesuites or peraduenture both coÌ„spired against the estate of that poore yong King so to cause hym desperatly to venture hym selfe whether he dyed with him the Scepter of Portugall which vndoubtedly God had long vsed to the great benefite blesse of all Christiandome These were the driftes of the good seruants of our Kings who thanked bee God was more circumspect and wary to put from about him such wicked spirites Certainly it is most necessary and expedient for a King to be Christian deuout zealous of Catholicke faith and to feare God but withall it is most daungerous for his person and Estate if hee become supersticious and an hypocrite First he thereby loseth all iudgement to discerne the enuious friends or enemies to his Scepter then he forgetteth the principall cause for the which he is a King which is the care and gouernement of his people for the exercize whereof onely he is bound chosen and bound to serue God in that ministerie lastly in the world that we liue in amoÌ„g the most corrupt soules that euer were the whole worlde doth mistrust and wonderfully suspect him whom they see make so great a shewe whether for enuy that euery one beareth to his more then common zeale either els for that in trueth it often falleth out that things of greatest apparance conteyne least trueth Now then these malicious persons haue but one onely subtile entent left which also it is meete for the people to knowe For yet they goe reasonably gently about their matters and doe giue out that they require onely abolition of the Edicts of pacification and to procure the exercize of one onely Religion in France to the ende vnder that pretence to embarke the King and almost to force him as aforetyme fearing least the ouer long peace of this Realme should close vp the passed vlcers they had done to breake off that amitie and good wil which it pleased him to shewe to the King of Nauarre and those of the pretended reformed Religion so that by such meanes they will cause him with the sworde that he should holde in one of his hands to cut off the other wherof must ensue the losse and sworne death of the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre against whose person perticulerly as beeing their principall mark they are determined to arme themselues After whose end also if the King of whom they shall then
from whom your predecessors the Kings of Nauarre are discended was wont viz. Pro lege grege setting forth in your actions as many desires of peace clemencie fatth honestie and Christian piette as they doe of violence bitternesse and perfidie being banded against the Iustice of God The ende of the second Booke ⧠THE CONTENTS OF THE THIRD part of this Booke 1. The grauitie of Treason For what causes a Prince of the bloud may bee declared vncapable of the Crowne Abuse of the crime of treason The malice supposition of the leagued against those of the pretended reformed religion 2. A true exposition of the crime of treason The King neuer suspected the K. of Nauarre of treason An infallible argument of the King of Nauarres pietie 3. The house of Nauarre disceÌ„ded of the house of France The Originall of the K. of Nauarres grandfathers by both father and mother 4. The Capetz and Carliens come of the same stocke as Clouis and the Merouingiens 5. The Capetz and Carliens are of one famely The originall processe and genealogie of the Capets THE THIRD PART OF the Cath. Apologie THE third obiection that the seditious doe in their Libells disperse against the K. of Nauarre importeth him to be a rebel a traitor and a protector of Conspirators against the King and therefore an ennemy to the state and common wealth wherein hee is for those causes vnworthy to commaund 1 This obiection is not so small but that being well considered as it ought the grauitie of the offence will surpasse the discourse of our sences and vnderstandings For for that onely offence came death into the world and Adam was banished Paradise Also by humaine pollicy offenders therein being thereof conuâ—et and adiudged are vnworthy all successions especially in Empires Kingdomes or other dominions although the same should fall to them by the right of natural succession as doe ours For in this cace if the neerest of the bloud Royall should be found vnthanckefull and guilty not only against the King his Lord but also against the Estate common-wealth and Maiestie of the Crowne hee and his posteritie may be attaint conuict and adiudged for euer vnworthy the succession that nature and bloud had gotten him So was it iudged by a Court of Peers of France in the yere 1457. against Iohn the second Duke of Alencon in the presence of King Charles the seauenth in the towne of Vendosme notwithstanding the sayde Sentence was afterward abolished and the iudgement made void by Letters of restitution from King Lewes the eleueÌ„th entred published and registred in the Court of Parliament the Chambers assembled by the consent of the Kings Attorney generall Wherefore I can not with silence ouer skip such an accusation against the person of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre considering also the enormitie of such a scander against the sayde Prince who neuer had his owne life so deere or in such recommendation as the seruice honor and wealth of the Maiestie of our Kings and this Crowne as being the man whome it neerest concerneth and who hath greatest interest of all worldly parsons in the preseruation of this Estate as hauing the honor to looke so neere thereto But surely by this detestable and sclanderous discourse I see the miserie and calamitie of our France wherein withiâ— these 25. yeeres during the minority of our kings the mutinous seedes of quarels haue made at their pleasures forged Articles heads of Rebellion and crimes of Treason as they haue thought good y t therein as Tacitus said of y e Empire of Tiberius might be the perfection of all accusations imitating the continuall euill doings of Princes Counsailers vnder the pretence of their Maiesties seruice For it is found y t in the tyme of the said Tiberius this crime was comprehended vnder friuilous occasions as if any man had in selling of his land sould therwith the Image of Augustus or if hee had erected his owne Picture higher then the Emperors either had employed the same in any Domesticall vsage Nero put to death Cassius one of the most excellent men of his time vnder such a pretence and because hee bare the Picture of Cassius one of the murderers of Cesar in his Armes Caracalla so farre extended this crime that eueÌ„ those were accused who had made their Vrine in any place where the picture of the Prince was erected and this licence extended so farre that it was offence to the Maiestie to beate a slaue or chaunge aparell before the picture of the Emperour either to carie the same into any shamelesse or foule place veluti si latrinae aut lupanari intulisset To be brief in those daies the crime of treazon was defined in the closet and secrete will of the Monarke or his flatterers as Iuuenall testifieth Nil horuÌ„ verbosa grandis epistola venit A Capreis bene habet nil plus interrogo The like haue bene done in our miserable Realme when the conspired enemies of the Princes of the bloud Royall did gouerne the affayres of Estate vnder Frances the second and had afterward got holde of the person of King Charles the nineth whom they nourished in wonderfull and daungerous mistrust of his subiects whereof are proceeded so many murders massacres troubles and ciuill warres which wee haue seene and too much felt to the ruine of the subiects of this poore Fraunce by reason their Maiesties haue by these firebrands beene misenformed that the King of Nauarres partakers conspired against their Estate and refused to yeeld them that obedience which by Gods commaundement they ought and in respect thereof vnder this pretence did oftentymes cause them to be proclaymed Rebelles Traytors enemies to the Commonwealth Moreouer to make this mischiefe incurable because the innocencie of this people afflicted through the wrath and indignation of their Kinges was sufficiently knowne to their fellow couÌ„trymen fellow CitizeÌ„s these spirites of Satan haue sought to entaÌ„gle theÌ„ in partialities baÌ„diÌ„g one against an other thereby to vrge theÌ„ into irrecoÌ„siliable hatred and perpetuall mistrust whereof they might neuer conceiue cause of reunion through such excesse and iniuries as the one should doe to the other during the ciuill warres also that while the same continued themselues might haue opportunitie to practize the hearts of those whom they should finde most meete to receiue the obiect of their trayterous and disloyall ambition together that by this meanes they should diminish the loue of the people to their King perswading the most passionate that the fault was in him why Fraunce had no greater peace vnder which pretence they haue spued forth and by their creatures dispersed abroade an infinite number of diffamatorie Lybelles and more then sclaunderous discourses to the preiudice of the honor and reputation of our Prince whom neuerthelesse they went about to perswade that those of the pretended reformed Religion were the authors of these deceipts But the ende of their intents
the same spoken of To conclude therefore I will now coÌ„tent my self with warning euery one to mark and consider the meanes which such alwaies as haue gotten the vpper hand of a Lordship whereto they had no other right but habilitie haue houlden and then I hope they will thincke that the gouernment of a naturall Prince is gracious louing and fauourable in respect of y e mistrustfull suspicious and tyrannous straunger vnto whom not onely the deedes and wordes but also the gesture behauiour yea the goodes and welth of his Citizens are suspected because he feareth his owne shadowe Remember the auncient Fable of the Pigeons who when they had elected the Ringdoue to rule them were soone wearie of her courteous and gentle gouernment which they termed soft and delicate and in her roume chose the Kite who in liew of wel entreating of theÌ„ did eate beate and dayly teare some one among them in sunder with her beake and wings whereat these miserable fooles being offended could haue bene coÌ„tent to haue returned vnder the yoke of their first election but the Kites tyrannie could neuer brooke it whose successors do yet to this day practize their roine vpon them Once it fell out that the Frenchmen through wicked counsaile in liew and place of their naturall Prince whom they bare somewhat heauy were suborned to elect one Giles a Romaine of whom they were soone wearie after they had casted what it was to liue vnder one whose humour and birth did not agree with his subiects and it fell our well for them that their King was of power sufficient to resume them againe into his protection The ende of the third part ⧠THE CONTENTS OF THE FOVRTH part of this Booke 1 The authorities of Doctors for the preferment of the Neuewe before the Vnckle 2 Examples of the preferment of the Neuewe before the Vnckle 3 Reasons in law for the Neuew against the Vnkle The Neuewe succeedeth in the eldership of his father in proper person as being substituted to his late father 4 The right of eldership is transmissible perfect wanting but execution 5 The right of eldership is legall or custumary 6 The Lord Cardinall of Bourbons acknowledgemeÌ„t in the fauour of his neuew the K. of Nauarres mariage 7 Answere to the examples of the Vnckle alleadged against the neuewe 8 Answer to the Vnkles reasons against the neuewe Substitutions and continuatioÌ„ froÌ„ the father to the sonne in collaterall ligne by Iustinian 9 Successiou once roored in a ligne neuer departeth the same vntill it be finished or worne out 10 The order of Tutorship and the succession of free borne Libertines is vnlike 11 The Kings youth neuer debarreth theÌ„ from the Crowne The opening of the saying that personall right is not transmissible 12 Successions made by ciuill lawe and custome confessing the right of eldership are farre vnlike THE FOVRTH PART OF the Cath. Apologie IN the fourth Obiection the King of Nauarres aduersaries doe oppose against him the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon his Vncle as neerer by one degrée and nowe by the decease of the late Anthonie of Bourbon Father to the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre the eldest of the house of Bourbon 1 This question is one of the most tossed of all others and can not be decided by the arrestes of the Salicke Lawe that wee haue in these words De terra verò Salica in mulierem nulla portio haereditatis transit sed hoc virilis sexus acquirit hoc est filij in ipsa haereditate succedunt sed vbi inter nepotes pronepotes post longum tempus de Allode terrae contentio suscitatur non per stirpes sed per capita diuidantur But the decision hereof we must séeke in the Commentaries of our Doctors which Accurtius Odofrede Pope Innocent the fourth Durand Ric. de Malumbris Iohn Andrew Alberick de Rosatis Barth Balde Paule de Casiro Angel Aret. Martin de Lande Iohn Faber Pet. de Ancar Barbat Felin Ausrerius Wil. Benedict Cassanee Lewes Bolognine Matth. de Afflictis Andreas Sicul. Abbas Panormitanus Bartholomeus Sosinus Iason Alciatus Tiraquel Lewes Charond Choppinus and many other haue concluded in fauour of the Neuewe against the Vncle who termeth himselfe eldest by his brothers decease either indirect or collaterall lyne in successions indeuided as Realmes Empires Duchies CouÌ„ties and Marquisates Yea Decius imitating Socinus doth write that amoÌ„g the Interpreters of Ciuill Canon law hi qui pondere numero mensura praeualent haue alwayes consulted and determined against the Vnkle so that by the authoritie of so many skilfull persons the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre hath the better cause of the Cardinall his Vnkle Secondly the foreiudgements must be alledged for the decision of this controuersie Balde hoâ—ldeth that euermore it hath so bene obserued and decided in all contradictorie iudgements of France and England And Paul maketh mention of the Spanish law in this respect solemnly sworne vnto by the states of the same lande in deede we reade goodly examples both of these and many others 2 First in France for the same house of Bourbon in the time of Lewes the Fat king of France about the yeere 1110. Hanno had expulsed his Neuewe Arcembault a young child sonne to his elder brother pretending that the Lordship perteined to him as being entred into the Lawe of the eldership by the decease of his elder brother But the French Nobility forced the vnkle to giue place to the Neuew whom they substituted in the roume and place of his brother reseruing to Hanno onely some portion of the goods as to one of the Children of the same house An other example we haue in the posteritie of Henry the second K. of England who had three sonnes Richard Cordelion Secondly Geffrey who had maried Constance the Heyre of Brittaine and dyed in his Fathers time leauing his Wife great of Arthure afterward Duke of Britaine and Iohn surnamed without land Soone after the fathers death dyed Richard also without issue whereupon Phil. Augustus King of Fraunce who raigned about the yere 1141. adiudged the Dutchy of Normandy with other the Landes that the said Richard held in Fraunce vnto Arthure sonne to Gâ—ffrey his elder brother but afterward the sayde Iohn made peace with Augustus through the mariage of his sonne Lewes vnto Blanch. Neece to the sayd Iohn by his Sister wife to the King of Castile togither with some Lands that the saide Iohn habandoned to the sayd Phillip So that Arthure still prosecuting his right was slaine by his vnkle Iohn wherevpon the King of Fraunce tooke occasion for that fellony to confiscate all those landes as hauing alwayes fauoured and aucthorised the cause of the sayd Arthur The third iudgement passed in the tyme of Charles the Fayre King of Fraunce about the yeere 1331. for the Earle of Flaunders for Lewes of Neuers was by the Peeres of the Realme declared Earle of Flaunders and preferred before his
viscerum patris primo geniti excludet secundò genitum The fifth consideration is taken ab exemplo patroni qui vni ex liberis assignauit libertum to whom and to his he is due illis extantibus alteri non est locus So then the law custome and publick ordenāce hauing called the eldest and to him assigned y t right of the Realm it cānot belōg to any other but him or his being sufficiēt so long as they shall remaine in the worlde to take vp that succession which the right of eldership hath giuen him The sixt reason shall be that the same lawes and customes that are obserued in siefes and vasselag are considerable in Realmes and 〈◊〉 ruling And it is certaine that in beneficio quod feudum appellant nepos ex filio solus succedit and in default of him onely the Vnckle is called to the sayde succession notwithstanding our writer dare falsly mainteyne the contrary and alleadge the textes that make ad literā as they terme it against him Why then should wee not say as much of the Realme and Crowne which is the rule and gouernment of the said stefes Finally without doubt the right of eldership is a qualitie that passeth to euery of the children from the first to the second from the second to the third and so consequently as doe the heades of succession ordeyned by the pretors edict de liberis ad agnatos de his ad cognatos at verò certum est successionem quae fit de gradu in gradum potiorem esse illa quae fieri solet de capite in caput so as post omnes liberorum gradus vocantur agnati post vniuersos agnatos cognati Thus are the first borne the first head whose degrees are to bee considered in their issue The other head is of the second borne whose degrees are to be obserued in his children c. 6 Yet is there in this cause one especiall reason for the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre which cannot bee aunswered that is that his sayd Vnckle the Lorde Cardinall of Bourbon at the mariage of his neuewe the King of Nauarre to Lady Margaret of Fraunce acquited demissed yeelded and transferred to the sayd Lord King all and euery the rightes tles voyces and actions present to come that any waye might to him apperteyne as comming of the house of Bourbon expressely acknowledging his sayde neuewe the Lorde King of Nauarre for the true sonne heire successor and in all and by all representer of the senioritie of the sayde house To thincke therefore now to goe against the sayd renunciation made vnder a vaine hope of successiō in this Realme comprized vnder this general eldership of his late brother the Lord King of Nauarre there is no apparance sith spes fidei commissi conditionis in certum remitti poterit yea that iusiurandum reuunciationi interpositum tale est vt obseruari possit sine salutis aeternae dispendio also that by the Cannon lawes a renunciation cōfirmed with an oath can not be broken Besides that the renunciation was a part of the donation in the cōtract of Matrimonie whereby the mariage of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre to the sayd Lady of Frāce was more easily accomplished and by the restoring of the same the childrē of the said Matrimony might be endamaged which may not be permitted especially because the sayd Lorde Cardinall can alleadge no likelihood of hurt through his minoritie force or other causes of restitution against the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre his neuewe who at that tyme was yong and vnder the sayd Lord Cardinalles authoritie On the other side the learned do for the said Lord Cardinall bring in the example of Siluius King of the Latins who was preferred before Iulus his elder brother Ascanius sonne but in this matter the argument is not alike for Ascanius dyed not in his father Aeneas tyme but had worne the Crowne 38. yeeres or there about after his decease and when hee dyed the succession thereof was restored to Siluius to whom it rightly did apperteyne as being the true enheritance of his mother Lauinia For it is euident that Aeneas after the destruction of Troy landed in Italy with his sonne Ascanius and so well ordered his affayres that hee married Lauinia daughter to Latinus King of Alba Longa whom hee afterwarde succeeded of that mariage begat Siluius so that Ascanius raigne ouer the Latins in Italy was by tyrannie and without any vailable or more apparant title then the sworde for the Realme belonged to Siluius in the right of his mother Lauinia Secondly they alleadge a iudgement of the Senat of Sparta betweene Agesilaus and his nenewe Leotichides sonne to his elder brother Agis whereby the Vnckle was preferred and the Diadē royall to him adiudged But herein I would also desire thē to haue recourse to y ◠reason that Pausanias yeeldeth for y ◠saide iudgement which was because he was by his father Agis denounced a bastard whom in such cases the Ephores commonly beleeued as appeareth by a fore iudgement long before by them giuen in the person of Demaratus who was driuen out of the Realme which hee did enioye because of the like speech vsed by his father Ariston in his place as vnsufficient was substituted his Cossen Leotichides Their third example hath yet lesse apparence and is of Gontran King of Orleans of the sonnes of Clotaire the first who was preferred before Childebert sonne to his brother Sigisbert King of Metz in the succession of Cherebert King of Paris for they saye not that it was by force either that the Realme of the sayd Cherebert was deuided euen in the life tyme of the sayd Sigisbert father to the sayd Childebert among all his brethren and yet that afterwarde the weapons of the sayde Gontran were the stronger whē Fredegond had procured the death of Sigisbert which soone after Gontran repented and hauing no children adopted his neuewe Childebert who in the ende enioyed all his possessions The fourth is of Honoricus sonne to Gisericus King of the Wandales who was preferred before Gondabundus sonne to Genson the said Gizericus eldest but to this purpose they should withall haue set downe the words of the sayde Gesericus the fathers last will and testamēt importing as saith Procopius that he would haue the eldest of his children to succeede him which peraduenture he had learned of the auncient Nomades among whō sayth Strabo the prerogatiue of yeres was relligiously obserued in consideration whereof sentence passed for Corbis the eldest against Orsna his Cossen and sonne to the last King whose controuersie was decided by a Combat But in France we regard not the age but onely the order of senioritie wherein the neuewe continueth by substitution of him in the roume and place of his father the prerogatiue of the sonne The like was obserued in Barnarde sonne to Pepin Charles the Great
eldest sonne before whom was preferred to the Empire Lewes the Mecke second sonne to the sayd Charles But this example may most easily be aunswered because it was the same Charles their common father that had deuided his Dominions among his children and had giuen Italy to Pepin his eldest sonne which also was reserued to the sayde Bernard his sonne and therefore after the pertition made by the sayd Charles he could pretend no further in y e succession that might come in question besides that at that time the Empire was not properly successiue for notwithstanding the neerest in bloud to the deceased Emperour did succeede yet durst hee not so intitle himselfe vntill by the consent of the Romaines he had bene publickly annoynted and crowned Much lesse also was the Imperiall dignitie successiue after the creation of the Princes electors of the same in the tyme of Ottho the 3. of the house of Saxony or by the opinion of the skilfullest of our worlde in the tyme of Fredericke the 2. so as there is no likelihoode to drawe an electiue Empire into consequence with hereditarie and patrimoniall Kingdomes The 5. indgement is of the Coūtie of Arthois which was in strife in the time of Philip the Faire King of France betweene Maude wife to Ottho Earle of Bourgondie daughter to Robert Earle of Arthois slaine at the battaile of Courtray and Robert the sonne of Phillip who likewise was sonne to the sayd deceased Earle Robert in which case the aforesayde Countie of Arthois was by the sayd French King adiudged to Maud who was preferred before her neuewe Robert being yet in infancie And in troth the historie setteth downe no other perticuler occasion of this iudgement but y t it was giuen by the mere motion of the sayd King Phillip Lord of the fief Neither is it sayd that his Maiestie tooke any other aduice but of his owne will the neede that then he had of Ottho the sayd Maudes husband together with the small seruice that of long time he might attend of the said Robert a yong childe and at that tyme there needed a good warrier to be opposed against the Flemings to the ende to suppresse their boldnesse and customary rebellions So as in respect of the sayd Roberts very youth the sayd King Phillip thought it meete to infringe the law and custome vsually obserued in like causes But God be praised in whatsoeuer may happen betweene the said Lords the King of Nauarre and his Vnkle the Cardinall of Bourbon we cannot incurre that daunger but rather were to be feared the great yeeres of the sayd Lord Cardinall already olde worne and by reason of his order estraunged from al vse of armes in respect of the flouring tyme of the King of Nauarre a Prince brought vp in the same and in gonernment of Estates The sixt is for the Countie of Champagne betweene Henry the seconde sonne of Earle Thibault the daughter of the sayd Earles eldest sonne wife to Erard of Breno in which case by arrest of the Court of Parliament of the Peeres of France in the yeere 1216. the sayde Countie was adiudged to Henry the Vnckle against his neuewe daughter to his elder brother But it may easely be answered the eldest sonne of the sayde Thibault going into the holy Land had expressely ordeyned that in case he dyed in the sayd expedition or otherwise without issue male then that his brother should succeede in the sayd Countie with endowing his daughter wife to the said Breno with a competēt summe The seuenth happened betweene the children of Charles the second King of Sicil sonne to the brother of King S. Lewes who married the heire of Hūgary and of that mariage begat Charles Martel and Robert The father gaue and appointed to the sayde Martell the Realme of Hungary and in his life tyme caused him to be thereof crowned whereby he did a while enioye it and then dyed leauing his sonne Charles to whom Charles the Grandfather confirmed the donation of the sayd Realme made to his father Martell and to his second sonne Robert he gaue the Realm of Naples So that by the truth of this historie it appeareth that this was a pertition by the saide Charles the second made betweene his children which they could not resist and whereof neither y e sayd Martel nor his sonne Charles had cause to complaine for the Realme of Hungary was farre greater more rich and wealthy then that of Naples which was already rent and dismembred by the Arragōs as it is euident by al histories of those times Our Interpretors doe yet more briefly aunswere this preferment of Robert the second before the sonne of Martel his elder brother aleadging that Pope Clement the 5. pretending authoritie ouer the Realme of Naples which hee aduowed to bee of the fiefe of the Church pronounced this sentence lightly enough therein doing the office of a partie rather then of a Iudge besides that of the sayd Realme in respect it was subiect to Sainct Peters chaire was not properly successiue The last example that they alleadge is of Lewes Sforce who was preferred to the Dutchie of Milan before the sonne of Iohn Galeas but thei might rather say that he preferred himselfe by force and through execrable tyrannie which the sayd Lewes exercised against this poore orphan vnder pretence of gouerning and defending him Besides it is so farre from being our case that it is certain that the young childe enioyed his fathers Estate when this Tyrant his Vnckle seazed thereon and put him to death as vniustly as in the ende God did iustly punish him in causing him to ende his daies in miserie and captiuitie Hauing thus aunswered such examples as they may alleadge let vs now consider whether the reasons that they propounde be sufficient to cause vs to alter our aduice 8 First in all Successions it is a generall rule to call thereto the neerest to hym whose state is in question so that it is by priuiledge and extraordinarie licence that we admit the the Children of the deceased brother to share with their vnkle in such goods onely as will baare deuision Which is the cause that our Doctor alleadgeth Butr. in his Tree of the succession of the Realme of Fraunce in these words Succssit ergo illi Carolo in regno Franc. Philippus filius alterius Caroli qui erat ei in 4. gradu nec successit Robertus pronepos Roberti Comitis Atrebatensis quendam quia ille erat in 8. gradu nec successit Robertus nepos Caroli Regis Siciliae Ierusalem quia ille erat in 7. gradu nec successit Ludouicus nepos Beati Ludouici quia ille erat dicto Carolo decedenti in quarto gradu Therefore sith otherwise the Vncle retaineth still the chiefe degree the especiall regard that Iustinian had to the posteritie of the deceased brother to make them equall with their Vncles can not serue them in vndeuided
cursed and detestable pretence are like to bee kindled will seaze vpon al degrees haue beene to mee as a spurre to hasten my penne to aunswere these damnable writings fearing least the people should suffer themselues to be won thereby so might withstaÌ„d y â— truth equitie if euer occasioÌ„ to debate thereof were ministred or that these preteÌ„ders should propouÌ„d or bring this coÌ„trouersie in questioÌ„ I doe therefore most humbly desire the French Catholike Reader laying a way al passions to cal to mind first the bond commaundement wherein by God he is bound to the King and the Princes of his bloud according to the order and natural succession by the Lawes of this Crowne Secondly the loue of his Countrey considering wee all are men all Christians all Frenchmen and al louers of our selues that if we should stoope vnder the yoke of these tyraÌ„ts that would bring vs into subiection and abuze vs with lyes falshoodes and forged titles they would afterward beare vs the like minde and their faith as tainted corrupt as by corruption faâ—â—ehood and vntrueth they had abused our simplicitie and suborned withdrawne vs from the obedience of our true and natural Lords For in asmuch as they are deriders riders and contemners of God in whose name they haue dared to begin and endeuoured that the most abhominable fellony that euer was might be made manifest to all it can not be that wee should looke for any other thing of theÌ„ but that hope that they haue conceiued to entreate and handle vs after the Turkish manner with a more detestable daungerous inquisitioÌ„ then that which now raigneth vnder the Spanish tyrannie Let therefore euery person diligently aud faithfully employ himselfe to serue our King and the Princes of his bloud whose cause we ought eueÌ„ with the price and venture of our liues to vphold to the end the state of this Realme being assured at the least our childreÌ„ may liue peaceably vnder the obedieÌ„ce of their naturall Lords who by that meanes shall haue the greater occasion to cherrish and entreate them well as they haue done vs remembring that with the grace of God by our fidelitie loyaltie they haue bene preserued in that greatnesse and dignitie wherein the diuine goodnes hath suffered them to bee borne in this Realme to the glorie of the King of Kings to whom only it be and remaine euerlastingly So be it FINIS The names of the chiefe Authors cyted in this Apologie ABbot of Vspergue Ado of Vienne Aegn Agathius Aimoinus AlexaÌ„der the Martir S. Ambrose Anges Antonius Appian Aristotle Auentinus Augustin de Ancona S. Augustin Baldus Bale Benno Blondus Capitolinu Cassiodore Charles Molins Chron. of Chronikles Chrisostome Collenutius Counsailes Cromer Decrees Decretals Demosthenes Dyon Dionis of Haliâ—ar Doctors ciuil and Canonistes Edmond Boulay Euripides Eusebius Floart Fulgentius Gaguin Garib Geof of Viterb Geof Ardoyn Goth. Iornandes Gratian. Grego of Tours S. Gregory Guichardine Guil. Occham Guil. de Monte. Heman Herodote S. Hierome Hillary Hostiensis Iames de Terano Iohn Andrew Ignatius Illustrations of Gaule Innocent 3. Pope Io. Magnus Iohn of Terrano Irineus Isidore Iustin. Iuuenall Lawyers Ciuill and Cannon Maister of Sentences Marianus Siculus Martinus Polonus Massaeus Matthieu Zampin Molinaeus Munster Nicephorâ—â— Niceâ—â— Vignier Nicol. Aegidius Nicol. de Vbald Oldrad Onuphrius Optatus Milcuitanus Osorius Otho of Erisingen Paulus Diaconus Paul Emile Pausanias Platine Plin. Jun. Plutarque Polid. Virg. Procope Regino Renatus Chopinus Richard of Wassenbourg Robert Cenalis Rozieres Salicke law Sanctiones Pontif. Iuris Orient Sansouin Sigisbert Socrates Sosomenes Strabo Suetonius Tacite Tertullian Tiraquell Tite Liue. Tritemius Turpin Valere the great Vgo Gemblac Vigneus Vincent Historial Witichiâ—dus Xiphilinus ⧠THE CONTENTS OF THE first part of this Booke 1. The causes of the troubles of this Realme 2. The Genealogie of the Lords of Lorrain by Edmond Boulay 3. The true discent of the house of Lorrain from the Counties of Louayn 4. The Salick Lawe taketh not place in the Duchy of Lorrain 5. An Inhibition not to dispute of succession during the kings life decreed by the Counsails 6. The Realme of France is successiue not hereditary 7. The nerest male in blood by agnatioÌ„ succedeth in whatsoeuer degree 8. Realmes successiue are more perfect then electiue 9. Sainct Lewes the common stocke of the house of Fraunce Bourbon 10. Robert S. Lewes yonger Sonne His mariage with the heyr of Bourbon The cause of the name of Bourbon in that family the erection thereof into a Dutchy The Countie Dauphin of Auuergne in the house of Bourbon 11. The Alliance of the house of Sauoy Bourbon 12. The cause of discoÌ„tentmeÌ„t of Charles of Bourbon Baronage of Mercure issued out of the house of Bourbon The erectioÌ„ of the Dutchy of Montpensier 13. The CouÌ„ties of Vendosme Castres The principalitie of Conde others in the house of Bourbon 14. The first Alliance of the houses of Bourbon and Nauarre Iames of Bourbon King of Naples The erection of the Dutchy of Nemours 15 The alliance of the house of Boulogne and Bourbon 16 The erection of the Dutchy and Pairry of Vendosme Antoinet of Bourbon wife to the L. of Guise A Catholicke Apologie against the Libels Declarations Aduices and Consulatations made writen and published by those of the League perturbers of the quiet estate of the Realme of France who are risen since the decease of the late Monsier the Kings onely brother By E. D. L. I. C. 1 IF wisely we do consider the ambitioÌ„ of some that are borne nourished and brought vp in the greatest honors wealth and fauours of this Realme we shall as it were with our fingers touch and euideÌ„tly perceiue that they resemble y e same which the auncients doe write concerning Vipers who doe eate out the entrailes of her that giueth them life and doe malitiously endeuour by such ciuill wars as they haue kindeled in this Estate within these 25. yeres to become as occasion may serue masters aud vsurpers thereof by such sleights wresting the true French from that bond and duetifull good will that they ought to beare to their naturall Princes For it is most certain and vnfallible that as the course of the Water mainteineth the Riuer so the continuance of ciuill warres yeeldeth the bad mindes of the people immortall yet are wee neuerthelesse so blinded vndiscreet and vnconstant as neuer to haue had iudgement to knowe our disease since the time we were first afflicted with the condition of such as can not bee satisfied with the Dominion of the whole world and who voluntarily doe hazard whatsoeuer their owne assured as welth quiet and life to make themselues Lords of that which they can conceaue no hope of without merueilous effusion of blood and vtter ruine of their Countrey Whereunto vndoubtedly it seemeth that time through the diuersitie of religion among vs hath inuited them as also in that they see a number of our
auncient or mightie soeuer as beeing aboue 1200. yeeres since vnder one forme and with one kind of lawes it was gouerned vnder the maiestie and authoritie of Kings of whom this last race hath continewed 600. yeres But among the chiefest and most perfect ordinances of this Crowne that is most commendable whereby the realme doth by succession belong by vertue of the Salick law to the next Male of the deceased King discending of the Masculine ligne For in trueth our Kings knowing that those of their owne blood are to succeede them haue the greater cause to keepe housband and preserue the estate and demains of their Realme as their owne and certaine Patrimonie besides that the successors of the Crowne that are nourished and brought vp in this greatnesse doe neuer become tyrants because euen from their mothers wombes they are vsed to command and ordinarily doe become the better more iust valeant hardy and couragious by representing to their owne view the greatnesse commendation and maiestie of their predecessors On the otherside the subiects of the Realme that haue sâ—â—e the birth nourishing and bringing vp of their Princes do the better know their humors and willes and doe more freely obey such as are borne to rule their estate theÌ„ others that are newly elected whom they remember to haue knowen in the like calling as them selues without either preeminence authoritie or gouernment so as there is nothing so perfect as that which neerest doth imitate nature and which seemeth to be altogether immortall aud infinite by Succession from the Father to the Sonne Besides that thereby the Kings subiects howe wealthy or mightie so euer doe conteine themselues in duetie humilitie and obedience to their soueraigne Prince when they remember that so long as any of the royall blood doe suruiue the same be capaple to attaine to that marke and that purposing to attempt any bad matter against the Estate and person of the King there remaine as many reuengers of the iniurie offered to his Maiestie as there be Princes of his bloud Herevpon doe I presume y t in our France wherein this royall succession hath time out of minde bene strictly obserued it was neuer found neither doe we reade that the French men did at any time enterprize or practize aught against the person of their King whether in respect of that naturall affection that alwaies they haue borne him and whereof they beare the bell among all other Nations in Europe or els because God neuer permitted the royall bloud of Fraunce to rest onely in one whereby the presumpteous conspirators might after the trespasse committed escape without punishment This royall succession therefore resting without doubt or coÌ„tradiction in this Realme the subiects thereof doe well knowe euen naturally and presumptiuely who is most likely to become their King so as now to call in question this succession is the only direct way to cause the King y t holdeth the Scepter ouer vs to think and with himselfe to imagine that in his Realme there are some who for the satisfying of their ambitioÌ„ could willingly wish to haue his place and for the same purpose do harken after his ende But sith the bolde impudencie of men is so great that they blush not neither are ashamed to disclose themselues to giue all men to vnderstande of their bad entents besides that necessarily the Commune must bee satisfied who otherwise might sooner beleeue the false then the true before wee proceede any further in aunswering the chiefe poynts of the Lybelles that they scatter abroade to the end to say that after the decease of the most Christian King without issue male it is not the nowe King of Nauarre but his Vnckle the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon that lawfully should be King or the better to expresse their entents that it is neither the one ne the other but that they must proceede to a newe election and nomination of a Prince I will here protest that I neuer desire to see the aduenture of that substitution which they pretende but hartely doe wish to the King my soueraigne Lorde a most long and happie life with as great number of issue capable of this Crowne as there be Starres in the Firmament 9 After which protestation to come to the purpose and succession of the house of FraÌ„ce I will first speake to those y t are not brought vp in the state of this Realme but onely haue learned of their Fathers that the Famely of Bourvon hath the honor to be issued from our Kinges therefore that the Princes thereof may succeede when God shall permit to the Crowne by the Lawe of succession of the realme Turning my selfe then to these commons I say that it is well knowen that King Lawes the ninth canonized and called saint Lewes had two sonnes the elder Phillip the bould of whome are come our Kings yet raigning who also had two sonnes the eldest Phillip the fayer who succeeded him and after him his three sonnes Lewes Phil. the long Charles the fayer the yoÌ„ger Charles County of Valois who begat Phillip of Valois who succeeded in the Realme after his Cousen Charles the fayer After Phillip succeeded his soune Iohn after him Charles the fifth called the wise sonne to Iohn This Charles had two sonnes the eldest Charles the sixth King of Fraunce vnto whome succeeded Charles the seuenth Lewes the eleuenth and Charles the eight his sonne petie sonne and petie Neuew The yonger Lewes Duke of Orleance who by Lady Valentine of Millan had two sonnes Charles the elder father to Lewes the twelfth King of France after his Cousen Charles the eight was deceased without issue and Iohn Earle of Angoulesme who was Father of Charles also Earle of the same lande and Grandfather to king Francis the first who succeeded his cossen Lewes the twelfth of which King Francis came Henrie his second sonne and father to Henry now raigning Hetherto therefore the branch of Phillip the bould eldest Sonne to Saint Lewes neuer failed so must that fable needes be false which the enimies of the house of BourboÌ„ haue sought to root in mens mindes namely that the discontentation of the late King FraÌ„cis the first against Charles of Bourbon that dyed at Rome was for his pretence to the Crowne of France which since haue continued in al the Princes of this house and from whence should be deriued the troubles and Ciuill Warres of this realme during the minoritie of the Kings Francis the second and Charles the ninth brothers to the King nowe raigning A matter vtterly false and falsely inueÌ„ted to the ende more and more to bring into the hatred of the people the Princes of Bourbon who neuer accompted more deerely of any thing or had greater delight in ought then to acknowledge obey and faithfully serue the Maiesties of our Kings as their true and souereigne Lordes hauing the honor so neerely to be to them allyed that they are of the same House and Armes without
to the Lady Loise married into the house of Roch-sur-you the Countie of Montpensier and landes of Combrailles which in so doing he rected into a Dutchy meete for the heires of the sayde Lady who at this day do beare the same name of Bourbon and are extract out of the second principall braunch of this house which we left of aboue vntill we had ended the first braunch of the elder And now to returne to the sayde Sir Charles in him dyed the ligne male of the principall stock of the house of Bourbon As for his two Sisters the one called Claude was wife to good Duke Antony of Lorrain whose stocke yet remaineth The other Loise was maried into the other principall braunch of Bourbon who hath left issue of the name of this house 13 Now let vs take the seconde braunch the first chiefe partition of this race which is the stocke of the latter yonger borne and yet remaineth to this day in the roume of the eldest and beareth the Name and full armes thereof as remayning alone after the default and ending of the elder Concerning y â— males this ligne beginneth againe in Iames of Bourbon the yonger Sonne of Lewes first Duke of Bourbon of whom we haue spoken before This Iames was Constable of FraÌ„ce after Charles of Spaine who flew Charles King of Nauarre in the time of King Iohn He had to wife Iehane of Saint Paule and was and so named himself Earle of Marche Of him came one onely sonne named Iohn who succeeded hym and married Catherin Countesse of Vendosme and Castres who brought into this house those two Counties togither with the landes of Carcuecy Lupe Conde Espernon MoÌ„doubleau and others Of these two issued three children Male Iames Lewes and Iohn also three daughters Anne wife to y e Duke of Bauiere Charlot maried to the King of Ciprus and Mary to Robert of the Crosses who tooke his saide wife by force and therfore fled and it was said he was drowned In his tyme hee gouerned King Charles the seuenth Now to retourne to the issue male Iames had to his protion the Counties of March and Castres Lewes the CouÌ„tie of Vendosme As for Iohn he had the Lordship of Carcuecy and maried a gossip of his called Margaret a Vandosmois by whom hee had some Children and got a dispensation to haue her to Wife notwithstanding the said children were not aduowed into this famely neither succeded in his goods but by sentence were declared illegitimate and which is more the said Iohn of Bourbon the Father in his Testament willed great giftes and substitutions to the behoofe of his other two sonnes Iames Lewes in whose persons he planted him selfe and raised the first after bough and vnder twigge of this second principall branch 14 This Iames of Bourbon eldest sonne to Iohn liued in the time of Charles the sixt and had two wiues the first Beatrix of Nauarre the yoÌ„ger daughter of the house of Nauarre which was the first alliaÌ„ce of those two houses They two had issue a daughter named Leonor After the decease of the saide Beatrix the said Iames of Bourbon allyed him selfe by marriage as it is pretended with Iane Queene of Naples who had before as the speech went promised marriage to the King of Arragon and deceiued them both So as the sayde Iames of Bourbon beeing gone into the Realme of Naples was in the ende forced to leaue the sayd Iane and to retire into Fraunce where after his returne he still bare the title and name of King of Naples notwithstanding the sayd Iane had afterward giuen it to others and finally deceased leauing for his onely heire the sayd Leonor his Daughter who succeeded him in the sayd Counties of Marche and Castres She maried Bernard of Armanack Earle of Pardiar a yonger sonne of the house of Armanack These two had issue two sonnes Iohn Bishop of Castres and Iames who succâ—eded in the sayd Counties of his father mother and besides in the right of his sayd mother Beatrix of Nauarre layd claime to the land of Nemours which he procured to be erected into a Dutchy tooke possession thereof and enioyed it He married the Daughter of Charles of Anieow Earle of Mayn and of Isabell of Luxembourg his wife This Iames of Armanack at the beginning was in fauour but afterward fall into suspition with Lewes the eleuenth and was executed at the Halles in Paris the 24. of August 1147. he left fower Children two Sonnes and two Daughters Iames Duke of Nemours and Lewes Earle of Guyze the two Daughters Margaret Charlot married into the house of Rohan who deceased without issue of their bodies so as in them failed this vnder twigg both male and female 15 Now remaineth to bee spoken of the ligne of Lewes brother to Iames. He for his part had the Countie of Vendosme and was taken at the battell of Agincourt in the tyme of Charles y e sixt He maried first Lady Iane of Roussy secondly Lady Iane of Lauall of whom discended one only sonne called Iohn of Bourbon who maried Lady Isabell of Beaumount of these two were borne two sonnes the one called Francis the other Lewes They had also sixe Daughters Iane wife to the Lord of Ioyâ—use the scond Iane first maried to Iohn Duke of Bourbon who was of the line of the elder of this house and secoÌ„dly to Iohn of the Tower Earle of Bologne of whome is issued Lady Katherine of Medecis Queene mother to the king Kitherin wife to Sir Gilbert of Chabaues in Limosin Charlot maried to Gilbert of Cleue of whoÌ„ came the last Lord Duke of Neuers Rene Abbesse of Fronteuout Isabell Abesse of Caen as for the two Sonnes Francis the Eldest succeeded in the Countie of Vendosme Mondoublean Espernon and other Lands houlden of that famely wherto was added the Lordshippe of Saint Calais Lewes the yonger was made Lord of Rochsur-yan and of the landes of Lupe and Conde in Henault 16 Now because concerning the question now to be delt in wee are to argue of the succession of the elder we will seeke out the farthest and will first speake of the Branche of Lewes the yonger sonne Prince of Roch suryen He maried Loise of bourbon who was of the elder liue and sister to Sir Charles of Bâ—urboun the last Of this mariage proceeded two Sonnes and a Daughter the elder sonne was Lewes who died but lately bearing the title of Duke of MontpeÌ„sier by the coÌ„position made in the time of the late Francis the first after the decease of Sir Charles of Bourbon Hee left one heire Male named Francis of Bourbon nowe Duke of Montpensier and sundrie daughters This Francis hath of his mariage with the daughter of the Marquize of Mezieres one onely sonne called Henry Prince of Dombes The other sonne of Lewes Prince of Roch-sur-you and of Lady Loyse of Bourbon was Prince of Roch sur-you who died within these fewe yeres without issue Wee must now then
was married to the Duke of Cleue when she ioyned with the said Lord Anthony and so consequently the King of Nauare discended of the said Anthonie of Bourbon and Iane of Albret is illegitimate and vncapable to succede in the Crowne of France wherin Basterds did neuer succeede 2 This point is easie to bee answered by the trueth of the matter which is that the late King Francis the first desirous to drawe to himselfe and to disunite from the Emperour Charles the fifth the Duke of Cleue vrged forced his sister Lady Margaret of FraÌ„ce and Henry of Albret King of Nauarre father and mother to the sayd Iane who then was a yong Princesse of eight or nine yeres of age at the most to marry her to the sayd Duke of Cleue with whom the solemnitie was accoÌ„plished and the maiden conducted to the nuptiall bed in the Towne of Chastelerauld but before the time of mariage was lawfully perfect and accomplished in the said Lady Iane she complayned of this pretended marriage crauing the dissolution thereof which by the sentence of the Church and the Popes dispeÌ„sation afterward in the yeere 1541. enrowled in the Court of Parliament was broken After all which acts the said Anthony of Bourbon father to the sayd Lord King of Nauarre maried the sayd Princesse 3 It followeth therfore that the pretended mariage betweene the sayde Duke of Cleue and the sayd Iane of Albret was voyde and of no force or effect as well by the Ciuill lawe of the Romaines which ordinarily we do vse as by the holie decrees of the Catholicke Church Antistius Labeo and after him Papinian Vlpian gaue sentence against Saluius Ialianus A maideÌ„ vnder twelue yeres of age brought into her husbands house is not so much as espoused if the affâ—ancing weÌ„t not before In an other place Papinian arguing whether the promise of dowrie eonteineth in it a condition if the marriage doe ensue setteth downe for an assured resolution That if a maiden vnder twelue yeeres of age be brought into her husbands dwelling house hauing there accomplished her lawful age she may as of age require her dowrie Labeo vpon the propoâ—itioÌ„ of donations by the husband made vnto his wife which in lawe are prohibited maintaineth that whatsoeuer the husband giueth to the pupill his pretended wife is in Romaine pollicie good and of force In an other place he saith Whatsoeuer is bequeathed to a pupill at her day of mariage if she coÌ„tract matrimonie before her perfect age the gift is deemed vnprofitable and the condition iudged not to be performed which Vlpian doth expressely confirme In an other place the same Author repeateth the rescript of the Emperour Seuerus whereby the husband is forbidden in the qualitie of a husband to accuse his wife of adulterie coÌ„mitted during her noneage Pomponius hath left vs the generall rule of this question in writing conteining A maiden vnder twelue yeeres of age shalbe a lawfull wife when in her husbands company she hath atteyned the sayd age of twelue yeeres Which likewise Vlpian and Paulus doe repeate in their discourses vpon the priuiledges graunted to the wife for the redemand of her dowrie 4 The holy decrees of the Cath. Church are full of such decisions Pope Euaristus who held the Sea of Rome about the yere of Iesus Christ 110. confesseth that he had learned of y e fathers his predecessors that the inequalitie and insufficiencie of age doe make the wife vnlawfull Wee reade a decre of the Counsaile of Foruile holden vnder Charlemagne and Pepin his eldest Sonne concerning this question Moreouer saith the text For the remedying of all we forbid all persons to ioyne in matrimony before their ripe age also all such as are of vnequall yeeres in any wise to match together but only those who in respect of equall birth beare like minde and consent Pope Nicholas the first who sat about the yeere 858. to the same effect writeth That where consent wanteth it is no mariage Such therfore as doe make alliances of their children being yet in their cradles do no whit bind theÌ„ vnlesse the coÌ„ioyned hauing atteyned the yeres of discretion doe allowe thereof notwithstanding their parents would marrie them Vpon this text also Iohn Andrewe teacheth vs that wee must enquire the willes of the pupilles when they are of ripe age therein following that which Pope Marcel coÌ„curring with the seconde decree of the Counsaile of Toledo hath written of those who before the tyme appoynted doe make and promise the vowe of Religion for although according to Isidore Puberes doe take that name of Pube that ripe age appeareth in such as are able to engender yet must wee not iudge this habilitie by the onely naturall power in the act of generation but by the iudgemeÌ„t counsaile and discretion of the will because marriage is an act of discretion pollicie and housholdrye euen as the making of a Will Which was the cause why Pope Alexander the third declareth that such as before the age of discretion are married both may and ought by the censure of the Church to be seperated considering they haue not consented if when and after they haue atteined ripenesse of iudgement they doe not ratefie the same or that there haue beene no carnall knowledge betweene them in which case Malice is sayd to supplye age This the sayd Alexander decreed by the authoritie of the Connsaile of Lateran holden in the yeere 1180. in the assembly of 280. Bishops Vrban the third writing to the Bishop of Mans declareth that these constitutions ought to bee obserued yea notwithstanding the two conioyned had done their endeuours to corrupt each others virginitie Innocent the third also doth iudge such a pretended marriage to bee rather a simple promesse to contract in tyme to come then any certaine or firme obligation for the tyme present Vpon which reason also the aforesaid Pope Nicholas expressely forbiddeth the ceremonies institued by the Church as the blessing and others before the age prescribed and ordeined for lawful mariage leasâ— they should be ministred in vaine then could not easely be reuoked This haue not bene obserued in the West church only but also y e Emperours of the East haue caused their Subiects religiously to keepe the same as a matter most holy and Catholicke As wee reade in their nouel CoÌ„stitutions wherein they haue moreouer proroged the tyme of mariage vnto 13. yeeres in the maiden and to 15. in the man expressely decreeing that the blessing giuen before that age in such coniunctions shall bee of no effect or force to make the marriage indissoluble but bee accoumpted as a simple promesse or ciuill couenant Furthermore to proue that the East Churches haue allowed of these constitutions Balsamen Patriarck of Constantinople doth to the same purpose repeate some decrées of Nicholas Patriarck of Constantinople and of Simon Metropolitan of
behaued our selues toward them we shall surely find that we haue left no more to doe but either to destroy our selues and perish all togither whereby the one shall not scorne the other either els to let them liue among vs one with an other in peace and libertie of conscience and neuer be so desirous to driue them into heauen with the edge of the Sword But will you haue me tell you the trueth your pompe your pride your ambition and the ignorance of yours is cause of al this mischiefe Notwithstanding you see the the Church on a flame who is there among you I will except some small number that endeuoureth to amend his life and to distribute y â— Church goods in such sort as he ought See wee not still the Kinges Courtes the Townes and Country full of superfluitie of our Bishops and other Clergie men such a number of Abbots called Commendatories who are of no professed order of Religion but doe neuerthelesse deuour the reuenues that belong to the poore so many beneficed persons with diuers Bishoprickes Abbayes Priories and Cures some in title others in commendam of the which they neuer see so much as one vnlesse it were to the ende to farme the same foorth You may see their Churches fall in decay and the Priestes whoÌ„ themselues haue annoynted begge their foode the rest of the poore dye for hunger at their gates And in one word to say all these Maisters haue no money to doe their dueties w tall no not so much as to procure preaching which themselues can not doe or for performing the deuine seruice either to instruct the youth For euery one doth sufficiently know that the late King Charles the nineth whom God pardon and King Henry the third now raigning visiting and comming to those Townes wherein the principal Vniuersities of their Realme are planted did ordeine that the Clergie of certaine Dioceses should contribute some small portion toward the salaries of the Doctors and RegeÌ„ts of the same yet was it neuer possible for these poore people who are the seedes of iustice and vertue to reape any one penny Our Maisters haue nowe money enough to helpe to maintaine warre against the King vnder an imaginary and false preteÌ„ce of defending the Catholicke Religion You deceiue your selues if you hope to conuert others before ye make cleane your selues no neuer looke for it for it will still be obiected vnto you that you can see a mote in other mens eyes but cannot take away the whole blocke that blindeth your selues Why follow you not the example of Moses who when he beheld and sawe Gods people offende the deuine Maiestie with Idolatrie did not take the sworde to put them to death but began to crye O Lorde this people haue sinned forgiue them or els blot mee out of thy booke which thou hast written Let vs liue well let vs reforme our selues and let vs not be so careful for the wealth of the world We haue so long cryed out against those of the pretended Religion concerning this poynt that now they can say of vs The Doctor is to blame who reproaueth other for the fault that himself hath Yea they will saye worse for still they stand vpon the defensiue you are the assailants They haue euermore acknowledged the Kings Maiestie for their soueraigne Lord and neuer contemned the Princes of his bloud as the King himselfe in his Edicts hath not sticked to confesse but you endeuour to enstale Straungers against the estate and dignitie of his Maiestie who both before he was King and since hath prodigally ventred his life and hazarded his Crowne for the glutting of your desires and putting of your ouer rude counsailes in executioÌ„ What reason therefore haue you now to match your selues with the meere enemies to the peace of the Church enemies to your Common-wealth enemies to your King and the Princes of his bloud I saye to your most Christian and Catholicke King one that feareth God and one who hath peraduenture done more then he ought for the getting by armes that contention which you do wish for I am moued so to say because in trueth I beleeue and experience hath taught vs that the more we stirre vp this euill the more it encreaseth wherefore herein the best counsaile that wise men haue left vs were to resolue our selues that if this pretended reformed Religion bee not by the decree and establishment of Gods worde it will without any warres perish and vanish of it self as haue done so many former heresies but contrariwise if it be according to the wil of the holy Ghost we may crye out at our pleasures but it will fulfill his worke 10 But my Maisters if you be not led by malice are you so blinde as to thinke that the authors of this conspiracie which they terme a holy League bee ledde by any zeale of Catholicke Religion If that were their drift wherefore haue not they also called into the same such Lords Princes of the bloud as stil continuing Catholickes and liuing according to the Romish Church were neuer so much as suspected to bee of the pretended reformed Religion We know very well that the Lord Cardinal of Bourbon whose yeres they haue seduced and whom vnder a vaine hope of smoke they make to weare the knife wherewith to embrue his hands in his owne bloud hauing wrested from him the fayrest and most of his Benefices whereof by their suggestion hee hath depriued his owne Nenewes before he altogether became vnnaturall when they bounde him to this peeuishnesse offering vnto him their fayned League to signe requested that his Neuewes the Lordes Cardinall of Vandosme Prince of Conty and Earle of Soissons might bee included in y â— same wherto these our Maisters could not intend Whereof doe they suspect the Lord Duke of MontpeÌ„sier and the Lord Prince of DoÌ„bes his sonne both being most Catholicke Princes onely that they bee of the house of Bourbon which they seeke to roote out and so doe make accoumpt to transferre the Crowne into their owne handes trying themselues onely vpon the sayd Lord Cardinall a man worne and of small continuance so contenting themselues to make him the standerd whereby to establish their armes neither would they auctorize the rest amoÌ„g their troupes fearing least they should haue better eyes then the sayd Lorde Cardinall to discouer their wicked entents besides that if it shoulde so fall out that they shoulde come to the drawing of lâ—ttes for the beane in the cake the people would rather haue recourse to these Princes as to the braunches and sprigges of their Kings and those who onely in their degrees and order are capable of the Crowne of France either els least the FreÌ„ch Nobilitie should blush for shame at the preferring of the tirannous dominion of straÌ„gers before their French Princes and lawfull Lordes This is not the first day that the house of Bourbon haue bene subiect to the enuie and malice of these Espaniolized
by Dagobert if we wil beleeue Floart by Childebert Pepin Charlemaigne Lewes y e Meeke Lothaire as witnesseth their goodly Chapters also by Phillip giuen of God Saint Lewes in his Pragmaticall sanction of the yeere a thousand two hundred sixtie eight Phillip the Faire in his Edict in the yere a thousand three hundred and thirtie Charles the seauenth in the yeere 1453. Charles the nineth in the Estates of Orleans and Henry the 3. now raigning Which also was most learnedly declared to Lewes the eleuenth by two Presidents of Inquestes of the Court of Parliament in a treaty that vnto him they exhibited in the name of all the cōpany Yea wee doe perticulerly finde that the generall Estates of France assembled in the Towne of Tours in y ◠yere 1483. did desire Charles the eight to reforme the Clergie as beeing of his charge authoritie because the Pope had no Iurisdiction ouer the Bishoppes of Fraunce as by an Edict generall it was published in the Parliament vnder Charles the seuenth in the yeere 1407. and is to bee seene in the Registers of the sayd Court Yea that Court hath so farre proceeded as sometimes to decree that the Popes Buls and rescripts giuen out against the libertie of the French Church and Maiestie of our King should be cancelled broken and torne Neither was it lawfull for his holinesse to send any Legate into France except with his Maiesties good will and without preiudice to the rightes of his Crowne as by an Arest of Parliament it was declared in the yeere 1484. After by the same Court haue oftentimes the power of the said Legates sent with the Kings consent bene restrained from al authoritie to enteprize against the rightes of the Crowne of France which limitations and liberties the Popes neuer controuled Sith therefore it is the King that giueth you the Bishoprickes Abbayes and Ecclesiasticall functions that your maners orders and correction depēdeth vpon the royall Maiestie and rightes of his Crowne why wil you not suffer me with S. Ambrose to auowe that he may sell dispose and employe the temporalties of the Church vpon the necessities of his Estate without procuring the lisence of the Pope of Roome alwaies prouided that his Maiestie leaue sufficient for the sustenance of the Priestes and others that haue charge of the deuiue Seruice For you also doe know that whatsoeuer you take more then for the necessitie of your life onely is theft or meere robberie and so termed by the holy decrees founded vpon the expresse commaundement of the Apostle that you should be content with your food and sustenāce and by the Canons you are straightly forbidden not to giue any portion to either kinsman allie or friend whosoeuer And in deede so soone as the Church perceiued that your Predecessors did abuze that too much confidence which the first Christian Emperours had reposed in their pietie touching the distribution of Church goodes which by litle and litle through the conniuence of very zealous Princes who did too much assure them selues of the honestie of Bishops they had recouered she did againe take it from them Also in the fourth Counsaile of Charthage they were forbidden to meddle therewith In the generall Counsaile of Chalcedon holden vnder the Emperour Martian were Stewards established to such purposes who were neither Priestes neither Cleargie men In the seuenth generall Counsaile holdē vnder Iustinian the first the same were renewed and it was decreed that the Archbishops onely should be called to their election whereof Iustinian maketh mention Saint Iohn Chrisostome cryeth out and greatly complaineth that in his tyme the Bishops and Cleargie would needes be the distributers stewardes and husbanders of Church goodes and therfore saith this good father in his 86. Homely vpon Mathew They endeuour as much to rule the Temporall as the Spirituall The Apostles would not distribute that money which they had common among them Our great Law-giuer King Charlemaigne doth expressely forbid them to conuert any to their perticuler profite or otherwise to employe it then vpon the necessitie of the poore It is well enough knowne in what order and to what vse the Church hath decreed the dispensation of the Reuenues thereof Sainct Gregorie reporteth that oftentymes they were wont to deuide it into fower partes whereof one to the Bishop and his small famelie an other to the poore Priests and officers of the Church the third to the rest of the poore and the last was appointed to the reparatiō of the Churches But our Bishops and Abbots doe well enough keepe themselues from proceeding in any such maner for amōg themselues they retaine the assotiation of the Lyon whereof our lawes doe make mention and easily permit the poore Priests and others to part with as much as they list so that themselues be not admitted in the exaction thereof but contrariwise if any Prince for his necessitie would employ any part of their superfluous aboundance they straight spread rumours among the people that the deuill hath carried away one that an other hath bene sene in hell that an others body haue not bene to bee found in his Tombe with a number of such fables wherewith our Christian Histories for these seuen or eight hundred yeeres are poysoned in liewe of quietly obeying the will of their Kings and soueraigne Lordes in whose Cōmonwealths and vnder whose discipline they are bound to liue simply and poorely casting downe their high lookes in all Christian humilitie and obedience taking their parts and portions of the reuenues and Church goods and of that Aulter which they serue at the handes of their Kings yea and onely so much as may suffice for their sustenāce and in liew of yeelding parte to the necessities of their Princes to complaine murmure and arme themselues against them because they would employe it to such vses as their affayres doe require I beseech you therfore my Masters ye Bishops and Prelats of Fraunce whome many good men doe accuse of countenancing the wicked deliberations of Spaniards Italians and Lorraines that seeke to seaze vpon the Crowne against the King and the Princes of his bloud remēber the exāple of Magnulph Bishop of Tholauze repeated by Gregorie of Tours when one Godoald terming himselfe sonne of Clotaire the first and vpholden by Disier and some others the perturbers of the peace of the Realme such as our pretended Mascontents required pertition with Gontran and Childebert the children of the sayd Clotaire For the historie importeth that the sayd Disier and most of his partakers were letted by the exhortation of this good Bishop who vsed this oratiō to the people Wee knowe Gontran and his neuewe to bee the children of our Kings but for Godoald we wot not what he is nor from whence Prepare ye therfore ye Frenchmen and if Disier would force you to doe this iniurie to your Kings defend your selues let him perish as Sigulphus that he may bee
of the same were led by the will of God or whether therein they enterprised any thing repugnant thereto especially sith the question concerneth the maintenance of the peace liues and soules of so many millions of parsons who either might or are already lost vpon this quarell And this I will say more that sith the fault hath proceeded of our Prelates who haue fallen a sleepe and haue not mainteined the fare that they ought for the nourishment of their Flockes who being ignorant in the most part of the principles of their religion haue gone out of their ranck and doe perticulerly require the reasons thereof it is most necessary gently to giue them a taste of the same without sword or fire vntil the condemned bee at large heard in their defences and lawfully conuict 14 Moreouer I dare aduowe that in Realmes and Empires natural Succession receiued by the estates is of such force that the best and most Catholicke Parsons neuer enterprized against y ◠progresse of the same as occasions haue bene ministred no not for Heresie although it were condemned and with all solemnitie accursed by the Church of GOD Notwithstanding vndoubtedly by other dealing they might haue hoped for better and that they were in maner assured of manifold afflictions at hand Had not certein Bishops Arriens infected Constantius whē he succeeded his father although he were very yong What was the cause that Zeno being an heritick was neuerthelesse made Emperour after his father in lawe Leo but that the Empire was atteyned for his wife AriadNe and little Leo sonne to the said Zeno whom his Grandfather had instituted to bée his heire in consideration whereof the Christians were content to beare that affliction Constantine the third and the fifth whē they were called to the Empire were heretickes but yet in asmuch as they were lawfull successors to the last deceased the Church would not meddle with them When Anastaze the first was chosen no other cause moued y e Patriarke of Constantinople and the people to force a promise from him that afterward hee should be a Catholicke or at the least that he should not make any alteration or stirre vp any broyle in the Church of God but onely because he was then an Eutichian who was condemned by the Counsaile of Chalcedon and the same is the onely caution that you may exact or require of your King in cace he were other then a Catholicke sith the Christian Church neuer desired greater assurance of the aforenamed then their faith and royall promise I might bee tedious if I should rehearse vnto you an infinite number of other examples whereby euery one may manifestly perceiue that the holy Primitiue Church neuer accoumpted it so smal a matter to violate the lawes of the Estate or to habandon that obligation that wee owe to such a Prince as is either lawfull successor to the deceased or els solemnly elected Who is he that wil not thinke the Bishoppes of those former tymes that I speake of to haue bene farre more zealous in their charge and better liuers thē the most parte of ours in respect whereof they might euen with their credite only haue sooner perswaded the people that thei gouerned for Religion and godlinesse sake to haue expelled deposed and banished those hereticall Emperours aswel as to haue admitted them into that succession that by the politick order of the Empire was vnto them due either to obey or yeeld them al fidelitie was it want of power all the world being Christian euen in the Prime of the Church about one hundred yeeres after that the Temples of the Greeke Idols had bene shut vp whereby not so much as the memorie of them remained among the subiects of this great Monarchie I will by the way rehearse vnto you a Decree of the Church made for y e posteritie of Kings least you shuld thinck me either to be led by affection or to haue told you fables Heare therfore the wordes of the Fathers assembled in a Counsaile Like as the Insolencie of wicked Kings haue euermore bene odious and abominable to the subiects so haue the people alwaies liked wel of the prouident foresight of the good who therefore could suffer or beholde a Christian offending in that poinct or that were desirous to expell the posteritie or ligne Royall from such rights and dignities as thereto doe apperteyne Such dealing doe we therefore expressely forbid in fauour of the posteritie of the most excellent Prince Chintillus we doe renew and cōfirme the decree that was made the last yere at the Synode houlden in this Church concerning the loue and good will that euery one is bound to beare to the Kings ligne and to the defence and preseruation which all subiectes of the Estate doe owe thereto to the ende the successors be not maliciously defrauded of the merites of their predecessors in the augmentation of their Crowne or their great liberalitie toward their subiects Also that none doe enterprize to hurt them because it is meete that by the authoritie of a Counsaile we do graūt peace to the succession and posteritie of those by whose meanes and vnder whose protection wee haue aforetyme bene preserued Admit therfore that the Church made this Decree in respect of that obligation that she deemed the subiectes ought to the posteritie of their Kings either for the loue and reuerence of those that had well gouerned their Commonwealths euen as GOD who is the author and holder vp of Monarchies would neuer take the Scepter wholy from Iuda for his seruaunt Dauids sake yet if our selues would but call to mind so many good Kings of this race especially the father of the house of Bourbon the Lorde S. Lewes whō for his good life the Church hath canonized and whose memorie ought to be vnto vs holy honorable we should shewe our selues most wicked periurde vnthankful and disloyall persons if wee should seeke or but make any countenaunce to thinke vpon innouating any thing against this posteritie 15 Good men are not ignorant of the pretences that these great bucklers of the faith doe take hold of which are first that the King of Nauarre being King would polute subuert abolish Catholick Religiō in France and force his subiects to become huguenots But to say the trueth this vizard is lesse then nothing for his former behauiours will presently force vs to confesse the cōtrary because our selues haue seene with what importunacie he hath besought our Kinges as beeing their subiect and perswaded them to suffer him and his partakers to liue vnder their obedience in all libertie of conscience Wherefore then should we thinke that when he were soueraign he would practize against his people any enterprize repugnant to that lawe which himselfe being in their race sought to enioye vnder the Kings his Lords Shal we presume that such a Christiā wise Prince instructed in the feare of God would become a Tyrant torment the soules of his subiects against
briefe that to the ende by the death of the late Mounsier the Duke to insinuate himselfe further in his Maiesties fauour and to bee neerer vnto him he had determined to alâ—er his Religion Which was a subtile â—llicie both to bring him into suspition with his owne partakers and into contempt among the Catholickes so as by that meanes both parts might haue forsaken and despised him and so he might become a pray to their fayned League as a man light vnconstant and of small stedfastnesse which is one of the chiefest things that euery ChristiaÌ„ Prince ought to abhorre especially in causes of ReligioÌ„ which we may not lightly chaÌ„ge neither without great notice of the cause and the discourse thereof publickly argued in the Church of God but especially in our awne consciences Wherefore good men neither ought ne caÌ„ mislike that the sayd Lord King of Nauarre doth protest to liue and dye in his Religion permitted vnder the Kings authoritie by his Maiesties Edicts published euen by y e decree of the States of the Realm neither are wee to terme him an hereticke or obstinate person vntill wee haue lawfully by a free vniuersall or nationall Counsaile whether shall seeme most expedient condemned that opinion which he holdeth Will ye likewise that I shewe you what mistrust the Catholickes may conceiue of his goodnesse and singuler clemencie Then would I pray the most passionate to consider and looke vpon his famelie They shall finde the same to consist for the most part of Catholicke Officers But of what sorte Euen such as are neerest about his person who haue him in their haÌ„ds vpon their honors and consciences to whom he committeth himselfe and vpon whom of himself he doth depend as vpon his keepers Maisters of his Guardrobe Stewardes and many others who before his face with his liking and contentation being in his trayne do ordinarely go to the Masse assist at the deuine Seruice ministred after the maner of the Catholick Romish Church To be brief euen with this qualitie he acknowledgeth theÌ„ for his good faithfull and loyall seruants This could they not assure themselues of neither yet serue him with good hearts beeing such men of honor as they are if in his behauiours they could perceiue any mistrust which is the nource of hatred and mallice against the professors of their Religion or if they could finde which were easie to doe that he did euill entreate or forbid them to serue God after their maner and so sought to bee the tormentor of their consciences To conclude al these coÌ„siderations alledged against the King of Nauarre which are neither true neither of any outwarde apparence cannot in y e coÌ„sciences of good men truely FreÌ„ch debarre him from beeing sufficient and capable of the Crowne of France yea further I say that the same notwithstanding he is your true and lawfull King to whome onely you are bound to obeye in cace during his life the sayde occasion of substitution should fall out which God forbid and which also neither he ne wee ought or should desire if either wee were Christians either els did beare any iot of hartie good will or affection to our King 18 To proceede let vs see whether a king houlding the Scepter or raigning ouer any estate especially ouer ours may appoint and nominate any other successor then him whom nature and the Lawe of the Realme haue giuen him This question I do not moue without cause for in trueth the perturbers of the peace of this Crowne and such as iniustly do pretend to set thereinto a foote haue made a League which they entitle Holy but al good med doe truely name Bloody with the Pope the Spanierd and the Sauoyan the conspired enemies to France and the Royall blood thereof through whose helpe they hope to leauy an Army wherwith to come into the hart of the Realme onely say they simply to sommon the most Christian King to name a successor at their deuotions Oh what an execrable mischiefe to seeke to force vs to enfringe the successiue lawe of this Realme whereof we haue so many worldes enioyed the blessed good hap What impudency those that haue not almost whereof to liue in their owne houses to goe about to preuent and ouerthrowe the order and Estate of so great an Empire This is a wonderfull bouldnesse to endeuour to compell so mightie a Monarcke as the French King and their owne lorde being yong healthy and such a one as it if please God hee may graunt him the blessing of the posteritie of Abraham to choose him a man to be his Heir But the French men doe assure them selues that they haue a King that is of better bringing vp then so one that is valeant feareth God and is ielous of his honour yea such a-one as would not for the getting of the whole worlde make such a breache in his conscience reputation vertue and memory that our Children should haue cause atro carbone illum notare saying that he had so farre hated himselfe and his owne blood as to haue corrupted the Lawes whereby after his predecessors he doth raigne euen since the originall of the Monarchie and to haue transferred the Crowne out of his owne famely for the satisfying of the rashnesse of those who finding them selues in Armes might hasten his time to the end to cause him the sooner to leaue them his roume For what dareth not Ambition and desire to Raigne vndertake Moreouer I doe most humbly beseech his Maiestie to pardon me though I boldly shew him that it is a thing that hee may not doe Also that the Lawe of the Realme whereby him selfe is King forbiddeth hym to meddle therewith because the same taken order therin vnto whom it is commendable in the Maiestie of a Monarke to acknowledge him selfe bounden And thus was it iudged declared and put in execution by the Parliament of the Peeres of France for Charles the seauenth against the treaty which king Charles the sixt in the yere 1420. made in y e towne of Troye in Champagne at the Mariage of his daughter Lady Katherin vnto King Henrie the fifth of Englande which imported the graunt and minde of the sayd King Charles the sixt to be that the sayd King of England or his issue male comming of the sayd mariage shonld be called to y e Crowne of France the said Charles the seueuth be thereof debarred and disinherited for euer This is not now say our Maisters the first time that it hath bene and perpetually shall be obserued by y e Salick law of this florishing Crowne which the King that houldeth the Scepter cannot alter because he is but a tutor protector collector and administrator thereof salua eius substantia itaque nec donare nec perdere poterit neither otherwise dispose of the proximitie of his bloud then the law of the Realm will beare neither yet transferre it into any other hand then that whereto it apperteineth although hee
can haue no cause to loue the same A man hauing two wiues the one loued the other hated that thei haue both brought him sonnes aswel the loued as the hated the sonne of the hated bee the first borne when the tyme commeth that he will deuide his inheritance he shall not make the sonne of the beloued his eldest to the preiudice of the sonne of the hated who is the first borne but hee shall acknowledge the sonne of the hated for his eldest and he shall giue him two partes of whatsoeuer he hath for the same was the beginning of his strength vnto whom the right of promogeniture belongeth saith the text so that the nerest of the bloud is creditor yea he is moreouer I say factus dominus by the decease of his predecessor by the decease of his predecessor holdeth nothing of him but whatsoeuer hee hath hee holdeth by the vertue and authoritie of the lawe of France Thus doe Ih. Andrew Balde Panorme Iason Wil. Benedict and all other Writers expressely speake of our Realme so as who so would take any other course and maiore vi corrupt nature it would be a blemish to his consciēce and soule and thereof he should aunswere before God besides that whatsoeuer hee should take in hand should be voyde and of no effect but subiect to restitution by publicke iustice to the preiudice of his reputation All men doe knowe what small loue was betweene Charles the eight and Lewes Duke of Orleance when hee was called to the Crowne and bare the name of Lewes the 12. also the stoute minde of Charles to haue put his will in executiō against the other if he could haue found any argument or pretence to put him backe which notwithstanding matters were then ordered according to the rule of the law of France Now the King sheweth sufficient demonstration by that good will and care whereby he hath honored y e King of Nauarre so farre as to accompt him for his Brother in lawe that he both loueth and cherisheth him and also will take him into his protection so farre is this good Prince from going about to blemish his memorie with such a deede as the perturbers of the Peace af this Realme doe perswade themselues 19 Sith therefore the people and subiects to this Crowne may not put to their handes neither dispence vppon whatsoeuer occasion with the oath that they owe to their naturall Princes moreouer that the King can take no other order then the foundation and lawe of the Realme will beare let vs see whether it apperteyneth to the Pope of Roome as head of the Church to meddle therein I knowe that the Pope worshippers beeing more passionate then the true Catholicks do so thinck and beleeue Augustin of Ancona a Doctor of Sorbonne hath not forgotten it in his booke that he sent to Pope Iohn the 22. wherein he excepteth not so much as y e Realm of Frāce as also doe not Iames of Terrano Chamberlaine to Vrban the sixt in his treatize of the Papall Monarchie wherin they do maintaine that vnto him belongeth all power both Spirituall and Temporall as being head of the Church euen aboue the generall Counsailes which saith Pope Pascall are not to commaund him And in the explication of the decretall of the sayd Pascal the Canon Doctors doe vphold that it lyeth in the Popes power to reuoke y e decree of a Counsaile ouer the which he hath all authoritie according to the conclusion of all the adherents to the holy Sea of Rome which opinion was neuerthelesse as hereticall condemned in the general Counsailes of Constance and Basil in the presence of Iohn the 23. and Eugenius the 4 then Popes according to which Counsailes the auncient Bishoppes of Rome did protest to denounce vnto the Church whatsoeuer them selues could not remedie And as for Temporall iurisdiction ouer al Emperours Kings and Monarcks of the earth they haue made lesse difficultie yea they haue dared to saye that the Emperour who is Lord of the world both did and ought to yeeld his oath of fidelitte vnto them And faine would they make vs beleeue that they tooke this principle of Sainct Clement the third Bishop of Rome who protesteth say they that he learned it of Sainct Peter They also perswade them selues that Pope Zachary deposed the King of France the last of the Merouingian race although in trueeh it was but his aduice or counsaile giuen to the Nobilitie of y e land as W. Occham very wel saith in his treatize of the power of the Church About a hundred and fiftie yeeres after Boniface the seauenth endeuoured by Sacriledge and other bad hehauiours publickly to vsurpe this Tyrannie which Pope Gregorie the seuenth otherwise named Hildebrand durst openly maintaine and withall put it in practise against the Emperour Henry the fourth to whom he opposed Rodolph Duke of Sweue groūding his proposition not vpon y e fable of Constantines donation neither vpon the liberalities of Pepin Carlemaign or Lewes the Méek Kings of France but vpon God himself and Sainct Peeter saying that of them he had receiued the two swords the Spirituall and the Temporall In an other place vsing these wordes Pasce oues meas for the deposing of the Emperour He said also that he bare Claues regni Coelorum to vsurpe authoritie and enterprize against all the Kings in the world by which his great cunning hee became King of most part of Italie notwithstanding the Emperour Henry gaue him 62. Battailes therein excéeding the great Marcellus that was termed the sword of the Romaines and the inuincible Cesar of whom the one fought two and thirtie pitcht fieldes the other two and fiftie The like did Pascall the second and Calixt the second against Henry the fifth Sonne to the aforenamed vpon the same reasons as did also Adrian the fourth and Alexander the third who set his feete vpon the necke of the Emperour Frederick Barberousse Neither was Innocent the third more modest in the behalf of Philip sonne to the said Frederick against whom hee stirred vp Ottho sonne to the Duke of Saxony who after was Emperour by the name of Ottho the fourth after that with most arrogant proud and commandatory speeches grounded vpon these words Tues Petrus super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam adding thereto the saying of almightie God to Ieremy Ecce constituit◠super gentes regna so comparing himselfe to the Sunne and the Emperors and Kings to the Moone he had pronounced sentence of excommunicatiō and depriuation of his Empire against him So great also was the mallice of the sayd Innocent against the Emperour Phillip that to spite him he disanulled the election of Luipoldus to y t Archbishoprik of Mentz wherein sayth the Abbot of Vspergue he did most vniustly Gregorie the 9. as saith Sabellicus and the sayde Abbot depriued Fredericke the second of his Landes and Realmes for
beeing second after God of whom he houldeth his authoritie and hath nothing greater thē the heauenly power Constantius Valens Zeno Anastazius Iustinian the first and second Heraclius Leo the 3. Phillip Bardanes Constantin the 5. Leo the 4. and some other Emperours who were adiudged hereticks were neuer deposed notwithstanding the Catholicke Church condemned their errors which neuerthelesse is permitted to excommunicate Kings and Princes Sectaries of false opinions or otherwise euill liuers in cace the same will not acknowledge their vice or trāsgression which one onely Bishoppe or high Priest whatsoeuer may not doe without the iudgement and notice of the Church after it hath heard the King or Prince in his exeptiōs and defences wherein vndoubtedly ought to be strictly obserued all order of Iustice in respect aswell of the grauitie of the cause as of the qualitie of the person in question wherevpon may depend the trouble and subuertion of Christiā policie through such ciuil warres as might ensue together with the bloud of the poore faithfull which the weapons of the prouoked Prince might shed as Sainct Augustin to the same purpose doth confesse and discourse vpon in his Glose vpon that precept whereby wee are commaunded to obeye our Kings Moreouer excommunication denoūced contrary to the orders of the auncient fathers obserued in the Church and without the knowledge thereof would proue vniust and vtterly voyde and thereby not the taxed but the taxer might take harme as Gratian teacheth expounding a place of S. Hierome vpō Leuiticus Pope Leo also affirmeth that the priuiledge of Peter is in force wheresoeuer iudgemēt is giuen according to his equitie Innocent the third how zealous he was of his authoritie confesseth that if the excommunicated pretende that vniustly hee was so denounced hee maye complaine and exhibite the cace of his innocencie In France by the priuiledges of the Flowerdeluce it hath often by arrest of y ◠Court bene adiudged y t the King his officers or subiects in body or communaltie cannot bee excommunicated by the Pope or any other Bishop whosoeuer Whervpon Charles du Molin a famous aduocate and one of the greatest Lawyers of his time testified that he had to that ende an expresse Bull of Pope Martin the 5. which was nothing repugnant to the lawe by the Popes commonly obserued for Iohn the 22. declareth that he may graunt priuiledge to some one that hee shall not bee excommunicated whereupon Pope Eugenius the fourth concurring with the Court of the holy Apostolick Sea graunted to the French that no Bishop whatsoeuer should entangle them in the sentēce of excōmunication But we haue not for this occasiō to deale either with Bulls or priuiledges of y e Church of Rome for by the rights authority dignitie of the Maiestie of our king it is not lawfull for the Pope or any Bishop whatsoeuer to excommunicate either towne or communaltie subiect to the Realm of Fraunce By reason whereof in the yeere 1488. the Atturney generall appealed as of abuse from the excommunication that the Pope had laid vpō the Inhabitants of Gaūt because they had dealt hardly with the Emperour Maximilian their Earle and Vassall to the King of Fraunce to whome onely hee ought to haue had recourse as vnto his Lord for remedie the Pope hauing no authoritie ouer the subiects of this Crowne To y ◠same ende also Charles the fifth by an Edict verefied in his Parliament in the yeere 1369. expressely forbad all Bishops and Prelates for whatsoeuer cause to lay the sentence of excōmunicatiō vpon any Towne Communaltie Colledge or body corporate of his Realme the same beeing vnder the onely correction and power of himselfe and of none other in the world which Edict was also renewed by Lewes the 11. in the yeere 1467. whereof is growne a custome inuiolably obserued in France as the Oracle of Apollo of Appellations as of abuse in the Court of Parliament against the Pope and his Cleargie without which remedy the Priestes would in France erect an other and more mightie Monarchie then the Kings for the maintenance and dignitie of the which al good Frenchmen ought rather to dye then suffer it to be diminished So that the Pope and Bishops can proceede no further then to excommunication of perticuler persons according to the order of old tyme obserued by the holy Decrees and Canonicall constitutions Thus to conclude you see how to proceede against Kings and soueraigne Princes Hereticks or otherwise offensiue to the Christian Church which excommunicatiōs being by order of law euermore obserued in the florishing and Primitiue Church denounced wee are to dispute whether by the same we bee discharged of y t faith and oath that by nature wee owe vnto them Wherein are but too euidently knowne the constitutions of the Popes Gregorie the 7. Honorius the 3. Lucius the 3. Innocent the 3. and others by the which they doe not onely declare the subiects of an hereticall or excommunicate Prince absolued from their oath of fidelitie but which is more doe vpon the like penaltie forbid the vassals to obey their Lord after he is adiudged such a one Neuerthelesse I thinke not but such decrees proceeded of a meruelous passion of the Popes of those daies against the Princes of their time And in deede Iohn Andrew Innocent Archidiaconus Panorme many other learned glozers vpon the Decretals being of a contrary aduice doe alledge great difficulties therevpon and in their hypotheses doe perticulerly expounde them in cace by the sentence of excommunication it bee expressely set downe that y ◠subiects shall be discharged of all right of vasselage otherwise they doe iudge the obligation not to be extinct or diminished by the excommunication of their Lord which last in sundry considerations full of Religion and ciuill pietie seemeth to be of great apparēce and too too true First that we are bound to obeye our Kings whether good or bad because they are chosen giuē to vs by the hād of God euen such as it please him to giue to rule ouer vs. Secondly that the excommunication importeth no alteration or diminutiō of the qualitie of the person nec habetis capitis minutionem as the Lawyers doe saye to conteine or comprehend therein depriuation or publication of goodes sed motionem ab ordine Christianorum coetu as saith Modestin of Senator qui Senatu motus capite minutus non est Romae morari potest Moreouer excommunication is a Spirituall discipline medicine and admonition and hath no participation with worldly and temporall goodes and meanes whether great or small as S. Paule saith The armors of our warres are not carnall therfore sith Realmes and Lordships are for the most parte patrimoniall or at the least terestriall whose propertie and possessiō doth no way concerne the kingdome of God the declaratiō of the losse of the one bringeth no consequence for the depriuation from the other Paul the Lawier
prouoked vnder pretence of the sayd interdiction did him some displeasure Howbeit so soone as hee seemed willing to mend his maners toward the English natioÌ„ they fell at his feete and expulsed Lewes of Fraunce whom they had subrogated in his place so soone as the sayd Iohn was dead admitted his sonne Henry King Henry the eight of the same Ile was very faithfully obeyed by his subiects after that Pope Paule the third had excommunicated interdicted aggrauated and reaggrauated the curse against him wherby some were somewhat shaken froÌ„ his obedieÌ„ce Suâ—noo King of Denmarke about the yeere of our Lord 850. was iustly excoÌ„municated by y â— Bishop of Roscholech for becomming an Apostata and procuring to slay sundry of the Princes of his blood in the Church founded in the name of the holy Trinitie in the same Towne of Rhoscholech the entry into which Church this Bishop forbad him together with the communioÌ„ of the faithfull but he did not neuerthelesse depriue him of his Crowne neither did his subiects refuse him their faithfull seruice although Canutus and Wademarus two of his chiefest fauorites and priuy Counsailors who sought to share the Realme with Suercherus King of Sueden did thereto suborne them Brigerus King of Sueden who raigned about the yere 1300. was one of the most wicked and cruell Kings that could be especially against the Church and Churchmen but chiefly against Nicholas Archbishop of Vpsale whom together with the rest of his Bishops he committed to prison wherevpon they excommunicated him and Turgillus Canutus his Lieutenant general and author of his behauiours neuerthelesse the people though therby stirred vp against their King and hauing greater opportunitie to rebel and shake of the yoke of his obedience vnder the conduct of Wademarus and Henry his brothers who sought no better occasion to put out their brother would neuer hearken to theÌ„ neither hinder or become cruell to their naturall Lord so as the two brothers were forced to employe their other friendes for the executing of their inteÌ„ts against Brigerus whom when they had taken prisoner they were neuerthelesse compelled to force al the townes neither found they any one that would yeeld to them so greatly did the Subiectes of the Realme accoumpt themselues bound to the seruice of their King whom they knew to be wicked excommunicate and an euill liuer besides a prisoner and captiue in the power of his brethren whom in the ende they forced to set him at libertie to submit themselues to his obedience Of such force is the bond of good people to their King whatsoeuer he be In Poland Bolesâ—aus a Prince of most wicked life a commoÌ„ adulterer an enemie to the Church and Cleargie after Stanisâ—aus Bishop of Cracouy had often admonished him to amend was by him at length excommunicated whereat the King being offended did put the sayd Bishop to death for which cause Pope Gregory the seuenth did confirme and aggrauate the sayd excommunication with a generall interdiction against the Realme about the yeere 1079. yet did he still raigne by the consent and with the obedience of the Polonians ouer whom he ruled a whole yere and more vntill in his iourney to Ladislaus King of Hungary hee flewe himselfe peraduenture through the iust iudgement of God The Emperour Sigismund and his faction could neuer winne the Bohemians from the due affection that they ought to his brother Winceslaus their naturall King though vicious wicked filthy for the which offences through the practises of the said Sigismund he was often emprisoned and excommunicated by the Bishops of that couÌ„trey yea by the Electors deposed from the Empire so as in the ende he dyed in Boheme still taking the place order and qualitie Royall through the goodwill of his Subiects who deemed that the same could not perticulerly conteyne any dispensation to discharge the subiects therof of the oath and faith that to him they ought as also they may not be discharged froÌ„ his bondage but onely by death or his owne liberall cession which he would make to an other as did Albert King of Sueden about the yeere 1388. beeing prisoner to Margaret Queene of Denmark and Norway to whom he yeelded whatsoeuer his right to the Crowne of Gothland and Sueden whereby the States of the countrey sware their faith and homage to the sayde Margaret and after they had secretly enquired of their King sundry times solemnly desired him to shew them his mind or els to discharge them of the duetie wherein they stood bound to him although vndoubtedly the Suedens had great cause to seeke his mishap for all Histories doe agree that neuer Prince committed so many outrages and wrought so many iniuries to his subiects as had this Albert. It therefore remaineth that by the lawe of Nations the inuiolable keeping of the obligation that the subiectes doe owe to their naturall Prince and not to depart therefro at the appetite or sentence of others haue euen among the most barbarous people bene euermore obserued so as wee ought in respect of the bonde that wee owe him say of the King and his bloud as of Matrimonie whom God hath ioyned together let no man put a sunder 22 But let vs more perticulerly learne whether the sentence of excommunication were lawfully vppon reasonable cause and exemplary occasion pronounced against a King and done by the iudgements of many Popes of Roome within these fiue hundred yeeres against such Kings and Emperours to whoÌ„ they haue borne bad minds Although I thinke it not meete to ground any lawe vpon the examples of these men in troth full fraught with ambition more then humaine affection but it is requisite to examine this question by the rules of Gods lawe and politicke reason established for the preseruation of the societie of mankinde Herein therefore I say y t the sentence of excoÌ„municatioÌ„ denouÌ„ced against a King how iust soeuer the cause bee and conteyneth dispensation for the oath and duetie that the subiects do owe vnto him this licence and tolleration vnto the people graunted is repugnant to the lawe of God and all mans reason For sith the subiects are by Gods commandement bound to obeye their Princes whatsoeuer without any further enquirie of their consciences and behauiours they cannot by any tradition or permission of man either generall or perticuler be dispensed with because no man can enterprize vpon Gods ordenances and euery dispensation so graunted is voyde as beeing repugnant to the deuine prouidence As Pope Leo and Vrban haue very wisely confessed Especially sith this dispensation cannot bee put in execution without great sclaunder and shedding of bloud by reason of such warres and quarels as will be raysed through the rebellion of the Subiects against their Prince their Kings resistance not onely in respect of his conscience but also for his Estate and the defence of his Crowne In such necessities therefore Pope Gelasius teacheth vs that we are especially
Nauarrre and all that be of his opinion by apparant reasons For the vnderstanding whereof assemble the Catholicke Church so consequently the Christian Princes of the same heare the parties cause the King of Nauarre to appeare at the least summon him to come in in al assurance In such an assembly denounce him an Hereticke excommunicate him or deale otherwise with him according as the holy Ghost shall thincke meete Vntill you so doe you are but theeues enemies to the Catholicke Church perturbers of Christian peace and very Atheistes in seeking to vse Catholicke Religion which you doe least respect to estabish your prosperitie withall 27 It is requisite saye you to roote out Heretickes That is a good godly and Catholicke Counsaile I am of your opinion But marke ye Frenchmen the meanes effects and purpose which these zealous persons these firme pillers of the Church and these bucklers of the faith doe goe about to take herein Weapons fellonie and depriuation of our King both of his Scepter life for if wee flatter not our selues this is their marke We must giue almouse to the poore but not by robbing the rich We must punish transgressors but we must not proceede therto by cutting the Magistrates throate whom we thinke ouerslowe in perfecting the proceducers We must relieue the people but neither wee nor you nor any other must deale therein or enterprize to do it chiefly by rebellion or warres against our King This is not the first tyme that the Commons haue complayned of the Kings exactions and yet did they not thereupon take occasion to oppose thēselues against their Maiesties good pleasures neither was there euer found Cleargie man being the seruāt of God who to the mutinous would become a trompet of rebellion against their Prince vpon such consideration as these perturbers doe represent vnto vs the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon the Popes Legat in France and which is more himselfe a Prince and of the race of the Kinges The Prophet Esay complayned of these too great exactions of his tyme. Ezechiel noteth them and discouereth the vices of Princes Amos calleth them oppressors of the poore cruell to the needie Micheas setteth before them the reproach that God will lay vpon them if they flay the poore Sophony doth bitterly reproue them yet doth it not appeare that euer these men of God embraced conspiraties or entered League to the ende vpon any such considerations to arme the subiects against their Lord. The King say our Censors must reforme himselfe but we must not tell him so with weapons reprouing and iniurying his Maiestie by worde writing and deede yea by captiuating his affections and forcing him to hate that which he loueth as if hee were not a man capable of the loue of those whom perticulerly hee acknowledgeth for his faithfull seruants This were a miserable state for a King to be forced to hate where he loueth and to loue where he would hate to bee able to doe what he would not and to desire to doe that he cannot to be briefe to be a slaue to the enuies strifes and diuersities of his subiects It is too much euen the greatest Aristarchians cannot like of it Whervpon I would fayne aske these reformers what made them so rich and mightie as now to vndertake to raise warre against their King but euen the excessiue benefites of his Predecessors him selfe What place doth or may the stateliest of them hold in France but of meane Gentlemen and such as it hath pleased the King to loue Were they not our Kings that haue aduanced them and mainteined them in their wealth wherefore then doe they so much enuie the good hap of those who haue no other beginning or aduauncement then such as vrged themselues on Why doe they so much mislike that the King should loue the Lorde Duke of Espernon or any other like as his predecessors fauoured their aūcesters Know they not that all things haue their time their beginning progresse encrease and end what further fauour doe they hope for at the successor whom they would cause the King to nominate by prouision sith in the meane tyme they suborne his subiects yea so farr to turne them from receiuing any Garnison on his behalfe and spread a brute among the people that there yet remaine some of the race of the aunciēt Gods worthy to rule ouer them To bee briefe they take the course too truely to fulfill the prophesie of the late King Frances our Kings Grandfather whom many honorable persons did many times heare saye that if they vsed the seruice of those who now set not a strawe by them they would doe their endeuours to strip his Children into their dublets and his people into their sherts and vnhappely these Mastiues haue so well learned to barke that now they seeke to byte their Lord. Call to minde ye Frenchmen a true saying of Sainct Austen importing that it is vnpossible for that Counsaile to bee blamelesse whose meanes ende and effects are vile vicious and reprehensible Neither is it Religion or pietie that stirreth them vp but a South winde and Spanish heate wherwith they be driuen that kindleth them For in troth it is of more importance for the King of Wisigotes wholy to subdue the King of Nauarre and to destroye him whatsoeuer it cost thē to lose all his low Countries which by that onely meanes hee might perpetually assure together with not onely the rest of whatsoeuer hee wrongfully nowe deteyneth of the Realme of Nauarre which seemeth to be already prescript but also generally of the whole Spaynes and most of his other Lordships whereof he might stand in great feare if GOD should permit him to haue so strong and mightie an enemie as the King of France Let not therefore the most Christiā Maiestie and the King of Nauarre flatter themselues but bee assured that the Piedmontain and the Pope with their partakers are determined to doe y t Spaniard that good turne and to employe whatsoeuer their habilities to assure him on that side Considering that withall the purse of the Romish Court which findeth great ease in the Frēch Crownes of the summe which often do passe the Mounts by reason of the Annates renewed in this Tridentine conspiracie might in tyme stray by the way as by the auncient Edictes of our Kinges and arrestes of our Courtes of Parliament they haue hetherto done haue interest therein For this cause none neede to maruaile that the Pope will not willingly forgoe so lickerous a morsell and the best dish on his table Besides it is most certaine that the subiects of Fraunce and others that are boūd to the Crowne and Maiestie of our King who haue risen and doe dayly rise are but the instruments and gates whereby to make way for the loades of golde which the Spanyard sendeth to doe his businesse in this Realme by the same meanes giuing them occasion to take holde of and vse the tyme to doe also
the Tyrants tormentors of their consciences and abusers of the honors that they haue receiued of our Kings and the Princes of the bloud of the house of France Let them marke the miserable ende of Absalon and Achitophel his counsaylor against the Maiestie of Dauid of Adonias Athalia and infinite others who with their conspiraties haue dyed in confusioÌ„ and miserie Oh noble Frenchmen will you abide in the world I will not say to looke vppon but which is more to hasten and aduance the cursed drift of the translation of the scepter of the Flowerdeluce out of the hands of your King and the Princes of his house to whom only you doe owe your condition your welth and your very life not in courtesie and honestie onely but by Gods expresse coÌ„mandement who hath therewith burdened your consciences Wil you more then villanously forgoe that great commendation which all nations in the world haue so greatly commeÌ„ded and honored in you for being more faithfull and ielous of the hononr and seruice of your Kings and Princes of their bloud then any nation that euer was vpon the face of the earth Will you stand as instruments and offer the ladder to those y â— wrongfully would make them selues Kinges and cause you to commit the most abhominable fellonie that euer was conspired Doe you not plainly see that those who doe sollicite you are not able to vphoulde you as hauing no other meanes then such as your enemies minister vnto theÌ„ to whom both you and they shall serue for pasture the next day after Is it not most certaine that they cannot pretend sith God hath giuen vs a King I will speake without sâ—atterie as wanting the honor to bee knowne of his Maiestie of whom the least of them can not saye the pertinent occasion of his discontentment but yet when GOD shall haue wrought his wil vpon him are ye not certain who ought to be his successor Liue you not vnder a Christian Monarchy that hath lawes established for that purpose Would you liue to be called corrupters and perturbers of the foundations of the Crowne vnder the which and by the succession whereof your fathers haue obteyned and left vnto you the name honor and title of Nobilitie which ye beare What weene you the curious posteritie may thinke of you when they finde it written that the French Nobilitie tooke Armes against their King to name vnto him a successor and vnder the pretence thereof to depriue him of all authoritie respect honor vnto him due euen by him that should succeede him according to the Salick law who with this declaration should stil be assisted by these firebraÌ„ds of this tyme to the ende to make him withstand and ecclipse the bright sunne of his Maiestie What opinion would you wish Christian Princes to conceiue of your fidelitie when they shall knowe that without regarde of your bond to this Crowne you shall haue assisted the enemies therof against your King and the Lawes of the Realme Would you your King should haue occasion of ielouzy against him whom they pretend to cause to be nominated who also by such as shall haue aduaunced him might bee perswaded to lift his hornes ouer high and so to become a censor ouer his Lorde To be briefe I tell you the world could neuer beare two SuÌ„nes What greater recoÌ„pence may ye hope for of straungers that you knowe not then of your naturall Princes whoÌ„ God by his holy wil hath established ouer you Is it not felicitie enough for you to bee borne men to bee made Christians to haue bene brought vp Frenchmen See ye not well enough that the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon is but the vizard and pretence to runne into armes for the glutting of their ambition there is great zeale and likelihood in their deedes wheÌ„ they would name a successor aboue 60. yeeres olde broken and crooked to succeede a young King healthie lustie moderate in his exercizes and maner of dyet yea and all this contrary to Iustice and the lawes not onely of this Realme but also of all other the best ordered Estates that euer were whereby together with infinite reasons I haue shewed you that it is the King of Nauarre to whom the same should apperteyne Shall I with Cicero speaking of Cesar and Pompey tell you all They here offer vnto vs y e Image of the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon but would set vp their owne They will with that good man arme them selues and become more Kings then he whoÌ„ they make shew to loue more then any other and yet doe they loue themselues better euen to the preiudice of your honor life memorie and reputation if ye take not heede so that God will vndoubtedly suffer them to be swallowed vp when they haue bene the occasions of infinite murders robberies and spoyles For the letting whereof as also of all other mishap or destruction that wee attende of such ciuill warres as vnder this contention are brewed let vs withdrawe our selues to God and most humbly beseech him to order our hearts in one consent according to his holy will to the ende according thereunto wee may acknowledge and embrace our King who is the same to whom next after God we owe al and after the diuine power ought to bee vnto vs aboue all Let vs also weete that next vnto him we are bound to haue respect vnto him whom it hath pleased God to cause to be borne into the world to gouerne vs in the Royall dignitie whensoeuer it should please him to call away our king without issue capable of y e Crowne and together with him whom for vs he hath elected and blessed in his mothers wombe let vs with one heart and minde crye peace peace bee among vs glory to the Lorde on high and peace and good will vnto men Amen FINIS Sigisbert in his Chron. Sigisb fol. 233. Idem fol. 595. Idem fol. 596. Idem fol. 597. Idem fol. 599. Idem fol. 601. Sigis. in his Chron. Heman in his contraction of Chron. Idem Sigis. fol. 611. Idem fol. 612. Idem fol. eodem Munster Cosmog Sanso in his Chron. Vign in the orig of the French leg Salic lib. p. ca. 26 Paul Aem. in Philip. Vales Concil vol. 2. cap. 4. fol. 739. I. vel agnatis ff de relig l. ius sepulchri C. cod Ign. in disput an rex Franc. recog snper Mol. in coÌ„s paris tit p. ff 8. Bald. in ff vnic de feud March Ioh. de Teran in lib. coÌ„t reb reg Tract p art p. coÌ„cil 9. 10. 11. 12. Guil. de Month. in tract de suc reg Franc. l. 9. ff desp l. 32. parag si quis spon sam ff de don int vir l. 66. ff de iur dot l. 65. ff de don int vir l. 30. ff quand die leg ccd â— 10. ff de cond de monst l. 13. parag si minor ff ad leg iul de adult l. 4. ff de rit nupt l. 17. 18 ff de