territorie of Bellouac of which he being certified fled and in fléeing was chased by souldiours till he came to the Sea In so much that he was constrayned to leaue the greatest part of his cariage behind him and to take Ship to passe ouer into England It was also commonly reported about this tyme that Charles Sonne to King Philip of Spayne was dead The causes were by diuers men diuersly reported but that which was most credible is That the Inquisitors suspecting him of certain things concerning religion ê“uoked stirred vp the displeasure of the Father against the Sonne that he might depriue himselfe of his onely Sonne and of the lawfull heyre of Spayn Shortly after this also newes was brought concerning the death of Elizabeth wyfe to Philip Kinge of Spayne and Sister to Charles King of Fraunce Furthermore the Duke of Alba dayly more more played the tyrant in Flaunders straining no courtesie at the shedding of innocent bloud wherevpon the prince of Orange being moued partely to discharge his dutie being one of the Princes of the Empire and partely for the loue which hée bare to his Countrey caused a great Army to be in a readinesse that hée might withstand the cruell tyrannie of the said Duke of Alba. He had to ayde him great numbers of horsemen footemen which came out of Germany out of Fraunce and also out of the low CouÌ„trey County Lâ—…dowike also his brother a valeaÌ„t captain came with a great number of good souldiours to ioyne with him COME LORD IESV COME QVICKLY The. ix Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth THus beganne the third ciuill war in FrauÌ„ce being more notable than the others goyng before both for the great atteÌ„pts and enterprises and also for the continuance of the same for it troubled the Noble Realme of FrauÌ„ce for the space of two yeres Therefore when newes was brought to the Courte of the departure of the Prince of Conde there was open prouision made on both partes for the warre but both their conditions were not alike For the Papistes had Cities Artillery money and all maner of prouision belonging to warre they had also the Kings name authoritie and power by which they preuailed more than by any other meane But as for the Prince of Conde and the Protestantes they had almost nothing but the goodnesâ—…e of their cause and couragious mindes to defende themâ—…elues who though to the perill of the losse of theyr lyues and goods were almost desperate to defende the same Moreouer they which should haue bene helpers and furtherers of their cause were hemde in and shut â—…p throughout the whole Realme in so muche that it was marueile that the Prince of Conde was able to holde warre and to withstand his enemies in so great extreamitie There were great and vrgent caâ—…ses of newe contention â–ª as the diâ—…pleasure taken for the breaking of the oath solemnlye made the breaking of the Kings promise and common peace and the meâ—…itable necessitie of defending their consciences and liues But the Papistes beyng forward enough of themselues tâ—… destroy the godly were pricked forward by the bloudy â—…uriousnesse of the Cardinall of Loraine Therefore by the Kings commaundâ—…ment for vnder this name the Papistes did what they would the Armies that were dismiâ—…t were nowe called backe againe newe choyse and musteâ—…s of men were had and they were all commaunded to be at Staples the. x. dayâ—… of September The wholâ—… ordering and charge of the warre was committed tâ—… Alexander Duke of Angewe the Kings brother being but a young man notwithstanding he had ioyned with him certaine valiant captaines as we sayde before Then were baytes and â—…nares subtiâ—…ly layde and in the Kinges name the gouernours of the Prouinces published a decrée as thus The Kyng commaundeth that all the men of the reformed Religion be vnder his protection no lesse than anye other of his subiectes that they may haue leaue to complaine of iniuries done to them that they may haue remedies prouided out of hande as it is meete and conuenient for their defence and that all Magistrates should be vigilant to defend them In the meane tyme he that caryed the Prince of Condes letters to the King after the deliuerie of them was taken and committed prisoner to a certaine noble man and no answere made to the letters The Prince of Conde when he had stayed in the house of Rochfoucant certaine dayes wente wyth hys whole retinew to Rochel of whose inhabitantes he was very louingly receiued And thether came vnto him the inhabitantes of Xantonge of Poictou of Perigueux of Engolmoys and a great number of noble men of the Regions thereaboutes which embraced the reformed religion and as for the common sort of people they came vnto him out of all those quarters by beapes The Câ—…ties also called Sainctes Tifauge and Montagu offered themselues vnto him But for all this he sente letters to diuers partes of the Realme requiring ayâ—… of hys fellowes and forsomuch as the Protestantes were expulsed almost euery Citie it seemed good vnto him that they shoulde come with all spéede to hiâ—… to Rochel and then hauing greater power to ioyâ—… battaile wyth the enemie Notwithstanding in many places by the wonderfull prouidence of God there were diuers places of refuge reserued throughout the whole Realme as to the men of Francoys Sanferre and Uezelay to the men of Languedoe Montalban Castrealby and Milliaulde to the men of Dolpheny which at that time were in great perill the Cities of Uiuaretze were reserued as Albenac Priuac and many others But before the Prince of Conde began any warre he published a certaine solemne declaration of the causes of the same In manner and forme as followeth I protest before God and his Angels and before this holy assembly that â—…as I also declared in my last letters which I sent vnto the King my Lord intend to do nothing against his Maiestie which may either hurt his person or dignitie but taking him for my Kinge and supreme Lorde next vnder God by him so appoynted I protest that whatsoeuer I doe is for no other cause but to keepe and defende the liberties of our consciences the free vse of the reformed Religion our lyues honours and goods from the tyrannie and oppression of the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes â–ª the whiche tyrannie they haue alwayes hytherto shewed and minde still to vse towards the men of the reformed Religion contrary to our kings will whiche he hath openly declared by publique Edicts and decrees thereby breaking the common peace and tranquiâ—…itie And for this cause to the end I may defend their lyues honours goods and the libertie of their consâ—…ences which professe the reformed religion I affirâ—…e that I wyll spende bothe my lyfe and whatso euer eâ—…se God hath giuen vnto me And bâ—…cause there came souldiers daye by daye vnto
though he had neuer heard any thing concerning the truth neyther yet had had experience of the mindes of the Guises Therfore he was wholely led and caried by the Guises whethersoeuer they would haue him who to make him more sure on their side insâ—…ared him with harlots and with other intiseing vaine pleasures in the which they perceiued the King of Nauar to haue most delight He therefore fulfilling the minds of the Guises in euery point stoutly thondred out the Kings authority against the Prince of Conde and his fellowes These were the first beginninges of this Ciuill warre the kingedome and the Church of God being cast into great extremities â–ª So greatly may the subtil deuises of vngodly men disturbe the societie of the godly vnlesse the prouidence of God do gouern the euent and pronide a prosperouse ende amiddest so great outrage There were certain letters brought in the kings name to the Prince of Conde to his fellowes the which promised peace vnto them after a sort vpon these coÌ„dicions namely If the Prince of Conde and his fellowes according to their former coÌ„maundement froÌ„ the king wold out of hand vnarme themselues and would yéeld vp into the Kings power their cities The which if thei wold doo the Guises the Constable the Martial of S. Andrewe promised as they had also done before that they would go home to their houses Also that the King of Nauar should haue at his commaundement all maner of Artillery and should take and chuse out of the armye of the Prince of Conde for the vse of the King and the realme whatsoeuer séemed good vnto him To these thinges if they would yéeld and graunt the King would forgyue pardon their offence in putting themselues in armour and would leaue to euery man the frée vse of Religion so that euery man should liue peaceably at home without receyuing of any hurt for Religion This was don the twelueth day of June the Martial Vielle and the aarle Villarius being sent with the letters for this matter To these letters the Comparteners of the Prince of Conde made this aunswer First We render all humble thanks to your Maiestie for that you seeme to haue so great a care and coÌ„sideration for our peace and safety But whereas it is thought that the putting of our armour would be a great cause of the same it séemeth too vs otherwise for that you stand in néed of our ayd against those which séeke the destruction of you of your realme and of your faithful subietces For by these meanes we may séeke to restore your Maiestie and your mother too that liberty authority which ye had before the Duke of Guise came into the court It séemeth vnto vs at this time that neyther you nor your mother are at libertie as may be perceyued by the effects This we request that the Edict of January may be generally obserued kept throughout the Realme that in certayne places in the which there is most daunger of sedition the faithful mai haue leaue to haue their Temples within the Cities that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew may depart from the Court and that they come not into the same agayn nor haue any maner of gouern ment of the kingdom during the Kings minoritie Also that whatsoeuer hath ben done by the kings counsaile from that time since the which the Guises haue kept the King and Quéen in their custody by force of armes may be boyd and of none effect Furthermore wée request that the Cardinall of Ferrar a prâ—…uoker and mouer of warres may forthwith depart the Realme and spéede him to Rome and that he certefie the Pope that if hée will appoint a common counsell either at Lions Auinion or Bezance they were ready by the Kinges leaue to come to that Counsell But whereas it is sayd that wée shall haue pardon for putting on armour there séemeth to vs no cause why we should need any pardone Since we haue not horne armour against the king but for the King yea wée are sofarre fâ—…om deseruing blame herefore that wee rather deserue all commendation prayse and rewarde Which shall well appeare to the Kinge when hée commeth to that rypenesse of yeares that he may iudge of our merites and well deseruing vntill which time we desire that the writings of the Prince of Conde and of the Triumuiri might be registred in all the Courtes of Paris Moreouer it séemeth not necessary vnto vs that any manner of artillerie should be taken awaye onely it is necessary to bring to passe that the Triumuiri which are the authours and causes of the war and these troubles do lay asyde their armour for wée desire nothinge more than peace As for the Cities which we haue fortified we doe and will euer acknowledge them to be the Kings And wée vtterly mislike that the Triumuiri sould bring into the Realme any forrain power Wherefore we desire not that the armies of forrein Princes be brought into the realm but that they would only be suerties for the performance of the Condicions Therefore we desire the Emperour the Princes Electors the Quéenes of England and Scotland the King of Spaine the common wealth of Vennize and the Switzers to giue their warrantise and suertiship for the performance of these condiâ—…ions These thinges notwithstanding were attempted in vayne mens myndes on both sydes béeing inflamed to warres The Prince of Conde and those of his syde trusted to the goodnesse of their cause howbeit they sought all that they coulde for peace and concorde althoughe both in number and also in courage they farre excéeded their aduersaries perswading themselues to haue the victorye The Guises and hys fellowes greatly leaned to the Kinges authoritie and had in their custodye the Kinges treasure So that what with their own subtill practises and what with the helpe of the Kinge of Nauar they brought many things to passe For the kings name and authority carieth with it such a maiestie and reuerence throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce as euer the name of a king hath done or may in any Kingdome the subiectes hauing in them a certaine naturall loue as it were ingraffed By which name how greatly the Guises haue preuailed experience hath taughte The Guises also were holpen by the Spaniards by the Italians and by the Swizers whâ—…se helpe the Guises required euen wheÌ„ they tooke their couÌ„saile first to begin warres The Guises had also on their part the Citie of Paris the Senate the people and many other great and mightie Cities So that they were very strong on both partes insomuch that all thinges considered it was not easie to be diâ—…erned which was the stronger part At this first beginning the Prince of Conde his part were both in number and courage far surpassing the Guises but the Guises and his adherents excéeded the other part in pollicie and subtill sleightes Notwithstanding God did so moderate
great dangers are herein to be looked for and feared the one is that if your maiestie doe not spéedily méete with these outrages but suffer them to range and spred abroad further it is very lykely that when you would redresse them then you shall not be able the other is your afflicted and persecuted subiectes shal be driuen in to such distres and desperation of mind that when they shall perceiue all right iustice to be taken from them by treachery of your officers flat against your maiesties pleasure they wil of themselues defende themselues from wrong and also reuenge the iniuries And yet I speake not this as though I knew not that your maiestie had commaunded comissions should bee graunted out both for examination and correction of such spoiles which on thing doth sufficiently proue that it is your graces wil and pleasure that the Edict should be kept and obserued But I beséeche your maiestie to consider was there euer any remedye of anye complaint whatsoeuer onward out by them to whom you haue committed the correction and punishment of malefactors Your highnes Presidents and Lieuftenants whose charge aud office is to redres and restrain such disorders and are for that purpose garded with Garrisons of Souldiours at the cost and charge of those ouer whom they gouerne do abuse that aide giuen them to maintaine Iustice alwaies to the fauour of one part of your subiectes and vtter destruction of the other And if so be it chaunce now and then that they go to any place to sit vpon any such matters there is nothinge done according to Iustice but the catholiques defaultes and offences cloked and couered and as for the examination to be had there it is eyther quight omitted or els done in hugger mugger and corners that no man can know of it But if any complaints be brought to your maiesty of those whom disdainfully and spightfully they cal Huguenots foorth with in post hast before commission bée giuen out for the trial of the matter ther is iudgement awardeÌ„d against them not once waying the accusation whether it be true or false and they condemned either to lose their liues or els their goodes and their houses to be beaten downe flat to the ground as doth appeare by this example For when as Monsieur de la Taride only moued by a vayne and vncertayne rumor had written not vnto your Maiestie but to a priuate friend as concerning a certayne commotion which he thought was at Montauban the report hereof was scant crept abroad when straightway commaundment was geuen to raze and beate downe the walles of that Citie And like sen tences to this were executed in diuers places especially where the number of protestants was thought to be great as of late in Ualence and Sisteron but no suche thing don in those townes wher the Catholiques beare rule althought it be playne manifestly knowne that many seditions haue ben raysed by and through them And very slender was the trauayle and labor that was bestowed in the examination of Monsieur Cures death although he was your Maiesties Lieuetenant and represented your owne person For when his bretheren executors did sue for punishment of the murderers they very hardly in sixe long wéekes obtayned a Commission to haue their matter examined which thing doth plainly bewray in what estate and estimation wée stand And agayne on the other side we knowe what commission the Duke Monpensier had to be executed vppon Monsieur Câ—…agier who had done nothing in the eâ—…aminatioÌ„ of Monsieur Cures death but that which the coÌ„missioners appointed for that purpose had commaunded him and yet notwithstanding was charged eyther to appeare presently vppon sight of the Attachement sent for him or else that his howse should be made equal and euen with the ground Which thing importeth nothing else but the vtter subuersion of Iustice and manifestation of their gréedy desire they haue to vioâ—…ate breake the Edict by al wayes and meanes possible but sâ—…ecially by thrée By parciall administration of Iustice By vniust and vnequall tolleration and sufferaÌ„ce of mischief and lastly By deadly and cankred hatered against all thâ—…se that professe the reformed Religion And this last is that wherewith both the chief doers in this matter who ought chiefly to seeke the obseruation of the Edict are caried headlong and also the common people who through impunitie of mischiefe and sufferance of the noble men ar waxen shamelesse in al â—…ind of tyrannie and crueltie For when they perceyue the Iustices and Iudges of Law and equitie so haynously offended agaynst vs that when we haue any matter be fore them that doth concerne both our safegarde and reâ—…esse of wrongs done vnto vs we finde them a sléepe loth to ease our grieâ—…es but to be both ready and careful in all things that are to procéede against vs yea and too condemne vs not once hearing our cause they do hereby take occasion proudly to triumphe ouer vs and conspire against vs Of these iniuries after long and weary sufferance the afflicted company of the faithfull haue complayned to your Graces Presidents and other your Officers and to certayne who are néere about your Highnesse but can receyue no other aunswere but that your Maiesties whole care and studie is to content and satisfie both partes and that the Catholiques do no lesse complayne of the protestantes then thei of them which in very déede is nothing else but to suffer euery man to be hurt and wronged without Law and Iustice and to giue the Catholiques large reynes and full swing to do all things that their cankered hatred against the faythfull doe driue them to and fréely to kill murther them without eyther feare of punishment or daunger least that they shold at any tyme perceyuing that they were suffered too bee iniured of euerye man with oute all lawe and equitie take armour and so by force defend them from that violence which by lawe they could not auoyde We sée this also happen diuers tymes and oftener than néedeth that your Graces Iustices in stéede of administring Lawe and right to those that haue proued their causes doe vse to couÌ„teruayle their iniuries done vntotheÌ„ with some other offences that thei haue coÌ„mitted or else cause some rumour to be spread abroade of some euill fact or other done by the protestantes wherwith thei vse to stop the plaintifes mouthes and so send them home in as euill case as they came without any redresse of their wrongs And yet it is well knowen that the Protestantes crimes be not so haynouse but that they may be easely redressed as to goe to another place to heare Gods woord then your Maiestie hath appoynted or not to haue restored and set vp agayne popish religion in certayn places But far vnlike to these be the offences of the papistes cruell and sauage bloud-suckers who haue filled ai places with rapines horrible murthers so that we do not doubt but God wil
howe greatly the same was gréeued for that you could not prouide remedies for all things as you wold yet neuerthelesse when I had read ouer and diligently perused those aunswers that were brought vnto me in your name to the letters which I gaue to Theligny to deliuer to your grace and also whē I had heard those things which your Grace willed him to declare vnto me by word of mouth I could not neyther can I choose but giue most harty thankes vnto god that your Maiestie perseuereth in that good mynde and no lesse thankes to your highnesse also for the same And thus I replye agayne to certaine principall points of your aunsweres with all reuerence modestie and submission And first of all I replye to the aunswere of the fyrste and second principall poynt of my letters whiche are these There are many of the reformed religion whiche haue not taken my parte nor alowed of my Counsayles but contrarywyse there are some of them because they knew that the sword was not taken in hand for religions sake whiche haue obeyed you and your Officers in all places I pray and beséeche your Maiesty to remember and call to mynd that when you had intelligence of my true meaning and of the very purpose and intent of suche as followed me your maiestie by due aduice and deliberation declared by an Edict made in the yeare M. D. lxii That whatsoeuer I and they whiche followed me had done we had done the same to shew our obedience and to maintayn your dignitie acknowledging me for your deare and faithfull kinsman subiect and seruaunt and all myne for your faithfull and lawefull subiectes and seruaunts In this therefore there is manifest repugnancie and contrarietie because if I and myne haue borne armour for ani other cause than for the obedience sake which we owe vnto your Maiestie and for the preseruation of the same then no doubt we should worthly be found gilty both of rebellion and treason But as we can by no meanes be perswaded that your maiestie would be so manifestly contrary to your selfe so also I affirme that it may easely appeare that these aunswers were forged and deuised by the Cardinall of Lorayne his fellows to discharge that poyson which a long time hath lyen in their stomakes and also to make your maiesties faithfull and louing subiectes to be suspected of treason and rebellion Of the which crimes séeing wee are in no point to be conuinced by the goodnesse of God we are ready rather to dye than to suffer the same falsly to be imputed to vs by the Cardinall and his fellowes but we wil proue that the matter is far otherwise than they haue falsely and sclaunderously reported the same vnto you In the meane time I beséeche your Maiestie to consider with what shewe of trueth can these things be spoken when as I and others of my brethren were of late admonished of the counsaile had at Baione with the King of Spayne to the vtter destroying and banishing of all those which professe the reformed religion within the Realme if the wayes and meanes by which I and the Admiral vnder the couller of comming to talke with you at the Castel of Vincen should haue fallen into the handes of our aduersaries of the new musterings of men at Paris of the letters of Duke de Alba to you in which you were put in mynde of the holy league Truly it is not likely that we would haue taried the comming of the SwitZers armies or the Spaniardes if we had ment any harme Can it be denied but that we haue sought all meanes wayes possible that might be for peace Can it be obiected vnto vs that at any time from the first beginning of these troubles we haue required any other thinge of your Maiestie than the libertie of our consciences and the conseruation of our liues goods and dignities Sauing that among other thinges when I was at Saindionyse I required of your Maiestie that you would haue some consideration to ease not onely the Nobilitie but also the communaltie of those intollerable burthens laied vpon them ▪ And your aunswere being knowne to this our petition wée haue not since that time spoken one worde of the same When we had about vs great power that if we would haue abused the same we had not bene able to bee resisted did we then enlarge our petitions When you offered vnto vs your faith did not we imbrace the same making no further request Was there any other mat ter propounded in the tractatiō of peace than the libertie of our consciences Did wee not put our liues oure goodes and dignities into your handes vppon truste of your promise Were not we content with the obseruation of the Edict only Doth the Edicte of pacification comprehend any other thing then that which appertaineth to the conscience If therefore you haue not tried our mindes in receyuinge the conditions of the peace propounded and in shewing our selues so tractable if the sclaunders concerning the violating of your dignitie be not sufficiently refuted as in déede they be in the iudgement of all indifferent men yet notwithstanding you haue certain and euident arguments of our prōptnesse and obedience when as so redily we vnarmed our selues at your commaundments and carefully dismist our Armies Notwithstanding the which sure and vndoubted signe of obediēce we could receiue no other benefite then that which was contrary to your promises in so much that your Edictes may séeme to be snares trappes onely to entangle vs withall that is to saye that by the false colour and pretence of peace we might receiue that iniurie which by open warre we could neuer sustayne Concerninge the fourth principall pointe which is That your Maiesty hathe willed and commaunded nothinge more than the obseruation of the Edicte after the troubles of warres were appeased without anye māner of impediment and haue allwayes cōmaunded your officers to defende your subiectes all alike withoute respecte of any Religion and quietly to gouern thē without offeringe of them any iniury I marueile truly that the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellows which haue framed these answeres remēber not that many letters were taken in the tyme of these troubles by which you commanded your Lieutenants your parliamēts and other of your officers that they shoulde do cleane contrary to those thinges which were contayned in the Edicte Let them remember what was aunswered to the writinge sealed in your name by your Secretaries to the States of Languedoc let them remember what aunswere was made to the parliament of Tholoz against the fower bloudy decréese by the same commaunded to be put in execution for you saide in your letters that this thinge pleased you well and woulde alwais be acceptable vnto you that you greately desired that they woulde deale euer after in that manner hauinge altogether regarde and respecte to the rescriptes and commaundements by you allready or hereafter to be graunted for Religions sake and in
you proteste That you haue appointed watch and ward in the ports bridges passages to no other ende than to keepe your subiectes within the boundes of peace and concorde to defende the good from the practises of the euill and to restraine the force of the wicked In déede I acknowledge your sincere and perfect good will but to the ende you maye know howe im pudently they abuse your name I beséeche you to commaunde them to exhibite vnto you a forme and paterne of the commaundementes which are giuen to those Warders that they maye order the whole matter after their owne wils preferibyng the same to be done in stéede of your commaundemente And by those commaundements you shall plainly perceiue that those warders and souldiers were appointed to no other ende than to vexe and oppresse by all meanes the professors of the reformed Religion and therefore as they abuse your name â–ª so also they abuse your will most impudently as the effectes like and agréeing with these commaundementes do sufficiently declare in the writing of the which commaundementes I do note the style of the Cardinall of Loraine But as touching that which you say in the. xi branch That your Maiestie ought to haue no confideration of appointed garrisons when the aduauncement of your dignitie is in question and that the Queenes houses the houses and landes of other noble men also haue garrisons also set to ouersee them I pray and beséeche you most Christian King to perswade your selfe that there is no man to whom I giue place in shewing my readinesse and good will to obey your Maiestie If therefore it were profitable vnto your Maiesty to appoint Garrisons to ouersée and watch my house I would estéeme it for greate honour to spende not onely my house and landes but also my life to obey you And where as garrisons are appointed ouer the Quéenes houses ouer the houses of other Noble men it is done for another consideration Moreouer I had great iniurie done to me when I was denied to haue passage into my owne Lieutenantship and circute the which cannot iustly be done except I were guiltie of Treason or of some such detestable crime For wheras I am moued in that thyrtene branche Not to credit the rumors of neither part that truely is very daungerous for those things which are reported of vs can be proued by no maner of effecte or déede as for those things which are reported of the catholikes they are euideÌ„tly proued by déedes For wheras you protest that you neuer allowed those Confraternities of the holy Ghost but counted them manifest violations of your Edicte I will not hyde from you what happened of late in this matter About the eightene day of Iuly last paste there was an open conuenticle of thrée thousande men at Diuion in the which Ian Begat a Counseller of the Parliament of Diuion wyth Fioâ—… Raimond and Malleroy his fellowes and with the two sonnes of Tauuans because he himselfe being let with sicknesse could not be there made a long oration to the whole assembly shewing howe necessary it was for euery man to be vigilant least they were oppressed by false Princes which went aboute to rule the Kyng Therefore he exhorted euerye one to prouide Armour Money great horse Gunnes and all manner of Artillerie for the which cause a Treasurie should be made that therin money might be gathered together for the defence of the Fraternitie And for collecting of this money was appointed the Abbot Bussier and when he had exhorted perswaded that assembly with many words to be contributors to the Treasurye he commaunded all that were present to holde vp their hands vpon that condition that if warre were moued euery man shuld to the vttermost of his power séeke to bring those things to passe which were deliberated deuised by the Consistory appointed to this ende without hauing any regarde or consideration of Father Mother Brethren Sisters Wife Children or Kinsfolkes And when one of those which were present by and by demaunded of him whether your Maiestie would allowe the doing of these things Begat made answere that you had alreadie confirmed these things with your letters and that Tauuans had giuen letters vnto his Secretarie for the better credit whereof he himselfe being sicke had sent thither bothe his sonnes to iustifie the same vntill he could be present himselfe which he trusted woulde be shortlye Also he added further that if your Maiestie should not allow of the same it were no great matter because there were others to whom they might safely trust and leane saying moreouer that they oughte to haue regarde to those letters whiche your Maiestie should write to Tauuans or to the Parliament concerning the obseruation of the Edicte bycause there was betwene your Grace and them a speciall and secrete manner of talke which was not of all men vnderstood Tauuans also sent letters to the men of Creuan whiche were deliuered vnto them the seuen and twenty daye of Iuly by which his letters he exhorted them to vse the like societie or brotherhood promising vnto them that he would bring to passe that your highnesse should confirme and allow the same The like confraternitie was begonne at Maine many noble men entering into that societie being Catholikes as Baron Uasse Tuarsi Surchi and manye others which were either presente themselues or else confirmed that societie by their substitutes whom they sent thither with letters The like are also to be founde in diuers other places of your Realme And to the end all men mighte be the more encouraged herevnto they which were presente at these assemblyes were tolde that your highnesse had allowed them by your letters and to other some which were more subtil it was said That the Cardinall of Loraine wonlde bring to passe that you shoulde allowe all those their doings These things O king are contrary to your Edict If they will excuse themselues and say that they had special and necessary occasions offered them thus to do as by your speciall commaundement of the which also you wrote vnto me that there should be musters of men in euery prouince especially of such as were able men I saye that these societies go beyonde that Commission and are nothing agréeable with your coÌ„maundement I saye also that the same deuise to haue a description and vew taken of your people hath giuen occasions to those pernicious assemblies to assaulte your dignitie beside that it is done contrarye to the lawes of your auncetors which were euer ware and circumspect to kéepe secret to themselues the number of their power But as touching the sixtene braunch where you say That I know that your Maiestie hath writteÌ„ to the Senate of Tholoz concerning the rapine there coÌ„mitted In dede I wil not deny but that I knew of the sending of your letters to the men of Tholoz in the whiche you sayd that you had séene many decrées giuen forthe by them expresly against Rapine in
the time of troubles and that you thought that they had done all things vppon iust groundes and considerations WhervpoÌ„ they conclude that the same sentence or decrée is so confyrmed by you the which is false séeyng the same decrée against Rapine was giuen forth the thirtéene daye of Aprill and therefore after the Edict made and proclaimed As touching the eyghtene braunch where you say That you are verye sorye that iustice is not truely and purely ministered as you desire and would haue it the which you could not hitherto remedy bycause the men of the reformed Religion had not so fully obserued the Edict as they ought all the Cities which they helde being not rendered vp when as your Maiestie your selfe had first of all giuen them an example of the obseruation of the Edict I would gladly demaund of the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes whether I forsoke and rendred vp Orleans by and by yea or no and whether at my commaundement the like was done at Auxer at Suessi and in diuers other places in these parts and as touching those cities which were farther of I demaund whether I sent not certaine with my letters to commaund them to sollowe my example in yéelding vp themselues But to be short if I haue pretermitted no thing which was my dutie to do and which I was able to do can it bée truely said that I haue kept my authoritie still ouer those Cities which are not surrendered To whome therefore maye you iustly impute the cause but to the Cardinall of Loraine who is the the very cause of all violence committed at Orleans at Suessi at Ualence at Cisteron at Auxer and at Saint Spirit the which cities being cruelly vexed haue notwithstanding shewed the principall part of obedience Was this way to cause other cities to surrender and to lay aside their armour Was the staying of the proclamacion of the Edict the waye too make the same too bee obserued Should not the Edict haue ben proclaimed before the men of the reformed Religion had ben punished for not obseruation of the same But they are so farre from desiring the obseruation of the Edict according to the prescript of your will that we haue found some of their letters cleane contrary too the same an example and coppie wherof we haue sent vnto you the letters them selues are in the hands of the Quéene of Nauar being writteÌ„ by the two Capitolles of Tholoz the Magistrate of a towne is so called to their fellowes saying that your Maiestie was sory that the Edict was not proclaimed at Tholoz because thereby the surrender of the Rebellious Cities would be delayed and therfore it was necessary for the commen profit of all men that the proclamation should bee made in the Parliament out of hand notwithstanding without any maner of solemnitie in the proclaiming therof and with those exceptions which the Court shall thinke méete But some wil replie and say that we must not haue regard to a fewe sedicious persons truly we would with all our hartes make no account of them if so be their sedicious counsailes were not effectually commauÌ„ded and yours reiected For it is most true that you were faine so send commaundement foure seuerall times before your Edict would be proclaimed and then it was not so â—…oolorably and fraudulently as maliciously and spitefully done adioyning to the woords of the Edict contrary to the expresse forme therof this sentence 〈◊〉 is contayned in the secret and priuie Commentaries of the Senate by the which words it is plaine that they haue inserted exceptions cleane contrary to the Edict Whereby it may euidently appeare that they are more carefull to defend and enlarge their owne dignitie than the preseruation of your Maiestie and authoritie As though their honour did depend vppon any other than vppon you and although they had any other authoritie to defend than that which appertayneth vnto you The which they shall not do so long as I can find any waye to hinder them And yet notwithstanding their Rebelli on and boldnes is so farre from reproofe that you haue written your letters at the sute of some to approue maintaine the exceptions and delayes in proclaiming your Edict Moreouer where as you say in the former brauÌ„ch That your Maiestie hath in nothing broken your promise I pray you hartely giue me leaue to say that neither I nor any one of the reformed Religion haue felt as yet any frute or profit by this peace and haue enioyed none of those thinges which you haue promised vnto vs but haue felt the oppression violence shewed to vs ward since the peace made to be a great deale more than the hurt and detrement which we receiued by open warre Insomuch that in respect of our selues wee may truly say The time of warre was to vs the time of peace and the time now of pretended peace is to vs the time of most cruell warre Concerning the last braunch where you saye That it is very vnresonable and farre from the dutie of a good subiect to go about to abrogate the authoritie of your Maiestie but that you might when perill is like to ensue and for the auoyding of the destruction of one of your chiefe Cities to alter and change the places appoynted for preaching of Sermons and that you are fully perswaded that the reasons and considerations were such why that libertie was taken from Lions that I also wold haue approued them if I had bene of your counsayle I most hartely beséech your Maiestie to thinke that I would neuer so much forget my self and my dutie that I would but once haue a thought to deminish your dignitie but contrariwise I protest that I would moste gladly spend my life to séeke all meanes and waies that might enlarge the same Let your Maiestie call to mind also that this libertie of Lions is a matter of great waight which also was so greatly debated among vs when the peace was in question And it is wel knowne that the same matter hath bene handeled heretofore in your counsaile at Sangerman when the making of the Edict of Ianuary was in hand at which time were present the most principall of your priuie counsaile the chiefest men out of all your Courtes within this Realme of both sortes of Religion by whom after long disputation it was concluded that in the bordring Cities as in Mets Bolone Callece Ardes and in such other like places there shuld be a preaching place with in those cities to auoyd all occasions of lying in wait of treason Notwithstanding the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes will persuade if they can that they which séeke and require the precise obseruation of auncient constitutions and of the Edicts would abrogate your Maiesties authoritie and that they and their fellowes séeke to maintaine and enlarge the same when as in deede they would haue it quight abolished Furthermore it is contained in the former braunch That your Maiestie was
to chalenge and claymâ—… them for the Spanish king Wherein hée hath both done great iniurie to your maiestie and the wole kingdome and also sought thereby to bring your Grace in feare and to stand in awe of him by reason he is in such fauor and estimation with the king of Spayne to whom he coÌ„municateth all the affaires of this realme There was neuer any deuise inuented or practised neither in the first or second warres whereof Kinge Phillip hath not ben both an authour and fautour whose chief desire is to sée the greatest part of your Nobilitie destroyed that he might the easier conquer your kingdome For surely there is no more effectuall meanes to bring that his purpose to passe then to set vs togither by the eares by sowing of strife and dissention And to what other endâ—…â—…an those Confraternities and brother hoodes as they call them of the Holy Goste bee referred then to this For some of the Noble men which are admitted into that fellowship are so wedded vnto it that they vtterly forget their dutie and doo conspire with them the death of such noble men as professe the reformed religioÌ„ whose desire is to liue quietly with them in the bande of brotherly loue as becometh good subiects vnder one prince and friends alied togither either in kinred or affinitie And who I beséeche your maiestie hath ben the author of these holy brotherhoods but the Cardinall who hath promised to procure your warrant for them notwithstanding your highnesse hath declared them to be hurtefull and preiudiciall to your honour and therefore to be disallowed And what shall we thinke of his sendinge abroad through all the whole kingdome wherin he willed that no maÌ„ should either giue credit to or obey your Maiesties commaundements vnlesse the letters which were sent were signed with speciall signet and surely through this his dooing no commission that euer came out from your grace for the obseruation of the Edicte was in any poinct obeyed and executed so that we may both iustly and truly say that he none but he hath ben auctour of these broyles and tumultes Furthermore who did hinder the publishing of the Edict and who doth stâ—…y the execution of it who emboldened the Parliament of Tolouze to rage so tyrannically as they dyd And who but he and his confederates hath driuen your Maiestie into such streight distresse that you are compelled to violate your publique promise made and solemlie confirmed by othe and thereby to haue your credit and honor crackt amongst all forreyne nations yea we are able to proue how he himselfe wrote letters to your Maiesties mother and had the Aâ—…males hand subscribed vnto them letting hiâ—… to vnderstaÌ„d that he could not staye the conclusion of the peace whereto necessitie drane them notwithstaÌ„ding he would so work that it should neuer be kept By whose meanes is iustice equitie banished out of this realme and most fiâ—…thy and dissolute libertie of factions and seditions brought in with all kinde of trayterous murthering of those that will not yéeld to their tyrannie Who is it that sendeth ruffians and desperat persons euery day yea eueÌ„ home to my owne house to murther both me and the Admirall and this haue two whom I haue taken confessed Who entised certaine Knights of S. Michaels order other Captaines to murther the Admirall who God be thanked had warninge geuen by them that should haue done the deed Who procured Monsieur Sipierre to â—…e slaine and to the number of fiue and thirtie Noble men with him but he For his Brother the Duke of Guise would commonly boaste of it a moneth and more before it was done and being done he himselfe had the first tydings of it Yea who but he or his men flue Monsieur Amanze sitting at his owne doore with his younge daughter in his armes who had offended neyther part but liued quietly with all men of both Religions Neuerthelesse when his Nephew the Duke of Lorayn had aduertised him that it were expedient for him that hée absented himselfe from your Grace because many dyd beare him deadly hatred because he ruling al things at his owne pleasure should be charged as authour and causer of al the troubles and miseries that had or shold endammage the common weale of the kingdome Hée made him aunswere That he ruled not at all and that he made not his aboad with your Maiestie but because he did not knowe any other place wherein hee could bée more safe and frâ—…e from daunger Whereby it is euidâ—…nt that for his â—…uegard onely your highnesse Armie is maintaynâ—… tâ—… your excéeding great charges whiche must néedes bring with it a very daungerous and mischéeuous end For if so be the sauetie and strength of a king doth consist vppon the good will and loue of his â—…ub â—…ectes what cause can be inuented whereby hée shoulde enforce your Maiestie to take armour against those whose onely desire is to shewe the liege and loyall obedience they owe to your maiestie But he thinkes the pretence and shew of your name and aucthoritie sufficient to hide and cloake his mischeuous doinges in so much he spared not of late to saye that your highnesse gaue him this answere That shortly men would haue gathered in their hay and corne and haue made an end of their vinetage that the Riuers would be so highe with showers of raine that men could not passe ouer the sayd Riuers that your treasurie should shortly bee enriched with tributes and that then warre should bée proclaymed against those of the reformed religion but in the meane tyme the chief maintainers thereof were to be dispatcht out of the way Yea such is the impudeÌ„cie of the man that he is not ashamed to bragge that the Quéene hath complayning wise found faulte with him That their purpose of our destructioÌ„ was not brought to effect notwithstaÌ„ding the feast of San Ian was past in which tyme he had promised to rid the greatest parte of vs out of the way And as yet none were dispatched but onely Monsieur Sipierre whereunto hée made answere That he had done the best he could to kéepe promise but all would not serue because the Noble men were alwayes spéedely enformed of al his deuises notwithstanding he was in good hope to compasse the matter and in the meane season it was expedient that your maiestie O Christian king should féed vs with vayne hope and gentle letters till they might spye out fit occasion and oportunitie to accomplishe their desires And what other can your grace conceiue of that suÌ„me of money whiche they procured Ian Baptist to sende to you was not the vsurie beyond all reason to giue a hundreth for an hundreth do they not by this their money shewe what good will and loue they beare your highnesse wherefore can any man say that we of the reformed Religion do without vrgent and great cause assaulte the Cardinall of Loraine howe long shall he with subtill trecheries abuse your
of God comprehended in the Canonical bookes of the holy scripture that we swarue from the doctrine of the prophets and apostles we will forthwith lend our handes and giue place to such as will instruct vs better in the word of GOD if we erre in any article than we haue bene from the beginning for which cause and the better to effect so happie a purpose we desier nothing more than a conuocation of a counsell frée and generall and lawful ly called wherein as euery one may haue hearing and scope to reduce his reasons at large so the same to be eyther confirmed or conuinced by the only woord of God the true meane vsed in al times of antiquitie vpon like ocâ—asion By which meane Sir also it is not to be doub ted that God by his speciall grace will not vnseale the eyes of your maiestie and so giue you spéedye and true sight into the hartes and willes of your subiects reconciled and knit with an indissoluble bond your Realme returned into his first estate beawty and dignitie to the shame and confusion of yours and our coÌ„mon enemies who by their subtill and priuie intelligences wyth the house of Spayne haue with sinister pollicyes translated the late storme and tempeste of the lowe Countreys to your Realme and almost thundered it vpon the type of your crowne humbly desiringe your maiesty to enter precise consideration and iudgement whether it be better to expecte of two armies already assembled within your realme a firy and bloudy victory yéeldinge equall frute to the conquerour and he that is ouercome or else to employe them togyther in the seruice of your maiestyes affayres in so many goodly occasions presently offered importing no lesse the rest and aduauncement of your crowne and realme than any that euer happened in your tyme returning also by that meane the storme to the place from whence it came wherin the said princes Lordes Knightes Gentlemen with all the rest of their companyes be vnfaynedly resolued as in all other thynges tendinge to the greatnesse of your Noble estate to employ their liues goods with al other meanes wherewith God had endued them euen to the last drop of their bloud acknowledging in this world no other so ueraintie or principalitie than yours in whose obedyence and subiection they â—…o desire to liue and dye The same being also such and al that a soueraigne and naturall Prince is to exspect or desire of his faithfull louing subiects and seruants This request thus deuised and written the Princes sent a trumpet to the catholikes camp to obtayne passeport for a Gentleman to go to his maiestie which being refused the Admiral found meanes to send a coppie of it to the Marshall Montmorancy to present to the King who about the xix of Iulye following returned a messenger to the Admirall to let him knowe that he had presented the requeste to his maiesty who would not looke on it sayinge he would neyther heare nor sée any thing comming from him afore he had put himselfe in obedience and fauour of his maiestie who then assured him to receiue and embrace him when and as often as he would put himselfe in endeuour To this message by letter the Admirall aunswered the. xxvi of the same moneth that séeinge his maiestye would not receyue the said request he could not otherwyse chuse than leaue the matter to the iudgement of al christian Princes not touched with passion or partial affection whither they vsed not indeuour to come vnder the dutifull obedience of his maiestie or not labouringe for their part by all their possible meanes to quench the manifold calamities houering to ouerwhelme the whole realme and so sette themselues within the fauour and grace of the king But now séeinge that there be some will not spare the vniuersall destruction of the realme onely to rauishe their lyues and erercyse of theyr religion they would looke more neare than afore for the remedy The Kinges brother being at Lohes had aduertisement of the sieege of Luzignan dispatching with all diligence the Duke of Guyse to get within Poictiers as well to hinder the taking of the towne as to turne the siéege from Luzignan notwithstanding he was ther no sooner than the castell was rendered The Duke of Guise arriued at Poytiers with the Mar quise du Meine his brother on Fryday xxii of Iuly entring by the Bridge Anioubert with his companies which were about fiftéene hundreth horsemen amoÌ„gst whom were foure hundreth Italians gouerned by the lord Paule Sforce brother to the Counte de Sainct Fiour and one Cornet of Reisters These succoures assured greatly them within the Towne who otherwayes might happely haue treÌ„bled at the comming of the Princes campe There were within Poyctiers afore the Guyses comming the Counte du Lude his thrée brethren de Chastel liers de Sautere and de Briançon the Lordes de Ruffec de la Riuiere Boisequin de Ferraques d' Argence de Rouet other lordes and Knights of the Order and Captaynes of horsemen with part of their companies There were also of footemen the companies of the Captayne 's Passac la-Prade la Vacherie d' Arsac le Lis Bois-vert Boneau Boulande Iarrie with certaine other besides vi companies of footemen raysed by the inhabitants of the town The generall number of Catholike Souldiours of all sortes as well footemen as horsemen straungers as townesmen during this siéege whereof shall be spoken hereafter were v. or vi thousand meÌ„ they had vi péeces of Artillerie as two or thrée meanes and certeyn lessâ—… péeces in the Castell The Princes after the rendering of Luzignan and afore they besieged Poyctiers tooke Monstruel Bonyn Bouché Sansay Viuone with other little Castelles about Poyctiers thereby to hold the Catholiques more strayt In which meane while the princes horssemen made ordinarie roades euen to the gates of Poyctiers burninge many Abbayes Priories and Temples The 24. day the said horsemen as wel French as Allemans presented theÌ„selues in battayl before the town on that side which is aboue the Abbay of S. Cyprieâ—… vntill very néere S. Benoit being deuided into two great hostes Certeyn horsemen of the town issued out at the gate toward the bridge Anioubert with certayn numbers of shot on foote who without any thing dooinge retired into the towne and the horsemen of the Religion into their seuerall quarters The 25. day of the same moneth the Princes foot meÌ„ and horsemen presented agayne before the town about noone The footemen gaue a hoat charge vppon the suÌ„burbes de la Cueille where the Capteyne Bois-vert with hsi companie lodged behind a little trench makinge negligent watch were sodenly set vpon and the moste part killed the rest being forced to retyre more lowe to the suburbs S. Ladre were valiantly followed by them of the religion euen to the postes and houses ioyning to the gate of the suburbes There began a hoat skirmish which lasted almost fyue houres vntill the night deuyded them they of the
charge do see that no commotion or insurrection bee against the inhabitants of the sayd Citie nor that no murder be committed as it is to be feared by those which pretend too breake the Edict of Pacification and thereby would execute a reuenge of their long and priuate grudge too our incredible vexation and anguishe of minde For this cause it is your part to giue to vnderstand and publishe throughout that Citie of ours and other places pertaining to it that euery one should quietly and peacibly kepe their houses without taking weapons in hande and offending one the other vpon payne of death and well and diligently to kepe our Edict of Pacification And if any goe about to contrarie this our intent and minde to cause them to be punished and rigorously chastised by penalties imposed on such offendours in our ordinances hauing a watchfull and diligent eye to the safegarde of that our Citie in such sort that no inconuenience arise in your seruice towards vs as you would haue vs to knowe that you are our loyal and obedient subiectes Giuen at Paris the. xxvij of August 1572. Thus signed Charles and belowe De Neuf-ville A LETTER OF THE TREASORER OF the leagues of the Switzers written by the Kings commaundement vnto the sayd Leagues of the same argument that the former letters were NOble Seigniours Monsieur de la Fontaine Ambassador for the King your assured and perfect friend and confederate and I his Treasorer in this countrey hauing commaundement of his maiestie too communicate with you as with them whome be accompteth his chiefe and sure friends of a chaunce which lately happened in the Citie of Paris his owne person and court then being there whereof he receyued so much more griefe and displeasure bycause it befell on such a time as he least feared or loked for such a thing The matter is this On the xxij day of August last the Admirall as he went from Louure was with an harquebuze shot hurte in the hande and arme whereof when his maiestie was aduertised he commaunded incontinent that search and punishment were had of the offendour and the authors of such a mischiefe whervntoo when he had readilie layde his hande by his officiers and committed the inhabitantes of the house where the harquebuze was shot to prison they which were the cause firste of the mischiefe as it maye easily bee presupposed bycause they woulde preuente the inquisition therof heaping one transgression vpon another on the. xxiij and xxiiij of the sayd moneth assembled a great troupe of people in the night and moued the people of Paris to a verie great sedition who in a rage set vpon the Admirals lodging and enforcing the Garde which his Maiestie had set for the Admirals suretie and keping slew him with certaine other gentlemen in his companie as the like also was committed vpon others in the Citie the matter growing in the verie same instant to such an o◅age and commotion that whereas his Maiestie had thought to prouide remedy for appeasing therof he had much a doe with all his Gardes to keepe his house at Louure where he lodged with the two Queenes his mother and the Spouse the Lords his brethrē the King of Nauarre and other Princes Think therefore ye noble Seigniours in what a perplexitie this yong and courageous King now standeth who as a man may saye hath helde in his hande thornes in steade of a Scepter euer since his comming to the Crowne for the greate troubles which haue almost euer since beene in his Realme and therefore by the good and wise counsell and assistāce of the Queene his mother and the Lords his brethren thought to enioy and establishe a more sure repose in his Realme and a more happie gouernement for himselfe and his subiectes after he had taken away as he thought al occasions of dissentions amōgst his subiectes by the meanes of his Edicts of Pacifications and of the mariage of the King of Nauarre to the Ladie his sister and the Prince of Conde to Madame de Neuers Besides all this to the intent nothing should be lefte vndone that mighte serue for the quieting of al things and especially for the Admirals safegard his Maiestie as euery man knoweth hath done his ind◅uour to the vttermost to appease and reconcile his principall and most daungerous enimies vnto him And so God the true iudge of the Kings Maiesties good and pure intent brought to passe that the peoples rage being quieted within a few houres euery one went home too his house and the king had speciall regard to nothing more than to see nothing attempted or innouated contrarie to his Edicts of Pacification and the repose of his subiectes aswel of the one Religion as of the other And for that purpose hath sent to diuerse of his Gouernours and Officers in his prouinces to loke diligētly to the obser◅ing of his Edictes with expresse commaundement to ◅olde their handes there that euerie one might perceyue that the chaunce at Paris happened for some priuate quarell and not for any purpose to alter his Edicts which his Maiestie wil in no wise suffer VVhich is the principal thing noble Seigniours that his Maiestie hath commaunded vs on his parte to assure you and to let you vnderstand the daungers that depende ouer him and his neyghbours not so much for this seditiō for he trusteth in God that shall growe no further and his Maiestie wil kepe his Realme in as good repose as it hath bene since his last Edict of Pacification but for the greate mustering and assembling men of warre in many places specially in the lowe countreyes where it is yet vncertaine on which side God will giue the victorie nor whither the conqueror will employ his force after his conquest VVherefore his Maiestie prayeth you continuing the good loue and intelligence which hath always bene betwixt the Crowne of Fraunce and his allied and confederate friendes the Seigniours of the Leagues too haue good regarde to him and his Realme in case that neede shall require as he wil haue to you and your prosperous estate if it bee requisite employing in the meane whyle your greate and singular wisdome to the perseruation of the vnion of the Nation in League which is the onely cause to make you not onely able to send succour to your friends but also maintaine your selues in estimation that you may be a terrour to your neighbours how great so euer they be his maiestie promising you in all occurrentes as much friendship fauour and assistance as you can desire and to be as entier and perfect a friend as euer your nation had any A DECLARATION OF THE KING CON cerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his adherents and complices happened in the Citie of Paris the. 24 of August 1572. Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Dallier Stacioner dwelling vpon S. Michaels bridge at the signe of the white Rose by the Kings licence BY THE KING HIs Maiestie desiring to haue
through all Cities and places of the sayde gouernements and as he arriueth in euery place he shall deuise tho best wayes that he can to make peace vnion and quietnesse amongst the Kings subiectes as well of the one Religion as of the other And to bring it the better about he shall gently call before him in open or priuate place as he shal see best cause for his Maiesties seruice herein the Gentlemen of the places and the Burgeses of the Cities of his gouernement that be of the Religion and shal declare vnto them cause them to vnderstand the truth of the sayd commotion least any haue misreported it too them otherwise than it was in deede And shall tell them that vnder the colour of the L. Admirals hurte wherfore his Maiestie would haue caused iustice to be done according to the good order that he had appointed the sayd Admirall and Gentlemen of his Religion which were in the Citie with him without looking for the executiō of the sayd Iustice had made a mischeuous vnhappie and detestable conspiracie against the Kings Maiesties person the Queene his mother the Lordes his brethren the King of Nauarre and other Princes and Lords with them and against the whole estate euen as certaine of the chiefe and adherents of the sayd conspiracie acknowledging their fault haue confessed VVherfore his Maiestie was constrayned to his greate griefe to resiste and preuent so mischieuous pernicious and abhominable a purpose And that which he suffered to bee done on Sunday the. xxiiij of August vpon the Admiral and his complices was not for any Religion nor to goe against the Edict of Pacification he entending neuerthelesse that they of the Religion should still liue and abyde in al libertie and safetie with their wiues children and families in their houses as he hath and will mainteyne them if they be content to liue quietly vnder his obedience as he desireth ▪ For the which cause he willeth that the Counte Charnye shall offer and giue to them his letters of safegarde in good and authentyke forme which shall bee of as good force and vertue as if they should come or be taken from his owne Maiestie and by the authoritie of them they shall bee preserued from all wrongs violences and oppressions enioyning and forbidding most expressely all his catholike subiects whatsoeuer they are to attempt nothing vpon the persons goods or families of anye of the Religion which kepe themselues quietly in their houses on paine of death And if any be so rashe or euil aduised to do against this Iniunction or too violate the safegard promysed his Maiestie willeth that readie and rigorous punishment bee done too the intent that their example may serue too holde in others not too doe the like which is the true and onely meanes of assurance that his Maiestie can giue to them of the Religion with his worde and promise which he giueth them too bee their good and benigne Prince protector and preseruer of them and of all that toucheth them so long as they liue and continue vnder his obedience without doing or enterprising any thing against his will and seruice And bycause his Maiestie hath often knowne that the enterprises and consultations taken in hand by them of the Religion against his seruice haue bene concluded amongs them at assemblies at sermons which Gentlemen had libertie to cause to bee made in their houses and Lordships therfore my L. of Charnye shall particularly giue too vnderstand to Gentlemen which were wont too haue such sermons that his Maiestie in consideration that nothing hath more moued and set on the Catholikes against those of the Religion than such preachings and assemblies and if they continue it is certaine that it wil bee a cause too encrease and mainteine the said commotions desireth that they should cause them to cease off vntil he hath otherwise prouided and appointed and that they applie themselues herevnto as a thing greatly seruing the effect of his intention which is gently to bring his sayd subiects to a true and perfect amitie vnion and concord one with another committing all diuisions and partialities to obliuiō And bycause this may seme hard at the beginning my L ▪ of Charnye shal cause it to bee faire and gently spoken to them least they enter intoo some straunge coniecture or suspition For so his sayd Maiestie would proceede in all true sinceritie towardes them which conforme themselues to his will and obedience wherin he exhorteth them to liue with all the best perswasions that he can and shall assure them in so doing to be surely maintayned and preserued as his other subiects the Catholikes as his Maiestie would that he should do And too the intent his sayd subiects the Catholikes should knowe howe to vse and behaue them selues herein my L. of Charnie shall tel thē that his maiesties pleasure neither is nor hath bene that any wrong or oppression should be done to them of the saide religion which like good and loyall subiects will gently kepe themselues vnder his obedience Declaring vnto the sayd Catholikes that if they forget themselues and burt those of the religion which in such sort behaue themselues toward his maiestie and those also which for that end haue receiued of his maiestie or of my L. of Charnie letters of safeconduite he will cause them to be punished and chastised in the fielde as trangressours of his commaundementes without any hope of grace pardon or remission VVhich the said L. of Charnie shal expresse and declare vnto thē with as plaine words as is possible cause it also to be as streightly executed And after that following his Maiesties intent he hath pacified them by this meanes which is the waye that his maiestie best liketh of and searched the direction to assure a tranquillitie betwixt the subiectes and to set some assuraunce betwixt the one and the other such as shall conforme themselues herein to his sayde maiesties will he will comfort and make them the beste and most gentle intertainement that he possibly can But if any of the Religion become selfe willed and stubborne to his Maiestie without hauing regarde to his sayde warnings and shall assemble in armes together making practises and deuises against the weale of his seruice then the L. of Charnye shall run vpon thē and hew thē in pieces before they haue power to fortifie thē selues and ioyne together And therfore he shal assemble as muche force as he can as well of the ordinarie as of other men of warre Souldiers Footemen of the garrisons and inhabitants of the Catholikes within the Cities of his gouernement and shall besiege them which holde and make themselues strong in Cities about of his gouernement so that the victorie and authoritie may remayne in his maiestie At Paris the. xxx of August 1572. Signed Charles and vnderneath Brulard THE KINGS LETTERS TO THE LORDE of Gwich wherby it may plainely be perceyued how they would search out all them of
vs to God and that their Reliques ◅re to be worshipped That the commaundemēts and traditions of the Catholike Apostolike and Romishe Churche as well they which pertaine to the forme and ceremonies of diuine ◅ruice and to assist the same which I thinke bee too drawe Christian people to pi◅ie and turning to their God as fasting absteyning from meates obseruation of holy dayes and ecclesiasticall pollicie according to the tradition of the Apostles and holye Fathers continued since the primitiue Church till this time and afterwards brought into the Church by the ordinances of councels receyued in the same of long and auncient time or of late be good and holy to the whiche I wil and ought too obey as prescribed and appointed by the holye ghost the author and directer of that which serueth for the keping of christian religion and of the catholike Apostolike and Romaine church I beleeue also and accepte all the articles of originall sinne and of Iustification I affirme assuredly that we ought too haue and kepe the images of Iesus Christ of his holye mother and all other saincts and do honor and reuerēce vnto thē I confesse the power of indulgence and pardōs to be left in the church by Iesus Christ the vse of thē to be very heathful as also I cōfesse the church of Rome to be the mother and chief of al churches and cōducted by the holy Ghost and that other pretended particular inspirations against the same come of the suggestion of the Deuill the Prince of di◅ention which woulde separate the vnion of the mysticall body of the sauiour of the worlde Finally I promise straightly too kepe all that was ordained at the last general councel of Trēt and promise to God and you neuer more to depart from the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church and if I do which God forbid I submit my selfe to the penalties of the canons of the sayd Church made ordeyned appointed against them which fall backe intoo Apostasie The which Abiuration and Confession I haue subscribed THE KINGS LETTERS TO M. DE GVISE and other Lieutenantes and Gouernors of his Prouinces by the which he wholly abolisheth and subuerteth al the Edictes of Pacification and willeth that onely the Romish Religion should take place in his Realme THe King knowing that the declaration which he made vpon the occasions which lately cha◅ced in the Citie of Paris the remembrances and instructions of his will which he sent rou◅d about to all Gouernours of his Prouinces and Lieutenants generall therin and particular letters to the Seneshals and his Courts of Parliament and other officers and Ministers of Iustice cā not hitherto staye the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the cities of this Realme to his Maiesties great displeasure hath aduised for a more singular remedie to send all the sayd Gouernours into euery of their charges and gouernements assoring him selfe that according to the qualitie and power which they haue of his Maiestie they can well followe and obserue his intent the which more fully to declare his Maiestie hath caused his letters patentes to be dispatched which shall be deliuered them Besides the contentes wherof M. de Guise the gouernour and Lieutenāt generall for his Maiestie in Champaigne and Brye shall call before him the gentlemen of the newe Religion abyding within his gouernement and shal tell them that the Kings will and intent is to preserue them their wyues children and families and to maintaine them in possession of their goods so that on their parte they liue quietly and render to his maiestie obedience and fidelitie as they ought in which doing the King also will defende them that they shall not be molested or troubled by way of Iustice or otherwise in their persons and goods by reason of things done during the troubles before the Edict of Pacificatiō of August 1570. And afterwardes he shal louingly admonish thē to cōtinue no longer in the errour of the new opinions and to returne to the Catholike Religion reconciling themselues to the Catholike Romish Church vnder the doctrine and obedience wherof Kings his predecessors and their subiects haue alwayes holily lyued and this Realme hath bene carefully conducted and mainteyned Shewing too them the mischiefes and calamities which haue happened in this Realme since th◅se newe opinions haue entred intoo mens spirites Howe manye murders haue bene caused by such which haue fallen from the right waye holden by their Auncestors First they made them separate themselues f◅om the churche then from their nex◅e of kinred and also to be estranged from the seruice of their king as a man may see since his raigne And although the authors and heades of that side would haue couered their doings vnder the title of Religion and cōscience yet their deedes and workes haue shewen wel inough that the name of religion was but a visarde to couer their driftes and disobedience and vnder that pretence too assemble and subborne people and too make and compel them to sweare in the cause vnder the title of disobedience and by suche wayes to turne them from the naturall affection whiche they owe to the King and consequently from his obedience being notorious that what commaundement so euer the King could make to them of the newe Religion they haue not since his raigne obeyed him otherwise than pleased their heads And contrariwise when their sayd heads commaunded them to arise and take to their weapons too set vpon Cities to burne churches too sacke and pill to trouble the Realme and fill it with bloud and fire they which went so astray to followe them forget all trust and duetie of good subiects to execute and obey their commaundements VVhich things if the gentlemen wil wel consider they shall easely iudge how vnhappie and miserable their condition shall bee if they continue longer therein For they may well thinke of them selues that the King being taught by experience of so greate a daunger from the which it hath pleased God too preserue him and his estate and hauing proued the mischiefes and calamities which this Realme hath suffered by the enterprises of the heads of this cause their adherentes and complices that he wil neuer willingly bee serued with any gentlemen of his subiects that be of any other religion than the Catholike in the which also the King following his predecessors wil liue and die He willeth also to take away al mistrust amōgst his subiects and to quench the rising of discordes and seditions that all they of whom he is serued in honorable places and specially the gentlemē which desire to be accōpted his good and lawfull subiects and would obtaine his fauour and be employed in charges of his seruice according to their degrees and qualities to make profession hereafter too liue in the same Religion that he doth hauing tryed that discords and ciuil warres will not cease in a state where there be many Religions and that it is not possible for
a King too maintaine in his Realme diuersities in religion but that he shall leese the good will and beneuolence of his subiectes yea and they which are of a contra◅ie Religion to his desire nothing in their hart more than the change of the King and of his estate For the reason abouesayde the Duke of Guise to bring the matter to this passe shall take paines to persuade the nobilitie and others infected with the sayde newe opinion to returne of themselues and of their owne frewil to the Catholike Religion and to abiure and renounce the new without any more expresse commaundement from the king For how so euer it be his maiestie is resolued to make his subiects liue in his Religion and neuer to suffer what so euer may betyde that there shall bee any other forme or exercise of religion in his Realme than the catholike The said Duke of Guise shal cōmunicate with the principal officers and magistrates hauing the principall charge and administration of iustice in cities of his gouernement his Maiesties declaration to the intent they should knowe his minde and the good end wherevnto he tendeth for the vniting and quietnesse of his subiects to the intent the sayde M. de Guise and the sayde officers and Magistrates should with one concorde intelligence and correspondence proceede too the effect abou◅ sayd so that fruit and quietnesse may thereof ensue such as his Maiestie desireth not only for himself but for the whole Realme The Baylifes and stuardes which are not in religiō accordingly qualified shal within one moneth resigne their offices to gentlemen capable and of the qualitie required by the Edict which may keepe and exercise the same And too the intent this should bee done his Maiestie doth nowe presently declare them depriued after the sayde moneth if they do not then resigne that they shall haue no occasion or colour of excuse to delay their resignations and yet permitteth them in the meane whyle to resigne without any fine paying Al Baylifes stuardes shal be resident at their offices vpon paine of losse of the same and if they can not so be then they shal be bound to resigne Al Archbyshops and Bishops shal likewise bee resident in their dioces and such as for age and other disposition of person can not preach the word of God nor edifie the people and do other functio◅s appe◅taining too their charge and dignitie shal be bounde to take a conductor to comfort them and to employ them selues to the duetie of their charge To the which conductour they shal appoint an honest and reasonable pension according to the fruites and r◅uenue of their liuing Also persons and vicars shall be resident at their benefices or else shall bee admonished to resigne them to such as will be resident and doe their duetie Archbyshops and Byshops shal take information of thē which holde abbeyes prioryes and other benefices in their dioces of what qualitie so euer they are and how they do their duetie in the administration of them wherevpon they shall make processe by worde vnto the Gouernours which shal sende them to the King to prouide therin as reason shall moue him They shall c◅pell the curates actually to abide at the places of their benefices or else shal appoint other in their steades according to the disposition of the Canons At Paris the iij. day of Nouember 1572. Signed Charles LETTERS OF M. DE GORDS THE KINGS Lieutenant in Daulphine too certaine of the Religion in his gouernement wherby he exhorteth them too come backe againe too the Religion of Rome and howe the King is determined too suffer none other SIr I am sufficiently aduertised of your behauior but you shuld remember what aduertisements I haue before sent you too returne too the Catholike Religion of your selfe which is the best holde stay that you can chose for your preseruation and health putting frō you all those which persuade you to the contrary who woulde abyde to see any commotion or disorder rather than abate any poynt of their opinion And by this meanes you shall make euident too the King the wil which you say you haue to obey his Maiestie counsailing you for as much as I desire your well doing that this is the best for you to do without loking for any more open commaundemēt otherwise assure your self there can but euil come of it and that his Maiestie would be obeyed And thus I pray God to aduise you and giue you his holye grace From Grenoble the sixt of December 1572. Your entire good friend Gordes THE ANSVVERE OF THE GENTLEMEN Capitaines Burgeses and other being in the towne of Rochell too the commaundementes that haue bene giuen them in the name of the King to receyue garrisons WE the Gentlemen Capitaines Burgeses and other nowe being in this towne of Rochell doe giue answere too you Mounsier N ▪ and to such commaundementes as you giue vs in the name of his Maiestie that wee can not acknowledge that that which is signified vnto vs and the Proclamation which you require that we shuld cause to be published do proceede from his Maiestie And thereof we call to witnesse his Maiestie himself his letters of the. xxij and. xxiiij of August his owne signet and the publishing of the same letters by the which his sayd Maiestie layeth all the fault of all the trouble lately happened and of the cruell slaughter done at Paris vpon those of the house of Guise protesting that he had enough to doe too keepe himselfe safe within his Castell of Louure with those of his Garde And we shall neuer suffer our selues to be persuaded that so foule an enterprise and so barbarous a slaughter hath at any tyme entred into the mind of his Maiestie much lesse that the same hath bene done by his expresse commaundement as the paper importeth which you haue exhibited vnto vs nor that his maiestie hath bene so ill aduised as himself to cut of his owne armes or too d◅sile the sacred wedding of Madame his owne sister with the sheding of so much noble and innocent bloud and with the shame of so cruell a fact to disteine the nation of Fraunce and the bloud royall which hath heretofore euer among all nations borne the name of franke and courteous nor that he hath had minde to deliuer matter to writers to set forth a tragicall historie such as antiquitie hath neuer heard speake of the like and such as posteritie can not reporte without horror But that it was first layd at Rome and afterward hatched at Paris by the authors of all the troubles of Fraunce And howsoeuer it be wee are readie too maintaine that out of the mouth of his Maiestie doth not proceede hote and cold white and black and that he doth not nowe say one thing and by and by an other as he should doe if the paper that you present vnto vs had passed from him protesting that he will inuiolably keepe his Edict and immediatly breaking