and believing after their own fashion and now the most Christian Kingdom and first-born of the Church was ready to turn Schismatick to separate it self from the obedience of the Apostolick See and the Faith of Christ only to satisfie the capritious humours of a few seditious persons Upon this subject he so enlarged himself with his wonted eloquence by which he used to prevail in all disputes that not any of the Hugonots favourers being able to answer the reasons he alledged but the King of Navarre holding his peace the Queen-mother not replying a word and the Chancellor startled and confounded it was resolved with great alacrity of all the Council who were exceedingly scandalized at the excessive license of the Hugonots that forthwith all the principal Officers of the Crown should assemble at the Parliament at Paris there in the Kings presence to debate these matters and resolve upon such remedies as were most necessary for the future It was impossible to hinder them from coming to the Parliament which was appointed upon the thirteenth day of Iuly for the King of Navarre durst not openly oppose it lest by declaring himself a Hugonot he should gain many Enemies and the Queen-Mother although she desired not to see the Catholick party increase in strength yet she was very much perplext in mind and above all things apprehensive lest the advancement and establishment of heresie should be imputed to her The contestations in the Parliament were very great and although the Protectors of the Hugonots employed their uttermost endeavours to obtain them a Decree for Liberty of Conscience by which Declaration they pretended that these stirs and dissentions would cease yet all was in vain For indeed it being clearly not only against the intention and authority of the Catholick Church but also contrary to the ancient customs of the Kingdom and the Councellors of the Parliament being exasperated by the continual complaints which were brought them from all parts against the insurrection of the Hugonots It was with a general consent expresly ordered that the Ministers should be expelled out of the Kingdom with a prohibition to use any other rites or ceremonies in Religion than what were held and taught by the Roman Church and all Assemblies and Meetings forbidden in any place either armed or unarmed unless in the Catholick Churches to hear Divine Service according to the usual â—ustom And to give some balance to the other party the same Edict contained that all Delinquencies found in matter of Religion before the publication thereof should be pardoned and that for the future all accusations or complaints of Heresie should be brought to the Bishops their Vicars or Surrogates and the Civil Magistrates to be assisting to them upon all occasions and that they should not proceed against those convict of Heresie further than banishment but abstain from any corporal punishment or effusion of blood This Deliberation comprehended in a solemn Edict approved and subscribed by the King the Queen and all the Princes and Lords of both Factions absolutely restrained the liberty of Religion and gave heart to the Catholick party which was not a little dejected But the Prince of Conde and the Admiral grieving at the depression of the Hugonots in whose number and force they had founded the strength of their Faction not able other ways to hinder the execution of the Edict which being imbraced with great affection by the Parliaments and the greater parts of the inferiour Magistrates they durst not oppose they advised to procure that the Calvinist Ministers should desire a conference in the Kings presence accompanied with his Prelates to propose and examine the Articles of their Doctrine hoping by indirect ways to bring it so about as again to introduce a liberty of Religion This demand of the Hugonots was opposed by many of the Catholick Prelates and in particular by the Cardinal of Tournon shewing that it was useless to dispute matters of Faith with men so extreamly obstinate and who persisted in opinions condemned by the Holy Church yet if they had a mind to have their reasons heard they might address themselves to the General Council at Trent where under safe conduct they should be permitted to propose and dispute their opinions But the Cardinal of Lorain was not against it either moved through hope by evident reasons to convince the Doctrine of the Hugonots and by that means disabuse the Consciences of simple people or set on as those that were emulous said with the vanity to shew his learning and eloquence and to render himself in such a publick Assembly so much the more eminent and renowned Howsoever his intentions were certain it is that he not contradicting the Ministers demand drew to his opinion the other Prelates and finally they all consented to the King of Navarre who being desirous to hear a solemn dispute for the setling of his own Conscience sollicited it with great earnestness in favour of the Hugonots Safe conducts then being sent to the Ministers that were retired to Geneva and Poissy a Town five leagues from Paris appointed the place for the conference besides the King and the Court there came thither on the Catholick party the Cardinals of Tournon Lorain Bourbon Armagnac and Guise and with the Bishops and Prelates of best esteem many Doctors of the Sorbon and other Divines sent for from the most famous Universities of the Kingdom There appeared for the Hugonots Theodore Beza head of all the rest Peter Martyr Vermeilo Francis de St. Paul Iohn Raimond and Iohn Virelle with many other Preachers which came some from Geneva some out of Germany and other neighbouring places There Theodore Beza with great flourishes of Rhetorick having first proposed his opinions and the Cardinal of Lorain with strength of Reason and authority of Scripture and of the Fathers of the holy Church strongly opposed him The Council of State thought it not fit that the King who being but young and not yet able to judge or discern of the truth should come any more to the Disputation lest he should be infected with some opinions less exact or less conformable to the Doctrines of the Catholick Church Wherefore the Dispute from being publick by degrees grew more private and finally after many meetings brake off without any conclusion or benefit at all The Catholick party got only this advantage that the King of Navarre himself remained little satisfied with the Hugonots having discovered that the Ministers agreed not amongst themselves about that Doctrine which they too unanimously preached but that some followed strictly Calvin's Opinions others inclined to the Doctrine of Ecolampadius and Luther some adhering to the Helvetian Confession others to the Augustan at which uncertainties being very much troubled from thence forward he began to leave them and incline to the Roman Religion But the Hugonots got much greater advantage by the Conference to which end only they desired it For being departed from the Diet they
Art of dissembling graciously received the Paper and with affable speeches commended the Admirals confidence in presenting to him the desires of his Subjects This Paper being read by Aubespine it appeared to be a Petition from the Hugonots by which with many tedious circumstances they desired in substance Liberty of Conscience and Temples to be assigned them in every City where they might freely exercise their Religion After the reading of which the Admiral being returned to his place and the murmur ceased which proceeded from the diverse sense that men had of this proceeding every one was appointed in order to deliver his opinion The Cardinal of Lorain of himself ardent and put on by the obligation of his calling could not forbear to answer the contents of the Petition which he termed seditious impudent rash heretical and petulant concluding that if to strike a terrour into the Kings youth it had been said that the Petition should be subscribed by 150000 seditious persons he made answer There was above a Million of honest men ready to suppress the boldness of such rebellious people and make due obedience be rendred to the Royal Majesty Whereupon the Admiral offering to reply a great contest would have followed to the hindrance of the business intended if the King imposing on them both silence had not commanded the rest to proceed in order to deliver their opinions For so much as concerned Controversies in Religion those that favoured Calvins Doctrine as there were many even among the Prelates that inclined that way proposed that the Pope should be desired to grant a free General Council where the differences in matters of Faith might be disputed and determined by common consent and if the Pope refused to grant it in such manner as was necessary for the present times and the general satisfaction of all men the King ought according to the wise example of many his Predecessors to call a National Council in his own Kingdom where under his protection those differences might be determined But the Cardinal of Lorain and the rest who constantly persevered in the Catholick Religion and were the major part in the Assembly denied that any other Council was necessary than that by the Popes order many years since begun and now newly entred into again in the City of Trent whither according to the Canons and ancient use of holy Church it was free for every body to have recourse and to bring all differences in matters of Religion to be decided by the natural competent Judges and that to call a National Council whilst the General was open would be to separate through the capriciousness of a few desperate persons a most Christian Kingdom from the union and fellowship of the holy Church that it was not necessary to look so far back For the General Council of Trent having discussed and examined the Doctrine of those Teachers that dissented from the Roman Church had already for the most part reproved and condemned it That they should endeavour by the best means that could be to purge the Kingdom and not by hopes or propositions of new Councils increase the disorders and multiply the confusions But if the manners of the Ecclesiasticks or abuses introduced into the Government of the Church of France required reformation or more severe constitutions an Assembly might be called of Divines and Prelates in which without medling with controversies in Faith those disorders might be remedied by common consent This opinion was approved by the major part of voices and finally imbraced by all Then for the concernment of the State after many Propositions and Disputes which proceeded from the divers interests Iohn de Monlâ—e Bishop of Valence having by secret order from the Queen proposed an Assembly of the States both parties willingly consented thereunto The Constable the Admiral and their faction because they hoped from that a Reformation in the Government The Queen-Mother and the Guises because they saw things go on of themselves to their own ends This consultation ended the King by his Chancellor thanked the Lords of the Assembly and forthwith Letters Patents were dispatched by the Secretaries of State to all the Provinces in the Kingdom containing That in the Month of October next they should send their Deputies to the City of Orleans there to hold a general Assembly of the States and order was likewise given to the principal Prelates that in the Month of February following they should all meet at Poissy to reform by common consent those abuses that were introduced in the Government and Ministry of the Church and to take such order that a considerable number of them should go to the general Council of Trent The Assembly ended all were licensed to return to their houses and desired to meet again at Orleans to assist at the Assembly of the States But Iaâ—ues de la Sague the King of Navarre's servant being charged with Letters of Instructions from the Constable the Admiral and the rest of the Adherents directed to his Master as soon as he left the Court returning towards Bearne being gone as far as Estampes was by secret order of the Queen stayed prisoner from whence with all his papers he was privately conveyed to Court The Letters contained only private and general compliments such as use to pass amongst friends and being examined he constantly denied that he had any other commission than what was plain to be seen by the Letters But being brought to the place of torture to draw the truth from him by force not enduring the rack he confessed That the Prince of Conde had advised and the King of Navarre in part also consented thereunto that he should leave Bearne and under pretence of coming to the Court by the way take possession of all the principal Towns thereabouts seise Paris by the help of the Constable his Son the Mareshal of Momorancy being Governour of it make Picardy revolt by means of the Lords of Senarpont and Bouchavaâ—ne and draw Britanny to his party by aid of the Duke of Estampes who being Governour of that Province had great dependances there and so armed and accompanied by the Forces of the Hugonots come to the Court and force the States to depose the Queen-Mother and the Guises from the Government and declaring the King was not out of his minority till he came to 22 years of age create his Tutors and Governours of the Kingdom the Constable the Prince of Conde and the King of Navarre He added to his confession that if they put the cover of the Visdame of Chartres Letters which were taken from him in water the characters would presently appear and they should find there all written that he had said Thus by the confession of one imployed by them and the testimony of the Letters the new designs of the Conspirators were discovered But as the discontented Princes resolved to bring in Innovations increased in power and dependents with so much the more sollicitousness and
real command and essential Government of the Kingdom to which being added the honourable release of the Prince with the suppression of his enemies and hope to recover an estate befitting his quality and birth there was not any doubt at all to be further made They added that their affairs for the present were in so doubtful a condition that putting themselves upon the rigour of the Laws against such potent enemies and with the prejudice of their past machinations it was rather to be feared they would be utterly ruined than advanced to those honours they desired that the States then at Orleans depended wholly upon the Queens will and the Guises by whose means they were with great regard assembled for which cause they were for the most part united and joined with them wherefore it was greatly to be feared if their cause were remitted to the arbitrement and determination of the States that they being incensed by their former practices would exclude the Princes of the Blood from the Government and commit it to the Guises as persons they could more confide in upon which would follow the inevitable destruction of the whole family of Bourbon That it was necessary to stop this precipice with moderate Counsels and shewing they desired nothing but what was just and reasonable by yielding to the Laws clear themselves from suspition and their former contumacy and although the change proposed with the Catholick King were very uncertain and doubtful yet it would be great imprudence any way by pretending to the Government of other States to weaken the hopes of recovering his own and the inheritance belonging to his children These reasons wrought upon the King of Navarre of himself inclined to such kind of thoughts but he was spurred on to the contrary by the instigation of the Prince his Brother though rather with a violent passion of revenge than any founded reason Notwithstanding there being joined to that party which perswaded an accord the authority of the Duke of Montpensier and the Prince de la Rochesur-yon both of the same family of Bourbon but who being many degrees removed from the Crown had not interested themselves in these late businesses the King of Navarre inclining to come to an agreement with the Queen proposed by the saâ—e persons that treated the Accommodation besides the three Conditions offered two others The first that the Guises should be deprived of all places of command at Court The other that Liberty of Conscience should be granted to the Hugonots When Calvins Doctrine was first preached the seeds thereof were planted in the family of Henry King of Navarre and Margaret his wife father and mother to Iane the present Queen and as the minds of those Princes were ill-affected to the Apostolick See being deprived of their Kingdom under pretence of Ecclesiastical Câ—nsures thundred out by Pope Iulio the Second against the Kingdom of France and the adherents of the same with which Navarre was then in confederacy so it was likeliest they should apply themselves to that Doctrine which opposing the Authority of the Roman Bishop by consequence concluded those Censures invalid by vertue whereof they had lost their Kingdom Wherefore the Ministers so they call them of Calvins Religion frequenting the house of those Princes and there teaching their Opinions they made such an impression in Queen Iane that departing from the rights of the Catholick Church she had wholly entertained and embraced the Religion of the Hugonots Whereupon being married to Anthony of Bourbon at the present King of Navarre she not only continued in the same belief but had in great part drawn her Husband to that Opinion being besides perswaded by the zealous eloquence of Theodore Beza Peter Martyr Vermeil and other Teachers that went freely into Bearne to preach their new Doctrine And the Prince of Conde the Admiral and other principal men of the Faction of the Princes of the Blood having at the same time partly through Conscience partly through interests of State embraced those Opinions with so much the greater constancy the King of Navarre persevered to continue the protection of the Hugonots For this cause he desired of the Queen in the Treaty of Accommodation between them that Liberty of Conscience might be granted to the Calvinists and she who thought all other things inferiour to the evident danger wherein she saw the Kingdom to be lost both to her sons and her self not to interrupt the Treaty of agreement would not absolutely deny those two Conditions though very hard ones but shewing that to deprive the Guises of their charges at Court was immediately contrary to the Accord then in agitation and to the thought of reducing the wavering estate of the Kingdom into peace and repose for they being armed and powerful would never suffer so great and manifest an affront but joining with the Catholick Faction and the greater part of the States would to maintain their dignity soon have recourse to Arms notwithstanding she obliged her self that with time and art she would continually lessen their authority and power which they being by degrees deprived of their Governments would soon fall to nothing And for so much as concerned the liberty of the Hugonots being a thing of too great importance to be granted upon so little deliberation and which the Parliaments and the States themselves would undoubtedly oppose she was content to promise secretly that governing by common consent with the King of Navarre she would by indirect by-ways and upon the emergencies of occasions which might happen every day so work under-hand that by little and little they should in great part obtain their desires The Queen promised these things being forced by the present necessity yet with an intent when the Government was established and the King of Navarre appeased to observe none of them but delaying the execution of them with her wâ—nted artifices at length with dexterity to render them altogether vain For she thought it not expedient for her own interests and the preservation of her sons wholly to suppress the Guises who served marvellously to balance the power of the Princes of the Blood and to permit a Liberty of Conscience she knew it would not be done without great scandal to the Apostolick See and all other Christian Princes nor without great disorder and dissention in the Kingdom but reserving many things to the benefit of time and future industry she endeavoured by all manner of means to provide for and remedy the present distractions Now the Accommodation being in a manner confirmed upon these Conditions the King of Navarre declared that he would not conclude any thing without the consent and authority of the Constable who was already near upon his arrival so that it was necessary to return to the old arts to overcome this last impediment esteemed by many no less difficult to master than the former Wherefore the Queen who very well knew the nature and inclination of the Constable thought by restoring
divulged abroad that they hâ—d made good their Opinions convinced the Catholick Doctors confounded the Cardinal of Lorain and gotten licence from the King to preach Whereupon they began of their own authority to assemble themselves in such places as they thought most convenient for their purpose and to celebrate their preachings publickly and were frequented with such a confluence of the Nobility and common people that it was not possible any longer to suppress or hinder them And if the Magistrates molested them in their Congregations or the Catholicks attempted to drive them out of their Temples they were grown to that insolence that without respect of any authority they took arms to right themselves Whereupon cruel contentions arising with the name of Heretick and Papist the whole Kingdom was turned up-side down the Magistrates opposed in their Jurisdictions the People disquieted the Collectors for the Kings Revenue not suffered and in the midst of a full peace were seen the effects of a tacite but destructive War Those that sate at the Helm moved with this necessity and finding that the severity of the Edict of Iuly had rather increased than diminished the disorders they called another Assembly of all the Eight Parliaments of the Kingdom to consider the state of every particular Province and by common consent to make such Ordinances as should be thought most expedient for the setling of this business Which continually varying with the interest of State and passions of great men it is no marvel though after so many and such divers orders taken it became more confused and disordered For through inconstancy and often change it could not receive that form which proceeds only from constancy and an exact obedience to the supreme power This Assembly met in Paris in the beginning of the year 1562 where the Queen consenting as altogether intent to balance the Factions and not to suffer the one to advance or to oppress the other lest she should remain a prey to that which got the superiority and most of the Council approving it partly perswaded that so great a multitude moved with the zeal of Religion could not easily be restrained partly moved with pity to see so much blood spilt unprofitably that famous and so much celebrated Edict of Ianuary was made by which was granted to the Hugonots a free exercise of their Religion and to assemble at Sermons but unarmed without the Cities in open places and the Officers of the place being present and assistant The Parliaments though at first they refused to accept this Edict and the Magistrates greatly opposed it notwithstanding by reiterated Orders from the King and his Council it was at length registred and published by way of provision with this express clause and condition Until such time as the general Council or the King himself should order it otherwise This Edict dismayed the Heads of the Catholick party and not willing that the World should believe they consented to what was done the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Cardinals amongst which the Cardinal of Tournon was lately dead with the Mareshals of Brissac and S. Andre left the Court already contriving how they might hinder the execution of the Edict and oppose the Hugonot Faction But because they saw that whilst the King of Navarre stood united with the Regent they had no manner of right to intermeddle with the Government of the Kingdom and therefore whatsoever they should do would prove of no effect they proposed to themselves to dissolve that union And knowing that the Queens thoughts and intentions were disposed to continue with the same power till her Son came of age they thought it more easie to gain the King of Navarre It hindred not but rather advanced the design that they were absent from the Court. For the business being of such difficulty and length it might be managed with the greater secresie and there came in under hand to treat it Hippolito d' Est Cardinal of Ferrara the Popes Legate and Don Iuan Manriquez Ambassador from the Catholick King who being favoured by the Counsellors of that Faction found an easie way to promote their intentions The King of Navarre was already very much averse to the Hugonots Religion by reason of the different opinions he found amongst those of that sect about the points in controversie Wherefore after the conference held at Poissy having there not found the same constancy in Theodore Beza and Peter Martyr Vermeil which they used to shew in their Sermons when no body opposed them he sent for Doctor Baldwin a man skilled in holy Scripture and versed in the disputes of Religion by whom he was wholly taken off from the Helvetian and Augustan Confession and perswaded to re-unite himself to the Religion taught in the universal Catholick Church And although he consented to the Edict of Ianuary he did it rather through an old opinion That mens Consciences were not to be forced and through the perswasions of those who affirmed that it was a means to quiet the troubles and tumults in the Kingdom than for any particular liking of it having already an intent to reconcile himself with the Church Which inclination of his being known to many by means of his near Counsellors of late disposed to serve secretly the Catholick party it gave courage to the Legate and the Spanish Ambassador to enter into their proposed Treaty But to accompany the Spiritual Considerations with profit and Temporal Interests they jointly proposed that repudiating Queen Iane his wife with a Dispensation from the Pope by reason she was manifestly tainted with Heresie the Guises should obtain for him the Queen of Scotland their Neece widow to Francis the second who besides her youth and excellent beauty brought with her a Kingdom But seeing that through love to her children he consented not to the Divorce they went about to introduce that Treaty so often proved vain to give him with certain Conditions the Isle of Sardinia for Navarre knowing that it was the trial which as it touched nearest would work most inwardly with him And although the hopes thereof were almost quite lost yet the Treaty being never absolutely broke off the Ambassador Manrique with the wonted arts began so effectually to revive the thoughts and belief of it that he was soon raised to new hopes For besides the ordinary assurances of the Catholick Kings affection they were gone so far that they already treated the manner of the change and the quality of the Tribute that in acknowledgment of superiority he should pay to the Crown of Spain seriously disputing upon the Capitulations and Articles of Agreement as if the Treaty were meant really to be effected That which furthered the Catholicks design was his natural inclination by which he was disposed to plain honest counsels It availed them that he began to discover the passions and interests which were covered under the vail of Christian charity and the cloke of Religion
the other of Foot under the conduct of Andelot and the third mingled both with Horse and Foot which he commanded himself he marched with great silence and expedition to assault the Enemies Camp about midnight But fortune frustrated his design for though the way were plain through a free open Country yet the guides that led the first Squadron either through treachery or amazedness or else through ignorance losing their way they so wandred up and down that the next morning at break of day he found that he was advanced but little more than a league from the place whence he set out over night and still two great leagues from the Kings Camp Notwithstanding necessity compelling to attempt the greatest difficulties the Commanders resolved to pursue their design and the same order to perform that in the day which they could not effect in the night But Monsieur d' Anville who with the light horse quartered in the front of the Kings Army having presently advertisement by his Scouts of their coming had by shooting off two pieces of Cannon given notice thereof to the Camp that lay behind him Whereupon the Souldiers and Gentlemen running from all parts to their colours he going before to make good the high-way that they might have time to put the Army in order having divided his Horse into divers little Squadrons began to skirmish fiercely with the first Troops of the Hugonots By reason whereof they being forced to march slowlier and closer together often making halts through the heat of the skirmish and not to disoâ—der themselves in the face of the Enemy the King of Navarre had more commodity of time to get his men together and to order them for a Battel So the Princes Army still advancing and the King of Navarre ranging his men in a Battalia upon the plain but with the Camp behind them at the last about noon both Armies faced one another that there was nothing between them but a little plain without any manner of impediment But though the Ordnance plaid fiercely on both sides yet no body advancing to begin the battel it was perceived the Commanders were not of opinion to fight For the Prince who thought to have surprised the Catholicks on a sudden before they could either get together or put themselves in order seeing them all together and drawn out in excellent order for the Battel and not believing that his men who were but newly raised would be able to stand against the Kings Foot that were all choice old Souldiers had more mind to retreat than to fight And the King of Navarre who knew that within a few days his forces would be increased would not in absence of the other Catholick Lords expose himself without any provocation to the hazard of a Battel Wherefore after they had stood still facing one another at least three hours the Prince retiring more than a league backwards quartered with his Army at Lorges a little Village in Beausse and the King of Navarre drew off his men but in much better order to the place where they encamped before The same evening arrived from Chasteadune at the Army the Constable and the Duke of Guise being sent for in great haste and causing all the Guards to be doubled they commanded quite thorow the Quarters at every hundred paces great piles of wood to be made which being set on fire if the enemy came to assault them by night the Souldiers might the better see what they were to do and the Canoneers how to point their Ordnance Which orders being known to the Prince of Conde and finding that the enemy was not to be surprized after he had stayed three days at Lorges the second day of Iuly in the morning he rose with all his Army and went to take Baugency a great walled Town and with the pillage thereof to refresh his Souldiers which were in great want of money and not over-abounding with victuals Nor was the enterprise of any great difficulty for the wall being battered with four peeces of Cannon brought thither for that purpose and an assault given in another part by the Regiment of Provensals at a certain breach they made by sapping it was taken the same day and sackt with great slaughter of the inhabitants Whilst the Hugonots assaulted Baugency there arrived at the Kings Army ten Cornets of German Horse led by the Rhinegrave and six thousand Swisses under the conduct of Ierosme Freulich a man for experience and valour of great esteem among his own Nation With which Forces the Catholick Lords designed without any delay to set upon the Enemies Army But the Prince of Conde being advertised of the arrival of those foreign supplies having slighted Baugency that the Catholicks might make no use of it in great haste retired to Orleans absolutely quitting the field without making any other attempt In Orleans it was no longer possible to keep the Army together partly through want of money to give the Souldiers their pay without which being shut up in the Town they could not possibly live partly because the Nobility that followed the War as Voluntiers having spent what they brought with them could no longer subsist Wherefore having called a Council the chief of the Hugonots determined to turn this necessity to their best advantage For not being able to resist the Kings Army with the Forces they then had nor to remain shut up within those walls they took a resolution to separate themselves into divers places and to defend those Towns and fortresses which they held in other parts of the Kingdom in this manner subsisting as well as they might until they could have such aids from their friends and confederates that they might again meet the Enemy in the field Their chief hopes of Succours were from the Protestant Princes of Germany so they call those who separated from the Catholick Church do follow the opinions of Luther and from Elizabeth Queen of England not only an adherent to the same Religion but also desirous through the ancient Maxims of that Nation to have some footing in the Kingdom of France The Princes of Germany had already freely promised them their aid and there wanted nothing but only to send Commanders and Money to conduct and pay the Souldiers But the Queen of England proposed harder and more difficult conditions without which she denied to afford them any Succours For she offered to imbrace the protection of the Confederates and to send into France an Army of eight thousand Foot with a great train of Artillery at her own charge and to maintain it there till the War were fully ended that at the same time with her Fleet mann'd with Land-forces she would invade the Coasts of Normandy and Brittany to divert and divide the Kings Forces but upon these terms That the Confederates should promise in recompence to cause Calais to be restored to her a strong place situated upon the narrow Sea in Picardy held many
upon the mindes of such as were discontented and that th e Duke of Mayenne would give to all very large conditions But if the King was tormented with these doubts and involved in these cares the mindes of particular men were no less troubled and perplexed for the Hugonots doubted that the King would make more account of attaining to the Crown than of persevering in their Religion and therefore feared he would easily reconcile himself to the Church and the Catholicks seeing him environed by du Plessis Mornay des Amours a Minister and the Sieur de la Noue and many others who were firm Calvinists and calling to mind past experiences believed he would not forsake that Religion and those men with whom he had lived long and sustained the difficulties of his adverse fortune and many of each Religion were drawn and byassed by diverse several interests The affairs of the Army being so uncertain and distracted the Catholicks who were the greater part gathered themselves together the night before the third of August to consult what resolution they should take Here their opinions were different for many thought best to follow and uphold the Crown by all means in the King of Navarre that they might not wrong the justness of his Cause and violate the Salique Laws but conserve the Kingdom in the lawful Succession They said that by doing otherwise it was necessary either to divide the Kingdom among so many Petty-Kings as there were armed Princes and Pretenders or else submit themselves to the rule and arbitrement of strangers That this was the true way to foment discord and make the Civil Wars perpetual to the destruction of the publick and of every particular man and to expose their common Country to new dangers fatal accidents and most cruel slaughters That the hand of God was plainly seen which favouring the justice of his Cause had in an opportune conjuncture armed him with Forces reconciled him with his good Subjects and put him miraculously in a condition to be able to attain to and defend his Crown That it was a pious thing to follow the Motives and Disposals of Heaven and to leave the care of future matters to Divine Providence That by the Laws of God Princes were to be born withal and not to be despoiled of their Rights and Inheritance for any particular defect That the King of Navarre was an ingenuous Prince full of clemency modesty and sincerity That in him there was no cause to fear a violent or tyrannical power but to hope for a good and lawful Government and liberty of Life and Conscience which he till then had granted to every one That finally it was a thing unworthy of the French Name and Nobility to adhere to Rebels who had impiously imbrued their hands in the bowels of their Prince and with manifest wrong and violence endeavoured to deprive and despoil the Blood Royal of the lawful Succession of the Crown But on the contrary That it was an action worthy the name of Cavaliers which they professed to vindicate their just blood unjustly shed by his Subjects and to maintain the true and lawful Heirs of the Crown in the possession of the Kingdom The Authors of this opinion were the Sieur de Rambouillet the Baron de Giury and especially the Duke of Longueville But many others argued on the contrary side That they ought to observe Divine before Humane Laws and that the health of the Soul was alwayes to precede transitory worldly things that the respect of Religion in the Succession of Kings was antient For that depends upon the Law of Nature and this upon the Particular Constitutions and Positive Rights of Nations That the example of England was very near and remarkable where the Princes alteration of Religion had caused the destruction of the Catholicks and the alienation of the whole Kingdom from the Apostolick See That the miseries of Wars and the calamities they bring along with them might be ended in a short time but the danger of losing their Faith and Souls extended it self to their Children and Grand-children and to their whole posterity for ever which would receive an eternal loss and prejudice by their present connivence That it was true Princes were to be born withal though wicked and of a different Religion buâ— that was meant by such as were already placed and established in the Throne not of such as were to be received and established anew That the King of Navarre had by many means with a thousand intreaties and redoubled reasons been perswaded by the States-General and by the earnest desire of the late King to change his Religion and yet could never be drawn from Calvinism And if he would not leave it in his extream necessity it was not to be hoped that he would do it in the prosperity of fortune That what was said of his nature and qualities were very true but that he was so exceedingly affected to his Religion that he would think he did well in forcing mens Consciences And though he had not a tyrannical mind yet one of a different nature might perchance succeed him That at that present it was fit to foresee the future and not to alienate a most Christian Kingdom from its obedience to the Pope and from the Fellowship of the Church of God This Argument was held by Monsieur d' O the Sieur de Manuy his Brother Monsieur d'Entraguos Dompiere rhe Field-Marshal and the greater number of the Assembly Between these two contrary opinions arose a third as it were in the middle of the balance held by the Mareschal de Biron the Duke of Luxembourgh the Duke of Espernon and the wisest among them That the King of Navarre should be declared King of France and that they should serve and uphold him in that quality but upon assurance that he would change his Religion and embrace and maintain the Roman Catholick Faith And this motion was drawn from the Will and Prudence of their dead King who at his death had declared him lawful Successor but had also at the same time admonished him that he should never be King in peace if he embraced not the Roman Religion This resolution was in a manner generally followed and charge was given to those that had proposed it to let the King understand with all modesty what they had determined The Duke of Luxembourg accompanied with the rest carried the Message and told him That the Princes Lords and Officers of the Crown together with the Catholick Nobility that was in the Army which were the greatest and best part of the Kingdom were ready to acknowledge him King of France to serve and maintain him against every one since God and Nature had called him to the Crown by a lawful Succession But withal they besought him that for the general contentment and reasonable satisfaction of all his Subjects for the good peace and tranquillity of his Kingdom for the honor of his own Person and for
still with continual pains and exceeding great charge he endeavoured to subdue the City of Geneva the basis and foundation of Calvinism he laboured to win the protection of the Legate who not being well informed how matters went did not take notice that the Duke brought on his pretensions that way because he had no better prop to uphold them and strove to get into favour with the Pope and Legate to draw supplies from them of men and money whereby he might bring those of Geneva under his yoke and fortifie and establish himself in the possession of the Marquesate of Saluzzo against whosoever should at last be elected and acknowledged King of France wherein he saw he could not have a more safe Protector than the Pope But the Cardinal Legate being come into France was not long before he found effects contrary to his opinion for having sent to require Colonel Alfonso Corso not only to forbear molesting Grenoble and Valence which Cities alone held for the League in Dauphine but also that as a Catholick and a Stranger he should forsake the King's party and joyn with the Vnion that trial proved vain for the answer he received was That he was indeed a Catholick and an obedient Son to the Apostolick See in Spiritual things but that having made his fortune as a Soldier in the service of the King of France he could not desist from following him and following him he was bound to do that to Grenoble and Valence which he thought fit for the affairs of the Prince whom he served By which answer the Legat was a little dashed who was so much the more troubled when being come to Lyons he found the business of the League in such disorder by the King 's prosperous success that he was so far from obtaining any thing else that he could neither have security nor convoy to prosecute his journey for the Count of Brissac appointed at first by the Duke of Mayenne to meet him and secure his passage was necessitated to face about and imploy himself in the affairs of Normandy and Monsieur de la Bourdaiâ—iere to whom that Commission was given afterward had been defeated by the King's Forces under the command of the Sieur de Pralin near Bar upon the Seine so that being reduced into very great perplexity he knew not by what resolution to steer his course so various were the things that represented themselves to his consideration The Duke of Nevers being retired home and not interessed on either side invited him to come into his State where standing neuter as befitted one that represented the Apostolick See he might freely take those wayes that should appear most convenient to him and this determination seemed to agree with the Popes intentions and instructions On the other side the Duke of Mayenne ceased not to sollicite him to come to Paris shewing him that without the authority of his name and without those helps which were hoped for from him the League was in danger to be dissolved and to be subdued by the King's Forces and by consequence not only the City of Paris but all the rest of the Kingdom would remain oppressed by the Hugonot party The King did not at all despair but that if he could not be wrought to come into the places under his obedience he might at least be perswaded to stay in some Neutral Town out of the way and perchance to go to the City of Avignion till he saw the issue of the Duke of Luxembourgs Embassie at Rome to forward which hopes he had caused to be published That if the Popes Legat who was reported to be coming should take his journey toward him every one should receive honor and reverence him taking care neither to offend him nor any of his followers and should by all means give him safe conduct and security But if he went towards the quarters of the League he did expresly forbid every one to acknowledge him for a Legat or to receive him into those places that were under his obedience upon pain of Rebellion But the Legat did not only think it unsafe to go to the Duke of Nevers a weak Prince who had neither Fort nor principal City wherein he might shelter himself from the snares of the Hugonots and unhandsome to return back But also he esteemed it much more indecent and prejudicial to abandon the Catholick party and by that demonstration utterly to confound and deject the mindes of those who were for the League with a manifest increase of the King's Forces and reputation from whence a greater mischief would have followed in Spiritual then in Temporal Matters because to the Popes dishonor the Catholick party would have been abandoned through his default and the King who at that time for fear of his enemies made shew both in words and actions that he would turn Catholick would be left free with power to do what he pleased without respect of any Body and finally he thought with himself that he was come into France not onely to compose the Discords but principally to endeavor the suppression of the King of Navarre an enemy to the Church and the election of a new King depending wholly upon the Pope as a friend and confident to the Kingdom of Spain This opinion had so much power with him that being grounded upon decency and not finding any obstacle to the contrary in his Commission he resolved at last to satisfie the party of the League and to go on without delay to Paris Wherefore seeing the Duke of Mayenne extreamly taken up with Military employments he sent Monsignor Bianchetti to the Duke of Lorain to demand a Convoy of him for his safe passage which being obtained without difficulty passing by Dijon and Troys he came upon the Twentieth day of Ianuary into the City of Paris being received with most solemn pomp and lodged in the Bishops Palace richly and sumptuously furnished with the King's stuff taken out of the Lodgings of the Louvre At his arrival he caused the Popes Breve of the Fifteenth of October to be published wherein after an honorable commemoration of the merits of the Kingdom of France toward the Apostolick See and of the reciprocal benefits and kind demonstrations of it towards the most Christian Kings in all times and after having compassionately deplored the present troubles and calamities he attested that with the counsel of the Cardinals he had chosen Cardinal Gaetano Legat to the Kingdom of France with power to use by the Divine assistance all means which by him should be thought fit to protect the Catholick Religion to recall Hereticks into the bosome of the Church to restore the peace and tranquillity of the Kingdom and finally to procure that under one onely good pious and truly Catholick King the people of the Kingdom might to the glory of God live in quietness and tranquillity after so many dangers and calamities of War Wherefore he did pray and exhort all the Orders
Forces to return and raise the siege which he was certain if they had but patience to suffer a little inconveniency would in the end prove vain and fruitless That in his stead he would leave his brother the D. of Nemours a youth of wonderful high courage and his Cousin the Chevalier d' Aumale to command the Soldiers and have care of the Military part of their defence and for other things the Cardinal-Legat and the Ministers of the Catholick King being there and seconded by the ardent zeal of the Council of Sixteen he could not doubt but all things would be managed with that prudence which need required That to shew how little he feared the City could fall into the Enemies hands and for a pledge of the speedy relief which he meant to make ready for them he would leave his Mother Wife Sister and Children in the City to bear part in that fortune which the Citizens should run That finally there being nothing else requisite but to perswade the people and resist the greediness of the belly he could not doubt of a happy issue with the exaltation of the League and total subversion of his enemies All of them commended his advice and the Heads of the people promised to keep united and constant in defending the place to the last man beseeching him onely to use all the speed he could possibly to prevent the extremities of the peoples sufferings who for Religion and in hope of his promises disposed themselves boldly to meet all those many weighty dangers which they saw hang over their heads The next day the Duke departed towards Picardy to meet with the D. of Parma General for the Catholick King in the Low-Countries knowing that to be the principal point and that if the Spaniards lent not their assistance in a considerable manner to him it would be a very difficult business to get a sufficient Army to raise the siege and relieve Paris and in the City they began with infinite diligence to repair the Walls to scowre the Moats to cast up Works to dispose their Artillery to arm the People and principally to provide whatsoever they possibly could against the imminent necessity of hunger In the mean time Manâ—e and Vernon had yielded themselves to the King since the Victory in which places he was constrained to stay longer than he intended for the extremity of ill weather and continual abundance of Rain had not onely overflowed the fields and made the wayes exceeding deep but had made it impossible to lie in the Field or march with Cannon and Baggage for men and horses could hardly save themselves and be secure within the shelter of houses In which time notice came to the King of another encounter which had happened in the Province of Auvergne near the Wall of Issoire where the Sieurs de Florat and Chaseron who were for him had routed and slain the Count of Randan who commanded for the League and with the death of about Two hundred of the Enemy had made themselves masters of the place Nor was it long before other news came from the Country of Mayne where Guy de Lansac who commanded the party of the League and the Sieur d' Hertre Governor of Alancon Head of the King's Forces charging one another had not altered the wonted event of things but Lansac Three hundred of his men being slain and the rest dispersed was fain to save himself by flight leaving the King's Forces master of the field in those parts These several disasters the news whereof came to Paris one upon the neck of another did much perplex the thoughts of those that governed but above all of the Cardinal-Legat upon whose shoulders lay the weight of all present affairs every one thinking that he as one that represented the Pope's person should in a cause wherein Religion was the principal object give supplies both of Men and Money for the relief of that adversity which the League was in at that time and the Duke of Mayenne complained publickly concerning it and wrote freely to the Pope that his backwardness to help so necessary a Cause was the principal occasion of all those evils The Spanish Ministers made the same lamentations being of opinion that the Legat was the cause the Catholick King was not satisfied in his demands and that while he neglecting his own businesses succoured the danger of Religion with Men and Money the Pope keeping his Purse close and nourishing ambiguous thoughts in his mind did neither send those necessary supplies which he had often promised nor consent to the satisfaction of the Catholick King who if his just demands had been yielded to would have employed his utmost Forces for the common benefit Nor were the Parisians backwarder in complaints than the rest who groaning under their present necessities and the extraordinary scarcity of provisions did importunately beg to be assisted by the Legat and relieved by the Pope since they did all and suffered all for the Catholick Faith and for the service of the Holy Church so that the Legat being surrounded by these troubles was in wonderful great anxiety of mind which was augmented to the extremity when he understood that by the Duke of Luxembourg's arrival and negotiation the Pope was almost utterly withdrawn from the designs of the League and moreover that he seemed ill satisfied at his being gone on to Paris and that he had not rather stayed in some neutral place as a disinteressed Mediatour between both parties and as a labourer for such a Peace as might be effected without danger or damage to the Catholick Religion The Duke of Luxembourg was gone to Rome with the name of Ambassador from the Catholicks that followed the King but indeed to see if he could reconcile the King himself to the Pope and to the Church and to take away those opinions which being spread abroad by those of the League were generally believed of him that he was an obdurate Heretick a persecutor of the Catholiks obstinate and disobedient to the Apostolick See and a perverse enemy to the Church Wherefore having first made a little stay at Venice to determine with that Senate what manner of proceeding was to be held all things being resolved on with most prudent advice he continued on his way boldly to Rome where having in his first audience by the dexterousness of his carriage introduced the Cause of the Catholicks into his discourse he excused them for following the King attributing it to be an advantage to the Catholick Religion not to abandon the lawful King in the hands of the Hugonots but to hold him on with protestations of service and win him by modest seasonable instances to return into the bosome of the Church which would absolutely have been despaired of if being forsaken by them he had been necessitated to have cast himself as a prey to Hereticks he began afterwards to let the Pope know those interests which under a cloke of Piety and under
more unwilling was he to allow them any space to take breath and the more he saw the Lords of the League intent upon gaining time to get Armies and Supplies the more did he enter into a secure hope within a while to obtain the City of Paris by means of a siege without danger and without blood Wherefore all things proving contrary to the Bishops design he procured to confer personally with the King but in such manner as it might seem to have hapned by chance and not to have been sought by him which having spoken of to the Abbot del Bene he brought to pass that the King should go forth betimes in the morning a hunting and that the Bishop should depart a little later to return to Paris so that they met as it were accidentally upon the way which incounter began with kind salutations and then riding together a good part of the way the Bishop entred into the discourse which he had intended to make exhorting the King to his conversion and to return into the bosom of the Church To which the King having made his wonted answers That he was not obstinate but would be made capable of the truth by those circumstances of times persons and places which were fitting nor would he be driven by force or the threatnings of his Enemies but be drawn by the Grace and Inspiration of God The Bishop replied The best means for that would be a Truce wherein the commotions of mens minds kindled by the exercise of Arms ceasing he might have opportunity to receive instruction and to do with honour and deliberation whatsoever was needful But as soon as the King heard him motion a Truce he answered with a loud voice That if he had been a good Venetian he would not have given him that counsel but that these were the devices of Cardinal Gaetano who shewed himself a much better Spaniard than a Church-man And here he began to complain very much of him that carrying himself differently from the Popes Commission he had declared himself his Enemy at his entry into the Kingdom and made his residence in that City which was Head of the contrary party whereas it had been fit for him that represented the Apostolick See to have stood Neutral and to have endeavoured and procured a Peace by his good counsel and by actions conformable to right and his profession which then would have had more credit but that now terrified by the present danger or else co-operating with the designs of the Spaniards he sought not to introduce Peace but to frustrate the effects of his labours and the fruits of his Victories while the League might gain time to recover strength and thâ—t therefore he was not disposed to give any ear unto it With which words they parted and the Bishop returned with this final answer to Paris But at his return all hope of Truce failing they set their minds with so much the more sollicitousness to make necessary provisions to sustain the strict siege which the Enemy was preparing The people was already disposed by the long exhortations of their Preachers and the earnest negotiation of those that governed to endure the siege and hazard their lives rather than their consciences being wrought upon by the frequent Decrees of the Sorbonne and by the Declarations and Protestations of the Cardinal-Legat that an Agreement could not be treated with the Hereticks without damnation and that a King of a different Religion obstinate in his opinion a Persecutor of the Church and an Enemy to the Apostolick See was not to be received By these opinions which every hour were thundered out of the Pulpits and discoursed of in meetings mens minds were so effectually moved and confirmed that they were not only ready to suffer constantly the danger and toil of bearing Arms and that which was much more evident and more terrible the extream misery of an enraged hunger but moreover they could not so much as endure any one that durst hold or affirm the contrary so that many who let slip some words that it was better to make an Accommodation than starve for hunger and that Peace was better than a Siege were by the fury of the people either executed in publick or cast headlong into the River as damned persons Enemies of the Catholick Faith and infected with the poison of Heresie This constancy was augmented by the presence of the Cardinal-Legat the residence of the Dutchesses of Nemours Montpensier and Mayenne the forwardness and vigour of the Duke of Nemours and Chevalier d' Aumale and much more by the most certain hopes which the Duke of Mayenne gave them every hour by effectual Letters that he would relieve the City powerfully within a few weeks The Heads being desirous to increase and confirm this inclination of the people by some outward circumstances a great solemn Procession was made by order from the Cardinal-Legat to implore Gods assistance in those present necessities in which Procession the Prelats Priests and Monks of the several Religious Orders walked all in their accustomed habits but besides them armed openly with Corslets Guns Swords Partezans and all kind of Arms offensive and defensive making at once a double shew both of devotion and constancy of heart prepared to defend themselves which Ceremony though to many it seemed undecent and ridiculous was yet of great use to augment and confirm the courage of the common people who saw the same men that exhorted them with words to stand it out prepared and armed to hazard the same dangers and unanimously to undergo the same sufferings Thus sometimes even the vainest slightest things help forward the most weighty important thoughts and designs After this Procession they made another of all the Magistrates of the City and among the Ceremonies of it the Duke of Nemours their Governour and other Commanders of the Souldiers and the Magistrates of the people swore publickly in the great Church to defend the City to the last man nor ever to incline to yield or make an Agreement with an Heretick Prince for any calamity danger sufferance or necessity whatsoever that should fall upon them There were in the City two hundred chosen Horse commanded by the Sieur de Vitry the Duke of Nemours his Company of Gens d' Arms and that of Chevalieur d' Aumale one hundred Harquebusiers on horseback and eight hundred French Foot part whereof hath been in Melun with the Sieur de Forone five hundred Swisses and one thousand and two hundred of those German Foot that were levied by the Count Collalto commanded by the Baron of Erbestein But the foundation of their defence consisted in the union and constancy of the people which infinitely numerous and now by long use accustomed to Arms being disposed under their Magistrates and divided into several Bands according to the division of their Quarters presented themselves voluntarily and ready for all encounters and by the example of the Priests and Friers
points they repeated and alleadged those reasons for which it was just and convenient to receive and satisfie him The Pope being between two contrary respects one not to alienate nor offend the Catholick King the other not to lose the obedience of the Kingdom of France went very warily and endeavoured that time the course of things patience and dexterity might unloose that so difficult and so dangerous knot He knew that those that took part with the King of France had reason on their side that at length there was enough said and enough done to assure the sincerity of his Conversion and that by standing firm against so many repulses he had merited the pardon and reconciliation of the Church but on the other side he doubted the Spaniards might upbraid him that they had been more constant and more jealous Defenders of the Majesty of Religion than he and he thought it very hard to alienate King Philip an ancient and confirmed Defender of the Church for a Prince which till then had ever been an Enemy and a Persecutor of it to this was added that the merits of the King of Spain towards the Apostolick See and the many enterprizes he had done for the service of Christendom and of Religion had gotten him so great authority in the Roman Church that it seemed not fit for the Pope to determine a matter of so great consequence without his liking and consent But whilst the Pope dexterously protracts this determination the Kings Forces gaining every day greater power and greater fame constrained him to come to a conclusion and the words of Monsignor Serafino wrought much upon him who discoursing often with him and according to his wonted liberty mingling jests with serious matters being asked by the Pope what the Court said about that business answered That it was now a common saying that Clement the Seventh hath lost England and Clement the Eighth would lose France which conceit having pierced deeply into the Popes mind spurred on by the evidence of reason and the effectual sollicitations of the Venetian and Florentine Ambassadors he determided to take his resolution upon his Nephews relation who assured him that in Spain mens minds were no longer so ardent as they were wont to be in the affairs of France and that being exceedingly exhausted of money and weary of the War they would make no great stir at the determination of Rome though they yet shewed perseverance desiring that the resolutions of his Holiness might be protracted for some few days more out of a desire to better their own conditions than out of any hope they had that the King of France at last should not obtain absolution wherefore the Pope taking courage after he had oftentimes felt the pulse of the Duke of Sassa the Spanish Ambassadour upon that point he at last could not but tell him that the taking a course about the affairs of France could no longer be deferred and that therefore he was resolved to hear the opinions of the Cardinals about it to the end that with their advice he might determine what should be thought most convenient The Duke of Sessa believed that the Pope would hear and gather the Votes of the Cardinals in the wonted Consistory and in the wonted manner and knowing that many of them depended upon the will of the Catholick King and that many others of themselves dissented from the King of France his Absolution did not argue much upon that particular because upon a diligent scrutiny of the Votes he was of opinion that the Absolution would not pass in the Consistory and he was certain the Pope would not do contrary to what the plurality of Votes should determine But Clement who would not refer a thing of so great weight managed till then with infinite dexterity to multiplicity of opinions which if they should be laid open would appear to be guided with particular interests and respects after he had brought the Catholick Kings Ambassadors not to refuse that the business should be put in consultation went not the ordinary way but having called the Consistory after he had read the Kings Letters and Supplications declared that he would hear the counsel of the Cardinals about them yet not briefly and confusedly at one only time but that they should one by one come into his Chamber where no other body being present he would hear them privately and gave them charge that they should come four every day severally to private audience and to discourse with him concerning the present business The Pope shwing by this prudent manner that he would exclude all private respects and give the Cardinals confidence to tell their opinions freely without fear that they should be discovered reserved unto himself the arbitrement of the determination being able when all had spoken to declare what pleased him best and to say in which opinion the major part of Votes concurred so that none might be able to oppose or contradict and just so it came to pass for having first caused solemn prayers to be made in every Church of the City and having in himself shewed signs of profound and singular devotion he for the space of many days heard the Cardinals one by one and finally being all met in the Consistory he said he had heard the opinions of all the Cardinals and that two thirds of them voted that the King of France should be absolved from Censures and received into the bosom of the Church and that therefore he would treat with the Kings Procurators and in his Name impose upon them those penances and those conditions which he should think most profitable and advantageous for the service of God and the exaltation of the Church Cardinal Marc Antonio Colonna would have contradicted and standing up began already to speak but the Pope imposed him silence saying It had been sufficiently consulted of already and determined with the plurality of Votes and therefore he did not mean that should be any more put into disputation which had once been ordered and decided In this manner having dismist the Consistory the Pope betook himself to treat with the Kings Procurators concerning the Conditions which already had been debated many days by the means of Cardinal Toledo who though a Spaniard by birth and a Jesuite by Profession yet either because his Conscience did so perswade him or for some other reason was favourably inclined to the Kings affairs and though he laboured much because the Pope would needs declare that absolution Null that had been given him by the French Prelates at St. Denis and the King stood to have it approved and confirmed by his accomplishment and because many things opposed the publication of the Council of Trent which the Pope by all means urged to have and most of all because the Pope pressed to have the Decree made in favour of the Hugonots to be broken and disanulled which could not be done without stirring up new Wars yet such was the