And put both liues and goods in straâ—ngers hand And to our countrie furious Tigers seeme If leaguers lawe hath so ordained it To drowne my selfe I rather would desire Then for to liue an Vtheist in my heart And outwardly shewe a christian Although this age hath much abridged the libertie and freedome of writing which appeareth in our ancient Hystoriographers Prossart Monstielet Phillip de Comines yet wil I neither for feare nor flatterie two Historicall plagues seeme to couer the trueth of this discourse I confesse that in such places as of themselues are discommendable I haue added of mine owne to make them more notorious and in such actions as are woorthie praise wherein vertue coÌ„science valor consisteth Ispare no coÌ„mendation but in things indifferent I am constrained to suspend my iudgement rather then to enter into many vntrueths wherin if I should vse partiallitie I could not chuse but varrie from the matter My squadron is the trueth Plato and Socrates are my friends but I esteeme trueth before all things This Historie is a plea neither with not against the league I will not set roses among thornes there is neuer any vniuersall plague but some escape it and among so many and diuers actions it is impossible but there must be seuerall colours I will report the problemes debated on both sides I will shewe you their propositions which are neither so cleare nor apparant but there is alwaies some contrarietie I will set foorth in open shewe the occasions of the league the kings reasons and the king of Mauarres defences which I will declare without choise or difference and you shall consider of them without partiallitie hatred fauour or selfe will and esteeme them as a meate rather prepared for your health then for your taste Two things gaue a hotte alarme to the league one the assembly at Mâ—â—â—auban the other the voyage of the Duke d'Espernon to the king of Nauarre which it tooke as brands to kindle her fier and beganne to send out commissions in all places in the kings name who disauouched them and prohibited the raising of souldiers The first poynt of their dislike The kings Edict of the 28. of march 1585. against the raising of men shewed the reason which mooued the Cardinall of Bourbon the Princes Lords Townes and common people beeing Catholicques to oppose themselues against the Hereticques Secondly because they were offended that the Parliament which they would haue had to bee holden concerning warres to be made against the Huguenots had been reuoked Thirdly to breake the Edict of pacification Fourthly because they stood in feare that if the king should die without children there would rise great trouble for the succession of the Crownes Reuocation of the edict of peace whereof the king of Nauarre had great hope since the death of Monsieur the kings brother by the practise of his friends and fauourers about the king Fiftly because of the great preparations for warre made both within and without the Realme that should bee readie by the fifteene of Aprill then next ensuing Nominating of associates to the crowne beeing in Anno. one thousand fiue hundreth eightie fiue to execute that which they said had beene concluded in an assembly at Magdebourg the fifteenth of December one thousand fiue hundreth eightie foure agaist religion the king and his subiects by the which it was agreed that the Queene of England should furnish fiftie thousand Rutters foure thousand Switzers and twelue thousand Englishmen The Counte Palatin Prince Casimir and the Duke of Pomeranie each of them foure thousand Rutters The Langraue of Hesse two thousand and fiue hundreth The Duke of VVitemberg two thousand The Lords of their league besides the Queen of EnglaÌ„ds forces fiue thousand Switzers The kings Protector and Councell of Scotland two thousand Scots The king of Nauare the Prince of Conde and their associates fiue and twentie thousand Harquebusiers and foure thousand horse that had sworne neuer to make peace with the king of France but with all their consents to maintaine the Prince of Orange in the lowe Countries against the king of Spaine to helpe the Emperour by all the meanes they could to get the Demaines of the Empire witholdeÌ„ by the Pope and to send their deputies from all places in the month of March to Basill and Switzerland thereto determine the differences concerning the Lords Supper Sixtly because those of the religion wold not yeeld vp the townes by them holden for the assurance of that execution of the edict of peace Seuenthly because of 〈◊〉 vniuersal abuse suffered in placing of officers in leuying of monies by inuention of excessiue oppressioÌ„s laid vpoÌ„ the coÌ„mon people And lastly against such as abusing the K. fauor authoritie had in a maner ceased vpoÌ„ his person impeached the ordinary accesse of honest meÌ„ vnto him by that means to keepe from him the knowledge of disorders that are in them disposed gouernments to their fauorers consumed the kings treasures molested the commoÌ„ people braued the Nobilitie cut off the libertie of Iustice spoyled the Clargie of their tithes extraordinary benefits perswaded the king that it was necessarie for his seruice to weaken dimininish the authoritie of the Catholicke Princes Lords Vpon those iust occasions they sayd they were forced to meet in armes not hauing meanes by reason of the suddainenesse of the thing togither with the little credite they had with his Maiestie to stay for his Commission neither yet to proceede by any other waye to make him knowe their greefes assuring him that the ende and purpose of their pretence of raysing of armes was onely for to reestablish the Church of God in her true and ancient dignitie vnder the exercise of one religion throughout all his realme to restore the Nobilitie to their honor and franchises Pretence of the League to ease the common people of the impositions inuented and deuised since the raigne of Charles the ninth not to imploy the treasures that shall be leuied but for the kings seruice to procure that from thencefoorth the Parliament should bee holden euery three yeares to desire the king to take order touching the differences of the succession of the Crowne to the end his realme shuld not be diuided into as many factions as their are titles pretended For the suretie preseruatioÌ„ of their own persons among so many publike and priuate calamities to bannish from the Court such as abused the fauour and authori-of the King protesting not to do any thing against the seruice of the king neither yet to leaue armes before their intents were fully executed and that his Maiestie had procured meanes to shunne the daunger which to auoyde they had taken armes with promise likewise that their souldiers should bee payde The king thinking by faire meanes to retaine them in their duties and to exhort them to an vnion The Kings letters to the king of Nauarre wrote to the King of
villages of Picardie that had beene burnt during his beeing in Almaine They set fire likewise in an other goodly Castle belonging vnto the Queene of Hungarie then in Reux after that in Bauets The armie being past beyond Monts Hainaut Landreei Auanes le Quesnoy Vallenciennes and Cambray the Prince of Piedemont vsed all the meanes hee could to bee reuenged for those extreame losses but could not effect it the Frenchmen beeing strong and well conducted in the end about the tenth of August both the armies met neere vnto Renty where there chanced an indifferent hard incounter on both their partes Encounters of both the armies by Renty The Emperour lost about 800. or 900. men and the King two hundreth after the which skirmish winter opproaching the king dismissed his armie and that of the Emperour making towards Hesdin burnt and spoyled all the plaine countie and therein had done much hurt if the Duke de Vandosme that laye not farre from thence had not resisted him Continuance of warre In spring time the warre beganne againe betweene the two Princes and the report of the courses made by the Emperours armie gaue occasion to the Frenchmen to enterprise vppon the Castle of Cambresis which was presently taken by assault and good warre holden with the Spaniards Maruembourg was victualled by Bourdillon Lieftenant to the Duke de Neuers The king and the Queene of England intreated the Emperour and the King of France to make a peace wherein Cardinall Pole an Englishman Vaine treatie of peace trauelled much as then all flaming with fire against those of the religion who at that time were most sharply handled within the Realme of England This treatie of peace beganne with great bruit but in fine it vanished like smoke and warre beganne againe stronger then euer it was The Duke de Neuers and the Admirall de Chastillon beeing made Gouernours of Picardie because the Duke de Vandosme as then king of Nauarre and Soueraigne of Bearc by meanes of his wife was gone to take possession of his new estates tooke good order both for the victualling and keeping of the places and frontiers of the countrie notwithstanding not long after as some of the Garrisons of Picardie marching with 1500. horses of the French rereward called the companies of Nobilitie and foure hundreth footemen had in such sort ouerrunne the countrie that in fine they returned al laden with spoyles The rereward of France ouer throwne being ledde by la Iaille their Generall Haulsmont Gouernour of Bapaulme finding them inclosed betweene a Wood a Village and a Riuer whereof hee caused the passages to bee broken downe and surely kept without espials order feare of the enemie or hurt charged them so couragiously with a small company of men that in short space he made them loose both courage bootie and liues at his discretion where la Iaille was hurt aboue fiue hundreth taken prisoners some escaped and the rest slaine Those of Hannuyers and Arcesiers men much giuen to derision made it a cōmoniest saying that they had taken Nobles of France without waight but to say the truth there was as then but fewe Nobles in those troupes onely certaine Wagoners and Pages that were imployed in the muster and to make a shew sent by Widdowes and Orphanes of Gentlemen deceased or by the Lords of certaine fief rated at certaine values To assure Picardie the king went into Villiers Costerez sending the Duke of Guise further vppon the frontiers and the Admirall into the middle of the Prouince The estate of Predemōt touching the warres betweene the Emperor the king of France Now I must shew you what was done in the warres of Piedemont and other places beyond the Mountaines The Marshall de Brissac who the winter before had taken Iuree and Bielle in the spring time fortified S. Iaco tooke Crepa-cuore by means of Monsieur Saluaison by a surprise most brauely executed got Casal de Montferrat a towne Castle a place of great importāce spoyled Poman S. Saluadour and other small places not to bee holden and hardly to bee strengthened and fortied in any conuenient time The Duke of Alue hauing succeded Gonzague in the Gouernment of Lombardie about the end of Iulie entered into the field with 20000. foote 4000. horse and 40. cannons and besieged S. Iaco wherein were Captaines Birague and Vimercat who constrained the Duke to retire from Pont de Sture where he fortified himselfe hoping by famine to constraine such places to yeeld as hee durst not besiege The king sent foure thousand foote and foure thousand horse to strengthen Marshall de Brissacs forces Taking and spoyling of Vulpian who perceiuing himselfe so strong besieged Vulpian and by Kochepose ouerthrew the Dukes forces sent to ayde them by force tooke the basse Towne and soone after the Castle by composition was yeelded Vulpian had the walles rased and beaten downe and not long after Mont-Coluo a Towne and Castle yeelded vnto the Frenchmen These things were done in the moneths of September and October not long afer the Dukes troupes by meanes of an Ambascado placed hard by Iucise slewe and tooke certaine French souldiers whereby they wrought some small reuenge for their great losses at Vulpian and Mont-Caluo A particular discourse of the warre of Siene from the beginning to the end Before I leaue the affaires beyond the Mountaines it is necessarie I should say something touching the warres of Siene that fell out and kindled in this yeare beginning at the originall thereof During the siege of Metz the Emperour beeing ceased of Siene an auncient and famous Towne in the territories of Tuscane placed Don Diego de Mendosse Gouernour therein with a Garrison of Spaniards Don Diego vsing rigor more therein then was conuenient the Sienois not content therewith beganne to conspire against him hee vnder colour of fauouring the people caused the Gentlemen to leaue their armes which done he beganne to molest both the one and the other who consulting togither sent vnto the king to desire him to receiue them into his protection which hee consented vnto The Fugitiues of of Sienie in the kings name beganne to raise men throughout Italie vnder the conduct of the counte Petillane Hieronyme de Pise Maire de Sainctefior The Duke of Florence sent eight hundreth men to ayde Mendosse But the Sienois mooued at the newe extortions raised vppon them let foure thousand men cōducted by the Counte de Petillone enter into the towne that draue out the Spaniards but not without great losse on both parts part of the Spaniards hauing saued themselues without cannon within the Iacopius and in the Citadell were entred vppon by force and put to the sword Their Generall and others of the Florentine Captaines issued by composition and ceased vpon Orbitelle a place not farre from thence which they fortified The Emperour beeing returned into Almaine after the siege raised before Metz commaunded Don Garsie de Tolede Viceroye of Naples to
Emperour and the king to bring them to an agreement but nothing tooke effect each of thē seeming to haue right on his side meane time the differences touching religion began to increase such as would not receiue and acknowledge the traditions of the Pope were cruelly burnt They suffered the Turke to win diuers places in Europe and his Gallies as then came before Corse to ayde the Frenchmen were at the siege of Calui and Boniface among the Christians and holpe to conquer the Island and then returning homeward spoyled the coast of Toscane besieged Plombin and the I le of Elbe belonging to the Duke of Florence passing further executed an infinit of mischieses vpon the realmes of Naples Sicile and Calabre and so laden with great spoyles and numbers of Christians their prisoners they arriued in Constantinople other places without any impeachment so much so great was the hatred between the Emperour and the King that they had rather see the Turke inriched with Christians teasure then once to consent agree in one to inuade so common an enemie But returning to Siene Siene besicged and taken the Marques of Marignan came to besiege it with all his forces onely vpon the hope he had that Strossi beeing wounded and Monluc lying at the poynt of death being dead for it was thought they could not liue long Lanssac and Fourqueuau taken the Sienois being wholly destitute of counsell and French secorers would yeeld vnto him Strossi beeing somewhat recouered and hauing been certified of the death of Monluc hazarded himselfe with sixe companies of foote and two of launciers to come to Siene Where by the prudence and resolution of Serillac Nephew to Monluc he entered who by a stratageme of trompets caused an alarme in the Marquesse campe that thought verily some new armie had been come to set vppon them but hauing found Monluc liuing and in some better estate then he had been he returned againe yet not without great daunger Monluc hauing made many skirmishes vppon the enemie perceiued that in fine they would take the Towne whervpon hauing shewed the Souldiers and the Townes-men what he thought the Marques would do hee gaue order that euery man should be stinted in his victuals and that they should liue by prescript rules of war The Sienois very willing to followe his counsell and aduise did as he commanded The Marques hauing assayed by scaling the walles in the night-time to enter into the Citadell and the Fort of Camollia was valiantly repulsed with the losse of sixe hundreth of his men and by many skirmishes batteries intelligences and combats seeking to become maister of the towne being not able to effect his will determined to proceed with the first and surest resolution which was to constraine them by famin by which meanes his campe indured much miserie and euery moneth diminished more and more neuerthelesse in fine his perseuerance ouercame them so that vpon the 20. day of Aprill 1555. an honourable composition hauing been made and agreed vpon with Monsieur de Monluc his troupes and those of Siene the towne was yeelded vnto the Marques and after into the hands of the Duke of Florence Touching that which after happened to the territories of Siene I meane not at this present to intreate further thereof leauing that to the description of the warres of Italie from whence I must returne vnto Picardie Warres in Picardie Mariembourg being revictualled the Leaders that cōmanded in those quarters for the Emperour hauing erected an armie of twentie thousand foote fiue or sixe thousand Rutters and some Enfignes of olde bands of Spaniards caused a place called Giuets to bee fortified from whence they forraged the Country lying nearest vnto it and famished Mariembourg The king assembled his forces at Maubert Fontaine whereof Francis de Cleues Duke de Veuers was Lieftenant Generall hauing eight hundreth launciers as many light-horse about eight thousand footemen who once againe revictualled Mariembourg The 26. of Iulie the Rutters and the French light-horsemen met togither but the Rutters were presently constrained to reenter into their fort and the Count de Barlaimont General of the Emperors Armie refusing battaile the French men retired presently after the prince of Orange entred in to the kings country and spoiled the Castle of Faignolles After that in winter time Messieurs de Sanssac and Bourdillon the third time reuictualled Mariembourg The raigne and troublesome season togither with the want of victualls on both sides impeached the armies from meeting togither During this last voiage the king hauing gotten the writings and euidences whereby Iohn de Brosse Duke d'Estampes claymed a right and title vnto the Duchie of Bretaigne into his hands gaue the Count of Ponthieure in exchange thereof vnto the said Duke The Emperor resigneth all his estates vnto his son and his brother At the same time the Emperor a prince of great valour and courage as all Histories do witnesse hauing so long time borne a world of affaires troubles within his braines determined to discharge himselfe thereof and hauing sent for the Prince Don Philip his sonne vnto Brissels then king of England resigned vnto him his kingdomes of Spaine Naples Cicile and others whereof hee gaue him letters pattents commanding all his subiects to obey him Those letters being deliuered vpon the 25. of october 1555. were read in open counsel by the Chancelor And among many notable instructions aduises by the father giuen vnto the Prince his son he exhorted him to make peace with the King of France and to haue pittie vpon Christendome miserably tormented by so long and cruell warres He likewise left off the Empire and by letters vnto the Electors desired them to giue that dignitie vnto Ferdinand his brother to whom by right it ought to appertaine hauing by them bin chosen and elected for king of the Romanes Wars in the Isle of Corse About the same time the Geneuois assaied to win the Isle of Corse not long before taken from them by Monsieur de Termes and sent thither the Prince d'Aurie that assailed the port of S. Florent which yeelded by composition the souldiers issuing armed and their goods saued returning to Boniface to Iourdā Vrsin d'Aurie following after them thinking to win it but he was soone repulsed to his great losse About the moneth of the same yeare died the Marquesse of Marignā The death of the Marques of Marignā being out of fauor with the Emperor For hauing too long prolōged the taking of Siene consuming a whole armie about it he was solemnly buried at Millan the Duke d'Alue being assistant at his funerall King Philip following his fathers counsaile and solicited therunto by Mary Queene of England his wife inclined to peace which to effect after many meetings and conferences a truce for 5. yeares was agreed vpon between thē The Count de Lalain Truce for 5. yeares between the 2. Kings came to Blois to sweare the truce vnto
l'A And hee had no sooner begun but the Flemmings onely staying therevpon got before him which constrained the French Vangard to range themselues in order thereby to sustaine the rest of the armie where it made a braue resistance driuing certaine squadrons of horses out of ranke but the Counte hauing made a furious charge procured the ouerthrow and spoyle of the Marshall who beeing sore hurt was taken with Messieurs de Villebon Senarpont Moruilliers and Chaune and many Captains and souldiers slaine in the field The Marshals armie being composed of certaine companies of launciers three cornets of light-horses Scottish-men 14. Ensignes of French footemen and 18. Companies of Lansquenets all beeing eyther slaine or taken The number that escaped were not many that great wound renewed the former of S. Lawrence day and brake the enterprise vppon the Duche of Luxenbourg where the Duke of Guise pretended to be doing who in the moneth of Iuly tooke his course to Thierashe and so lodged at Pierrepont which he strengthened with 7. Cornets of Rutters a new Regiment of Lansquenets An army by sea of English men Flemings ouerthrowne in Brittaigne At the same time the armie at sea composed of Englishmen and Flemmings to the number of 6000. men or thereabouts hauing sayled along the coast of Britaigne in the end tooke land at Conquet which they spoyled and entering further into the countrie were ouerthrowne by Monsieur de Kersimon whereof some he slewe other he tooke prisoners and caused the rest to saue themselues by fight within their shippes where they presently hoysed sayles and put to sea Both the kings armies hard by Amiens Both the kings hauing prepared their armies no lesse puissant then at other times incamped themselues and stayed not farre from Amiens along by the Riuer of Somme where they had great numbers of strangers so that their owne subiects in comparison of them were very fewe There they made certaine courses and skirmishes but no battell of any consequence and as it seemed those two great Princes were as then come thither to make an agreement the treatie whereof was mooued and to proceed therein they chose the Abbey of Cercamp vpon the frontiers of Artois and Picardie wherefore the King of France appeased the Constable the Marshall S. Andre the Cardinall of Lorraine Moruilliers Bishop of Orleans one of the kings priuie Councell and Secretarie Aubespine The king of Spaine sent thither the Duke d'Alue the Prince of Aurange Deputies for peace Rigome de Silues Granuelle Bishop of Arras and Vigle de Zuichem President of the Councell of Estate in the lowe Countries They assembled in the moneth of October hauing sor vmpier of the differences that might fall out betweene them the Duches Dowager and the Duke of Lorraine her sonne Meane time the Constable hauing agreed for his ransome came to do his dutie vnto the King who gaue him all the entertainment that possible he might and made him lye with him as some certainly report During this meeting both the armies were dismissed the strangers sent into their countries While this treatie of peace continued Charles the Emperour and his sister Ellenor Death of the Emperour Charles the fift and Ellenor his sister of Mary Queene of England and of Cardinall Poole wife vnto King Francis died in Spaine the peace was grounded vppon the marriage of Charles Prince of Spaine with Elizabeth eldest daughter of K. Henry of Philebert Emanuel Prince of Piedemont with Margaret daughter to king Francis deceased That which prolonged the treatie was that the Q. of England demanded the restitution of Callais but about the end of Nouember she died After whom likewise died Cardinall Poole her great Councellor her death that changed the state of England wherein after that neither the Spaniards nor the Pope had more to do caused the assembly to be referred vnto the peace ensuing King Phillip hauing with great pompe celebrated the funerals of his father within the Towne of Brussels The Duke of Lorraine married with the yonger daughter of the French King stayed in Flaunders to heare what should be done by his Deputies before he passed into Spaine The K. of France to ioyne the Duke of Lorraine in alliance with him gaue him Claude his second daughter in mariage reseruing the elder for the cōclusion of peace The espousals were holden in Parris vpon the 5. of Februarie and about the 15. of the same month the Deputies changing place being furnished with large and ample instructions met at the castle of Cambresse king Phillip lying at Monts in Hanaut where the Cardinall of Lorraine went to visit him and after that the Duches Dowager Peace agreed vppon betweene two kings At this second meeting both of them seemed very vnwilling specially the Spaniards moued therevnto by newes out of Piedemont where the Frenchmen had lately receiued an ouerthrow But in the end after many arguments and conclusions they drewe vnto an agreement In the Tretie at Cercamp a marriage had beene spoken of betweene Charles Prince of Spaine and Elizabeth of France Now the Deputies perceiuing king Phillip to bee a Widdower and esteeming the alliance to bee stronger if hee espoused the Princesse which before should haue been giuen vnto his sonne they propounded that Article which to the good contentment of both the Kings was concluded and agreed vpon togither with the marriage of the Prince of Piedemont to the Ladie Margaret The King of France yeelded to the King of Spaine all that hee had taken from him both on this side and beyond the Mountaines also to the Prince of Piedemont la Bresse Sauoy and Piedemont except foure Townes to the Geneuois the Isle of Corse and Siene to the Duke of Florence retaining nothing but Callais without gaining a foote of any other land in all that long and daungerous war which had desolated so many Prouinces sacked burnt ouerthrowne so many Townes Bourges Villages and Castles been the death of so great a number of Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines Souldiers Cittizens and Paisants caused so many rauishings and violatings of women and maids and in a word which had in a manner tormented all Europe so that in effect the king yeelded aboue two hundreth others write almost as many more places for the conquest whereof a sea of blood of his naturall subiects had been spent and shedde the treasures of the Realme consumed his lands ingaged and he indebted on all sides and which is woorse the fire beeing quenched vppon the borders not long after began within the middle of all his Realme and in euery place thereof as well is seene during the raignes of his three successors But these things are the vnsearchable and deepe iudgements of God which are not lawfull for vs to enter into but onely to worship and adore him that worketh all things with great wisedome with mercie towards his children and with most iust and fearefull vengeance against his enemies
penne then all the enemies forces could beate downe intenne yeares space That the Gentlemen that would shewe their good wils should soone see and feele by good experience how much more expedient and commodious it will bee vnto them to go to a sermon within a Towne or Village neare vnto them then to receiue a church into their house besides this that such Gentlemen dying would not alwaies leaue heires of their opinions These reasons were so firme that besides the disliking of those that were not called to counsell the most part of those that had agreed vnto it could gladly haue wished it to beginne againe But the Prince to all that opposed the promises made vnto him that in short time hee should enioy the estate of the deceased king of Nauarre his brother and that then those of the religion should obtaine whatsoeuer they could desire Yet although many alleadged to the contrary that all his promises were but words and that when those of the religion should bee disarmed and retired vnto their houses their enemies would still deuise the meanes to vexe and trouble them and that they should bee disgraced and nought esteemed Yet would hee neuer apprehended it and what paines soeuer the Admirall tooke accompanying the Prince in diuers priuate conferences with the Queene the Edict continued in force as it hadde beene decreed and nothing else could bee obtained but onely that certaine Gentlemen procured this poynt that some of the best Townes in certaine Prouinces should bee nominated for the exercise of the religion in the Baliages but this was but an accord in paper that tooke small effect The Queene of England had assisted the Prince of Conde and his adherents with men and mony during those warres who for assurance of her mony disboursed and for the retrait of her men gaue her the possession of the towne of New-hauen wherein there laye an English Garrison The Prince by his Edict hauing not made any conclusion that the Englishmen should bee payde and peaceably sent home againe they stayed in New-hauen to keepe it till they had satisfaction on the other side The Councell of France by letters dated the sixt of Iuly proclaimed warre against the Englishmen and fifteene daies after New-hauen was besieged The Englishmen driuen out of New-hauen the Constable beeing Generall of the armie wherein they drew the Prince with diuers Lords Gentlemen Captaines and Souldiers of the religion some of their aduersaries vaunting after the siege to haue driuen out the Englishmen by those that brought them thither And that the Huguenots might bee well assured not to haue any more ayde out of England the Earle of VVarwicke laye in New-hauen with sixe thousand Englishmen hauing well prouided all things necessarie for the defence of a place of such importance But the fresh water beeing taken from the Englishmen the plague was very rife among them and the batterie most furious vppon the eight and twentieth of Iuly they grew to a parley and the next day yeelded the place wherein aboue three thousande of them were deade of the plague Eight monethes after this reudition a peace was concluded and proclaimed betweene France and England The king of the age of 13 yeares and a month declared of lawfull yeares The Prince of Conde in the conclusion of peace was made beleeue that he should haue the place of Lieftenant generall by the decease of the king of his brother the king of Nauarre but after the deliuery of New-hauen the Queen hauing no more need of him to take all hope from him on that side and to breed new conceits in the heads of those of the religion published a declaration to shew the maioritie of the king as then entered into the 14. yeare of his age And to make shewe the better vnto this declaration whervnto was added a most seuere Edict against bearing of armes his subiects leagues and the pensions of forraine Princes shee caused her sonne in great solemnitie to sit in the Parliament of Roane where to shewe her child to bee sufficient and capable to adminster the affaires of the Realme she caused him to bee taught and learned by hart to vtter a lesson artificially deuised thereby to bridle the Prince assistance thereat which by many was termed his degrading The substance thereof was that his comming into the Parliament was to giue his officers to vnderstand that hauing attained to the yeares of maioritie he would no longer indure that any such disobedience should bee vsed against him as had beene shewed since the beginning of the troubles commaunded that his Edict of pacification should bee obserued threatned the breakers thereof and such as made associations and leagues which was done vppon the sixteenth and seuenteenth of August Within short time after the Parliament of Parris sent a declaration vnto the king touching that Edict of maioritie which confirmed that of pacification But the Queene caused him to speake with authoritie as hee had done before The Queens proceedings against the Court of Parliament in Parris declaring his mother superintendant of his affaires and said vnto the Deputies of the Parliament that his meaning was that they should deale with nothing else but onely to administer good and speedie iustice vnto his subiects giuing them to vnderstand that hee would haue them to knowe that they were not appoynted by him in their offices to bee his tutors nor protectors of his Realme neither yet conseruers of his towne of Parris For you are said he according to his instructions giuen made beleeue that you are such but I mean not to suffer you any more to continue in that error but commaund you that as in the times of the kings my predecessors you neuer vsed to deale with any thing but with iustice that from henceforth you deale with nothing else And when I shall commaund you any thing if you finde any difficultie therein I will bee well content to heare your aduise as you haue vsed to do vnto the kings mine auncestors and not as my Gouernours and hauing giuen your aduises hauing heard my minde to be obedient therevnto without reply In dooing so you shall finde mee as good and milde a King as euer you had but dooing as you haue done since the time you were giuen to vnderstand that you are my tutors I will make you knowe that you are none such but my seruants and subiects willing and charging you to obey my commaundements The Bishop of Valence checqueth the Parliament of Parris Here you may see howe they draue the dogges before the Lyon and the subtill practises of the Queen to establish her Regencie vnder the warrant of her sonne wholely debarring the Prince of Conde from all his hopes and to change the Parliament of Parris somwhat more vnto her will she caused the the Bishop of Valence in a large discourse to confute that which the President de Thou had propounded touching the Kings Court and that his mawrite ought
of all means to ayde themselues determined to sound them to see if they would enter into request and acceptation of peace hoping that hauing brought them to the poynt there could bee no condition how hard soeuer it were but they would gladly accept it so they might bee assured of their liues and the possession of their goods in their houses And according to this aduise in the moneth of Nouember 1569. a meeting was practised betweene the Marshall de Cosse and the Deputies of the Queene of Nauarre the Deputies hauing presented their articles although the matter ought rather to bee handled by conference then by writings which haue no replies the meanes therein vsed and the delaies practised for aunswering therevnto made the Princes know and perceiue that their enemiesment to helpe themselues by that deuice to hinder their affaires After the first audience giuen vnto their Deputies they were giuen to vnderstand that the king could not indure the exercise of their religion and that they ought to content theÌ„selues with the libertie of their consciences An other deuice was wrought which was that messengers were sent into England and Almaine to certifie them that the peace was made by that meanes to stay the ayde that they might procure from thence And on the other side Postes went in all haste to procure money and forraine souldiers They discouered diuers practises against them both within without the Realme the effect beeing that first they would disarme them and then vse them and all those of the religion as the iudgement giuen against the Admiral sufficiently shewed Notwithstanding they determined to send Messieurs de Beauuais la Nocle Theligny to Anger 's to enter into conference with the kings commissioners and on the other side to pursue their warlike affaires and so make peace with weapon in hand After the battel of Moncontour we see how the forces of the Protestants were scattered in diuers Prouinces Such as were dispearsed in Berry determined through intelligence with a certaine souldier that betrayed them The Progresse of the warlike exployts in Poictou against the Prostestants to surprize Bourges but missing of their purpose by a counter intelligence lost in that exployt some 30. men besides as many more taken prisoners hauing but homely entertainment with the cannon were forced to retire from the town wherto they had brought 1000. horse 2000. foot The Countie of Lude Puigaillard Sanzay Colonel of the Arrierebands of France after the recouerie of Poictou got possessions of Marans wherby the whole Prouince round about was won for the Princes except Angoulesme and Rochel where the Protestants were shut vp after that Sanzay had gotten the Castle of Beauâ—oir on the sea from yong Rohan Lusignon was lost through the cowardize of the Barron of Mirambean whom the souldiers made their scoffing stock witnesse the scoffe of the L. of Losses who comming to speake with the Queen of Nauarre at Rochel saide openly that Mirambeau came to composition not for want of victual or munition but be cause he could get no more mustard to eate with his poudered beese The Councel weening to terrifie the L. of Pardaillan Gouernour of Blay caused the King to write his letter vnto him importing both threats and promises to cause him to yeelde vp the place which gotten they hoped to haue Rochel cheape ynogh which he held for the Princes into the haÌ„ds of Lansac who in his letters threatened Pardaillon in case he denied to obey But Pardaillan answered the K. discreetly and Lansac as couragiously to whom hee wrote thus You can conceiue no greater greefe in enterprising to force mee in this place then I should by yeelding reape shame losse hinderance and confusion whereto I doubt not to put you or any other that shall put mee to it Neither am I or any vnder my charge so base minded to graunt you any greater aduantage then the like force as you pretend against vs. Lansac finding nothing to bee had there but stripes turned an other way and tried Romegou the Gouernour of Tayllebourg whose aunswere was not vnlike to Pardaillans Then because the Isles of Xaintongne Marennes and Brouage had much molested the armie that besieged Saint Iohn d'Angely by letting their Garrisons rode vp and downe and cut off their victuallers they now sent the Countie of Lude Puigaillard and Riuiere Puitaille with eight cornets of horse and twentie Ensignes of foote who tooke all by force and there slew the remainder of the Lansquenets that escaped at the battell of Moncontour so as there were left aliue not aboue three hundreth fighting men or thereabout Whilest the wars continued in those quarters in a rode they caught a souldier whom Riutere Puitaille sought to practise for the surprising of Rochel Sundrie warlike exployts on either part in Poictou Guyenne but the souldier laboured a double intelligence whereby Riuiere and others in hope to take had almost been taken but hauing warning thereof by the way they returned to their Garrisons On the other side la Noue the Princes Lieftenant in Guyen sought to recouer Brouage a place that greatly annoyed the Rochellers but as hee went about it hee discouered an other enterprise practised by the Barron de la Garde against Thonne Charente so as the purposes of the one countermaunded the other At that time which was the beginning of the yeare Rochel was as it were blocked vp on euery side For towards Poictou the Countie of Lude and Puigaillard had a great armie Riuiere Puitaille the elder held Marans and other places thereabout and the younger commaunded in Brouage Landereau the Viceadmirall a sworne enemie to the religion which before himselfe had professed lay in Olone then the Brittons and Bourdelois by sea did what they could to cut off all victuall from Rochel wherein also the Barron de la Gard then Generall of the galleyes did greatly annoy them running many times euen to their hauen He now to the end on all sides to blocke vp the towne with the helpe of the yonger Puitaille broached a practise against Thonne Charente to the effecting whereof he sent Captaine Beaulieus Lieftenant to make the first descent La Noue vnderstanding his deuice vndertooke to keepe the place and so ordered his Harquebusiers that had they forborne vntill the souldiers of this Galley had landed they had caught either dead or aliue not onely these but also their followers who came onâ— row into Charente and so purposing to land had cast away themselues in Sparte But they forgetting their Captaines direction so soone as Beaulieus Lieftenant was comming on shore receiued him with such a storme of shot that they slew him and l'Argoussin withall they proclaimed libertie to the Galley-slaues who therevppon let go their owers and so la Noue tooke the Galley and all that was in it The prisoners were carried to Rochel and the Galleye to Taillebourg wherewith as also with an other Romegouse did afterward make sundrie
in disobedience to maintaine religion the easing of the people Nor better nor fairer pretence to open the eies hearts and purses of such men to enterprise warre could not be found At the same time the king had sent vnto the Princes for the restitution of the Towns which they held for the obseruation of the last edict of peace which they were to yeelde vp at the end of 6. yeares But because the king of Nauarre sent word vnto his Maiestie Prolongation of the time of the townes of assurance 1582. that the peace hauing so often been broken by surprises and open warres the termed of 6. yeares was too short a time for the execution of the Edict and abollishing of wars he agreed to the prolongation thereof Wherevpon all the Princes of the league tooke occasion to say that the king fauoured Hereticques and that he would indure heresie and considered not that those Townes were inhabited by Huguenots strong of scituation hard to be won by force When the king of Nauarre perceiued those motions and that some matter was breeding he foresawe the tempest wold light vpon him what pretence soeuer was made therevpon he besought the king to call to minde the intelligences hee had giuen him in Anno. 1576. sent expresly by a Gentleman concerning the treatie and handling of the league in Spaine and Italie that he shuld looke to the profite of the myne seeing it was discouered And perceiuing the enterprise euery day more and more to proceed he began to take care of himselfe sent the Lord of Pardillan to the Queen of England the king of Denmarke and the Princes and Electors of Almaine to renue amitie with them desiring their aydes touching the preuenting of new troubles that began to rise in France against the edict of peace to appoynt a good sum of mony to bee sent vnto some Towne in Allemaine to bee imployed for the leuying of certaine forces against the enemie In the mean time for the aduantage of the league but to the great trouble and mischiefe of all the Realme of France The death of the Duke of Alencon in Iune 1584. Monsieur the kings brother eyther by his riotousnesse in the lowe countries for greefe of the hard successe of his affaires by hazard or by Salcedas means that was executed died at Chasteau Thierry His death awakened the most drousie heads it brake all the bandes that stayed the proceedings of the league and caused it presently to roare at Chaalons Rheims Troye Dyon and Mezieres It had alreadie found credite ynough in all the other Towns specially at Parris wherein they were diswaded from the yoake of the Huguenots and the hope of the king of Nauarre to rule ouer them The first point of the loue to the king was alreadie foundred in her hart she spake not of him but with al kinde of disdaine euery day presented him with the opinions and censures of Pasquils indiscreet ieasts and libels without names wherein corrupt minds alreadie stuffed with the disorders of the Court swallowed vp the poyson of their mutinies vnder what pretence I knowe not speaking of the king as of a Sardanapalus or one that did nothing The kings deuise Manet vltime Coelo Qui dedit ante Duas vnam abstulit alcera nutat Tertia tonsoris nunc facienda manu of a Prince drowned in his pleasures and delights whom alreadie they placed like a Chilperic in a Monastrie and in stead of the third Crown which by his deuise was reserued for him in heauen they promised him one made with a raisor in a Cloyster But hee that would knowe the first conception birth and infancie of the league within Parris hee must beleeue that which Manant saith to Maheustre that speaketh like a wise man and by the propositions and answeres representeth all those that deale therein and for the first hee nameth him that was the secret Minister of the leaguers intent to make it known to three Preachers that tooke seuen or eight Coaintors with them thereby to make a small Councell which was oftentimes holtors within the Colledge of Forteret where they beganne to chuse sixe others of the most faithfull The Colledge of Forteret was the cradle of the league The sixe first confederates of the league to watch at all the sixe quarters to report what was done in those places to sowe this new graine within their heads to sound the affections of the most feruent Catholicques and to dispose them to a resolution against the king the world and death Those sixe Arch-leaguers in the beginning made a faire and great Haruest and as with the number courage increased The principall leaguers were assured that those new confederates would ingender others presently therevppon the two pillers that sustaine and vphold the Prince which are the most faithfull Archers of his Court of guard that is good will and authoritie were thrown downe hatred and despight entering into their places Of those two plagues as of a monsterous blood was conceiued and brought foorth most disloyall rebellion and the despising of the lawe and the authoritie of the Prince mixed with the euill minde which the people bare to their king his Councell and his fauourers hatched this great Erynnis and furious mischiefe in France that hath entered into all the vaines of our bodie But alasse poore people what will you do what example what commandement what iust reason mooueth or assureth you to arme your selues against your king What lawe approoueth the rebellion of the subiect against him whom God hath appoynted your king If there be any imperfection or disorder are you to correct it or can the foote ordaine a lawe for the head It is no more lawfull for you to resist against the faults or imperfections of your Gouernours then to despight God and aske him the cause of the frosts and hailes that beat spoyled your vines Stay you little snayles within your shels come not foorth you torteaux out of the cases vnder them you are assured for you shall no sooner put forth your heads nor stretche out a foote but presently be assayled lie opē to your enemies readie to receiue the first blowe that shal be giuen Assoone as the league perceiued that diuers townes had made great fires for ioy of her birth it was presented to the Pope that he might giue it his blessing auouch it for his and declare it to bee for the Catholicke Apostolike and Romish Church But Gregory the 13. desiring to shewe himselfe to bee the common father of all Christians and Pastor not dispearser of his flocke Pope Gregory would nener consent to this raising of men The answere of the Pope vnto the league considering that the raising of armes against a most Christian and Catholicque king was wholly contrarie to the doctrine of the Gospell the examples of Christ and his Apostles and the lawes of pollicie and state certified the leaguers Deputies that he
of Nauarre would yeeld at the onely report of their enterprise They brought this poore king a sleepe with many chimers foresaying he should haue forraine ayde which was as true as the sea burneth It was tolde him that all Christian Princes would helpe him that the Queene of England should haue so many Chastillian forces against her Many chimeres that she should find ynough to do to defend her selfe that the Princes of Germanie would neuer stirre for the king of N. being a Prince poore both without mony and credite and that all would in a manner melt at the apparance of those new sonnes An army by sea prepared in Portugall of 30000. men against England An. 1587. So that the warre was sworne to bee made in all places of the Realme and as then there wanted nothing but mony To the which end the king in his Pallace of Louiene caused the principall of the Cleargie the Parliament and the Cittizens of Parris to bee assembled shewing them that as by their aduise hee had broken the peace so hee desired to bee holpen by their meanes to the maintenance of his warres the charges whereof hee said amounted to the summe of foure hundreth thousand Crownes a month The Kings Oration to those of Parris the eleueth of August 1585. for the entertaining of three armies one in Guyenne the second about his owne person and the third to impeach the enterie of straungers And speaking to the principall President he saide that hauing perceiued so much zeale and affection in him to haue the last edict of peace reuoked he doubted not but hee would bee able by sufficient arguments to perswade his equalles that as long as the warres indured they should not looke for any stipendes To the Prouost of Marchants in Parris hee said that seeing the Towne He commanded him presently to call the Towne togither to leme vpon them the sum of 200000. Crownes was so much affected to the breach of peace it ought to bee as well disposed to contribute to the warres And then turning to the Cardinall of Guise he said that as the heads of the Clargie were those that had most stirred and prouoked him to warres which could not bee made without great expenses they ought not to spare their armes to helpe him considering it was not reasonable that his Maiestie should onely beare the charge of that which would redownd to the benefite of the Common-wealth But when they made certaine difficulties and that alreadie euery one confessed that there is no peace how little aduantage soeuer it bringeth but is much better then any warre how triumphant and victorious soeuer it be Pax vel iniusta vuhor iusâ—â—ssimo bello Cic ad Artic that the apprehensions of publike calamities opened the eyes and mooued the sences of the most insencible that euery man would gladly haue warre without feeling the discommodities it bringeth with it With an angrie countenance hee said vnto them Then I thinke it had beene better to beleeue mee I am in doubt that in seeking to be ridde of preaching Speeches of K. Henry the third wee doo not greatly hazard the warre But the Cleargie whose hearts more then their purses were opened to that war and considering that all the aydes which the kings of France at other times had from the Spiritualtie Read the oration made by the Cardinall of Lorraine to Charles the 6. at Fontainebleau the 28. of May. 1573. The Clergie in lesse then 15. yeares furnished 60. milions of Frankes The Clergies declaration made vnto the King the 19. of Nouember 1585. in their greatest and most vrgent affaires was out of the tithes of their reuenues that since it had ingaged in the Towne-house of Parris the one hundreth thousand Frankes of yearely rent and thereby consented to the alienation of the free farme thereof That at the kings returne froÌ„ Pologne it had alreadie coÌ„tributed 60000000. Frankes that since that it was bound for the space of sixe yeares to paye yearly the summe of one million and three hundreth thousand Frankes for his seruice with condition not to bee charged with other tithes That now the king hauing declared that this warre mooued by the solicitation of the Cleargie ought to be followed and supplyed at the charges of the Church the ruine thereof was most euident they thought good to shew the king their impossibilitie to satiffie the same the iust complaint of the great charges it had borne in the last leuying of armes besides the loosing of their rights and franchises To the which end the Bishoppe of Brien spake for all them vnto the king shewing that vntill that time the Cleargie had not spared the riches of the Alter to maintaine the honour of the sacrifice but now that their meanes were so drawne out their rents ingaged and their free farmes alienated that they could doo no more That it would bee a most erreligious thing that religion should bee defended by people without religion and that the Church nourisheth and entertaineth such as committed so many rapines sacriledges blasphemies pollutions and vnreuerent dealings towards it They besought his Maiestie by the memorie of his father by the honourable name of most christian king the goodnesse of his nature and the liuely comiseration of his spirit to be protector of her priuiledges and for a time permit her to breath Meane time hee animateth him to the execration of the Edict of Iuly which could not bee done without warre the warre not without mony and the mony could not bee leuied but by suppression of the Church or of the common people But that serued not the league would haue warres and of force the foure elements whereof the Monarchie consisteth that is the king and the 3. Estates must bee reduced into the auncient confusion of a Chaos and that they whose fathers vsed to haue warres in Affrica Asia and in the furthest parts of all the world must entertaine and hatch it among themselues Meane time the King of Nauarre beeing aduertised that preparation was made Letters of the King of Nauarre to the King to war against those of the religion complaineth vnto the king touching the peace hee had made with the league shewing him that vppon commaundement receiued from his Maiestie to bee patient and not to stirre against those that had risen against him hee to shewe dutie had so much bridled his nature that in a manner it stained his reputation and according to his Maiesties pleasure reiected the occasions which from day to day presented themselues vnto him whereby hee might reuenge the leaguers attempts and that notwithstanding his Maiestie forgetting the consideration of the particular interest which hee had in his last raysing of armes had made peace with his enemies and armed them with his forces and authoritie against the Estate his blood and his own person And hauing repeated his offer in all his declarations for the ceasing of troubles touching the difference of
of the King of Nauarre the conspiracies made the last yeare about Easter and the many aduises and prognostications he had receiued by the singes hee had seene The Queene-mother was not of that mind The 13. of May. 1588. and promised to perswade the Duke of Guise and for the same cause went to find him out desiring him to quench so many fiers alreadie kindled to come speake with the King of whom hee should haue contentment at his pleasure and thereby let him see that in so vrgent an occasion hee had greater desire to serue then to ouerthrow his Crowne to repaire rather then throw downe the edifice of the estate which that commotion had most mischieuously shaken The Duke of Guise betweene hope and feare that neuer esteemed man to bee greater then himselfe as long as hee held his sword in hand making shewe of innocencie and laying the fault vppon the people said that he suffered himselfe to bee borne in that sort by them rather by force and necessitie then that he had any desire so to do That touching the Louure it was but athing falsely deuised against him that it should be a great folly for him to go thither things being in such hatefull estate and so to cast himselfe weake and in his dublet into the mercie of his enemies The Queen-mother aduertised the King by Secretarie Pinâ—rt The Queene marking the stubburnnesse and resolution of the Duke of Guise concerning her requests caused the King to bee aduertised who desiring not to stay any longer in that trance issued out of Parris by the new gate and that night lodged at Trappes It is said that being at Mon-martre he turned towards the Towne and cursing it for the infidelitie ingratitude and disloyaltie thereof in respect of all the benefits it had receiued at his hands hee sware hee would neuer enter into it againe but by a breach his seruants the companies of his guard and men of warre with the Switzers followed him and left their lodgings to those new Kings of Parris The Duke of Guise that had written to the Gouernour of Orleans The Duke of Guises letters to the Gouernor of OrleaÌ„s that he held the Louure so close shut vppe that hee would giue good account of that which was within it knew well the victorie was not performed and that his reputation would be stained if the newes of the Kings retrait were carried out of the Realme by other meanes then by him selfe hee considered that whatsoeuer is attempted against the Kings person toucheth and concerneth all his equalles that as the Prelates the Officers the Senators and Knights and all Kings are bretheren that one blood royall calleth the other that all soueraigne Rulers do blason rebelles and disturbers of estate although they helpe themselues by the same meanes He thought it good to send Monsieur de Brissac to the Ambassadour of England to shewe him the cause of the erecting the Barricadoes I make no difficultie to write whole leaues of a discourse when it is not out of purpose neyther any disgrace to the matter propounded therefore I haue set downe the same words that passed betweene the Ambassadour of England and the Counte de Brissac which were faithfully reported vnto me The Counte de Brissac accompanied with certaine Gentlemen went to visit the Ambassadour of England at his lodging in those commotions and populer insolencies to offer him a safeguard or protection and to desire him not to bee abashed nor to stirre as beeing assured of the protection of Mensieur de Guise The Ambassadour made him aunswere that if hee had beene in Parris as a particular person he would fall downe at the feete of Monsieur de Guise and giue him humble thankes for his great and courteous offers but beeing there hard by the King and for the Queene his Mistresse that had peace and amitie with the King he neither would nor could receiue any protection but from the king himselfe Monsieur de Brissac shewed him that the Duke of Guise was not come to Parris to enterprise any thing against the king or his seruice but that hee had onely put himselfe in defence that there was a great conspiracie made against him and the Cittie of Parris that the Town-house and other places were full of gibbets whereon the king had determined to hang diuers of the Town and others and that the Duke of Guise desired him to aduertise the Queen his Mistresse thereof to the end it might bee known The Ambassadour aunswered that he beleeued the Duke had willed him to say so that the highest and hardiest enterprises often times lye hidden and secret in the minds of those that vndertake them and that when they thinke good they make them knowne with such colour and shewe as they thinke best for their purpose that he could not chuse but tell him plainely that that which passed in Parris would bee found very straunge and euill thought of by all christian Princes hauing interest therein That no cloake or couer how faire soeuer it might bee could cause it to bee liked of it beeing the dutie of a subiect to continue in the iust obedience of his Prince That if there were so many gibbets prepared it would be the easilier beleeued if the Duke of Guise would cause them openly to bee shewed And againe if it were so it is a most odious and intollerable thing that a subiect by force should seek to impeach the iustice that his Soueraigne would execute against offendors That hee would promise him that most willingly and with all speed hee would aduertise the Queene his Mistresse of that had passed but to bee his Interpteter vnto her of Monsieur de Guises intents and those of his confederacie it was no part of his charge the Queen his Mistresse beeing wiser then himselfe both to beleeue and iudge what she thought good Heere endeth the second Booke THE THIRDE BOOKE OF THE LAST troubles of France containing that which passed after the Barricadoes in Parris and there trait of the king to Chartres vntill the Edict of pacification and assembly of the generall estates at Blois in the moneth of September Barricadoes the 12. of May. 1588. O Accursed and fatall day that haste defaced the beautie and pleasure of the twelfth day of May which euery yeare vsed to put vs in minde of the solemne and triumphant enterie of Charles the eight into the Realme of Naples what coale can bee blacke ynough to note thee in our Ephemerides and so leaue to our posteritie the rememberance of the shame and reproach of the rebellioÌ„ which thou breedest vp by driuing the king out of Parris and making knowne the hideous spectacles of the tyrannie of the League There is no memorie that forgetteth the remembrance of thy ingratitude no abolition that defaceth thy felony nor any defence to bee sought that might hide thy shame and there is not sufficient water in the riuer of Seine to wash away the
which is of the third estates of the land which represent the whole Realme Although since that time the name of Parliament is applyed to the companies of Soueraigne Courts that haue the ordering of causes both criminall and ciuill That first age of our Monarchie although rude and simple that held our kings like puples vnder the Maiors of the Pallace assembled the Parliament as often as the publike affaires of the Realme required The kings of France were not seene but once a yeare Aymon lib. 4. cap. 30. and the kings that as then retained the grosse vapors of the Daâ—ubian ayre and of the Orientall France were neuer seene but once euery yeare vppon the first day of May in their Parliaments that is in the assembly of the third orders or estates of their Realme in a place called the field of Mars where the king was borne in a Chariot of flowers Aymon li. 4. cap 30. drawne by foure oxen after the rusticall manner and there placed in a royall throne assisted with his Nobilitie hee heard the complaints of his subiects gaue order for all things that were to bee done that yeare and dispatched the Ambassadors of forrain Princes Vnder the second lyne of the kings of France The estate of France in the second line of the kings of France the Empire inlarging it by force and the kings leauing that seuere greatnesse to haue conuersation with their subiects the estates assembled more commonly not at a certaine and fixed day but according to the opportunitie and necessitie of their affaires therefore Pepin that had caused Childeric to bee shorne put into a Cloyster desiring to establish his vsurpation by the vniuersall consent of the people caused the States to bee assembled at Soissons that confirmed it and another time at Compiegne since that time the diuisions and iealousies of the Princes made those assembles to bee more difficult the kings contented themselues with the Parliament as an abridgement of the three estates wherein there was Prelates Noblemen and Deputies of all townes with the Councell of Parris to determine all things that belonged to iustice the Bailiffes and Stewards euery man in his iurisdiction administring the causes of the Common-wealth but when ignorance auarice and cupiditie entered into that first order that an euerlasting and continuall obscuritie had infolded the beautie of lawes men waxing more malicious and thereby fell into diuers deceits and frauds brablings and quarrellings tooke place Bailiffes and Stewards not administring iustice with such integretie and seueritie as was conuenient and our kings hauing not meanes in their Parliaments that alwaies held about them to bee still imployed in hearing particular mens suites the affaires of estate that daily increased as the Monarchie augmented King Philiple Bel caused the Pallace to bee made where soueraigne iudgements should bee giuen Since that Philip surnamed the Long ordained that it should bee composed of a certaine number of persons Controuersies vnder the raign of Philip le Bel. Vpon this President he tooke the order of knighthood one or two Presidents the first President beeing the Counte of Bourgongne a Prince of the blood eight Clarkes and twelue Lay-men foure Maisters of Request two chambers of Requests wherin were eight Lay-men eight Clarkes as Iudges and foure and twentie Atturneyes he called Clarkes men with long gownes married and vnmarried and the rest Laye-men Noblemen or GentlemeÌ„ The Parliament that serued only for iustice hindered not the assembly of the estates for the benefit of the Common-wealth not at a certaine or ordinary time as in England euery three yeares This is a false surmise of the Author Reasons and necessittes vrging the assembly of the Estates but as often as it pleased the king and no other to summon them for one of these three occasions The first when the succession or right of the Crowne was doubtfull and in controuersie or that it was necessarie to prouide for the ruling and gouerning of the Realme during the captiuitie or minoritie of the kings or when they were troubled and wanted the right vse of their memories and sences The second when it was necessarie to reforme the Realm to correct the abuse of Officers Magistrates by troubles and seditions and to reduce things to their first order and integretie The third for the necessities of the kings and their Realmes in those assemblies of the Deputies of all the parts of the Realme they shewed the people in what estate the kings affaires were and they were courteously mooued intreated and exhorted to graunt subsidies aydes and assistances vnto their kings which otherwise would haue contented themselues with their rents and reuenues to maintaine the glorie of royall dignitie they neuer vsed to impose any subsidies or tallages without the consent thereof and said not as Lewis the eleuenth said that Frunce was a medowe that vsed to bee mowed thrise a yeare so for one of these three causes the estates haue been seene to assemble in diuers places and times The yeare 1327.1380 Frosard li. 2. chap. 58.60 In the yeare 1484. In the yeare 1356. In the yeare 1412. Philip Earle of Vertus They assembled in Parris to chuse a Regent during the minoritie of S. Lewis an other time in the same place to prouide for the gouernment of king Charles the sixt in his minoritie and at Tours for Charles the eight that Lewis the eleuenth had left in infancie They assembled in Parris for the libertie of king Iohn prisoner in England and for the phrensie of Charles the sixt whose gouernment was referred to his two Vncles the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne They assembled at Auxerre to sweare a peace betweene the children of the houses of Orleans and Bourgongne and by their aduice the marriage of the Counte of Vertus brother to the Duke of Orleans with the daughter of the Duke of Bourgongne was made among the ioyes of this peace the Dukes of Orleans and Bourgongne were seene booth vppon a horse sporting themselues with the other Princes to witnesse their amitie and reconciliation yet it was but a fained peace Monstrelet lib. 1. chap. 59. They were againe assembled in the raigne of Charles the sixt at Parris vnder Francis the second at Orleans and vnder Henry the third at Bloys to appease the difference of the new religion abuses desolations excesse to take order for the administring of iustice to rate the monies and to institute the offices for the gouernment of the treasures in the two last the Deputies required two things one the extirpation of heresies but without wars by a free legitimate Councell the second the easing of the poore people by taking accounts of such as abusing the fauour and libertie of the king had inriched themselues by the oppression of his subiects to the end that the blood being drawne into an other part might be brought into the emptie vaines to quicken the head and animate the most