where it was openly proclaimed throughout the Prouinces The Guisarts not content with the troubles in France mooue warres in Scotland but to their owne confusion The religion multiplieth in France euen in the middle of their persecutions and next after God submit themselues vnder the protection of the Princes of the blood determining to oppose themselues against the house of Guise who by diuers subtilties receiue and award their blowes discouer the enterprise wrought against them cause the principall Nobilitie of the Realm to be assembled at Fontainbleau where the Admirall galleth them on all sides This assembly produced an aduise and consent of a Parliament to be holden in the end of that yeare The Princes are summoned to come vnto the Court and all subtile practises vsed to get them thither being arriued at Orleans where the Court was holden They were stayed as prisoners specially the Prince of Conde the house of Guise practising the totall ruine of the Princes and all others of the religion leaue no meanes vndeuised which by the sequell is well perceiued While these actions were in hand the king fell sicke in the end the Queen his mother got the Regencie with the ayde of the house of Guise and the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and those of the religion are relieued by the kings death CHARLES THE NINTH I Account the raigne of Charles the ninth to be the time of wonders in France his beginning was the assembly of a Parliament where nothing was done but onely in words Those of the religion openly increasing the house of Guise began to practise against the estate many edicts were made to pacifie the troubles The Queen-mother vseth practises that ouerthrew the lawes of the realme to satisfie those of the religion an assembly was holden at Poissy which ended in words and no resolutions and lastly with mutinies in Parris The Edict of Ianuarie was made whereby the Duke of Guise vndertooke to commit the massacre at Vassy inducing the king of Nauarre to consent with him hee seizeth both of Parris and the king which bred the first ciuill warres which on the one side containe infinit exployts of warres as battels incounters assiegings defenses and taking of places on the other side spoyles and horrible murthers of those of the religion in all the Prouinces of the Realme The troubles being ended by the death of the Duke of Guise slaine at the siege of Orleans the first Edict of pacification abolishing that of Ianuarie was established After the peace the Englishmen were driuen out of New-hauen the king is declared to bee of age to gouerne without a Protector and causeth diuers Edicts to be made He is solicited by the Spaniard to breake his Edict of pacification which is weakned in diuers poynts the beginning of the voyage of Bayonne diuers Citadels builded many Townes vnwalled those of the religion sacked and spoyled in many places leagues made against them Edicts reuoking those that had been granted vnto them The shamefull entrie of the Cardinall of Lorraine in Paris Councels holden at Bayonne the kings progresse throughout France A dissembling reconciliation made between the houses of Guise Chastillon the miserable state of France a notable processe at Paris between the Vniuersitie and the Iesuites Vnder pretence of a passage to bee granted to the Spaniards to passe into the low Countries preparation was made to ouerrun those of the religion which constrained the Prince of Conde and his associates to seeke to defend themselues whereof ensued the second eiuill warres set downe with the most notable accidents therein happened Negotiation of peace which the Prince is constrained to accept This peace presently after conceiued a third ciuill warres The Prince and the Admirall hauing hardly saued themselues in Guyenne followed by diuers others The Princes first exployts edicts against those of the religion many warlike exployts betweene the contrarie armies Warres began to be in greater force in the yeare 1569. then euer they were before The Prince was slaine after the battell of Bassac the Prince of Nauarre declared generall of the armie and the Prince of Conde assistant A puissant armie of Almaines vnder the conduction of the Duke de Deux Ponts commeth to ayde them the incounter of la Roche la Belle the warres of Bearne the siege of Poictiers and Chastelleraud the battell of Moncontour What both the armies did after that The siege of S. Iohn d'Angely ouerthrowne the armie victorious Diuers exployts of wars in Poictou Guyenne Xaintongne and Angoulmois a great voyage through the Prouinces after the battell of Moncontour continuance of warres which is ended by the third edict of pacification and about the end of the yeare the king married the Emperours daughter a voyage made vnto the Queene of Nauarre for the marriage of her son with the king of France his sister Councels among those of the religion the death of the Cardinall of Chastillon The marriage aforesaid agreed vpon warres were pretended against the Spaniard the secret of the Court discouered the Queene of Nauarre went to Parris where she died the Princes and the Admirall came thither Contracts and espousals of the king of Nauarre most horrible bloodie and cruell councels and massacres of the Admirall and thirtie thousand of the religion in Parris and in many other Townes all the circumstances precedent and following set downe at large Many deuises to destroy those that were resting of the religion who in Rochel Sancerre Languedoc and other places resolued to stand in a iust defence of their cause the assieging and yeelding of Sancerre A notable discourse of the siege of Rochel from the beginning vntill the peace granted The state of those of the religion in Quercy Languedoc and other Prouinces where they ouerthrew their enemies and presently after reduced the king to such a stay that he was forced to begin againe who fell sicke as his brother went into Poland A deuise not ouer good for those of the religion The fourth troubles beganne at the massacres and ceased for a time at the peace of Rochel and began the fift by the enterprises against Rochel and Languedoc The wonderfull practises of the Queene-mother to maintaine her actions and to serue her turne by her third son against those of the religion The estate of diuers prouinces specially of Normandie where Monsieur was taken prisoner Warres in Poictou against those of the religion The Prince of Conde goeth into Almaine The sicknesse and death of the king HENRY THE THIRD THe Regents dealings during the warres in Normandie The estate of Languedoc Viuarais and Dauphine Montgommery beheaded in Parris The Prince of Conde chosen generall by those of Languedoc Warre in Poictou The arriuall of the new king escaped out of Poland The beginning of his actions The siege of Lusignen Warres in Dauphine Practises against those of Languedoc The death of Charles Cardinall of Lorraine The memorable siege of Liuron Conquests in Languedoc and elsewhere Negotiation of
peace which procured warres Notable exployts of Mombrun with the end thereof The state of Xaintongue New practises inuented against those of the religion The Duke of Alencon the kings brother leaueth the Court and promiseth wonders Accord betweene the Prince of Conde and the Duke Casimir ouerthrowne by the Queen-mother The miserie of Frenchmen The Germaines armie entereth into France The king of Nauarres departure from the Court. After the D. of Alencon is made general of the armie A peace is propounded which in the end is fully agreed therevpon the fift Edict of pacification was made which like the rest hatched the sixt ciuill warre Foundations of the league begun by the house of Guise Preparations and beginnings of new warre A summarie of the king his Oration to the estates The intention of the same estates discouered What the king of Nauarre and Prince of Conde answered to the Deputies of the same estates Entrance to the sixt ciuil war and the most memorable things of the same being ended at last by an ample edict of pacification The proceedings both of one and other after the peace especially after the king his mother and those of the house of Guise which beganne to stirre and constrained the King of Nauarre to looke to himselfe but chiefly after the death of the Duke d'Alencon which serued for an infantation or production of the league in Paris and elsewhere the progressions wherof are declared Pretext of the leaguers mutinie whom the king attempteth to disvnite The King of Nauarre manifesteth himselfe against them The Queene-mother maketh her selfe a necessarie Agent heerein and causeth the King to yeelde vnto the leaguers more then they hoped for so that hee abolished the last edict of pacification prepareth for warre and demaundeth money The Pope excommunicateth the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde the which the Parliament of Parris disliketh yet neuerthelesse the king formally proclaimeth himselfe against those of the religion who prepare to make resistance The Duke de Maine his exploits for the league then those of Duke de Mercoeur The memorable expedition of the Prince of Conde towards Anger 's What those of the religion did for their defence in Poictou Xaintongue and other places and the King of Nauarre against foure armies of the league The first and last exployts of the Duke de Ioyeuse for the league against the King of Nauarre Battell of Coutras Discourse of the iourney and ouerthrow of the Rutters armie abou◠the end of the yeare 1587. A summarie recitall of the attempts of the league against the Duke de Bouillon in those seasons Fresh attempts of the league against the estates and those of the religion The warre taketh beginning at Sedan The death of the Prince of Conde The Duke of Guise commeth to Parris vpon which ensueth the battell of Barricadoes The Kings retrait and the beginning of extreame euils in France Proceedings of the King and Leaguers Assignation of the estates at Blois An edict of vnion in the month of Iuly War ordained against such of the religion as intended those estates Attempts of the Duke of Sauoy against France Assembly of the Estates and that which proceedeth the ouerture of the same The Kings Oration who would confirme his Edict of Vnion The Duke of Guise his progressions discouered wherevpon ensueth the putting to death of him and his brother Warlike exployts by the K. of Nauarre for his owne defence and of the armie of the league in buse Poictou Niort taken from the league Restitution of Ganache Dissipation of the leaguers armie A straunge confusion in the estate of France Death of the Queen-mother Behauiour of the king the league and king of Nauarre during these beginnings Truce betweene the two kings Diuers exployts and enterprises of the leaguers who are discomfited in Normandie Beausse in the Isle of France The king with a puissant armie hauing brought in diuers places of importance drew neare Parris where a Iacobin Moonke subborned of long time for the same purpose traiterously gaue him a wound with a knife whereof after some certaine houres hee died and in him failed the race of the French kings of the line of Valois HENRY THE FOVRTH DIsposition of the French after the Kings death Councels of the league Order giuen for the affaires of his armie by the new King being Henry the fourth lawfull successor to the Crowne His genealogie His proceedings and notable exployts in Normandie neare to Arques From thence hee commeth towards Paris taketh the subburbes assayeth to drawe the leaguers to fight taketh Estampes Vendosme Mans reduceth many Prouinces to his obedience and martyreth Normandie wherevpon the Parliament riseth against him 90. Stratagems of the League for maintenance of themselues Exployts by the king in Normandie Battel of Parris Attempts of the Parliament of Roan the Parisiās against the K. The siege of Paris A strange diuisiō of the Order of Sorbōne frō their soueraigne Lord within the Realm Famine oppresseth the Parisians who desire peace and cannot obtaine it through the false deuises of the heads of the league who goeth about to deciue the king and people As for the king hee goeth forward against his enemies who are sauoured by the Duke of Parma the king of Spaine his Lieftenant who being resolued not to couple with the Frenchmen intrench in a strong place and make themselues Maisters of Lani vpon Marne Their intrenchment and auoyding of fight is an occasion that the king dismisseth his armie wherevpon ensueth the entrie of the Duke of Parma into Paris The taking and reprisall of Corbeil with the shamefull retrait of the Spaniards and Wallons 91. Parris is besieged as before Dauphine reconquered to the king The Pope fortifieth the league Cheualier d'Aumale is slaine Stratagems of the Spaniards for defacing of Parris Romish attempts against the king who taketh Chartres by composition and by his Lieftenants discomfiteth the league in Prouince and Poictou Afterwards hee publisheth Edicts for the retention of two religions in his Realme The Parlaments of Tours and Chaalons condemne the buls the Popes Nuntio and Legate In the meane while the Duke of Guise escapeth out of prison On the other side the king besiegeth and taketh Noyon Ouerthroweth the armie of Sauoy at Pontcharra entereth into Normandie whither he draweth the Duke of Parma when in the meane while the mutinous Parisians hang vp Brisson Archer and Tardif For reuenge of whose death foure of the principall seditious were dispatched out of the way 92. Arrest and decree of the Parliament of Roane against the king Discourse of the siege of Roane Disposition of the leaguers armie it is ioyned and fought withall being put to flight both by sea and land The ignominious retrait of the Duke of Parma Attempts by the league in diuers parts Bayon in vaine assailed by the Spaniards Amblize and the Lorraine leaguers discomfited by the Duke of Bouillon Ioyeuse ouerthrowne with his armie before Villemur Complaint by members
of the administration of the affaires of the land Wherevppon Lois de Bourbon Prince of Conde was most instantly desired to hearken therevnto and by that meanes to hinder and impeach the to tall ruine both of the king and Queene The Prince of Conde much affected to the good of the king and of his Realme And as some haue lightly thought and written that all this whole proceeding after named the tumult of Amboise had been an enterprise of men wholly rash seditious enemies to God and the Estate prouoked by dispaire and induced by fury so is it found esteemed by others euil affected vnto the house memorie of this Prince that durst presume to charge him to haue bin mooued and pushed forward with some particular affection that entered into his minde and that it was but a meere quarrell against the house of Guise which by that meanes hee sought to end and after that to mooued some greater change but not to turne this smal Cronicle into a large Apologie it shall suffice simply to rehearse those things which for the most part are fresh and in the memorie of many a Frenchman as then liuing and such as were borne since and hauing beene faithfully informed thereof for as for men that are partiall who to gratifie such as held the sword ouer their heades while they caused the bookes wherein most impertinently they handle this matter to bee imprinted without saying woorse by them both the world present and to come will wholly reiect their witnesse as full of euident and meere passion and cleane repugnant to the truth and will auouch that the Prince therein shewed himselfe to be a true Frenchman and most affectionate friend vnto the good and seruice both of the king and Realme The Prince then with his most secret Councell hauing long and deliberately thought and consulted vppon this poynt wherein hee was desired to be assistant as in truth the sequell therof required first gaue expresse charge and commission to certaine wise expert and well approoued friends secretly carefully and exactly to inquire what were the principall thinges that might bee imposed against those of Guise which beeing knowne with a good and safe conscience hee might looke into that which should redownd vnto the good both of the king and of his Realme The informations made it was found and well known by men both of person and quallitie and such as were indifferent that they might well and lawfully bee charged with diuers poynts of treason as also with an infinit number of pillings and interceptions as well of the treasures of the Common-wealth as of particular persons And among other notable crimes he was assured and offered to haue it iustified by such as in a maner had beene their houshold seruants that they ment to cease vppon the Realme Abreefe collection of the informations made against those of Guise and put all the Princes of the blood to death assoone as they once had fully exterped those of the religion determining in short space to rid themselues of all their enemies hauing alreadie vnderstood by the Phisitians that the king could not liue long neither yet haue issue which in mans iudgement might easilie be effected considering that those of Guise had both iustice mony strong Townes men of warre and the people at their commandement Monsieur Renaudie vndertaketh the charge to cease vpon the bodies of the Guisians The question was these informations beeing made how the persons of those parties so charged might bee taken and ceased vpon This was the difficultie which Godfrey de la Remaudie surnamed la Forest Barron de Perigot and a Gentleman of an ancient house vndertooke to resolue accepting the mannaging thereof vnder the authoritie of the Prince who in person promised to bee at the day and in in the place where and when those of Guise should so bee taken vppon condition that nothing should bee sayd enterprised nor done in any sort whatsoeuer eyther against God the king his bretheren the Princes nor the Estate that in doing otherwise hee would himselfe bee he that first should seeke for to oppose against al those that vndertooke the contrary which conclusion was made about the end of the yeare 1559. 1560. The Lady Elizabeth of France married vnto the King of Spaine departed from the Court of Blois about the beginning of December beeing conducted by the king her brother and the Queene her mother as farre as Chastellerault and Poictiers and keeping on her way with the Cardinall of Bourbon the Prince de la Roche Suryon and other great Lords into Gascon at Bourdeax the King of Nauarre met her and so ledde her with great honour through his countries keeping her companie vntill hee entered vppon the borders of Spaine The Ladie Elizabeth leâ—de into Spaine where she was receiued by the Noblemen and Lords appointed by king Philip who with great pompe and magnificence they led vnto their Maister about the beginning of this yeare An order for prouision of Offices The first of Ianuarie a Proclamation was made in the kings name for the prouision of Iudiciall offices the nomination of the offices beeing committed vnto the Iudges and the Kings officers who nominating three persons for each office they should giue their names vnto the king that out of them hee might chuse him whom hee iudged to bee fit and capable for the place But this was but an ordinance in paper and wholly without effect as many others had been the same moneth and the next the proces against the Councellors Coucellors holden prisoners released la Porte de Foix du Faut and Fumee that had beene comitted prisoners with Anna du Bourg were ended and all they for a small fine were set at libertie They vsed all the meanes they could to condemne the Councellour Fumee but hee behaued himselfe so well and wifely against all the Iudges and other his aduersaries that in the end hee wound himselfe out of their hands Assembly at Nautes But to returne to that which is more important The first of February la Renaudie with a great number of the Nobilitie and others of all the Prouinces of the Realme met at Nautes where vnder colour of soliciting certaine proces in the Parliament of Britaigne which as then was holden therein they assembled where after certaine inuocations vpon the name of God al before recited was there by Renaudie exposed and declared And after diuers of theÌ„ had giuen their iudgements and esteemed the enterprise to be both iust necessary one among therest required that before they gaue their promise each of them should sweare and solemnely vowe to God not to enterprise or do any thing against the authoritie of the king or the Estate of France protesting for his part that if he might perceiue it that euen when the execution should bee brought to effect hee would aduertise the king and sooner suffer himselfe to bee slaine before his face then to
been published hee knowing that the priuie Councell and the Parliament haue giuen consent hee moderated it by another edict wherin he exposed his reasons with such vehemencie great eloquence that those of Guise themselues that onely were the purchasers thereof The Duke of Romorantin breaketh the pretence of establishing the Inquisition of Spaine agreed to his aduise and certified it vnto King Philip that liked well thereof although his whole desire was to see the Realme of France disguised in a Spanish sute Wherevpon the edict of Romorantin was published and set foorth whereby the King committed the knowledge and inquirie of Heresies vnto the Prelates of his Reaime forbad all publike assemblies vnlawfull forces declared all the Ministers of the religion makers composers and printers of infamous libelles tending vnto the moouing and stirring vppe of the people guiltie of high treason this edict appeased not the murmurations and troubles but to the contrary rather doubled and increased them on all sides A Combat of Princes Against all the bookes published and set foorth against the vnlawful gouernment of those of Guise Iohn du Tillet Clarke to the Court of Parliament in Parris composed a booke intituled The Kings Maiorit wherein hee defended that in France the Kings beeing of the age of fifteene yeares might then command after that hee inueyed against those of the religion saying that with a false wrong title they termed their new opinions to be the Gospel of Christ naming their Ministers seditious mutinous and concluded that God would fauor and prosper the armes that should bee taken in hand and vsed against them Many strong and earnest aunsweres were made vnto it wherevnto neither he nor yet his brother the Bishoppe of S. Brieu durst once reply although by the Cardinall they were most instantly required therevnto for whose contentment at the request and solitation of a certaine Councellour named du Lyon a Printer of Parris named Martin l'Hommet was hanged for printing a booke The Tyger put two men to death intituled The Tiger made against those of Guise the like intertainment was made vnto a rich Marchant of Roane who beeing present at the execution and perceiuing the people most strangely mooued against l'Hommet desired some of them to vse themselues with greater modestie His proces was made without any further delay onely to please the Cardinall as du Lyon not long after in a great audiance openly confessed The Queen-mothers dealing and resolution of those of Guise in those difficulties The Queen-mother much troubled among so many waues hearing a speech of calling a Parliament and of establishing the Princes and the Constable whom shee deadly hated vnto their places and authorities which if it happened she should no longer haue the mannaging of the affaires resolued to hold and maintaine all things in the same estate wherein as then they were and vnder her authoritie to couer the imperfections of those of Guise who still continued in their grosse and high speeches protesting that they wold imploy the meanes both of themselues and of their friends that possible they could make to beate downe and represse the insolencie of those that sought to purchase the alteration of religion which from that time forward was their pretence thereby to abolish the other quarrell that onely concerned the State which was affirmed to haue beene wholly vsurped and now to bee most lawfully ruled and gouerned by them They thought likewise that hauing exterped those of the religion as their meaning was to beginne with it it would be a meanes to cut the sinewes of the Princes of the blood of whom thereby they should easilie bring to reason as also the Constable Counsell of some of the Nobilitie Touching those of the religion the first and principall in the rolle were certaine Gentlemen that made free and open profession thereof and although they had not in any sort beene priuie or once consenting vnto the enterprise of Amboise yet were they accused and summoned to come and iustifie themselues before the king But they perceiuing that nothing but their destruction was pretended concluded some to go vnto the Prince of Conde to incourage him the rest vnto all the Churches of the religion to giue them notice and intelligence of their destructions then readie to fall vppon them if each of them sought not to desend themselues The Prince of Conde escaped while his enemies consulted his death The proposition mooued in the priuie Councell touching the ceasing vppon the person of the Prince of Conde and to make his proces to the end that hauing begunne with him they might proceed against the rest made them to looke vnto themselues It chanced that vppon this proposition touching the taking of the Prince the Cardinall was resolutely of that aduise but the contrary the Duke of Guise had made a long discourse to shewe that they should not proceed therein and that it should bee wholly against his consent and desire Some at the first were much abashed that those two heads in one hood were of so different mindes but when they well perceiued that nothing was by them neglected where to find the meanes to laye holde vppon the Prince euery man then did knowe that this contrarietie was onely done of purpose thereby to drawe the Councell to giue their whole consents to the end that by those meanes they might fortifie and couer themselues against all chaunces whatsoeuer In the meane time the Prince looking on his owne securitie with good aduise deliuered himselfe out of their snares and got vnto Bearn where as then the king of Nauarre his brother was Resident they as the common saying is vsed to make bread of stones and to turne all things for their aduantage beganne to assure the king and his mother that without all doubt the Prince was culpable and that his flying made him to appeare as guiltie wherevpon commissions were presently made and sent for to leuie men to warre against Gascon whither the Mashall de S. Andre vnder pretence of going to see his bretheren was sent to discouer which serued to no other end but onely to cause the two Princes to stand more warity vppon their guard La Planche discouereth those of Guise There rested yet another threed to vntwine which was to know if that the Constable were not of the Princes Councell whom as they thoght they held alreadie within their fingers to this end they appoynted the Queene-mother to worke the matter who secretly sent for Lois Regnier Sieur de la Planche one of the Councell ours of the Marshal de Montmorency who beeing entered into her chamber the Cardinall standing behinde the tapistrie and desired very earnestly to say his minde touching causes and remedies of those troubles made a large and ample discourse the effect whereof was that those of Guise beeing straungers ought not to haue the gouernment of the Estate vnlesse some naturall Frenchmen were ioyned in commission
with them Hee likewise made a long answere touching the accusation made against the Prince of Conde shewing it to bee a meere falschood once to thinke or suppose that the enterprise of Amboise was thought or ment against the person of the king or for to trouble the Estate After that he desciphered the originall of those of Guise behauing himselfe in such sort in all his aunsweres like a good Politian and that with so good reasons that thereby hee escaped from the Court and nothing was done either touching him or against the Constable nor any of his Those of the religion next to God commit themselues vnto the protection of the Princes of the blood Those of the religion hauing vnderstood by aduises giuē thē by many Gentlemen in diuers Prouinces that their ouerthrow beganne to approach if with all speed and readinesse they prouided not for themselues Hauing recommended themselues by heartie prayers vnto God determined to cast themselues into the armes of the Princes of the blood as Fathers Tutors and Conseruers of the innocencies of the poore afflicted people and that by the natural lawes of the countrie were called vnto that charge during the minoritie of the kings And for the same cause certaine notable personages were appoynted among them to go vnto the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde at Nerac to whom with all their meanes he offered a large declaration containing a rehearsall of all the wrongs by those of Guise committed against the king and the Realme with a most humble supplication that it would please the said Princes to deuise the meanes to deliuer the king and his Estate out of their hands The explort of Monsieur de Mombrun About this time Monsieur de Mombrun a Gentleman well affected to thereligion beeing narrowly sifted by the Parliament of Grenoble and brauely escaped out of his enemies hands was desired by diuers of the Venitian Marchants to ayde and assist them against the violences and extortions vsed in their behalfes by the Popes Vicelegat contrary vnto their priuiledges and auncient franchises La Motte Goudrin Lieftenant for the Duke of Guise in Dauphine was likewise entertained by the Vicelegat to helpe him with all his forces And although Mombrun had very fewe men yet hee constrained his enemies to seeke for an accord which hauing but violated and broken in all the articles by the Vicelegat and la Motte Goudrin Mombrun raised armes againe and handled the Priests hardly that had slaine some of his men after the accord was made and sworne which done hee put a great number of la Motte Goudrins souldiers vnto the sword and vsed him in such sort that hee made him leaue his fence but hauing beene constrained to dispearse his little troupe and soone after betrayed by one of his domesticall seruants hee saued himselfe by flying out of the Realme hauing trauersed through many daungers and saued himselfe in the territories of Geneua and about the countrie of Berne The Princes counsels discouered by la Sagne wherof ensued the imprisonment of Vidame de Chartres To returne vnto the Princes they beeing much confirmed in the resolution by thē taken to discharge their duties touching the relieuing of the realme of France by the declarations and offers of those of the religion they began to deale therein and among other agents imployed in those affaires the Prince of Conde sent one named la Sagne vnto diuers great Lords to desire them not to saile him of their aydes La Sagne hauing receiued an answere from the Constable and Vidame de Chartres came vnto the Court where hee deliuered certaine letters and as hee stayed fro an aunswere hee was so vndiscreet that hee suffered himselfe to bee vndermined by one Captaine Bonual who hauing discouered it vnto those of Guise ranne after him and brought him prisoner to Fountainebleau where the letters of Vidame de Chartres beeing read wherein he promised the Prince to maintaine his iust quarrell against all men except the king his bretheren and the Queenes those of Guise sent to apprehend him within Parris and to keepe him prisoner in the Bastille where they vsed him with most great rigor vntill hee died They found not so good a baite in the Constables letters or at the least would make no shewe thereof because they would not trouble themselues with so many things at once La Sagne was well payed for his prating for that his nostrils were stretched in such sort that hee tolde all whatsoeuer hee knew and more then truth to prolong his miserable life Mean time his cōfessions made vppon the racke caused those of Guise in all haste to dispatch their affaires for first to their great dishonour and disaduantage of their kinswoman they agreed with the Queene of England prouided for the frontiers of Lorraine caused the olde troupes that came out of Dauphine and Piedemont to lye along by the riuer of Loire writing on both sides to their partakers A proposition in the Councell for calling a Parliament at Fontainebleau On the other side the Queene-mother that feared least shee should bee disgraced whatsoeuer might happen by the aduise of the Chancellor and the Admirall to whom as then she made shewe willingly to hearken she resolued to cause a motion to bee made in open councell that it were requisit that the king should assemble all the Princes Lords knights of the Order and men of authoritie in his Realme to take order for the pacifying of the troubles which they esteemed specially to proceed because of the persecutions against those of the religion Those of Guise found this resolution to bee good thinking thereby to finde a meanes to intrap both the king of Nauarre and his brother trusting likewise for that most part of those that should assemble were of their retinue that nothing should passe therein but for their aduantage and that this meeting would wholly breake off the calling of the generall States and by that meanes make a sure ground for their affaires Wherevppon they began to write into all places in the Kings name who desired euery man to bee at Fontainebleau vppon the 15. day of August for the causes aforesaid Those of Guise sent letters likewise from themselues full of all good promises and rewards The King likewise wrote vnto the King of Nauarre desiring him to bee there with his brother and all such Lords who as then were with him But couertly by the meanes of secret practises those of Guise dealt in such sort that the King of Nauarre resolued not to come and that against the aduise of the Constable and diuers great Lords who said and affirmed that as then the meanes presented it selfe whereby to put downe those of Guise and to reestablish the lawfull gouernment of the Realme And to conclude the Constable verilie supposing that the Princes would bee theee sayled not to come thither with aboue 800. horse which constrained those of Guise as then weake to flie softly
and to shew a good countenance vnto the Constable and his Nephewes The Admirall presented a petition to the King in the behalfe of the religion The 21. of August they were assembled wherein there was not one of the Princes of the blood and before they began to debate of any matter the Admirall presented a request vnto the King for those of the religion in France whose desire was that it would please his Maiestie to graunt them libertie of Churches and free exercises of their religion in all places The King hauing hanked the Admirall for his vigilancie fidelitie and sincere affection caused the petition to be openly read and then hauing declared from poynt to poynt the cause of that assembly desired the assistance euery man in particular freely and without feare or passion to giue him counsell as occasion and necessitie therein should require that done the Queen-mother and the Chauncellour spake and the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall offered but in generall to render vp an account of their administration which finished that daies meeting the assembly beeing remitted vntill the 23. of August wherevnto Monluc Moruilliers du Mortier and d'Auanson al foure of the priuie Councel opposed themselues But hee that spake most to effect and that deserued most praise to bee a faithfull Councellour was Charles de Marillac Archbishop of Vienne Oration and aduise of Marillac who by notable reasons liuely desciphered shewed that it was requisite to assemble a nactionall Councell thereby to remedie the differences in religion and the third Estate to direct the gouernment of the Realme But hee liued not long after this Oration made and many spake diuersly of his death The Admirals Oration censured by those of Guise The next day beeing the 23. of the moneth of August the Admiralles turne fell out to speake whose Oration tended to the ordering of religion and the Estate before mentioned by Marillac but with farre more eloquent phraise wherevnto hee added a most graue and wise censure against those that by inuironing the king with double guardes learned him to feare his subiects and his subiects to hate their Prince desiring the king most certainly to be perswaded that all his subiects reuerenced him and bare most earnest and hartie affection vnto him The Duke of Guise much greeued and offended at that which the Admirall had spoken specially touching the new guards made a large discourse vnto the contrary in such sort that he shewed himselfe in great perplexitie with all the wit hee had to defend his broken cause His brother the Cardinal walked with some more deliberation vppon those pricking thornes assaying to refute the humble protestations contained in the request presented by the Admirall in the name of all those of the religion who from that time foorth was most extreamly hated by those of Cuise who neuerthelesse at that time made shewe not to dislike in any sort that a generall assembly of the Estates should bee assigned and that as touching religion they propounded an other aduise which likewise was allowed as in the articles following you may reade A Parlia-assigned the 10. of December And according to the resolution vpon the last of August letters were dispatched vnto all Bailiffes and Stewards signifying vnto them that the Estates generall were assigned to meete vppon the tenth of December next ensuing within the Towne of Meaux to the end they should take order to cause Deputies to bee chosen against that time But in this Commission there ranne a clause which was that during such elections the Gouernours and Lieftenants of Prouinces should seuerally visit the Townes to inquire and vnderstand the peoples griefes and to bring them vnto the King that prouision and good order might bee taken for the good of euery Prouince A Sinode of the Clargie the 20. of Ianuary By the same letters he assigned the Bishops Prelates and other Ecclesiasticall persons to bee at Parris vppon the 20. of Ianuary next after ensuing to aduise and take counsell what shall be fit and conuenient to be shewed vnto the generall Councell exhorting them in the meane time to reforme that which belongeth to bee reformed and amended by the Church further commaunding them to be watchfull ouer their aduersaries termed wicked spirits composed of the remnants of the rebellion and tumult of Amboise Gathering of troupes of Souldiers Those of Guise hauing by this means assured themselues against the Princes the next day sent letters in the kings name vnto all Bailiffes and Stewards for the assembly of men at armes or lanciers to be readie by the 20. day of the month of September the distribution whereof was done in such manner that the companies were all mingled the suspected inuironed with others that might set vpon them both before behinde the commanders hauing charge to take put to the sword al such as they once esteemed or suspected to march to ayde the Princes On the other side because the declaration which those of the religion had directed vnto the Princes in many points concerned those or Guise At the deniall of Iohn du Tillet a certain yong Councellour named Des Autels of Charrolois presented himselfe that vnder the title of an Oration vnto the people of France made an answere vnto it and with priuiledge from the King caused it to be imprinted But this Orarout was so well schooled by a replye made therevnto that neuer after hee durst hold vppe his nose and was disauouched by the Cardinall that onely had set him on worke saying that both time and his actions would soone procure him reason at the hands of his enemies And those of Guise hauing ioyned the forces Letters from the king to the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde with their answeres returned out of Scotland with the olde troupes of Piedemont Metz and Picardie they caused them to approach near vnto them with 1200. launciers reserued besides the deuisions made within the Prouinces sent a message in the Kings name vnto the King of Nauarre whereby the Prince of Conde was charged to haue enterprised against the Estate of France and to haue sought to cease vpon the least Townes to haue them in his possession for which cause hee desired the King of Nauarre to send his brother vnto him vnder strong and safe conduction which if hee refused hee said hee should in person be constrained to go thither with such a traine that it would not be for his commoditie The King of Nauarre and his brother made a graue and bolde answere which was that if their accusers would make themselues knowne and seeme to defend the accusation against them and beeing bereaued of that authoritie which they vsurped they with a small company would present themselues before the King where in his presence they would euidently shew him that such accusers were the parties guiltie to whose most false reports they besought his Maiestie in any sort not to giue
credit The kings word giuen to the princes to intrap them This aunswere made those of Guise to seeke another course and therevppon dispatched an other message whereby the King sent word vnto the Princes that they might without all feare come vnto him and returne again when they thought good assuring them by the word of a King that nothing should be done or attempted against their persons in any sort whatsoeuer that he would peaceably heare both their causes and instifications without committing them to prison or once making proces against them that his desire was onely to haue an answereby word of mouth touching the poynts wherewith the Prince was charged which the King could not in any sort beleeue and to conclude that they should bee receiued and vsed according to their estates and dignities yea and that they should haue their places restored that of order and custome belonged vnto them touching the mannaging of the affaires of the land to the end to haue their counselles and aduise thereby to reduce all thinges into a good and polliticke order They were betraied by Amaury Bouchart Chancellor of Nauarre without any troubling or molesting the Prince concerning the religion which hee professed The like letters were written vnto them by the Queene-mother At the first the King of Nauarre had a good courage but hauing heard that the affaires in Lyonnois Dauphin had succeeded otherwise then he esteemed begunne to drawe backe although the Deputies of the Prouinces offered to assemble their troupes for his securitie before the French launciers had stopped the passages or if he found that not to be expedient they promised to assemble themselues in all places to strengthen him when hee should go vnto the Parliament He had a Chancellour named Amaury Bouchart Maister of Requests vnto the king who from the beginning had beene very earnest to mooue him to hearken vnto the declarations and requests daylie made vnto him from all the parts of the Realme but this Bouchart hauing heard that the enterprise made against Lyons by Maligny had taken an other effect then he expected wrote secretly vnto the king desiring him to separate the Prince of Conde from the king of Nauarre his brother because that without ceasing hee neuer left off to solicite him to doo diuers things against his Maiesties officers as also to trouble the Realme at the onely instance of certaine Lutherians and Preachers that came from Geneua wherevnto hee said his maister would by no meanes hearken but that it was to bee feared that in the end by long and importunate sute he would diuert him whereof hee said hee could not chuse but aduertise his Maiestie whose most humble natural and faithful subiect hee was and alwaies would bee as also one of the Ministers of his iustice Hee wrote other letters of the same effect vnto the Cardinall promising him by word of mouth to certifie him of certaine things of great importance which as then hee durst not write and to conclude hee promised him the meanes to giue him intelligence how and in what sort hee should deuise and frame proces against the greatest Lords of the Realme Speaking of Geneua hee ment Theodore de Beza whom the King had expressely sent for by the counsell of the said Bouchart himselfe to meete with diuers other notable personages from all the parts of France whose aduise specially of Beza was in any sort to procure that the conclusion of Fontainbleau touching the assembly of the Estates should bee obserued and fully executed But that aduise was not followed and that touching Beza hee returned with great daunger of his person hauing begun to preach publikely in Nerac where the king of Nauarre in person was assistant Some were of opinion that Iarnac who had wholly withdrawn himselfe from the Princes with S. Foy his brother before that Lieftenant of the company of launciers belonging to the Prince of Conde had practised with Bouchart to write those letters They determine to go to the king The Princes giuing credite vnto the kings word and vpon the protestations and promises made vnto them by his Agents and among others the Cardinal of Bourbon his brother sent expressely vnto them accepted the Kings offer and hauing writtē vnto the king that they would ride to Orleans with a small traine before the assembly of the Estates should bee prepared And beeing at Limoges they were presently visited by diuers Lords and Gentlemen to the number of seuen or eight hundreth well mounted and armed at all poyntes they made them offer of sixe thousand footemen out of Gascon Poicton mustered and reaeie to march 4000. both on horse and foote out of Languedoc and as many or more out of Normandie with ful assurance of the good willes of most part of the men at armes or launciers and presents of mony so it would please the king of Nauarre to declare himselfe Protector of the King and of the Realme against the house of Guise But the euill seruants which as then attended on him as Descars and his companions for Bouchart had withdrawn himselfe gaue him so many alarmes deuised such inconueniences vnder pretence that they did not deliuer vnto thē a summe of mony of three or foure hundreth thousand crownes to looke better into those affaires that beeing at Vertueil where another good Agent being the Cardinall of Armaignac came vnto him hee dismissed all his company and countermanded those that were comming with many thankes and promises most earnestly to imploy himselfe in the Parliament for the good and benefit of all the Estates of France They hauing shewed him many reasons for the same and desired that at the least the Prince of Conde might stay behinde thereby to hold their enemies insuspence he answered that their innocencie should suffice that it was no easie matter to put the Princes of the blood to death that if their liues were taken away they would receiue their deaths with patience that God had meanes sufficient to deliuer the Realme of France which that they should bee the cause of the losse and ruine of so many honest men that desired to ioyne with them The Princesse of Conde a Lady for her time as wise vertuous as any could be found vsed all the meanes shee could to diswade her husband from that voyage but all in vaine the Lords and Gentlemen that had accompanied the Princes being vppon the poynt of their retract after many humble congratulations protested that by those meanes being so vnfortunately destituted of their heads yet they doubted not but that God would raise them others thereby to saue and deliuer them from the oppression of Lyrants Those words vsed in the presence of their secret seruants being rehearsed to those of Guise were causes to hang newe belles at their eares and in the meane time vnderstanding that the Princes were alreadie entered into their iourney they caused Monsieur de Mompesat one of their confederates in the kings name
expressely to forbid the Princes comming vnto the court vppon paine of death not to enter into any of the kings walled Townes as then they were alreadie inclosed among the forces of their enemies vnder the conduct of Marshall de Termes The Cardinall d'Armaignac Descars and others vntrustie seruants made the king of Nauarre beleeue that this verball commaundement of Montpesat was onely but a meere brauado of those of Guise which both the king and his mother would disauouch The Princes refusing all aduertisements went vnto Orleans The Princes hauing past Chastelleraut were more certainly aduertised of their michiefe to come and counselled to keepe the high waies because of diuers Ambassadours that were appoynted and set to kill them if they once went out of the way vnder pretence that they sought to saue themselues and at the same time means was offered vnto them to bring them vnto Anger 's and so into Normandie where they shuld want nothing but they continued in their first resolution trauelling by easie iourneyes and it seemed that one of the bretheren was as a Prouost Marshall that ledde the other to prison Therevpon those of Guise led the king to Orleans thither calling al the Nobilitie men of armes which made both young and olde to thinke that some pretence was ment against the Sates but by a rumour spred abroad it was said that all those forces beeing assembled and brought togither was to assiege and chastice Orleans whereof the principal Citizens were registred in the Criminal bookes to passe the daunger and by their confiscations to grease the hands of diuers hungrie Courtiers vnder pretence that they had beene of the enterprise of Amboise Rigorous dealing towards those of Orleans For this cause Mansieur de Sipierre a slaue to those of Guise appoynted for Lieftenant to the Prince de la Roche Suryon Gouernour of Orleans being arriued in the Towne about the beginning of October disarmed the Inhabitants filled such houses as were suspected with Souldiers and committed the custodie of the Gates vnto the Sheriffes The Prince their Gouernour beeing entered therein about the twelfth of the same month and receiued with honour by the principall Cittizens aduertised them that the king would make his entrie therein vppon the seuenteenth day ensuing which terme beeing prolonged for the space of one day vppon the eighteenth hee made his enterie The troupes of the Towne being in number about foure thousand men to whom they had restored their armes onely their Bastianadoes the principall Cittizens following in good order and all the streets hanged with Tapistrie and other hangings The king beheld all those troupes passing along through the Subburbes which beeing reentered into the Towne hee mounted on horsebacke riding vnder a Canapie of cloth of Gold and so went straight vnto the Church and being on the way his horse stumbled in such maner that he had surely fallen if he had not presently bin relieued After dinner al the troupes went to meet the Queene who likewise made an honourable and braue entrie but those of Guise were at neither of both fearing as some say to meete with some desperate fellow that might hurt them because a Magician in Rome had shewed the Cardinall that both hee and his brother should die a violent death The arriuall of the Princes in Orleans and bow they were receiued The Euen before all Saints day beeing the last of October the Princes trusting to their innocencies and reposing themselues vpon the grace of God to whom they recommended themselues as also caused al those of the religion by praiers to doo the like arriued at Orleans and past from the beginning of the gate vntil they came to the kings lodging in the Estappe through diuers souldiers all footemen ranged along in rankes so close togither all armed that all that long way not any man could passe betweene them Not one Courtier nor Townes-man stepped foorth to meete them onely the Cardinall de Bourbon and the Prince de la Roche Suryon who by expresse licence had obtained that fauour receiued them The king of Nauarre according to the custome desiring to enter on horsebacke within the Court Gate was put backe with a rude aunswere that the great Gates might not bee opened they being then constrained to light went into the king that stayed for them in the great Hall accompanied with his vncles of Guise and other Courtiers whereof not one of them once stepped forward to meete them Their entertainment was but meane and after due and solemne reuerence night grewe on which caused the king to go into his mothers Chamber followed onely by the Princes those of Guise not once seeking to enter The Queen mother hauing receiued them with the water standing in her eyes the king speaking vnto the Prince of Conde said hee had beene aduertised from diuers places The Kings speech to the Prince of Conde The Princes answere that hee sought to make diuers enterprises against him and the State of his Realme for the which cause he had sent for him to heare what hee could say by word of mouth The Prince that neither wanted courage nor audacitie aunswered boldly in his owne defence and in such sort discouered those of Guise his enemies His imprisonment that the king could not otherwise iudge but that great wrong and iniurie was offered vnto his blood neuerthelesse according to the conclusion made before his arriuall the king commaunded Chauigny Captaine of the guard expressely sent thither by those of Guise to take the Prince which hee did and ledde him prisoner vnto a house not farre from thence before the which there was erected a Fort of Bricke fluncard and filled with field-peeces and diuers cannoniers to keepe them which peeces beate along three streetes whereby it was able to defend all men from comming neare vnto the prison The windowes of his chamber were closed vppe and he was kept so straightly that no man spake vnto him but onely his Chamberlaine The king of Nauarre desired that his brother might bee committed vnto his charge The entertainment of the King of Nauarre and others and hee would gage his life for his foorth comming but it was refused him and touching himselfe his guard was taken from him and still hauing watch about him both by night and day At the same time certaine were sent to cease vpon Madame du Roye mother in lawe to the Prince being in her house of Anicy in Picardie from whence with great rigor she was brought vnto Saint Germains by Monsieur de Renouart and de Caronges executers of that commission They likewise sorgot not the Councellour la Haye at Parris as one that dealt for the Prince such as were his faithfull friends within Orleans withdrew themselues out of the daunger Bonchart Chauncellour to the king of Nauarre at the same time was taken in his owne house by Iarnac who in shewe made great apparance of disliking Bouchart threatning him in presence
Clargie of the disorders happened among the Nobilitie and of the wrongs done vnto them set downe the meanes to gouerne the Spiritualtie and to maintaine them within their bounds spake for the comfort of the people specially concerning iustice shewing that the Offices for iustice oght to bee freely giuen iustice reduced to a certaine necessary number of Officers and that the Nobilitie ought not to be secluded from the administration thereof After that he spake touching the disorders vsed in confiscations against seditions besought the King to receiue and maintaine the Nobilitie in their priuiledges and withall presented a request wherein was required the vse of certaine Churches for the Nobilitie de l'Ange for the third Estate that as then made profession of the religion One named l'Ange speaking for the third Estate intreated principally against the ignorance auarice and carelessenesse of the Cleargie thereof inferring that such faults ceasing in them all troubles would soone be ended Iohn Quintin Autunois professor of the ciuill lawe in Parris appoynted to make an Oration for the Cleargie whom the Cardinal of Lorraine had preferred De Quintin for the Cleargie as also for the Nobilitie and third Estate but all in vaine spake much but with much dirision pronouncing nothing but by writing and that with smal grace hauing for his cōtrowlers diuers of the principall Prelates Cardinals of the Realme The summe of his Oration after many and great commendations vttered in the behalfe of the Queene-mother was to shewe the principall causes of the assembly of the Estates not to deale in any thing touching the reformation of religion which cannot erre but rather to solicite and commaund the Ministers of the same duly and truly to execute their charges and not to permitany other religion then that of Rome wherevppon hee made a long inuection against those of the religion such as had desired Churches saying that hee which had beene the messenger and presenter of their request in a manner openly charging the Admiral set right against and face to face with that Orator oght to be holdē declaredan Hereticque against him as be-being one they oght to proceed according to the rigor both of cannō ciuil lawes thereby to roote the mischiefe out of the heart of France Hee compared those of the religion vnto the Arians the Lords that fauored thē to the Traitor Gainas in the time of Arcadius vsed all his eloquence to prooue the antiquitie of the Romish religion and that those of the religion in France were dispersed people and such as sought to induce an Anarchie wholly vnworthie of any support or good intertainment requiring the prohibition of all bookes not allowed by the Doctors of the Sorbonistes concluding therewith to desire that all those of the religion might bee wholly rooted out and extinguished which done hee directed his speech vnto the king and his mother making request for the maintaining of the persons and goods of the Cleargie for their elections for the obseruations of the ancient Cannons for the exemption of Tithes contributions and cotisations wherevppon hee made almost a whole houres worke Lastly hee pleaded without request for the Nobilitie for the third Estate for the gouernment of iustice and to conclude made a long discourse of the institution of a king The next day the Admirall complained vnto the king to the Queen mother of the presumptious ignorance of de Quintin A payment for de Quintin Orator for the Cleargie that had so openly charged him touching the presenting of a request in the behalfe of the religion at Fontainbleau Quiutin excused himselfe vpon the lesson that had been giuen in writing and in his second Orarion denied his first to please the Admirall and not long after died of sorrowe and greefe perceiuing himselfe so well discouered by diuers answeres made vnto his Oration wherein his Apostacie his slaunders and his falsehoodes were fully set downe In the beginning of this yeare the Spiritualtie had commandement from the king to bee at the Councell of Trent and commission likewise was giuen vnto all Iudges and other Officers Order touching religiō that they should presently release both bodies and goods of all such prisoners that then were kept or holden in prison for religion defence beeing made to all men whatsoeuer not to iniurie them nor their religion vppon paine of death The States continued their conference at Orleans where the Cittizens of Orleans were much greened that in the last kings time those of Guise had filled their houses with souldiers that had fedde vpon them at their owne pleasures complaining that the Duke de Nemours held a great number secretly in diuers places to do some suddaine exploit The king of Nauarre and the Constable beeing appeased the Queen-mother caused all that complaint to cease contenting themselues that the Duke disauouched them all There rested yet another stoppe which caused the Parliament to bee reiourned vntill the month of May next after ensuing to be holden at Pontoise The King of Nauarre and the Channcellor desiring the estates to take order that the Kings debts might be paide The breaking vp of the Parliament offering to shewe them a particular rolle thereof The King of Nauarre saying further that if by accounts they founde that he hadde receiued any extraordinary giftes hee woulde freely restore them againe But those of Guise and others that coulde not saye the like did so much that those matters proceeded not any further in question hoping that time would cause them to speake of other things then restitutions Not long after the Prince of Conde recalled vnto the Court came from la Fere The King iustifieth the Prince of Conde to Fontainbleau and the next day after his arriuall entred into counsell vpon the thirteenth of March where in presence of them all the king declared that hee had beene sufficiently certified of his innocency permitting him to make a second declaration thereof at the Court of Parliament in Parris whither not long after the Prince went On the other side the King of Nauarre complained to the Queene-mother touching the Duke of Guise that was preferred both before himselfe and the Constable and proceeded so farre therein that both he and the rest of the Princes of the blood with the Constable and diuers Noblemen The Queen-mother assureth her regency began to prepare themselues to depart out of the Court but she perceiued that to be a blowe wherewith to abate her gouernment by the Cardinall of Tournons meanes shee sent for the Constable commanding him expresly from the King that he should not depart from the Court. Which done she stayed the rest and so brake off that matter to her no small contentment The report of this discontentment beeing spread into diuers places the Deputies for the assembly of the particular states of Parris began to speake therof and earnestly to agree of some order to be taken The particular states of
inioyne all his subiects whatsoeuer to obserue and keepe it vppon such paines and penalties as hee and his learned Councell should thinke most conuenient There were other declarations made touching the wordes of Papistes and to liue Catholickely contained within the edict wherevppon those of the Parliament propounded many difficulties to the great hurt and detriment of those of the religion that were wholly and openly condemned and the Pope expresly named the head and Gods Vicar vppon earth This winde serued but onely with more speede to assemble and bring togither the tempests of ciuill warres which at this day as yet continueth Sacrying of the king The Cardinals complaints In the moneth of Iune the king was sacred in Reims where were present thirteene Peeres of France the kings eldest brother beeing the first and all the other Princes of the blood sitting in their degrees there the Cardinall of Lorraine made great complaintes against those of the religion wherevpon it was determined that a new assembly of the Princes Lords and others of the priuie Councell should bee made in the Court of Parliament in Parrris to take order therein Not long after letters pattents were sent vnto the Presidents de Thou and Seguier to assemble the particular Estates of Parris but vpon the opposition framed by the Councellour Ruze in the name of the Nobilitie those assemblies of Estates were broken vppe without any resolution onely in one poynt which was that the payment of the Kings debts should bee imposed vppon the Cleargie About the same time the act for the clearing the Prince of Conde of treason was newly published proclaimed openly in the Court by President Baillet the doores being open and all the Iudges and Councellors being present in their Scarlet gownes within the great chamber where were present diuers Princes and Noblemen A decree in the Court of Parliament to iustifie the Prince of Conde and others the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine beeing of the traine There the Prince was declared innocent in that which had bin imposed against him and free libertie reserued vnto him to haue lawe against all such as hee therein suspected to bee his enemies and false accusers and such recompence in that case to bee allowed him as to a man of his estate might appertaine The like Actes were read and pronounced at the same time for Madame de Roye Vidame de Chartres deceased Monsieur de Cany and the Councellour de la Haye Not long after the king the Queene his mother and the priuie Councell came into the Parliament and there after many and diuers opinions giuen foorth concerning religion in the moneth of Iuly The edict of Iulie an edict was published vppon paine of death forbidding al iniurious speeches words whatsoeuer on both sides to bee vsed all leagues and things tending vnto sedition all slaunderous words against Preachers and assemblies forbidden to those of the religion who neuerthelesse could not haue beene condemned to indure a greater paine vnlesse it had beene bannishment out of the Realme all which prouision vntill a full and ample declaration should bee made by a generall Councell or by the next assembly of the Prelates all faults past in respect of those of the religion to bee remitted with commaundement to punnish all such as should seem to delay them Bastionadoes forbidden but onely to men of qualitie In like sort the Prelates were sent for to bee at the conference and safe conduct giuen vnto all Ministers freely to come and dispute of their religion Practises against the King of Nauarre The place beeing assigned at Poissy while those of the religion were in good hope because the Cardinall of Lorraine and others protested to reason quietly touching the articles debated by the parcelles of the holy scripture means was practised wholly to diuert the king of Nauarre from the affectiō by him shewed to those of the religion and by the means of the assembly at Poissy to breake off the Parliament as then reiourned vntil the month of August next after ensuing because the Queene-mother knewe full well that the Gentlemen and the Commons would aske to haue Churches allowed vnto them which being agreed vnto would make the Princes part too strong which she doubted Such order therefore was taken in that poynt that Descars before that Chamberlin to the king of Nauarre and put from his Maister Descars entertained hauing discouered him to bee a Pensioner to those of Guise was restored to his place and became in more fauour then euer hee had beene Also the Duke of Guise being returned from Callais where hee had been with Monsieur d'Anuille second sonne to the Constable and a great number of other Courtiers to conduct the Queene of Scots widdowe to Francis the second solicited the Prince of Conde An agreemēt between the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise to bee reconciled vnto him at the which agreement made at Saint Germaines in Laye vppon the 24. of August with the king and the Queene-mother there were present all the Princes Noblemen Cardinals Councellours and Knights of the Order The king hauing spoken of the cause of the assembly commannded the Duke of Guise to speake who turning vnto the Prince spake and said Sir I neither haue nor euer ment to do or execute any thing that should bee against your Honour neither was I eyther author meanes or moouer of your imprisonment The Prince of Conde answered him and said I esteeme them both for wicked and mischieuous persons that were the cause thereof The Duke replyed and said I beleeue it well but that toucheth not mee which done at the kings request they imbraced each other with promise from thenceforth to continue good friends and the Queene-mother to witnesse the ioy shee then conceiued that day held a solemne Feast The Queen-mother practise a both with great and small to maintaine her Regency As touching the Estates reiourned vnto Pontoire in the month of August as then it was no longer time to deferre them but the Queene playing secretly on both parts to ratifie the agreement made between her and the king of Nauarre touching the Regencie and to the end it should no more bee spoken of first sent thither the Councellour du Mortier that was sent backe againe finding so many that spake against him Wherewith the Queene calling her wits togither she remembred that he had alwaies borne a good countenance vnto the Admirall pretending in some earnest matter to imploye his ayde and occasion as then falling out this Lord was sought vnto by all meanes and thousands promises were made vnto him for the ease and reliefe of those of the religion hee perceiuing that the King of Nauarre had no desire to deale therein and after the manner of simple men trusting to many and great protestations made and vttered vnto him concerning his future good vsed Clarklike meanes imploying himselfe vnto the Estates for the
confirmation of the accord aforesaid The States forced to agree to a thing that ouerthrew a lawe of the Realme and to finish vp the matter the King of Nauarre himself went thither in person to certifie them that he had resigned his right title vnto the Queene which notwithstanding the matter was much debated many great personages partly perceiuing the great mischiefs which by that disorder would in fine growe vp in such sort that the Estates agreed not therevnto but with protestation to the contrary in their billes which they presented vnto the king at Saint Germaines in Laye where the general assembly was holden the Chancellour commaunded by the king by a long Oration perswaded the company to determine with themselues whether it would be necessary and conuenient that the assembly of the religion should bee holden or forbidden And after him Lieftenant Autun surnamed Britaigne speaking for the communaltie in a large discourse shewed the abuse both in the goods and iurisdictions of Ecclesiasticall persons their duties the great charges that spoyled and ouerthrew the people required that the persecutions should be ceased against those of the religion that promise should bee made vnto them of an assembly and that to the same end Churches might bee permitted vnto them also that their principall Ministers should bee called to conferre with them of the differences of religion Touching the acquitting of the kings debts and ordering of other affaires the third Estate made a large couerture proposing diuers means to cease diuision and to reduce the Realme into as rich estate as euer it was But because diuers matters propounded touched and concerned many of the greatest personages specially the Spiritualtie it was all but words which likewise were the cause to hasten the principals of such Sects to inuent their conspiracies The Cleargie desiring to get out of the myre made offer that to acquit the king of his debts for the space of sixe months they would euery yeare paye foure tithes at the same time likewise the Imposts of fiue sols vpon euery Alme of Wine entering into euery walled Towne was raised for the terme of sixe yeares and no more besides the eighth and tenth part beeing ordinary custome While the Estates were busied to dispute and determine of matters concerning the Estate The Popes deuise to hinder the assembly of Poissy Pope Pius hauing beene aduertised what had beene determined touching the assembly at Poissy sent the Cardinall of Ferrare his Legat in France with charge to remit all things touching religion vnto his Councell because that among other articles agreed vppon by the States it had beene decreed that the benefices of the Realme should bee conferred by the Ordinaries euery man in his iurisdiction and not by the Pope Also that dispenses should more be allowed There was likewise a question among thē touching the reception of the Legat who in fine made such meanes that the Chancellour was commaunded to seale his letters of authoritie which the Chauncellour did not but after many commissions adding therevnto that it was done without his consent the Court of Parliament would not approoue them and touching the Courtiers at the first the Legat was but hardly vsed by them but he vsed such meanes by his friends that in the end hee got the vpper hand hauing with his assistants in France frustrated the assembly of Poissy Assembly of the Cleargie for the conference at Poissy At the same time the Prelates assembled for the conference at Poissy and because some of them were wholly without learning and the rest little studied in the holy Scriptures they brought with thē a great number of Sorbon Doctors and others whom they appoynted to dispute in their presence thereby to learne what were best for them to say Touching those among them that had any learning they were suspected so that in their particular conferences many times there happened great strife among them and many times blowes whereat the Courtiers made great sport While they were in this debate among themselues diuers Ministers of the Churches in France to the number of twelue with 22. Deputies The Ministers came to Poissy and present a request vnto the king with the confession of the faith by the kings safe conduct and commaundement arriued at Poissy not long after followed by Pierre Martir Theodore Beza whom the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde had caused to come from Zurche and Geneua Those that first arriued presented a petition vnto the king vpon the tenth of August wherein they desired that commaundement might bee made vnto the Prelates to peruse the declaration of the faith of the reformed Churches presented vnto the king since the ninth of Iune then last past to the end that at the first assembly they might shewe what cause they had to deny it and vppon their obiections to heare the defences of the said Churches by the mouths of their Ministers and Deputies They further desired that the Prelates and other Ecclesiastical persons might not bee iudges ouer them seeing they were parties against them that the king and his Councell would bee present at that assembly that all the differences might bee decreed by the onely word of God that two Secretaries might bee chosen on each part that euery day might conferre the notes of their disputations togither and that those notes should not bee holden nor accounted for lawfull before the parties had subscribed vnto them The king receiued the confession and petition The Kings answere by the hands of Augustin Marlorat and Francis de S. Paul in the presence of his Mother the king of Nauarre and other Princes of the blood with diuers Lords of the Councell and with a good countenance said vnto them I will referre your petition vnto my Councell and you shall receiue an aunswere from my Chancellour The 24. of August 1565 Th. de Beza preached at the Court. And the 24. of August 1574. the Massacre was committed against those of the religion Conference betweene Th. de Beza and the Cardinall Theodore de Beza beeing arriued at Saint Germaines in Laye vppon the 24. of August he preached publikely the next day at the Castle within the Prince of Condes Hall where hee had a great and notable assembly without any noyse or trouble The same day about euening beeing sent for into the king of Nauarres Chamber there he found the Queene the king of Nauarre the Prince the Cardinals of Burbon and Lorraine the Duke de Estampes Madame de Crussol where hauing made a lowe reuerence vnto the Queene in fewe words hee shewed her the cause of his comming thither togither with the desire he had as also all his company to serue God and his Maiestie in so holy commendable and necessary an enterprise Thervpon the Cardinall of Lorraine beganne to speake charging Beza to haue been authour of the troubles to haue dispearsed infamous libelles about the Realme of France and to haue
to Lyons was betrayed into the handes of his enemies in a place about fiue miles from Auranges which mooued those of the religion with all speed to send thither their greatest forces conducted by Captain Saint Andre to relieue their prisoner whereof Fabrice being aduertised the next day in the morning came before Auranges with his armie and some cannons wherewith hee beganne the batterie Those that were gone to the relieuing of their prisoner hearing the noyse of the cannon stayed their course beeing accompanied with diuers of their neighbours by meanes of Fabrices horsemen and beeing surprised in the day time they were constrained to staye at Serignan about a myle from Aurange Part of those of the religion remaining in a small number perceiuing the breach and their Cittizens of the Romish Church readie to set vp on them in the Towne while Fabrice should assayle them without forsooke the Towne and saued themselues with their wiues and children within Serignan Some stayed within Aurange that determined to defend the breach but vppon the sixt of Iune in the morning they heard the noyse of the assaylers They betrai◠each other in Aurange whereof ensued a horrible murther who by diuers waies made open vnto them by those of the Romish Church entered into the Towne The watch-word of those that entered was terrible blasphemie of God they contented not themselues to kill without distinction of sects age nor quallitie but made some die by diuers stabbes with poiniards and rapiers cast others vppon the poynts of halbards hanged burnt others within Churches cut off some of their priuie members olde men of eightie yeares of age bedthred persons diseased people in the Hospitalles The poore men inhabiting in the Mountaines came thither to reape and hauing no other weapons but their sithes and hookes were likewise massacred Many women and maides were killed others hanged at windowes and Galleries were harquebused young children sucking at their mothers breasts massacred diuers young wenches of fiue or sixe yeares rauished and spoyled The woundes of the dead were filled with the leaues torne out of the Bible The Towne was wholly sacked wherein happened a maruellous iudgement of God which was that the authors of the mischiefe that had caused the enemie to enter thinking to bee safe and preserued from daunger withdrewe themselues with their armes and wiues into the Market-place The traitors receiue their reward where the enemie thinking they would haue made resistance fell vppon them and put them all to the sword Those of the Castle hauing yeelded vppon oath and promise made to haue their liues saued were part stabbed and part thrown headlong from the walles to the number of one hundreth and nine men About euening Suze caused the Castle the Pallace and the Bishoppes-place to bee set on fire and three hundreth houses burnt with diuers persons that had hidde themselues therein and without an extraordinarie raine that happened in the night time all the Towne had wholly been consumed to ashes The next day the walles were beaten downe and part of them cleane rased to the grownde Those that were in Serignan withdrewe themselues into Montelimart not being able to remedie so great mischiefes as for Parpaille the Vicelegat of Auignon caused his head to bee striken off sixe weekes after the massacre Des Adrets mooued at those murthers three or foure daies after the massacre of Auranges Des Adrets reuengeth the wrongs 〈◊〉 in Aurange ruuning about like thunder in fewe houres battred and forced the Towne of Pierrelatte where hee put all those to the sword that bare armes presently therevppon hee besieged the Castle wherein were three hundreth souldiers belonging to Suze and while they were in parley those of Serignan hauing ioyned with des Adrets entered by force killing some and casting others ouer the walles not suffering one to escape Des Adrets with the like dexteritie hauing taken Bourg and le Pont S. Esprit that presented him with the keyes went to force Boulene a frontier Towne of Contat where the souldiers of the companie of Captaine Bartelasse were slaine And as hee prepared himselfe to set vpon Auignon Maugiron sacketh Grenoble newes was brought him that Maugiron had entered by treason into Grenoble wherein diuers of the religion had been sacked and slaine others cast off from the bridge into the riuer of Iseire vpō the foureteenth of Iune and some daies after hee stayed his course and with an incredible dexteritie entered into Romans which hee held for himselfe forced Saint Marcellin and there cut the throates of three hundreth of Maugirons souldiers who withdrewe himselfe into Bourgongne where hee remained with Tauanes All such within Grenoble as knew themselues to bee guiltie saued themselues vpon the fiue and twentieth of Iune cursing the cowardlynesse of Maugiron The next day des Adrets arriued therein and vsed both great and small with great courtesie reestablishing all things in their estate and holding his armie in good discipline About the end of Iune hee marched towards Forests where hee vsed those of Montbrison in such manner as I shewed before Des Adrets perswaded by the Marshall de Brissac that promised him maruels beganne to write to the Duke de Nemours Des Adrets wonne by the Duke de Nemours in the end is taken prisoner and in the end they spake togither hard by Vienne meane ttme certaine Gentlemen talking togither among the which one was merrie surnamed Poltrot who because they spake of the death of the King of Nauarre said This death will not make an end of these warres but wee must haue the death of the dogge with the great collor And beeing asked whom hee ment of the great Guisard said hee and lifting vp his right arme spake in open audience Here is the arme that shall do the deed Aboue three moneths before hee had many times vsed those speeches among his companions and intrueth hee kept his promise as wee haue alreadie shewed Of this conference made by Adrets ensued a truce of twelue daies from the fiue and twentieth of Nouember to the sixt of December which day in the assemblie of the Estates of Dauphin des Arets did what he could to perswade the people to accept the Duke de Nemours for their Gouernour but besides the particular reasons not long before by the Nobilitie of the countrie made vnto Adrets they sayde it could not bee done but to the vtter ruine and ouerthrowe of all the Prouince and the letters of the Lieftenant to Nemours beeing openly red discouered the deuise because they contained that the Duke de Nemours was expresly sent to punish the seditious and rebelles Wherevpon the Estates concluded des Adrets himselfe not being able to deny it that before they could proceed further it was necessarie for the Duke de Nemours to obtaine other letters and graunts by the Kings lawfull Councell whereof the Prince of Conde was one as supplying the place of the King of Nauarre his
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
Court of France with all their principall seruants and there to giue them that entertainment which after fell out In March the Romish Catholicques at Roane murthered diuers protestants as they returned from a Sermon and beate others shrewdly meaning to haue proceeded further had not Marshal Montmorencie whom the king sent made the more haste to suppresse the violence of the seditious who after many pursuites hanged vp three or foure the rest escaped albeit 400. were guiltie of innocent blood Sixe weekes before the protestants had been most cruelly murthered at Aurange by their enemies whom Berchon soone after made Gouernour by Countie Lodowic found means to intrap and punish accordingly Not long after by the kings consent those of the religion were taxed to paye the 5. part of their reuenue towards the payment of the Rutters which produced much discontentmēt About the same time the king and the Queene made their enterie vpon seuerall daies into the capitall towne of the Realme with great pompe The protestants also held a Sinode nationall at Rochel wherein they confirmed the articles of the confession of their faith and discipline of their Churches in the presence of the Queene of Nauarre the Princes and many other of the Principall among them The king hauing made his entrie the eleuenth of March the Queene beeing crowned the 25. of the same moneth at Saint Deunis and the 29. receiued with great magnificence into Parris hee went to sit in his place of iustice in the Parliament where hee made a long Oration to his officers of the Court for the obseruation of his Edicts In witnesse whereof in the moneth ensuing the people of Parris beganne to mutine against those of the religion sacked certaine houses and began to proceed further prouoked by their Preachers because of a certaine Crosse placed in S. Dennis street in a place where in times past stood the house of Phillip de Gastines rased to the ground because that certaine sermons and the Lords Supper had beene made and celebrated therein Gastines for that cause hauing been executed to death during the troubles that had beene carried into S. Innocents Church-yeard This mutinie appeased the king that shewed great fauor to Teligny his companions sent them to the Q. of Nauarre the Princes in Rochel to assure them that all his desire was to maintaine the peace that for his owne part he bare them great affection procuring that the Q. his mother the Duke of Aniou his brother should from day to day leaue off their rigors And at their departure gaue them diuers presents giuing them likewise to vnderstand that his minde was to proceede with war against the Spaniard in the low Countries and to marrie his sister to the Prince of Nauarre Biron was sent after to certifie the like and men began to speake of that marriage in diuers sorts their opinions being diuided some esteeming it to bee a snare to intrap those of the religion others deeming the contrarie The king caused certaine consultations to be made in Rome because of the alliance between both the parties Pope Pius the fist seemed to bee much troubled about the same for that effect sending Cardinal Salutati into France who hauing had certaine conference by word of mouth with the king returned satisfied The effect of that the king said vnto him was that the king would alwaies shewe himselfe to deserue the name of the eldest sonne of the Romish Church and that all his intents tended to no other end but only to the suretie honour and aduancement of the Catholicque religion whereof the Pope should receiue great testimonies before long time should passe But notwithstanding that diuers maruelled much at this suddaine alteration of the king the Queene of Nauarre much sought vnto by diuers great persons of both partes went to the king followed by the Countie Lodowicke great numbers of Nobilitie The king and the Queene his mother were at Blois where they receiued and welcommed her with great ioy and good countenance and after many disputations touching diuers particular poynts specially the cerimonies the agreement vpon the marriage of her sonne with the kings sister was concluded and the place of the espousals assigned at Parris Not long after the Prince her son accompanied with fiue hundreth Gentlemen came to Blois where the marriage of Nenry de Bourbon Prince of Conde with the yongest daughter of the house of Neuers was agreed vpon During these parleyes of mariages with the Princes the Admirall that had buried Ladie Charlotte de Laual his wife a woman of excellent pietie that died at Orleans in the second troubles beeing in Rochel married the Counties of Ancremont in Sauoy and gaue Louyse his daughter in marriage to Monsieur de Teligny At the Court one named Lignerolles a simple Gentleman made knight of the Order Captaine of a company of launciers Gouernor of Bourbonnois and one of the Duke of Anious mignions was slaine openly in the Court for discouering certain of his Maisters secrets Lignerolles slaine by the D. cōmitted vnto him touching the enterprise that was ment against those of the religion On the other side Death of the Cardinall of Chastillon the Cardinal of Chast being readie to depart out of England to go to his brother the Admiral was poysoned by one of his Chamberlains and died to the great great griefe of all his friends and seruants The prisoner that did the fact beeing after taken at Rochel was executed Articles of marriage betweene the Prince of N. and the kings sister This is the yeare wherein is set downe the arriuing of the Queen of Nauarre the Princes and the Admirall in the Court the articles of the marriage of the prince of Nauarre and the kings sister were made at Blois the eleuenth of Aprill The Countie Lodowicke at the same time trauelled with the king touching warres to bee made in Flaunders to the which ende preparations were made at sea by Strossy and the Barron de la Garde but at the end of three moneths Flaunders was found to be Rochel Long before the king had caused the Admirall to bee solicited to come vnto the Court and to drawe him thither hee caused those of Guise to retire who thereat counterfetted to bee discontent The Marshall de Montmorency by letters assured his Cousin the Admirall that the king was fully determined to make them friends and to reconcile him with the Duke of Guise the better to be serued by him and his Councell touching the affaires of his Realme and beganne to fauour those of the religion and to put the Admirall out of all distrust the king sent him letters that he might bring fiftie Gentlemen armed with him vnto the Court whither in fine the Marshall de Cosse conducted him with diuers Gentlemen At his comming hee was honourably receiued and welcommed by the king that called him his father Welcomes to the Admirall and others of the religion in the Cout
time was Captaine Minguetiere sent away with a shippe well fraught and a Portingall an excellent Seaman Sundrie practises to discouer the landing places about Perou and to espie some meanes to molest the Spaniard But withall giuing notice of his voyage hee was followed and set vpon neare the Isle of Hispaniola where his men were slaine and himselfe put to the Gallies The Admirall himselfe was set on worke with the practising of a league with the Germaine Princes and the Duke of Florence was solicited to lend money to prosecute the warres in Flaunders for the which Saucourt Ienlis and la Noue leuied souldiers In the beginning of May the king desired the Queene of Nauarre to go to Parris there to prouide for all things necessarie for the marriage Where shee arriued the fifteenth day of the same moonth and the fourth of Iune fell sicke of a feuer proceeding as some sayde from her lights where of long time certaine impostumes had bredde which beeing mooued and stirred by great heates and by an extraordinarie trauell which shee alwaies tooke while shee was in health inflamed and bredde that feuer Death of the Queene of Nauarre whereof she died within fiue daies after to the great sorrow and extreame griefe of all her seruants Three daies after she fell sicke beeing in perfect memorie shee made a most christian testament and last will dying with the witnesse and testimonie of singular pietie and ioy in God She was a Princesse of great experience both by many aduersities wherein she shewed an inuincible constancie and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her religion very careful of the bringing vp of her children in the feare of God charitable towards them whom shee often aduertised of their duties in words most graue and full of motherly affection she had a readie wit and well aduised but indowed with great zeale and integritie pittifull and easie to bee perswaded no offender could auoyde her censure shee opposed her selfe against vices and liberally maintained that which shee iudged to bee good and conformable to the will and pleasure of God Prosperitie hindered her her mind much giuen to pleasant conceits being of a leane complexion and very agreeable with her ingeniositie hauing great viuacite to comprehend all things and grace liuely to represent them by writing or word of mouth with a iesture of all the bodie and a countenance well liked of all men shee died in the foure and fortieth yeare of her age vppon the ninth of Iune Some say shee was poysoned by the smell of certaine perfumes and to bereaue men of that opinion shee was opened and curiously visited by learned Doctors and Surgions that found all her noblests parts to bee very faire and whole onely the lights perished on the right side wherein had ingendered an extraordinary hardnesse and a great impostume a disease which they all so farre as lay in man iudged to bee the cause of her death They were not commaunded to open her braine where the mischiefe lay by which means they could not giue aduise but vppon the outward apparance Certaine daies after the king desired his brother in law the king of Nauarre to go to Parris there to solemnize his marriage as it had beene agreed betweene them While that at Blandie in Brie preparation was made for the marriage of the Prince of Conde that married his wife in the beginning of the moneth of August The Admirall at that time lay in his house of Chastillon sur Loing where hee receiued many letters and messages from the king The Admirall commeth to Parris and because he stirred not the king sent Cauagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him to determine vppon the wars of Flaunders and special commandement was giuen to the Prouost of Merchants in Parris other the chief mē to take order that not any noise nor rumor should be vsed or raised at the Admirals ariuall in the town who beeing prouoked by so many men and desirous to bannish warres out of France measuring the kings thoughts by his owne resolued to ride to Parris without staying at the many and diuers aduertisments of his seruants and other honourable persons most affected to his preseruation that both within and without the Realme desired him that seeing he could not conceiue any sinister opinion of the king Confidence of the Admirall his mother and the rest that at the least he would consider into what place he went about to thrust himselfe and among so many enemies but hee resting vppon the testimonie of a good conscience and the prouidence of God remitting those aduises as if they proceeded from men couetous and desirous of new troubles which hee abhorred woorse then death went with a small company and beeing in Parris to the great astonishing of all the towne was honourably receiued by the king his bretheren the Queene-mother and others A little before la Noue Saucourt and Ienlis accompanying Countie Lodowic into Flaunders had from the king receiued commission to finde means to surprise some frontier towne on the other side the Duke of Alue had intelligence of euery steppe that Countie Lodowic set which notwithstanding such was his diligence that hee seized vpon Monts in Hainaut Wherewith the Duke was so nettled that hee said that the Queene-mother had sent him the flowers of Florence but hee would returne her Spanish Thistles with many other threats which vppon particular aduice of the course of their affaires namely of Ienlis returne of his licence to leuie men for the succour of Monts of the time of their departure and of the course of their iourney were soone quenched The seuenth of Iuly the King published a proclamation tending to the impeachment of all quarrels as well in Parris as in his Court and commanded all straungers and men that had nothing to do within the Towne The Princes come to Parris to depart from thence After the arriuall of the Admirall at Parris so many letters and messengers were sent vnto the Princes that in fine they came thither almost at the same time that the king arriued who had before lingered thereabout Many Lords and Gentlemen of the religion accompanied the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde whom in manner all the Court went to meete Further vnder pretence of the warres in Flaunders the king at the same time sent for other Lords and Gentlemen of the religion who otherwise would haue stayed in their houses Ienlis marched not into Flaunders notwithstanding hee were solicited thereto besides the solemnization of this marriage royall was for a time deferred by reason of the scruples doubts made by the Cardinall of Bourbon to celebrate the same without a dispence from the Hope that would bee prayed and intreated therevnto and in the end graunt a dispence but because it was not ample ynough to the Cardinalles minde counselled by men subtiller then himselfe they were forced to send to Rome againe Great was the expectation of
courtelasses ponyards kniues and other such bloodie instruments ranne swearing and blaspheming the sacred Maiestie of God throughout the streets and into the houses where most cruelly they massacred all whosoeuer they met without regard of estate condition sexe or age the streets paued with bodies out and hewed in peeces the gates and enteries of houses Pallaces and publicque places died with blood A horrible plague of shoutings and hollowings of the murtherers mixed with continuall blowes of Pistolles and caliuers the pittifull cries of those that were murthered the bodies cast out at windowes vppon the stones drawne through the durt with straunge noyse and whistlings the breaking of doores and windowes with billes stones and other furies the spoyling and sacking of houses Carts carrying away the spoyles and others the dead bodies which were throwne into the riuer of Seine all redde with blood which likewise ranne out of the towne and from the kings owne Pallace The king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde being called to speake with the King and by his owne mouth were certified what had past adding The entertainment of the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde that hee saued their liues vppon condition that they should renounce their religion and follow his otherwise that they should looke for the like punishment that their adherents had and should receiue The King of Nauarre besought the king to remember his promise of the alliance newly contracted and not to constraine him in his religion the Prince of Conde more feruent aunswered that the King had giuen his faith to him and to all those of the religion with so solemne protestation that hee could not be perswaded that he would falsifie so authenticque an oath In respect of the obedience which the King required of him hee had faithfully yeelded vnto him not minding in time to come to depart from it in any sort whatsoeuer But touching the religion wherof the king had granted him the exercise and God the knowledge to whom hee was to yeeld account for his bodie and goods hee left them to the Kings disposition to do with them as pleased him but for his religion hee said hee was fully determined to remaine constant therein which hee would alwaies maintaine to bee true although it were with the losse of his life This aunswere of the Prince set the King in such a chollor that hee beganne to call him rebell seditious and sonne of a seditious person with horrible threatnings to cause him to loose his head if within three daies he took not better counsell which was done in presence of the Queene-mother the Duke of Aniou Birague and others of his secret Councell whose other proceedings must bee set downe They perceiuing that the massacre of Parris would not quench the fire but rather kindle it more because those of the religion might assemble and vnite themselues togither as it happeneth in such miserable chances giue them new worke these Councellours made two messengers the one from the same Sunday to the Gouernours and seditious Catholicques of Towns wherein were diuers of the religion with expresse commaundement to massacre them The other message contained certaine letters to the Gouernours of Prouence by the which hee charged those of Guise with the murther committed vppon the person of the Admirall because of their particular quarrell and of the sedition happened in Parris ceased the same day it began as those letters of the foure and twentieth of August specified by the authoritie and vigilancie of the King whose meaning and commaundement was that his Edict of pacification should be holden as much as euer it was Strange deuises to roote out those of the religion and to couer the action of the massacre through all his Realme Wherevnto he added these words And because it is greatly to bee feared that such execution which by other letters was published to bee made vpon a very small number should cause my subiects to rise one against the other and that great massacres should bee committed within the townes of my Realme which would bee great griefe vnto me I pray you to publish and make it knowne in all the places of your Gouernment that euery man should liue in peace without raising armes nor offending each other vpon paine of death causing our edict of pacification to be carefully obserued and kept and to punish the contradictors and ouerrunne those that would seem to rise and bee disobedient to our will you shall presently assemble all the forces you can make as well of friends as of your ordinarie companies aduertising the Captaines of the Townes and Castles of your gouernment to looke well to the safetie and preseruation of the said places that no fault may bee escaped aduertising mee assoone as possible you may what order you haue taken therein and how all things passe within your gouernment Other notable practises but all to the eternall confusion and reproach of the authors The same day were likewise dispatched other pattents prohibiting the carrying of all forbidden weapons all fraudulent assemblies orrepugnant to the Edict of pacification vnder the benefit whereof the king commaunded all his subiects to liue in quiet and peace each with other The Queene-mother likewise wrote her letters to the Gouernours and Ambassadours in like substance as the king It was agreed betweene the King the Queen-mother his brother Birague the Duke of Neuers and the Countie of Retz and other the Guisians should auoyde Parris and immediately after the deaths of the Admirall and his partakers withdrew thēselues in some of their houses that so the French and their neighbours might the rather think it to be some particular reuenge that bred also the tumult in Parris Vppon this counsell the King had in his Sunday letters layd the whole rage vppon the Guisians who considering more deeply the inormitie of the act wherein they had not spared an infinite number of learned men honorable olde age honest Ladies chaste matrones women with childe young schollers virgins sucking babes but most cruelly cut their throates perceiuing that so they should bring vpon themselues their posteritie the indignation of all men indued with any sparke of vertue or that had any regard of humane societie and consequently make themselues the marke for euery man to ayme at as the sole authors thereof and men guiltie of the most wicked action that could bee deuised refused to forsake Parris But contrariwise insisted and most earnestly laboured that the king should aduow all that had beene done This did they and their Councell so cunningly mannage besides that they were very strong and greatly in the peoples fauour who had been followers of the Duke of Guise in this execution that the king with the aduice of his Councell soone after writ other letters to his Ambassadours Gouernours of Prouin ces and chiefe Townes of France wherein hee gaue them to vnderstand that whatsoeuer had fallen out at Parris was nothing concerning religion but
Princes of his blood But God shewed that he loueth not disturbers of the estate nor such as bath their handes in their owne blood that take courage by the indiscreet opinions of certaine pretences The enterprise of Amboise ciscouered in Ann. 1560. the enterprisors pursued by the Duke de Nemours The gate of Hugon in Tours by the which they assembled or of the first accords of the declaration of protestants made in Latin which are Huc nos venimus and that vse remedies crueller then the disease it selfe For that he ouerthrew this first enterprise and the actors thereof beeing taken vppon the suddaine obtained paine and punishment for reward and so were hanged in their bootes and spurs at the castle of Amboise But the sparks that issued out of this flint after that set fire to the ciuill warres of France and because the greatest part of those alterers of estates were of the new religion that as then were called Huguenots of the place where they first assembled themselues in Tours the Cardinall of Lorraine beganne to crie out against Hereticques and to make them more odious he caused it to be reported throughout the Realme that their enterprise was against the king wherein they induced the Prince of Conde who to iustifie his innocencie and to shewe the integritie of his heart to the seruice of the king in his presence and others the Princes Lords and Officers of the Crowne spake openly and said That his Maiestie excepted and with reuerence to the Princes his bretheren the Queene his mother and the Queene then raigning those that had reported him to bee of the enterprise of Amboise lyed falsely and if they would seeme to iustifie it hee offered to fight with them and that if they were not comparable vnto him for degree hee would imbase himselfe for that time and make them either by sword or launce confesse themselues to bee vilaines and traitors And thervpon this Prince not induring to liue among so many suspitions and distrusts as beeing the But and marke of his enemies left the Court and went vnto his brother the king of Nauarre whither such as professed reformation withdrewe themselues This disease increasing more more and the corrupted humors therof breeding to a dangerous and mortall palsie the Queen-mother that knewe better the disease then the cause thereof The assembly of Fontainbleau Anno. 1560. the 21 of August where the King the Queene and diuers Princes sat there the Admirall presented a Petition and said that he would cause it to be signed by 50000. men and the Cardinall of Lorrain said the King should oppose 100000. against it They were not permitted to alight as the manner is at the kings Pallace She said that no man euer bandieth against the blood of France with out repētāce Iustification of the Prince of Conde Agreement made betweene the Prince of Conde and the house of Guise the 14. of August 1561. La Popelimere saith that the king of Na. promised the am bassador of the K. of Dēmark to cause the religiō to be preached throughout France within one yeare after perceiuing that by sharp and bitter remedies it was nothing healed beganne to vse gentlier and more easie and to the same end she caused the most learned and wisest men in al France to be assembled at Fontainbleau there to debate the causes of religion Where the Admiral presented the request of those whō he supported which was to haue libertie of churches and freedome of conscience wherevnto the Cardinall opposed himselfe And the Lords of Monluc Marillac were of opiniō that the most assured means to stop those new sprung sects was to submit themselues to a generall Councell and in fine the conclusion of this assembly was that a Parliament of the generall States should be holden at Meaux in the moneth of December after and a nationall Councell the tenth of Ianuary then next after ensuing The Parliament was holden at Orleans and the king sent for the king of Nauarre to come thither and to bring the Prince of Conde his brother with him that there hee might cleare himselfe of the hard report that ranne against him to the which end they set forward and arriued at Orleans presenting themselues vnto the king that intertained them not as their qualities and nearenesse of blood required For the Prince of Conde was committed prisoner whose deliuerance was sued by the Ladie Renee duches of Ferrare neuerthelesse his processe was framed wherevnto hee pleaded not guiltie yet in fine hee was condemned to haue his head striken off before the kings Pallace and at the entrie of the States vpon the which iudgement he continually expected the houre of death But by Gods prouidence the death of the king procured both his life and libertie for king Charles iudged him to be innocent At the same time the Court of Parliament in Parris made an Edict the Parliament of Estate continued and the difference of religion was appeased by staying for a generall Councell Meanetime Messieurs de Guise being in hope that their greatnesse would still increase and spread abroad were much abashed to see it shortened by the death of the king their Nephewe and thereby to be constrained and put in minde to thinke that they were no more as they had been So that they yeelded their place to the King of Nauarre but not the opinion nor the hope to recouer it once againe By that means their great affaires left off but they forsooke them not seeking by all meanes to be reconciled to the Prince of Conde alwaies keeping their owne like the Maister of a shippe that hoyseth and pulleth downe his sayles as time serueth and alwaies stopped the holes wherein they foresawe the round world enter ceasing not to speake most assuredly and openly against heresie which they so much the more detested as that they perceiued the Princes of the blood to lend their helping hand towards the aduancement and establishing thereof and that the king of Nauarre that made account thereof began to like it hauing more desire to the Realm of Nauarre that was promised to be restored vnto him and to that of Sardaigne offered him if he would separate himselfe from the Princes reformed and the protection of the protestants Churches then to the consideration of the quarrell of his house The greatnesse of those Princes could not continue equall by reason of the vnequallitie of their houses Yet they sought to go all in one ranke whereby the kings fauor could no sooner giue countenance to the one but it mooued the other His fauour is like a faire Ladie euery man seeketh and courteth her and if she smile more vpon one then vppon the other it breedeth but iealousie despight quarrell she cannot diuide her heart in two without a a mortall diuision Euery man hath his turne and both Catholicque and Huguenot vnder pretence and zeale of religion seeketh to get the good wil of the king his
mother and his bretheren But the freedome of the Ministers being impatient to staye the resolution of a Councell made them to preach openly whereby they so much tempted and altered mens consciences that suddainly the ceremonies traditions of the Church were abated and the temples seased vpon destroyed And the Constable beeing descended of the first Barron and first Christian in France opposed himselfe against this diuersitie of religion in one realm The Edict of Iuly made at S. Germains in Laye 1561. The assembly at Poissy The murther of Vassy the 1. of Mars 1562. The battaile of Dreux the 19. of Decēber 1561. The Constable was first taken then the Prince of Conde The king of Nauarre was slaine at the siege of Rouē 1562. The Duke of Guise slaine before Orleans the 24. of Febru 1563. 1. Edict of peace Anno. 1563. Reconciliatiō betweene the D. of Guise and the Admirall 1566. Counsell of the Duke of Alue The enterprise at Meaux at the feast of S. Michael 1567. The battaile of S. Denis on S. Martins euen 1567. VVhere the Constable was slaine The second Edict of peace at Lōiumeau which from the time of king Clouis had bin holden maintained in paritie and integritie vnder the ancient faith of their forefathers The Cardinal of Lorraine on the other side tooke the matter in hand and counselled the king to make an Edict against those of the religion the presumption of certain men was such that they cōsented to the disputation at Poissy wher in place of remedie we found but an increasing of our miseries After that the Edict of Ianuarie so much renoumed in all the troubles and solemnized by the Huguenots folowed the breach whereof by the means of Vassy caused both parts to fall to armes vpon the plaines of Dreux which gaue the name to that me morable battell not onely for the number of men there assembled being 1900. foot 2000. horse for the kings part 4000. horse called White-coates 6000. foot of the contrarie as for diuers other accidents that therin were marked besides the taking of two of their chiefe leaders For the Prince of Conde that imputed the first motions of his imprisonmēt of his separatiō frō the fauor and presence of K. Francis the 2. to the practises of the Duke de Guise that euening of the battell was his prisoner accepted the halfe of his auncient enemies bed that was offered vnto him a right discription of this variable world wher you see one triumphing the other captiue Among so many prosperities that inuironed the Duke of Guise by the death of the king of N. Generall of the kings armie followed by all the Catholicque Nobilitie Tutor cōductor of the king Queen-mothers whole affaires death being iealous that the Capitall citie of the realme at his arriuall had cried Viue Guise Viue Guise with as great ioy gladnes as euer they cried Viue le Roy dispatched him out of the way by Poltrots means that slew him at Orleans therby finished the first ciuill war at which time the Prince of Conde was deliuered out of prison the Constable brought the first Edict of peace By this peace France had means to breath and her subiects to liue in some assurance but the corrupted humours that caused the disease of the estate were not so wel disiested but that ther rested some remnants whereby it might be feared it would fall into a much more dangerous sicknesse which happened 3. years after whē the most troublesome alterers of estate renued the fire which although it were not vtterly quenched yet it was half cōsumed The Queen hauing performed that generall visitation of all the kings Prouinces at Moulins taken vp the quarrel between the houses of Guise Chastillon and made thē friends caused 6000. Switzers to be sent for vndera fained sear of the D. of Albes passage throgh France with whom she had conferred at Bayonne wher they concluded that to liue in peace it was best for her to fish after great Samons to leaue the frogs The Admiral perceiuing it determined rather to saue himselfe by his armes then with his legs and went so near vnto the king that he had almost taken him at Meaux and so caused him to retire to Parris being conducted by Pfiffers regiment And the Prince of Conde tooke the town of S. Dennis assieged Parris burned the milles And in fine the two armies met fought before S. Dennis wher the Protestants retired the K. had the victorie but it cost him the life of the Constable beeing one of the valiantest Captains in al Europe who hauing commanded in 7. battels died in the sight of the citie of Parris and of his king at the head of an armie victorious by his cōduction hauing cut his enemies in the cheeks that had wounded him in the face he was by a Scot shot into the raines with a Pistolle so died of the seuenth wound he had receiued in that seuenth battel being of the age of 60. and 7. yeares This death procured an other little peace cōmonly called the lined peace which continued but 6. months and made a war that The Prince of Conde slaine at Bassac the 21 of March 1569. The battaile of Montcontour the 3. of October 1569. The 3. Edict of peace An. 1570. indured for the space of 2. whole years wherein the Prince of Conde died and where the Princes of Nauarre and Conde the Dukes de Guise and Maine were Captains the one of the protestants armie vnder the conduct of the Admiral the other for the defence of Poictiers vnder Monsieur the kings brother General of his Maiesties armie whereby the battell of Moncontour happened where all the protestants footemen were slaine and the Rutters spurs were not sharp ynough to make their horses flie but Monsieur not pursuing his victorie suffered his enemies to range meet togither again who in short time were foūd strong ynough to constrain him to the wars or else to make another Edict of peace with more aduantage then the two first This peace being sworned by al those that had any publike authorite therin caused the Frenchmen to feele the sweetnesse of tranquillitie to be much different from the sharpnesse and bitternesse of ciuill diuisions Therein the king the Queen-mother his bretheren and the Princes did nothing but breath and aspire vnto contentment nothing was spoken of in France but only assurance and of remoouing their wars vnto the frontiers or within the bowelles of forrain countries and euery place was filled with marriages bankets c. But this goodly shew was put only a presaging of the torment that ensued and Saylers iudged that those great calmes would in the end cause some great tempest For presently after ensued the great and terrible day so full of blood teares and sorrow where without respect The massacre vppon Bartholomewe day Ann. 1573. so many
religion if there were no other passion that touched his enemies at the heart he added that if the king would not accept his fidelitie hee can do no more but content himselfe with his owne innocencie and affection towards his Maiestie and the State Declaration protestatiō of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde In his declaration hauing disciphered the cause of leaguers taking armes the vanitie of their pretences and the fruites that all the Estates of France may reape by the conclusion of the treatie of Nemours by breaking the peace and beginning warre Hee protesteth and with him the Prince of Conde his Cousin the Duke de Mommorency the Lords Gentlemen Prouinces Townes and common people as well of the one as of the other religion to oppose themselues against the Authors of those troubles in a lawfull and necessary defence therby to conserue the lawes which are the foundations of all families and to maintaine the estate and libertie of the King and of the Queene his mother Sixtus 5. excommunicateth the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde in September 1585. This Prince had need to bee a strong Bulwarke thereby to defend himselfe against so many assaults on all sides made vppon him For hauing both the king and the league as enemies on the one side on the other side commeth the Pope with his thunderboults of excommunication declaring him incapable to the succession of the Crowne of France abandoning his person and his countries for a praye to such as could obtaine it Touching this Bull many whole bookes both with it and against it were written and set foorth to the which I referre the curiositie of such as desire to knowe whether the Pope hath any authoritie ouer the estate of France for which consideration The King of Nauarres letters to the States the Court of Parliament would not allowe it Therevppon the king of Nauarre complained to all the Estates of France in that they had caused the succession of a king beeing yet aliue to bee decided in the Court of Rome made the title of a Prince of the blood to be iudged by the Pope and suffered the Consistorie to giue that which belonged not vnto them And hauing particularly represented vnto them the mischiefes which thereby might arise togither with the shame and perpetuall reproach vnto this Nation in hauing To the Clergie produced monsters into the world and rebelles among a most obedient people hee endeth his letters with reiecting the mischiefes of those miseries vppon those that are the authors In his letter to the Cleargie hee said If war bee so acceptable vnto you if a battell liketh you better then a disputation a bloodie conspiracie more then a Councell I will wash my handes and the blood that thereby shall bee spilt be vppon your owne heades I am assured that the maledictions of such as shall thereby indure great miserie will not fall vppon mee so that my patience my reasons and obedience are sufficiently knowne Meane time I hope God will blesse my iust quarrell to whom I commend you To the Nobilitie To the Nobilitie hee writeth and saith The Princes of France are the keyes of the Nobilitie I loue you all I feele my selfe perished and become weake in your blood The straunger hath no interest in this losse I haue good cause to complaine of some but I rather bewaile them I am readie to imbrace them all That which most displeaseth me is that those which I most esteem of whom I knowe haue been circumuented I cannot distinguish them being in armes but God knoweth my thought their blood be vpon the authors of these miseries to whom we praye c. To the Commons after he had deplored their woundes and scarres and assured them of his readinesse to shed his blood if his enemies would by a combat of two and two end the warre To the Commons which would be the death of so many thousands of men He saith I am a Frenchman borne I will bee partner of your miseries I haue assayed all meanes to exempt you from ciuill discordes and will neuer spare my life that they may be abridged I will not impute the fault vpon you you are Frenchmen but rather esteem of your good willes I demaund nothing else of all you that according to your vocations are most subiect to indure mischiefe then to doo it but onely your vowes prayers and good-wils But because hee feared the sword of Saint Paul more then the keyes of Saint Peter and that the Gold of Spaine is more daungerous then the Lead of Rome he sent his Ambassadors to the protestant Princes of Germanie to craue their aydes Which the king perceiuing sent the Cardinall of Lenoncourt and the President Brulart vnto him to assure him of his Maiesties good-will of the great desire he had to see him vnited to the Catholicke Church not onely for the safetie of his conscience but also for the easier establishing of his succession to the Crown to declare the causes that had moued him to breake the peace and to desire him to yeeld vp the Townes which he held for his securitie The king of N. hauing yeelded most humble thankes vnto them for his Maiesties good will in his behalfe aunswered that without instruction he could not change his religion for the which so much time and blood had been shed And that those of his side were so farre from yeelding vp the Towns giuen to them for their securitie that following the example of the leaguers they had cause rather to aske for more The Ambassadours perceiuing that neither the one nor the other poynt of their Ambassage tooke effect ended their commission by desiring the king of Nauarre to enter into a treatie wherein the Queene-mother would labour to his contentment Conference agreed vpon and trauell as farre as to Champigny if in the meane time it pleased him to staye the forraine armie Hee willingly accepted of the conference but to the other poynt he said that he neither could nor ought in any sort to stay or withdraw the good willes of those who in so much important an occasion yea and in so extreame necessitie had entered into the field that by restoring the authoritie of the king troden vnderfoote by the breach of his edicts they might defend him from the forraine inuation of the league The Electors Palatin the Duke of Saxe the M. of Brandenburg the D. of Brunswick the Lantgraue of Hessen sent Ambassadors to the king in Parris The Kings answere to the Protestant Ambassadors The Princes of Germainie that sought to ayde such as were of their religion perceiuing France to bee a bodie in a manner wounded to death thought good to procure the remedie thereof rather then to helpe to giue the mortall blowe and to prooue if by intreatie and faire meanes they might cease the causes of their diuision and procure the tranquillitie of the common-wealth by the obseruation
of the edict of peace To the which end they sent their Ambassadors to the king to desire him to open his eyes to the teares and his eares to the complaints of his poore subiects and to vouchsafe the hearing of the humble requests of his neighbours for his owne good and the quietnes and honour of his faith his Crowne and reputation But the king thinking it straunge that forraine Princes should deale with his affaires answered them that hee knew what was necessarie for his subiects and that according to the cause for their good and tranquillitie he had made and changed his ordinances as all soueraigne Princes in Christendome vse to do to whom he referred the care and charge to gouerne their subiects as they thinke good and that for his part hauing the feare of God and the loue of his subiects liuely ingrauen in his heart hee would do nothing against the honour of his conscience nor the fatherly care he had vnto his people With which answere the Ambassadors returned not well pleased and the king that had giuen sixe moneths respite to those of the new religion eyther to leaue it or depart out of the realm perceiuing that by delayes they had meanes to arme and put themselues in defence thereby at the end of the said terme to rise vp against him vnder the assurance of forraine ayde sent to the Gouernours of his Prouinces and the Ministers of iustice to execute the edict The king of N. for his part declareth thē enemies in whose townes the said Edict was published causing the goods rents reuenues and debts to bee ceased vppon and solde He lost no time all his friends were readie and the Sieur de S. Mesmes with standeth the Marshall de Matignon The Sieur de Laual had the charge of Xaintonge raised the siege of Taillebourg where the Ladies de la Trimouille both mother and daughter were assieged The Viscount of Thurenes with three or foure thousand Harquebusiers marched in Limosin and there had taken the Bishoppe of Tulles The D. of Guise being aduertised of the dislike the Ambassadors of the princes of Germanie had touching their answer counselled the king to set vpō the Huguenots before the Rutters entered into France So that in lesse then eighteen moneths the king of Nauarre sawe himselfe assayled by fiue campes royall vnder fiue seuerall Generals The Duke de Mercure in Poictou where the Duke de Mercure thinking that the conquest of the Huguenots in Poitou would bee as easily executed as enterprised left Brittaine not considering the common maxime that hee that will breake must bee stronger then the thing which hee mindeth to breake and that there must bee a proportion betweene him that inforceth and him that is inforced for if the weaker part bee his that will force his owne violence ouerthroweth him and spoyleth it selfe Hee thought with two thousande men to doo a great acte But the Prince of Conde meeting with him caused him to remooue not onely from Fontenay but cleane out of Poitou And from thence the Prince besieged Brouage and hauing reduced it to such necessitie that hee weakened the most hardie he receiued newes of the taking of the Castle of Anger 's The taking of the Castle of Anger 's vpon the Sieur de Brissac by three Captaines one named du Halot Parrisan to the king the second Fresne enemie to the Counte de Brissac and Rochemorte affectioned to the king of Nauarre that agreed togither to take the Castle of Anger 's one of the strongest places in France Brissac therein had a Lieftenant called Captaine Grec with twelue souldiers whither Fresne went to visite him and beeing inuited by him to dinner in company of Rochemort others went thither who wrought so brauely that as they entered they slewe all the souldiers that were not of their faction at which noyse Grec comming foorth was met by Fresne that stabbed him with a Poinyard Du Halot beginning to enter into the Castle and perceiuing the execution stepped backe into the Towne and protested that hee had caused the place to be taken for the king notwithstanding he was kept prisoner Rochemort presently aduertised the Sieur de Clermont who by post sent word to the Prince of Conde to certifie him thereof Those of the Towne besieged the Castle and all the countrie ranne thither in the euening they desired to speake with Fresne who minding to issue and being vpon the Drawe-bridge among diuers harquebusiers one beganne to discharge his peece and seeking to reenter Rochemort and his fellowes perceiuing the daunger drewe vp the bridge and Fresne being shut out hung vpon the chaines where the Townsmen cut of his hands in such manner that hee fell into the ditches where a Hart that was bredde vp in the Towne with his hornes made an end of his life by tearing his bodie in peeces Du Halot was presently executed in the Towne and Rochemort being demaunded for whom he held answered that he held for the king of Nauarre at which answere there was no need to bid them make trenches and to keepe watch attending the comming of the Duke de Ioyeuse that not long after arriued in the Towne Certaine daies passing in that order one day after dinner Rochemort leaning in a windowe of the Castle and falling a sleepe was shotte with a harquebuze wherein there was two bullets the one cut his throate and the other his tongue and so was slaine Whervpon 16. souldiers that were therein being deuided because there were but seuen Huguenots began to parley which indured certain weekes The Prince that lay before Brouage hauing about the beginning of October Anno. 1585. receiued newes of the surprising of the Castle and of Rochemorts answere not knowing what had happened since that time determined with all speede to drawe thither because that seruice would be a stay to the leaguers forces and a great meanes of aduantage for them against the league And hauing considered how it might bee possible for him to make that voyage being in those earnest affaires which as then held him in the end he ventured with 700. or 800. foote and 1000. or 1200. harquebusiers on horsebacke wherewith not without great discommodities he passed by boates ouer the riuer of Loire to Rosiers between Saumur Anger 's being as bold an enterprise as euer was in our time For the voyage in truth was enterprised with too much courage litle cōsideration to passe ouer a great riuer betweene two armies and to runne into a straight not knowing on which side to issue without any boates that stayed for him for that those wherewith hee passed lay readie by chance neuerthelesse hee entered into the Subburbes of Anger 's and within the Barricadoes where he spent a whole day in skirmishing and hauing prooued if hee could haue any newes from the Castle he vnderstood it was no place for him for they made him no signes although his trumpets sounded for the purpose for the
likely to haue ouerunne the Duke of Guises forces and as it was at the poynt to retire backe againe the Prince of Conde the Duke de Bouillon and the Lords of Chastillon and Cleruant promised to pay them all their wages so they would passe forward The hope of their paye made them to march in a time not much conuenient towards the forrest of Orleans The King perceiued that the longer their armie kept the field the greater would bee the ruine of his countrie and that being ioyned to the King of Nauarre it would doo much hurt caused the Sieurs of the Isle of Cormont to certifie the Coronels that if they would yeeld vppe their colours and sweare to beare no armes in France without the expresse commaundement of his Maiestie hee would giue them assurance to retire in safetie they perceiuing themselues farre from the king of Nauarre hardly handled by the Frenchmē beaten by the league pursued by the king Capitul ati◠the 20. of December 1587 and forsaken of the Switzers assembled themselues togither at Marsigni and accepted his Maisties offers sent by Monsieur d'Espernon that feasted them and made them drinke new muscat their bellies full Monsieur de Chastillon laying holde vppon the occasion of a safe retrait and for his purpose protested not to yeelde vppe his colours but to the King of Nauarre so tooke his way towards Roane to retire with a hundreth good horse and certaine Harquebusiers The Gouernour of Lyons entered into the field to impeach his passage but the little children of Coindrieu easilie iudged of his fortune the effect of that expedition which they called not the iourney of spurres but the battell shewing the backe and bring newes thereof before it was fully done For there they fought like the Scithians they that had their heeles best armed were most valiant The Scitheans fight flying The consideration of this encounter and the inequallitie of the forces and leaders maketh me beleeue that which many haue perswaded themselues to bee true which is that wisedome in warre is of little force For fooles commonly beate vvise men Beholde an olde Captaine armed with so many examples Olde Captaines commit young faults Paradoxe and glorious exploytes of war that had sharpened his iudgement by so many practises findeth himself contrained to yeeld the place to a small handfull of men halfe wearied It is said that good wines are best in the latter part of the yeare when time hath purged them of their fire and made them mylder but regard must bee had that they become not sowre Age causeth strange Metamorphoses in vs it breedeth euill fauored wrinckles in our hearts and alwaies there is somewhat that tasteth sharpe and mustie and beginneth to be faint or ranke Old men should sit in Councell and young march in the fielde olde men feare blowes The boyling and couragious heate of youth mother of braue exploytes is extinguished in them there it is too hotte for them They neuer sleepe without curtins and fire I make more account of a young Captaine whose vertue and valour groweth vp with his age and such as without dissimulation France hath found in Monsieur de Chastillon who in lesse then 4 moneths compassed a great part of France trauersed a hundreth daungers passed many places where hee found any thing either before behinde or on his sides but that opposed it selfe against him And like a braue Gentleman hauing separated himselfe from the mutinie of the Rutters and the leaguers forces although the Counte de Tournon and the Lord of Mandelot bereaued him of all means to passe away but onely by armes yet he passed through them like thunder that teareth and scattereth all whatsoeuer lyeth before it and made them know that the valour of a couragious heart is not subiect to long and tedious resolutions which are not executed but in words This place hath somewhat separarated me from the banket made by Monsieur d'Espernon to the Rutters and of the treatie that followed which gaue them libertie and assurance to retire They went vnto Geneua where diuers of the heads whether it were for griefe with languishing or by blows of musket yeelded vp the ghost There the Duke de Bouillon being in the fiue twentie yeare of his age died vppon the eleuenth of Ianuary hauing made his heire the Ladie Charlotte de la Marke his sister charging her to alter nothing in the state nor the religion of the soueranties of Sedan Iamets nor to marry without the aduises of the king of N. the Prince of Conde and Monsieur de Monpensier whom he appoynted his heire with his sonne the heire dying without children with the same charge not to alter any thing in his lands in the which case he substituted the king of Nauarre and after him the Prince of Conde Assoone as the Duke of Lorraine vnderstood of this Princes death hee sent his armies into his countries in defence wherof la Noue his executor entered into armes with protestation that the promise he had made for his deliuery vnto the king of Spaine not to beare armes against him bound him not to refuse his ayde in defence of a young childe against the vsurpation of the Lorraines The Marquesse du Pont eldest son to the Duke of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise against their faith giuen they followed not the armie but the miserable troupe of Rutters to the Mountaine of Saint Claude where they gaue thankes for the good successe of their company and from thence to please their hungrie troupes they trauersed the Counte of Bourgongne entering into the Countes of Mombeliard Hericourt where his men vsed diuers great cruelties and spared not the lands of the Bishoppe of Basle the example and ornament of the good Prelates of Germanie After the bloodie ceasing of so lamentable vengeance vppon a poore innocent people which as yet do feele the losses and destructions of two hundreth Villages the violence vsed to a number of women and maides the massacre of so many olde men the furious and beastly inhumanities of the league they bare the signes of their spoyles into Lorraine where they erected the great confusion that dispearsed it selfe through all the vaines of the estate neuerthelesse it was the glorie of the league the last poynt that ambition hath learned Time and humours are meruellously disposed therevnto All France shewed it selfe much bound vnto it that had deliuered them from the furies of straungers and assured all Catholicque minds The victorie of Auneau Maruaile that a king should be tealous of his vassall is an ordinary song among the people the reioycing of the Cleargie the brauerie of the Gentlemen Of the league the iealousie of the king that knew wel that this Lawrell was not giuen to the league but to disgrace his Maiestie although it was commō in the mouth of honest men that his Maiestie had cōstrained his enemies to yeelde There was no Preacher but
are naturally in vs there would not be wood ynough to burne my subiects I will not doo it I had rather haue a sicke then a dead bodie I will not make religion a Butcherie or the alter of a sacrifice which is not bloodie a pillorie or place of execution no the king of France will no more cause his subiects to bee slaine to make them beleeue hee will neuer vndertake to constraine mens soules as long as their bodies are obedient vnto him It belongeth vnto God to accord these false notes that are heard in the harmonie of his Church They would likewise that I should consent vnto the Cleargie that they may purchase in fee farme such goods as heeretofore haue beene aliened from their Churches and constraine the possessors thereof to sell them againe that is as much to say that I should fight for the Church the Cleargie shall keepe their temporall goods while the people playe the Alkamists with their teeth They will giue the alarme and neuer come to battell All the rest of their articles touching the sale of Huguenots goods and of their disabling are alreadie ordained men are imployed therein all my parliaments are troubled therewith What do they demaund of me which I haue not agreed vnto not beeing able to refuse it and how many things haue I graun-vnto thē which I could refuse because I ought not so to do it There is no sinewe in his polliticke bodie but it is wrested nor any member which doth not languish They haue constrained mee to playe and hazard my estate by chaunce of warres I haue alreadie lost the halfe let them suffer me to withdrawe my selfe into the other halfe and liue in peace Such were the obiections of this Prince at the motions of the leaguers articles but because of nature hee was fearefull feeble and light hee neuer had firme resolution within his minde Princes most commonly do faile by not beleeuing counsell but hee deceiued himselfe by too much crediting The first poynt of this mischiefe was that trueth was kept from him and that men followed his humors Hee was perswaded the strongest part to bee that of the Duke of Guise that all the Townes and Prouinces had their mindes set on him that if hee entered not into it he would bee left alone at the mercie both of the League and the Huguenot Yet he firmly resolued to bee Maister and to range both the one and the other vnder his obedience but it was by a weake meanes imbracing the Duke of Guises part and made himselfe principall of the one side with all seueritie to make warre against the Herereticque speaking of nothing but of a voyage into Poitou to besiege Rochel and to take the Isle of Rhie And that which most fauoured this enterprise was that the Huguenots had lost the Prince of Conde vnder whose valour and generositie they conceiued great hopes and without doubt as being indowed with all the quallities conuenient for a valiant Captaine and otherwise an vnrecouerable enemie of their enemies His disease was violent procured by a nosegaye giuen him by some of his housholde seruants for that vppon Thursday beeing the third day of March halfe an houre after he had supt a great paine in the stomacke shortnesse of breath hardnesse of the bellie and continuall vometing with extreame paine and thirst tooke him And the Saterday after when his Phisitians and Surgeons had imployed all Art experience and fidelitie to heale him growing sicker a generall sufforation of all the powers of his bodie ceased vppon him whereof within an houre after hee died His bodie was opened wherein they found all the nether part of his bellie blacke and burnt the guttes full of reddish water the stomacke aboue the orifice The death of the Prince of Conde saterday the 5. of March pearced cleane through and round about and the vitall powers that of themselues were very helpeful and well composed by reason of the great quantitie of poyson were all vlcered The king of Nauarre at his returne out of Gascongne commanded expresly that all those that were suspected to bee necessarie to the poysoning of the Prince should bee punished for the which some were executed Meane time the King that had the enterprise of the League rather then that of the Huguenots more imprinted in his minde knowing that all their demaunds tended onely to this end to make a perpetuall warre prepared himselfe to preuent it and caused certaine forces to bee assembled vnder the conduct of the Duke d'Espernon against whome all the league discharged their chollor making him the onely argument of the confusion and disorder of all his affaires their iealousie more increasing by the succession of the place of the Admirall and of the gouernment of Normandie which hee had newly receiued after the death of the Duke de Ioyeuse This poynt deserueth to passe two steps out of my matter the Admirall in France is the name of one of the chiefe Magistrates in the Realme Generall and Prince of the seas belonging to the countrie as Eghinard called Ruthland that was Admiral in the time of Charles the great The like authoritie the Marshall of France beareth in an armie by land the same doth the Admirall in a Nauie of ships on the sea but these offices are distinguished for that the subiect is different and diuers There is paine and diligence to bee vsed to place an armie by land in order of battell The like must be vsed to conduct a Nauie of shippes vpon the sea At al times the most warlike countrie of France both by sea land hath had her Admiralles and the Frenchmen of Brittaine Narbonne and Prouence are much commended for their practises and greate dexterities in warres Voyages to the holy land vnder Lewis the 7. and Philip Augustus and Philip le Bel. vppon the sea neuer thelesse this office was neuer in so great glorie and estimation as it hath been since the third line of our kings beeing that which brought pollicie and gouernment into this Monarchie as the first had established and the second increased it by victorious conquests then it was that the names of Constable Great-maister Marshall Admirall and other such like dignities were ordained but that of the Admiral remained vnprofitable while our kings trauelled into the Leuant seas to fight against the Infidelles for in those expeditions they supplyed their wants with vessels which they found nearest to the countrie of Iudea and many times with their Admiralles which they had from Genes Pise Venice and Luques But the Frenchman that neuer continueth long vnder the yoake of any stranger would no more bee gouerned by straunge Admiralles if they bare not the name of Admirall of France although for the most part they were no Frenchmen As in the time of Francis the first Andrew and Philip Dorie Geneuois were made Admirals of the Leuant seas and after left him to serue the Emperour Charles the fift There hath bin
whence the said Cardinall of Bourbon were so issued because of the nearnesse of his person The Genealogie of Heary of Bourbon King of Nauarre S. Lewis Robert Lewis Iames. Iohn Lewis Iohn The king of Nauarre alleadged for his reasons the genealogie and discent of the house of Bourbon saying Saint Lewis king of France had two sonnes the eldest Phillip the third surnamed the Hardy and Robert the youngest Earle of Cleremont of this Robert of Beatrix daughter of Archambaut of Bourbon was borne Lewis Earle of Clermont and first Duke of Bourbon created by king Philip de Vallois which Lewis espoused Marie Countesse of Hainaut and had two sonnes Peter and Iames the Masculin kinde of Peter is wholly extinct there resteth none of his side but the houses of Lorraine of Sauoy by the females Of Iames de Bourbon younger sonne to Lewis and of Iane de S. Paul his wife issued Francis Charles Anthony Henry The Duchie of Bourbon 1327. Iohn de Bourbon Earle of Marche of Iohn de Burbon Catherine Count esse of Vendosme issued Lewis de Bourbon Earle of Vendosme of Lewis de Bourbon and Ieane de Laual his Wife issued Iohn de Bourbon of Iohn de Bourbon and Isabeau his wife issued Francis Earle of Vendosme of Francis Earle of Vendosme and Marie of Luxembourg Countesse of Saint Paul issued Charles de Bourbon of Charles de Bourbon and Francis d'Alencon his wife issued Anthony de Bourbon king of Nauarre the eldest son Francis Duke of Anguien Charles Cardinal of Bourbon Iohn Durke of Anguin Margaret married to the Duke de Neuers and Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conde Of Anthony de Bourbon the eldest issued Henry de Bourbon now king of Nauarre and Catherine Princesse of Nauarre his sister Wherefore it is euidently seene that the king of Nauarre is a degree behinde the Cardinall of Bourbon for hee is in the tenth and the king in the eleuenth degree but it is seene that hee is sonne of the eldest house of Bourbon and therefore by consequent preferred to all the rights of the house royall Paul Aemil. in pud Crasso Anno. 11110 â—olidin Hist Angl. By a statute in the Court in the yeare 1341. By a statute in the yeare 1517. Filius Fratris Fratri aequiparatur ita succedit atque parter si viuerer All the Doctors concluded in fauour of the Nephew against the Vncle that saith hee is the eldest by the disease of his father whether it bee in the direct or colaterall line in successions vndeuided as Realmes Empires Duches Earledomes and that is obserued in France England Spaine Portugal Almaine and Sicile So Archambaut had the Duche of Bourbon from his vncle Hannon Artus Duchie of Normandie froÌ„ king Iohn his Vncle third son to Henry the second king of England Lewis Earle of Neuers the Earledome of Flaunâ—ers from his Vncle the daughter of Guy Vicount of Limoges the Duchie of Brittaine from Iohn Earle of Montfort his brother Henry d'Albert sonne of Catherin the Earledome of Foix from Iohn Viscount of Narbonne and his heires Richard sonne of Edward Prince of VVales was crowned without contradiction and Yorke Henry de Bourbon succeeded in the right that Anthony de Bourbon his father had in the house of Bourbon by the succession of his auncestors the title of eldest sonne not beeing lost nor extinct in the father but continueth and is transported to the sonne The right of eldest is perfectly ingrafted in the eldest assoone as he entereth into the world is made a man which right being in him hath continued in his posterie by the custome and common obseruation of the Realme The reason that some alleadge to prooue that this right was neuer gotten in the father is not to bee respected for although there were but onely and sometimes hope his sonne is permitted to claime it and to seeke the possession as it falleth out although the son of the eldest is a degree further then the Vncle neuerthelesse being entered into the place of his father hee ought to bee preferred further the right of preferment is not gotten by our selues onely but by the right and person of others so that as long as there testeth any thing of this elder house an other cannot take place in any sort whatsoeuer The king of Nauarre hath another reason against the which there can bee no argument that may preuaile which is that the Cardinall of Bourbon his Vncle at the contract of marriage betweene the said king of Nauarre and the Ladie Margaret of France acquitted remissed yeelded and transported vnto to the said king all and euery right name voyce and action present or to come that in any case might appertaine vnto him as beeing issued out of the house of Bourbon expresly acknowleging the king of Nauarre his Nephewe for the true son heir successor and representation in all respects of the eldest house And so to thinke by denying his own deed to attain to the vaine hope of the succession of the Realm comprehended vnder the generall declaration of the elder house of the saide deceased king of Nauarre there is no likelyhood So the king not to displease the League that occupied the principall places of his thoughts declared the Cardinall of Bourbon the first Prince of the blood although hee knewe that by iustice and the lawes not onely of this Realme but of all the best gouerned estates that euer was the king of Nauarre was onely capable of that prerogatiue and the good Prelate perceiued not that vnder that quallitie of first Prince successiue heire to the crown which the league procured vnto him it pushed forward her tyrannie with al the force shee might thereby to vsurpe the royaltie giuing to a king of sixe and thirtie years of age a succession that hath past the climaticall yeare of sixtie three To be brief it may be said of the League as Cicero said of Caezar and Pompey it presenteth vnto vs the picture of the Cardinall of Bourbon but will erect the Image of a straunger The League tooke away the Kings Councell The affaires of the League hauing had in her poope the winde the authoritie of the king and fauour of all the people floating most proudely in the maine seas without feare of winds or waues fearing that the kings great goodnesse would not long continue that the wise Councellors that were about the king would giue him aduise and withdrawe him from the shipwracke wherein they would reduce his authoritie ceased not to blow in his eares that his Councell set a darke cloud before his eyes thereby to impeach him from seeing what is the dutie of a good king hyding the truth froÌ„ him and staying at nothing but that which might content either passion or auarice The king to please them is constrained to pull his eyes out of his head to depriue himselfe of the light that he receiued by the wisdome of his Councellours
mee I will heare their complaints and doo them iustice Sometimes hee said to those of Guise I knowe not what the matter is but I vnderstand they haue nothing to say but vnto you I would that for a time you should absent your selues from hence to the end that men might see if it bee against mee or you that they complaine They very cunningly and presently bandied such blowes and to diuert the people from giuing credite vnto the demonstrations made touching the cause and iustification of their enterprise they sent letters in the kings name vnto all the Parliaments and Iudges of seuerall prouinces wherein those of the religion were accused to haue conspired against the King A combat of pennes against swords the Princes of the blood and the Estate of the Realme wherevnto was made a most large and ample aunswere wherein all the dealings of those of Guise were fully discouered with plaine and most euident proofes against them to bee guiltie of high treason and not those that had assembled to reduce the King and all his realme into true and perfect libertie There was likewise published an other pamphlet shewing by the example of Phillip de Commines in the last chap. of his first booke that such are open enemies vnto the Estate that say it is treason to speake o◠the assembly of a generall Parliament And that it is the meanes to lessen and diminish the kings authoritie There was likewise aduertisements vnto the people and complaints vnto the Parliament and so some ayded themselues with pen against the swords of their enemies Reuocation of the abolition giuen by the king The 22. of march other letters were sent foorth whereby the king declared that his meaning was not that the abolitiō of the 17. of March shuld extend further but vnto those that simply of ignorance had assembled and trauelled for the keeping of their promise and that therein were not comprehended such as had guided the conspiracie made against his person the Queens Princes and Noble personages that were about him in the which number are contained those that came in armes into the subburbes of the Towne and such as had beene taken about and within the Castle of Noisay which serued for a dispensation of the faith giuen by the Duke de Neuers vnto the Barron of Chastelnau and others Presently after these letters they returned to executions wherin neither day nor night passed but that a great number of prisoners were put to death and all men of quallitie some hanged some drowned the rest beheaded without any publike sentence giuen without declaring the causes of their deaths or without telling their names They constrained the king and his young bretheren to bee assistant at those spectacles Besides that the Duke of Guise many times for a pastime after his dinner caused some of those whom hee most hated of the prisoners to bee brought foorth and hanged out at his chamber windowes The Barron de Chastelnau made a maruellous proces against those of Guise and the Duke de Nemours they beeing present thereby made the Chauncellor stand still and all amazed that dealt in those affaires against his conscience and appealed from the sentence giuē against him before God the like did most of all the rest to the great astonishing of all the assistants perceiuing a most inuincible constancie in all those men but neither the stout courages of the prisoners nor yet the cries of both great and small that as then were present at those executions could not in any sort once mollifie the harts of those of Guise nor yet diuert the rigor of their cruelties A Gentleman named Villemongis beeing vppon the scaffold readie to bee beheaded hauing wet his hands in the blood of his companions lifting them vppe to heauen cryed out saying Lord behold the blood of thy children thou shalt reuenge our cause The death of the Chancellour Oliuier Among the prisoners that after the Barron spake most boldly vnto the Chancellor there were two the one named Picard the other Campagnac that shewed him his petegree from one poynt to the other but the last of them touched him so neare vnto the heart that with griefe thereof the poore Chancellour fell sicke wherein hee continually sighed and murmured to himselfe tormenting his bodie in most straunge manner for that all crooked aged as he was yet he stirred his bodie with such force that he made the bed to shake with greater force then a young man of Iustie yeares could doo The Cardinall going to visit him his paines beganne to increase and perceiuing him a farre of hee cried out and said Ha ha Cardinall thou haste made vs all to be damned But when the Cardinal went neare him saying vnto him that the wicked Spirit sought to seduce him and that hee should remaine constant in the faith That is well done now said hee and so turning his backe presently lost his speech in his great torments many times lamenting the death of the Councellour du Bourg Behold how the chiefe and principall condemners of the prisoners in Amboise was taken and first executed vppon the scaffold of the terrible and manifest iudgements of God The rest in time likewise were brought thither each of them in his turne Monsieur Michell de l'Hospitall an excellent man as then Chancellor of the Duchie of Sauoy was repealed from Nice where he remained to succeed in Oliuiers place and till he came Moruilliers Bishop of Orleans kept the Seales and vsed all the meanes hee could to please the house of Guise The Prince behaueth himselfe boldly in his innocencie against all men The Prince of Conde was in Amboise during those horrible tempests where hee behaued himselfe like a man wholly without feare as knowing himselfe to bee vnculpable Those of Guise animated the king against him setting and appoynting men to watch and looke into his behauiour whereof the Cardinall kept a Register specially of one word spoken by the Prince in chollor perceiuing certaine of the prisoners to bee executed at the Castle windowes saying that the king was counselled otherwise then hee ought to bee to cause such Lords and honest Gentlemen to bee put to death not considering the great seruices by them done vnto the late deceased king and all the Realme of whom beeing so depriued it was to bee feared that during those great troubles straungers would enterprise against the Realme and that if they should bee ayded by any of the Princes they would easilie ouercome it Presently after they caused du Vaux his Sewer to bee committed prisoner and caused the king to send for him into his chamber to shewe him that by the information giuen hee had vnderstood him to beee the chiefe of the conspiracie wherevpon the king added many sharpe threatnings The Prince for answere besought his Maiestie to assemble all the Princes and knights of the Order that as then were within Amboise togither with his priuie Councell to
of those that tooke him to cause him as a Traitor to loose his head but all this was but words and nothing else The papers were not forgotten Bouchart taken and ledde to prisoâ— Imprisonment of the Bailiffe of Orleans and Bouchart was ledde to Orleans and then to Melun with other prisoners that came from Lyons by that meanes to make readie the proofes against the Prince whose proces was followed with all diligence Hierome Groslot Bailiffe of Orleans a man both learned vertuous and full of pietie a louer of the good and quietnesse of the Common-wealth and an enemie to all Tyrants and factious persons abhorring auarice ambition within two daies after the Princes arriuall was likewise committed prisoner hauing three daungerous witnesses against him which were his office a goodly house within the the Cittie and another in the countrie The cause pretended was that his father had beene Chancellour to the deceased king of Nauarre and he in Orleans the Protectour of those of the religion and an affected friend vnto the Princes Further when time came that hee should make an Oration vnto the king at his entrie into the Towne the Bailiffe mooued at some wrong offered vnto him as it appeared as he went towards the king togither with the kings countenance that looked frowningly vppon him hee could not vtter his minde as hee had first determined and therevpon those of Guise tooke some occasion to accuse him vnto the King saying that hee felt his owne conscience to be guiltie of his treason Being in prison false witnesses whereof the Curate of Saint Paterne and the Vicar of Saint Catherine were the principall with Iaques Aleaume Iaques L'huillier le Borgne le Alemant and Iaques Masnet accused him to haue determined to deliuer Orleans vnto the King of Nauarre to be of the intelligence of Amboise and to haue beene in a certaine assembly holden by night within the great Church-yard as also to haue manifestly supported those of the religion Dauanson maker of the proces The maker of the proces was Dananson a slaue to those of Guise that sent such witnesses as hee perceiued not to bee sufficiently instructed vnto the Curate of Saint Paterne that by him they might vnderstand their lesson Marshall de Brissac had alreadie laid hold vppon the house in the countrie named l'Isle and in fantasie made diuision of the goods in Sipierre and Boyuin his Secretarie was so bold to say vnto the wife of Groslot that if she would speake boldly shewing her that shee must come off with mony vnto his Maister the Bailiffes affaires might speede the better The Guises practises open the mouthes of the estates of the Prouinces Out of the Kealme those of Guise had made the Pope the king of Spaine and others to thinke that at that time they would roote out all those that bare the name of Lutherians within France whom they held bound both hand and foote hoping that winter to cleare them all out of the countrie in the spring-time to send them into Almaine and Switzerland to visit their friends but their deuises could not impeach diuers and seuerall assemblies in many Prouinces to determine and deuise what were best for them to present at the Parliament to giue them some new worke whereof the Orations made at Blois Anger 's Parris Bazin Plessis Grimaudet Capel and others are proofes sufficient as also in most part of the other Prouinces when the oppressours were discouered and the people disposed to prouide by lawfull meanes against so many disorders introduced and maintained by straungers many of them hauing openly said that they would not indure that those of Guise should so oppresse the Princes of the blood whereof most part that vsed that speech Conspiracie to extirpe those of the religion were men of the religion and those of Guise beeing aduertised could well shewe and propound this article of religion vnto the Duke de Montpensier and other great Lords in diuers places of the Realme to make them the readier and more prompt to leane vnto them The hope of confiscations being mixed therewith which made many rauening fellowes to looke about them there was nothing offered but Estates Offices Benefices Mountaines of Gold to such as would ayde and assist the King to extirpe and roote out the enemies of the Church of Rome Passages kept that no aide should come Besides that the kings forces were diuided by those of Guise into the Townes next about Orleans as farre as Bourges Moulins Blois Tours Saumur Anger 's Chinon Loudun and Poicton and in all the passages from whence they esteemed that any ayde might bee procured to helpe the Princes that were prisoners Those of the religion were narrowly looked vnto in diuers Townes specially in Parris meane time they proceeded vnto the framing of the proces against the Prince But because of the obseruation of the formes of iustice The maner of proceeding against the Prince neither the informations made at Lyons against the Marshall of Saint Andre nor the prisoners of Melun were sufficient they produced the Princes words vsed at Amboise lamenting the death of so many Gentlemen that were executed with that which hee had vttered riding to Bearn vnto Monsieur de Genlis that had renounced the Cerimonies of the Romish Church to the end that not being able to accuse him of high treason they would condemne him of Heresie To strengthen this second proofe those of Guise sent a Priest vnto him apparelled after the Romish manner which certified him that he had expresse commaundement from the King to sing Masse before him in his chamber But the Priest with a rude aunswere was sent backe againe by the Prince with commission to shewe the King from him that hee was not come thither in any sort to bee perticipant or communicate with the impieties and pollutions of the Romaine Antichrist His magnanimitie in Religion wherevnto long before hee had renounced but onely to yeelde him an aunswere vnto the false and forged accusations imposed against him Which answer was not forgotten but thereof a large article was framed both by the deposition of the Priest and of the guarde As also his accusations against those of Guise This magnanimitie much mooued those of Guise but much more in that the Prince spake openly against them to their discredits oftentimes shewing a bag which hee helde in his hand affirming it to be the processe of those Brigands and Guisian theeues by the which many points of high treaon whereof they were culpable were well prooued and verified which hee kept and reserued to present vnto the estates thereby to giue them knowledge of their subtill and vnlawfull gouernments that imputed their owne treasons vnto the Princes of the bloud that sought to oppose themselues against theyr tyrannies and that if euer any man euer sought or ment to enterprise any thing against the King and his Realme it would bee those Harpiers and vpsprung house of
Lorraine A Gentleman one of their Participants and in time past very familier with the Prince was appointed by them to conferre with him He pronounceth warre against the Guisians as also to sound his full meaning and intent and therewith to seeke to abate his courage which hee pretending the Prince desired him to shewe those of Guise that for his part hee hadde receiued so many and great wrongs and iniuries at theyr hands that their quarrell could neuer bee fully ended eyther at the swordes poynt or else by Lanuce which if hee coulde not effect yet hee hoped before his death to make them manifestly to bee knowne and founde culpable of those faultes by them imposed vppon him This most haughtie resolution caused them to sende for the President de Thou Barthollomewe Faye and Iaques Violle Counecllours of Parris certayne Maisters of the requests Bourdin Attourney Generall They seeke to make his processe and du Tillet the Clarke to examine the Prince vppon high Treason and that if they coulde not finde him guiltie thereof they shoulde then examine him vppon the Artickles of his fayth The Prince aunswered them that it belonged not vnto them to put any such questions vnto him not specifying diuers causes of refusing them therein which hee might well haue shewed specially against de Thou whome hee most sharpelye reprooued and when they enterprised to proceede further in lawe the Prince appealed vnto the King But the next day being the 15. of Nouember the peale was declared by the priuie Counsell to bee of no force from which the Prince hauing once againe appealed hee was commaunded vpon paine of high treason to aunswere before those Commissioners He purgeth himself of treason and openly professeth religion which he did hauing two Councellers to helpe him And before them he clearely acquited himselfe of treason and boldly confessed and auouched the religion Not long after the Secretary Robertet brought him a certaine paper containing diuers speeches pretended to haue beene spoken by him at Amboise beholding the execution of certaine prisoners Hee therewith at large expounded his meaning vpon those speeches yet was there no witnesses produced against him for the same no nor Bouchart himselfe that had faithfully promised vnto the Cardinall by word of mouth to shewe him many wonderfull things touching the Prince but they proceeded so farre that vppon his aunsweres hee had iudgement of death pronounced vppon him and his head to bee striken off vppon a Scaffold before the Kings Pallace vppon the tenth of December then next ensuing at the entering of the Estates into the Parliament He is condemned by the priuie Councell and participants of Guise It is affirmed and published by writing that this iudgement was vnderwritten and sealed by all the priuie Councell onely the Chauncellour and Monsieur de Mortier that delayed it off as also by diuers great Lords and Barrons by the eighteene knights of the Order newly chosen and by diuers others participants of the house of Guise and by more Maisters of Requests and Councellours of the Parliament which the king sent for and caused to come thither that not once dealt in the cause The Counte de Sancerre refused to signe it desiring the King with weeping eyes rather to cut off his head then once to mooue him therevnto whereat the King much abashed dismissed the Counte not pressing him any further therein They likewise vsed many rude and hard dealings towards the Princesse of Conde who very stoutly and with a meruellous courage sued for her husband Meanes and subtilties vsed that no speech should be had in the Parliament touching religion At the sametime the Pope published a Bull bearing date the twentieth of Nouember wherin hee promised a generall Councell for the ordering and determining of matters of religion assigning it to be holden within the towne of Trent vppon Easter day then next ensuing On the other side the Cardinall of Lorraine had giuen order to write and Register the names of all the principail of the religion in euery Prouince throughout France which rolles were made and diliuered vnto him All those that held on the Princes parts and with religion were as then iudged to die thereby to cease all quarrelles and that no more speech might once bee mooued touching the reformation of religion seeing as then the affaires concerning the same were in that estate which those of Guise desired and for the execution of so high and haughtie enterprises as the assembly of the Estates whereby the libertie of France should wholly haue beene ouerthrown the forces of the Realme diuided into foure parts vnder the conducts of the Duke d'Aumale the Marshals of Saint Andre de Brissac and de Termes marched to clear the Prouinces of all suspected persons touching religion to furnish the charges thereof they tooke the third part of all Ecclesiasticall reuenues the Gold and Siluer of Relicques and the Treasures of the Temple with promise that the confiscations should restore it all againe For supply of Souldiers the Pope dispensed with all the Cleargie and promised to furnish them with a great number of men of that calling As touching the extermination of the Princes and Lords they proceeded therein with time and leisure The King of Nauarre was to bee confined vnto the Castle of Leches the Admirall into the great Tower of Bourges with all his children his Nephewes in another Tower within Orleans which after that was called the Admirall hard by that of Saint Aignan prepared for the chiefe Cittizens of the Towne Determination to kil the king of Nanarre marnellously preserued The Marshals of Saint Andre and Brissac beeing arriued at the Court were of aduise that the King of Nauarre should bee slaine without troubling themselues to set a guard to keepe him wherevppon they determined to poyson him at a banquet and then vppon an euening to kill him as hee went from the kings chamber which taking no effect the king was desired to do it and to stabbe him with his Ponyard and so to shedde his owne blood which Gods mercifull prouidence would not permit although it seemed to bee almost vppon the poynt of execution the King hauing the Ponyard readie vnder his Gowne beeing alreadie entered into certaine rough speeches against the King of Nauarre who in presence of those of Guise made him so sufficient and good an aunswere that hee escaped An other pretence was sought to get him to ride abroade to hunt and in hunting to kill him The Constable had not as yet entered into the Lackes but they were minded to constraine him therevnto hauing alreadie sent out commission to laye hands vppon Monsieur d'Anuille his second sonne As touching the Admirall and his two bretheren the declaration by them made specially the Admiral d'Andelot to bee of the religion was cause sufficient to condemne them Meanes vsed to intrap and extirpe all those of the religion Which to effect the king sent commission to all
the knights of the Order to certifie them that he would holde a generall feast of the Order vppon Christinas day then next after ensuing minding all excuses set apart that euery man should as then come thither which beeing expected the Doctors of the Sorbonists framed such a confession of the faith that not any man how little feeling soeuer hee had of the religion would for a thousand liues haue once signed or consented therevnto The day beeing come this confession was to haue been presented by the King himselfe vnto the knights hee beeing the first that should set hand vnto it requiring the like of euery one of them with oath and promise to holde and obserue the same vnuiolably in euery poynt and to set vppon and ouerrunne all such as should deny it without exception either of friends or Parents whatsoeuer and whosoeuer should make the least deniall or any delay presently without further inquisition forme or manner of proceeding the king should degrade him of the Order and as also of estates dignities and honours and the next day after hee should bee burnt The like should also bee done vpon the same day by an assembly of Cardinals thereby to intrappe the Cardinall of Chastillon that done all the Princes and Lords of the Realme should come to signe to that confession then all the Gentlemen and Domesticall Officers to the king The Chancellour had commaundement to do the like among the Maisters of Requests Iudges Secretaries and other Officers of the Courts of Parliaments The Queene-mother tooke the charge vppon her to cause all the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Court to do the like it being inioyned vnto al those that had any retinue or houshold to cause them to followe the same rule vpon paine to aunswere to the contrary at their perils After that it was to be sent vnto all the Parliaments Baliages Stewardships and other Iurisdictions of the Realme to exact the like confession of faith vppon euery man and whosoeuer delayed or fayled therein to be presently burnt without any other forme or manner of proces If any belonging vnto the Princes or Lords of the Guises part were exempted from death for hauing refused to signe and after repented their fault for his pennance all his life after hee should weare a Sanuenito or coloured robe after the manner of Spaine for a perpetuall shame and ignominie The Curates and Vicars were charged to go vnto all the houses of their Parishes accompanied with the Clarkes Notaries and other such persons therevnto appoynted to take the Signatures and to keepe a iust record of the number of euery particular Iurisdiction New Commissions likewise beeing sent out vnto the Captains and Gentlemen perticipants with those of Guise to raise men of the same confession that they might iustly execute that which should bee giuen them in charge The Deputies for the Estates put in feare and hardly handled As the Deputies for the Estates arriued and the tenth of December approaching for the beginning of the Parliament expresse commaundement was giuen them from the king vppon paine of death that not any of them should once be so bolde as to vtter one word in open Parliament touching religion because his Maiestie had otherwise disposed thereof But some of them not refraining to say that the letters of commission to assemble specified the same Those they sought by faire meanes to appease or else to blinde their eyes with the Popes new made Bull with the assembly of a Councel others they put in feare and to some they made faires promises but to such as were not of the religion they partly made them priuie to their intents aforesaid At that instant there arriued a packet from the Counte de Villards Lieftenant for the Constable in Longuedoc who wrote that the Deputies for that Prouince that were appoynted to sit in Parliament were such as were most affected vnto religion and such as would not fayle to aske the libertie thereof as hauing speciall charge to doo it wherevppon men were presently sent foorth for to arrest them but they taking an other way to Orleans without giuing leaue to enter into their lodgings they were ceased vpon with all their notes containing most ample instructions both for the good and benefit of the Estate and religion Constancie of the king of Nauarre On the other side certaine Captaines and souldiers solicited the king of Nauarre to saue himselfe presenting him with the meanes diuers of his friendes aduertising him of many daungers that might happen vnto him by staying there But hee committing his life into the hands of God and doubting least his retrait would rather be cause to bereaue him of his life refrained that counsell so that whatsoeuer eyther friends or enemies could say vnto him yea although hee might easilie perceiue himselfe to bee openly disdayned and mocked by the Courtiers hee would not forsake the Towne neyther yet leaue his brother before hee had seene what would bee the effect thereof The Admirall goeth to Orleans The Admirall sent for by the king to come to Orleans without making any account of his friends and other his familiars disswations shewing him into what daunger hee would thereby bring himselfe presently tooke his voyage and beeing arriued at the Court hee vnderstood by the Queene-mother that the Cardinall had fully determined to aske him a reason of his faith in the presence of the King praying him not wilfully to put himselfe in daunger His constant aunswere was reported vnto the Cardinall who therevppon made his full account that eyther the Admirall should as then renounce the religion or else loose his life The day before the Prince should be executed the King fell sicke Vppon Sunday beeing the ninth of December as a part of the Kings houshold were alreadie departed from Orleans to go to Chambourg and Chenoncean the king of Nauarre in the morning going to salute the King hee was warned to come foorth and to ride on hunting vntil the States were come but he excused himselfe considering his brothers captiuitie yet had hee expresse commaundement the next morning to prepare himselfe to ride vppon the which day his brother should haue lost his head but that day the common Prouerbe was truly verified which is that God can alter all mens actions for that the same day about foure of the clocke in the Euening the King beeing at Euening prayer at the Iacobins hee fell in a sound wherewith hee was presently carryed into his Chamber where beeing reuiued hee beganne to complaine of his head on that side of his left eare wherein hee had a continuall Phisola in such sort that with the paine a Feuer ceased vppon him Which notwithstanding Those of Guise seeke to withstand the blow those of Guise caused diuers commissions to be sent abroad vnto the Captaines of their part to raise men in diuers Prouinces and not long before commission had been giuen vnto the Marshall de Termes to march to
meete the Spaniards as then comming vnto Rayonne and with them to enter into Bearn The Viscounte d'Orthe Gouernour of Bayonne had commaundement from the King to put the Towne if neede were into the king of Spaines hands thereby to serue him for a passage for his armie to enter into the countie of Nauarre where hee was to wast and destroy all the land and then to proceede with the ouerthrow and vtter extirpation of all the Gentlemen and Lords who in those countries had fauoured the King of Nauarre or the enterprise of Amboise But a great part of those Lords and Gentlemen not minding to sell their skinnes so good cheape raised armes to the number of seuen or eight hundreth horse well mounted with fiue or sixe thousand footmen who were all appoynted so soone as Marshall de Termes should haue past Limoges to inclose him betweene two riuers whereof hee beeing aduertised and remembring Graueling hee retired in all haste vnto Poictiers giuing aduise vnto the Court what had happened vnto him whereat those of Guise beeing abashed and perceiuing the king to waxe weaker and euery day sicker then other determined with desperate minds to kill the king of Nauarre who not long before being aduertised thereof made his complaint vnto the Queen-mother which notwithstanding his enemies would not leaue off but by all means sought to effect it if it had not been for the Cardinall of Tournon that gaue them counsell to stay their enterprise vntill the Constable with his sonnes and Nephewes were come vnto the Court least that by killing the one they should chance to mooue a greater daunger and to stirre those vp that might procure farre greater trouble then the Princes could effect Meane time the king of Nauarre tooke great care to looke vnto himself yet all that he could do would not haue preuailed if his enemies had set vppon him The kings disease increasing more and more thâ—â—uke of Guise beganne to vtter his chollor against the Phisitians the Cardinall sent on Pilgrimages But no man can striue against God and vsed Friers Priests at Parris other places to make processions the king made a solemne promise vnto all the Saints in Picardie specially to our Ladie of Glery as they terme her that if it pleased them to helpe him he would wholly purge his Realme of all those Hereticques But as then began his more ruine and his Feuer still to increase wherat those of Guise being abashed what countenance soeuer they shewed assayed to perswade the Queene-mother that the kings bodie should be kept from buriall after his death vntill such time as they had taken order for their affaires and caused their vniust actions to be allowed by open Parliament to the end that no man might call them to account heereafter But that was vnpossible for that too many people daylie attending when the time would bee at the same time the Vidame de Chartres prisoner in the Bastille hauing beene carried from thence to remaine within his house in Saint Anthonies streete presently vppon his arriuall thither hee fell sicke and died The Bailiffe of Orleans was committed vnto the custodie of his mother in lawe And those of the religion as then were drowned in most ardent prayers teares and fastes thereby to obtaine some ayde and succour at the handes of God against so many imminent daungers that as then hung ouer their heads The Queen-mother establisheth her authoritie to sustaine those of Guise The Queene-mother perceuing her eldest sonne at such extremitie taking counsell with her selfe as also of those of Guise sent for the king of Nauarre willing him to come vnto her Chamber where beeing come and thinking to enter a Gentleman spake vnto him in his eare that at any hand hee should bee carefull not to refuse the Queen whatsoeuer she should demaund otherwise it would cost him his life Beeing entered hee found the Queene to bee accompanied with the Duke of Guise the Cardinall of Lorraine and a Secretarie who with a countenance framed vnto her passion made great complaints and declarations vnto the King of of Nauarre as touching things past discouering her minde likewise concerning things present and to come concluding that her meaning was and so she would haue it that the said king of Nauarre shuld release vnto her all the right and title that he might in any sort pretend or claime vnto the Regencie and gouernment of the king and of the Realme and neuer seeke to enioy require or once desire it and that if the States would giue it him hee should remitte it wholly vnto her and because it should be firmely holden by them shee said hee should confirme it vnto her by writing vnder his hand then her meaning was hee should reconcile himselfe vnto her Cousins of Guise and so deface the opinion by him conceiued against them saying that they ought to leaue all quarrelles and from thencefoorth liue in peace seeing the greatest and woorthiest Lords and Princes of the Land beganne to shew them the way After some excuses and effectuall aunsweres made by the King of Nauarre in the end he yeelded the Regencie vnto the Queene The Regencie of the Realme yeelded to the Queen-mother that he should be Lieftenant for the K. in France to take order for al the Marshal affaires and to receiue the packets which hauing opened and read hee should send theÌ„ vnto her againe and that nothing should be done without the aduise of him and the other Princes of the blood who from thencefoorth should otherwise be respected that done shee caused him to imbrase her Cousins of Guise and mutually on both parts to forget all quarrelles past From which time forwards they all beganne to salute and imbrace each other as if they neuer had beene at mortall strife Reconciliation of those of Guise with the king of Nauarre All this was done before the arriuall of the Constable and his Nephewes Further they caused the sicke king to say vnto the King of Nauarre that of his owne minde and wholly against the willes or consents of those of Guise hee had caused the Prince of Conde to bee committed prisoner asking his counsell and desiring him to beleeue him and for the loue of him and of the Queene his mother to deface and wholly remit all the euill will and opinions that in any sort he might conceiue of them which after serued them to some good end Those of Guise not well assured The feare of those of Guise notwithstanding all that had beene past obtained of the Queen-mother that the guardes of the Gates of Orleans might bee made stronger impeaching the entrie of many persons and commaundements made in paine of death that not any man whatsoeuer should speake vnto the Prince of Conde without expresse licence and commaundement from the Queen-mother or else that hee brought her signer The death of King Francis the second The 14. of December about noone they esteemed the king
Parris see clearer then others touching the gouernment of the Realme displacing of some and placing of others in principall offices to constraine those of Guise to yeeld an account touching the treasures by them receiued in the last Kings time as also of other their misbehauiours to recall the gifts made vnto the Duchesse of Valentinois thēselues and others that before their iustification they shuld not sit in coūsell The Queene-mother much troubled therat found no better nor no surer meanes then to make a new contract with the king of Mauarre and therein to imploy the Constable that by the accord between them the King of Nauarre was expresly declared Liestenant Generall for the King To breake their intent the Queene-mother agreeth with the King of Nauarre and order set downe that the Queene-mother should do nothing but by his aduise and consent This was written and signed by them both as also by the Councell and namely by the Duke of Guise who by the Queenes Counsell shewed himselfe much more tractable then euer hee did Diuers of the King of Nauarres Councell were of the contrary opinion although hee alleadged diuers great promises made vnto him from the Queene by word of mouth alledging that shee would wholly deny whatsoeuer shee had said that his Lieftenants place should be but in paper and that if the matter were ruled and ordered by the Estates both the Queene and those of Guise with all their adherents would bee so dealt withall that the realme would be restored vnto her pristinate gouernment and that to the contrary leauing things in that order France as then beeing at peace and quietnesse with forraine enemies would presently bee troubled in most straunge and extraordinary maner within it selfe for partiallities being great on both sides the one would seeke to ouerrunne the other and that it was to bee hoped that if the affaires of the estate were ruled ordered according to the lawes of the Realme men might easilie impeach and hinder wicked men from effecting that which by them is secretly pretended that then at the beginning it behoued them to looke vnto it and to bee well aduised thereby to establish peace and good gouernment in the affaires of the Realme But whatsoeuer they said it was to no effect whereby both the King of Nauarre himselfe the Princes of the blood and all the Realme in generall did after indure much woe the wound wherof as yet remaineth fresh The increase of the religion not supported Forth us it fell out those of the religion openly increasing within France and in the Court the King of Nauarre did seem to support them Sermons were made both in the prince of Condes the Admirals chambers as also both within and without the Court and the Queene-mother caused the Bishoppe of Valence to preach within the great Hall which Bishoppe followed not the Sorbonists doctrine such as desired nothing but new troubles thereby not to bee constrained to giue account for things past and that knewe full well that the sweete ayre of a firme and steadfast peace would soone melt and consume them or else reduce them into so miserable an estate that they should bee forced to hide their heades taking that occasion as it fell out They first inflamed the Constable by the daylie speeches and exclamations of his wife ordinarily accompanied and plyed by Priests and Friers and then by his kinsmen And lastly The perturbers solicite the Constable to begin their Tragedie by certaine persons purposely appoynted to that end by those of Guise as also by the Queene-mother against those of the religion saying that they went about wholly to abollish the Masse and all his Reliques and that vnder pretence of yeelding vppe of accounts and extraordinary giftes they sought to vnhorse him that for the space of fortie yeares had dealt in the greatest and most vrgent affaires of the Realme The Marshal of Saint Andre and Montpesat draue forward this wheele and therewith perswaded the Constable alreadie mooued in that hee sawe and openly perceiued the auncient traditions of the Romish Church to bee wholly despised both by great and small within the Court. His eldest sonne who beeing a Lord of great iudgement and perceiuing his Father vppon the poynt to bee separated and disioyned from the Prince of Conde and his Nephews de Chastillon other great Lords thereby to become the executioner of the Guisians passions vsed all the means he could to driue backe the blowe but he did no more therein then the Admirall and his brother the Cardinall de Chastillon The Constable remaining firme in that opinion that changing of religion would breed an alteration of the estate which he would not endure and to conclude not long after he and the Duke of Guise hauing made diuers banquets togither with the Duke de Montpensieur at Fontainbleau the Constable made a Supper to the Duke of Guise the Prince de Iainuille and the Marshall of Saint Andre the next day riding to Chantilly to the marriage of Thore his fift sonne the Duke of Guise not long after following him to Nantueil about fiue myles from thence where by letters they had many and seuerall conferences The common people in diuision following the example of the Nobilitie The people of France beeing vsed to cast their eyes vppon the Court perceiuing that there the great personages beganne to looke with strange countenances vpon each other they began to do the like There wāted no prouokers nor perswaders in the temples who without suppression spake of nothing else but fire and sword whereby in many places ensued great mutinies as in Beauuais Amiens Pontoise and other Townes wherein most great excesse and rigor was shewen to those of the religion who beeing as it were but a handfull in comparison to those of the Romish Church demaunded nought but peace sometimes certaine of them lesse patient then the rest not beeing able to indure the iniuries of those that termed them Huguenots and no Christians beganne to replye in like manner calling such as abused them Papistes and from such stinging words they fell to quarrelles which differences produced an edict made at Fontainbleau forbidding those reproaches and names of Huguenots and Papists also not to search any mans house nor to keepe any man prisoner for the religion vnder colour and pretence of certaine formes not well obserued An edict made at Fontainbleau as aremedy against the order taken by the Parliament which as then was almost broken The Parliament of Parris that likewise beganne to take a part in stead of opposing it selfe against commotions that might alter and change the quietnesse of the estate made great declarations vnto the King affirming most plainely that the diuersitie of religion is not to be indured in one estate condemning that by them termed to be a libertie of conscience and requiring the king to make and ordaine an open profession of the Romish religion and therevnto to
persons of all the Parliaments in France with the Princes of the blood Lords Councellours and maisters of Requests therby to aduise and make some new edict touching the gouernment and order of those of the religion as also to answere vnto the demand of the States that had most instantly desired to haue allowances of Temples The chiefe of the Romish Church and among the rest those of Guise found this counsell not to bee expedient alleadging that they ought to bee content with the edict of Iuly and withall they complained of the Queenes leuite openly accusing the king of Nauarre the Prince the Admiral and his bretheren The Queen that sought to assure her Regencie would not hearken therevnto wherby those of Guise tooke occasion to withdrawe themselues from the Court leauing certaine seruitors and solicitors to supply their places The Queene willingly gaue them leaue to depart assuring them of her good will both to them and their religion and desired them to returne assoone as possibly they might They went from thence about the end of Nouember and at the time of their departure there rose a most horrible extraordinary wind aforeshewing as some affirmed of the tēpest that not long after ensued At the same time likewise were brought and sold in the Court three great Pictures most excellently wrought whereof one was bought by the Prince of Conde wherein was represented the bloodie and horrible massacres of the auncient Triumuiras of Rome true Pictures shewes of the cruelties exercised the yeare ensuing by the support and in the presence of French Triumuirat vpon those of the religion Not long before their departure the Queene of Nauarre discouered an enterprise An enterprise of the Duke de Nemours made to take away the Duke of Orleans the Kings brother and to carry him into Lorraine for which cause the Duke de Nemours in all haste saued himselfe and returned not againe vntill the ciuill warres beganne to arise The report also was spread abroad that the King of Spaine and other Princes adherents to the Pope made preparations to ayde their participants in France and to dispearse the assembles of those of the religion The Queen inquireth what forces the religion could make All these things mooued the Queene to make inquirie of the forces and means of those of the religion whereof were found 2150. Churches and more for the which the Deputies had required Churches offering all seruice and obedience vnto the King both with bodies and goods at their owne charges but shee desired to knowe it more at large which by many of the Churches was thought to bee superstitious and thereby they made no such certificates because of the diuersitie of opinions although some of them thought it both good and necessarie to shewe the Queene the number of the forces as well horse as foote which by those of the religion might easilie bee raised iudging that such a power as it after appeared to bee had beene the meanes to drawe the Queene and by consequent the Kings and all the Princes of his part vnto them which would easilie haue stayed those of Guise and their partakers in apparance haue wholly hindered the discipation of the Churches stopping the passage vnto all strangers other suspecting the Queens intent and fearing least so open a discouerie should bee the cause the easlier to expose for a pray vnto their enemies would not proceede so farre The commotion of Medard These things beeing thus imbroyled about the end of the yeare there happened a great mutinie in Parris raised by certaine Priests of Saint Medards Church in the Subburbes of S. Marceau which rang a bell while those of the religion were assembled at a Sermon from whence proceeded wounds murthers and imprisonments where those of the religion not beeing the beginners payed a fine and foure of them one beeing Gabaston knight of the watch were executed to appease the people of Parris and yet not presently done 1562. The Edict of Ianuary In the beginning of the moneth of Ianuary and the absence of those of Cuise that thought vppon other matters as also of the Constable that would not be present a great assembly such as the like had not beene seene in France was made there by to take order touching the Estate and to ordaine an edict wherein after each man had said and propounded his minde touching the which was esteemed by them to bee most conuenient and necessary for the good and quietnesse of the Common-wealth in the end it was agreed to make that solemne edict which vntill this time beareth the name of the edict of Ianuary which being a true meanes to preuent and stoppe the mischiefes which as then threatned the Realme of France was neuerthelesse in the end turned vnto an occasion of the greatest calamities that euer happened therein By it the edict of Iuly was abollished permission graunted to those of the religion to assemble without the Townes and sufficient order taken that eyther part might liue in peace and quietnesse with each other which was agreed vpon and signed at Saint Germaines in Laye the seuenteenth day of Ianuary Difficulties in the same The execution of this edict mooued great difficulties specially on the part of those of the Romish Church Touching those of the religion their Ministers and Deputies hauing resolued vppon certaine doubts that might be made they ranged themseluelues wholly vnto the Kings pleasure The Parliaments onely two or three made much difficultie to publish it that of Diyon would neuer do it and that of Parris made great question vpon it The chiefe President Bourdin the Kings Atturney held firme for the Church of Rome assisted by Merle Prouost of Marchants Marcell Sheriffe and diuers others The King of Nauarre seduced by his enemies The winds that made them turne blew from the Constable and those of Guise yet they had done little or nothing at all if at that time the King of Nauarre had not suffered himselfe to be seduced by his most deadly enemies that had for instruments of his ouerthrow the Ambassadour of Spaine the Popes Legat and the Cardinall de Tournon ayded by two of his principall seruants Descars and the Bishoppe of Mande Hee not being ambitious suffered himselfe to bee perswaded that if bee would but shewe him as newter and cause the Prince his sonne but once to heare Masse the king of Spaine would peaceably yeeld vp the Realme Sardagne vnto him which they affirmed to bee an Iland no lesse in valewe then that of Sicile and foure times as much as his Realm of Nauarre which was as much as a man may say to present him with nothing betweene two dishes and thereby to bereaue him of the certaine and honourable meanes to recouer his Realme of Nauarre if hee would haue hearkened therevnto and continued to haue fauoured and supported those of the religion as he had done vntill the edict of Ienuary neuerthelesse the pernitious counsell of
those men was of such force that hee fully determined to beleeue it By litle and litle he withdrew himself from those whom he had sauoured Wherevppon hee sent Monsieur d'Anduze into Spaine and Descars to Rome from whence hauing receiued newes hee beganne by little and little to withdrawe himselfe from those of the religion to vse the Queen his wife somewhat hardly and among others to court a Gentlewoman attending vppon the Queene-mother in such sort that from day to day the mischiefe increased to the great greefe and sorrow of all such as before that time honoured him specially of his wife a Princesse most wise and vertuous that sought all means to reduce him but by no meanes could effect it yet was shee solicited by the Queene-mother to seeme to agree and hearken vnto the King her husbandes minde Wherevnto shee aunswered that before she would go to Masse if she were able to hold her Realme of Nauarre and her sonne within her hands she would cast them both into the Sea thereby not to impeach her which was the meanes in that behalfe not to mooue her any more The Queen mother sheweth her selfe a newter The Queene-mother perceiuing the king of Nauarre to yeeld to the other side determined for a time to seeme to be indifferent that of the religion being very strong full of resolution and for that cause she entertained the Prince of Conde and the Admirall with faire speeches giuing order in Parris and other places that those of the religion should bee maintained and vpholden peaceably in the exercise of their religion On the other side couertly making certaine small breaches in the edict by certaine modifications termed declarations made by the King Those of Guise slept not but deuised a new matter in Germanie The Guisians faine to be desirons to be of the confession of Ausbourg therewith to blinde the eyes of the Protestant Princes the Cardinall hauing desired a meeting to bee made by the Duke de Virtemberg at Sauerne there to conferre with the Ministers touching the confession of Ausbourg Iohn Brence and Iaques Andre the Dukes Preachers and two principall Doctors of Germanie came thither and there conferred with the Cardinall who presented them with certaine vesselles of siluer and vsed the matter in such sort that the Duke departed with opiniō to haue done some great matter by that means those Almaine Doctors verily thought within short space to plant their error in France In the meane time those of Guise that laughted at the simplicitie of the Almaine Prince hauing receiued newes that the king of Nauarre held with them determined in all haste to repaire vnto the Court. On the other side the Queene aduertised by many and diuers receipts and solicited by those of the religion Publication of the Edict of Ianuary in Parris A vaine disputation vpon vanitie came to S. Germains to Parris and did so much that vppon the 6. of March the edict of Ianuary was both allowed and published in the Court of Parliament with protestation that neuerthelesse it was done to obey the vrgent necessitie of time and the kings pleasure At the same time shee caused conference to bee holden betweene the Ministers and the Sorbonistes touching the adoration of Images whereof ensued no other thing then onely that each of thē remained stil in their own opinions She likewise sent Monsieur de Cursol into Dauphin and Languedoc to giue order touching the troubles in those places and Monluc into Guyenne for assistant to Monsieur de Burie◠she thought to haue sent the Prince of Conde Miseries of France but that intent brake off whereby those of Guyenne found themselues but in hard case for that therein Monluc vsed great and cruell oppressions which hee himselfe hath set downe within his Comentaries wherein after his death hee hath spit foorth the rest of that his furie which during his life hee could not fully execute vpon them It was thought good likewise thereby to preuent that which not long after fell out that each Gouernour should withdrawe himselfe into his Prouince wherevnto the Marshall de S. Andre well backed aunswered that his office bound him at that time to remaine at the Court neare vnto the King On the other side the King of Nauarre shewed so straunge a countenance vnto the Admirall and his bretheren that they withdrewe themselues into their houses The presumption of the Marshall de S. Andre The Prince of Conde stayed and to take Phisicke went to Parris while the King was ledde by the Queene his mother vnto Mouceaux in Brie Those of Guise beeing aduertised of all that passed determined with a good troupe to ride to Parris where the Constable was to meet them as hee did It is sayd that the Queen desired them to come thither without armes which the Duke of Guise did not as by effect appeareth The first of March hee hauing vpon the day before departed from his house of Ianuille in Champagne A briefe discourse of the massacre of Vassy accompanied with his wife and the Cardinall of Guise his brother hee rode vnto Vassy a Village not farre from thence hauing with him about two hundreth men armed with caliuers pistolles and courtelasses And 8. daies before his company of Lanciers stayed there for him and as they came neare the Village hauing vnderstood the bell to ring vnto a Sermon to be preached by those of the religion within a barne of the said Village of Vassy wherein might bee assembled to the number of one thousand or twelue hundreth persons both men women and children all peaceable and without armes as he lighted from his horse and hauing secretly spoken with the Prouost and the Prior of the Monastery hee went with all his troupe both horse and foote vnto the barne young la Brosse Cornet of his Launciers marched first and entered into the barne seconded by foure or fiue hundreth others where he beganne to blaspheme and sweare that hee would kill them all His men beganne without hauing slaine three and the Gate beeing forced themassacre beganne the Duke beeing there in presence with his naked sword in hand followed by the elder la Brosse Lieftenant of his company On their part of the religion there was no maner of resistance but onely prayers to God running away euery man to saue himselfe as it pleased god where besides a great number of wounded people there was 42. men slaine and many that died in short space after they killed likewise certaine women The poores box was taken and emptied the Pulpit broken downe the Minister hurt in many places was ledde prisoner the dead bodies beeing dispoyled and stripped of coates hoase shooes and all that was about them and many men beeing stripped saued themselues all bloodie and sore wounded New matter against those of Vassy After this valiant combatte which beeing executed with the sound of the Dukes Trumpet as if hee had fought against the enemies
of the Crowne hee departed with his bloodie troupes and laden with spoyles tooke the way that led to Reims where the Cardinall of Lorraine stayed for him but not content to haue delt so cruelly with those of Vassy he becaused certaine informations to bee made against them wherein the principall murtherers were witnesses And eight daies after the Duches Dowager of Guise sent Monsieur de Thou thither that made search for their weapons and would constraine them all to go to Masse which notwithstanding those of the religion tooke courage comforting themselues and assembling euery Sunday and Festiuall day to praise the Lord vntill such time as ciuill warres dispearsed and separated them The prince of Conde beeing at Parris and receiuing newes of that massacre hauing consulted with diuers Lords and Gentlemen that kept him company with all speed certified the Queene and others in the Court Iustice demaunded but in vaine for the massacre of Vassy all was past ouer in words or notable preductions of troubles what had happened and fallen out who thereby tooke it for an alarme and counselled him to seeke the meanes of preseruation for the Realme and those of the religion whom he presently aduertised looked vnto themselues The greatest part as Frenchmen are alway full of hopes imagined nothing but quietnesse and troubled themselues to build Churches not much thinking vppon warlike prouision therwith to defend themselues But by the Princes aduise they were indifferently awaked Much more the Lords and Gentlemen of the religion dispearced throughout the Prouinces which beganne to make prouision of armes and horses staying for news both from the Court and Parris from whence in the name of the Nobilitie Churches of France Monsieur de Francourt and Theodore de Beza beeing sent to Monceaux to aske iustice of the king against the Duke of Guise because of the massacre at Vassy The Queene made gentle aunswere but to the contrary the King of Nauarre beganne to be offended saying that whosoeuer presumed to touch but the fingers end of his brother the Duke of Guise should haue to doo with all his bodie Theodore de Beza thervpon hauing most humbly shewed him that the Iustice which kings ought to shewe vnto their subiects is the worke and rule of God and that to demaund iustice was no hurt or iniurie vnto any man Hee replyed that they had throwne stones at the Duke of Guise and that hee could not staye the furie of his troupe and that Princes are not to indure the dishonour to be cast at with stones Wherevppon Beza very grauely and with all due reuerence aunswered that if it were so the Duke of Cuise might haue had iustice against all those that in such vile maner had despised his estate and dignitie and therewith speaking vnto the King of Nauarre hee said My Lord it is most true that it belongeth to the Church of God in whose name I speake rather to take then giue blowes but may it please your Grace to remember that it is an anuile which hath indured many and seuerall hammers The Triumuirat coaseth vpon the King and Parris From that time the estate of France might well bee resembled vnto a Sea that beginneth to rise and rage in euery place for that in euery Prouince great and wonderfull troubles beganne to rise whereof in the end of the Historie of the first troubles wee meane to speake for now wee must returne vnto the principall instruments of the most bloodiest Tragedie that euer was seene in France Presently after the returne of Francourt and Beza those of Guise the Constable the Marshall de Saint Andre and after the King of Nauarre openly holding with them arriued in Parris from whence they constrained the Prince of Conde beeing very weake with a Towne beeing his enemie and such as in short space might swallow vppe both him and his The Prince went to Meaux thē to Orleans if they had beene tenne times as many more to withdrawe himselfe vnto the Towne of Meaux with a good troupe of Gentlemen It was straunge that as then his enemies fell not vppon him but the haste they had to assure themselues of Parris and the king and the feare that at that entrance she should bee constrained to fight and to hazard them ouermuch caused them to worke by great The Prince beeing at Meaux wrote vnto the Admirall and other Lords sending them word that want of courage had not constrained him to leaue Parris but rather want of ayde and that with all speed they should meete him which they did all armed which those of the contrary part had alreadie opēly discouered and beeing in minde to withdrawe themselues and to retire men came vnto them from all places and the Prince determining to ride vnto the Court to the end that beeing strong about the king who as then laye at Fontainbleau hee might constraine his enemies to seeke to agree hee vnderstood that they had gotten both the king and the Court into their power in such sort that the Prince rode towards Orleans whereon hee ceased and there beganne to take order in his affaires while those of Guise ledde the King and Queene to the Castle of Melun and that in the most part of the Prouinces of the Realme they vsed those of the religion withall the insolencies and cruelties that possibly may bee deuised From Melun the King and Queene were brought to Parris where the Constable had ouerthrowne and defaced ihe places Beginning of the first and horrible troubles in France where those of the religion vsed to assemble The people beginning to mutin to assemble in great troupes in such manner that both there and in other places where those of the Romish Church were strongest those of the religion receiued such entertainment as the most cruell Barbarians would haue beene ashamed to vse it which likewise in some places mooued those of the religion whereby the Churches Images some Priests and others bare away the blowes But this was little or nothing in respect of all the mischiefe that those of the Romish Churches indured throughout France in those first troubles in comparison of the miseries which those of the religion indured in one of the seuenteene Prouinces as the Histories published by Iohn le Frere de Laual Belleforest Monluc and others of the Guises part do witnesse and thereat reioyce and make great triumph If the massacre of Vassy had not chanced the Prince and the Admirall had bin constrained eyther to loose all or to haue forsaken the Realme because that before that time they neuer thought vppon defence The euill committed at Vassy cause of some good nor of any thing that after happened and fell out much lesse to bee offensiue The edict of Ianuary and the Queenes promises staying their hands but when the Lords and great Gentlemen of the religion dispearsed throughout the Realme had once heard of that bloodie exploit committed by the Duke of Guise by little
and little they assembled themselues about the Prince who beeing at Orleans first beganne to write into all places which caused diuers Townes to bee ceased vppon for those of the religion the onely cause to breake diuers intents of their most cruell aduersaries Likewise on both sides they beganne to rayse Souldiers out of the Realme meane time Declarations and protestations of the Prince meane time the Prince published diuers declarations and protestations for the iustification of his defensiue armes referring his enemies from that time named the Triumuirat to the edict of Ianuary and to leaue off armes thereby to set the King at libertie and his Realme in peace The Triumuirat that is The Triumuirats answere the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshal de S. Andre made diuers answeres onely tending vnto the suppression of that edict The Emperour and the protestant Princes were by the Prince fully certified of the whole Estate of France who in an open assembly of the Estates shewed the letters of the Queene Regent expresly written vnto him after the ceasing vppon the King and Parris recommending vnto him the mother and her children besides that hee made an agreement at Orleans with the Lords and Gentlemen there assembled to vse their forces and meanes for the deliuery of the king and Queene and for the maintenance of the edicts and state of the Realme this agreement sent vnto the Court the same day beeing the ninth of Aprill A greement made at Orleans a letter was published and registred in the Parliament whereby they certified the King his bretheren and the Queene that as then they were at libertie also by an other the King declared his intent to bee that the edict of Ianuary should bee executed in all places but onely in Parris The Prince for his part solicited those of the religion to send him men and mony The 25. of Aprill the Counte de Rochefoucaut with great troupes went out of Poicton and Xaintonge and arriued in Orleans The next day the Prince receiued a large aunswere Many proceedings on both partes before they proceed to armes vnto a certaine declaration by him made and sent thither but hauing vnderstood that the day before in all the places of the Cittie of Parris both hee and his partakers had publikely beene declared and termed seditious and euill Christians hee made a second declaration wherein hee openly declared and described the horrible cruelties alreadie committed against those of the religion imploring the edicts yeeldeth a reason of his actions and by letters written the 27. to the Parliament of Parris desired that his enemies hauing first raysed armes should laye them downe and that for his part he would do the like thereby to cease the calamities of the Realme And to the end to shewe all forraine Princes his intent two Gentlemen were by him deputed to stay in Almaine to the end that if the Triumuirat should there enterprise to leuie men they should procure that the Prince might there bee ayded and not others which done order was taken for the securitie of Orleans and there they coyned mony in the kings name The Queene therevppon beganne to solicite a peace writing letters vnto the Prince who vppon the first of May made her aunswere withall sending her a memoriall signed with his hand Meanes vsed by the Queene containing the meanes of pacification as hee had declared vnto the Parliament The fourth day after the Triumuirat made a declaration to the contrary requiring the abolution of the edict of Ianuary and of all exercise of religion onely that of Rome and that such as bare armes without the expresse commission and commaundement of the King of Nauarre the kings Lieftenant generall should leaue them off vppon paine to bee declared rebelles and enemies to the king and his Realme desiring likewise the Queene-mother to obtaine that all the forces on both partes might bee vnited and ioyned togither vnder the commaundement of the king of Nauarre and that so doing they were readie to retire vnto their houses The declaration of the Triumuirat but the king made a new declaration wherein the edict of Ianuary was still continued After many speeches in the end they grewe to blowes whereof I will speake as time serueth and first beginne with the Prince and his troupes Iu the beginning of the warre the Queene seeketh to accord and thē with a summary deductiō of that which happened in the Prouinces The companies of Lanciers beeing for the most part arriued at Parris with some of the olde companies of foote the king of Nauarre and the Triumuirat marched towards Chasteau Dun. The Prince at that time beeing as strong as they determined to enter into the field which mooued the Queene to seeke the procuration of a peace while the Triumuirat might haue meanes to gather a greater force One of the principall dealers therein was the Bishoppe of Valence The practises of the Bishop of Valence and what followed who in some sort perswaded the Prince extreamely greeued to see himselfe constrained to enter into a ciuill warre to offer the Queene to goe out of the Realme with all his friends to procure a peace Within two daies after he went to speake with the Queene and shewed her his minde which hee had no sooner vttered but hee was presently taken at his word the Queene making him great promises saying that the next day shee would send vnto him to knowe the conditions by him to bee propounded Wherevpon at his returne the Prince hauing communicated his intent vnto his companie not only the ordinary Councell but all the Coronelles and Captaines were summoned to giue their aduise which was wholly and directly against that declaration and the opinion of Monluc and the Queene-mother Among the rest Missieurs d'Andeloc and Boucard maruellously incouraged all the companie by their bolde and braue resolutions and if they had beleeued Monsieur d'Andelit presently they had set vppon the Triumuirats troupes After the Truce an enterprise of no small importance was begunne but your guides hauing not well conducted the Princes troupes and withall much raigne falling a great aduantage was lost Good discipline for a time in the Princes Armie At that time military discipline among the Princes souldiers was much to bee commended for the Gentlemen neuer molested their Hostes and such as had meanes payd honestly for that they tooke The Pesantes stirred not out of their houses such as offended were punished One named the Barron de Dampmartin that had violated a maide by great fauour escaped death but after continuing his follies hee had his head striken off within Parris this exemption in the beginning of the warres was taken for an euill signe No blasphemie was heard in al the Princes campe Among thē you sawe neither cards nor Dice for women they were from thē no man strayed out of his troup to forrage much lesse to boote-halling morning and euening at rising and
if his armie came thither while the Dukes Councell were consulting of the means to imploy his forces in other places those of the religion had time and leisure to ioyne themselues togither The Admirall brought the Princes of Nauarre and Conde from Saint Iohn to Tone Charante where hee met the Queene of Nauarre to incourage such as were in doubt and to take Councell what was to bee done Their horsemen were mustered whereof the Prince of Nauarre was appoynted Generall to whom all of them being the number of foure thousand Gentlemen made oathes of fidelitie The young Prince of Conde was ioyned with him d'Andelot went to the Garrisons to take a view of the footemen which done hee made a voyage into Poitou to assemble the dispearsed troupes to prouide for mony and to bridle the courses of the enemies but comming from thence The death of Monsieur d'Andelot beeing taken with a burning feuer hee went to Sainctes where hee died vppon the seuenteenth of May to the great greefe and sorrow of all his friends and seruants His bodie beeing opened was found to bee poysoned which not long after was practised against diuers Lords Gentlemen of the religion by the aduise of Rene de Birague an Italian as then Keeper of the seales and after Chancellor of France who vsed openly to say that it was not necessary to make warre with so much labour and charges but to imploy the Cookes meaning prisoners The estate of Colonell of the French Infanterie was giuen to Acier and his company to Beauuais la Nocle his Lieftenant but the charge of all the armie and the care of the principall affaires fell vppon the Admirall much respected by the Queene of Nauarre Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines and to bee short of both great and small that as then made profession of the religion The siege of Mucidan where Pompadon the Countie Brissac are slaine As concerning the Dukes army it ouerranne Xaintoigne Angoulesme and Limosin taking in some places namely Aubeterre The Countie de Brissac Colonel of the French footemen in that armie and Captaine of a Regiment of fortie Ensignes with the most part of their forces tooke vpon him the siege of Mucidan They that were within after they had a while defended the Towne set it on fire and retired into the Castle which they held valiantly and abide some assaults slew the notable men of the regements of Brissac Monluc and Cars among the rest the Vicount of Pompadou lastly Brissac himselfe who comming neare to view the breach and defences had no sooner put foorth his nose but a Harquebuse pearced his head and layde him starke dead vpon the Counterstarp hee was betweene fiue and six and twentie yeares of age and was much bewayled of many that hoped to haue seene him in time one of the greatest leaders of our daies A while after the besieged yeelding vpon composition to haue both liues and goods saued were scarce out of sight of the walles but that contrarie to faith and promise the most part were cut in peeces by the besiegers vpon a desperate reuenge of the death of their two Coronels and their best souldiers that they had there lost The taking of the I le of Medoc On the other side Captaine Piles tooke the Isle of Medoc lying betweene Rochel and Bourdeaux where all the souldiers inriched themselues And the Duke abandoned Guyen and tooke his way towards Berry there to ioyne with the forces of the D. d'Aumale that togither they might stop the Dutch armie brought in by the Duke of Deaxponts from ioyning with the Princes The Lords of Nouy Ienly Moruilliers Fequieres Esternay and others soone after the beginning of this third ciuill warre A small French army commeth in fit time to the Rutters throgh Frāce maugre all the enemies armies had gathered togither some fifteene or six hundreth horse and two thousand Harquebusiers whom when in regard of the difficultie of the passages they could not bring into Guyen they led into Brabant to the prince of Orenge and Countie Lodowick his brother who after they had a while with variable successe continued warre against the Spaniards passed ouer the riuer of Meuse maugre the duke of Alue to whom they offered battell which the Spaniard refused as hoping to waste them with want of victuals which grew so short that they were driuen to passe into France where comming to Vitry they consulted vpon their affaires whether it were best to passe further into the Realm alreadie daunted with so many armies and to returne toward Germanie and so to ioyne with the armie that VVolfgang Counte Palatine of Rhyne D. of Deux Ponts leuyed for the Princes but the second aduise tooke place Now more narrowly to consider what a long walke this Dutch armie made from the Rhine euen vnto Limosin togither with their great and continuall impeachment it cannot but breed much maruell that a forraine armie watched so narrowly and hauing so many backe-friends could thus compasse their drifts True it is that ciuill warres haue at al times made a plaine path to forraine nations who otherwise durst scarce looke towards the Gates without the support of the one partie But where the fauour is but small on the one side and the resistance great on the other we are the more to admire the exployts of those that do so aduenture themselues It was a great comfort to the Germaine Duke to haue the assistance of the Prince of Orenge the Countie Lodowick and the Countie VVolrad of Mansfield The description of the Dutch army with the French afore mentioned His troupes contained fiue thousand Lansquenets and sixe thousand Rutters With this small armie hee marched publishing by writing the causes of his iourney to the Princes The kings Councell finding themselues to seeke did speedily conclude of a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to stop this succour yet doubting of the weakenesse of such a Leader vnskilfull and vnfortunate in matter of warre leuied yet an other vnder the conduct of the Duke of Nemours a man in manner like vnto the other These two bodies assembled in footemen farre surmounted the Dutch Dukes but in horsemen hee was the stronger They were resoluted not to linger vntill hee entered France and so make hauocke but marched euen to the borders of Germanie and neare to Saumur where they defeated the regiment of Captain la Coche of Dauphine composed of sundrie parcels patched togither which purposed to haue ioyned with the Lansquenets Notwithstanding this defeate the Germaine Duke proceeded into France through Bourgongne where the enemie coasted him vntill hee had gotten to the riuer of Lotre hauing marched full fourescore leagues they neuer left him but were still in his flancke or vppon the taile yea many times the armies were each in sight of other and had many great skirmishes The Prince of Orenge hath since sundrie times reported that he maruelled that in so long and
that hee died immediately To be briefe the Protestants tooke from them all that they held about Rochel excrept Saint Iohn d'Angely where they nestled themselues The Barron de la Garde had for a while kept the sea with his Gallies but hearing of the taking of Bronage hee retired toward Bourdeaux whilest Sore for the Princes scoured the Ocean where hee daily light vppon some bootie Among other his exployts about the beginning of Iuly hee tooke a Portugall shippe laden among other marchandize with some fortie Iesuites that were trauelling toward India but they were stayed and the most part leaped ouer-boord This victorious successe of the Protestants in Poictou and Xaintongne were the occasion that to preuent any greater conquests the Prince d'Auphin was appoynted to come down into Poictou there to reassemble Puigaillards forces which now hopped but vpon one legge Succourd deputed for Puigaillard and those of the Countie of Lude to the end to come to some new practise The eleuenth of August after the two great armies lying about the riuer of Loire newes was brought vnto them of a peace agreed vpon between the king and the Princes all precedent modifications and restrictions abolilished the second Edict of peace confirmed and allowed The 3. Edict of peace this peace was receiued of all men with hope of revnion betweene the two parties through all the Realme The peace published in the Campes and Townes the armies were discharged assoone as they had conducted their straungers into Lorraine and the Princes accompanied with Countie Lodowicke in the beginning of October returned to Rochel the king by the Edict granted foure Townes Rochel Montauban Cognac and la Charite Townes for assurance to bee kept in the Princes names for the space of two whole yeares for assurance of this third Edict of pacification in the pursuite whereof Teligny after sonne in lawe to the Admiral and Beauuais la Nocle imployed themselues most faithfully with great credite and reputation of all men Touching the Admirall if there were any Commaunder on both sides that desired peace it was hee as by letters dated the second of March at Montreal hard by Carcassonne written to the king the Queen and the Duke of Anion appeared For being friend to militarie discipline abolished in those miserable ciuill warres and enemie of vices oftentimes beholding such disorder hee said that if it pleased God to send peace in France hee would desire to die a thousand deaths rather then to fall againe into those confusions The Admirall desireth peace and once againe to see such mischiefes leauing to all the rest of the commanders the praise which they obtained if in ciuil wars praise may be giuen it may be said that the Admiral trauelled much both in bodie mind hauing sustained the heauiest part of the affairs of the wars with much cōstancie fidelitie facilitie and behauing himselfe with as great reuerence towards the Princes his superiours as modestie to his inferiors he neuer spake of the king the Queen the Duke of Aniou and those whom hee knew to bee his capitall enemies but with honour without subtiltie or counterfeit speeches beeing the man among all those of the religion specially among the Commaunders in the warre who in a speciall manner reposed himselfe vppon the prouidence of God The prisoners that fell into his hands were fauourably vsed by him as courteous when hee had put vp his swoord as fierce when he held it naked in hand Pittie by him was alwaies had in singular cōmendation as also loue to iustice wherein hee continued both priuate and publike in time of peace and warre vntill hee died which made him both esteemed and honored by those whose part hee held Hee sought not ambitiously to haue commaundements and honours but shunning them hee was constrained to accept them by reason of his wisedome good gouernment in mannaging armes it might well be seene that hee had as good knowledge therein as any Captaine of his time and alwaies exposed himself couragiously in any dangers wise in counsell and valiant in fight in aduersities magnanimious and adorned with wisedome to auoydethem And to conclude hee was a man most woorthie and fitte to restore and re-establish a feeble and corrupt estate but it appeared in an vnfit time and that which after happened vnto him she weth an exterior apparance that vertue is but hardly assured heere on earth Peace concluded and published as it hath beene said the Admirall Teligny la Noue and diuers others withdrew themselues neare vnto the Princes in Rochel there with more securitie to attend the aduancement and execution of the Edict They put Garrison for the Princes in the Townes of assurance except in Rochell which was maintained in her auncient priuiledges The Emperour Maximilian the second not long after married his eldest daughter to Phillip king of Spaine his brother in lawe So that the vncle married the Neece The king married to Elizabeth of Austria Elizabeth his youngest daughter was after giuen in marriage to king Charles the ninth whom hee espoused in the Towne of Mezieres about the end of Nouember and the foure and twentieth of December going to Parris at Villiers coste Rez hee gaue audience to the Ambassadors of Almaine that desired vnto he made an answere that contented them wherewith they were honourably discharged About the same time the Princes exhibited sundrie complaints concerning the Edict by the hands of Briquemaut Teligny Beauuais la Nocle and Cauagnes Teligny was the chiefe Agent and seemed to bee highly in the kings fauour to whom he propounded the complaints of the Protestants wherevpon the king sent forth sundrie Commissioners throghout al the Prouinces of his kindome among other the Marshal de Cosse togither with Proutiere Maister of Requests who made a voyage to Rochel as well to conferre with the Queene and Admirall concerning some conuenient means to maintaine the realme in peace as for other matters that we will shortly speake of The first of Ianuary there beganne a conference betweene the Marshall de Cosse and la Proutiere with the Admirall and other Deputies for the Queen of Nauarre and the Princes at Rochel Proceeding with the Q. of Nauarre the Princes the Admiral and those of the religion in the second yeres of peace that the third edict of pacification continued touching the difficulties and interpretations of diuers articles of the Edict On both sides complaints were made touching the infraction thereof with long replies whereof ensued certaine resolutions that were to bee sent vnto the king I his assembly serued for a couerture to a parley of a marriage betweene Henry de Bourbon Prince of Nauarre and Ladie Margaret sister to the king as also to a conference with the Admirall touching the warre which the king said hee would beginne against the king of Spaine in the lowe Countries And all this propounded and deuised to drawe the Queene of Nauarre the Princes and the Admirall to the
And when the Admirall kneeled downe to do his dutie the king protested that in all his life hee had not seene any day more agreeable vnto his minde then that wherein hee assured himselfe to see the end of all the troubles and the beginning of a firme rest and quietnesse in his Realme And among other speeches vsed smiling hee said vnto him Wee haue you now heere with vs you shall not go from hence when you would The Queen-mother the Dukes of Anion and Alancon and almost all the chiefe Courtiers receiued him with greater fauour then hee expected All these courtesies were suddainely seconded by a great liberallitie from the king that caused a hondreth thousand franks to bee giuen him out of his coffers in recompence of the losses he had receiued by the forepassed wars gaue him like wise a yeares reuenues of all the benefices holden by the Cardinall of Chastillon his brother deceased made him a note of his hand to haue full power and authoritie to seeke for the mooueables that had been taken from him at Chastilon sur Loing and to cause them by expresse commaundement to bee deliuered vnto him againe Teligny his sonne in lawe was likewise honoured with certaine fauors Cauagnes Councellour of Toulouse Agent for the Princes touching the obseruation of the Edict of peace was prouided of an office of Maister of Requests Diuers other Lords and Gentlemen of the religion at that time felt the liberallitie of the king wherewith their aduersaries were much displeased specially that the Admirall was restored to bee one of the priuie Councell and that the king priuately asked his counsell in his affaires of importance touching the warres in the lowe Countries which the Admirall affected very much as beeing one of the most assured meanes to holde France in quietnesse alleaging that by iust reason hee might doo that to the Spaniard which vniustly he had done and would doo vnto France War against Spaine consulted vpon which was to trouble him at home to impeach him from spoyling other men hee shewed likewise to the king that fained to like well of that aduice that it would bee good for him to agree with the Qu. of England and the Princes of Almaine the easiler to make the K. of Spaine beleeue by an ample discourse prooued vnto him that the foundations of the warre in the lowe Countries is iust and profitable Pope Pius Quintus beeing dead who in his life time seemed a stay and hinderance to the marriage of the Prince of Nauarre and the kings sister the Cardinall of Lorraine faining to bee in great feare tooke his voyage to Rome about the election of a new Pope although before his setting forward it was done and being in his voyage letters that were sent him by Cardinal Pelue who of a Sculliō in the Colledge of Montague in Parris afterward following his studie varlet to the Cardinall of Lorraine had in few yeares attained the red hat directed to his Maister the contents whereof imported that in regard of the good course that hee see the king the Queen-mother and the Duke of Aniou take hee could not but hope well of all the affaires That at the Admirals returne to Court the king shewed himself so warie as his most inward friends did wonder at it for thereby hee had brought the Admirall out of all suspect so that now the matter that the Cardinal wist of might the better be put in execution That there was much speech of warre against the King of Spaine whereto the king seemed to incline the rather thereby to stay the Admirall that such pollicies were to be practised vntill they might find opportunitie to put in execution the secret counsell That the king of Spaine was sufficiently informed of the whole least he should finde himselfe agreeued at this present prouision for warres which was neuer ment against him Wherevppon hee besought his Maister notwihstanding whatsoeuer packets hee might receiue to assure himselfe that the king would neuer vary from the resolution That the Queene-mother and the Duke of Aniou bent their whole indeuours to that matter Touching the marriage of the Prince of Nauarre that hee hoped the same would shortly be effected that the same was the entrie to the execution and in the meane time the day drew on for deliuerie of the Townes of hostage And although the Admirall had the copies heereof sent him hee made no great account thereof no more then of other aduertisements expresly giuen him both before and after His minde beeing altered by the countenances and words of the king The Admirall trusteth vpō the kings words who in all things seemed to contrarie his brother the Duke of Aniou for whom hee practised the voyage of Polonia that hee might send him to play the Great-maister somewhat farre from France In the Admirall who alwaies shewed to bee wise and diligent in his affaires appeared that wisedome faileth in wise men when it pleaseth the only wise Gouernour of the word to dul the most sharp and excellent wittes and make passage vnto his terrible iudgements as not long after they shewed throughout all France the which euer since that time vntill this present hath felt the waightinesse of his mightie blowes whose hand as yet is stretched foorth readie to strike againe A nationall Synode at Nismes Some men of each faction of a good meaning to the state of France especially some protestants alreadie apprehending the terror of that terrible storme that followed trembled and bending their neckes lay looking for the fatall blowe At Nismes they held a nationall Sinode in the moneth of May. Others of a more stirring spirit after the manner of Frenchmen who doo performe much in prosperitie and neuer feare any aduersitie vntil it commeth would needes bee busie about discipline but they were soone put to silence Many mens consciences beganne alreadie to bee wauering and fewe there were that shewed themselues zealously bent to religion but all both great and small thinking deeply vpon worldly matters built them goodly castles in the ayre The Princes trusting to an assured peace three moneths before the time restored the townes of assurance wherein the king placed his Garrisons satisfying the Princes with letters which hee had sent to all his Courts of Parliaments wherein he declared his great good liking of the good meaning of the Princes in that they did him so much honour as faithfully to relye vppon his Edict which he wished to bee inuiolably obserued The Rochelers whom Strossy Landereau and the Barron de la Garde watched vppon would not accept of any Garrison but stood vpon their priuiledges so that at length for feare of scarring of others they were let alone The Marshall of Montmorency was sent into England to practise a league who returned sooner then hee was looked for but toward the marriage gat him home to his owne house and might hee haue beene beloued the affaires had beene otherwise mannaged then they were At the same
against the Priests and Fryers of Parris ayded by their seruants onely with fagget-sticks in their hands or how could hee haue leisure in so short a time or would haue bin so mad with his adherents vnwise onely in this that they trusted the kings word and beleeued not the aduice of those that counselled them not to put themselues into the Lyons clawes that watched for them vnder that great hedge to consult vpon an action so important execrable and of the greatest consequence that possible may bee Besides this after he was wounded the Phisitians and Surgeans had inioyned him silence and all the Councels holden in his chamber tended resolutely to expect iustice to be done vppon those that had hurt him as the King and the Queen-mother had sworne and promised The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were alwaies at those Councels and to conspire against the King was as much as if they had soght to stab thēselues to stain their house with the most detestable ignomie that could bee deuised And to be short it is as much as if they should transforme the Admirall and his friends into brute beasts as to attribute such consultations vnto them in such a time and place and against so many good Frenchmen and againe if he were suspected of such a crime was it not in the kings power seeing so many armed men about his lodging held him inclosed and at the first word could haue seized vpon him to cause him to bee poysoned presently vppon the suspition without daunger of tumult by those of the religion whose weaknesse was well knowne at the time of the massacre The number of those that were termed adherents to the Admirall beeing nothing in comparison of the murtherers and of women maides and yong children cruelly massacred that neither knew where the Admirall lay nor yet what hee said◠holding him prisoner they might without resistance or daunger haue made information and so haue proceeded against him according to the lawes of all Nations ... If there were witnesses they might haue maintained and affirmed their depositions before the Admirall and his adherents which by Pitrac is written to haue beene reported to the king further if it should bee so that the Admirall and his adherents after his hurt did vtter any angrie speeches hauing knowne the cause he might haue contented himselfe with his owne house and familie and not in a tumult and barbarous furie by sound of bell to mooue the people to assemble all the Towne hee ought to haue hindred the massacre of so many Ladies and yong Gentlewomen and of so many Gentlemen wise learned and reuerent olde men of so many little children that conspired not but against their mothers breasts or else to get out of the wombes It may bee asked of the Councellours of this inhumane iustice why so many women great with childe and halfe dead were thrown into the riuer wherin so many thousands of honorable innocent persons were massacred without inquisitiō cōdemnation forme or figure of processe which is more if the Adm. had neuer so litle attempted against the person or life of the K. and his two bretheren who is he that knoweth not that al the Prouinces towns to be short al sorts of people of all estates would speedily haue taken weapon in hand in a moment without difficultie had put the culpable and all his adherents to the swoord with all strange motiōs wold both approoue allow as most expedient and necessarie And touching the king of Nauarre euery man detested the imposture of the declaration Was he not in the Admirals hands for the space of foure yeares did hee not professe the like religion who is ignorant of the humble and sincere respect which the Admirall bare vnto this Prince and the great affection hee shewed vnto the Admirall could those of the religion get any thing by the death of the king of Nauarre was hee not loued as well of the Catholicques as those of the religion Could the Admiral hope for a Prince more fauourable then hee or that could better reuenge the outrage that had been done vnto him Other circumstances touhing the massacre Now let vs returne to other circumstances and the course of our Historie By an other declaration of the 30. day of August the king gaue to vnderstand to the Gouernours of his Prouinces that the Admirall and Gentlemen of the religion that were with him in Parris without expecting the iustice that he had promised to execute vpon the wonder of the Admirall had conspired against his Maiestie his mother his bretheren the king of Nauarre and other the Lords and Princes about them and against the estate yea that some of the chiefest and adherents to the conspiracie acknowledging their fault had confessed it These principall adherent confessors hee nameth not as indeed there were none vnlesse he meanes Bouchauanes of Picardie who vppon Saturday had been present at one of the consultations wherein the Vidame of Chartres the second time with vehement speeches in the pesence of the K. of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and many others had vrged the remooue of the Admiral out of Parris wishing his friends and familiars to follow after as hourely discouering many things that put him in more doubt Hee was in manner the onely man that was of that opinion for the rest they stood vppon it that so they should doo the king wrong in that they should call into question his faith and sincere meaning that it might suffice quietly and modestly to craue iustice at his hands that the matter was yet fresh and therefore it might bee feared least the king should bee offended if they proceeded so hotly Other report could not Bouchananes make in honour or with a safe conscience Concerning Briquemant and Cauagues whom they ment to vse wee will speake heereafter Onely I will heere adde one note taken out of the seuenth booke of the remembrances of Monluc one of the Marshals of France and a sworne enemie to the Protestants He speaking of the murthers saith Albeit I was then Maister onely of my owne house Monlucs testimonie yet the Queene did me that honour to write vnto me and to send me word that they had discouered a great cōspiracie against the king and his estate I wot what I beleeued but it is not good to anger a mans Maister The king neuer forget the chase that the Admirall gaue him from Meaux to Parris swifter then ordinarie Wee forget our selues when wee come to the pinch and neuer thinke that kings haue greater stomacks then wee and withall that they can sooner forget a good peece of seruice then any offence These bee Moulucs words who a little before had said that the Admiral was vnwise to thrust himselfe into Parris to the end to make the world to thinke that he ruled all I wonder how a man so wise polliticke in worldly matters could commit such a grosse ouersight But
wounded in two places on his sace but slightly He was also strucke with a harquebuze vpon the right arme near the shoulder which throgh the goodnesse of his vambras prooded but a bruse Thus hauing obstinately cōtinued the fight on both sides the assailants were putto retire with the losse of Doily S. Colombe and sundrie other Captaines Gentlemen souldiers slaine in the breach to the number of 60. about 100. led away hurt maimed On the Counties side were also slaine Brossay Tere Mesnil a Minister Vandore Saussey Nohe 6. soldiers 12. wounded namely the Countie Villeneusue Riutere Ousse Gros a Minister Maimberte and Courton captains 5. soldiers Two daies after seuē or 8. of the besieged got forth fled to the camp The 26. of the month Vassey thrise spake to the Countie inducing him to enter into compositiō as also they had done the day before Loth he was to consent as knowing the hatred of his enemies accounting it an honor to die vpon the breach with weapon in hand but seeing his men thus cast away themselues leauing him in maner alone with the wounded a few others the likewise fainted withal that al munition of war water failed he was inforced to hearken to composition rather to saue the remainder thē of any regard to himself yet making of necessity a vertue he held off obtained the himself with his assistants shuld depart with their liues some garments but no weapōs but sword dagger That himself shuld remain in the hāds of Matig Vassey but with good entertainment safetie of his life This cōpositiō they sware to keep inuiolably Vassey who was his kinsmā made great protestatiōs therof Some hours after towards midnight these 2. Cap. went for the C. who came forth in the cōpany of Chauuiny And about 7 of the clock in the morning Mat. returned to bring forth the rest With him entred the soldiers lodged in the town the camp by the breach The cōmposition was so holdē that in the presence of Ma. they slew part of the besieged stripped the rest offring them great indignities forced them to fine pay ransome Three or 4. that fel into the hāds of a Lord that made accoūt of the law of arms escaped safe A Mini. named Bute they put to death hāged Cap. Touche the yonger The Co. was soone after cōtrarie to faith promise broght prisoner to Paris lastly put to death as we wil more at latge note in due time order The D. of Montp very affectionate to the Ro. church with anarmie took the field in April to war against the protestāts in Poictou Warres in Poictou against Protestants frō whō the L. of Biron had practised to take Tōnay Charante but could not archieue it In May the D. besieged the castie of Talmōt which yelded but in the mean time his cōpany was surprised in a village near to S. Hermine many slain 12. or 15. Gentlemen caried away prisoners som 60. horse much baggage the D. cupboord of siluer plate by Cap. S. Stephen who lay in garrison in Fontenay which the D. immediately besieged gaue two assaults wher he gained nothing but lost the most resolute of his troups Wherevpon hearing of the kings mortal sicknesse he retired attending new supplies commissions At the same time the Prince of Conde beeing gotten from the Court and retired into Picardie receiued aduise of diuers practises wroght to seize vpon his person Retrait of the Prince of Conde into Almaine but notwithstanding the the snares that were layde for him hee got into Almaine followed by Thore whom they likewise sought to intrappe because of the Marshals of Montgommery and d'Anuille his bretheren and for his counsels giuen to the Duke of Alencon This retrait was diuersly spoken of some esteeming that the Prince was let go to keepe the water in trouble and to finde other practises others accounting it a great deliuerance of those of the religion Time made knowne what fell out thereby but whatsoeuer it was the Prince arriued at Strasbourg and hauing acknowledged his fault in the French Church there assembled touching his conuersion after the massacre to the Popish Church hee detested it resoluing to imploy himselfe to maintaine the estate of France as his father had done and there finding the Deputies of Languedoc practising a leuie of Rutters wrote vnto the churches exhorting those of the religion to bee couragious and to make account of his good will for their comforts By the same messenger Thore writ to his brother the Marshall d'Anuille perswading him to looke about him and to take the offered occasion This Marshall was the same time at great strife in himselfe seeking to assure himselfe on both sides on the one side hee doubted the king and Queene-mother on the other the protestants meanes to ouerthrow him if hee should intreat them hardly Heerevppon hee resolued sometimes to haue an eye to the Court sometimes to the contrarie and according to the Prouerb to watch how the market went On the one side writing to the chiefe Captaines of the protestants on the other sending the Lord of Rieux to Boisde Vincennes to the king with ample instructions dated the eighteenth of May therein protesting of his affection declaring his former seruices intreating after account yeelded of his administration to bee discharged of his office and to withdraw to any place that the king should appoynt The same day hee wrote to the Parliament of Thoulouse to excuse himselfe of that he was accuse of a desire to rebel against the king and to surprise Narbonne These proceedings stayed the Queene-mother and her Councellours who did well perceiue that d'Anuille would set them worke ynough if they should deale otherwise then well or touch his brother Montmorencies life whom in the meane time they caused to bee kept so to bridle d'Anuille and to take some course in their affaires as heereafter wee shall well perceiue The kings sicknesse The sicknesse wherewith the king was troubled not long before the departure of his brother to go into Poland had a little rest for the winter time but the hidden disease about spring time beganne againe to reuiue in such sort that hauing bin sicke in the months of February March and Aprill hee was counselled by his Phisitians that hee should bee purged and let blood which were meanes altogither vnprofitable because it was openly seene that hee began to fade euen in the flower of his age to the great astonishing of the ignorant Those of least iudgement esteemed that hee had eaten or drunke somewhat that disiested not Some superstitious persons imagined some witchcrafe or coniuratiō because la Mole had bin found seized with a litle image of wax about him which he affirmed to be the picture of a Gentlewoman pricked in two places by a witch they made certaine reports to be spredde abroad that it was a
by the marriages of daughters capable by succession to the kingdome of Nauarre And for such hee was esteemed and accounted vntil the death of the Duke of Alencon the kings brother VVhen presently the good olde Cardinall of Bourbon was titled in the head and made beleeue that in the age of sixtie yeares hee should liue and succeede a king who beside his yong yeares and strength of bodie liued not in any such disordered maner whereby hee should once haue occasion to thinke vpon his successor for it was shewed him that hee was the first Prince of the blood and that the right of inheritance and succession consisted in his person But when this deuise was found too weake and the absurditie too much discouered thereby seeking to impugne or deny the king of Nauarre to be the chief and eldest branch of his house in the right and title of his father who in a manner liued in him besides the reuocation by his vncle made vnto him of all rights names voyces and actions whatsoeuer both present and to come that might appertaine or belong vnto him as beeing issued from the house of Bourbon expresly acknowledging the said king of Nauarre his Nephew for the true sonne heire successor and representation of the chiefe branch of the said house they inuented other obiections and subtile pollicies that vnder those pretences they might bleare the eyes of the common and simple people affirming the Crowne of France to bee vacant and so belonged to the first Conqueror aâ—leaging for reason that as in the populer successions of common people such as are of the kindred and familie of any houses beeing in the tenth degree of consanguinitie cannot bee heires of their kinsmans lands so farre in discent from them and therby the inheritance falleth into the Lords hands and that so the house of Bourbon had no title or any right to the Crowne of France as beeing in the tenth degree of consanguinitie from it wherof they caused diuers discourses and whole volumes to bee written But that not beeing able to bee beaten into the heads of true Frenchmen nor once set footing or enter into the opinions of the commun people altogither incapable of such Sophisteries they beganne to enter into an other course of iniuries accusations and inuections wherein they contented not themselues onely to crie out and make war against the said king and to produce and cause to bee published a perpetuall incapacitie in his person and that without the Popes consent but they accused him of treason they condemned him they named him vnwoorthie and incapable to rule in France they assembled all the estates of France at Blois wherein a manner they vtterly reiected him euery man shewed to bee his enemie if not in his right and title yet touching the religion which hee then held and finally went about to frame his proces But to the contrarie those that pursued him were themselues executed before they heard their condemnation or iudgement In this maner the fire beganne to bee kindled in all the foure quarters of the realme and the blow was of such force that all neighbour Princes were mooued there at such as were offended arming themselues to bee reuenged and the people in a manner led by a furie helping them and with them turned their faces against the king whereof the Towne of Parris was the first and by example therof all the Towns in lesse then 6. weeks made that great strange coÌ„motion that continued for the space of fiue whole yeares ensuing Shee mooued them to this dissention by the smooth and speciall reasons by her alleaged against heresie periurie and tiranny coniuring them by dutie to their countrie and by the loue they ought to beare to the preseruation thereof to ioyne with her in so iust a cause and to passe one of these two waies hauing no other meanes either to bee vanquishers or die in the quarrell rather then to submit themselues to the king And among the rest the Cittie of Lyons neuer inferiour to any Cittie in the world touching fidelitie and obedience to their kings that had no other obiect then onely zeale of religion in the defence whereof it espied many euident and mortall signes suffered it selfe to bee borne away among this troupe not once considering or apprehending the multitude of miseries by her after that indured And in this manner the warres beganne with so straunge an alteration and motion of all estates yea euen of the very pillers of the land and the reuolt was such that in fine the royaltie of the king was reduced to a small corner of the countrie about Tours and Blois where without doubt the league had buried it if suddainly the king of Nauarre had not ayded him who therevpon tooke courage againe hauing on his side the Hercules of France scourge of rebels to their Prince but when this disordered and great mutinie beganne somewhat to decline and that the presence and authoritie of the Soueraigne Prince held the most assured within the bounds of their duties and that Parris perceiued it self in way and course of extreame desolation suddainly the king was slaine And then O the great and deepe iudgements of God hee that about three moneths before had passed ther riuer of Loire onely with foure hundreth horse a thousand shot and certaine pikes was presently made chiefe soueraigne and commaunder of a most faire and great armie to whom the Magistrates and Officers of the Crowne and all the Nobilitie yeelded their obedience thereby seeking to impeach the desolation and ouerthrow of the whole estate and to preferre the dutie of naturall fidelitie before the vaine hope of straungers and the last hazard of the rest and suretie of their liues and goods And so behold him king that not seuen moneths before had been depriued of the title of the first Prince of the blood and of the hope of the name Sacrying and Crowne of the Princes his auncestors that had so many times beene driuen from the Court that in foure yeares had seene tenne armies and tenne Generals to a king marching before the heads of the forces of the greatest Prince of the most warrelike nation in all the world against him that after the ouerthrow of a great forraine power had withdrawne himselfe into a corner of the Realme without land men or mony and a Prince altogither poore vnlesse it were in hope He that had been declared vnable for the Crowne that had beene made one of the Cardinall of Bourbons retinue that was no more acknowledged to be of the race or progenie of S. Lewis as beeing ten degrees in consanguinitie from it he that the countrie of Spaine esteemed the subiect of all our miseries who in the life of â—ur kings was the only argument of all the tragedies that had been acted in the countrie of France he that thought not to haue succeded a king being in the flower of his liuely and gallant youth that had bin an occasion to
receiue her Cittizens for his true faithfull and naturall subiects and not to put any difference between them and others vnlesse it were in this poynt to haue in remembrance that they were the first who without constraint acknowledged him for their king and by their example haue gotten vnto him the best part of his flowrishing Scepter Behold the iust reasons and causes of this so suddaine change if the obedience which the subiect draweth from the yoake of strangers to yeeld it vnto his owne superior may be called a change And the more commendable it wil be in so much as that the seruice of the king is not contrarie to the commandement of God that religion remaineth firme within her franchises shining in her glorie inuiolable vnexpugnable in her forces As long as the wars were wholly for religion they contributed whatsoeuer they had but when they once perceiued that the holy conuersion of the king made this war no more war against religion but onely against the estate they could not longer delay nor withdraw out of their mindes the feare and reuerence they owe to the true image of God which is the king beleeuing certainly that those beare armes and fight against God that rebel against a most Catholicke and Christian Prince In this so great disorder great wisedome good order hath bin seene for that the most aduised and best experienced concerning matters of estate iudged this quotidian feuer could by no meanes bee healed but by some strong and violent remedie But by the prouidence of God the disease that in mans iudgement seemed incurable hath been healed without shedding one drop of blood by the constant and firm resolution of those that rather desire to die then not to see themselues franchised from this gouernment which is contrarie to the royall estate and losed from the middle of so many protections which how holy or iust soeuer they be are altogither dangerous and the best title they can bear is of no value To be short this towne which hath alwaies made shew of pure religion towards God and fidelitie to her Prince hath well shewed that the flower de luce which for the space of so many hundreth yeares had been grauen in her heart could not be pulled away but by cleauing and renting in peeces the hearts of all her Cittizens that she could not brooke nor once indure such Frenchmen as are transubstantiated into Spanish minds that gape onely to see this Scepter broken this crowne in peeces that they might gather the remnants and plucke off the flowers Thus much I thought good to speake before I enter into the Historie THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF the last troubles of France vnder the raignes of Henry the third and Henry the fourth now liuing M.D.LXXIIII I Am not abashed if such as at randon discourse speake of our great miseries do so oftentimes run into fond opinions A Historie ought to be without passion because that to get out of so great a laborinth they followe not the right way of the trueth but rather taking the crosse-path of their own passions they leaue the high-way and approache the ditches Their writings are of blacke and thicke cloudes which neuer appeare without some thunder of euill reports iniuries and slaunders Tables representing nothing but infamous pictures of Monsters and Arches of imperfections And when they enter into the deepe consideration of the Authors of our euilles they throwe the fault and mischiefes of these deuisions sometimes vppon one and some times vppon an other their opinions beeing furred onely with the drugges of hated or of zeale which transporteth their mindes Such people that like serpents nourish themselues by poyson The causes of the troubles of France imputed to diuers things and that are better pleased with the darke Eclipses then with the bright shining beams of the Sun and do more reioyce to shewe some execrable action then to speake of any memorable and woorthiething haue in this season raised most straunge mutinies mooued the people armed the greatest cowards with their seditious writings troden the Maiestie and reuerence of Princes vnder foote bannished modestie in her place established insolencie despigh and confusion Therefore to make knowne Against such as say that the King of France and Nauarre are the causes of the troubles through all the parts of the world the beautie excellency and woonders of the royall actions of their liues to drawe so many Princes and great and valiant Captaines out of the circle wherein by these diuisions they are compassed to shewe the Maiestie of our King to bee farre distant from the many vnworthy slaunders of those that affirme and accuse him to bee the onely motion of our countries troubles to declare in this discourse the royall vertues that shine through the thicknesse and obscurities of impietie and rebellion and to disswade mens mindes from so many false perswations I haue drawne out of the most staied and certaine opinions the truth concerning the beginning and proceedings of the last troubles that haue vexed this Realme by the renewing of seuen most cruel bloodie warres a Frāce hath indured seuē warres and hath seene 6. Edicts of pacification God grant that the 7. peace may be the last and the end of ciuil miseries The peace for forraigne warres was made in Ann. 1559. There is no opinion that is deeper with in the hearts of men then the opinion of religion by the hazard of so many battailes the ruin of so many people the taking and spoyling of so many townes and the death of so many Princes that the only remembrance taketh away my sences stoppeth my speeche and maketh my pen to stay◠therefore to begin this matter and to voyde the spindle we must first finde the ende of the third and by the ende of forraigne warres weaue this cloath of ciuill Commotions All war is cruell and endeth with more difficultie then it is taken in hand but those diuisions that happen in any estate touching the point that ought to knit and vnite the spirits of men are more bloodie their beginnings more terrible and their endes more dangerous and the more the pretences are large and faire the more men enter into the sustaining and defending of them for there is nothing that doth mooue them more then the defence of their religion nor any thing that doth more animate nor sooner put them in obliuion of the consideration of respect dutie and obedience then the quarrell concerning the saluation of their soules and the manner of the seruice they ought to minister vnto God euery man esteeming that religion he followeth to bee the true and purest manner of woorshipping condemning and reiecting all that which is not conformable vnto it n = b The Oracle of Apollo gaue answer to the Troiāt that their towne should neuer be takē as lōg as they kept that image of Pallars This is the Paladium of Troy our rest and welfare
exception of persons and the failers and delayers therein shall bee punished by authoritie of the General and as hee shall appoynt wherevnto his said associates shal submit themselues Practising with townes All Catholicques of Townes and Villages shall bee aduertised and secretly summoned by the particular Gouernours to enter into the said association and dutie to furnish men and munition for the execution thereof according to the power and facultie of euerie man That such as will not enter into the said association shal be reputed as enemie thereof be pursued by all means sorts of troubles molestations Contribution of men and mony and it shal be forbidden vnto the said associates to enter into debates quarrels one with the other without permission of the Generall at whose arbitrement the contradistors shall bee punished as wel touching reparation of honour as for all other causes If for fortification or greater assurance of the said associates there is any appoyntment made with the Prouinces of this Realm it shal be made in forme aforesaid vpō the same conditions whether the said associations be sought for by the said Townes or Prouinces or that it bee offered vnto them if it bee not otherwise ordained by the Generall I sweare by God the Father touching this Ghospel and vppon paine of cursing and eternall damnation that I haue entered into this holy and Catholicque association The forme of the leaguers oath according to the forme and manner of the extract that hath been presently read vnto mee faithfully and sincerely whether it bee therein to commaund or to serue and obey and promise both vppon mine honor and life to continue therein as long as one drop of blood last within my body without resisting or withdrawing my selfe from the same vnder pretence of any commaundement excuse cause or occasion whatsoeuer The instructions of the Aduocate Dauid About that time the Aduocate Dauid was taken with certaine aduertisements and notes about him concerning the meanes whereby to authorise this league and to breake the ordinary course of the succession of France by impossible meanes which ought neither to be known nor be beleeued and wherewith I meane not to dishonour this discourse Packets of the league of Peronne cast about the streetes Nature of the people Meane time Postes were sent into all places to spread the newes and first aduise of those pretences masked with faire and shining vizardes of holinesse thereby to bleare the eyes of the people and libels were cast about the streets diuers men of good account trauelling about the countrie to serue for bellows to this new forge made to kindle a great warre And the people that ranne from one extremitie to another which loue changes a troupe that followeth such as lead it a sea that neuer riseth without winde and a Monster with many heads suffered themselues to be borne away with the first waues of this tempest The Parliament at Blois 1576 Meane time the king minding to put cold water into the boyling pot and to cut off the meane to this new motion caused the Parliament to be holden which by the last peace he had promised thinking and certainly perswading himself that not any one in his Realme but loued rather to entertain a sworne and solemne peace then to seeke the continuance of warres the ouerthrowe of Townes and the desolation of the people or that the Rutter should once againe return to sucke the blood gnawe the bones and eate the marrowe of their childrē At the first assembly of the Parliament An Oration of Henry the third at the Parliament in Blois and after he had saluted welcommed all the Estates with a most heroyicall and Princely grace he made an Oration vnto them concerning the miseries and afflictions of his Realme and the hope he had that so great an assembly beeing the very quintessence of the finest wits in al France wold prouide some remedie therin shewing that the minoritie of himselfe his brother at the beginning of those ciuill wars was reason sufficient why they should not be esteemed or once thought to bee the causes therof commending the wisdome of his mother touching the gouernment of the Realme protesting that for his own part he had no other care desire nor intent then only to procure the rest welfare of his subiects whose miseries he wold be alwaies readie to relieu with the price of his dearest blood The Crowne of France layde to pawne for 100. millions of gold charging al the assembly to ayde assist him therein to deuise the means to release his Crowne at that time pawned for aboue the sum of 100. millions of golde to vnite themselues togither thereby to puck vp the seeds of partialities to reforme abuses and to restore iustice to herintegritie and to reduce it into the pristinate holinesse splendure That don Pierre d'Epinac Archbishop of Lyons rose vp and before them al declared his reasons touching the Clargie The Lord of Senscey with a militarie franke true French tongue spake for the Nobilitie and Versoris for the common The two first by a multitude of reasons and wonderfull speeches concluded that it was most fit and conuenient that there should bee but one religion in the Realme The third shewed that the people wholly desired the revnion thereof so it might bee done by peaceable and quiet meanes without warres But the Cleargie and Nobilitie after many difficulties caused the Parliament to breake vp so that vnder the ashes of the last warres which as yet were hotte there might be found the sparkes of a great fire For after many messages although in vaine sent by the king to the Protestant Princes Protestation of the Prince of Conde in Ann. 1577. vnder which was placed Deo victricibus armis the warre beganne againe For the Prince of Conde rose vppe in armes and swore not to leaue them vntill he had brought the realme into her pristinate splendure and dignitie restored libertie to the Estates eased the poore people of insupportable tributes inuēted by the Italians deliuered the Frenchmen from the seruitude tyrannicall infamie whervnto they were subiected not onely by their owne carelessenesse and disvnion but by artificiall practises of such as would rayse the foundations of their greatnesse with the blood of the true Princes of France and of the Nobilitie to the great disaduantage and ouerthrow of the auncient lawes and customes of the realme Wherevppon the king hauing enterprised those warres the rather because his Estates shewed him the reasons VVarre beganne about Easter 1577 necessities and commodities although of his owne nature he rather desired not to haue broken the peace but onely to abridge it of certaine particular articles by the Huguenots esteemed most aduantage for them caused two great armies to be leuied wherof Monsieur was Generall of the one that marched towards la Charite and Issoire and the Duke Demain commaunding
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
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
filthinesse of thy vilany nor wood ynough to burne the Registers and memories of this sedition But can we speake of the Barricadoes without remembring this incomprehensible motions of Gods prouidence which doth equally shine and appeare as wel in the establishing as pulling down of Empires dealetha swel with their fall as with their continuance And who will not say Read a notable discourse vppon this matter in the 2. Booke intituled the constancy and consolation of publicque calamities Henry the third a most religious Prince He led rather the life of a Monke then of a K. He hated the Huguenots that this great motion the spring of all the miseries ensuing was not a blowe of the hand of the inscrutable wisedome of God to punish the king and his Realm Hee that would debate this proposition by the circumstances of the kings person needeth not to seeke the causes thereof neither in the East nor in the West but onely to ground them vppon the eternall wheele of Gods iudgements What apparance was there for subiects to arme themselues and reuolt against a king what pretence could bee so close but in the end it would open and bee discouered The cause of religion which is one of the most violent passions of the people and the most assured meanes to alter an estate was so cleare and pure in him that many iudged his life to bee religious blamed his actions which was fitter for an Hermite then a Prince He kept more in a Monasterie then with his Councell he spake oftner with Iesuites Capucins and Fueillantins then to his Secretaries He detested nothing more then Huguenots and there was not any Huguenot in France that had receiued any commaundement at his hands he was more spoken and disliked of among them then any of the house of Lorraine they beheld him not but as the commet of their miseries and neuer remembred him but when they spake of S. Bartholomewes day that which they had indured at the hands of the duke of Guise was but roses in respect of that they had suffered at Iarnac And the Huguenots declared his life Moncontour Rochel and Parris in such manner that it were an extream absurditie to beleeue that he fauoured Hereticques and that hee would ouerthrow that religion whereof hee made so open profession He was assisted by the Princes of his house Therefore hee had no cause to feare any thing to bee done against him by the Catholicques and yet those are they that in the Capital Towne of his Realms Barricadoed themselues against him He had all the Princes of the blood for the defence of his Crowne for when the King of Nauarre for the libertie of his conscience had taken armes it was no longer but while they would constraine him and breake the decrees of peace that permitted him to bee free of conscience not to oppose himselfe against the Monarchie nor to an Anarchicall confusion of this estate The rest of the Princes that knew well that the reasons of the league were not so much to reforme the Realme as to ouerthrow it and therewith to bring them within the compasse of those ruines held themselues near vnto his Maiestie all the Nobilitie of France at the least nine of ten partes more particularly bound vnto his seruice for their honours dignities offices and benefiâ—s as also the iustices of the Realme not beeing of the minde to accomodate themselues to the humors of the Princes of the league and esteemed the essentiall forme thereof to be opposite and an ouerthrowing to the estate The GentlemeÌ„ of France foreseeing that the royaltie cannot be ouerthrown but that the Nobilitie must likewise beare the same burthen and that the subiect that refuse the obedience and faieltie of his Prince will not bee long before hee seeketh to free himselfe of the rents and reuenues hee oweth vnto the Lord of the soyle The greatest persons of the Cleargie consented not to those new mutinies acknowledging that their profession is more honoured and beautified vnder a King The chiefe of the Cleargie then by the confusions of a democration estate The king likewise had named and chosen them at his pleasure so that the obligation of his fauour retained them in his seruice Learned men published his prayses and in his raigne there were more bookes printed and dedicated to his Maiestie Learned meÌ„ then in the raigne of the great King Francis and his successors although most iustly hee was named the father and restorer of learning Some Preacher onely flattered sedition thereby to winne estimation among the commoÌ„ people desirous of a change In all the towns throughout euery Prouince there were officers who besides their naturall subiection were more bound to him by oath that he had taken of them giuing them charge of his treasures the power of his lawes and administration of his iustice with the order of pollicie they desired nothing more then the greatnesse of their King his rest and quietnesse beeing their onely preferment for that without libertie and peaceablenesse with his long life and prosperitie their offices were of little force as hauing exposed their fortunes to the hazard of the terme of his life I And yet he was not well assured in Parris n such manner that his Maiestie had not any thing more at his commaundement then men of that quallitie that only feared the perill of his holy and sacred person and the changing of this Monarchie Who would then beleeue that a king yea and a king of France in the middle of so many assurances in the brauest time of his raigne in the Capitall Cittie of his Kingdome among so many Princes Knights of the Order in the face of a Parliament the thunder against sedition and colonie of iustice and royaltie hauing in his power the Bastille and the Arsenal at his deuotion the Prouost of Merchants the Sheriffes and the Colonnelles and sixe thousand men of warre placed in the streetes and quarters of the Towne where hee desired should bee besieged in his Pallace of Louure by a people whom hee had so much cherished and inriched with the spoyles of his other subiects and by himselfe stirred vp vnder the false alarme of a Garrison sacking and spoyling constrained to saue himselfe by flight from the furie of his mutinous subiects Incluctabilis fatorum vis cuius fortunaÌ„ mutare constituit consilia corrumpit Velleius lib. 2. de Caesar es varo And can wee that haue seene and beheld it remember it without considering that the eternall power of him that ruleth all the world made the Spirits iudgements counselles and conductions of those that might diuert the mischiefes proper and fit to aduance them and suffered them to take effect to shewe his wrath striking the head to make members languish O fatall and once againe accursed day of Barricadoes the birth day of our miseries and funeralles of our ioys that vnloosed the windes to those stormes of blood
assooâ—â— as he came he ought to haue spoken vnto him like a king Francis the second his brother Francis the second cast the Prince of Conde into prison beeing younger then hee vsed the like speech to the Princes of his blood if he had commanded him to depart without doubt he had gone because as theÌ„ he would not haue begunne his tragedie and thereby haue borne the report of so manifest disobedience And in truth assoone as the king spake vnto him and said Cousin wherefore do you come his aunswere was giuen in faintnesse and trembling his visage pale and the Maiestie that God imprinteth in his Samoris his Lieftenants and his liuely Images ceased and changed as if from that time he had feared that the king would dislike the breach that hee had made of his commaundement and say And it liketh your grace I am heere present to aunswere to the slaunders that are raised against mee thereby to bring me in hatred to your Maiestie But said the king I sent you expresse word not to come hither in this time so full of troubles and distrusts and that you should stay for a time My Lord said the Duke I was not so aduertised The Indians call their kings Samories that is to say god on earth Speeches betweene the King and the Duke of Guise at Louure that thereby I did in any sort beleeue that my comming hither would bee offensiue to your Grace Wherevpon the king turning to Monsieur de Bellieure asked him and said Did not I commaund you to tell him that he should not come hither at this time But as Monsieur de Bellieure began to certifie the king of his message the Duke of Guise entered between them wherewith the Queene-mother drewe the king aside and so mittigated that first quarrell They ought not to haue mooued this contention and leaue dispight and disdaine in Monsieur de Guises minde nor leaue the knife in the vaine which hee had opened hee ought to haue giuen feare and punishment both at one time or to haue done neither the one nor the other but it is a most strange thing that men do alwaies faile in doing their authorities and in the principall poynt which is the cause thereof It was vainly done of the king to cause himselfe to be esteemed a good penitent a good Hermit a good versefier a good discourser and a good Orator if hee remembred not himselfe to bee as hee was and to bee knowne for king and speake like a king I say like a king for this word of King containeth all whatsoeuer belongeth to his charge Senec. Epist 77. Id in quoque optimum est cui cascitur cui con setur Maximoimperio maxima cura in est Sallu Hee ought to haue spoken to the Duke of Guise like a king and haue made him depart out of Parris with his adherents and hee ought to haue stayed therein like a king for if his actions bee not performed like a king they are of no account Euery thing saith Seneca is commended for that which is proper vnto it and for the principall part that giueth it the forme being A Vine is praised for the fertilitie the wine for the liquor the Hart for his swiftnesse In a dogge wee commend a good nose to smell finde out and follow the beast his lighnesse for running both to approach and assayle and his heart and courage And to conclude the speciall vtilitie proper vse of euery thing belongeth to it selfe The Kings of the Sabans publikely durst not come abroad because of an oracle that forbad them The shippe is called good not because shee is painted with diuers faire and costly colours his stearne all gilt her boords inlaide with Iuorie or that it is laden with treasures and Princely riches but because the seames of the plankes are well closed and calked that it leaketh not that it is strong and firme against the force of the waues easie to stirre and swift of sayle Likewise you will not saye that a sword is good because the hilts and handle are gilt and the sheath of veluet set with precious stones but you say it is good if it hath a good edge and the poynt sharpe to enter well So the king should not make himselfe knowne by the Crowne and Scepter which hee beareth but by the actions that depend vppon his royaltie and that make him to bee esteemed for a king alwaies remembring that great offices require great wisdome Among the carters and waggoners hee is esteemed most vnfit for the charge that knoweth not how to behaue himselfe therein If your grace will take away the pendants that trouble your eares you are a king and not king of Denmarke or of Arragon to be both Maister and seruant all at one time nor king of Saba not daring to be seene publickely but king of France and of Frenchmen a people gentle tractable and obedient that did not disobey nor retire from you but when they knew you wold not bee King and that there was one of your subiects that prescribed you a lawe in this case the sun rising is alwaies fairer then descending And as a wise polititian once said vnto you when a king maketh it knowne that he feareth some one man within his Realme that there is one that may be greater then hee there is no more Maiestie hee is no more that hee was but all the world runneth to the other The nature of Henry the third If wee cannot bee free yet will wee haue but one Maister if that Maister haue an other Maister aboue him wee presently leaue the first to runne to the last it is the nature of man There is this fault in you that if you finde no resistance if you bee in peace you commaund absolutely and you speake like a king but if you finde neuer so small difficultie you alwaies preferre a gentle and fearefull before a bolde and seuere remedie God graunt that in the end you seeke earnestly and effectually to be that which you are that is Maister and the greatest Lord in your Realme which cannot bee if you bee not king Beholde the opinion that the wisest Pollititians had of the king see how they lamented the fal of his authoritie the spawn of his forces the dazeling or rather astonishing of his sences I shall neuer bee no more a king to counsell nor disswade him my ambition clymeth not to that degree yet I will neuer counsell them vnto mildnesse and to simplicitie without wisedome that pardoneth and suffereth all There is nothing so royal as Clemencie and nothing that more winneth the hearts of men or that maketh a Prince more reuerenced and beloued then affable and courteous nature Antonius surnamed the curteous It is that said the Emperour Antonius to Faustina his wife that placed Iulius Caezar among the number of the Gods that consecrated Augustus and that gaue the title of Pius to thy father But when
Archbishop of Lyons of Bourgongne Reinold Earle of Forest Peter of Tarentaise that after was Pope of Rome Henry and Lewis Eales of Villars Montluel Charles d'Alencon Ame Iohn and Hugh de Talaru two Charles de Bourbon Cardinals Andre Cardinal of Espinac Francis de Rouen sonne of a Marshall of France Anthony of the auncient house of the Earles of Albon that were Dauphins de Viennois and Earles of Auuergne Peeces of money quoyned by the Archbishop of Lions with this deuise on the one side Prima sedes And on the other Galiarum And in trueth it is the principall sea of France the most famous and most auncient and in times past the Archbishop had a priuiledge to quoyne mony there are yet certaine peeces of mony to bee seene with their stampe and in the time that the kings of Bourgongne had that authoritie ouer the sea which the kings of France now haue the Archbishoppes were the first and most worthie instruments of their kings Councell Frideric Barbarousse in the time of Lewis le Ieune amplified their priuiledges by his letters writing to the Exarches or Lieftenants or chiefe Councellours of his Pallace of Bourgongne because that part of the Realm of Bourgongne that lyeth on this side the Mont Iura was as then Emperour of Rome The king seeking to withdrawe the Archbishoppe of Lyons out of the league promised him the custodie of the seale of France made him one of his priuie Councell before beeing onely of the Councell of estate recommended him vnto Pope Sixtus the fift and made him beleeue that the Lord of Gondy was sent expresly to fetch him the Cardinals Hat The Kings fauours shewed to the chiefe of the League Hee continued his fauours hee renued and amplified them to all those that had any credit in the League thinking that by the signes of his good fauour those Salmonees that would counterfeit Iupiters thunderboults would acknowledge and withdrawe themselues out of the confusion of their pretences Hee did nothing without them hee disclosed his secrets vnto them thrust his soule into the deepest part of their passions yea and seemed to bee as much mooued as they to the aduancement of treaties most liberally thrusting all his fauours and authorities vpon them and their participants so that there was none of them how farre soeuer in degree among them The Cardinall of Bourbon declared to be chiefe Prince of the blood See the treatise of Ianuary 1589. but felt some part of his benignitie He proclaimed the Cardinall of Bourbon to be the first Prince of the blood royall that is hee ratified the first Article of Ginuille made in Anno. 1585. which was wholly to exclude the king of Nauarre from the Crowne and auoyded that great disputation and argument of the Vncle and the Nephew so much written and disputed of both with tooth nayle thereby to trouble the auncient order of the succession and make the good Cardinal of Bourbon to serue the League on both sides This poynt deserueth some small view of their processe Those that sustaine the right and title of the Cardinall alleadged all these reasons first that the lawe of the Realme or the Salicque law that referreth the succession to the heires Masles referreth also the prerogatiue to raine to enjoy the Crowne to the next of the blood to the king that dieth without children Francis de Valois Duke of Alencon died with this prerogatiue of first Prince of the blood and first of the succession at his decease had no nearer kinsman theÌ„ the Cardinal of Bourbon that was in the tenth degree of consanguinitie from him by consequent succeeded in the prerogatiue of the Duke of Aniou as one cannot be heire to a man if he be not his heire by law so hee ought to haue that quallitie at his death at the which time the hope of succession was ioyned therevnto And as the succession inheritance of the Realm permitteth but one onely heire so this prerogatiue permitteth but one lawfull heire Quoniam sororem c. De iure de lib. This right of prerogatiue neuer rested but in the person of one of the Princes of Valois by the priuiledge of first begotten those of the house of Bourbon neuer had it because they could not represent the chiefe branch of a house from whence it did not issue the colaterall ingendring not the colaterall In such manner that Anthony de Bourbon although he had all the right of the house of Bourbon hauing not nor by any means would haue the right of elder the auncienter house beeing Valios yet liuing could not obtaine the prerogatiue of the first Prince or any hope to attaine vnto it nor yet to transferre it to Henry his sonne To say it commeth to the house of Bourban there beeing no other familie of the Masses but that house liuing and by consequent to him that hath all the preheminence of the right therein by vertue of succession and so to Henry sonne of Anthony as beeing the head of that house and representing his father eldest and first Prince of all that familie it is most certaine that this prerogatiue did not fall from the person of Francis Duke of Aniou Jus suitatis Eghinar din â—ita caroli to the familie of Bourbon for if it were so it would follow that all the Princes of that house should succeed in the same prerogatiue and that he which dieth should cease the whole reuenue of that familie and not the nearest So you cannot say that Anthony king of Nauarre being descended of the eldest house the right falleth to him seeing it is a thing cleare and without difficultie that the familie of the eldest is preferred before the familie of the youngest for in colaterall successors they consider the nearnesse of the Parents to the last that died ceased and the nearest in degree alwaies excludeth him that is further distant in Consanguinitie so Charlemaine comforming himselfe to the lawe of the Realme after the death of Charles his eldest sonne and Pepin the youngest iudged the Crown to Lewis his middle sonne that after was called le Debonnaire as brother and next heire to Charles his eldest sonne and not to Bernard sonne to Pepin the youngest sonne that was but in the second degree vnto him although in paternall inheritance he represented the person of his father Like case the prerogatiue that Francis Duke of Aniou had fell and proceeded to the Cardinall of Bourbon not because hee is of the house of Bourbon but next kin to the Duke of Aniou because hee descendeth of the Capets and of the blood royall of Hugh Capet And as the house of Bourbon at this day is reputed to haue this right because the said Cardinall of Bourbon that is issued from the same obtained it so if the said Cardinall were issued out of an other house so it were royall the familie of Bourbon should not be admitted to this prerogatiue but that from
King that it would bee necessary for him to make peace within his Realme and to reuenge that iniurie to driue away the Goate that eateth the colewoorths while the Good-man is fighting with his wife to chase the wolfe that assayleth the sheepfolde while the Sheepheards are quarrelling togither For so the Romanes agreed togither when they perceiued the enemie before their Capitoll so the Spaniards left of their mutenie when they beheld the white crosse before Fontarabie so the Frenchmen appeased their debates to ioyne togither for the driuing of the Englishmen out of Normandie They tolde the King it would bee accounted a poynt of great cowardise in them if they should seeme to bee offended thereat if they should indure the pride and ambition of their so weake an enemie if they should suffer the Crowne of France to bee dismembred specially the places which are particularly allotted vnto the eldest sonne of the King The king is resolued to folow strange wars and to pacifie ciuil broyles To suffer that a meane Prince should in a brauado take away from a King of France that little plot that rested vnto him of the territories of Italie togither with foure hundreth peeces of Cannon-shotte the Frontiertowne of France lying beyond the Mountaines that place that was able to withstand the most proude forces of the Spaniards which onely rested vnto vs as an assured pawne therewith in short space to recouer againe the countries of Naples and Milan The King beeing in flamed with iust greefe was fully mooued at this tyranny and iudged this branch of mischiefe to spring out from the bodie of the coniurations of the League for the which cause he said hee would make peace with the Huguenot to serue himselfe by their means against such as sought to pull off his cloathes before he ment to go to bedde minding to quit himselfe from the rule of such as like maiors of the Pallace sougt nothing but his subiection vnto their passions The Duke of Guise excuseth himselfe The Duke of Guise perceiuing that all the assembly the whole Parliament all the kings seruants iudged this inuation to be done by his means and to bee the onely effect of the League and that it bred hatred and repentance in the hearts of those that esteemed his proceedings to bee most iust he besought the king not to bee mooued thereat assuring him that assoone as his Maiestie should haue quenched the fire which the Huguenots had begun to kindle within his realm he would be one of the first that should passe the Mountaines to make his forraine enemies yeeld their praye desiring his Maiestie to giue him that commission but first he said hee ought to assure his people of that hee had promised them by oath touching the holy vnion and the good resolution of the Parliament The king that could not well disiest this aduise receiuing it as from the heart of him that had giuen the spirit motion to the mischiefe by his continuall practises with straungers perceiuing that neither his Edict of vnion nor yet the obligation of the oath which he had taken concerning religion of all the Princes of the League to make them depart and leaue their secret associations as well within as without the Realme had not wrought that effect which hee expected hee determined from that time forward to bee reuenged of all forepassed offences perswading himselfe not to bee bound to obserue the Edict of vnion seeing the League had first begunne to breake it consenting to the pernicious intents of strangers Reade the wars of Geneua in the booke following not withdrawing themselues from the mutuall intelligences it had with him but in the meane time while hee dissembled his displeasure against the Duke of Cuise hee vsed another meanes against the Duke of Sauoy which I will shewe heereafter That the king of Nauarre was not much greeued at the iniurie which a meane Duke had done vnto a mightie king it is not to bee doubted yet he reioyced thereat being in hope of some good fortune that might thereby ensue and that it would be occasions to end the diuisions partiallities within the Realme of France At such time as this new trouble sprang vp among the assembly at Blois hee was in Rochel where hee called an other assembly of the Churches of his religion seeing the artificiall deuises of the League had shut the gate against him where hee ought to holde the principall place as the first Prince and chiefe Magistrate of France An assembly at Rochel This assembly began the fourteenth day of Nouember in the Town-house of Rochel the King of Nauarre beeing present assisted by Moniseur de Turenne Monsieur de Trimouille and other Gentlemen of his house and Councell as in a manner there is not any Prouince in France wherein this religion hath not purchased some acres of land and by that meanes there were Deputies from all places By whose aduise and resolution sprang the request presented vnto the States at Blois The Protestants demaundeth a Councell vnder the name and title of the Frenchmen exiled for the religion beseeching the king to restore them vnto the libertie of the first Edict which from the name of the moneth wherein it was published was called the edict of Ianuary to ordaine that a national Councell might be assembled where the Doctors on both parts with good securitie in presence of his Maiestie and all the assembly might peaceably debatetheir differences and holily decide and resolue vpon the same to graunt them the free libertie of possessing their goods for supplying their necessities to permit the registring of their supplication together with the consenting therevnto by his Maiesties pleasure to the end that nothing might bee done in that assembly to preiudice them This petition was badly framed at that time as beeing wholly contrary to the principall intent of that assembly which beeing for the most part composed of men chosen and purposely taken out from among the most passionate aduancers of the League desire rather to destroy then instruct such as had strayed aside and sooner to drowne then to wash the infected And therefore not beeing satisfied with the Edict of vnion the right destruction of the Protestants they ceased not vntill both from the king himselfe and all the assembly they had procured a declaratiō of the perpetual disabilitie of the king of Nauarre to the succession of the Crowne Yet their artificiall poysons do not so fully infect all the body of that assembly and their mindes were not in such manner tyed vnto the opinions of the League but that there were some persons both of dignitie reputation that would not permit that the means should bee taken from the king to revnite his subiects in one religion seeing that the intent of the Parliament ought onely to tend vnto a publike peace and therefore they counselled him to procure a lawfull Councell against this schisme of conscience
Ecclesiasticall persons opened their intent vnto the Nobilitie and the rest of the estates who altogither entered into conference touching the waightinesse of that action and conforming themselues vnto the first aduise of the Cleargie they appoynted twelue of each degree to giue the King intelligence of their determination and the Archbishoppe of Ambrun in the name of all the estates opened it to the King But his M. remeÌ„bring that the king of N. had often shew'd him that he had bin born bred vp in that form of religion that in conscience he could not leaue it without instruction that if he did it in hope or dispaire of enioying a kingdome hee should thereby reape the blasone of inconstancie infidelitie and hypocrisie thereby not to make himselfe capable to be a king but rather vnworthie for the place that hee was readie and alwaies will be to bee instructed by a free and lawfull Councell and to leaue his error truth being made known vnto him found this proposition very strange and passionate wherwith he rested wholly vnresolued Such as preferre the hopes and right of succession in this Prince shewed him that the submission he had made The king of Nauarre in hope of a Crowne wilt not be instructed A discourse taken out of an answere made by the king of Nauarre The Edict of the libertie of conscience in an 15â—1 which he still continued to make during these troubles are full of iustice all good consideration because he doth not willingly defend any thing but that only which honor zeale of conscience forceth him vnto that the law of this Realm depriueth not a child of a direct or collaterall succession because of religion why then should it depriue a Prince The law admitteth all persons indifferently into any office why shuld it not do the like in an estate The law permitteth euery man the exercise of his religion excludeth no man why then shuld the Prince be debarred from this priuiledge and the Prince that maketh it why shuld he be burt hened in his conscience in the thing specially that toucheth him most neare it being he that giueth libertie vnto others I say the law of this estate for it is the law whereby we liue in peace that is to restore this estate vnto her first being thereby to withdraw it from continuall miserie A law made determined at the Parliament holden in Orleans not a forced Parliament not suspicious not leagued by the deuises and subtill practises of such as at this day trouble the Realme of France and which is more a Parliament summoned by themselues in the time of their greatest credite and namely at their instance which from that time hitherto wee neuer desired to infringe vntill we were constrained to enter into ciuill warres and when I speake of ciuill warres vnder that word I thinke may well comprehend all sorts of calamities and confusions a lawe that is very iust as beeing most necessary a lawe which at this Parliament is not allowed for that the reuocation thereof is our destruction a law iudged a lawe sworne vnto by all the Princes Gouernours Lieftenants Councellours Courts of Parliament Presidents Townes and communalties of this Realme and by those namely who at this day would protest against it And yet hee remitteth mitteth the deciding of the cause of religion to a free Councell and til then no man in this estate can bee esteemed or holden an hereticque and whosoeuer submitteth himselfe vnto it by all right cannot bee said or reputed for an obstinate or schismatic que person The king wold they should summon the King of Nauarre The King prouoked by these reasons thought it vnreasonable to condemne the king of Nauarre before hee aunswered for himselfe and therefore made aunswere vnto the Lords and other Deputies that it should by to see if that were good and expedient to summon him once againe to sweare vnto the Edict of vnion and so to declare himselfe a Catholicque The League would not heare of that aduise This aunswere made by the King was shewed vnto the estates and by them a collection was made of all the means that had the king of Nauarre vnto the Church the absolution which the Cardinall of Bourbon his vncle had obtained for him his Relaps into his errors that he had abiured the voyages made by the Queene-mother to seeke to win him the Doctors whom the king himselfe desirous of his conuersion and his good had sent vnto him and the excommunication pronounced against him in the Consistorie of Rome They set downe the paines due vnto hereticques as also to such as are relapsed they accused this Prince to bee both the one and the other nourished and brought vp from his infancie in that new and erronious opinion and that beeing such a person hee was not woorthie eytherof respect or obedience no not of so much honour as once to bee saluted that they might not communicate with him by any meanes that there is an eminent daunger of the losse of religion and that it would bee put in great hazard if once they should acknowledge him for their king who both by his power and example might easily compel his subiects to yeelde to his religion finding nothing more assured nor certaine in all auncient Histories then the decay and ruine of religion when the chiefe Magistrate sought not to preserue it in all puritie Hereticum ho minem deuita Nee aue dixeritis illi 1. Tim. 3. Iohn 2. They said the King of Nauarre held the same opinon that had alreadie beene condemned in the Councell of Trent and by other Councelles that hee perseuered therein and that hauing oncereiected it hee receiued it againe and thereby constrained the holy Sea of of Rome to declare him a Relaps excommunicated and vncapable of the succession of this Realme concluding thereby that hee ought by that assembly to bee declared such a person and to leaue this lawe for a perpetuall memorie vnto the Realme of France that an hereticque may not enioy the Crowne of France and that it is a thing wholly against his sacrying and the oath which at his coronation hee should make but much more preiudiciall vnto the honour of God and the good and quietnesse of this estate The lawe to heare such as are accursed is not ciuill and particular nor obserued in one or two Common-wealths it is a lawe drawne from nature it selfe and the common consent of all nations practised by those who for their guide haue had a true and perpetuall reason in all their actions and it seemeth that God himselfe to whom all the secrets of mens consciences are open that knoweth all things that hath no need of humane witnesses nor yet to follow the order or manner of a Parliament would not pronounce his definitiue sentence against the ingratitude felony disloyaltie pride and presumption of the first man Adam before hee had called him to iudgement examined confirmed
the Switzers armie ranged in battell and would needs passe through all the squadrons with so great demonstration of contentment ioy and entertainment to the heads as that all of them likewise made manifest vnto him the great affection they had to do him seruice Hauing all his forces togither which made a bodie of 45000. men he marched presently towards Parris and with shot of cannon made himselfe Maister of S. Clouis bridge Attempts by the heads of the League against the kings life The Duke de Maine other heads of the league with their most confident friends to the number of 46. within Parris beganne to renue their concels and seeing the king so neare them either to vrge them to battell or else straightly to inclose them and constrained the people to acknowledge him iudged by that in this progression of the kings affaires their own went to ruine and that there was no other means left to stād out being proclaimed guiltie of high treason against their chiefest head then by executing some notable villanie in procuring the death of the King their Maister Benefactor their Prince and soueraigne Lord. Some certaine weekes before a young Iacobine Monke called Fryer Iaques Clement borne as men report in a village called Sorbonne neare Seins a man drowned in all wickednesse hauing passed through the handes of certaine confessors and conferred with some Iesuites others was for a kind of dexteritie obserued in him found meete to strike so great a stroke The murther entended of long time He was vrged and put forward therein and in the end the Duke de Mayene the sister of Montpensieur and others had conference with him in diuers places they requested him to perseuer in this good determinatiō which they knew to rise in him by extraordinarie inspiratiōs to performe so renowmed a feruice to the holy vnion the Catholicque Church and his countrie They promised him Abbotships Bishoppricks whatsoeuer he would desire He remained for certain daies one whiles with the Duches Montp Who amōgst the Parisiās was termed the holy widow other whiles with his Prior sometimes with the Iesuites This Monke drunk in his own furie with so many aluremēts entertainmēts promises protestations of felicitie tēporal eternal resolued with himselfe and promised to kill the king The people who thought nothing nor knew not of their cruel practises talked of yeelding themselues had greatly rebated their spleene and collor Surce Duke de Maine and those of this complot caused the most zealous Sorbonnists Iesuites to preach that they should yet haue patience for seuen or eight daies they should perceiue some wonderfull matter come to passe that should make well with the vnion The Preachers of Roan Orleans and Amiens preached the like at the same time and in semblable termes The Moonke hauing taken order for his complot departed from Paris went towards S. Clou. So soone as hee was departed the Duke de Maine caused more then two hundreth of the principallest Cittizens and other rich men whom he knew to haue friends and credite with the kings partie to be taken prisoners for a gage to the end to saue his Moonke if after hee had attempted or executed the fact he were stayed or arrested The Monke being presented to speak to the king the first day of August saying that he had letters from the President of Harlay and credence on his part the king caused him to be called into his chamber where there was no other but the L. of Bellegarde chiefe Gentleman of the same and the Procuror general whom he procured to retire apart more priuately to giue eare vnto him which addressed himself as it seemed with a countenance very simple demure It is affirmed that in the selfe same chamber the Councels of the massacres in the month of August the year 1572. were surprised wherin the king that then was D. of Aniou was one of the chiefest The Moonk perceiuing himself alone opportunitie put into his hād cōfirming his countenāce more more drew out of one of sleeues a paper which he presented to the K. out of the other a knife with which violētly he sheathed a thrust within the kings smal ribs he being attentiue to read who perceiuing himself woūded plucked the knife out of the wound wherwith he strooke the Monke aboue the eie thervpō some Gentlemē came rūning in who moued with the indignitie of so execrable a fact could not contain but killed the murtherer with their swords who went to the place appointed for him was cannonized adored by the league but on the contrarie detested of those the cleaued to the dignitie royal partie of the religion In the annagratisme of his name Frier Iaques Clemēt were found these words in so many letters C'est l'enfer qui m'acreè which importeth It is hel the created or brought me forth For so it seemed that after this fact the furies themselues were come out of hel to ouerwhelme topsie turuie al France The King being caried to his bed the Phisitians and Surgions applied vnto him his first dressing and iudged that the wound was not mortal by means wherof the same day he procured writing and aduise to bee giuen of this attempt as also of the hope of his healing and recouerie as well to the Gouernours of Prouinces as to Princes straungers his friends and allies But the soueraigne King hauing otherwise disposed of the life of this Prince took him out of the world about 3. of the clock in the morning the day following A litle before his departure hee spoke with a moderate and confirmed mind named the King of Nauarre his good brother lawful successor to the Crowne exhorted his good subiects to obey him to remaine vnited and to referre the difference of religion to the conuocation of the Estates Obseruations vpon the life of king Hienry the third generall of the Realme who would thinke vpon conuenient remedies for the same to haue a care of religion and pietie and to pray to God for him vpon these words he gaue vp his ghost Touching the insolencies of the league within Parris and elsewhere after the kings death an other Historie shal declare the same for our intention is not to proceed any further in these collections In this Prince failed the Kings of the race of Valois which had raigned in France from the yeare 1515. to the yeare 1589. vnder their dominions almost all the wonders of former ages had been renued This last king was little bewailed of his subiects by reason of many faults he committed in his gouernment and administration The occasion of them without touching in any sort either his conscience or affaires of instice and pollicie was that in his polliticke gouernment hee could neuer well discerne except too late his friends from his enemies and the desire he had to lead his life in pleasure made him let slippe infinite exellent opportunities
chambers assembled hath declared and doth declare all acts decrees ordinances and oathes giuen made or readie to bee made since the 29. of December 1588. to the preiudice of the authoritie giuen to our kings and lawes of the Realme to be set and extorted by force and violence and as such we reuoke repeale and disanull them ordaining that they shall remaine abolished and of no force and especially that which hath beene made against the honour of the deceased king Henry the third as well those in his life time as since his death to be nothing forbidding al persons to speake of his memorie otherwise then wel or honourably And further wee ordaine that the detestable murther committed vpon his royall person shall bee informed and proceeded against extraordinarily against all such as shall be found guiltie therein And the saide Court hath reuoked and doth reuoke the power heretofore graunted to the Duke de Maine vnder the title of the Lieftenant generall of the estate and Crowne of France Forbidding al persons of what estate or condition soeuer they be to acknowledge him by that title or to shewe him any obeysance fauour comfort or ayde on paine to bee punished as guiltie of treason in the highest degree And on the same paine inioyneth the said Duke de Maine and other Princes of the house of Lorraine to acknowledge king Henry the fourth of that name King of France and Nauarre for their king and soueraigne Lorde and to giue vnto him such seruice and obedience as to him is due And that all other Princes Lords Townes Communalties and particularities shall giue ouer the pretended part of the League whereof the Duke de Maine was made chiefe and to render vnto the King all obedience and fidelitie on paine to haue the said Princes Lords and Gentlemen to bee disgraded of their Nobilitie and to bee declared outlawes both them and their posteritie with the confiscation of bodie and goodes racing and destroying of their Townes castles and manners which shall bee disobedient to the commandement and pleasure of the king And this Court hath broken and repealed and by this present do breake and repeale all that which hath beene done inacted and ordained by the pretended Deputies of the assembly held in this Citie of Paris vnder the name of the generall estates of this kingdome as of no effect or force beeing made by priuate persons who were for the most part practisers with the factious sort of the Realm and partakers with the Spaniards hauing no lawful power or authoritie Forbidding also the said pretended Deputies from henceforth neuer to take the like vpon them againe and no more to make assemblies either in this Citie or any other on paine to bee punished as disturbers of the publicke peace and guiltie of treason toward his Maiestie And wee enioyne all these pretended Deputies which are at this present within the Citie of Paris to depart each one to his owne house there to liue as subiects vnder the kings lawes and to bee sworne to their fidelitie before the iudges and Magistrates of those parts It is also ordained and by these presents were doo ordaine that all processions and solemnities tollerared during these troubles all occasions of them shall cease and in steade of them the two and twentieth day of March shall bee for euer solemnized on the which day generall processions shall bee made after the accustomed manner assisted by the said Court of Parliament in their scarlet robes in remembrance of the most happy deliuerance of this Cittie on that day from all her miseries and the bringing thereof vnder the kings obedience with thanksgiuing vnto God for the same At the same time the king published a declaration wherein all the shifts and deceits of the Captaines of the league were discouered and his loue and great good will toward the Parisians to whom hee forgaue all matters past restored all their customes and priuiledges obtained new fauors and shewed a most fatherly affection towarde them which was most pleasing to the people which drew many other townes from the league to humble themselues to his highnesse Three weekes after the Rector of the Vniuersitie the Deane and the Doctors of Sorbonne the Deanes and Doctors of other faculties in briefe all the members officers and substitudes of the Vniuersities of their owne minde assembled went all to humble themselues to the king which was then in the Chappell of Bourbon where they all fell prostrate on the ground before him acknowledging him their onely true and naturall Prince shewing with a most heartie affection well witnessing their loue that they were readie to take what oath it pleased him to confirme them to his subiection hee receiued them and with great benignitie sent them away The moneths of April and May were spent in receiuing and answering supplications from the Townes and Commons in diuers Prouinces and in drawing Lordes Gentlemen Captains and other principall members of the league vnder the kings subiection who pardoned all in such sort that the League resembled Isopes Choffe Warre in Picardy against the league There remained some Townes in Picardie which were solde through the meanes of the most factious of that part The king besieged Laon and certaine other Townes which the Spaniards assayed to warrant and keepe But their succours hauing been ouerthrowne in diuers incounters where they lost more then fiue hundreth men at last Laon yeelded to the king and so likewise the others Soissons and Fere excepted which were possest by the Duke of Maine and the Spaniardes who also at the same time became Maisters of Chapelle a little Towne in the Duchie of Thierasche The Duke of Maine ranne to Bruxelles for fresh supplies He receiued a good summe of mony but not sufficient to withstand the kings prosperous proceeding who then receiued into grace and fauour the Duke of Guise and his brother giuing since to the said Duke the gouernment of Prouence The Duke de Maine who could do nothing in Picardie hauing left good garrisons within Soissons hee closely trauelled into the Duchie of Bourgondy that hee might assure those places to himselfe which hee knew yet to hold for the league Now let vs turne againe to Paris where they beganne a new warre The Iesuites hauing in former times stood against sundrie purposes of the Vniuersitie whom they had set out in their colours shewing that this sect is the most execreable of al others by the helpe of such which had to do with those people for the executing of their great and most vnfortunate enterprises And in the end since the day of the Barricadoes had imperiously commaunded within Parris vsed infinit practises to aduance the Spaniards in France kindled the fire of sedition in all the principall towns in the kingdome defaming in their sermons and confessions the memorie of the deceased king and the Maiestie of him now raigning whose fame was by them spotted in the vildest manner they could deuise and
fatned by the confiscations of the goods of those of the religion and by borrowings neuer to be repayed hauing made offer of all that hee had to the house of Guise was receiued into their band The Constable sent home The Constable perceiuing that the king in open Parliament had declared that his meaning was that from thence foorth al men should haue recourse touching matters of estate the crowne and of his house vnto his two Vncles the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine and that by consequent his mortall enemie entered into his place and doing that which wholly apperteined to his offices of Constable and Great-Maister of France yea and in the presence of the Spaniards and other straungers who before had made so much account of him about eight daies after the kings death went to present himselfe vnto the king deliuering vppe the seales to him committed by King Henry and hauing been certified from the king that the charge of the treasures and other affaires concerning the estate were as then committed to the Cardinall and to the Duke of Guise the commandement of all things that belonged vnto the warres and that for his part the king permitted him leaue to depart and go vnto his house saying hee still retained him of his Councell and that whensoeuer hee would come vnto the Court hee should bee welcome he thāked the king for suffring him so to retire beseeching him that as touching his comming vnto the Councell his Maiestie would excuse him for two causes the one because hee could not serue vnder such men ouer whom he had alwaies commaunded the other for that beeing holden and accounted for an olde and simple man his counsell would not bee necessarie otherwise he offered both life and goods to serue the King Which done he went to see the Queene mother that handled him very rudely reproching him that he in presence of the king with smiling countenance should say that he had neuer a childe that in any thing resembled him but onely his bastard-daughter that married with the Marshall de Montmorency Yet for the loue of her deceased king and husband she said she was content to remit her owne particular quarrell for which if it pleased her she could haue caused him to loose his head yet she exhorted him not altogither to leaue the Court but to come thither sometimes He denied the accusation which she alledged touching her children affirming it to be false desiring her to haue in remembrance the many seruices by him done to her and to the Realme and not to regard the euill report of such as were his enemies that shuld not do him all the mischief which they pretended And so hauing taken his leaue and brought his maister vnto his Tombe he withdrew himselfe vnto his house The Princes of the blood scattered Touching the Princes of the blood the Prince of Conde was sent into Flanders there to confirme the peace to whom was deliuered a thousand Crownes to beare his charges The Prince of la Roche Suryon was sent thither likewise to beare the order of France vnto the king of Spaine and at his returne appointed with the Cardinal of Burbon to cōduct the Princesse Elizabeth into Spain The Parlimēts were appointed at the good pleasure of those of Guise The Cardinal de Turnō an old enimy to the Cōstable to al those of the religiō was repealed from Rome reestablished of the priuy councel The Kings Officers of his house chaunged part of the old officers of the kings house were discharged part sent home vnto their houses with half their pensions to giue place to others And to cōclude there staied not one in the Court that fauoured the Constable The Prouinces of the Realme and the frontier Townes were filled with Guisians and all Gouernours and men of warre commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the king himselfe All the Parliaments were aduertised Those of Guise haue charge of all that the Cardinall had the whole ordering and disposing of the treasures and of the estate The Queene Mother aduanced aboue all obtained the monies proceeding of the confirmation of Offices and the priuiledges of Townes and corporations whereof shee gaue a part to whome it pleased her although such summes ought not of right to be exacted vnlesse the Crowne fall into an other braunch First Edicts The first Edicts were made against such as bare Armes namely Pistols and Bastinadoes then against long Cloakes and great Hose It was a common saying in euery mans mouth that the Cardinall was a fearefull man if there were euer any in all the world hauing vnderstood by a certaine Magician in Rome that by enuie and then when he should be most in credit his enemies would cause him to be slaine with a Bastianado for that cause hee had procured that Edict being alwaies in great distrust euen at the time when all men were in most subiection to him Among so many affaires the 14. of Iuly Letters Pattents from the king confirmed the Commission vnto the Iudges appointed to proceed in iudgement against Anne du Bourg Proces against Anne de Bourg and other prisoners and foure other Councellours that were committed to prison Du Bourg stedfast in religion was hotly pursued Bertrand Cardinall and Archbishop of Siens beeing one of the principall wheeles of this criminall Chariot and the Cardinall of Lorraine the leader therof Those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be at the point of a more violent persecution by expresse Letters vnto the Queene besought her by her authoritie to commaund the leauing off to persecute them in such great rigor Shee promised the Prince of Conde Madame de Roy his mother in lawe and to the Admirall to cause the persecutions for to cease so they would leaue their assembling togither The Queen-mother promiseth to doo for those of the religion and that euery man wold liue according to his own conscience secretly and not to the hurt of others Shee had been most earnestly mooued by the letters of one named Villemadon that knew great part of his secrets putting her in minde of her great affection vnto pittie at such time as shee was barren exhorting her not to withdrawe the Princes of the blood from the mannaging of the affaires of the estate thereby to aduance and make Kings the house of Guise Those letters were written the 26. day of August and wrought with so great effect that from thenceforward for a certaine time the Queene seemed to hearken vnto the comfort and ease of those of the religion meane time those of Guise to make their gouernment seeme agreeable to al the people and to leese nothing in the kings name published letters of the reuocation of all alienations made Alienations made by king Henry reuoked as well for life as yeares beeing for recompences of any seruices past except those sales whereof the monies had beene imployed for the kings great vrgent
the end that in so great a presence they all might heare what aunswere hee would make Presently therevppon the companie was assembled in the great Hall of the Castle and in the kings owne presence where the Prince hauing recited the speeches by the king vsed vnto him and what therevpon had followed said that the person of the king excepted with those of the Princes his bretheren and the Queenes and with reuerence vnto them all those that had said and reported vnto the king that hee should bee the head and conductor of certaine seditous persons that were reported to haue conspired against the person of the king and his estate had fallely and wickedly lyed And that to prooue his innocency therin he would leaue his place dignitie of a Prince of the blood to fight with them and cause them with his sword or launce to confesse themselues to bee right villaines and that they themselues onely sought the ruine of the Estate name and blood royall for the conseruation whereof hee said hee would imploy both life and goods as hee had alwaies made good proofe as also for his interest to the Crowne and house of France the title whereof hee ought to procure with much more right then those that were his accusers summoning all the company that if among them there were any that had made the report or that once would seeme to maintaine it presently to shewe themselues wherevppon no man presenting himselfe he besought the king to esteeme him for an honest man and from thencefoorth not to bend his his eares vnto the secret tales of such flaunderous and bad persons but rather to reiect and bannish them from his presence as enemies both to him and publike peace which done he went out of the Councell to giue them leaue to consult But at a certaine signe made by the Cardinall the king brake vppe the assembly without asking their aduise where as then hee might haue made some alteration or disaduantage to those of Guise The Admirall sheweth himselfe a faithfull seruant to the king and the Realme The Queene-mother much troubled in these tempests yet according to the maner and custome of all the world seeking to holde on the strongest side sent the Admirall into Normandie to know the cause of their commissions desiring him most earnestly without dissembling to certifie her the truth thereof with promise not onely to acknowledge his trauels in that behalfe but to keepe it secret Hee executed his commission with all diligence and without feare of any man nor long after sent a Gentleman to the Queene with large and ample letters therein containing that those of Guise were the onely cause and true originall of all the troubles that happened in France because of their violent and vnlawfull government shewing the proofes thereof adding that the faithful subiects of the Crowne held for certaine that the calamities would neuer be ended as long as straungers gouerned the King and his Estate hee exhorted her therevppon to take the cause in hand and to giue ease and quietnesse to those of the religion causing the edicts that tended therevnto to be well and truly obserued Comfort to the prisoners for religion These aduertisements bred letters that were directed to al the Parliaments and other Iudges freely to release all such prisoners as were detained in their Prisons for the cause of religion the execution of which letters neuerthelesse were long performing an other thing likewise draue forward this wheele which was that cerraine prisoners at Blois and Tours for the enterprise of Amboise hauing found the meanes for to escape out of prison wrote a letter vnto the Cardinall partly in iest and partly full of threatnings that it should not be long before they would come to see him with all the rest that were not in his keeping and that had wholly determined to spoyle his person Hee beeing a man very fearefull for that time put water in his wine which caused the generall inlargement of diuers prisoners throughout all the Realme and it was spoken by diuers men that the Cardinal verified the ancient Prouerbe which is If you touch pitch you shall bee defiled therewith Letters in fauour of those of Guise Further those of Guise perceiuing themselues to bee assayled on all sides by diuers writings beeing as it were the forerunners of some new onset the last of March they caused certaine letters to bee dispatched to all the Parliaments Bailiffes and Stewards as also to straunge Princes wherein such as had beene present at the enterprise of Amboise namely the heads were accused of high treason both against God and man specially those of the religion and their Ministers were therin abused in diuers sorts to the which was added a number of great and large promises of reformation both in the Politicque and Ecclesiasticall Estate Answere to their letters To these letters a most ample and large answer was framed directed vnto the Parliament which painted out the house of Guise in all their colours requiring that they in open Parliament of all the Estates might yeeld account of their behauiour in the gouernment of the Estate The Parliament of Parris sent this answere by one of their Vshers vnto the Cardinal But that of Rouen seeking to doo more their deputies beeing sent vnto the king were constrained presently ro retire and could do nothing Letters vnto the king of Nauarre The ninth of Aprill letters were written and sent in the kings name vnto the K. of Nauarre to the same effect as those that were sent vnto the parliamēts being desired to cease vpō certaine persons that attended about his person accused to be of the enterprise of Amboise therin likewise was set downe the acculatiō imposed against the prince of Conde who for the same cause had iustified himselfe mean time a consultation was holden to cease vpon the person of the Prince of Conde which the Duke of Guise wholly seemed to dislike Hee on the other side sent his Secretarie vnto his brother to aduertise him what had past to aske his counsell and to write him answere thereof This beeing discouered to those of Guise they wrote a letter vnto the Prince full of excuses to the end hee should content himselfe which hee likewise sent vnto his brother that made him a plaine answere fearing to bee discouered Warres in Scotland mooued by those of Guise At that time those of Guise thought to trouble and ouerthrowe the Estate of Scotland which their sister the Queen Dowager and monsieur d'Oisel gouerned peaceably they hauing made the marriage betweene their Cousin and King Francis caused their Cousin to take vpon her the title of Queene of England and of Scotland onely vpon some vaine imaginations and not content therewith they sent certaine intelligencers into England there to mooue the people to fauour their Cousin and to bring the Q. of England in hatred with her subiects specially because of thereligion Their intent
The Admirall resolueth to goe into Normandy The Admirall on the other side receiued new promises and assurances of the Rutters and withful determination to fight marched vnto Iarqueau which as then was in his power and the tenth day after tooke Sully and the Castle by composition Touching the Duke de Guise beeing hard by Orleans it was resolued that the Admirall with the Rutters and some French Gentlemen should march towards Normandie thereby to constraine the enemie to separate his forces and to giue the Rutters mony that should be brought out of England leauing all the footemen with the rest of French horses ledde by Duras Bouchauanes Bussy Saint Cyre Auaret and others for the defence of the Towne vnder the gouernment of d'Andelot The good will of the Rutters towards those of the religion The Rutters at that time shewed themselues so voluntarie that they left their waggons at Orleans and caused their boyes to carry their necessaries vpon the waggon-horses whereof they made a Cornet of foure hundreth indifferent men The Duke de Guise on the other side tooke order for the defence of the Townes of Normandie and at the same time a thousand extortions were cōmitted against those of thereligion specially in Parris where diuers strange murthers were cōmitted There was likewise a declaration sent vnto the Rutters in the name of the King and all the Princes of the blood to cause them to leaue the Admirall But that serued to as much effect as the Queens letters to the Admirall that answered her in other sort thē they expected On the other side the Prince hauing sayled to escape out of prison and one that sought to helpe him beeing executed yet hee lost not courage but to the contrary spake with bolder courage then euer hee did his nature beeing such that in aduersitie he seemed most inuincible The Admirals voyage into Normandie The first of February the Admirall departed from Orleans with foure thousand horses better furnished then when he fought the battell but not any carriage only thirtie waggons lightly ladē The fourth of February he came before Eureux where the Inhabitants were cōtent to suffer him to march peaceably before the Towne the which passing through a straight hard by Bernay a smal Towne certaine Pesants conducted by a Gentleman of the countrie vnder colour of their great number sought to resist him But to theirs and others their likes costes and ouerthrowes who after the taking of Roanc had committed many outrages and at the Admiralles arriuall assembled themselues togither who hauing stayed certaine daies at Dines was desired by the Inhabitants of the Towne of Caen to ayde them against the Marquesse d'Elboeuf and a new knight of the Order named Renouart who with their troupes molested the Towns-men continually taking some of them prisoners The Admirall busied with other matters sent them Monsieur de Mouy not long before deliuered out of prison with his company and some Argolitiers and hauing receiued mony out of England Artillerie powder fiue companies of English and two of Frenchmen he battered the Castle of Caen vppon the first of March and the next day tooke that strong place by composition The Duke of Guise approached to Orleans But in the meane time let vs returne to the Duke de Guise that approached Orleans about the fift of February the next day with most resolution and by the faintnesse of the Lansquenets that forsooke the place hee wanne the Pertereau wherein they of the Towne left foure hundreth good French souldiers some taken the rest slaine and without the valiant resolution of the Gouernour and the Gentlemen that were in it they had receiued more hurt The ninth hee tooke the Tourelles by surprise and caused great quantitie of Artillerie to bee brought from Parris and Nantes to batter the Isle and the Towne they within shewing maruellous resolutions to rampier and fortifie themselues The Duke of Guise slain by Poltrot bofore Orleans Thursday the eighteenth of February hauing appoynted what order should bee taken touching the assayling the Isles about nine of the clocke at night hee wrote vnto the Queene that within foure and twentie houres after hee would send her word of the taking of Orleans wherein hee would not spare any man woman or childe whatsoeuer and that after hee had kept his Shrouetide therein beeing as then vppon the three and twentieth of February hee would in such sort spoyle and destroy the Towne that the memorie therof should be extinct for euer But man purposeth god disposeth for that the same day as the Duke of Guise about euening returned from the campe to the Castle of Coruey where hee lodged minding to execute that which hee had written vnto the Queene a young Gentleman of Angoulmois named Ich◠Poltrot Sieur de Merey hauing long time before determined to giue the blowe and made his friends of Lyons and other places priuie thereof stayed for him in the way as hee returned to his lodging accompanied with two Gentlemen one going before him the other speaking with him mounted vppon a mule Poltrot that rode vpon a Genet of Spaine went so neare the Duke that beeing about fiue or sixe paces from him hee discharged his Pistolle laden with three bullets seeking to strike him on the shoulder where his armour could not defend him as hee did doubting hee wore a priuie coate which done he fled away and the next day hauing ridden all night hee was taken and committed prisoner Poltrot executed and not long after tormented with hotte tonges to make him confesse and then torne in peeces by foure horses Diuers confessions were published to bee made by him touching this deede thereby to accuse the Admirall and others as if they had mooued him to do it but besides the constant and resolute answeres of the Admirall it was euidently knowne specially at the execution that Poltrot did it of his owne motion and particular intent thereby to deliuer France and specially Orleans from the violence of the Duke of Guise that died the foure and twentieth of February not hauing holden his Shrouetide as hee thought within Orleans but rather in his turne receiued another reward then eyther hee or his expected The motion of peace mooued before his death was presently renued and after many meetings and assemblies Motions of peace renued after the death of the Duke of Guise the Queen-mother exceeding glad of the death of the Duke of Guise whom shee doubted more then all the rest hauing giuen a thousand courteous entertainments vnto the Princesse of Conde the seuenth of March an assembly was holden in the Isle of Boeufs hard by the Towne whither the Prince and the Constable as yet prisoners were brought to make some agreemēt The Constable at their first enterance said that if they spake touching the edict of Ianuary hee could not indure it and in trueth it was as much to condemne him and all his partie of treason to
Frenchmen originals of the mischiefes of France and the lowe Countries The continuance of the K. progresse to the preâ—udice of those of the teligion of the cause of raising armes in the second troubles to root out those of the religion as well in France as in the lowe Countries and that it was necessary to beginne with the leaders according to the rule of that Spanish Duke that shortly after put it in practise by cutting off the heades of the Countes de Horne and Egmont with other noble men in Brusselis that they must not stand to looke for frogges but first fish for the great salmons The Prince of Conde the Admirall and others in France beeing in time aduertised by some that were not farre from their so bloody Councels from that time beganne to looke vnto themselues and to thinke vppon their affaires aduertising those of the religion not to bee negligent FroÌ„ Bayonne the K. tooke his iourney to Nerac wher he restored the Romish Catholicques to their goods repaired their temples brought in againe the Priests and Monkes that had beene thrust out and commaunded Monluc by his letters pattents in firme of an Edict to see all things performed as also to take order that the officers of the Towne might bee equally chosen out of both religions halfe of the one and halfe of the other and this course he prescribed as a lawe to all those Townes where those of the religion had gotten the vpper hand Hee did besides ordaine that such Monkes Fryers and Nunnes as had cast off their coules in purpose to reenter into the successions of their Parents should not bee admitted orherwise then according to the ancient constitutions Hee also gaue audience vnto the Catholicque and Romish Leaguers of Guyenne whom he likewise iustified Moreouer in all places where the King made his iourney there was in manner no other speech but of the complaints of those of the religion whom the peace did as much molest and in some places more as the warre The Councell stopped the plaintiues mouthes with sweet words promising redresse in all possible loue and equitie but their speeches vanished like smoke for of an infinite number of murthers from the publication of the Edict vntill that day committed there were scarce sixe offenders punished and those but of the rascall sort that else where and before time had tenne times deserued the wheele or fire The rest of the yeare was spent in the kings entries into the towns vpon the riuer of Loire in banquets triumphs superfluous expenses and ridiculous pastimes wherin the K. and his two yonger bretheren were altogither buried whilest the Queen with her Councellors mannaging the whole state of France guided it in such crooked courses as still doo remaine of the stormes no lesse daungerous then the former A fained reconsiliation betweene the houses of Guise and Chastillons Wee said before that presently after the Edict of pacification the Queen had giuen accesse to those of the house of Guise to aske some new iustice of the king touching the murther of their kinsman slaine by Poltrot that had beene tormented and executed by foure wilde horses in Parris And because those of Guise had sufficiently declared that their malice tended onely to the Admirall and that the dissimulation of the Queene-mother entertained the fire of that quarrell The Prince of Conde that went not the voyage of Bayonne had from that time assayed wholly to quench it and on the one side to stay Magnanimitie of the Prince the violence of the plaintiues on the other side the subtiltie of the Queen that desired nothing but the continuance of quarrels among the Nobilitie that shee might raigne by their diuision and crie staye there when it pleased her following the aduise of her wise Councellours braue Pollititians if they might bee beleeued and great friends to France To that end the Prince had presented a declaration vnto the Councell bearing date the fifteene of May 1563. against those of Gusse saying therein that if there were any man that would once vndertake to oppose himselfe in word or deede against the Admirall otherwise then by order of iustice which the Admirall himselfe desired I will saith hee make him well knowne that it shall touch mee as much as if it were done vnto my selfe beeing his friend and he vncle vnto my wife by whom I haue diuers children besides that hee is a braue knight and one that is able to do the king great seruice The Queen remembring that and seeking to shadow her Councell of Bayonne in the beginning of Ianuary 1566. caused those of Guise and Chastillon to be summoned to appeare before the king at Moulius in Bourbonnois where likewise appeared the Marshall de Montmorency because of the quarrell of Parris Shee likewise sent for du Thou and Seguier first and second Presidents of Parris Dafis chiefe President of Thoulouse Lagebaston of Bourdeaux Truchon of Grenoble le Feure of Dyon and Fourneau second President of Prouence The king beeing in his chamber with diuers Princes and Lords the Chancellour made a long Oration touching the miseries of the Realme The Oration of the Chancellour and the disorder of iustice and pollicie whereof ensued certaine orders taken which continued no longer then many other commendable ordinances that had been made within this Realme that done hee beganne to touch the quarrell betweene the houses of Guise and Chastillon where diuers things on both sides being debated and the Admirall by oath clearing himselfe not to be the Author of the murther in question Agreement in the Court. A certaine agreement was made betweene the two houses and therevppon they imbraced like friends with many protestations of words and promises neuer to renue them more The widowes of the Duke and the Cardinall of Lorraine were the interlocutors in this tragedie the young Duke of Guise not speaking a word as theÌ„ lending his countenance to signes of threatnings and frowning lookes wherof those of Chastillon made small account because as then hee was but a childe That which made them most to consider vpon the matter was that they perceiued the Queene-mother to leane to the house of Guise and the Cardinall and shee to bee as two heades within one hood they likewise tooke vp the matter betweene the saide Cardinall and the Marshall de Montmorencie touching that which had passed between them at Parris during the voyage of Bayonne The rest of this yeare was for the most part spent among Courtezans in mariages banquets other pastimes whiles all parts of the realm were plunged in great disorders The miserable estate of France The insolencies of the Romish Catholicques against those of the religion continued the qualifications of the Edict did by little and little fret it quire a way the threats of speedie raigne to those of the religion whose Captaines and leaders are heere and there slaine without iustice or any execution of the mutherers did weakely increase
for attributing to themselues the name of Iesuits deserue a shameful death And thē answering to the Iesuits vow touching the Pope Our faith saith he is otherwise We in France acknowledge the Pope for supreme head of our church with all due honor deuotion but in such sort that he is subiect to the decrees of general coūcels that he can enterprise no authoritie ouer our realm nor against the M. of our kings neither yet against the authoritie of the decrees of our Court of Parliament or to the preiudice of our diuosians in their confines and limits And thervpō he saith Iesuites chiefe creatures and right slaues to the Pope that Iohn Gerson teacheth vs in one of his books that we may well bee without a Pope in the church that it is in the power of a generall Councel to displace a Pope out of his seat therin to place an other for the ordering of the affairs of the church as in effect it was practised in the councels of Constance Basle Thus hauing learnedly pleaded for the rights priuiledges of the French church he discouereth their subtilties thefts dissimulatiōs impostures rauenings shewing by diuers examples that they are mutenous sowers of troubles Atheists and mockers of God And ending his plea said to all the Court You my Maisters that tollerate the Iesuits Vertues of the Iesuites True predition shall one day be the first Iudges of your owne condemnations when by the meanes of your permissions you shall perceiue the mischiefes that will ensue not onely in France but throughout Christendome Aduocate Mesnil who in this care pleaded for the kings Atturney propounded many matters against these sectaries who hee sufficiently prooued to bee a plague to the Realme but because of the kings voyage into Bayonne and that the Queenes councels and those of the house of Guise that ruled all tender onely but to the ruine and ouerthrow of the Prince of Conde the Admirall those of the religion the Iesuites proces was for that time ordered by the Councel that is layd vp by the walles Afterward the second and third troubles togither with the massacre ensuing the Isuites set vp their crests in earnest and compassed the straunge practises whereof ensued the horrible tragedies that were played about the end of the raigne of Henry the third as more at large shall appeare wherewith this yeare ended Now let vs consider what happened in the yeare 1567 when the troubles and miseries of France began againe The king of Spaines intent against the low countries The king of Spaine not being able to indure the increase of those of the religion in the lowe Countries much offended with them for the breaking and throwing down of Images in Flaunders Brabant and other Prouinces determined to proceed against them with fire and sword not once regarding the priuiledges of the countrie nor yet the cruel extortions and iniustices of his officers against those of the religion whose Ministers principal rulers opposed thēselues by all the means the could against the breaking of Images thrown down by a small number of men such as were of no great account in so short a time that it seemed they had fallen of themselues For the execution of this bloodie councel which had bin decreed in the League made at Bayonne Fernando Aluares de Tolede Duke of Alua that had been his Agent in Bayonne was established Liefetenant General with most ample and expresse cōmission who in the beginning of the spring in An. 1567. accompanied with his two sonnes and great troupes of men imbarking themselues at Barcelonne in the month of May arriued at Genes with an armie of 9000. The Duke de Alue commeth to torment the low countries Spaniards 1000. light-horse marched towards Millan What followed therof is at large set down in the Histories of the low Countries The Q. and the Councel of France vnder this pretence of the D. of Alues passage made a certaine report to be giuen abroad that it was to be feared that the Spaniard would attempt somewhat against France vnder pretence of going into Flanders thervpon began to leuy 6000. Switzers to keep the frontiers but not long after they were broght further into the realme for the Duches of Parma was alreadie gone out of the lowe Countries into Italie assoone as she receiued intelligence of the D. of Alues imbarking The Prince of Conde the Admiral with other Lords of the religiō Sundrie councels holden by the Prince of Conde before he entred into armes calling to mind what had past since the edict of pacification perceiuing the Switzers to enter into the realme and that the D. of Alue was alreadie arriued in the lowe Countries assembled togither in small number there they produced certaine letters intercepted from Rome and Spaine wherein the practises how to roote out the professors of the reformed religion at one instant were at large set downe In a short space they had three consultations of Vallery and Chastillon where met some ten or twelue of the chiefest Gentlemen of the religion to debate vppon the present accurrences and to seeke all lawfull and honest meanes of safterie in so many terrors without proceeding to the last refuge In the first two the opinions rested very diuers neuerthelesse rather by the Admirals counsell then otherwise euery man was intreated a while to haue patience and the rather for that in matters of such consequence as wherevppon depended so many miseries and calamities it was more necessary to be drawne in by necessitie then to make too much haste or vppon a greedie desire to runne on headlong besides that shortly matters would bee made more apparant but in the last consultation they grewe into a greater heate For besides all passed calamities or imminent daungers also that they of the religion were openly threatned throughout most townes and Prouinces that they should not long beare themselues so high and that their time drew night to an end they receiued more aduise out of sundrie places and both the Prince and Admirall did plainely affirme that they had expresse aduertisement from a certaine Courtier very well affected to those of the religiō that there had been holden a most secret Councel wherein it was concluded that they should bee seized vpon that the one should bee executed and the other detained prisoner that at the same instant two thousand Switzers shuld enter into Parris two thousand into Orleans and the remainder into Pointiers that the Edict of pacification should bee vtterly repealed and an other made quite contrary to the same Heerevppon they grewe to earnest disputation for whereas some vrged a speedie relolution of necessary defence the rather because the forraine forces marched alreadie openly for the vtter ruine of those of the religion throughout the realme others that were not altogither so hotte shewed that albeit they perceiued the fire alreadie kindled yet they could not see
eleuen months and certaine daies Their discommodities because of their passage ouer the Loir The next day they were followed by the children of the Admirall and Monsieur d'Andelot who hatting trauersed the riuer of Loire in Berry met with the horsemen that conducted them At which time happened a straunge thing for the Prince making his account suddainly to passe ouer in an vnaccustomed place with two or three small boates hired for the purpose being come to the riuer not farre from Sancerre his men found a shallowe foord which he past ouer followed by fiftie horse the Princesse her women children and seruants passed ouer in the boates but they were scarce gotten out when suddainly the day beeing cleare and faire the riuer rose in such sort that they of Sancerie other Inhabitants of those countries were constrained to acknowledge a particular fauour of God shewed to that small troupe which had beene preuented if the Prince had deferred his passage but two houres longer Beeing ouer he dispatched messengers Monsieur d'Andelot into Brittaine desiring him to raise all the men hee could and to march towards Poitou The Queene those of Guise and their Councellours vnderstanding that the Prince and the Admiral were escaped greeued that they had no sooner sent Tauannes their Deputie in that action beganne to send commissions into all parts appoynting their troupes to meete in Poitou and Cuyenne while the Duke d'Aniou Generall of the armie tooke his leaue of the Ladies in the Court and that preparation was made for his departure It fell out well for the Prince and the Admirall that they were not speedily pursued and that they had such aduersaries who for the first weeke of their retrait contented themselues to laugh and iest saying that the Prince had no neede to make such haste to bee gone for that their meaning was not to hurt him But his aunswere to such as tolde him of it beeing vppon the way was that hee had rather leaue them the emptienests then they should take the birds and if that hee had well thought vppon the promise made by them to be reuenged for their flight from Meaux and to make those of the religion runne their towne he had departed in a better time that he might haue trauelled with ease The collor of the Queen her children their adherents Catholicques at the beginning of these wars discharged it selfe vpon diuers particular persons of the religion Hard vsage of those of the religion who in Orleans and other places were pilled sacked and cruelly put to death The Prince arriued in Rochel vpon the 19. of September hauing in his way certified those that commaunded in the Townes and Prouinces where hee past that hee ment not to vndertake any warre but onely to stay for an answere to the petitions by him sent vnto the king the Gentlemen of high base Poitou not long after assembled themselues to ioyne with him at the same time the Cardinall de Chastillon was constrained to leaue Beauuaisin yet so swiftly followed to the sea side that being constrained to leaue his company he entred into a ship that bare him safely into England The Queene of Nanarre Retrait of the Cardinal de Chastâ—lion and of the Queene of Nauarre and her children taking with her the Prince her sonne and the Princesse her daughter went likewise to Rochel so to auoyde the pretences and intents of her enemies against her and hers Descars and Monluc that commanded at Perigord Limosin and Guyenne vsed all the means they could to hinder her but the troupes that conducted her hauing three Regements of foote and eight Corners of light-horse assured her way wherevppon shee certified the king the Queene the Duke of Aniou and the Cardinall of Bourbon of the causes of her voyage The deportements of the Prince at Rochel Immediately vpon the Princes arriuall at Rochel where his brother the Counte of Roche foucaud was come a little before he assembled the Citizens and vnto them represented the miserable estate of the realm requiring their succours in defence of religion the Common-wealth and the Crowne of France Withall promising particularly to assist them against al such as sought the oppression of their liues and liberties The Maior in the behalfe of all the Cittizens whose affaires hee commended vnto him offered him their liues and goods as also the eight and twentieth of September following hee did to the Prince of Nauarre as well inregard of his Lieftenancie in Guyen as also in hope that hee should inherite his Parents not onely in lands and liuings but also in the loue and fauour that they alwaies had borne to the Rochelers whereof hee assured them The Lord d'Andelot the foure and twentieth of September The aduentures of the Lord d'Andelot in comming to ioyne with the Prince entered the confines of Brittaine and Maue with foure Cornets one company of Argoletiers and foure Ensignes of footemen where hee found many other leaders so that his whole companie amounted vnto a thousand good horse and two thousand harquebusiers With these troupes Andelot coasted towards Loyre to finde some commodious passage whereby to ioyne with the Prince The same day that he gat to the riuers side and within two houres after that his men had taken vp their lodgings in the scattered villages the Duke Martiques Gouernour of Brittaine going towards Saumur to the Duke of Montpensier had intelligence that sundrie troupes of enemies not naming who had taken vp their lodging in his way Hee had but three hundreth launces and fiue hundreth braue Harquebusiers with whom he passed couragiously through all d'Andelots troupes who in regard they lay scattered were not able either to defeat him or to force him to retire so that hauing marched eight leagues and had sundrie skirmishes by the shutting of the night hee gat to Saumur hee and his men with the losse of some twentie men among others of his Lieftenants but by the way slewe fouretimes as many and carried away an Ensigne This was the fruite of his close orderly march togither with his resolution worthie a graue wary leader neither could this surprise or abridge d'Andelot of his hope to passe ouer the riuer of Loire for hauing reassembled his forces into two troupes hee caused the riuer to bee gauged all ouer so that at the last hee found a foord where neuer any man in our memorie had passed there did hee and his with great joy for this vnexspected good hap passe the riuer the next day Before this foord was found as the Lord de la Noue demaunded in case the passage were stopped what they were best to resolue vpon What shuld we do said he but follow an extreame resolution either to die as souldiers or to saue our selues as souldiers A braue resolution in necessitie adding moreouer I thinke it best for vs to ioyne togither and so to retire some seuen or eight leagues into the open countrie thence to scatter
the breaches and in the retrait many of his men Then finding bis bullets and powder in manner quite spent and his cannons broken and spoyled raised his siege and went to setch a new supply and so with all diligence returned with twelue peeces more the rather for that hee was by some traitors of the Towne of whom two were found out and executed giuen to vnderstand of the departure of the most part of the Gentlemen that were at the first siege who now had taken the field At his first comming hee beganne a long and furious battell wherein hee inlarged the first breaches beate down the defences and made the rampiers plaine then gaue he a general assault wherin his men at length had the repulse with the losse of his brauest souldiers slaine vpon the breaches and in the ditch Here vpon considering that three thousand cannon shotte the death of fifteen hundreth souldiers and among others of Foyssy the Colonell of his foot men could no whit abate the courage of the besieged heretired and thought it ynough to shut them vp towards the ende of the yeare but Briquemaut and Guerchy found meanes to relieue Vezelay and to send Sansac to seek his fortune elsewhere A notable defence of a woman besieged in her owne house As small honor did Montare the Gouernour of Bourbonnois Moncequie and other Captaines obtaine who with three thousand men some foote some horse and certaine Cannons besieged and for fifteene daies space did beate the Castle of Bonegon holden and couragiously defended by Mary of Brabancou widdow to the Lord of Neaui with some fiftie souldiers for the guard of that her house The besiegers lay before it neare two moneths so that in the end this vertuous Ladie hauing lost the most part of her souldiers who were slaine in the assaults and ordinarie skirmishes was forced to yeeld to the enemie who sent her prisoner to Moullins from whence shee was afterward deliuered at the entreatie of such as respected her godlinesse and vertue Her Castle they sacked and threw downe for spite that they had lost so many souldiers and reaped as great dishonour as might bee This siege began about the beginning of Nouember The siege of Poictiers had been the beginning of misfortune of the Princes The siege of S. d'Angely ruine of the D. of Anious forces but in exchange the siege of Saint Iohn d'Angely was the stay or period of the Duke of Anious victories For if he and his troupes had not flayed there but rather pursued the Princes and the Admirall the war had soone ended as all men were of opinion considering the feare which those of the religion at that time had togither with the difficulties which as then presented themselues The Duke proude of the taking of Partenay Nyort S. Maixant Fontenay Chastelleraud Lufignan sent according to their determination to summō the town of S. Iohn d'Angely to yeeld vnto him Piles that cōmanded therin assisted by la Motte Puiols la Ramiere Paluel called Serido les Essars la Garde and Montant to whom Monsieur de la Personne was sent with certaine horse made answere that hee kept the place for the Prince of Nauarre Gouernour of Guyenne The Towne was presently besieged beginning vpon the sixteenth of October where those within made many sallies and skirmishes to impeach the enemie from approaching fiue daies after the besieged with fortie horse charged the enemie where they slew diuers of their souldies who being surprised were taught to runne faster But the losse they had the next day after was greater for then the besieged slew a great number of their mē bare away two Ensignes and a halfe and a good quantitie of armes Captain Parisol slaine and his brother taken prisoner without losse of one man of those in the Towne Fiue daies after the Queene brought the king her sonne as then of the age of nineteene yeares with a great traine vnto the siege to the ende that he might likewise haue part of the honor of so many conquests in his realm and against his owne subiects But not long after hee could well complaine that his mother had brought him thither to drinke of the shame and to fauour the Duke of Aniou her other sonne whom she sought to aduance It was thought as then the besieged would haue yeelded themselues within two daies after but those two daies continued aboue sixe weekes Captaine la Ramiere was so sore hurt at the beginning of the batterie that hee died not long after much lamented by those of the towne for his valour and resolution At the first assault giuen about the beginning of Nouember the kings armie loft diuers of their Captaines and best souldiers Montesquiou that slew the Prince was there cruelly wounded whereof he languished certaine weekes and then died Biron Generall of the artillerie perceiuing that this resolution of the besieged would spoile the assailants began to mollifie them by Artificiall practises and to vse a treatie of peace Personne hauing Pasport graunted him to go vnto the Princes Wherevpon a truce was graunted for certaine daies which beeing expired although Personne was not returned Piles was often summoned by Biron to yeeld vp the Towne because he had conditioned to capitulate if within the time of the truce he had no ayde not answere frō the Princes In the end it was agreed that if the next day by ten of the clocke in the morning beeing the tenth of Nouember the besieged were not relieued they should yeeld vp the place as all the Towne was in a maze and many weeping for greese about the breake of day they beganne to crie out saying that the aide which a Gentleman named Fombedoucre had gone to fetch with the great daunger of his life and continued after that with great fortune to hazard himselfe for the good of the towne by dooing such speciall seruices and in the end was taken by his enemie was at the gate of Mattas whither Piles presently went to receiue them It beeing Captaine Saint Seurin who with fortie horse was come from Angoulesme to S. Iohn passing by the enemies campe that lay about the towne hauing vnder the name and pretence of a friend finely circumuented the watch at the time appoynted Biron appeared that receiued an other answere then hee expected The hostages deliuered on both sides the Romish Catholicke cannons beganne to play daily continuing wherevnto the besieged opposed great diligence by making rampiers of earth There Schastian de Luxemberg Duke of Martigues Gouernour of Brittaine was slaine with a harquebu shot a great enemie to those of the religion and much lamented by the contrary part Not long before as in an interview hee stood talking with la Motte Puiols perswading him to yeeld he said trust not you vnto the Princes nor the Admirall but remember the battell wherein your strong God forsooke you and that at this time you haue occasion to sing Helpe vs now O Lord for it is time La Motte
May. Second parley of peace I said before that the first aunswere made by the king to Messieur de Teligny de Beauuais and la Nocle Deputies for the Princes to parley of a peace at Anger 's was such that after it the warre was rather increased then diminished For those of the religion perceiuing that they sought onely to ouerthrow and destroy them determined to proceed and to make of necessitie a vertue And as time breedeth changes those that happened were to their aduantages in such sort that their courages were increased and their hopes fortified The king the Queen and their Councell perceiuing that since the losse receiued before Saint Iohn d'Angely they found themselues new to beginne determined to beginne a parley of peace wherein for their part Biron was imployed with charge as like wise Teligny Deputie for the Princes to say vnto the Admirall that the king and the Queen his mother desired more then euer they did to receiue him into their fauours with many such like words whereof the effects may well bee seen in the discourse of the yeare 1572. The king was greeued that the continuance of warre bereaued him of his pleasures ouerthrew the loue and obedience due vnto him fouraged his countrie diminished his treasures and consumed his forces His wicked Councellours ceased not to kindle in his heart the fier of rancor and desire of reuenge against the Admirall his associates and all those of the religion because of the iourney of Meaux in the beginning of the second troubles and of so many resistances as they had made The Queen his mother was much offended because that from the beginning of the first troubles it was discouered that her intents were to rule and to cause the one part to spoyle the other Her chiefe obiect beeing wholly against those of the religion specially against the Admirall and other commaunders There was too much paine and daunger to bring them to her bow by dint of sword murtherers and impoysoners durst hardly approach the Princes applyed themselues to the time and from their youths beganne to know the friends and enemies of rest and quietnesse of France On the other side the Queen of Nauarre and the Admirall as also diuers great Lords of their part affected to the good of the Common-wealth and foreseeing that the ingrafted enemies thereof desired nothing but the weakning of the same by the meanes of ciuill warres there to erect their practises and to open the way to their ambitious deuises desired by an assured peace to see some end of the miseries of France hoping that mens mindes being somewhat cooled good counsell would bee taken for the benefit of the Common-wealth to the vtter confusion of the secret and open enemies thereof the diuine prouidence of the almightie God and ruler of the world directeth our affaires partly according to our desires but for the most part it guideth all things in such manner that calling to mind that which past after vntill the death of the Duke of Aniou which was Henry the third wee cannot marke nor say otherwise but that the iudgements of God are vnsearchable and that his waies are impossible to bee found out To returne vnto the Princes they were constrained after the battell of Of the great voyage made by the Princes after thâ—ir tourney of Moncontour vntill the peace Moncontour to keepe themselues farre from the Dukes armie to assure their troupes to stay their enemies about townes and so to consume them while they strengthened themselues and became busier then before thereby to constraine those that tooke so much pleasure in war to seeke for peace This counsel was good because of the improuidence of the Romish Catholicks who without resistance suffering this smal snowball to retire in time it became as great as a house for that the authoritie of the Princes drew and moued many people The Admiral by his prouidence surmounted the occurrent difficulties and the Rutters to the number of three thousand horse for the field gaue reputation to the armie They indured much vntill they entered into Gascon where they strengthened themselues with Harquebusiers beeing most necessarie for them specially to defend the horsemen nightly surprises much vsed in that countrie because of the nearenesse of Townes and Castles They were mingled among the Cornets of Rutters and other French troupes in such sort that both plaine countries and couert they were alwaies ready to defend theÌ„ Staying of the Princes Armie The longest way that this demy armie made was towards Agenois and Quercy where it stayed almost all the winter and by the good entertainment it receiued there both great and little spedde wel In this voyage the Princes abandoned the enemies countrie for a pray vnto their souldiers and whosoeuer would hazard wanted no meanes those Prouinces were so abundant Monluc went about to hinder their passage ouer Garonne but the diligence of la Loue that ledde the Princes light-horse hauing taken those places that serued for resistance forced him in all haste to retire to Agen so that in the moneth of December 1599. all the armie passed ouer Garonne at Saint Maries port without impeachmeÌ„t at the second time for at the first Monluc had broken their bridge The twentieth of the same moneth Captaine Piles ioyned with the Princes armie and hauing obtained three Cornets made them flye that followed him so neare La Loue and his Argolitiers made diuers courses and picorees into Agenois and the countries thereabout The first forces that ioyned with the Princes were those of the Countie Montgommery comming from Bearn and it is not to bee doubted if he were welcommed at his returne The two and twentieth of December Bole a strong Towne was taken that done Exployts of this armie in their voyage that armie went to lye at the Bastille Saint Surin two leagues from Thoulouse The next day and others ensuing beganne a manner of war most violent by reason of the burnings that were permitted to be made about that great Towne onely vpon the houses of Presidents and Councellours of the parliament it beeing alleaged that they had been most earnest and as it were inraged to burne and massacre those of the religion beheaded Captaine Rapin that brought them the Edict of peace from the king and committed diuers insolencies oppressions for the which as then it was requisite to punish them for that omitting that occasion it would possible not be found againe The Marshall d'Anuille Gouernour of Languedoc la Valette and diuers others of account were within Thoulouse accompanied with fiue hundreth Gentlemen and 9000. harquebusiers as well straungers as of the countrie wherewith they made many sallies with diuers effects yet neuer went farre from their walles for fear of some surprise after Thoulouse had receiued those small checkes the armie went towards Carmaine Thoulouse checked a small towne which was forced and such as resisted put to the sword The like was done to those
Sieurs de Laual Boulaye and others who presently after hauing receiued intelligence that Tiercelin was come from Oleron to go to Marennes and so to returne to Sainctes he went to watch him on the way very neare to the plain where certaine horsemen would haue issued out of Sainctes but they were set vppon and dispearsed by Cargrois that ledde the Argolitiers of Monsieur de Laual After this skirmish the Prince returned to Taillebourg As for Tiercelin although he knew that his enemies watched his returne hee made no account thereof trusting in the strength of his Regiment and so resolued to fight with them wheresoeuer they should assayle him and vppon the seuenteenth of Aprill he marched towards Sainctes in very good order Which the Prince vnderstanding mounted on horse bocke with his brother in lawe the Sieur de Trimouille la Boulaye Auantigny and others to the number of thirtie persons with as many Harquebusiers so made towards Tiercelin whom he found about a thousand paces from the subburbs of Sainctes where hee set vppon his reareward and slewe about thirtie or fortie of them the rest of the Regiment ranged themselues in order of battel vnder the hedges and in the high-way In that first charge the Sieur de Trimouille had his horse flain betweene his legges and without speedie succour had been in great daunger La Batarderaye Ensigne-bearer to Boulaye was there slaine Chanterelles and Captiane Nauarre wounded to death Auantigny hurt both in the hand the knee and notwithstanding the Prince perceiuing the Sieur de Lanal to bee gone to fetch his company not farre from thence and that in great haste came golloping with about fiue and thirtie horse commaunded him to set vpon the enemie where that yong Lord readier to execute the charge then the Prince to commaund leaping ouer hedges and ditches made right vppon the Colnelles Ensigne being as then guarded with a battell of pikes which he braste fighting with him that bare the Ensigne and put him with all the pikes to flight whereof there were flaine to the number of sixtie men and tooke the Ensigne with him Tiercelin beeing hurt in the arme saued himselfe with a great number of hurt men There the Sieur de Laual lost Sailli called Tanlay because the other died not long before at Saint Iohns and Rieux his two bretheren greeuously wounded one in the head the other in his groyne whereof they dyed within two daies after Cargrois was shot into the knee and the Prince himself gaue two braue charges to the horsemen of Sainctes that thought to ayde Tiercelin and put them twise in disorder bearing with him their armes and other furnitures togither with the Collonels Ensigne but it greeued him much for the mortall wounds of those two young Lords that were followed by the Sieur de Lanal their brother that died within eight daies after The armie of the Duke de Maine in Poitou The Duke de Maine minding to make his profit at other mens costes and thought by the ouerthrow of the Prince of Condes armie to spoyle the rest of the forces that were in Guyen departed from Poictiers with a faire and goodly company of men This Prince valiant and wise that hath alwaies holden his reputation by keeping promises both with his enemies and friends neuer knewe what is ment by ioyning a peece of a Fox skinne to the skinne of a Lyon not being large ynough But as there are many who not withstanding they haue contrary windes yet doo arriue in safetie at their desired port so diuers men receiue so many crosses in their enterprises that fortune neuer fauoureth neither their valour nor their vertues In times past hee had done many valiant acts in Dauphine and now hee imployed time mony and great labour to do no great matter in Guyen His armie was of fiue hundreth French horsemen eight hundreth Rutters foure hundreth Lanciers Albanois and about fiue thousand foote with diuers peeces of artillery Hee made his account to force Townes not so much by fight as by famine wherevnto the season of it selfe was sufficiently disposed which should sooner bee ouerthrowne then fought withall and sooner fought withall then assayled At his arriuall Xaintonge and Poitou trembled being as then afflicted with three poynts of Gods horrible punishments plague famine war where the souldiers found no other booties but famished rattes Hee imployed them first in the taking of Montignac Beaulieu and Gaignac small Towns and thē to the impeaching of the passage of the riuer of Garonne wher he thought to surprise the king of Nauarre and alreadie had written vnto him that hee could not shunne his nettes Saint Bazeille lying vppon the same ruier was taken by force and spoyled and Mont-segur taken by composition The Duke de Maines ficknesse at that time bredde great disorder in his campe and want of mony weakened the courages of the resolute neuerthelesse hee tooke Chastillon a place fortified by the valour of the Barron de Sauignac Gouernour thereof and after that Normand in Perigueux But their want was so great in the armie and the extremitie so much that it fluttered but with one whing And the chiefe Generall that looked for nothing but a reuolt and perceiuing that where he thought to winne in Guyen hee had lost Aussonne in Bourgongne gaue the king to vnderstand that it was more then a yeare since his souldiers were forced to march on foote alwaies fighting in the enemies countrie with men and with the ayre the difficultie of the passages the ouerflowings of riuers the coldnesse of the weather and the long raines without being once succoured neither with new forces mony nor amunition for the warres and sayde that of seuenteene hundreth and three score thousand crownes wherevnto the wages of the armie amounted vnto Read the declaration of the Duke de Maine touching his exployts in Guyenne hee had receiued but three hundreth and foure thousand Crownes From that voyage hee brought with him the daughter of Madame de Chaumont beeing of the age of twelue yeares to marry her to one of his children Behold the triumphs of the league in Guyenne in an other place I haue said something touching the king of N. voyage out of Gascongne into Poitou which requireth a larger discourse which is that in the moneth of Febr. 1000. fiue hundreth eightie sixe the Marshall de Matignon hauing besieged Chastelles the king of Mauarre accompanied with two or three hundreth Gentlemen about eighteene hundreth Harquebusiers raised the siege What the K. of Nauarre did to impeach 4. armies of the league and determined to diue within the Castle Then he made a voyage into Bearn there to take order for his affaires which done he returned towards Nerac and passing at Lanse a Towne belonging to himselfe hee had intelligence that the Duke de Maine marched forward to impeach his passage ouer Garonne Notwithstanding hee went to Nerac to fortifie the place and issuing out he marched
in the right line Charles the fift which makes the second branch from the end of the first line had two sonnes Charles Duke of Orleans and Iohn Earle of Angoulesme Charles the eight dying then without children Charles Duke of Orleans successiuely came into the right line so that Lewis his sonne was found the first heir who also raigned after Charles the eight who was surnamed father of the people Lewis their dying without issue male the right of inheritance came into the branch of Iohn Earle of Angoulesme so that the lawe set the Crowne on the head of Francis the first the Earles onely sonne And from Francis it came to his sonne Henry the second from whom succeeded orderly Francis the second Charles the ninth and Henry the third his childreÌ„ one after the other froÌ„ brother to brother In this right line ended the last King of the race of Valois who died without children The law then tooke hold on the second sonne of Saint Lewis named Robert who was Earle of Clermont and married with Beatrix daughter to d'Archambaut of Bourbon by her hee had one sonne named Lewis from whom the lands were made errigible in Counte the yeare one thousand three hundreth twentie seuen After this Lewis succeeded Peter and Iames his sonnes Peter had one sonne named Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who was slaine at the taking of Rome in the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth twentie seuen And in him dying without issue male ended the line masculine of this branch Iames his vncle the sonne of Lewis had then a sonne named Iohn who espoused Catherine Countesse of Vendosme of Castres and Ladie of Conde This Iohn sonne of Iames had three sonnes Iames Lewis and Iohn The first last to wit Iames and Iohn left no posteritie Lewis sonne of Iohn had two sonnes Francis and Lewis the younger hath issue the Duke de Montpensier who liueth at this present The Prince de la Rochesur-yon the eldest of this branch died without children The eldest named Francis the sonne of Lewis which espoused Marie of Luxembourg had three sonnes Charles Francis and Lewis Charles the eldest had by the Ladie Frances of Alencon fiue sonnes Anthony Francis Charles Lewis and Iohn Anthony of Bourbon eldest sonne of Charles married Iane d'Albert Queene of Nauarre the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth fortie nine The twelfth of December 1553. was borne of this marriage in the ninth degree of the heires male after Saint Lewis Henry of Bourâ—â—n the onely sonne of Anthony Now by the decease of Henry the third the last king of the race of Valois descending by the masculine line from Philip the eldest son of king Lewis the Saint the right of the Crowne came vnto Robert his youngest sonne and from him consequently to Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name king of France and Nauarre who at this day raigneth and of whom we are specially to speake in this Breuiarie That which the king did in his beginning This king hauing accompanied the corps of the deceased king to his tombe and put it in safe keeping to the Maister of Meulan Gisors and Clermont diuided his forces into three armies the first for himselfe with the which he marched vnto Touraine the other twaine hee committed to the Duke de Longueuille and to the Marshall d'Aumont for Picardie and Champagne Before hee had taken the way to Touraine with his troupes which were composed of twelue hundreth horse three thousand footemen and two Regiments of Switzers hee purposed to take his iourney into Normandie where the Pont de l'Arche was yeelded vnto him Then he came to Deepe won Caen vnto his side and constrained Neufchastel to bee rendered vnto his hands hauing disappoynted by his Lieftenants the succours which they had sent vnto them And hauing made a shew to besiege Roane it caused the Duke de Maine beeing called to the succor by Aumalle and Brissac to set himselfe in the field with more then three thousand horse and fiue thousande footemen who promised to the Parisians at that time to make an ende of all warre and to bring the king their enemie vnto them bound both hand and foote The king vnderstaÌ„ding that this mightie armie of his enemies increased euery day more and more by the assistance of the low countries of Picardie and Lorruine asked of the Duke de Longueuille and of the Marshall d'Aumont if they should go and meete them A notable exployt at Arques against the League And then marching toward his enemies they incamped at a certaine Village called Arques about two leagues from the Towne of Deepe And within three daies he made such entrenchments for his troups that the bancke in the lowest place was seuen or eight foote high on the one side aboue the towne where the artillerie were placed vnder the keeping of foure companies of Switzers The approach of the campe was espied by the Castle wherevppon was placed certaine peeces that shot off with great aduantage Meane space the Duke de Maine was greatly busied to thinke how hee might take againe the Townes of Gourney Neufchastel and Euison at what time both hee and his whole armie was perswaded that they might take Arques at the first But the Duke found it at his comming farre more troublesome then he imagined by reason of the newe Trenches which the king hadde made on euery side thereof for his commoditie by the which meanes hee might the better and the more easier ouer-runne his enemies at all times A sore skirmige The two armies continued there from the end of August to the midst of September And vpon the sixteenth of that moneth two fierce and cruell skirmiges was made in the which the Leaguers lost a great number of their approoued souldiers and nine or tenne of their Captaines This did truely presage and shew vnto them what successe they were like to haue in their attempts to come whereof followed nothing else but shame and sorrow to the leaguers VVhose foolish hope was also made frustrate which they hadde to chase the king himselfe into England or to kill him with all his followers or else to bring them in triumph prisoners to the Cittie of Parris The furie of these skirmiges was at last conuerted to the playing of the cannons both on the one side and the other which indured three or foure dayes togither On the Thursday the three and twentieth of September the Leaguers Armie or a part thereof containing a thousand horse and about six or eight thousand foote came to a place named la Maladerie which was strengthened with eight hundred smal shot foure coÌ„panies of Rutters Lanceknights sustained moreouer with three companies of light horsmen three companies of great ordenance and with the forces of the Princes of Conde and Counte Furthermore at the top of the Trench stood the companies belonging to the Lords of Chastillon and Maligni with a good number of the Nobilitie who were vnder
brother This deuise ouerthrowne des Adrets made a voyage into Languedoc and returning into Dauphine Nemours to coole his courage shewed him the Princes commissions giuen to Monsieur de S. Auban ouerthrowne with his troupes at Tarare to commaund in Dauphine and his commission to Adrets to goe to Orleans which seene des Arets vsed many practises to establish the Duke de Nemours and about the end of December sought the meanes to make him Maister of Valence and Romans The tenth of Ianuarie by aduise of the Nobilitie hee was taken prisoner and kept in Nismes vntill the peace when hee was set at libertie without absolution or condemnation and beeing at his owne house hee left the religion and after that openly bare armes against all such as maintained the same but in that alteration finding no good successe but rather shame and dishonour hee was constrained to with drawe himself vnto his house despised both of friends and enemies The second siâ—ge of Grenoble In base Dauphine Monsieur de Crossol recouered Serignan and Aurange On the other side vpon the seuenth of Ianuarie la Coche surprised the Tower of Lemps and discouered a great practise of Maugiron to enter into Grenoble for the which hee caused certaine traitors to bee executed Whereat Maugiron beeing offended ouerranne the countrie of triefues contrarie to his faith and promise At the same time those of Grenoble receiued certaine losses yet they victualled their Towne with corne and other munitions expecting a newe siege which happened vnto them about the end of February the enemies campe beeing eight thousand foote and horse with two great battering peeces whereof the bullet beeing of Brasse wayed about fiftie pound and three faire field peeces La Coche had nine Captains some Gentlemen with sixe hundreth good souldiers besides the Cittizens The batterie beganne the first of March and continued three daies and three nights after that they offered a scalado where they lost many of their souldiers They within the Towne but fiue onely with Monsieur de S. Muris a Gentleman much lamented Not long after the siege was raised and the Towne freed At the same time a smal troupe belonging to Captaine Furmeier surprised Romette a small place walled A notable exploit of Captaine Furmeier lying two myles from Gap punishing certaine boot-hallers that lay in it As Furmeier sent his footemen to enter into Romette at the sound of the belles which the boote-hallers for certaine houres before had rung in a steeple wherein they saued themselues and from whence they were thrown headlong downe the Garrison of Gap both horse and foote issued to ayde them But Furmeier accompanied with foureteene others on horsebacke was so bolde to stand against all that troupe marching in order of battel which was presently separated and put to flight The first that beganne to runne was Captaine Andre a Piedemontois in such sort that Furmeier and his companions had worke ynough to strike and laye vppon them killing them euen to the gates of Gap which continued with a short bridle vntill the peace proclaimed which made those of the religion to reenter And thus the affaires of Dauphine passed in those times Prouence Sommeriue maketh war against his father and all his adherents The Counte de Tande perceiuing the horrible discipation of all Prouence and that Sommeriue his sonne gaue such libertie vnto the bloodie and desolate companies of souldiers thereby to commit the most cruell murthers and villanies that euer was heard of whereby infinit numbers of houses and families were destroyed and wholly ouerthrowne came to Manosque where hee assembled all the men hee could vnder the conduction of Cipierre his sonne Colonel of the horse and of Cardet his sonne in lawe leader of the foote who dealt in such manner that all the Townes beyond the riuer of Durance continued vnder his gouernment onely Petuis which they besieged but all in vaine Meane time Sommeriue hauing gathered his forces and hauing been at Aurange by intreatie of Fabrice and de Suze hee came to Manosque which by Captaine Coloux was yeelded vnto him and hauing made a muster of fiftie Ensignes of foote and certaine Cornets of horse the sixteenth of Iulie 1562. hee besieged Cisteron wherein were the greatest part of all the families of the religion that had fledde out of other places of Prouence with eleuen companies of foote vnder Monsieur de Beanieu Nephew to the Counte de Tande Furmeier came thither likewise with three hundreth men Cisteron besieged Sommeriue caused the passages to be kept by one of his Captains named Bouquenegre a valiant souldier but verie cruell and dissolute if euer there were any in Prouence but hee was surprised in a village by twelue souldiers and one of his seruants whose wise he entertained and not long after found guiltie of diuers murthers and violences committed was hanged in the publike place of Iustice by his said seruants hands Bonquenegre hanged dying as hee liued The eleuenth of Iuly Sommeriue caused three assaults one after the other to bee giuen vnto the Towne which continued from three of the clocke after noone vntil euening but he had a most braue repulse The next day the town made certaine skirmishes and about eight daies after offered battell to Sommeriue which he refused And at that time they vsed such rigor vnto each other that no man was put to ransome About the end of the month Sommeriue fearing des Adrets that had gotten the battell of Vaureas went to incampe himselfe within three myles of Cisteron On the other side Cardet with all his forces approached vsing all the meanes hee could to reassemble the troupes but it was impossible wherevppon the Counte de Tande wanting victualles caused the campe to rise whereof part were placed in Cisteron vnder the gouernment of Senas the rest sent to des Adrets that promised in short time to come and visit him with great forces but hee did not The second siege of Cisteron The 27 of August Sommeriue with one hundreth and two Ensignes of foot and great store of horse besieged Cisteron round about and vnderstanding that Mombrun came to ayde the Towne sent Suze to meete him who vppon the second of September surprised and ouerthrewe Mombrun and 500. men the Towne inclosed on all sides but onely in one place which lyeth vppon high and desart Mountaines the way whereof is so straight that two hoâ— semen can hardly ride in ranke Vpon the foureteenth of September Sommeriue made a cruell batterie so that about tenne of the clocke in the morning the breach was of one hundreth and foureteen paces without flancard or raueling to defend it Besides that two demy Coluerins that shotte from the Friers strake the souldiers in the Towne when they came to the breach which notwithstanding although the besieged seeking to rampier the breach were striken and hurt and some borne into the ayre with cannon shot both men and women