Notwithstāding he sayd he would forgiue matters past and done for their ages and consanguinities sake deeming that they were not so much to be blamed as the Admirall and other moste mischeuous persons theyr counsaylers who eyther already had bin punished for their desertes or else were now vnder the same These thyngs therefore he sayd he would pardon vpon condition that they wold euer after amend their former faultes with more faythfull obedience and woulde returne to the Religion of the Catholique fayth that hauing renounced the doctrine of prophane superstition whiche had already caused so great troubles and warres they woulde wholly imbrace the auncient Religion and returne to the lap of the Church of Rome That he would euer after haue but one onely Religion imbraced in hys Realme and the same which he had receyued from hys auncetors Therefore he willed them to consider whether they would obay in these things or else suffer such punishmente as theyr fellowes had done The King of Nauar being abashed with these sharpe speeches aunsweared humbly vnto the king that hee remembred his fayth and the consanguinitie lately entred with hys maiestie and that he would do those things whiche might please and content his minde most hartily beseeching him to consider how great a thing a mans conscience is and how hardly he could renounce that Religion whiche he had learned and in the which he had bin trayned vp from a childe Notwithstanding he spake these things with great submission feare The Prince of Conde perceyuing the present perill answered the King but not without feare of mind that his maiestie had so solemnly giuen his faith to him and to the rest of the Religion that he could not perswade him selfe that he would breake so faithfull an oath nor harken to the counsailes of his aduersaries And as touching that obedience which his maiestie required of him and which he had euer hitherto faythfully shewed to the same he minded neuer to forsake it during life But as touching the Religion he had free leaue of the king to exercise the same and from God the true knowledge therof to whom he knew he shuld giue an account for the same Adding that him selfe and all that he had was in the kings power And he willed him to do what soeuer pleased him both with his life and also with his goodes yet neuerthelesse he was fully determined neuer to depart from that Religiō which he knew for certain to be true though it were to the present perill of his life The King was sore offended with this aunsweare of the Prince of Conde and calling him obstinate seditious and the sonne of a seditious person telleth him that if he do not repent him within three dayes he should suffer death for his peruerse obstinacie There were spared also certayne of the houshold seruantes of the king of Nauar which were gentlemē mons Grammōts Durase and certayne others which promised that they woulde do whatsoeuer the king commaunded them These being neuer earnest louers of the Religion were pardoned that they might be instruments afterward to withstand the same This garboyle and bloudy sturre being thus made in the Citie and in the Castell there were left as yet those whyche dwelt and aboade in the suburbes and some of the nobilitie as M. Chartres Mongomeri Briquemauld Bellouez Fontene and diuers other noble men Commaundement was giuen by the king to the Prouost of the marchāts to haue a thousand armed men in a redinesse to intercept those of the religion whiche were in the suburbes of Sangerman And hee had giuen the whole charge of this matter vnto M. Marcell one of the chiefe Magistrates of the citie Notwithstanding the prepared souldiours came not at the hour apointed through the negligēce of the said magistrate The king had appointed M. Mongeron chiefe ouerseer of the execution of his purpose He looking for his souldiors and seeking for the Duke of Guise to complayne to him of this matter certaine houres were spente In the meane tyme one of the Religion seing the citie all on a roare running vnto the riuer got in conuenient time a boate and so cut ouer the riuer and certified Mongomerie of the trouble in the citie This was about fiue of the clocke Mongomerie gaue M. Chartres to vnderstād hereof and so by opening the matter from one to an other it was generally knowne by and by to all that were in the village or suburbes Notwithstanding it seemed almost incredible The greatest part beleued that the king was not priuie to so great wickednesse so farre they were from thinking that it should be don by his commaundement othersome beyng as yet persuaded of the kings good will thought that the kings owne person was assaulted by the Guyses for the hatred that they bare to the Religion whiche he seemed to fauour Therfore amidst this varietie of opinions they knew not themselues what waye they were best to take Some thought it beste to goe oute of hande to the kyng to the Castell of Lowre least they myght be deceyued of the kynges will other some sayde that it was needfull and necessarie for them to goe and ayde the kyng The thyrde and wyser sorte nothing doubting but that this was doone by the kings commaundement betooke them to flight But while they made delay they might easily haue bin taken had not an other impediment happened The Duke of Guise seeing that he coulde not haue a band of souldiours of the Parisians they following the praye and spoyle deuised a newe way whiche was that he woulde goe himselfe with certaine souldiours to the suburbes of Sangerman whyle the shot and spearemen of the kings garde gaue an assault from the riuer vpon the whiche stoode the suburbes ouer against the castell of Lowre But his purpose and deuise tooke not effecte For when the Guise woulde haue gone foorth with his souldiours he was constrayned to staye the porter of the gates hauing deliuered the wrong keys the other not to be founde Before therefore the keyes coulde be brought suche delay was made that M. Chartres Mongomerie and others escaped away and yet not without further perill For they sawe on the other syde of the shoare bandes of souldiours approching to shippe and hearde cryes made from the Castell that they fledde and sawe also greate stoare of shotte discharged at them bothe from the Castell and also from the shippes Also it is sayde that the kyng hym selfe stoode vpon the top of his tower crying and swearyng and dischargyng shotte Then they whiche were in the suburbes leauyng all theyr goodes roade away without bootes and spurres wyth as muche speede as possible they coulde They were scarse out of sighte when the souldiours were landed on the other syde who brake into the houses and tooke their pray Neuerthelesse they whiche fled were pursued by the Guyse by Duke d'Aumale by the Earle of Engolesme and others to Monfort which is distant from Paris the space of
as the kings vndoubted commaundement As for the other commaundement sayth he it seemeth so cruell and barbarous that he would not obey the king if he were present to commaunde the same Notwithstanding this Countie d'Tende fought stoutly in the former warre against those of the Religion He which brought these letters and this bloudy commaundement to Countie d'Tende was called mons d'Mole a gentleman borne in Arles who within one yere after was beheaded at Paris by the kings commaundement Countie d'Tende within few dayes after being at Auinion was by some of the kings appoyntmēt poysoned to death Coūtie de Retz being appointed to succeed him Mons. Santherā gouernour of Auuergne answered to the same cōmandement that he wold not obey contrary cōmaundements being coloured and cloaked vnder the kings name affirming therfore that he wold satisfie the first of the two for that it agreed with the kings dignitie with his Edicts that he was no hangman but the kings lieftenāt to gouern the kings subiects with equitie peace The ninth day of Septēber the king being troubled with a sodaine feare cōmaunded his armour to be brought and the captaines of his guard to come vnto him he sweareth that he hath determined to destroy those that remained of thē of the religion willing thē to go euery man to his charge for he would first beginne with the prince of Conde Then the Queene his wife intreated him that he woulde not rashly take in hande a matter of so great waight The king being persuaded by the earnest beseeching of his wife laide aside his armour and dispatcht his guard The day folowing he called before him the Prince of Conde and offered vnto him three things of the which he willed him to chose one that is to say Masse Death or perpetuall imprysonment To this choyce the Prince of Conde answered that by the ayde and assystance of God he would neuer chose the firste and that he left the other two to the Kings will and pleasure But at the last he was by the meanes of one Rozarius a Minister sometime of the reformed Church of Orleans drawne to that abiuration the copy wherof is set down in the tenth booke of Cōmentaries By the subtile persuasions I say of this man he did fall away from the truth and openly renounced the Religion and went to the Masse and to other rytes of the Romishe Church Thus by the example of the Prince of Conde and the king of Nauar many whiche were accounted of the Religion fell from the same And the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde solemnly set forth their defection by the Kings commaundement For when they had renounced the Religion at Paris they sent letters vnto the Pope in the which they declare that to their great sorowe and griefe they haue bene drawne away from the felowship of the Church by that false doctrine euen from their childhoode the blame whereof they layde not vpon their parentes but vpon those wicked men whiche had seduced them Notwithstanding they sayde it was come to passe in good time through the goodnesse of God that they shuld acknowledge their errour and seriously detest the same in mynd Therfore they humbly beseeched the Pope as a father to forgiue them their former offences and to receiue them againe into the bosome of the Church and they would shewe euer after all such obedience as became reuerent children to shewe and that it woulde please him to certifie them by his letters whereby their consciences might be assured of pardon graunted Therefore the Pope sent his pardon to the Prince of Conde and to the King of Nauar that they might not onely fight vnder his banner but also might be at continuall warre with the reformed religion such was the calamitie of those times After this the King of Nauar made an Edicte concerning them of Bearne concerning the abolishing of the reformed Religion By the commaundement of the Queene of Nauarre his mother when she was aliue the states of Bearne assembled themselues togither to take order cōcerning religion and by the free consent of the states the Masse was abrogated throughout all the dominion of Bearne Thither the king of Nauarre sent Mons Grammont wyth authoritie to preferre the Edict by whiche he forbade all that were within his dominion to vse the reformed religion notwithstanding he gaue leaue vnto them of the Religion to sell away their lande and to prouide for themselues in the space of one yeare and then to go whither soeuer they would THE Pope hearing of these murthers went himself with his whole Colledge of Cardinals first of all to the Church of S. Marke and gaue verie large thankes vnto god Then the next day after he celebrated a solemne Masse and commaunded a Iubile Thankes were giuen to God for the destruction of the enimies of the truth and of the Churche in the realme of Fraunce for the victorie gotten against the Turks and also prayer was made for the kingdome of Polonia that the king might proue suche a one as woulde seriously defende and mainteine the Catholike religion of Rome In the Euening there was a tryumphāt peale of Gunnes in the Castell of Santangell and the French men which were in the Citie made dyuerse ioyfull bankets in many places of the same as though nowe after so long contentions a full conquest were made and the euerlasting peace and tranquilitie of the Church of Rome gotten The French men had also a generall procession aboute the Citie in the which the Pope was present with his whole Colledge of Cardinals and a great number of dishes according to the custome were caryed in the same A Cardinal also sang Masse in the Churche of S. Lodowic where were a greate multitude of people assembled togither THERE were also about this time diuerse things written both in French and in Latine to commend the handling of that murther Antonius Muretus made an oration at Rome in commendation of the king and when he had done caused the same to be published commending the king for his haughtie and constant minde and also for his excellent wisedome Pibrachus set forth an Epistle in the which he maketh a very subtile discourse of al this hystorie to make the Admiral guilty of treason and the cause of the Religious hatefull Notwithstanding he pretended the loue of religion the whiche in tyme past he both knewe and had professed and had afterwarde abiured the same There was also an other Epistle spredde abroade of Peter Carpenter of Tholose a lawier who being a counterfeyt professor of the religion spake euill of the Admiral of the whole cause The which Epistle was answered by one Franciscus Portus a godly man and expert in the Greeke tongue Therfore amidst the tragical mournings of them of the Religion these were the triumphes of the Catholikes THE king also celebrated the order of S. Michael which was a feast dedicated to those noble men whiche were of the
kings good wil expressed at large both towards the Queene of Nauar and also toward the Admiral him self is sayd to cōtend in word greatly against the same Notwithstanding letters being often sent concerning the dayly speach of the king the Admirals mynd began by little and little to be persuaded and to iudge very well of the king in all things thinking that a yong man which was of a milde nature and a louer of peace coulde not dissemble and although he feared the subtile and craftie wit of the Queene mother neuerthelesse the matter was come to that poynt that the king woulde not hearken to hir counselles in dispyght of his brother the Duke of Anjou whose power he had greatly in suspition It is sayd also that mons Momorencie who was cousin germane to the Admirall preuayled much in persuading the Admiral And the king to serue his turne made great account of Momorecie cōmitted vnto him the charge of waightie affaires dayly talked with him about secret matters of priuie coūsel For there is an olde and continuall hatred as we haue oftentimes sayd betweene the houses of Momorencie of Guise in somuch that Momorencie thought that not onely the Admirals death but his also was sought and that for thys cause he was alwayes suspected and out of fauour with the Queene THE Guises therefore seemed dayly more and more to be out of fauour with the King contrariwise he seemed to vse the King familiarly and protested his singular good will towards the Admiral also he cōferred with him about waightie affaires for the exployting whereof he sayd he had neede of the help and ayde of the Admirall The Queene also according to hir manner protested that she desired nothing more than that all former matters beyng forgotten an assured peace might be established And the summe of all their communications and speaches was this that the Queene of Nauar the Princes and the Admirall should come vnto the King and be throughly perswaded of his singular good will towardes them By whyche meanes it might come to passe that a firme friendship mighte be made their minds being reconciled by familiar speache These things being dayly brought both by letters of Momorencie and also by speaches of messengers the Queene of Nauar was not onely throughly perswaded heereof but also the mind of the Admirall fully vanquished and ouercome IN this yeere there befell suche a sharpe colde winter that the Riuer of Rosne was frosen quite ouer all along the chanell and whiche was neuer hard of before Countie Volt a noble man went ouer the riuer on foote with his whole family and others commaunding his Mules to goe before him laden with cariage out of the countrie of Viuaretz into Daulphine IN Languedoc and in Prouance most temperate Regions the Oliue trees fygge trees Orenge trees and Pomegranat trees were almost dead with colde Vines also starued in many places to the great spoyle of most fertile coūtries Whereuppon ensued a great dearth which the godly interpreted as a forewarning of Gods great iudgements IN the moneth of March of this present yeere there was holden a generall Synode of the reformed Churches at Rochell vppon graunt from the Kings maiestie by his letters There came to this Synode godly and learned men from all partes of the Realme as Antoni Chande a man of noble parentage Nicolaus Gelazius and many others Thither came also Theodore Beza vppon request of the Princes letters to the Senate of Geneua and was made chiefe in that Synode being chosen according to manner custome by voyces It pleased also the Queene of Nauar the Princes peeres nobles of the Religion to be present in this assembly In this Synode were specially handeled the manner of reforming the Churches the principall poynte of doctrine Ecclesiasticall discipline a new manner wherof Iohannes Morelius went about to bring in a little before diuers other things also were hādled cōcerning certaine other newe formes in the Lordes supper ABOVT the same tyme the messengers of the Princes returned from the King hauing large giftes giuen them and bringyng with them ioyfull tydings concerning the Kyngs assured good will towardes the Queene of Nauar toward the Princes the Admirall and the other noble men concernyng publique peace and the expected matrimony and concernyng preparation to bee sent at the Kyngs cōmaundement into the low coūtrey which the messēgers sayd they thēselues shuld vnderstād by the kings own mouth willing thē to go with all speed vnto the king which was the principal point of their ambassage Hereuppon the Queene of Nauar thought that shee could not but go vnto the King fearing least if she should deny the same or should defer the tyme the King would be displeased seeing also M. Biron was come vnto hir strayte after the returne of the messengers with the same message from the king to the ende she might make the more speede Notwithstanding the wiser sort suspected hir going to whō the mariage in persons of contrary religion seemed daungerous and contrary to the expresse word of god Neuerthelesse worldly reasons preuayled that the lamētable tragedy might go forward that is to say that the iust prouidence of god might fynde a way to bring great matters about and to punishe both their sins he vsed both their sins after a certaine wonderful māner Therefore the Queene of Nauar came to the Courte with a great traine which at that time was at Blay For whose honorable entertainment it can scarce be tolde what great preparation was made by the King the Queenes the kings brethren his sister and by the whole Courte insomuch that euery courtier went forth to meete hir as to receyue that which aboue all other things had a long tyme bene desired The King for his parte shewed all duties of humanitie in welcomming the Queene of Nauar that by any manner of meanes he might THE chiefe and greatest busines was about the mariage the contracte whereof could not be made without the presence of the Queene of Nauar. The King Queene by all meanes vttered their good willes The mynde of the Queene of Nauar was throughly perswaded of the same they disagreed not aboute the dowry For a large dowry meete for suche a State was offered and the Queene mother was very careful for the bestowing of hir only daughter shee making a shewe as though she would spare nothing to further the same Many things were handled concernyng the contracte of matrimony concerning the auncient societie and frendship betwene the house of Valoys of Borbon and of Aubeter and very notable things were at large spoken on both partes concerning the restoring of the kingdome into his former state by the meane of a fyrme peace There remained two doubts which seemed to trouble both partes namely the respecte of contrary religion and the place where the mariage should be celebrated For the Queene of Nauar would not haue the same at Paris which citie she
grounde belonging to the fame was remoued out of his place and houses that were strongly builte and trees also that were greate and talle were ouerthrowne Also the Suburbes of Lyons called Aguilot was almost quyte ouerthrowen with this vyolence of waters and the greateste parte also of the stonewoorke of the Brydge vppon the Riuer of Rosne An armie was prepared to goe to Burdeaux and to the famous hauens of Broages the charge whereof was committed to Mons Strozzi and to Baron d'Guarde The rumor concerning the warre to come encreased more and more euen as fame is woont to preuent things to come But it was giuen out that thys warre should bee in the lowe countrey Therefore the Spanish Ambassadors made often complaints vnto the King as though by his maiesties commaundement warre should haue bene taken in hande against the Kyng of Spaine his soueraigne But the Kyng excused him selfe with wonderfull dissimulation insomuche that they of the Religion by so doubtfull an aunswere deemed that the Kyngs mynde was fully perswaded concerning the warre of the low countrey About the same tyme also Lodowic Nassau brother to the Prince of Orange came to the Courte accompanying the Queene of Nauar and entred into league with the Kyng in his brothers name the same being subscribed and sealed At such tyme as the Nauie was preparing in the Occean Sea appointed with six thousand footmen and a great number of peeces there went a common ieste abroade that the Nauie went into the Isle of Florida to fetch golde but in very deed the simpler sorte of the commen people sayde that this preparation was not only by the Kings sufferance but also by his expresse commaundement for the lowe countrey This preparation pleased the moste parte of the people very well and all men of both partes were ready to ioyne together in the same warre with so good will as if they had neuer felte the calamities of warre On the other parte a great number of Catholiques and of those of the Religion accordyng as they were ioyned together by affinitie and acquaintance went to another warre namely into Italy against the Turke against whom he seeking to winne the Isle of Malta they bended their whole force power Therefore men went thither with a great trayne of noble men of France among which Marques d'Menie brother to the Duke of Guise was one Notwithstanding the greater parte went to the warre of the lowe countrey Captaynes being sent into all parts of the Realme to gather such Soldiers as would serue in that war of their owne accorde and their wages was payde them out of the Kings treasurie THE delay of this mariage seemed to be very long to all men but especially to thē which looked for desired the same the cause whereof was made the Popes prohibition notwithstāding the kings letters oftentimes sent for licence and his request to the Cardinal Alexandrin for the same purpose THE fyrst day of May in thys present yeare Pope Pius the fyfth dyed the which offered hope to the King as he sayd to obtayn of the new Pope licence to ende the mariage Yet notwithstanding the Queene of Nauar plainly shewed hir selfe not to regarde any suche lycence for the which cause were made so many delayes and shee complayned hereof oftentimes vnto the King. SHORTLY after the Popes death being noysed the King commaunded the Cardinall of Loraine to goe to Rome to be present as it was reported at the Popes election The King sayd that hee had giuen him in charge to procure the Popes dispensatiō that once at the last that mariage might bee finished The Cardinall promising faithfully to accomplishe the Kings commaundement concerning the Pope altogether renouncing the Courte seemed in the iudgement of the wyser sorte besyde common reportes to prouide for his owne safetie least he him selfe should bee in daunger in so great fauour of them of the Religion or in the proclayming of a new war. All which things were so handeled by the craftie dealing of the Queene mother the King also framing both his countenance and also his speach accordingly that euen the moste fine wittes in the courte thought that there was nothing but truth ment IN the moneth of May there was a Synode at a noble Citie in Languedoc called Nismes of the reformed Churches To thys Synode by the benefite of the Kyngs letters came the Ministers and chosen men of the reformed Churches from all partes of the Realme The question was moued concernyng ecclesiasticall doctrine At this Synode were present Theodore de Beza Anthonius Chandoeus Nicolaus Gelazius and dyuers other learned and famous men Gelazius was chosen to bee the moderator of this Synode THERE was at this tyme a great famyne in Languedoc and about the Sea coast being of it selfe a very fruitefull soyle and it continued so sore that dead bodyes starued with hunger laye in the streetes For thys cause the Synode brake vp theyr sittyng at Nismes and appoynted a vacation bothe for that victualles wanted to serue so great a multitude and also to prouide for the poorer sort least they should be at charge for lawe matters THE peace which men nowe more largely enioyed had almost losed the reynes of al libertie in so much that he which now professed the Religion seemed to differ nothing at all neyther in speache nor in manners from the Catholike And now there beganne to be a great famine of the word of God mens myndes being annoyed with tedious curiositie and in many also of luke warme zeale in suche wise that a great number of those of the Religion could nowe scarsely abyde to heare a Sermon of ordinarie doctrine as not eloquent and courtly inough Thus by peace and ease things commonly waxe worse and worse Is it then any maruell if the Church be oftentimes afflicted and ouerwhelmed with troubles and calamities when it abuseth peace and the happy successe of things THERE is vpon the sea coast of Flaunders a citie called Vlishing standing verie conueniently for trafike and entercourse to Andwerpe The townesmen of this citie being wearie of the crueltie of the Spaniards slue the Lieftenant which was set by the Duke of Alba to kepe the towne and certaine of his garrizon and tooke the citie And when the Duke of Alba sent a newe supply to recouer the towne they valiantly repulsed them and set them selues at libertie By their example many cities of the lowe countrey were incouraged and the noble townes of Zeland and Holland were sayde to fauour the Prince of Aurenge and to desire libertie THE Queene of Nauar being poysoned to death with a payre of perfumed gloues as is sayde in the tenth booke the King Queene and the whole court seemed to take hir death very grieuously The King to put away all suspition of poyson commaunded that the dead body should be ript vp by phisitions and so the causes of hir death found out The phisitions taking a viewe of the
spente that time in deuising murders against the noble men of his Realme and at the last determined to kill Iulian whome in the sight of men he loued and reuerenced as a father Antonius Caracalla an enimie of Alexandria bycause certayne verses were soong agaynste him commaunded all the yong men of the citie to be gathered togither vnder the colour of a muster and to be slayne and that euery souldier shuld kill his host where he lay Thus the Citie beyng replenished with murders he had no other excuse to cloake the same but to write vnto the Senate that they had euery one deserued death and that this answer ought to suffice them Lysander the chiefe Captayne of the Lacedemonians calling fourescore of the men of Miletus togither vnder the colour of societie and friendship cōmaunded them to be slaine Seruius Galba shewed the like crueltie vppon sixe thousande Spanyardes Antonius Spinola calling vnto him colourably the chiefe men of the Isle of Corsica to make them a banquet commaunded their heads to be chopt off Charles the seuenth King of Fraunce after he had reconciled him selfe with the Duke of Burgundy and confirmed the same with a matrimoniall league had also solemnely sworne to forgiue all things past sent for him to the towne of Monterell vnder the colour of friendship and there slue him There are many other examples from among the whiche I haue taken these fewe to the ende thou mayest knowe that the King beeing a yong man hath diligently learned that doctrine whiche is contayned in the .18 chapter of that Booke which concerneth the doctrine of a Prince set foorth by Machiauell Euen as it cannot be vnknowen vnto thee that the kyng the very same day that the Queene of Nauar came to the Court of Blaij Iestingly demaunded of the Queene mother adding thervnto ▪ acording to his maner a blasphemous othe if he had not behaued himselfe exceeding wel To the which the Queene answeared agayne that he had begon very well but it woulde profit little except he went forward But I will sayth he addyng hys accustomed oathes bryng them euery one into thy nette These are the Kings wordes Heereby it may bee gathered what the ende of these familiarities and friendshippes will bee shewed towardes thee and to other noble menne of the Religion Looke diligently to thy selfe and bee assured that there is no other remedy for thee to escape theyr snares than to get thee away betimes from thys Court whyche is a most fylthy and vncleane Sodome THIS Booke beyng red the Admirall aunswered with angry moode the man in whose name the same was offered That these things serued not the time that they mighte haue bin spoken conueniently in time past but nowe there was no cause remayning of suspition God had altered the Kings mynde hee woulde neuer beleeue that suche falsehoode could haue place in his Kyngs mynde nay he was perswaded that Fraunce had neuer a better King than Charles the ninth and that although the Duke of Anjou were an enimie to the Religion yet at the last hee woulde forsake that hatred for the reuerence sake of that affinitie whiche hee shoulde haue with the King of Nauar. That a league was made with Englande into the whyche also hee minded to enter with the Princes of Germany whyche professed the Religion to shewe hys affection towarde the Religion myndyng to haue in hys company one of the sonnes of the Countie Palatine and some one of the noble men of Englande whyche was zealous in the Religion That he had gyuen his fayth to the Prince of Orange and to his brother to ayde hym agaynst the Spanyardes in somuch that he was the chiefe and efficient cause of the preparation of warre into the iowe countrey That in stead of the Armie whyche was committed to the conduct of Mons Genlis a newe supply was prepared that the affayres of the lowe countrey were in good cace That the Kyngs Ambassadour dyd dayly aduertise hym of the counsayles of the Duke of Alba. That the same Nauie of which Mons Strozzi and Baron de Guard haue charge is prepared for no other end than to remoue the Spanish nauie and to goe with speede to Vlishing to the Prince of Orange that there may be open warre in the lowe countrey Finally that the Kyng did all things with greate care for the confirmation of peace by the benefyte whereof there was no doubt but that the affayres of the Religion shoulde haue good successe Wherefore hee prayed him and all others of the same opinion that they woulde not trouble his mynde with those suspitions beeyng occupied with better thynges but rather that they woulde pray vnto GOD that he woulde bryng that to good effect whyche was happyly begun to the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme and hys Churche ABOVT the same time almost Mons Momorencie was returned out of Englande hauing entred into league in the Kings name with the Queenes highnesse of Englande concerning that marriage which was intreated in the name of Henry Duke of Anjou it is vnknowen what hindered the same It is said that hir maiestie vtterly refused the matche But howsoeuer the cace stoode I am perswaded that God of his singular goodnesse prouided for hir Maiestie and also for the Realme of Englande from the whiche hee hath turned away great calamitie THE Prince of Orange hauing gotten a great armie in the which were sayd to be twenty thousand footemen eyght thousand horsemen entred the lowe countrey At whose comming the Cities in diuers places were yelded vnto hym in somuch that within a short time he had in his power foure and forty Cities the greatest part of Zeland Holland Among these cities he had Mechline In the mean time the Duke of Alba beseeged Mounts in the which was Lodowic brother to the Prince of Orange with a great number of noble French mē Shortly after thys was the cruel slaughter of the Admiral and other noble men and gentlemen committed at Paris and in other places of the Realme whiche is at large set foorth in the tenth Booke of Commentaries already translated and therefore here omitted AFTER the murder the king commaunded the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde to come before him Who being in his presence he sayeth vnto them That after so long time of warres by which his kingdome hath bin greatly endammaged he hath found out at the length vndoubted remedies to take away cleane all the causes of warre and hathe therefore commaunded the Admirall to be slayne the wicked author of mischeuous troubles and that the same punishment was prouided in the Citie for al lewde and naughtie persons infected with vngodly superstition That he remembred what great harme he had receyued both of the King of Nauar and also of the Prince of Conde who were the Captaynes and ringleaders of desperate persons and seditiously helde warre against him to reuenge so greate iniuries he had nowe cause and occasion offered him
were called the Rochellians complayning of the same vnto the messengers that were sent vnto them The same day the duke of Anjou went downe into a mine A souldier knewe him who by and by discharged at him his peece with the shot whereof he slue a noble man which stoode hard by him and some of the haile shot ran through the ruffe of the shirtband of the duke of Anjou and yet he had no harme but not without great peril of his life The Rochellians had intelligence giuen them that treason was a working agaynst them vnder the colour of a parley whereby they were admonished to looke diligently about thē and to be in a readinesse Notwithstanding the Ambassadors of peace come at the day appoynted and by common consent truce is taken the which notwithstanding was not obserued the townsmen complayning that the kings souldiers had taken a view of their ditch to their dammage So that the truce being broken a freshe battaile began betwene them wherein seuen of the kings side were slaine and of the townesmen one yong man About the Euening by the Maiors commaundement al the Citizens and other townesmen which were there present were called togither to heare the principal poynts and conditions of the kings peace There came into the kings campe Ambassadors from Polonia for the ioy of whose comming many peales of greate gunnes were shot off mons l'Noe returned to the parley with the townesmen in the name of the Duke of Anjou the kings ordinance shooting off in the meane time Shot also was discharged from the sea coast into the Citie and at a window a nurse with a yong infant was slaine The Ambassadors concerning the peace making returned agayne But the purpose of the Catholikes was in time of the parley to blowe vp a myne This the townesmen vnderstoode wherevpon all men at the Maiors commaundement were readie in armour Therefore they determined to deferre the matter vntill the parley were ended They had great hope to preuayle in the breaking vp of the myne About the Euening fire was set to the myne the whiche beeing blowen vp ouerthrewe the wall notwithstanding to such aduauntage for the townesmen that the enimie could not so easily enter as before he might haue done also one of the kings great Gunnes fell into the ditche In the meane time the ordinaunce in the ships vpon the sea coast were not vnoccupied The cause of another parley was for that the Rochellians sayde that they had not theyr owne cause alone in hande but the cause of other of their brethren also requyring that they which had borne armour for the same cause might bee prouided for by the same benefite of the Edict They of Nisme and of Montauban and others whiche had taken their part were easily admitted to the same benefit But at the first the Duke of Anjou excluded them of Sanserre and Daulphine He greatly withstood the Sanserreans whome he thought might easily be ouercome being farre set and separated from the helpe of theyr fellowes About that time the rysing of them of Daulphine hauing Mombrune and other noble men theyr captaynes was very weake and of small power Notwithstanding he promised that he would haue consideration of them both and that they shoulde bee partakers of the same benefit with the Rochellians Neuerthelesse in the Edicte it selfe of the which we will make mention anon he speaketh nothyng at all of them notwithstanding the condition of the Rochellians This also was the kings drift namely that by priuate Couenants and agreements he might diuide the religious one from another Therfore he thought it good to take peace with the Rochellians to shune the reproche of the foyle as though by constraynt he had raysed his siege Also the presence of the Ambassadors of Polonia vrged him before whom he thought it not conuenient for his dignitie to sustain so great dishonour and therefore he prouided for the same by a speciall remedy least with shame his armie should be constrayned to depart after so long a siege specially such honorable famous personages of a strange countrey being present The Duke of Anjou sayd that both at their instance and also at the intercession of the Rochellians he forgaue muche The Rochellians both earnestly desired to be deliuered from the extreame troubles of the long siege and also were very carefull for that which should folowe afterwarde Therefore at the last they concluded with the Duke of Anjou The couenants whereof ye shall heare anon THE Duke of Anjou sendeth to the King the agreement made with the Rochellians that he might confirme the same by his authoritie might cause it to be drawn in forme of an Edict In the meane while truce was taken for sixe dayes The townesmen come into the kings campe bring wine vnto his souldiers and receiue meate and other food of them again they saluted also talked friendly one with another notwithstanding watch ward was kept diligently within the citie to awake those which were secure vpō trust of a large peace a tumult was raised of purpose by captaine Norman euen as if the enimie had bin come At the last the kings forts and bulwarkes were ouerthrowne and the great gunnes caryed away The townesmen also for ioy made bonfiers in diuers places of the towne and certayne noble men had free leaue to go from the kings campe and to enter into the citie The tenth day of Iune monsieur Biron hauing certayne Heraldes of Armes attending vpon him entered into the citie and in euery corner and principal streate of the town proclaymed the Edict of peace in the kings name The same day Shippes laden with Wheate and other victuall came into the hauen with the scarsitie and penurie whereof the Rochellians beganne nowe to be vrged The tenure of the Edict now foloweth as it was set down and signed by the King. CHARLES by the grace of God king of France to all present or to come greeting Our intent hath alwayes bene and is after the example of our predecessours to rule and gouerne our realme and to receiue of our subiectes their obeysance to vs due rather by gentle by louing manner than by force Wherefore our most deare and welbeloued brother the King of Polonia hauing full vnderstanding of our will and pleasure hath appoynted and deputed certayne of the chiefe personages of our priuie counsell being with him to heare and vnderstande the complayntes griefes and supplycations of the Maior Sheriffes and Counsellers dwellers and inhabitants of our towne of Rochel Gentlemen and others that are there abyding And for as much as it is so that now in the end our most deare brother the sayd king of Polonia according to our pleasure and good will hath by the aduice of our most deare and welbeloued brethren the Duke of Alencon and King of Nauarre our most deare and welbeloued cousins the Prince of Conde and Prince Dauphine the Dukes of
sayde in the tenth Booke to shewe their glad mindes for the peace concluded to whome the King wrote agayne of his willingnesse to establish the same NEVERTHELESSE the Catholiques coulde not temper and stay them selues in certayne places At Orange there was committed a great slaughter notwithstanding that the King had made warrantise of the contrary to the Prince of Orange For all they of the Religion whiche were fled away in time of the former warre were returned thyther agayne vppon trust and warrant of the Kings Edict vppon whome they mistrusting no such thing the souldiers beeyng let into the towne fell with violence the townesmen whyche were Catholiques setting them a worke and assisting them so that they slue without all pitie or mercy a great number of men women and children Notwithstanding the Kyngs garrison whiche as yet remayned in the Castell was a safegard for many the whiche if it had not suppressed the rage of the people a greater number of the Religious had bin slayne Notwithstanding the Prince of Orange vrged the Kyng to yeeld vnto him Orange and the rest of the dominion whiche he did at the last mons Berchon a wise man beyng sente for the same purpose who receyued in the Princes name both the Castell and the Towne and the whole Countie After the which commaundement was gyuen in the Princes name that the men of both partes shoulde liue euer afterwards peaceably according to the tenor of the Edict and that the vse of both Religions should be free Those whiche were giltie of the murder cōmitted at the firste stale away for feare of punishment notwithstanding being at the last perswaded both with the words and sufferance of mons Berchon they returned into the Citie agayne For mons Berchon wonderfully dissembled the loue which he bare vnto the Religion in somuch that he would not come to the sermons of the same as though he fauoured the Catholiques Thus the authors of the murder being allured to Orenge agayne were at the last apprehended and put to death About the same time also certayne of the reformed Church of Rhoane were put to deathe by the common people and in diuers other places also murders were committed agaynste the Edict Herevpon the Queene of Nauar the Princes and other of the Peeres sent Briquemald Teligni La Noe and Cauaignes whiche were noble and wise men to the King to complayne to his maiestie of these violations of the Edict and to require reformation of the same The King very louingly receyued them declaring howe great greefe the hearing of these things was vnto him and taking great othes according to his custome promised that hee would so punish the breakers of his Edict that they should be an example to all others Therefore at the kings commaundement certayne of the chiefe of the Senate of Paris were sent out of hand to Rhoane to syt vppon that murder and to punish the offenders according to lawe Marshall Momorencie also receyued charge concerning this matter Notwithstanding the greatest part of those murderers fled away at the rumor hereof Therefore many of their goodes were confiscate and three hundred of those whiche were absent were condemned to dye also certayne of the rascall sort were hanged After this certayne men were put in commission to see if there were any thing committed againste the Edict in any part of the Realme to heare also the complaints of the plaintifes and to satisfye them according to the fourme of the Edict But these commissioners euen as they had done afore time vsed onely in stede of iustice and equitie a counterfayte and outward shew of lawe IN a certayne village of the territorie of Valentz called Monboch a certayne yong man of the Religion of honest parentage found by chaunce in a mans house vestments and Coapes for Masse These in iest and derision he put vpon him running vp and downe the streetes making a iest and scorne of Popishe rytes He being accused for this to the Commissioners was apprehended and kept in close pryson for certaine dayes and afterwards a great fine being set vpon his fathers heade he was adiudged to the Galley the which punishment in Fraunce belongeth vnto vagabunds and theeues THEY of the Religion had a great summe of money to paye for the wages of the Reisters to whome a large summe was yet due the sureties for the which were the Princes the Admirall Countie Rochfoucault and certaine of the principall nobles some part the king had payde For the payment of this sum a great tribute was layd vpon those of the religion namely that euery one should paye towarde this summe the fifth part of his reuenues vntill the same were fully payde and discharged For the gathering whereof there were certayne Collectours appoynted by the kings letters in euery prouince notwithstanding with the appeale of the Queene of Nauar and of the Princes This burthen after so great spoyle waste made by wars seemed too many to be very great in so much that it kept backe a great many of those whiche had professed the reformed religion from comming into the congregation notwithstanding the greater part of them of the religion gladly payde that tribute vpon hope of peace and for the desire they had to enioy the religiō Besides this tribute there were other subsidies also to be payd to the king the greatnesse whereof foreyne nations would scarce beleue For there is no Christian nation vnder the sunne that beareth the burthen of so many subsidies and taxes as doth the realme of Fraunce whereby incredible summes are gathered Neuerthelesse these subsidies were payde with great willingnesse of mynde that within fewe moneths great treasure came vnto the king Besides these charges euerie Church was to maynteine their ministers and to prouide for other necessities Besides this the places appoynted for holy assemblies and preachings of the worde were verie inconuenient Therefore it is wonderfull that the Churches stoode amidst so many stumbling blockes and inconueniences Notwithstanding great was the number of them of the Religion in euery place growing and increasing notwithstanding these extremities VVE spake before concerning those whom the Queene of Nauar and the Princes sent vnto the king They as we noted obtayned not onely at the handes of the king that the violating of the kings Edict should be reformed but also suche familiaritie with the king that in ample manner he did expresse his mynde not only concerning the establishing of peace but also that he woulde for the more certaine continuing of the same gyue his sister Margaret in marriage to Prince Henrie sonne to the Queene of Nauar. But this was the beginning of the lamentable tragedie of Bartholmewtide The report heereof was no doubt verie acceptable to the Queene of Nauar and to hir sonne notwithstanding it is sayd that the Admirall at the first had this motion in suspition who going with Theligni to the Queene of Nauar about this matter the said Theligni shewing the
body reported that she dyed of a pleurisie the more secret cause which was the poysoning of the brayne being not found for that they did not search the head Therefore to stop the rumour hir death was spread abroade in publike writings and billes Hir body was caryed to Vendosme and there sumptuously buryed according to the maner of the religion The King and Queene to declare their sorow and griefe put on mourning weed and commaunded all the court to doe the lyke The Queene of Nauar being thus deade the King so dealt with hir sonne Henrie with the Admirall and with the rest of the noble mē of the religion that hir death seemed to hasten forward the marriage Therefore within fewe dayes the mourning for the Queene of Nauar was layde aside in the court The King practized another subtletie to appoint the day of marriage for the which so many delayes had bene hitherto made He sayd oftentimes to the Prince of Nauar and to the Admiral that this time was differred by a certaine superstitious care of his mother of his sister and of the Cardinal of Borbon who mynded to marry them looking for the Popes dispensation by which they were to haue leaue to marry He fayned therfore that he had receyued letters from Rome from his Ambassadour by which he gaue them to vnderstande that the cardinal of Lorhain by his diligence had obtained the Popes dispensation which he would send with al speede possible and that he had sent him worde hereof out of hande that the King might not thinke the same long a comming Therefore the King shewed these letters vnto his mother to his sister and to the Cardinall of Borbon The Queene reioyced and sayde that the same was sufficient to ende the matter euen as if she had not knowne that they were fayned letters and that there was no impediment nowe but that the marriage might be solemnized Therfore it was agreed by consent on eyther part that the marriage day should be the .xviiij. of August THE towne of Mountes was besieged by the duke of Alba Lodowic Nassau was in the town with a great number of the nobilitie of Fraunce M. Genlis a noble man came with 500. horsemen and .4000 footemen with the kings consent to succour the besieged But the duke of Alba hauing priuie intelligence from the king of the cōming of M. Genlis of the which he suspected nothing encountred with him and distressed verie sore many of his souldiers being slayne some wounded and some taken prysoners Also monsieur Genlis and La Noe generalles of that armie were taken prysoners The rumour of this ouerthrowe seemed to be verie grieuous vnto the Kyng and to the whole court And by and by the King sent his letters vnto mons Monducet his Ambassadour in the lowe countrey which was with the Duke of Alba to see that no iniurie nor harme were done to mons Genlis and to the reste which were taken in battell ▪ Monducet did the kings Ambassage diligently to the Duke of Alba. The Admiral being certified of these commaundementes of the king and also of the diligence of Monducet with the Duke of Alba was wonderfully persuaded of the kings faythfull meaning to take warre in hande whome he heard oftentimes to say that he woulde one day be reuenged on the Duke of Alba and on the Spaniardes In the meane time the king gaue commission to the Admirall to leuie a newe armie that with a freshe supply of souldiers he might succour the besieged The myndes of them of the religion were greatly ioyous bicause of the marriage at hand Notwithstanding pitiful rumours went abrode dayly which they for the most part wold in no wise beleue construing al things to the best It is most certaine that many wise men after the death of the Queene of Nauar suspected that there was some fraude coloured vnder the pretence of matrimony and that the same deceit was specially practized to insnare the Admirall And it is certainly true that the Admiral was oftentimes admonished both by wordes and also by letters not to aduenture him selfe in so great an assembly and that too within the walles of Paris where the Guises were in great fauour and estimation And amongst other admonitions one deliuered vnto him a book the summe scope wherof was this Remēber that this is a decree of the Catholikes confirmed by authoritie That there is no faith to be kept with Heretikes by which name they of the religion are specially called Remēber that there is euerlasting hatred kindled against those of the religion by the enuie of the former warres so that there is no doubt but that the ful purpose and intent of the Queene is to destroy by all manner of means those of the Religion That an Italyan woman of the Popes progenie and of a subtile and craftie wit can not but seke all extremities against hir enimies consider in what schole the king hath bin trayned and brought vp that for this 12. yeeres space he hath learned of his scholemasters to sweare to blaspheme to forsweare to ioyne him self with whoores and harlots to dissemble his fayth his religion and his thoughtes to chaunge and frame his countenaunce and to reioyce in bloud that he might suffer his subiects to be slaine like beasts Thou knowest that the King is persuaded in the doctrine of Machiauel howe that he ought not to suffer in his realme any other religion than that vpon the which his state standeth and that he hath often learned this that it is not possible for his kingdome to be quiet so long as there are two religions at once in the same And it is certaine that hatred is planted in the kings mind being a yong man and he hath bin often times persuaded by false argumentes that they of the religion haue gone about to spoile him both of his kingdome and also of his life Thou art deceyued if that thou thinke that the king or any other such prince as he is will at any time suffer those subiects which shall by warre rise against him though vpō neuer so iust a cause to vse and enioy the benefite of his lawes But be thou rather persuaded of this that this is naturally ingrauē in the myndes of kings and princes to reuenge that by force of armes which is done against them by like force And that a Kyng and Princes will freely breake those couenants which they haue made eyther for feare or for necessitie so soone as those causes shall ceasse And that they holde this for a lawe That those conditions which the Prince hath made with the subiectes ought not to be kepte specially when he made them in warre the fayth ought to be broken for the kyngdoms sake That they make no conscience to deceyue the subiectes vnder the colour of a solemne othe These are the subtile sleyghts of Princes this is the discipline to preserue kingdomes Antonius Commodus at the last ceassing from his pleasures
and promise And Mongomeri was by and by brought vnto the king But what was decreed concerning him wee will shewe hereafter And within fewe dayes Saulo and Charent were yelded vp to the king This was the successe of Mongomeries warre He was taken the xxvij day of May of this yeere THE King was sicke dayly more and more And being sore greeued and payned certayne monethes dyed the thirtie day of May being Whitsunday otherwise called Pentecoste he being of the age of xxv yeeres All monumēts and chronicles will for euer declare that his raigne and tyme of gouernment was most disquiet and troublesome with cruell outragious garboyles of ciuill warres notable with examples of vnspeakeable treason and crueltie and most lamentable to all the inhabitantes of France all order being troden vnder foote by the subtill practises of straungers His sicknesse was wonderfully cloaked and in secrecie couered wherefore I cannot perticularly expresse any thing for certayne Tyme shall discouer and bewray euery circumstance Most certayn it is that he was sicke of a bloudy flixe And it is reported for truth among the greater parte that the bloud issued from diuers partes of his body that in his bed hee tumbled and tossed and could take little rest horribly cursing and blaspheming the name of God which he had vsed to doe euen from his childehood and that in great fume and anger hee called and repeated oftentymes the name of the Momorencies And bicause it was vehemently suspected that he was poysoned to make him with more ease to vomit men say that hee was bolstered vp with pillowes that his feete might lye hyer than his head whereby he cast out such abundant store of bloud that hee dyed within fewe houres after And he did nothing but blaspheme vntill the last gaspe Concerning his last will and testament as the Queene offered the same to the Senat of Paris we wil speake in another place VVE spake before of the victorie gotten ouer the Prince of Oranges parte at Neijmegen The Spaniards being proudly puffed vp with the successe thereof foure thousand of them to whom Don d'Auila Liefetenant of the Castell of Andwerpe and also Captayne of the armie had promised the paye of xxxviij monethes which was due vnto them if they gotte the victorie against Lodowic these foure thousand I say raysing sedition against the Citie of Andwerpe being the most famous and rich towne of Marchantes in all Europe brake foorth in the night by a bridge which they had set to the wals the Spaniardes which were in the Castel suffering the same Then comming into the market place placing watche and ward in diuers places made a great crye for payment of their money threatning the general spoyle of the Citie if they were not satisfied out of hande Concerning the which matter while the Citizens of Andwerpe consulted with the Kings deputie the Spaniardes in the meane tyme by the space of two monethes spoyled and tooke their pleasure of the Citie in moste shamefull manner The Duke Reguizens the Kings deputie fayning that he was greatly displeased with this sedition of the Spaniardes for there are some which beleue that he was the author and cause of all that tumult bicause the states of the low countrey had before that tyme refused to pay that money which he often tymes required of them hauing at the last obtayned of the Spaniards the summe of CCCC M Crownes pardoned the Spaniardes for the sedition and professed with taking an othe that he would neuer for that matter eyther generally or particulerly execute any punishment vppon them whereat all the States were not a little offended For of this tumult this happened that the Prince of Oranges parte being greatly abashed with the slaughter at Nijmegen receyued now agayne courage and boldnes all the whyle that the Spaniardes continued the tumult in Andwerpe Moreouer it happened that while the Spaniardes were occupied in receyuing paying of money on Whitsunday in Saint Michaels house which standeth vppon the key or shore of the Riuer of Scelde the Prince of Oranges Nauie tooke and caryed out of the chanell of Schelde in the sight of many standers by vppon the shore foure and twentie shippes of warre laden with gunnes armour and victual This is most certayne that there could happen nothing more conuenient to promote the affayres of the Prince of Orange nor any thing more effectuall to ouerthrow the force of the Spaniardes than that tumult raysed in Andwerpe The which shal dayly more and more appere by the successe of the same Yea come Lord Iesu Anno. M.D.LXX. The Queene of Nauar and other nobles come to Rochell The marriage between the King and the Emperours daughter Hartburning betweene the King and the Duke of Aniou Murder cōmitted at Orange vppon those of the Religion Murder at Roane Subsidies and taxes The first motion of the marriage Anno. M.D.LXXI A great frost A Sinode holden at Rochell The Queene of Nauar commeth to the Court. Lycence to marry sent for to Rome The Admiral marrieth his second wife Floudes of water An erthquake Anno. M.D. LXXII A Synode at Nismes Famine in Languedoc An admonitiō to the Admirall Mongomerie escapeth with others by flight Anno domini 1572. A generall feare insued that horrible murder Switzerland and Germany disquieted with the troubles of Fraunce Prouision for warre The greate dissipation of them of the Religion Crueltie somewhat mitigated Those Cities whiche were held by them of the Religion The purpose of the Religious condēned of many Those few of the Religion vncertayne what to doe Constāt purpose of defēce A notable myracle of this fourth motion after the murder The Admiral misliked the wickednesse of hys souldiers Pollicie vsed to take Rochell A solemne fast appointed in Rochell Rochel refuseth to receiue Monsieur Biron Murder at Burdeaux Open war against Rochel Rochell prepareth for defence The state of Montauban The richer sort mind to yeeld vp the Citie The better part of the Religious mind to hold the Citie Varietie of counsayles Villeneufe takē by treason The example of falsehoode in the Catholiques The answere of the citizens of Nismes Preparation of war against Languedoc The state of Sanserre The state of the religious in Daulphine Many fell away from the Religion The behauiour of the noble men in Daulphine Mombrune a noble and valiant man. The Kings Edict for the calling home of suche as were fled The King goeth about to dryue them that were fled for Religion out of Switzerlande The Quenes Maiestie Godmother to the French kings daughter They of Rochell are put to proscriptiō by the King. Mons le Noe commeth to Rochel The begynning of the seege of Rochell The noble men within Rochel are assayed to be brought to defection Certaine milles ouerthrowne by the Catholykes d' Anuil commeth into Languedoc with an army The vnprofitable warre of d'Anuil in Languedoc Sommiron is besieged The state of them in Languedoc The affayres of Sanserre The affayres
vtter destructiō Wherevpon the Kings officers were not so forwarde in theyr affayres as else they would haue bin thinking that they did but lose their labour in a matter most easie to be finished Notwithstanding an armie was prepared and the King by his letters instantly required Monsieur Beleur whiche was hys Lidgar in Switzerlande for the same purpose to sende with all speede a band of Switzers FOR there remayned as yet certayne cities whiche were held and garded by those that were left of the Religion as Rochel Sanxer and in Languedoc Montauban Castres Nismes Milliaud Aubenac Priuac Mirebel Ganges Anduz and certaine other townes of no fame in the territorie of Viuaueretz and Seuenats Notwithstanding it seemed to many yea and to the most part of such as professed the Religion greate folly ioyned with madnes after so great a slaughter almost of all that professed the Religion the kings power being nothing deminished hauing the whole kingdom redy at his cōmandemēt for thē to enterprise presume to defend them selues against the armie of so mighty a king after so great cōsternatiō feare whē as not only none of the Princes but also not one noble mā almost was lefte in Frāce which durst so much as professe the loue he bare to the Religion There were also and that not a few whiche sayd that it was great wickednesse vnlawful for subiects hauing no authoritie from princes or chiefe magistrates to beare armour agaynste their king though he were wicked that by the effect and successe it selfe it had appeared that the forceable resistance of them of the Religion hitherto was vngodly though it were collected by the authoritie of the princes and by lawfull titles both for that the king was in his minoritie and also bycause the breaking of the kings Edicts might be lawfully punished for that the kings wil was in expresse words declared That in this enterprise all things faile and that the king is a man that there wante Princes to whome the aucthoritie of gouerning the kingdome shuld belong and that the king doth playnely professe that he wil not hurt them of the Religion but that he commaunded that murder to be committed with purpose to destroy the Admiral and other the chiefe aucthors and instrumentes of the warre that the kingdome afterwarde might remaine in peace And that although in this matter he exceeded the rule of reason yet it was not lawful for the subiect to rebell against him or for the subiect to punishe his lorde and king for his offence There were also some which vtterly condemned the gouernment of the prince of Conde and of the Admirall in their actes and exployts of the yeeres past and through the enuie of the lamentable successe haue brought the whole cause in hatred And those false accusations of Carpenter and Pibrach in their Epistle to that famous man Stanislaw Heluidius were oftentimes obiected by exulcerated and gaulled mindes to make the remembrance of the former warres detestable So that a man woulde haue thought that the Religion had bin extinguished for euer in Fraunce and concerning this matter many of them disputed with odious wordes whiche in time of the former warres had highly commended the causes to take the same in hand And thus calamitie was counted for great reproch and shame such is the greate rashnesse of men in iudging of matters ALSO in those Cities whiche as yet had not receyued the Kings Garrisons these dissentions were very ryfe and the Citizens being distract and vncertayne what to do seemed not so much to delay and deferre the Kings Garrison as to spend the tyme to the ende that euery one myght get for him selfe the more conuenient oportunitie and occasion to flee and escape away or els to get fauour agayne thys was the common will and purpose of the Townesmen Notwithstanding God vsed the diligence of a fewe to bring the rest to a constant purpose and the feare of the cruell murders committed perswaded the people to defende them selues that for somuch as they were in vndoubted perill of death they myght if it so pleased the Lorde choose the more honest kinde of death by the lawfull right of necessary defence the Magistrate him selfe vrging them therevnto THEREFORE amidst so many and so great difficulties and extremities it seemed impossible that Religiō should stand by any manner of meanes and so euerlasting destruction seemed to be broughte vppon the Churches of Fraunce In these straits of great calamitie the prouidence of God of such beginnings as were so weake and so farre from the iudgemente of humane reason made a way for so much more glory as the disorder and confusion of all thinges was past hope of recouerie The chiefe Captaynes were gone the ayde and help of forreine Princes wanted yet notwithstanding the present helpe and helping fauour of God in due tyme fayled not Yet for all that there remayne suche greate things of so weake and feeble a beginning euen vntill this day that this same seemeth to be especially the counsaile and finger of God that the force and strēgth of noblemen beyng cut off he alone mighte be counted the author of his worke and mighte make manifest his manyfolde wisdome in this worke I may not dissemble and in making this a preface for the narration to come I swarue not from my purpose both those noble men and ringleaders which tooke vppon them the ordering and defence of this cause and also in part they of the Religion themselues in the former yeeres past offended many wayes Much disorder verily and many faults came by the ciuill warres in somuch that among those of the Religion the puritie of Religion beeing contaminated and defyled with true occasions of true accusations was euill spoken of For it is well knowen that the Admirall him selfe in those former warres protested not once but often That he had rather dye any kinde of death than he would be counted any longer a Gouernour and Captayne of such a leawde and wicked route of common souldiers most vnworthy of the bare name of Religion for such he knew many of his band to be God therefore iustly punished those mē which abused his Religion neuerthelesse hee dyd not neyther wyll hee leaue vnfinished the worke which he hath begonne But is there any man so blynde which seeth not what great punishments remayne for those which for the mortall hatred they beare to the poore Religion haue set to theyr helping hand to commit a most detestable fact seeing that to fyll vp the measure of extreme wickednesse all shewe of right and equitie is set asyde in so much that there remayneth no excuse for the same But to returne to our purpose agayne THEREFORE this fourth warre is more wonderfull than the three first bycause of most weake and feeble beginnings it had greater and more notable successe in so much that when the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other noble
men wyth helpe and ayde from forreyne Princes tooke part no suche worthy effectes ensued the reason and grounde of the cause neuer more euidently shyned from out of the deepe pit of extreme calamitie without any ayde of strangers and wythout the meanes of greater helpes than it shall appeare by the cōmemoration of this historie This then was the Kyngs state and this was the cace of them of the Religion after that butcherly murther committed on Saint Bartholmewes day being the foure and twentie of August For as we haue sayde that small remnant of them of the religion were brought to this exigent that seeing them selues far vnequall to matche with the Kings power they were ready of their owne accorde to yeelde them selues into his hande Notwithstanding when they sawe that murthers were committed vpon them of the Religion with no lesse crueltie than before in dyuers cities all they which were in the Kyngs power and in the danger of the Catholiques beganne to loke about them and at the length to deuise some honest way whereby they myght defende them selues So that in the deepe desperation of all thyngs seruing for necessary defence desperation founde out a way and a sure and certayne persuasion to bring the same to effecte supplyed most effectuall reasons of defence in this confusion and nakednesse The happy defence of Rochell dyd not a lyttle incourage the myndes of other men to fyrme and valyant constancie Fyrst of all therefore we wyll begynne with Rochell and then we wyll speake seuerally of the rest in order MONSIEVR Strossi and the Lorde de Guarde receyued charge to take Rochell and we haue oftentimes sayde that a nauy of shippes was prouided there already to the same end They then goe about to get in their souldiers into Rochell sometyme vnder the coloure to buy marchandise and sometime vnder the colour of visiting theyr frindes Notwithstandyng they of Rochell were alway vigilant and warie and hearyng of the cruell murther committed at Paris caused more dilygent watche and warde to be kept In the meane tyme monsieur Strossi ▪ and de Guarde vrged them of Rochell with the authoritie of the Kyngs letters both to receyue into the towne the Kyngs garrison and also to gyue vnto them great plentie of victuals to furnysh their shippes This they of Rochell denyed and withstoode that the nauy myght departe from thence affyrming that they dyd nothing agaynst their dutie and auncient pryuiledges by whiche they were exempted from al garrisons sauyng from that which they should leuie within their owne citie and wherby they had leaue to defende them selues by force of Armes and that they coulde not spare any of their prouision of victuals Then they which were for the Kyng founde fault with the townesmen of Rochel bycause many came vnto them from diuers partes of the realme and were receyued into the citie without any let To this they of the towne answered that they admitted no strangers but onely the inhabitantes of the realme whiche came about their affayres and marchandise the whiche was nothyng contrarie eyther to their office or custome whenas the Kyngs souldiers had leaue to come into the citie They were also required by the Liefetenant of Guian mounsieur Monpaz which was their neighbour not to shew thēselues obstinat wilful in refusing to receiue the kings garison shewing them that the king was carefull for their safetie and that therefore he dyd so prouide for them and that it was not lykely that he woulde bryng any detryment or dammage to hys Cyties also that hee had iustly punyshed the wyckednesse of Rebelles by the slaughter at Paris not minding continually to be seuere against his subiects Therefore he affyrmed that it was more for their safetie to deserue the Kings fauour by obedience There came certayne noble men of the Religion to Rochell from those places whiche were nearest adioyning therevnto as from the territories of Santonge Onic Poictou and Lymosin which sought the safetie of their life there came also about these fyrst beginnings about fiue and fiftie Pastors or Ministers of Churches and of the common sort of people about a thousande and fyue hundred souldiers out of dyuers parts of the Realme and many which were escaped from the slaughter of Paris The nynth and eleuenth daye of September there was appoynted at Rochel a common and solemne fast to be helde the whiche rite the Church obserued in olde time in time of trouble to a laudable and fruitefull ende They of Rochel hauing obtayned at the hands of Monsieur Strossi and Baron de Guardes safe conduct sent messengers vnto the King beseeching him that the nauie mighte bee remoued from that parte by his commaundemente for that the countrey thereabout had receyued great dammage thereby THE King had gyuen commandement to Monsieur Biron a noble man to gouerne Rochel who as we haue sayd before had taken great paynes in the former warres about the intreatie of peace This noble man deliuered to them of Rochel very friendly and louing letters by which he exhorteth them to obey the king and to commit them selues quietly to his trust bycause he had receyued authoritie from the king to gouerne them in so doing they shoulde see by proofe that he esteemed nothing more than of their safetie Strait after this came Monsieur Audenarz a noble mā also in the Kings name with very large letters of the Kings in the which the king exhorted them to shewe theyr obedience giuing them to vnderstande that hee determined in his minde nothyng more than to keepe and defende them in their houses in peace and safetie vnder the gard warrant of his Edictes requiring them herevpon to acknowledge him to be a true and faythfull interpreter of his owne minde Monsieur Audenarz being admitted into the Senat of Rochel perswaded very much to this ende and purpose certifying them of the singular good will of the king towardes them He promiseth that the king wil graunt them the libertie of Religion vpon cōdition that they would receyue Monsieur Biron and woulde graunt free recourse and trafique to all straungers whatsoeuer inhabiting the realme To this they of Rochel answered the king by their letters the true copie whereof is as followeth The answere of the Gentlemen Captaynes Burgeses and other beeing in the towne of Rochel to the commaundements that haue bene giuen them in the name of the king to receyue garrisons WE the Gentlemen Captaynes Burgeses and others now being in the towne of Rochel doe giue answere to such commaundements as are giuen to vs in the name of hys Maiestie that we cannot acknowledge that the same which is signified vnto vs and the publishing of the proclamation requyred at our handes doe proceede from his Maiestie And thereof we call to witnesse his Maiestie himselfe his letters of the .xxij. and .xxiiij. of August his owne signet and the publishing of the same letters by which his sayde Maiestie layeth all the fault of all the