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A62475 The history of the bloody massacres of the Protestants in France in the year of our Lord, 1572 written in Latin by the famous historian, Ja. Aug. Thuanus ; and faithfully rendred into English. Thou, Jacques-Auguste de, 1553-1617.; Stephens, Edward, d. 1706. 1674 (1674) Wing T1075; ESTC R10093 52,145 74

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through the streets of Paris than to take up Civil Arms again 2. Among other letters there was one brought to him being now come to Paris written very smartly after this manner Remember that it is an established Decree of the Papists upon the account of Religion and confirmed by the authority of Councils that Faith is not to be kept with hereticks in the number of which Protestants are accounted Remember also that Protestants upon the account of the former Wars do lie under an eternal odium so that it is not to be doubted but this is the Queens resolution that Protestants be rooted out by any means whatsoever Add to this that it cannot be but that a woman that is a stranger and an Italian descended of the race of the Popes whom they oppose and of a Florentine and guileful nature should study all extremities against her enemies Consider moreover in what School the King was educated in which he drew in with his milk under his good Tutors this Doctrine that he should make it a sport to swear and forswear to use the name of God profanely to defile himself with Whoredomes and Adulteries to dissemble his Faith Religion Counsels to set his countenance according to occasion And that he might be accustomed to the effusion of the bloud of his Subjects he was taught from his childhood to behold the slaughters and butcheries of * And of men also v. l. 24. p. 275. beasts that he is setled in this perswasion to suffer no Religion in his Kingdom but that which may uphold his state according to the opinion of his Master Machiavel otherwise it would never be at Peace so long as two Religions flourished in it and that it was instilled into his ears that the Protestants did decree to spoil him of his Life and Empire And therefore he would never suffer the Protestants who had once whether upon a just or unjust cause taken up Arms against him to enjoy the benefit of his Edict but that he would with Arms revenge what was done with Arms against him nor would he look upon himself obliged to keep his Covenants which he had entred into with his armed Subjects These are the Arts of Princes the Elements of Policy the Arcana Imperii So Commodus of old commanded Julian whom he owned and embraced as his Father to be slain Thus Antonius Caracalla under pretence of mustering slew the prime youth of the City So Lysander cut the throats of eight hundred Milesians called together under pretence of friendship and society So Sergius Galba raged upon six thousand Spaniards and lately by the command of Antonius Spinola the chief men of the Isle of Corsica were called together to a Feast and slain In our memory did Christiern a King of a barbarous nature use the same arts in the Massacre of Stockholm So heretofore Charles 7 though reconciled to the Duke of Burgundy yet abstained not from killing him though he begged for his life Nor are the discourses that the King lately had with his mother at Blois unknown For when in a jocular manner profanely using as his custom is the name of God he asked her whether he had not acted his part handsomely at the coming of the Queen of Navar the Queen answered that he had begun well but these beginnings would little advantage him unless he proceeded But I said he with often repeated oaths will bring them all into your toils From these words the truth whereof you may be assured of you ought to take counsel and if you are wise get out of the City and so from the Court as from a most filthy sink with all the speed as may be 3. Coligni having read this letter though he was not a little troubled at it yet that he might not seem altogether to neglect the admonitions and intreaties of his friends made answer That there was no place left for these suspitions that he could never perswade himself that so great perfidiousness could enter into so good a King than whom France for this many years never had a better That Anjou indeed was more averse to the Protestant party but that hatred would now cease even out of respect to the affinity contracted with the King of Navar. For the rest the League entred into with England and that which the King was now making with the Protestant Princes of the Empire did sufficiently shew how he stood affected to the Protestants when as he would have one of the Sons of the Elector Palatine in his retinue and some one of the English Nobles as Leicester or Burgleii who were most forward for Religion Moreover he had given his Faith to the Prince of Orange and Nassau his Brother concerning aids against the Spaniards and that a great supply was preparing in the place of those who were routed under Jenlis their leader That John Galeacius Fulgosius who lately returned from Florence did assure them that Cosunus would lend the King two hundred thousand Aurei towards that War That the King's Ambassador did carefully pry into the counsels of the Duke of Alva and daily acquaint the King with them That this he knew every day from the King That the Navy that Philip Strossy and Polinius Garda do command at Broage and upon the Coasts of Poictou was not prepared to any other use but to disturb the Spanish Fleet which being done it shall go to help the Prince of Orange at Flushing As for himself and his own particular safety all might be secure of that for that he through the King's means is reconciled to the Guises each engaging their Faith to the King that they would neither of them hereafter impeach one the other Lastly that the King did all he could to make Peace at home and War abroad and that he might transfer the War into the Low-Countreys and against the Spaniards Wherefore he prayed the Author of the writing and others that are of his mind that they would no more with these suspitions trouble his mind which was taken up with more weighty businesses and better designs but rather that they would joyning their prayers with his beg of God that he would prosper things so well begun and bring them at last to an happy end for the good of the Church and Kingdom 4. The same things were written to Coligni from the Rochellers which he did in as friendly manner take off with all moderation and constancy Therefore when they could not divert him from that mind they set upon the King of Navar with Letters dated 6 of the Eids of July July 10th in which they dehort him upon the same accounts that he should take care of himself and not go to Paris He was then at the Nuptials † Vid. l. 50. p. 787. of Henricus Condaeus his Unckle's Son and Mary of Cleve his near Kinswoman which were celebrated at Blandia a Castle of Jo. Roan Marchioness of Rotelin who was Mother to Frances of Aurleans * Vid.
l. 35. p. 559. last Wife to Lewis of Conde within the jurisdiction of Melun Therefore he despising the warnings of his Friends the Nuptials of the Prince of Conde being finished comes to Paris with him and a great retinue of Protestants in the beginning of August where new delays are purposely invented by the Queen for whereas at first there was hope given of favour to be obtained from the Pope by the Cardinal of Lorain who was then at Rome to remove the obstacle of proximity and difference in Religion a Breve was brought to Charles Cardinal of Burbon designed to finish the business wherewith notwithstanding he said he he was not satisfied therefore he desired another more full might be sent from Rome wherein it might be more amply provided for him Therefore the King laid the fault of the delay upon the Cardinal of Burbon who he said by way of scorn was tied up by superstition and I know not what scruples of conscience and by that means great injury was done to his Margarite so he called his Sister who bore it very impatiently to have the fruit of her so long expected joy deferred 5. When in the mean time Coligni pressed that the publick proclaiming of the Low-Countrey War so often deliberated about and approved of and now whether he would or not begun might be no longer deferred he again made delays and declined it and often replied to him importuning him that he had not any Counsellor or Officer of his Army to whose faithfulness industry and diligence he could commit so great an affair For some were wholly addicted to the party of the Guises others had other faults of their own of his Secretaries there was only Bernardus Fiza whom he could entrust with this secret At last it was agreed that the affair should be committed to Momorancy and Fiza with which shews of unfeigned familiarity as he took it and ingenuous freedom Coligni being deceived would not perswade himself any thing otherwise than of truly Kingly virtue or think hardly of the most excellent King 6. Amidst these delays those things as it should seem being altogether composed about which before there was a difference among the Conspirators there came Letters by secret comport from the King's Ambassador with the Pope in which the King is certified of a dispensation now granted and shortly to be sent from Rome by Post wherein the scrupulous conscience of Burbon was fully satisfied therefore when upon the 16th of the Kalends of September August 17th they were contracted by Cardinal Borbon in the Louvre the next day after the Nuptials were celebrated An high Scaffold is erected before the gates of the great Church by which they descended by stairs unto a lower Scaffold which being on every side railed in to keep off the multitude did lead through the Church to the inner apartment commonly called the Chore. From thence another Scaffold encompassed with rails did receive those that went out of the Chore toward the left gate which reached to the Bishop's Palace thither came out of the Louvre with all Royal Pomp and most magnificent shew the King the Queen-Mother with the Brethren the Dukes of Anjou and Alanson the Guises the Colonels of the Horse the chief Peers of the Kingdom leading along the Bride who lodged that night in the Bishop's Palace And from the other part the King of Navar with the Princes of Conde and Contie his Cousins Coligni Admiral of the Sea Franciscus Count de la Roche-fou-eault and a great company of the Protestant Nobles who came together out of all Provinces of the Kingdom When the King had ascended to that higher Scaffold the Ceremonies in manner as was agreed being performed by Cardinal Borbon the King and Navar with his Party came by the lower Scaffold into the Chore where having placed his Wife before the great Altar to hear Mass he with Coligni and Count de la Roche-fou●eault and the other Nobles of his Retinue went into the Bishop's Palace by the contrary door afore-mentioned from whence after Mass was ended being recalled by D'Anvil he came into the Chore again and kissing his new Bride before the King Queen and the Brethren when they had entertained one another some little while with discourse they returned into the Bishop's Palace where dinner was provided And I well remember when as Mass being ended I was admitted through the rails into the Chore and standing nigh to Coligni while I fixed my eyes upon him and curiously observed him I heard him say discoursing with d'Anville and looking up to the Ensigns fastned up and down and the sad Monuments of the Battel of Bassac and Moncountour That ere long these being taken down others more pleasing should be set up in their places which words then he meant of the Low-Country War which as he thought was now resolved upon others interpreted as though he had thoughts of a new Civil War which he so much abhorred 7. After Dinner they went into the Palace where a royal Supper was prepared and all orders of the City and the Senate together with the Courts of Accounts Customs and Treasury are entertained according as is usual in a most sumptuous manner a short time was spent in dancing afterwards interludes were brought in The representation of three Rocks silvered over upon which the three Brethren the King the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Alanson did sit and seven more upon which Gods and Sea-monsters were set which followed being drawn along in Coaches and were brought through the great Hall of the Palace which was divided by a triumphal arch in the middle and when they made a stand some choice Musitians recited Verses in their own Tongue composed by the best of their Poets And thus a great part of the night being spent in interludes they afterwards betook themselves to their rest The next day being not able to rise before the Sun was got high at three a clock after-noon they went to dinner at the Duke of Anjou's Palace where after dancing they went toward the evening to the Louvre The day following being Wednesday running at Tilt and interludes which had been a long while in preparing were exhibited at the Cardinal Bourbon's Palace there were represented upon the right hand the Mansions of the blessed and a little below the Elysian-fields possessed by 12 Nymphs on the other side on the left-hand was represented Hell flaming with fire and brimstone and full of sprights and frightful ghosts The Brethren the King the Duke of Anjou and the Duke of Alanson defended Paradise as they called it which many Knights Errant seeking to break into of whom Navar was Captain they were every one of them repulsed and at last thrown headlong down into Hell Then Mercury riding upon a Cock and together with him Cupid came sliding down to the defendants and then after much discourse with them returned into Heaven Then the three defendants came to the Nymphs wandring in the
forthwith to assign lodgings and the King gave command with a loud voice that all might hear it to one of the Colonels that no Catholick should be suffered to come thither nor should they spare the life of any that should do otherwise Upon this occasion the Corporals went from place to place and wrote down the names of Protestants and advised them to repair near to Coligny for that the King would have it so These and such like signs and whisperings abroad though they had been enough to have warned the Protestants if they had not been infatuated yet by the constant dissimulation of the King it came to pass that Coligny and Teligny could not perswade themselves that any such cruelty was in his mind Therefore when the Nobles entred into consultation in the Chamber of Cornaton in the house of Coligny upon the same matter and the Visdame of Chartres persevered in the same opinion that they should depart the City as soon as might be and prevent that imminent danger though with some disadvantage to Coligny's health who yet was that day somewhat better Teligny was of opinion and Navar and Conde agreed with him that they should stay in the City otherwise they should offer a great affront to the King that was so well affected towards them 14. There was a suspition lest this should be caried to the King by one that was then present that was Buchavanius Bajancurius one very familiar with the Queen who presently hasted to the Tuilleries where a Counsel was held by the Conspirators under a colour of walking there was the last time that they consulted of the manner of executing the design There were present besides the King Queen and Anjou the Dukes of Nevers and Angolesme the Bastard Biragus Tavannes and Radesianus And since by the death of one man whom the Physitians did affirm was like to recover of his wound the grievance of the Kingdom which was nourished by him and diffused into many could not be extinguished it seemed good that it should be suppressed by the ruine of all and that wrath which God would not have to be satisfied with the bloud of Coligny alone should be poured out upon all the Sectaries That was their voluntary resolution at first and now by the event necessity and force is put upon their counsels that the danger that hangs over the King and the whole Kingdom cannot be avoided without the ruine of Coligny and all the Protestants For what would not he do so long as the faction of the Rebels remains entire after such an injury who when he was no way provoked was so long injurious to the King and hurtful to the Kingdom whom now all might foresee and dread going out of Paris with his party as a Lion out of his den raging against all without respect Therefore the reins are to be let loose to the people who are of themselves ready enough nor ought they any longer to withstand the will of God which would not that more mild Counsels should take effect After the thing is effected there will not want reasons whereby it may be excused the fault being laid upon the Guisians which they would gladly take upon them Therefore all agreed upon the utter ruine of the Protestants by a total slaughter To which opinion the Queen was even by her own nature and proper design enclined some time was spent in deliberating * The Duke of Guise was urgent to have the King of Navar and the Prince of Conde slain with the rest Dav. p. 370. It was also debated whether among the rest they should comprehend the Marshal d'Anville 〈◊〉 his Brothers who professed the Catholick Religion but were nearly related to Coligny but they were spared 〈…〉 the oldest brother Mar●…al M●●●…●●●y was absent Da. p. 370. whether Navar and Conde should be exempt from the number of the rest and as for Navar all their suffrages agreed upon the account of his Royal Dignity and the Affinity that he had lately contracted For that fact which of it self could not but be blamed by many would be so much the more blamed if a great Prince near of Bloud to the King joyned in a very late affinity should be slain in the King's Palace in the arms as it were of the King his Brother-in-law and in the embraces of his Wife For there would be no sufficient excuse nor would those arguments prevail to excuse the King which might cast the blame upon the Guisians Concerning Conde there was a greater debate he lying under the load of his Fathers faults yet both the dignity of the man and the authority of Ludovicus Gonzaga Duke of Nevers affirming that he would be loyal and obedient to the King and also offering himself as a surety for him upon the account of that close and manifold relation that was between them for Conde had lately married Mary of Cleve the Sister of Henrica Wife of the Duke of Nevers did prevail that he should be spared and exempt from the number of those that were designed for the slaughter as well as Navar. 15. Upon this the Duke of Anjou and Engolesme the Bastard departing as they rode in their Coach through the City they spread abroad a rumor as if the King had sent for Momorarcy and was about to bring him into the City with a select number of horse The very same hour there was one apprehended who was suspected of the hurt of Coligny who confessed himself to be a servant of the Guises which when it was understood Guise and Aumale and others of the Family went to the King to remove that suspition and complain that they were oppressed through the favour that was shewed to their enemies that the ears of Judges were open to calumnies cast upon them and that tho they were guiltless yet they were manifestly set against that they had a long time observed that they were for what cause they knew not every day less gracious with the King but yet that they did dissemble it and hoped that time which is the best Master of truth would at last inform him more certainly of the whole matter But since they find no place for their innocence they did though unwillingly and as forced to it desire that with his good leave they might return home This was done openly and it was observed that the King answered to these things somewhat coldly and the rather that he might perswade the Protestants that he bare no good will to the Guisians Upon this the King adviseth Navar that he should afford no occasion of mischief to the audacity and violentness of the Guisians things being so enflamed and the people enclining to the Guisian party That he should command those whom he knew most faithful of his servants to come into the Louvre to be ready upon any sudden accident which Navar did interpreting it in good part calling those which were most active to lodge with him that night in the Louvre Castle