her King and elder Brother Henry and conjures them also to loyalty to throw away all private Interests and Factions and conclude in a firm peace and union The Confederates perceiving that they wanted an Head and so a main pretence to countenance their Arms to the people and that whatever they had hitherto gained was more by their dissembling then strength that also the Pope Paul II had censured them if they continued in open wars For King Henry was held an obedient son to the Bishops of Rome for which Calixtus III had sent him formerly an Hat and a consecrated Sword which they use to bless upon Christmas-Eve at night laying them upon the Altar where they say Mass And farther they recollected that upon Henries death Isabella was like to be Queen whereby they could procure no favour or benefit to themselves by opposing her peaceable desires Upon these considerations they consented to an Agreement so Articles are drawn up a Peace concluded on Donna Isabella is declared Princess of the c Las Asturias formerly of a larger extent is now â— little Province between Galicia Leon and Biscay lying upon the Cantabrian sea 'T is twofold Asturia de Oâ—iedo and Astur de Santillana As the Heirs of England are called Princes of Wales and those of France les Dauphins so are those to the Crown of Castile call'd Princes of the Asturias Upon what occasion this â—hort Scheme may shew Alphonso XI had amongst other Children Henry a Bastard Earl of Transâ—amara took the Kingdom from the Tyrant Pedro and stab'd him with his dagger he had John I. who had Henry III. Don Pedro el Cruel had amongst others a bastard call'd Constancia she was marryed to John of Gant Duke of Lancaster son to Edward III King of England Upon the death of Don Pedro sirnamed the Cruel though his bastard-Brother Henry II. seised upon the Crown and was acknowledged for King yet John of Gant Duke of Lancaster pretended the right to lye in him by reason of his Wife Constance and made some bustle about it Henry dying there succeeded his son John I. with whom and Lancaster a peace was concluded Lancaster to renounce all his Title to Castile and King John to marry his son Henry to Lancaster's Daughter Catherine which accordingly was accompish'd so both their pretensions united And for more honour Don Henry the young son was to be call'd Prince of the Asturias since which time the eldest sons of Castile were call'd Princes and the younger are titled Infantas This hapned about the year 1388. And so much by the way concerning the Title of Prince of Asturias yet do I finde Jehan Froissart who lived at this time to tell us that Henry was call'd Prince of Gallicia in his French Edition 1530. vol. 3. fol. 96. and fol. 143. In the old English Edition vol. 2. cap. 154. fol. 170. and cap. 176. fol. 214. Asturias and lawful Heir to the Kingdoms of Castile and Leon with their dependants What troubles hapned in Castile after this treaty being not considerable I shall pass over Donna Isabella now declared Heir several matches were consulted of but she secretly joyned her self with Don Fernando Prince of Girona and the eldest son living to John II King of Arragon At this marriage King Henry was greatly vext as being contrary to his desire and without his knowledge But at the long run the King becomes more pacified and at last a 1474. dying she succeeds as Queen of Castile and Leon although some busled for Joane the supposed Daughter of King Henry but she is generally thrown by as a bastard being begot of his Queen Joane by one Don Bertrand de la Cueva afterwards prefer'd for his kindness being created Earl of Ledesma Master of Santiago and Duke of Albuquerque As for Henry himself he is by all esteem'd as frigid and uncapable of such loves Not long after John II King of Arragon b 1479. dying that Kingdom was united to Castile by the fortunate former marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella Here might I descend into the troubles of Navar and tell how Don Carlos Prince of Viana took up Arms against his Father John King of Navar and Arragon Upon which quarrel began the great Factions of those of Beaumont and Grammont the first adhering to the Prince and the latter to the King and the feuds of these two potent Families was one of the main causes of the loss of Navar to the Spaniard those of Beaumont assisting Don Ferdinand in the conquest against their own King and Country Of which more hereafter In short the Prince being not able to keep the field withdrew himself to Naples for sometime thence returns endeavours new troubles upon which he is taken and secuâ—ed Upon this the Catalonians rebel and though Prince Carlos was set at liberty and c Some say he was poyson'd by his Step mother D. Joane to make way for heâ—â—â—son Ferdinando to the Crown of Arragon dyed presently after yet they continue their Treasons The people of Barcelona publickly declare King John an Enemy to his Country and so they would withdraw themselves from his obedience And the Catalonians sent to Henry IV. of Castile to desire him to take them under his protection they being resolved no more to obey the Crown of Arragon Don Henry accepts them so they set up the Banners of Castile At last after a tedious War they are vanquish'd forced to submit and King John giveth them all freely a pardon But of Spain more in the next Century A CONTINUATION OF THE REBELLIONS AND Treasonablepractices OF THE ROMANISTS Particularly in Spain Scotland and Ireland From the year MD. to MDC BOOK VI. CHAP. I. 1. John and Catherine King and Queen of Navar deprived 2. Pope Julius II. Sect. 1. John and Catherine King and Queen of Navar deprived THe Conquest of Navar being acted suddenly we year 1500 shall make the story of it but very short At the beginning of this Century we finde John d'Albret or Don Juan de la Brit and Donna Catherina King and Queen of Navar which had boasted it self a Kingdom almost DCCC years Ferdinand II King of Arragon having by his marrying with Isabella Queen of Castile enlarged his Authority and Dominions as also by his banishing the Jews and subduing the Moores to him in Granado made his Government more secure cast many a greedy a Jo. de Bussieres lib. 15. § 16. Spondan an 1512. § 21. thought upon the seising the Kingdom of Navar and then all of Spain Portugal excepted would be his own At last opportunity good enough as he thought offer'd it self which was thus Pope Julius II. a zealous Hotspur falling out with Lewis XII King of France Fernando sides with the Pope and having rais'd an Army not onely demands passage for it through Albrets Territories but the command of his strongest Castles and Fortifications and which was most the possession and custody of Prince Henry eldest son to Navar
on but some might have thought that all would have been spoil'd when the Pope perceived Michael to play the jugler and underhand to f Id. anno 1266. § 9. plot with Romes Enemies and that all his fair pretences were onely to get the ruine of his Lord Baldwin But no such matters for if the Pope got but his design he would wink at the others petty contrivances But this Pope ruled not long and after him the See being void for above two years by reason of the wrangling of the then few Cardinals no great matter was done onely Michael to look to himself At last Gregory X is set in the Roman Chair In the mean time Baldwin to strengthen himself marrieth his Son to the Daughter of Charles King of Sicily or Naples Charles seeing himself so neer related to an Empire resolves to gain it to which purpose he rais'd many Forces This puts Michael to his wits-ends in this distress scarce knowing whither to turn himself at last he knew the Pope used to be good Friends to such as he at a dead lift and therefore he sends to Gregory X newly made Pope to have the Union between the two Churches setled provided he would g Modo Caâ—olâ— expeditionem averteret Bzov. anno 1271. § 5. hinder Charles from his attempts against him And so the story of the Union goeth on not belonging to my purpose In short Michael Palaeologus must be true Emperour of Constantinople and Baldwin rejected nor must we think any injury done in this onely because it pleas'd this Gregory X so to order it and of this Example and Jurisdiction h De jure status l. 3. c. 4. p. 287 288. Thomas Bozius is not a little proud and how should the Pope who is infallible and hath power over all Kingdoms do injustice or wrong Sect. 4. The beheading of Conrado the young King of Naples HEre I might inlarge in relating the Popes Usurpations over the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily But I shall only instance in the misfortune of young Conradino who without any shew of Reason or Justice was basely deprived by the plots and contrivance of Pope Clement IV who putting his Oar in another mans Boat and year 1266 medling with that with which he had nothing to do very impudently gives these Kingdoms to the French Charles of Anjou and accordingly Crowns him King though I wonder how either he or St. Peter came to have any right to dispose of those Territories But thus is Theft Robbery and Treason sanctified and made legal by the Popes fiat Young Conradinus marcheth out of Germany to redeem his right Inheritance knowing none but Fools or Knaves would value such an Antichristian Donation Clement seeing Conradino not willing to loose his Kingdom sends to him to desist or else he will curse him with Bell book and Candle and prohibits all people to assist him Conradine knowing such Censures not to have been year 1268 justified to maintain wickedness marcheth on then the Pope falls to his Dog-tricks Excommunicates and deprives him and all those who take his part and qâ—its their Subjects from their Allegiance And because Conradine would not desist from his lawful engagement Bzovius in a fury shoots his Bolt and calls him an a Insolens juveâ—â—s an 1268. § 2. Insolent youth The young Prince thus put to it makes his lamentable case known to the World in which his Secretary or the Historian doth sometimes play the quibler He complain'd how Pope Innocent Naucler gener 43. p. 839. had abus'd him an b Sibi innocenti nocuerit Innocent for Conradus his Father King of Scicily by will left him a young thing in the care of the Church and then that Pope Innocent under the pretence of a Tutor seiz'd upon the whole Kingdom then endeavour'd to extinguish his name distributing his Lands amongst his own Kinsfolks â—hat Manfredo pretending to be his friend had cheated him too That Innocent dying Pope Alexander succeeded who also abused him inviting others to take possession of his Kingdom That Pope Urban dealt very c Sibi â—â—erat â—â—urbanus inurbanely perswading Manfredo to take the Kingdom to him but this bargain failing he would have Charles to undertake the business That this Pope dying the next viz. Clement had used all d Conâ—â—a â—um inclementer egerit inclemencie againct him setting up a e Antiregem false King Excommunicating him and depriving him of his lawful Title But see the misfortune of War the Armies of Conradinus and Charles meet Conradinus is overcome he and Frederick Duke of Austria are taken carryed to Naples and there imprisoned Then a f Convocatis ex toto Regno Syndicis Civitatum Spond anno 1269. § 7. Parliament or bloudy Rump call'd where King Conradinus and the Duke are condemn'd to dye a Scaffold is set up publickly in the City and for more pomp cover'd with Silk-Tapistry the two innocent Princes are had thither Frederick of Anstria is first beheaded whose head Conradinus kisseth then the young King having declared the injustice vindicated his own innocencie and pronounced a Some say Peter of Arragon Frederick some say Henry of Castile his Aunts Son to be the Heir to the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily as a token of which Investiture he threw his Glove amongst the people kneel'd down and had his head cut off Thus dyed Conradinus and Frederick neither of them being eighteen years old and to add more ignominy their Corps were not permitted to be buried in Consecrated ground because not absolved from the Popes Excommunication yet they tell us that Frederick of Austria's b Bzov. an 1268. § 11. head call'd upon the Virgin Mary after it was cut off and that a wonderful Mark remains in the place where this execution was done That the Pope perswaded to this cruelty I cannot say positively though c Page 841. Nauclerus hints as much and others affirm d Page 841. that his advice being asked about it he return'd this answer that d Vita Conradini mors Caroli mors Conradini vita Caroli Conradines life is Charles his death and Conradines death is Charles his life However it was no sooner was this wicked act done but the Heads-man was also slain that he might not boast of his spilling such Royal Bloud A poor come off as if those who pronounced judgement by this act could clear themselves from the guilt And some make it the worse and with reason because Charles himself was a spectator all the while to this bloudy Execution Though certainly the Pope might have saved all this bloudshed by permitting young and innocent Conradine to possess that which was left him by his Father and how unjustly his life was taken away d Page 841 853. Nauclerus will inform you CHAP. III. The troubles of Philip the Fourth sirnamed Le bel King of France with the pride of Pope Boniface the Eighth THe first thing
not exempted from the guilt of the offence although he escaped the punishment But let others dispute the Priviledge of Ambassadors and so I leave him as I finde him CHAP. VI. The Spanish Invasion THe greatest Enemies the Queen had were those whose births oblig'd them to obedience but whether their Religion its interest or some bad Principles of the Parties prompted them to such Treasons let others judge 'T is certain the Jesuits and other English Priests were the occasion of the Queen of Scots her ruine they still thrusting her on to so many inconveniences against the Queen and Kingdom that Elizabeth was the sooner perswaded to consult her own safety by taking away that which sought her overthrow As for these people when they saw no hope of restoring the Roman Religion either by Mary of Scotland nor her Son they Camden anno 1586 began to finde out new Masters and none more fit for them then the Spaniard whom they vapour'd to be Heir to the English Crown And concerning this a Vita Vincent Laurei Card. pag. 72. Ruggerius Tritonius Abbot of Pinaro in his life of Cardinal Vincentius Laurens tells us an odd passage viz. that Mary the Queen of Scots the day before she suffer'd death did under her own hand in the French Tongue declare that her Son James should not Inherit England if he remain'd a Protestant but that the right of the Kingdom should be translated to Philip of Spain And these Papers were sent to the said Cardinal Laureus being by Sixtus V. made Protector of Scotland who gave them to Conde Olivares then Ambassador for the King of Spain at Rome with order to send them to his Master Philip and this did Robertus Titius publish though without Tritonius the Authors knowledge and then living in Italy 1599. dedicating it to Cardinal Montalto And this is somewhat agreeable to one of the charges laid against her at her tryal that she sent a Letter to Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador wherein she promis'd to give her right of England to the King of Spain if her Son James would not be of the Romish perswasion The first of these Stories b History of Queen Mary James VI pag. 120. Mr. Sanderson looks upon as a meer trick and fable and whether she was really so concern'd for her Sons Religion as to use any means for his conversion to Popery King James can tell best himself and thus he saith c Monitory Preface to the Apology pag. 34. In all her Letters whereof I received many she never made mention of Religion nor labour'd to perswade me in it so at her last words she commanded her d Viz. Melvyn Master-houshold a Scotish Gentleman my servant and yet a live she commanded him I say to tell me that although she was of another Religion then that wherein I was brought up yet she would not press me to change except my conscience forced me to it For so that I led a good life and were careful to do Justice and govern well she doubted not but that I would be in a good case with the Profession of my own Religion But whether she undertook to give away the Title of England from her Son was no great matter it being against all Law Justice and Reason she having no power to dispose of the Inheritance of England yet the Romanists when all other endeavours fail'd to rob King James of his Kingdoms and life had the confidence about the year 1613. to a Jesuitica per unitas Belgii provincias Negotiatio E 4. publish a book affirming King James to be but a meer cheat or counterfeit and a mock-King denying him to be the Son of the aforesaid Queen Mary But laying aside such Forgeries that the Spaniard hath had a designe not onely to rule these Islands but to be the Universal Monarch hath been the opinion of many men amongst others I finde b Dessein perperuel des Espagnols a la Monarchie Universelle Pâ—inted 1624. in quarte one hath made an Extract from their Original Papers whither I shall refer the Reader But whatever his former attempts have been of late he hath rather lost then gain'd And though Naples Flanders Arragon Catalonia c. might do him some injury if they were in the possession of others yet as they stand divided and in a posture of defence he can never grow rich by their Coyn. But to return home Where we happen in the year which above an hundred years year 1588 before the famous German Astronomer Johannes Regiomontanus had affirm'd would be most wonderful The Prophesie it self Originally in the German Language went about by Tradition and Johannes Schoenerus repeated them to the noted Bohemian Mathematician c Ephemeridum Novum Ec. 10. Cyprianus Leovitius who first publish'd them 1577 which because they have made a great noise in the world though I finde no great matter in them seeing such general predictions may serve almost for any year take thus in the Original Tausent funff hunderâ— achtsig acht Das ist das Jar das ich betracht Geht in dem die Welt nicht under So gschicht doch sunst gross merctlich wunder Often have I been troubled at the fate Of the year fifteen hundred eightie eight And if the world it self don 't end you 'll see For its events most wonderful 't will be In this year I think France was the greatest sufferer the Covenanters or Leaguers there by their Barracado's forcing the King Henry III out of Paris and he to prevent his greater danger cut off the Cardinal and Duke of Guise which occasion'd so much war and his own Murther And besides these two the third party in that Kingdom viz. the Hugonots received a great loss by the Death of the Prince of Conde suppos'd by some to be poysoned England was in some fear and at some charges by the noise of the Invincible Armada but Spains loss was inestimable by its overthrow The Lord Maitland Chancellor of Scotland undertook in short thus to give us the year a Poet. Scot. vol. 2. pag. 138. Papa Dei petit Orbis Iber Dux Guisius Orci Regna annus mirus si potientur erit And b Id. pag. 133. Andrew Melvyn hath a Copy of Verses somewhat to the same purpose Upon this great Navy c Poet. Germ. vol. 6. p. 310. Simon Stenius d Poet. Gall. vol. 3. p. 655. Adeodatus Seba Beza and several other Forreigners bestow'd their Poetry to the no small trouble of the Index Expurgatorius which was forced to take the pains to casheer some of them For some years had this great Fleet been in preparing from several parts in the world but the History of the preparations fight and victory I shall leave to other Writers and follow mine own designe Certain it is the Spaniard scarce doubted of a Conquest which made one thus to despise the Queen Tu qui Romanos voluisti spernere leges Hispano disces subdere colla
vilifie and discourage her Priests thereby to make her contemptible to very Pagans yet for all this as all other Rebels do they make a grand shew of Zeal and Religion appointing such Prayers daily to be said for good success viz. The Pater Noster and Ave Maria and these five times a day and as a word of Cognizance they had the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist And thus constituted they were resolved to give no quarter but kill all their Opposers as Enemies and Traitors to God But by the assistance of the Emperour Maximilian I. and Lodowick the good Bishop of Spire this intended Rebellion was crushed in the very bud by a timely discovery being quell'd which occasioned the deserved punishment of several of the chief Undertakers But from this we shall proceed to another sort of Leaguers or Covenanters who carried on their Rebellions with more success and vigour which had like to have ruin'd the whole Kingdom of France In this League there were three Families chiefly concern'd of whom for the better understanding of the History we shall with all haste speak a word or two not that we design to set down all their Children leaving that to the Heralds but onely those who may afford some light to the more common Readers of this short Essay of the French League The Families are those of I. VALOIS ending by the death of Henry III. II. BOURBON next Heir to the Crown beginning with Henry IV. King of France and Navarre III. GUISE assisted by their Chief LORRAIN FRANCOIS I. de VALOIS Henry II. de Valois King of France wounded in the eye at Tilt by Count * Beheaded at Paris as a Rebel 1574 and the sentence of Treason revoked 1576. Montgomery of which he died 1559. François II. King of France died 1560. Charles IX King of France died 1574. Hen. III. King of France murdered by a Monk 1589. François Duke of Alençon Anjou Brabant c. died 1584. Catherine de Medicis daughter to Lorenzo Duke of Urbin Cousin to Alexander Duke of Florence She died at Bloys 1589. By the death of King Henry III. the Line of Valois so called from a little Territory North-East of Paris betwixt Picardy and Champaigne fail'd and that of Bourbon as next Heir succeeded to the Throne in the Person of Henry IV. ALENCON a Town in lower Normandy it was formerly an Earldom but King Charles VI. raised it up to a Dukedom 1414. though †Le â—ray ostat de la France pag. 65. du Verdier by a mistake would make us believe that it was made a Dutchy by King Lewis IX surnamed the Saint BOURBON This Family is so named from a Town in Aquitaine call'd Bourbon with a differâ—nce of l'Archambault to distinguish it from another in Burgondy call'd Bourbon l'Ancien but by corruption of speech Bourbon Lancy It was erected from a Barony into a Dukedom by Charles IV. surnamed le Bel 1327. It would be endless to speak of the Antiquity of this Family according to some men and for its Commendations * Les Antiquitez pâ—g 628. du Chesne hath said enough by affirming that the Women of it were born to people Christendom and the Men to defend it They draw their relation to the French Crown from Robert Son to S. Lewis IX Charles de Bourbon the first Duke of Vendosme died 1536. Antoine de Bourbon married to Jane daughter and heiress to Henry d'Albret second King of Navarre and so by his Wife became King of Navarre He was wounded at the siege of Rouen of which he died 1562. Henry III. King of Navarre and the IV. of France was murdered 1610. Charles the old Cardinal de Bourbon by the Leaguers called King Charles X. He died in prison 1590. Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Condé slain at the battel of Jarnac 1569. Henry Prince of Condé died 1588. Henry born 1588. died 1646. Charles the Younger Cardinal of Vendosme after the death of his Uncle called of Bourbon died 1594. He was Head of the Thirdlings or third party Françoise Daughter to René Duke of Alençon died 1550. VENDOSME a Town in Beausse was from an Earldom erected to a Dukedom by King Francis I. 1514. CONDE ' a Town in Hainault or Henegow whence these Princes of the House of Bourbon took their Title GUISE This Family is a branch of the House of LORRAIN the Antiquity of which hath been undertaken by François de Rosieres born at Bar-le-Duc and Archdeacon of Thoul and so being born a Vassal to that Family we may allow him to ramble as far as he pleaseth for Originals and though he Preface his History with Adam and his Children yet his modesty alloweth him to fetch this Family no higher then the story of Troy as it was the fashion of old Monkish Tale-tellers to draw the beginning of most Kingdoms from the Legendaries of that scatter'd People Lotharius Emperour of Germany and the rebellious son of Lewis le' Debonnaire made his younger son Lotharius or Lothaire King of those Territories which from him were called Lorrain as if it were Lotair-Riick and Lot-Reyck the Dominion Possession Jurisdiction or Kingdom of Lotaire or Lotharius which was then in a far larger extent then that which is now the Dukedom to which now the name only belongs René Duke of Lorrain who also call'd himself King of Sicily and Hierusasem and his eldest Son Duke of Calabria Philippe Sister to the Duke of Guelderlandt and after his death her Husband René took upon him that Title also Antoine Duke of Lorrain Bar Counte de Vaudemont Marquess de Pont died 1544. Renee daughter to Guilbert de Bourbon Count of Mont-pensier died 1439. François Duke of Lorrain died 1545. Charles III. married to Claude daughter to Henry II. King of France He died 1608. François Count de Vaudemont Charles de Lorrain a Cardinal chosen to be Bishop of Strasburg which occasioned great troubles He died 1607. Henry II. Duke of Lorrain Nicolas Conte de Vaudemont and Duke of Mercoeur died 1576. Charles de Lorrain Cardinal de Vaudemont Bishop of Toul He died 1587. Philippe-Emanuel Duke of Mercoeur died 1602. Louyse de Lorrain Wife to K. Henry III. of France Claude Duke of GUISE Baron de Joinville came to the Court of France and obtain'd the Government of Champaigne and Burgondy He married Antoinette daugher to François Counte de Vendosme she died 1583. This Claude de Guise was the first and top of that House which by his children divided it self into these following branches François Duke of Guise kill'd by Poltrot at Orleance 1653. Anne d'Este Sister to the Duke of Ferrara and Widow to this Francis Duke of Guise was afterwards married to the Duke of Nemours Henry Duke of Guise kill'd at Bloys 1588. Charles Prince of Joinville after his Fathers death call'd Duke of Guise Charles Duke of Mayenne died 1611 Catherine wife to the Duke of Nevers Henry slain before Montauban 1621. Lewis Card. de
Guise kill'd at Bloys 1588. Catherine second Wife to the Duke of Montpensier She died 1596. Charles Cardinal of Lorrain a Legat in the Council of Trent Of him François d'Isle makes his Legend He died 1573. Lewis de Guise made Card. by Julius III. He died 1578 Claude Duke of Aumale slain at the siege of Rochel 1573. Charles René Marquess of Elboeuf died 1566. Charles Duke of Elboeuf Charles Duke of Elboeuf and Count de Harcourt François call'd the Grand Prior died 1562. Jean Cardinal of Lorrain lived in the French Court a great Favorite with King François I. He died 1550. GUISE a little strong Town in Picardy which King Francis I. raised to a Dukedom and honoured Claude one of the sons of Rene Duke of Lorrain with thit Title BAR a little Dukedom in Lorrain the chiefest Town of it is now call'd Bar-le-Duc so call'd to distinguish it from other Bars upon the Seine the Aube c. it was erected into a Dukedom by Philippes de Valois VI. 1329. The eldest son of Lorrain if married hath this Title PONT now better known by the name of PONT-A-MOUSSON a Marquesset and Title of the eldest son if unmarried of the Duke of Lorrain VAUDEMONT or Vauldemont a Town in Lorrain being the Title of an Earldom JOINVILLE a little Town on the borders of Champaigne towards Lorrain a Principality of the Guises MERCOEUR a Town in Languedoc raised to a Dukedom by Charles IX 1569. for Nicolas Nephew to the Duke of Guise MAYENNE in Beausse in the little Territory Le Maine Coenomanensis Ager erected to a Dukedom by Charles IX 1573. for Charles brother to Guise ELBOEUF in higher Normandy from a Marquesset raised to a Dutchy by Henry II. 1581. and given to Charles Granchild to Claude Duke of Guise AUMALLE Aubmalle Aumarle Albemarle in Latin Alba Mala Arturus du Monstier Neustria Pia p. 731 732 c. for thus and more variously hath it formerly been writ a Town in higher Normandy anciently an Earldom with which Titles the Kings of England as Dukes of Normandy used to honour some of their Subjects and the French Kings having the possession of it have used the same liberty Charles VII made it a Peerdom of France 1458. and Henry II. raised it to a Dukedom for one of Guises sons 1547. but it is now honoured by George Monck Duke of Albemarle By this the common sort of Readers may the better distinguish and understand the variety of Cardinals to be met withall in the Histories of the French Troubles and may also see to what Greatness and Honours the Guisian Family hath in a short time been raised to in France but whether they were answerably grateful to that Crown let others judge Some are apt to tell us that Claude de Vaudemont afterwards the first Ant. Colynet p. 1 and le Contre-Guiâ—e Duke of Guise came into France in the Reign of Lewis XII Predecessor to Francis I. in no splendent condition but by wheedling himself into the Favour of King François I. obtained to be the Kings Falconer whence by degrees he rais'd himself and his Posterity above the Princes of the Bloud Royal. And they also tell us that Francis I. was so sensible of the Aspiring humour of that Family that upon his death-bed he advised his son Henry to have a care of them otherwise * Mon fils j'ay bien apperçeu cognois pur vray que la Race n'en vaut rien que si vous faites le contraire ils vous mettront en pourpoint vostre peuple en chemise François de l'Isle fol. 6. b. They will turn you into your doublet and your subjects into their shirts Some may look upon Lewis XI of France as a cunning King being Jean Bodin de la Râ—publâ—que l. 6. c. 2 p 952 953. Master of Hypocrisie others may conclude him rich when they see his Account run so thriftily if not beggarly as * 20 Sols Two shillings for two new sleeves for the Kings old doublet †15 Deniers One peny half-peny for a box of grease to grease his boots But certainly he was none of the wisest for turning away his Fathers old Faithful Counsellers and Servants for neglecting and despising the old Nobility and pleasing and sorting himself with the Plebeans and those of the meanest rank insomuch that his Taylor was his Herald and his Barber his Embassadour This way of meanness and negligence is seldom without a mischief attending it and this Family of Valois now growing towards its end wanted the vigour and prudence of her former Kings now were they Sardanapalus like more apt and fit to accompany the worst of Women and hold a Distaff then to manage a Sceptre or protect a People Pleasures were all their study and to neglect business all their care they were only the picture of Kings having neither life nor action to Government or Majesty leaving affairs to be managed by any that could thrust themselves uppermost By which easiness they had the honour to be commended by some hated by others pitied by most as good-natur'd Kings born to enrich a few Favourites but ruine the whole Kingdom besides Though some cunning Minister of State can throw all their own Extortions Cheats and Villanies upon the King thereby making a double Cheat abusing both the King and People And thus it happened with these of France to whose very Name and Family I find some to have such a spite and hatred that I meet with a Cordelier called Melchier publickly in the Pulpit to have told the People 1559. that As long as any of the Line of Valois reigned the people could Guil. Ribier Leâ—tres Memoires d'Estat tom 2. p. 799 800. not be free from oppression all that Family being so highly addicted to tyranny And another time he affirmed to his Auditors that It was very convenient that four of the greatest in the Kingdom ought to be rooted out for the easment and comfort of the people That this Gray Frier meant the King then in being viz. Henry II. I cannot say but for number sake it is not unworth the observation that besides the King there were but Four men viz. his Four sons living then in the whole world of that Family after whose deaths it ended and the Crown fell to that of Bourbon Nor is it unworth the notice that the people were then so apt to Sedition that Antoine King of Navarre who under his own hand gave the King notice of these expressions was pussled or at a stand how to behave himself in this affair fearing the rage of the people should he forthwith call the Frier to an account But it is not only the House of Valois that is aimed at but that of Bourbon too as being next Heirs to the Crown of France And this design is heavily laid in the dish of the House of Guise who as they say had for many years consulted
also 1563. Spondâ—n §. 48. 49 50 51. Davila p. 191. sollicited to use his Authority against the Queen of Navarre which would give a greater color and encouragement for others to attaque her accordingly because she was of the Reformed Religion He falleth to work publisheth a Citation or Monitory against her concluding that if she did not turn a Romanist within six moneths he would deprive her of her Dominions and give them to any that would conquer them At this the French King is not a little troubled looking upon it as a thing of dangerous consequence as the common cases of all other Kings nor did he like that any third party should have any pretence to seize upon those Territories which lay so near to and convenient for Spain whom possibly he might suspect though it is said that Philip complemented Queen Jane with an assurance that he would protect her and her Dominions against any that should assault them Besides this another thing happened which did not a little perplex the King the Council of Trent as they call it being now ended Cardinal de Lorrain desired the Pope to use his Interest with the French King that it should be receiv'd and approv'd of in his Dominions that he would root out the Huguenots that he would break the late Peace made with year 1564 them that he would punish the Accessors to the death of Guise c. And that these Petitions might carry the greater awe an Embassadour is sent as from the Pope the Emperour the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy to demand them from Charles who is not a little puzled how to behave himself in this case For to refuse the Council of Trent would render him suspect to the Pope to receive it would be against the Liberties of the Gallican Church to make war against the Huguenots would not advantage him as he had found by experience and he did not much care for Forein assistance to extirpate them quite was not probable to be done and if he should he must destroy many of his nearest Relations however so weaken and impoverish the Kingdom that at last it might bâ—come a prey to a third party As for the death of the Duke of Guise Poltrot who shot him was executed for it and though he had accused Admiral Coligny Beza and some others as Instigators of him to it yet they had publickly disown'd it both by Oath and Declarations besides Poltrot did vary in his Accusations and so his Credit not possitively to be stood to However the King by his cunning doubtful Answers and Delays wheedled all these things off to the no small trouble of the Guisians who hoped for a war and troubles that being the only way to raise themselves and carry on their designs Yet was not the House of Navarre free from danger for Pius V. advised 1568 Spoâ—d § 26. the Queen-mother to seise upon their Dominions seeing Queen Jane was an Heretick or if she approv'd not of this that he might by his Papal Authority appoint one of the Family of Valois to be King of those Territories that for his part if neither of these liked her he was resolved to give to the King of Spain that part of the Kingdom which Jane possessed I suppose he did not mean all those Territories in France which for her Son she governed as Queen of Navarre but only that little spot of ground which lieth North of the Pyrenean Mountains in Gascogne which the French do call the lower Navarre having St. Jean-Pied-de-Port St. Pelage and a few other little Towns in it But which of them the Pope meant is no great matter for both of them if gain'd must be won by the Sword which it seems at this time Philip had no mind to whereupon this went no further then a vapour and so I leave it But nothing can more clearly demonstrate the intent and design of the year 1572 Guisards then the Massacre of Paris a slaughter so much the worse because of its long contrivance before the action viz. almost * Davila p. 346 350 355 356 357. two years for so long was it concluded on before where the †Id. p. 370. Duke of Guise was very urgent and earnest that the young King of Navarre and his young Cousin the Prince of Condé the next Heir to the Crown after Navarre should be both slain with the rest but others though cruel enough oppos'd this as not willing to imbrue their hands in the Bloud Royal which would seem so abominable all the world over But whether at this time the Guisards had any design to secure themselves of the French Crown I shall not say any thing though that they had afterwards is apparent and confest by all Historians And thus much by the way though one might enlarge himself on this bloudy story by observing how the King endeavouring a vindication of himself did make the thing worse by his many Contradictions as appears by his * Vid. Ernest Varamund de Furoribus Gallicis Letters and Declarations Sometimes declaring how sorry he was for the death of his Cousin the year 1572 Admiral how the Massacre was acted without his knowledge how it was contriv'd and done only by those of the House of Guise upon some quarrel between them and the Admiral that it was not in his power to hinder it he having enough to do to secure and guard himself his Queen his Brethren the King of Navarre c. in his Palace the Louvre that he is for peace and desires all to keep the Edict of Pacification c. Othertimes he declareth that the Massacre was done by his express will and commandment that it was acted for the security of himself and Friends that the Admiral and Huguenots had plotted and determined to destroy him his Queen his Brethren the King of Navarre c. Now orders all of the Reformed Religion to be turn'd out of their Imployments Places and Estates and then that they shall be * Davila p. 735. massacred after the same manner all France over c. And as a forerunner to all these slaughters happened the sudden death 12 June of Jane the stout Queen of Navarre who being come to Paris upon earnest Invitations about her sons Marriage was as is commonly believed poisoned by order of the King and Queen-mothers private cabal Certain it is though all the rest of her body was dissected and open'd to view yet the King would * Thuan. l. 49. not by any means let her Head be touched he knowing as †p. 364. Davilla saith that the poison of the Perfum'd Gloves prepar'd for her had only wrought upon her Brain But for all this the Marriage went on and was solemniz'd between 18 August the young King of Navarre for now Henry after the death of his Mother took upon him the Title of King being before only call'd Prince and Margaret Daughter to Henry II. of
or restrain Apostata Princes The foresaid Coquaeus saith that otherwise Christ had not sufficiently provided for the safety either of the Common-wealth or of our Souls And Petrus Bertrandus positively declareth for the former Principle that if such a deposing Authority had not been that then Christ Jesus had not shewn himself wise or discreet or as Father Parsons saith Gods providence had been defectuous And when Johannes Mariana the so noted Spanish Jesuit had in one of his Books so expresly maintain'd the lawfulness of killing bad Kings upon which the said Book was censured I meet with an English Romanist thus to vindicate or justifie the said Book They are enemies to that holy Name i. e. of Jesus that condemn'd Mariana for any such Doctrine Nay so zealous are some for this King-deposing Doctrine that with a De Politia Immunitat Eccles part 4. cap. 50. Laurentius Ortiz de Iberrola they will assure it the onely safety and preservation for Princes But King James who thought himself not a little concern'd and therefore thus deliver'd his opinion to his Parliament b Speech in Parliament 1605. Vid. his works pag. 504. As on the one part many honest men seduced with some errors of Popery may yet remain good and faithful Subjects so on the other part none of those that truely know and believe the whole grounds and School-conclusions of their Doctrines can either prove good Christians or good Subjects And yet if for all these grand Testimonies they should plead their Allegiance and their respect to Princes I could ask why all Books writ against this King-deposing Doctrine are censured and prohibited by their Indices Expurgatorii whilst on the contrary those who affirm it are publish'd with honour as true and authentick and if Agapetus above a thousand years ago speak honourably of the Imperial Authority the c V. Bibliotheca Patrum Expurgatorian Index must stifle it with some worshipful gloss or other And if any should deny this to be the Doctrine of the Roman Church I should gladly know where is the judge whether the Popes themselves the Cardinals their greatest and most famous Writers as Bellarmine Baronius ' Perron c. do not understand what are the Tenents and the meaning of the Roman Church as well as some private Englishman here and whether we are not to believe the Popes Cardinals and their learned Doctors before the said private person Thus are the Romanists as stout and zealous for this King-deposing Doctrine as the d Mart. Martin de bello Tartar pag. 45 107 121 157. Chineses were for their Beards and do adore and worship this destructive Tenet as the old Cainites did Cain because he was the first man-killer or the Ophitae who worshipt the Serpent because he was the first deceiver and as they say the Author of good and evil Thus the Romanist may perceive what danger he runneth himself into if he dare but offer to oppose this Treasonable Principle seeing to deny it is madness flat Heresie nay Paganism contrary to the judgements of Popes Councils and the whole Church nay the Gospel of Christ a more intolerable Heresie then to erre concerning some of the Sacraments nay so gross an one that it doth destroy the very Church and Gospel it self wherefore they perswade us that all good and sound Catholicks must believe that Kings may be deposed seeing all who are truely Romanists and Sons of that Church do and must believe so Thus these men are like Polychronius who would rather erre with Macarius then be in the right with others and this Doctrine must be the Shibboleth to distinguish them from other Christians There is a Sect in Spain call'd a Anton. de Torquâ—meaa Diaâ—og 3 Saludadores who are known by a knack of curing many Diseases as a gift peculiarly belonging to them those of the House of b Luis Du-May Estate of the Empire p. 73. Austria are known by their long chins and thick lips and as they say are particularly blest with other Graces as to cure Wens by giving onely a Glass of Water and to unloose the Tongue of him that cannot speak plain onely by kissing Thus the Monarchs of England do the Kings-Evil and in Brecknockshire within two Miles of Brecknock there is a Lake call'd Lhyn Savathan or Linsavethan or Brecknock mere of which c Itiner Cambr. lib. 1. cap. 2. Giraldus Cambrensis tells us that the birds there will sing at the desire of the Prince of Wales but no man else so that it is the best Rule to know the true Prince of which matter d Polychron lib. 1. Ranulph Higden Monk of Chester thus Poetizeth Si Terrae Princeps venerit Aves cantare jusserit Statim deproment modulos Nil concinunt ad caeteros Which I finde thus translated to my hand by John Trevisa the old Vicar of Barkley almost three hundred years ago Yf the Prynce of the Londe hoote Briddes singe well mery noot As merily as they can And singe for none other man And so this King-deposing Principle they will have to be the Characteristical note whereby a through-paced or true Romanist maâ— be known who must answer to none but their Prince at Rome and whose commands they must not disobey And should any one now begin to teach them Allegiance and the pernicious consequences of this Doctrine which by length of time hath had such a sway with them probably it might be as great a novelty and strange to them as the e people who after a long Interdiction d Sextus de Seâ—tent Excotâ—â—c Alma Mater Gloss v. Insurgunt were so unused to Devotion that they laugh'd at the Priests when they came again to say Mass and pray with them for some will not leave an old Mumpsimus for a new though better Sumpsimus As for the Romanist's distinctions the better to maintain these Treasonable Assertions of Directe Indirecte Propriè Improprie simpliciter secundum Quid Absolute in Ordine ad Spiritualia and suchlike whimsical Save-alls they have not onely been derided by those of the a Pet. Molin de Monarch Temporal Pont. pag. 87. Jo. Buckeridge Episc Roffens lib. 2. cap. 5. Reformed Church but also by several Romanists themselves especially of the b Caron Remonst Hybern p. 236 237. latter stamp and of such cheats as these thus saith Father c More ample accompt pag. 28. Welsh In Ordine ad Spiritualia and the cheat of a verbal distinction the trick of abusing two other words Direct and Indirect and these two very new altogether unheard-of in this matter till some Caprichious heads brought them unfortunately to the Schools of meer designe to make people loose themselves in words by confounding right and wrong together and the fignification of both And so nothing need be said against such childish inventions being nothing to the true and real designe of the positive Doctrine of King-deposing which is the thing we treat of without any
out and thrown in also lastly his head was cut off and fixt upon the most eminent place of the City and his body divided and parts of it sent to the chief places in the Kingdom As for Robert Graham he was thus punished a Gallows was raised in a Cart then he had his right-hand nailed to it and so drawn along the streets whilst the Executioners with burning Pincers tâ—re pieces from his Shoulders Thighs and suchlike fleshy places which were farthest from his Vitals thereby to keep him the longer alive and in greater pain yet did these terrors bring little repentance to him as may be ghâ—st by his impious answer for being asked during all these tortures How he durst lay hands on his Prince made this Reply That if he had Heaven and Hell at his choice he durst leap out of Heaven and all the joys there into the flaming bottom of Hell At last having all his flesh almost pull'd off his Heart and Intrails were thrown into the fire his Head stuck up and his Quarters sent to several places for a terror to others And here I shall hastily pass by the unfortunate Raign of King James III how his own Subjects covenanted against him confined or forced him to Edinbourgh Castle and at last came to open Battel against him at Bannoch-Burn not far from Sterlin where his Army being beaten he was after in cold blood murdered in the Mill but whether this abominable murther was done by Patrick Lord Gray Robert Sterling of Keer or Andrew Borthwick a Priest or all of them must be left as their Histories hath it uncertain Sect. 4. The deaths of Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fifth Kings of England BUt leaving Scotland here might I treat of the miseries of England at the same time of the long but unfortunate Raign of good Henry VI of his dethronement and which was worst of his year 1471 murther in the Tower of London as the common opinion goeth by a Bacons Hist Hen. VII pag. 2. Richard Duke of Glocester afterwards call'd Richard the III. Though Mr. b Hist Rich. III. pag â—0 Spondan calls him a Martyr an 1471. § 6. Buck of late would deny the fact and clear the said Richard from this and all other imputations laid to him by all other Historians The body of this King Henry was carryed to Chertsey in Surrey and there buryed in the Monastery belonging to the Benedictines And 't is said that many Miracles have been done at his grave above two hundred of which was gather'd into one c Vâ—d Harâ—sfield Hist Eccles p. 595. Volume nor was there any disease but they say was cured by him Blind Lame Dumb Kings-evil and what not And as if these were not enough they make him cure another Miracle viz. a Woman that used to go with Childe above d Ib. p. 596. two years Richard III envying the fame of Henry if we may believe King * Spelman Concil tom 2. pag. 71â— Henry VII removed the Corps from Chertsey to the Chappel of Windsor where he was also worshipped by the name of Holy King Henry and here they say that his Red-velvet-Hat e Stow pag. 424. heal'd the Head-ach of such as put it on their heads there his body rested for a time but now his Tomb being taken thence it is not commonly known what is become of his body 'T is true King Henry VII had a desire to have it removed to Westminster to which purpose the Abbot desired the f Spelâ— Concil pag. 712 71â— consent of Pope Alexander VI. King Henry VII also desired to have this Henry VI Canonized to which purpose he wrote to the said Alexander who gave the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Durham g Spelm. pag. 720. Authority to inquire into his Miracles and Life Nor did Henry VII cease here but Alexander dying he sollicited h Harpsfield pag. 594. Julius II very earnestly and some think that had the King lived a little longer he had obtain'd his request But this I shall leave with these words of Edward Hall These and other like Offices of Holiness Ed. Halâ—'s Châ—on fol. 223. b. caused God to work miracles for him in his life-time as old men said By reason whereof King Henry VII not without cause sued to July Bishop of Rome to have him Canonized as other Saints be but the fees of the Canonizing of a King were so great a quantity at Rome more then the Canonizing of a Bishop or a Prelate although he sate in St. Peters Chair that the said King thought it more necessary to keep his money at home for the profit of his Realm and Country rather then to impoverish his Kingdom for the gaining of a new Holy-day of St. Henry remitting to God the judgement of his will and intent And here passing by the cruel death of the young Innocent Prince Edward eldest Son to this King Henry VI in cold bloud after the fight at Tewkes-bury I might come to Edward V and shew how he was deposed by his Uncle Richard by means of his wicked Instruments Stafford Duke of Buckingham Dr. John Shaw Brother to Edmond Shaw Gold-smith then Lord Mayor of London and suchlike and from this I might lead you to the making away of the said young Innocent Prince Edward and his Brother by the means of the said Richard III but because all Histories will not exactly agree upon the manner how I shall refer you to the Chronicles themselves where the juggle if not the murthers may be seen at large Sect. 5. The troubles in Spain and the miseries of Don Henry the Fourth King of Castile and Leon by reason of his proud and rebellious Nobility IF we look into Spain we shall finde those Territories miserably wasted by Tumults and Rebellions we might see how the young King of Castile Henry III was so neglected by his proud and L. de Mayâ—â—â— Hist d' 〈◊〉 liâ— 18 19 20 21. greedy Nobility who pocketed up his Revenues that once he was forced to pawn one of his Robes for two Shoulders of Mutton to help out his Supper And we might see their Rebellions against his Son King John II whose troublesome Reign might be an Item to Kings to beware of confiding in and favouring too much one Subject by the neglect of the rest And the unhappy end of the Constable Don Alvaro de Luna may be a caution to the greatest favourites in their carriage for Kings at last in whose protection lyeth their greatest safety may be perswaded to leave them to Justice and then no mercy can be expected from the solong-abused Law and People But proceed we to greater troubles and misfortunes then these This King John II had by his First wife Maria of Arragon HENRY IV King of Castile and Leon. Leonora Catharine dyed young Second Wife Isabel of Portugal Daughter to D. Jean Master of S. Jago Son to John I. King of Portugal Alphonso whom
how to make themselves Possessors of the Throne of that Kingdom and finding none so much capable by Right Title and Interest as those of the Family of Bourbon to thwart and oppose their designs it was their best policy to procure their ruine to which purpose take this following Narrative but in short of the Guisards against the House of Navarre being the chief of that of Bourbon which though * An 1564. § 8. Spondanus looks upon as a Fable and it may be according to Perefixe that the young Prince of Navarre might be then at Paris yet take the story though possibly with some mistakes upon the credit of Thanus and Gomberville now one of the French Academy and so let him and the present Archbishop of Paris also of the Academy bandy and rectifie it as they please Antoine de Bourbon King of Navarre at the Siege of Rouen being shot year 1562 into the left shoulder with a Musquet bullet of which wound he a little after died those of Guise consulted how to make their best benefit De Gomberville Les Memoires de M. de Nevers v l. 2. p. 579 c. Thuan. lib. 35. Mâ—moires d'Estat vol. 2. ensuite de câ—ux de M. de Villeroy pag. 35 36 c. by the said death Jane the Widow Queen of Navarre lived at Pau the chief Town in the Territory of Bearne adjoyning to the Pyrenean Mountains and with her she had her young Prince Henry afterwards call'd the Great now about 9 years old At this time Philip II. King of Castile having wars with the Africans and Moors his Recruits from Italy and Germany were to rendezvouz at Barcelona in Catalonia Now doth Charles Cardinal of Lorrain and his brother François Duke of Guise consult how to extirpate this Race of Navarre to which purpose they pitch upon one Dimanche to act as Agent for their Interest in those parts of Aquitaine where he had as his Assistants Monluc an experienc'd Souldier d'Escars Viscount d'Ortes with the Captain of Ha Castle adjoyning to Bourdeaux and several others great Favourersand Dependents of Guise But the prosecution of these designs was somewhat cool'd by the death of the Duke of Guise who was shot by Poltrot year 1563 at the Siege of Orleance Upon this though a Peace was struck up between the King and the zealous Huguenots where the later were gainers by the Agreement yet the Cardinal Lorrain carrieth on his former Contrivements against the House of Navarre making his Nephew the young Duke of Guise Head of the Plot. And to give a better colour to all they pretend Religion their Foundation so all Hereticks ought to be rooted out amongst which the young Prince of Navarre and his Mother to which Friends could not be wanting seeing the King of Spain would assist them To this purpose Captain Dimanche is dispatch'd into Spain to the year 1564 Duke of Alva to obtain the assistance of the aforesaid Forces at Barcelona which on a sudden might fall upon Bearne take Pau with the Queen her Son Henry and Daughter Catherine and to prevent any of their Escapes the Friends of Guise would way-lay them on the French side to which end they had several trusty Commanders and Forces conveniently placed thereabouts And the Princes thus taken should be conveyed into Spain put into the Inquisition as Hereticks and then they would be sure enough Thus the Guisards would have their desire and as a persuasive argument to the Castilian they told him that things brought to this pass the dispute for the Kingdom of Navarre would cease the Pretenders to it being thus in his possession Accordingly Dimanche gets into Spain waits upon the Duke of Alva who having heard and approv'd the design orders him to go to the King who was then at Monçon or Monson a Town in Aragon where they used to keep their Parlements or las Cortes for Aragon Valencia and Catalonia For this place Dimanche passing by Madrid he fell dangerously sioâ— of an high Feaver and being but badly accommodated in a poor Inn a Frenchman call'd Anne Vespier one of the Queen of Spains servants took pity on him removed him to his own house where he was better attended on and by the assistance of the Queens Physicians recovered For which kindness and other great favours Dimanche and Vespier enter into a strict Familiarity and Friendship In short Dimanche thinking to make use of him in his absence for some Intelligence discovers his business and the Plot to him Vespier being born at Nerac in Gascogne so a Vassal and Subject to the King of Navarre was guided by so much Loyalty as to resolve to prevent the ruine of his Soveraign for which purpose he had this advantage The present Queen of Spain was Elizabeth daughter to Henry II. King of France and so sister to Charles IX then reigning King of france and thus near related to the House of Navarre Vespier a servant to this Queen Elizabeth thinks upon the most convenient way to inform her of all for which he addresseth himself to the Grand Almoner and Tutor by whose means all is fully discover'd to her who resolveth to write of it to her Brother and Sister the King and Queen of France Notice is also given to Sieur de St. Suplice the French Embassadour then in the Spanish Court at Monçon with a desire to inform the Queen of Navarre at Pau that she might better consult and provide for her own safety Dimanche gets to Monçon opens all to King Philip in the mean time de St. Suplice one well acquainted with State matters and after imployed by the French Court dispatcheth his Secretary Rouleau into France with the Letters and Intelligence whereby the Queen of Navarre had means to secure her self and the Plot was spoiled by this discovery Yet Dimanche having done with Spain hasts to Paris where he is privately lodg'd in the Duke of Guise his house and for some time after at a Monastery belonging to the Friars call'd Bons hommes adjoyning to the Wood of Nostre Dame de Boulogne near St. Cloud not far from Paris And though the Spanish Money and Interest at this time had such a sway in the French Council and Court that Captain Dimanche though it was desired was not suffered to be seised on in his return from Spain whereby they might have discover'd further into the Plot by himself and his Papers yet was Philip and Guise both gull'd and the House of Navarre preserved to sit in the Throne And though the Queen of Navarre complained of this Conspiracy and desired justice of the House of Lorrain yet Catherine de Medicis one not apt to be commended in History the Queen-mother turn'd it off by telling her that it was best to forgive those injuries they could not punish And indeed the Interest of the Guises was then so powerful that it was dangerous to call them to an account Whilest these things were closely carrying on Pope Pius IV. was
France and Sister to Charles IX a Lady of excellent parts as appears by her writing though it may be truly said of her Memoires that she wrote them more to justifie her self and wipe off some stains then to inform posterity of what was true for all is not currant that she attests However it be having been married many years without either Children or Affection to her Husband she was at last divorced from him 1599 as being married against her will and to one that was then an Heretick and too near a kin to her besides the Spiritual Relation her Father Henry II. having been Godfather to her Husband and all these Nullities confirm'd and to the Divorse ratified by Clement VIII though Pope Gregory XIII had formerly dispens'd with them and approved of the Marriage But for all these pretences the truth of it was that this King naturally gave himself up to the pleasure of variety to which he wanted not many flattering promoters insomuch that some of his Dames of pleasure wanted but a litâ—â—e to fit in the Throne and Margaret having been thus for 27 years fruitless the people desired succession by some other means which afterwards happened from Maria de Medicis daughter to Francisco Grand Duke of Tuscamy married upon the Divorce to this Henry Margaret who yet kept the Title of Queen died 1615 who doth * Men oâ—râ—s p. 31. confess that the Contrivers of this Massacre did design it not only against the Huguenots but also against the Princes of the Bloud Royal and that they were not a little angry when they understood that the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condé were preserved from the slaughter And what vertue or goodness could then be expected in the French Court of which a late excellent Author doth give this Character Hard. de Perefixe Hist Hen. le 〈…〉 That then it never was there any more vicious or more corrupted where then Atheism Sorcery Impiety Ingratitude Perfidiousness Poisonings Murderings and such like horrible wickednesses did sway in the highest degree To which we might adde the designs of Catherine de Medicis the Queen-mother one that hath left a very bad and black Character behind her some making her the Authoress of the many miseries of that Kingdom and amongst many others I find one thus very biting against her Tres Erebi Furias ne posthac credite vates Tho. Lanâ— Consult Germ. p. 272 Addita nam quarta est nunc Catherina tribus Quod si tres Furias à se dimitteret Orcus Haec Catherina foret pro tribus una satis That th' Furies are but three now speak no more Since Catherine doth make the number four And yet should Hell cashier those three this Kate Alone would serve to plague grim Pluto's State And we might also suppose that the ill-will these Brothers of Valois bare one to another might be some advantage to these troubles and one tells us that they endeavour'd to ravish the French Crown one from Hist Hen. le Grand another on which he remarks as it were by a judgment that they all died unhappily And possibly these Garboils and miseries might be somwhat promoted by the natural humour of that Nation which is said to be very * Phil. Brist Geogr. vol. 1. p. 78. Fickle and Quarrelsom the Sieur Montaigne himself confessing and asserting That †Mettez 3 Francois au deserts de Libye ils ne seront pâ—s un mois ensemble sans se harceler esgrat ner Lâ—s Essais de Moâ—taigne l. 2. c. 27. p. 666. if three Frenchmen were put together in the wilde desarts of Libya where self-preservation might oblige them to assist and befriend one another before a months end they would be provoking scratching and falling out one with another As for the Brother Kings * Fuseb Philod lp Cosmopolit Dialog 1. p. 75 76 77 79. some think that the famous French Poet Pierre de Ronsard though a zealous Romanist did design their Characters and vices under counterfeit names in the end of his La Trançiade but whether so or not let others judge However though these accidents might make the way more easie for the following mischiefs yet we shall find that horrid League more highly carried on by those of the house of Lorrain of which pretended holy Covenant we proceed now to speak more particularly passing by in the mean time those worse then Civil Wars between the King and Huguenots where all things went to wrack and the Kingdome was almost ruined of which thus an †Tho. Daneâ—t Hist of France in Epist Dedic Dr. Pet. du Mâ—ulin's Vindication of the sincerity of the Protâ—stants Religion c. 2. p. 29 30 c. eye-witness doth testifie 1577. We found such a Wilderness in all the Countrey between Bayonne and Bourdeaux that whole Forrests and Woods were turn'd up and consumed the Towns utterly desolated the people dispersed the Churches quite subverted and the Children a lamentable thing to be recorded remaining unchristned by the space of ten years And wherever the fault lay I shall not Apologize here for the Huguenot who was too zealous in his way and too much byass'd by fury and indiscretion as it commonly hapneth to those holy people who cry up Religion with the sword in their hands as if it were lawful for subjects to rebel upon the account of any Religion or such pretence in the world But nothing here is intended against the Huguenot since 't is said in their Vindication that these troubles were neither upon the account of Religion nor between the King and them but rather a begun Quarrel 'twixt the Princes of the Blood and the Guises with their Minions the first taking it ill that the latter should sway all by excluding them from the management of publick affairs to whom as Princes of the Blood-Royal by the Custom of France it did belong especially in the Minority or indisposition of their Kings and so one time were willing to gain that which they thought their right and another time thought it best to defend themselves but of these things I shall not judge being at this time nothing to any purpose CHAP. II. The Articles of the Holy League and the Guisards Under plotting against the King SIgismundus II. surnamed Augustus King of Poland and much commended 1572 1573 for his Prudence Valour and Learning dying the people choose for their King Henry Duke of Anjou Brother to Charles IX King of France who accordingly goeth into Poland and is there * Feb. crown'd But here he stay'd not long for the same year his Brother †30 May. Charles dying year 1574 the Crown of France belong'd to him as next and so upon notice of his death he * June steals out of Poland to the no small trouble of the Natives and posts to his Hereditary Throne which he thought more worth then the other Elective yet in France he always kept the Title of King
Nevers he posts to Rome though contrary to the Popes desire and growing daily more jealous of the Leaguers intentions is very sollicitous for a perfect Agreement and Accommodation writing several times to Cardinal de Bourbon not to press too much upon the Kings patience and at last being fully convinced that the Guises had more a private Interest then a publick good in their thoughts quite forsook them and their Cause and joyn'd with the King The King in the mean time somewhat inform'd of the troublesome and warlike designs of the Covenanters was persuaded to consult his own security and therefore by a publick Decree forbids all raising or gathering 28 March together of Souldiers unless by his express Command and Authority commanding all his good Subjects at the ringing of the Toquesaint the Alarm bell to fall upon the said Souldiers as declar'd enemies But the Leaguers proceed cunningly and vigorously having strengthned themselves as they thought pretty well were resolved to make an open Rupture according to their former determinations To which purpose they overpersuade Cardinal de Bourbon to quit the Court under colour of keeping Lent at his Archbishoprick of Rouen so he went to Gailon a Palace belonging to that See in higher Normandy where a great company of the Covenanters of Picardy waited upon him and for his more pretended security conducted him to Peronne where the League was first framed as aforesaid and here he was met by the Dukes of Guise Mayenne Aumale Elboeuf and other Covenanting Nobles where a large Declaration is drawn up in his Name whom they call the First Prince of the Ploud and subscribed by him the substance of it is as followeth In the Name of God Almighty King of Kings be it known unto all c. That a design to subvert Religion hath been the cause of the late troubles That it is fear'd the King dying childless the Church and Kingdom may be ruin'd over which they are resolved never to let an Heretick sway the people being bound neither to admit or obey any Prince but of the Roman Religion That to hinder all mischiefs some remedy is to be applied That the great preparations of the Huguenots are sufficiently understood That it is also not unknown but * * Chiefly â—â—ming at the Duke of Espernon some people have so possest themselves of the Kings affection that they have as it were seiz'd upon his Authority and excluded those who ought to be more near him That these Favourites or Minions have got the chief Governments and Places of Trust whereby they may command all by Land or Sea That they have imbezell'd the Kings Revenues thereby making themselves more powerful and obey'd to the great oppression of the people which daily increaseth That though the Amendment of Abuses was hoped for at the meeting of the Estats at Bloys yet Private Interests spoil'd all That these Abuses are now grown so great that the Kingdom is almost ruin'd by them the Clergy surcharged and despised the Nobles debas'd abus'd and ruin'd and all the people in a manner beggar'd and impoverish'd by strange Taxations c. Therefore We CHARLES de BOURBON first Prince of the Bloud assisted with the Princes Cardinals Peers Bishops c. being the best and soundest part of the Kingdom DECLARE that we have sworn and faithfully promis'd to continue in Arms till the Church and Roman Religion be establish'd in her former Dignity the Nobles enjoy their Privileges the people eas'd the new Taxes abolished the Parlements left to their wonted freedom and liberty c. These and such others are the causes of our Arming which by these necessities is made justifiable though otherwise we should disclame such courses and so believing we cannot have a more honourable Funeral then to die in so holy and just a cause Yet protesting that we do not intend any thing against the King but on the contrary in defence of his Person Life and Estate being willing to lay down our Arms when he shall remedy these evils in doing of which he shall be more honoured and obeyed by us That seeing the Laws and their good Intentions are clear enough therefore they will not force the King to declare a Successour though in so doing the Nation might hereafter be eas'd of Troubles and Factions about it That as they have all a grand Veneration for the Queen-mother so they hope she will have a good opinion of them Humbly desire all people to assist them in this their good design and to have a favourable construction of their actions Protesting never to lay down Arms till we have accomplish'd all these our desires and so desire all good Romanists to assist them in their Prayers and Devotions CHARLES Cardinal de Bourbon At Peronne 31 March 1585. But this Declaration was drawn up and confirm'd by the Cardinal some time before and also Copies of it sent abroad by the Leaguers the better to confirm their Party for I meet with a Letter sent by the Dukes of Guise and Mayenne to the Parlement of Province meaning Aix the chief City of that County where that Parlement sits in which they tell Memoiâ—es de Nevers vol. 1. them That they have sent the copy of the said Cardinal de Bourbons Declaration to them by which they might perceive how unwilling they were to take up arms yet that in the quarrel they were resolved to venture life goods friends too exhorting and adjuring that Parlement to assist them telling them that as they shall aid those who joyn with them so they will endeavour the ruine of those who oppose their League Your most Affectionate Servants HENRY de LORRAIN CHARLES de LORRAIN Joinville 19 March 1585. As for the Declaration it self it was rejoyned to by the King in another well and cunningly worded endeavouring to answer all their Objections desiring them to lay down their arms and admonishing all his Subjects not to believe their idle pretences but to confide in and joyn themselves to him But it was not words that were to befriend the Covenanters so they draw their Forces together rendezvouz at Chalons in Champaigne whither the Cardinal Bourbon is conducted to them by the Duke of Guise with as great demonstrations of Honour and Joy as could be the better to insnare and bewitch the old man whose Name and Interest they wero to make so much use of And now Guise tampers again with Nevers assuring him that all things go better and better desireth his speedy assistance and is much troubled that Rochette one of his cunning Agitators is taken and carried prisoner to Paris fearing thereby some of their Plots may be discover'd Yet they look upon themselves strong enough to defie any opposition having muster'd about 12000 men expecting daily Recruits of German and Spanish Forces hir'd to joyn with them and thus fortifi'd they seize upon several strong places As for the King he is at a stand what to do not having strength
the King in which after many fair words they demand That the King should really and briskly joyn himself with them and root out the Huguenots That he would put such persons as they should name from his Court Council and their Offices or Imployments That he would make the Council of Trent be received in his Dominions That he would grant some strong places unto the Covenanting Princes where they might keep Garrisons and make Fortifications at the charge of the Crown That he would maintain an Army near Lorrain under the Command of one of the Leaguing Princes That he would cause all the Estates of the Huguenots to be sold to satisfie the expences of the late wars and to assist the Covenanters in their future designs That he would settle the Inquisition in the chief Cities of his Kingdom and such like The King received the Propositions with a seemingly contented countenance but defer'd his Answer nor did the Duke of Guise care much whether he satisfied their demands or no the design being only to render His Majesty odious to the People as an Enemy to them and Religion and a Friend to the Hereticks And the fair and dissembling carriage of Guise for the Ease of the People Good of Religion and Scorn of the Kings pimping flattering upstart Favourites who rais'd themselves by cheating the King and the oppression of the Poor had in procuring favour and esteem far the advantage of the Kings carriage and actions whose only care was Luxury and Idleness Dancing Fooling with litâ—le Dogs pratling with Birds and such like childish gayeties All which were sufficiently known to the Guisards upon which they daily spread abroad as is usual upon such neglects and occasions their Pamphlets Libels and Lampons whilest the Zele and Honour of Guise is celebrated in every street and corner styling him the new David year 1588 the second Moses the Deliverer of the Catholick people the Prop and Pillar of the Holy Church the new Gideon the Safety of the Kingdom and such like In the mean time the secret Council of the Covenanters in Paris was not idle and having as formerly said for the better carrying on their Plots the City being divided into * Les Seize Quartâ—ers every one of which is usually govern'd by a Quaâ—tinier or Alderman XVI Wards or Quarters appointed a trusty Covenanter to supervise every Ward and the Leaguers in that Division from which number the chief and Council of the Guisards in Paris was commonly call'd The Sixteen Les Seize But Guise now perceiving the business daily to ripen for action thought this Division not close enough therefore sends back La Chapelle one of their busiest Counsellours to tell them his desire who forth with pulls out of his pocket a Map of Paris purposely divided into V Quarters every one of which had now by the Duke a Colonel appointed over it their names were Count de Brissac the Sieurs de Bois-Dauphin de Chamois d'Eschavoles and Colonel St. Paul and under every Colonel were several Captains and so to every one was given a Note what to do where any might have Arms that wanted Besides he had ordered the Duke of Aumale and other his Associates to be in readiness with their Forces at appointment And to the no small joy and encouragement of the Guisards now died Henry de Bourbon Prince of Condé poison'd he was as is confess'd by all and with him might that Branch have ended but that his Princess imprison'd upon suspicion as guilty of her Husbands death a little after was brought to bed of a young Prince and was call'd Henry The King of Navarres Life had formerly several times been attempted of which D' Aubigne will afford you a couple of odd stories And in this Year * Tom. 2 l. 5. ch 5 Monsieur de Calliere will tell you of another design against his person and we need not question but that his death be it any way would * Hist d M. â—u Matignon p. 219 220 221. have been very acceptable to Guise and his Party who about this time did †spread abroad that he was really dead whether to encourage their Associats to dismay the Hâ—guenots or that they knew of some Attempts * Ant. Colynet p. 214 against his Life and hoped they would accordingly take effect let others judge In the mean time the Parisians carry on their Plots and all things being now in a pretty readiness they resolve to take opportunity of the time of Lent it being the Kings custom then to go in Procession in the habit of a Penitent amongst the Whipping-Friars without any other Guards or Retinue and thus they thought they might without much difficulty seize on him clap him up in a Cloyster then the Duke of Guise to summon the States-General tell them of the Kings unfitness to rule and so the League might sway all as he pleased But Poulain discovering this to the King he feigned himself sick went not abroad that day and so escap'd the snare yet the Covenanters proceed make a secret Muster of their Forces which they find to be about XXX thousand stout men and perceiving their designs discover'd but by whom they could not tell thought it not fit to waste time or give the King opportunity to seize upon any of them or prevent their Contrivances wherefore they send to Guise to come without fail who promiâ—â—th and in the mean time sendeth many Officers to lurk secretly in the City against his coming The King inform'd of this adviseth for his own safety but the Factions at Court did somewhat weaken the Determinations yet he gets some Companies to strengthen himself in the Louvre procureth what Friends he can secretly to joyn with him yet after all he perceived himself not able to cope with his Enemies though they were somewhat cool'd at his Preparations About this time His Majesty being at Bois de Vincennes accompanied 5 May. not with abovn six or sevee the Sixteen design'd to intrap him in his return then to Alarm the City by giving out that the Huguenots had surpriz'd him and in tended his death thinking by this trick to raise up their Confederates but Poulain discovering this the King sent for his Guards and so this also fail'd In this designed Treachery Catharine Dutchess of Montpensier and Sister to Guise was an active Instrument The King being also inform'd by the same Poulain that the Duke of Guise was now resolved to come to Paris and the Covenanters ready to receive him sendeth several Messengers to him with express command not to approach to which he giveth cunning and doubtful answers with an intent to disobey and accordingly with all possible haste attended with but a very few of his Gentlemen and Servants not keeping the High road but through by and private passages that he might not meet any other of the Kings Prohibitions and so seem publickly to disobey His Majesty enters the City the people running mad with joy
him Yet by these was the King brought so low that he borroweth aid from England Holland and the German Princes and Mayenne sendeth to desire the like from the Pope and King of Spain By this time Barnaby Brisson chief President of the Covenanting year 1591 Parliament at Paris for fome reason or other was more agreeable to the King then formerly and several in the City began to wish a Reconciliation with him The King himself knew that he had some friends in the City by whose assistance he had a design to surprize it by having several of his Captains disguised in Countrey habits pretending to carry Horse-loads of corn or meal into it by night the usual time so to steal in by reason of the Kings Forces scouring the ways and Countrey But this plot being discovered it fail'd and is yet call'd the * 20 Jan. Journee des farines Farinarum dies or Nox farinarum Day of Flour or Meal These caused the Parisians for the more strengthning themselves against any such like attempts to receive into their City Four thousand Spaniards to the displeasure of Mayenne who feared that Nation and Faction might in time be too strong for him there But he was very male-contented with the forwardness of the new Pope Gregory XIV who espoused the quarrel of the League with a great deal of earnestness sendeth Marsilio Landriano of Milan Nuncio into France with two * They may be seen at large in a Book calld de Christianissimi Regis pericuâ—â—s or de periculi Henrici IV. Printed 1591. Monitory Bulls I. One relating to the Clergie whom he interdicted if within 15 days they forsook not the obedience and part of the King And further if within 15 days more they departed not from him then to be deprived of their Livings Benefices and Functions II. The second concerned the Princes Nobility and the rest of the Laity wherein under great pains he also warned them to depart from the King whom he call'd Heretick Persecutor of the Church an Excommunicated Person and therefore depriv'd of all his Dominions and Possessions To these the Pope addeth Arms and Money sending his Nephew Hercole Sfondrato newly for Honours sake made by him Duke of Montemarciano with an Army which he will maintain with the moneys gathered up by Sixtus V. and kept in Castel St. Angelo and besides this he alloweth 15000 Crowns a moneth to the Leaguers The Royallists are greatly offended at these Papers and Proceedings Those of the Soverein Court for conveniency then sitting at Chaalons by Decree declare that the former Bulls and actings against Henry III. as also these against the present Henry IV. to be odious seditious false impostures contrary to all holy Decrees Canons Constitutions Councils the Rights and Liberties of the Gallican Church and so to be idle vain null and void and to be burnt by the hands of the Hangman Ordain also that Landriano calling himself Nuncio to be seiz'd on and suffer according to Law forbid any to entertain him declare that all Cardinals Prelates and other Ecclesiasticks who any way promote a Consent to these Bulls or approve of the late Murther of Henry III. shall be deprived of all their Benefices in this Kingdome and that none hereafter carry any money to Rome or procure any Benefices thence c. * Yet I have a Copy of it that year printed bearing date 29 Aug. 10 June 1599. The same in effect was decreed by the Parliament then sitting at Tours but with this addition prohibiting any upon pain of Nigh Treason to publish and obey any of the aforesaid Bulls And which was best of all * A declare declare Gregoire se disant Pape quatoriesme de ce nom ennemie de la pâ—ix de l'union de l'Eglise Catholique Apostolique Romaine du Roy de son Estat adheâ—ant a la Conjuration d'Espagne fauteur des Rebelles coulpable du tres cruel tres cruel tres inhumain tres detestabable parricide proditoiremenâ— commis en la personne de Henry III. Roy de tres henreuse memoire tres Christen tres Catholique Hath declared and doth declare Gregory calling himself Pope the XIV of that name an Enemy to the Peace to the Union of the Chatholick-Apostolick-Roman Church to the the King and his Estate a Partaker of the Spanish Conspiracy a favourer of Rebels guilty of the most cruel most inhumane and most detestable Parricide Trayterously committed on the Person of the most Christian King and most Catholick King Henry III. of most happy memory 5 August 1591. The same Language was used by the Parliament sitting at * 3 Aug. Caen on the contrary the Parliament at Paris thunder out their Decrees commanding the Nuncio and Monitory Bulls to be received and obeyed as proceeding from an Authentick Authority threatning severe punishments to all those who submit not to them And here having mentioned several Parliaments the common Reader may understand once for all that France had then and hath now several Seats of Parliament or rather Courts Judicature having command within their respective Precincts and instituted by several Kings as this following Scheme will shew Order Where Settled by Anno I. Paris Philippe IV. le Bel. 1302. II. Tholouse Charles VII 1443. III. Grenoble Charles VII 1453. IV. * Was constituted 1447 and so it was then tâ—e thâ—rd Parlâ—ment â—uâ— it lâ—st thâ—t â—ank and â—dâ—râ—â—y a rebelliâ—n Bourdeaux Louis XI 1462. V. Dijon Louis XI 1476. VI. Rouen Louis XII 1499. some say 1503. VII Aix Louis XII 1501. VIII Rennes Henry II. 1553. IX Pau said first to be instituted afterwards confirmed Louis XIII 1620. X. Mets Louis XIII 1633. I order and time these as they were made fixed or sedentary otherwise we might say that Parlements were had at Paris 577 at Tholouse 1302 and at Rouen 1443. In the time of this League Paris and Rouen being in the hands of the Covenanters King Henry III. removed the Sessions of those Parlements to Tours Caen c. whither accordingly as many of the Royal Members as could go went and sate acting for their Kings whilest those of the other persuasion staid and were as busie and zelous for the Leaguers But to return the Nuncio the Embassadours of Spain and Savoy the Lords of the House of Lorrain Nicolas de Pellevé then Archbishop of Sens and not of * Card. de Lenoncourt was now livâ—â—g and Archbishop of Rheims Rheims till the year after as †Pag. 1014. Davila mistakes with some others meet at Rheims where every man seeming for the League yet under that vizard to carry on their own designs and Interest their Consultations broke up without any determinations In the mean time spang up a third Party which had like to have foil'd both King and League Charles Cardinal of Bourbon who whilst the old Kingling Cardinal Bourbon lived was called Cardinal of Vendosm he seeing the Pope Spaniard and Covenanters and all
resolved to exclude King Henry the IV. if he turn'd not presently Romanist hoped that change would never be and so doubted not being of the Royal blood to get the Crown to himself This Plot he carried on secretly by his Favorites amongst whom was Jaques Davy Sieur du Perron though now but young and of mean birth yet of great parts and Learning and afterwards a Cardinal This Plot being discovered Mayenne was not a little troubled at it as aiming to take away his greatness and the King not satisfied as offering to rob him of the Crown However though his Party was potent and in the Opinion of the Romanists grounded upon good reason yet the King seemed outwardly to despise and slight it by jeeringly calling them the * Les Tiercelets Thirdlings as being neither for the King nor Covenant And another accident did not a little trouble Mayenne viz. The escape of Charles the young Duke of Guise from his Imprisonment at 15 August Tours for he had been secured ever since the killing of his Father at Blois but whether this escape was by the Kings desire and permittance the better to divide and so weaken the Leaguers or by Bribery or chance is nothing to our story The truth is Mayenne though he seemed pleased at his Nephews liberty yet he liked not the great rejoycings the Covenantâ—rs made at it by Bells and Bon-fires whereby he feared himself might be neglected and by such divisions and jealousies the King might assure himself no loser Mayenne himself also dreading the event of these distractions procureth a Private Meeting with the Duke of Lorrain and some others where it was secretly concluded to unite together never to permit if they could prevent it any to the Crown but of their Family but if they should be constrained to yield further yet that no stranger should be but a Prince of the Blood and of the Roman Religion This is signed and sealed by them and of it they inform the Duke of Guise who desires time to consider Nor is Paris free from sidings and fear for the Council of Sixteen which had been the foundation of the League and the raising of the Duke of Mayenne began now to distrust his proceedings as a man thwarting their greatness not active and fierce enough against the King and Hâ—gonots and one that regarded self more than the Publick And he of late being commonly far absent from them had not that aw and respect as formerly so they began to neglect him and cry up the young Guise And considering themselves strong enough having the Preachers the People the Spaniard the Bishop of Piacenza lately Vice-Legat on their side resolve to have things carried as they please To this purpose they send their demands and complaints to Mayenne who not consenting to them vext their Worships so much that they resolved to lay him aside and consult some other Head or Chieftain And to this purpose being also instigated by Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in the Jesuits Colledge where their deepest Plots used to be made a Letter is drawn up and by the Sixteen and others sent to Philip II. King of Spain by one called Father Matthieu and by * Lib. 10â— * p. 1041. Thuanus and Davila nominated Claude Matheâ— But because François Montagne Rene de la Fon and Louis de Beaumanoir or if you will have the plain truth of it the Jesuit Luys Richeome for he was the French Author that writ the a but thâ—se with his â—athâ—r Apâ—logies are not printed amongst his Works in 2 vol. Apologies for the Jesuits under the former false names Because I say they deny his name to be so alledging that Claude Mathieu dyed above two years before viz. 1588. at Ancona in Italy though there might be others of that name besides him and because Matthien may as well be a Christian Name as a Sirname as the Advocate b Plâ—â—-day Arnauld and the Author of the c Book 3. fol. 200 201. Jesuits Catechism do intimate that this was so and the late d Memoirs d'Estat en suite de ceux de Mons de Villâ—â—â— tom 3. p. 44 where you may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whoâ—e Lettâ—r it self Prints from Paris assure us that his name was Matthieu Aquarius I shall say no more this being enough to overthrow one objection and Davila Thuanus Arnauld Perefixe and others being enough to testifie the truth of the thing supposing the name were not in all things exactly set down Part of the Letter take as followeth Most High and Mighty Prince Your Catholick Majesty having been so gracious unto us as to let us understand by the most religious and reverend Father Matthew not onely your holy intentions for the general good of Religion but more especially your great affections and favours towards this City of Paris c. Then after great commendations of young Guise and the telling of their own miseries they go on to tell him We trust in God that before it be long the Forces of his Holiness and your Catholick Majesties being joyn'd together will free us from the oppressions of our enemies who have hitherto for anâ— year and half so block'd and hem'd us in on all sides that nothing come into the City but by chance or force of Arms and would press further stood they not in fear of the Garrisons your Majesty was pleas'd to send us We can boldly assure your Catholick Majesty that the prayers and desires of all the Catholicks are to see your Catholick Majesty sway the Scepter of this Kingdom and Reign over us As we most willingly cast our selves into your arms as into the arms of our Father Or that your Catholick Majesty would be pleased to appoint some of your posterity And if it shall stand with your good pleasure to appoint any other besides your self that it may please you to make choice of a a a The Duke of Guise or â—omâ—â—thâ—r Frenchman to marry his 〈◊〉 Isabel Clara Eng. Son in Law whom we will receive as King with all our best affections all the Devotions and Obedience that a good and loyal people can and are Daughter to Alphonso IX of Castile and Leon married to Louis VIII of France and so Mother to St. Louis IX She was a wise Queen Regeâ—t qâ—elling all the Consâ—◠〈◊〉 of the Crown and Kingdom bound to yield to their Liege and Soveraign For we hope so well of the blessing of God upon this Alliance that what we have already received of that most puissant and most Christian Princess c c Donna Izabella Clara Eugenia el 〈◊〉 Daughtâ— to Philip II. by his 〈◊〉 wife Elizabeth â—r Izabel â— France Daughter â— Henry II. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have to â—◠〈◊〉 of France and to marry with 〈◊〉 French Prince â—â— Nâ—â—lâ—man to be â—ing Blanche of Castile Mother to our most Christian and most religions King St. Louis we shall receive it yea twofold of this great and vertuous Princess
presumed to absolve Navarre though they alledged it was but ad futuram Cautelam reserving his Obedience and Acknowledgment to the Pope which he now rendred him The Duke and Prelats seeing nothing to be done depart the City and go to Venice In the mean time Mayenne carrieth on his designs sends into Spain desiring that their Infanta might be married to his eldest son but the Legat is mad at him for spoiling the cause by crossing the Promotion of Guise nor had the Spaniards any great kindness for him perceiving that he favour'd and made use of them only for his own advantage Besides these the League was now also somwhat weakned by the Ambitious thoughts of the Duke of Nemours who thinking to canton out or make himself absolute Lord or Prince of Lyon where he was Governour and the Territories adjoyning was by Mayenne's Directions turn'd out of the City and Government by which affront as his Brother in law Nemours thought it was one grand prop of the Covenant was thus discontented and laid aside Upon which Mayenne and Guise thus conceiving their own Relations and Confederates to ploâ— against them thought it behoved them to be more cunning and wary and so they joyn more strictly together for the more sure preservation of themselves Family and Faction CHAP. IX The Several Plots of Pierre Barriere against the King Paris yielded Charles to the King Chastel stabs the King in the Mouth Ridicove a Friar sent to kill the King WHILST the Leaguers as aforesaid were grievously perplext year 1593 by their own Jealousies Divisions and the Kings Conquests the Murther of his Majesty his life being the main Obstacle to the Covenant is zealously contrived There was one Pierre Barriere or la Bar first a Boatman in Orleance and after a trusty Souldier for the Solemn League and Covenant he some way or â—her instigated took up a Resolution to kill the King thinking thereby to do God good service and meritoriously to make his way more easie for Heaven their Preachers from the Pulpit having continually thundted into the peoples ears the lawfulness and gallantry of such an Action His design he communicateth to some Friers who incourage him in it then he must needs reveal it to Seraphino Banchi a Florentine Dominican then living in Lyon Banchi honestly abhorring the Faâ—â— discovereth it to le Sieur de Brancabeon a servant of the Queen Dowagers and sheweth him the fellow to the end he might use his direction in informing the King Barriere resolved on his business goeth to Paris conferreth about the business with Christopher Aubre Curat of S. Andre des Arcs or en Laas who seem'd well pleased with the noble Resolution made the fellow drink telling him That he should gain by that Act both great Glory and Paradice and so sendeth him for further Instructions to Ambrose Varade about three weeks before chosen Rector of the Jesuits Colledge Varade entertaineth him friendly telling him that the Enterprise was most holy and that with good Constancy and Courage he should Confess himself and receive the blessed Sacrament Then led him to his Chamber gave him his blessing received the Sacrament in the Colledge of the Jesuits and was confest also by another Jesuit by Varade's Order The Villain thus encouraged buyeth a Knife for Eighteen pence a lusty knife with a blade some seven inches long edged both ways with a long Poyniards Point Thus prepared he went to St. Denysâ— where the King then was watching opportunity to give the blow but prevented there he followed him to Fort Gournay then to Bricontrez Robert where he confess'd again and communicated with Thomas Boucher whether akin to Jean I know not the Curate of that place here the year 1594 King passed by and escaped him as he was drawing out his knife so losing that opportunity he followed His Majesty to Melun whither Brancalâ—on being come and seeing the fellow he is discovered and taken and carried to prison where he desired of Anne Rousse the Gaolers wife some poison Being examin'd confess'd all is condemn'd led to the 31 August Scaffold in the Market-place where he further confesseth that two Black Fâ—iars went from Lyon also upon the same design so his right Hand is burned in a flaming Fire his Arms Legs and Thighs broken so put upon the wheel and strangled the next day his body was consumed to ashes and they thrown into the River The King now goeth on prosperously taking several places and others yielding freely to him which success troubled not a little the Covenanters year 1594 But to keep up their hearts the Nuncio put forth a * 27 Jan. Declaration exhorting all the Catholicks to unite and oppose Navarre telling them that the Pope will not absolve him nor admit of his Absolution that the Duke of Nevers is disreguarded at Rome his Embassie is despised by the Pope that they owe no obedience to the King his Conversion being but a Cheat and himself not received into the bosom of the Church In the mean time Aix in Provence yields to the King to the great trouble of Gilbert Genebrard the Hebrician and Chronologer who the year before had this Archbishoprick given him for his great zeal to the League by Pope Gregory XIV and so vext was this old Covenanter at the reâ—â—ition of this place that he forthwith departed the City scorning to breathe amongst such Royallists Mayenne having sought help from Pope Spaniard and every where else and now growing jealous of Count de Belin his Governour of Paris he removed him putting in his room Count de Brissac and so marcheth out to try his fortune in other places Brissac having thus Paris under his command thought it best to consult his own advantage by making peace with the King whom he saw to carry all Whilest this Capitulation went secretly on the King had himself crown'd at Chartres by Nicholas de Thou Bishop of that City 27 Feb. and for his Sacreeing or Anointing because Rheims was possest by the Covenanters and so they could not procure the Sancte Ampoule or holy Vial of Oyl of which their Legends talk much they had recourse to that kept in the Abby * Monastâ—riâ—m majoris Monaste ii de Marmonstier near Tours which they say was brought from Heaven by an Angel †Pâ—g 57. Gononus saith the Virgin Mary to cure the broken bones of St. Martin the Archbishop of that City For the Ceremonies of this Coronation I shall refer you to a Hist de Nâ—vâ—â— c. Andre Pavyn b Le Cerimonial de â—ranc Theodore Godefroy and the story of it was the same year printed in French as also in English Well the Trâ—aty is concluded about the delivering up of Paris Brissac upon feigned excuses sendeth out of the City the Souldiers he could not confide in then having prepared all things for the best the King and his Forces are secretly let into Paris the Souldiers and Citizens upon notice 22
purge and discharge our selves before God his Angels and the World not to have forgotten our duties in time of persecution but constantly to have confest the name of Christ It therefore concerneth your Wisdom most Holy Father to foresee seeing we are now in these dangerous days whereout we cannot escape without great miracle that this evil turn not to the destruction of your Holiness and the utter overthrow of the Apostolick See and that the judgment of God as S. Peter saith and the continual and known threatnings of Navarre seem to confirm begin not at his house and that that Serpent which hath till now been nourished defended and by those unto whom it did not become most courteously used spit and cast not his poison and venom upon him by whom it was expedient his head should have been broken and bruised to the perpetual reproach and shame of Sixtus V. but notwithstanding by a just revengement and secret judgment of God And while there is any hope remaining that with all speed your Holiness linger not to draw the two-edged sword although too late we fear but who knoweth if God will be appeased and forgive us our offences upon this noisom beast and display all force and power against it For it is now long enough nay we fear too long tarried delayed lingered and loitered And this is that we crave of your Holiness for the tender love and mercy of God if there be left any regard of duty same and estimation or any care of the publick or the particular health and welfare deeply to think and consider that it concerneth the uttermost danger of the Church and the safety of Christ his flock so dearly bought and committed unto our charge and whiles you are able to slay this wilde Boar that consumeth the Vineyard of the Lord and drive away bridle and repress with thy double Sword all the small Foxes breaking and throwing down the same for fear this being wilfully neglected his anger be not ready to punish and chasten us who will reproach us the hardness of our hearts and require at our hands the innocent bloud-shedding and the great quantity of souls lost for ever who because his flock is become a prey and his sheep a spoil unto the wilde beasts and his Vineyard trodden under foot and made waste will grievously complain and we be not snared and wrapt in his just but most fearful and terrible judgement eternally to be lamented and bewailed Wherein we protest before the same Almighty and High God and his Angels that herein we have performed our charge and duty and therefore if here be written any thing somewhat bitterly we pray your Holiness to take it in good part as coming from a burning zeal towards the Church now periclitating and ready to fall and therefore the rather because it behoveth that all our thoughts be fixed in the defence of Sion whose duties we judge it to be to leave nothing undon whereby we might by all means possibly both things above and beneath and all that is in Heaven and Earth move and provoke for to pity her distressed estate because it is more then full time so to do Farewel And as your Holiness pitieth the French nay the Universal Church ready to fall so God be favourable and merciful unto you In Paris from your Holiness Colledge of Sorbonne 1590. 29 July Your Holiness Affectionate Orators and most Humble Servants the Dean and the rest of the Sorbonne at Paris The Duke of Mayenne intent as aforesaid upon the relief of Paris at last joyneth with Alessandro Farnese Duke of Parma and marcheth towards the City the King wirh a Resolution to fight them raiseth the Siege but Parma carried his designes so cunningly that in spight of all opposition he conveyed great store of Provisions into the City nor could the King force or oblige him to a Battel yet the King resolved to give one lusty storm to the City to which purpose Ladders being provided and silently be in the night set to the walls the City had been won if by chance a Jesuit as * Pag. 958. Davila saith or a few Jesuits as * Pag 343. de Bussieres saith who stood Centinel without the Corps du Garde which was kept by those Fathers and Nicholas Nivelle the Covenanting Bookseller all the rest being asleep and negligent had not discovered them given the Alarum and fought stoutly against them upon the walls The King seeing himself disappointed by Parma the Parisians well stored with Victuals and a Sickness in his Army raiseth the Siege disposeth his Forces into Quarters the Duke of Parma returning also to his Government in the Low-Countreys Many Stories are we told of some mens foolish contempt and scorn over their supposed Superiors some whipping their Gods if not agreeable to them Augustus Caesar could defie Neptune The Thracians would rant against the Heavens if Thundred Xerxes would shackle the Hellespont and though the Ancient Poets and Lucian villifyed their Gods it may be upon good reason by making them guilty of all the villanies in the world yet none could be so extravagant as that which the Ingenious †Leâ— Eâ—saâ—s â— 1. c 3. Montaigne tells us of one of the late Kings neighbouring to France of Spain as some think who having his Expectations disappointed by Heaven swore to be revenged on God himself and if the story be true be commanded his subjects not to pray to God for ten years nor to speak of or believe in him I shall not say that these Covenanters proceeded so far but may justly affirm that never any people acted more against Gods Vice-gerent then they Their stubbornness may here be seen by their miseries and thus their contempt of favour law life duty and obedience doth shew their disrespect to the Divine Oracles and God himself CHAP. VIII The Thirdlings Young Guise escapes out of Prison Barnaby Brisson Strangled The Duke of Mayenne overaw'd the Sixteen The Mock State General meet at Paris King Henry the Fourth declares himself a Romanist and received absolution at St. Dennis VVHilest Parma is returning to the Netherlands Pope Sixtus the 27 Augâ—st Fifth dyeth upon which the Cardinal Legat departeth France leaving behind him in Paris Filippo Sega Bishop of Piacenza he came from Italy with him and was also a Cardinal to act as Vice-Legat Urban VII is elected Pope who dying thirteen days after Cregory XIV is * chosen to sit in the Chair â— Dâ—â—â—mb In the mean time the King is pinched on all hands the Parisians vapour â—s Conquerors Emanuel de Loraine Duke of Mercoeur carryeth all for the League in Brittain with whom above four thousand Spaniards joyn the Duke of Savoy conquereth in Provence and by the Parliament of Aix is Declared Head of their Government having also some Intentions for the Crown nor was the Duke of Lorraine idle But these prosperous proceedings did not altogether please Mayenne fearing their greatness would Eclipse