point of glory after the Battel of Dreux where it might be said that he was the safeguard of our Religion which depended on that day's success and that all the Council was fill'd with the applause of that Heroe for so memorable a Victory which he had in a manner gain'd singly after the defeat and taking of the Constable he believ'd he had found the favourable occasion he so ardently desir'd to satisfie his ambition to the full by â—aising his Brother to that degree of Honour in which he might enjoy a Supreme and Independent Authority equal to the power of the greatest Kings To this effect he was not wanting to represent to the Heads of that Assembly and by them to the Pope that for the support of Religion against which the Heretiques made so cruel War particularly in France there was no better means than to make a League into which shou'd enter all the Princes and great men whom they cou'd procure and above all the rest the King of Spain who was so powerfull and so zealous for the Catholique Faith He added that it was necessary for the Pope to declare himself the Protectour of it and to elect a Head of it in the Kingdom on whose Piety Prudence Valour and Experience all things might safely be repos'd and whom all Catholiques shou'd be under an obligation to obey till they had totally extirpated the Huguenots This proposal was receiv'd with great applause and as their minds in that juncture of time were wholly prepossess'd with a high character of the wise conduct the perpetual felicity and heroique vertues of the Victorious Duke of Guise there was not the least scruple remaining for them to conclude that he alone was fit to be the Head of â—o glorious an Undertaking But the sad news of his Death arriving in the very upshot of that project made this great design to vanish which the Cardinal who never lost the imagination of it nor the hope to make it succeed at some other time was not able to bring in play again till about ten or eleven years after that accident And then sound the young Duke of Guise Henry of Lorrain his Nephew both of age and of capacity and intirely dispos'd to its accomplishment For at that time he propos'd warmly the same design to the Pope and the King of Spain who both enter'd without difficulty into his opinion though upon motives very different The Pope out of the ardent desire he had to see Heresie altogether exterminated from this most Christian Kingdom and the Spaniard out of a longing appetite to make his advantage of our divisions and those great disorders which he foresaw the League must inevitably cause in France The Duke also on his side who had much more ambition and much less affection to the publique good than his Father embrac'd with all his Soul so fair an occasion as was thereby put into his hand of raising himself immediately to so high a degree of Power and Authority in becoming Head of a Party which in all appearance wou'd ruine all the others and give Law universally to France But the Death of his Uncle the Cardinal which happen'd at the same time broke once more the measures of his ambitious design which notwithstanding he never did forsake as being fully resolv'd to put it into execution on the first opportunity which shou'd be offer'd This he cou'd not find till two years afterwards when Don Iohn of Austria pass'd through France to take possession of his government of the Low Countries That Prince who travell'd incognito and had already made a secret correspondence with the Duke of Guise saw him at Ioinville where after some conferences which they had together without other witness than Iohn d' Escovedo Secretary to Don Iohn they made a Treaty of alliance offensive and defensive mutually to assist each other to their utmost Abilities with their Friends their Power and Forces to render themselves absolute the first in his government of the Neatherlands the second in that party which he always hop'd to form in France according to the project of his Uncle under pretence of maintaining the Catholique Religion in France against the Huguenots Though Historians are silent of this Treaty I suppose notwithstanding that it is undoubtedly true considering what Monsieur de Peiresc a name so celebrated by the learned has written concerning it in his memoires which was grounded on what was related to him by Monsieur du Vair who had it from Antonio Perez For that famous Confident of the Amours betwixt Philip the second and the fair Princess of Eboli acknowledg'd freely to President du Vair that to revenge himself of unfortunate Escovedo who at his return to Spain wou'd have ruin'd him in the favour of the King he gave him so well to understand that this Secretary of Don Iohn was intrusted with all his most secret designs against the State and that having discover'd the love of the King his Master he travers'd his amorous intrigue to serve the Prince of Eboli on whom he had dependance that Philip who made not the least scruple to rid himself of any one whom he suspected as having not spar'd even his Son Don Carlos made him be assassinated After which having seiz'd his Papers he there found this private Treaty together with the memoires and instructions containing the whole foundation and all the minutes of this project with the means which the Duke of Guise intended to make use of to make his Enterprise succeed of which that King who made advantage of every thing most dexterously serv'd himself long time after to engage the Duke so deeply in his Interests that he was never able to disentangle himself as the sequel will declare But in the mean time that Peace so advantageous to the Protestants being made in the manner above mention'd the Duke beleiv'd he had now a fair occasion to begin by making use of the discontents of the Catholiques the forming of that League of which he intended aâ—terwards to declare himself the Head How he manag'd that affair is next to be related Amongst the secret Articles of that Peace so favourable to the Huguenots there was one by which the Prince of Conde had granted to him the full possession of the Government of Picardy and besides it for his farther security the important City of Peronne the Garrison of which shou'd be maintain'd at the King's expence The Governour of Peronne at that time was Iaques Lord of Humieres Encre Bray and many other places who by other large possessions of his own and the Governments of Roye and of Montdidier added to Peronne was without dispute the most considerable the wealthiest and most powerfull Lord of all Picardy Besides that being of an illustrious Birth and Son of the Wise and Valiant Iohn d' Humieres who had been Lieutenant of the King in Piemont and Governour to King Henry the Second he was respected lov'd and obey'd in that Province where
of Navarre demanded of the term prescrib'd them for the surrender of those cautionary places which they had allow'd them for their security by the last Edict of Peace upon this pretence the Factious cast off all manner of respect to him They clamour'd publiquely on all occasions the Preachers from their Pulpits the Curats from their Desks the Confessours from their Seats the Professours in their Lectures and the Doctours in their Resolutions which they gave that they were oblig'd to oppose themselves with all their power against the King who supported the Navarrois and resolv'd that Heretical and stubborn as he was he shou'd nevertheless succeed to the Crown which ought never to be suffer'd they being assur'd that this Prince if ever he shou'd mount the Throne wou'd abolish the Catholique Religion in France This was that terrible machine of which they made use to stir up the people over whom there is nothing has so great a power as the motive of Religion when once they are perswaded that it will be forceably taken from them And to bind them inseparably to the interests and party of the Duke of Guise whom they believ'd to have no other aim in all his undertakings than the maintenance and defence of it against Heretiques and the favourers â— of Heresie But because that Prince who was extremely dextrous had no mind that it shou'd be perceiv'd he acted for himself under so specious a pretence besides that he believ'd not that it was safe for him as yet to attempt the exclusion of the other Princes of the bloud from the Succession they being good Catholiques he endeavour'd to draw subtilely into his party the good old Man Charles Cardinal of Bourbon And indeed having with great Presents gain'd the Sieur de Rubempre who absolutely govern'd him he perswaded him without much trouble that he being by one degree of kindred nearer to the King than was the King of Navarre his Nephew it was to him that the Kingdom belong'd of right in case the King shou'd dye without Children and that the whole Catholique League wou'd stand by him in his claim with all their power were it onely to hinder an Huguenot Prince from succeeding to the Crown There needed not more to shake a Soul so weak as was that of the Cardinal de Bourbon who devout as he was yet suffer'd himself to be seduc'd with the vain hopes of Reigning He was so much dazled with the false glittering of an imaginary Crown that without considering he had already one of Cardinalship that threescore and ten came fast upon him and that the King was not yet thirty five he quitted his Habit of Cardinal and appear'd in publique like the General of an Army which gave men occasion to believe that his great age had at least craz'd his understanding if it had not quite destroy'd it Yet this opinion of the world hinder'd him not from calling himself the Heir presumptive of the Crown nor from declaring himself openly the Head of the League against his Nephew the King of Navarre especially when he saw that party in which he thought himself already so firmly rooted become every day more powerfull and formidable by the conjunction of the particular League of the Parisians which caus'd such furious disorders under the famous name of the sixteen and which was fram'd in Paris about this time in that manner which I am â—ow going to relate After that by the vigilance of the â—â—rst President Christopher de Thou and some other Magistrates the course of the League was stopp'd at Paris where it had begun to make some impression after it had been sign'd by the Picards all things were in a peaceable condition there none daring to hold any secret Cabals against the State till such time as on occasion of the Conference betwixt the King of Navarre and the Duke d' Espernon in Guyenne a malicious report was rais'd that the King protected the Huguenots who so soon as their Head should mount the Throne which he pretended to be his right wou'd not fail to abolish the Catholique Religion in France For then it was that a mean Citizen of Paris call'd La Roche Blond a man rather weak and silly than wicked prejudic'd by the calumnies which the factious publish'd against the King got it into his head through a false zeal of Religion that the good Catholiques of Paris shou'd unite themselves together and oppose with all their force the King's designs who as it was imagin'd favour'd the Heretiques and hinder the King of Navarre from his Succession to the Crown To this purpose he address'd himself immediately to one Mr. Matthew de Launoy who having first been a Priest was afterwards the Minister of Sedan from whence he had escap'd in his own defence being there taken in Adultery and thereupon renouncing his Calvinism was made Canon of Soissons and at that time preach'd at Paris He also communicated his design to two noted Doctours and Curats the one of Saint Severin nam'd Iohn Prevost and the other of Saint Benet who was the famous Mr. Iohn Boucher one of the most follow'd Preachers of Paris but whose talent chiefly consisted in his extreme boldness which stretch'd even to impudence a man more proper as it appear'd to raise a great Sedition by his violent and furious declamations than to preach the Gospel of Iesus Christ which inspires onely humility obedience and submission to the higher Powers These men being united all four in the same opinion which the Spirit of Division and Rebellion disguis'd under the specious appearance of Zeal inspir'd into them communicated to each other the names of all their several acquaintance in Paris who were most proper to enter into Society with them and to lay the foundations of an Holy Union of Catholiques in that great City which without farther deliberation they coucluded to be of absolute necessity to preserve Religion in France and to extinguish Tyranny for by that name it was that those factious Bygots took the licence to call the Government But for fear of being too soon discover'd by their multitude as it had happen'd formerly in Paris when the project of the League was first broach'd they agreed each of them to name two Associats of the most conâ—iding men they knew to whom they shou'd communicate the whole secret of their enterprise Upon which La roche Blond chose the Sieur Lewis d' Orleans a famous Advocate and the Sieur Acarie Master of the Accompts who was afterwards ironically call'd the Lacquay of the League because that being lame he was one of those who went and came and acted with most earnestness for the interest of his party The same man who was Husband to that pious Mary of the Incarnation of whose good example he profited so ill The Curat of St. Benet nam'd Mignager an Advocate and Crucè a Procureur of Parlament He of St. Severin gave his voice for the Sieur de Caumont an Advocate and a Merchant call'd
he was the person by whom this young man who was under his charge had been advis'd and was afterwards confirm'd in this his execrable resolution For which reason being taken with Arms in his hand three Months after at the assault of the Fauxbourgs of Paris his process was made and though he obstinately deny'd it to his Death which he suffer'd with a wonderfull resolution yet since he cou'd not convince the Witnesses of falsehood who Swore against him he was judg'd according to the forms of Justice as he himself acknowledg'd and drawn in pieces by four Horses according to the decree of the Parliament sitting at Tours Howsoever it were 't is certain that the greatest part of those outrageous Preachers of the League said altogether as much as what was alledg'd against the Prior for Monsieur Anthoine Loysel has left it Written in his Journal that on the very same day whereon the King was Wounded and before the news of it was come to Paris he heard at St. Merry the Sermon of Doctour Boucher who said by way of consolation to his Auditours that as on that day namely the first of August when the Feast of St. Peter in Prison is celebrated God had deliver'd that Apostle from the hands of Herod so they ought to hope he had the like mercy in store for them And immediately made no scruple to maintain this damnable proposition to them that it was an action of great merit to kill an Heretique King or a favourer of Heretiques The rest of the same fraternity of Preachers joyning in the Consort on the same day held forth in the Pulpits with more violence than ever against Henry de Valois and gave the people says the same undeniable Witness a hope almost in the nature of a certainty that God wou'd speedily deliver them which gave just occasion for many to believe that the devilish design of that Assasinate had been communicated to them And when it was known that the Blow was given it was order'd that publique Prayers shou'd be made in all the Churches of the City together with a solemn action of thanksgiving to Almighty God For a whole Week together they made Processions from all the Parishes to the Church of the Iacobins and exhorted the people to distribute their Alms liberally to the Religious of that Cloyster for the sake of Fryer Iaques Clement as also to extend their Charity to his poor Relations To conclude Doctour Roze Bishop of Senlis an old man and most outragious Leaguer Preach'd there according to the direction of the Council of Sixteen which was sent in Tickets to all the Preachers in the City on Sunday the sixth of August wherein they were appointed to insist particularly on three Heads which I will here set down as they are express'd in the Tickets themselves that it may be notorious with what an Egyptian blindness that infamous Cabal of the League was then struck Take them in their own Words 1. You are to justifie the action of the Iacobin because it is a parallel to that of Iudith so much magnifi'd in the Holy Scriptures For he who hears not the Church ought to be accounted as an Heathen or an Holofernes 2. Cry out against those who say that the King of Navarre is to be receiv'd in case he goes to Mass Because he can be but an Usurper of the Kingdom being Excommunicated and also standing excluded from that of Navarre 3. Exhort the Magistracy to publish against all those who shall maintain the King of Navarre that they are attainted of the crime of Heresie and as such to proceed against them But after all these doings this brutal joy of the Leaguers for the Death of Henry the Third was immediately after turn'd into sadness and at the last into despair by the wise management and incomparable valour of his Successour Henry de Bourbon to whom God had preordain'd the Glory of restoring the happiness of France by the utter destruction of the Leagâ—e which had laid it desolate The relation of which is the Business of the fourth and last part of my present History THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE LIB IV. THough Henry King of Navarre whom the deceas'd King had at his Death declar'd his Lawful Successor immediately took upon himself the Soveraign Title of King of France yet was he not acknowledg'd for such at the same time by the whole Army The Hugonots whom he had brought to the Assistance of his Predecessor were the first to render him Homage as no ways doubting but that the World was now their own and that Calvinism shou'd be the predominant Religion in France under a Protestant King But this very Consideration gave great trouble and anxiety of Mind to that prudent Prince who plainly saw that the Catholicks foreseeing this Misfortune of which they were extreamly apprehensive might possibly reunite themselves against him and that the Huguenots who were without Comparison the weaker Party cou'd never be able to support him on the Throne In effect there was during all that day and the whole night following a great Contestation of Opinions amongst the Catholique Lords of the Army in relation to this Affair Many of them who consider'd more their private Interest than the publique Good were deâ—irous to make advantage of a Juncture so favourable for the establishment of their Fortunes and to sell their Obedience at the highest Rate they cou'd by raising their Governments into Principalities which had been to cantonize the Monarchy There were great numbers of them led by different Motives some by a true Zeal for Religion others by the Aversion which they had for this new King which they disguis'd with a specious pretence of Zeal who wou'd absolutely have it that he shou'd instantly declare himself a Catholique which cou'd not possibly be done either with the Kings Honour or with Provision of security to the Catholiques because too much of Constraint was evident in such an Action Some there were also who maintain'd that since his Birth and the Fundamental Law of the Land had brought him to the Throne of which his Heroick Virtues had render'd him most worthy it was their Duty to acknowledge him and to obey him chearfully without imposing on him the least Conditions But this was it which the greatest part of them thought too dangerous to Religion which they were unwilling to hazard by such a Complement In conclusion after this important Affair had been throughly examin'd in the Kings Council and in the general Assembly of the Catholique Princes and Lords which was held in the Lodgings of Francis de Luxembourg Duke de Piney they came to an Agreement the next Morning by holding a just Temperament betwixt the two Extreams For without insisting on their private Interests that they might act frankly and like Gentlemen it was determin'd that the King shou'd be acknowledg'd but upon condition that he shou'd cause himself to be instructed within six months time by the most able
believe we shall behold its ruine by the repentance of those who being deluded and held back by their Ministers continue still in their erroneous belief rather through ignorance than malice And this is it which when accomplish'd will surpass even all those other wonders which daily are beheld under your most auspicious Government Vndoubtedly Sir your Majesty has perform'd by your Victorious Arms your generous goodness and your more than Royal magnificence all those great and Heroique actions which will ever be the admiration of the World and infinitely above the commendations which future Ages in imitation of the present will consecrate to your immortal memory I presume not to undertake that subject because it has already drain'd the praises of the noblest Pens which yet have not been able to raise us to that Idea 〈◊〉 you which we ought justly to conceive I shall onely say that what you have done with so much Prudence Iustice and Glory by extending the French Monarchy to its ancient bounds and rendring it as it is at present as flourishing and as much respected by all the World as it ever has been under the greatest and most renown'd of all our Monarchs is not so great in the sight of God as what your Majesty performs daily with so much Piety Zeal and good success in augmenting the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and procuring the Conversion of our Protestants by those gentle and efficacious means which you have us'd This Sir is without exception the most glorious of all your Conquests and while you continue to enjoy on earth that undisputed glory which your other actions have acquir'd you is preparing an eternal triumph for you in the Heavens 'T is what is continually implor'd of God in his most ardent Prayers who enjoying the abundant favours of your Majesty lives at this day the most happy of Mankind under your most powerfull Protection and is most oblig'd to continue all his life with all imaginable Respect and Zeal Sir Your Majesty's most Obedient and most Faithfull Subject and Servant Louis Maimbourg THE AUTHOUR'S Advertisement to the READER SInce perhaps there are some who may think themselves concern'd in this History because they are the Grand-children or Descendants of those who are here mention'd I desire them to consider that Writing like a faithfull Historian I am oblig'd sincerely to relate either the good or ill which they have done If they find themselves offended they must take their satisfaction on those who have prescrib'd the Laws of History let them give an account of their own rules for Historians are indispensably bound to follow them and the sum of our reputation consists in a punctual execution of their orders Thus as I pretend not to have deserv'd their thanks in speaking well of their Relations so I may reasonably conclude that they ought not to wish me ill when I say what is not much to their advantage I faithfully relate what I find written in good Authours or in particular Memories which I take for good after I have throughly examin'd them I do yet more for considering that no man is bound to believe when I say in general that I have had the use of good Manuscripts on whose credit I give you what is not otherwhere to be had I sincerely and particularly point out the originals from whence I drew these truths and am fully convinc'd that every Historian who hopes to gain the belief of his Reader ought to transact in the same manner For if there were no more to be done than barely to say I have found such or such an extraordinary passag◠in an authentique Manuscript without giving a more particular account of it under pretence of being bound to Secrecy there is no kind of Fable which by this means might not be slurr'd upon the Reader for a truth An Authour might tell many a lusty lye but a Reader who were not a very credulous fool or a very complaisant Gentleman wou'd have a care of believing him 'T is for this reason that I have always mark'd in my margents the Books Relations and Memoires whether Printed or Manuscripts from whence I take the substance of my Relations One of those Writers of whom I have made most use is Monsieur Peter Victor Cayet in his Nine years Chronology containing the History of the Wars of Henry the Fourth Because he having always follow'd that Prince since he was plac'd in his service together with Monsieur de la Gaucherie who was his Preceptor 't is exceeding probable that he was better inform'd of the passages of those times of which he was an eye witness than others who had not that advantage For what else concerns him he was one of the most Learned and able Ministers which our Protestants have ever had and in that quality serv'd Madam Catharine the King's Sister till about two years after the Conversion of that great Prince he acknowledg'd the true Catholique Religion and made his Solemn abjuration of Heresie at Paris He also publish'd the motives of his Conversion in a Learned Treatise which was receiv'd with great applause both in France and in Foreign Countries and his example fortifi'd with the strong reasons of a man so able as he was to which no solid answer was ever given was immediately follow'd by the Conversion of a great number of Protestants who by his means came to understand the falshood of their Religion pretendedly reform'd This action so infinitely netled his former Brotherhood of Ministers that they grew outrageous against him They ran down his reputation with full cry and endeavour'd to blacken it with a thousand horrible calumnies with which they stuff'd their Libels and amongst others that which they have inserted into the Memoires of the League with the greatest villany imaginable taking no notice of the solid and convincing answers he made them Which proceeding of theirs is sufficient to discover the falsity of all they have Written to Defame him according to the Libelling genius of Presbytery For of all Heretiques none have been more cruel or more foul-mouth'd than the Calvinists none have reveng'd themselves of their pretended Enemies more barbarously either by open Arms or private mischiefs when the power was in their hands or more impudently with their Pens and by their Libels when they had no other way to shew their malice murthering their reputations with all sorts of injuries and impostures who have once declar'd themselves against their Party In effect what have they not said to defame the memory of Monsieur de Sponde Lieutenant General in Rochelle of Salette Counsellour to the King of Navarre of Morlas Counsellour of State and Superintendant of the Magazines of France as also of Du Fay Clairville Rohan and a hundred others of their most celebrated Ministers who after having been esteem'd amongst them for good men and look'd on as the Leaders of their Consistory are by a strange sort of Metamorphosis become on the sudden Profligate Wretches and the
him he takes up his Quarters at St. Clou. The execrable Paricide â—ommitted on his Person his most Christian and most holy death The Contents of the Fourth Book HEnry the Fourth is acknowledg'd King of France by the Catholiques of his Army and on what Conditions The Duke of Espernon forsakes him and the Sieur de Vitry goes over to the League the King divides his Army into three Bodies and leads one of them into Normandy The Duke of Mayenne causes the Counsell of the Vnion to declare the old Cardinal of Bourbon King under the name of Charles the 10th Books Written for the right of the Vncle against the Nephew and for the Nephew against the Vncle. The Duke of Mayenne takes the Field with a powerfull Army and follows the King into Normandy The Battel or great Skirmishes at Arques the King's Victory and the Retreat of the Duke of Mayenne the Assault and taking of the Suburbs of Paris by the King The Intelligence held by the President De Blanc-Mesnil with the King The praise of that President The Exploits of the King in the Provinces The Propositions of the Legat Cajetan and of the Spaniards at the Coâ—nsell of the Vnion The Sieur de Villeroy discovers the intrigue of it to the Duke of Mayenne who resolves to oppose them The Commendation of that Great Minister of State A new Decree of the Sorbonne against Henry the 4th The new Oath which the Legat orders to be taken by the Leaguers The King Besiegeth Dreux The Duke of Mayenne Marches to the releif of the Besieged which occasions the battel of Yvry The description of that Battel the order of the two Armies The absolute Victory of the King His Exploits after his Victory His repulse from before Sens by the Sieur de Chanvallon he goes to besiege Paris The condition of that Town at that time The provision made by the Duke of Nemours to sustain the Siege The attacque of the Suburb of St. Martin by Lanoue who was repuls'd from it Why the King wou'd not use force An horrible Famine in Paris The reasons which made the Parisians resolve to endure all extremities rather than Surrender The Fantastick Muster that was made by the Ecclesiasticks and the Monks to encourage the people the Legat Cajetan as he was looking on it in danger to be kill'd The Arrival of the Duke of Parma who relieves Paris Two attempts upon Paris to surprise it the one by Scalade and the other by a Strategem neither of which succeed The Retreat of the Duke of Parma The Siege and the taking of Chartres by the management of Chastillon The death of that Count and his Commendation The Duke of Parma renders the Duke of Mayenne suspected to the King of Spain who supports the Sixteen against him Pope Sixtus is disabus'd in favour of the King Gregory the 14th declares for the League against the King whom he Excommunicates His Bull is condemned and produces no manner of effect The conference of the Lorrain Princes at Rheims The President Jannin goes for them into Spain His praise and his artfull Negotiation King Philip unwarily declares his design to cause the Infanta his Daughter to be Elected Queen of France Monsieur de Mayenne breaks with the Spaniard The Division amongst the Lorrain Princes The Young Duke of Guise is receiv'd by the Leaguers who set him up against his Vncle. The horrible violence of the Sixteen who cause the President Brisson and two Counsellours to be hanged The just Revenge which the Duke of Mayenne takes for that action Their Faction totally pull'd down by that Duke and by the Honest Citizens The Siege of Roven The Duke of Parma comes to its releif the Skirmish of Aumale The brave Sally of Villiers Governour of Roven the King raises his Siege and some few days after Besieges the Army of the Duke of Parma the wonderfull Retreat of that Duke The conference of du Plessis Mornay and Villeroy for the Peace what it conduc'd towards the conversion of the King The Popes Innocent the 9th and Clement the 8th for the League The death of the Duke of Parma Monsieur de Mayenne at length assembles the General Estates of the League at Paris The History of those pretended Estates Monsieur de Mayenne causes the conference of Suresne to be therein accepted in spight of the Legat. The Speeches of the Archbishop of Bourges and of Lyons and the History of that Conference The Duke of Mayenne in the Estates artfully hinders the Election of a King The History of the conversion of Henry the 4th The absolution which he demands and which at length is given him at Rome The reduction of many Lords and Towns of the League to the King's Service His Entry into Paris the Skirmish at Fontain Francoise The treaty of the Duke of Mayenne and the Edict which the King makes in his favour The treaty of the Duke of Joyeuse and his second entry into the order of Capuchins the treaty of the Duke of Merceaeur and the end of the League THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE LIB I. THough this work which I have undertaken is the natural sequel of the History of Calvinism 't is yet most certain that the Subject which I treat has no relation to that Heresie For it was not the desire of preserving the Catholique faith in France nor any true motive of Religion which gave birth to the League as the common people who have not been able to penetrate into the secret of that accursed Cabal have always been persuaded It was derived from two passions which in all ages have produc'd most tragical Effects I mean Ambition and Hatred 'T is true the multitude and above all the Church-men who believ'd they had occasion to be alarm'd in matters of Religion if he who was call'd to the Crown by the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom shou'd obtain it these I say were seduc'd by that specious appearance of true Zeal which seem'd to be the very Soul and Foundation of the League But it will not be difficult to discover in the process of this History that the Authours of that Conspiracy made use of those pretences of Religion to abuse the credulity and even the Piety of the People and to make them impious without their perceiving it by animating and arming them against their Kings to root out if they had been able the last remaining Stem of the Royal Stock and to plant on its Foundations the dominion of a Foreigner And as none are able to execute an unjust Enterprise but by means as pernicious and execrable as the end it self which they propose so will there be manifest in the sequel and progress of the League even yet more disorders and mischiefs than ever Calvinism it self produc'd against which alone it seem'd to have been arm'd Yet in this particular most resembling that Formidable party which was rais'd against the Catholique Church that being blasted as the Heresie had been by the Lord of
I Write found all things sufficiently dispos'd to the execution of his enterprise For he found the Catholiques provok'd to his hand by those advantages which newly were granted to the Huguenots the people dissatisfi'd and weary of the Government not able to endure that the wealth of the Nation shou'd be squander'd on the King's Favourites whom they called the Minions the genius of Queen Catharine pleas'd with troubles and even procuring them to render her self necessary to the end that recourse might be had to her for Remedies the Princes of the bloud become suspected and odious to the three orders of the Kingdom either for favouring the Huguenots or for being publiquely declar'd Calvinists thereby renouncing the Catholique faith as the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde had openly done the King faln into the contempt of his Subjects after having lost their love himself on the contrary lov'd and ador'd by the people worship'd by the Parisians follow'd by the Nobility indear'd to the Soldiers having in his Interests all the Princes of his Family powerfull in Offices and Governments the multitude of his Creatures whom his own generosity and that of his Father had acquir'd him the favour of the Pope the assistance of the Spaniard ready at hand to bear him up and above all the seeming Justice of his cause which he industriously made known to all the world to be that of Religion alone whereof in the general opinion he was the Protectour and the Pillar and for the maintenance of which it was believ'd that he had devoted himself against the Huguenots who had enterpriz'd to abolish it in the Kingdom But the last motive which fix'd his resolution was the extreme rancour he had against the King one of whose intimate Confidents he had been formerly and who had now abandon'd him by changing on the sudden the whole manner of his Conduct and giving himself entirely up to his Minions who omitted no occasion of using the Duke unworthily For disdain which is capable of hurrying to the last extremities the greatest Souls and the most sensible in point of Honour made hatred to succeed his first inclinations against him whom already he despis'd and hatred and contempt being joyn'd with Ambition incessantly push'd him forwards to make himself the head of a Party so powerfull as that of the League which pass'd for Holy in the minds of the people and to avail himself of so fair an opportunity to form it For this effect he immediately caus'd a project to be formally drawn which his Emissaries shou'd endeavour to spread about the Kingdom amongst those Catholiques who appear'd the most zealous and most simple and those who were known to be the most addicted to the House of Guise in this Breviate which they were oblig'd to subscribe they promis'd by Oath to obey him who shou'd be elected head of that holy Confederacy which was made for maintaining of the Catholique Religion to cause due obedience to be render'd to the King and his Successours yet without prejudice to what shou'd be ordain'd by the three Estates and to restore the Kingdom to its original Liberties which it enjoy'd under the Reign of Clovis At the first there were found few Persons of Quality and substantial Citizens of Paris who wou'd venture to subscribe to that Association because it was not precisely known who wou'd dare to declare himself the Head of it besides that by the vigilance of the first President Christopher de Thou it was first discover'd then dissipated and at last dissolv'd with ease with all those secret Assemblies which were already held in several quarters of the Town for entring such persons into that infant League whom either their Malice their false Zeal or their Simplicity cou'd ingage But the Duke of Guise having sent his project to the Sieur d' Humieres of whom he held himself assur'd that Lord who besides his obligation to the House of Guise had also his particular interest and that of no less Consequence than the maintaining himself in his Government of Peronne which was taken from him by the Edict of May and that important place order'd to be put into the hands of the Prince of Conde manag'd the affair so well by the credit he had in that Province that as the Picards have always been zealous for the ancient Religion he ingag'd almost all the Towns and all the Nobility of Picardy to declare openly that they wou'd not receive the Prince of Conde because as it was urg'd in the Manifesto which was publish'd to justifie their refusal of him that they certainly knew he was resolv'd to abolish the Catholique Faith and establish Calvinism throughout all Picardy 'T is most certain that they wou'd never be induc'd to receive that Prince into Peronne or any other part of that Government and that to maintain themselves against all those who wou'd undertake to oblige them by force to observe that Article of the Peace which they never wou'd accept the Picards were the first to receive by common agreement and to publish in Peronne tâ—e Treaty of the League in twelve Articles in which the most prudent of the Catholiques themselves together with the Illustrious President Christopher de Thou observ'd many things which directly shock'd the most Holy Laws both Divine and Humane For 't is obvious in the first Article that the Catholique Princes Lords and Gentlemen invoking the name of the Holy Trinity make an Association and League offensive and defensive betwixt themselves without the permission privity or consent of their King and a King who was a Catholique as well as they which is directly opposite to the Law of God who ordains that Subjects should submit themselves and be united to their Sovereign as members to their Head even though he shou'd exceed his bounds and be a Tyrant provided that there be no manifest sin in what they are commanded to obey In the second they refuse to render obedience to the King unless it be conformable to the Articles which shall be presented to him by the States which it shall not be lawfull for him to contradict or to act any thing in prejudice of them 'T is evident that this overthrows the constitution of the Monarchy to establish in its place a certain kind of Aristocracy against one of our fundamental Laws which ordains that the States shou'd have onely a deliberative voice for the drawing up of their Petitions into Bills and then to present them with all humility to the King who examines them in his Council and afterwards passes what he finds to be just and reasonable They give not Law to him who is their Master and their Head as the Electours of the Empire by certain capitulations do to the Emperours of Germany who are indeed the Heads but not the Masters of the Empire but on the contrary they receive it from their King to whom they onely make most humble Addresses in the Bills which they present to him
In the third Article the Associates assume to themselves to be Masters of the State while under pretence of reforming it they ridiculously take upon them to abrogate the Laws observ'd by our Ancestours in the second and third race of our Kings and wou'd establish the customes and uâ—ances which were practis'd in the time of Clovis which is just the same thing that certain Enthusiasts sometimes have attempted in the Church who under the specious names of the Reform'd and Primitive Church endeavoured to revive some ancient Canons which now for many ages have not been observ'd and gave themselves the liberty to condemn the practices and customes authoriz'd by the Church of remisness and abuse since it belongs onely to the Church according to the diversity of times and of occasions to make new regulations in its Government and Discipline without touching the capital points that relate to the Essentials of Religion To conclude from the fourth Article to the twelfth there are visible all the marks and the foulest characters of a Rebellion form'd and undertaken against their Prince particularly where there is promis'd an exact obedience in all things to the Head whom they shall elect and that they will employ their lives and fortunes in his service that in all Provinces they will levy Souldiers and raise money for the support of the common cause and that all those who shall declare themselves against the League shall be vigorously prosecuted by the Associates who shall revenge themselves without exception of person which in the true meaning is no other thing than the setting up a second King in France in opposition to the first against whom they engag'd themselves to take Arms in these terrible words without exception of person in case he should go about to hinder so criminal an usurpation of his Royal Authority Such was the Copy of the League in those twelve Articles which were Printed and dispers'd through all Christendom as we are inform'd by an Authour who was contemporary to it and has given it at large in his History of the War under Henry the Fourth But being conceiv'd in certain terms which are too bold and which manifestly shock the Royal Majesty Monsieur d' Humieres a prudent man reduc'd them into a form incomparably less odious in which preserving the Essentials of the League of which he was Head in Picardy he appears notwithstanding to do nothing but by the authority and for the service of the King Now as it is extremely important to understand throughly this Treaty of Peronne from which the League had its beginning which is not to be found in any of our Authours and the Original of which I have as it was sign'd by almost two hundred Gentlemen and after them by the Magistrates and Officers of Peronne I thought I shou'd gratifie my Readers by communicating to them a piece so rare and so Authentique which has luckily fallen into my hands They will be glad to see in it the Genius the reach and the policy of that dextrous Governour and Lieutenant to the King who in declaring himself Head of the League in his Province and procuring it to be sign'd by so great a number of Gentlemen took so much care to make it manifest at least in appearance that he intended always to give to Caesar what belong'd to Caesar and that the Imperial rights should be inviolably preserv'd in that Treaty For they protest in all their Articles and that with all manner of respect in the most formal terms that nothing shall be done but with his good liking and by his Orders though in pursuance of this all things were manag'd to a quite contrary end But it frequently happens that men engage themselves with an honest meaning and are led by motives of true zeal in some aâ—fairs whereof they foresee not the dangerous consequences which produce such pernicious effects as never enter'd into their first imagination Behold then this Treaty in eighteen Articles together with the subscriptions of the Gentlemen and Officers whereof some are written in such awkward Characters and so little legible that I could never have unriddled them without the assistence of a person very skilfull in that difficult art of deciphering all sorts of ancient writing I mean Don Iohn Hericart an ancient man in Holy Orders of the Abbey of St. Nicholas aux Bois in Picardy who having labour'd to place in their due order and to copy out the Titles and Authentique piâ—câ—s of many ancient Monasteries applies himself at present by permission from my Lord Bishop of Laon his superiour to a work so necessary in the Treasury of Chartres and in the famous Library of the Abbey Royal of St. Victor of Paris where he has found wherewithall to exercise the talent of the most knowing on a great number of Titles of more than six hundred years standing and above three thousand Manuscripts of the rarest and most Ancient sort which compose the most pretious part of that excellent and renowned Library 'T is then to this man's industry that I am owing for this piece and to deal sincerely so as not to pass my conjectures on the Reader for solid truths I have left Blanks for two of their names because the letters which compos'd them cou'd never be certainly distinguish'd The Association made betwixt the Princes Lords Gentlemen and others as well of the State Ecclesiastique as of the Noblesse and third Estate Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countrey of Picardy IN the Name of the Holy Trinity and of the Communication of the pretious body of Jesus Christ. We have promis'd and sworn upon the Holy Gospels and upon our Lives Honours and Estates to pursue and keep inviolably the things herein agreed and by us subscribed on pain of being for ever declared forsworn and infamous and held to be men unworthy of all Gentility and Honour First of all it being known that the great practices and Conspiracies made against the honour of God the Holy Catholick Church and against tâ—e Estate and Monarchy of this Realm of France as well by some Subjects of the same as by Foreigners and the long and continual wars and Civil divisions have so much weakened our Kings and reduc'd them to such necessity that it is no longer possible for them of themselves to sustain the expence convenient and expedient for the preservation of our Religion nor hereafter to maintain us under their protection in surety of our persons families and fortunes in which we have heretofore received so much loss and damage We have judged it to be most necessary and seasonable to render in the first place the honour which we owe to God to the manutention of our Catholique Religion and even to shew our selves more affectionate for the preservation of it than such as are strayed from the good Religion are for the advancement of a new and false opinion And to this effect we swear and promise to employ our selves with all our
powers to restore and to maintain the exercise of our said Catholique Apostolique and Roman Religion in which we and our Predecessours have béen educated and in which we resolve to live and die And we swear and promise also all obedience honour and most humble service to King Henry now reigning whom God has given us for our Sovereign King and Lord lawfully called by the Law of the Kingdom to the succession of his Predecessours and after him to all the Posterity of the House of Valois and others who after those of the said house of Valois shaâ—â— be called by the Law of the Realm to the Crown And upon the obedience and service which we are obliged by all manner of rights to render to our said King Henry now reigning we farther promise to employ our lives and fortunes for the preservation of his Authority and execution of such commandments as by him and his Lieutenant Generals or others having power from him shall be made to us as well for maintaining the onely exercise of the Catholique Apostolique and Roman Religion in France as for bringing to reason and full submission his Rebellious Subjects without acknowledging any other whomsoever than himself and such as shall be by him set in command over us And forasmuch as by the goodness of our said King and Sovereign Lord it hath pleased him to doe so much good to all his Subjects of his Realm as to convoke them to a general Assembly of all the Orders and Estates of it thereby to vnderstand all the complaints and grievances of his said Subjects and to make a good and holy Reformation of the abuses and disorders which have continued of a long time in the said Realm hoping that God will give us some good resolutions by the means of so good and great an Assembly we promise and swear to employ our lives and fortunes for the entire performance of the Resolution of the said Estates in that especially which shall depend on the retention of our Catholique Apostolique and Roman Religion the preservation of the greatness and authority of our King the good and quiet of our Countrey all of this notwithstanding without prejudice to our Liberties and ancient Franchises which we understand to be always maintain'd and preserv'd fully and entirely And farther to the effect abovesaid all of us who have hereunto subscrib'd promise to kéep our selves in a readiness well arm'd mounted and accompanied according to our Qualities immediately upon advertisement given us to put in Execution that which shall be commanded on the part of the King our said Sovereign Lord by his Lieutenant Generals or others having from him Power and Authority as well for the preservation of our Province as for going otherwhere if it be néedfull for the preservation of our said Religion and service of his said Majesty Without its being lawfull or permitted to Gentlemen to place themselves or take employment under other Cornets than those of the Head or the Baily-wéeks in which they shall be resident unless by permission and leave of the King or his Lieutenant or at least of the Head Elect of the said Association who is Monsieur de Humieres to whom we promise to render all honour and obedience To the Council or assistance of whom shall be be call'd and employ'd six of the Principal Gentlemen of the Province and others of quality and fidelity requisite with the advice of whom to provide for the execution of the said matters for the expence entertainment and other charges convenient and necessary for such effect according as the said Countrey can furnish and supply For which said Countrey we offer for such effect even to the number of four Cornets men on horseback well mounted and arm'd and eleven Ensigns of Foot as well for preservation of the said Province as to be otherwhere employed as néed shall be yet no ways comprehending the Companies of the old establishment in consideration that they are obliged to serve otherwhere So that for every of the said Companies be they Horse or Foot thrée Gentlemen of the Countrey men of valour and experience shall be named to the King's Lieutenant or to him who shall be impower'd for that purpose from his Majesty out of the said thrée to make election and choice of one And because such Levies cannot be made without great costs and expences and that it is most just in such an Emergency and necessity to employ all means which are in the power of any man there shall be levied and collected upon the Countrey the sums of money convenient and necessary for this by the advice of the King's Lieutenant or other empowered from his Majesty which he shall afterwards be petition'd to authorize and make valid as being for an occasion so holy and so express as is the service of God and that of his said Majesty in which levying of Money nevertheless no Gentlemen are or shall be meant to be comprehended considering that they will do personal service or set out Men with Horses and Arms according as it shall be ordain'd for them to doe by the Head of the League or by others deputed by him And for the more easie execution of the said employments there shall be in every Baily-wick or Seneschals Court of the said Countrey deputed one or two Gentlemen or others of capacity and fidelity requisite to give information of the means and understand particularly upon the places that which shall be néedfull to be done to report it afterwards and instruct coâ—cerning it those who shall be employed by the Governour or Lieutenant from the King or some other impower'd from him And if any of the said Catholiques of the said Province after having béen requir'd to enter into the present Association shall make difficulty or use delays considering that it is onely for the honour of God the service of the King the good and quiet of our Countrey he shall be held in all the Province for an Enemy of God and a Desertour of his Religion a Rebel to his King a betrayer of his Countrey and by common agréement and consent of all good men shall be abandon'd by all and left and expos'd to all injuries and oppressions which can come upon him without ever being receiv'd into company friendship and alliance of the underwritten Associats and Confederates who have all promis'd friendship and good intelligence amongst themselves for the manutention of their Religion service of the King and preservation of their Countrey with their Persons Fortunes and Families We promise farthermore to kéep one another under the obedience and authority of his Majesty in all surety and quiet and to preserve and defend our selves from all oppression of others And if there shall happen any difference or quarrel amongst us it shall be compos'd by the Lieutenant General of the King and those who by him shall be called who shall cause to be executed under the good plâ—asure and Authority of his said Majesty that
which shall be advised to be just and reasonable for our reconciliation And in case it be advised for the service of the King the good and quiet of the said Province and to compass the ends of our intentions that it be necessary to hold correspondence with other neighbouring Provinces we promise to succour and aid them with all our power and means in such manner as shall be order'd by the Lieutenant of the King or other having power from his Majesty And we also promise to employ our selves with all our power and means to preserve and kéep the State Ecclesiastique from all oppression and injury and if by way of action or otherwise any one attempts to doe them damage be it in their persons or their goods to oppose such person and defend them as being united and Associated with them for the defence and preservation of the Honour of God and our Religion And because it is not our intention any ways to molest those of the new opinion who will contain themselves from enterprizing any thing against the Honour of God the Service of the King the good and quiet of his Subjects we promise to preserve them without their being any ways put in trouble for their Consciences or molested in their persons goods honours and families Provided that they do not contravene in any sort that which shall be by his Majesty ordain'd after the conclusion of the General Estates or any thing whatsoever of the said Catholique Religion And forasmuch as this cause ought to be common indifferently to all persons who make profession to live in the Catholique Religion we the Under-written admit and receive into the present Union all persons placed in Authority and Estate of Iudicature and Iustice Corporations of Towns and Commonalties of the same and generally all others of the third Estate living Catholiquely as it hath béen said promising in like manner to maintain preserve and kéep them from all violence and oppression be it in their persons or their goods every one in his quality and vocation We have promised and sworn to kéep these Articles abovesaid and to observe them from point to point without ever contravening them and without having regard to any â—riendship kindred and alliance which we may have to any person of any quality and Religion whatsoever who shall oppose or break the Commandments and Ordinances of the King the good and quiet of this Kingdom and in like manner to kéep secret the present Association without any communication of it or making any person whomsoever privy to it but onely such as shall be of the present Association The which we will swear and affirm also upon our Consciences and Honours and under the penalties here abovementioned The whole under the Authority of the King renouncing all other Associations if any have béen heretofore made J. Humieres L. Chaulnes F. de Poix A. de Monchy S. de Monchy De Payllart Mailly Anthonie de Gouy Loys de Querecques Lovis d' Estournel Adrian de Boufflers F. de St. Blymond De Rouveroy Jehan de Baynast L. de Warluzer C. de Trerquefmen Philippes de Marle Loys de Belloy A. du Caurel Pierre de Trouville A. Ravye J. de Baynast De Callonne De Lancry F. d' Aumalle A. de La Riviere A. de Humieres Du Biez Lameth F. Ramerelle Boncourt De Glisy A. du Hamel De Prouville L. de Valpergue Raul de Ponquet L. de Margival De Lauzeray M. Relly Francois Hanicque J. de Belloy Claude d' Ally Loys de Festart Du Chastellet P. de Mailleseu Charles de Croy. N. Le Roy. Jehan du Bos. N. de la Warde V. de Brioys Claude de Buâ—y J. Lamire Dessosses N. de Amerval Philippes de Toigny Guy Damiette Jehap de Flavigny N. de Hangest De Forceville P. de Canrry Charles d' Offay J. de Belleval A. de La Chapelle Loys d' Ancbont P. Truffier J. de Senicourt De Mons. Du Plassier Nicholas de Lontines N. de St. Blymon J. d' Amyens De Forceville De Monthomer P. de Bernettz De Rambures F. d' Acheu Flour de Baynast Ogier de Maintenant F. de Bacouel De Pende D. Aumalle Montoyvry De Sailly Aseuillers Francois de Conty O. de Poquesolle Sainte Maure De Rambures Claude de Crequy Jacque d' Ally Adrien de Jrin Jherosme de Fertin Le Caron De Montehuyot P. de La Roche R. de Mailly J. de Forceville La Gualterye N. de la Vieufville A. de la Vieufville A. de Mercatel De Perrin De Milly Josse de Saveuses Jehan de Bernetz A. de Boves Jehan d' Estourmal E. de St. Omer Belleforiere Antoine d' Ardre De la Vieufville A. de Monchy J. de Maulde J. de la Pasture L. Du Moulin A. du Quesnoy J. de Milly Francois de Saveuses De Lauzeray Loys de Moy. J. de Hallencourt De Sainte Anne De Villers J. de Happlaincourt A. de Broye Claude de Warsusell Jehan de Caron Charles de Caron A. De Lameth A. de Camousson M. Destourmel Anthoine de Hamel Gilles de Boffles P. de Saint Deliz Heilly J. de Belloy A. de Biencourt Jehan de Biencourt Claude de Pontaine De Nointel Pierre de Bloletiery Adrian Picquet Anthoine Le Blond Jehan Picquet Le Grand De Basincourt Augustin d' Auxy J. de Verdellot E. Tassart J. de Montain Genvoys Du Menil J. Dey J. Tassart Assevillers Charles de Pontaine Du Breulle De Hauteville A. de Mousquet J. du Nas. Sebastien de Hangre J. de la Motte De Hacqueville A. Noyelle C. de Pas. Charles du Plessier Saint Leu Simon Du Castel Francois du Castel A. de Ptolly A. de Estourmel A. de L' Orme Jehan du Bosc. Jehan de Bernetz De Louchart De Warmade A. de Guiery Du Caurell De Sericourt Du Mesnis De Cambray A. de Lancry Du Puids Domons A. de Bithisy De Marmicourt Berton Pierre Le Cat. This day being the thirteenth of February in the year one thousand five hundred seventy seven We the Underwritten being congregated and Assembled in the Town-House of Peronne according to the appointment of the High and Puissant Lord Messire Iaques de Humieres Knight of the order of the King our Sovereign Counsellour in his Privy Council his Chamberlain in Ordinary Captain of fifty men of Arms of the Establishment Governour anâ— Lieutenant for his Majesty of Peronne Montdidier and Roye and Head of the Holy League and Catholique Association in Picardy have to the said Lord made Oath and Sworn upon the Holy Evangelists to keep inviolably and punctually the Articles here above written of the said Association and Holy League and that for the Body and Inhabitants of the said Town representing them Done in the Chamber of the said Town the day c. abovesaid and we have all sign'd it Claude Le Fevre Register of the said Town L. Desmerliers F. de Hen. L. Le Fevre F. Morel De Flamicourt Le Caron
Compan Matthew de Launoy who was not yet so well acquainted in Paris cou'd name but one which was the Sieur de Manaevre Treasurer of France of the House des Hennequins But to complete the number of eight they Associated with him the Sieur d' Essiat a Gentleman of Auvergne who was very well known to the Curat of St. Severin who made himself answerable for him These twelve as I may call them false Apostles were the Founders of the League in Paris who admirably counterfeiting zeal for the publick good and discoursing of nothing else amongst their friends in private but of the oppressions of the people of the avarice and insolence of the Favourites the correspondence which the King held with the Head of the Huguenots and the manifest danger in which they were of losing their Religion had immediately made many Churchmen Proselytes of their opinion as also Lawyers and Shop-keepers as for example Iohn Pelletier Curat of St. Iaques de la Boucherie Guincestre Curat of St. Gervase La Morliere a Notary Rolland a Collector of the King's Revenue the Commissary Louchard the Procureurs Emmonot and La Chapelle and Bussy Le Clerc the most Factious of all the Leaguers besides many others whose names are of little consequence to the History and who wou'd doe their posterity but small credit to be mention'd But to maintain at least some kind of order in a design which tended to the confusion and ruine of the State and to take care that their Conspiracy might take no vent there was immediately establish'd a Council of Ten who were selected out of that great number to meet together sometimes at one man's house sometimes at another's very secretly but most commonly they met at his lodgings who was the most desperate of them all and who during the greatest part of that time was the leading man in all deliberations I mean the Curat of St. Benet in his chamber at the College of Sorbonne and afterwards at the College of Forteret whither he retir'd and which afterwards on that account was call'd the Cradle of the League Out of these Ten there were appointed Six which were La Roche Blond Compan Cruce Louchart La Chapelle and Bussy amongst whom the sixteen Wards of Paris were distributed for them to observe in their respective Divisions all that occurr'd either to the furtherance or the disadvantage of their Plot and to pick up those whom they cou'd draw into their Faction with most ease as also there to put in execution by their Accomplices whatsoever they had resolv'd in their Cabal which not long after was inlarg'd to the number of Forty Men the most considerable amongst them 'T is upon this account that the first Union of the Parisians was call'd the Sixteen from the number not of the persons but of the Wards And since nothing spreads with so much ease and so suddenly especially amongst the Common-people as that disease which is taken by contagion so by the conversation which these men infected with the Spirit of Rebellion had by themselves and their Emissaries with the false Zealots the simple the Malecontents the factious the greatest part of the populace and the meanest sort of Citizens that evil which was infinitely contagious was multipli'd with ease and spread it self in little time through all the Quarters of the Town And it encrea'sd with so much vigour that those Mutineers who at their beginning durst not openly appear but held their meetings as privately as they cou'd out of their fear to be discover'd now believ'd themselves so formidably strong and so very numerous that none wou'd dare to make head against them They had even the boldness to send their Deputies into all the Provinces to invite into their new Association those who had declar'd for that of Peronne who sign'd at this time to a Paper more pernicious than the first For whereas in the other they promis'd by their second Article to employ their lives and fortunes for defence of King Henry the Third in his Authority and to cause due obedience to be render'd to him They swear in this other that they enter into the Union with the Parisians not onely to exterminate the Heretiques but also to destroy Hypocrisie and Tyranny that is to say in their execrable meaning to pull down the Authority of Henry the Third whom they accus'd of those two crimes with all injustice imaginable This is that which was call'd the League of Sixteen which after the former League was joyn'd to it by its secret Agents residing in Paris acknowledg'd in reality the Duke of Guise for their Head and the Cardinal of Bourbon onely in appearance In the mean time that Duke finding himself to be so powerfully supported and all things well dispos'd for his enterprise as he cou'd possibly desire resolv'd at last on execution To this effect being retir'd from Court into his Government of Champaign under pretence of some discontent he went to Ioinville where as matters had been laid before there met him at the same time the Envoyes of the King of Spain and those of the Cardinal of Bourbon who had taken on himself the quality of first Prince of the Bloud and Heir presumptive of the Crown And there the Duke acting for himself and for the Princes his Confederates was concluded a perpetual League both Offensive and Defensive for them their Allies and their Descendants by which it was covenanted That to preserve in France the Catholique Religion the Cardinal of Bourbon in case the King shou'd die without Children shou'd succeed him as nearest Heir to the Crown from which all the Heretique Princes shou'd for ever stand excluded as also such of them as were favourers of Heretiques and above all those who were relaps'd so that any of them who had ever made profession of Heresie or who had onely given toleration to it shou'd never be judg'd capable of Reigning That the Cardinal when King shou'd banish out of the Realm all those Heretiques shou'd cause all the Decrees of the Council of Trent to be observ'd and shou'd solemnly renounce the Alliance made with the Turk That the King of Spain shou'd furnish every month fifty thousand Pistoles for the charges of the War which by obligation was to be made against the Huguenots and against the King himself in case he shou'd not abandon them That also the Cardinal and the other Princes of the League shou'd mutually assist His Catholique Majesty with all their Forces in reducing his Rebellious Subjects of the Low Countries under his obedience and cause the Treaty of Cambray to be punctually observ'd After this the Duke receiving immediate payment of one half of the money stipulated for his Pension order'd some levies of Swisses and Reiters to be made by the Colonels Phiffer and Christopher de Bassompierre who were entirely at his Devotion But before he cou'd draw those Forces together the Deputies from the States of the Low Countries about the same
time coming to make tender of themselves to the King and pressing him extremely on behalf of their Superiours to accept the Sovereignty of those Provinces the Spaniards toward that fatal blow and to hinder him from sending a powerfull Army into Flanders against them resolving to make a present diversion oblig'd the Duke of Guise who by reason of his ingagement cou'd refuse them nothing to begin the War against the King Accordingly he began it with the surprise of Toul and of Verdun and possessing himself of Chaälon and Mezieres of the most considerable Towns of Picardy by his Cousin the Duke d' Aumale of Dijon and the greatest part of Bourgogne by the Duke of Mayenne his Brother of Orleans by the Sieur d' Entragues of many other places by his Dependants and of the City of Lyons it self by the Souldiers of Captain Le Passage whom the Duke of Espernon had plac'd there and who being corrupted by the Emissaries of the Guises turn'd out their Commander who held the Citadel which they themselves demolish'd and declar'd openly for the League saying maliciously in their own excuse what they had been taught by the Leaguers that they wou'd not be damn'd for serving the King who was a favourer of Heretiques and adding falsely that the Iesuits whom they had consulted upon that point had absolv'd them from the Oath which they had made him Now as all the Favourites and principally Espernon were as generally abhorr'd as the Duke of Guise was belov'd those two passions love and hatred joyn'd with hopes of raising themselves by Civil Wars ingag'd a great number of the most considerable and bravest of the Court to take part with the Leaguers And amongst others Charles de Cosse Count and afterwards Duke of Brissac Son to the great Marshal de Brissac Viceroy of Piedmont and Brother to the brave Timoleon Colonel of the French Infantry Claude de la Chastre Bailiff of Berry Francis d' Espinay de Saint Luc the Count of Randan the Marquis of Bois Dauphin the Marquis de Rane Claude de Baufremont Baron of Senecey who allur'd into it Anthony de Brichanteau Beavais Nangis his Brother-in-Law Son to the Valiant Marquis de Nangis Nicholas de Brichanteau Knight of the Order who died of his wounds receiv'd at the Battel of Dreux bravely fighting for his King and his Religion This generous Son of his having serv'd the King very gallantly both in Poland and in France having also been esteem'd by him and admitted into the favour of his Confidence was retir'd from Court because the Duke of Espernon after he had carri'd from him the Command of Colonel of the French Infantry which had been promis'd him by the King caus'd also to be taken from him that of Maistre de Camp of the Regiment of Guards in the just resentment of which injury he was not able to resist the pressing solicitations of those two Lords de Rane and de Senecey who to draw him along with them into the Duke of Guise's party made him a promise from the Duke which was never perform'd to him viz. that no peace shou'd be concluded but upon condition that Espernon his Enemy shou'd be turn'd out of Court and that his charge of Colonel of the French Infantry shou'd be restor'd farther assureing him that he shou'd exercise the same Command in the Army of the League Thus it may be seen how much the haughty and injurious proceeding of that Favourite was advantageous to the Duke of Guise Therefore whenone of his Captains who had heard him make great complaints of the Duke of Espernon offer'd himself to murther him as he pass'd through Chaälons in his return from Metz by no means reply'd he I shou'd be very sorry he were dead for he gives us many gallant men who wou'd never ingage in our party if the desire of revenging so many intolerable affronts as are daily put on the worthiest of the Court by that little Cadet of Gascony did not bring them over to us In this manner the Duke of Guise made himself every day more powerfull both by the peoples love to him and their hatred to the Favourites Insomuch that the King seeing so formidable a party arm'd against him was forc'd to answer the Low Country Deputies with tears in his Eyes that in his present condition he was not able to accept their offers as he wou'd certainly have done in a more favourable conjuncture which never afterwards befell him Observe now the first Exploit of the League which if it had never occasion'd any other mischief than this to have hinder'd the reuniting of the Low Countries to us which were the first Conquest of our Crown and the most ancient Patrimony of our Kings 't is most certain that for this onely reason it ought to be had in detestation by all good Frenchmen But that which ought to render it yet more odious is that they did not onely take up Arms in manifest Rebellion against their King but also tim'd it so unluckily and mischievously that far from exterminating the Huguenots which they made a show to desire they hinder'd by that War the ruine of Huguenotism which was mouldring insensibly by the Peace And truly all things were dispos'd in such a manner that had they continued never so little longer in that peaceable Estate they then enjoy'd there is hardly any doubt to be made but that Heresie which grew every day weaker wou'd in the end have crumbled into nothing Most certainly the King who mortally hated the Huguenots which appear'd but too visibly in the Massacre of St. Bartholomew and who was not able to destroy them by force had taken his measures so surely by changing that manner of proceeding that he had infallibly compass'd his ends by the Peace he gave them had it continu'd a while longer For at that very time when the Duke who was so long in demurring e'er he came to a resolution at last took Arms under pretence of abolishing Heresie in France 't is well known that there were not remaining above twenty Ministers in all the Provinces on this side the Loire none of them writ any thing against the Catholique Religion neither was there any Huguenot in Office or Employment The King of Navarre who was Head of that Party at that time was desirous of nothing more than to return into the King's favour and that he might deserve that Honour he had not long before advertis'd him that the same Philip King of Spain who affected to appear with so much ostentation the great Defender of the Catholique Faith against the Protestants had proffer'd him large Sums of money and promis'd to assist him in reducing Guyenne under his Command on condition that he wou'd break the Peace which the King had given to the Huguenots and cause them to resume their Arms to which he wou'd never give consent In like manner the King who held himself assur'd of him fail'd not to advise him that he shou'd beware of
time with the Guises and that fatal love which the King had to a lazy quiet life which he cou'd not quit without extreme repugnance and which immediately replung'd him into his pleasant dreams wherein he seem'd to be enchanted render'd fruitless so wholsome an advice Insomuch that he satisfied himself with making a feeble and timorous Declaration wherein answering the Conspiratours in a kind of a respectfull way as if he fear'd to give them any manner of offence he seem'd rather to plead his Innocence before his Judges than to speak awfully to his Rebels like a King and in the mean time gave leisure to the Duke of Guise to form a Body of Ten or twelve thousand Foot and about Twelve hundred Horse The King of Navarre at whom the Leaguers particularly aim'd did indeed make his Declaration which he address'd to the King and to all the Princes and Potentates of Christendom but he made it in a manner which was worthy of the greatness of his courage by the masculine and eloquent Pen of Du Plessis Mornay who particularly understood how to serve his Master according to his Genius For after having generously refuted the calumnies with which the Factious charg'd him he made protestation that he was no ways an Enemy to the Catholiques nor to their Religion which he was most ready to embrace whensoever he shou'd be instructed by another method than what was us'd to him after St. Bartholomew by holding the Dagger to his Throat After which he declar'd that all those who had the malice or the impudence to say that he was an Enemy to Religion and to the State and that he design'd to oppress either of them by an imaginary League which was â—alâ—ly suppos'd to have been made to that intent at Madgburg with respect to the King's Honour Lyed in their throats and above all others the Duke of Guise and humbly begg'd his Majesty's permission without regard to his being first Prince of the bloud that for once he might levell himself to an equality with him to the end that they might decide their quarrel by the way of Arms singly betwixt themselves or by a Duel two to two ten to ten or twenty against twenty to spare the effusion of so much bloud as must inevitably be shed in a Civil War But though he did his uttermost to excite in the King a generous resolution of Arming himself against his Rebels though he offer'd to Combat them in his own person and with all his Forces in conjunction with those Catholiques who were Enemies to the League and that he assur'd him of powerfull Succours from England and from Germany which had been promis'd yet cou'd he never strike more fire out of that irresolute soul than onely some faint sparks of a languishing and impotent anger which his fear and effeminacy soon quench'd like those weak motions which men seem to make in frightfull dreams when they rowze themselves a little but immediately yield to the force of sleep 'T is acknowledg'd that he made Edicts against them injoyning them to lay down Arms and commanding all his Subjects to ring the Larum Bells against them and to cut them in pieces if they disobey'd He summon'd the Nobility and Princes of the bloud to attend him he gave Commissions and issued out Orders to make a great Levy of Reiters and Swisses and commanded his Guards to be in a readiness to march to the rendesvouz which shou'd be appointed them But after all the insuperable passion which he had for quiet and the soft pleasures of the Cabinet and the fear of the League with which he was possess'd by the Queen Mother who held intelligence with the Duke of Guise and magnifi'd his Forces incomparably beyond the life together with the advice of some of his Council who had rather he shou'd arm against the King of Navarre his faithfull Subject than against Catholiques though Rebels brought the matter to that pass at length that he grew colder than ever and left all things to the management of his Mother to whom he gave full power of treating with the Associated Princes and even of concluding as soon as possibly she cou'd with them on what conditions she shou'd please Thus after a Conference begun at Epernay and afterwards finish'd at Nemours on the Seventh of Iuly 1585. a Peace was concluded with the Leaguers granting them whatsoever they cou'd demand either for Religion or for themselves For what concern'd Religion an Edict was made by which revoking all those that had formerly been granted in favour of the Huguenots all exercise of the pretendedly reform'd Religion was prohibited The Ministers were all commanded to depart the Kingdom a month after the publication of the Edict and all the King's Subjects enjoyn'd to make publique profession of the Catholique Faith within Six months on pain of banishment And for the interest of the Confederate Princes who affected above all things to have it believ'd that their principal aim was the preservation of the Catholique Faith a ratification was made of all which they had done as onely undertaken for the maintenance of Religion and service of the King and besides there was a promise made them that they shou'd command the Armies which were to put this Edict in Execution and to make War against the Huguenots in case they refus'd submission to it And for places of Caution besides Thoul and Verdun of which they had possess'd themselves at first there were granted them three Towns in Champaign Rheims Chaälons and St. Dizier Ruë in Picardy besides those of which they were already Masters in that Province which had declared first of all others for the League Soissons in the Isle of France in Bretagne Dinan and Concarneau and Dijon and Beaune in Bourgogne Yet more there was money given them to pay the Souldiers they had Levied and to the Cardinal of Bourbon to the Duke of Guise his two Brothers and their Couâ—ns the Dukes of Mercaeur of Aumale and of Elbeuf to each of them a Company of Arquebusiers or Dragoons on Horseback maintain'd for their Guard as if they resolv'd by so glaring a mark of honour to make ostentation of their triumph over the King against whom they had newly gain'd so great a victory without combate onely by the terrour of their Arms which contrary to the order of Nature made of a Master and a Sovereign the Slave and Executo rof the good will and pleasure of his Subjects Such was the Edict of Iuly which was extorted from the weakness of the King who immediately perceiv'd that instead of securing Religion and his own repose by granting all things to the League as he was made to believe he shou'd he had plung'd himself into a furious War which might have been extremely dangerous to Religion if the Huguenots had overcome the Catholiques 'T is what he himself took notice of when amidst the acclamations and cries of Vive le Roy which resounded from every part when he
easily retaken was in a manner wholly ruin'd and dissipated for want of Money of Provisions and Ammunition of a train of Artillery and other Supplies which were always promis'd them but never sent them and especially by the ill intelligence which was betwixt the Duke of Mayenne and the Marshals of Matignon and Biron the first Governour of Guyenne and the last Commander of a little Army in Poitou which was to have cover'd that of the Duke For those two faithfull Servants of the King well knowing the secret of their Master who was wholly averse from the destruction of the King of Navarre for fear himself and the whole Royal House shou'd be left at the mercy of the League which he knew wou'd never spare them artfully broke all the measures of the Duke of Mayenne Insomuch that he found himself constrain'd to return to the King without bringing along with him the King of Navarre Captive as he had boastingly promis'd him to doe and without performing any thing of that which the League expected from his Zeal to the party As for the Duke of Guise finding no Germans upon the Frontires of Champagn to combat and besides not being accompanied with any great Forces his whole expedition was terminated in taking Douzy and Raucour two small Towns belonging to the Duke of Bouillon against whom the Duke of Lorrain made War concerning which I shall say nothing because it has no relation to the History of the League On the other side the Huguenots manag'd their affairs not much better 'T is true that the Sieur of Lesdiguieres had some advantage over the League in Dauâ—hine that he made himself Master of certain places and amongst others of Montelimar with the Castle which he took by a regular form'd Siege and Ambrun which he surpris'd and where the rich Ornaments of the Metropolitan Church were plundred by the Souldiers according to the custome of the Huguenots which though he was a man of strict Discipline and moderate in his Nature he was no way able to oppose But besides that they werâ— roughly handled in other Provinces and that all which cou'd possibly be done by the King of Navarre who had not yet drawn together all the Troops which he expected was onely to stand upon the defensive they receiv'd a great blow by the memorable defeat which was given to the Prince of Conde who was like to have perish'd in that unhappy attempt which he made upon the Castle of Anger 's That Prince who had made up a little body of an Army about the Skirts of St. Iean d' Angely which he held in stead of Peronne had successfully begun his Campaign in Poitou having driven out of that Province the Duke of Mercaeur who was come from his Government of Bretagne to the assistance of the League And as after that gallant action he had re-inforc'd his Army with Troops which swarm'd to him from the neighbouring Provinces upon the report of his Victory he undertook the Seige of Broüage in favour of the Rochellers who suppli'd him with Money and Amunition He was accompanied with a great number of brave Gentlemen and Lords of great Quality amongst others by Rene Vicount of Rohan Francis Count of Rochefoucault Montguion Lieutenant to the Prince George Clermont d' Amboise Loüis de St. Gelais and Claude de La Trimoüille who was afterwards Duke of Thouers and whose Sister he then sought in Marriage whom he espous'd not long after and there is great appearance of probability that it was rather on that account than any motive of Conscience and Religion that this young Lord far from â—ollowing the example of his Father who declar'd himself Head of the League at Poitou gave into the other extreme and turn'd Huguenot together with his Sister Charlotte Catharine de la Trimoüille to have the Honour of being Married to the Prince of Conde How strong is the Power of Ambition over minds that are dazled with the deceiptfull Splendour of wordly Greatness that it should be able to oblige a Brother and Sister issued from Loüis de Trimoüille and Iane de Montmorancy Daughter of the great Constable both of them firm Catholiques as were all their illustrious Ancestours to turn Calvinists one to be Brother in Law to a Prince of the Bloud and the other to be his Wife From this Marriage there was Born on the first of September in the Year 1588 the late Prince Henry de Bourbon who by a most happy Destiny directly opposite to that of his Mother being issued from a Father and Mother so obstinate in Calvinism became one of the most Zealous Princes for the Catholique Faith that this Nation cou'd ever boast and he who declar'd himself the greatest Enemy of Calvinism So also has he left to Posterity a most glorious remembrance of his name which shall never perish amongst all good Frenchmen for having constantly defended Religion with all his power exercising in that Holy and Divine Imployment both his Valour and his Wit which he had in perfection as he made appear on all occasions and principally in the Counsel whereof he was cheif when he died of such a death as the Acts of all the most solid vertues wherewith it was accompanied render'd precious in the sight of God I believe my self oblig'd in point of gratitude to doe justice in this little Panegyrique to the great Merit of that Prince who has formerly done me the Honour on many occasions to give me particular marks of his esteem and his affection and hope that they who take the pains to peruse this work will not blame me for this short Digression taken occasionally by writing of the Prince his Father to whose actions I now return The Nobility who were come to attend and serve him in that important Siege of Broüage had brought along with them a considerable number of Huguenot Gentlemen as also some Catholiques who were Enemies to the League And with these Recruits he had almost reduc'd the place to terms of yielding when changing his design all on the sudden like an unexperienc'd Captain he lost the fruit of his former labours and plung'd himself into extreme danger For having understood that Captain Roche-Mort one of his best Officers had surpriz'd the Castle of Anger 's in the absence of the Count de Brisac who being made Governour of it after the death of the Duke of Alanson had declar'd himself for the League he left before Broüage the Sieur de la Roche Baucour St. Meme with the Infantry to continue the Siege and march'd himself with all the Cavalry consisting of two thousand Horse to relieve that Captain who with Seventeen or Eighteen Souldiers onely held the Castle of Anger 's against the Burghers who besieg'd him But the Prince setting out somewhat of the latest and marching too slowly when the fortune of his Enterprize depended on celerity he had no sooner past the River of Loyre in Boats betwixt Saumur and Anger 's but he receiv'd advice
that Roche-Mort being kill'd with a Musquet shot as he was looking through a Casement the Castle had been surrender'd two days since Notwithstanding this Misfortune which the greatest part of his Souldiers wou'd not believe having joyn'd fifteen hundred men whom Clermont d' Amboise a little before the Siege of Broüage was gone to raise for his service in Anjou he took a resolution to attaque the Suburbs But was vigorously repuls'd by the good Troups which the King had sent thither to assist the Citizens who had retrench'd themselves against the Castle which they held besieg'd After which intending to repass the River he found that not onely all the passages were guarded but that also he was ready to be compass'd round by the Troups of the King and of the League who were gathering together from all parts both on this side the Loyre and beyond it to inclose him Insomuch that not being able either to advance or to retreat without being taken or cut in pieces with all his men they were at length forc'd to disband and dividing themselves into small companies of Seven and Eight or Ten and Twelve together every man being willing to save one march'd onely by night through bye passages out of the common Road and through Woods for fear of being met with either by Souldiers or Peasants who kill'd as many of them as they cou'd find and pursued them as they wou'd so many Wolves when they caught them entring into a Sheepfold The Prince himself had much adoe to escape the tenth man and disguis'd into the Lower Normandy from whence he pass'd in a Fisher's Barque betwixt Auranche and St. Malo into the Isle of Guernsey and from thence aboard an English Vessel into England where he was very well receiv'd by Queen Elizabeth who sent him back to Rochelle the Year following with a considerable supply In the mean time St. Mesme who during this unhappy expedition of the Prince continued the Siege of Broüage â—inding himself too weak to resist the Marshal de Matignon who advanc'd by order from the King to force his Retrenchments with an Army of experienc'd Souldiers truss'd up his Baggage and retir'd with what speed he cou'd but in so much fear and disorder that he lost great numbers of his men in his hastyâ— march and particularly in passing the Charante where St. Luc Governour of Broüage who always shew'd himself as brave in War as he was agreeable at Court in Peace having charg'd him in the Reer cut it entirely off Thus the League and the Calvinism lost on that occasion the one the Castle of Anger 's wherein the King plac'd a Governour on whose fidelity he might rely and the other almost all its Forces which after that shock durst no longer keep the Field This furnish'd the King with an opportunity to publish new Ordinances by which he commanded the Goodâ— of Rebels to be seiz'd and particularly of those who had followed the Prince of Conde with promise nevertheless of restoring them when they shou'd return into the Catholique Church and give good security of remaining in it Ordaining farther in execution of the Edict of Iuly that all such shou'd be forc'd to depart the Realm who refus'd to make abjuration of Calvinism into the hands of the Bishops and it was enjoyn'd them to make it according to the Form which was compos'd by William Ruzè Bishop of Anger 's It was thus practis'd because it had been observ'd that the greatest part of the Huguenots had invented a trick neither to lose their Goods nor to leave the Kingdom but thought it was lawfull for them to accommodate themselves to the times and so deceive men by making a false profession of Faith onely for form sake and in external obedience to the Edicts which they express'd by these words Since it has so pleas'd the King with which they never fail'd to preface the Oath of Abjuration when they took it Now this prudent Bishop having observ'd that intolerable abuse which was follow'd by an infinite number of Sacrileges and most horrible profanation of the Sacraments which those false Converts made no scruple to receive betraying by that damnable imposture both the one Religion and the other wou'd admit none into the Communion of the Church who had not first made his profession of Faith according to his form which much resembled that of Pius the Fourth and which from that time forward was and is presented to be sign'd by all those who abjure Heresie 'T is most certain that these Edicts joyn'd with the extreme weakness in which the Huguenot party then was made in a little time many more converts true or false than had been made by the Massacre of St. Bartholomew But also on the other side they occasion'd the Protestants of Germany whom the King of Navarre cou'd never draw to his party against the Leaguers now to incline to his assistance Two years were almost past since that King who desir'd to shelter himself from the Conspiracy which the League had made principally against him with purpose to exclude him from the Crown against the fundamental Law of the Realm had solicited those Princes by the Sieur de Segur Pardaillan and de Clervant to raise an Army for his assistance and elsewhere by the intermission of Geneva he press'd the Protestant Cantons of Swisserland to make a Counter-League with the Germans for the same purpose Queen Elizabeth who besides the interest of her Protestant Religion had a particular esteem and love for that Prince the Duke of Boüillon a declar'd Enemy of the Lorrain Princes and the Count de Montbeliard Frederick de Wirtemburg a most zealous Calvinist used their utmost endeavours with those German Protestants to stir them up all which notwithstanding they were very loath to resolve on a War with the King of France their Allye saying always that they wou'd never engage themselves in it till it was clearly manifest that the War which was made against the Huguenots was not a War of the Government against its Rebels but purely and onely against the Protestant Religion which they intended to extirpate But when they saw before their eyes those Edicts and Ordinances of the King who was absolutely resolv'd not to suâ—â—er any other Religion beside the Catholique in his Kingdom and that otherways they had given them all the security they cou'd desire for the payment of their Army then they took a Resolution of Levying great Forces and of assisting the King of Navarre powerfully after sending a solemn Embassy to the King to demand of him the Revocation of his Edicts and an entire liberty of Conscience for the Protestants The King of Denmark the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh the Prince Palatine Iohn Casimir the Dukes of Saxony of Pomerania and of Brunswick the Landgrave of Hesse and Iohn Frederick Administrator of Magdeburg were the Princes who Asâ—ociated themselves with the Towns of Francford Vlmes Nuremberg and Strasburg to send this Embassy
most bigotted Huguenots nor any bitter Enemy to the Catholiques But as he cou'd not believe after what had been done against him that he had reason to rely on these fair promises that he fear'd to fall to the Ground betwixt two Stools nay if once he was perceiv'd to Waver to be soon abandon'd by his party which already lean'd extremely towards the Prince of Condè who was Known to be a much better Protestant than himself and moreover that he thought himself secure of great Succours from the Germans he wou'd not lend an Ear to any of those Proposals and gave a quick dispatch to the King's Envoys with an answer worthy of his ingenuity and of his Courage That his Enemies desir'd nothing less than his Conversion because they took Arms for no other reason than to Exclude him from the Succession of the Crown and to cantonize the Realm amongst themselves under pretence of preserving the Catholique Religion which he wou'd maintain in it much better than themselves That he most humbly besought his Majesty to permit him to decide that Quarrel with the Princes of the League without his Majesty's giving himself the trouble to interpose in it and in three Months time he shou'd have Fifty thousand Men with which he hop'd Almighty God wou'd do him the favour to reduce the Leaguers in a short time to their Duty and to bring those Troublers of the publick Peace and those Rebels to the terms of Obedience which they ow'd their Sovereign This answer put the King into an extreme Agony of Spirit not knowing where to fix his Resolutions nor which of the three Parties he shou'd Espouse For in case he shou'd stand Neuter betwixt the King of Navarre and the League he ran the risque of being at the disposal of the Conquerour if he rang'd himself with the King of Navarre's Party against the League as some time after he was constrain'd to do he fear'd to pass for an Heretique or for a favourer of Heretiques as the League endeavour'd already to make it be believ'd by their Calumnies against him and in the sequel to draw upon himself the power of Spain and all the Thunderbolts of Rome which in that conjuncture he dreaded more than the League and the Spaniard put together Thus as he believ'd not himself to be singly strong enough to force both parties to Obedience that latter fear determin'd him though contrary to his Inclinations against the King of Navarre's Party as judging it to be the juster excepting onely their Religion which that Prince had solemnly protested was no ingredient of the present Quarrel Insomuch that following the advice of the Queen his Mother and some few of his Council who out of their hatred to Heresie were favourable to the League he joyn'd himself with those whom he regarded as his greatest Enemies to make War with his Brother-in-Law whose good intentions he well knew for the publique wellfare A War which drew from both parties both much Bloud and many Tears the various events of which will be the Subject of the following Book THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE LIB II. THE King according to his Custome pass'd the Winter of this Memorable Year 1587 partly in Feasts Gaming Ballets and Masquerades and such other divertisements and partly in his Processions his Fraternities his Retirements and his Penances among the Feuillants whom he had founded at the Fauxbourg St. Honore among the Capuchins and especially in his little Cells of the Monastery of Bois de Vincennes wherein he had plac'd the Ieronimites who were come from Spain and wherein afterwards were plac'd the Minimes But to his great grief at the beginning of the Spring he was forc'd to quit the Pleasures and Exercises of that sort of Life with which he was infinitely satisfied and rowze up himself to make War in conjunction with the League against the King of Navarre and the Germans who were coming to joyn their Forces with him To this effect the Duke of Guise who till that time had been making War with the young Duke of Bouillon la Mark without any considerable advantage return'd to the Court which was then at Meaux and after having assur'd the King that there was a great Army of Germans in readiness to take their March towards our Frontiers and demanded Forces which might be capable of stopping them he made great complaints of the Breach which he pretended to be made of some Articles in the Treaty of Nemours Those of the League maintain'd that these complaints were just the others on the contrary made it evident that they were altogether unreasonable He complain'd amongst other things that the Count of Brissac was not restor'd to his Government of the Castle of Anger 's But to that it was answer'd that the King had retaken it from the King of Navarre's Forces by whom Brissac who held it for the League against his Majesty's intentions had suffer'd it to be surpris'd He added that such as were his Dependants and in his interests were not treated so favourably at Court as others as if the King had been oblig'd not onely to forgive but also to bestow particular favours on those who had taken Arms against him and to reward them for having discharg'd their Cannon against his faithfull Servants as Francis de Balsac d' Entragues had done against the Duke of Montpensier whom his Majesty had sent to Orleans In conclusion he took it exceedingly ill that the temporal Estate of Cardinal Pellevè Archbishop of Sens had been seiz'd into the King's hands as if the World were not satisfi'd that this Prelate a Pensioner of Spain and who was a declar'd Enemy to the King was not then at Rome doeing him all manner of ill Offices with the Pope eternally decrying his conduct and blasting him with his sinister interpretations and venemous aspersions Nevertheless the King had the goodness not long time after to grant him Possession of his Revenues and that to gratifie His Holiness who had desir'd it of him by his Nuncio Morosini but at the same time he desir'd the Pope to admonish the Cardinal in private that he shou'd beware of relapsing into so hainous an Offence which if he shou'd he then hop'd his Holiness wou'd hold himself oblig'd to punish him with the same Severity as if the crime were committed against his own person For the present he was content to mollify the Duke of Guise with a parcel of fair words assuring him that he wou'd take such order that he shou'd have reason to be satisfi'd in all things After which having again exhorted him to make Peace with the King of Navarre and finding him still obstinate in the Negative he took at last the resolution to dispose of the Forces he had already on foot and of those he expected from the Catholique Cantons of Swisserland in such manner that he might find a way to make himself Master of all by weakning the King of Navarre and the League and by
Carriage and was besides extremely brave but on the other side he had neither Authority nor experience enough to command so great an Army the greater part of whose Officers were commonly at variance amongst themselves and never willing to obey his Orders Thus to speak properly he was onely the General of the Reyters though the Lansquenets and Swissers acknowledg'd him for their Chief in the room of Prince Casimir But the young Duke of Bouillon was he whom the King of Navarre had nam'd for his Lieutenant and who had the Title of General of that Army Notwithstanding which he had no absolute Command over it because there was a Council compos'd of six French Officers and as many Germans joyn'd with him who together with the Baron of Dona decided all things by plurality of Voices which was the occasion of much disorder For the Germans seldom or never joyn'd in opinion with the French and on the other side the French were jealous both of them and of one another so that there cou'd be no good intelligence amongst them Besides all whâ—ch there were some of their number whom the Duke of Guise the most artfull of Mankind had gain'd into his Interests and who underhand gave him notice of all the resolutions which were taken in the Council For the rest after the Strangers had receiv'd some part of their Pay which the Queen of England had suppli'd after they had been assur'd of the remainder and also promis'd that the King of Navarre wou'd joyn them in a little time and that they shou'd have onely the League upon their hands and not the King who had Arm'd for no other purpose but to assist them in the destruction of the Guises they pass'd the Rhine about the twentieth of August and in the Plain of Strasburg found William Robert de la Mark Duke of Bouillon and his Brother Iohn Robert Count de la Mark who had waited there for their coming about fifteen days with two thousand Foot and between three and four hundred French Horse Thus this Army in the general review which was made of it near Strasburg was found to consist of thirty three thousand men effective all experienc'd Souldiers and well equipp'd without reckoning into the number the fifteen or sixteen hundred foot and two hundred Horse which the Count of Chastillon Son of the late Admiral brought thither in a small time after and about two thousand others who joyn'd them in their march Insomuch that when they enter'd France they were not less than forty thousand Men with eighteen or twenty pieces of Artillery which undoubtedly was sufficient to strike a terrour into those against whom they march'd in favour of the King of Navarre And indeed this distant thunderclap which was heard as far as Paris alarm'd the Council of Sixteen so teâ—ribly that to shelter themselves from the ensuing Storm they sent fresh instructions to the principal Cities of the Kingdom and a new form of Oath to unite them more straitly to themselves in their common defence endeavouring maliciously to make them believe that it was the King himself who had call'd in these Heretique Foreigners with intention of destroying those who defended the Catholique Religion and with design that hereafter Heresie it self and the Promoter of it shou'd Reign in France But the Duke of Guise whose undaunted heart was not capable of the least cowardise took ways much different from theirs in pursuance of the same design viz. the destruction of that formidable Army which menac'd him with inevitable ruine And he compass'd his intentions happily and gloriously by his admirable conduct readiness of wit and daring resolution performing one of the noblest actions which were ever done and which alone may justly rank him with the greatest Heroes of Antiquity He had almost nothing of all that had been promis'd him at Meaux when there was made the partition of the Forces which by appointment were to serve in the King's Army and in his Of twenty Troups of Men at Arms which were order'd him not one appear'd at the Rendesvouz that was assign'd at Chaumont there was neither Money nor Ammunition nor Cannon sent him so that having assembled at Vaucoleur on the twenty second of August all the forces he could get together by the means of his friends and partly by the money of the Parisians there were found no more than a body of three thousand Men that is to say about six hundred Cuirassiers of his own company and those of the Prince of Ioinville's his Son of the Count of Chaligny the Chevalier d' Aumale the Sieurs of La Chastre and D' Amblize three hundred Horse which were sent him from the Garrison of Cambray by Balagny who had made himself a Leaguer to change his Government into a Principality under protection of the League besides almost as many light Horsemen some Italians some Albanois which were sent him by the Duke of Parma Governour of the Low-Countries As for Infantry he had no more than the two Regiments of Captain St. Paul and of Iohannes on whom he very much rely'd With these inconsiderable Forces he went to joyn himself with those of Charles Duke of Lorrain who with the Succours which he had receiv'd out of Flanders under the conduct of the Marquis d' Avre and the Marquis de Varambon and all he cou'd Levy in Germany had no more than seven thousand Foot and about fifteen hundred Horse Insomuch that both in conjunction cou'd not make above twelve or thirteen thousand Men at most to oppose against thirty five thousand who were coming to fall on them The Duke of Lorrain who foresaw this Tempest had done what lay in him to provide against it and to put himself in a state of defence by fortifying the greatest part of his Towns And observing that Nancy his Capital City was of too little compass to receive those great numbers of Persons of Quality and Clergy-men who ran thither for refuge from every quarter some from their Countrey-houses others from their small Castles and unfortified Towns he took this opportunity to enlarge that great and beautifull part of it which is call'd the New Town on the Fortifications of which being without dispute the fairest and the strongest of that time he employ'd his Workmen with so much diligence that it was already in condition of making a stout defence against that Army which as numerous and as powerfull as it was had never thâ— courage to attempt it These two Armies being one of them on this side the Mountains of Vauge in Lorrain and the other beyond those Mountains in Alsace a Council was held in both of them at the same time and it so happen'd by an accident seldom known that the same resolution was taken by them both In the German Army the Duke of Bouillon and one part of the Council wou'd have it that the War shou'd be made in Lorrain to compass as they urg'd at one onely blow the ruine of that
sighted not to discern the visible signs which the King in spight of his dissimulation cou'd not hinder often from breaking out and discovering the disdain and hatred which he had conceiv'd against him He resolv'd to fortify his party in such manner that he shou'd not onely have nothing to apprehend but also that he might hope for all things from his good fortune And he did it with so much the more ardour and resolution as he was then more than ever exasperated and almost driven to despair by a refusal which he had from the King which was given him in a most disobliging manner by preferring his Rival in Ambition before him which he esteem'd the most sensible affront that he cou'd receive and which afterwards put things out of a possibility of accommodation Thus it happen'd The Duke of Guise after the signal Service which he had perform'd to the Kingdom was of opinion that if he demanded some part of the Employments which had been possess'd by the late Duke of Ioyeuse Admiral of France and Governour of Normandy they cou'd not possibly be refus'd him And in order to obtain his request more easily he was content onely to ask the Admiralty and that not for himself nor any of the Princes of his Family but for the Count of Brissac whom the Nobility of his Birth and his great desert together with the services which France had receiv'd from the brave Timoleon de Cossé his Brother Colonel of the French Infantry and from his Father the great Marshal of Brissac Viceroy of Piedmont might raise without envy and with universal applause to that high command After the Duke had been held in hand and fed with fair promises and false hopes he not onely fail'd of obtaining the place which he requested but as if it had purposely been done to spight him it was conferr'd together with the Government of Normandy on the Duke of Espernon his declar'd Enemy whose Character I shall next give you Iohn Louis de Nogaret the youngest Brother of his House who was call'd when he came first to Court the young La Valette understood so well to gain the favour of the King particularly after Quelus one of those unhappy Minions who kill'd each other in Duel had recommended him to his Majesty at his death that immediately he grew up into the first rank of Favourites with the Duke of Ioyeuse over whom at length he carried it having had the cunning to insinuate into him the desire of Commanding an Army and by that artifice to remove him from his Master's sight There was no sort of Honour Wealth or Dignities which the King did not heap on this new Minion in favour of whom he erected Espernon into a Dutchy to make him Duke and Peer as well as Anne de Ioyeuse because he had taken upon him to make them equal in all circumstances having so great a tenderness for both of them I might say weakness unworthy of a King that he answer'd those who represented to him his great profusions and that he impoverish'd himself to inrich them that when he had married and settled his two Children for so he call'd them in his ordinary discourse he was then resolv'd to turn good husband Yet there was this difference betwixt them that Ioyeuse by his courtesie his civility his magnificence and by the winning way of his behaviour had attracted mens affections but on the contrary Espernon by reason of his rough imperious and haughty nature was hated not onely by the People and the Leaguers who made a thousand invective Satyrs on him but also by the great men of the Court whom he treated with contempt and insolence as if the favour of his Master which he abus'd had given him the privilege to affront even those whose vertue and desert was acknowledg'd and respected by the King For in this manner it was that amongst others he us'd Francis d' Espinac Archbishop of Lyons and Monsieur de Villeroy one of the most prudent and faithfull Ministers which our Kings have ever had a way of procedure not disadvantageous to the Duke of Guise who laid hold on that occasion to gain the Archbishop entirely to his interests Above all the rest there was an invincible Antipathy betwixt the Duke of Guise and this proud Favourite who whether it were to please his Master or to put an obligation upon the King of Navarre with whom he then held a private correspondence or were it out of the contrariety of their humours profess'd himself on all occasions his open enemy omitting no opportunity of rendring him suspected and odious to the King and of working him up still more and more to a greater height of hatred and indignation against him And in requital of those ill offices the Duke of Guise was not wanting on his side to animate the People of Paris against Espernon who one day ran the hazard in passing over the Pont Nostre Dame of being murther'd by the Citizens who running out of their Shops in multitudes went about to incompass him if he had not escap'd by speedy flight 'T is true that the Nuncio Morosini foreseeing the fatal consequences of this their enmity did all he was able by his prudent admonitions to extinguish it but though he smother'd it for a little time he cou'd not hinder it from blazing out immediately afterwards Insomuch that it grew to a greater height than ever when the King who either wou'd not or durst not refuse any thing to this Favourite united in his onely person what before had been shar'd betwixt him and Ioyeuse and conferr'd on him both the Government of Normandy and the Admiralty which the Duke of Guise had requested for Brissac The Ceremony was perform'd with great magnificence and the Attorney General in a long Harangue which he made at the Admission of the Duke of Espernon said pubâ—â—quely that the King who had made so worthy a choice was a great Saint and deserv'd to be Canoniz'd at least as well as Saint Lewis that the New made Admiral wou'd expiate for all the crimes of the late Admiral de Coligny and make the Catholique Religion once more to flourish in the Kingdom An insipid Panegyrique which is indeed no better than a base and fulsome flattery if the Author does not intend to fpeak by contraries shou'd no more be suffer'd by great men who are lovers of true glory than an affront or a Libel neither ought they to allow any commendations to be given them but such as are solid and establish'd on such known truths that their very enemies shall not be able to deny them That Speech which the King's Attorney made on this occasion did his Master and the Admiral more mischief than all the furious Libels of the League It drew upon them the contempt and railery of the people which sometimes make a man more uneasie than a Satyr which is but the impotent anger of a Scribler And it occasion'd that famous
Epigramm which concludes that Henry cannot be deni'd to be a great Saint and a worker of Miracles since of a little Valley he has in a moment made a mighty Mountain The Verses run thus Quis neget Henricum miracula prodere mundo Qui fecit montem qui modo vallis erat A Saint at least our Henry we account Who of a Vale so soon has made a Mount. An Allusion was made to his Sirname of La Valette by a kind of clenching Witticism much in fashion in those times but which is now exploded And an offer was likewise made at vilifying his birth not unlike what Busbequius the Emperour Rodolphus his Ambassadour to that King has written in one of his Letters perhaps with some little malignity and following the foolish reports of the rabble who commonly love to speak disgracefully of Favourites what we may receive for undoubted truth is this that this prodigious raising of the Duke of Espernon a declar'd Enemy to the Duke of Guise was the reason that he being furiously incens'd at the refusal which he had and at the greatning of a man who sought his ruine believ'd himself now authoriz'd to give the reins to his resentment and push his fortune as far as it wou'd go And from thence ensued all those dismal and tragical events the very remembrance of which strikes an horrour into my Soul and which nevertheless in performance of my duty I shall faithfully represent in the following Book THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE LIB III. IF I intended to follow the Example of Livy the Prince of Latine Historians who never suffers a Prodigy to escape him and describes it perhaps with as much superstition as exactness I shou'd here make long narrations how the Sun was obscur'd on the sudden without the interposition of any Cloud appearing in the Sky with a flaming Sword shooting out from the Centre of the Body palpable darkness like that of the Egyptians at noon-day extraordinary Tempests Earthquakes fiery Phantasms in the Air and an hundred other Prodigies which are said to have been produc'd and seen in this unhappy year of one thousand five hundred eighty eight and which were fansi'd to be so many ominous presages of those horrible disorders that ensued in it But because I am not of the opinion that much credit ought to be given to those sorts of Signs which are commonly the effects of natural causes though very often unknown to us nor to the predictions of Astrologers some of which verily believ'd they had found in the Stars that this year shou'd be the conclusion of the World I will onely say that the most sure presage of so many misfortunes then impending was the minds of men too much exasperated on both sides to live in peace with each other and not rather to be searching out for means of making sure of those whom they suspected and disposing of them according to their jealousies In order to this the Duke of Guise after he had made an end of ruining the County of Montbelliard took his way to Nancy whither he had invited all the Princes of his house to assemble in the Month of Ianuary there to take their resolutions in reference to the present condition of affairs and of that happy success which they had in the War against the Reyters Some of them there were as it is reported so swoln with that Victory and so blinded with their prosperity that they propos'd in this Conference the most dangerous and most violent expedients to which the Duke of Lorrain a moderate and wary Prince wou'd by no means listen Howsoever it were for I find nothing to confirm these relations not even in the Memoires of their greatest Enemies who have written most exactly of that Assembly 't is most undoubted that if they proceeded not so far as to those terrible extremities yet what was then concluded pass'd in the World for a most unjust and unlawfull undertaking and was condemn'd by all those who were not blindly devoted to the League It was that a Request shou'd be presented to the King containing Articles which under the ordinary pretence of their desire to preserve in France the Catholique Religion tended manifestly to despoil him of his Authority and Power and to invest the Heads of the League in both For those scandalous Articles bore this substance in them that for the service of God and the maintenance and security of Religion the King shou'd not onely be most humbly Petition'd but also summon'd to establish the Holy Inquisition in his Realm to cause the Council of Trent to be there Publish'd suspending nevertheless that Article which revokes the exemption pretended by some Chapters and Abbeys against the Bishops to continue the War against the Huguenots and to cause the goods both of them and of their Associates to be sold with which to defray the charges of that War and to pay the Debts in which the Heads of the League had been constrain'd to involve themselves for the prosecution of it To refuse quarter to all Prisoners who shou'd be taken in that War unless upon condition of paying the full value of their goods and giving caution of living afterwards like good Catholiques Behold here a most specious appearance of Zeal for Religion but in the next place observe the Venom which lies hidden under all these fair pretences That the King shall unite himself more cordially and more openly than before to this Holy League thereby to keep exactly all its Laws to which men are oblig'd by this the most solemn and most inviolable of all Oaths That besides the Forces which he shall be oblig'd to set on foot to wage that War against the Huguenots he shall maintain an Army on the Frontiers of Lorrain to oppose the German Protestants if they shou'd determine once again to enter France That besides those places which the Leaguers already held for their security there shou'd be deliver'd to them other Towns of more importance which shou'd be specifi'd to him where they might establish for Governours those of their Heads which they shall name with power of introducing such Garisons and making such Fortifications as they shall think fit at the charges of the Provinces in which they are situate And in conclusion to secure them that they shall be no more hindred as till this present they have always been in the executing of those things which have been promis'd them for the safety of Religion his Majesty shall displace from his Council and from the Court and shall deprive of their Governments and Offices those who shall be nam'd to him as Patrons of Heretiques and Enemies to Religion and the State These were those extravagant demands which began to open the eyes of many good Catholiques who had suffer'd themselves to be innocently seduc'd by the appearances of true zeal which being little illuminated was not according to knowledge as the Apostle speaks For they now more clearly saw into some of those
Souldiers found themselves so encompass'd on every side that they cou'd neither March forward nor retreat nor make the least motion without exposing themselves unprofitably to the inevitable danger of the Musquet shot which the Citizens cou'd fire upon them without missing from behind their Barricades or of being beaten down with a tempest of Stones which came powring upon their Heads from every Window The Marshals d' Aumont and Biron and Villequier the Governour of Paris gain'd little by crying out to the Citizens that they intended them no harm for they were too much enrag'd to give them the hearing and were possess'd with a belief of what Brissac Bois Dauphin and the other Creatures of the Duke of Guise had told them who roar'd out on purpose to envenom them against the Royalists that those Troups which were entred into Paris were sent for to no other end than to make a general Massacre of all good Catholiques who were members of the Holy Union and to give up to the Souldiers their Houses their Money and their Wives Upon this the Musquet shot and the Stones from above were redoubl'd on those miserable men and more especially upon the Swissers to whom the Citizens were most inexorable More than threescore were either slain or dangerously hurt as well in St. Innocents Church yard as below on the Place Maubert without giving Quarter till Brissac who with his Sword in his hand was continually pushing forward the Barricades arriving there and beholding those poor Strangers who cry'd out for mercy with clasp'd Hands and both Knees on the ground and sometimes making the sign of the Cross in testimony of their being Catholiques stop'd the fury of the Citizens and commanding them to cry out vive Guise which they did as loud as they cou'd for safeguard of their Lives he satisfi'd himself with leading them disarm'd and Prisoners into the Boucherie of the New Market by the Bridge of St. Michael which he had already master'd It cannot be deni'd but that this Count was he amongst all the Leaguers who acted with the most ardour against the Royalists on that fatal day As being infinitely exasperated because the King had refus'd him the Admiralty and refus'd it in a manner so disobliging as to say openly he was a man that was good for nothing either by Sea or Land accusing him at the same time that he had not done his Duty in the Battel of the Azores where the Navy of Philippo Strozzi was defeated by the Marquis of Santa-Cruz he burn'd inwardly with desire of Revenge And when he saw the Souldiers inclos'd on all sides by the Barricades which were of his raising and the Swissers at his mercy 't is reported that he cry'd out as insulting on the King with a bitter Scoff and magnifying himself at the same time At least the King shall understand to day that I have found my Element and though I am good for nothing either at Sea or Land yet I am some Body in the Streets In this manner it was that the people making use of their advantage still push'd their fortune more and more and seem'd to be just upon the point of investing the Louvre while the Duke of Guise by whose secret orders all things were regularly manag'd amidst that horrible conâ—usion was walking almost unaccompanied in his own House and coldly answering the Queen and those who came one on the neck of another with Messages to him from the King intreating him to appease the tumult that he was not Master of those wild Beasts which had escap'd the toyles and that they were in the wrong to provoke them as they had done But at last when he perceiv'd that all things were absolutely at his command he went himself from Barricade to Barricade with onely a riding switch in his hand forbidding the people who paid a blind obedience to him from proceeding any farther and desiring them to keep themselves onely on the defensive He spoke also very civilly to the French Guards who at that time were wholly in his power to be dispos'd of as he thought good for Life or Death Onely he complain'd to their Officers of the violent counsells which his Enemies had given the King to oppress his Innocence and that of so many good Catholiques who had united themselves on no other consideration than the defence and support of the ancient Religion After which he gave Orders to Captain St. Paul to reconduct those Souldiers to the Louvre but their Arms were first laid down and their Heads bare in the posture of vanquish'd men that he might give that satisfaction to the Parisians who beheld the spectacle with Joy as the most pleasing effect of their present Victory He also caus'd the Swissers to be return'd in the same manner by Brissac and gave the King to understand that provided the Catholique Religion were secur'd and maintain'd in France in the condition it ought to be and that himself and his Friends were put in safety from the attempts of their Enemies they wou'd pay him all manner of Duty and Service which is owing from good Subjects to their Lord and Sovereign This in my opinion makes it evident that the Duke had never any intention to seize the person of the King and to inclose him in a Monastery as that Nicholas Poulain who gave in so many false informations and many Writers as well of the one Religion as of the other have endeavour'd to make the World believe For if that had been his purpose what cou'd have hinder'd him from causing the Louvre to be invested as he might easily have done the same day by carrying on the Barricades close to it while the tumult was at the height and for what reason did he return the French Guards and Swissers to the King if his intention had been to have attacqu'd him in the Louvre This was not his business nor his present aim but to defend and protect his Leaguers with a high hand and to avail himself of so favourable an opportunity to obtain the thing which he demanded and which doubâ—less had put him into condition of mounting the throne after the King's decease and becoming absolute Master of all affairs even during his Life In effect the Queen having undertaken to make the reconcilement as believing that thereby she might reenter into the management of business from which the Favourites had remov'd her and having ask'd him what were his pretensions he propos'd such extravagant terms and with so much haughtiness and resolv'dness speaking like a Conquerour who took upon him to dispose at his pleasure of the Vanquish'd that as dextrous as she was in the art of managing Mens minds from the very beginning of the conference she despair'd of her success For inhancing upon the Articles of Nancy he demanded that for the Security of the Catholique Religion in this Realm the King of Navarre and all the Princes of the House of Bourbon who had follow'd him in these last Wars shou'd
be declar'd to have forfeited for ever their right of succeeding to the Crown That the Duke of Espernoâ— La Valeite his Brother Francis d' O. the Marshals of Retz and of Biron Colonel Alphonso d' Ornano and all others who like them were favourers of the Huguenots or were found to have held any correspondence with them shou'd be depriv'd of their Governments and Offices and banish'd from the Court without hope of ever being restor'd again That the spoils of all these shou'd be given to the Princes of his House and to those Lords who had ingag'd with him of whom he made a long List That the King shou'd casheer his Guard of five and forty as a thing unknown in the times of his Predecessours protesting that otherwise he cou'd place no manner of confidence in him nor ever dare to approach his person That it wou'd please his Majesty to declare him his Lieutenant General through all his Estates with the same Authority which the late Duke of Guise his Father had under the Reign of Francis the Second by virtue of which he hop'd to give him so good an account of the Huguenots that in a little time there shou'd remain no other but the Catholique Religion in all his Kingdom To conclude that there shou'd be call'd immediately an Assembly of the three Estates to sit at Paris where all this shou'd be confirm'd and to hinder for the future that the Minions who wou'd dispose of all things at their pleasure shou'd not abuse their favour that there shou'd be establish'd an unchangeable form of Government which it shou'd not be in the power of the King to alter 'T is most evident that Demands so unreasonable so arrogant and so offensive tended to put the Government and the power of it into the Duke's hands who being Master of the Armies the Offices and the Governments of the most principal Provinces in his own person by his Relations his Creatures and the Estates where he doubted not of carrying all before him especially at Paris wou'd be the absolute disposer of Affairs Insomuch that there wou'd be nothing wanting to him but the Crown it self to which 't is very probable that at this time he pretended in case he shou'd survive the King to the exclusion of the Bourbons whom he wou'd have declar'd incapable of succeeding to it For which reason the Queen seeing that he wou'd recede from no part of these Articles and beginning to fear that he wou'd go farther than she desir'd counsell'd the King to get out of Paris with all speed while it was yet in his power so to do And though some of his chief Officers as amongst others the Chancellour de Chiverny and the Sieurs of Villeroy and Villequier who were of opinion that more wou'd be gain'd by the Negotiation and who foresaw that the Huguenots and the Duke of Espernon whom they had no great cause to love wou'd make their advantage of this retreat so unworthy of a King endeavour'd to dissuade him from it yet a thousand false advertisements which came every moment that they were going to invest the Louvre and his accustom'd fear together with the diffidence he had of the Duke of Guise whom he consider'd at that time as his greatest Enemy caus'd him at the last to resolve on his departure Accordingly about noon the next day while the Queen Mother went to the Duke with propositions onely to amuse him the King making shew to take a turn or two in the Tuilleries put on Boots in the Stables and getting on Horse-back attended by fifteen or sixteen Gentlemen and by ten or twelve Lacqueys having caused notice to be given to his Guards to follow him went out by the Port Neuve riding always on full gallop for fear of being pursu'd by the Parisians till having gain'd the ascent above Challiot he stopt his Horse to look back on Paris 'T is said that then reproaching that great City which he had always honour'd and enrich'd by his Royal presence and upbrayding its ingratitude he Swore he wou'd not return into it but through a Breach and that he wou'd lay it so low that it shou'd never more be in a condition of lifting up its self against the King After this he went to Lodge that night at Trappes and the next morning arriv'd at Chartres where his Officers those of his Council and the Courtiers came up to him one after another in great disorder some on Foot others on Horse-back without Boots several on their Mules and in their Robes every man making his escape as he was best able and in a great hurry for fear of being stop'd in short all of them in a condition not unlike the Servants of David at his departure from Ierusalem travelling in a miserable Equipage after their distress'd Master when he fled before the Rebel Absalom The Duke of Guise who on the one side had been unwilling to push things to an extremity to the end he might make his Treaty with the King and that it might not be said he was not at liberty and on the other side not believing that he wou'd have gone away in that manner as if he fled from his Subjects who stopping short of the Louvre by fifty paces seem'd unwilling to pursue their advantage any farther was much surpris'd at this retreat which broke the measures he had taken but as he was endu'd with an admirable presence of mind and that he cou'd at a moments warning accommodate his resolutions to any accident how unexpected or troublesome soever he immediately appli'd himself to put Paris in a condition of fearing nothing to quiet all things there and restore them to their former tranquillity and withall to give notice to the whole Kingdom how matters had pass'd at the Barricades as much to his own advantage as possibly he cou'd To this effect he possess'd himself of the strongest places in the City of the Temple of the Palace of the Town-House of the two Chastelets of the Gates where he set Guards of the Arsenal and of the Bastille which was surrender'd to him too easily by the Governour Testu the Government of which he gave to Bussy Le Clerc the most audacious of the Sixteen He oblig'd the Magistrates to proceed in the Courts of Judicature as formerly He made a new Provost of Merchants and Sheriffs a Lieutenant Civil Colonels and Captains of the several Wards all devoted to the League in the room of those whom he suspected He retook without much trouble all the places both above and below on the River that the passages for Provisions might be free He writ at last to the King to the Towns and to his particular Friends and drew up Manifests or Declarations in a style which had nothing in it but what was great and generous while he endeavour'd to justify his proceedings and at the same time to preserve the respect which was owing to the King protesting always that he was most ready to
pay him an entire Obedience and that he propos'd nothing to himself but that provision shou'd be made for the safety of Religion and of good Catholiques which were design'd to be oppress'd through the pernicious Counsells of such as held intelligence with Heretiques and projected nothing but the ruine of Religion and the State These Letters together with those which the Parisians wrote to the other Towns exhorting all men to combine with them for their common preservation in the Catholique Faith and those of the King which on the contrary were written in too soft a style and where there appear'd more of fear and of excuse than of resentment and just complaint for so sacrilegious an attempt had this effect that the greatest part of the people far from being scandalis'd at the Barricades approv'd them loudly praising the conduct of the Duke of Guise whom they believ'd to be full of Zeal for the Catholique Faith for the good of the Kingdom and for the Service of the King And as he desir'd nothing so much as to confirm them in that opinion he was willing that the body of the City shou'd send their Deputies to the King humbly to beseech his Majesty that he wou'd forget what was pass'd and return to his good Town of Paris where his most Loyal Subjects were ready to give him all the highest demonstrations of their Obedience and devotion to his Service He permitted that even processions shou'd be made in the Habit of Penitents to desire of God that he wou'd please to mollify the King's Heart and this was perform'd with so much ardour that there was one which went from Paris as far as Chartres in a most extraodinary Equipage under the conduct of the famous Fryar Ange. This honest Father was Henry de Ioyeuse Count of Bouchage and Brother to the late Duke He had given up himself to be a Capuchin about a year before this time having such strong impressions made upon him by the death and good example of his Wife Catharine de Nogaret Sister to the Duke of Espernon that he was inflam'd with a desire of repentance insomuch that neither the tears of his Brother nor the intreaties and favours of the King who lov'd him exceedingly nor the ardent solicitations of all the Court were able to remove him from the resolution he had taken of leading so austere a Life This noble Fryar having put a Crown of Thorns upon his head and carrying an overgrown Cross upon his Shoulders follow'd by his Fraternity and by a great number of Penitents and others who represented in their Habits the several persons of the Passion led on that procession singing Psalms and Litanies The march of these Penitents was so well manag'd that they enter'd the great Church of Chartres just as the King was there at Vespers As they enter'd they began to sing the Miserere in a very dolefull tone And at the same time two swindging Fryars arm'd with Disciplines laid on lustily poor Fryar Ange whose back was naked The application was not hard to make nor very advantageous to the Parisians for the charitable creature seem'd evidently to desire the King that he wou'd please to pardon them as Iesus Christ was willing to forgive the Iews for those horrible outrages which they had committed against him A Spectacle so surprising produc'd different effects in the minds of the standers by according to the variety of their tempers some of them were melted into compassion others were mov'd to Laughter and some even to indignation And more than all the rest the Marshal de Biron who having no manner of relish for this sort of devotion and fearing besides that some dangerous Leaguers might have crowded in amongst them with intention to Preach the people into a Mutiny counsell'd the King to clap them up in Prison every Mothers Son But that good Prince who notwithstanding all his faults had a stock of Piety at the bottom and much respect for all things that related to Religion rejected wholly this advice He listen'd to them much more favourably than he had heard all the Harangues of the former Deputies and promis'd to grant them the pardon they desir'd for the Town which he had so much favour'd on condition they wou'd return to their Obedience And truly 't is exceeding probable that he had so done from that very time if they had not afterwards given him fresh provocations by proposing the terms on which they insisted for the Peace which they desir'd For the Duke of Guise to whom all these fair appearances were very serviceable and cou'd be no ways prejudicial and who always pursu'd his designs in a direct line knew so well to manage the disposition of the Queen Mother who had seem'd at first to be much startled at his demands that he recall'd her with much dexterity into his interests by working on those two passions which were rooted in her Soul She desir'd to raise to the Throne after the death of the King her Son her Grandson Henry de Lorrain Marquis du Pont and believ'd that the Duke of Guise wou'd contribute to it all that was in his power But as cunning as she was she saw not into the bottom of that Prince who fed her onely with vain hopes of that Succession for another to which he personally aspir'd She infinitely hated the Duke of Espernon and believing he was the man who having possess'd himself of the King's Soul had render'd her suspected to him long'd to turn him out of Court promising her self by that means to be re-establish'd in the management of affairs from which the Favourites had remov'd her And the Duke of Guise who had as little kindness as her self for the Duke of Espernon concurr'd in the same design with at least as much earnestness but for a much different end for he desir'd to be absolute himself In this manner this subtle Prince always dissembling and artifically hiding the true motives by which he acted drew the Queen at last to consent to all that he desir'd and above all to give her allowance that a request shou'd be presented to the King in the name of the Cardinals the Princes the Peers of France the Lords the Deputies of Paris and the other Towns and of all the Catholiques united for the defence of the Catholique Apostolique and Roman Religion This reqest which in the manner of its expressions was couch'd in most respectfull terms contain'd notwithstanding in the bottom of it certain Propositions at least as hard as the Artâ—cles of Nancy and even as those which not long before were propos'd to the Queen by the Duke of Guise For after a protestation in the beginning of it that in whatsoever had pass'd till that present time there had been nothing done but by a pure zeal for God's honour and for the preservation of his Church they demand of the King That he wou'd make War with the Huguenots and that he wou'd conclude no Peace till
them all persons and all Towns which shall refuse to take this Oath and sign this Union He promises never to bestow any Military employment but on such as shall make a signal profession of the Roman Catholique Religion And prohibits in express terms that any man whosoever shall be admitted to the exercise of any office Judicature or any employment belonging to the Treasury whose profession of the Roman Catholique Religion appears not under the Attestation of the Bishop or his substitutes or at least of the Curates or their Vicars together with the deposition of ten Witnesses all qualified and unsuspected persons He also swears to hold for his good and Loyal Subjects and to protect and defend as well those who have always follow'd the League as those others who have formerly united and associated themselves against the Heretiques and that at this present he unites them to himself to the end they may all act together in order to one common end And that he holds for null and as never done that which seems to have been done against him as well in the Town of Paris as elsewhere particularly since the twelfth of May to the day of the publication of this Edict without future molestation or bringing into trouble any person whomsoever for any thing relating to the premisses But he also wills that all his Subjects of what Quality soever swear that they will and do renounce all Leagues and Confederations as well without as within the Realm which are contrary to this Union on pain of being punish'd as infringers of their Oath and guilty of High Treason This Edict was verifi'd in Parliament the one and twentieth of Iuly and publish'd immediately after being receiv'd with extraordinary transports of joy by the Leaguers who believ'd that by it they had obtain'd a clear Victory against the King whom they beheld entirely subjected to the will and good pleasure of their Heads He himself also as it is reported with profound dissimulation endeavour'd all he was able to confirm them in that opinion by making publique demonstrations of his joy and satisfaction for the peace He was very solicitous to cause his Edict to be sign'd by all the Princes and Lords who were then at Court He proclaim'd the convention of the three Estates at Blois which was to be at the beginning of October following He procur'd the Letters Patents for the Duke of Guise's Commission of Intendant General over all his Armies with the same power which is annex'd to that of Constable to be verifi'd in Parliament He receiv'd him at Chartres with such particular tokens of esteem affection and trust that it was believ'd the tender friendship which was betwixt them when the King was then but Duke of Anjou was once more renew'd He favour'd all his creatures on whom he bestow'd considerable Employments and at last to satisfie him in that point which of all others was most nice he caus'd the Cardinal of Bourbon to be solemnly declar'd the next of Bloud to him by allowing him all the Privileges and Prerogatives which belong to the Heir presumptive of the Crown After all as it is almost impossible that a violent passion in the Soul what care soever be taken to conceal it shou'd not discover it self by its consequences and by some indications which break out even from the closest men So this Prince as great a Master as he was in the art of dissimulation cou'd not act his part so well but that he gave occasion to those who were more clear sighted to believe or at leastwise to suspect that all which at that time was done by him to testifie his joy was onely to cover his indignation and his hatred which urg'd him incessantly to revenge himself on those from whom he had receiv'd such unworthy usage For being departed from Chartres and going thence to Roüen where he made the Edict of Reunion he wou'd never be perswaded to go to Paris at his return what instance soever the Deputies of the Parliament and those of the Town cou'd make to him always alledging faint excuses which he grounded onely on the preparations which he was to make in order to his meeting the Estates at Blois He still retain'd near his person his Guard of the five and forty which the Duke of Guise had requested him to dismiss He gave the command of the Army design'd for Poitou to the Duke of Nevers whom the Duke of Guise his Brother-in-law cou'd never endure since his renunciation of the League He admitted none to his private friendship but the Marshal d' Aumont the Lord Nicholas d' Angennes de Rambouillet Colonel Alphonso d' Ornano and some few others who were no friends to the Duke of Guise In fine that which made the greatest noise was that the Chancellour de Chiverny the Presidents Bellievre and Brulart and the Sieurs de Villeroy and Pinart the two Secretaries of State who had given him advice to accommodate matters with the Duke of Guise were absolutely disgrac'd The Queen Mother who had manag'd that accommodation had little or no part in business and was wholly excluded from the Cabinet Council The Seals were given to Francis de Monthelon a famous Advocate a man of rare integrity and of inviolable fidelity to the King's service who rais'd him to that high Employment without his own seeking at the recommendation of the Duke of Nevers who was known to be on very ill terms with the Duke of Guise All this was sufficient without doubt to alarm that Prince and give him caution to look about him or at least to suspect the King's intentions towards him but the flourishing condition wherein he was plac'd the applauses which were given him both by the people and by the Court it self which admir'd both his conduct and his perpetual felicity and regarded him as Arbitrator and Master of Affairs and the certain opinion which he had that all things wou'd go for him in the Estates had so far blinded him that he believ'd it was not in the power of fortune to do him any prejudice not so much as to shake him or to give the smallest stop to the full carrier of his success Thus he enter'd as it were in triumph into Blois at the end of September and the King came thither about the same time to order the preparations for the Estates He commanded that all future proceedings shou'd be as it were sanctifi'd by two solemn and conspicuous acts of piety which were a most devout and magnificent Procession made on the first Sunday of October the second day of that Month and by a general Communion taken by all the Deputies on the Sunday following the ninth of the same Month on which the King in token of a perfect reconcilement receiv'd with the Duke of Guise the precious Body of Iesus Christ from the hands of the Cardinal de Bourbon in the Church of Saint Saviour After which all those who were expected being at length arriv'd the
they were thought at Rome and they believ'd themselves to stand on so sure Foundations for what they held that they wou'd not depart from it on any considerations whatever That in this particular Fact the King wou'd not want most Zealous Catholiques to maintain that not onely his Majesty who has an especial privilege to stand exempted from Excommunication but that also the meanest man can incur no censures for having done a thing which is of absolute necessity for the preservation of his liberty and of his Life And that which way soever it be determin'd yet his Majesty was absolv'd by the Authority of his Holiness himself in virtue of the Breviat which he had granted him To which the Pope made no other reply than this that it belong'd to him to interpret his own Breviat and that it ought onely to be understood of crimes committed before the Breviat was given and not of those which were committed afterwards But one of the most understanding Prelates of the Roman Court had the confidence to make it appear by a writing which was sent to the King that this Breviat being conceiv'd as it was in general terms without any restriction extended as well to the future as to the past In the mean time the Pope as it were by immediate inspiration changing his Humour on the sudden began to tell the Cardinal that he acknowledg'd the King had great provocations to doe what he had done that God had suffer'd the Cardinal of Guise and the Duke his Brother to die in that manner for their Sins That the League had ruin'd the affairs of France and even the Catholique Religion it self That it was at no time lawfull to take up Arms against the will of the Sovereign for it never succeeded happily That he call'd that very Cardinal to witness what he had formerly told him concerning this and that he had then prophesy'd what since had happen'd The Cardinal ravish'd with joy to hear the Pope speak after this manner gave him his most humble acknowledgments and earnestly besought him always to persist in so just an opinion without suffering himself to be impos'd on by the artifices of the Spaniards and the Leaguers But when he perceiv'd that after all this fair discourse the Pope according to the obstinacy of his temper which was never to be mov'd when once he had fix'd his resolution still continu'd to suspend all the expeditions till the King had sent to desire absolution he had the courage to tell him plainly that this suspension which was prejudicial to the service of God the salvation of Souls and even to the authority of the Holy See cou'd be laid to no other man's charge but the whole burthen of it wou'd fall on the Conscience of his Holiness And that all the evils which arise from the long vacancies of Churches wou'd be imputed to him onely not to the King who had done on his part what he ought by naming or presenting men to Bishopricks and Abbies according to the Concordat and that in mean time they who were thus presented to the Prelacy had wherewithall to comfort themselves easily in their disgrace by enjoying their Oeconomats a longer time without putting themselves to the trouble of providing and sending to Rome so much money for obtaining the Apostolical Provisions And after all it might well happen that the King mov'd by the remonstrances of the French Clergy and even of the Estates themselves which were still assembled at Blois and also because his nominations were refus'd at Rome might set all things again upon the Foundation of the ancient right in which case there wou'd be no more trudging from France to Rome but onely for the confirmation of three or four primacies and those too to be expedited gratis In fine this prudent and honest Cardinal concluded his long dispatches by the advice he gave the King that according to the opinion of the wisest men and those who meant him best the longer he delaid to send or write to his Holiness in case either of them were his intention the more satisfaction he shou'd receive provided that his affairs prosper'd at home For added he your Majesty has nothing more to hope or fear but onely from your own management and you are to expect that as matters go well or ill in France you shall be treated here accordingly So that to know how you stand in grace at Rome you will have no need to be inform'd by your Ambassadours dispatches or by mine you will find the truest Intilligence from day to day by your own success The event verifi'd his prediction for some time after Sixtus perceiving that the League grew exceeding powerfull and the King much weaker by the Revolt of the greatest part of France caus'd a thundering Monitory to be posted up at Rome against him in which he declares at the first dash that the King had incurr'd the Excommunication provided by the Canons for the Murther committed on the person of a Cardinal The death of the Duke of Guise was yet more ruinous to his affairs and produc'd an effect quite contrary to what he had expected from it He believ'd that having cut off the Head of the League it wou'd thenceforth be no more than a body without life or motion and that he shou'd then be absolute Master and truly a King as he had us'd to say But it was not long before he found how much he had deceiv'd himself His supposition may come to pass when a faction is weak in its beginning and that they who are enter'd into it are irresolute wavering betwixt their first fury which has hurri'd them into a Rebellion and their fear of a Master justly incens'd against them whom they also see well arm'd and in condition to take Vengeance on them as well as on their Head in case they prove obstinate in their revolt But here all things were in a contrary posture the League had taken root so deeply in the peoples Hearts that there was no probability it shou'd be torn out at one single pull and the faction was too strongly supported both within the Kingdom and without it to beget a reasonable hope that it wou'd easily be destroy'd On the other side that love and respect which the French have naturally for their Kings was almost wholly extinguish'd in the greater part of them in reference to Henry the third who was equally hated both by Huguenots and Leaguers and so very much despis'd especially by the last that he was not fear'd by any one Thus instead of arming himself as he ought in reason to have done after so terrible a blow as he had given and advancing towards Paris with all the Forces he either had in readiness or cou'd raise immediately without giving leisure to the Leaguers to recover from their first amazement and to provide themselves of a new Head against him He trifl'd away his time according to his custome in making specious Declarations
and writing fine Letters which he sent far and near wherein amongst other things which he alledg'd for his justification he said what no body then believ'd and what the Duke of Mayenne positively denied to the Cardinal Legat that he had receiv'd from that Duke and from the Dutchess of Aumale a most certain information of the Conspiracy which the two Brothers had contriv'd against his person Doubtless he was ignorant that having done an action of this nature a King can never justifie it better than with his Arms in his hand and by putting himself into a condition of forcing the vanquish'd to approve his reasons And truly by making such an insignificant and verbal Apology so inconsistent with the greatness of a King he brought his matters to that pass that he was neither believed by his own Subjects nor by Foreigners And was so unfortunate that not onely the Leaguers but even the Huguenots themselves and principally the Gentlemen amongst them condemn'd his action in most reproachfull Language and thought it contrary to the Genius of the French Nation In the mean time he was much surpriz'd that while he was losing his time in writing and continuing the Estates which he held on till three weeks after the execution he heard the news that Orleans was revolted against him that the Duke of Mayenne who was advertis'd at Lyons of the death of his Brothers before Alphonso d' Ornano who had been sent either to make him Prisoner or to kill him cou'd arrive there had refug'd himself in his Government of Burgundy where he was Master of almost all the Towns and especially that Paris had reinflam'd the League with more ardour than before to revenge the death of the two Brothers There is nothing more prodigiously strange in all this History than the transactions in that great City when they heard the news of this amazing accident The Sixteen who had it first even before the Parliament had notice of it so great was the negligence of the Court commanded immediately on Christmas-Evening that they shou'd stand to their Arms in all the Wards secur'd all the strong places plac'd Corps de Garde upon the Bridges and in the Squares and put Souldiers into the Houses of the Politiqúes for by that name they call'd suspected persons that is to say all those who were not carried away by the Torrent of so hot-brain'd and furious a Faction Afterwards finding themselves absolute Masters of Paris where the People being inrag'd almost to madness for the murther of the Duke of Guise were one and all for a Revolt they held a General Assembly at the Town-house where notwithstanding the opposition which was made by Achilles de Harlay the first President who was in danger of his life on that occasion they elected the Duke of Aumale their Governour and made amongst themselves a more strict Union than ever for defence as they gave out of their Lives and Liberties and of the Catholique Religion In this manner they disguis'd Rebellion under a specious name which their Preachers and the Doctours of the League baul'd out and thunder'd through all Paris For the Preachers of whom the most furious were Pelletier Boucher Guincestre Pigenat and Aubry the Curats Father Bernard de Montgalliard surnam'd the Petit Feuillant and the famous Cordelier Feu Ardent Preaching in the Parishes of Paris during the Christmas Holidays chang'd their Sermons into Satyrs against the Sacred person of the King and describ'd so movingly the Tragical death of the two Brothers whom they lifted up to the Skies as Martyrs that they melted their Audience into tears and nothing but sighs and groans were heard in their well-fill'd Congregations And instead of proposing to them the example of St. Stephen they inspir'd into them the desire of vengeance Insomuch that even they who were not dispos'd to sob and cry and who were even scandaliz'd at this manner of behaviour which was so unworthy of the holy Ministery of the Gospel were constrain'd to act their parts and squeeze out tears for fear of being murther'd if they had not wept for company 'T is certain that when Guincestre who had Preach'd the Advent at St. Bartholomews had said in one of his Sermons after a terrible Declamation against the King and lamentation for the Duke of Guise that it behov'd his Auditors to lift up their hands every man of them in token that they wou'd revenge his death and live and die in the Holy Covenant which was now renewed the whole Congregation immediately obey'd him excepting onely the first President who that day which was the first of the Year 1589 was present at the Sermon in his Parish Church seated overagainst the Preacher Then that Enthusiastique Zealot had the impudence to say to him Lift up your hand too like the rest you Monsieur the first President The Leaguers had caus'd a report to be spread that this excellent Magistrate who was known to be a Loyal Servant to the King was one of those who advis'd the death of the Duke of Guise for which reason he was of necessity to obey lest otherwise he shou'd indiscreetly expose himself to the fury of the multitude who in case he had refus'd had absolutely believ'd the lye which was forg'd against him and consequently had torn him piece-meal He therefore lifted up his hand but to no great height as an action that was forc'd from him upon which that impudent covenanting Preacher had the insolence to bid him lift it higher that the whole Congregation might be satisfi'd he was under the same obligation with the rest The Curat of St. Nicholas in the fields Francis Pigenat was yet more audacious and more impious than his brother in iniquity For making the Funeral Oration for the Duke of Guise in the Parish of St. Iean en Greve as it was made in all the Parishes of Paris and even at the Cathedral of Nostre Dame with more than Royal pomp and Ceremonies he rose to that excess of fury as to ask of his Auditors if they cou'd not find one brave Spirit amongst them all who wou'd undertake to revenge the Duke's murther by killing the Tyrant And more to enrage the People he spoke in the person of the Dutchess Dowager to the late Duke who was then big with Child and ready to lie down and made her pronounce those terrible imprecations of Virgil's Dido thus imitated by him Exoriare aliquis nostris ex ossibus Vltor Qui face Valesios ferróque sequare Tyrannos Arise some offspring of my murther'd Lord Revenge him on Valois with Fire and Sword These Seditious Preachments occasion'd infinite disorders but the mortal stroke was given by the scandalous Decree which the Doctors made who being blinded with that furious passion which possess'd the League and they leading the blind multitude brought them to tumble headlong with themselves into that frightfull gulf of crimes and of misfortunes The body of the Town which was compos'd of Leaguers to
authorize that horrible revolt which they design'd was of opinion to propose to the College of Sorbonne not onely by a verbal request but by an Authentique Act which was sign'd by the Magistrate and Seal'd with the Town Seal these two important cases of Conscience the one was Whether the French were effectively discharg'd from the Oath of Allegiance and Faith which they had made to the King the other Whether in Conscience they might Arm and unite themselves and whether in order to it they might raise Money and Contributions for the defence and preservation of the Catholique Apostolique and Roman Religion in France in opposition to the detestable designs and endeavours of the King and all his Adherents since he had violated the publique Faith at Blois in prejudice of the Catholique Religion the Edict of the Holy Vnion and the natural liberty of the Estates On which occasion the Faculty assembling on the Seventh of Ianuary to the number of Seventy Doctors after a solemn Procession and a Mass of the Holy Ghost concluded for the affirmative on both the points by a common consent without so much as the opposition of one man as the Decree it self informs us and that this resolution shou'd be sent to the Pope to the end he might approve and confirm it by his Authority desiring that he wou'd have the goodness to succour the Gallicane Church which suffer'd under great oppressions To confess the truth this Decree gave great scandal and the Huguenots who were not wanting to report it word for word and to make an Examen of it in their Writings drew a great advantage from it to insult over our Divines of whom they had reason to say that both their Doctrine and their Morals in this respect are directly opposite to the word of God which teaches us the quite contrary But 't is easie to answer them by letting them know what is most true namely that this Decree was pass'd by a faction of seditious Doctours Boucher Prevost Aubry Bourgoin Pelletier and seven or eight old Doctors who were violent Leaguers and also of the Council of Sixteen drew after them by their Cabals and by their inveterate malice fifty or threescore Doctors the greatest part of whom were those young hot-headed and turbulent â—ellows whom we have already mention'd and the rest in fear of their lives if they shou'd dare to oppose them assented onely upon compulsion to this Decree which the Sorbonne it self at all times when it was free has held abominable and which Doctor Iohn Le Fevre at that time Dean of the Faculty resisted what he cou'd without gaining any thing upon that wretched faction which constrain'd him at last in spight of his opposition to Subscribe it with them In like manner the King who complain'd extremely of this proceeding having Assembled at Blois twenty Bishops and twelve Doctors of the Sorbonne who were of the number of the Deputies when that Decree was read to them they all concluded without the least hesitation that it was execrable and cou'd never have pass'd without compulsion and for safeguard of their lives from the rage and fury of the Parisian Leaguers In the mean time it must be acknowledg'd in what manner soever it were gain'd yet being of the Sorbonne whose name and authority were had in singular veneration through all Europe and particularly in France that Decree was the Trumpet to the general Revolt which was made in Paris and from thence in a short time after extended it self through the greatest part of all the Cities in the Kingdom For as soon as it was publish'd in that great Town by the most furious and giddy-brain'd Preachers of the League who exalted it to the People in their declamatory style they ran on the sudden into such horrible extremes and such transports of rage so contrary to the duty of Subjects to their lawfull Sovereign that though our Writers have made them publique yet I believe it more decent to suppress them than to profane my History by a Relation which wou'd render it unpleasant and even odious I shall onely say that at the same time when by virtue of this damnable Decree they bereft him of the title of King leaving him onely the bare name of Henry de Valois they heap'd upon him all sorts of outrages and villanies which the impotent fury of the Rabble cou'd produce They vented their rage against him in Satyrs Lampoons and Libels infamous Reports and Calumnies and those too in the fowlest terms of which the most moderate were Tyrant and Aposltate And that they might not be wanting to discharge their fury in the most brutal manner they cou'd invent they extended it even to his Arms his Statues and his Pictures which they tore in pieces or trampled under their feet or dragg'd about the Streets through the mire and dirt or burn'd them or cast them into the River with a volee of curses and imprecations against him in the mean adoring the Duke of Guise and his Brother the Cardinal as Martyrs and placing their Images upon Altars At last this blind fury went so far that after the Decree the Curats and Confessours of the Faction of Sixteen abusing the power which was given them by their Sacred Ministry of binding and loosing refus'd Absolution to those who acknowledg'd to them in Confession that their Conscience wou'd not suffer them to renounce Henry the third their lawfull King This impious practice was the first effect that was produc'd by the Decree of the Faculty the news of which was receiv'd by the King with much sadness at the same time when he was busied in paying his last duties to the Queen his Mother who deceas'd at the Castle of Blois on the fifth of Ianuary in the seventy second year of her age whether it were out of melancholy for the death of the Guises which was upbraided to her by the old Cardinal of Bourbon or of a Hectique Fever or a false Pleurisie Certain it is that there was no mean or moderation us'd either in praise or dispraise of that Princess who indeed has afforded sufficient matter to Historians to speak both good and ill of her and either of them in excess Both the one and the other are easie to be discern'd by what I have related of her in this History and in that of Calvinism I shall onely add this last touching to finish her picture that it cannot be deni'd but that she was endued with great perfections of mind and body a carriage extremely Majestical a certain air of Greatness and Authority worthy of her high Estate her Behaviour noble and engaging her Wit polite her Apprehension prompt her Judgment piercing a great talent for Business and Treaties and a singular address of managing and turning others to her own bent a Royal Magnificence Constancy and Fortitude of mind extraordinary in her Sex a masculine courage and greatness of Soul which naturally carri'd her to the highest undertakings In one
the Castle of Amboise and distributed them into several Prisons But the Duke of Mayenne who over-powr'd him in men was already upon the point of coming out from Paris with a strong Army with a resolution of preventing his designs and assaulting him in Tours And upon that consideration it was that he was forc'd to resolve upon the onely way which remain'd for his Shelter from the last extremities of Violence and for the preservation of his Crown and Person France at that time was in a most deplorable condition divided and as it were broken into three Parties which laid it waste That of the League the most powerfull of any by the Rebellion of so many Towns that of the King of Navarre which had greatly strengthen'd it self dureing the first troubles and that of the King which in a manner was reduc'd to his own Houshold and some very few depending Towns It was impossible for him in this condition to carry on the War which he had undertaken against the Huguenots and at the same time to maintain himself against the Army of the Leaguers It remain'd then that of necessity he must close with one of those Parties that by its assistance he might reduce the other to Obedience or at least that he might save himself from ruine which was inevitable if he stood single and expos'd to the violence of the other two Now the Leaguers wou'd neither admit of Peace nor Truce with him having Sworn in the Oath which was administer'd to them by the Duke of Mayenne that they wou'd prosecute their Vengeance to the extremity for the death of the two Guises 'T is manifest by consequence that he was indispensably oblig'd to unite himself with the King of Navarre and to accept the aid he offer'd him with so much frankness and generosity After the death of the Guises that Prince making his advantage of so favourable an opportunity while all things were in confusion amongst the Catholiques had much advanc'd the affairs of his Party by taking of Niort Saint Maxent Maillezais and some other Towns in Poitou since when upon his quick recovery from a dangerous Sickness whereof he was like to die he had push'd his conquests as far as the Frontiers of Touraine having made himself Master of Loudun Thouars Montreiuil Bellay Mirebeau Lisle Bouchard Chastelleraud Argenton and of Blanc in Berry At which time observing the wretched Estate to which the Kingdom was reduc'd by the three Parties which dismembred it he publish'd a Declaration on the fourth of March address'd to the three Estates of France therein exhorting them to Peace which was the onely remedy for so many distempers as afflicted the miserable Nation Then having clearly prov'd that it was impossible for the King to succeed in a Civil War to be prosecuted as some advis'd him at the same time against the Huguenots and Leaguers he offer'd him his Service and all the Forces of his Party not for bringing the Leaguers and the Revolted Towns to punishment but for reducing them to the terms of desiring Peace which he most humbly petition'd him to grant them and to pardon and pass by the injuries he had receiv'd after they had been subdu'd by the joint Forces of all good French-men both of the one Religion and the other marching under the conduct of his Majesty against Rebels After which he protested in the sight of God and ingag'd his Faith and Honour that forasmuch as that union of his most faithfull Servants as well Catholiques as Protestants was onely intended to restore the Royal Authority and Peace in France he wou'd never permit that the Roman Catholique Faith shou'd receive the least prejudice in consideration of it but that it shou'd always be preserv'd in such Towns as shou'd be taken without making any alteration of Religion in them This Declaration made way for the Treaty which was begun with great secrecy immediately after it in order to the Union of the two Kings There were some in the Council who endeavour'd to oppose that Negotiation as fearing that it wou'd much fortify the Party of the League by contributing to the belief of that report which was already spread by the Leaguers amongst the people that the King had always maintain'd a private Correspondence with the Huguenots besides that the Pope whose Friendship was necessary wou'd be scandalis'd at such an Union The King himself had a great repugnance to it and doubtless wou'd much rather have compounded his differences with the Princes of the League if it had been possible and thereby to have renew'd his Edict of Reunion a thing not unknown to the King of Navarre who easily perceiv'd that the Court wou'd never apply to him but for want of others In effect the King in the beginning of March had written to the Duke of Lorrain and had sent him very advantageous conditions for the Princes of his House with all manner of Security for them in case he cou'd prevail with them to receive the Peace and Treaty which he offer'd But being refus'd on that side those of his Council who were of opinion that the King of Navarre's propositions shou'd be accepted inforc'd so far their strongest Argument which was pure Necessity farther alledging the examples of so many Catholique Kings and Princes who like the great Emperour Theodosius made use of Inâ—idels and Heretiques against their Enemies that the King at last consented to set on foot the Treaty It was concluded at Tours on the third of April by the Sieur du Plessis-Mornay who capitulated on the King of Navarre's behalf on these conditions That the said King during the Truce which was made for one year shou'd serve the King with all his Forces That he shou'd have a passage on the Loyre which at length was declar'd to be the Town of Saumur after some difficulties which were remov'd concerning the trusting it in his hands That he shou'd therein have the free exercise of his Religion and in some other little Towns which were left to him by way of caution for his reimbursment of his charges in the War This Negotiation of Du Plessis cou'd not be transacted with so much Secrecy but that it was vented by the Legat Morosini who thereupon us'd his utmost endeavours in three vigorous Remonstrances to hinder that blow which he believ'd wou'd be fatal to Religion according to the false notions which he had of the King of Navarre And the King having told him that after having tri'd all ways of accommodation with the Duke of Mayenne which that Prince had always haughtily rejected necessity compell'd him to make use of the onely remaining means to defend his Life the Legat earnestly besought him to allow him ten days more that he might have opportunity of treating in person with that Duke whom he hop'd he shou'd be able to prevail with to accept those advantageous terms of Peace which were presented him Though the Treaty was not onely concluded but also sign'd as appears
by the Memoires of Du Plessis Mornay yet the King to make it evident that it was onely through necessity that he enter'd into this Union with the Huguenots against the League was consenting that before the publication of it there shou'd be made a last attempt on the inclinations of the Duke of Mayenne to induce him to a reconcilement To this effect he gave in writing to the Legat the same Articles which he had already propos'd to the Duke of Lorrain and which were as advantageous to his Family as he cou'd reasonably desire For there was offer'd to the Duke of Mayenne his Government of Burgundy with full power of placing such Governours in the Towns as he himself shou'd chuse of disposing all vacant Offices and levying on the Province forty thousand Crowns yearly To the young Duke of Guise his Nephew the Government of Champaigne with two Cities at his choice therein to keep what Garrisons he pleas'd twenty thousand Crowns of Pension and thirty thousand Livres of Income in Benifices for his Brother To the Duke of Nemours the Government of Lyons with a Pension of ten thousand Crowns to the Duke of Aumale the Government of Picardy and two Cities in that Province to the Duke of Elbeuf a Government and five and twenty thousand Livres of Pension and what was of greatest importance for that Family to the Marquis du Pont eldest Son of the Duke of Lorrain the Government of Toul Metz and Verdun with assurance that if his Majesty had no Issue Male those three Bishopricks shou'd remain to the Duke of Lorrain To all which the King caus'd this addition to be made that to remove all difficulties which might arise in the execution of this Treaty he wou'd remit himself to the Arbitration of his Holiness who might please to joyn in the Umpirage with him the Senate of Venice the great Duke of Thuscany the Duke of Ferrara and the Duke of Lorrain himself who had so great an interest in those Articles With these conditions the Legat went from Tours on the tenth of April towards the Duke of Mayenne who was already advanc'd with his Army as far as Chasteaudun He was receiv'd with all manner of respect and dureing the two days conference he had with the Duke employ'd the most powerfull considerations he cou'd propose to win his consent to a Peace so advantageous for all his House and so necessary to Religion and the publique welfare or at least to gain thus far upon him that if any thing were yet wanting to his entire satisfaction he wou'd remit his interests and those of his Party into the hands of the Pope as the King on his side was already dispos'd to refer his own But after all his endeavours he cou'd not work him to any condescension And whatever arguments he us'd he always answer'd with great respect as to the Pope and the person of the Legat but with extreme contempt for the King whom he perpetually call'd that Wretch that he and his wou'd ever be obedient to the Pope but that he was very well assur'd that his Holiness wou'd never lay his Commands upon him to make any agreement to the prejudice of Religion with a man who had none at all and who was united with the Huguenots against the Catholiques That he cou'd not bear the mention of a reconcilement with a perjur'd man who had neither Faith nor Honour and that he cou'd never trust his word who had Murther'd his Brothers so inhumanely and violated so perâ—idiously not onely the publique Faith but also the Oath which he had taken on the Evangelists at the most holy Sacrament of the Altar After this the Cardinal farther observing what he cou'd not otherways have believ'd that even more opprobrious terms than these were us'd of the King through all the Army and in every City which own'd the League where no man durst presume to give him the name of King wrote him word that he cou'd do him no Service with the Duke and himself not daring to be near his person while the King of Navarre continued with him went to Bourbonnois where he waited the Orders which he receiv'd from the Pope not long after to return to Rome and there to give an account of his Legation Thus after all hope was utterly lost of concluding any peace with the Leaguers the Treaty with the King of Navarre took place He was put into possession of Saumur the Government of which he gave to the Sieur du Plessis-Mornay who had so well succeeded in his Negotiation And it was from that very place that he publish'd his Declaration concerning his intended passage over the Loyre for the Service of his Majesty where he protests amongst other things that being first Prince of the Bloud whom his Birth oblig'd before all others to defend his King he holds none for Enemies but such as are Rebels forbidding most strictly all his Souldiers to commit any manner of offence against those Catholiques who were faithfull Subjects to his Majesty and particularly against the Clergy whom he takes into his protection The King also made his own at large wherein he declares the reasons that oblig'd him to joyn with the King of Navarre for the preservation of his person and the Estate without any prejudice which cou'd thence ensue to the Catholique Religion which he wou'd always maintain in his Kingdom even with the hazard of his Life But that which at length completed the Happiness of this Union betwixt the two Kings was their Enterview which was made in the Park of Plessis on the thirtieth day of April amidst the acclamations of a multitude of people there assembled and with all the signs of an entire confidence on both sides Though the old Huguenot Captains who had not yet forgot St. Bartholomew us'd their best endeavours that their Master shou'd not have put himself in the King's Power as he did with all frankness and generosity He did yet more for being gone back with his Guards and the Gentlemen who attended him to the Fauxbourgs of St. Simphorian beyond the Bridges on the next Morning which was the first of May he repaâ—s'd the River follow'd onely by one Page and return'd to Tours to be present at the King 's Levè who was infinitely pleas'd with this generous procedure and clearly saw by it that he had no occasion to suspect him and that he had reason to hope all things from a Prince who reli'd so fully on his word though he had broken it more than once to him by revoking the Edicts which he had made in favour of him onely to content the League In this manner they pass'd two days together and held a Council where the King of Navarre caus'd a resolution to be taken that for the speedy ending of the War they shou'd assemble their whole Forces with all possible diligence and March directly on to Paris which was the Head of the League and on which the body of it
Prelates of the Kingdom that he shou'd restore the Exercise of the Catholique Religion in all places from whence it had been banish'd and remit the Ecclesiastiques into the full and entire Possession of all their Goods that he shou'd bestow no Governments on Hugonots and that this Assembly might have leave to depute some persons to the Pope to render him an account of their Proceedings This Accommodation was sign'd by all the Lords excepting only the Duke of Espernon and the Sieur de Vitry who absolutely refus'd their Consent to it Vitry went immediately into Paris and there put himself into the Service of the League which he believ'd at that time to be the cause of Religion As for the Duke of Espernon he had no inclination to go over to the League which had so often solicited his Banishment from Court But whether it were that being no longer supported since his Masters Death he fear'd the Hatred and Resentment of the greatest Persons about the King and even of the King himself whom he had very much offended during the time of his Favour in which it was his only business to enrich himself or were it that he was afraid he shou'd be requir'd to lend some part of that great Wealth which he had scrap'd together he very unseasonably and more unhandsomly began to raise Scruples and seem'd to be troubled with Pangs of Conscience which never had been thought any great grievance to him formerly so that he took his leave of the King and retir'd to his Government with 2 or 3000 Foot and 500 Horse which he had brought to the Service of his late Master This pernicious Example was follow'd by many others who under pretence of ordering their Domestick Affairs ask'd leave to be gone which the King dar'd not to refuse them or suffer'd themselves to be seduc'd by the Proffers and Solicitations of the League so that the King not being in a condition any longer to besiege Paris was forc'd to divide his remaining Troops comprehending in that number those which Sancy still preserv'd for his Use and Service Of the whole he form'd three little Bodies one for Picardy under the Command of the Duke of Longuevillâ— another for Champaigne under the Marshal d' Aumont and himself led the third into Normandy where he was to receive Supplies from England and where with that small Remainder of his Forces he gave the first Shock to the Army of the League which at that time was become more powerful than ever it had been formerly or than ever it was afterwards In effect those who after the Barricades had their eyes so far open'd as to discover that the League in which they were ingag'd was no other than a manifest Rebellion against their King seeing him now dead believ'd there was no other Interest remaining on their side but that of Religion and therefore reunited themselves with the rest to keep out a Heretick Prince from the Possession of the Crown And truly this pretence became at that time so very plausible that an infinite number of Catholiques of all Ranks and Qualities dazled with so specious an appearance made no doubt but that it was better for them to perish than to endure that he whom they believ'd obstinate in his Heresie shou'd ascend the Throne of St. Lewis and were desirous that some other King might be elected Nay farther there were some of them who took this occasion once more to press the Duke of Mayenne that he wou'd assume that Regal Office which it wou'd be easie for him to maintain with all the Forces of the united Catholiques of which he already was the Head but that Prince who was a prudent man fearing the dangerous consequences of so bold an Undertaking lik'd better at the first to retain for himself all the Essentials of Kingship and to leave the Title of it to the old Cardinal of Bourbon who was a Prisoner and whom he declar'd King under the Name of Charles the Tenth by the Council of the Union At this time it was that there were scatter'd through all the Kingdom a vast number of scandalous Pamphlets and other Writings in which the Authors of them pretended to prove that Henry of Bourbon stood lawfully excluded from the Crown those who were the most eminent of them were the two Advocates general for the League in the Parliament of Paris Lewis d'Orlâ—ans and Anthony Hotman The first was Author of that very seditious Libel call'd The English Catholique And the second wrote a Treatise call'd The Right of the Vncle against the Nephew in the Succession of the Crown But there happen'd a pleasant Accident concerning this Francis Hotman a Civilian and Brother to the Advocate seeing this Book which pass'd from hand to hand in Germany where he then was maintain'd with solid Arguments and great Learning The Right of the Nephew against the Vncle and made manifest in an excellent Book which he publish'd on this Subject the Weakness and false Reasoning of his Adversaries Treatise without knowing that it was written by his Brother who had not put his Name to it The League having a King to whom the Crown of right belong'd after Henry the Fourth his Nephew in case he had surviv'd him by this Pretence increas'd in Power because the King of Spain and the Duke of Lorrain and Savoy who during the Life of the late King their Ally durst not declare openly against him for his Rebellious Subjects now after his Death acknowledging this Charles the Tenth for King made no difficulty to send Supplies to the Duke of Mayenne insomuch that he after having publish'd through all France a Declaration made in August by which he exhorts all French Catholicks to reunite themselves with those who would not suffer an Heretique to be King had rais'd at the beginning of September an Army of 25000 Foot and 8000 Horse With these Forces he pass'd the Seine at Vernon marching directly towards the King who after he had been receiv'd into Pont del ' Arch and Diepe which Captain Rolâ—t and the Commander de Chates had surrendred to him made a show of besieging Rouen not having about him above 7 or 8000 Men. This so potent an Army of the Leaguers compos'd of French and Gâ—rmans Lorrainers and Walloons which he had not imagin'd cou'd have been so soon assembled and which was now coming on to overwhelm him constrain'd him to retire speedily towards Diepe where he was in danger to have been incompass'd round without any possibility of Escape but only by Sea into England if the Duke of Mayenne had taken up the resolution as he ought to have done from the first moment when he took the Field to pursue him eagerly and without the least delay But while he proceeding with his natural slowness which was his way of being wise trifled out his time in long deliberations when he shou'd have come to Action he gave leisure to the King to fortifie his Camp at Arques a League
questionless they had many Inducements which contributed otheir obstinate Resolution of suffering so long and so contentedly The Examples of the Princesses and great Ladies who satisfy'd Nature with a very small Pittance of Oat Bread taught them to bear those Miseries with constancy of Mind which their Superiours of a more delicate and tender Sex supported with so much chearfulness of Spirit Add to this the great Care and Vigilance of their Heads to hinder Tumults and Seditions and the immediate Execution of Mutineers Then the Awe and Terrour which was struck into them by the Sixteen who had resum'd their first Authority in the Town and who commonly threw into the Seine without judicial Process or form of Law all such as were suspected to hold Intelligence with the King or to make the least mention of a Treaty But the most comfortable consideration was the great Alms which were daily distributed amongst the Poor by the Order and at the Charges of the Legat Cajetan the Archbishop of Lions the Spanish Embassador the Wealthiest of the City Companies and the Cardinal Gondy Bishop of Paris who voluntarily inclos'd himself within those Walls for the Relief and Ease of his poor Flock Besides they had no small Encouragement from the false Reports which the Dutchess of Montpensier who was very skilful in coining News caus'd dayly to be spread about Paris and the Assurances by Letters whether true or forg'd which she said she had receiv'd from her Brother the Duke of Mayenne from time to time of speedy Succours All which Considerations serv'd not a little to encourage the People and to inure them to that wonderful sufferance of their Miseries But after all it must be ingenuously acknowledg'd that the Cause which principally produc'd this great Effect was the Zeal of Religion which was easily inspirâ—d into the People of Paris and the great care which they took to perswade them as really they did that it was no less than to betray it and expose it to the inevitable danger of being utterly destroy'd as had happen'd in England if they shou'd submit themselves to a King who made an open Profession of Calvinism For in fine they omitted no manner of Arts and of Perswasions to make this Opinion be swallow'd by the Multitude and consequently to harden them against the fear of Death it self rather than endure the Dominion of a Prince who was an Heretique In the first place they made use of the Sorbonnists which as their Liberty was then oppress'd immediately made a new Decree on the seventh of May in which it is declar'd That Henry de Bourbon being a relaps'd Heretick and excommunicated personally by our Holy Father there was manifest danger that he wou'd deceive the Church and ruine the Catholique Religion though he shou'd obtain an exteriour Absolution and that therefore the French are oblig'd in Conscience to hinder him with all their Power from coming to the Crown in case King Charles the Tenth shou'd dye or even if he shou'd release his Right to him and that as all such who favour his Party are actually Deserters of Religion and continue in mortal Sin which makes them liable to eternal Damnation so also by the same reason all such as shall persevere to the Death in resistance of him as Champions of the Faith shall be rewarded with the Crown of Martyrdom On the occasion of this new Decree a General Assembly was held at the Town-House where all the Assistants were sworn to dye rather than to receive an Heretick King This Oath was renew'd yet more solemnly on the Holy Evangelists betwixt the Hands of the Legat at the foot of the great Altar of the Church of Nostredame after a general Procession at which besides the Clergy were present all the Princes and Princesses and all the Companies the Bishops and Abbots the Colonels and Officers and the Persons of Quality follow'd by vast Multitudes of People where the Reliques of all the Churches in Paris were carryed This Oath reduc'd into Writing was sent to every House by the Overseers of the several Wards who oblig'd all persons to take it After which the Parliament made an Ordinance prohibiting on pain of Death that any one shou'd speak of making a Composition with the King of Navarre and above all the rest the Preachers of the League and the famous Cordelier Panigarole Bishop of Ast with Bellarmine the Learned Jesuit who both acted in Conjunction with them the Divines of the Legat Cajetan who preach'd like the rest during the Siege encourag'd their Auditors to suffer all Miseries rather than subject themselves to an Heretick assuring them according to the Decree of the Sorbonne that if they shou'd loose their Lives for such a Cause they dy'd undoubtedly for the Faith and were to be esteem'd no less than Martyrs There also happen'd an Accident which as fantastical and ridiculous as it appear'd was yet of use to animate the People and to fortifie them in their Belief that it was their Duty to make opposition even to Death against the setting up an Heretick King For above twelve hundred Ecclesiasticks as well Seculars as Regulars amongst whom were the most reform'd and most austere of every Order such as were the Carthusians Minimes Capuchins and Feuillants made a kind of Muster marching in Rank and File through the Streets wearing over their ordinary Habits the Arms of Foot Soldiers having William Roze the Bishop of Senlis at their Head and the Figures of the Crucifix and the Blessed Virgin flanting in their Standard to make it appear that since Religion was the Matter in dispute their Profession as peaceable as it was gave them no Dispensation in that Case from hazarding their Lives in War like other Men and that they were all resolv'd to dye with their Brethren in the Defence of Faith All Paris ran to this Spiritual Show which was like to have prov'd fatal to the Legat for making a Stop with his Coach at the end of Pont Nostredame to behold this noble Spectacle of the Church Militant while they were giving a Salve in honour of him one of those good Fathers who had borrow'd his Musket from a Citisen and knew not that it was charg'd with Bullets let fly with no worse Intention than to show his Manhood and fairly kill'd one of his men who sate in the Boot which caus'd the Prelate who lik'd not that unchristian Proceeding very well to make haste away for his own Security But this made no other Impression in the Parisians than to confirm them in their Resolution For when they beheld their Confessours and Guides of their Consciences in that Warlike Posture they believ'd such men wou'd never have appear'd in Arms unless they were satisfy'd that it was for the Cause of God in which it was their common Duty both to live and dye But what most confirm'd them in this Belief was that the King whose hour of Conversion was not yet come wou'd never hear speak of
it in any Overtures which were made to no purpose for a Peace And though the Duke of Nemours whom he had invited by a kind Letter to Submission since he had already satisfy'd his Honour to the full had protested that he wou'd be the first to throw himself at his Feet and that he wou'd make it his Busines too that Paris shou'd acknowledge him provided he return'd into the Church he always rejected that Proposition On which account whatsoever solemn Promises he made that he wou'd maintain the Catholique Religion the Parisians to whom their Preachers who had an absolute Dominion over their Consciences still represented the Example of England cou'd never resolve to confide in him Thus being perswaded that it was impossible for them to surrender without giving up their Religion by the same Act they had the Courage in the midst of their Sufferings to expect the great Succours which the Duke of Parma brought to their Relief at the end of August And that excellent Commander without giving Battel to which the King who was constrain'd to retire with all his Forces from before Paris cou'd never force him so well he was retrench'd at Clay had the Glory to execute his own design and after his own manner by taking Lagny in the sight of the King and freeing Paris which was the end of his Undertaking It belongs to the general History of France to describe all the particular Passages of that famous Expedition I shall only say that I may omit nothing which precisely concerns my Subject that before the King had licens'd the Nobility and Gentry which attended him to depart and divided his Forces into several small Bodies as he afterwards did he wou'd needs make a last Attempt upon the Town To which effect on Saturday night the eighth of September he convey'd secretly three or four thousand chosen Soldiers into the Fauxbourgs St. Iacques and St. Marceau under the Leading of the Count de Chastillon to scale the Walls betwixt those two Gates after Midnight while the Town was buried as it were in the depth of Sleep For he believ'd not that the Parisians who knew that his Army was drawn up in Battalia on the Plain of Bondy all Saturday wou'd keep themselves upon their Guard on that side which he purpos'd to attaque But as some notice had been given of his Design and that besides his Troops cou'd not possibly enter those Fauxbourgs without noise the Allarm was immediately taken the Bells were rung and the Citizens in Crouds mounted the Ramparts especially where he meant to have planted his Ladders But at last when after a long Expectation no Enemy appear'd and that no more noise was heard because the Kings Soldiers who were cover'd by the Fauxbourgs made not the least motion and also kept a profound Silence it was taken only for a false Alarm The Bells ceas'd ringing and every man retir'd to his own Lodging excepting only ten Jesuites who being more vigilant than the rest continu'd all the remainder of that Night on the same Post which was not far distant from their Colledge In the mean time the Soldiers of Chastillon who were softly crept down into the Ditch began about four of the Clock in the Morning to set up their Ladders being favour'd by a thick Mist which hindred them from being discern'd The Design was well enough lay'd for there needed not above ten or twelve men to have got over into the Town who might have open'd the Gate of St. Marceau to their Fellows by means of a Correspondence which was held with a Captain belonging to that Quarter after which it had been easie to have possest themselves of the University and consequently both the Town and the City wou'd have submitted themselves to the King rather than have expos'd Paris as a Prey to two great Armies by admitting that of the Duke of Parma at the Gate of St. Martin But the Vigilance of the ten Jesuites broke all these Measures which were so justly taken for having heard a Noise in the Ditch which was made by thosâ— who were setting up their Ladders against the Walls they cry'd out as loud as they cou'd stretch their Voices to Arms to Arms. Notwithstanding which the Soldiers were still getting up and the first of them who was ready to leap upon the Rampart happen'd to show his Head just where one of those honest Fathers was plac'd who gave him such a lusty knock with an old Halbard which he had in his hand as he stood Centry that he broke it in two upon his Head and tumbled him down with the Blow into the Ditch The Companions of this valiant Jesuite did as muâ—h to two other Soldiers and a fourth who was already got up and held his Ladder with one Hand to descend into the Town and with the other a broad Curtle-axe to cleave the Head of the first who shou'd oppose him was stopp'd short by two of these Fathers who each of them with a Partizan so vigorously push'd him that notwithstanding all the Blows which he made in vain at too great a distance for fear of their long Weapons they forc'd him at the last to quit his Ladder and having hurt him in the Throat overturn'd him backward into the Ditch after his Fellows The two first Citizens who ran to their Relief were the Advocate William Balden and the famous Bookseller Nicholas Nivelle these two finding one of those Jesuites grappling with a Soldier who was getting up in spight of the poor Fathers weak resistance came into the rescue and lent him their helping Hands to kill him And the Advocate immediately turning himself to another who had already got upon the Ramparts discharg'd so terrible a Reverse upon his right hand with his Fauchion that he cut it sheer off and sent him headlong to the Bottom in the mean time the Alarm being once more warmly taken in the Town the Citizens and Soldiers made haste to Man the Walls especially on that side and heaps of kindled Straw were thrown down to light the Ditch and make discovery what was doing below whereupon the Kings Soldiers being easily discern'd left both their Ladders and their Attempt which now cou'd not possibly succeed and retir'd to the Body of their Army So little was there wanting to bring about so great an Enterprise For 't is most certain that if these ten Jesuits had done like the Townsmen and had gone back to take their rest in their College after the first Alarm which was held for false the King had that day entred Paris But the Divine Providence had reserv'd that happiness for a time more favourable to Religion and to that City into which the King being Victorious over the League was ordain'd to make a peaceable entrance after he had solemnly profess'd the Catholique Faith In the mean time the affairs of the League far from being advanc'd after this expedition which was so glorious to the Duke of Parma were soon
they gave out at length shou'd compass their design which was to procure their Infanta to be Elected And on the other plainly foreseeing that he shouâ—d not be Elected himself because he cou'd not marry the Infanta he resolv'd no other shou'd be chosen that he might not lose that Sovereign Authority which he cou'd maintain no longer than till the States had made an Election of a new King But after all he cou'd no longer resist the pressing solicitations which the great Cities of his Party the Spaniards the Pope himself and his Legat made him continually putting him in mind of the promise he had so often given of calling that Assembly And that which fix'd him at last in this determination was that the Duke of Parma who was assembling his Forces to enter France for the third time dyed in the midst of these consulâ—ations on the fifth of December For he believ'd that the Spaniards having now no General who was any way comparable to the Genius of that great Man wou'd leave him the command of their Armies or at least not being able to make any great progress wou'd be no longer so formidable to him which fell out accordingly On which consideration he made no longer scruple to assemble the Deputies which already had been chosen in the Provinces and in the Towns not doubting but since he had for him besides a great part of those Deputies the Parliament the Town house the greatest part of the Colonels and the Faction of the Politiques that he shou'd be able with ease to break all the measures of the Spaniards and those few Malecontents which were yet remaining of the Sixteen whom he no longer regarded but as a sort of Rabble whose impotent fury he contemn'd And it was for this very reason that he at last resolv'd the Assembly shou'd be held at Paris notwithstanding all the Artifices of the Spaniards who endeavour'd that it shou'd be at Rheims or at Soissons where the Duke cou'd not secure to himself those great advantages which he had at Paris The Assembly then was appointed to be held in the Month of Ianuary And while the Deputies were coming to Paris the Duke of Mayenne publish'd an ample Declaration bearing date the fifth of Ianuary in which after he had justify'd the Arms of the League by all the most plausible reasons he couâ—d urge and principally by the great motive of Reliâ—ion which at last must give place to Heresie if an Heretick King shou'd be receiv'd he invited all the Princes Prelates Lords and Catholique Officers who were of the opposite party to meet the rest of that Assembly that they might all co-operate without other consideration than only the Glory of God and the publick good in choice of those means which shou'd be found most proper for the preservation of Religion and the State making his prâ—â—â—â—tation against such who shou'd refuse so reasonable a way that they were to be esteem'd the cause of all those mischiefs and misfortunes which from that time forward shouâ—d ensue The Legat made his Declaration apart but in a much more odious manner because instead of containing himself within the general terms of the good of Religion and the State as the Duke of Mayenne had done he invited the Catholiques to meet in the States for the Election of a King who shou'd be a Catholick in practice as well as in profession and who by his power was able to support Religion and the State By which words he seem'd evidently to point out the King of Spain It was not hard for the King to answer these two Declarations with solid Arguments and to make a like protestation against the Authors of them by an Edict of the same Month. And in the mean while the Deputies being almost all arriv'd they went in procession to the Church of Nostre-Dame where having receiv'd the holy Communion they heard a Sermon which was Preach'd to them by the famous Genebrard to the great scandal of all true Frenchmen and well-meaning people in that Congregation This Doctor was certainly one of the most able Men of the Age but especially in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures and the Hebrew Tongue whereof he was the Kings Professor at Paris But by that unhappy fatality or rather excess of immoderate Zeal which drew almost all the Doctors of Paris into the League he embrac'd it so passionately that he was always one of the most fiery and headstrong defenders of it which quality joyn'd to his profound Learning was the cause that Gregory the Fourteenth that great Protector of the League gave him the Archbishoprick of Aix after the death of Alexander Canigrany who dyed at Rome Now he being one of the principal Deputies for the Order of the Clergy and having acquir'd much Reputation and Authority by his rare knowledge was desir'd to Preach this Sermon In which instead of exhorting the Deputies according to Gods Word that they shou'd have nothing before their eyes in all their Debates and Consultations but only the preservation of the State and of Religion which is the strongest support of it he inforc'd himself to prove by weak sophistical reasons that their Assembly had power to change and abolish the Salique Law that is the fundamental Law of the Realm which has been always inviolably observ'd since the establishment of the French Monarchy even to this day As if the States who have no other power than that of representing by way of Petition what they believe to be necessary for the good and maintenance of the State had the authority of destroying it by ruining and undermining the foundations which support it and which preserve it from falling into the hands of strangers But the reason of this was that the Doctor being a true Leaguer and a false Frenchman as one who was devoted to the service of King Philip like the Sixteen in whose Faction he was ingag'd endeavour'd to incline the Minds of the Deputies to dispose of the Crown of France to the Infanta of Spain according to the intentions of the Spaniards who had given him instructions to Preach up this wicked and notoriously false maxim for sound Doctrin and for Gospel-Truth The Duke of Mayenne who notwithstanding that he was Head of the League had the Soul of a good Frenchman and was one who lov'd his Country as the King himself acknowledgâ—d had a much different prospect of things and without concerning himself at this idle discourse because he knew it was in his power to hinder it from taking effect open'd the States-General on the Twenty sixth of Ianuary in the Great Hall of the Louvre where all Ceremonies were punctually observ'd in the same manner as they are always practisâ—d in States which are lawfully Assembled And all that pleasant turn of Burlesque which is given to the description of it by the ingenious Author of the Catholicon of Spain is no other than pure invention of a great Wit who under those
Archbishop of Bourges answering in order to those three points which were propos'd by that Prelate said in the name of all his Colleagues That they acknowledg'd they ought to own for King Soveraign Lord and Head of the French Monarchy Him to whom the Kingdom belongâ—d by a lawful Succession But since Religion ought to be preferr'd before Flesh and Blood this Monarch of necessity must be a Most Christian King both in name and reality and that according to all Laws both Divine and Humane it was not permitted them to give obedience to an Heretique King in a Kingdom subjected to Jesus Christ by receiving and professing the Catholique Religion That God in the Old Testament had forbidden a King to be set up who was not of the number of the Brethren that is to say of the same Religion which constitutes a true Brotherhood That in prosecution of this order the Priests and Sacrificers of Israel had withdrawn themselves from the obedience of King Ieroboam as soon as he had renounc'd the worship of the true God That the Towns of and Libnah which were the portion of the Levites who were the best instructed in the Law of God had forsaken Ioram King of Iudah for the same reason That Amaziah and Queen Athaliah having abandon'd the Religion of their Forefathers had been depos'd by the general consent of all the Orders of the Kingdom and that the Macchabees were renown'd and prais'd through all the World as the last Heroes of the ancient Law because they had taken Arms against Antiochus their Soveraign Prince for the defence of their Religion That the people of the Iews did indeed obey the King of the Chaldeans but they had bound themselves by Oath so to do according to the express command which God had given them by his Prophets for pupunishment of their abominations for which reason he subjected them to the dominion of an Infidel But as for themselves they were so far from having entred into such an engagement that they had made one by the Authority of his Holiness quite to the contrary that they wou'd never acknowledge an Heretique for their King And as for the Christians who threw not off their obedience to their Emperors and Kings who were Heretiques 't is most certain that they obey'd only out of pure necessity and because they wanted power but that their Hearts and Affections had no part in it Witness the harshness with which the Holy Fathers have treated them in their Writings where they call them Wolves Dogs Serpents Tygers Dragons Lyons and Antichrists in conformity to the Gospel which wills that he who is revolted from the Church should be held and treated like a Pagan so far it is from authorising us to hold him for a King much less a Most Christian King For what remains besides the Councils receiv'd in France and the Imperial Laws which declare Heretiques to be unworthy of any kind of honour dignity or publick office much more of Royalty The Fundamental Law of the French Monarchy is most express in this particular by the Oath which the Most Christian Kings take at their Coronation to maintain the Catholique Religion and to exterminate all Heresies in consideration of which they receive the Oath of Allegiance from their Subjects and that the last States had decreed with the general applause of all good Frenchmen that they wou'd never depart from that Law which was accepted and sworn to solemnly as a fundamental of the State In fine to close up all which he had to say in relation to this first point he added That without this it was impossible to preserve Religion in France because an Heretique Prince wou'd not be wanting to establish Heresie in his States as well by his example which would be leading to his Subjects as by his authority which cou'd not long be resisted As it was too manifest in the Kingdom of Israel which Ieroboam turn'd to Idolatry and as it has since been seen in Denmark Sweden the Protestant States of Germany and in England where the people following the example of their Princes and bending under their authority have suffer'd themselves to be unhappily drawn into that Abyss of Heresies in which they are plung'd at this very day And thereupon passing to the other points of the Archbishop of Bourges his Speech he said in few words That it cou'd not be doubted but the King of Navarre was an obstinate Heretique and no way inclin'd to be converted since for so long a time he had continued to maintain Errors condemn'd for Heresies by General Councils and that he still favour'd the Huguenots more than ever and especially his Preachers that he had been often invited but still in vain to reconcile himself to the Church after which it wou'd be lost labour for them to exhort him particularly after being first acknowledg'd as he thought to be that therefore they wou'd never endeavour it and that they had all sworn not only not to acknowledge him but also to have no manner of commerce with him so long as he shou'd remain an Heretique Now when the Archbishop of Bourges who was pre-acquainted with the Kings secret purpose saw that after a strong reply which he had made to that noisy Harangue they still held fast to that one point from which it was impossible to remove them he was of opinion that by yielding it to them the business wou'd soon come to an happy conclusion For which reason having demanded time to consult thereupon the Princes and Lords by whom they were deputed as soon as he had receiv'd the answer which he knew before hand they wou'd make he told the Deputies of the League at the seventh Session which was the seventeenth of May That God had at the last heard their prayers and vows and that they shou'd have whatsoever they had requir'd for the safety of Religion and the State by the conversion of the King which they had been encourag'd to hope and which at present was assur'd to them since the King who was resolv'd to abjure his Heresie had already assembled the Prelates and the Doctors from whom he wou'd receive the instruction which ought to precede that great action which all good Catholiques of both Parties had so ardently desir'd for the reunition of themselves in a lasting peace And to the end that it might be to the satisfaction of every man in particular they might treat with them concerning the securities and other conditions which they shou'd demand for their interests Assuring them that in order to remove all occasion of distrust nothing shouâ—d be done on their side till the King had dâ—clar'd himself effectually to be a Catholique This Proposition which the Deputies of the Union little expected and which ruin'd all the pretensions of their Heads disorder'd them so much that after they had consulted amongst themselves for an Answer not being able to conclude on any they thought themselves bound to report it to the Assembly
Innocent IX Pope declares himself for the League 861 Duke Anne de Joyeuse the King's Favourite 192 193 His prodigious rise ib. His Elogy ib. He commands the Army against the King of Navarre 194 His Exploits in Poitou 195 c. His faults and presumption at the Battel of Coutras Pag. 202 203 His death ib. Henry de Joyeuse Count de Bouchage becomes Capucin under the name of Fryer Auge and why 368 369 His most extraordinary Procession from Paris to Chartres to ask mercy of the King ib. His going out and re-entring the Capucins 960 c. Francis de Joyeuse Cardinal Protector of France generously maintains the King's Rights 418 His effectual Remonstrance to Pope Sixtus upon his proceedings after the death of the Guises ib. Ivry its situation and the Battel was fought there 770 771 c. L. FRrancis de la Noue at the relief of Senlis 484 Ranges the Army and gains the Battel 485 c. His Valour at the Combat of Arques 748 Wounded and beaten back at the attaquing the Suburbs of St. Martin 353 c. M. de Launoy a grand Leaguer 75 Philip de Lenoncour Cardinal 140 The Sieur de I'Esdiguieres takes Montelimar and Ambrun where the Huguenots plunder the great Church 145 The League and Leaguers its true Original Pag. 2 3 Wherein it is like to that of Calvinism 3 The success it had quite contrary to the end it was propos'd for ib. The first that conceiv'd the design was the Cardinal de Lorrain at the Council of Trent 15 16 The occasion that gave it birth in France 22 23 c. It s Project in Form to which all the Leaguers are made subscribe 32 33 The Refutation of the Articles of the said Form 33 c. It would usurp the Authority Royal in the first Estates at Blois 60 61 c. It s horrible Calumnies against Henry III. 89 166 234 262 234 303 304 The League of Sixteen at Paris its original and progress 93 c. It s twelve Founders 94 c. The Treaty of the League with the Spaniard 102 It hinders the Low-Countries from being united to the Crown 108 In taking Arms at so mischievous a time hinders the ruine of Huguenotism which was going to be destroy'd during the Peace ib. It sends new Memoirs and a new Form of Oath to the Provinces at the coming of the Reyters 234 The Insolence of the Leaguers after the defeat of the Reyters 302 They take Arms and fall upon the Archers who would seize de Prevost Curate of St. Severin that had preach'd seditiously against the King Pag. 203 204 They take the Alarm seeing the King dispos'd to punish them and implore the help of the Duke of Guise 332 c. Their Transports and Acclamations at the Duke's coming 337 They oppose the going forth of Strangers whom the King would have put out of Paris 348 They make Barricades 352 They act openly against the King's Authority at the Estates 389 Their furious deportmenâ—s at Paris after the death of the Guises 427 428 c. They degrade King Henry III. and act â—all sorts of Outrages against him 436 They accuse him of Enchantments and Magic Charms 452 The Cities that entred into the League 461 At Tolous they massacre the first President and Advocate General 462 Their Deputies press the Pope to publish the Excommunication against the King 495 496 They become stronger than ever after the death of Henry III. 737 738 Their Power during the Siege of Paris 800 They offer the Crown of France to the King of Spain 833 834 They cause President Brisson to be hang'd 837 Four of the most Seditious are hang'd at the Louvre 839 They make it appear at the Estates at Paris that they desire nothing less than the King's Conversion Pag. 890 891 Henry d'Orleans Duke de Longueville at the Relief of Senlis 486 Gives Battel to the Leaguers and gains it 487 c. Commands one part of the King's Army 736 And at the Attaque of the Suburbs of Paris 752 753 Charles Duke of Lorrain would not have the passage of the Reyters through his Country oppos'd and why 239 240 c. Would not enter France after the Reyters ib. Obtains Peace of the King 946 Charles Cardinal of Lorrain was the first that form'd the design of a general League of the Catholics 15 16 His Portrait ib. Charles de Lorrain Duke of Mayenne makes Wars with the King of Navarre in Guyenne with little success 143 144 Ioins himself with his Brother the Duke of Guise against the Army of the Reyters 258 259 His brave Action at the Combat of Vimory 270 c. He retires to Lyon in Bourgogn after the death of his two Brothers 426 c. His Encomium and Portrait 453 c. He refuses the great Offers the King made him and goes to the Wars ib. His happy beginnings Pag. 455 His Entry into Paris 457 Weakens the Council of Sixteen by augmenting it 458 459 Causes himself to be declar'd Lieutenant General of the Estate and Crown of France 460 Acts as a Sovereign and makes new Laws 460 461 Marches against the King defeats the Count de Brienne's Troops and takes him Prisoner 480 481 c. He attaques and takes the Suburbs of Tours and returns without doing any thing else ib. His generous Resolution when he saw himself besieged by the Royal Army 507 508 Makes the Cardinal of Bourbon be declar'd King by the Council of the Union 739 He attaques the King at Arques and is repuls'd and beaten 742 743 c. He follows the counsel of M. de Ville-Roy and opposes the designs of the Spaniards 759 760 c. Causes to be proclaim'd Charles X. 764 765. Marches to the Relief of Dreux 769 Loses the Battel of Ivry 787 Breaks with the Spaniards and why 833 c. Divides himself from the Princes of his House 834 c. Is jealous of the young Duke of Guise 835 Causes Four of the principal of the Sixteen to be hang'd up at the Louvre and abates their Faction Pag. 839 Carries the Duke of Parma to the Relief of Roan 846 He assembles the Estates at Paris 862 863 c. His Declaration wherein he invites all the Catholic Lords of the Royal Paâ—ty to meet at the Estates for the good of the Religion and the State 865 866 His Speech and Design in the Estates 875 c. He creates one Admiral and four Marshals of France 873 Causes the Conference of Surene to be accepted by the Estates 878 Takes Noyen 879 Dextrously hinders the Election of a King at the Estates 895 896 Will not hold the King's Absolution good 931 Retires from Paris to Soisons 940 What he did at the Battel of Fontain Francoise 947 948 c. Obtains from the King a Treaty and a favourable Edict 954 955 c. Is very well received by the King at Monceaux 957 Henry de Lorrain Duke of Guise destin'd by his Uncle the Cardinal of Lorrain
to be Head of a League General of the Catholics 17 18 19 c. Treats with Don John d'Austria at Joinville ib. The occasion that caus'd him to begin the League Pag. ib. His Pourtrait 25 c. Takes Arms after the death of Monsieur 85 c. Makes use of the old Cardinal de Bouâ—bon as a Ghost whom he puts at the Head of the League 92 Treats at Joinville with the Agents of Spain and the Cardinal de Bourbon and the Conditions of the said Treaty 10â— 102 c. He begins the War with the sâ—â—prizing of divers places by himself and his Friends 104 c. Makes the Treaty at Nâ—mours very advantageous to the League 121 Goes and finds the King at Meaux and complains unjustly of divers matters 188 Undertakes with a very few Troops to defeat the Army of the Reyters 234 235 c. His honourable Retreat at Pont St. Vincent 246 247 c. He continually harrasses the Army of the Reyters 262 He attaques them and defeats one Party of them at Vimory 267 c. He forms a design to attaque them at Auneau and the execution of that Enterpriâ—e 277 278 c. He pursues the rest of the Reyters as far as Savoy 301 c. He let them plunder the County of Montbeliard Pag. ib. He receives from the Pope a consecrated Sword and from the Duke of Parma his Arms which they sent him as to the greatest Captain of his time 311 The refusing him the Admiralty for Brissac the which was given to Espernon his Enemy puts him on to determine it 312 c. He assembles the Princes of the House of Lorrain at Nancy and there resolves to present to the King a Request containing Articles against the Royal Authority 322 323 He resolves to relieve Paris 334 335 He goes to Paris notwithstanding the King's Orders which were sent him by M. de Bellievre ib. A description of his Entry into Paris where he was received with extraordinary transports of joy ib. c. His Interview with the King at the Louvre 343 In the Queens Garden 344 What he did at the Battel of the Barricades 356 He disarms the King's Soldiers and causes them to be reconducted to the Louvre 357 His real design at the Battel of the Barricades 358 c. His excessive demands 360 c. Makes himself Master of Paris and makes a Manifesto to justifie the Barricades 365 366 c. He dextrously draws the Queen Mother into his Interests Pag. 371 Causes a Request to be presented to the King containing Articles most prejudicial to his Authority 371 372 c. Has given him all the Authority of a Constable under another name 377 378 His Prosperity blinds him and is the cause that he sees not an hundred things to which he ought to give defiance 385 c. He is shock'd at the Speech the King made to the second Estates at Blois 386 387 He disposes of the Estates at his pleasure ib. c. Would have himself declar'd by the Estates Lieutenant General of the whole Realm independent from the King 391 392 Is advertis'd of the design form'd against him and consults thereupon with his Confidents ib. c. Is resolv'd to stay contrary to the Advice of the most part 396 c. The History of his Tragical Death 399 400 c. His Encomium 411 Lewis de Lorrain Cardinal de Guise presides for the Clergy at the Estates of Blois 388 The History of his Tragical Death 410 411 N. de Lorrain Duke de Guise escaping out of Prison comes to Paris where he 's receiv'd of the Leaguers with open Arms 835. he kills Colonel St. Paul 872 873 M. THE Marshal of Matignon Governor of Guyenne hinders the Leaguers from surprizing Bourdeaux Pag. 113 Breaks the Measures of the Duke of Mayenne dextrously 243 244 Gives good Advice to the Duke of Joyeuse which he follows not 203 Reduces Bourdeaux to Obedience 820 Father Claude Mathiu grand Leaguer solicits the Excommunication of the King of Navarre 182 Father Bernard de Montgaillard Surnam'd The Petit Feuillant a Seditious Preacher 428 His Extravagance in a Sermon 442 443 He retires into Flanders with the Spaniards after the reduction of Paris 943 Francis de Monthelon a famous Advocate is made Lord Keeper by Henry III. 384 Henry de Montmorency Marshal de Damville Head of the Politics or Malecontents for to maintain himself in the Government of Languedoc 9 Draws his Brothers and Friends to him ib. Ioins with the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde against the League 124 Protects the Catholic Religion and receives acknowledgments from the Pope 125 126 His Fidelity in the Service of the King 126 127 Is at last made Constable of France by Henry IV. Pag. ib. William de Montmorancy Sieur de Thore joins with the Malecontent Politics 9 Is defeated in conducting a Party of Duke Casimir's Reyters 25 26 Re-takes Chantilly from the League 483 The Sieur de Montausier fights most valiantly and insults agreeably over the Gascoins which were at the Battel of Courtras 217 The Sieur de Montigny enters and breaks the Squadron of the Gascoins at the Battel of Courtras 215 216 The Sieur de Morennes Curate of St. Merry labours to make the People return to the Obedience of their King 836 Cardinal Morosini Legat in France could not obtain Audience the day of the Duke of Guise's Massacre 406 407 His Conference with the King to whom he declares he had incurr'd the Censures because of the Murther of the Cardinal de Guise 414 415 He incurs the Pope's indignation for not having publish'd the Censures 417 His Conference with the Duke of Mayenne 474 4755 c. John de Morvillier Bishop of Orleans his Encomium and Pourtrait 68 69 c. He counsels the King to declare himself Head of the League ib. N. ANne d'Este Duchess de Nemours Mother of the Guises is arrested Prisoner at Blois Pag. 403 She treats by Letters with the Dukes of Nemours and Mayenne to reduce them to their Duty 441 442 The King sends her to Paris to appease the Troubles ib. The young Duke of Nemours is arrested Prisoner at Blois 403 Makes his Escape out of Prison 441 The Orders he gave for the Defence of Paris where he maintains the Siege with all the Conduct and Vigor of an old General 798 He offers the King to surrender Paris provided he will be made Catholick 809 810 He abandons his Brother and endeavours to make himself declar'd Head of the League in his place 485 486 c. Francis de Noailles Bishop of Acqs his Encomium his Ambassage and the part he had in the Conversion of Henry IV. 309 310 c. O. THE Order of the Holy Ghost and its true Origine 74 75 76 c. Lewis d' Orleans a famous Advocate a grand Leaguer 96 Author of the Seditious Libel Intituled The English Catholick Pag. 738. Is Advocate General for the League ib. The Colonel Alphonso d'Ornano