Parris see clearer then others touching the gouernment of the Realme displacing of some and placing of others in principall offices to constraine those of Guise to yeeld an account touching the treasures by them receiued in the last Kings time as also of other their misbehauiours to recall the gifts made vnto the Duchesse of Valentinois thēselues and others that before their iustification they shuld not sit in coūsell The Queene-mother much troubled therat found no better nor no surer meanes then to make a new contract with the king of Mauarre and therein to imploy the Constable that by the accord between them the King of Nauarre was expresly declared Liestenant Generall for the King To breake their intent the Queene-mother agreeth with the King of Nauarre and order set downe that the Queene-mother should do nothing but by his aduise and consent This was written and signed by them both as also by the Councell and namely by the Duke of Guise who by the Queenes Counsell shewed himselfe much more tractable then euer hee did Diuers of the King of Nauarres Councell were of the contrary opinion although hee alleadged diuers great promises made vnto him from the Queene by word of mouth alledging that shee would wholly deny whatsoeuer shee had said that his Lieftenants place should be but in paper and that if the matter were ruled and ordered by the Estates both the Queene and those of Guise with all their adherents would bee so dealt withall that the realme would be restored vnto her pristinate gouernment and that to the contrary leauing things in that order France as then beeing at peace and quietnesse with forraine enemies would presently bee troubled in most straunge and extraordinary maner within it selfe for partiallities being great on both sides the one would seeke to ouerrunne the other and that it was to bee hoped that if the affaires of the estate were ruled ordered according to the lawes of the Realme men might easilie impeach and hinder wicked men from effecting that which by them is secretly pretended that then at the beginning it behoued them to looke vnto it and to bee well aduised thereby to establish peace and good gouernment in the affaires of the Realme But whatsoeuer they said it was to no effect whereby both the King of Nauarre himselfe the Princes of the blood and all the Realme in generall did after indure much woe the wound wherof as yet remaineth fresh The increase of the religion not supported Forth us it fell out those of the religion openly increasing within France and in the Court the King of Nauarre did seem to support them Sermons were made both in the prince of Condes the Admirals chambers as also both within and without the Court and the Queene-mother caused the Bishoppe of Valence to preach within the great Hall which Bishoppe followed not the Sorbonists doctrine such as desired nothing but new troubles thereby not to bee constrained to giue account for things past and that knewe full well that the sweete ayre of a firme and steadfast peace would soone melt and consume them or else reduce them into so miserable an estate that they should bee forced to hide their heades taking that occasion as it fell out They first inflamed the Constable by the daylie speeches and exclamations of his wife ordinarily accompanied and plyed by Priests and Friers and then by his kinsmen And lastly The perturbers solicite the Constable to begin their Tragedie by certaine persons purposely appoynted to that end by those of Guise as also by the Queene-mother against those of the religion saying that they went about wholly to abollish the Masse and all his Reliques and that vnder pretence of yeelding vppe of accounts and extraordinary giftes they sought to vnhorse him that for the space of fortie yeares had dealt in the greatest and most vrgent affaires of the Realme The Marshal of Saint Andre and Montpesat draue forward this wheele and therewith perswaded the Constable alreadie mooued in that hee sawe and openly perceiued the auncient traditions of the Romish Church to bee wholly despised both by great and small within the Court. His eldest sonne who beeing a Lord of great iudgement and perceiuing his Father vppon the poynt to bee separated and disioyned from the Prince of Conde and his Nephews de Chastillon other great Lords thereby to become the executioner of the Guisians passions vsed all the means he could to driue backe the blowe but he did no more therein then the Admirall and his brother the Cardinall de Chastillon The Constable remaining firme in that opinion that changing of religion would breed an alteration of the estate which he would not endure and to conclude not long after he and the Duke of Guise hauing made diuers banquets togither with the Duke de Montpensieur at Fontainbleau the Constable made a Supper to the Duke of Guise the Prince de Iainuille and the Marshall of Saint Andre the next day riding to Chantilly to the marriage of Thore his fift sonne the Duke of Guise not long after following him to Nantueil about fiue myles from thence where by letters they had many and seuerall conferences The common people in diuision following the example of the Nobilitie The people of France beeing vsed to cast their eyes vppon the Court perceiuing that there the great personages beganne to looke with strange countenances vpon each other they began to do the like There wāted no prouokers nor perswaders in the temples who without suppression spake of nothing else but fire and sword whereby in many places ensued great mutinies as in Beauuais Amiens Pontoise and other Townes wherein most great excesse and rigor was shewen to those of the religion who beeing as it were but a handfull in comparison to those of the Romish Church demaunded nought but peace sometimes certaine of them lesse patient then the rest not beeing able to indure the iniuries of those that termed them Huguenots and no Christians beganne to replye in like manner calling such as abused them Papistes and from such stinging words they fell to quarrelles which differences produced an edict made at Fontainbleau forbidding those reproaches and names of Huguenots and Papists also not to search any mans house nor to keepe any man prisoner for the religion vnder colour and pretence of certaine formes not well obserued An edict made at Fontainbleau as aremedy against the order taken by the Parliament which as then was almost broken The Parliament of Parris that likewise beganne to take a part in stead of opposing it selfe against commotions that might alter and change the quietnesse of the estate made great declarations vnto the King affirming most plainely that the diuersitie of religion is not to be indured in one estate condemning that by them termed to be a libertie of conscience and requiring the king to make and ordaine an open profession of the Romish religion and therevnto to
beeing sacked and put to the spoyle Nowhauen New-Hauen a Towne of great importance hauing beene brauely deliuered vnto the Prince by Vidame de Chartres Monsieur de Beauuoir and la Nocle his brother in lawe Vidame going into England meaning not to leaue the place vnprouided let the keeping thereof to one named Roquebrune to whom hee gaue commission to raise three hundreth men for the guard therof He presently went vnto the Cardinall of Lorraine and after to the King of Nauarre promising to deliuer New-Hauen vnto them and proceeded therewith vntill such time as he should haue executed his charge But the enterprise being discouered to Monsieur de Beaunoir he tooke speedie order for the reliefe thereof causing Roquebrune to loose his head Meane time Vidame dealt with the Queene of England to aide those of the religion vpon condition that for the securitie and safegard of her men she should haue the Towne of New-Hauen deliuered vnto her without any preiudice vnto the King or to the Realme whervpon 6000. English men were sent into Normandie whereof part were in Roane where they fought valiantly till the last man and if they had bene seconded the issue thereof would haue fallen out otherwise Some were put into Deepe the greatest part staying in New-Hauen vnder the conduct of the Earle of VVarwicke Roan being taken the Ringraue came before New-Hauen where the English men and Scots gaue him many a skirmish Many meanes were sought to corrupt Monsier de Beauuoir with promises of fiftie thousand crownes a coller of the order and a company of Lanciers But by no meanes he would consent to yeeld the Towne nor yet in any sort blemish his honour Touching Britaigne the Duke de Estampes Britaine a Gentleman of good and moderate nature behaued himselfe very indifferently with those of the religion as long as the Queene-mother seemed to hang in suspence But warres once kindled and his Nephew Sebastian de Luxembourg a cruell man if euer there were any in France being ioyned with him for assistant mutenous companiōs began to stirre in such sort that those of the Army of Triumuirat seemed to sette one vpon the other But yet those of the religion made good meanes to helpe themselues Nowe lette vs see what happened vnto the country of Guyene Guyenne during these first troubles The first of Aprill 1562. Monluc caused the towne of Fumel to bee vnwalled Threw downe certaine houses and sette them at a fine of three hundreth thousand frankes to bee payde vnto the widowe and Orphanes of Monsieur de Fumel not long before murthered by those of the Towne Those of the religion foreseeing the mischiefes that Monluc wold worke if he were not preuented desired Monsieur de Duras to stay in the Prouince where hee fonud great forces but hee excused himselfe by the commandement giuē him from the Prince to lead certaine forces to Orleans which was the means of most great miseries and cruell massacres that happened in that countrie Those of the religiō in Bourdeaux hauing let slip the means to get the Towne peaceably into their hāds while Burie Mōluc were absent that went about to erect their snares and to assure themselues they could no more attaine vnto it for that minding to assaye it once againe they found so many faint hearted people emong them that they were constrained to saue thēselues in Duras whereof the Parliament being informed caused their houses to be spoiled thrown downe threatning all such as they could lay hands vpon and among the rest two Ministers named Neufchastle and Grene. Monluc had his greatest quarrell against those of Agen Agen. who among diuers other enterprises of that Towne had surely been taken and spoyled by them had it not beene for the improuidence of Monsieur de Memy Generall for the warres for those of the religion in Guyenne and all the countrie adioyning wherein hee behaued himselfe with no great honour as beeing a man rather addicted to his studie then vnto armes which in the end made him loose his head vppon a Scaffold Burie and Monluc knowing with whom they had to deale sought diuers meanes to intrappe those of Argen and to the same end caused Captaine Charry to lye about the Towne but an Ambascado being set for him hee was put to flight leauing 45. of his men dead vpon the ground and fifteene prisoners Memy brought great forces into Agen but knowing not how to imploye them hee was forsaken by Arpaion and Marchastel who as then if hee would haue credited them could haue ouerthrowne Monluc who knowing his aduersaries weake conduction neuer ceased to giue him diuers alarmes About the end of three weekes Memies troupes hauing done no good in Agen departed and left their companies To the contrary Monluc ceased not to make diuers courses into the countrie constraining them to supply his want of victuals and munition his souldiers running to the gates of Agen and meeting with any of the religion they put a halter about his necke and if hee continued constant they put him to cruell death or else ransomed and then killed him And such as were but weake of faith after they had made them trot with them they constrained them to make the signe of the crosse to say an Aue Maria and to consesse and acknowledge the Masse to bee good yet they were not content there with but forced them to sweare and blaspheme God at the least fiue or sixe times togither which done they were accounted and holden for good and sufficient Catholikes in Monluc and Peyrot his sonnes opinions The seuenth of August those of Agen repulsed Captaine Bourg that kept a passage from them full of good prouision but hauing gotten the place their souldiers busied themselues about harkening after the sweet wines so that the next day againe du Rourg surprised and slewe sixtie of them dispearsing the rest whereof diuers passing the riuer dranke more water then the day before they had swallowed wine But the next day insuing they had their reuenge at Lerac where by certaine intelligence they slew eightie of Monlucs souldiers which notwithstanding within 4. daies after those of Agen perceiuing their towne to be weake issued out of the Towne all armed to the number of sixe hundreth men deliuering the keyes vnto the Consulles desiring them not to forget the great courtesie shewed vnto them by those of the religion when they were Maisters of the Towne Women of good account bare their children in their armes in a cradle vppon their heads or else carried them on their shoulders And in that sort hauing trauelled all night they found themselues to bee about seuen great leagues from Agen where they stayed for Duras that prouided for their securitie The next day those of Agen sought to kill and massacre such as they could intrappe Burie and Monluc presently came thither and after all the mooueables had been ceased vpon and borne away they ceased vpon the immcoueables
Saylers cappes to beare pikes and so to march with this mutinous companie that constrained two brethren called Messieurs de Saulx one a Captaine of the Towne the other of the Castle called Trompette to bee their Leaders and to assist them at the spoyling and robbing of diuers houses of the Cittizens their friendes whom they massacred before their eyes Tho sacking of the towne-house and massacring of the Gouernour The Towne-house wherein there laye great quantitie of armour was sacked and Monsieur de Monneins beeing so ill aduised to leaue the Castle of Du Ha where he was in safetie to go out to intreat perswade the people was cruelly murthered with diuers wounds both before and after his death a Locke-smith giuing him the first blowe and the Fryers that within 3. houres after in the night-time sought to take vp his bodie all filthie and moyled with durt and lying in the streets with a gentlemen called Monteluen were in danger of massacring because they buried them within that Temple But the principall Leaders of this mutinie longing to put water into their wine and such as had made their pray by spoyling houses Execution of iustice against the mutinous hauing withdrawne themselues some in one place some into another the parliament beeing strengthened and assisted by honest and peaceable Cittizens beganne to shewe his authoritie and caused some of the notablest companions amongst them to bee taken whom they executed namely La Vergne that was drawne in peeces by foure horses The Constable with all rigor punished those of Burdeaux The king beeing certified thereof wrote vnto the commons assuring them with all speed to take order therein commanding them to laye downe their armes which was the cause that euery man withdrew himselfe But in the meane time an armie was prepared to enter into Saintonge and Quiennie Monsieur de la Deuese ceased vppon the Castle Trompette and put out l'Estonnac and his adherents The Constable had commissiō to punnish those of Guyenne followed by Francis de Lorraine Counte d'Anmalle after Duke of Guise much renowmed in the raignes of Francis the second and Charles the ninth This Earle conducting 4000. Lansquenets and great numbers of French Horsemen entred into Saintonge which hee pacified without resistance not punishing them for their offences past minding to obtaine the name of a milde and gentle Prince and leauing the report of crueltie and seueritie vnto the Constable who being accompanied with all the forces and both the armes ioyned in one entred into Bourdeaux all armed giuing most hard speeches vnto the Captaine of the towne that at his entrie presented him with the keyes of the towne that at his entry presented him with the keyes of the Citie beseeching him to be fauourable vnto the citizens but he being master of the town without blow giuen bereaued the citizens of al their titles registers priuiledges and franchises depriued them of all honours burnt all their priuiledges caused the Court of Parliament to cease wholly disarmed the citizens pulled downe their belles and constrained the principallest of the citie to the number of seuen score to goe to the Fryers there to fetch the body of Monsieur de Monneins and to conuey it to the Church of S. Andrewes where it should be buried each of them with a waxe candle lited in his hands hauing first before the Constables lodging asked mercy both of God and the king and Iustice Estonnoc the two brethren du Saul and others had their heads striken off He forgot not likewise those that had bene assistant at the murthering of the Gouernor and the sacking of the houses a Prouost Marshall with a great number of souldiers went through Bourdeaux Baradois and Agenois executing such as had rung the belles and in the ende he tooke the two chiefe Leaders of the Commons named Talemagne and Galaffie who were broken vpon a wheele hauing first bene crowned with a Crowne of Iron burning hot for their punishment in vsurping the soueraigne Maiestie Pastime in the Court. This Tragedie ended in Comedies at the court for Anthony de Burbon Duke de Vandosine espoused Ieane d'Albert Princesse of Nauarre and Francis de Lorraine Duke d'Aumalle the daughter of the Duke of Ferrare But among those sweete and pleasant conceits they mixed a most rigorous bitter ordinance establishing within Parris an extraordinary chamber Persecutions against those of the religion therein to proceed against those of the religion as then called Lutherans whom they burnt to death if they remained constant in their profession The coronation of the Queene The pleasures of the Court increased more by the deliuery of the Queene of a young sonne and great part of this yere was passed ouer in playes sumptuous sports The Q. being crowned at S. Dennis vpō the 10. of Iune the 16. of the same month the king made his magnificall entry into Parris there ran at tilt to showe some pleasure to the Ladies and Gentlewomen which being ended he sat openly in the Court of Parliment where in presence of the Princes and Peeres of his Realme he gaue iudgement in diuers causes according to the auncient custome of his predecessors Difference betweene the kings in times past those of our time For the auncient kings of France were carefull and vsed ordinarily to hear the complaints of their subiects but of late yeares they referred that maner of exercise vnto the consciences of their Officers seeing by other mens eyes almost concerning all their affaires which is neither good nor comfortable for the people nor yet any meanes to further Iustice And since this carelesnesse hath entred into the maiesty of our kings the estate of the realme hath bin weakned and the maiestie royall imbased so that in the end the peple haue not refused to rise against the person of the king and sometimes to murther him But remedy herein wil be had when our kings abstain from shameful actions and only do that whervnto God hath called them A generall procession After many sports and deuises the king caused a generall solemne procession to be made in the moneth of Iuly wherein hee was present assisted by the Queene the Princes of the bloud Lords Cardinals Orders Estates and dignities of Parris and at his returne from the Bishops Pallace where hee had dyned hee would see and beholde the burning of certaine Christians detesting the errours and abuses mainteined and holden by the Papists and their Doctors Among the which was a Taylor where not long before A notable Taylor by the force and vertue of the spirite of God had made answere and giuen notice of his saith and religion in presence of the king and diuers Courtiers where hee sung a wonderfull lesson vnto the Duches de Valentimois of whom I spake before saying vnto her that she ought to content her selfe to haue so much infected France without mixing her venome and filthiniesse with so holy
fatned by the confiscations of the goods of those of the religion and by borrowings neuer to be repayed hauing made offer of all that hee had to the house of Guise was receiued into their band The Constable sent home The Constable perceiuing that the king in open Parliament had declared that his meaning was that from thence foorth al men should haue recourse touching matters of estate the crowne and of his house vnto his two Vncles the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine and that by consequent his mortall enemie entered into his place and doing that which wholly apperteined to his offices of Constable and Great-Maister of France yea and in the presence of the Spaniards and other straungers who before had made so much account of him about eight daies after the kings death went to present himselfe vnto the king deliuering vppe the seales to him committed by King Henry and hauing been certified from the king that the charge of the treasures and other affaires concerning the estate were as then committed to the Cardinall and to the Duke of Guise the commandement of all things that belonged vnto the warres and that for his part the king permitted him leaue to depart and go vnto his house saying hee still retained him of his Councell and that whensoeuer hee would come vnto the Court hee should bee welcome he thāked the king for suffring him so to retire beseeching him that as touching his comming vnto the Councell his Maiestie would excuse him for two causes the one because hee could not serue vnder such men ouer whom he had alwaies commaunded the other for that beeing holden and accounted for an olde and simple man his counsell would not bee necessarie otherwise he offered both life and goods to serue the King Which done he went to see the Queene mother that handled him very rudely reproching him that he in presence of the king with smiling countenance should say that he had neuer a childe that in any thing resembled him but onely his bastard-daughter that married with the Marshall de Montmorency Yet for the loue of her deceased king and husband she said she was content to remit her owne particular quarrell for which if it pleased her she could haue caused him to loose his head yet she exhorted him not altogither to leaue the Court but to come thither sometimes He denied the accusation which she alledged touching her children affirming it to be false desiring her to haue in remembrance the many seruices by him done to her and to the Realme and not to regard the euill report of such as were his enemies that shuld not do him all the mischief which they pretended And so hauing taken his leaue and brought his maister vnto his Tombe he withdrew himselfe vnto his house The Princes of the blood scattered Touching the Princes of the blood the Prince of Conde was sent into Flanders there to confirme the peace to whom was deliuered a thousand Crownes to beare his charges The Prince of la Roche Suryon was sent thither likewise to beare the order of France vnto the king of Spaine and at his returne appointed with the Cardinal of Burbon to cōduct the Princesse Elizabeth into Spain The Parlimēts were appointed at the good pleasure of those of Guise The Cardinal de Turnō an old enimy to the Cōstable to al those of the religiō was repealed from Rome reestablished of the priuy councel The Kings Officers of his house chaunged part of the old officers of the kings house were discharged part sent home vnto their houses with half their pensions to giue place to others And to cōclude there staied not one in the Court that fauoured the Constable The Prouinces of the Realme and the frontier Townes were filled with Guisians and all Gouernours and men of warre commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the king himselfe All the Parliaments were aduertised Those of Guise haue charge of all that the Cardinall had the whole ordering and disposing of the treasures and of the estate The Queene Mother aduanced aboue all obtained the monies proceeding of the confirmation of Offices and the priuiledges of Townes and corporations whereof shee gaue a part to whome it pleased her although such summes ought not of right to be exacted vnlesse the Crowne fall into an other braunch First Edicts The first Edicts were made against such as bare Armes namely Pistols and Bastinadoes then against long Cloakes and great Hose It was a common saying in euery mans mouth that the Cardinall was a fearefull man if there were euer any in all the world hauing vnderstood by a certaine Magician in Rome that by enuie and then when he should be most in credit his enemies would cause him to be slaine with a Bastianado for that cause hee had procured that Edict being alwaies in great distrust euen at the time when all men were in most subiection to him Among so many affaires the 14. of Iuly Letters Pattents from the king confirmed the Commission vnto the Iudges appointed to proceed in iudgement against Anne du Bourg Proces against Anne de Bourg and other prisoners and foure other Councellours that were committed to prison Du Bourg stedfast in religion was hotly pursued Bertrand Cardinall and Archbishop of Siens beeing one of the principall wheeles of this criminall Chariot and the Cardinall of Lorraine the leader therof Those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be at the point of a more violent persecution by expresse Letters vnto the Queene besought her by her authoritie to commaund the leauing off to persecute them in such great rigor Shee promised the Prince of Conde Madame de Roy his mother in lawe and to the Admirall to cause the persecutions for to cease so they would leaue their assembling togither The Queen-mother promiseth to doo for those of the religion and that euery man wold liue according to his own conscience secretly and not to the hurt of others Shee had been most earnestly mooued by the letters of one named Villemadon that knew great part of his secrets putting her in minde of her great affection vnto pittie at such time as shee was barren exhorting her not to withdrawe the Princes of the blood from the mannaging of the affaires of the estate thereby to aduance and make Kings the house of Guise Those letters were written the 26. day of August and wrought with so great effect that from thenceforward for a certaine time the Queene seemed to hearken vnto the comfort and ease of those of the religion meane time those of Guise to make their gouernment seeme agreeable to al the people and to leese nothing in the kings name published letters of the reuocation of all alienations made Alienations made by king Henry reuoked as well for life as yeares beeing for recompences of any seruices past except those sales whereof the monies had beene imployed for the kings great vrgent
the estates of the land they perswaded the king to hold him whatsoeuer he were for a mortall enemie to his authoritie and guiltie of treason that should once speake or mooue the question to bridle it or to appoynt a Protector ouer him that they were but practises and deuises of such as liued discontent solicited therevnto by Hereticques that onely sought to ouerthrowe and spoyle the religion of his fathers Meanes to interrupt the Parliament The Queene-mother likewise no lesse then they doubted the assembly of this Parliament and at that time things were so gouerned that the King of Spaine wrote letters to the King his brother in lawe which were openly read in the Councel-chamber the king of Nauarre being present wherin he said hee vnderstood that certaine mutunous and rebellious persons inforced thēselues to mooue and stirre vp troubles thereby to change the gouernment of the Realme as if the king as then raigning were not sufficient and capable thereof and to giue the charge to whom it pleaseth him without the consent and will of others or of any his subiects that for his part hee would imploye his whole forces to maintaine the authoritie of the King and of his officers whatsoeuer yea that it shuld cost both his and fortie thousand mens liues alreadie prepared if any man were so bolde to attempt the contrary for that hee bare him such affection The King of Spaines declaration as hee said that from thencefoorth hee declared himselfe both Tutor and Protector of him and of his Realme as also of his affaires which hee no lesse regarded then his owne Not long after the king of Nauarre returned vnto Bearg Petitions to the Queene and what ensued The pursuites against the Councellor du Bourg proceeding moued those of the religion in Parris to present a petition to the Queen-mother exhorting her vnto her dutie withall setting downe and threatning the vengeance of God and the daunger that might ensue by meanes of those so hard and rigorous dealings which in the end might turne vnto great troubles At the first she aunswered them with an angrie countenance but in the end she became somewhat milder making shew to desire to see one of the Ministers of Parris to conferre with him Madame de Roy prouided one and this Minister went as farre as Reims where hee stayed a certaine time but neuer could speake with her but shee still found some excuse when any man tolde her of him Besides du Bourg about the end of this yeare diuers were imprisoned within Parris for the religion and their houses pilled and robbed as if it had beene in a Towne taken by assault witnesses beeing seduced Slaunders and false witnesse against those of the religion to protest and verifie that in a certaine assembly made vppon the Thursday before Easter in the place of Manbert at a Councellours house great numbers of Lutherians men women and maides after the sermon and solemnisation of their Sabbaoth had eaten a Pig in stead of the Pascal-lambe and that the candles being put out euery man tooke his woman and had his pleasure with her The Cardinall by these informations mooued all the Court but the Queene-mother for that cause hauing spoken against certaine of her Gentlewomen that were of the religion they found the meanes that in her presence the two principall witnesses were examined beeing two young boyes who said and affirmed both then and many times before they had had their pleasures of that Councellours daughters but in fine they began to stagger and couertly to deny in neuerthelesse the accusation and proces went forward and because that at the taking of the prisoners there had beene some resistance in the subburbes of S. Germaine they sent from house to house to search for all their weapons and tooke them away not leauing them so much as a knise which were carried into the house of Guise The Councellour so shamefully slandered went with his wife and daughters and yeelded himselfe prisoner Innocency found but in no sort maintained as it appeareth where the daughters were sound to bee Virgins but without doing iustice vppon the false witnesses and such as had procured them by vertue of a certaine edict that set prisoners at libertie which were accused for religion and notwithstanding their complaints and declarations they were in a manner forcibly thrust out of the place and while they were holden prisoners diuers were burnt wiihin Parris and other Townes onely for the religion which among all those troubles did much increase A declaration against the authoritie vsurped by strangers On the other side hatred increased both from great and small against the house of Guise About the end of October a Proclamation was made touching the assembly of a Parliament wherein was prooued that it appertained vnto the Parliament to prouide for the gouernment of their kings that were in minoritie that the king spake nothing but by the mouthes of the Vncles of his wife that the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise were vncapable of the Gouernment the one beeing a Priest and a creature of the Pope the other and all his familie euen in the life of the late deceased king hauing beene so bolde to say that the Realme belonged to the house of Lorraine as issued from the race of Charlemaigne vpon the which Hugh Capet had vsurped that they had manisestly striuen for certain members thereof as the Counte of Pronince and the Duchie of Aniou they set downe the lamentable effects of their ambition in the breach of peace and in the last voyage into Italie cause of the ouerthrowe of the battell of S. Lawrence and danger of all the Realme which to auoyde they were constrained to yeeld vppe all the conquests of Francis the first and Henry the second they forgot not likewise their exactions their dealing with the treasures and the great debts of the king Meanes to vphold that authoritie They perceiuing that the king which beganne to growe vppe gaue no great hope eyther of long life or issue beganne likewise with more care to prouide for their affaires They sought to obtaine and procure vnto themselues diuers seruants and friends in the Parliamant inticed the Courtiers and all the captaines and men of warre to fauour them shewing a great zeale to the Romish religion thereby to winne the hearts both of the spiritualtie and the Cannons And in the month of Nouember to please them a rigorous edict was published against the assemblies of those of the religion who being found with the maner were presently condemned to die their houses rased and great recompence promised vnto such as should disclose their assemblies These edicts published the persecution followed but the spies beeing abashed of themselues there were other edicts published against all those that fauoured any of the religion and that once seemed to abash eyther the Iudges or the witnesses in any such proces The President Minard and
the end that in so great a presence they all might heare what aunswere hee would make Presently therevppon the companie was assembled in the great Hall of the Castle and in the kings owne presence where the Prince hauing recited the speeches by the king vsed vnto him and what therevpon had followed said that the person of the king excepted with those of the Princes his bretheren and the Queenes and with reuerence vnto them all those that had said and reported vnto the king that hee should bee the head and conductor of certaine seditous persons that were reported to haue conspired against the person of the king and his estate had fallely and wickedly lyed And that to prooue his innocency therin he would leaue his place dignitie of a Prince of the blood to fight with them and cause them with his sword or launce to confesse themselues to bee right villaines and that they themselues onely sought the ruine of the Estate name and blood royall for the conseruation whereof hee said hee would imploy both life and goods as hee had alwaies made good proofe as also for his interest to the Crowne and house of France the title whereof hee ought to procure with much more right then those that were his accusers summoning all the company that if among them there were any that had made the report or that once would seeme to maintaine it presently to shewe themselues wherevppon no man presenting himselfe he besought the king to esteeme him for an honest man and from thencefoorth not to bend his his eares vnto the secret tales of such flaunderous and bad persons but rather to reiect and bannish them from his presence as enemies both to him and publike peace which done he went out of the Councell to giue them leaue to consult But at a certaine signe made by the Cardinall the king brake vppe the assembly without asking their aduise where as then hee might haue made some alteration or disaduantage to those of Guise The Admirall sheweth himselfe a faithfull seruant to the king and the Realme The Queene-mother much troubled in these tempests yet according to the maner and custome of all the world seeking to holde on the strongest side sent the Admirall into Normandie to know the cause of their commissions desiring him most earnestly without dissembling to certifie her the truth thereof with promise not onely to acknowledge his trauels in that behalfe but to keepe it secret Hee executed his commission with all diligence and without feare of any man nor long after sent a Gentleman to the Queene with large and ample letters therein containing that those of Guise were the onely cause and true originall of all the troubles that happened in France because of their violent and vnlawfull government shewing the proofes thereof adding that the faithful subiects of the Crowne held for certaine that the calamities would neuer be ended as long as straungers gouerned the King and his Estate hee exhorted her therevppon to take the cause in hand and to giue ease and quietnesse to those of the religion causing the edicts that tended therevnto to be well and truly obserued Comfort to the prisoners for religion These aduertisements bred letters that were directed to al the Parliaments and other Iudges freely to release all such prisoners as were detained in their Prisons for the cause of religion the execution of which letters neuerthelesse were long performing an other thing likewise draue forward this wheele which was that cerraine prisoners at Blois and Tours for the enterprise of Amboise hauing found the meanes for to escape out of prison wrote a letter vnto the Cardinall partly in iest and partly full of threatnings that it should not be long before they would come to see him with all the rest that were not in his keeping and that had wholly determined to spoyle his person Hee beeing a man very fearefull for that time put water in his wine which caused the generall inlargement of diuers prisoners throughout all the Realme and it was spoken by diuers men that the Cardinal verified the ancient Prouerbe which is If you touch pitch you shall bee defiled therewith Letters in fauour of those of Guise Further those of Guise perceiuing themselues to bee assayled on all sides by diuers writings beeing as it were the forerunners of some new onset the last of March they caused certaine letters to bee dispatched to all the Parliaments Bailiffes and Stewards as also to straunge Princes wherein such as had beene present at the enterprise of Amboise namely the heads were accused of high treason both against God and man specially those of the religion and their Ministers were therin abused in diuers sorts to the which was added a number of great and large promises of reformation both in the Politicque and Ecclesiasticall Estate Answere to their letters To these letters a most ample and large answer was framed directed vnto the Parliament which painted out the house of Guise in all their colours requiring that they in open Parliament of all the Estates might yeeld account of their behauiour in the gouernment of the Estate The Parliament of Parris sent this answere by one of their Vshers vnto the Cardinal But that of Rouen seeking to doo more their deputies beeing sent vnto the king were constrained presently ro retire and could do nothing Letters vnto the king of Nauarre The ninth of Aprill letters were written and sent in the kings name vnto the K. of Nauarre to the same effect as those that were sent vnto the parliamēts being desired to cease vpō certaine persons that attended about his person accused to be of the enterprise of Amboise therin likewise was set downe the acculatiō imposed against the prince of Conde who for the same cause had iustified himselfe mean time a consultation was holden to cease vpon the person of the Prince of Conde which the Duke of Guise wholly seemed to dislike Hee on the other side sent his Secretarie vnto his brother to aduertise him what had past to aske his counsell and to write him answere thereof This beeing discouered to those of Guise they wrote a letter vnto the Prince full of excuses to the end hee should content himselfe which hee likewise sent vnto his brother that made him a plaine answere fearing to bee discouered Warres in Scotland mooued by those of Guise At that time those of Guise thought to trouble and ouerthrowe the Estate of Scotland which their sister the Queen Dowager and monsieur d'Oisel gouerned peaceably they hauing made the marriage betweene their Cousin and King Francis caused their Cousin to take vpon her the title of Queene of England and of Scotland onely vpon some vaine imaginations and not content therewith they sent certaine intelligencers into England there to mooue the people to fauour their Cousin and to bring the Q. of England in hatred with her subiects specially because of thereligion Their intent
was presently found out notwithstanding they lost not courage but to maintaine their credit with the Catholiques they caused certaine rigorous edicts to bee made in Scotland against the religion whereof ensued a tumult appeased by the Q. Dowager and the Noblemen of the countrie Therevpon king Henry being dead and the gouernment of France in their hands they sent the Bishop of Amiens and la Brosse their faithfull seruants into Scotland who at their arriuall would constrame euery man to go to Masse telling the Q. Dowager and Monsieur d'Oisel that their sufferance had spoyled all saying that from thencefoorth they wold vse force not sparing any man And therevpon sound diuers means to alter the Esate of Scotland and although the Queene Dowager propounded diuers peaceable and sure means they two would deale as they thought good but in the end the Lords Gentlemen of the countrie threatned troubled by such newcome fellowes rose vp in armes desired ayde of the Englishmen their neighbors in such sort that in short time they draue out the Priests reduced la Brosse into a small corner compelled the Bishop to saue himself in France The Queen of England before she entered into armes had desired those of Guise not to proceed in so hard and violent maner wherevnto they not being desirous to hearken vpon the 24. of March she made a long discourse wherein she shewed that she litle esteemed of all whatsoeuer those of Guise their adherents shuld enterprise or vndertake against her person or Estate and withall made it euidently knowne that her only desire was euer should be to liue in peace amitie with all Christendome They sought both by Ambassadors and messengers to ease the mischiefe by them deuised but by no meanes could effect i◠so that in fine things of themselues grewe to such an end that in the meane time it may be said that the violence vsed by those of Guise gaue such a blowe vnto the Papacie with in the realme of Scotland that euer after it did nothing but languish and consume and in the end was wholly extirped and so remaineth Touching France during those executions of Amboise as also before that those of the religion still increased both in zeale and number Aduancement of the religion in France in all the places of the Realme and yet not without great hinderance by diuers persecutions and by the meanes of some men that could no more content themselues to vse it secretly whereof ensued their open assemblies and that within some Churches Those of Valence Montelimart and Romans in Dauphin beeing the first The Duke de Guise beeing Gouernour extreamely offended that those of whom he thought to be most feared began to take that course which most displeased him to stoppe their intents and purposes first hee sent Iohn de Monluc Bishop of Valence who before by meanes of his Sermons had done more hurt then good vnto the Pope and because Monluc did not proceed with any effect and that Monsieur de Cleremont Lieftenant for the Duke of Guise was esteemed to be too fauorable Mangiron a cruel man an extream enemie to those of the religion had the charge giuen to him wholly to roote thē out at the beginning he proceeded therin with great subtiltie with diuers of his Agents playing many seuerall parts and in the end hauing found the meanes to driue certaine Gentlemen out of Valence that maintained those of the religion he beganne to play his part sacking their houses as if the towne had beene taken by assault Proceedings of Maugiron against those of the religion in the Parliament of Grenoble in Dauphine to strengthen him they sent him sixteene Ensignes of the olde troupes of Piedemont and some Companies of launciers On the other side Truchon chiefe President of Grenoble ayded by diuers Councellours went to Valence and passing through Romans caused 60. of the principallest to bee cast in prison while Maugiron pilled those of Montelimart to whome hee had both sworne and promised not to do any wrong neither in publike nor in priuate that had good means to impeach and hinder him from his pretence if by faire words hee had not wonne them To returne vnto the Presidents and Councellors of Grenoble they caused two Ministers in Valence to bee beheaded and hanged three of the principall Cittizens of the Towne The rest of the prisoners went out by the Goldē gate with abiurations whippings bannishments and great fines wherewith the Iudges and kings Atturneyes made themselues rich At Romans they hanged two men and whipped one whom they after sent vnto the Galleyes The estate of the religion in Prouence In Prouence two Gentlemen beeing bretheren Sieurs de Mouuans named Anthony and Paulon de Richiend hauing made open profession of religion in the time of King Henry Anthony was traiterously massacred by those of Draguignan in Anno. 1559 whereof Paulon could neuer haue iustice Not long after Captaine Chasteauneuf beeing sent from Nantes to Prouence by Renaudie and his companions to assemble those whom they thought meete to assisist them in the enterprise of Amboise the Deputies of 60. Churches in that Prouince being assembled at Merindol Paulon was chosen Leader of the troupes of Prouence which hauing accepted hee made a diligent inquiry through all the countrie and found two thousand men that had good means to horse arme and entertain themselues besides a great number of Gentlemen and other voluntarie Souldiers And as when the time of marching approached his Councell were of aduise that the troupes should seeke to enter into Aix there to erect the religion and so to giue occasion to those of Guise and others to mollifie their persecutions when once they should perceiue men rising in all places of the Realme to withstand their rigors This enterprise discouered Mouuans determined to make a way through the plaine countrie where hee made warre against the Images which were beaten downe in euery Church causing all the relicques of gold and siluer to bee molten and to sell the vessels and other to yes belonging vnto the Masse the mony whereof euen to a halfe-penny was left in the hands of the Consuls and others of euery place A most admirable militarie Discipline but yet truly and seuerely executed at that time wherevppon Mouuans pursued by the Counte de Tande with a great power retyred in good order into the high countrie where hee expected newes from Renaudie meane time the Counte beeing a wise Gentleman as any of his time dealt so wisely therin that by agreement made between them it was ordained that Mouuans might surely and freely retire without any hurt or displeasure neither great nor small hauing beene hurt either in word or deed in all Prouence the Mages likewise not once complaining of any thing done vnto them for whatsoeuer had past with promise to cause iustice to bee done touching the mother of his deceased brother Captaine Paulon surnamed the Barron de la
with them Hee likewise made a long answere touching the accusation made against the Prince of Conde shewing it to bee a meere falschood once to thinke or suppose that the enterprise of Amboise was thought or ment against the person of the king or for to trouble the Estate After that he desciphered the originall of those of Guise behauing himselfe in such sort in all his aunsweres like a good Politian and that with so good reasons that thereby hee escaped from the Court and nothing was done either touching him or against the Constable nor any of his Those of the religion next to God commit themselues vnto the protection of the Princes of the blood Those of the religion hauing vnderstood by aduises giuē thē by many Gentlemen in diuers Prouinces that their ouerthrow beganne to approach if with all speed and readinesse they prouided not for themselues Hauing recommended themselues by heartie prayers vnto God determined to cast themselues into the armes of the Princes of the blood as Fathers Tutors and Conseruers of the innocencies of the poore afflicted people and that by the natural lawes of the countrie were called vnto that charge during the minoritie of the kings And for the same cause certaine notable personages were appoynted among them to go vnto the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde at Nerac to whom with all their meanes he offered a large declaration containing a rehearsall of all the wrongs by those of Guise committed against the king and the Realme with a most humble supplication that it would please the said Princes to deuise the meanes to deliuer the king and his Estate out of their hands The explort of Monsieur de Mombrun About this time Monsieur de Mombrun a Gentleman well affected to thereligion beeing narrowly sifted by the Parliament of Grenoble and brauely escaped out of his enemies hands was desired by diuers of the Venitian Marchants to ayde and assist them against the violences and extortions vsed in their behalfes by the Popes Vicelegat contrary vnto their priuiledges and auncient franchises La Motte Goudrin Lieftenant for the Duke of Guise in Dauphine was likewise entertained by the Vicelegat to helpe him with all his forces And although Mombrun had very fewe men yet hee constrained his enemies to seeke for an accord which hauing but violated and broken in all the articles by the Vicelegat and la Motte Goudrin Mombrun raised armes againe and handled the Priests hardly that had slaine some of his men after the accord was made and sworne which done hee put a great number of la Motte Goudrins souldiers vnto the sword and vsed him in such sort that hee made him leaue his fence but hauing beene constrained to dispearse his little troupe and soone after betrayed by one of his domesticall seruants hee saued himselfe by flying out of the Realme hauing trauersed through many daungers and saued himselfe in the territories of Geneua and about the countrie of Berne The Princes counsels discouered by la Sagne wherof ensued the imprisonment of Vidame de Chartres To returne vnto the Princes they beeing much confirmed in the resolution by thē taken to discharge their duties touching the relieuing of the realme of France by the declarations and offers of those of the religion they began to deale therein and among other agents imployed in those affaires the Prince of Conde sent one named la Sagne vnto diuers great Lords to desire them not to saile him of their aydes La Sagne hauing receiued an answere from the Constable and Vidame de Chartres came vnto the Court where hee deliuered certaine letters and as hee stayed fro an aunswere hee was so vndiscreet that hee suffered himselfe to bee vndermined by one Captaine Bonual who hauing discouered it vnto those of Guise ranne after him and brought him prisoner to Fountainebleau where the letters of Vidame de Chartres beeing read wherein he promised the Prince to maintaine his iust quarrell against all men except the king his bretheren and the Queenes those of Guise sent to apprehend him within Parris and to keepe him prisoner in the Bastille where they vsed him with most great rigor vntill hee died They found not so good a baite in the Constables letters or at the least would make no shewe thereof because they would not trouble themselues with so many things at once La Sagne was well payed for his prating for that his nostrils were stretched in such sort that hee tolde all whatsoeuer hee knew and more then truth to prolong his miserable life Mean time his cōfessions made vppon the racke caused those of Guise in all haste to dispatch their affaires for first to their great dishonour and disaduantage of their kinswoman they agreed with the Queene of England prouided for the frontiers of Lorraine caused the olde troupes that came out of Dauphine and Piedemont to lye along by the riuer of Loire writing on both sides to their partakers A proposition in the Councell for calling a Parliament at Fontainebleau On the other side the Queene-mother that feared least shee should bee disgraced whatsoeuer might happen by the aduise of the Chancellor and the Admirall to whom as then she made shewe willingly to hearken she resolued to cause a motion to bee made in open councell that it were requisit that the king should assemble all the Princes Lords knights of the Order and men of authoritie in his Realme to take order for the pacifying of the troubles which they esteemed specially to proceed because of the persecutions against those of the religion Those of Guise found this resolution to bee good thinking thereby to finde a meanes to intrap both the king of Nauarre and his brother trusting likewise for that most part of those that should assemble were of their retinue that nothing should passe therein but for their aduantage and that this meeting would wholly breake off the calling of the generall States and by that meanes make a sure ground for their affaires Wherevppon they began to write into all places in the Kings name who desired euery man to bee at Fontainebleau vppon the 15. day of August for the causes aforesaid Those of Guise sent letters likewise from themselues full of all good promises and rewards The King likewise wrote vnto the King of Nauarre desiring him to bee there with his brother and all such Lords who as then were with him But couertly by the meanes of secret practises those of Guise dealt in such sort that the King of Nauarre resolued not to come and that against the aduise of the Constable and diuers great Lords who said and affirmed that as then the meanes presented it selfe whereby to put downe those of Guise and to reestablish the lawfull gouernment of the Realme And to conclude the Constable verilie supposing that the Princes would bee theee sayled not to come thither with aboue 800. horse which constrained those of Guise as then weake to flie softly
of those that tooke him to cause him as a Traitor to loose his head but all this was but words and nothing else The papers were not forgotten Bouchart taken and ledde to prisoâ— Imprisonment of the Bailiffe of Orleans and Bouchart was ledde to Orleans and then to Melun with other prisoners that came from Lyons by that meanes to make readie the proofes against the Prince whose proces was followed with all diligence Hierome Groslot Bailiffe of Orleans a man both learned vertuous and full of pietie a louer of the good and quietnesse of the Common-wealth and an enemie to all Tyrants and factious persons abhorring auarice ambition within two daies after the Princes arriuall was likewise committed prisoner hauing three daungerous witnesses against him which were his office a goodly house within the the Cittie and another in the countrie The cause pretended was that his father had beene Chancellour to the deceased king of Nauarre and he in Orleans the Protectour of those of the religion and an affected friend vnto the Princes Further when time came that hee should make an Oration vnto the king at his entrie into the Towne the Bailiffe mooued at some wrong offered vnto him as it appeared as he went towards the king togither with the kings countenance that looked frowningly vppon him hee could not vtter his minde as hee had first determined and therevpon those of Guise tooke some occasion to accuse him vnto the King saying that hee felt his owne conscience to be guiltie of his treason Being in prison false witnesses whereof the Curate of Saint Paterne and the Vicar of Saint Catherine were the principall with Iaques Aleaume Iaques L'huillier le Borgne le Alemant and Iaques Masnet accused him to haue determined to deliuer Orleans vnto the King of Nauarre to be of the intelligence of Amboise and to haue beene in a certaine assembly holden by night within the great Church-yard as also to haue manifestly supported those of the religion Dauanson maker of the proces The maker of the proces was Dananson a slaue to those of Guise that sent such witnesses as hee perceiued not to bee sufficiently instructed vnto the Curate of Saint Paterne that by him they might vnderstand their lesson Marshall de Brissac had alreadie laid hold vppon the house in the countrie named l'Isle and in fantasie made diuision of the goods in Sipierre and Boyuin his Secretarie was so bold to say vnto the wife of Groslot that if she would speake boldly shewing her that shee must come off with mony vnto his Maister the Bailiffes affaires might speede the better The Guises practises open the mouthes of the estates of the Prouinces Out of the Kealme those of Guise had made the Pope the king of Spaine and others to thinke that at that time they would roote out all those that bare the name of Lutherians within France whom they held bound both hand and foote hoping that winter to cleare them all out of the countrie in the spring-time to send them into Almaine and Switzerland to visit their friends but their deuises could not impeach diuers and seuerall assemblies in many Prouinces to determine and deuise what were best for them to present at the Parliament to giue them some new worke whereof the Orations made at Blois Anger 's Parris Bazin Plessis Grimaudet Capel and others are proofes sufficient as also in most part of the other Prouinces when the oppressours were discouered and the people disposed to prouide by lawfull meanes against so many disorders introduced and maintained by straungers many of them hauing openly said that they would not indure that those of Guise should so oppresse the Princes of the blood whereof most part that vsed that speech Conspiracie to extirpe those of the religion were men of the religion and those of Guise beeing aduertised could well shewe and propound this article of religion vnto the Duke de Montpensier and other great Lords in diuers places of the Realme to make them the readier and more prompt to leane vnto them The hope of confiscations being mixed therewith which made many rauening fellowes to looke about them there was nothing offered but Estates Offices Benefices Mountaines of Gold to such as would ayde and assist the King to extirpe and roote out the enemies of the Church of Rome Passages kept that no aide should come Besides that the kings forces were diuided by those of Guise into the Townes next about Orleans as farre as Bourges Moulins Blois Tours Saumur Anger 's Chinon Loudun and Poicton and in all the passages from whence they esteemed that any ayde might bee procured to helpe the Princes that were prisoners Those of the religion were narrowly looked vnto in diuers Townes specially in Parris meane time they proceeded vnto the framing of the proces against the Prince But because of the obseruation of the formes of iustice The maner of proceeding against the Prince neither the informations made at Lyons against the Marshall of Saint Andre nor the prisoners of Melun were sufficient they produced the Princes words vsed at Amboise lamenting the death of so many Gentlemen that were executed with that which hee had vttered riding to Bearn vnto Monsieur de Genlis that had renounced the Cerimonies of the Romish Church to the end that not being able to accuse him of high treason they would condemne him of Heresie To strengthen this second proofe those of Guise sent a Priest vnto him apparelled after the Romish manner which certified him that he had expresse commaundement from the King to sing Masse before him in his chamber But the Priest with a rude aunswere was sent backe againe by the Prince with commission to shewe the King from him that hee was not come thither in any sort to bee perticipant or communicate with the impieties and pollutions of the Romaine Antichrist His magnanimitie in Religion wherevnto long before hee had renounced but onely to yeelde him an aunswere vnto the false and forged accusations imposed against him Which answer was not forgotten but thereof a large article was framed both by the deposition of the Priest and of the guarde As also his accusations against those of Guise This magnanimitie much mooued those of Guise but much more in that the Prince spake openly against them to their discredits oftentimes shewing a bag which hee helde in his hand affirming it to be the processe of those Brigands and Guisian theeues by the which many points of high treaon whereof they were culpable were well prooued and verified which hee kept and reserued to present vnto the estates thereby to giue them knowledge of their subtill and vnlawfull gouernments that imputed their owne treasons vnto the Princes of the bloud that sought to oppose themselues against theyr tyrannies and that if euer any man euer sought or ment to enterprise any thing against the King and his Realme it would bee those Harpiers and vpsprung house of
inioyne all his subiects whatsoeuer to obserue and keepe it vppon such paines and penalties as hee and his learned Councell should thinke most conuenient There were other declarations made touching the wordes of Papistes and to liue Catholickely contained within the edict wherevppon those of the Parliament propounded many difficulties to the great hurt and detriment of those of the religion that were wholly and openly condemned and the Pope expresly named the head and Gods Vicar vppon earth This winde serued but onely with more speede to assemble and bring togither the tempests of ciuill warres which at this day as yet continueth Sacrying of the king The Cardinals complaints In the moneth of Iune the king was sacred in Reims where were present thirteene Peeres of France the kings eldest brother beeing the first and all the other Princes of the blood sitting in their degrees there the Cardinall of Lorraine made great complaintes against those of the religion wherevpon it was determined that a new assembly of the Princes Lords and others of the priuie Councell should bee made in the Court of Parliament in Parrris to take order therein Not long after letters pattents were sent vnto the Presidents de Thou and Seguier to assemble the particular Estates of Parris but vpon the opposition framed by the Councellour Ruze in the name of the Nobilitie those assemblies of Estates were broken vppe without any resolution onely in one poynt which was that the payment of the Kings debts should bee imposed vppon the Cleargie About the same time the act for the clearing the Prince of Conde of treason was newly published proclaimed openly in the Court by President Baillet the doores being open and all the Iudges and Councellors being present in their Scarlet gownes within the great chamber where were present diuers Princes and Noblemen A decree in the Court of Parliament to iustifie the Prince of Conde and others the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine beeing of the traine There the Prince was declared innocent in that which had bin imposed against him and free libertie reserued vnto him to haue lawe against all such as hee therein suspected to bee his enemies and false accusers and such recompence in that case to bee allowed him as to a man of his estate might appertaine The like Actes were read and pronounced at the same time for Madame de Roye Vidame de Chartres deceased Monsieur de Cany and the Councellour de la Haye Not long after the king the Queene his mother and the priuie Councell came into the Parliament and there after many and diuers opinions giuen foorth concerning religion in the moneth of Iuly The edict of Iulie an edict was published vppon paine of death forbidding al iniurious speeches words whatsoeuer on both sides to bee vsed all leagues and things tending vnto sedition all slaunderous words against Preachers and assemblies forbidden to those of the religion who neuerthelesse could not haue beene condemned to indure a greater paine vnlesse it had beene bannishment out of the Realme all which prouision vntill a full and ample declaration should bee made by a generall Councell or by the next assembly of the Prelates all faults past in respect of those of the religion to bee remitted with commaundement to punnish all such as should seem to delay them Bastionadoes forbidden but onely to men of qualitie In like sort the Prelates were sent for to bee at the conference and safe conduct giuen vnto all Ministers freely to come and dispute of their religion Practises against the King of Nauarre The place beeing assigned at Poissy while those of the religion were in good hope because the Cardinall of Lorraine and others protested to reason quietly touching the articles debated by the parcelles of the holy scripture means was practised wholly to diuert the king of Nauarre from the affectiō by him shewed to those of the religion and by the means of the assembly at Poissy to breake off the Parliament as then reiourned vntil the month of August next after ensuing because the Queene-mother knewe full well that the Gentlemen and the Commons would aske to haue Churches allowed vnto them which being agreed vnto would make the Princes part too strong which she doubted Such order therefore was taken in that poynt that Descars before that Chamberlin to the king of Nauarre and put from his Maister Descars entertained hauing discouered him to bee a Pensioner to those of Guise was restored to his place and became in more fauour then euer hee had beene Also the Duke of Guise being returned from Callais where hee had been with Monsieur d'Anuille second sonne to the Constable and a great number of other Courtiers to conduct the Queene of Scots widdowe to Francis the second solicited the Prince of Conde An agreemēt between the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise to bee reconciled vnto him at the which agreement made at Saint Germaines in Laye vppon the 24. of August with the king and the Queene-mother there were present all the Princes Noblemen Cardinals Councellours and Knights of the Order The king hauing spoken of the cause of the assembly commannded the Duke of Guise to speake who turning vnto the Prince spake and said Sir I neither haue nor euer ment to do or execute any thing that should bee against your Honour neither was I eyther author meanes or moouer of your imprisonment The Prince of Conde answered him and said I esteeme them both for wicked and mischieuous persons that were the cause thereof The Duke replyed and said I beleeue it well but that toucheth not mee which done at the kings request they imbraced each other with promise from thenceforth to continue good friends and the Queene-mother to witnesse the ioy shee then conceiued that day held a solemne Feast The Queen-mother practise a both with great and small to maintaine her Regency As touching the Estates reiourned vnto Pontoire in the month of August as then it was no longer time to deferre them but the Queene playing secretly on both parts to ratifie the agreement made between her and the king of Nauarre touching the Regencie and to the end it should no more bee spoken of first sent thither the Councellour du Mortier that was sent backe againe finding so many that spake against him Wherewith the Queene calling her wits togither she remembred that he had alwaies borne a good countenance vnto the Admirall pretending in some earnest matter to imploye his ayde and occasion as then falling out this Lord was sought vnto by all meanes and thousands promises were made vnto him for the ease and reliefe of those of the religion hee perceiuing that the King of Nauarre had no desire to deale therein and after the manner of simple men trusting to many and great protestations made and vttered vnto him concerning his future good vsed Clarklike meanes imploying himselfe vnto the Estates for the
persons of all the Parliaments in France with the Princes of the blood Lords Councellours and maisters of Requests therby to aduise and make some new edict touching the gouernment and order of those of the religion as also to answere vnto the demand of the States that had most instantly desired to haue allowances of Temples The chiefe of the Romish Church and among the rest those of Guise found this counsell not to bee expedient alleadging that they ought to bee content with the edict of Iuly and withall they complained of the Queenes leuite openly accusing the king of Nauarre the Prince the Admiral and his bretheren The Queen that sought to assure her Regencie would not hearken therevnto wherby those of Guise tooke occasion to withdrawe themselues from the Court leauing certaine seruitors and solicitors to supply their places The Queene willingly gaue them leaue to depart assuring them of her good will both to them and their religion and desired them to returne assoone as possibly they might They went from thence about the end of Nouember and at the time of their departure there rose a most horrible extraordinary wind aforeshewing as some affirmed of the tēpest that not long after ensued At the same time likewise were brought and sold in the Court three great Pictures most excellently wrought whereof one was bought by the Prince of Conde wherein was represented the bloodie and horrible massacres of the auncient Triumuiras of Rome true Pictures shewes of the cruelties exercised the yeare ensuing by the support and in the presence of French Triumuirat vpon those of the religion Not long before their departure the Queene of Nauarre discouered an enterprise An enterprise of the Duke de Nemours made to take away the Duke of Orleans the Kings brother and to carry him into Lorraine for which cause the Duke de Nemours in all haste saued himselfe and returned not againe vntill the ciuill warres beganne to arise The report also was spread abroad that the King of Spaine and other Princes adherents to the Pope made preparations to ayde their participants in France and to dispearse the assembles of those of the religion The Queen inquireth what forces the religion could make All these things mooued the Queene to make inquirie of the forces and means of those of the religion whereof were found 2150. Churches and more for the which the Deputies had required Churches offering all seruice and obedience vnto the King both with bodies and goods at their owne charges but shee desired to knowe it more at large which by many of the Churches was thought to bee superstitious and thereby they made no such certificates because of the diuersitie of opinions although some of them thought it both good and necessarie to shewe the Queene the number of the forces as well horse as foote which by those of the religion might easilie bee raised iudging that such a power as it after appeared to bee had beene the meanes to drawe the Queene and by consequent the Kings and all the Princes of his part vnto them which would easilie haue stayed those of Guise and their partakers in apparance haue wholly hindered the discipation of the Churches stopping the passage vnto all strangers other suspecting the Queens intent and fearing least so open a discouerie should bee the cause the easlier to expose for a pray vnto their enemies would not proceede so farre The commotion of Medard These things beeing thus imbroyled about the end of the yeare there happened a great mutinie in Parris raised by certaine Priests of Saint Medards Church in the Subburbes of S. Marceau which rang a bell while those of the religion were assembled at a Sermon from whence proceeded wounds murthers and imprisonments where those of the religion not beeing the beginners payed a fine and foure of them one beeing Gabaston knight of the watch were executed to appease the people of Parris and yet not presently done 1562. The Edict of Ianuary In the beginning of the moneth of Ianuary and the absence of those of Cuise that thought vppon other matters as also of the Constable that would not be present a great assembly such as the like had not beene seene in France was made there by to take order touching the Estate and to ordaine an edict wherein after each man had said and propounded his minde touching the which was esteemed by them to bee most conuenient and necessary for the good and quietnesse of the Common-wealth in the end it was agreed to make that solemne edict which vntill this time beareth the name of the edict of Ianuary which being a true meanes to preuent and stoppe the mischiefes which as then threatned the Realme of France was neuerthelesse in the end turned vnto an occasion of the greatest calamities that euer happened therein By it the edict of Iuly was abollished permission graunted to those of the religion to assemble without the Townes and sufficient order taken that eyther part might liue in peace and quietnesse with each other which was agreed vpon and signed at Saint Germaines in Laye the seuenteenth day of Ianuary Difficulties in the same The execution of this edict mooued great difficulties specially on the part of those of the Romish Church Touching those of the religion their Ministers and Deputies hauing resolued vppon certaine doubts that might be made they ranged themseluelues wholly vnto the Kings pleasure The Parliaments onely two or three made much difficultie to publish it that of Diyon would neuer do it and that of Parris made great question vpon it The chiefe President Bourdin the Kings Atturney held firme for the Church of Rome assisted by Merle Prouost of Marchants Marcell Sheriffe and diuers others The King of Nauarre seduced by his enemies The winds that made them turne blew from the Constable and those of Guise yet they had done little or nothing at all if at that time the King of Nauarre had not suffered himselfe to be seduced by his most deadly enemies that had for instruments of his ouerthrow the Ambassadour of Spaine the Popes Legat and the Cardinall de Tournon ayded by two of his principall seruants Descars and the Bishoppe of Mande Hee not being ambitious suffered himselfe to bee perswaded that if bee would but shewe him as newter and cause the Prince his sonne but once to heare Masse the king of Spaine would peaceably yeeld vp the Realme Sardagne vnto him which they affirmed to bee an Iland no lesse in valewe then that of Sicile and foure times as much as his Realm of Nauarre which was as much as a man may say to present him with nothing betweene two dishes and thereby to bereaue him of the certaine and honourable meanes to recouer his Realme of Nauarre if hee would haue hearkened therevnto and continued to haue fauoured and supported those of the religion as he had done vntill the edict of Ienuary neuerthelesse the pernitious counsell of
of the Crowne hee departed with his bloodie troupes and laden with spoyles tooke the way that led to Reims where the Cardinall of Lorraine stayed for him but not content to haue delt so cruelly with those of Vassy he becaused certaine informations to bee made against them wherein the principall murtherers were witnesses And eight daies after the Duches Dowager of Guise sent Monsieur de Thou thither that made search for their weapons and would constraine them all to go to Masse which notwithstanding those of the religion tooke courage comforting themselues and assembling euery Sunday and Festiuall day to praise the Lord vntill such time as ciuill warres dispearsed and separated them The prince of Conde beeing at Parris and receiuing newes of that massacre hauing consulted with diuers Lords and Gentlemen that kept him company with all speed certified the Queene and others in the Court Iustice demaunded but in vaine for the massacre of Vassy all was past ouer in words or notable preductions of troubles what had happened and fallen out who thereby tooke it for an alarme and counselled him to seeke the meanes of preseruation for the Realme and those of the religion whom he presently aduertised looked vnto themselues The greatest part as Frenchmen are alway full of hopes imagined nothing but quietnesse and troubled themselues to build Churches not much thinking vppon warlike prouision therwith to defend themselues But by the Princes aduise they were indifferently awaked Much more the Lords and Gentlemen of the religion dispearced throughout the Prouinces which beganne to make prouision of armes and horses staying for news both from the Court and Parris from whence in the name of the Nobilitie Churches of France Monsieur de Francourt and Theodore de Beza beeing sent to Monceaux to aske iustice of the king against the Duke of Guise because of the massacre at Vassy The Queene made gentle aunswere but to the contrary the King of Nauarre beganne to be offended saying that whosoeuer presumed to touch but the fingers end of his brother the Duke of Guise should haue to doo with all his bodie Theodore de Beza thervpon hauing most humbly shewed him that the Iustice which kings ought to shewe vnto their subiects is the worke and rule of God and that to demaund iustice was no hurt or iniurie vnto any man Hee replyed that they had throwne stones at the Duke of Guise and that hee could not staye the furie of his troupe and that Princes are not to indure the dishonour to be cast at with stones Wherevppon Beza very grauely and with all due reuerence aunswered that if it were so the Duke of Cuise might haue had iustice against all those that in such vile maner had despised his estate and dignitie and therewith speaking vnto the King of Nauarre hee said My Lord it is most true that it belongeth to the Church of God in whose name I speake rather to take then giue blowes but may it please your Grace to remember that it is an anuile which hath indured many and seuerall hammers The Triumuirat coaseth vpon the King and Parris From that time the estate of France might well bee resembled vnto a Sea that beginneth to rise and rage in euery place for that in euery Prouince great and wonderfull troubles beganne to rise whereof in the end of the Historie of the first troubles wee meane to speake for now wee must returne vnto the principall instruments of the most bloodiest Tragedie that euer was seene in France Presently after the returne of Francourt and Beza those of Guise the Constable the Marshall de Saint Andre and after the King of Nauarre openly holding with them arriued in Parris from whence they constrained the Prince of Conde beeing very weake with a Towne beeing his enemie and such as in short space might swallow vppe both him and his The Prince went to Meaux thē to Orleans if they had beene tenne times as many more to withdrawe himselfe vnto the Towne of Meaux with a good troupe of Gentlemen It was straunge that as then his enemies fell not vppon him but the haste they had to assure themselues of Parris and the king and the feare that at that entrance she should bee constrained to fight and to hazard them ouermuch caused them to worke by great The Prince beeing at Meaux wrote vnto the Admirall and other Lords sending them word that want of courage had not constrained him to leaue Parris but rather want of ayde and that with all speed they should meete him which they did all armed which those of the contrary part had alreadie opēly discouered and beeing in minde to withdrawe themselues and to retire men came vnto them from all places and the Prince determining to ride vnto the Court to the end that beeing strong about the king who as then laye at Fontainbleau hee might constraine his enemies to seeke to agree hee vnderstood that they had gotten both the king and the Court into their power in such sort that the Prince rode towards Orleans whereon hee ceased and there beganne to take order in his affaires while those of Guise ledde the King and Queene to the Castle of Melun and that in the most part of the Prouinces of the Realme they vsed those of the religion withall the insolencies and cruelties that possibly may bee deuised From Melun the King and Queene were brought to Parris where the Constable had ouerthrowne and defaced ihe places Beginning of the first and horrible troubles in France where those of the religion vsed to assemble The people beginning to mutin to assemble in great troupes in such manner that both there and in other places where those of the Romish Church were strongest those of the religion receiued such entertainment as the most cruell Barbarians would haue beene ashamed to vse it which likewise in some places mooued those of the religion whereby the Churches Images some Priests and others bare away the blowes But this was little or nothing in respect of all the mischiefe that those of the Romish Churches indured throughout France in those first troubles in comparison of the miseries which those of the religion indured in one of the seuenteene Prouinces as the Histories published by Iohn le Frere de Laual Belleforest Monluc and others of the Guises part do witnesse and thereat reioyce and make great triumph If the massacre of Vassy had not chanced the Prince and the Admirall had bin constrained eyther to loose all or to haue forsaken the Realme because that before that time they neuer thought vppon defence The euill committed at Vassy cause of some good nor of any thing that after happened and fell out much lesse to bee offensiue The edict of Ianuary and the Queenes promises staying their hands but when the Lords and great Gentlemen of the religion dispearsed throughout the Realme had once heard of that bloodie exploit committed by the Duke of Guise by little
brought prisoners from other places The people on the one side desired nothing but blood and spoyle and the Parliament not to spare eyther great or small that sell into their hands taken at the returne of the Princes armie or in any of the Townes of his resort brought thither eyther by appeale or summons Diuers Councellors were sent into certaine Townes to proceed against those of the religion among the which this Towne aforesaid vsed great means and meruellous inuentions to extirp the memorie thereof At Senlis those of the religion had therein but hard entertainment by meanes of Claude Stocq and Guillaume Berthaut Gouernours thereof Senlis who not long after ended their liues in great misery sustained by Terouenne and Fauier Councellours of Parris among others that were put to death by sedition and iniustice one was the wife of Iaques Reuerant the rest Adrian le Clerce Iohn Gouion burnt Louys Chaunin Iohn des Iardins Iohn Greffin Lieftenant particular Messieurs de Moncy S. Eloy de Houdencourt d'Ardres de la Maison Blanche yong Gentlemen Anthony Trappier Maister of a Schoole was be headed at Parris their heads brought to Senlis and set vppon the Gates and other places some were condemned to paye fines to be bodily punished to bee kept in prison and put into the Galles not sparing the simple women In Picardie the first exremitie vsed against those of the religion in Amiens was that the thirteenth of May 1562. their Bibles Amiens new Testaments and Psalmes were sought for and openly burnt then the Ministers Pulpit And from wood and paper the Guisians proceeded to deale with their bodies killing and casting into the water Iaques Berne and Francois Greuin Harquebused Dauid Preuost and N. Marquant slewe two Artificers the one named Robert the other Rondelet and a poore impotent person named Mauguyet and to knit vppe the matter hanged Christ opher Riche a Draper because hee had borne armes Those of Abeuille slewe Robert de S. Delis their Gouernour his brother and Lieftenant with nine Souldiers two Gentlemen and a Page Abeuille as well in the Towne-house as in the Castle in despight of the religion whereof that Gouernour Lord of Haucourt made open profession vppon the 38. of March one thousand fiue hundreth sixtie three named Louys Beliart beeing condemned to paye a fine in the presence of the Iustice and Parliament was drawne along the streets by the feete with his face downe ward and then cast and drowned in the riuer Meaux in Brie At Meaux in Brie those of the religion that therein were strongest continued their exercise vntill the end of the month of Iune when the Images were thrown their Priests peaceably withdrawing themselues for the which cause they and others by order and iudgement giuen in Parris the last of Iune were exposed and giuen to the spoyle of such as could or would vndertake it without further processe Another order giuen by the said Parliament dated the 3. of Iuly against all the Ministers Deacons and other officers could not stay those of Meaux but to the contrary they appeased the edict of Ianuary not permitting that such an order condemning them to death should once be published wherevppon at the instance of those of Parris Lihoux brother to Monlue was sent to Meaux wherein hee entered with a small company and by the consent of those of the religion vppon the 25. of Iuly the next day Masse beganne to bee vsed The sixt of August commaundement was giuen vnto the Inhabitants to bring all their weapons into the Towne-house wherevnto many obeyed others to the number of foure hundreth that were gone vnder the conduct of Captaine Bethune to ioyne with the Prince of Portun but could not and so beeing constrained to separate themselues for the most part were slaine the rest beeing hard by Meaux were handled in the same sort and of all that number there escaped but 4. mē that went to Orleans Monsieur de la Chapelle Aux Vrsins successor to Lihoux vsed those of the religion with more fauour but that continued not long for that Monsieur de Boisy Great-maister of the horse arriuing there vppon the 21. of September caused the walles of the great Market to be throwne downe and the Gates thereof to be broken beeing as then one of the fairest places for the bignesse thereof that was in France And not long after there entered two companies of souldiers led by Captains of Parris named Gantier and Forgeron that committed a thousand iniuries Many women in Christmas time were beaten and drawne to heare Masse many children new christened and diners marriages reconfirmed and because such as had fledde sought to haue gotten the Towne vppon the thirteenth of February 1563 those of the Romish religion beeing mooued thereat that with great crueltie they murthered Gilles Cabeche the kings Atturney Fracre Lambert that had beene Deacon Pierre Champenois called Lorraine Those of the market fled their houses beeing so sacked and spoyled that they tooke away the lockes grates boults windowes and gutters and the place made vnhabitable those that fledde some of them died with hunger and colde The Kings officers and the presidents of the place as Frolo the chiefe President an infamous man and Cosset the kings Atturney were the principall moouers thereof and had their part of the praye Many men women and children were massacred and drowned and among the rest a childe of one Iohn Oliuiers of foure daies olde had the head striken against the walles Denis Piero Iohn Augrant Claude Baillet Mathieu Cantier Pierre Thibaut Guillin Rose Nicolas Bergeron N. Floquet la Biselle a woman of the age of 88. the wiues of Iohn Augrant and Pierre l'Archer and diuers women and maides violated both in the market and about the Towne After that they hanged two men of the religion among the which one was Iohn de la Haye a rich Farmer another Fremin Cauiller one of the Gouernours of the Towne The executioners running into diuers places where they committed an innumerable number of mischiefes In their troupes were diuers Priests among the rest the Curate of Mareuil who with his owne hands slewe certaine men of the religion In Champagne at Chaalons two men of the religion were hanged At Troys they liued friendly and peaceably with each other vntill the beginning of August Chaallons Troys in Champaigne that the Duke de Neuers Nephew to the Prince hauing by Desbordes and Vigenare his seruants beene diswaded from the religion and the Princes part In the month of August the exercise of religion ceased and presently therevpon Desbordes that commaunded in the name of his Maister whom hee killed at Dreux and after he himselfe was slaine in the battell caused diuers Artificers to be cōmitted to prison billes other bookes of diuinitie to be rent torne in peeces and the houses of those of the religion to bee spoyled and robbed with great furie the owners beeing murthered many children
their Generall at his returne with the Rutters One of the greatest massacres committed vppon those of the religion was done in Sens a Towne lying vpon the riuer of d'Yonne whereof the Cardinall de Guise was Archbishoppe where one hundreth prisoners of all sortes were cruelly murthered and their naked bodies throwne into the riuer Sens. As many houses were robbed and spoyled and the Church for the religion defaced the Vines growing about it being all cut vppe This was done vppon Sunday the 12. of August and other daies ensuing in the which time those of Guise hauing giuen the charge of that murther vnto Hemard Lieftenant of Sens published in the Kings name at Parris and sent word to the Prince in Orleans that they wold haue the edict of Ianuary fully obserued in all places onely in Parris Those of the Romish Church in Auxerre cruelly massacred one named Cosson stabbed and cast the keepers wife of the Castle called Aualon into the water beeing a faire and comely young Gentlewoman Auxerre beate the Kings Atturney so cruelly that they left him for dead killed the Iudge de Corbelin and cōmitted diuers strange robberies pillings both within without the Towne by the conduct of Geolier and a brabling Rascall called Borgant In the moneth of October they were procured to issue out of the Towne by Monsieur d'Auignau a Gentleman of the religion accompanied with twentie horse who hauing slaine fourteene of them and hurt many others stayed their furie The fifteenth of the same moneth this Gentleman accompanying one of his companions that trauelled vnto Orleans with a packet of some importance slewe sixteene more of those murtherers and scattered the rest that sought to stoppe his passage The Inhabitants of the Towne of Saint Cyre S. Cyre about the end of the month hauing denied passage vnto the Rutters and Lansquenets conducted by Monsieur d'Andelot were set vppon by night whereof fortie beeing slaine the richest of the Towne were taken prisoners The Inhabitants of the Towne and Bourg of Issy prouoked by a Iacopin not beeing content to haue vsed diuers outragious words against Monsieur d'Andelot discharged certaine muskets at the Rutters but they for their paines had their towne spoyled and burnt by the Rutters and Lansquenets On the other side the company of the Marshal of Saint Andre ouerthrew and spoyled the houses of those of the religion within and about Auxerre Vppon Munday beeing the eleuenth of May Neuers 1562. those of the Romish Church in Neuers hauing taken armes brought in certaine Gentlemen of the countrie and among others Cheuenon and Chastillon that ceased vpon the Gates and within three daies after beganne to fall vppon those of the religion and one named la Fayette comming thither vppon the 23. of the same month beganne to forrage his Souldiers openly selling their Hostes goods Hee cast the Ministers in prison rebaptised the children reitzerated marriages draue out such as pleased him and cleansed their houses of all that could bee found therein Besides that hee and Cheuenon committed infinit pillages vppon the boates passing by it and vnder pretence of a certaine commission or iudgement giuen in Parris la Fayette ceased vppon diuers immooueable goods and being wel laden with a praye to the valewe of fortie or 50. Crowns he retired vnto his house in Auuergne At the same time three or foure of the religion were executed within Neuers and one of the Ministers died miserably but yet cōstātly in prison Corbigni or S. Leonard the other miraculously escaped away The like entertainmēt was giuen to those of the religiō in Corbigni called S. Leonard a towne in Niuernois most strangely forraged by Noysat Marshall of de la Fayettes cōpany Anthony Doyuet Lieftenant of Saint Pierre le Monstier Liefenant du Boys and the Knight of Chastillon in Bazois They slewe Monsieur de Mex a Gentlemā not farre from thence much affected to the religion as hee well shewed it dying most constantly beeing wounded with many Pistolle shottes Not long after those murtherers were surprised and the Towne taken of a scalade made by Captaine Blanay whose souldiers vsed the people very courteously but brake downe the Images and the Popish Altars reestablishing publike exercise of the religion which continued therein after the edict of pacification Those of the Romish Church in Antrain Antrain by the solicitation of a Priest named Estiene Blondelet had determined to doo woorse then their companions of Auxerre but vppon the twelfe of December they were preuented by Captaine Blosset who valiantly surprised the Towne and gaue such an alarme to those conspirators that the chiefe of them leaped ouer the walles some hidde themselues and the rest hauing discouered the enterprise which was to massacre all those of the religion Blondelet and another mutinous fellowe named le Dangereux were hanged A Bourguignon named Monsieur de Trouan that came into France to fish in troubled waters as others did thought to playe the warriour and to assayle Antraine but hauing lost part of his men hee retired with shame and not content therewith seeking to reuenge himselfe was slaine by Blanay in a certaine encounter Monsieur d'Issertieux called by those of la Charite professing the religion in the moneth of Aprill 1562. by common consent of all the Towne was established Gouernour thereof La Charite Cheuenon Achon and others did what they could to enter therein but they were alwaies driuen away but in the end la Fayette besieged it hauing the great Prior of Auuergne for his Lieftenant by means of a diuision that happened among the Inhabitants the Towne was yeelded by composition with sufficient aduantage for those of the religion but the first thing that the great Prior did was to take Issertieux by the bosome from whom was pulled the counterpaine of the agreement his armour and one of his horses Which was done vpon the 10. of Iune Certain daies months ensuing those of the religion were pilled and ransacked in so many and diuers kindes by la Fayette that they were notable to paye any more to whom nothing was either too hotte or too heauie as also by his company the Lieftenant and certaine Councellours of Saint Pierre le Monstier tooke their partes likewise In the moneth of February 1563. the Duke of Guise sent three companies of Lanciers thither to refresh them but those of the Towne and the theeues themselues doubting to be pilled shutte the Gates which put the Lanciers in great furie who to reuenge themselues vsed great cruelties about the Towne on that side that bordereth vppon Berry against those of the religion drawing some of them at their horses tailes The third of March Captaine Boys Blosset and Blanay scaled and tooke la Charite which the three companions aforesaid soght to relieue but they were constrained to retire Within three daies after Captaine Boys staying therein onely with sixtie seuen souidiers kept the Towne against an armie of three
returning from Orleans were drowned with three Marchants of Dauphine Besides that diuers were put to death the hangmaÌ„ or executioner by Montare called Gossop seruing the peoples humour and executing either without lawe or processe such as they deliuered vnto him to be put to death The leuen and twentieth of May 1562. the Counte de Montgommery accompanied with fixe score horses entered into Bourges wherein many secret conspiracies were vsed and executed against those of the religion and kept it for the Prince bringing from thence great summes of mony for the payment of the Souldiers vnder the Princes conduct taking the great Tower likewise into his custodie In the month of Iune after Monsieur de Iuoy was sent thither by the Prince with two thousand foote to prouide for all things necessarie against the Towne shuld be besieged as the enemie determined to do it Three Corners of Argolitiers came thither likewise who beeing arriued therein they vsed to make certaine sallies by which meanes the Towne of Meun sur Loire was taken to the great periudice of the Priestes the Monkes and Images As likewise they forced the Castles of Saint Florent and Coudrai the Gentleman of the place dying with feare Iuoy hauing made an enterprise vpoÌ„ Issoudun preuailed not wherevppon his troupes beganne to mutin against him which being appeased the fifteenth of August the armie of Triumuirat approaching to Bourges Iuoy and the Sheriffes were summoned to yeeld the Towne vnto the King The Sheriffes referring the matter vnto Iuoy hee made refusall wherevppon ensued diuers issues and skirmishes coÌ„monly to the great disaduantage of the enemies and there was an open combatte fought betweene Captaine S. Martin the Huguenot and the Monke Lichelieu Maister of the Triumuirats campe Bourges in Berry the Monke was thrust into the bodie with a sword and lost his coate armour which Saint Martin bare away The twentieth day of the Month a strong batterie was made and in one day they shot at the least a thousand cannon shot but because it preuailed not much the Duke de Nemours was imployed to perswade the besieged and beeing at the wall to speake with them making many goodly promises which hee assured vppon his faith one of the Souldiers within the Towne said openly vnto him that the faith hee then offered was the same which he had holden to the Barron of Chastelnau had it not been for certaine Gentlemen he had as then been slaine That which constrained the Triumuirat to parley with the Towne was because the Admirall issuing out of Orleans about Chasteaudun had surprised burnt the powder munition that was sent theÌ„ from Parris and for that cause vsed such means with Iuoy by the Counte Rhingraue and the Queen-mother that vpon the last of August and the next day he graunted to their request and yeelded vp the Towne to the great disliking of his souldiers whereof part with the Captaines la Porte S. Martin that hurt Richelieu S. Remi and Brion Maister of the campe went to the Duke of Guise and from thence to the siege of Roane where they were slaine the rest had part of the bootie The rest of the Souldiers and Captaines got to Orleans with many difficulties and losse of 30. or 40. men Iuoy had great displeasure at the Princes bands both for his faintnesse and the loosing of the place beeing of so great importance Wherevppon hee withdrewe himselfe vnto his house much greeued for his misfortune specially because hee had left great store of Houshold-stuffe and other necessaries within Bourges and among the rest a Chalice set with diuers rich and precious stones which hee was constrained to giue vnto the Queene-mother who with great deuotion receiued it of him and kept it as a most rich Iewell as likewise many other precious lewelles of the holy Chappel which were kept from the hands of little theeues to bee the better and safelier kept by her Monterud Lieftenant to the Prince de la Rochesuryon in Berry hauing armed himselfe with letters from the Triumuirat contrary to the capitulation made with Iuoy draue those of the religion out of the Towne their houses beeing ransacked and at their issuing some of them were robbed some beaten and some slaine within the Gates An edict beeing made that forbidding those of the religion that stayed in the Towne not to speake or assemble togither aboue two in a company and so Bourges remained in that sort vntill the edict of pacification The third of Aprill 5562. those of the religion in Mans ceased peaceably vppon the Towne Le Mans. Charles d'Agennes Bishoppe of the place retiring vnto a Castle where hauing fortified himselfe he coÌ„mitted many murthers spoyles vppon the people Their affaires within the Towne holding in a meane vntill the moneth of May that for want of a man of authoritie and well affected to the religion and to the estate of the common and particular commoditie of the people the souldiers beganne to fall to extremities and in fleed of assayling their enemies in the field they busied themselues in the Towne to breake downe Images and Priests Altars to the great disliking of the Ministers and other peaceable persons shewing them that it was against the edict of Ianuary the treatie of association holden in Orleans the declaration which those of Mans not long before had made sent vnto the king by Monsieur de Mortier From the â—hurches in the Towne they ranne vnto the Villages bordering about it and adding euill to euill committed certaine spoyles which caused the Pesants to fall vppon them and to slaye some of them as they retired laden with their praye Those that remained within the Towne were diuided some commaunding in the Castle others within the Towne Those of the religion beeing abashed at the insolences of the Captaines and souldiers newes was brought that the Triumuirats armie was as then at Blois and that the Duke de Montpensieur made preparation to assayle them They likewise had intelligence that of three Captaines that commanded within the Cittie two of them had secret conference with the enemie which considered as also that the Towne was weake and slenderly furnished of men the twelfe of Iuly it was confusedly and in great haste forsaken about eight of the clocke at night at which their issuing were found to the number of eight hundreth men all armed that by Captaine la Mothe Tibergeau with great difficulties were conducted vnto Alancon The other two Captains presently yeelded vnto the enemie those that saued themselues at Alancon tooke diuers parties some not accustomed to beare armes stayed there others went to finde the Counte de Montgommery or the Duke de Bouillon For the Ladies and Gentlewomen some withdrew themselues to Deep or to New-hauen or else into England The next day after the Towne so forsaken such of the Romish religion as had absented themselues from thence entered againe and then beganne a terrible trouble verie fewe of the
and among other words hee said he would send Raphael to Geneue to bee a Minister And vppon a suddaine commaunded him to praye which Raphael did all that were in the boate namely the Prince de la Roche suryon kneeling downe the Cardinall de Bourbon the Prince of Mantoue and Monsieur de Losses withdrewe themselues apart standing vppon their feete and their heads couered The prayer being done wherewith the Cardinall could not finde fault Raphael added a certaine exhortation and with him was ioyned another that went like a seculer person but some say hee was a Iacopin who notwithstanding vsed no other wordes but such as any minister would haue done The last words the King spake were vnto a seruant of his chamber to whom he said serue my sonne well and bid him serue the King faithfully and so vpon the 17. of Nouember 1562. he yeelded vp his soule The 15. of October many parlies were made touching a composition wherin the Queen-mother vsed many hotte and vehement speeches vnto the citizēs that issued foorth saying that shee knewe howe to liue Parley of yeelding that they were come too late to teach her that they ought to content themselues to liue as the King did and that if they would not yeelld by faire meanes they should be compelled by force Shee desired two articles one that they shoulde bee wholely bereaued of the exercise of religion the other that they should receiue the King the Triumuirat and their troupes into their towne But they offered to receiue the King the Queene the Princes of the blood and theyr traine but for the rest they craued to bee remitted Desiring that the edict of Ianuarie might bee continued in force Which was flatlye denyed vnto them The 26. of October an assault was giuen vnto the Towne and in the end by meanes of a mine that wrought at the breach of S. Hilaries gate the towne was taken by force Roan taken by assault where the Kings souldiers beganne to kill and massacre all they met vsing all kinde of monsterous cruelties Montgommerie perceiuing no remedie entered into a Galley and with such as coulde saue themselues therein went to New-Hauen others that sought to do the like without boates were drowned such as fledde out at the gates were spoyled and robbed of all they had and some taken prisoners Diuers Ministers beeing within a strong Tower yeelded themselues vpon promise of safetie but contrary to promise they were kept prisoners yet escaped onely Marolart and president Maudreuille an excellent man that were betrayed by one S. Estene that had promised to saue them and for his paines he should haue had 2000. Crownes The Constable threatned Marolart but he indured it patiently many English and Scottish souldiers were hanged the rest being sicke taken and cast into the riuer of Siene Maudreuille Monsieur de Soquence and Berthonuille Councellors of the Towne with Marolart were condemned to die Maudreuille to loose his head Diuers notable persons executed the rest to be hanged which was presently executed with many opprobrious speeches against Marolart both by the Constable and his sonne They all dyed constantly in the profession of the Gospell The next day 5. Captaines and two others were likewise executed The spoyle and sacking of the Towne continued aboue 4. moneths togither and it is almost incredible to speake what great riches was taken and borne out of the Towne such as came from Parris Amiens Beauuais and other places to buy the spoiles in theyr returnes homewarde were eyther robbed of all they hadde or else neuer prospered in theyr affaires Touching Deepe Deepe those of the religion therein maintained themselues very well exercising many notable exployts against those that sought to molest them So that from the beginning of May vntill October their enemies lost to the number of one thousand or twelue hundreth men This Towne serued for a retrait to great numbers of the religion from diuers places nourished an infinit number of poore people ayded those of Roane with all the meanes they could but the succors they sent to help the town being cut off ouerthrown the Towne of Deep perceiuing it selfe not able to resist in fine by many threatnings promises and other meanes they yeelded the Towne vppon certaine conditions the woorst whereof was that the exercise of religion was taken from them the Marshall de Montmorancy establishing Ricaruille and de Baqueuille with foure hundreth men to commaund therein yet those of the religion lost not courage but made such sute vnto the Queen-mother that feared the Admirall and the siege of Orleans that they obtained licence to assemble in smal companies which they did hauing certain Ministers that escaped from Roane yet there was not one Priest in all the countrie that durst once venture to saye Masse within Deep although the two Captains aforesaid kept good watch yet they were surprised for the twentieth of December Monsieur Ricaruille beeing gone out of the Castle with one of his seruants to see his horses in a stable not farre from it was slaine by Monsieur de Chastiuille and Captaine Gascon who presently ceased vpon the Castle Deep taken from those of the Romish Church and hauing intelligence with those that were in it armed themselues and entered into the Towne where without hurting any man they tooke Baqueuille whom all men had forsaken that done the exercise of the religion was againe publikely permitted and the Gouernment of the Towne giuen to Monsieur de la Curee a Gentleman well affected to the religion There happened diuers exploytes of warre in many places of Normandy because of the Townes but because the most part of them were but surprises and ordinarie stratagems we will not speake of them but onely of that which seemeth woorthiest memorie The seuenth of Iune 1562. Messieurs de Houesuille and de Cequeuille Gilles Michant Phisitian Valongnes Iohn Guifart and Robert de Verdun Counnellours were massacred in Valongues for religion and the houses of such as made profession were filled with souldiers that did what they list therein for the space of eight daies In the Moneth of May Vire before Viere hauing been taken by Montgommery the Images beaten downe and the Reliques borne away the religion reestablished vpon the last of Iuly those of the Romish Church assayled those of the religion as they came out from the sermon whereof they slewe three men whereof one was stoned by the women beeing in the riuer and hurt diuers But about the end of August they were reuenged thereof by meanes of Monsieur de Montgommery that sent them ayde which did much mischiefe to all the countrie round about but not long after againe the Duke d'Estampes tooke the Towne by force and many of them put vnto the sword The Duke d'Estampes hauing gotten Vire Saint Lo. went to Saint Lo where hauing continued siege for the space of fiue or sixe daies in the end hee tooke it the Towne
determined to retire with a soft pace and to set his men in safetie Puch a valiant Knight was of the contrarie opinion saying that when two armies are neare vnto each other the first that retireth giueth aduantage to the other proouing it by that which happened vnto the French army vppon S. Lawrence day Burie and Monluc perceiuing that Duras began to retire made haste to ouertake him and gaue him a charge where in a maner no resistance was made whereby they entred so farre into Duras Campe that they seized vpon the artillery and their carriages and there the soldiers staying greedier of praye then of honour gaue such as had first fled to reassemble and so to passe the water throwing downe their arms to flye the easitier the ouerthrow was of about fiue or sixe hundreth soldiers and 2500. boyes and pages with all the artilerie some of those that were taken prisoners being hanged specially the Ministers who by the aduise of the Church had followed those cōpanies I will recite one particularly Among the prisoners there was a Captain called la Mothe that fell to Captaine Bazourdans lot Who not long after meeting with Monluc hee gaue him diuers stabbes with a dagger and thrust him through with his rapier saying these words Villain thou shalt dye in despight of God Neuerthelesse to prooue Monluc a lyer this poore man being in that sort borne away and healed although he had many deadly wounds woonderfully recouered his health and liued Laumosniere ouerthrown by Duras Duras hauing assembled those that past the riuer and made two retraits being aduertised that Captaine Laumosniere sent by Monsierde Sansac stayed for him at Embornet with fiue hundreth men to make an end of an ouerthrow not being once abashed marched right vnto the place where hearriued about the breake of day and behaued himselfe so well that Laumosniere and all his men onely three that bare the newes to Sansac were slaine in the fielde After this conflict Duras men beganne to leaue him so that hee arriued at Orleans with a very small companie where the peace being once concluded he dyed The 10. of March 1562. Mont de Marsan was taken by certaine of Monlucs forces those of the religion after many outrages Mont de Marsan being constrained to flie into some other place and to leaue both wines and children Not long after sixe of the principall of them being kept prisoners had their heads striken off and three or foure others executed in diuers manners And a Lancier beeing taken after the peace of Villeneufue de Marsan was buried quicke and at Caseras in the moneth of August a young woman named Ieanne de la Gora pursued to bee violated threw her selfe out of a Windowe and dyed thereof The Hystorie of Thoulouse and other places belonging to the Parliament of Languedoc is very long but I wil assay to make a breefe rehearsall thereof Thoulouse as of the rest The Edict of Ianuarie hauing beene published therein things were peaceablye handled vntill the second of Aprill when by an occasion of a Buriall those of the Romishe Church in the Subburbes of Sainct Michael Sainct Steuen and Sainct Saluador in Thoulouse assayled those of the Religion and hurt greate numbers of them Killing foure outright besides diuers more of them that were throwne downe into a well The Parliament fauoured this action but to the contrary the Capitalles sought by all meanes to represse the sedition and layde holde vppon some of the chiefe dealers therein but the tumult still increased and so continued vntill night both within and without the Towne The next day nothing was done but faire words to appease so great an iniurie neuerthelesse the Capitalles pursued the matter so well that foure of the seditious persons were hanged and two whipt But the fyer of deuision began to bee so houe that those of the religion alreadie threatned with that which after ensued seized vpon the Town-house and certain corners of the streetes which mooued the Parliament in such maner that presently they sent for al the gentlemē therabouts to be their aydes calling the commons to gither causing it to bee published throughout the Towne that all men should take weapon in hands to inuade those of the religion who by the intermission of the Capitalles assayed to appease that Tumult Monluc gaue the wheele good passage by writing to the Parliament that the Capital de Lanta new come from the Court lying without the Towne had promised the Prince to cause the Towne to hold for him The thirteenth of May the Presidents and Coūcellors comming forth in their Scarlet gownes caused it to be cryed throughout the Towne and in their presence that all good Catholicques and faithfull seruants to the King should take armes and vse them against those of the religion to take them eyther dead or liuing and to kill and spoyle them of all they haue without all mercie Besides that fiue or six Councellors went crying throughout the Towne that they should not spare to kill and spoyle being lisenced thereunto by the Court with permission both from Pope and the King The coppie of this proclamation was presently sent to all the Borrowes and Villages round about wherewith belles began to be rung in all the steeples of the Towne and presently after in all the Countrey round about for foure or fiue Leagues compasse Thoulonse is one of the greatest and most populos Townes in all France At which time there was within it at the least 25. or thirtie thousand persons of the religion and of diuers qualities ages Horrible Massacre in Thoulouse and then began one of the most horrible massacries that can be remembred The prisons were presently filled and many were knocked on the head at the entry into it because it would hold no more The riuer in short space was couered with dead bodies many were throwne out of windowes into the riuer from whence if they seemed to escape they were presently slaine with swordes and stones Those of the religion that had strengthned them within the Town-house and in certain other places defended themselues with great courage and made diuers sallies and if treason hadde not beene wrought against them by Captaine Saulx they had gotten the Pallace and driuen their enemies out of the Towne but he put them from that whereof presently ensued a totall ruine For the next day beeing the fourteenth those of the religion perceiuing that of force they must die resolued to defend themselues and besides the peeces that they hadde within the Towne-house wherewith they abashed their enemies they issued diuers times out of their fortes to skirmish with the enemie where betweene them much blood was spilt The Citizens fight The same day Bellegarde Lieftenant to the Marshall de Termes entred into the Towne with his companie of Lanciers Those of Terrides and Monluc stayed without to hinder such ayde as might arriue to helpe those of the religion that
thousand they beganne to shoote off their ordinance and to sound vp drumbes in all parts of the Towne wherewith those of the religiō being in smal number were much abashed leauing the subburbs saued themselues as well as they might which those of the towne perceiuing made after them slaying some and hurting others On the other side within the base Towne were slaine Iaques Sabatter his sonne and three or foure others The 91. of May three of the richest houses therein were sacked and spoyled and vpon Whitsunday one of the religion beaten downe in the Subburbes beeing sore wounded they cut off his nose and eares and pulled out his eyes After that fiue prisoners were hanged many put to great ransomes and a Gentleman beheaded Those of Reuel liuing peaceably Reuel vntill the one and twentieth of May hauing receiued newes of the discipation of Thoulouse left their goods and houses to go to Castres and other places The Parliament of Thoulouse seeing that gaue out commission that if they appeared not in Court within three daies after their bodies should bee apprehended and committed to prison and for want of their bodies their goods of the Iudge and of one hundreth and twelue others of the religion to bee ceased vpon One of the number named Martin du Puits a man that was rich peaceable and without reproach or infamie was taken in a farme without the Towne and shortly after hanged his bodie cast vnto the dogs hauing first blacked his face hands and feete causing it to bee reported that he had the diuell within him Others beeing taken and ledde vnto Thoulouse were condemned to the Gallies or else put to great fines or banished Touching those that were absent the Consuls and others tooke their mooueables tooke notes of their immooueables tooke all they could find from the women and yet constrained them to lodge and finde certaine souldiers constrained with blowes to go to heare Masse and their children rebaptised Those of the religion beeing the strongest within Limoux vppon a Sunday beeing the first of March 1562. about euening there happened a sedition Limoux wherein two of the Romish Church were slaine and three more vppon the seuen and twentieth of Aprill after the tumult at that time being raised againe Wherevppon there fell open warre betweene both parts those of the religion beeing strengthed with fiftie souldiers that came from Foix withstood Pomas that came to ayde their aduersaries with tenne companies and eight hundreth Bandoliers most part Spaniards conducted by a notable murtherer called Peyrot Ioupian Presently after the desolation of Thoulouse the Parliament sent thither the Marshall de Mirepoix that besieged and battered the great Towne which was holden by those of the religion with seuenteen peeces of Artillerie but all in vaine Wherevppon hee deuised another meanes and vppon the sixteenth of Iune he entered therein by reason whereof he executed all kind of monsterous cruelties violating women and children most detestably without any description of religion The Minister was slaine two Gentlemen and 60. souldiers taken prisoners were hanged A widdowe of great account hauing redeemed her onely daughters virginitie with a great summe of mony the villaine that had sworne to defend her violated her in presence of her mother and then killed them both Those of the Romish Church were nothing spared for that some of them were likewise slaine The praye that Marshall de Mirepoix had for his share was esteemed to bee at the least aboue a hundreth thousand Crownes And the furie continued in such sort within that poore Towne that after the publication of the peace at one time fourteene of the religion comming thither were all slaine and one of Monsieur de Ioyeuses seruants hauing beene found to followe one of the iudges that was not well thought on was stabbed and rifled in the open streetes The fifteenth of March 1592. both the parties within Beziers were readie to come to handie-blowes Beziers and not long after the newes of the massacre of Vassy being published those of the religion prouided for their safeties and hauing brought certaine souldiers into their houses in the beginning of May the Images were throwne downe in all their Churches Monsieur de Ioyeuse allied to the Constable vsed all the meanes hee could to suppresse those of the religion but Monsieur de Baudine appoynted commaunder ouer the troupes of the religion in Languedoc while the warres continued interrupted him and withall ceased vppon Magalas a very strong place which much annoyed the Towne forced Espignan and there put most part of two companies of Bandoliers to the sword Ioyeuse followed by fiue thousand men foure Cannons two Coluerins two demy coluerins and foure field peeces went to besiege the Castle of Lignan neare to Reziers wherein were but twelue souldiers with munition onely for two daies Baudine gaue Ioyeuse so much to doo that they in the meane time saued themselues which done he went to Lezignan that held against the cannon shotte but at the second assault it was taken and hauing by composition taken two companies of souldiers that kept Montagnac with promise to saue their liues falsifying his promise hee put foure of the principall of them to the sword From thence he marched to Pezenas where Baudine met him and had ouerthrowne him if it had not beene for the treason of the Maister of his campe who set things in such bad order that Baudines troupes were thēselues in daunger to bee put to the sword and there hee lost one hundreth or an hundreth and twentie souldiers This Marshall not long after dying in Montpeslier confessed to haue receiued fiue hundreth Crownes of Monsieur de Ioyeuse before the encounter with promise of twise as much more This losse and the separation of the troupes being much more produced a parley wherin Ioyeuse made so many goodly offers that they suffered him to enter into Pezenas but beeing entered hee shewed them what hee ment killing certaine hurt souldiers and Inhabitants that could not serue in the warres His crueltie caused him to loose Beziers where when he thought to enter he found a face of wood and those of Beziers readie in field that forced and burnt Lignan hauing ouerthrowne two companies that kept it The warre beeing wholly turned against Montpeslier those of Beziers fayled to be surprised by night vppon the sixteenth of October their enemies hauing secretly gotten close vnder the walles But it chanced that a Drummer of the Town being drunke about two of the clock at night suddainly rose vp and thinking it had beene day beganne to sound the Diana or morning watch which caused the enemie to flie whose lathers in the morning were found in the ditches Wherevppon seuen or eight traitors were apprehended and being found guiltie were executed for the fact And within eight daies after the enemie came by day close to the Barriers but to their losse the principall of their troupe beeing hurt where of he died The second of
Nouember those of Beziers sent two companies to ayde Montpeslier and at the end of ten daies those of Beziers ouerthrew Captaine Lauragues with his companie neare to Cessenon Not long after there happened a thing worthie memorie thereby to note the couetous desire of some men and by the iudgement of God to shewe the mischiefe of ciuill warres Anthony Sauin seruant to a Cittizen of Beziers beeing taken in a skirmish the enemie offered to exchange him for a horse that one of their Captaines had lost in the same skirmish But they had rather suffer Sauin to bee hanged then part from the horse yet not long after at another sallie this horse being strong in the mouth running with great force bare a Gentleman to whom it had been giuen into the middle of his enemies who presently killed the man and got the horse againe The same month those of Beziers beeing much troubled for mony to pay their souldiers digging a ditch in the place where the Chapitre of Saint Nazaire vsed to melt their belles they found a great table of siluer which was presently broken and coyned into mony at Montpeslier wherewith they payed their souldiers that done they heard newes of the battell of Dreux so that as then it was necessarie for them to looke better to the safetie of the place so that hauing brought victualles out of all places into their Towne they tooke Seruian by assault forced the Garrison of Casouls by meanes of Monsieur Crussol they tooke order within it to end certaine controuersies that rose betweene those of the Towne and certaine strangers wherevppon it happened that one within the Towne moued that they had driuen his companions out of the place meeting Anthony Duchemin a Doctor of Phisicke a man of great learning and iudgement vppon the Rampiers threwe him ouer the wall whereof hee died to the great griefe of all the Towne the murtherer sauing himself in the enemies campe These things happened in the monthes of Ianuary and February and in the beginning of March vpon the seuenteenth day of the same month Captaine la Coste commaunding within Beziers tooke Villeneufue les Beziers by assault Presently after peace being made the Garrisons that laye about Beziers retired and the Powne remained in quiet inioying the exercise of the religion which not long after Marshall de Danuille tooke from them Those of the religion in Montpeslier vnderstanding what had past in Thoulouse and else where made themselues the strongest to them came Baudine Montpeslier Grille Bouillargues Thouras and Montuaillant that enterprised to besiege Frontignan but there hee found a hard partie Ioyeuse going thither to ayde them was repulsed by Bouillargues and Grille but in the meane time two fregates of Prouinciers entered into the towne which constrained Baudine to return vnto Montpeslier where hee found warre causing the Subburbes to bee raised that in a manner were as great as the Towne by which meanes there were 30. Churches throwne downe This beating downe of the Subburbes was a great discommoditie to the enemie that were constrained to incampe a French league from the Towne where they assayled an olde Tower without flancards and constrained certaine Harquebusiers that were within it to saue thēselues with promise of their liues but at their comming foorth they slewe them all They did as much to the Captaine and twentie souldiers that solde them the Castle of Maguelonne for as they issued they were all put to the sword At the same time the Barron des Adrets vpon the thirteenth of September arriued in Baudines campe the same day at night assayled the enemies campe with so great courage that if they had pursued their enterprise vntill morning they had ouerthrowne the whole armie but about midnight they sounded a retrait and three daies after both he and his went backe againe with as much haste as they made thither yet he left three companies of Argolitiers hard by Montpeslier that made sharp warre vpon the Bandoliers The enemies hauing taken and presently hanged two Ministers some of their prisoners within Montpeslier were serued in the like sort The memorable tourney of S. Gilles Baudine vnderstanding that Messieurs de Suze and Sommeriue principalles of the Army Triumuirat in a part of Languedoc had passed the riuer of Rhosne with about three thousand foote and foure hundreth horse two Canons and a Culuerin brought his Campe into Montpeslier and sent Grille to put certaine shot within S. Gilles a little Towne lying vpon the Rhosne hee hauing the conduct of three companies of prouinciall Argolitiers with six hundreth foote vnder the charge of Captaine Rapin. Bouillargues and Albenas with their horse went to Nismes All these troupes ioyned togither minded to ayde S. Gilles and made in all six hundreth horse and eight hundreth foote departing from Nismes vpon the 27. of September about halfe a mile from S. Gilles they surprised three horsemen of Prouence whereof they slew two and sauing the third by him they vnderstood the disorder of the enemies Camp by which meanes they set forward and beeing discouered the army of Suze and Sommeriue both Captaines and soldiers began to flie with the greatest feare that euer was heard Bouuillargues in stead of going straight to S. Gilles began to set vpon those that fled where hee founde no resistance but had worke inough to kill them at his pseasure not one of them once turning his face Grille on the other side charged them likewise in such sort that there were slain and drowned to the number of two thousand men The boates being stayed by some of the horsemen the rest flying as fast as they coulde towards Fourques an Aiguesmortes where they could not safely arriue but some of them were met withall all the carriage and prouision of the Camp was taken and in Suze and Sommeriues chests were foūd diuers strange commissions The bootie was great because they were furnished in all sorts as if they had gone to a wedding and among others of theyr Armours they found great numbers of violes and bookes of loue that were all broken and cut in peeces The two cannons were taken with twentie two ensignes and the guydon of the Coronel and laid vp in Nismes The Culuerin being sunke in the riuer of Rhosne where it could not bee halled vp againe Not one man of the religion dyed at that time by the hands of the enemie that vsed nothing but their feete as their best instruments for that time Onely two of their men slaine by their own companie hauing forgotten the watch-word which at that time was Salomon and to the contrary certaine Spaniards and Italians remembring it entred among them but their tōgues bewraying them they sped as wel as the rest An Ambuscado of importance Not long before those of the religion had receiued great greefe by the death of one of the Gremians braue Captaines and of young Maillane hauing beene surprised and ouerthrowne in an ambuscado by them
set for the enemie but before thy dyed they sold their skins at a deare prise hauing slaine a great number of those that assailed them among the which was Peyrot Loupian commaunder of the Bandoliers The first of October they receiued an other cooling Ouerthrow of Captaine Grille for that Captaine Grille proude of his victorie and despising diuers good aduises being ouerthrowne at Arenasses with the losse of one hundreth or one hundreth and twentie souldiers Baudine ranne thither to relieue him and slaying a great number of the enemies brought Grille to Montpeslier yet the ouerthrowe was so great that some flying to Lunel other to Maugueul the rest to Sommiers hardly the third part got into the Towne so that presently they could not assembly togither Ioyeuse on the other side perceiuing his armie daily to decrease by sicknesse and other necessities began to parley wherby he obtained passage to retire Yet his Garrisons in the valley of Montferrant made diuers courses euen to the Gates of Montpeslier yet to his losse in hope by certaine intelligences that hee had to get the Towne discouered by two of the principall actors who beeing condemned for other crimes vppon the scaffold confessed their treasons The Captaines Grille and Bouillargues vpon the ninth of October wanne a Tower called la Carbonniere cituate by d'Aguismortes and brought Barkes thither wherewith they bare away the assalt of Requais A good thing for the commoditie of those of the religion wherof those of the religion made great profit towards the charges of their warres To returne to Ioyeuse beeing at Perzenas by meanes of a certaine traitor hee made a new enterprise vpon Montpeslier but his treason beeing discouered and Baudine hauing taken a little towne vppon the riuer of Rhosne called le Bourg he besieged Agde where Captaine Sanglas commaunded Agde The first of Nouember the assault was giuen which continued 4. houres where they fought at hand blowes those that were besieged making braue resistance pursuing their enemies a great way without the breach among the which a woman behaued her selfe most valiantly with a sword And at the same time they repulsed the enemie that assayled them in another place of the towne The next day they were assisted and strengthened by the ayde that a souldier of the towne named Trencaire brought them from Beziers being sixe score Harquebusiers led at a certaine houre through water that ran as high as their horse saddles bearing their flaskes and a bagge of powder to srue them at their need at the end of their caliuers The 3. day of the moneth Ioyeuse commaunded to giue a second assault but it tooke no great effect so that such as serued therein spedde but hardly whereby the next day about midnight hee trussed vp his courage his campe beeing diuided into three parts one of them marching towards Gignac Ouerthrowe of one of the part of Ioyeuse was so brauely encountred by Bouillargues that he slewe two hundreth seuentie foure of their men in the place among the which were three of the principall Leaders But for his part hee lost not a man onely the poore Pesant that was his guide slaine by a souldier because hee knewe not the watchword Bouillargues went to Nismes and beeing aduertised that three hundreth men lying in Aramon made diuers courses to the gates of Bagnols found meanes to intrappe them by an Ambascado where most of them were slaine drowing a Frigat which they brought with them Not long after hee tooke Saint Laurent des Arbres in Contat driuing thence fiue and thirtie Italian Lanciers sixtie Argolitiers and a companie of footemen hauing lost seuen men at the myne and slaine certaine Italians After that time Montpeslier continued in peace vntill the end of the warres that Monsieur de Caylus sent by the King and Queene to proclaime the peace in Languedoc shewing Monsieur de Crussol Gouernour of Prouence and all those of the religion that the King and his mother were well pleased to pardon all whatsoeuer they had done for their iust defence houlding them for good and loyall subiects with thankes for their good seruices done for the good of the Common-wealth which done The king acknowledgeth those of the religion for his faithfull subiects approuing their tust defence and giuing them thanks by vertue of certaine letters pattents deliuered vnto him in Amboise vpon the 6. of Aprill hauing heard the declarations made vnto him by those of the religion that besought him that from thencefoorth their enemies might vse no more acts of hostillitie against them and that Ioyeuse that had brought the Spaniards into the Realme might not be their Gouernour hee caused the edict to bee proclaimed within Montpeslier Touching the declaration of those of Toulouse and other places committed infinite mischiefes after the edict of peace Ioyeuse was made Lieftenant of Languedoc the principall Gouernment beeing giuen to Monsieur de Danuille a Capitall enemie to those of the religion and Crussol put out Let vs speake somewhat of that which happened in those miserable times in Viuarets Rouergue Giuaudan and the Counte de Foix which done wee will speake of Lyonnois Vutarets Nonnay Dauphine and Prouence Those of the religion in Nonnay in the moneth of Aprill one thousand fiue hundreth sixtie two beeing become Maisters of the Towne presently after the Images were pulled downe and a famous Chase named les Sainctes Vertus being opened was publikely burnt Yet after that they liued peaceably vntill the end of Angust that their Gouernour named Sarras threatned with a siege and perceiuing the Towne to bee vnfurnished of armes vppon the seuen and twentieth of October about euening issued foorth and the next morning about the breake of the day they were at Saint Estienne in Forest a small Towne much renowmed for the great quantitie of armes that are made therin and suddainly setting fier on the gates hee entered which done hee tooke and packed vppe all the armes that hee found therein without committing other excesse But hauing a long retrait to make his troupes were ouerthrowne himselfe taken prisoner his brother fore wounded and about sixe score slaine and hurt and hardly handled The poore Inhabitants destitute of armes men and a Gouernour beganne to flie one after the other but had not time to do it for that the last of the moneth Monsieur de S. Chaumont their mortall enemie sent by the Duke de Nemours who as then made warre vppon those of Lyonnois surprised two gates and entered into the Towne First taking that was sacked and pilled not leauing so much as the barres lockes and hinges of the doores and windowes much humaine blood beeing shedde vppon the earth with infinite and most horrible blasphemies spit out against the heauens A Locke-smith beeing willed to despight and blaspheme God refusing to do it was hewen in peeces with Courtlelasses for the same cause likewise a Pesant was striken dead with the great end of a caliuer A
the liuing treading vppon the dead they vsed great deligence to bring earth fetherbeddes dung and other things whatsoeuer might serue At the same time that assault was giuen by thirtie Ensignes of foote and a Cornet of horse that followed them where the fight was great and fiue times refreshed till seuen of the clocke at night with such furie that powder fayling on both sides they fell to stones rapiers and other hand-blowes in the end the assaylants were constrained to leaue the breach and to retire with great losse An assault fiue times refreshed Notwithstanding Sommeriue beganne another batterie by which means about euening Senas Mounans and other Captaines within the Towne that had lost many souldiers perceluing themselues destitute of munition had no hope of ayde charged with a great number of poore people little experienced in Marshall affaires and considering the forces mindes and insolencies of the assaylants determined to leaue that feeble place and with al speed to saue that remnant of men that were within it wherevppon they got the straight of the Mountaine whereof I spake beeing the onely place whereby they might escape This conclusion was presently disclosed to Sommeriue A meruellous resolution of the Towne to leaue it by one that comming out of the chamber where they determined vppon it went vnto him but the matter beeing debated by Sommeriues Councell that ment to close that passage one named Cental brake off that determination alleadging so many reasons to the contrarie that it was concluded among them that no man should stirre that night out of the campe although that some of the besieged made shew to saue themselues that way but that in the morning they would determine vppon their affaires About eleuen of the clocke at night the besieged beganne to issue forth in the sight of al their enemies that might easilie discry them from two places which commanded the Towne and by the lights that stood in the windowes of the houses marching in order you may well iudge what noyse was made at that departure among the children sicke hurt and olde people and women great with childe and so with all their carriages followed on the way vppon the Mountain al that night not one of Sōmeriues campe once stirring as if those poore people had beene safely guarded vntill morning that Sommeriue caused certaine horse and foote to passe the riuer and to set vppon the backes of them where they found some poore women that stayed behinde whereof some were slaine others brought prisoners but they followed not long after them as well for the difficultie of the way as the couetous desire they had not to leese the spoyle of the Towne wherein Sommeriue durst not enter fearing some treason before tenne of the clocke in the morning They beeing entered into that desolate Towne slewe three or fource hundreth women and children without any respect of age or religion taking that small bootie which they could finde Sommeriue entereth into Cisteron If the issuing of those of Cisteron was meruellous so was their voyage vppon the Mountaines which continued for the space of three weekes in the which time they escaped an infinit number of dangers vntil the seuē a twentieth of September that they ariued in good safetie at Grenoble singing Psalmes and thansgiuings vnto God for their miraculous deliuerie knowing nothing of what had passed the same day in other places as at Saint Gilles The battell of S. Gilles Scafold of the Prouenceal murthers where there enemies were wholly ouerthowne and almost all slaine as wee shewed in the discourse of Languedoc From Grenoble they were safely conducted vnto Lyons and charitably ayded in their necessities vntill the edict of pacification After the taking of Cisteron and the ouerthrow of the Prouenceals at Saint Gilles Sommeriue continued Maister of the Prouence continuing the battell massacres and great insolencies begunne before and yet without impunitie The principall heads of the horrible confusion that raigned therein vntill and after the edict of peace beeing Carces Mentin and Flassans prouoked by certaine of the Parliament of Aix as Bagarris Chesne Saint Margaret and others that ruled all the rest and that in steede of obeying the edict of pacification durst conclude say that those of the religion should not haue any exercise that such as during the troubles had beene their Leaders or hauing had any office Straunge iniustice absented thēselues should not be receiued nor entertained and that the wars still be followed that there should a stay be made of the punishments of offenders that had committed so great insolencies during the troubles although the womē with childe had bin ript open the yong childrē murthered many buried quicke others hewed in peeces burnt throwne downe headlong their throates cut like sheep drawne through the streetes and then harquebused beaten downe with clubbes and wounded in diuers places In this sort those good iudges executed so manie insolencies that the kings Councell after the edict of pacification was forced to send the President de Morsan with certaine numbers of Councellors from Parris to Prouence which did such execution vppon some boot-hallers and other insolent persons that from thence forward Sound instice done vppon the offenders although their weapons were many times in hand Prouence neuer mutined in such sort as it did during those first troubles Morsan and his companions were determined to haue done iustice without exception but the multitude of offenders the qualities of some of them the credite of others and the maruelous practises of Carces and the Parliament of Aix hindered those Iustices to doo as they pretended In the end by the solicitation of Carces the king released diuers of them whereof their processe was alreadie made and that had well deserued to bee put to cruell death Now must we say something of the Duchie of Bourgongne Bourgongne The Parliament of Dyon did so much that by letters of the first of March 1562. commandement was sent by the king to Monsieur de Tauanes his Lieftenant in the absence of the Duke d'Aumale of the house of Guise not to permit any preaching at Dyon not in the Frontier-townes so that whatsoeuer letters and commissions those of the religion obtained after that would serue to no effect as long as the Court of Parliament resited The eight of May Beaune those of Beaune were wholly bereaued of the exercise of the religion and within foure daies after their three Ministers imprisoned which done the Artificers and others were driuen out of the Towne to the number of seuen or eight hundreth with women and children Ventoux Captaine of the Towne filled their emptie houses with souldiers wherein they vsed great disorders such as were found therin being vilely abused and so much detested that they durst not shewe themselues in the streetes which reduced them to extreame necessities their kinsmen and friendes not daring to relieue them The fines imposed vppon
Prince of Conde being prisoner demaunded nought but libertie and his minde being peaceable and courteous to such as knewe how to vse him would not much stand as the Queene thought vppon certaine articles Wherefore fearing least the Admirall as then busied in Normandie beeing at Orleans should seeke the ratifying of the edict of Ianuary that might breake the accord and renue the warre whereby would ensue her disgrace shee vsed all the meanes she could to preuent him in such sort that vppon the seuenth of March there was a conference holden between the Queene the Prince and the Constable as yet prisoners referring their further deliberation to the next day because the Constable hadde said openly Subtiltie of the Constable that hee could not consent to the re-establishing of the Edict of Ianuary wherein hee vsed a fine shift for that if hee should haue auouched it hee hadde prooued both himselfe and all his partners guiltie of treason in hauing violated and broken the Kings Edict The Prince euill counselled permitted certaine articles to be drawn where in trueth hee should haue holden onely vnto the saide Edict but nothing beeing resolued at that time hee obtained libertie to enter into Orleans there to conferre with his Councell where hee asked the aduise of the Ministers as then assembled therein from diuers places beeing to the number of seuentie twoo persons What was done by the Ministers for preseruation of religion who by their Deputies vsed all the meanes they could to perswade him to stand to the Edict of Ianuary not derogating any thing thereof shewing the daungers that might thereof ensue that done they presented him with certaine articles requiring that hee would demaund the obseruation of the Edict without any restrictions that iustice should bee done for the massacre at Vassy Sens and other places wherein there was not found the least poynt of hostilitie to bee committed by those of the religion as also of diuers others most manifest ruptures of the said Edict besides the exploits of warre The rest of the articles concerned the conseruation of the discipline of the Churches and the reestablishing thereof which notwithstanding the Prince was so much perswaded by the Queenes and others promises after that to make an other and a better agreement shewing him that the restrictions and moderations which as then were set downe were done at that time only to content appease those of the Romish religion by reasonable means to obtain a greater libertie withal that there were many that sought for peace what price soeuer it cost that hee consented vnto the exceptions contained in the new contract causing them to bee redde before the Nobilitie willing no man to giue his aduise therein but onely Gentlemen bearing armes as hee saide it openly before the assembly The improuidence of the Prince that beleeued the promises of his enemies in such manner that the Ministers from that time forward were neuer called to deale therein by which meanes the Edict of pacification was concluded vppon the twelfth of March drawing the exercise of the religion from the subburbes of all the Townes in the Realme and referring it to the houses and Castles of Gentlemen and in some small number of Baliages not comprehending the Townes which as then held for the religion wherein the exercise was left free and all whatsoeuer the Prince and his adherents had done in those warres acknowledged and auouched to bee for the seruice of the King The Admirals wisdom but to no effect Two daies after the Admirall wrote letters from Caen vnto the Queen touching the accusation made against him concerning the death of the duke of Guise committed by Poltrot He besought her to command that the prisoner might bee safely kept that the trueth of the action might bee knowne Meane time hee sent her a breefe aunswere touching the intergatories of Poltrot shewing by many and great reasons that hee was neuer made priuie to the pretence or conceit of Poltrot touching that action whose death notwithstanding hee acknowledged to bee the meanes to reduce France vnto a quiet estate The Queene esteeming it not conuenient for her affaires to suffer the Admirall to liue in peace but by this meanes seeking to entertaine hatred among the Nobilitie to raigne and gouerne in the middle of their deuisions made no account of those letters Those that with her had the processes of Poltrot to examine perceiuing that the dispositions of the prisoner had no apparant ground within three daies after sent to Parris that they should dispatch him out of the way that it would bee daungerous to keepe him and that hee would deny what hee had said Wherevppon his proces was made hee was diuers times examined and according to the torments giuen him they found diuersitie in his speeches And beeing condemned vpon the eighteenth of March to be pinched with hotte tongues hee openly declared that the Admirall knew nothing of his intent to kill the Duke of Guise Neuerthelesse certaine Captaines of Parris deposed that hee had confessed the contrary vnto them after the first drawing of the horses But vpon his variable depositions Proces and execution of Poltrot the quarrell betweene the houses of Guise and Chastillon whereof ensued the infinite mischiefes of the yeares ensuing The Admirall hauing ranged his enemies in Normandie to a good poynt as then had a stronger armie then hee had before The Admirals meanes made frustrate by the substiltie of the Queene wherewith hee constrained the members of the Triumuirat to fall to reason whereof ensued the quietnesse of France but the articles of the peace being almost all agreed vppon on both parts at the Princes request hee issued out of Caen vpon the 14. of March onely with his horsemen the Vantgard whereof being ledde by the Prince of Portien that tooke the way towards Lisieux the rest passing by Falaise and Argentan into Perche In the way such as would resist his army were set vppon and punished And the three and twentieth of the same moneth the Admirall beeing arriued at Orleans with all his forces found that the Edict of pacification had beene agreed vppon signed and sealed in his absence fiue daies before hee arriued The next day hee gaue his aduise in open Councell before the Prince and among other things shewed that they were to remēber that from the beginning of the warres made by the Triumuirat they had alwaies offered the obseruation of the Edict of Ianuary Parris only excepted and that considering the estate of their affaires those of the religion had more means then they had before to defend themselues from the violences of their enemies of three authors of those warres two of them beeing dead the third prisoner and a good pledge for the Princes assurance that the Churches were restrained to one Towne in a Baliage and other such exceptions was as much as if they should striue against God and ouerthrowe more Churches by the dash of a
for attributing to themselues the name of Iesuits deserue a shameful death And thē answering to the Iesuits vow touching the Pope Our faith saith he is otherwise We in France acknowledge the Pope for supreme head of our church with all due honor deuotion but in such sort that he is subiect to the decrees of general coūcels that he can enterprise no authoritie ouer our realm nor against the M. of our kings neither yet against the authoritie of the decrees of our Court of Parliament or to the preiudice of our diuosians in their confines and limits And thervpō he saith Iesuites chiefe creatures and right slaues to the Pope that Iohn Gerson teacheth vs in one of his books that we may well bee without a Pope in the church that it is in the power of a generall Councel to displace a Pope out of his seat therin to place an other for the ordering of the affairs of the church as in effect it was practised in the councels of Constance Basle Thus hauing learnedly pleaded for the rights priuiledges of the French church he discouereth their subtilties thefts dissimulatiōs impostures rauenings shewing by diuers examples that they are mutenous sowers of troubles Atheists and mockers of God And ending his plea said to all the Court You my Maisters that tollerate the Iesuits Vertues of the Iesuites True predition shall one day be the first Iudges of your owne condemnations when by the meanes of your permissions you shall perceiue the mischiefes that will ensue not onely in France but throughout Christendome Aduocate Mesnil who in this care pleaded for the kings Atturney propounded many matters against these sectaries who hee sufficiently prooued to bee a plague to the Realme but because of the kings voyage into Bayonne and that the Queenes councels and those of the house of Guise that ruled all tender onely but to the ruine and ouerthrow of the Prince of Conde the Admirall those of the religion the Iesuites proces was for that time ordered by the Councel that is layd vp by the walles Afterward the second and third troubles togither with the massacre ensuing the Isuites set vp their crests in earnest and compassed the straunge practises whereof ensued the horrible tragedies that were played about the end of the raigne of Henry the third as more at large shall appeare wherewith this yeare ended Now let vs consider what happened in the yeare 1567 when the troubles and miseries of France began againe The king of Spaines intent against the low countries The king of Spaine not being able to indure the increase of those of the religion in the lowe Countries much offended with them for the breaking and throwing down of Images in Flaunders Brabant and other Prouinces determined to proceed against them with fire and sword not once regarding the priuiledges of the countrie nor yet the cruel extortions and iniustices of his officers against those of the religion whose Ministers principal rulers opposed thēselues by all the means the could against the breaking of Images thrown down by a small number of men such as were of no great account in so short a time that it seemed they had fallen of themselues For the execution of this bloodie councel which had bin decreed in the League made at Bayonne Fernando Aluares de Tolede Duke of Alua that had been his Agent in Bayonne was established Liefetenant General with most ample and expresse cōmission who in the beginning of the spring in An. 1567. accompanied with his two sonnes and great troupes of men imbarking themselues at Barcelonne in the month of May arriued at Genes with an armie of 9000. The Duke de Alue commeth to torment the low countries Spaniards 1000. light-horse marched towards Millan What followed therof is at large set down in the Histories of the low Countries The Q. and the Councel of France vnder this pretence of the D. of Alues passage made a certaine report to be giuen abroad that it was to be feared that the Spaniard would attempt somewhat against France vnder pretence of going into Flanders thervpon began to leuy 6000. Switzers to keep the frontiers but not long after they were broght further into the realme for the Duches of Parma was alreadie gone out of the lowe Countries into Italie assoone as she receiued intelligence of the D. of Alues imbarking The Prince of Conde the Admiral with other Lords of the religiō Sundrie councels holden by the Prince of Conde before he entred into armes calling to mind what had past since the edict of pacification perceiuing the Switzers to enter into the realme and that the D. of Alue was alreadie arriued in the lowe Countries assembled togither in small number there they produced certaine letters intercepted from Rome and Spaine wherein the practises how to roote out the professors of the reformed religion at one instant were at large set downe In a short space they had three consultations of Vallery and Chastillon where met some ten or twelue of the chiefest Gentlemen of the religion to debate vppon the present accurrences and to seeke all lawfull and honest meanes of safterie in so many terrors without proceeding to the last refuge In the first two the opinions rested very diuers neuerthelesse rather by the Admirals counsell then otherwise euery man was intreated a while to haue patience and the rather for that in matters of such consequence as wherevppon depended so many miseries and calamities it was more necessary to be drawne in by necessitie then to make too much haste or vppon a greedie desire to runne on headlong besides that shortly matters would bee made more apparant but in the last consultation they grewe into a greater heate For besides all passed calamities or imminent daungers also that they of the religion were openly threatned throughout most townes and Prouinces that they should not long beare themselues so high and that their time drew night to an end they receiued more aduise out of sundrie places and both the Prince and Admirall did plainely affirme that they had expresse aduertisement from a certaine Courtier very well affected to those of the religiō that there had been holden a most secret Councel wherein it was concluded that they should bee seized vpon that the one should bee executed and the other detained prisoner that at the same instant two thousand Switzers shuld enter into Parris two thousand into Orleans and the remainder into Pointiers that the Edict of pacification should bee vtterly repealed and an other made quite contrary to the same Heerevppon they grewe to earnest disputation for whereas some vrged a speedie relolution of necessary defence the rather because the forraine forces marched alreadie openly for the vtter ruine of those of the religion throughout the realme others that were not altogither so hotte shewed that albeit they perceiued the fire alreadie kindled yet they could not see
of eighteen Cornets of horse and three Regiments of foote vnder seuen and twentie Ensignes as they marched tooke le Dorat in Limosin and Lusignan and then tooke three peeces of artillerie out of Orleans wherewith they battered and forced Pont sur Yon taking it by assault which done they ioyned with the Princes armie while the Duke d'Aumalle went into Lorraine to meet the forces of Iohn VVilliam duke of Saxon the Marquesse of Baden and others that brought an armie of Rutters to ayde the Romish Catholicques and that young Lansac marched into Almaine to diuert the ayde which Duke Iohn Casimeire brought to those of the religion on the other side the Duke of Alue sent twelue hundreth horse and two thousand foote vnder the conduct of the Counte de Aremberg that ioyned with the D. of Aniou notwithstanding the Prince marched towards Lorraine constraining those of Bray and Nogent vpon Seyâ—â— to giue him passage and tooke Espernay lying vpon Marâ— where for a time he stayed to assemble all his forces There young Lansac in his second voyage to Almaine was taken and beeing brought prisoner to the Prince all his businesse turned into smoke In the moneth of December vppon some motions of peace there were two truces agreed vpon each for two or three daies to the end as the voyce went to conferre vpon the poynts propounded The first was neare to Montereau and the other by Chaalons but the last was like to haue bredde much mischiefe for the Prince relying vppon the promises of his sworne enemies rested in a very bad lodging out of the way whiles their armie approached And had it not beene for an enterprise that the young Countie Brissac a young Lord by nature violent and the Duke of Anious especiall fauoritie had vndertaken against certaine companies of Argolets vnder the Captaines Bois Blossel and Clery who were then ouerthrowne the Prince who yet hoping vppon two daies respite stirred not from that lodging had surely beene intrapped and in manifest daunger but Brissacks rashnesse saued him and according to the prouerbe mischiefe was good for somewhat The Prince waying the wrong that his enemies had wrought to their owne reputation in weening to indomage him determined no longer to trust their promises in which conceit notwithstanding hee did not long perseuer vppon his conclusion in three daies space hee made his armie to march aboue twentie long leagues through the raine and such hard passages that it was wonderfull that the artillerie baggage could euer follow and yet lost neyther the one nor the other so good was his order and so great their diligence The Duke of Aniou followed not for some of his Councell making great haste perswaded him that his very name had driuen the Huguenots out of France whereas such as were indeed warriors did contrariwise accuse the cowardlinesse of those that had so suffered the Prince his followers to escape as not daring to fight with them eyther weake or halfe strong The Prince arriuing in Lorraine stayed some fewe daies for his Rutters not without some repugnancie and perplexitie of diuers VVarres reuiued in diuers places This Negotiation which was but a string to stay the Prince that afterward they might with greater aduantage ouerrunne him beeing vanished on the one side they beganne to take armes in Poictou and about Rochel which euer since hath been a refuge to sundrie families of the religion and so hath happily continued as a barre to blocke vppe the purposes of the Romish Catholicques and the instrument that God hath put in vse to confound the infinite conspiracies of the enemies to the Crowne and state of France On the other side the Duke of Aniou but ouerlate sought all opportunitie which before hee had let slippe to fight with the Prince and Admirall before they should ioyne with the Germaines whom they went to meet in Lorraine and of whom they receiued certaine aduertisement near to Pont a Mousson from whence Duke Iohn Casimeire their Generall writ to the king to desire him to thinke The Prince ioyneth with his Germains that hee neuer determined to enter into France for any his owne priuate good or particular interest but onely for the support of such as were afflicted for the same religion which himselfe professed who had intreated him to ayde protesting that if it might please the king to assure to them the libertie of conscience and generall exercise of their religion himselfe and all his troupes would presently retire Then fell there out great adoo about the satisfying of the Rutters who looked to receiue a hundreth thousand Crownes at the least heere were they put to their shifts and forced of necessitie to make a vertue and when the Prince and Admirall had made vse of whatsoeuer their eloquence both to great and small vpon this extremitie they set all men a notable example in that they parted with their owne siluer vessell The Preachers in their sermons perswaded many and the Captaines also prepared the mindes of their men Many Lords and GentlemeÌ„ likewise did most readily put their hands to their purses the rest some for loue and some for feare execeeded all expectation So generall was this liberall contribution that the meanest Page and veriest varlet gaue somewhat yea in the end it was thought a dishonour to haue beene sparing and many offered more then was demaunded In summe the whole beeing gathered togither both quoyne plate and chaines of golde The Rutters in some sort contented it amounted to aboue foure score thousand Frankes wherewith the Rutters were well quietted and so ioyned with the Princes forces Then was there a generall voyce that it was best to drawe towards Parris which was the apparant meanes to obtaine peace as also their Leaders were not ignorant that for their better maintenance it was requisite to prouide artillerie powder mony and other such commodities as are to bee wrested for the Marchant Artificer likewise that vnlesse they drew towards Orleans their true nurse they should want those aduantages Heerevppon they set forward They drewe towardes Beausse and passed ouer Marne neare to the head thereof not farre from Langres and marching through Burgondie at their passage ouer Seyne were set vppon by certaine Italian and French whom Schonberg with a Regiment of Rutters and French of the religion charged defeated leauing the most of the assaylants dead in the place Hence the Prince drewe towards Creuant and Irancie a small village taken by assault and so passed ouer the riuer of Yone Loyne and la Cure and so set himselfe at large maugre the many hinderances of the aduerse armie which laboured as well to restraine him from any purchase out of the villages and small burroughs and to finde opportunitie to cut off part of his armie How they prouided for the victualling of the armie In those daies did France abound in all sorts of victualles which notwithstanding it stood the Prince and Admirall
no great matter specially against so many soldiers as were in it Also in two daies two nights they made such trauerses and trenches that no man durst force them but it was concluded that a batterie should be made against a place that seemed very weake The Duke of Anious armie lay on the other side of the riuer of Seine but would not hazard it selfe nor once approch the Princes campe assaying neuerthelesse to aide the besieged who in fine would haue been taken Therfore to refresh them he sent M. de la Valette a valiant Captaine with 8. cornets of horse with charge to surprise some of the enemies lodgings to indomage their forrages to cut their victuals froÌ„ them to molest wearie the Princes forces by continual alarms He to execute his commission The Duke of Anious Cornets ouerthrowne approached within 4. leagues of the campe lodging very close from whence he began to make his courses The Admirall being aduertised therof tooke vpon him to preuent it and as he alwaies vsed to march with a good companie fearing as he said to loose the praye he chose 3500. horse departed in so good time that at sun rising he found himselfe in the middle of the quarters of those 16. cornets of horse that were charged with such force by M. de Nouy that marched before the Admirals troupes that diuers of them being laid vpon the ground 4. cornets taken the rest were put to flight La Valette lodged in the town of Houdan reassembled 4. or 500. horse made a reasonable good retrait but after that neither he nor any of the rest of his troupes would once approach so neare fearing a new charge A new motion of peace The Q. foreseeing of what importance the taking of the town of Chartres would be begaÌ„ to parley of a peace saying that in time of neede she would do more with three sheets of paper then all her souldiers could do with their armes The Prince sent the Cardinall de Chastillon with certain Gentlemen to meet with the Q. Deputies at Loniumeau hard by Parris where in few daies a second edict of peace was framed whereof the first article imported that those of the religion shuld enioy the first edict purely simply and that it should bee executed in euery poynt and article according to the forme and tenor taking away and abolishing all restrictions modifications declarations and interpretations made since the day and daie therof vntill the publication of this second edict made the three and twentieth of March 1568. there were diuers other articles in this edict full of many faire words and promises As a good peace was much desired beeing most necessary so in the meane time few men considered well what this might bee Discourse vppon this matter but as if the name had been like to the effect most part of those of the religion stayed vppon it saying that it would be necessary to accept it not considering the euill will hatched in the king against them the subtilties of the reuenging spirit of the Queen-mother the hopes and triumphs proposed to the Duke of Aniou capital enemie to the Prince the intents and deuises of the house of Guise against that of Chastillon the furies of the Cleargie and the Frenchmen against those of the religion who without waying these things with an infinite number of others thought their sworne enemies would leaue armes assoone as themselues â—his inclination euil desiested constrained the Prince and the Admirall to consent to the receiuing of paper perceiuing so great a disposition specially in the Nobilitie to accept it which was as a tempest that bare them away not beeing able to resist it It is true that the Prince being a friend to peace had likewise some inclination thervnto but the Admirall perceiued the infruction thereof and that this edict was but a snare to intrap both great and small For that as then certaine babling Romish Catholicques could not refrain to say that the day of their reuenge approached A Gentleman that accompanied the Cardinall of Chastillon sent word that hee had oftentimes heard such speeches perceiued a great indignatioÌ„ hidden in the hearts of some of the Deputies for the Queen that they shuld looke vnto it as being a signe and foreshewing of some sinister chance Likewise there were some of the Court as wel men as women who sometimes gathered words cast out vpon the suddain that sent vnto their kinsmen friends in the Princes campe to certifie them that without all doubt they shuld be deceiued if they wrought not wisely which in a maner was to waken those that desired nothing but to sleep vpon the soft pillow of peace But what aduise soeuer was giueÌ„ it was impossible to stay that tempest of minds ensuing in Masse of mischiefes shadowed with the vaile of a royall pacification If any man thinke it straunge how these two commaunders that had so much credit with their participants could not as then perswade theÌ„ for their benefits let them consider what voluntarie souldiers are and the great desire man hath to returne vnto his house and then hee shall well perceiue that it is wholly beyond mans power to staye such as were borne away with so impituous a storme of humane passions Before the siege was raised from Chartres many whole cornets and diuers particular persons The Prince is constrained to accept the peace departed without leaue of their superiors marching towardes Saintonge and Poitou This humour entered among the footemen specially those that dwelt farre off and many of them said seeing the king offered the last edict of pacification they could not refuse it Some of the Nobilitie desired to returne into their Prouince for the presernatioÌ„ of their families sacked by the enemy The footmeÌ„ also coÌ„plained that they were not payd that they wanted victuals so that the commanders of those of the religion could not sticke vnto the aduises giuen vnto them neither yet refuse the peace because their forces beganne to diminish Their reason was that the body of their French forces forsaking them they should bee constrained to put themselues to defensiue warre which they esteemed not to be good for them seeing as then it was in the month of March a time when commonly all armies vse to enter into the field to separate the Rutters and so to distribute them in their townes was as much as to deuoure themselues and to incampe in a strong place would bee a remedie but for a time So that to conclude they resolued that of force they must hazard that posted and most daungerous peace which would constraine those that as then left their campe to acknowledge but too late their fault committed Then they could well haue desired to haue had some townes of the assurance but when they asked other assurances then the Edicts promises and oathes the Queene her sonnes and their Councellors cast fire out of their
some rumours whereby the Duke de Montpensier and Martigues may bee aduertised of our departure in manner of a flight euery man seeking to saue one for this will easilie bee beleeued In the mean time let vs prepare and encourage our men to the field so that if they drawe after vs as vndoubtedly they will in hope rather of spoyle then of battell we may valiantly encounter them so shal we giue them such an ouerthrow that wee shall not need to feare any troupe that may dare to meete vs for one months space but that we may at ease either passe the riuers or get into Germanie Martiques by this passage purchased great honour but d'Andelot more commoditie by his by bringing himself all his troupes into safetie wherby within eight daies hee ioyned with the Prince Then was there sundrie consultations about their affaires how to imploye both men and the time whilest they leuyed a mightie armie for the duke of Aniou and that the duke of Montpersier assembled diuers troupes in Anion and the countries thereabout to go to it in earnest The Prince bringing some cannons out of Rochel set vpon such townes of Poitou and Xaintongue The Princes first exployts as were but weake and meanly furnished with Garrisons seizing vpon Nyort Fontenay S. Maixaut Saintes S. Iohn d'Angely Ponts and Coignac Depuys Blay and Angoulesme whereof some were gotten easily and others by force and assault To be short within two months space the Prince and his partakers of poore vacabondes as they were at the first became so wealthie that they were able to continue a long war In al these places they lodged some thirtie companies of footmen and seuen or eight cornets of horse which was a great sauing for the fielde and they formed a most pollitieque militarie order as wel for the French as for the conduct of their armie Thus throgh necessitie togither with occasion they of the religion found meanes to make vse of both and the Admiral was wont to their aduenture to attribute the ancient prouerbe of The mislocles saying to his familiers Had we not been lost we had been lost Meaning that had they not committed an ouersight they had not had so great a recouerie as that which did farre surpasse their former condition The delaies of the Romish Catholieques stood the Prince in great stead But if in time they had foreseen that those whō he had caused to dislodge in so great hast went to settle themselues farther off The delay of the one serued for the others good and made speede to impeach them by all apparance the Prince had remained inclosed within Rochell and the wars had not cōtinued But god by those obscure beginnings made an entrie into the notable iudgements which after that appeared It may be that the ioy they had at Parris to see the Townes and Prouinces left which had made so long and hard war against the Parrisians during the first second troubles made diuers of their harts so much in flamed that they disdaind their enemies that were so far off esteeming that Rochel alone could not resist them but y◠within 3. month after they shuld be inclosed therin which discourses are commonly made when our prosperitie is geater then we expect The Q. and her Councelors presently caused an edict to be published at Parris Edicts against those of the religion by y◠which after a long declaration made touching things happened to the realme by of the religion the king among other things declared that the Edict of ianuary by the which he promised the exercise of religion was but prouisionall vntill his Maioritie and that hee was not determined to haue the Edict made before that touching the religion should be any more obserued For which causes beeing atiained to the said age of Maioritie hee fore bad all exercise thereof in the countries of his obedience commaunding without reuocation that there should be no other exercise of religion but onely that of the Romish Church vpon paine of losse of bodie and goods And vppon the same paine commaunded all the Ministers of the religion to depart out of the Realme within fifteene daies after the publication thereof commaunding neuerthelesse that those of the religion should not in any sort be troubled for their consciences so they would liue peaceably in their houses At the same instant an other edict was published certifying that from thencefoorth the king intended not to bee serued with any offices beeing of that profession from that time forward discharging them of all their offices commaunding them to yeelde them vpto him within fifteene daies after otherwise hee would take some stricter order therein These Edicts had been long hatching but their hope was to intrappe the Prince and the Admirall The effects of such edicts wherein hauing failed to get mony of the Cleargie and the third estate the Queene and those of Guise serued themselues with this deuise which was to no great end For that besides the great charges of the Duke of Anious armie wherewith the most dearest Catholicques were twise greeued and offended before the warre was halfe ended diuers of the religion entered into the field who otherwise would haue stayed the rest and quietnesse promised them by the king and not haue left their houses But at this alarme they assayed to ioyne with the troupes further the commaunders sent certaine declarations into England and Almaine to shewe that they were not pursued as seditious persons or such as desired a Crown as their aduersaries reported but onely because of the religion which the Romish Catholicques sought to extirminate France which serued thē well for the furtherance of the leuie of Rutters which the next yeare came into France vnder the conduct of the Duke de Deux Ponts Also there were many about the king the Queen and the Duke of Aniou that desired nothing else but to see all the countrie flaming with fire some to robbe and spoyle without punishment others to execute their vengeances and reuenges the Pensionaries of Spaine to cause the Frenchmen to cut each others throat those of Guise by litle and litle to attaine to the aduancement of their deseignments which discouered themselues in the end of the raigne of Henry the thrid as you shall read After these Edicts the Duke of Aniou made preparation for all things necessarie for his voyage and so puissant an armie whereof by the king hee was made Lieftenant generall That which increased the Princes troupes was the Regiment of foot which Monsieur d'Acier brought out of Dauphine Prouence and Languedoc not long before the Prince had written vnto him as also to diuers Captaines in those Prouinces that they should vse all the means they could to prouide him a certaine number of men therewith to withstand the armie royall that came to assayle him that the Princes Lords and other commaunders might not indure so great disaduantage to bee assieged within a towne
Whereby the most part of this troupe left that place to lodge themselues with more ease left but a small number of men in place that laye about halfe a league from it This great fault produced another which was that the watch was too weake A notable fault which could not come time ynough to hear nor giue alarme to the enemies troups as they had beene instructed thereby to make them thinke that all the Princes Auantgard lay there The Dukes armie beeing very strong resolued to seize vpon the passage although all the Princes power had opposed themselues against him and by the diligence of Monsieur de Biron not onely repaired the bridge but made a new bridge of barkes which are carried with armies royall and before midnight had finished it which done without great noyse they began to passe ouer both horse and foote The Princes men that stood in gard with fiftie horse about a small quarter of a league from the passage in a manner could scarce perceiue them to passe vntill about the breake of day wherewith they presently aduertised the Admirall who knowing that most part of his men had lodged in other places namely on that side where the enemies came sent them word that they passed and with all speed to march towards him that they might retire altogither that in the meane time hee would stay for them at Bassac At the same time also hee commaunded that all the carriage and footmen should retire which was presently done If then within one houre after all his forces had beene assembled hee had easily retired without much labor Slacking of things daungerous in warre but the time being about three houres that passed in staying for them was the principal cause of their ouerthrow The Admirall would not loose those troupes being nine Cornets of horse and certaine companies of foot wherof the Coronels were the Counte Montgommery Acier and Puuiaut Beeing all come onely Acier that tooke the way towards Angoulesme all the Dukes armie beeing past and hard by the Admirall the skirmish began so hot that each man perceiued that day would bee a battell beeing the thirteenth of March which made the Prince turne backe being half a league from them passing forward for hauing vnderstood that hee should bee constrained to fall to blowes hee hauing a Lyons heart would bee one among the rest WheÌ„ the Admiral for his retrait came to forsake a small chanel which might bee passed ouer but in two or three places the Duke was counselled to aduance the flower of his horsemen composed of seuen or eight hundreth horse which ouerthrew foure cornets that made the retrait where la Noue and la Loue were taken prisoners The Princes magnanimitie ended not but with his life Valiant charges hauing couragiosly sustained the fight as also Coronel Puuiant who not long after reassembled his dispearsed troupe the same horsemen of the Dukes campe not long after charged d'Andelot in a village but he valiantly resisted them and slew Monsalez and diuers others of good account to the number of fifteene or sixteene the Prince and the Admirall ranged in two great squadrons of horse perceiuing that the enemie went about to inclose them betweene all the Dukes forces Charante prepared themselues to giue the charge The Admirall began the Prince seconding which was with greater force then the first and at the beginning made al those that flood against him to turne their backs after that sustaining a new charge where for a time the battell was hot and fierce but in the end he and the Admirall hauing all the enemies armie vpon them the Prince being falleÌ„ vnder his dead horse therby ensued the ouerthrow of the horsemen hauing lost about one hundreth Gentlemen and among the rest the Prince himselfe who lying vnder his horse could not bee relieued by his troupes and yeelding himselfe to Monsieur d'Argences at the report of his taking The death of the Prince of Conde and others a Gentleman of Gascon called Montesqueon Captain of the Dukes guard ran thither and discharging a Pistoll at him shot him in the head wherewith hee presently died His death bredde great sorrow among those of the religion and much ioy to diuers that loued him not namely to the king the Queen the Duke of Aniou and all the house of of Guise specially the Cardinall of Lorraine who the next day after the news was brought vnto the king as then beeing at Metz touching the battell wherin the Catholicques had lost two hundreth Gentlemen among the which were diuers Lords and men of name comming to salute the king after the maner of Courtiers smiling said vnto him your Grace as I suppose is now better disposed then you were the other day beeing eased of much corrupt blood In that manner iested hee who vpon the bodies of the Princes of the blood and the Nobilitie of France placed the foundation of the rule and gouernment which his familie would after haue vsurped as you shall wel perceiue From Metz they sent certaine cornets that had bin taken from the Prince vnto the Pope whereat that good Pastor so much reioyced that he went a foote on procession from his Castle of Saint Ange to the temple of the holy ghost withall the Cardinals to thanke his Imagess with out flatterie this praise may wel be giuen vnto the Prince of whom we will now speake that not any man liuing in his time did euer surpasse him in courage nor courtesie He spake very wisely more by nature then art liberall and readie to all men an execellent leader in warre yet a louer of peace most firme in his religion inuincible in aduersitie but milde in prosperitie a great iester subiect to vanitie louer of women and collor but one that gaue place to reprehensions and aduises of such as hee loued and respected but by this ouerthrow wee may gather that when a matter of importance and hazard is to bee effected it ought not to bee done by halues for that either we must leaue it and not be ashamed to retire or else do it withall our forces If the Admirall and the Prince had had all their forces the Duke would not haue set vpon them also when armies lye scattered they fall into inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best leaders cannot remedie After this battell the Duke sent to besiege Cognac and began to imbrace diuers other enterprises as if nothing had bin impossible vnto him Exployts after the battell of Brâ—ssac for that not long before certaine places in Poictou had been taken from those of the religion but Cognac stayed the course of this victorie in such sort as that after the Duke had lost the boldest of his footemen in that siege hee thought to get as much by intelligence against Saint Iohn d'Angely where dooing nothing hee summoned Angoulesme that made him no other aunswere but with threatnings to send him away with losse and shame
Court of France with all their principall seruants and there to giue them that entertainment which after fell out In March the Romish Catholicques at Roane murthered diuers protestants as they returned from a Sermon and beate others shrewdly meaning to haue proceeded further had not Marshal Montmorencie whom the king sent made the more haste to suppresse the violence of the seditious who after many pursuites hanged vp three or foure the rest escaped albeit 400. were guiltie of innocent blood Sixe weekes before the protestants had been most cruelly murthered at Aurange by their enemies whom Berchon soone after made Gouernour by Countie Lodowic found means to intrap and punish accordingly Not long after by the kings consent those of the religion were taxed to paye the 5. part of their reuenue towards the payment of the Rutters which produced much discontentmēt About the same time the king and the Queene made their enterie vpon seuerall daies into the capitall towne of the Realme with great pompe The protestants also held a Sinode nationall at Rochel wherein they confirmed the articles of the confession of their faith and discipline of their Churches in the presence of the Queene of Nauarre the Princes and many other of the Principall among them The king hauing made his entrie the eleuenth of March the Queene beeing crowned the 25. of the same moneth at Saint Deunis and the 29. receiued with great magnificence into Parris hee went to sit in his place of iustice in the Parliament where hee made a long Oration to his officers of the Court for the obseruation of his Edicts In witnesse whereof in the moneth ensuing the people of Parris beganne to mutine against those of the religion sacked certaine houses and began to proceed further prouoked by their Preachers because of a certaine Crosse placed in S. Dennis street in a place where in times past stood the house of Phillip de Gastines rased to the ground because that certaine sermons and the Lords Supper had beene made and celebrated therein Gastines for that cause hauing been executed to death during the troubles that had beene carried into S. Innocents Church-yeard This mutinie appeased the king that shewed great fauor to Teligny his companions sent them to the Q. of Nauarre the Princes in Rochel to assure them that all his desire was to maintaine the peace that for his owne part he bare them great affection procuring that the Q. his mother the Duke of Aniou his brother should from day to day leaue off their rigors And at their departure gaue them diuers presents giuing them likewise to vnderstand that his minde was to proceede with war against the Spaniard in the low Countries and to marrie his sister to the Prince of Nauarre Biron was sent after to certifie the like and men began to speake of that marriage in diuers sorts their opinions being diuided some esteeming it to bee a snare to intrap those of the religion others deeming the contrarie The king caused certaine consultations to be made in Rome because of the alliance between both the parties Pope Pius the fist seemed to bee much troubled about the same for that effect sending Cardinal Salutati into France who hauing had certaine conference by word of mouth with the king returned satisfied The effect of that the king said vnto him was that the king would alwaies shewe himselfe to deserue the name of the eldest sonne of the Romish Church and that all his intents tended to no other end but only to the suretie honour and aduancement of the Catholicque religion whereof the Pope should receiue great testimonies before long time should passe But notwithstanding that diuers maruelled much at this suddaine alteration of the king the Queene of Nauarre much sought vnto by diuers great persons of both partes went to the king followed by the Countie Lodowicke great numbers of Nobilitie The king and the Queene his mother were at Blois where they receiued and welcommed her with great ioy and good countenance and after many disputations touching diuers particular poynts specially the cerimonies the agreement vpon the marriage of her sonne with the kings sister was concluded and the place of the espousals assigned at Parris Not long after the Prince her son accompanied with fiue hundreth Gentlemen came to Blois where the marriage of Nenry de Bourbon Prince of Conde with the yongest daughter of the house of Neuers was agreed vpon During these parleyes of mariages with the Princes the Admirall that had buried Ladie Charlotte de Laual his wife a woman of excellent pietie that died at Orleans in the second troubles beeing in Rochel married the Counties of Ancremont in Sauoy and gaue Louyse his daughter in marriage to Monsieur de Teligny At the Court one named Lignerolles a simple Gentleman made knight of the Order Captaine of a company of launciers Gouernor of Bourbonnois and one of the Duke of Anious mignions was slaine openly in the Court for discouering certain of his Maisters secrets Lignerolles slaine by the D. cōmitted vnto him touching the enterprise that was ment against those of the religion On the other side Death of the Cardinall of Chastillon the Cardinal of Chast being readie to depart out of England to go to his brother the Admiral was poysoned by one of his Chamberlains and died to the great great griefe of all his friends and seruants The prisoner that did the fact beeing after taken at Rochel was executed Articles of marriage betweene the Prince of N. and the kings sister This is the yeare wherein is set downe the arriuing of the Queen of Nauarre the Princes and the Admirall in the Court the articles of the marriage of the prince of Nauarre and the kings sister were made at Blois the eleuenth of Aprill The Countie Lodowicke at the same time trauelled with the king touching warres to bee made in Flaunders to the which ende preparations were made at sea by Strossy and the Barron de la Garde but at the end of three moneths Flaunders was found to be Rochel Long before the king had caused the Admirall to bee solicited to come vnto the Court and to drawe him thither hee caused those of Guise to retire who thereat counterfetted to bee discontent The Marshall de Montmorency by letters assured his Cousin the Admirall that the king was fully determined to make them friends and to reconcile him with the Duke of Guise the better to be serued by him and his Councell touching the affaires of his Realme and beganne to fauour those of the religion and to put the Admirall out of all distrust the king sent him letters that he might bring fiftie Gentlemen armed with him vnto the Court whither in fine the Marshall de Cosse conducted him with diuers Gentlemen At his comming hee was honourably receiued and welcommed by the king that called him his father Welcomes to the Admirall and others of the religion in the Cout
And when the Admirall kneeled downe to do his dutie the king protested that in all his life hee had not seene any day more agreeable vnto his minde then that wherein hee assured himselfe to see the end of all the troubles and the beginning of a firme rest and quietnesse in his Realme And among other speeches vsed smiling hee said vnto him Wee haue you now heere with vs you shall not go from hence when you would The Queen-mother the Dukes of Anion and Alancon and almost all the chiefe Courtiers receiued him with greater fauour then hee expected All these courtesies were suddainely seconded by a great liberallitie from the king that caused a hondreth thousand franks to bee giuen him out of his coffers in recompence of the losses he had receiued by the forepassed wars gaue him like wise a yeares reuenues of all the benefices holden by the Cardinall of Chastillon his brother deceased made him a note of his hand to haue full power and authoritie to seeke for the mooueables that had been taken from him at Chastilon sur Loing and to cause them by expresse commaundement to bee deliuered vnto him againe Teligny his sonne in lawe was likewise honoured with certaine fauors Cauagnes Councellour of Toulouse Agent for the Princes touching the obseruation of the Edict of peace was prouided of an office of Maister of Requests Diuers other Lords and Gentlemen of the religion at that time felt the liberallitie of the king wherewith their aduersaries were much displeased specially that the Admirall was restored to bee one of the priuie Councell and that the king priuately asked his counsell in his affaires of importance touching the warres in the lowe Countries which the Admirall affected very much as beeing one of the most assured meanes to holde France in quietnesse alleaging that by iust reason hee might doo that to the Spaniard which vniustly he had done and would doo vnto France War against Spaine consulted vpon which was to trouble him at home to impeach him from spoyling other men hee shewed likewise to the king that fained to like well of that aduice that it would bee good for him to agree with the Qu. of England and the Princes of Almaine the easiler to make the K. of Spaine beleeue by an ample discourse prooued vnto him that the foundations of the warre in the lowe Countries is iust and profitable Pope Pius Quintus beeing dead who in his life time seemed a stay and hinderance to the marriage of the Prince of Nauarre and the kings sister the Cardinall of Lorraine faining to bee in great feare tooke his voyage to Rome about the election of a new Pope although before his setting forward it was done and being in his voyage letters that were sent him by Cardinal Pelue who of a Sculliō in the Colledge of Montague in Parris afterward following his studie varlet to the Cardinall of Lorraine had in few yeares attained the red hat directed to his Maister the contents whereof imported that in regard of the good course that hee see the king the Queen-mother and the Duke of Aniou take hee could not but hope well of all the affaires That at the Admirals returne to Court the king shewed himself so warie as his most inward friends did wonder at it for thereby hee had brought the Admirall out of all suspect so that now the matter that the Cardinal wist of might the better be put in execution That there was much speech of warre against the King of Spaine whereto the king seemed to incline the rather thereby to stay the Admirall that such pollicies were to be practised vntill they might find opportunitie to put in execution the secret counsell That the king of Spaine was sufficiently informed of the whole least he should finde himselfe agreeued at this present prouision for warres which was neuer ment against him Wherevppon hee besought his Maister notwihstanding whatsoeuer packets hee might receiue to assure himselfe that the king would neuer vary from the resolution That the Queene-mother and the Duke of Aniou bent their whole indeuours to that matter Touching the marriage of the Prince of Nauarre that hee hoped the same would shortly be effected that the same was the entrie to the execution and in the meane time the day drew on for deliuerie of the Townes of hostage And although the Admirall had the copies heereof sent him hee made no great account thereof no more then of other aduertisements expresly giuen him both before and after His minde beeing altered by the countenances and words of the king The Admirall trusteth vpō the kings words who in all things seemed to contrarie his brother the Duke of Aniou for whom hee practised the voyage of Polonia that hee might send him to play the Great-maister somewhat farre from France In the Admirall who alwaies shewed to bee wise and diligent in his affaires appeared that wisedome faileth in wise men when it pleaseth the only wise Gouernour of the word to dul the most sharp and excellent wittes and make passage vnto his terrible iudgements as not long after they shewed throughout all France the which euer since that time vntill this present hath felt the waightinesse of his mightie blowes whose hand as yet is stretched foorth readie to strike againe A nationall Synode at Nismes Some men of each faction of a good meaning to the state of France especially some protestants alreadie apprehending the terror of that terrible storme that followed trembled and bending their neckes lay looking for the fatall blowe At Nismes they held a nationall Sinode in the moneth of May. Others of a more stirring spirit after the manner of Frenchmen who doo performe much in prosperitie and neuer feare any aduersitie vntil it commeth would needes bee busie about discipline but they were soone put to silence Many mens consciences beganne alreadie to bee wauering and fewe there were that shewed themselues zealously bent to religion but all both great and small thinking deeply vpon worldly matters built them goodly castles in the ayre The Princes trusting to an assured peace three moneths before the time restored the townes of assurance wherein the king placed his Garrisons satisfying the Princes with letters which hee had sent to all his Courts of Parliaments wherein he declared his great good liking of the good meaning of the Princes in that they did him so much honour as faithfully to relye vppon his Edict which he wished to bee inuiolably obserued The Rochelers whom Strossy Landereau and the Barron de la Garde watched vppon would not accept of any Garrison but stood vpon their priuiledges so that at length for feare of scarring of others they were let alone The Marshall of Montmorency was sent into England to practise a league who returned sooner then hee was looked for but toward the marriage gat him home to his owne house and might hee haue beene beloued the affaires had beene otherwise mannaged then they were At the same
executed and yet desired the maintenance thereof and to that end sundrie commissioners did passe through al the Prouinces of the Realme as the Queene his mother could well witnesse And shee affirming it saying that the Admirall himselfe knew it full well It is true Madame quoth hee Commissioners were sent among the which there were some that had condemned mee to be hanged and promised fiftiethousand crownes to him that would bring you my head The king promised to send others with more oaths swearings that hee would doo iustice vpon those that hurt the Admirall Many other speeches hee vsed to assure the Admirall who in the end forgot not to put the king in minde to remember such aduertisements as hee had many times giuen him concerning the mischeeuous practises of some against his estate and Crowne withall exhorting him to thinke vppon himselfe so farre foorth as he loued his own life Soone after that the king departed from him Iohn de Ferriers Vidame de Chartres entered into the chamber that beganne to comfort him and in an assembly not long after holden in a chamber of the same lodging hee shewed the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde with others the chiefest Lords of the religion there assembled that their surest way was presently to depart out of Parris and to make their account that that blow was the beginning of the tragedie which would soone after bee performed but the aduice to staye and trust to the kings promise was determined vppon and the other reiected The same day the king by letters wrote to all the gouernours of Prouinces to the principall townes of France also to his Ambassadors with forraine Princes aduertising them of all that had happened withall promising to take such order that the authors and all that were guiltie of such a fault should bee known punished according to their deserts cōmanding them to make known to all the world how much he was offended there with the Queen-mother wrote the like And whilest the Secretaries were thus occupied the Dukes of Aniou and Guise late in the night consulted togither what they should do the next night following Saturday in the morning What happened vpon Saturday before the massacre a report was spred abroad about the towne wherein might bee a million of Komish Catholicques that those of the religion beeing but a handfull of men in respect of thē craued nothing but iustice in almodestie without outragious word or deed did mightily threaten those of the house of Guise whervpon the Duke of Guise and Aumale in a great rage as they made shew went to finde the king saying that they had well perceiued that the king bare but small fauour vnto them and that if they thought that departing home to their owne houses would please him they were readie to performe it The King seemed to shewe an angrie countenance and with sharpe words said vnto them that they might go whither they would and that hee would fetch them well ynough if hee found them culpable of the iniurie offered vnto the Admirall They departing from the kings presence well accompanied about noone mounted on horsebacke but not to go out of Parris where the Parliament spake as much as dumbe men Certaine were appointed to go from house to house and by writing to take the names of all such as made professiō of the religion deliuering the register vnto those that had set them on worke Not long after those of the religion beganne to discouer that some bloodie counsels were intended against the Admiral his friends For first the king caused a gard of 50. harquebusiers to be set at the Admirals gate vnder the charge of Cosseins dislodged all the Romish Catholique Gentlemen out of that street which done he commaunded the Admiralles familiar friends to lodge in that quarter that they might be neare about him caused great store of armes to be brought into the Louure and about euening all the people in the towne beganne to be in armes The Councell assembled for the last time in the Admirals lodging Vidame de Chartres held his first aduice and sought very earnestly that they should presently assay to beare the Admirall out of Parris and that his familiars and friends should presently dislodge hee shewed sufficient reason for the same which notwithstanding were not followed they stood to the first which importeth to craue iustice at the king hand vppon whose promise they were to relie Vidames de Chartres counsel was most assured but in mans iudgement as then impossible to be effected And yet after that men durst report and that openly that at that Councell where the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and diuers great Lords were assembled they had determined to kill the King the Queene-mother and all the principall of the Court a slaunder as false as falsehood it selfe About euening certaine Protestant Gentlement offered themselues the same night to watch with the Admirall which Teligny his son in law would not suffér them to do saying it was vnnecessary and so dismissed them with very good words for their good will so that there stayed no more with the Admirall but Cornaton from whose mouth I gathered the greatest part of this discourse La-bonne Yolet Marlin a Minister of Gods word Ambroise Pare a Surgean and certaine of his men In the Court there were fiue Switzers of the king of Nauarres guard Night being come the D. of Guises Lieftenāt in this action which at this present is to be declared vnto the Duke of Aniou sent for all the Captaines of the Switzers Description of the massacre of the Admirall and companies of strangers still entering into the Towne shewing him his commissions to kill the Admiral all his partakers exhorting thē to be couragious in shedding of blood and spoyle and appoynted their troupes to be placed where he thought meete About midnight an other assembly was made in the Towne-house where the Prouost of Merchants the Sheriffes Captaines of euery quarter were aduertised in like sort that throghout the realme the like shuld be done to all those of the religion that the watch-word of the general massacre should be the bell of the Pallace which should be rung at the breake of day and the badge of the executioners should be a white handkerchef tied vppon their sleeues a white crosse in their hats If the great personages were mooued the meaner sort were no lesse readie to exececute that cruel commandement presently watches were set in euery street the Duke of Guise beeing come to the Louure had charge with the knight of Angoulesme bastard to Henry the 2. the D. d'Aumale accompanied with Cosseins Goas Attin Besmes with some of the kings Harquebusiers and all the Duke of Anious guard to begin at the Admiralles lodging The noyse of armour and running vp and downe with so many torches soone after midnight made diuers of those of the religion that were lodged neare
fauor his retire from the Court Others bearing him no great affection spred foorth a rumour that they were in armes prepared to kill the king the Queene and his Councell The first aduise tooke place neuerthelesse to make the latter seeme likely yet vntrue euery man except it were the king Praclises of the Court whereinto sundrie not able to penetrate at the first the gentry of Normandy found themselues deceined whereof ensued the destruction of the Countie of Montgommery perswaded to stay with his traine in great haste dislodging from Saint Germains where they stayed till the lodgings of the Castle of Blois Saint Vincennes were prepared and rid to Parris from nine of the clock till midnight with most great noyse and tumult I must tell you that the Duke of Alencon was in minde to haue departed from the Court and to take the king of Nauarre with him and that this troupe composed of the Gentlemen their seruants came to bring them to the places appointed by them but imagining many difficulties in the executiō hee tooke aduise of la Mole a Gentleman of Prouence that gouerned him who gaue him counsell with al speed to aduerise the king his brother and his mother what his meaning was which was the cause that the king remooued not neuerthelèsse the mother that had som greater matter in her head made that voyage by night and went to the house of the Marshall de Retz in the subburbs of S. Honore The Parisians beleeuing whatsoeuer was told them touching those horses in short time made a great and puissant armie as they said The next day the king went vnto his mother and within eight daies after they went to Blois Saint Vincennes hauing holden diuers councels to deuise the means to intrap the Marshal d'Anuille that gaue them worke to do in Languedoc Meane time the Duke of Alencon and the king of Mauarre vppon the foure and twentieth of March published a declaration touching the matter of Saint Germains protesting their good wils towards the king and that they were resolued to oppose themselues with all their meanes against such as would rebell against him which was an occasion to bring the Marshall de Montmorencic vnto the Court who being come was arested as also the Marshall de Cosse and both most shamefully led prisoners to the Bastille On the other side la Mole Coconnas Tourtay seruants to the Duke of Alencon were committed within Parris and not long after executed hauing onely confessed to haue been of their Maisters counsell to depart out of the Court Diuers Lords and Gentlemen intangled in this processe saued themselues as well as they could the Duke of Alencon and the king of Nauarre were kept more straight and twise examined touching that action The estate of Dauphine Languedoc and poictou These troubles in the Court hindered not those of the religion their associates to looke vnto themselues In Dauphine Mombrun tooke Loriol Linron Alet Graue and Roinac and ouerthrew fiue companies of footmen that sought to impeach them Those of Villeneufue in Viuarais not long before had put certaine troupes to the swood that came against those of the religion without losse of one man and tooke Aubenas a Towne of great importance hauing cut the throates of all the Garrison for the most part composed of the massacres of Lyons The gouernment of Languedoc and Dauphine hauing bin committed to the Prince d'Auphine Monsieur d'Acier ioyned with him the Marshall d'Anuille by letters intercepted discouered what was pretended against him by which meanes hee beganne to draw to those of the religion consulting with Saint Romaine Gouernour of Nismes seized vppon Montpeslier Beaucaire Lunel and Pezenas In Poistou the Polititians ioyned with la Noue tooke Saint Maixaut Melle Fontenay Lusignan and other places In Normandie about the beginning of March What happened in Normandie to the Countie de Montgommery taken prisoner and after executed the Countie Montgommery accompanied with Lorges and Galardon his children departed from the Isle of Gerze and arriued at Rades where Colombieres de Fey with fistie Gentlemen came to meete him from whence hee went to Saint Lo and then with in three daies after assieged and took Carentan by compositiō Within a month after a strong armie of the enemie commaunded by Matignon and Feruaques set vppon him and inclosed him with a little weake towne and ill furnished called Danfrone accompanied with sixtie horse and eight harguebuziers conducted by Captaine la Touche the younger resoluing vppon a valiant defence euen in the beginning of the siege sent foorth siue and twentie horse and some small shot who giuing a sharpe onset slew seuen Gentlemen assaylants and nine horse and soretired with the losse of the Lord of Friaize who was slaine and two prisoners that they left behinde This was the eleuenth of May. The next day the besieged cut in peeces one Corps de garde but soone after some either for feare or won with faire woords forsooke the Countie and yeelded to the assaylants who in reward stripped and put them to their ransome The Queen-mother vnderstanding that the Countie whom shee hated to the death was in her nettes sent forces day and night to strengthen Matignon as also the armie that lay before Saint Lo was commanded with all speed to march to Danfrone where they had in the beginning of the siege six thousand small shot and fifteen hundreth horse The king being very sicke vpon the 23. of May the Castle was battered with six peeces of cannon that in fiue houres shot aboue fiue hundreth times and made a breach of fiue and fortie foote broad Then did most of the Counties men forsake him and in liew of entring the Castle with him fled out of the Towne into the campe where they receiued their deserued entailment as their former companions About two of the clock at after noone the assay lants came fiercely to the breach where they found the Countie on the right side with the lords of Brossay Chauuiny Cornieres Tere yong Touche Mahiliere Crosse Oulfe and others to the number of twentie On the left side were the Lords of Sey Hayes Vaudore Sanssaye Villenenfue and others in like number of twentie All togither fell vpon their knees to hear the prayer which one of the three Ministers there present made in the presence of the assay lants who when it was done came to handie blows in the order following Out of tenne companies of men at armes present at that siege Matignon the other Captains chose one hundreth Gentlemen even ten out of euerie companie well armed followed with 600. small shot with murrians 100. pikemen with their corselers These 800. men with some 200. voluntaries mixed among thē were led by the LL. of Fernaques Villermois S. Golombe Raberprey Lauerdin and others The fight lasted siue hours neither did the cannon cease which indomaged the defer dants with stones wherewith also the Countie was
good then possession of euill The difference in religion should mildly be agreed vpon Hee is not euill instructed in the principals of faith but hee is not sufficiently informed touching the Ceremonies he beleeueth constantly in the onely word of God contained in the booke called cannonicall the Catholicque taketh the interpretations of the word of God made by the Church for an infallible rule of his saluation and not like the Huguenot by the particular sence but by the vniuersall consent of the Church assembled togither vnder a legitimate head which is the Pope accord these two tunes make them beleeue in the traditions that since the time of the Apostles haue beene brought into the Church our Ceremonies in the administration of our Sacrament and in the election of Ministers and they are pleased and wee shall haue no more neede of warres If they say they will haue no other Iudges to determine their differences but the holy Scriptures which of it selfe is easie ynough without interpretations or Commentaries and that if it bee darke in one place it is opened in another tell them that it is not so easie plaine nor open but that diuers men do stumble in the vnderstanding thereof that it is not so cleare as that without interpretation it can discide all the controuersies of our faith that as God in the old lawes would haue a Moyses to iudge the law so he wold haue Ministers his successors that they shal determine difficulties of the doctrine of the Gospell Make them to agree with vs therein your difference will soone be ended and you shall bannish wars schismes in France To those reasons the league opposed theirs and said Your arguments are of no consequent you say that the Huguenot is not to bee pursued by armes because hee is not declared hereticque by cannonicall proceedings that hee is no hereticque because hee is not stubborne that hee is not stubborne because hee desireth instruction turne ouer the lease and you shall finde that the Huguenot ought to bee pursued by armes in that he hath beene condemned for an heretique by all the Councells specially of that of Trent that all nouelties are odious to the Church that he is an heretique for that knowing as it wer with his finger touching his error he staÌ„deth stubbornly in defence Obstinacy sence reprooued is the punishmeÌ„t of his infidelitie it is then to no end that he should aske instruction when there is no hope of amendment it is a tree without fruite and good for nothing but to bee cast into the fire To this poynt those that loued peace The warres for religion consâ—steth of a great number of Catholiques how deare soeuer it were cried out and said Will you then haue a new recourse to fiers punishments and remedies which wee haue alreadie tried to bee more proper to kindle and spread abroad then to quench and stop the euill Do you not as yet perceiue that God detesteth the terrible persecutions vsed against them in all the Courts of Parris that the Princes Gouernours of Townes Magistrates and officers of iustice haue with their owne bloods payed vserie for the vnmeasurable shedding of Christians blood that since the Magistrate left punishing and that the Prince hath pursued them by armes there hath died at the least a thousand Catholicques to kill a hundreth Huguenots The king is become a Captaine at his owne costs in the battels of Iarnac and Moncontour hee hath continued for the space of tenne or twelue yeares togither to make warres against them and in the ende after hee had vsed all meanes and attempted all extremities hee perceiued it was in vaine for him to kil to make men beleeue that the Gospel is not planted with other tooles then the word and peaceablenesse that it increaseth by suffering and not by persecution Iesus Christ planted his Church by miracles Mahomet by force and violence Religion is not the cause but the pretext of the warre The Talmud with her toyes and the Alcaron with her impostures detest the Christians furie that kill each other the first saith that Iesus Christ increased the Church by vertue of miracles and Machomet by force of armes Wee know well and if wee confesse it not wee are traitors to our countrie and of all others the most incencible that religion is not to be preached by drumb and fyfe and that of a hundreth that beare armes there is not tenne but haue an other intent then onely religion We know that this warre is a meere war against the estate that nothing was said touching the king of Nauarres conscience vntill it was euidently seene that by the death of Monsieur the kings brother hee was the next in succession to the Crowne and that it is most certaine that the League buildeth the assurance of things present by those that are to come that vpon the imaginatiue feare and of the succession of a Prince of an other religion the king beeing in the flower and strength of his age they dispute of the right possession and establish their vsurpation The Monarchie passeth to an other branch of the blood royall The Cardinall of Bourbon because the king hath no children because we should haue some they present vs an olde Prince an olde tree without fruit a hollow oake which serueth but for a support to the iuyce of the League and to the hopes of the Duke of Guise that climeth vnto the royaltie by his meanes Duke of Guise who vnder colour to powre water vppon those flames to place order in disorder and reformation inabuse suffereth men to burne in flame and ouerthrow all things Wherefore from hencefoorth the king must looke vnto that which as yet resteth whole and intire within his Realme that hee should make peace with the Huguenots that he should help himself with their forces which are Frenchmen against those Hispaniolized mindes that will eyther vsurpe the Soueraigntie of this estate or else conuert it into cantons like the Switzers To giue peace to the Huguenots to ayde himselfe with their forces to ouerthrow the Catholiques to stirre vp the Pope the king of Spaine and all Italy and in a word to constraine France to reuolt The king ought not to doo it and it is too much perill for himselfe Obiections against the League too much miserie for his people too much iniurie to the Church whereof hee is the eldest sonne hee should call wolues to helpe which in the end would deuoure the sheepe hee should serue himselfe with foxes that in fine would kil thee geese the king should bee Lent and the king of Nauarre the enterance into Lent or as we say Caresme prenant and then Huguenots would be ledde in triumphs through the Realme If the king should do it it would bee openly said that hee supporteth and aduanceth hereticques that seeking to do for himselfe hee doth for them hee will put Catholicques in dispaire and his crowne in hazard
Venceslaus King of Bohemia and Emperour was exposed only because he suffered the Hussites to haue the free exercise of their religion Defence for the Edicts of peace The league was deuised only to breake the Edict of pacification which don it left armes when it saw it should haue bin subdued it rose vp againe and made that commotion in Parris The Kings Edicts of pacification concerning the libertie of conscience are not made but with prouiso this age is so full of all corruptions that whosoeuer seeketh to purge them the healing would be more daungerous by the remedies that should be ministred Medici plus interdu quiete quà m moriendo atque agendo prosiciunt Tit. Liu. then the paines and langures of the disease it selfe God will raise some great Monarch that will vse remedies altogither different from those which passion vengeance and chollor putteth into our hands We must let this fistula remaine for a time within the bodie if you stop it the vicious humors that abound therein will sufferate choake it vp The disease must haue her course and in the end it will cease this heresie will vannish away as all the rest haue done whereof by the grace of God there resteth nothing but the memorie the question is to thinke vppon those that seeke to sucke the sap of this estate and vnder the ruines therof to ouerthrow the pietie and the Monarchie The leagues answere In the affaires of the K. of religion all delay is daungerous To feare the mischiefes and chances that may fall out on both sides or to stand with armes crossed attending till God lendeth ayde from heauen is temerite foolishnesse and crime In rebus fide periculosa cunctatio Catholicque religion is sicke it is in great extremitie and the Phisitian stayeth to consult of her disease and to apply the remedies while she is readie to die it is great foolishnesse not to cut off inconueniences at the beginning but much more folly to neglect the mischief vnder pretence of hauing taken too deep roote it is better late then neuer it is a kinde of desperation not to know the disease and a franzie knowing it not to seeke a remedie You haue been so oftentimes tolde that two religions cannot be suffered in one Realme that this diuersitie causeth quarrels in particulars then seditions mutinies and ciuill warres which neuer end but with the subuersion of the estate This diuersitie neuer suffereth the estate to liue in peace and alwaies furnisheth sufficient courage to the most busie and troublesome vnder that large pretence to mooue their ambitions Religio timor dei solus est qui custodit hominum inter se socie tatem Lactant. Alcibiade serued his turne there within Grecia Sertorius in Rome Ennus in Siria and Selurus in Italie The tranquillitie of the Common-wealth consisteth in the vnion and accord of the Cittizens take away this concord and it is but a piracie and a retraict of robbers and theeues the strongest band that vniteth mens minds is religion it is an adament that draweth a ring and that ring draweth an other vntill at last your chaine is fully accomplished it is the wood that entertaineth the fier of our amities it is the ciment that ioyneth the peeces of the building of our estate it is the heart of the Common-wealth take the brandes out of the fire and it will bee quenched the morter and stones from a house and it will fall vnloose the boordes of a ship and it will sinke into the water take the heart out of this bodie and it dieth And God who is trueth it selfe saith that kingdomes diuided shall be desolate dispearsed and ouerthrowne This ciuill life will sooner leaue the most necessarie elements fire and ayre and liue rather without life then voyde of religion Thr first foūdation of the estate and ciuil societis hath bene religion inuiolably obserued We finde people that neuer had kings and can well liue without them there are some that haue liued without lawes without warres and without learning but there is not any people that can maintaine or continue their estate without a certaine rule of the seruice of the God whom they adore the first foundations of Townes were placad vppon this rocke of religion and the Pagans with it had not had one foote of land therein to establish their lawes if religion had not first beene harboured among them In vaine Deucalion had planted his ordinances among the Grecians Licurgus among the Lacedemonians Yon and Solon among the Athenians and Romulus and Numa among the Romanes if they had not made the people beleeue that they came from heauen and that the Gods had written them and Moyses had neuer retained the people in their duties among so many trauerses and changes if he had not spoken of Ego Dominus and therefore Princes that desire to liue in peace and cause their estates to flourish neuer feared any thing so much as that their people should leaue their opinion once conceiued of the seruice of God He that remooueth this stone shaketh all the building An answere to the reasons of the league This is good before the people haue entered into a doubt of the religion which they followed but after they haue taken more liking in the new then in the olde what will you do There are certaine things that neuer go without shame and disorder that is naturally in them there are others which neuerthelesse are tollerable and reputed for iust because of the miserable vtiliue they breed to the Commōwealth adulteries periuries thefts and oppressions are things that are alwaies euill These euils causeth common bordels to be permitted within Townes to obey tyrants to contribute to the enemie to receiue such lawe as pleaseth them to suffer iniuries and consent to robbings ransomings and yet either not to falcifie our oathes promises vnder the which those things are permitted or to shun and auoyde greater dangers and inconueniences men allowe commend and authorise them It is well knowne why the Curtizans vnder the Popes nose are so great profit to the Cittie of Rome sinne or the nature and fragilitie of our sences doth push vs forward and that it is not so execrable as their brutish horror that filled the hospitall of Saint Iaques with incurable people at such time as the Pope Pius Quintus sought to put downe the bordell in Rome To shun the renuing of massacres whererin pesle-mesle the fury killeth destroyeth both Priest Minister and to restore quietnesse to France which after two or three droppes of colde sweate which shee is readie to yeeld with her last effects for a peace for a Common-wealth a Prince may permit the diuersitie of religiō which without these considerations would not bee tollerable Iustin draue the Arians out of Constantinople and all the East parts but Theodoric king of Italie sent Ambassadors vnto him to shewe him that if he restored them not
the light of the pietie of France son of that victorious Henry whose memorie shall liue for for euer and brother to those two Catholicque Princes Francis the second and Charles the ninth whom God hath taken to his mercie But But yet againe that which toucheth you nearest remember that you are that renowmed Henry that being but Duke of Aniou and brother to the king did so valiant an act in the defence of the Church wonne so many great battels and so many times daunted the enemies of the Catholicque faith that you haue filled al Christendome with the wonders of your victorious name And we think if that like your Grace that your M. hath not so soone forggotten that great and solemne oath that you made at your coronation not onely to maintaine christian and Catholicque religion but to aduance it as much as possible you might without tollerating any other And if euer any oath lid binde a Prince to maintain keep his faith this hath so straightly bound you to the defence of this religion that you cannot permit any other without breach of conscience and paraduenture make a doubt of the right you haue vnto the Crowne For you know well that you haue agreed and contracted with Iesus Christ that you accepted the Scepter vppon this condition to be defendor of his Catholicque religion and in that solemne oath as a gage and earnest-penny you receiued his holy bodie and dranke his precious blood And now fayling in this religious oath thinke you he hath not good cause to be offended against you knowe you not that all the euils wee haue suffered proceeded onely from his iust wrath and see you not that hauing giuen you this Scepter vppon such conditions hee threatneth to take it from you if you keepe not the holy promise you made so solemnely vnto him And euen as God summoneth you to the obseruation of the faith that you haue giuen him your subiects by the same meanes solicite and inuite you to obserue the conditions wherevppon you were made king and which you cannot infringe breaking your oath but if you must also loose the title of most christian King and wee doubt not that setting these things before your eyes that reuiuing the memorie of your predecessors continuing the first prudence and vertue but you shall haue that great good fortune in your time to see your people reduced to the sheepfold of the holy and Catholicque Church whereof you are as a father and protector By this meanes those great Kings of Ierusalem Dauid Salomon Abis losaphat Ezechias and Iosias obtained the blessings of God and a happy successe in all their affaires hauing with so great care dilligence restored the puritie of religion and reeftablished diuine seruice that was neglected And wee also hope that following their steppes you will reduce all France to the Catholicque religion and for the recompence of your holy intent you shall haue that blessing of God in your time to behold your Realm as flourishing as euer it was And as it shall bee most acceptable vnto God so will it be most honourable to you and to your Crowne and you shall sufficiently perceiue that at this day there is no King Prince Potentate or Common-wealth I except certaine Barbarians and the Turke whose detestable manners and customes ought to bee so odious that the onely name should bee a horrour vnto vs that suffereth their subiects to liue in any other religion then that which the Magistrate by the disvnion of the Church holdeth for onely good and holy And surely such are not woorthie to bee heard that will so much restraine the power of the Prince or Magistrate to say that hee cannot constraine his subiects to the faith but that hee ought to suffer them to liue in libertie of conscience as they say for this opinion hath alwaies generally been condemned and reprooued by all Christians but only by the Manickiens and Donatists that were of opinion that wee must not constraine any man for his religion but suffer euery man to liue in libertie and after his owne santasie and those which at this day in a manner by force pull from you this libertie of their religion permit it not to others For in the places of Christendome where God permitteth that they should bee Maisters and hauing the authoritie in their hands they are so farre from permitting Catholicques freely to liue in the libertie of their consciences that to the contrary the diuers sects that are among them for that alreadie they are banded and diuided among themselues an euident signe of their ruine at hand cannot indure each other And there where the Caluenist is Maister the Lutheriau dareth not liue freely yea and when they change Magistrates of diuers opinions religion changeth according to his pleasure as we haue seene sufficient of such changes in England and in many places in Germanie And what should not this bee a shame and too great a slaunder to a good christian and faithfull Catholicque to bee found lesse affected in his religion that is approued by so long and continuall succession then these new christians in their opinions that are as it were but one night olde It is then a generall and certaine maxime and approoued by the Church and by all Common-wealths that the Magistrate ought and may continue his people vnder one faith as it is sufficiently seene by so many godly lawes and constitutions of Christian and Catholicque Empires and by the kings your predecessors whose examples ought to bee holy and inuiolate vnto your Maiestie Such were the reasons of the League by the vehemencie whereof the king disposed himselfe to warre reseruing alwaies a continuall thought to rid himselfe thereof But the Queene that sawe so many accidents to hang like leade ouer his head that thought the great and proude Spanish armie would land in Brittaine and that all the territories of Italie would fall vppon him to defend the Catholicqueleague did so much that the king dissembled the wound in his heart and said that hee had no more remembrance of the hard dealings that had past that he had no other intent but that of the League which was to extirpe heresie Vppon this assurance the Duke of Guise caused his merchandises to bee liked and to bee more esteemed then they were woorth or then hee hoped Wherevppon hee entered into a treatie with the Queen-mother and with her resolued vppon certaine articles vppon the fifteenth of Iuly which the king approoued receiued and signed within three daies after which were as followeth THe Articles agreed vppon and signed at Nemours the seuenteenth of Iuly 1585 the kings edicts made touching them and the declarations his Maiestie hath since made vppon the edict shall inuiolably be kept and obserued according to their forme and tenour And to cease and for euer to take away the distrusts partiallities and deuisions betweene the Catholicques and the Realme there shall bee a perpetuall and vnreuocable
Ecclesiasticall persons opened their intent vnto the Nobilitie and the rest of the estates who altogither entered into conference touching the waightinesse of that action and conforming themselues vnto the first aduise of the Cleargie they appoynted twelue of each degree to giue the King intelligence of their determination and the Archbishoppe of Ambrun in the name of all the estates opened it to the King But his M. remeÌ„bring that the king of N. had often shew'd him that he had bin born bred vp in that form of religion that in conscience he could not leaue it without instruction that if he did it in hope or dispaire of enioying a kingdome hee should thereby reape the blasone of inconstancie infidelitie and hypocrisie thereby not to make himselfe capable to be a king but rather vnworthie for the place that hee was readie and alwaies will be to bee instructed by a free and lawfull Councell and to leaue his error truth being made known vnto him found this proposition very strange and passionate wherwith he rested wholly vnresolued Such as preferre the hopes and right of succession in this Prince shewed him that the submission he had made The king of Nauarre in hope of a Crowne wilt not be instructed A discourse taken out of an answere made by the king of Nauarre The Edict of the libertie of conscience in an 15â—1 which he still continued to make during these troubles are full of iustice all good consideration because he doth not willingly defend any thing but that only which honor zeale of conscience forceth him vnto that the law of this Realm depriueth not a child of a direct or collaterall succession because of religion why then should it depriue a Prince The law admitteth all persons indifferently into any office why shuld it not do the like in an estate The law permitteth euery man the exercise of his religion excludeth no man why then shuld the Prince be debarred from this priuiledge and the Prince that maketh it why shuld he be burt hened in his conscience in the thing specially that toucheth him most neare it being he that giueth libertie vnto others I say the law of this estate for it is the law whereby we liue in peace that is to restore this estate vnto her first being thereby to withdraw it from continuall miserie A law made determined at the Parliament holden in Orleans not a forced Parliament not suspicious not leagued by the deuises and subtill practises of such as at this day trouble the Realme of France and which is more a Parliament summoned by themselues in the time of their greatest credite and namely at their instance which from that time hitherto wee neuer desired to infringe vntill we were constrained to enter into ciuill warres and when I speake of ciuill warres vnder that word I thinke may well comprehend all sorts of calamities and confusions a lawe that is very iust as beeing most necessary a lawe which at this Parliament is not allowed for that the reuocation thereof is our destruction a law iudged a lawe sworne vnto by all the Princes Gouernours Lieftenants Councellours Courts of Parliament Presidents Townes and communalties of this Realme and by those namely who at this day would protest against it And yet hee remitteth mitteth the deciding of the cause of religion to a free Councell and til then no man in this estate can bee esteemed or holden an hereticque and whosoeuer submitteth himselfe vnto it by all right cannot bee said or reputed for an obstinate or schismatic que person The king wold they should summon the King of Nauarre The King prouoked by these reasons thought it vnreasonable to condemne the king of Nauarre before hee aunswered for himselfe and therefore made aunswere vnto the Lords and other Deputies that it should by to see if that were good and expedient to summon him once againe to sweare vnto the Edict of vnion and so to declare himselfe a Catholicque The League would not heare of that aduise This aunswere made by the King was shewed vnto the estates and by them a collection was made of all the means that had the king of Nauarre vnto the Church the absolution which the Cardinall of Bourbon his vncle had obtained for him his Relaps into his errors that he had abiured the voyages made by the Queene-mother to seeke to win him the Doctors whom the king himselfe desirous of his conuersion and his good had sent vnto him and the excommunication pronounced against him in the Consistorie of Rome They set downe the paines due vnto hereticques as also to such as are relapsed they accused this Prince to bee both the one and the other nourished and brought vp from his infancie in that new and erronious opinion and that beeing such a person hee was not woorthie eytherof respect or obedience no not of so much honour as once to bee saluted that they might not communicate with him by any meanes that there is an eminent daunger of the losse of religion and that it would bee put in great hazard if once they should acknowledge him for their king who both by his power and example might easily compel his subiects to yeelde to his religion finding nothing more assured nor certaine in all auncient Histories then the decay and ruine of religion when the chiefe Magistrate sought not to preserue it in all puritie Hereticum ho minem deuita Nee aue dixeritis illi 1. Tim. 3. Iohn 2. They said the King of Nauarre held the same opinon that had alreadie beene condemned in the Councell of Trent and by other Councelles that hee perseuered therein and that hauing oncereiected it hee receiued it againe and thereby constrained the holy Sea of of Rome to declare him a Relaps excommunicated and vncapable of the succession of this Realme concluding thereby that hee ought by that assembly to bee declared such a person and to leaue this lawe for a perpetuall memorie vnto the Realme of France that an hereticque may not enioy the Crowne of France and that it is a thing wholly against his sacrying and the oath which at his coronation hee should make but much more preiudiciall vnto the honour of God and the good and quietnesse of this estate The lawe to heare such as are accursed is not ciuill and particular nor obserued in one or two Common-wealths it is a lawe drawne from nature it selfe and the common consent of all nations practised by those who for their guide haue had a true and perpetuall reason in all their actions and it seemeth that God himselfe to whom all the secrets of mens consciences are open that knoweth all things that hath no need of humane witnesses nor yet to follow the order or manner of a Parliament would not pronounce his definitiue sentence against the ingratitude felony disloyaltie pride and presumption of the first man Adam before hee had called him to iudgement examined confirmed
where it was openly proclaimed throughout the Prouinces The Guisarts not content with the troubles in France mooue warres in Scotland but to their owne confusion The religion multiplieth in France euen in the middle of their persecutions and next after God submit themselues vnder the protection of the Princes of the blood determining to oppose themselues against the house of Guise who by diuers subtilties receiue and award their blowes discouer the enterprise wrought against them cause the principall Nobilitie of the Realm to be assembled at Fontainbleau where the Admirall galleth them on all sides This assembly produced an aduise and consent of a Parliament to be holden in the end of that yeare The Princes are summoned to come vnto the Court and all subtile practises vsed to get them thither being arriued at Orleans where the Court was holden They were stayed as prisoners specially the Prince of Conde the house of Guise practising the totall ruine of the Princes and all others of the religion leaue no meanes vndeuised which by the sequell is well perceiued While these actions were in hand the king fell sicke in the end the Queen his mother got the Regencie with the ayde of the house of Guise and the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and those of the religion are relieued by the kings death CHARLES THE NINTH I Account the raigne of Charles the ninth to be the time of wonders in France his beginning was the assembly of a Parliament where nothing was done but onely in words Those of the religion openly increasing the house of Guise began to practise against the estate many edicts were made to pacifie the troubles The Queen-mother vseth practises that ouerthrew the lawes of the realme to satisfie those of the religion an assembly was holden at Poissy which ended in words and no resolutions and lastly with mutinies in Parris The Edict of Ianuarie was made whereby the Duke of Guise vndertooke to commit the massacre at Vassy inducing the king of Nauarre to consent with him hee seizeth both of Parris and the king which bred the first ciuill warres which on the one side containe infinit exployts of warres as battels incounters assiegings defenses and taking of places on the other side spoyles and horrible murthers of those of the religion in all the Prouinces of the Realme The troubles being ended by the death of the Duke of Guise slaine at the siege of Orleans the first Edict of pacification abolishing that of Ianuarie was established After the peace the Englishmen were driuen out of New-hauen the king is declared to bee of age to gouerne without a Protector and causeth diuers Edicts to be made He is solicited by the Spaniard to breake his Edict of pacification which is weakned in diuers poynts the beginning of the voyage of Bayonne diuers Citadels builded many Townes vnwalled those of the religion sacked and spoyled in many places leagues made against them Edicts reuoking those that had been granted vnto them The shamefull entrie of the Cardinall of Lorraine in Paris Councels holden at Bayonne the kings progresse throughout France A dissembling reconciliation made between the houses of Guise Chastillon the miserable state of France a notable processe at Paris between the Vniuersitie and the Iesuites Vnder pretence of a passage to bee granted to the Spaniards to passe into the low Countries preparation was made to ouerrun those of the religion which constrained the Prince of Conde and his associates to seeke to defend themselues whereof ensued the second eiuill warres set downe with the most notable accidents therein happened Negotiation of peace which the Prince is constrained to accept This peace presently after conceiued a third ciuill warres The Prince and the Admirall hauing hardly saued themselues in Guyenne followed by diuers others The Princes first exployts edicts against those of the religion many warlike exployts betweene the contrarie armies Warres began to be in greater force in the yeare 1569. then euer they were before The Prince was slaine after the battell of Bassac the Prince of Nauarre declared generall of the armie and the Prince of Conde assistant A puissant armie of Almaines vnder the conduction of the Duke de Deux Ponts commeth to ayde them the incounter of la Roche la Belle the warres of Bearne the siege of Poictiers and Chastelleraud the battell of Moncontour What both the armies did after that The siege of S. Iohn d'Angely ouerthrowne the armie victorious Diuers exployts of wars in Poictou Guyenne Xaintongne and Angoulmois a great voyage through the Prouinces after the battell of Moncontour continuance of warres which is ended by the third edict of pacification and about the end of the yeare the king married the Emperours daughter a voyage made vnto the Queene of Nauarre for the marriage of her son with the king of France his sister Councels among those of the religion the death of the Cardinall of Chastillon The marriage aforesaid agreed vpon warres were pretended against the Spaniard the secret of the Court discouered the Queene of Nauarre went to Parris where she died the Princes and the Admirall came thither Contracts and espousals of the king of Nauarre most horrible bloodie and cruell councels and massacres of the Admirall and thirtie thousand of the religion in Parris and in many other Townes all the circumstances precedent and following set downe at large Many deuises to destroy those that were resting of the religion who in Rochel Sancerre Languedoc and other places resolued to stand in a iust defence of their cause the assieging and yeelding of Sancerre A notable discourse of the siege of Rochel from the beginning vntill the peace granted The state of those of the religion in Quercy Languedoc and other Prouinces where they ouerthrew their enemies and presently after reduced the king to such a stay that he was forced to begin againe who fell sicke as his brother went into Poland A deuise not ouer good for those of the religion The fourth troubles beganne at the massacres and ceased for a time at the peace of Rochel and began the fift by the enterprises against Rochel and Languedoc The wonderfull practises of the Queene-mother to maintaine her actions and to serue her turne by her third son against those of the religion The estate of diuers prouinces specially of Normandie where Monsieur was taken prisoner Warres in Poictou against those of the religion The Prince of Conde goeth into Almaine The sicknesse and death of the king HENRY THE THIRD THe Regents dealings during the warres in Normandie The estate of Languedoc Viuarais and Dauphine Montgommery beheaded in Parris The Prince of Conde chosen generall by those of Languedoc Warre in Poictou The arriuall of the new king escaped out of Poland The beginning of his actions The siege of Lusignen Warres in Dauphine Practises against those of Languedoc The death of Charles Cardinall of Lorraine The memorable siege of Liuron Conquests in Languedoc and elsewhere Negotiation of
of the league and resistance made by the heads Arrest of the Parliament of Chaalons against the Popes bull and assembly of the estates of the league Proceedings of the heads of the same Death of the Duke of Parma Attempts of the Duke of Maine after his death His declaration against the king 93. The king maketh answere to the Duke And his Councell offer a proposition to the estates of the league who are turned aside out of the way of peace by the Popes Legate and Spanish Ambassadour The king is solicited to go to Masse wherevnto the leaguers apply all their pollicies ouerthrown before by the Parliament of Parris The king maketh profession of the Romaine religion wherevpon ensueth a generall truce and new practise of the leaguers to withdraw the people from acknowledging him In the meane while the tragedies of Peter Barriere are a playing who desirous to haue a part in the league conspired against the life of the king and Duke de Nemours The leaguers turne themselues on euery hand for ther owne maintenance and to ruinate those of the religion Stratagems of certaine Polititians against the king who expresseth his good will to those of the religion and looseth that which he had conquered in Piedmont 94. He bringeth the league vnder subiection enforceth rebellious townes to their former obedience namely Parris where the Parliament opposeth it selfe against the Spanyardes After certaine goings too and fro to Rome the lesse desperate Leaguers are receiued to fauour Amongst others the Parisians who are woont to chase away the auncient enemies of France published a decree or arrest against the league and the Duke de Maine What ensued vpon a fauourable declaration of the king who in Picardie pursued the remainders of this vnion During this the Vniuersitie prosecuted the Iesuites Warre is noysed in Brittain and towards the lowe Countries About the end of the yeare a disciple of the Iesuites attempted to kill the king 95. Processe against the Iesuites and their secret complots discouered Warre proclaimed against the king of Spaine Leaguers of Soisson hewen in peeces Spaniards discomfited in the Dukedome of Luxembourg Warre in Franch-Countie Beaune surrendred to the king Memorable explopts both of one and other part Duke d'Aumale executed in his image and portrature The siege of Fere. The king obtaineth absolution from the Pope Estates of Picardie 96. Marseilles reduced vnder the kings obedience The Cardinall of Austria releeueth Fere and by force of armes taketh Callais and Ardes Neuerthelesse Fere is by composition deliuered into the kings hands Afterwards Marshall Biron made diuers incoursions into Artois And the amitie betweene the king the Queen of England and the vnited Prouinces of the low Countries was confirmed The king conuocateth the estates at Roan discouering briefly vnto them his intention Henry the seconde M. D. XLVII HENRY the second of that name and the 59. King of France Pharamond the only sonne of Francis the first that died vppon the 30. day of the moneth of March in the year of our Lord 1547. succeeded in the Crowne by order of succession according to the auncient salicque lawe of the land Hee while the Nobilitie were busied to prouide for the obsequie and funerals of his deceased father and staying for his sacrying anoynting in the moneth of Aprill following made and ordained an edict An edict against blasphemers to be published against blasphemers of the name of God which action made shewe of a notable and commendable beginning yet that so laudable a worke continued no longer in force then many others had done before it Neuerthelesse it wrought this effect that thereby it euidently appeareth that succession and not the sacrying and annoynting of a Prince is the chiefe originall of royall authoritie The 16. of Iulie the Court was much troubled by a contention and memorable action that happened betweene Messieurs de Iarnac and Chastegneraye gentlemen of great account that had defied each other by reason of certaine words vsed by one of them which had procured the other to giue the lie The King in steade of ending their cause by aduise of his Councell and to constraine the offender to satisfie the offended graunted them the combat wherevpon according to the Kings appoyntment they appeared vpon the day aforesaid at S. Germaines in Laye where in the presence of the King Princes Lords and others they entred into the lists There Monsieur Iarnac who by all the company was esteemed the weaker by reason he was newly recouered of a certaine sicknesse withall despised and litle fauored ouercame the other to whom before they entered into the combat euery man adiudged the victorie and wounded him in such sort that not long after he died to the Kings great griefe who vppon that occasion expresly forbadde all combats whatsoeuer in this manner hee beganne with a bloodie tragedie and ended with the like as heereafter you shall heare The King sacred at Reims The 27. of Iulie after hee was sacried and annoynted at Reims with all the auncient accustomed ceremonies therevnto belonging in the presence of twelue Peeres spirituall and temporall The spiritual were the Arch-bishop of Reims the Bishop of Langres Beauuais Noyon Laon and Challons the temporall the Duke of Bourgongne Normandie and Guyenne the Earles of Champagne Flaunders and Thoulouse Most part of the Princes Nobilitie of the Realme being likewise present with diuers Ambassadours of straunge nations But the Ambassadours of Florence Mantoue and Ferrare came not by reason of a controuersie that fell out between them concerning their preheminence of places and for that they could not agree therevppon they absented themselues till the cause was further debated The Constable exalted Anne de Montmorency Constable of France who certaine yeares before had been bannished the Court and secretly held at Chantilly as soone as Francis the first died was repealed againe and the new king committed the principall charge of the affaires of the Realme vnto him which at that time were executed by the Cardinall de Tournon the Admirall Annebaut who as then had good leisure to repose themselues yeelding their place to him whom the king termed his Gossep one that in times past had done him many seruices as afterward hee did Mesieurs de Longueual d'Espars de Boncour de Framezelle de Antipe the Barron de la Garde the Generall Bayard and others were narrowly sought and pursued for diuers secret causes in such sort that some of them were forced to saue themselues by the gilded Gate others by meanes of their friends Warres in in Scotland The king hauing made a Progresse into Picardie went further into the Realme and caused an Armie to bee leuied vnder the conduct of Monsieur D'esse to ayde the Queene Dowager of Scotland against the Englishmen causing her to be safely conducted into Scotland to the end to impeach the vnion of both those Realmes which might bee to the preiudice of France and thereby to
the particular profit and commoditie of some speciall men not that thereby hee pretended to leaue or forsake papisticall religion but protesting onely to doo it that hee might not bee surprised by such as vnder pretence of religion and reformation of abuses sought to imbase his kingly estate and dignitie which hee hoped to impeach by all iust and reasonable meanes that possible he might An edict against small dates and other abuses in the Court of Rome After this protestation hee published an edict made the yeare before touching the obtaining of Benefices against the deceites of pettie dates and other abuses vsed the Court of Rome and also touching the auncient arrests and edicts made against Annates and abuses of reseruations and exactions inuented by the Popes forbidding his subiects not to go to Rome for Annates nor any other occasions touching or concerning Benefices appoynting them to bee disposed and ordered by the ordinaries certifying into all places what wrong Pope Iulius did both to him and to Octauian Fernese Duke of Parma whom hee depriued of the place wherein hee had beene solemnly inuested The Cardinals and others of the Popes creatures in France fearing least this edict whervpon Charles de Moulin a Councel of great vnderstanding wrote a most learned Cōmentary in the which he discouered many terrible practises in Rome wold giue a hard push vnto the Papasie with earnest sute procured the King to publish and ordaine farre straighter and seuerer edicts then euer he did against the religion to the end that Iules the Cardinals on the other side of the mountaines might assure themselues of him to bee their friend as long as they seemed to agree with him Those ordinances were followed by diuers cruell and terrible executions in many places of the Realme against great numbers of the religion that were burned for most boldly confessing the truth of the Gospell reiecting mans traditions induced and brought into the Church and seruice of God Those that were assembled at Trent wrote vnto the king to induce him to accept and allow the decrees of their councell and to send the Bishops of his Realme vnto them as also to intreate him to be a meanes vnto the Switzers to send thither likewise but warre beeing open in all places and the Emperour hauing sent for the Spaniards that were in Almaine to make warre in Italie against Parma the pursuit of the Councell of Trent hung still vpon the field Preparation for warre in Lorraine Warres in this sort beeing kindled the King determined to assure himselfe of Lorraine beeing in some suspition of the Dutches that as then was Dowagar and hauing sent certaine companies into the frontiers the Emperour also strengthened all his fortes and places the one beholding the other with seuerall intents whereof in time the effects appeared The Princes of Almaine take counsel to deliuer themselues from seruitude Because the Emperor proceeced with the Almaine Prince in such sort as seemed inconuenient they not being acquainted with any such kinde of seruitude much lesse to bee in subiection of the Spaniards perceiuing that the King made preparation to set vpon the Emperour esteemed it a most fit good occasion for them to serue their turnes which King Henry of France thereby to abash the Emperour Charles and so to procure the meanes of better and more friendly vsage towardes them on his behalfe or else wholly to leaue them And therevppon entred into secret conference with the King to beseech him that it would please his Maiestie to imploy his meanes to procure the auncient libertie of the Germaines He thinking to haue found an entrie and means to attaine vnto most high and hautie enterprises thereby to abase the greatnesse and pride of his most glorious enemie and by that meanes to erect the honour of France willingly gaue eare vnto the Almaines and to the same end about the beginning of the yeare he sent the Bishop of Bayonne Tho Kings letters to the Protestant Prince vnto the Princes Electors with letters importing many protestations and offers of amitie as also shewing and declaring the many and great wrongs by the Emperour done vnto the Princes and towne of Almaine protesting that hee was fully resolued for their cause to imploy both his forces and his person to defend their rights and priuiledges not exspecting any recompence but onely honour to haue thereby deserued the good will and liking of so puissant a countrie as that of Germaine And therewith assuring them by the faith of a Prince that his only intent and meaning was to deliuer all the estates of Germaine from the oppressions of the Emperour and his Spaniards which hee likewise meant to do particularly in the behalf of his louing Cousin Iohn Duke of Saxon Philip Lant-graue of Hessen as then detained kept in miserable seruitude by the Emperor contrary to his oath promise And in the end of the letter he added these words We wil promise you likewise by the liuing God and before all the Kings Princes and Potentates of Christendome that our intent is not in any sort whatsoeuer to permit that either you in generall or any of you in particular of what estate or condition soeuer he bee shall suffer or endure any wrong or iniurie and much lesse will wee that beare the name of most Christian king permit that any damage or hurt shall be offered or committed either to the persons or goods of your most reuerend Prelates Abbots and other Ecclesiasticall persons as our aduersries haue most wrongfully giuen foorth but rather meane to take and receiue you into our protection and sauegarde so you will acknowledge it both vnto vs and to our allies and therein certifie vs of your whole and full intents hoping for the good and revnion of the Churche whiche is to bee expected by the recouerie of publique and auncient libertie wherein GOD willing wee will imploye all our force and meanes whatsoeuer Which most reuerend Prelates most noble Princes and other estates of the holie Empire we thought good to certifie vnto you to the ende you should not be ignoraunt of the cause of this our warres whereby we meane to pursue the Emperor both with fire and sword and although to our great disliking to cut him off as a putrified member from the bodie of the Common-wealth or at the least constraine him from henceforth from further molesting or troubling of your estate Effects contrary to words While the king in this sort termed himselfe the Protector of Almaine and defendor of the Countrey and nation of the holy Empire giuing a great hope of the revnion of the Church his Officers in many places of the realme burnt such as they called Lutherians and that agreed and consented to the doctrine holden and beleeued by most of the Princes Townes of Almaine open enemies to the traditions and ceremonies of the Pope On the other side he made great preparations for a voyage
villages of Picardie that had beene burnt during his beeing in Almaine They set fire likewise in an other goodly Castle belonging vnto the Queene of Hungarie then in Reux after that in Bauets The armie being past beyond Monts Hainaut Landreei Auanes le Quesnoy Vallenciennes and Cambray the Prince of Piedemont vsed all the meanes hee could to bee reuenged for those extreame losses but could not effect it the Frenchmen beeing strong and well conducted in the end about the tenth of August both the armies met neere vnto Renty where there chanced an indifferent hard incounter on both their partes Encounters of both the armies by Renty The Emperour lost about 800. or 900. men and the King two hundreth after the which skirmish winter opproaching the king dismissed his armie and that of the Emperour making towards Hesdin burnt and spoyled all the plaine countie and therein had done much hurt if the Duke de Vandosme that laye not farre from thence had not resisted him Continuance of warre In spring time the warre beganne againe betweene the two Princes and the report of the courses made by the Emperours armie gaue occasion to the Frenchmen to enterprise vppon the Castle of Cambresis which was presently taken by assault and good warre holden with the Spaniards Maruembourg was victualled by Bourdillon Lieftenant to the Duke de Neuers The king and the Queene of England intreated the Emperour and the King of France to make a peace wherein Cardinall Pole an Englishman Vaine treatie of peace trauelled much as then all flaming with fire against those of the religion who at that time were most sharply handled within the Realme of England This treatie of peace beganne with great bruit but in fine it vanished like smoke and warre beganne againe stronger then euer it was The Duke de Neuers and the Admirall de Chastillon beeing made Gouernours of Picardie because the Duke de Vandosme as then king of Nauarre and Soueraigne of Bearc by meanes of his wife was gone to take possession of his new estates tooke good order both for the victualling and keeping of the places and frontiers of the countrie notwithstanding not long after as some of the Garrisons of Picardie marching with 1500. horses of the French rereward called the companies of Nobilitie and foure hundreth footemen had in such sort ouerrunne the countrie that in fine they returned al laden with spoyles The rereward of France ouer throwne being ledde by la Iaille their Generall Haulsmont Gouernour of Bapaulme finding them inclosed betweene a Wood a Village and a Riuer whereof hee caused the passages to bee broken downe and surely kept without espials order feare of the enemie or hurt charged them so couragiously with a small company of men that in short space he made them loose both courage bootie and liues at his discretion where la Iaille was hurt aboue fiue hundreth taken prisoners some escaped and the rest slaine Those of Hannuyers and Arcesiers men much giuen to derision made it a cōmoniest saying that they had taken Nobles of France without waight but to say the truth there was as then but fewe Nobles in those troupes onely certaine Wagoners and Pages that were imployed in the muster and to make a shew sent by Widdowes and Orphanes of Gentlemen deceased or by the Lords of certaine fief rated at certaine values To assure Picardie the king went into Villiers Costerez sending the Duke of Guise further vppon the frontiers and the Admirall into the middle of the Prouince The estate of Predemōt touching the warres betweene the Emperor the king of France Now I must shew you what was done in the warres of Piedemont and other places beyond the Mountaines The Marshall de Brissac who the winter before had taken Iuree and Bielle in the spring time fortified S. Iaco tooke Crepa-cuore by means of Monsieur Saluaison by a surprise most brauely executed got Casal de Montferrat a towne Castle a place of great importāce spoyled Poman S. Saluadour and other small places not to bee holden and hardly to bee strengthened and fortied in any conuenient time The Duke of Alue hauing succeded Gonzague in the Gouernment of Lombardie about the end of Iulie entered into the field with 20000. foote 4000. horse and 40. cannons and besieged S. Iaco wherein were Captaines Birague and Vimercat who constrained the Duke to retire from Pont de Sture where he fortified himselfe hoping by famine to constraine such places to yeeld as hee durst not besiege The king sent foure thousand foote and foure thousand horse to strengthen Marshall de Brissacs forces Taking and spoyling of Vulpian who perceiuing himselfe so strong besieged Vulpian and by Kochepose ouerthrew the Dukes forces sent to ayde them by force tooke the basse Towne and soone after the Castle by composition was yeelded Vulpian had the walles rased and beaten downe and not long after Mont-Coluo a Towne and Castle yeelded vnto the Frenchmen These things were done in the moneths of September and October not long afer the Dukes troupes by meanes of an Ambascado placed hard by Iucise slewe and tooke certaine French souldiers whereby they wrought some small reuenge for their great losses at Vulpian and Mont-Caluo A particular discourse of the warre of Siene from the beginning to the end Before I leaue the affaires beyond the Mountaines it is necessarie I should say something touching the warres of Siene that fell out and kindled in this yeare beginning at the originall thereof During the siege of Metz the Emperour beeing ceased of Siene an auncient and famous Towne in the territories of Tuscane placed Don Diego de Mendosse Gouernour therein with a Garrison of Spaniards Don Diego vsing rigor more therein then was conuenient the Sienois not content therewith beganne to conspire against him hee vnder colour of fauouring the people caused the Gentlemen to leaue their armes which done he beganne to molest both the one and the other who consulting togither sent vnto the king to desire him to receiue them into his protection which hee consented vnto The Fugitiues of of Sienie in the kings name beganne to raise men throughout Italie vnder the conduct of the counte Petillane Hieronyme de Pise Maire de Sainctefior The Duke of Florence sent eight hundreth men to ayde Mendosse But the Sienois mooued at the newe extortions raised vppon them let foure thousand men cōducted by the Counte de Petillone enter into the towne that draue out the Spaniards but not without great losse on both parts part of the Spaniards hauing saued themselues without cannon within the Iacopius and in the Citadell were entred vppon by force and put to the sword Their Generall and others of the Florentine Captaines issued by composition and ceased vpon Orbitelle a place not farre from thence which they fortified The Emperour beeing returned into Almaine after the siege raised before Metz commaunded Don Garsie de Tolede Viceroye of Naples to
Counsell giuen the king against the peace and quietnesse of his Realme The king hauing agreed with his forraine enemies with whom all men hoped a most sure and perpetuall alliance to be made was againe put in minde and counselled to redouble the hard and cruell punishments by him deuised against those of the religion who in the middle of those troubles had much increased thoughout all the Realme And so in steed of spirituall meanes to be vsed in things concerning the soule diuers euil Councellors to this Prince caused him to conceiue an extream hatred to those of the religion filling his eares with many vnworthie terrible reports against them Monsieur d'Andelot first felt it being for religion committed prisoner in Melun wherevpon many discontentments and suspitions grewe among the most noble houses whereof ensued diuers and many mischiefes which after the death of king Henry began to increase who hauing vnderstood that in the Parliament of Parris many and diuers iudgements were made touching the condemnation of such as were accused for religioÌ„ was counselled to sit in person at a Mercurialist iudgement Mercuriales and imprisonment of certaine Councellors in Parris within the Augustines because as then the Pallace was preparing and making readie for the marriages that there hee might heare and vnderstand the aduise of all his Presidents and Councellours Others of the same Councel esteemed that the presence of the king wold but abash such as seemed to oppose therin and that so those of the religion remaining without support and condemned they would in fine procure the execution of their desires But it fell out cleane contrary for that some Councellours said and flatly affirmed that it would be more conuenient to deale with lesse rigour against those of the religion vntill such time as by a free and generall counsell they had beene shewed their errour Hee that spake boldest and plainest was Anne de Bourg a man of great learning and pietie The king that neuer had heard any speech of such importance commaunded the Constable to leade du Bourg and other Councellours prisoners to aunswere their obiections swearing in great chollour that hee would see the end Wherevpon Monsieur Montgommery Captaine of the guard ledde du Bourg into the Bastille the rest into other places Meane time those of the religion were hardly pursued in euery place who during those troubles in the moneth of May caused a Sinode to be holden by all their Pastors A Sinode of the religion in Parris Deacons and ancients within the Towne of Parris wherein the Articles of the Doctrine and Discipline of the reformed Churches throughout all the Realme were written and set downe Meane time the Courtiers sought and deuised all the meanes of ioyes and pleasures they could inuent thereby to solemnise the royall marriages both of the Kings daughter and of his sister I speake not of the murther committed vppon the person of a renowmed Player of Comodies who at that time had made most magnificall preparations therewith to reioyce the Court that was slaine in the house of Reims by his owne seruants so that all his preparations were layd aside Preparation for the marriages neither yet of the Queenes Dreame nor of the apprehensions and discourses of diuers Politicians who were of opinion that this great Wheele of earthly prosperities would shortly turne about onely I will shew you that the sighes of prisoners for religion the horrible torments vsed to some of them and the earnest prayers of infinit numbers of families threatned and that wel perceiued that the peace had beene agreed vppon betweene the Frenchmen and the Spaniards thereby to make a warre with them that neuer should haue an end were the winds that hoysed vp the wonderful and strange alterations which the wise and prouident counsell of God in short time after made to appeare Marriage of the King of France his daughter with king Phillip Elizabeth of France hauing been solemnely ledde and conducted by the King her father > vnto the Cathedrall church of Parris and there most magnifically and in great triumph espoused by the Duke d'Alue Deputie for the king of Spaine his Maister The espousals done by the Cardinall de Bourbon and after fiers of ioy made for the peace the reioycings of the people glad of that rest quietnesse the Banquets Proclaimations and Ceremonies accustomed with all maiestie performed assisted by so many Noble Princes Lords Gentlemen Cardinals Officers and Domesticall seruants both of the King and Queenes houshould there likewise beeing present the Dukes of Sauoy and Alue the Prince of Aurange the Counte d'Aiguemont and other Lords of the lowe Countries in great numbers and after the sumptuous banquets playes maskes and daunces followed the last act which changed all those ioyfull and pleasant Comodies into bloodie and mornfull Tragedies wherein the king played the lamentable Prologue for that hauing published a running at Tilt to bee performed within S. Anthonies streete Atourney in S. Aâ—thoniesstreete where against the aduise of those that besought him to leaue that exercise to such as should shewe him pleasure therein he would in person be a principall actor seconded by the Dukes of Guise and Ferrare But the second day of his running hauing runne verie often the Queene desired him to leaue off saying that the Duke of Sauoy might supply his place He sent her word by the Marshall de Montmorency that hee would runne but once more and that for the loue of her Wherevppon hauing sent a Launce to the Counte de Montgommory commanding him to runne against him and the Counte earnestly excusing himselfe eyther for the respect hee bare vnto his Prince or fearing to faile as the first day hee had many times done not once touching any against whome hee ranne The King sent him expresse commaundement not to refuse him With that the Earle ranne and breaking his Launce vppon the Kinges Cuirasse The king sore hurt with a splinter of a lance a splinter thereof entered into the Kinges Vizarde not beeing well closed and by chaunce ranne into his eye so farre in that his head festered Wherewith the King presently beganne to fall by reason of the blowe but the Princes and Lordes ranne to him and ledde him into his Pallace of Touernelles where in great dolor and paine he died vpon the tenth day of Iuly He died in the flower of his age in the thirteenth yeare of his raigne and the fortie and two yeare of his age the day before his death he desired that the marriage of the Duke of Sauoy and Lady Margaret his sister should be celebrated in his Chamber and that whatsoeuer had beene accorded vnto by the treatie of peace touching the Duke should wholly bee performed His heart was buried in the Temple of Celestins in the Chappell of the Dukes of Orleans his royall Obsequies were celebrated vppon the thirteene day of August and his bodie buried at Saint Dennis in the Common
indure that any thing should bee done to preiudice his person that being iudged by thē al to be most reasonable iust euery man swore not to attempt any thing but onely for the good profit and moditie of their king and naturall Lord as also the beginning of the Articles of their accord was framed in these words Protestation made by the head The solemne protestation of the confederates and al his Councell not to attempt any thing against the Maiestie of the King Princes of the blood nor the lawfull State of France After all their consents giuen they determined vppon that which was most requisit for the execution where Renaudie hauing shewed them his minde sware and made all the company to sweare And among them it was agreed that vpō the tenth of March the apprehension of those of Guise should bee performed within the Towne of Blois where they presumed the King would still remaine Fiue of these Gentlemen of each Prouince with other forces were to accompany Renaudie vnder the conduct of the Barron of Chastelnau and others for the troupes of all the Prouinces They likewise prouided for many other things that might impeach this great and hautie enterprise The company beeing withdrawne euery man with his commission Order giuen for the execution and the place of meeting agreed vppon vppon the last of Februarie Renaudie hauing aduertised the Prince what had beene done at Nantes hee tooke exact order and that in great diligence and almost incredible for all that was to bee required therein on his behalfe and not long after beeing come to Parris there with more commoditie to effect his promise he laye in the subburbes of S. Germaine with a certain Councellor of the Court of Parliament named Des Auenelles that had a house furnished after the manner of Parris This Auenelles that made profession of religion perceiuing much resort of many seueral persons into his house Des Auenelles discouered the enterprise against those of Guise vnderstāding somwhat by their words in the end hee fully perceiued their intent so that he likewise promised them to imployed himselfe therein but hauing with himselfe apprehended the danger hee beeing poore couetous and desirous of aduancement thought to haue found the meanes to helpe himselfe and with another of the same humour went to one of the Maisters of Requests called l'Alemant Agent for the Cardinall and Milet Secretarie to the Duke of Guise to whom he shewed the whole pretence How the Guisians prouided for themselues The matter proceeding in this sort those of Guise the Chancellor and the Queene were made acquainted therewith and Des Auenelles hauing had some reward was sent frō Blois to Parris there to giue out false reports against those of the religion Besides that those of Guise sent letters in the name of the king and of his mother vnto the Admirall and his brethren to will them to come vnto the Court. They likewise gathered people on all sides and wrote vnto all Bailiffes and Seneschales to stay all men both horse and foote that should bee found bearing of armes and trauelling to Amboise Touching the Admirall hee beeing arriued made great protestation vnto the Queen-mother in presence of the Chancellor touching the great and extreame rigors vsed against those of the religion desiring her to cause those persecutions to bee ended till they might haue a holy and free councell Where vppon the Chauncellor did so liuely set down the Admirals aduise before the Councell the Guisians beeing present Edist of abolition touching religion that presently there ensued an edict of abolition of all forepassed ordinanced concerning the religion excluding out of that pardon the Ministers and such as should be found to haue conspired against the king his mother his wife the Princes his principall officers and the Estate also such as by force had rescued prisoners out of the Officers handes and taken the kings packets and slaine his messengers This edict was made in the beginning of March which notwithstanding la Renaudie left not off to pursue his enterprise although hee knewe it well to bee disclosed The Prince ryding vnto the Court to shewe the King and his Councell the information giuen against those of Guise assoone as they should be taken and to require a Parliament of all the estates being betweene Orleans and Blois hee vnderstood that all had beene discouered which notwithstanding he passed forward thereby to encourage his men And beeing arriued at Amboises those of Guise braued him as much as possible they might but hee making a shewe as if hee knewe not what they ment put them in no little feare The chaunging of place caused la Renaudie to stay in a place called la Carreliere The maruellous resolutiō of la Renaudie others Lignieres discouereth the enterprise about 6. myles from Amboise with the principall of his Councell the day of executiō was appoynted to be vpō the 6. of that month in such sort that those of Guise although they knewe thereof had found themselues in no small daunger with all their adberents had it not been for Captaine Lignieres who approaching neare Amboise to bee assistant at the enterprise instead of ayding them went vnto the Court and there particularly described the names of the Leaders their meeting-place with all the circumstances The Queen-mother alledging for his excuse that hee did it to saue the honour of the Prince whom hee perceiued to be wrongfully accused of treason and thereby in daunger of his life by which meanes the company was no sooner arriued at the place appoynted but that they were taken and ledde prisoners one after the other not once being able to ioyne themselues togither those of Guise in the meane time assembled men on all sides which fell out well for them discouered diuers Pistoles and other weapons brought in Trunkes which were presently ceased vpon and by that means they brought the prisoners by dozens and scores into Amboise wherevppon the twentieth of March all the kings guard were changed and the Gate where the companies of Renaudie and his troupes should haue entered was closed vp The Barron de Chastelnau and Captaine Mazieres beeing arriued in the subburbes of la Riche in Tours and there discoued What happened to the Baron de Chastelnau and his company were set vpon by the Counte de Sancerre but hauing resisted him as hee thought to cease vppon them hee was constrained in all haste to retire and yet without any hurt eyther to him or his from thence the Barron and his companie went to the Castle of Noisay where hee found the principall dealers in that enterprise Those of Guise hauing made the king beleeue that certaine rebells were assembled to murther him hee sent the Duke de Nemours with a troupe of men who hauing surprised Raunay and Mazieres walking without the Castle tooke them prisoners many of their men saued themselues some one way some an another Nemours
hauing inuironed the Castle with a strong guard brought them two vnto Amboise after dinner returned againe with a troupe of fiue or sixe hundreth horses The Barron had sent Renaudie to make haste to come to relieue him not minding to abandon the place wherein hee found both armes powder and munition But perceiuing himselfe inclosed and the Duke returned againe hee beganne to parley being required therevnto and hauing at large declared the causes of that their enterprise the Duke oftentimes desired him to leaue his armes and to come and speake with the king binding himselfe vnto him by the faith of a Prince that neyther hee nor any of his should once be hurt but all freely set at libertie The Barron assuring himselfe vppon the word of a Prince was content to doo as hee desired the like did all the rest But beeing in Amboise they spake not vnto any man but onely to such as the Duke of Guise would send vnto them La Renaudie the same day being aduertised what had past at Noisay commaunded the troupes that were beyond the riuer to march straight vnto Amboise which they did within the wood but beeing stayed and intrapped The troupes sent by Renaudie taken and surprised by the horsemen sent thither by those of Guise most of them were taken who being ledde prisoners were presently hanged and then cast into the water those that were best apparrelled and likeliest men were slaine within the woods to spoyle them of that they had Therest of the troupes stayed for in the place appoynted were taken and the Souldiers were tyed by 15. in a companie at horses tailes and so cast into prison The Duke of Guise king in effect Therevppon the 17. of March letter were sent out by the which after a long discourse made against the prisoners of Amboise the Duke of Guise was by the king declared his Lieftenant Genenerall with all power to raise in both foote horse therewith to punish the rebelles without any other forme or manner of Iustice Other letters were sent out the same day with commmaundement vnto al those that were in armes readie to come vnto Amboise beeing aduertised by their leaders Meanes to dispearse the troupes and vppon their faiths giuen should within 24. houres after the sight of those letters depart and get them home into their countries vpon paine to bee hanged if they once presumed to do the contrary The death of Renaudie The next day as Renaudie sought to assemble his troupes hee was met in the Forrest of the Castle Regnaut by one named Pardillan that shot a Pistole at him but hauing fayled Renaudie slewe him but one of Pardillans seruaunts with a shot of a Caliuer flewe Renaudie his bodie was carried vnto Amboise hanged vppon the Bridge with a writing made fast to his necke containing these words La Renaudie called la Forest chiefe of the rebels The death of la Renaudie was the cause that diuers of those which ment to assemble separated themselues and so retired But no man made any great pursuite after them Renaudie had with him fiue hundreth horse followed by 1000. more not accounting the footemen Among the rest of the prisoners there was one la Bigne that had beene Secretarie vnto la Renaudie about whom was found a paper written in Ciphers and to saue his lise he disciphered the paper which contained nothing but onely that which had been concluded by al the Associates with their expresse protestation not to attempt any thing against the kings Maiestie the Princes of his blood nor against the State of the Realme the articles tending onely to this poynt to take the Gouernment from those of Guise and to cause the auncient custome of France to be obserued by a lawfull Parliament Hee was likewise found ceased with an humble petition vnto the king in the behalfe of those of the religion wherein the vniust proceedings of the Cardinall against the Parliament of Parris Anna du Bourg with others were fully discouered Those of Guise at the first The souldt-diers that were prisoners released wold not haue saued any of the prisoners but thinking that the ouer great number that should bee executed would make them to be hated of all men caused the souldiers to bee set at libertie and to each man they gaue a teston to bring them on their way The Captaines la Motte Cocqueuille and others had not lost courage but gaue a whot alarme vnto the Courtiers of Amboise and had it not beene by meanes of some wrong intelligence that constrained them to retire without losse of their horsemen the enterprise had surely been executed but it was nothing but a meanes to kindle the chollor of those of Guise who that last time caused all the footemen that might bee taken presently to bee hanged and as then it was a most daungerous time for all sorts of men eyther souldiers Marshants or others to bee found abroad without Amboise for that the least hurt they could receiue was presently to bee spoyled and stripped of all they had and then the theeues who vnder colour to ayde the king to whom a new guard was giuen composed onely of such kinde of men both horse and foote committed most straunge and cruell extortions The first execution of the prisoners Those of Guise perceiuing the troupes that ment to cease vpon them to bee gone and the rest in prison and being ayded by those that from all places came to helpe them beganne to make pursuit after such as were retiring whereof some they tooke they commaunded the Prince of Conde in the Kings name not to depart from the Court without expresse licence and beganne to hang drowne and behead their prisoners which continued for the space of one whole moneth All the riuer of Loire being couered with dead bodies tyed by sixe eight tenne twelue and fifteene at long Poles the streetes of Amboise lay full of dead mens blood and euery place was hanged with dead bodies many were hanged at the windowes of the Castle and to make men beleeue that all this proceeded onely from those of the religion that sought to establish themselues by armes they questioned with the greatest part of them touching the Articles of their faith The kings complaints against the Guisians and disputed with them of the poynts of the religion now in controuersie therby to blinde matters and not once touching that which wholly concerned the Estate and for which cause the enterprise was taken inhand Some that returned according to the kings permission being intrapped and brought prisoners to Blois found frends that sent vnto the king the Queen his mother to procure their deliuerance but by no meanes they could be spoken withall the soliciters beeing threatned to bee cut and hewed in peeces if they happened to present themselues before the king he would oftentimes in weeping say vnto them What haue I done vnto my people what mean they to deale thus with
Garde venturing against the faith and promise made to set vppon Paulon beeing within a straight thing Periury of Captaine Paulon to put both him and his troupes vnto the sword not beeing aboue 50. Souldiers was himselfe inclosed by Paulon that offered him battell but the Barron forgetting his fence although he had tenne times more men then his enemie and a good intent do do great seruice to those of Guise that had dispoyled him of estate of Generall of the Galleyes to giue it vnto the great Prior of France their brother bledde at the nose and by means of a new Capitulation renounced the Councell of Constance and retired with great shame after that for a long time holding himselfe secretly his name seruing for a mockery and ieast to all the world Mouuans flattered by his enemies to be intrapped answereth them in plain French Paulon perceiuing himselfe to bee but hardly bestead in his owne countrie because of the successe of the enterprise of Amboise and of the particular threatnings against him made by the Duke of Guise because of the troubles he had raised in Prouence for a time withdrewee himselfe vnto Geneua whither the Duke sent men expressely to practise with him by infinit promises both by word of mouth and writing in commendations of his vertues and admiring of his valour aboue al the Captains in Prouence to mooue him to return into his countrie But Paulons aunswere to the Duke of Guise was that as long as hee knewe him to bee an enemie both to the religion and the State and that he vsurped the places of the Princes of the blood hee might well assure himselfe to haue Mouuans his mortall enemie and although a poore Gentleman yet one that hath so good credit with the true seruants subiects to the king that they at least fistie thousand where of hee was the least would imploye both liues and goods to cause him to make amends for al the wrongs by him committed against the good subiects and seruants to the king and that hee might be fully assured that as long as one of them both liued hee should neuer bee quiet nor liue in any assurance of his life nor any of his race seeing hee had so much incensed and prouoked the Nobilitie and people of France Not long before his departure out of France hee said Mouuans receiued letters from the king himselfe and from the Queene-mother wherein they gratified him very much as one of the most faithfull and affectioned seruants to his Maiestie promising him great fauour and withall ratifying the accord made by the Counte Gouernour of Prouence But at the same instant Mouuans was aduertised that the Queene-mother had expressely sent vnto the Parliament in Aix that they should finde the means to cause him to cause Mouuans Chasteauneuf and other Captaines that were of the enterprise of Amboise to bee slaine Aduancement of the religion in diuers Prouinces At the same time those of the religion multiplyed in Normandie and Preaching was publikely vsed in diuers places Those of Rouan were troubled by an Anabaptist that was taken and burnt The Church of Tours was much troubled by the seditious dealings of the runnagate Monke named Richelieu Captaine of the Kings new guard but by silence and patience is kept togither the Towne hauing failed twise or thrise to be lacked and spoyled in all the other Prouinces of the Realme those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be wholly destitute of humain ayde tooke a notable resolution not to addresse themselues any more to seeke the helpe of man but what daunger so euer might happen determined to assemble to pray to God to heare his word and to continue in true obedience thereof liuing in great loue and concord one with the other and with much edification to the Catholicques who in great troupes lest the Masse to make profession both of contrary life and doctrine The Queene-mother perceiuing that those of the religion addressed themselues no more to her willed one of her Maisters of Requests called Chastelleus to vse the meane that la Roche one of the Ministers of Parris should come vnto her or some other in his place to conferre with him about somes meanes whereby to procure the quietnesse of those the religion La Roche not being found and they of Tours beeing desired in his place to send Duplessi their Minister they excused themselues beseeching the Queen to content her selfe with letters that should bee written vnto her which shee seemed not to dislike Wherevppon a large discourse was written vnder a deuised name of Theophile for those of the religion wherein after certaine protestations of their sinceritie the depths and grounds of their great griefes against the house of Guise was fully showne then diuers remedies wisely propounded whereby to preuent a ciuell warre which were that prouision should bee made for the good gouernment of the Realme and a Councel to be giuen vnto the king according to the auncient customes of the Realme that to staye and remedie the differences of religion a holy and free councel should be holden and that in the meane time those of the religion should be permitted to liue in peace of conscience and according to the profession of their faith Declarationâ— of the religion against the house of Guise This declaration beeing by Camus deliuered to the Queen-mother fell into the hands of those of Guise which construed it in many sorts to know who that Theophilâ— might bee The messenger was oftentimes in danger of his life and in the end he beeing troubled and tormented in diuers kindes and knowing that such as had giuen it vnto him would not bee knowne but kept themselues secret hee shewed their names in presence of the Queene-mother and those of the house of Guise who likewise charged him to bee of the conspiracie of Ambotse but in stead of beeing secret he tolde them much more truth then they desired to heare and yet hee got out of their hands by vertue of the generall abolution made in the beginning of the raigne of Charles the ninth The Guises proceedings too The Guises perceiuing themselues to bee so much noted and daylie hated in euery place of the Realme specially by those of the religion determined wholly to roote them out and to the same end wrote vnto the King of Spaine and other Catholicque Princes laying the fault vppon those of the religion touching all the troubles that happened in France as also the conspiracie of Amboise To the Princes protestants they wrote that the many and great executions made in France was onely vppon certaine Sacrementaries open enemies vnto the confession of Ausbourg Besides that their intent was to establish the Inquisition in France wherein they thought the Chancellor de l'Hospitall would bee assistant which he did not but like a wise Polititian as he was hee withstood their blowes in such manner that when in the moneth of May the edict of Spaine should haue
to be dead although hee departed not his life till about fiue of the clocke at night not long before his death those of Guise went to shut themselues within their lodgings from whence in 36. houres after they neuer came foorth before such time as that they had a full assurance both from the Queene-mother and also from the king of Nauarre and before that they carried vnto their houses the summe of three or foure score thousand Frankes that rested in the treasor wherevnto no man resisted which made all men suppose that the Queene-mother suffered them to do it the better to maintaine her selfe in time to come A chaunge in the court Assoone as the king was dead the Queene-mother sent for the Constable vnto Estampes in all speed to repaire vnto the Court at his arriuall hee discharged the guard that were placed by those of Guise to keepe the Gates of Orleans the Prince of Conde continued prisoner in Orleans tenne ortwelue daies after the kings death he neuer hauing had the credit once to see him during his imprisonment after that he was sent with a guard vnto Han from whence hee went to Roye there to attend the issue of his proces in other sort then eyther his friendes or enemies once conceiued Deliuery of those of the Religion Those of the religion that had still remained in long continuall prayers in their most secret assemblies for certaine daies beganne to lift vp their heades being all prepared and readie to die if the king had liued but certaine weekes longer The king of Spaines troupes marching towards Bearn were countermanded and so retired without any exploit Monluc that was promised by those of Guise to be made Counte de Armignac and stayed for them in that countrie retired vnto his house as others adherents vnto them which did the like the most secret seruants that those of Guise could haue within the Court presented thēselues with al humilitie vnto the K. of Nauarre The inconstancie of the Court. discouering vnto him the certaintie of those affaires that should haue bin executed against his person But the Queen-mother would not permit that neither then nor at any time after such things should once be spoken of thereby fearing as she said some great trouble that might arise But it fell out cleane contrary for that for want of taking order therin whē time serued it grew to such an issue that both she and her sonnes hauing neuer seen any other thē mischiefs were deep sunck into them that before they died they neuer could find any certaine issue how to auoyde them The Admirall among the rest wheresoeuer hee came glorified the wonderfull workes of God Constancie of the Admarall who at that time had deliuered him out of the hands of his most mortall enemies euen at such time as they thought most to triumph ouer him Those of Guise besought the Queene to make him to bee silent yet he ceased not to offer and also to iustifie thē to be culpable of diuers poynts of treason if it pleased her to permit that iustice might bee giuen accordingly Shee not seeming to hearken therevnto desired him to thinke well of them and from that time to liue in peace assuring him to set good order among them His aunswere was that to shewe a good countenance vnto those that had purchased his death charged his honour procured the confiscation of his goods with the totall ruine and ouerthrow of his house his kinred and friends he could not do it without shewing a double hart which was a thing cleane contrary to his religion and not fitte for any honest man to do yet he remitted the vengeance vnto God that could well do it when hee should see his time seeing men would not permit him to haue iustice Those of Guise desiring not to bee farre from the assembly of the Estates wherein they feared some earnest matter would be propounded against them King Francis that had been so much mooued against those of the religion is buried after their manner caused the bodie of the dead king to bee conuaied by Sansac and la Brosse vnto Saint Denis where without any solemnitie or royall pompe it was buried The Duke of Guise as then great maister and hauing ceased vppon the last receipts of mony not long before the king died with whom hee kept companie in his life was much dispraised and euill thought of by reason of that great fault wherevnto his seruants aunswered that as then hee had no more neede of the kings helpe by whom he had serued his turne so wel but that thencefoorth hee was to looke vnto himselfe and to seeke to eleuate his house Such was the raigne of Francis the second that died at the age of 17. years lacking one month in the 17. month of his raigne the 17. day of his sicknesse and the 17. houre after midnight and because that during the short time of his raigne the seedes of ciuill dissention were sowen and scattered in France which hitherto haue endured for the space of twise seuenteene yeares I thought at large herein to declare all that had passed in this kings time the better to please the Readers mindes Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Francis the second Charles the ninth M.D.LX. The Regencie confirmed to the Queen mother FRANCIS the second being dead without issue Charles his third brother succeeded in his place Son to Henry the second the second called Louys dying an infant borne the 27. of Ianuarie 1550. vppon the 20. of December in open Councell where the yong king was brought accompanied with the king of Nauarre and other Princes of the blood with diuers Lords and principall Councellours an order was established for the mannaging of affaires and the Regencie confirmed vnto the Queene The Parliament Two daies after the Estates assembled in a great Hall within Orleans where the Chancellor made an Oration wherin he shewed to what end an assembly in that sort was to be holdē why they had assembled what good would happen therby wholly confuting those that were in doubt to haue them meet painting them out in all their colours After that hee propounded the means to appease all troubles The Chancellors Oration shewing wherein they might relieue both the Estate and religion inclining to a Councell exhorting them on all parts to a perfect vnion and quietnesse of mind lastly he spake of the kings debts which done hee ended his Oration and so for that time the assembly came foorth The next day after certain disputations were holden to know if the Deputies might as then enter into a Councell after the kings death De Rochefort for the Nobilitie whereby it seemed all their Commissions not to bee of any force which beeing decided they beganne with Orations Monsieur de Rochefort speaking for the Nobilitie approoued the Regencie of the Queen-mother complained of the iurisdictions vsurped by the
Clargie of the disorders happened among the Nobilitie and of the wrongs done vnto them set downe the meanes to gouerne the Spiritualtie and to maintaine them within their bounds spake for the comfort of the people specially concerning iustice shewing that the Offices for iustice oght to bee freely giuen iustice reduced to a certaine necessary number of Officers and that the Nobilitie ought not to be secluded from the administration thereof After that he spake touching the disorders vsed in confiscations against seditions besought the King to receiue and maintaine the Nobilitie in their priuiledges and withall presented a request wherein was required the vse of certaine Churches for the Nobilitie de l'Ange for the third Estate that as then made profession of the religion One named l'Ange speaking for the third Estate intreated principally against the ignorance auarice and carelessenesse of the Cleargie thereof inferring that such faults ceasing in them all troubles would soone be ended Iohn Quintin Autunois professor of the ciuill lawe in Parris appoynted to make an Oration for the Cleargie whom the Cardinal of Lorraine had preferred De Quintin for the Cleargie as also for the Nobilitie and third Estate but all in vaine spake much but with much dirision pronouncing nothing but by writing and that with smal grace hauing for his cōtrowlers diuers of the principall Prelates Cardinals of the Realme The summe of his Oration after many and great commendations vttered in the behalfe of the Queene-mother was to shewe the principall causes of the assembly of the Estates not to deale in any thing touching the reformation of religion which cannot erre but rather to solicite and commaund the Ministers of the same duly and truly to execute their charges and not to permitany other religion then that of Rome wherevppon hee made a long inuection against those of the religion such as had desired Churches saying that hee which had beene the messenger and presenter of their request in a manner openly charging the Admiral set right against and face to face with that Orator oght to be holdē declaredan Hereticque against him as be-being one they oght to proceed according to the rigor both of cannō ciuil lawes thereby to roote the mischiefe out of the heart of France Hee compared those of the religion vnto the Arians the Lords that fauored thē to the Traitor Gainas in the time of Arcadius vsed all his eloquence to prooue the antiquitie of the Romish religion and that those of the religion in France were dispersed people and such as sought to induce an Anarchie wholly vnworthie of any support or good intertainment requiring the prohibition of all bookes not allowed by the Doctors of the Sorbonistes concluding therewith to desire that all those of the religion might bee wholly rooted out and extinguished which done hee directed his speech vnto the king and his mother making request for the maintaining of the persons and goods of the Cleargie for their elections for the obseruations of the ancient Cannons for the exemption of Tithes contributions and cotisations wherevppon hee made almost a whole houres worke Lastly hee pleaded without request for the Nobilitie for the third Estate for the gouernment of iustice and to conclude made a long discourse of the institution of a king The next day the Admirall complained vnto the king to the Queen mother of the presumptious ignorance of de Quintin A payment for de Quintin Orator for the Cleargie that had so openly charged him touching the presenting of a request in the behalfe of the religion at Fontainbleau Quiutin excused himselfe vpon the lesson that had been giuen in writing and in his second Orarion denied his first to please the Admirall and not long after died of sorrowe and greefe perceiuing himselfe so well discouered by diuers answeres made vnto his Oration wherein his Apostacie his slaunders and his falsehoodes were fully set downe In the beginning of this yeare the Spiritualtie had commandement from the king to bee at the Councell of Trent and commission likewise was giuen vnto all Iudges and other Officers Order touching religiō that they should presently release both bodies and goods of all such prisoners that then were kept or holden in prison for religion defence beeing made to all men whatsoeuer not to iniurie them nor their religion vppon paine of death The States continued their conference at Orleans where the Cittizens of Orleans were much greened that in the last kings time those of Guise had filled their houses with souldiers that had fedde vpon them at their owne pleasures complaining that the Duke de Nemours held a great number secretly in diuers places to do some suddaine exploit The king of Nauarre and the Constable beeing appeased the Queen-mother caused all that complaint to cease contenting themselues that the Duke disauouched them all There rested yet another stoppe which caused the Parliament to bee reiourned vntill the month of May next after ensuing to be holden at Pontoise The King of Nauarre and the Channcellor desiring the estates to take order that the Kings debts might be paide The breaking vp of the Parliament offering to shewe them a particular rolle thereof The King of Nauarre saying further that if by accounts they founde that he hadde receiued any extraordinary giftes hee woulde freely restore them againe But those of Guise and others that coulde not saye the like did so much that those matters proceeded not any further in question hoping that time would cause them to speake of other things then restitutions Not long after the Prince of Conde recalled vnto the Court came from la Fere The King iustifieth the Prince of Conde to Fontainbleau and the next day after his arriuall entred into counsell vpon the thirteenth of March where in presence of them all the king declared that hee had beene sufficiently certified of his innocency permitting him to make a second declaration thereof at the Court of Parliament in Parris whither not long after the Prince went On the other side the King of Nauarre complained to the Queene-mother touching the Duke of Guise that was preferred both before himselfe and the Constable and proceeded so farre therein that both he and the rest of the Princes of the blood with the Constable and diuers Noblemen The Queen-mother assureth her regency began to prepare themselues to depart out of the Court but she perceiued that to be a blowe wherewith to abate her gouernment by the Cardinall of Tournons meanes shee sent for the Constable commanding him expresly from the King that he should not depart from the Court. Which done she stayed the rest and so brake off that matter to her no small contentment The report of this discontentment beeing spread into diuers places the Deputies for the assembly of the particular states of Parris began to speake therof and earnestly to agree of some order to be taken The particular states of
confirmation of the accord aforesaid The States forced to agree to a thing that ouerthrew a lawe of the Realme and to finish vp the matter the King of Nauarre himself went thither in person to certifie them that he had resigned his right title vnto the Queene which notwithstanding the matter was much debated many great personages partly perceiuing the great mischiefs which by that disorder would in fine growe vp in such sort that the Estates agreed not therevnto but with protestation to the contrary in their billes which they presented vnto the king at Saint Germaines in Laye where the general assembly was holden the Chancellour commaunded by the king by a long Oration perswaded the company to determine with themselues whether it would be necessary and conuenient that the assembly of the religion should bee holden or forbidden And after him Lieftenant Autun surnamed Britaigne speaking for the communaltie in a large discourse shewed the abuse both in the goods and iurisdictions of Ecclesiasticall persons their duties the great charges that spoyled and ouerthrew the people required that the persecutions should be ceased against those of the religion that promise should bee made vnto them of an assembly and that to the same end Churches might bee permitted vnto them also that their principall Ministers should bee called to conferre with them of the differences of religion Touching the acquitting of the kings debts and ordering of other affaires the third Estate made a large couerture proposing diuers means to cease diuision and to reduce the Realme into as rich estate as euer it was But because diuers matters propounded touched and concerned many of the greatest personages specially the Spiritualtie it was all but words which likewise were the cause to hasten the principals of such Sects to inuent their conspiracies The Cleargie desiring to get out of the myre made offer that to acquit the king of his debts for the space of sixe months they would euery yeare paye foure tithes at the same time likewise the Imposts of fiue sols vpon euery Alme of Wine entering into euery walled Towne was raised for the terme of sixe yeares and no more besides the eighth and tenth part beeing ordinary custome While the Estates were busied to dispute and determine of matters concerning the Estate The Popes deuise to hinder the assembly of Poissy Pope Pius hauing beene aduertised what had beene determined touching the assembly at Poissy sent the Cardinall of Ferrare his Legat in France with charge to remit all things touching religion vnto his Councell because that among other articles agreed vppon by the States it had beene decreed that the benefices of the Realme should bee conferred by the Ordinaries euery man in his iurisdiction and not by the Pope Also that dispenses should more be allowed There was likewise a question among thē touching the reception of the Legat who in fine made such meanes that the Chancellour was commaunded to seale his letters of authoritie which the Chauncellour did not but after many commissions adding therevnto that it was done without his consent the Court of Parliament would not approoue them and touching the Courtiers at the first the Legat was but hardly vsed by them but he vsed such meanes by his friends that in the end hee got the vpper hand hauing with his assistants in France frustrated the assembly of Poissy Assembly of the Cleargie for the conference at Poissy At the same time the Prelates assembled for the conference at Poissy and because some of them were wholly without learning and the rest little studied in the holy Scriptures they brought with thē a great number of Sorbon Doctors and others whom they appoynted to dispute in their presence thereby to learne what were best for them to say Touching those among them that had any learning they were suspected so that in their particular conferences many times there happened great strife among them and many times blowes whereat the Courtiers made great sport While they were in this debate among themselues diuers Ministers of the Churches in France to the number of twelue with 22. Deputies The Ministers came to Poissy and present a request vnto the king with the confession of the faith by the kings safe conduct and commaundement arriued at Poissy not long after followed by Pierre Martir Theodore Beza whom the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde had caused to come from Zurche and Geneua Those that first arriued presented a petition vnto the king vpon the tenth of August wherein they desired that commaundement might bee made vnto the Prelates to peruse the declaration of the faith of the reformed Churches presented vnto the king since the ninth of Iune then last past to the end that at the first assembly they might shewe what cause they had to deny it and vppon their obiections to heare the defences of the said Churches by the mouths of their Ministers and Deputies They further desired that the Prelates and other Ecclesiastical persons might not bee iudges ouer them seeing they were parties against them that the king and his Councell would bee present at that assembly that all the differences might bee decreed by the onely word of God that two Secretaries might bee chosen on each part that euery day might conferre the notes of their disputations togither and that those notes should not bee holden nor accounted for lawfull before the parties had subscribed vnto them The king receiued the confession and petition The Kings answere by the hands of Augustin Marlorat and Francis de S. Paul in the presence of his Mother the king of Nauarre and other Princes of the blood with diuers Lords of the Councell and with a good countenance said vnto them I will referre your petition vnto my Councell and you shall receiue an aunswere from my Chancellour The 24. of August 1565 Th. de Beza preached at the Court. And the 24. of August 1574. the Massacre was committed against those of the religion Conference betweene Th. de Beza and the Cardinall Theodore de Beza beeing arriued at Saint Germaines in Laye vppon the 24. of August he preached publikely the next day at the Castle within the Prince of Condes Hall where hee had a great and notable assembly without any noyse or trouble The same day about euening beeing sent for into the king of Nauarres Chamber there he found the Queene the king of Nauarre the Prince the Cardinals of Burbon and Lorraine the Duke de Estampes Madame de Crussol where hauing made a lowe reuerence vnto the Queene in fewe words hee shewed her the cause of his comming thither togither with the desire he had as also all his company to serue God and his Maiestie in so holy commendable and necessary an enterprise Thervpon the Cardinall of Lorraine beganne to speake charging Beza to haue been authour of the troubles to haue dispearsed infamous libelles about the Realme of France and to haue
spoken with vnreuerēt speeches touching the presence of our Lord in his holy supper But he hauing in fewe words shewed the vanitie of the two first articles hee entered into a reasonable large discourse of the third wherein hee so well satisfied all the common questions of the Cardinall that hee said expresly vnto the Queene that hee was very well pleased to heare him speake and greatly in hope that the conference of Poissy wold proceed to a hat pie end with so courteous and reasonable disputation and with that speaking to Beza he said I am glad that I haue both seen and heard you speake I protest in the name of God that you shall conferre with me to the end that I may vnderstand your reasons and your minds and you shal finde that I am not so blacke as I am desciphered Beza thanked him and besought God to continue him in that good minde promising for his part to imploy himselfe for the aduancement of the good of Gods flocke as much as in him lay Madam de Crussul there vppon said as shee was alwaies bolde to speake that it would be necessarie to haue Inke and paper A pleasant and notable speeche of Madame de Crussull to cause the Cardinall to signe avow his saying For said shee in the morning hee will speake cleane contrary and she diuined right for in the morning a report was spread about the Court that at the first meeting the Cardinall had confounded and reduced Theodore de Beza In such manner that the Queene was costrained to tel the Constable who much reioyced thereat as thinking it to be certaine that hee was wrong informed Not long after the queen of Nauarre arriued at the court which made the assemblies to increase The second request of the Ministers The eight of September the ministers presented a second request wherein they shewed a reason of the articles propounded in their first requiring answere The Queene mother receiued this petition in the presence of the King of Nauarre the Prince the Admirall the Chancelor and one of his Secretaries which done she dismissed Beza and three others that accompanied him with good speeches and assurances that the Cleargie should not be their iudges The beginning of the conference at Poissy The next day about noone the king accompanied as his estate required entered into the great Refectorie of the noones in Poissy where the Princes and Princesses beeing set on each side and behinde him somewhat lower fat sixe Cardinals 36. Bishoppes and Archbishoppes and behinde them diuers Doctors and men of the Cleargie Right before him at the end of the hal stood his guard and behinde them a great number of men of all estates there hee made a short and small declaration touching the cause of that assembly commaunding the Chauncellour in larger manner to make it knowne vnto them The Cardinall de Tournon in the name of all the Prelates humbly thanked the king which done hee desired that the Chancellor might deliuer his proposition in writing and that leisure might be giuen them to consider thereof which was refused them Therevppon the Ministers to the number of twelue with 22. Deputies of the Churches in the Prouinces that assisted them The Ministers and deputies for the religion appeared before one of the greatest assemblies that euer was in our time and there confessed their faith being called and brought in by the Duke of Guise that had the charge with Monsieur de la Ferte Captaine of the guard were ledde vnto the barres where all bare-headed they stayed and Theodore de Beza being chosen by them all beganne to speake and first hauing made a briefe Preface vnto the king hee began his Oration with an humble and ardent prayer vnto God deuised and imployed to the time and occasion of that assembly which done standing vppe hee shewed the most singular contentment which al those of the relgion receiued at that time by hauing such recourse vnto their Soueraigne and lawfull Prince the Queene the Princes of the blood with all the Lords and notable persons at that time and in that place assembled that done hee shewed the sinceritie and good desire of all those of the religion which being ended he entered into the principal poynt making a most ample large collection of the articles of Christian doctrine not forgetting any poynt that is in controuersie but hee expounded it sufficiently withall saying somewhat touching the Discipline of the Church concluding that both hee and his companions with all those that were of the religion desired nothing but the reformation of the Church which onely desires to liue and die vnder the obedience and protection of the king detesting all those that soght the contrary praying to God for the prosperitie of the king his mother his Councell and the Estate and therevppon hauing made a great reuerence he pursued with his matter presenting to the king The confession deliuered to the king and receiued by him the confession of the faith of the Churches of France requiring that the conference might bee made vppon the same His long Oration was pronounced with a most acceptable voice to al the assistants and heard with a most singular contentment euen to the end where hee spake very openly to the Prelates likings against the opinion of the presences of the Lords bodie in the bread For this article put them in a great murmuration although before hee had spoken many other things that expresly condemned the Doctrine of the Church of Rome neuerthelesse hee proceeded and ended the king nor any of the Prelates not once offering to rise His Oration ended the king receiued the confession of the Churches by the hands of the aforesaid Monsieur de Ferte Captaine of the guard which hee deliuered vnto the Prelates The Prelates behauior after the Oration in the name of the Churches Among other Prelates that were in a hotte case the Cardinall de Tourno◠boyling in hotte chollour hauing desired the King to perseuer in the religion of his auncestor asked time to aunswere to that Oration saying that it should bee well aunswered and that hee hoped that the King hauing heard the answere would be reduced and remembring that word hee said not reduced but holden and kept in the good and perfect way the Queene sought to qualifie his chollor The next day Theodore de Beza wrote and sent the Queene an ample exposition of that which he had spoken touching the Lords Supper to the great misliking of the Prelates who beeing assembled to consult touching their affaires the Cardinall of Lorraine beganne with these words In my opinion I would that hee meaning Theodore de Beza had either beene dumbe or we deafe And after many opinions giuen it was determined that the Cardinall assisted by diuers Doctors The mean to be Iudges in their owne cause specially of Claude Despense that framed the answere and serued for a prompter vnto his Disciple should answere
those men was of such force that hee fully determined to beleeue it By litle and litle he withdrew himself from those whom he had sauoured Wherevppon hee sent Monsieur d'Anduze into Spaine and Descars to Rome from whence hauing receiued newes hee beganne by little and little to withdrawe himselfe from those of the religion to vse the Queen his wife somewhat hardly and among others to court a Gentlewoman attending vppon the Queene-mother in such sort that from day to day the mischiefe increased to the great greefe and sorrow of all such as before that time honoured him specially of his wife a Princesse most wise and vertuous that sought all means to reduce him but by no meanes could effect it yet was shee solicited by the Queene-mother to seeme to agree and hearken vnto the King her husbandes minde Wherevnto shee aunswered that before she would go to Masse if she were able to hold her Realme of Nauarre and her sonne within her hands she would cast them both into the Sea thereby not to impeach her which was the meanes in that behalfe not to mooue her any more The Queen mother sheweth her selfe a newter The Queene-mother perceiuing the king of Nauarre to yeeld to the other side determined for a time to seeme to be indifferent that of the religion being very strong full of resolution and for that cause she entertained the Prince of Conde and the Admirall with faire speeches giuing order in Parris and other places that those of the religion should bee maintained and vpholden peaceably in the exercise of their religion On the other side couertly making certaine small breaches in the edict by certaine modifications termed declarations made by the King Those of Guise slept not but deuised a new matter in Germanie The Guisians faine to be desirons to be of the confession of Ausbourg therewith to blinde the eyes of the Protestant Princes the Cardinall hauing desired a meeting to bee made by the Duke de Virtemberg at Sauerne there to conferre with the Ministers touching the confession of Ausbourg Iohn Brence and Iaques Andre the Dukes Preachers and two principall Doctors of Germanie came thither and there conferred with the Cardinall who presented them with certaine vesselles of siluer and vsed the matter in such sort that the Duke departed with opiniō to haue done some great matter by that means those Almaine Doctors verily thought within short space to plant their error in France In the meane time those of Guise that laughted at the simplicitie of the Almaine Prince hauing receiued newes that the king of Nauarre held with them determined in all haste to repaire vnto the Court. On the other side the Queene aduertised by many and diuers receipts and solicited by those of the religion Publication of the Edict of Ianuary in Parris A vaine disputation vpon vanitie came to S. Germains to Parris and did so much that vppon the 6. of March the edict of Ianuary was both allowed and published in the Court of Parliament with protestation that neuerthelesse it was done to obey the vrgent necessitie of time and the kings pleasure At the same time shee caused conference to bee holden betweene the Ministers and the Sorbonistes touching the adoration of Images whereof ensued no other thing then onely that each of thē remained stil in their own opinions She likewise sent Monsieur de Cursol into Dauphin and Languedoc to giue order touching the troubles in those places and Monluc into Guyenne for assistant to Monsieur de Burie◠she thought to haue sent the Prince of Conde Miseries of France but that intent brake off whereby those of Guyenne found themselues but in hard case for that therein Monluc vsed great and cruell oppressions which hee himselfe hath set downe within his Comentaries wherein after his death hee hath spit foorth the rest of that his furie which during his life hee could not fully execute vpon them It was thought good likewise thereby to preuent that which not long after fell out that each Gouernour should withdrawe himselfe into his Prouince wherevnto the Marshall de S. Andre well backed aunswered that his office bound him at that time to remaine at the Court neare vnto the King On the other side the King of Nauarre shewed so straunge a countenance vnto the Admirall and his bretheren that they withdrewe themselues into their houses The presumption of the Marshall de S. Andre The Prince of Conde stayed and to take Phisicke went to Parris while the King was ledde by the Queene his mother vnto Mouceaux in Brie Those of Guise beeing aduertised of all that passed determined with a good troupe to ride to Parris where the Constable was to meet them as hee did It is sayd that the Queen desired them to come thither without armes which the Duke of Guise did not as by effect appeareth The first of March hee hauing vpon the day before departed from his house of Ianuille in Champagne A briefe discourse of the massacre of Vassy accompanied with his wife and the Cardinall of Guise his brother hee rode vnto Vassy a Village not farre from thence hauing with him about two hundreth men armed with caliuers pistolles and courtelasses And 8. daies before his company of Lanciers stayed there for him and as they came neare the Village hauing vnderstood the bell to ring vnto a Sermon to be preached by those of the religion within a barne of the said Village of Vassy wherein might bee assembled to the number of one thousand or twelue hundreth persons both men women and children all peaceable and without armes as he lighted from his horse and hauing secretly spoken with the Prouost and the Prior of the Monastery hee went with all his troupe both horse and foote vnto the barne young la Brosse Cornet of his Launciers marched first and entered into the barne seconded by foure or fiue hundreth others where he beganne to blaspheme and sweare that hee would kill them all His men beganne without hauing slaine three and the Gate beeing forced themassacre beganne the Duke beeing there in presence with his naked sword in hand followed by the elder la Brosse Lieftenant of his company On their part of the religion there was no maner of resistance but onely prayers to God running away euery man to saue himselfe as it pleased god where besides a great number of wounded people there was 42. men slaine and many that died in short space after they killed likewise certaine women The poores box was taken and emptied the Pulpit broken downe the Minister hurt in many places was ledde prisoner the dead bodies beeing dispoyled and stripped of coates hoase shooes and all that was about them and many men beeing stripped saued themselues all bloodie and sore wounded New matter against those of Vassy After this valiant combatte which beeing executed with the sound of the Dukes Trumpet as if hee had fought against the enemies
and little they assembled themselues about the Prince who beeing at Orleans first beganne to write into all places which caused diuers Townes to bee ceased vppon for those of the religion the onely cause to breake diuers intents of their most cruell aduersaries Likewise on both sides they beganne to rayse Souldiers out of the Realme meane time Declarations and protestations of the Prince meane time the Prince published diuers declarations and protestations for the iustification of his defensiue armes referring his enemies from that time named the Triumuirat to the edict of Ianuary and to leaue off armes thereby to set the King at libertie and his Realme in peace The Triumuirat that is The Triumuirats answere the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshal de S. Andre made diuers answeres onely tending vnto the suppression of that edict The Emperour and the protestant Princes were by the Prince fully certified of the whole Estate of France who in an open assembly of the Estates shewed the letters of the Queene Regent expresly written vnto him after the ceasing vppon the King and Parris recommending vnto him the mother and her children besides that hee made an agreement at Orleans with the Lords and Gentlemen there assembled to vse their forces and meanes for the deliuery of the king and Queene and for the maintenance of the edicts and state of the Realme this agreement sent vnto the Court the same day beeing the ninth of Aprill A greement made at Orleans a letter was published and registred in the Parliament whereby they certified the King his bretheren and the Queene that as then they were at libertie also by an other the King declared his intent to bee that the edict of Ianuary should bee executed in all places but onely in Parris The Prince for his part solicited those of the religion to send him men and mony The 25. of Aprill the Counte de Rochefoucaut with great troupes went out of Poicton and Xaintonge and arriued in Orleans The next day the Prince receiued a large aunswere Many proceedings on both partes before they proceed to armes vnto a certaine declaration by him made and sent thither but hauing vnderstood that the day before in all the places of the Cittie of Parris both hee and his partakers had publikely beene declared and termed seditious and euill Christians hee made a second declaration wherein hee openly declared and described the horrible cruelties alreadie committed against those of the religion imploring the edicts yeeldeth a reason of his actions and by letters written the 27. to the Parliament of Parris desired that his enemies hauing first raysed armes should laye them downe and that for his part he would do the like thereby to cease the calamities of the Realme And to the end to shewe all forraine Princes his intent two Gentlemen were by him deputed to stay in Almaine to the end that if the Triumuirat should there enterprise to leuie men they should procure that the Prince might there bee ayded and not others which done order was taken for the securitie of Orleans and there they coyned mony in the kings name The Queene therevppon beganne to solicite a peace writing letters vnto the Prince who vppon the first of May made her aunswere withall sending her a memoriall signed with his hand Meanes vsed by the Queene containing the meanes of pacification as hee had declared vnto the Parliament The fourth day after the Triumuirat made a declaration to the contrary requiring the abolution of the edict of Ianuary and of all exercise of religion onely that of Rome and that such as bare armes without the expresse commission and commaundement of the King of Nauarre the kings Lieftenant generall should leaue them off vppon paine to bee declared rebelles and enemies to the king and his Realme desiring likewise the Queene-mother to obtaine that all the forces on both partes might bee vnited and ioyned togither vnder the commaundement of the king of Nauarre and that so doing they were readie to retire vnto their houses The declaration of the Triumuirat but the king made a new declaration wherein the edict of Ianuary was still continued After many speeches in the end they grewe to blowes whereof I will speake as time serueth and first beginne with the Prince and his troupes Iu the beginning of the warre the Queene seeketh to accord and thē with a summary deductiō of that which happened in the Prouinces The companies of Lanciers beeing for the most part arriued at Parris with some of the olde companies of foote the king of Nauarre and the Triumuirat marched towards Chasteau Dun. The Prince at that time beeing as strong as they determined to enter into the field which mooued the Queene to seeke the procuration of a peace while the Triumuirat might haue meanes to gather a greater force One of the principall dealers therein was the Bishoppe of Valence The practises of the Bishop of Valence and what followed who in some sort perswaded the Prince extreamely greeued to see himselfe constrained to enter into a ciuill warre to offer the Queene to goe out of the Realme with all his friends to procure a peace Within two daies after he went to speake with the Queene and shewed her his minde which hee had no sooner vttered but hee was presently taken at his word the Queene making him great promises saying that the next day shee would send vnto him to knowe the conditions by him to bee propounded Wherevpon at his returne the Prince hauing communicated his intent vnto his companie not only the ordinary Councell but all the Coronelles and Captaines were summoned to giue their aduise which was wholly and directly against that declaration and the opinion of Monluc and the Queene-mother Among the rest Missieurs d'Andeloc and Boucard maruellously incouraged all the companie by their bolde and braue resolutions and if they had beleeued Monsieur d'Andelit presently they had set vppon the Triumuirats troupes After the Truce an enterprise of no small importance was begunne but your guides hauing not well conducted the Princes troupes and withall much raigne falling a great aduantage was lost Good discipline for a time in the Princes Armie At that time military discipline among the Princes souldiers was much to bee commended for the Gentlemen neuer molested their Hostes and such as had meanes payd honestly for that they tooke The Pesantes stirred not out of their houses such as offended were punished One named the Barron de Dampmartin that had violated a maide by great fauour escaped death but after continuing his follies hee had his head striken off within Parris this exemption in the beginning of the warres was taken for an euill signe No blasphemie was heard in al the Princes campe Among thē you sawe neither cards nor Dice for women they were from thē no man strayed out of his troup to forrage much lesse to boote-halling morning and euening at rising and
sitting of the watches they had publike prayers and the ayre sounded with their voyces singing Psalmes Diners Ministers were distributed among the troupes that had charge to continue and procure that good order and at one time were better heard then at an other This Discipline was continued almost two moneths at the end whereof Baugency being taken by assault caused a beginning of disorder from whence proceeded la Picoree or boot-halling which since that time became so common that at this day it seemeth to bee chiefe Prince The Admirall a great enemie to boot-hallers with stood it and punished some of them with great rigor but in sine a great number got the vpper hand The armie of the Triumuirat committed most terrible outrages without any reproofe and all vnder pretence to extirpe the Huguenots How the Prince hindred the dispearsing of his armie After the taking of Baugency the occasion of fighting beeing let slippe the heate of those of the religion beganne to quench the meanes to maintaine Souldiers lessened and some of the Nobilitie beganne to doubt of their iust quarrell wherefore to preuent a total dissipation the Prince tooke counsell to imploye part of the Nobilitie that were with him in the Prouinces where the affaires hung as it were in a ballance so that the Counte de la Rochefoucaut with ceraine troupes marched towards Poicton Xantonge and Angoulmois Monsieur de Soubize was sent to Lyons Iuoy with his Regiment to Bourges d'Andelot for the sucours out of Almaine and Briquemaut into England On the other side the king of Nauarre the Triumuirat led the king with them in their armie being assembled at Chartoes determined to besiege Bourges holdē by those of the religion before it should be fortified and by so great a Towne not aboue two daies iournie from Orleans in their iudgement was a great helpe and furtherance to the Princes affaires they marched towards it and hauing besieged it Bourges yeelded to the Triumuirat it made no such resistance as they expected but was yeelded vnto them by composition for the which cause Iuoy Gouernour therein was neuer after esteemed or once accounted of by reason of an euill opinion conceiued against him They beeing puffed vppe with this suddaine and vnexpected victorie which as they said was as it were an arme cut off from those of the religion they with their armie of twelue thousand foote and three thousand horse were readie to march to besiege Orleans wherein the Prince the Admirall continued but the daunger thereby feared to receiue more great losse besides the shame put them in the heads to besiege Roaue gouerned by Monsieur the Counte de Montgommery Roane taken by the Guise with seuen or eight hundreth olde Souldiers and two companies of Englishmen vnder the conduct of Monsieur Kilgre And vpon that resolution about the end of September they besieged Roane where after diuers assaults they tooke it by force The Towne beeing sacked for the space of three daies there they executed many of the best of the Cittizens And on the other side Death of the King of Nauarre the King of Nauarre was wounded at the siege and died vpon the seuenteenth day of Nouember the towne hauing been taken 3. weeks before The hard vsage of the prisoners of Roane was the cause that in Orleans they proceeded in iustice with Baptiste Sapin Councellour of Parris and the Abbot de Bastines taken going into Spaine that were hanged in Orleans about the beginning of Nouember The ouerthrow of the Armie of Duras Not long after the Prince had news of the ouerthrow of the troupes of Gascon led by Mousieur de Duras so that in mans iudgement there rested no more hope vnto the Prince but onely the Almaine forces of Rutters conducted by Monsieur d'Andelot so that he tooke counsell with the Admirall that if they were intercepted hee would himselfe in person trauell into Almaine with all speede to obtaine new ayde while the Admirall should keepe Orleans But about foure daies after they had newes that their Rutters were within foure daies iournie of Orleans where the Counte de Rochefoucaut arriued with three hundreth Gentlemen The Prince marcheth towards Parris and some of the rest of the troupes of Duras The Prince hauing his forraine ayde was counselled with all speed to march to Parris for to impeach them and thereby to force them to seeke for peace and to send into Normandie for 150000. crownes to giue the Rutters wherevpon he set forward with 8. Peeces both great and small wherwith he met the Rutters hard by Pluuiers which was taken by force from thence he went to Estampes some being of aduise that he should march to Parris with all speed while the alarme was in the Towne But they determined to besiege Corbeil which was so well defended by Causseins Maister of the campe and certaine forces put into it by the Marshall de S. Andre that the Prince left to go towards Parris and at his arriuall there hee had a hotte skirmish giuen him whereof the end was A furious sirmish that the forces that had issued out of the trenches of Parris after some fight were constrained in all haste to saue themselues in their said trenches with some losse to the great astonishing of the Parrisians For the space of seuen or eight daies that the Prince remained incamped at Gentilly Arcueil and Montronge Villages not farre from Parris What was done about Parris many conferences or rather delayes were holden and vsed and the Prince perceiuing that his enemies still increased thought to giue them a canuisado which tooke not effect hauing beene discouered by one of the principall of his armie that left him to go to the Duke de Guise whereof within three daies after hee repented being his brother that had yeeled Bourges the Prince saued himself by a most straunge meanes for that fearing that hee would make them acquainted with the defaults of his armie the next day he dislodged The falt of Monsieur de Genlis The Duke de Guise beeing strengthened by certaine companies out of Gascon and some Spaniards had determined vppon the next day in the morning to giue him battell before hee had leisure to assemble his dispearsed companies So the Prince departed vpon the tenth of December and the thirteenth beeing in the way to Chartres after diuers opinions of his Councell hee resolued to march straight towards Normandie to recouer mony and to meete his forces comming out of England there to diuert the siege of Orleans The sixteenth Galardon a small Towne was forcibly taken by the Prince and the next day he marched towards Dreux and as hee passed ouer a small riuer hard by the Castle of Maintenon an olde woman stepping a good way into the water tooke him by the boote staying him and looking vppon him said Go Prince thou must suffer What happened to the Prince not long before the battell
were taken from their mothers and new christened mariages resolemnised the goods moneable and immooueable of 62. of the principall of the Towne ceased vppon and whatsoeuer thereof might be sold the mony was confiscated and sixteen or eighteen men were massacred and hanged by the sentences of the Iudges and at the peoples pleasures among the which were two or three that had denied the religion women likewise were not spared whereof three or foure were drawne through the streetes and cast into the water Besides that the souldiers went out and slewe all that they met without companie the Maior and Sheriffes beeing the principall ayders in those cruelties and in a manner no massacre was done but by the commaundement of the Maior Those of the religion at Bar Sur Seine about seuen myles from Troys hauing â—ound the meanes to be stronger then their aduersaries Bar Sur Seinie for a time maintained themselues in that sort but because it is a place easie to be surprised those that were in the Towne perceiuing the cannon placed against the Castle saued themselues as they could The enemies entering into the Towne therin committed such rare cruelties as neuer were seen specially against women and litle children cleauing some of their breasts and plucking foorth their hearts bit them between their teeth reioycing to haue tasted of a Huguenots heart A young Councellor sonne to Ralet the Kings Atturney was hanged at his own fathers request Those that were within the Castle were taken cruelly handled specially their Captaine partly cause of all the disorder whom they condemned to die being vpon the ladder renounced the religioÌ„ but his Apostacie saued him not from hanging The Towne remaining in their hands that had taken it and with most horrible blasphemies defiled diuers women and children In the month of Ianuary fortie or fiftie horses of the Garrison of Antrain a place beeing but a myle from thence about the breake of day surprised the Towne and at their arriual hauing layde hands vpon Ralet they tyed him vpon the toppe of a house where hee was slaine with Pistolle shotte the rest of the massacres were likewise murthered their goods giuen to others Claude Cousni d'Ay was sore wounded within Espernay Espernay cast into the riuer of Marne where the murtheres finished his misery hurting diuers of the people that wept to behold the crueltie committed against him Monsieur de Saint Estiene beeing returned from Orleans to recreate himselfe in his house hard by Reims with two of his brethreren and others S. Estiene was inclosed besieged by a company of fiue or sixe hundreth men and although the houses were not strong neither of walles towers nor diches yet those Gentlemen with their wiues and seruants beeing but 25. persons hauing gotten into a Tower made long resistance and therein sustained two assaults but in the end a part of the tower hauing been beaten downe with a cannon shot and the besieged constrained to hide themselues within a hollow place of the wall the women were gotten out vppon promise to bee set at libertie as in regard of their honour they were but spoyled of all they had and ledde prisoners to Retel which done they sent certain Pages to cal to Monsieur de S. Estiene and to certifie him that the Duke de Neuers sent for him and that hee should not doubt to come foorth which hee had no sooner performed but his owne Cousin German named the Barron of Serny killed him his two bretheren and sixteene others were stabbed The assaylants lost before this place about one hundreth and fiftie men all well knowne This happened in the moneth of September 1562. Commosion of Pesants The Pesants of Coulours Gerisiers and the Villages bordering vpon them for the most part Tenants to the great Prior brother to the Duke of Guise committed infinit murthers and mischiefes about Troys murthering Monsieur de Vigny his wife and their seruants robbing and spoyling his Castle But Monsieur de Cormononcle a Gentleman of the religion accompanied with eight men onely finding those companions in disorder ouerthrewe them and slaying a great number of them put the rest to flight taking all from them which they had taken and brought away from the house of Landry the Controwler about fiue myles from Troys But the Pesants assembling againe assisted by others called bare feete raysed at Sens and thereabouts besieged Villeneufue a Castle belonging to the Monsieur de Esternay but they were speedily repulsed from thence with great losse but to reuenge themselues they burned the base Court wherin stood the barne the fairest stalles in all France with the Mill and a peece of a house which was done about the end of December Within two moneths after seuen score caliuers returned againe to besiege the Castle but Monsieur de Bethincourt a Gentleman of the religion accompanied with nine horse and foure footemen set so resolutely vpon them that some of them beeing slaine and 25. taken prisoners the rest saued themselues by flight The nineteenth of Nouember one of the Dukes of Lunebourg who in Anno. 1559. had had a quarrel against the Duke of Guise in the campe of Amiens The Duke of Lunebourg slaine in France being at Rameru between Troys Vitry le Francois accompanied only with 18. men minding as it was said to goe to Orleans by the commaundement of Bussy d'Amboise Gouernour of Chaallons was assayled in his lodging beeing in his chamber where sixe of his men were slaine and himselfe wounded with thirteene Pistolle shottes which done they layde him in a Horse-litter and bare him vnto Chaallons where hee died Bussyes executioner named Malfontaine an Apostate of the religion in triumph of that worthie exployt carried before him as in triumph eighteene horses eighteene cloakes eighteen paire of bootes and 36. Pistolles Ceant in Othe In the Towne of Ceant in Othe seuen myles from Troys the commons hauing found the meanes to enter therein vpon the 24. day of August murthered diuers of the Towne and continued therein till the end of Ianuary ensuing The number of those that were specially noted besides those that were murthered in other places were twentie persons and a young childe of fiue yeares burnt with his father Many houses were burnt by them for the space of a myle from the Towne and about sixe score horsemen and three hundreth foote of the religion ledde by Monsier de Semide and other Captaines being not able to followe the Prince of Portien that with other troupes had gotten to Strasbourg about the sixteenth of September for their retrait ceased vppon the Borough Towne Cermoise where they maintained themselues valiantly and ouerthrewe an armie of three thousand men that came to assayle them and slaying one hundreth and fiftie of their brauest Souldiers the rest fledde with the losse of three of their men onely and not long after they ioyned with the Prince of Portien
or four thousand men both horse and foote and fixe field peeces where he sustained the siege eight daies togither without losse of any man hauing slaine aboue fourescore of the assaylants constrained the rest to leaue the siege to their no smal confusion in such sort that by the edict of pacification the exercise of the religion remained within la Charite Many small Townes in those quarters were much molested specially in respect of the religion as Bony Cosne Neufui and others Chastillon Sur Loire but most of all Chastillon Sur Loire which hauing withstood many difficulties and spoyled of all her commodities by theeues and rouers beeing but poore keepers of vines to defend themselues against the violences of such as desired the losse and extermination of their liues And hauing fortified their little Towne not hauing any ditches as well as they might vppon the fift of Ianuary they sustained an assault slew seuen or eight hundreth men of the Regiment of Monsieur de Prie Gouernour of Guyen that sought to put him to the sword hurting diuers others the men defending themselues by throwing stones and the women with hotte water which they cast vppon the assaylants In the month of February Monterud Gouernour of Berry besieged them and with cannon shotte beate downe their feeble walles yet could he not enter but by warlike means that vnder pretence of parley he withdrew his battery which lay in such sort that hee could doo little good therewith and hauing placed them in better order he commanded a new bridge to be made and thereat entered by force where no kinde of cruelties was spared neyther vppon women nor children olde nor young no not so much as against women great with childe and readie to bee deliuered The Towne beeing pilled and spoyled of all whatsoeuer it had euen to the boltes lockes barres and glasse-windowes of the houses which notwithstanding assoone as Manteruds armie was departed those of the religion that had escaped returned thither againe and reestablished the exercise of religion Guyen sur Loire The Towne of Guyen Sur Loire maintained it selfe long time in peace during the troubles onely by the meanes of those of the religion being the strongest part within the Towne but the disorder committed by diuers Captaines and souldiers sent thither from Orleans by the Prince to refresh themselues and the taking of Bourges reduced things to such a stay that most of those of the religiō forsooke both their houses their goods to go to Orleans where as thē the plague was very rife The campe of Triumuirat not long after arriued before Guyen and all the places bordering on the same vsing all the cruelties that possible might bee inuented among the which certaine Italians in hatred of the religion hauing cut the bodie of a yong Infant in two peeces cate his lieuer which was verified to bee most true yet iustice for the same could not be had Lastly those of the religion being returned from Orleans with Lanbert Daneau one of their Ministers they met another troupe of their friends that two daies before came from Chastillon sur Loin with the other Ministers called La Vallee and beeing entered into the Towne by vertue of the edict beganne the exercise of the religion Guyen beeing named for the balliage towne in those quarters The Monkes of Fontaine Iohn an Abbey neare adioyning vnto Chastillon sur Loin hauing abandoned their gownes to beare armes to robbe and spoyle the countrie with other souldiers vpon the seuenth of October were all set vppon by Monsieur de Dampierre and seeking to resist were all slaine onely some fewe that were burnt within the Cloyster from whence it was impossible otherwise to get them foorth Montargis belonging to the Ladie Renee daughter to Lois the twelfe Duches Dowager of Ferrare Montargis was the retrait of diuers families of the religion notwithstanding the threatnings of the Duke of Guise sonne in lawe to the sayde Ladie who sent thither one Malicorne a new Knight of the Order to cease vppon the Towne and Castle with foure companies of horse who being entered into the Towne mooued the people against those of the religion in such maner that at that time a poore man was slaine and cast into the water as before that time likewise they had killed a woman and committed certaine outrages and Malicorne continuing in his boldnesse proceeded so farre as to threaten the Ladie with cannon shotte to batter her Castle wherein were diuers of the religion whom hee pretended to ransome but the Princesse made him an answere saying I charge you looke what enterprise you take in hand for that there is not any man whatsoeuer within this Realme that can commaund me but onely the King and if you proceed so farre I will be the first that shal stand within the breach to trie if you once dare bee so bold to kill the daughter of a King and on the other side not so meanely allyed nor yet beloued but that I haue both the meanes and power to reuenge your boldnesse euen to the very infants of your presumptious race Which wordes caused Malicorne like a snaile to pull in his hornes and presently after departed the Duke of Guise beeing slaine as you redde before Those of the Romish Church within the Towne of S. Iohns de Nemours in the mouth of Iune S. Iohn de Nemours did so much that they draue those of the religion out of their Towne not permitting any of them to enter vntill the peace concluded raysing of extreame impositions vppon their goods that were openly solde for small prices Not long before they had vsed all the meanes they could by counsell of some Traitors to bring certain troupes of souldiers into the towne to massacre the people Monlius in Bourbonois but their enterprise tooke no effect Monsieur de Montare being come to Moulius in Bourbonnois with commission therein to vse all hard and extreame dealing towards those of the religion first without any forme of lawe or processe hee caused two Artificers to be hanged and perceiuing himselfe to be strong of men draue all such as hee any thing doubted out of the Towne which done hee gaue his troupes leaue to issue foorth and to slay all those that by any means were found in the fields vsing al kind of strange dealings and extremities vnto the houses and farmes lying about it Captaine Saint Auban that led certaine troupes out of Languedos to Orleans failed not much to take both Montare and the Towne of Moulius and as he determined to besiege it hee receiued letters that caused him to make haste way At his departure from thence the Townes-men issued vpon his rereward and tooke Monsieur de Foulet a Gentleman dwelling not farre from thence and his Lacquey with a Councellour named Claude Brisson that were all three slaine Not long after foure others were hanged in Moulius And in the month of Iuly after fiue others
houses of those of the religion eyther within the Towne or in the fields for 8. myles compasse round about but were all pilled and that by the neare kinsmen of such as had absented themselues Fiue hundreth Harquebusiers beeing appoynted for the guard of the Towne and other places bordering on the same exercised all kindes of cruelties vpon such as stayed behind as some poore people maides and men-seruants and certaine Gentlewomen of account in the Towne and other persons withdrawing themselues into their farmes countrie-houses and with their friends Presently the prisons were filled and by decree a iudiciall place was appoynted that neither kinsmen nor friends should solicite for the prisoners whom they termed rebelles and seditious The Steward saying it was sufficient hauing seene a man to enter into the Temple while the Images were throwing downe or bearing a sword at that time when they held the Towne to condemne him for seditious and a rebell Three witnesses beeing hired and appoynted for the purpose to performe the tragedie one called Chouan a bookeseller the second a Priest called les Anges and Bandoun an Apothecarie so impudent in their occupation that when their wages fayled to bee payd they said openly that they would meddle no more therein Further the accused were not allowed or permitted to refuse any witnesse in such manner that thereby they put two hundreth persons to death both men women and seruants as also foure young children whereof the eldest was not aboue seuenteene yeares of age and two men that were madde Such as were absent had processe made against them and their pictures executed confiscated the goods of those whom they knewe to bee dead in the warres disabled their children of all offices and estates depriuiuing them of all possessions or inhereritances that might by any meanes fall vnto them Not long before the peace they beheaded one called Rolandiere hung a Ioyner and massacred foure others by moone-light and beeing halfe dead threw them into the riuer In the Villages both farre and neare vnto it many murthers both of men women and children were committed to the number of sixe score and vpwards with particular cruelties and such horrible traiterous meanes that I am abashed to remember and ashamed to recite them One named Captaine Champagne hauing a fish-pond behinde his house cast aboue fiftie persons into it and with their bodies nourished Pikes His Lieftenant called Boi-Iourdan seconded him therein for that in two ditches neare vnto his house were found to the number of fiftie or sixtie dead bodies Those of the religion in Anger 's Anger 's beeing become strong within the Towne with the hurt or iniurie of any of their aduersaries about the fift of Aprill and within sixe daies after made an agreement to liue peaceably one with the other vnder the obedience of the King obseruing the edict of Ianuarie But about the 22. of the same moneth a Gentleman comming thither to demaund ayde of men and money for the Prince certaine souldiers that bare him company in the night time brake down the Images in Saint Sansons Church which moued the Priests although the Gentleman much condemned their action and had not any part of the spoyle Wherevppon diuers Gentleman and souldiers of the religion beeing gone to Orleans those of the Romish religion perceiuing themselues to bee strong first blinded their enemies causing the edict of Ianuarie to bee newly published and then beeing well assured of Monsieur de la Fancille that commaunded in the Castle Puygallard a Gascon Captaine sent by the Duke de Montpensier vppon the fift of May at night entered into the Castle followed by diuers souldiers and the next day his watch-word being Sathan did so much that hee ceased vppon part of the Towne and the more to blinde those of the religion and wholly to get them into his possession he graunted them free exercise of the religion and the next day caused the Gates to bee opened that they might go to heare the Sermon made within a house that stood vpon the ditch and to take vp the bodie of one of their Ministers named Charles d'Albiac called du Plesus who the day before had been slaine as he went to saue himselfe by leaping ouer the wall The next day their began a horrible tumult for that vnder pretence of disarming those of the religion they entered into their houses and because two of them among the rest whereof one was the receiuer of the talages had shune their Gates their enemies tooke occasion to ring a bell wherevppon presently those two houses were robbed and spoyled some of the seruants slaine the rest prisoners the kings mony taken and made prise partly by Puygallard and his companions Which done they cast both men and women of the religion and of all sons into prison In a Marchants house they found diuers bookes of the holy Scriptures which were burnt openly in the middle of the Towne and the souldiers of the Monke Richelieu hauing found a guilded Bible stickt it vpon a holbord and issuing from thence went in procession through all the greatest streetes and singing like Priestes said Behold trueth hanged the trueth of the Huguenots the trueth of all the diuelles behold the mightie God beholde the euerlasting God will speake And beeing come to the bridge they cast it into the riuer of Loire and with higher voyce beganne to crie and saie Behold the trueth of all the diuelles drowned Within diuers daies after and till the end of that yeare to the number of eightie persons were executed and put to death A Gentlewoman of the age of seuentie yeares was beaten dead with the stockes of their Pistolles then drawne in a sacke through the dirt and her bodie cast into the water with great ioy and laughter of all the people terming her the mother of the greene diuell that preached to the Huguenots The wife of a Councellour named Sigongue although shee lay bedthred was murthered children rebaptised and women to heare Masse by sound of drumbe some were abused in their bodies many maides violated and among the rest two yong maides rauished in their fathers presence whom those cruel villaines had â—yed at the foote of a bed that he might behold the fact committed About Anger 's diuers Gentlemen and others were massacred The Duke de Monpensier hauing licence to ring a bell and to kill all such as were suspected to bee of the religion which done they fell to pillage vpon whom the Duke de Montpensier most discharged his chollor was vpon Monsier de Marests a valiant Captaine who with twentie or fiue and twentie souldiers hauing taken and kept the Castle of Richefort against the Dukes forces and slaine aboue two hundreth men in the defence thereof in the end beeing betrayed by two of his owne men defending himselfe till hee remained without company and not hauing any more powder yeelded himselfe to Puygaillard who vppon his faith promised him to saue his life but
presently deliuered him to the prouost Marshall who hauing brought him to Anger 's caused him by the Dukes commaundement to be broken vppon a Crosse and there left aliue vpon it liuing in that miserie vntill the next morning at foure of the Clocke without releefe or ease of any man by ending his paine still tempted by two Fryers to conuert from the truth of the religion but hee remained constant The two Traytours that betrayed him to his enemies were likewise hanged and an other that hadde opened the Gate whereby they entred into Rochefort was slaine of whome they thought to bee rewarded Tours and the country about it Eight daies before Easter in Anno 1562. the Duke de Montpensier beeing come to Tours with a small troupe in diuers sorts discouered his euill will against those of the religion who hauing had aduice from the Prince how their affaires proceeded seized vppon the Towne without any disorder onely inregard of the Images that by no meanes could be releeued what counsell or aduice soeuer the stayder sort could giue or procure At the same time the cruell sentence giuen in the Parliament of Parris was published in the gouernment of Touraine Maine and Aniou committed to the charge of the Duke de Montpensier and of Chauigni his Lieftenant Which sentence was expressely to commaund all men of what estate soeuer presently to rise in Armes with permission to sounde belles in euery place to spoyle and destroy all those of the religion that could or might bee founde without respect of qualitie sexe or age and to assaile their houses to kill spoyle and vtterly subuert them This sentence was published euery sunday in al the Parishes and in the termes vsed by the Triumuirat Which is to let the greatest Gray hound loose and presently therevppon all kinde of bad persons assembled both pesants and Artificers and leauing their ordinary labors beganne in great fury to march with the rest against those of the religion Part of them entring into Ligueul where they hanged certaine men put out the ministers eyes and then burnt him with a small fier Others entred into Cormery l'Islebouchart Loches and other places bordering vpon it where they committed an infinit number of villanies Among diuers other murthers fleaing a young man named Mathurin Chaiseau of the age of 17. or 18. years An other troupe of 6. or 700. men fel vpon the village of Aze foure miles from Chinon and burnt it massacring to the number of 25. or 30. persons in presēce of the stuard Agenois who in stead of opening his gates to aide the poore distressed people vnderstanding of their comming stood at his windowes to Iudge what blowes they had In the beginning of Iuly they of Tours being sommoned to yeelde the Towne and hauing no meanes to bee releeued by the Prince departed from thence with their armes making three companies of foote two cornets of horse wēt to march to Poictiers Ioyning with those of Chinon and Chastelleraut Wherby they were about the number of 1000. men or there abouts And being followed by 7. or 8. cōmpanies of Lanciers some Cornets of light horse belonging to the Count de Villards their leaders fainted Wherevpon they were charched by the horsemen and ouerthrowne some beeing slaine the rest robbed and spoyled of all they hadde were ledde prisoners to Chastelleraut from whence they escaped by diuers meanes and some got to Poictiers Their Minister called Ihon de la Tour that had bin at the conference in Poissy aged 75. years was drowned in the riuer of Clain the first that yeelded themselues in that ouerthrow were sent to Tours and about three hundreth of the nimblest of them thought by running to get Tours but at their arriuall the Towns-men beganne to ring a bell at the sound whereof diuers of them saued themselues the rest to the number of two hundreth were taken and committed to prison and the next day sixe or seuen score of them were murthered cast into the riuer of Loire Others beeing found about the Towne were likewise throwne into the water not sparing man woman nor childe After that came Chauigny with his band of Priestes Monkes Friers Cannons and their companions and then the murthers and pillages beganne to bee renued The President of Tours named Bourgeau an ancient man of great credit and authoritie who although he neuer had made profession of the religion yet hee was esteemed to bee one hauing presented Clerueaux Lieftenant to Chauigny with 300. Crownes and a Bason of siluer was ledde foorth of the Gates but beeing perceiued and discouered by such as watched for such things hee was murthered with swords and staues and then stripped into his shirt and hanged by the foote his head in the water vp to the breast and beeing still liuing they cut open his bellie and casting his guttes into the riuer sticking his heart vppon the poynt of a Lance bare it about the Towne saying it was the heart of the President of the Huguenots Not long after the Duke de Montpensier arriued in the Towne causing diuers Gibbets wheeles and flakes to bee set vp and then vnder pretence of iustice the murthers beganne again so that the number of those that were executed before then and since amounted to aboue three hundreth persons most part beeing rich men and many of good account Assoone as the Commons or the Iustice had put any man or woman to death they enrered into their houses and killing their children tooke all they found therein in such manner that Richelieu the Monke boasted to haue as much Veluet Satin and Taffata which hee had gotten in Tours as would reach a league in length his companions likewise had their parts in such maner that such as sixe weeks before were not woorth a groate presently after offered to buy lands and to paye thirtie or fortie thousand Frankes readie mony Let vs now see what past during these first troubles in high and base Normandie and first beginne with Roane Rome the principall Towne in that Prouince The fifteenth of Aprill 1562. those of the religion foreseeing some danger ceased vpon the Towne and fiue daies after yeelded reason of their action vnto the Duke de Bouillon Gouernor thereof Their declaration beeing sent to the Court letters pattents were presently giuen vnto the Duke d'Aumale brother to the Duke de Guise to bee the kings Lieftenant in Normandie The third of May the Artificers with their wiues and children entered into the Churches and in lesse then foure and twentie houres had broken downe and defaced all the Images Altars and other superstitious Reliques in more then 50. Churches as wel of Parishes as of Abbayes and Couents not once taking any thing for themselues in such sort that from that time vntill the taking of the Towne the occupation of Priests and Friers wholly discontinued Seuen daies after the Cittizens mustered themselues and the Court of Parliament withdrew it selfe yet without any cause Meane time
Villebon Bailiffe of Roan ceased vpon Pont de l'Arche the Baron de Clere took Caudebec the one aboue the other belowe the riuer of Siene Whereby it prooued great discommoditie for the Towne of Roan that by those meanes could get no victualls by water besides the ceasing of the Courts of iustice the staye of trade of merchandise and all sorts of handy workes these discommodities made the Citizens to looke vnto themselues In the beginning of Iune Villebon came with great troupes to besiege Saint Catherins fort where in a fierce skirmish he lost his cornet and fourteene men and they of the fort 8. mē Presētly after him came the Duke de Aumale Saint Catherins Fort besieged gaue an alarme vnto the Towne where presently he lost 25. of his horsemen But for renenge he assayd all means he could to impeach the Towne of Roan from necessary prouisions But not long after it was relieued by Monsieur de Moruilliers sent thither by the Prince from Orleans assisted by Monsieur de Languetot a gentleman of great wisdome The Duke d'Aumale dispersed the Churches of those of the religiō in Hafleur Montuilier and l'Islebonne where he hanged three auncients and three Gentlemen of the Religion And not long after besieged Saint Catherins fort with thirteene Cannons and two coluerins where Monsieur de Languetot had his legge shotte off with a great peece whereof hee died Many skirmishes beeing daylie performed between them till in the end the Duke left the Fort and fledde from thence and within fiue daies after beeing before Ponteau de Mer faining to parley with them within the Towne he surprised them vppon a suddaine and so entered by force where hee vsed all kind of hostilitie specially vppon the Minister named Brionne and the third day after hee besieged and tooke Honfleur The sixe and twentieth of August the Parliament of Roane being at Louniers made a declaration whereby those of the religion in Normandie were declared Traitors permitting all men Declaration of the Parliament of Roane against those of the religion that eyther would or had the meanes to spoyle and ouerrunne them wholly disallowing the edict of Ianuary established the Inquisition of Spaine and appoynted the Duke d'Aumale Lieftenant for the King And by that declaration and sentence this Court of Parliament executed many of the religion commanding all such as would not make profession of the Romish religion to depart out of the Towne of Louuiers within foure and twentie houres after vpon paine of confiscation both of body and goods On the other side they draue all the Friers out of Roane and hauing discouered treason pretended by some of their companions they tooke order therein from thence forward The siege of Roane giuing good eye to those of the Romish religion whereof they thrust out great numbers In August Monsieur de Moruilliers withdrew himselfe from Roane and kept himselfe peaceably within his house and so continued during the warres neuer forsaking the open profession of the religion In the meane time Monsieur de Montgommery was by those of Roane desired to assist them which hee presently did and arriued at Roane vppon the 18. of September within rennedaies after the Towne was summoned to yeelde it selfe vnto the armie of the Triumuirat whose campe wherein were the king the Queen and the king of Nauarre being composed of sixteen thousand foot and two thousand horse besides Rutters and Lansquenets came before the Towne where at their arriuall they had a hotte and fierce skirmish which continued all that day and three daies after successiuely The fixt of October the king armie hauing intelligence from Captaine Louis out of Saint Catherins Saint Catherins fort taken for they surprised it by force wherein they slewe al they found And Louis himselfe ayding the enemie to mount vp was slaine by one of his Souldiers another fort called Montgommery was taken by the like means where the Queene-mother ledde the king beeing but twelue yeares of age to see the dead bodies of the women and made him behold them bathing in their blood The thirteenth of October an assault was giuen vnto the Towne but they within repulsed the enemie where some couragious women bringing meate vnto the souldiers were slaine The next day they gaue another assault at the Rampart of Saint Hilary but were repulsed and for the space of 6. houres that the skirmish indured they lost to the number of eight hundreth of their best souldiers and they within foure or fiue hundreth accounting women and children that were slaine with the Artillerie The same day the king of Nauarre beeing visited by a certaine Lord told him Hurt and death of the King of Nauarre that if hee escaped safely from that siege hee would neuer beare armes againe for that quarrell but the next day he would go see the trenches where by fortune as hee made water he was striken with a Harquebushotte into the shoulder which done hee was borne by certaine Gentlemen to his lodging at Dartenal where the Surgians vsed all the meanes they could to get out the bullet but hauing deferred it ouerlong they could not one of the Phisitians named Vincentius a voluptious man entertained him with sports and companies of Gentlewomē among therest a Gentlewoman named Rouet came to see him which was some meanes to inflame his wound and hauing intelligence that Roane was taken he was borne thither where gouerning not himselfe as his wound and time required it began to growe to further paine and in the end a feuer tooke him wherwith he began to be faint and thē perceiued they had deceiued him Notwithstanding his seruāts had so great credit with him that they caused him to be cōfessed to receiue the Sacrament after the Romish maner The other of his Phisitians called Raphuel being of the religiō vttered many reasons vnto him so farre that he seemed to charge him with sin against the holy Ghost wherevnto hee answered nothing but lay still Not long after the Queen aduertised by his Phisitians that he could not liue being come to see him willed some of his men to read vnto him Shee being departed hee commaunded Raphael to take the Bible and to read the Historie of Iob which beeing done adding therevnto certaine wordes of the iustice and mercie of God the king beeing mooued in spirit lifting vp his hands vnto heauen and with teares in his eyes hee asked mercie of God making a large and ample declaration of his faith protesting that if it pleased God to graunt him life hee would cause the Gospell to bee preached throughout the Realme of France His disease waxing more vehement and Raphael continually attending vppon him hauing made his will hee caused himselfe to bee borne into a boate to go to Saint Maur des Fosses hard by Parris But not long after his entrie into the boate a great cold ceased vppon him and therevppon insued a sweate wherewith hee beganne to talke idly
executing diuers prisoners punishing those that were absent by their piclieres cōfiscating their goods as it pleased thē to appoint Without the town nothing was heard but onely of horrible and cruell murthers and that in the Bourg of the passage there were two young children rosted Duras hearing of those great mischiefes marched towards Lauserte a Towne in Quercy which vppon the fifteenth of August he tooke by force beeing constrained there vnto by the braueries of those that were within it in the Town he slew 567. mē among which were 9. score and 14. Priests Part of those of Agen were within the castle of Roime that Duras had committed vnto the charge of Captain Lyouran where Monluc besieged them battering the place 3. daies togither They within sustaining a furious assault but in the ende the number of souldiers that were therein being but small and Lyouran being slaine the Castle was forced Monluc hauing lost about seauen hundreth men the crueltie he vsed was extreame not sparing old nor young killing young children in their mothers armes and then the mothers They reserued certaine women whereof Burie would haue 2. for his part Monluc behauing himselfe in such fort that I abhorre to write it This happened to those of Agen but that was not all For after the ouerthrowe of the Army of Duras diuers of those that escaped hauing bene taken were brought to Agen a place appointed for the butchery where they had erected a gybbit called the consistory in such sort that from the time that those of the religion left the Towne vntill the Edict of peace there were abone fiue hundreth men executed to death and the Participants of Monluc to fil vp their iniquities banished the women and children out of the Towne after whom they sent the souldiers hanged a Counsellor in his long gowne and square Cap. Not long before this ouerthrowe of Duras Memy forsaken of all men thinking to withdraw himselfe into Bearn was taken prisoner and led to Bourdeaux Where by sentence in Court of Parliament he had his head striken off Exployts of Monsieur de Duras tell his ouerthrow We must now speake a word of the exployts done by Monsieur de Duras in Guyenne vntill his ourthrowe Hee hauing receiued charge to raise all the forces he could to ayde the Prince and to march towards Orleans his intents were often times crossed by diuers meanes and hauing begunne to rayse certaine forces hee was put in minde that he might bee a good meanes with them to assure Bourdeaux Which taking no effect hee determined to seise vppon the Countrey betweene the two Seas situate betvveene Gerome and Dordongne there to gather his forces But approching neere Saint Machaire in stead of victualls they shot diuers Muskettes at him whereby some of his men were slaine which caused him to assayle and force the Towne yet much supported by the greate humanitie of Duras whome Burie and Monluc then determined to inuade assuring themselues that hauing dispersed his forces they shoulde easilye accomplishe theyr owne desires through out all Guyenne Which being concluded they ouertooke him hard by Rozan where Monluc hauing the aduantage gaue Duras a charge who recouering a litle wood full of Diches behaued himselfe so well with three hundreth pikes the rest of his troupes hauing forsaken him that hee constrained Monluc to retire with the losse of three hundreth men and Duras about thirtie or more After that hee determined to leaue off his enterprise hauing the conduction of many meane souldiers and men wholely enemies to discipline yet hauing pittie of the Country and hoping that his Souldiers woulde doo better hee reassembled them Procuring others marched towards Agenois and Quercy ayding them of Agen as much as possibly he might But hauing heard what happened therein after the departure of those of the religion hee punished those of Lauserte and from thence comming to Saint Authony hee was strengthened by two companies of footemen led by Marchastel And as he determined to go to Monsieur de Cursol in Languedoc the Counte de la Rorchefoucaut desired him to ioyne with him and with all speed to march towards Orleans To the same end du Bordet a valiant Gentleman with 60. light-horse 200. Argolitiers 2. companies of footmē was sent frō Xaintonge to cōduct Monsieur Duras in the way Du Bordet entered Pons forced S. Satier wherin were slain twelue Priests then entered into la Linde a Towne in Perigort wherein he punished certaine seditious persons that had massacred and cut a poore man of the religion in diuers places of his bodie filling all his wounds with salt and hauing ioyned with Duras and Marchastel hee determined to punnish those of Sarlat that had slaine two Gentlemen and passing by Caussade to go to Montauban to fetch Artillerie and to raise more souldiers certaine Priests that did much mischiefe were set vpon and forced within a steeple and cast headlong out of it vppon the ground and some others of the principall of the Towne authors of the massacre committed in that place vpon those of the religion being committed vnto the Marshall of Guyenne were executed to death they placed good Garrison in Realuille and marching to Montauban leauing the conduction of their troupes to Chaumont Saint Hermine and Pere Longue This was but an vnaduised enterprise of those three Leaders to leaue their forces in that sort seeing Burie and Monluc were not farre of with sixe thousand foote and diuers horse But the wise and happie conduction of Chaumont mended that negligence deliuering a fierce skirmish vnto Monluc who for that day would not fight although Bury was of the contrarie opinion considering their great aduantage The troupes of Duras beeing safely arriued at Montauban vpon the ninth of September foure daies after Bury and Monluc incamped themselues but being dislodged within three times foure and twentie houres after Duras marched towards Xaintongue Ouerthrow of Duras and in the way forced the Castle of Marcues wherein heetooke the Bishoppe of Cahors that had certaine bookes of Magick-art about him and many receipts to winne the loue of women but no bookes of Diuinitie Hee escaped well from beeing hanged as author of the massacre in Cahors in his stead they executed fiue or sixe souldiers From thence all the troupes came before Sarlat vpon the first of October The resistance of the Towne and the enemies armie composed of eight thousand foote diuers horse approching made Duras to dislodge And vpon the eight of October being a rainie day hee entered into a Village named Hedreux his Artillerie and footemenlying at Ver halfe a league further Bury and Monluc hauing by one of their prisoners vnderstood the whole estate of Duras campe beeing about foure or fiue thousand horse and foote went forward But Duras in flead of ioyning his forces togither and to view his enemies supposed them to bee but certaine Curriers and neglecting them still separated his forces But hauing soone perceiued his fault hee
him hee presented the Escalado in diuers places but hee was but badly serued by his men both within and without the Towne and hardly repulsed by Soubize that gaue him occasion to seeke other meanes to get Lyons He holpe himselfe with the newes of the battel of Dreux and about the end of December caused the King and Queene to write vnto Soubize to desire him to yeelde the Towne of Lyons to the Duke de Nemours While Soubize made answere therevnto one named Marc Herlin one of the Kings receiuers within Lyons hauing for a time entertained certaine souldiers in the ende vsed to ride out well armed and horsed and to skirmish with the enemie In the moneth of Februarie 1563. hauing beene taken in a skirmish thought vppon a deuise both to saue his life as also to deceiue the Duke de Nemours desiring Lignerolles whom hee knewe to get him licence to speake with the Duke A deuice wrought against the Duke de Nemours to whome hee was to vtter some matters of great importance Men that are desirous of newes doo in a manner beleeue whatsoeuer is told vnto them which in any sort may bee any shewe of the effecting of theyr purpose and so it chaunced vnto Nemours who by the discourse that Herlin made beleeued that Lyons should bee taken and surprised at Sainct Iusts Gate which Herlin promised to keepe open for him Wherevpon Herlin was sette at libertie as if he had escaped away and beeing in Lyons hauing discouered all that had past betweene him and the Duke de Nemours vnto Soubize hee hadde more recourse vnto Nemours with whom the day of execution was appointed to bee vpon the 7. of March 1563. about eight of the Clocke in the morning Three thousand footemen according to the signe giuen vnto them entered without impeachment into the Subburbes of Saint Iust which they found not strange because they were well aduertised that no watch was holden in those Subburbes beeing entered and marching towardes the Gate Herlin that ranne before them and was their guide hauing entred at the wicket presently shut it against them and presently therevppon all the great Ordinance was discharged vppon them besides two or three hundreth Muskettes which in the night time hadde beene brought into the Bulwarkes and placed along vpon the walles with three or foure thousand Harquebusiers discharging all togither vppon that fearefull troupe and the more to spoyle them they sent sixe hundreth Caliuers of the best shotte out of the Towne ledde by Blacons Poyet Andefroy and Entrages that made an ende of dispersing of all them There you might haue seene a meruailous spoile and all kindes of death some being slain others smothered and beaten down the rest throwing themselues off from the walles or else intrapped in the snares so that if the horsemen conducted by Poncenat had made haste to issue at the Gate assigned vnto them and had marched thither not one of all those three thousand had hardly escaped But howsoeuer it fell out there lay foure hundreth of them dead within the Subburbes besides those that dyed without the hurt men beeing in greater number which dyed as they stedde away eyther to the Campe or to Vienne or else were borne away in Waggons Nemours was not onely auditor but an eye witnesse of this Tragedie whereby he conceiued such displeasure that he thought he should haue dyed with greefe whereby he stirred not out of his bed in two moneths after Meane time peace was concluded by the which those of the religion had the exercise of the religion within the towne wherein they made two Churches the armie being within and about it retiring Now let vs consider the estate of Dauphine about the beginning of the moneth of March 1562. the Parliament of Grenoble began to weakē the Edict of Ianuarie as much as it might Dauphine And not long after Des Adrets before being Colonel of the troupes of Dauphine Prouence and Languedoc beeing by the gentlemen and notablest Personages assembled in Valence established chiefe commander in Dauphine with prouision till they shoulde receiue some further and more certaine commaundement from the Prince Des Adrets made head commander in Dauphine Presently newes came that the Images were brokē down in many prouinces of France which was the cause that they could not be warrented within Dauphine Des Adrets aduertised those of the religion in Grenoble and by letters full of authoritie cōmanded the Parliament to driue certaine seditious persons out of the Town which he named vnto them and among other the second President the Attourney Generall the Aduocate of the Towne and the fourth Consull whome he threatned with death they neither stayed commandement nor executioner but presently retired only to execute an enterprise which they had vndertaken thereby to make themselues maisters of the town vpō the next night ensuing neuerthelesse their intent beeing discouered they saued themselues in good earnest Which knowne vpon the first of Maye those of the religion seized vpon the Gates of Grenoble and by consent of the Deputies of the Parliament of the Chamber of accounts and of the Councell for the towne entred into the Fryers Church which they cleansed of all her Images and Alters therein to vse the exercise of religion not dooing any other hurt vnto the Fryers After that by common consent they prouided for the safetie of the towne wherein Des Adrets sent a company of footemen led by Captaine Commung and after came thither with other troupes both horse and foote thereby to resist Monsier de Maugiron that termed himselfe Lief-tenant Generall in Dauphine Against whom he published a decree to seize vpon his body terming him a seditious person and one that violated the Kings Edicts All those Souldiers assembled within Grenoble first made warre against the Images and then entred into the fielde and tooke the Castles of la Bussiere and de Mirebel Des Adrets hauing made a course to Lyons vpon the fourth of Iune returned to Grenoble where he seized vpon the reliques causing an inuentory thereof to be made al being waied and valued amounted to 260. Marks of Siluer which was sent to Valence and the next day the great Charterhouse lying three miles distant within the Mountaines in a huge and very strong place was taken and burnt Massacre at Auranges Meane time those of Aurange were Massacred in this manner after the Massacrie at Vassie Those of the religion perceiuing Fabrice Serbellonne the Popes kinsman to lye with his forces within Auignon beeing but a small halfe dayes iourney from thence seized vppon the Towne On the other side in the ende of May the troupes of Prouence ioyned themselues with those of Fabrice at Cauaillon staying the commoditie to enter into Auranges where they had intelligence which those of Aurange sought to preuent strengthening themselues with sixe hundreth souldiers Thervpon it chaunced that the President Parpaille comming by Boate with prouision of Armes which hee hadde brought
to Lyons was betrayed into the handes of his enemies in a place about fiue miles from Auranges which mooued those of the religion with all speed to send thither their greatest forces conducted by Captain Saint Andre to relieue their prisoner whereof Fabrice being aduertised the next day in the morning came before Auranges with his armie and some cannons wherewith hee beganne the batterie Those that were gone to the relieuing of their prisoner hearing the noyse of the cannon stayed their course beeing accompanied with diuers of their neighbours by meanes of Fabrices horsemen and beeing surprised in the day time they were constrained to staye at Serignan about a myle from Aurange Part of those of the religion remaining in a small number perceiuing the breach and their Cittizens of the Romish Church readie to set vp on them in the Towne while Fabrice should assayle them without forsooke the Towne and saued themselues with their wiues and children within Serignan Some stayed within Aurange that determined to defend the breach but vppon the sixt of Iune in the morning they heard the noyse of the assaylers They betrai◠each other in Aurange whereof ensued a horrible murther who by diuers waies made open vnto them by those of the Romish Church entered into the Towne The watch-word of those that entered was terrible blasphemie of God they contented not themselues to kill without distinction of sects age nor quallitie but made some die by diuers stabbes with poiniards and rapiers cast others vppon the poynts of halbards hanged burnt others within Churches cut off some of their priuie members olde men of eightie yeares of age bedthred persons diseased people in the Hospitalles The poore men inhabiting in the Mountaines came thither to reape and hauing no other weapons but their sithes and hookes were likewise massacred Many women and maides were killed others hanged at windowes and Galleries were harquebused young children sucking at their mothers breasts massacred diuers young wenches of fiue or sixe yeares rauished and spoyled The woundes of the dead were filled with the leaues torne out of the Bible The Towne was wholly sacked wherein happened a maruellous iudgement of God which was that the authors of the mischiefe that had caused the enemie to enter thinking to bee safe and preserued from daunger withdrewe themselues with their armes and wiues into the Market-place The traitors receiue their reward where the enemie thinking they would haue made resistance fell vppon them and put them all to the sword Those of the Castle hauing yeelded vppon oath and promise made to haue their liues saued were part stabbed and part thrown headlong from the walles to the number of one hundreth and nine men About euening Suze caused the Castle the Pallace and the Bishoppes-place to bee set on fire and three hundreth houses burnt with diuers persons that had hidde themselues therein and without an extraordinarie raine that happened in the night time all the Towne had wholly been consumed to ashes The next day the walles were beaten downe and part of them cleane rased to the grownde Those that were in Serignan withdrewe themselues into Montelimart not being able to remedie so great mischiefes as for Parpaille the Vicelegat of Auignon caused his head to bee striken off sixe weekes after the massacre Des Adrets mooued at those murthers three or foure daies after the massacre of Auranges Des Adrets reuengeth the wrongs 〈◊〉 in Aurange ruuning about like thunder in fewe houres battred and forced the Towne of Pierrelatte where hee put all those to the sword that bare armes presently therevppon hee besieged the Castle wherein were three hundreth souldiers belonging to Suze and while they were in parley those of Serignan hauing ioyned with des Adrets entered by force killing some and casting others ouer the walles not suffering one to escape Des Adrets with the like dexteritie hauing taken Bourg and le Pont S. Esprit that presented him with the keyes went to force Boulene a frontier Towne of Contat where the souldiers of the companie of Captaine Bartelasse were slaine And as hee prepared himselfe to set vpon Auignon Maugiron sacketh Grenoble newes was brought him that Maugiron had entered by treason into Grenoble wherein diuers of the religion had been sacked and slaine others cast off from the bridge into the riuer of Iseire vpō the foureteenth of Iune and some daies after hee stayed his course and with an incredible dexteritie entered into Romans which hee held for himselfe forced Saint Marcellin and there cut the throates of three hundreth of Maugirons souldiers who withdrewe himselfe into Bourgongne where hee remained with Tauanes All such within Grenoble as knew themselues to bee guiltie saued themselues vpon the fiue and twentieth of Iune cursing the cowardlynesse of Maugiron The next day des Adrets arriued therein and vsed both great and small with great courtesie reestablishing all things in their estate and holding his armie in good discipline About the end of Iune hee marched towards Forests where hee vsed those of Montbrison in such manner as I shewed before Des Adrets perswaded by the Marshall de Brissac that promised him maruels beganne to write to the Duke de Nemours Des Adrets wonne by the Duke de Nemours in the end is taken prisoner and in the end they spake togither hard by Vienne meane ttme certaine Gentlemen talking togither among the which one was merrie surnamed Poltrot who because they spake of the death of the King of Nauarre said This death will not make an end of these warres but wee must haue the death of the dogge with the great collor And beeing asked whom hee ment of the great Guisard said hee and lifting vp his right arme spake in open audience Here is the arme that shall do the deed Aboue three moneths before hee had many times vsed those speeches among his companions and intrueth hee kept his promise as wee haue alreadie shewed Of this conference made by Adrets ensued a truce of twelue daies from the fiue and twentieth of Nouember to the sixt of December which day in the assemblie of the Estates of Dauphin des Arets did what he could to perswade the people to accept the Duke de Nemours for their Gouernour but besides the particular reasons not long before by the Nobilitie of the countrie made vnto Adrets they sayde it could not bee done but to the vtter ruine and ouerthrowe of all the Prouince and the letters of the Lieftenant to Nemours beeing openly red discouered the deuise because they contained that the Duke de Nemours was expresly sent to punish the seditious and rebelles Wherevpon the Estates concluded des Adrets himselfe not being able to deny it that before they could proceed further it was necessarie for the Duke de Nemours to obtaine other letters and graunts by the Kings lawfull Councell whereof the Prince of Conde was one as supplying the place of the King of Nauarre his
brother This deuise ouerthrowne des Adrets made a voyage into Languedoc and returning into Dauphine Nemours to coole his courage shewed him the Princes commissions giuen to Monsieur de S. Auban ouerthrowne with his troupes at Tarare to commaund in Dauphine and his commission to Adrets to goe to Orleans which seene des Arets vsed many practises to establish the Duke de Nemours and about the end of December sought the meanes to make him Maister of Valence and Romans The tenth of Ianuarie by aduise of the Nobilitie hee was taken prisoner and kept in Nismes vntill the peace when hee was set at libertie without absolution or condemnation and beeing at his owne house hee left the religion and after that openly bare armes against all such as maintained the same but in that alteration finding no good successe but rather shame and dishonour hee was constrained to with drawe himself vnto his house despised both of friends and enemies The second siâ—ge of Grenoble In base Dauphine Monsieur de Crossol recouered Serignan and Aurange On the other side vpon the seuenth of Ianuarie la Coche surprised the Tower of Lemps and discouered a great practise of Maugiron to enter into Grenoble for the which hee caused certaine traitors to bee executed Whereat Maugiron beeing offended ouerranne the countrie of triefues contrarie to his faith and promise At the same time those of Grenoble receiued certaine losses yet they victualled their Towne with corne and other munitions expecting a newe siege which happened vnto them about the end of February the enemies campe beeing eight thousand foote and horse with two great battering peeces whereof the bullet beeing of Brasse wayed about fiftie pound and three faire field peeces La Coche had nine Captains some Gentlemen with sixe hundreth good souldiers besides the Cittizens The batterie beganne the first of March and continued three daies and three nights after that they offered a scalado where they lost many of their souldiers They within the Towne but fiue onely with Monsieur de S. Muris a Gentleman much lamented Not long after the siege was raised and the Towne freed At the same time a smal troupe belonging to Captaine Furmeier surprised Romette a small place walled A notable exploit of Captaine Furmeier lying two myles from Gap punishing certaine boot-hallers that lay in it As Furmeier sent his footemen to enter into Romette at the sound of the belles which the boote-hallers for certaine houres before had rung in a steeple wherein they saued themselues and from whence they were thrown headlong downe the Garrison of Gap both horse and foote issued to ayde them But Furmeier accompanied with foureteene others on horsebacke was so bolde to stand against all that troupe marching in order of battel which was presently separated and put to flight The first that beganne to runne was Captaine Andre a Piedemontois in such sort that Furmeier and his companions had worke ynough to strike and laye vppon them killing them euen to the gates of Gap which continued with a short bridle vntill the peace proclaimed which made those of the religion to reenter And thus the affaires of Dauphine passed in those times Prouence Sommeriue maketh war against his father and all his adherents The Counte de Tande perceiuing the horrible discipation of all Prouence and that Sommeriue his sonne gaue such libertie vnto the bloodie and desolate companies of souldiers thereby to commit the most cruell murthers and villanies that euer was heard of whereby infinit numbers of houses and families were destroyed and wholly ouerthrowne came to Manosque where hee assembled all the men hee could vnder the conduction of Cipierre his sonne Colonel of the horse and of Cardet his sonne in lawe leader of the foote who dealt in such manner that all the Townes beyond the riuer of Durance continued vnder his gouernment onely Petuis which they besieged but all in vaine Meane time Sommeriue hauing gathered his forces and hauing been at Aurange by intreatie of Fabrice and de Suze hee came to Manosque which by Captaine Coloux was yeelded vnto him and hauing made a muster of fiftie Ensignes of foote and certaine Cornets of horse the sixteenth of Iulie 1562. hee besieged Cisteron wherein were the greatest part of all the families of the religion that had fledde out of other places of Prouence with eleuen companies of foote vnder Monsieur de Beanieu Nephew to the Counte de Tande Furmeier came thither likewise with three hundreth men Cisteron besieged Sommeriue caused the passages to be kept by one of his Captains named Bouquenegre a valiant souldier but verie cruell and dissolute if euer there were any in Prouence but hee was surprised in a village by twelue souldiers and one of his seruants whose wise he entertained and not long after found guiltie of diuers murthers and violences committed was hanged in the publike place of Iustice by his said seruants hands Bonquenegre hanged dying as hee liued The eleuenth of Iuly Sommeriue caused three assaults one after the other to bee giuen vnto the Towne which continued from three of the clocke after noone vntil euening but he had a most braue repulse The next day the town made certaine skirmishes and about eight daies after offered battell to Sommeriue which he refused And at that time they vsed such rigor vnto each other that no man was put to ransome About the end of the month Sommeriue fearing des Adrets that had gotten the battell of Vaureas went to incampe himselfe within three myles of Cisteron On the other side Cardet with all his forces approached vsing all the meanes hee could to reassemble the troupes but it was impossible wherevppon the Counte de Tande wanting victualles caused the campe to rise whereof part were placed in Cisteron vnder the gouernment of Senas the rest sent to des Adrets that promised in short time to come and visit him with great forces but hee did not The second siege of Cisteron The 27 of August Sommeriue with one hundreth and two Ensignes of foot and great store of horse besieged Cisteron round about and vnderstanding that Mombrun came to ayde the Towne sent Suze to meete him who vppon the second of September surprised and ouerthrewe Mombrun and 500. men the Towne inclosed on all sides but onely in one place which lyeth vppon high and desart Mountaines the way whereof is so straight that two hoâ— semen can hardly ride in ranke Vpon the foureteenth of September Sommeriue made a cruell batterie so that about tenne of the clocke in the morning the breach was of one hundreth and foureteen paces without flancard or raueling to defend it Besides that two demy Coluerins that shotte from the Friers strake the souldiers in the Towne when they came to the breach which notwithstanding although the besieged seeking to rampier the breach were striken and hurt and some borne into the ayre with cannon shot both men and women
penne then all the enemies forces could beate downe intenne yeares space That the Gentlemen that would shewe their good wils should soone see and feele by good experience how much more expedient and commodious it will bee vnto them to go to a sermon within a Towne or Village neare vnto them then to receiue a church into their house besides this that such Gentlemen dying would not alwaies leaue heires of their opinions These reasons were so firme that besides the disliking of those that were not called to counsell the most part of those that had agreed vnto it could gladly haue wished it to beginne againe But the Prince to all that opposed the promises made vnto him that in short time hee should enioy the estate of the deceased king of Nauarre his brother and that then those of the religion should obtaine whatsoeuer they could desire Yet although many alleadged to the contrary that all his promises were but words and that when those of the religion should bee disarmed and retired vnto their houses their enemies would still deuise the meanes to vexe and trouble them and that they should bee disgraced and nought esteemed Yet would hee neuer apprehended it and what paines soeuer the Admirall tooke accompanying the Prince in diuers priuate conferences with the Queene the Edict continued in force as it hadde beene decreed and nothing else could bee obtained but onely that certaine Gentlemen procured this poynt that some of the best Townes in certaine Prouinces should bee nominated for the exercise of the religion in the Baliages but this was but an accord in paper that tooke small effect The Queene of England had assisted the Prince of Conde and his adherents with men and mony during those warres who for assurance of her mony disboursed and for the retrait of her men gaue her the possession of the towne of New-hauen wherein there laye an English Garrison The Prince by his Edict hauing not made any conclusion that the Englishmen should bee payde and peaceably sent home againe they stayed in New-hauen to keepe it till they had satisfaction on the other side The Councell of France by letters dated the sixt of Iuly proclaimed warre against the Englishmen and fifteene daies after New-hauen was besieged The Englishmen driuen out of New-hauen the Constable beeing Generall of the armie wherein they drew the Prince with diuers Lords Gentlemen Captaines and Souldiers of the religion some of their aduersaries vaunting after the siege to haue driuen out the Englishmen by those that brought them thither And that the Huguenots might bee well assured not to haue any more ayde out of England the Earle of VVarwicke laye in New-hauen with sixe thousand Englishmen hauing well prouided all things necessarie for the defence of a place of such importance But the fresh water beeing taken from the Englishmen the plague was very rife among them and the batterie most furious vppon the eight and twentieth of Iuly they grew to a parley and the next day yeelded the place wherein aboue three thousande of them were deade of the plague Eight monethes after this reudition a peace was concluded and proclaimed betweene France and England The king of the age of 13 yeares and a month declared of lawfull yeares The Prince of Conde in the conclusion of peace was made beleeue that he should haue the place of Lieftenant generall by the decease of the king of his brother the king of Nauarre but after the deliuery of New-hauen the Queen hauing no more need of him to take all hope from him on that side and to breed new conceits in the heads of those of the religion published a declaration to shew the maioritie of the king as then entered into the 14. yeare of his age And to make shewe the better vnto this declaration whervnto was added a most seuere Edict against bearing of armes his subiects leagues and the pensions of forraine Princes shee caused her sonne in great solemnitie to sit in the Parliament of Roane where to shewe her child to bee sufficient and capable to adminster the affaires of the Realme she caused him to bee taught and learned by hart to vtter a lesson artificially deuised thereby to bridle the Prince assistance thereat which by many was termed his degrading The substance thereof was that his comming into the Parliament was to giue his officers to vnderstand that hauing attained to the yeares of maioritie he would no longer indure that any such disobedience should bee vsed against him as had beene shewed since the beginning of the troubles commaunded that his Edict of pacification should bee obserued threatned the breakers thereof and such as made associations and leagues which was done vppon the sixteenth and seuenteenth of August Within short time after the Parliament of Parris sent a declaration vnto the king touching that Edict of maioritie which confirmed that of pacification But the Queene caused him to speake with authoritie as hee had done before The Queens proceedings against the Court of Parliament in Parris declaring his mother superintendant of his affaires and said vnto the Deputies of the Parliament that his meaning was that they should deale with nothing else but onely to administer good and speedie iustice vnto his subiects giuing them to vnderstand that hee would haue them to knowe that they were not appoynted by him in their offices to bee his tutors nor protectors of his Realme neither yet conseruers of his towne of Parris For you are said he according to his instructions giuen made beleeue that you are such but I mean not to suffer you any more to continue in that error but commaund you that as in the times of the kings my predecessors you neuer vsed to deale with any thing but with iustice that from henceforth you deale with nothing else And when I shall commaund you any thing if you finde any difficultie therein I will bee well content to heare your aduise as you haue vsed to do vnto the kings mine auncestors and not as my Gouernours and hauing giuen your aduises hauing heard my minde to be obedient therevnto without reply In dooing so you shall finde mee as good and milde a King as euer you had but dooing as you haue done since the time you were giuen to vnderstand that you are my tutors I will make you knowe that you are none such but my seruants and subiects willing and charging you to obey my commaundements The Bishop of Valence checqueth the Parliament of Parris Here you may see howe they draue the dogges before the Lyon and the subtill practises of the Queen to establish her Regencie vnder the warrant of her sonne wholely debarring the Prince of Conde from all his hopes and to change the Parliament of Parris somwhat more vnto her will she caused the the Bishop of Valence in a large discourse to confute that which the President de Thou had propounded touching the Kings Court and that his mawrite ought
first to haue been signified to the Court of Parliament in Parris that the King ought not to permit the exercise of two religions within his Realme that the inhabitants of Parris ought not to be constrained to leaue their armes The Bishop in open tearmes seemed to charge de Thou and all his companions to shew but small vnderstanding in those affaires and much lesse conscience The twentie foure of September following by Decree of the priuie Councell the mawrite of the King or as some are of aduice the regencie and Soueraigntie authoritie of the Queene was confirmed The Pope abandoneth the Realm of Nauarre to him that could take is by force wherevnto the King opposeth At the same time an other deuise was wrought against those of the religion The Pope faining that he could no longer beare with the reformation of religion and doctrine vsed in the Realme of Nauarre and the Soueraigntie of Bearn in the moneth of September caused a declaration to bee published in Rome against Ieane d'Albert Queene of Nauarre who as then made publicque profession of the religion and had driuen the Masse out of her Countries This declaration was made in forme of an excommunication for a dispossession of all that land which as then remained vnto this Princesse by whom soeuer would take it in hand to enioy it as by conquest and his owne proper inheritance Shee was likewise cited to appeare before the Consistorie of Cardinalles within sixe moneths after for default whereof the Pope declared her hereticke her goods confiscate and abandoned as aforesaid The King formed an opposition against this papall thunder which as then was shewed but in Rome The King of Spaine hauing neither the desire nor the meanes to fall vppon that Princesse and the Councell of France esteemed it inconuenient to giue so manifest a shadowe vnto those that were of the religion The death of Charles de Cosse Marshal de Brissac that had done great seruice for the Realm of France in the warres of Piedemont made an ende of this yeare 1563. that dyed vpon the last of December Ann. 1564 In the beginning of this yeare it was permitted vnto the Clergie by an Edict to redeeme their landes that had bin alienated to the value of a hundreth thousand crownes yearely rent An Edict in fauour of the Clergie All this was but a point of cunning vsed to diue into the purses of those who during the warres and that France drowned in teares had sung and for the most part liued at their ease About the beginning of Februarie the Ambassadors of the Pope the Emperour the King of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy came to Fountainebleau desiring that the King would cause the Decrees of the Councell of Trent to bee wholely obserued within the Realme of France for the which cause The King solicited by the Spaniard to breake the Edict of pacification the Deputies were to be at Nancy vppon the the twentie fiue of March then next ensuing to reade the same in presence of the Ambassadors of all the Papisticall and Catholicque Romish Princes assembled togither there to make and frame a generall league against the Realmes principalities and estates that had withdrawne themselues from the obedience of the Pope They likewise desired the king wholly to cease the alienating of the goods of the Cleargie alleadging it to bee preiudiciall both against him and his Realme and contrarie to the word of God that the king of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy could not bee payed the monies due vnto them by reason of their mariages with the Cleargies mony desired that those of the religion might bee openly punished whom they disciphered according to their accustomed manner That the pardon and the edict of peace should bee made voyde that the king should doo iustice specially of those that were consenting vnto the death of the Duke of Guise And to effect these requests they added most faire and great offers thereby to cast the realme into the burning flame of a second ciuill warre Answere to the Ambassadors But the Queene and her Councell perceiuing it to bee a ticklish matter and distrusting in the promises of such men caused the young king to aunswere them that hee thanked their Maisters whom hee ment not to trouble hoping to maintaine his subiects in peace according to the institution of the Romish Church That hee had made the edict of pacification to put straunges out of his Realme that as then he could reenter into a new warre within his realme for certaine reasons which in writing he sent vnto them and that in those affaires hee would aske the Counsell and aduise of the Prince of his blood and the chiefe Lords of his Councell and of the Crowne The king of Spaine with that Ambassage deuising how hee might see his kinsmans house in new troubles tooke no order for his own in the lowe countries where as then warres beganne to bee hatched which not long after came foorth and as yet continue therein to his great shame and confusion In the beginning of March the Queene beganne the voyage of Bayonne to speake with the king of Spaine the pretence was that the king beeing Maior and about foureteene yeares of age Beginning of the voyage to Bayonne would ride about his Realme to visit his Prouinces and that his presence would bee a means to remedie many complaints and discontentments and withall strengthen and establish the edict of pacification But the effect that both approached and ensued did partly shewe the intents and secret practises of that woman and her Councell The king beganne that voyage in Champagne and Bourgongne from whence hee went to Lyons What a scita dell was built at Lyons and to the ende those of the religion should not haue the meanes to fortifie themselues therein as they had done at other times a scitadell was then begunne to bee erected and although at that time the plague raigned within the Towne yet the Queen and her Councell would not stirre from thence and kept the king there vntill that scitadell was almost finished But in the end the plague being entered into the Queens Chamber whereof one of her Gentlewomen fell sicke the king was ledde from thence While they built at Lyons to bridle those of the religion by that means to weaken their forces Defacing of Townes the Townes of Orleans and Montauban were vnwalled in other townes scitadels were made which by some were called Chastre-villaines by others the Nests of Tyrants Those of the religion indured all contenting themselues with simple declarations in paper and receiuing paper for payment For that about the beginning of this voyage the Romish Catholikes of Greuan in Bourgongne massacred diuers of the religion being assembled therein to exercise their religion Massacre of those of the religion complaints thereof beeing made vnto the Queene shee gaue faire words promising to send Commissioners to Creuan such as were honestly
minded and not passionate to inquire of the fact But in stead of keeping promise at the same time an edict was made forbidding the exercise of the religion in the kings Court An edict derogating that of pacification and that in the Townes wherein by the edict it was permitted the Ministers should not preach as long as the kings should remaine therein all eadging for reason that his presence might not indure the exercise of any other religion then that which he vsed who as then was taught to rule and Court Ladies hauing Maisters appoynted for the purpose the Court as then beginning to bee an example of all dissolution They likewise draue al ministers out of the realm that were not natural Frēchmen The king being gone from Lyons went to Roussillon wher he staying for a time was visited by the duke d'Sauoy Ther they erected another dismēbring of the edict of peace Another derogatiue edict forbidding all iustices to vse the exercise of religion in their houses freses or Castles other then in those that are appoynted in the edict That the Ministers which should haue exercised their charges in places not comprehended in the edict for the first time should bee banished out of the realme and beeing found therein againe to bee corporally punished That Priestes Monkes Friers and Nunnes that are married should bee constrained to leaue their wiues and husbands and to returne againe into their Monasteries and Couents or else to go out of the realme That it should not bee lawfull for those of the religion to hold Sinodes accusing them vnder that pretence to haue made conspiracies and raised the greatest part of the realme This edict abated somewhat of the edict of pacification From Dauphine the king went into Prouence and Marcèllis and in the beginning of winter hee entered into Languedoc and being in Montpeslier about the end of December prolonged the redeeming of the spirituall goods for the space of sixe moneths more This winter was extreame colde through all the realme of France The Cardinall of Lorraine pretending to enter armed into Parries is repulsed by the Marshall de Mont morency At that time the Cardinall of Lorraine newly returned from the Councell of Trent hauing stayed a certain time in Champagne rid to Parris with his guard openly bearing armes contrary to the expresse commaundement of the king beeing accompanied by Henry Duke of Guise his Nephewe as then but a child but yet inuested with the estate of Great-maister of France His brother the Duke d'Aumale lay not farre from Parris with a troupe of men The Marshall de Montmorency Gouernour of the Isle of France beeing a wise Gentleman and a friend to peace hauing discouered that diuers mutinous companions attended the Cardinalles arriuall in that manner to commit violence against those of the religion that daily increased and foreseeing that so bolde an attempt openly to ride in armes would breed some horrible tempest if it were not preuented sent word to the Cardinall that hee should not presume to enter into Parris with such a traine nor in that manner And because he made no account of the kings Lieftenants commandement the Marshall sent him word that hee forbadde him to enter into his gouernment with armed troupes which if hee did hee would vse his authoritie But the Cardinall not letting for that about the beginning of Ianuarie assayed to enter armed into Parris but hee found the Gouernour and Soueraigne Magistrate with thirtie or fortie men readie to resist him all men of account as Lords and Gentlemen and the Prince of Portian But in stead of beating down the Cardinall and his men hee contented himselfe to put them in feare The Cardinall his Nephewe and diuers of their followers saued themselues in the first shoppes and houses they could get into Their men of war shunning the danger with all the speede they could but not once pursued This chance made the Cardinal wholly confused and hauing stayed for a time within the Towne hee returned into Champagne staying the Kings returne from Bayonne The Duke d'Aumale his brother made more shewe and for the space of certaine weekes no other report ranne abroad within Parris and all the Isle of France but onely of leagues and associations made to bee reuenged vppon the Marshall de Montmorency who being assisted by the Admirall and other Lords held the Parisians in peace and caused his action to bee approoued both in the Parliament and by the kings Councell But this blowe renued the despight of the house of Guise against those of Montmorency and Chastillon and because the assemblies made by the Duke d'Aumale and the league hee made with the Duke d'Estampes Martignes Chauigny and the Bishoppe of Mans had constrained the Marshall the Admirall to assemble certain Gentlemen to withstand those pretended leaguers The Queen fearing least that beginning wold breed some mischiefe that might breake the voyage of Bayonne and other expedients which shee esteemed to bee most fit and necessarie for the effecting of this Councell presently dispatched letters pattrents whereby the king commauned those that as yet were not entered into Parris to approach no nearer and such as were therein to depart from thence referring the ending of this quarrell vntill his returne out of Gascoigne The Cardinall offended that no better remedie was taken in his behalfe touching that disgrace beganne another enterprise making warre against Salcede Bailiffe de Vic The Cardiwalles warre and Gouernour for the king in Marsault that had ceased certaine places appertaining to the Cardinall alleadging hee had reason to doo it because the Cardinall had put himselfe into the safegard and protection of the Emperour and had caused it to bee published without the commandement and licence of the king his Soueraigne But Salcede beeing ouerweake for so puissant an enemie fauoured by the Queene in the end was constrained to leaue both Vic and Marsault The ninth of Iune Henry duke of Orleans brother to the king departed from Bayonne The comming of the Queen of Spaine to Bayonne where not long before the Court arriued and went to lodge at Saint Iohn de Lus from whence the next day after he road to Iron the first place in the frontiers of Spaine scituate vpon the riuer of Marquery which diuided the lands of the Kings of France and Spaine And hauing past that riuer he went to meete with his sister the Queene of Spaine beyond Aruany where after the ceremonies and salutations ordinatily vsed at such meetings they tooke their way to S. Sebastians wher the Duke of Alue stayed Not long after the king went forth to meet his sister accompanied by diuers Princes Noblemen conducting her vnto Bayonne where she stayed along time The Duke d'Alua with many of the Couucell of Spaine had diuers secret conferences with the Councell of France There resolution beeing as Monsieur de Noue saith in his discourse Councels holden in Bayonne betweene the Spantards the
enioy benefices without dispensation succeed their Parents and purchase lands and possessions as if they were seculer persons This is the course whereby they haue at chieued such wealth riches in this new order for al that falleth to these lesser obseruantiues by succession purchase chace or any other practise is incorporate into the whole bodie of Iesuites without repetition or reuocation for euen they to whom it falleth haue vowed obedience We are moreouer to note another especiall vow of these men which importeth that they shall in all cases in all places obey their Generall superior who alwaies is a Spaniard chosen by the K. of Spaine as hitherto it hath alwaies fallen out for among other the wordes of this vow they haue these that setting their eie vpō their Geneneral they are to acknowledge in him the person of Iesus Christ as present From these vows distinctions haue proceeded terrible enterprises year euen most heynous attempts against the liues and persons of Princes kings and Queens as the Histories of the low Countries England and Rome do plainly testifie wherof also we wil speak somewhat toward the end of the raigne of Hemy the third As touching the disorders happened in the two orders by thē deuised which are termed the one the great obseruants the other the Iesse Two decrees in the Iesuits sext in fauor whereof they may subdue all the world to the king of Spaine their Soueraigne Maister Pasquier discoueret it at large and time hath veresied it adding these words Seeing it is so said he that in their lesse obseruance there is neither vowe of virginitie nor prouerbe and therinto they receiue all kinds of people indifferently both Priests and Lay-men married vnmaired are not bound to be resident with the great obseruants but permitted to dwell among the commō people only that at certain fixed daies they assembled at their cōmon-house to be participants with their outward cerimonies so that according to this lawe and rule it is not impertinent to see a whole towne to be Iesuites The communication which they haue togither by means of confessions serueth to find out their booties to discouer the secrets both of great and small and because they are particularly affected to the king of Spaine their chiefe founder for whom also they make particular expresse and ordinary prayers it is not to be wondred at if since that time these new brethren both in France and elsewhere haue sought and trauelled so much to make him Monarch of all the world Besides this Maister Pasquier addeth that the Iesuites alluring vs with faire promises are ordained to gripe lay hold vpō our goods and to fil thēselues with our spoiles that they are Sophisters the are entred like fearfull foxes in the middle of vs therin by proces of time to raigne like Lyons that as the auncient Orators and teachers of the people by a kind of pleasing speech by litle litle got credite in Rome so by litle litle they ouerthrew the estate as all Pollititians iudged we must attend expect no lesse of the Iesuites if in the beginning both their race and roote be not extirped The aduise and decree of the Sorbonnists against the Iesuites In the same plea he doth also insert the aduice and decree of the facultie of diuinitie of Parris in the Colledge of Sorbonne of the yeare 1554. importing as followeth This new societie after a new waner attributing to it self only an vnaccustomed title of the name of Iesus so licentiously admitting all people howsoeuer criminall illegitimate or infamous vsing likewise no difference from secular Priests in their outward habit in their tousure in saying their canonical hours either priuately or singing the same publikely in the temples in Cloyster or in silence in choise of meat daies in fasts or in other the seuerall laws ceremonies that do distinguish preserue the estates of religions hauing attained so many diuers priuiledges intelligences liberties especially in regard of Masses confessions without distinction of place or persons likewise in the question of preaching reading or teaching to the great preiudice of ordinaries Curats all other orders of Monks and Fryers yea euen of Princes temporal Lords contrary to the priuiledges of the Vniuersities and to the great oppression of the people do seem to pollute the honestie of monasticall religion to weaken the studious deuoute and necessary exercise of vertue abstinence cerimonies and austeritie yea euen to minister occasion freely to shrink from al other religions to substract and draw away all obediēce subiection due to ordinaries doth wrongfully depriue both temporal Ecclesiasticall Lords of their rights breedeth troubles in al estates eyther pollicke or religious and many quarrels among the commons as suites strife discention enuie rebelliō sundrie schismes Al these considerations with many others diligently wayed and examined this societie seemeth dangerous to the estate of religion a disturbance to the peace and vnitie of the Church and subuerter of all mockerie and an inuention tending rather to destruction then edification Now let vs see what followeth A bitter censure against the Iejuiticall sect There neuer was faith M. Pasquier who protesteth himselfe to be of the Romish church in the faith wherof he voweth to liue die inuented so partial ambitious a sect neither any whose propositions imported more pernicious consequence then the Iesuites In her principles she is a schismatick cōsequently an hereticke Then doth he compare Ignace with Luther so cōcludeth that Ignace is more to be feared them the other for saith he mens consciences may easily be surprised made drunken with the poyson of the Ignatians and Iesuites in that they account them to be the principall protectors of the Romish religion against all hereticques whereof neuerthelesse they are the chiefe subuerters Vnder pretence of supporting the church of God they do subuert it wil at length vtterly ouerthrow it Soone after proceeding in his speech to the whole Court he saith I hope plainly to let you vnderstād that this sect in all their propositions worketh nothing but diuision between the christian and the Iesuit between the Pope the Ordinaries between all other Monks thēselues that so long as they be tollerated no Prince or Potentate can assure his estate against their attempts This sect was founded vpon the ignorance of Ignace euer since maintained and vpholden by the pride arrogancie of his secretaries After that he reproacheth thē terming thēselues Iesuits do degrade the ancient christians and blaspheme against God Further that in Portingal the Indes they term thēselues Apostles saith that as certain sectuaries in An. 1562. surnamed Iesuits others such proud persons were ouerwhelmed by the iust iudgement of God so we are to expect no other thing at the hāds of this mean sext of Iesuits what shew soeuer it maketh that these Ignaciās
any water to quench it For if wee should said they as many times heeretofore haue recourse to complaints wee doo plainly finde that so we shall sooner stirre vppe our aduersaries to more rage then procure our selues any remedie Againe if we take armes albeit it bee for our most iust necessary and vrgent defence yet what obloquie slaunder and curses shal we incurre at their hands who althogh wrongfully do impute vnto vs the whole blame of whatsoeuer miseries may ensue and will turne their rage which they cannot inflict vpon vs against our poore families scattered in sundrie places And therefore sith of many ineuitable mischiefes we are alwaies to chuse the least it were better to beare the violence of the enemie then by beginning with them to make our selues guiltie of a publicque and generall commotion Herevpon the la d'Andelot vrging the necessitie of the defensiue amongst tother speeches said If ye linger and driue off vntill ye bee banished into forraine countries cast bound into prisons ouerrunne with multitude of people contemned by the men of warre or condemned by the authoritie of the greatest all which is not now farre from vs what good shall wee reape of our patience and former humilitie what profit shall wee reape by our innocencie to whom shall we complaine nay who will affoord vs the hearing It is now time for vs to bee better aduised and to haue recourse to the defensiue which is no lesse iust theÌ„ necessary neither are we to care thogh we be accounted the Authors of the warre which is leuyed onely by thoâ—e who in so many sorts haue broken all publicque couenants and agreements and brought euen into our bowels six thousand forraine souldiers that haue alreadie in effect proclaimed it against vs. Now let vs likewise giue them so much aduantage as to smite the first blowes and so shall our mischiefes bee past all care And after many meetings and determinations had among them heerevppon they resolued vppon a prompt and readie defensiue resolution wherin there were diuers meanes disputed vpon touching the execution thereof In the end it was concluded to rise in armes and in that beginning of war to obserue foure things the first to hold but fewe townes but such as shuld bee of importance the second to raise a great armie the third to ouerthrow the Switzers by whose meanes the Catholicques would alwaies bee Maisters of the field the fourth to assay if they could driue the Cardinall of Lorraine from the Court because many imagined that hee onely was the man that still solicited the king to destroye all those of the religion But touching the two last poynts many and great difficulties were propounded some alleadging that the Cardinall and the Switzers marched continually with the king and that setting vpon the one and seeking to feare the other it would bee saide that the enterprise had been made against the Maiestie of the king and not against them Yet in fine they were confuted by this reply that the effects would plainly shew what the intent of the Prince and his associates was as the euent manifestly shewed in the actions of Charles the seuenth as then beeing but Dauphine when he raised armes yet neyther against his father nor the Realme Further that it was well knowne that the Frenchmen themselues neuer attempted any thing against their Prince Lastly that if this first successe fell out fauorably that it would be the means to cut off the course of a long and troublesom war because therby they shuld haue means to let the king know the truth of those things which were diguised vnto him wherevpon might ensue the confirmation of the Edicts specially when those that arme themselues to preuent shall finde themselues preuented The successe of the Princes resolution This as saith the Lord de la Noue in his discourses was the resolution of the Lords and Gentlemen that at that time were about the Prince who as hee addeth albeit they were men of great experience skill valor and wisdome yet al that they had so diligently pondered and so well forecast when it came to the effect fell out wonderfull short of their expectation whilest other things whereof they had so farre drempt as thinking them ouer sure or difficult redounded to their good and stood them in stead A while before they resolued vpon this necessitie as the Switzers marched on first the Prince and then the Admirall made a iourney to the Court where they declared each after other to the king to his mother and to the Councell that there was no reason neither any iust occasion to make this leuie of six thousand Switzers to bring them into the Realme vnlesse paradu enture they had some pretence to imploy them vpon the ruine of those of the religion of whom there were yet remaining a greater multitude then they imagined whereof the late warres might beare witnesse withall that if their enemies practised ought but good they would stand vpon their guard and not haue their throates cut by theeues and perturbers of the publike peace and heerevppon also they besought the king to take compassion of so many honest families throughout his Realme but they were denied and hardly intreated yea the Prince at one time was in great hazard of his life against whom the Courtiers had incensed the Duke of Aniou the kings brother who suddainly entered into a sharpe braule against him seeking all occasions to do him a shrewd turne but the Prince both wise and eloquent aunswered him so pertinently to whatsoeuer the questions and violent complaints of him whom hee was to reuerence who also was at that time inuironed with those that would not sticke to strike that the snare was broken whereby hee escaped and from that time came no more to the Court. To returne to the successe of the enterprise of the Prince and his partakers they were forced of necessitie eyther to oppose themselues against the cruell resolution of their enemirs in France The Princes preceedings or else to flie out of the Realme and so to leaue so many thousands of hou sholds families to the mercie of their massacring enemies For touching the first poynt they determined to surprise three townes onely that is Lyons Thoulouse and Troys all very commodious for the warres But the meanes vsed by those that tooke the charge vppon them were not well effected in regard they were ouer many people and of small experience and sucfficiencie in such affaires who held their consultations of that which should bee done while they lay in their beddes or sat in their counting-houses Touching their strength in field those of the religion had more in the beginning then the Catholicques but sixe weekes after the raising of armes about the end of Septemb. they found themselues the strongest whereby they constrained the Prince and the Admirall to seek refuge in Almaine from Duke Casimeire The execution against the Switzers succeeded but crosly because it
was discouered and that the forces that should haue met in time and place sayled The Cardinall of Lorraine saued himselfe in great haste and fledde from the Court and yet he kept his credite in the Court being able to do as much absent as present To the contrary the Prince and his partaker fell into great difficulties by prouoking the hatred and collor of the king against them because through their meanes hee was constrained to go from Meaux to Parris with great feare although hee had sixe thousand Switzers about him besides horsemen the Prince at his approaching hauing betweene foure and fiue hundreth horse at the most neuerthelesse it was put into the kings head that he sought to attempt against his person so that from thenceforward he alwaies had a secret grudge against them This entrie into the warre hauing had but a hard beginning for the Prince other effects recompenced the defaults of his former fortunes but more by the particular motions and dispositions of certaine Gentlemen and Inhabitants of Townes then any Precedent deliberation whereby it fell out that those of the religion seized vpon Orleans Auxerre Soissons and other places The generall leuying of armes in one day by the Prince and his participants did no little abash those of the contrary part as also that with so small a number of horse he durst approach so neare sixe thousand Switzers whom he had charged betweene Meâ—â—x and Parris yea and ouerthrowne them if the Harquebusiers on horsebacke whom hee attended had kept their appoynted time or if he had bin strengthened with 150. horse out of Picardie that came certaine houres too late But the Prince not daring to venture vpon so great a troupe of Switzers The Prince retireth to S. Dennis that seemed a forrest therein perceiuing too much hazard and too small aduantage for him and his troupes went vnto Saint Dennis with his troupes where not long after hee had more company so that in fewe daies hee found himselfe to be 2000. horse and 4000. Harquebusiers strong which not long after were dispearsed Monsieur d'Andelot sent with 500. horse towards Poissy and Pontoise to hinder those of Parris that haue their victuals brought them by water Many companies of foot marched toward Argentueil Pont Charenton and other places bordering on the same The rest of the troupes were sent part to meete the troupes of Guyenne that should enter into Orleans surprised by Monsieur de la Noue and part into other places where need required So that the Prince and the Admiral staying at S. Dennis with certaine Gentlemen could not haue aboue 800. horse and 1200. Harquesiers The Constable had within Parris aboue 3000. horse 12000. foot and the sixe thousand Switzers with artillerie and warlike ammunition as much as he would desire yet stirred not fearing the hard resolution of the Prince his traine who by their troupes dispearsed seized vpon the passages both by water and land wherevppon the Parrisians not vsed to fasting beganne to complaine The Prince hoped to constraine them to fight and that his forces being vnited if hee might bee victor to bring his enemies vnto a more assured peace then that hee made before and if hee were ouerthrowne the places which hee held vppon the riuer of Marne and Seyne would serue him for his retrait staying for the Rutters that beganne to stirre with his forces of Guyenne The Constable to the contrary hauing taken the view of the Princes lodging and forces determined to giue them battell assuring himselfe to ouerthrow theÌ„ without resistance for that besides his number of men being tenne for one he had great store of Ordinance and pikes and a faire fielde well fitting for his troupes and cannons All these disaduantages notwithstanding disswaded not the Prince but that hee the Admirall Ienlis and other leaders of the religion issued to assayle them The battell beeing giuen vppon the tenth of Nouember 1567. The battell of S. Dennis continued almost three quarters of an houre night separating them the issue beeing such that those of the religion that had aduanced themselues aboue a quarter of a League entering with most strauge furie vppon their enemies wearied with striking their horses being breathlesse or hurt namely that of the Prince slaine vnder him and the Admiralles horse hauing borne him twise through the thickest of his enemies forces beeing a very strong horse in the mouth and in the beginning of the fight had broken his curbe and yet neither of those two leaders hurt were constrained to recuile but retiring in good order most of the Constables foote did little seruice but the Princes playde their parts the horsemen on both sides fighting with great courage The Constable himselfe was wounded to death and died within short time after and before hee died Death of the Constable connielled and desired the Queene to pacifie those troubles with all the speed she might but shee followed other counsell whereof shee and her sonnes haue had leisure to repent them and died before shee had reeled vp her spindle The Prince thinking his enemies would haue set vppon him againe to bee reuenged vppon a handfull of men that had held them play vnder their noses speedily sent for Monsieur d'Andelot who about midnight returned to S. Dennis and it was well for those of Parris as their leaders affirmed that hee came no sooner for if hee had it would haue fallen out hardly with them After a little breathing the leaders determined that it would bee necessary for them to abate some of the Romish Catholicques pride and opinion of their aduantage by shewing them that those of the religion had sufficient courage and called them to performe the battell Wherevppon the next day in the morning they entered into the field with their small armie marching towards the subburbes of Parris and there stood certaine owers in order of battell burning a village and some Windmilles in the open face of the Parrisians that neuer once issued foorth being busied to burie their dead to heal their wounded to suruey their corners and companies and to bee short thought it no wisedome to hazard themselues against those whom they perceiued to bee strengthened and so resolute to fight But the Prince perceiuing that the losse of one man would bee more to him then one hundreth to his enemies that daily increased that to stay longer so neare Parris wold be the ouerthrow of his smal campe the next day marched forward towards Montereau where the forces assembling at Orleans and Estampes ioyned with him To the contrary the kings armie Both the armies in the field their exployts till the end of the yeare whereof was Generall Henry Duke of A niou brother to the king a young Prince beeing as then about the age of sixteene yeares assisted with a great number of Lords Gentlemen and Captaines followed after the Prince seeking occasion to giue him battell The Protestants troupes of Guyenne and Poictou composed
vppon to search their wittes and haue an eye to the prouision victualling of their armie which consisted of twentie thousand men vnpayed and vnprouided of any succour or retrait into Townes meanly furnished and marching through the middest of an infinite number of irreconciliable enemies They tooke order therefore to lodge their horsemen scattering in the good villages also to cause the commissaries for victualles besides their carriages to keep in euery cornet one Baker and two horses of burthen who presently vpon their comming to their quarter should fal to baking and send their bread to the body of footemen These pettie commodities proceeding from fortie Cornets being laide togither was no small reliefe besides that they sent both flesh and Wine yea the Gentlemen were so willing that from their lodgings they would send them priuate carriages to helpe to bring in the ammunition As for the hamlets that were taken they were reserued for the munitioners and the rest that had no Garrisons were threatned to bee burned one league round about vnlesse they sent in some amunition Thus the footemen who lodged close were vsually prouided for besides the booties and other commodities that the most aduenterous could catch frō the Romish Catholicques that incroached too neare vpon them Their forme of lodging Vpon two principall reasons was the Prince forced to scatter his armie in diuers places First for the benefite of victualling next to lodge them vnder couert from the raine snow and other discommodities Their form of lodging wherewith they had beene spoyled if they had lodged in the field The footemen were lodged in two bodies namely a battell and an Auantgard and the horsemen in the nearest villages vppon any alarme the horsemen drew to the Prince and Admirall so that if any stragling lodging chanced to bee assaulted it had present succour among the cornets they had some store of Harquebusiers on horse and presently after the troupes were come into their quarters the waies were sufficiently fortified and many times they vsed both Churches and Castles whereby to be able to hold out some two houres that their succour might come in The Lord de la Noue who in this discourse of the discipline of the Princes armie we do follow saith that sometimes he saw the Prince or the Admiral march with fiue or six thousand mē to the rescue of a lodging assaulted by a contrary partie but in such roads stil there fel out some losse on either side Besides for the preuenting of any notable surprise the Prince had framed the head of his troupes towards the enemie of fiue or six hundreth good horse and as many Harquebusiers on horsebacke with small store of baggage except some horses of burthen to the end stil to hold the enemie occupied to hinder his enterprise and to finde opportunitie still to giue warning to the whole campe which bare it self vnder the discreet conduct of their leaders While the Princes armie in Beausse ioyned with the Rutters making head against the puissant armie of the Duke d'Aniou Troupes gathered in diuers places for the prince who for his part had almost all the aduantages onely not resolued to fight Messieurs de Acier Sipierre and other Gentlemen of Languedoc Prouence and Dauphine gathered forces in diuers places seizing vpon Nismes and Montpeslier the Gascons rose vp in armes vnder the conduct of their Vicountes and forced certaine places vpon the Romish Catholicques and ioyning themselues with Monsieur d'Acier for the religion for whom likewise Poncenat and Verbelay assembled certain troupes in Bourbonnois Auuergne which were broken by the troupes of Guyenne marching to the Duke d'Aniou The Duke de Neuers likewise brought out of Italie foure companies of lanciers 2. companies of light horse 6. companies of fantasins being arriued at Lyons and strēgthened with new cōpanies with 6000. Switzers new raised he made an armie of 14000. men with the which he besieged took Mascon The Duke of Nemours for the Duke Aniou and certaine weeks after being desirous to go see the Duches his wife he was set vpō by 80. horse certain foot that issued out of Autrā cōducted by Beaunais Burgony Between thē ther was som losse on both sides the D. himself was hurt with a Harquebus-shot in the knee that while he liued he went lame In Guy Messs de Monluc with diuers others followed with 4000. foot 700. horse enterprised vpō the Iles of Sain surprised killed between 3. or 400. mē which don they determined to besiege Rochel but their intēt being deferred took no effect Mean time the troupes of Dauphine others that held with the Prince aduanced thēselues being vnder the cōduct of the Vicounte Mouans others at Ganap in Auergne ouerthrew al the horsmen of the countrie assembled by S. Heram Gouernor accompanied with S. Chaumont Gordes others wherof the boldest were slain the rest sauing thēselues with their heels but in their retrait they found thēselues in a new mischief for the hauing giuen charge expresse notice to al strong towns other places therabouts not to receiue any that fled whatsoeuer liuerie he bare vppon the vaine hope they had to haue the victorie The Pesants made hauocke of thē in such sort that the troupes led by the Viscountes others ariued at Orleans cōstrained Martinenghe Richelieu the Monke other leaders participants with the duke of Aniou who before that vsed to runne euen to the gates of the Towne to seeke some lodging further off and to keepe themselues in couert and not contenting themselues to haue driuen them away followed them which done they marched towards Blois where Richelieu with eight hundreth men hath made his retrait Blois taken who at the first made some resistance but perceiuing a breach to be made they bled at the nose and yeelded by composition liues armes and goods saued neuerthelesse the Gascons not contenting themselues to vse blowes made such meanes that Richelieus souldiers were for the most part spoyled of all they had what meanes soeuer the horsemen made to impeach them The Prince vnderstanding the arriuall of those troupes from Gascon and Dauphine sent them word to bee in a readinesse and to those of Orleans that they should prouide powder bullets and three or foure battering peeces The siege of Chartres After that he sent three thousand horse aboue 20. leagues from thence to besiege Chartres a towne of great importance and one of the barnes of the prouision of corne to serue Parris which being taken serued the Prince in some sort to preserue the places that laye behinde him Monsieur de Lignieres commaunded therein with 22. companies that were strengthened by a regiment of foot that lay about 4. myles frō thence that got into it before the Prince had executed his pretence The manner of this siege was diuers because the Prince had but 5. peeces of batterie 4. small coluerins which did
put into his discourses who was then as I said with the Admiral say that Brissac might haue atchieued this enterprise but as we are to pray to god to watch ouer such as sleep and the conseruation of their fates so as the Countie was vppon the way about the performance of his purpose a small chance crossed yea vtterly subuerted all his deuises For comming with a dozen of lathers and his men very reolute being within two leagues of the place hee met with 200. of the enemies horse who seeing this small armie at that time of night in the field retired in hast and raised an alarme at Monstrueil and other places thereabout where their horsemen were lodged whervpon the Countie was driuen to retire afterward the Admirall strengthened his night watches better beat the fields more often yet neuer could finde any newes of the enterprise or know how it was vntill the next peace After this the Prince other commaunders withdrew themselues towards Rochel Other exployts to the aduantage of those of the religion determining vpon means to prouide mony for the furnishing of those warres and beganne to sell the goods of the Romish Cleargie finding such as would hazard to buy them who therin vsed the matter to their aduantage the Rochelers lent fourescore thousand frankes The Q. of England sent 50000. pound six cannons certaine thousand waight of powder great store of bullets for the which she was paide in salt woolls and bel mettal All base Poitou being in the hands of those of the religion except the Abbay of S. Michael in Loire where laye a good Garrison of Friers and souldiers which serued for a restraint to many courses into the countrie but some souldiers of Poitou obtained licence of the Prince to besiege the Abbey which sustained two light assaults At the third assault it was battered and taken by force and 4. or 500. men that were in it put to the sword because of their wilfulnesse On the other side Martineugue Entragues and la Chastre Gouernors of Gyon Orleans Bourges accompanied with other leaders and certain troupes of souldiers The siege of Sancerre besieged Sancerre a small towne being the refuge of diuers families of the religion and gaue diuers assaults which the besieged sustained and repulsed wearying the enemie in diuers sorts who hauing lost sixe or seuen hundreth of their best men left that small town in peace but after that the Sancerrois seeking to enterprise to build a sort vpon the riuer of Loire they were surprised and hauing lost fiftie of their men and the fort were content to keepe good watch within their towne In the beginning of the yeare 1569. the warre beganne to renue the Viscounts of Bourniquet Montclar Paulin and Gourdon with seuen thousand Harquebusiers and some horsemen made warre for the Prince against those of Thoulouse and others the towne of Montauban beeing their chiefe retrait And beeing summoned by the Prince to ioyne with him Piles punisheth the pesants in Perigord made aunswere that they had rather keepe that Prouince and defend their owne Countrimen from Monluc and other enemies then leaue them as a pray while they bare armes in an other Prouince Captaine Piles that had charge to conduct them gathered certaine troupes in Quercy Agenois and other places and hauing taken Bergerac and Saint Foy hee made a road into Perigord where hee burnt all the villages and slewe all those that hee suspected to bee at the ouerthrow of Mouuans and Gourde And not long after hee marched with twelue hundreth Harquebusiers and about two hundreth horse to ioyne with the Prince Diuers warlike exployts About the beginning of February fiue hundreth horse comming forth of Saumur surprised defeated the Court of Bressant of Anigeuin neare vnto Thours and within eight daies after Countie Brissac had like to haue defeated the troupes of Montgommery whose brother he tooke prisoner with some others and slew some eighteene or twentie men The seuenteenth of the same moneth the Castle of Lusignon holden in the name of the Duke of Aniou was surprised by intelligence the Garrison thereof beeing for the most part gone into the towne to banquet and make good cheere But for want of speedie ayde the surprisers to the number of nine or ten were slaine there was likewise many other enterprises in diuers places as against New-hauen and Deepe but they tooke no effect The Protestants that bare armes with the Prince tired with the winter toyle and so many skirmishes found some sweetnesse in resting in Poitou whither they were retired But about the end of February the Prince began to gather his armie report beeing giuen out that the Duke was alreadie in field and marched with all his forces to Angoulesme To armies enter the field To whom the Counte of Tende had brought three thousand foote and some horse besides two thousand Rutters vnder the leading of the Rhingraue Bassompierre that were come to supply him Whervpon he purposed to end the war either by forcing the Prince to fight or else constraining him to shut his men within the townes The Prince and Admirall therevpon hauing assembled their forces determined to march along by the Charante a riuer in Poictou to behold the dukes countenance but yet not to hazard himselfe As also to ayde their townes which they strengthened with men making their armie so much the weaker But nothing worth memorie was done vntill the Duke came to Chasteauneuf a town cituate vppon Charante where at his arriuall hee tooke the Castle kept by a Scot and some Harquebusiers that yeelded themselues with their liues saued but with small honour The taking of Chasteauneuf occasion and beginning of the battel of Bassac And because the bridge of Chasteauneuf had been broken in two places the Admirall desirous to know the countenance and passage of the enemie went thither followed by seuen or eight hundreth horse and as many Harquebufiers There hee had a light skirmish with certaine troupes that had passed in certaine barkes or ouer certaine plankes speedily cast ouer The Admirall thinking that the Duke would passe ouer and thinking to haue time to aduertise the Prince to prouide for him minded to stop that passage vntill the next day And appoynted two Regiments of foote to lodge within a quarter of a myle from the bridge and eight hundreth horse somewhat further off wherof the third part should keepe watch hard by it as well to aduertise as to offer fight which done hee withdrew himselfe to Bassac about a league frō the bridge with the rest of the vantgard the Prince came to Iarnac which lyeth a league further but this commandement was not executed For both the horse and foote knowing that in the places appoynted them to staye there was but fewe houses with lesse victuals and fourage hauing wholly forgotten how to incampe themselues to be without commoditie in their lodgings went to finde some other quarter
The Princes had sixe thousand horse Frenchmen and Almaines sixe thousand Harquebusiers foure thousand Lansquenets sixe cannons two coluerins and three other peeces hauing left therest at Lusignan Before the battell two Gentlemen bearing armes in the Dukes campe beeing strayed came to some of those of thereligion Notable aduertisement neglected hauing certaine ditches betweene them and hauing protested vnto them that they bare no malice vnto the Princes willed them to aduertise the Admirall to keepe his armie from fighting because the Dukes armie was very strong by reason of new strength but that hee should driue off the time for the space of a moneth because all the Nobilitie had protested not to stay any longer but that if they were imployed within that time they would doo their best to aduance his seruice That it was daungerous to striue against the French furie which in short time would be abated and by that meanes the Duke with his Councell should bee constrained to seeke for peace and to graunt it with aduantage to those of the religion which aduertisment giuen those two Gentlemen retired Those of the religion went presently to the Admirall to certifie him therof which counsell liked him well They shewed it likewise to others of the principall commaunders whereof some reiected it not and desired it might bee followed but the greatest part esteemed it to be but an artificial deuise to put them in feare adding that although this aduise seemed to bee good yet it was not to be accounted of because it proceeded from suspect persons and such as vsually exercise deceits commonly such as are neare to any mischiefe despise the good counsell wherewith men seeke to relieue them The Princes Councell assembling to resolue vpon their proceedings some sayd it was best for them to get to Ernaux and to set the riuer which runneth by it Euill counsell followed between both the armies and to depart about nine of the clocke in the euening and to march all night that they might get thither in safetie because the Duke was at hand Others replyed that those nightly retraits put feare into such as make them imbasing their reputations giuing courage to the enemies and that it were best to depart about the breake of day This second aduise beeing the woorst was followed The Admirall as then was in great distrust fearing that the Rutters would mutin for want of pay and that three or foure of his Regiments of far countries would leaue him because they had alreadie asked him licence to depart He knew likewise that diuers Gentlemen were retired vnto their houses wherefore to hold the armie in vnitie hee besought the Princes that were at Partenay to come thither which they did bringing with them one hundreth and fiftie good horse The next day in the morning the horsemen were readie mounted to ryde to Ernaux all in white cassockes the better to know them if they should bee forced to fight But then the Lansquenets refused to march except they might haue mony And within a quarter of an houre after Blind auarice cause of a great mischiefe fiue cornets of Rutters said as much by which meanes aboue an houre and a hafe past ouer before they could bee appeased whereby the troupes could not haue the meanes to get a place wherein they could hardly haue been fought withall And hauing marched a quarter of a league they discouered the Dukes armie aduancing it selfe in such manner that all the leisure they had was to range themselues in order and to place themselues in a valley in couert from the cannon shot After this ensued an other mischiefe in the Princes armie which was that the Admirall perceiuing the Dukes vantgard to set forward wherein was nineteene cornets of Rutters in two squadrons and to come right vpon him hee sent to the Countie Lodowicke that commaunded the battell that he should send him three cornets of horse which the Countie did but hee himselfe led them and at that instant beganne the battell hee remaining in fight whereby the bodie of the battell remained without a head not knowing how to gouerne it selfe it is thought that if the Countie a wise and valiant Gentleman had beene there the body of the battell had mades good resistance The body of the battell without a head seeing that being so discouered it had almost put the dukes battell to fight The fight hauing continued almost three quarters of an houre the Princes as yet very young beeing not long before retired and with them diuers others vnder colour of safer conduction of their persons the Admirall likewise beeing hurt in the face at the first conflict in the ende the Princes horsemen were constrained to leaue the field part of the foote beeing slaine the rest flying to saue themselues The artillerie and Ensignes of the footemen were taken Countie Lodowicke was pursued a whole league Notable retrait but made a gallant retraict with three thousand horse in one maine The rest of the troupes hauing gotten away before the leaguerors made shew many times to set vpon the Countie but hee alwaies turned so brauely vpon them that they durst not ioyne In this manner hee marched towards Eruaux and from thence to Partenay where they arriued about tenne of the clocke at night fiue houres after the ouerthrow where the rest likewise came The Princes in this battell of Moncontour lost four thousand Launsquenets ' fifteen hundreth French souldiers and great numbers of pages and other boyes of the horsemen about three hundreth and many horses dead or hurt of men of name there were slaine Puigreffier Autricourt Biron brother to him that ledde the Dukes vantgard and Saint Bonet Cornet of the Admirals launciers La Noue and Acier taken prisoners the Rutters carriage was sacked only the horses which the boyes saued but the French carriage being further aduanced towards Partenay and Nyort was saued of the Dukes troupes there was not many footemen slaine but of horse about fiue or sixe hundreth and twise as many more wounded most part of them dying not long after and of men of name the elder Rhingraue the Marquesse of Bade and Cleremont of Dauphine The number of slaine on both parts The Duke caused the dead to bee buried and commanded the villages and townes neare there abouts to burie such as lay nearest vnto them Such was this daies chance whereof diuers discourses haue bin published whose vanities I haue not vndertaken to tet downe contenting my selfe to haue approached nearest vnto the trueth which of it selfe will sufficiently be desended The Marshall de Rez was presently willed by the Duke to ride to Tours to certifie the king and the Queene of his victorie wherewith all Europe was presently filled and as the report is made greater by passing through many mens mouthes nothing was then spoken of in Italie and else where but of the vtter ouerthrow of all the Princes armie Consultation in the Dukes councel what was to
after and ther reloiued to besiege Saint Iohn d'Angely In the mean time Puuiaut forsook Fontenay as not able to stand against such an armie and so came to Rochel where hee craued and obtained succours to defend Marans the keye of that countrie The Protestants troupes retire to la Charite The Princes Garrisons of Chastelleraud Chauuigny Roche-pose castle d' Angle Prully Cleruant and other small places departed to passe through Berry and so with Briguemaut to draw to Sancerre Charite They tooke breath at Bourg Dieu lately surprised to their vse by Captaine Gournay from young Monluc for by the way the Commons of Berry and Chastre the Gouernor of the Countrie had greatly molested them but Guerchy Gouernor of Charite came to free them and maugre all the indeuors of Chastre and the resistance or a fewe Priests of Chasteauneaf a town standing vpon the riuer of Cher who foolishly and with the losse of their liues had changed their portuises into swords and their copes into corslets brought them into couert Asconcerning those of Dauphine and Languedoc Viuarets and Auuergne some of them to the number of sixe or seuen hundreth horse with the princes leaue tooke their way homeward purposing by leisure to prouide for some places in Viuaretz and Auuergne where after many difficulties they did arriue loosing by the way some hundreth men besides such as were stripped for no sooner could any man scatter ortarrie behind but he was presently taken vp by the Pesants who studied onely how to robbe and spoyle The chiefe of these troupes that retired thus were Monbrun Mirabel and Verbelay who afterward commaunded in Orillac in Auuergne from whence Saint Heran the Gouernour did his vtter indeuor to debarre the Princes entrie for indeed there was aspeech that they purposed to come and winter in the plaine countrie called la Limagne but they went an other way for hauing prouided for Rochel Saint Iohn d'Angely and some other places they passed ouer Dordogne drew towards Quercy and below Cadenat passed ouer the riuer of Lot from whence they followed that course which heereafter we will set downe Among other Townes that serued the Princes in these warres we must not for get Rochel a port of the sea well knowne to all men Rochel a great refuge for the Princes for that among other commodities which it did for those of the religion it rigged and prepared great numbers of shippes that tooke many rich prizes whereby great profit ensued for the common cause Although at that time they tooke but the tenth part for the Admiraltie yet the profit amounted vnto aboue three hundreth thousand frankes diuers courses were made by many Captains among the which Sore bare a great name wherewith the Spaniards were not well content Nismes in Languedoc serued likewise greatly for the Prince after they had taken it from one named Saint Andre As also Nismos in Languedoc gotten by a notable denice by meanes of their participants in those quarters that got it by a notable deuice entering by a grate of Iron filed diuers nights with a soft file by a souldier liuing at hazard This grate stood at the foote of the Town wall shutting in a sinke throgh the which there ranne in a fountaine out of a little spring for the commoditie of the Inhabitants The enterprises whereof one named Captaine Saint Cosme was the leader beeing entred by this conduct were presently discouered by the Sintinell that stood vpon it In such sort that the fluee of a mill not farre from thence was presently left open vpon them and some peeces out of the Castle shot against them Neuerthelesse they shunned it being entered and dispearsed in troupes Saint Cosme went to the grate called Carmes where hee put a court of guard to the swoord consisting onely of Priests and going to the Crowne gate hee met a Corporall whom hee constrained to giue him the word forced an other court of guard and slew them all The gate beeing opened certaine souldiers that stayed withour entered with their boyes and running with three trumpets through the streetes of the Towne made a great noyse Chaissi Mingelle and other Captaines companions of Saint Cosme went round about the Towne Saint Andre and his Liefetenant not hauing the meanes to get into the Castle and beeing hardly pursued for they went to bee reuenged vpon them because of their wicked liues and as then also they had those of the religion that had fledde from Nismes against them to whom they had done a thousand mischieses threw themselues off from the wall into the ditches where the one brake his necke the other his thigh and the next day being taken was slaine Captaine Astoul that commanded in the Castle held out almost three months against the Towne but hauing lost part of his souldiers by a mine others dead of sicknesse and the rest poore and miserable hee agreed to yeelde liues and goods saued and so this towne restored to the commandement of the Princes did after serue them to great end in many of their affaires The fiege of Vizelay by Sansac with the successe thereof After the battell of Moncontour the Duke of Aniou commaunded Sanssacto take from those of the religionall that they held beyond Loire According to this commission Sanssac with two and twentie Ensignes of foote and eight cornets of horse foure cannons and two coluerins entered into Donzi which beeing very weake had beene abandoned tooke Noyers vpon composition that the besieged should enioy both liues and goods which notwithstanding the most part of the souliers were transported to Troy in Champagne and threescore of them slaine by the people in the streets Irom thence Sanssac mached toward Vezelay a towne standing vpon the top of a high hil hauing but one way to come at it whereby the Inhabitants came in and out All other waies are so steepe that without many breathings it is vnpossible to climbe to the foote of the walles which are reasonable thicke and strong Therein were inclosed these Captaines Blosset Sarasin Besansen and Ribourpierre with three companies of footemen and two Cornets of horse Most of these souldiers were such as had come thither as to a place of resuge The 8. of Octob. Sanssac caused three companies to make the first approach but the besieged came foorth very resolutely defeated two companies slew their Captaines and about fortie souldiers the third saued themselues in a valley among Then did Sansac with greater forces make his approaches and within two daies after beganne the batterie which continued eight and fortie houres then gaue the assault at two breaches and an escalado neare the Franciscan Fryers But hee had as sharpe a repulse with losse of three hundreth men and aboue as also the defendants lost some thirtie men with their Captain named Sarazin Then did Sansac remooue his batterie into diuers places and gaue an assault which the besieged did valiantly defend and slew euen without
time was Captaine Minguetiere sent away with a shippe well fraught and a Portingall an excellent Seaman Sundrie practises to discouer the landing places about Perou and to espie some meanes to molest the Spaniard But withall giuing notice of his voyage hee was followed and set vpon neare the Isle of Hispaniola where his men were slaine and himselfe put to the Gallies The Admirall himselfe was set on worke with the practising of a league with the Germaine Princes and the Duke of Florence was solicited to lend money to prosecute the warres in Flaunders for the which Saucourt Ienlis and la Noue leuied souldiers In the beginning of May the king desired the Queene of Nauarre to go to Parris there to prouide for all things necessarie for the marriage Where shee arriued the fifteenth day of the same moonth and the fourth of Iune fell sicke of a feuer proceeding as some sayde from her lights where of long time certaine impostumes had bredde which beeing mooued and stirred by great heates and by an extraordinarie trauell which shee alwaies tooke while shee was in health inflamed and bredde that feuer Death of the Queene of Nauarre whereof she died within fiue daies after to the great sorrow and extreame griefe of all her seruants Three daies after she fell sicke beeing in perfect memorie shee made a most christian testament and last will dying with the witnesse and testimonie of singular pietie and ioy in God She was a Princesse of great experience both by many aduersities wherein she shewed an inuincible constancie and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her religion very careful of the bringing vp of her children in the feare of God charitable towards them whom shee often aduertised of their duties in words most graue and full of motherly affection she had a readie wit and well aduised but indowed with great zeale and integritie pittifull and easie to bee perswaded no offender could auoyde her censure shee opposed her selfe against vices and liberally maintained that which shee iudged to bee good and conformable to the will and pleasure of God Prosperitie hindered her her mind much giuen to pleasant conceits being of a leane complexion and very agreeable with her ingeniositie hauing great viuacite to comprehend all things and grace liuely to represent them by writing or word of mouth with a iesture of all the bodie and a countenance well liked of all men shee died in the foure and fortieth yeare of her age vppon the ninth of Iune Some say shee was poysoned by the smell of certaine perfumes and to bereaue men of that opinion shee was opened and curiously visited by learned Doctors and Surgions that found all her noblests parts to bee very faire and whole onely the lights perished on the right side wherein had ingendered an extraordinary hardnesse and a great impostume a disease which they all so farre as lay in man iudged to bee the cause of her death They were not commaunded to open her braine where the mischiefe lay by which means they could not giue aduise but vppon the outward apparance Certaine daies after the king desired his brother in law the king of Nauarre to go to Parris there to solemnize his marriage as it had beene agreed betweene them While that at Blandie in Brie preparation was made for the marriage of the Prince of Conde that married his wife in the beginning of the moneth of August The Admirall at that time lay in his house of Chastillon sur Loing where hee receiued many letters and messages from the king The Admirall commeth to Parris and because he stirred not the king sent Cauagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him to determine vppon the wars of Flaunders and special commandement was giuen to the Prouost of Merchants in Parris other the chief mē to take order that not any noise nor rumor should be vsed or raised at the Admirals ariuall in the town who beeing prouoked by so many men and desirous to bannish warres out of France measuring the kings thoughts by his owne resolued to ride to Parris without staying at the many and diuers aduertisments of his seruants and other honourable persons most affected to his preseruation that both within and without the Realme desired him that seeing he could not conceiue any sinister opinion of the king Confidence of the Admirall his mother and the rest that at the least he would consider into what place he went about to thrust himselfe and among so many enemies but hee resting vppon the testimonie of a good conscience and the prouidence of God remitting those aduises as if they proceeded from men couetous and desirous of new troubles which hee abhorred woorse then death went with a small company and beeing in Parris to the great astonishing of all the towne was honourably receiued by the king his bretheren the Queene-mother and others A little before la Noue Saucourt and Ienlis accompanying Countie Lodowic into Flaunders had from the king receiued commission to finde means to surprise some frontier towne on the other side the Duke of Alue had intelligence of euery steppe that Countie Lodowic set which notwithstanding such was his diligence that hee seized vpon Monts in Hainaut Wherewith the Duke was so nettled that hee said that the Queene-mother had sent him the flowers of Florence but hee would returne her Spanish Thistles with many other threats which vppon particular aduice of the course of their affaires namely of Ienlis returne of his licence to leuie men for the succour of Monts of the time of their departure and of the course of their iourney were soone quenched The seuenth of Iuly the King published a proclamation tending to the impeachment of all quarrels as well in Parris as in his Court and commanded all straungers and men that had nothing to do within the Towne The Princes come to Parris to depart from thence After the arriuall of the Admirall at Parris so many letters and messengers were sent vnto the Princes that in fine they came thither almost at the same time that the king arriued who had before lingered thereabout Many Lords and Gentlemen of the religion accompanied the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde whom in manner all the Court went to meete Further vnder pretence of the warres in Flaunders the king at the same time sent for other Lords and Gentlemen of the religion who otherwise would haue stayed in their houses Ienlis marched not into Flaunders notwithstanding hee were solicited thereto besides the solemnization of this marriage royall was for a time deferred by reason of the scruples doubts made by the Cardinall of Bourbon to celebrate the same without a dispence from the Hope that would bee prayed and intreated therevnto and in the end graunt a dispence but because it was not ample ynough to the Cardinalles minde counselled by men subtiller then himselfe they were forced to send to Rome againe Great was the expectation of
against the Priests and Fryers of Parris ayded by their seruants onely with fagget-sticks in their hands or how could hee haue leisure in so short a time or would haue bin so mad with his adherents vnwise onely in this that they trusted the kings word and beleeued not the aduice of those that counselled them not to put themselues into the Lyons clawes that watched for them vnder that great hedge to consult vpon an action so important execrable and of the greatest consequence that possible may bee Besides this after he was wounded the Phisitians and Surgeans had inioyned him silence and all the Councels holden in his chamber tended resolutely to expect iustice to be done vppon those that had hurt him as the King and the Queen-mother had sworne and promised The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were alwaies at those Councels and to conspire against the King was as much as if they had soght to stab thēselues to stain their house with the most detestable ignomie that could bee deuised And to be short it is as much as if they should transforme the Admirall and his friends into brute beasts as to attribute such consultations vnto them in such a time and place and against so many good Frenchmen and againe if he were suspected of such a crime was it not in the kings power seeing so many armed men about his lodging held him inclosed and at the first word could haue seized vpon him to cause him to bee poysoned presently vppon the suspition without daunger of tumult by those of the religion whose weaknesse was well knowne at the time of the massacre The number of those that were termed adherents to the Admirall beeing nothing in comparison of the murtherers and of women maides and yong children cruelly massacred that neither knew where the Admirall lay nor yet what hee said◠holding him prisoner they might without resistance or daunger haue made information and so haue proceeded against him according to the lawes of all Nations ... If there were witnesses they might haue maintained and affirmed their depositions before the Admirall and his adherents which by Pitrac is written to haue beene reported to the king further if it should bee so that the Admirall and his adherents after his hurt did vtter any angrie speeches hauing knowne the cause he might haue contented himselfe with his owne house and familie and not in a tumult and barbarous furie by sound of bell to mooue the people to assemble all the Towne hee ought to haue hindred the massacre of so many Ladies and yong Gentlewomen and of so many Gentlemen wise learned and reuerent olde men of so many little children that conspired not but against their mothers breasts or else to get out of the wombes It may bee asked of the Councellours of this inhumane iustice why so many women great with childe and halfe dead were thrown into the riuer wherin so many thousands of honorable innocent persons were massacred without inquisitiō cōdemnation forme or figure of processe which is more if the Adm. had neuer so litle attempted against the person or life of the K. and his two bretheren who is he that knoweth not that al the Prouinces towns to be short al sorts of people of all estates would speedily haue taken weapon in hand in a moment without difficultie had put the culpable and all his adherents to the swoord with all strange motiōs wold both approoue allow as most expedient and necessarie And touching the king of Nauarre euery man detested the imposture of the declaration Was he not in the Admirals hands for the space of foure yeares did hee not professe the like religion who is ignorant of the humble and sincere respect which the Admirall bare vnto this Prince and the great affection hee shewed vnto the Admirall could those of the religion get any thing by the death of the king of Nauarre was hee not loued as well of the Catholicques as those of the religion Could the Admiral hope for a Prince more fauourable then hee or that could better reuenge the outrage that had been done vnto him Other circumstances touhing the massacre Now let vs returne to other circumstances and the course of our Historie By an other declaration of the 30. day of August the king gaue to vnderstand to the Gouernours of his Prouinces that the Admirall and Gentlemen of the religion that were with him in Parris without expecting the iustice that he had promised to execute vpon the wonder of the Admirall had conspired against his Maiestie his mother his bretheren the king of Nauarre and other the Lords and Princes about them and against the estate yea that some of the chiefest and adherents to the conspiracie acknowledging their fault had confessed it These principall adherent confessors hee nameth not as indeed there were none vnlesse he meanes Bouchauanes of Picardie who vppon Saturday had been present at one of the consultations wherein the Vidame of Chartres the second time with vehement speeches in the pesence of the K. of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and many others had vrged the remooue of the Admiral out of Parris wishing his friends and familiars to follow after as hourely discouering many things that put him in more doubt Hee was in manner the onely man that was of that opinion for the rest they stood vppon it that so they should doo the king wrong in that they should call into question his faith and sincere meaning that it might suffice quietly and modestly to craue iustice at his hands that the matter was yet fresh and therefore it might bee feared least the king should bee offended if they proceeded so hotly Other report could not Bouchananes make in honour or with a safe conscience Concerning Briquemant and Cauagues whom they ment to vse wee will speake heereafter Onely I will heere adde one note taken out of the seuenth booke of the remembrances of Monluc one of the Marshals of France and a sworne enemie to the Protestants He speaking of the murthers saith Albeit I was then Maister onely of my owne house Monlucs testimonie yet the Queene did me that honour to write vnto me and to send me word that they had discouered a great cōspiracie against the king and his estate I wot what I beleeued but it is not good to anger a mans Maister The king neuer forget the chase that the Admirall gaue him from Meaux to Parris swifter then ordinarie Wee forget our selues when wee come to the pinch and neuer thinke that kings haue greater stomacks then wee and withall that they can sooner forget a good peece of seruice then any offence These bee Moulucs words who a little before had said that the Admiral was vnwise to thrust himselfe into Parris to the end to make the world to thinke that he ruled all I wonder how a man so wise polliticke in worldly matters could commit such a grosse ouersight But
businesse The kings excuses to his friends The king sent his excuses to the Pope and to the Duke of Alue touching the rumor of warres in the low countries he called the Spanish Ambassadour and shewed him that all the former counsels tended onely to the rooting out of the Huguenots and that hee ment to continue in peace and good correspondence with the king of Spaine to whom he sent a Gentleman purposely with letters of his owne hand to assure him of his intent On the other side vpon the foureteenth of Septemb. there was a precept sent to the Gouernours of the Prouinces to inquire of al such protestants as during the troubles had borne any office in the armies or townes of warre In Prouence Precepts against the Protestants through the discretion of the Countie of Tende there was no murther committed neither in Bourgondy through the subtiltie of the Guisians who purposed to lay all the hatred vpon the king notwithstanding themselues were the executioners in Parris and that their seruants Troyes in Champagne had shed the blood of sundrie innocents as also in sundrie other Townes Some murthers but indeed but few were committed in Auuergne and Dauphine Picardie and Brittaine were reasonably quiet The two and twentieth day of September there was a new precept sent to the Gouernors and Lieftenants of Prouinces for the disgrading of all protestants from their estates and publike offices which they exercised notwithstanding they were content to renounce their religion except such as had inferiour offices whom the king permitted to enioy them in case they would abiure according to a forme deuised by the facultie of Sorbon and adioyned to the same precept .. Excusers of the massacre Besides all this they hired certaine writers to excuse the massacre and thereof to publish their bookes both in Latine and French Some Lawyers were dealers that way but they met with those that so tooke them vp that afterwards a hundreth times and a hundreth they condemned such purposes The Rochelers spent the whole moneth of September in consultations vppon new letters from the king the Quesne-mother the king of Nauarre the Duke of Aniou and Biron also vpon sundrie negotiations for the receiuing of the said Biron for their Gouernour who to that end was come within halfe a daies iourney of their Towne Their finall resolution was this not to accept of Biron before the whole armie at hand were cassuered and quite scattered retaining the free exercise of religion and that Biron should not bring them any other troupes In the beginning of October those of Sancerre were inuested by certaine Garrisons that beganne to molest them but they made so braue a sallie that hauing forced the barricadoes of their enemies slaine 45. of them in the streets and houses scattered the rest and taken some prisoners What entertainment the King of Na. the Prince of Conde had after the massacre they were released of thē for a fewe daies The Rochelers at the same time were sūmoned either to accept of Biron who wold haue entered with certain troups without causing the armie to retire or else to accept the war while they consulted therevpon Let vs see what entertainment the king of N. and the Prince of Conde had within Parris their enemies not cōtent to haue led thē to the Masse after abiuration of the religion made thē be assistant at the ceremonies of S. Michael published in their presence so many precepts and libels made and deuised against the innocencie of the massacred constrained them to heare the means deuised for the extirping of therest Besides their said enemies ayded themselues by the Cardinall of Bourbon vncle to those two Princes to induce them to acknowledge and do homage to the Pope in such sort that messages dated the third of October were sent in their names whereby they desired to bee receiued into the bosome of the Romish Church The Pope sent them his pardons vpon the first of Nouember To returne to the Rochelers that persisted in their determination About the beginning of October the enemie beganne by sundrie means to cut off their victualles and prouision vnder pretence of relieuing the Nauy that might depart farre ynough from them but they soone blew vp that myne Then was there an other aduise which was this Diuers Gentlemen and good souldiers were withdrawne thither for succour who purposed to set a large price vpon their skinnes to any that should assayle them and many others likewise were departed the Realme Heervppon the king by his letters pattents of the eight of October saith that as a good housholder he pittieth his subiects that liue in penurie out of their own houses and so emoyneth his Gouernors of Prouinces throughout their iurisdictions by publike proclamation to call home such as were absent whose goods hee decreeth to be confiscate in case they returne not within a certaine time limitted them The same day the Barron de la Garde intruding himself by letters to threaten the Rochelers had his aunswere That they were the kings faithful seruants though hee were none who wrongfully molested them with his Gallies and would not retire That they prayed God to mollifie the Barrons heart that hee might not trouble them but set them at libertie That they were resolued to maintaine themselues in their priuiledges to keep their towne safe from like murther as were committed in other Towns which they accounted innocent from the crime of rebellion wherewith the Barron charged them That so long as they heard and beheld such and so horrible nouelties and were by the Barron so boldly intreated as they had beene they might and would iustly poure foorth their complaints to God and the King Whilest Biron and others did thus but in vaine solicit the Rochelers there was at Parris contriued an Edict of the tenth of October in the name of the king of Nauarre wherein he prohibited all publike exercise of any but the Romish religion throughout his countries But his subiects of Bearne euen at the first discouering manifest falshoods in that writing withall knowing that their soueraigne was in his enemies hands neither had about him any seruants but such as were foisted in by the Queene-mother or the house of Guise made no account of that paper but vsing all lawfull meanes to auoyde surprises did with many difficulties beare themselues in that estate wherein the Queene had left them hoping if their king might once escape prison he would tell them another tale The one and twentieth day of October Troubles befallen the Rochelers and how they remedied the same Biron writ by du Vigean to the Rochelers who would not graunt this Deputie entrie albeit hee came vppon safe conduct to Tadon a village neare vnto the towne when he had his answere in like terme as the former He going the next day to lye at Sigongnes which was three leagues thence certaine souldiers of the companie of Saint Stephen forced his lodging slewe
three of his houshold seruants gaue him fiue woundes with their swoords in his bedde carried away his horses and best stuffe which the next day they sold to the most giuer in a village where Captaine Saint Stephen was lodged This scandall troubled the Rochelers who ended it thus That Stephen and Guymeniere should depart from Rochel Besides the aunswere expresly giuen to Biron the Rochelers by seueral letters did greatly excuse thēselues of this mishap which fell out without their notice and to the great griefe of their Deputie beseeching him as also they did du Vigean not to impute vnto them such an action whereto they had giuen neither counsell nor consent but were wonderfully sorrie that Vigean should bee so wronged at his returne from his Ambassage Many misliked that Vigean a Gentleman of the religion and a man of calling should take vpon him such a commission but his reward caused him to bee afterward better aduised Now the Rochelers beeing diuersly aduertised that shortly they should see an armie before their walles also that their Towne was the marke whereat their enemies aymed gaue a new onset vppon the Countrie of Montgommery the Vidame of Chartres and other Noble men fledde into England to craue some succour at their hands Their Deputies set saile in the euening the fiue and twentieth day of October Thus was it open warre for so many as were known to be Rochelers were euery where taken prisoners and put to their ransome all vessels sayling towards their hauen stayed all marchandize found to belong to any Rocheler seized and confiscate to bee short all actions of hostilitie put in practise against them Neither were the Sancerreans at that time much quieter for Cadaillet one of the Groomes of the chamber and the kings Hunter sometimes seruant to the Earle of Sancerre a man well knowne in the Towne was sent to confer with them Hee played the cunning Courtier setting debate among them that before were good friends wherof ensued a tumult whilest one would grant and an other would denie the comming in of the Lord of Fontaines who was sent to roote out the protestants Hereof grew murther and confusion wherof wee will speake heereafter For the aduancement of the Bishop of Valence Negotiation in Poland where the French name was miserably rent in peeces and to cut off the deuises of the protestants both within and without the Realme Diuers deuises to extirpe those of the religion and to roote out their memorie The king was perswaded that it would bee good to take some of them that were found to haue escaped the massacre and as then kept in prison and to make processe against them in forme of iustice and to put to the torture some of those that had escaped the massacre and beeing fetched out of their corners had beene committed to prison that they might be condemned by sentence of certaine Iudges appoynted for the purpose and so executed in the presence of the people and to the same to adde a sentence against the Admirall of whose bodie taken away as I said before they should make a similitude or image which the executioner should drawe along the streetes and then hang it on the Gibbet Then that there might bee published the kings letters pattents wherein it should bee decreed that the protestants should bee preserued both in body and goods and suffered to liue in all libertie of conscience so to allure them peaceably by this declaration that afterward they might speede as the rest besides to publish many bookes in excuse of all that was past and the same to dispearse in all places especially in Poland and Almaine and withall to charge the Ambassadours in England Suizerland and other forraine countries to iustifie the king and the Romish Catholicques All this was diligently put in execution Notable persons executed vnder colour of iustice Touching the first poynt Briquemant the father a Gentleman of the age of seuentie yeares one that had valiantly imployed himselfe in the seruice of the kings of France hauing beene found in the house of the Ambassadour of England wherein hee had saued himselfe while the greatest furies of the massacre were executed was put in close prison with Cauagnes Maister of the Requests These two bare great affection both vnto the religion and the Admirall and otherwise were of great reputation in France they were threatned to be torne in peeces vppon the racke if they would not write and signe with their hands that they had conspired with the Admirall to kill the king his bretheren the Queene and the king of Nauarre but they hauing constantly refused to auouch so horrible a lye against their innocencies and themselues they were racked and cruelly tormented by sentence of the Court of Parliament in Parris dated the seuen and twentieth of October were declared guiltie of treason and condemned to be hanged vpon a Gibbot which was executed The Queen-mother leading the king her two other sonnes and the king of Nauarre her sonne in lawe to see the execution Her Councellours thinking that at that last exployt it would bee wrought if Briquemaut in presence of all the people would aske pardon of the king sending some vnto him to certifie him that so hee might easily saue his life that the king was mercifull and that hee should haue pardon if hee asked it confessing this fact wherewith hee was charged Briquemaut aunswered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not vnto him but to the king to aske pardon of God for such an offence that he wold neuer aske pardon for a fault wherin hee had not offended but knew himselfe to bee innocent whereof hee called God to witnesse desiring him to pardon the kings so great disloyaltie Cauagnes did the like vntill hee died in such sort that this execution serued to no other ende but more to publish theiniquitie of so many pernicious councels Asnare discouered and anoyded With these two notable persons they hung a man of haye made like the Admirall against whom also was pronounced a smal sentence of death Touching the declarations in fauour of those of the religion the Duke of Guise discouered the snare so that fewe of them were taken For that by letters sent by his mother the same day that Briquemaut was executed shee wrote vnto him that the king had the said day determined with his Councell wholly to roote out those of the religion whom hee termed seditious vermine not sparing the children nor straungers that had giuen them ayde therein discouering enterprises against the Prince of Orenge and others which vanished like smoke Among the Ambassadours that excused the king Monluc was one the easiler to aduance his affaires of Polonia whereof we meane not to recite any particularities as not pertaining properly to our intent The beginning of open war against the Sancerrans Yee heard before how Cadaillet had sowen diuision among the Sancerreans now shall you see the haruest of that graine
The same day toward fiue of the clocke at night the Sarreant Maior of the Towne made a sallie and fired part of their wodden bridge and foure and twentie houres after returned to burne the corps degard that was hard by the sald bridge About this time at three seuerall courses certaine of the enemies horsemen sought to keepe the poore people of the towne after the tide from gathering of Muscles Shrimps such like but some of them lost their horses and Petronels and some were taken carried away prisoners as vnable soone ynough to get forth out of the bogges where their horses sunck vpto the shoulders The eight assault The sixteenth of May a little before day the enemie gaue the eight assault to the afore named bulwarke which was very sharpe yet had the repulse on both sides The same day and the two next follwing the Cannon playing vppon the Towne made no spare of powder or bullet The twentieth day came in a small vessell loden with powder and corne sent by the Countie Montgommery vnder the conduct of Captaine Arnaud who passed in spire of the enemies fleet and forces who discharged many a shot at him but hurt him not A notable sallie Three daies after some foure or fiue hundreth men after noone sallied foorth of the towne and surprised and mightily amazed the enemie that lay toward the Cognee gate whom they killed without resistance to the number of two hundreth both Captains soldiers besides a great number of wounded The whole campe taking the alarm many came in so that the Rochelers lost 20. of their men but carried into their towne eight Ensignes with many cuiraces Halbards Targets Harguebuzes guilt swords They did greatly bewaile Maronniere a braue Gentleman who died of his wounds within two daies after as a little before they had done the death of Vergerbeanlieu a Poeteuine Gentleman highly esteemed for his valour whereof be had made proofe especially in the eight assault where hee tooke his deadly wound The fiue and twentieth day of May the batterie beganne very furious and lasted till nine the reason was that fiue mynes which the enemie had digged were shut and readie to play The next morning by breake of day the batterie beganne againe as wel againe the bulwarke as against the defences and so continued vntill night The next morning about seuen of the clocke all the companies of the campe were mustered The Switzers being new come to the number of 16. Ensignes in a great battaillon were by the Rochelers welcommed with cannon short which fell so iust among them that they made a great lane and forced the rest to go further from the Towne About eleuen of the clocke the regiments of the campe beeing readie to the assault discharging their artillerie blew vp their mynes wherein rested their whole hope The ninth assault but all this stood them in no stead for some of their mines did greatly helpe to fortifie the besieged and to flancke the breach from the olde fountaine to the Gospel-bulwarke a fatall and vnhappie name for the enemie who were expected and repulsed by the women maides and seruants who that day did incredible things The assault was fiue times renued and lasted vntill sixe of the clocke at night alwaies more fierce and greater then any of the former And indeed the enemie lost foure hundreth men that stayed in the ditches and carried away sixe hundreth wounded The Rochelers lost thirtie or fortie souldiers and women and three or foure Captaines among the rest one very valiant named Blays who was slaine with a peece of a stone The Countie Montgommery did his endeuour to succour the Rochelers by sea but in vaine in that he was ouerweake both in shipping and men to fight with the fleet royall Murmurings in Rochell which was verie strong Towards the beginning of Iune victualles beganne to grow short with the besieged wherevppon some considering that the enemies cannon plaied continually also that some souldiers fledde the Towne began to doubt and haue some speech of composition so that some of the most apparant were imprisoned for that togither with some three hundreth they had signed a bill that imported the making of peace vpon whatsoeuer conditions for their parts they were weary of the warres and the great want of corne would shortly breede a famine Others had in open street consulted vppon taking of the gates whereby to go foorth at their pleasures Of these murmures ensued new parleyes which the Duke of Aniou solicited that so hee might depart thence for the newes was come that he was chosen king of Poland and that the Ambassadors were comming to him In the meane time vpon Fryday the twelfth of Iune the enemie gaue a suddaine escalado at the little breach neare to the old fountaine some hundreth or sixscore Gentlemen gat vppe and some vnto the Caualier where they stayed long ynough to take a view of the inward trenches and counterscarpe that was fortified within the retrenchment and so beganne to retire neither escaped they al the greeting of the smal shot which diminished their number and slew some fifteene or twentie in the place The next day they returned to their parleyes and because the Rochelers had counsell to send their Deputies to the Duke of Aniou at whose hands as they were told they might obtaine more then they demaunded they stayed for a pasport which they found so badly penned that they might well perceiue that it stood them vppon to beware and therefore they caused their Deputies to retire which so netled the D. that he resolued before the cōming of the Polonian Ambassadors to trie all meanes and to the same end came in person to take a view of the mine by the old fountaine The Duke of Anious aduentures where one of the Towne souldiers discerning him shot off a harguebuze charged with a bullet and some haile shot but his great Esquier named Deuin perceiuing the match stepped before him and was slaine the Duke reserued to an other end was slightly touched with some of the haile shot but not hurt After this notwithstanding their shooting and sallying on both sides yet was it nothing in regard of that which was past But vpon the 17. of Iune the Polish Ambassadors being arriued in France truce was made and lastly the articles of peace agreed vpon and sent vnto the king which hee approoued and framed them in manner of an Edict graunting to those of the religion Rochel Montauban Nismes and other Townes wherein the free exercise of religion was permitted and to others permission to liue without trouble in their houses An Edict of pacification for Rochell and all those of the religion therein to solemnize baptisme and marriage after their manner without greater assembly besides the Parents then the number of tenne except in the Court at Parris and within tenne leagues round about it hee restored those of Rochel to their rights and auncient
the common consent of all After these protestatioÌ„s with the consent of the new king of Poland whom his brother and the Ambassadours hastened into that farre countrie they assembled at Millaud in Rouergue after at Montauban where they diuided Languedoc into two gouernments the one at Montauban the other at Nismes to serue for the bordering countries of Seuenes and Viuarais For the gouernment of the quarters of Montauban they chose Vicount Paulin and Saint Romain at Nismes who had the charge of all mattters of warre yet were accountable to the estates of the countrie that furnished theÌ„ with counsell quoyne These estates in euery gouernment were coÌ„posed of the chiefest of the prouinces yet so as in matters of importaÌ„ce ther were particulare states in euery Dioces that ment to confer by one or more of the Deputies with the estates of the gouernment by whose aduise the gouernor was to take his directioÌ„s at their haÌ„ds to receiue his pay For the countenance of this order they decreed the the souldiers contenting theÌ„selues with their pay shuld not forrage nor waste the plain countries to that end they taxed the aduersaries Townes and villages forcing theÌ„ to contribute toward the maintenance of the garrisons Such as voluntarily payed were eased as in time of peace in many places the Pesants followed their labours without daunger which caused many townes and boroughs otherwise enemies to the protestants to paye the contributions for feare of woorse Besides this order to furnish the maine charge and at all times to haue a stocke readie for all accurrences The want of discretion in the kings Councell they seized vpon the Church reuenues establishing their commissaries to that effect and all this had they leisure ynogh to do whilest the kings their Courtiers were busie in their bankets dances other vaine pastimes for the K. of Polonds farewel Thus in Languedoc in a short time they furnished many places from whence they might bring to the field vnder the conduct of their Gouernors very neare 20000. persons still weakning their aduersaries with the collection of the reuenues of the benefices contributions that they gathered in euery quarter Likewise following their example sundrie of the Romish Church otherwise discontented grew to be more affable to the protestants and to take their parts so to procure some quiet in the state of France The protestants in the gouernment of Nismes twise assembled togither resolued to craue at the kings hands a more sure peace and vpon better conditions then the edict of Rochel which they found very faultie and not to be admitted in many the articles They sent therefore their Deputies to giue him thanks for the good affection that he protested to the restoring of peace adding that the same is the most necessarie remedie for the reforming of the estate alreadie decayed lost without speedie prouisioÌ„ The magnanimitie of those of Languedoc That in hartie good wil they are most affectionate to yeeld him al obedience but that the massacres do euidently declare the daunger where the Prince is gouerned by the pernitious aduice of his wicâ—ed Councellours They besought the king not to mislike that they hauing an interest in this action had assembled themselues to the end with deliberation to consider of the surest meanes to establish a sound and good peace That through the pollicies of wicked Councellours the king was induced both by word and publicke letters paâ—rents to declare himselfe to be the author of the massacre at Parris which some fewe daies before hee had disaduowed wherin his reputation was greatly impaired with forraine nations That they could not thinke his will to concurre with such bloodie effects as lately appeared yet they feared least his wicked Councellours were still like affected and therefore they could do no lesse but take order for the safetie of Languedoc and themselues and by the example of their fellowes so hardly intreated looke to themselues They did therefore for the establishment of peace desire that the protestants might in their townes haue their Garrisons maintained at the Kings charge Their petitions that besides those Towns the king in euerie Prouince of his Realm should deliuer two such as by soure Deputies should be chosen which also should bee kept by the Protestants at the kings cost That the free and publicke exercise of religion should be permitted in all parts of the Realme and to all that would require it That for the admistration of iustice to the Protestants there might be in euery Prouince erected a new Court of Parliament composed of protestant iudges That the protestants for the maintenance of their Ministers might be discharged of such tenths as the Priests did demand That the authors Councellours and executioners of the massacres might bee punished as theeues and disturbers of the common quiet Those of the gouernment of Montauban sent likewise their Deputies to demaund besides the premisses that the Admirall and all the Protestants murthered the foure and twentieth of August 1572. as also they that yet liued might be deemed to haue been and to bee most faithfull subjects to the king and his estate and innocent and cleare of all spotte of rebellion That all arrests edicts and deedes to the contrarie since published might be reuoked and declared to bee of no force as slaunderously graunted defased and rased out of the records the goods honours and offices restored to the heires of the murthered all defamatorie monuments taken away and all processions instituted in honor of such cruelties abolished They farther also demaunded free exercise of their religion and Ecclesiastical discipline in all poynts Buriall without limitation of time or Church-yard exemption from all contribution to the ceremonies of the Romish Church admission of their children vnto Colledges vnder protestant Regents and legitimatioÌ„ of Priests marriages to such as should frame themselues to their religion Many other articles they propounded concerning gouernment and sent their committies toward the end of August with whom neare vnto Lyons ioined the Deputies of Prouence Dauphine and Nismes who all by the mouth of one propounded great declarations vnto the king who returned them to conferre with certaine his commissioners promising after he had broght his brother the king of Poland out of the Realme to take aduise for all that should bee requisite for the satisfying of his subiects Vppon the Deputies report in the beginning of Nouember the protestants renued their association throghout the Prouinces aforesaid where they held many places as also a very exact course for their conseruation The Ambasladours of Polonia beeing entered into France about the end of Iuly to fetch their king they bare him companie from Rochel to Parris What passed since the comming of the Ambassaders of Polonia vntil their departure where vpon the foureteenth of September he made a roy all enterie nothing wanted to make him happie but the prosperitie of the Rochelers that had slaine part of his
wounded in two places on his sace but slightly He was also strucke with a harquebuze vpon the right arme near the shoulder which throgh the goodnesse of his vambras prooded but a bruse Thus hauing obstinately cōtinued the fight on both sides the assailants were putto retire with the losse of Doily S. Colombe and sundrie other Captaines Gentlemen souldiers slaine in the breach to the number of 60. about 100. led away hurt maimed On the Counties side were also slaine Brossay Tere Mesnil a Minister Vandore Saussey Nohe 6. soldiers 12. wounded namely the Countie Villeneusue Riutere Ousse Gros a Minister Maimberte and Courton captains 5. soldiers Two daies after seuē or 8. of the besieged got forth fled to the camp The 26. of the month Vassey thrise spake to the Countie inducing him to enter into compositiō as also they had done the day before Loth he was to consent as knowing the hatred of his enemies accounting it an honor to die vpon the breach with weapon in hand but seeing his men thus cast away themselues leauing him in maner alone with the wounded a few others the likewise fainted withal that al munition of war water failed he was inforced to hearken to composition rather to saue the remainder thē of any regard to himself yet making of necessity a vertue he held off obtained the himself with his assistants shuld depart with their liues some garments but no weapōs but sword dagger That himself shuld remain in the hāds of Matig Vassey but with good entertainment safetie of his life This cōpositiō they sware to keep inuiolably Vassey who was his kinsmā made great protestatiōs therof Some hours after towards midnight these 2. Cap. went for the C. who came forth in the cōpany of Chauuiny And about 7 of the clock in the morning Mat. returned to bring forth the rest With him entred the soldiers lodged in the town the camp by the breach The cōmposition was so holdē that in the presence of Ma. they slew part of the besieged stripped the rest offring them great indignities forced them to fine pay ransome Three or 4. that fel into the hāds of a Lord that made accoūt of the law of arms escaped safe A Mini. named Bute they put to death hāged Cap. Touche the yonger The Co. was soone after cōtrarie to faith promise broght prisoner to Paris lastly put to death as we wil more at latge note in due time order The D. of Montp very affectionate to the Ro. church with anarmie took the field in April to war against the protestāts in Poictou Warres in Poictou against Protestants frō whō the L. of Biron had practised to take Tōnay Charante but could not archieue it In May the D. besieged the castie of Talmōt which yelded but in the mean time his cōpany was surprised in a village near to S. Hermine many slain 12. or 15. Gentlemen caried away prisoners som 60. horse much baggage the D. cupboord of siluer plate by Cap. S. Stephen who lay in garrison in Fontenay which the D. immediately besieged gaue two assaults wher he gained nothing but lost the most resolute of his troups Wherevpon hearing of the kings mortal sicknesse he retired attending new supplies commissions At the same time the Prince of Conde beeing gotten from the Court and retired into Picardie receiued aduise of diuers practises wroght to seize vpon his person Retrait of the Prince of Conde into Almaine but notwithstanding the the snares that were layde for him hee got into Almaine followed by Thore whom they likewise sought to intrappe because of the Marshals of Montgommery and d'Anuille his bretheren and for his counsels giuen to the Duke of Alencon This retrait was diuersly spoken of some esteeming that the Prince was let go to keepe the water in trouble and to finde other practises others accounting it a great deliuerance of those of the religion Time made knowne what fell out thereby but whatsoeuer it was the Prince arriued at Strasbourg and hauing acknowledged his fault in the French Church there assembled touching his conuersion after the massacre to the Popish Church hee detested it resoluing to imploy himselfe to maintaine the estate of France as his father had done and there finding the Deputies of Languedoc practising a leuie of Rutters wrote vnto the churches exhorting those of the religion to bee couragious and to make account of his good will for their comforts By the same messenger Thore writ to his brother the Marshall d'Anuille perswading him to looke about him and to take the offered occasion This Marshall was the same time at great strife in himselfe seeking to assure himselfe on both sides on the one side hee doubted the king and Queene-mother on the other the protestants meanes to ouerthrow him if hee should intreat them hardly Heerevppon hee resolued sometimes to haue an eye to the Court sometimes to the contrarie and according to the Prouerb to watch how the market went On the one side writing to the chiefe Captaines of the protestants on the other sending the Lord of Rieux to Boisde Vincennes to the king with ample instructions dated the eighteenth of May therein protesting of his affection declaring his former seruices intreating after account yeelded of his administration to bee discharged of his office and to withdraw to any place that the king should appoynt The same day hee wrote to the Parliament of Thoulouse to excuse himselfe of that he was accuse of a desire to rebel against the king and to surprise Narbonne These proceedings stayed the Queene-mother and her Councellours who did well perceiue that d'Anuille would set them worke ynough if they should deale otherwise then well or touch his brother Montmorencies life whom in the meane time they caused to bee kept so to bridle d'Anuille and to take some course in their affaires as heereafter wee shall well perceiue The kings sicknesse The sicknesse wherewith the king was troubled not long before the departure of his brother to go into Poland had a little rest for the winter time but the hidden disease about spring time beganne againe to reuiue in such sort that hauing bin sicke in the months of February March and Aprill hee was counselled by his Phisitians that hee should bee purged and let blood which were meanes altogither vnprofitable because it was openly seene that hee began to fade euen in the flower of his age to the great astonishing of the ignorant Those of least iudgement esteemed that hee had eaten or drunke somewhat that disiested not Some superstitious persons imagined some witchcrafe or coniuratiō because la Mole had bin found seized with a litle image of wax about him which he affirmed to be the picture of a Gentlewoman pricked in two places by a witch they made certaine reports to be spredde abroad that it was a
the contrarie if age and not a most cruell and poysoned knife had not borne him to S. Dennis he I say was king in the middle of all his troupes in open field and by sound of trumpet proclaimed king of France And the Catholicque Nobilitie who by reason of their diuersitie of religion it was thought wold haue separated themselues from him were so much mooued at the detestable murther so disloyally committed against the sacred person of their most Christian Catholicque and religious king abhorring that part from whence so miserable a monster had his issue that they chose rather to preserue themselues by keeping togither then to destroy themselues by disvnion that it remained constant and faithfull to the successor of their king not once disputing of the lawful vocatioÌ„ of his Maiestie so much the rather that he imbraced the preseruation of the Calâ—olicque Apostolicke and Romaine religion and promised to reciue instruction and make profession thereof No other meanes resting whereby to knit and ioyne that which by disvnion had been separated and nothing but the newe opinion of religion was the cause to place a barrier between them and the meanes that the poore people did not most willingly cast themselues into his armes And to the contrarie the feare of the alteration of religion putteth theÌ„ out of their bounds as the waues that breake into a breach hauing gotten through do runne with more noyse and force then before So he was esteemed for an hereticke his goods confiscate and his bodie punished that had not halfe a dozen of maximes or princples readie thereby with tooth and nayle openly to maintaine that Henry de Bourbon might not be king although he were a Catholicke and that the power of the Pope stretched not so farre as once to vndertake the hearing of his excuses much lesse to absolue him In this general licenciousnesse of all things whereby euery man is permitted both to speake and thinke euil which filleth France with barbarisme and monsters which maketh the Citties and Townes the gulfes of ciuill furies wherein it is easie to fall and impossible to get out againe it seemed that a whole world neither yet the raignes of foure kings would euer haue ended so great adesolation For thereby is seene the deluge of all afflictions fallen vppon the people confusion and disorder rampeth and entereth into all places councels are weake iustice despised the foote commanding the head the treasurescconsumed the estate becommeth sicker then sickenesse it selfe and which is more religion for the which they take weapon in hand looseth more in one moneth then it getteth intenne hauing nothing more contrarie to the increasing restoring and beautifying therof then the insolencie crueltie disobedience and impietie of ciuil wars And should wee suppose that during these monstrous mad rebellions the obedience we owe to God can long continue VVhat is he that knoweth not how many iniuries religion hath sustained as well by the defendors as enemies thereof both of them esteeming it a glorie to violate blaspheme and in a moment to destroy the forepassed labours of so many yeares and in two houres to saw downe the tree that hath growen vp and prospered for 1500. yeares The people by long draughts swallow downe the sweete breath of libertie they terme disorder reason they admitte no lawe but what they like best and will by no meanes heare speaking of superior Of the despising of the Prince proceedeth disobedience to God and from that impietie springeth the disobedience we shew vnto each other For that long sufferancealtereth custome and formeth immitation and the example of one that escapeth vnpunished mooueth others to commit the like offence So that among so many crimes disorders and confusions it is not straunge vnto vs to see our actions haue so hard successe For as the horse that hath newly cast his Maister to the ground broken his bridle ceaseth not to runne till he commeth to some place where with great furie he killeth himselfe so the people abandoning all dutie respect of gouernment ouerthrow themselues at the end of their most furious course and are like a ship in the middle of the wanes which beeing neuer so well rigged and furnished with warlike ammunition hauing neither saile nor rurther is readie to sincke and stirreth not but at the pleasure of a feeble blast of wind which vseth it as it list To the contrary the kings armie that as a rocke resisteth the proude and raging waters like agreat riuer passing her boundes to ouerflow the medows assiegeth Townes winneth diuers battels beareth all before it and triumpheth in all places And Spaine which ought either to vnburthen it selfe or at the least be content with the great number of roabes which it daily weareth and with so many Scepters that impeach it and rest it selfe riseth vp to put vs in feare She that feareth least our prosperitie would bee her ruine our peace her wars and that our nayles should grow so long therewith to pull that from her which she and hers hath forcibly taken from vs she bendeth her cannon shot against the battered wals of our estate and she that seeing vs transported with furie and collor ought to hide the knife and quench the fire putteth it into our hands therewith to mooue vs to destroy our selues And addeth oyle and wood more to increase the fire of our diuisions yet all in vaine for that against good Frenchmen shee sendeth Spanish shadowes But after the losse of a great battell and the long and extreame induring of miseries by the assieged townes euery man beginneth to detest wars and to seeke peace And the ordinarie meat wherewith the people were vsually serued beginneth to faile and be disliked the goodly and beautifull pretence of religion that had giuen so great an appetite to the common people to disiest arms looseth credite and it is euidently seene that the war hath more respect to the altering of estate then preseruatioÌ„ of religion And in fine when at the assembly of the league in Parris the D. of Ferrare vnder pretence and couer of religion had propounded the means to shake vtterly ouerthrow the salique law not any good Frenchman but detested the deuise as athing more cruel then death it selfe And the Court of Parliament did most vertuously resist the lamentable subuersion of that law which hath maintained this monarchie continued so many yeares and in defence wherof our forefathers died the plaines of Poctiers and Cressy with their liuely and masculine blood And in the mean time when euery man cried out and openly said the king was no king that they were earnestly busied to find an other that euery man would be and yet durst not his Maiestie by reuelation of the holy Ghost and for his owne saluation turned to the sacred and holy bosome of the Church leauing the error and new opinion that from his cradle he had alwaies holden feeling in his soule a strong and firme
receiue her Cittizens for his true faithfull and naturall subiects and not to put any difference between them and others vnlesse it were in this poynt to haue in remembrance that they were the first who without constraint acknowledged him for their king and by their example haue gotten vnto him the best part of his flowrishing Scepter Behold the iust reasons and causes of this so suddaine change if the obedience which the subiect draweth from the yoake of strangers to yeeld it vnto his owne superior may be called a change And the more commendable it wil be in so much as that the seruice of the king is not contrarie to the commandement of God that religion remaineth firme within her franchises shining in her glorie inuiolable vnexpugnable in her forces As long as the wars were wholly for religion they contributed whatsoeuer they had but when they once perceiued that the holy conuersion of the king made this war no more war against religion but onely against the estate they could not longer delay nor withdraw out of their mindes the feare and reuerence they owe to the true image of God which is the king beleeuing certainly that those beare armes and fight against God that rebel against a most Catholicke and Christian Prince In this so great disorder great wisedome good order hath bin seene for that the most aduised and best experienced concerning matters of estate iudged this quotidian feuer could by no meanes bee healed but by some strong and violent remedie But by the prouidence of God the disease that in mans iudgement seemed incurable hath been healed without shedding one drop of blood by the constant and firm resolution of those that rather desire to die then not to see themselues franchised from this gouernment which is contrarie to the royall estate and losed from the middle of so many protections which how holy or iust soeuer they be are altogither dangerous and the best title they can bear is of no value To be short this towne which hath alwaies made shew of pure religion towards God and fidelitie to her Prince hath well shewed that the flower de luce which for the space of so many hundreth yeares had been grauen in her heart could not be pulled away but by cleauing and renting in peeces the hearts of all her Cittizens that she could not brooke nor once indure such Frenchmen as are transubstantiated into Spanish minds that gape onely to see this Scepter broken this crowne in peeces that they might gather the remnants and plucke off the flowers Thus much I thought good to speake before I enter into the Historie THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF the last troubles of France vnder the raignes of Henry the third and Henry the fourth now liuing M.D.LXXIIII I Am not abashed if such as at randon discourse speake of our great miseries do so oftentimes run into fond opinions A Historie ought to be without passion because that to get out of so great a laborinth they followe not the right way of the trueth but rather taking the crosse-path of their own passions they leaue the high-way and approache the ditches Their writings are of blacke and thicke cloudes which neuer appeare without some thunder of euill reports iniuries and slaunders Tables representing nothing but infamous pictures of Monsters and Arches of imperfections And when they enter into the deepe consideration of the Authors of our euilles they throwe the fault and mischiefes of these deuisions sometimes vppon one and some times vppon an other their opinions beeing furred onely with the drugges of hated or of zeale which transporteth their mindes Such people that like serpents nourish themselues by poyson The causes of the troubles of France imputed to diuers things and that are better pleased with the darke Eclipses then with the bright shining beams of the Sun and do more reioyce to shewe some execrable action then to speake of any memorable and woorthiething haue in this season raised most straunge mutinies mooued the people armed the greatest cowards with their seditious writings troden the Maiestie and reuerence of Princes vnder foote bannished modestie in her place established insolencie despigh and confusion Therefore to make knowne Against such as say that the King of France and Nauarre are the causes of the troubles through all the parts of the world the beautie excellency and woonders of the royall actions of their liues to drawe so many Princes and great and valiant Captaines out of the circle wherein by these diuisions they are compassed to shewe the Maiestie of our King to bee farre distant from the many vnworthy slaunders of those that affirme and accuse him to bee the onely motion of our countries troubles to declare in this discourse the royall vertues that shine through the thicknesse and obscurities of impietie and rebellion and to disswade mens mindes from so many false perswations I haue drawne out of the most staied and certaine opinions the truth concerning the beginning and proceedings of the last troubles that haue vexed this Realme by the renewing of seuen most cruel bloodie warres a Frāce hath indured seuē warres and hath seene 6. Edicts of pacification God grant that the 7. peace may be the last and the end of ciuil miseries The peace for forraigne warres was made in Ann. 1559. There is no opinion that is deeper with in the hearts of men then the opinion of religion by the hazard of so many battailes the ruin of so many people the taking and spoyling of so many townes and the death of so many Princes that the only remembrance taketh away my sences stoppeth my speeche and maketh my pen to stay◠therefore to begin this matter and to voyde the spindle we must first finde the ende of the third and by the ende of forraigne warres weaue this cloath of ciuill Commotions All war is cruell and endeth with more difficultie then it is taken in hand but those diuisions that happen in any estate touching the point that ought to knit and vnite the spirits of men are more bloodie their beginnings more terrible and their endes more dangerous and the more the pretences are large and faire the more men enter into the sustaining and defending of them for there is nothing that doth mooue them more then the defence of their religion nor any thing that doth more animate nor sooner put them in obliuion of the consideration of respect dutie and obedience then the quarrell concerning the saluation of their soules and the manner of the seruice they ought to minister vnto God euery man esteeming that religion he followeth to bee the true and purest manner of woorshipping condemning and reiecting all that which is not conformable vnto it n = b The Oracle of Apollo gaue answer to the Troiāt that their towne should neuer be takē as lōg as they kept that image of Pallars This is the Paladium of Troy our rest and welfare
consisteth therein and her assurance is our securitie hee that straineth this corde breaketh the hermonie of the Common-wealth and induceth the dissimilitude of religions which presently openeth the gate to murthers enmities and seditions and from thence to persecutions both publike and priuate for that neither the old can be reformed nor the new established without contradiction violence From thence it proceedeth that when in one Nation there are some that remaine constant and firme in the faith and tradition of their forefathers and that others do reprooue it and inuent certaine doctrine which they preach and affirme to be the pure true and onely rule for men to learne it cannot be remedied and of force it must be so that this diuersitie of religion bringeth with it a diuision of minds and of enmities which are not appeased but by the ruine of the one or the other part the triumph of Israel is the losse and hinderance of the Aegyptians The first motion of religiō in Bohemia by Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prague France that had seene the strange furies which this apple of discord by the Hussites had sowne in Bohemia at Munster by the Anabaptists and in Allenmaigne and Suisse and that ought to beware by other mens harmes and looke that the fire of their partialities take no hold in her towe hath most miserably abandoned it selfe vnto this schisme and more overrun sacked and troden vnderfoote by the great faction of Catholiques and Huguenots in thirtie yerres then it indured The death of King Francis at Rombouillet in the space of 6. yeares vnder the long variable and cruell wars of the two houses of Orleans Burgonge factions more fatal miserable in France thē that in Italie of the Guelphes and Gibelins or in England of the long wars between the houses of Lancastre and Yorke It had the beginning from the death of King Francis the first which graine of diuision wherewithall the Prouinces of this Realme is sowen was bought in Geneue of such as brought it from Saxony where they had great store out of Luthers Warehouses Luther began to preach And the most curious who at the first thought to enter into those vesselles of new sects The assembly of Lutheriās dicouered in Parris in S. Iames street before the colledge du Plessis but onely to shake them were carried away by impetuositie of wind and the goodly apparance of her opinions which were said to tend onely to the reformation of the abuses of pride and luxurie in the Cleargie thereby to reduce it into the estate of the Leuites without lands or possessions France that at all times hath beene the nource of fine wittes both subtill and curious was the most fit and apt Prouince wherein to make this Noueltie spring and therein became so fruitefull that in lesse then two or three yeares there was found more Lutherians within the Capitall Cittie of Parris then Prelates or Doctors to oppose themselues against them The Duke of Saxon the Counte Palatin the Marques of Brandebourg the Duke of Witenbourg The marriage of the Dauphine with the Queene of Scots But the king that sought to quench this fire by the rigor of lawes at the first entrance of those Nouelties spared neither authoritie of Edicts seueritie of punishments nor executioners to extirpe them Whereat certaine forraine Princes beeing mooued besought him to moderate his publike persecutions and the great Potentates of the Realme rose vp and put themselues in armes and among the rest Monsieur d'Andelot a man whom the king loued both for the honour of his house and valour of his person and many Councellours of the Court of Parliament found to bee inveloped with this cloude wee cast in prison The Cardinall of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise his brother that practised the marriage of the Queene of Scots their Cousin with the kings eldest sonne and were the greatest next the king who for counsell put his whole confidence in the Cardinal and his forces into the Duke of Guises hands making him Lieftenant generall of his Realme that had all authoritie ouer the people that esteemed them no lesse faithfull to the Crowne then zealous and religious towards the Church that honoured them as the most affectioned to the Common-wealth that were his Druses Marcels Dions and Phocions mooued the king to the extirpation of those Heresies and without doubt hee had surely done it if the splinter of Mongommeries launce had not beene which although it brake not yet it stayed the furie of those publike executions The death of King Henry the second This great king that promised his people a long and continuall peace beeing dead his Scepter remained to Francis but the royall authoritie with them that as then had the possession and that vaunted themselues to deserue it in respect of their seruices done to the king their countrie and religion in such manner The sacring of Francis the second The Constable withdraweth frō the Court. that before Anthony de Burbon king of Nauarre first prince of the blood arriued at the Court his place was taken vp and the royaltie diuided and put into the handes of a king of fifteene yeares of age an Italian woman a Cardinall and a Prince of Lorraine The kings auncient seruants beeing separated from the Court namely the Constable Like as the sunne is in heauen the same should the king be on earth and what effect the sunne worketh with the Planets the same should the K. vnto the Princes of his blood the sun neuer withdraweth his brightnes That was ordamed at Tours Ann. 1484. and at the same time obserued by Charles 8. son to Lewis the 11. that raigned 14. yeares Malecontent in An. 1560. from them no more should the king deny this fauour to the Princes of his-blood that are about him Which not being don it cānot be but there must be disorder Eclipses obscure confusions The Princes of the blood perceiuing themselues debarred from their guard that the king was in the custodie of strāgers contrarie to the ancient priuiledges of France wich ordaineth that the minoritie of the K. shall be assisted by a councell chosen by al the Estates of the Realme wherein the Princes of the blood ought to beare the principall place and straungers excluded vnited themselues togither in the middle of a thousand deaths to preserue their degrees and dignities This discontentment opened the caracters of diuisions that after caused a deluge of miseries in the realme of France And the Malecontents eyther because they were excluded from publike charges or beeing tormented in the libertie of their consciences agreed togither to vnhorse the house of Guise that aspired so neare the king minding neuer to leaue armes before his Maiestie should be deliuered out of their hands and the estate reduced vnder a lawfull gouernment promising neuerthelesse not to attempt any thing against the person of the king his authoritie nor the
that which went for Poitou where hee assieged Bar Taking of la Charite and Issoire Anno. 1577. and tooke diuers Townes His Maiesties armie incamped at Brouage and costrained it to yeelde And Lansac Gouernour thereof would haue gone into the Isle of Re but hee could not And to conclude the warres were so long and tedious that the Generalles wel perceiued themselues to bee too olde to liue to see the end thereof And the king that neuer had tasted the sweetenesse of peace beganne to dsire it hauing first prooued so many troubles and vexations of warre therevppon hee determined to establish a good and holy peace Reason to induce peace and against warre in An. 1577. Great numbers are not the cause of victories God is the God of battelles A discourse polliticke and military The chance of warre vncertaine which should bee well obserued to the which end hee heard debated examined and considered diuers and all the reasons that could bee alleadged both for the establishing and dissoluing thereof Those that desired no peace deuised many arguments which they framed for the purpose as first they sayde That the king ought not to make peace hauing meanes to make warre with more men and aduantage then his enemies But they were aunswered that the multitude of men is not the cause of victorie and that a smal handful of desperate souldiers had ouerthrowne a great armie The kings cause is more iust The Princes shrowd themselues vnder a iust enterprise when God is offended and that the war is not made for the defence of his quarrell but for particular reuenge The Huguenots haue neither mony nor credite for the souldier himselfe among them is constrained to contribute mony to pay forraine ayde instead of receiuing his own wages With a little they do much necessitie is their vertue and the ground of their cause is so deare vnto them that they will rather fight without mony or meat then liue without their libertie or preaching of the Gospell There needs but one battell to ouerthrow and destroye them Victorie resteth in the hands of God it is a both doubtfull and vncertaine battels in these daies are prolonged and neuer giuen without aduantage of the one side or the other And again it is impossible with an armie of 10000. men to roote out a 100000. Huguenots The K. wil neuer hazard battel but he is assured to haue the victorie to triumph ouer his enemies This is as much to say as he reckoneth without his Host for it coÌ„sisteth in God there needeth but a small matter to put all your forces in disorder and make them a praye to their enemies For if in times past 500. Actolians Iustin lib. 24. Xâ—nop hist. lib. 7. Bap. Egnat The battell of Poictiers Lois the last Earle of Flaunders Froisart li. 2. cap. 95.96.97.98 better shepheards then souldiers put 900. Lacedemonians to flight If Epaminondas with 4000. men ouerthrew the Spartans armie beeing sixe times as many If among the Christians Baudonin brother to Godfrey of Bullon with 300. horse and 900. foot all Frenchmen caused the Caliphe to yeeld and leaue the field being inuironed with 9000. horse and 20000. foot If a litle troupe of English souldiers halfe in dispaire before Poictiers triumphed ouer a great armie of the most puissant warlike Nation in the world Is it not a most foolish temerite to put confidence in the doubtfull chance of a battell It is neuer good to assayle those that hope for nothing but dispaire The last Earle of Flaunders hauing brought the Towne of Gaunt to an extremitie of victuals would haue them to present themselues before him bare-headed footed with halters about their necks and so to aske pardon for their liues without any assurance thereof But 5000. of those miserable people that had nothing left but their armes and in dispaire He was constrained to hide himselfe in the strawe of a poore womans bedde where he saued himselfe and the next day went out disguised The peace of the low countries issued out vpon him like hungrie wolues fought so desperately that in fine they ouerthrew his whole armie coÌ„posed of more then fortie thousand men There is no peace to be granted to heretickes It is done continually for it is not yet a yeare since the king of Spaine granted peace to the Islands of Holand Zeland not only giuing them the libertie of their religion but withdrawing the exercise of his owne Peace giueth that to the Huguenots which warre taketh from them And what the libertie of conscience Many polliticke and wise men haue acknowledged and confessed that force constraineth not mens consciences that sword and fire haue not power to extirpe the opinions of religion that are once entered into the mindes of men that such victorie ouer mens consciences belongeth onely to God the father of light and trueth and that force may well make Hippocrites and Atheists but not religious or christian people If the king suffreth this libertie of conscience 1576. Libertie of conscience Catholicque religion will bee cleane consumed vnder these nouelties and all his Realme wil be poysoned with sects Schismes errors The free exercise of this new religion will be lesse aduantage to the perticipants thereof then it would be if it were but secretly vsed Religion increaseth more being persecuted and forbidden then wheÌ„ it is permitted Read a booke touching this point imprinted at Antwarpe An. 1579. Dialogus do Pace For the people are light impatient with long rest and quietnesse and to the contrary things least permitted and vneasie are most pleasant and agreeable And therefore desire nothing but change and dislike nouelties with more disdaine then euer they had affectioÌ„ or vehmeÌ„t desire to see theÌ„ aduaÌ„ced They alwaies fal headlong into that which is forbidden theÌ„ The more they presented tormeÌ„ted troubled the hereticques at Prague and in Ausbourg and the more they were forbidden to assemble and meet togither so much the more they in creased and had assemblles and with fiers whippings hanging and prisons became innumerable And when they haue the free libertie of that they desire when rigor is layde aside the thing becommeth so common and discouered that many refuse it entering againe into the great and broad way which they had left And therfore diuers men haue thought that there is no better means to shake Apollitike maxime Vnitie of the sectaries in matters of pollicie and in the end to ouerthrow a new religion then to permit the free exercise thereof For as a man of great iudgement in our time saith As much as man loueth his libertie and yet abuseth it so much the more hee hateth seruitude and constraint wherin notwithstanding he behaueth himselfe better then in the enioying of his freedome There ought to be but one religion in one Realme It is well said but when a king findeth more it is very hard for him to roote them out Would you
had any other respect then only to God and seruice to the king And that assoone as his Maiestie by his Edicts had consented to the libertie of mens consciences he presently left armes and countermanded his troupes togither with the forrain aydes of his friends and confederates That for that cause hee is not enemie to the Catholicques as the report goeth That hee maintaineth those of Bearn in the small libertie they had when the Queen his mother died and so in all places of the kingdome of Nauarre then resting vnto him where hee found the exercise of Catholicque religion he neuer permitted any change That the consultation in Magdebourg which the league so much spake of that they caused it to bee preached openly in the Churches was an imagination and woorthie such reports for that it would be found that neither there nor in any other place it was euer holden And that in the extract of forces by them therein set downe they induce the Ambassadors of the Elector Palatin of the Prince of Orange the one beeing dead aboue a yeare before and had left a sonne within yeares vnder the wardship of the Duke Casimir the other about foure moneths before that was slaine at Delft by Balthazard Girad That the declaration by them made of his incapacitie to the succession of the Crowne was the thing that touched him most yet vntill then hee had least minde of it contenting himselfe with the hope that God would long time preserue his Maiestie for the good of his Realme and Common-wealth and would in time giue him issue to the great greefe of his enemies not seeking to iudge the king or Queene to bee barren in the flower of their ages That those which in their declaration and protestation named him to bee desirous of the kings death a perturber of the State and sworne enemie to all Catholicques had falsely wickedly lyed and therevppon besought the king that the quarrell might bee descided betweene him and the Duke of Guise one to one two to two or tenne to tenne without troubling himselfe or suffer the people to indure any longer vexation The Queen-mother that held with the Duke of Guise more to crosse and trouble him to make an entrie into the disorder and confusion of all affaires then to aduance him Princes fauourers of the league gaue the king to vnderstand what power the league was of shewing him that therein hee had to do with the Pope the Emperor the king of Spaine the Duke of Sauoy certaine Princes of Germanie the Catholicque Cantons of Switzers all the house of Lorraine and all the chiefe Towns in France that had entered therin al resolued to expose their persons in the middle of all perils as the last anker to preserue religion frō shipwracke And shee gaue him so hotte an alarme with those first assaults The surprising of the Citadel of Lyons the 2. of May 1585. and knew so well how to vse the occurrence of the taking of the Citadell of Lyons wherof the Captain had bin driuen out vnto her purpose that the more the king thought vpon it the more hee perceiued himselfe to bee weakned and the leaguers aduanced Hee thought that the ramparts defences of his Estate were alreadie abated hee beleeued that alreadie the Duke of Guise held him by the collor it seemed vnto him that his Pallace of Louure was besieged with great paine they could hardly make him come foorth of the Capucins sell it was no more he that wan the battelles of Iarnac and Moncontour generositie wanted and his heart began to faile Herein diuers Polititians noted a great fault in the Estate which after produced great accidents Many imbarked them selues with the league being made beleeue it was for the kings person but perceiuing the contrary left it Caezar onely opposed but the authoritie of his face against his mutinous legions but it was with a liuely and bolde assurance not doubtfull nor trembling If the king had shewed himself to the league not couered with a Penitents garment or habit of an Hermit not by faire and plausible meanes but with constancie courage and resolution woorthie a Maiestie royall hee had well made them knowe him to bee king the true and onely Image of God that had thunder readie in his hand to consume and confound such as rose vp against him the warre would bee ended The armie of the Duke de Guise which at his first rising and in the flower thereof was but a thousand horse and foure thousand foote had been dispearsed in lesse then a month and the Cardinall de Bourbon had confessed to the Queene-mother that if the king had banded his authorithie against him all his attempts had been cleane ouerthrowne Feare is a plague to valiant mindes but when the heart of the chiefe commander is possest therewith his authoritie is abated it dimisheth falleth and vndermineth it selfe for feare in flameth the courage and causeth men so much more boldly to enterprise their wicked actions as that they are assured they shal not be punished Also the king letting slip this reuolt rather speaking faire then commaunding and yeelding rather then opposing thereby drew all the mischief of those toubles vppon his owne head He desired the Queen-mother to beare some of his blowes This is the opinion of the Author that made the tiberal and excellent discourse fol. 22. The last request of the Princes of the league The Edict published in Parliament the king being present the 18. of Iuly 1585. The K. fearfull disarmeth himselfe to cause the league to disarm them selues and to procure the Duke of Guise to leaue off his armes and to assure him of his fauor and that he would giue him what part of his Realme soeuer hee would aske to let him liue in peace This Prince of great hope wise and valerous and one of the greatest Captains that France in long time had bred perceiuing that so hardy an enterprise had alreadie taken so good effect and made so great a change pursued it and perceiuing the king to yeeld vnto him hoped more then he either thought or ought to do And there vppon presented the king with another request wherein very wisely hee motioned his owne interest togither with the common cause signed by himselfe and the Cardinall of Bourbon tending to this end To desire him to make and sweare an vnreuocable edict for the extirpation of heresies To take by force the Townes holden by those of the new religion To reuowne the protection of Geneue to authorise their warres to reconcile them vnto him to be of their league and of a king to become a participant Therevppon with all speede the peace was made and cast into a mould the king suffering himselfe by that feare to bee so much carried away And by the edict hee prohibited the exercise of the new religion reuoked all other edicts that fauoured it commaunded the Ministers out of the land and all
haue the place voyded and such as would place themselues therein before vs must bee remooued If warres bee continued against the Huguenots the end cannot bee but to our ruine it will in the end produce a peace which will send vs naked without armes vnto our gouernments liuing betweene feare and dispaire that the oppressed oppose not themselues against the oppressours that the offence returne not vppon the authors and that the king call not to minde the treaties of Peronne Nancy and Chalon If they be vanquishers their victorie is our losse their life our death their greatnesse our imbasing and their rest our torment The strongest support of their enterprise is vppon a piller of Castille olde and rotten that is not sustained but by hope of our ruine that feareth no other shaking but the ceasing of our ciuil warres which will not bee ended but by straungers from whence they are deriued This Prince knoweth well that as long as the diuersitie of religions parteth our mindes there will neuer bee peace among vs although the zeale of religion doth much trouble him that hee is the sonne of the great scourge of the Almaine Protestants and that he hath drowned heresie in his own blood yet hee desireth to inuade vs eyther by one means or other The Ramme desireth to eate the Bat whether it be because it is a bird or because it is a mouse If the Edict of Iuly bee put in execution if heresie be pursued in so many places it will bee very hard for it to resist the king will alwaies bee Maister hee will alwaies stand vpright hee will resume the authoritie and power that hee seemeth to haue left to retaine vs and perceiuing himself like Lewis the eleuenth vntangled from so many leagues and parties he would liue like a commander destroying both Huguenots and Leaguers take the raisor in hand to both their beardes and driue all partakings out of the Realme onely his owne The fiers made for ioy of his victories would bee the obsecquies and funerals of our partakers The king of Nauarre shall die or else hee must conuert or bee cleane spoyled and ouerthrowne His death will strengthen the first article of our league and the feare of altering of religion shall vanish away His conuersion will pull the weapons out of our hands and the wordes of faction and disorder Huguenots and Nauarrois will no more bee heard among vs. His ouerthrow shall not bee so much aduantage vnto vs as to the king he will haue the flowers and the fruites of this victorie and wee nothing but the leaues A great army â—â—dermineth it selfe and there is too grâ—â—â—â—â—â—ger to fight But to ouerthrow him will bee no small labour armes are not continuall We thinke to constraine them to fight they wil not but defend themselues they will shut themselues within their Townes that braue all our forces and make vs madde as if wee stood barking at the moone and fighting with the cloudes Many times men hazard all they haue in the strength of a battell and when it is lost to get a thing of no moment there is no meanes to raise it again To looke for it out of Spaine is to reckon mens charges of another mans purse Promises are feminine and effects are masculine this nation is vsed not to say what it will do nor to do that it saith it will do And further wee haue to do with a Prince that is alwaies first at giuing blowes and last in retiring it is not a hart that leadeth Lyons Hee sayeth not go thither but hee goeth himselfe like vnto Caezar hee heareth assoone of our discipation as of our comming hee hath learned to bee a Captaine at our costes hee holdeth thirtie Townes in France which to ouercome wee had need to haue the forces of thirtie leagues such as ours is and when he should haue nothing left but his sword it is very much with the lawful right he hath to the succession of this Realme Aut Caesar aut nihil Therefore seeing the die is cast that wee haue imbarked our selues in this rough sea that the end of our league is either to make vs a king or else nothing let vs take the shortest course There is no apparance to attaine to the royall seat before so many Princes of the house of Bourbon wee should neuer haue done he that wold rule ouer them all must first pull the king out of his chaire when it is emptie there will be meanes to sit downe if he raigne longer our winter is come the seruants of our hopes will withdraw themselues beeing deceiued The king is lustie and gallant of bodie if hee haue any children our sute is ended and not hauing any we are likelier to die before him wee must play open play let vs deale with him as his father dealt with our Grand-fathers and let vs do the like to the Capets as they did to the heires of Charle-Maine Of this ensued the conspiracie made at Parris about Easter in Anno. 1587. which was not executed by the vncertaine resolution of the heads that left the Parrissians in the middle of so daungerous an enterprise wherof the K. was aduertised and from that time determined to punish them But his authoritie was alreadie so much weakened and his Maiestie so much despised that but for feare to be reproued the hooker had taken drawn him through the myre of his infamous slaunders and mockeries The Preachers tongues serued for rules to these seditions they detested the life pleasure and dissolution of the Court and spake not of the King but in dirision publikely condemning his actions hee caused them to be counselled and diuerted from those passions and of a chaire of trueth not to make a place of babling but the more he sought to turne that chollor into fleame the more it increased and rose vp in the end hee was constrained to threaten them with imprisonment Whereof grew the meeting of Saint Seuerin where certaine excommunications were pronounced in S. Benets Church against the Commissaries and Sergeants that would haue layde handes vppon certaine Preachers Wedensday the second of September 1587. The bookes that were published at the beginning of these disorders were the wood strawe and brimstone that long time maintained the embers of those rebellions there was not any meane Fidlers boye but that like a crowe vpon a steeple pronounced the tempests and calamities of those furious mutenies Infamous libels There was nothing seene in the Hall of the Pallace but onely discourses aunsweres aduertisements and Apologies He fayled to surprise Mets the 26 of May. And in the meane time that warre was made with pen and inke within the Townes the Duke of Guise made it with Iron and steele in open field he held his armie in the frontiers of Lorraine and made warre vppon those of Iamets which hee had begun against the Duke de Bouillon from the first day of the birth of the
God The Pagan sweareth very sildome the Sarazin knoweth not what it meaneth the Turke abstaineth from it and the Huguenot detesteth it but our Catholicques are Maisters of the Art and make account to ride vppō diuinitie The second branch of our mischiefs is iniustice The first foundation of an estate and authoritie of a Realm yea that which giueth it forme and being is iustice Vertue which maketh kings and without it they would change their royalties Iniustice is the roote of miseries in France into tyrannies It is the feare of the wicked and the encouragement of the good because it is the principall office of aking when the Hebrieux desired Samuel to giue them a king among other points of their request they added these words to Iudgevs and to doo iustice as among other people All the world complayneth of the peruerting thereof estates are no more giuen by Geometrical proportion France maketh lawes of waxe to be tempered with mens hands and subiect to melt at the warme fauors of great persons There are lawes ynough to gouernall Europe yea and all the pluralitie of epicures but they haue their vertue onely in paper and some seeth them both published and violated Now there is no conscience made to sell that which is bought of the king and most commonly iustice is diuided to such as haue no mony but this iniustice is much more to bee deplored for the heauie and insupportable burthens it layeth vpon the poore people and maketh them not onely a medowe which is cut thrice a yeare but a bodie that is fleane or rather an anaotomie Theking which hath tenne millions of golde for his reuenue liueth by impositions and new dances wherewith hee deuoureth his people he bloweth their noses so often that hee maketh them bleed pulleth vp both hearb and roote cuttes the feathers so neare that they can growe no more putteth his subiects out of breath and constraineth them to hate and detest the Authors of these miseries Iniustice is yet more seene in the disorder and crueltie of souldiers that are without discipline rule feare of God respect of the good compassion to the miserable and that afflict torment the friend as much as the enemie persecute both masse and religion kill Priests assoone as Ministers robbe Churches burne Temples spoyle Merchants torment olde men violate virgins cause women with childe to bring foorth vntimely fruite ransome Pesants by cruelties which in times past were neuer known but of Scithians Lestrigons and Turkes but none vnwoorthily practised among vs to the great dishonour of the courtesie and fauour that hath so much beautified our nation But the desolation which entereth into al the members of France maketh it another Babylon a puddle of filthinesse and a sinke of all sorts of corruptions whereof the wounds are so old that they are in a manner become naturall desperate and incurable The Court of our kings which in times past were wont to bee the seed of the vertues of French Nobilitie did neuer abound in more disorders lusts excesse then vnder the raigne of Henry the third specially in the yeares 1586. and 1587. So that it may bee sayd of some Townes as it is reported by straungers that all things are printed therein only not to be vertuous The kings Court is like a Theator which the people stād to behold it is a fire which transformeth such as approach it into her nature the most modest come foorth insolent the most chaste Lucresse becommeth Faustina From the disorder of great persons proceedeth the misbehauiour of the meaner sort and there hath bin carters that haue beene so superfluous in their vanities that there wanted nothing in their houses but a chappel of musicke and to serue them by quarters to counterfeit little kings I must confesse the truth not make you beleeue that a mā with a crooke shoulder is of goodly proportion The K. gaue a great furtherance to these desolations his exāple was a directiō to all his subiects as the influctiō of the head runneth into al the mēbers Men do not only imitate but approoue the actiōs of great mē and according to their humours voluptuousnesse disorder superstition molestation and crueltie enter into credite The people suffer their mindes to bee cut and cautherised at Princes pleasures as the greater the authoritie is the more affectionate is their immutation euery man taketh that colour men perfume themselues with those drugues and the example of the Prince is so contagious to the subiects that they receiue it entereth sooner into their eyes then their eares Alexander cast his head a side and all the Court held their neckes awry Denis was purblind and his Courtiers stumbled at euery steppe and iusteled each other as if they had beene euill sighted Plutarke telleth that Courtiers put away their wiues following the kings example that loued not his wife Lewis the eleuenth would haue Charles his sonne to learne but one word of Latine and all the Court despised learning King Francis established learning and all the Nobilitie caused their children to bee instructed Henry she third loued ryots and pleasures and al the Court abounded in desolation He considered not that the vices which ranged in his Realme are the same that caused the whole world to bee drowned ouerthrew fiue Townes caused the tribe of Beniamin to bee slaine destroyed Sparta Carthage and Athens spoyled Troye and procured the Cicilian euening prayer He considered not that this voluptuousnes which maketh him swallow poyson in his milke and Ippocras maketh him fitter to bee a woman then a man that to maintaine it all France is rent in peeces The treasures that Caligula found after the death of Tibera being 1800. horse load nor the nineteene millions of Crownes that the Vitellius spent in one yeare in making of banquets will not suffice that from thence spring the new impositions wherereof the monies proceeding are died and tempered in the blood and teares of the poore people that aske vengeance of God and that in the end deal to ease their oppressions and ouerthrow the oppressors Prodigious sights seene in the raigne of Henry the third If the complaints of the people cannot pearse the eares of the king yet let him looke vnto the effects of Gods iudgement as strange signes monsters comers and earthquakes which are the messengers thereof let him consider that these leagues and partiallities are the windes that rise before a tempest and the shipwracke of this estate And that with a little push this edifice which hath been built so many hundreth yeares will in a moment be ouerthrowne But not to prolong our Historie with many tedious words let vs return to the armie of Protestants which were left in Lorraine And there we shal see great wants which soone produce many infalliable faults without remedie and reparations that are presently made to the ruine and confusion of such as commit them It was destitute of a Generall capable of so dangerous
spoke openly in the pulpet and said that Saul had killed two thousand but Dauid sixe thousand the frends of Marcus Crassus could not indure that Caezar should bee beloued of the people this iealousie sought to eternise the Dictators office with his reputation in the opinions of the commons made it to be proclaimed in all places that the Rutter had beene raised payde and sent away by the King and that without the prowesse and constancie of the Duke of Guise the Arke had fallen into the hands of the Philistines that heresie had triumphed ouer Catholicque religion The Pope the King of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoye made fires of ioy and pronounced the praises of the Duke of Guise It is said that the Pope sent the Duke of Guise a sword ingrauen with burning flames All estates shooke and wauered the Prince of Parma had sent him his armes saying that among all the Princes of Europe it belonged only to Henry of Lorraine to beare armes and to bee a commaunder in the wars The league by this meanes beeing in so great appparance and likelyhood of aduancement pushed forward rather by insolencie of good fortune then of iudgement sailed in the maine sea of her pertences and imbraced the occasion for the which long since it had alwaies had the nostrelles open the eyes watchfull the eares hearkning and the foote stirring And to conclude it became very faire The Cleargie with full sayle pusht forward the intent of the Duke of Guise to bande against the Huguenots diuers Gentlemen wondring at his fortune vnder vaine hopes that hee would once bee king ranged themselues to his will beleeuing that most daungerous attempts and easiest to be achiued is vnder a Prince full of valour and courage The people that are not nourished but with the praises of the house of Guise and the disorders of the king held on that side which they esteemed most sure and strong The Towne of Parris that perceiued the king to haue forgotten the Edict of Iuly that he had returned to his first humours of pennance that he is iudged by Ioubert and Miron neuer to be a father that his fauour his libertie her heart and his soule depended but vppon two of his creatures and that the charges and impositions renued and redoubled began to dislike of things present and to imbrace all whatsoeuer offered it selfe vnto them how little apparance soeuer it had not to chaunge or decay Some of the busiest which after that time were named the sixteen beganne to vtter their deuises and secretly to vent their false monies filling the hearts and eares of the common people with feares by consideration of the vnrecouerable fall of the Church of secret fauours and intelligences with the King of Nauarre of despising the Catholicque Princes of aduancement of Migrons Murmurati on against disorders of desolation of lusts pleasures of hypocrisie in the Court and of the resolution of the Parrissians to reuenge the conspiracie of the yeare past This moued the most assured dimmed the eies of the most cleare sighted and heated the courages of the most lukewarme These consciences trembling more for feare to loose the bell then the steeple suffered themselues to bee ledde away without conduction or thread into his laberinth and most foolishly ranne one after the other into the preace of this furie The Duke of Guise that thought not of any tempest the shippe beeing yet in the hauen and feared not when hee perceiued it to bee in the middle of the raging seas imbarked himselfe therein in hope of those populer windes and built vpon the quicksands of Parris And if you would knowe what parts were in him to vndertake so hautie an enterprise hearken what a great personage of our time writeth thereof Hee onely is all the league the rest of his house are not like him and all of them togither cannot furnish the least part of that which by him is taken in hand The Duke of Guises nature in the liberall discourse a great dissembler well aduised very wise and wiser then all his faction which all the world well perceiueth by his actions I haue seene by writings vnder his owne hand in an enterprise of great importance where the greatest person of his house next after him without his aduise went about to commit a great and notorious fault Hee is indued with much vertue certain effects take good successe and with the name and memorie of his father by ciuill warre he presently became the chiefe commanmaunder of the Catholicque faction specially seeking to get the fauour of those townes that feared a Prince of the religion whom he flattered by many priuate meanes chiefe and cettaine signes of a minde aspiring vnto tyrannie Hee is diuers and corrupted without measure secret close craftie patient euen to the poynt of being blasoned dissembling proceeding in his intents with long detraction Seeing farre off and not enterprising any thing but hee is well assured to effect it His father and his Grand-father withstood the King of Spaine in Italie and hee will do it in France He saith it is the zeale of religion that prouoked him And God knoweth there are yet so many Turkes and Sarrasins in the world that withhold his inheritance of the kingdome of Ierusalem why doth hee not rather turne his pretences vppon them then against France When he perceiue the greatnesse of the soueraigne Maiestie decreased and imbaced that his enemies were retired vnto Rochel that England had a proude Spaniard vppon her backe meaning the great Spanish armie by sea hee assured himselfe to take the king without daunger hee leaned his eare to the aduise of the sixteenth Archleaguer of Parris he aduertised the Cardinall of Bourbon that went not but as hee was ledde not to refuse so good an occasion and passe so faire a time without some exercise gathered an assembly of his principall friends at Nancy there to aduise the meanes to passe forward constraine the king to make his will bannish his Mignions and to be content to bee ruled by his house And so that assembly concluded that hee should bee summoned to ioyne his forces vnto the enterprises of the league his authoritie to her pretences his fauour to their will leaue and refuse the counsell and amitie of such as should be named vnto him driue and bereaue them of their offices establish the Inquisition in euery Towne to publish the Councell of Trent The effect of the articles made in the assembly of of Nancy in Febr. 1588. touching the ordering of things that derogated the priuiledges of the French Church To consent to the restitution of the rents and goods that it had been alienated and sold for the charges of his warres To giue them Townes wherein they might place men of war and to make such fortifications as the necessitie of time and affaires would permit Ordaine the sale and confiscation of Huguenots goods also the disabling of their persons and entertaine
an armie vppon the frontiers of Lorraine against the returne of the Germaines that would come to haue some recompence for the cruelties by the league committed in the Counte of Mombeliard These articles were sent vnto the king mean time This warre continued till May 158◠the forces of Lorraine continued warres against the Princes of Sedan a warre that raised a thousand curses against the league the thing not beeing so well iustified as the consideration of an innocents case made it seeme execrable and detested such as enterprised the same for entering vpon other mens boūds The king stayed for a time to resolue himselfe vppon the intentions of the Princes of the league and made shewe to consent vnto them And to say the trueth he was not in estate to oppose himselfe against them for that in the beginning of the league hauing permitted them to strike their hatchet into the florishing tree of Saint Lois the blow entered and made so great an ouerture that all fell in peeces Hee acknowledged the perilous consequence of his first fault And that hee agreed to the treatie of Nemours and to the breach of peace so to approoue the league Prognostications of de Mesnil Aubri 1560. He verified that which the Cassandrian Huguenots had so often sung hee sawe that the great credit which the Duke of Guise had goten among his subiects to the great diminishing of his owne did more increase that since he had left disobedience vnpunished rebellion was auouched and that from it would proceed some straunge change to shake the estate As many sillables as hee pronounced in reading those articles so many times his heart beat and moued in his bodie with an extraordinary feare saying in himselfe Considerations by the King had touching the articles of Nancy The league will haue me to bannish my seruants that are most affected vnto mee So the wolues desired the sheep to driue away the dogges that they might worke their willes That I should binde my selfe to their deuises and why to serue them for a bridge to enter vppon the royaltie that I should hatch the vipers within my bosome that should knawe my enteralles and vnder the flower deluce I should couer the crosses of Lorraine that of a king I become Generall of an armie that the people may know that seeing I haue not the courage to bee a Maister it is reason I should bee a seruant that if I haue not the stomacke to punish such as enterprise vpon mee they neyther haue shame nor feare to proceed therein it will haue mee ouerthrow and destroy those great persons that I loue and that belong vnto mee which beeing done what aduauncement would it bee either to mee or to the Common-wealth what is a forrest when the fairest trees bee cut downe but onely a place full of fushes what is a Realme when the greatest houses are ouerthrowne and impouerished onely a desart That I should agree and consent with them to make warre against such as are not of their league Who euer heard that any estate could long endure when it is diuided in two parts that haue weapon in hand and what will become of mine induring three or foure and that these two words of leaguers and Pollititians shall be as contagious therein as those of Guelphe and Gibelin that first sprang out a little Towne betweene two bretheren and spredde all ouer Italie among all the Princes Who shall defend mee vnder his partialities from the same slaunders that our neighbours of England and Germanie haue receiued I will haue no other part but mine owne and finde there is no better nor fairer then to bee a king I meane a king of France That I should cause the Councell of Trent to bee published I am content but this publication must not bee made by sound of trumpet or noyse of Cannon-shotte Hitherto my soueraigne Courts of Parliament neuer counselled mee vnto it for the preiudice I might induce into the liberties of my Crowne and franchises of the Cleargie of this Realme and fortaine Princes haue not receiued it but as farre as it was conformable to their willes and haue taken out of it the thornes that pricked them That I should establish the Inquisition at the least in all my Townes this word breedeth a feare in euery man The Inquisition was not inuented but against Infidelles for that after my auncestors had reduced Spaine to the Christian faith and that Pelages King of Castille perceiued himselfe not strong ynough to constraine Infidelles in their consciences hee permitted them the libertie thereof for certaine yearely tribute Long after Ferdinand of Arragon perceiuing that by the patching of so many superstitions both of the Sinagogue and the Alcaron of Christian religion beganne to be corrupted he determined to constraine thē to be Baptized or to leaue the country such as to stay that made more account of their liuings then their consciences purged not themselues so well of their errors but that there rested some dregges of their first opinions which they held by succession from their auncestors and desired rather like the Duke of Friezland to go to hell with their sects then to Paradice without them For men do hardly forgo the religion by them learned from their cradles the more they are afflicted to make them leaue it so much the more they harden their mindes against torments the more the exercise is forbidden them the more they seeke it and the more they are mooued the more they stirre they began to informe against them whereof the Iacobins as then newly produced into the Church by Saint Domenicke ful of doctrine and religion had the charge who imployed prayers and exhortations and would not vse violent purgations thereby not to stirre vppe an aboundance of humours that might stop the heart or the liuer this peaceablenesse and toleration being daungerous in the Church they beganne to vse rigor against those miserable Marians vnder the name of Inquisition and since that it hath been exercised against such as are not sound in Catholicque religion The formes since that time added therevnto are very straunge as the length of proceeding to aunsweres the voluntary confessions of those that are accused the slaunders and boldnesse of their officers called Flyes the prison vnder ground soule obscure and fearefull the punishment with trochelles and wheeles the sinewes the water and the fron the yealow Casocke without sleeues painted full of diuels which they call Saubenite the myter gagge and the cord and that which is the last part of this pittifull tragedie the fire haue made this inquisition which I thinke necessary in Spaine so strange vnto the Flemmings and so detestable to the Frenchmen that the Frenchmen will rather a thousand times indure that which the Flemmings haue suffered then subiect themselues vnto it to establish this inquisition among the light toyes of the Frenchmen the liberties we possesse within these thirtie yeares and the curiosities that
effect then see it runne into greater hazard and thereby receiue further displeasure hauing desired the Queene our deare Ladie and mother to stay there to see if by her wisedome and authoritie in our absence shee could pacifie the same tumult which wee beeing present shē could not do what meanes soeuer she vsed p p The king should not haue gone out of Parris a great light dimmeth the lesse those little facts had neuer shined in the darknesse of Parris if the sunne of the royall Maiestie had not bin eclipsed He ought to haue shewed himselfe among those madde people like ablazing starre like thundring Mars like him that obtained the victories at 16. yeares of age before Iarnac Moncontour at Rochel at the only word of king those strayed soules hadde yeelded themselues to the poynt of obedience the apprehension of the paine that followeth those mutenies the consideration of the Maiestie of the king the confidence of his mildnesse and the proofe of his pietie had dispearsed those disorders And the good Frenchmen that were in no small number that in their mindes lamented the iniurie done vnto the king the Realme of France and their posteritie would haue risen vp to maintaine his authoritie Those great blowes are not giuen without hazard and where necessitie presseth a great courage death is more acceptable then a shamefull flight And wee arriued in this towne of Chartres from whence wee thought it meet presently to certifie you by these our letters to desire you to consider of this action to iudge how much it preiudiseth disaduantageth the Commonwealth specially our holy Catholicque Apostolicque and Romaine religion if it should passe further seeing that those which rose to fight for the aduancement thereof by this accident if it bee not repaired will bee separated to vse their armes one against the other wherein we desire you to be perswaded that for our part wee will vse all meanes we can not to fal into that inconuenience so much power hath the zeale wee beare to our religion ouer vs which vntill this time wee haue alwaies shewed q q The many words that end this letter issue from a trembling voyce vppon the which a great Pollititian in his discourse maketh this Apostrophe vnto the king Great Prince what haste thou done with thy wisedome who hath perswaded thee that those people that onely desire thy death or rather thy Crowne will laye downe their armes coniured and raised against thee onely to make thee more sharpe and to deale the hardlyer against those of the religion They haue driuen thee out of Parris which the Englishmen Spaniards nor Almaines neuer did vnto thy auncestors and by thy letters pattents thou shewest to thy people that in steed of being reuenged thou seemest to thinke the time long vntill they pardon thee thou commaundest that they should pray vnto God for that reconciliation thē there is no danger to lift vp the hand against the Prince Beleeue therefore that seeing it is so hee which hath this day made thee flye will to morrowe boldely vndertake to make thee die And is not this great king a hazarding of thy selfe to shewe vnto thy subiects that it is easie to attempt against thy person when in steed of reuenging thy selfe thou prayest that thy subiects would appease those whom thou oughtest to punish Who perswaded thee that the remedie of thy mischiefe is ciuill warres that by that meanes thou shalt recouer thy authoritie ouer thy subiects Alasse how thou art deceiued There is nothing woorse for a house then fire for a mans bodie then a continuall feuer nor for an estate then ciuill warres If thou wilt remedie these mischiefes quench the fire that burneth thy house driue away the continuall feuer from the bodie of thy estate and giue it peace for it is is the onely meanes to preserue thy Realme praying and exhorting you as much as possible wee may to pray in your Churches for this vnion and that the obedience due vnto vs may bee obserued as it ought to bee and suffer not that the Inhabitants of our town c. to stray out of the right way of the same but admonish confirme thē to remaine constant and firme in their loyalties towards their king and in vnion and concord to maintaine preserue themselues vnder our obedience and not to fall into the incōueniences prepared for them if they hold on their course And further if you do any other thing therin shewing your wisdomes fidelities duties for examples to all our subiects we will not be vnthankfull for it but haue it in remembrance Giuen at Chartres the day of May 1587. The phrase of the letters the Duke of of Guise wrote vnto the King is much brauer haughtier and bolder shewing the affection of a man that hath not faintly thrust his bodie into a prease to saue his life but that wil stand in the view and face of al the world he likewise sent his declaratiōs throughout all the Realme of France to iustifie himselfe concerning the commotion in Parris which I will orderly set downe and in the end shew you the common aduise leauing the Readers iudgement to himselfe The Coppie of a Letter vvritten vnto the King by the Duke of Guise the seuenteenth of May 1588. SIr I am very vnfortunate that those who of long time by many deuises haue sought to separate mee from your presence and great fauour haue had sufficient meanes wholly to frustrate all my good indeuours vsed to win your liking and by my seruices make my self agreeable to your Maiestie which not long since I haue well prooued to my no little greefe For that being wearie of so many false reports vsed thereby to make your Maiestie continually to distrust mee I determined with the hazard wherewith I was threatned to iustifie my life hauing resolued to come vnto you with so small a troupe and with free trust and confidence as I hoped by that meanes to let all the world see that I was farre from that whereof my euill willers sought by so many deuises to yeeld mee culpable But the enemies of publike quietnesse not beeing able to indure my admission to your presence esteeming that in short time it would soone discouer the impostures vsed to make mee odious and by little and little giue me place in your good fauour rather wished by their pernicious counsels to bring al things into confusion your estate and town of Parris in hazard thē to indure me near vnto your person Their euill wils is manifestly knowne in the resolution that without the Queen your mothers knowledge against the aduise of your wisest Councellors they causedyour Maiestie to take by an vnaccustomed means and in a time full of suspition and partiallities to place forces in your Towne of Parris to keepe the publicque places thereof and the commō speech giuen foorth that they hoped being Maisters thereof they should bring you to many other things
both that of force he was constrained to take part with the one The king resolueth to be reuenged of the Duke of Guise because hee had been so imprudent to suffer them both and that of a King hee must become the Generall of a faction And in this manner beeing driuen heere and there by the incertitude of his conceptions feeble vnresolued and inuironed with so many distrusts by the apprehension of the mischiefe he suffered his minde to bee ledde away from the boundes of his nature And beganne to be very chollericke against the Huguenots to haue the League on his side so to ayde himself with their forces against them But those in whom hee ought to put most credit that lamented the diminishing of his authoritie and the weakning of his forces and that perceiued him bent to procure his owne destruction counselled him to make peace with the king of Nauarre Councels of peace An edict of peace 1576. and not to breake the edict of pacification which he had worne not in the field by force or imbecilitie of infancie as king Charles his bother did but after so many victories in the flower of his years in the strenth of his wit in presence of all the Realme of France putting his faith into the handes of God who is a iust reuenger of such as breake it although it be giuē vnto their enemies They propounded the same reasons wherewith in the yeare 1577. they defended the libertie of consciences inforcing them with diuers examples most certain arguments Others that for the most part are creatures of the league cōdemned the counsell at euery word they spake crying Set vpō the Huguenot religiō the church the truth wil alwaies remain The league will haue warre they braued in their discourses they perswaded the K. to continue wars to acknowledge that God had sent him those Machabes of Lorraine to resist Infidels those Herculeses against monsters that race of Monfort against the relicques of Albigios Sir said they you shall loose the name of most christian king if you yeeld vnto these heresies that draw the sap out of religion You shall be the only king among 60. of your predecessors that hath so faintly permitted suffred so pernicious detestable a mixstur of truth lies it wil be said that vnder your raigne Temples were without Altars Altars without sacrifices Churches without Ministers and God without seruice The gainsaying of those of the league Godlinesse desireth not warres The others knowing well that those faire and goodly couertures hide and keepe close most infamours rebellions and to put both fire and sword into the deepe woundes of the League said That as then it was no more requisite to decide religion by armes pietie is not ioyned to weapous men speake not of God but in blasphemie and cursing they worshipped him not but in vanities entered not into Churches but to prophane them laye hand assoone vpon the Priest and religious persons as vppon the Minister or Deacon and the fury and blindnesse of the souldier doth not distinguish that in his eye which in heart hee well discerneth And to bee short warre vndermineth religion as woormes consume trees rust eateth Iron and a feuer weakeneth mans body it ingendreth Atheists Libertines and Epicurians it maketh Cittizens of one Towne such as drinke of one fountaine and that liue vnder one ayre to become so wilde and vncourteous each to other that of men they become wolues Tigers such as desired that the leaguers sword should driue away the Huguenots as the Englishmen were driuen out of France Zozomen lib. 3. Hist tripart chap. 11. say to the contrarie that there is no warre more iust holy nor necessary then that which is vndertaken onely to procure the seruice of God by one religion saying that Constantine with weapon in hand ouerthrew the Paganisme of his Empire extirped the assemblies of hereticques Nouaciens Valentiens Marchionists and Paulianists not leauing them any means whereby they might offend the libertie of the religion that hee held Theodozius the elder made warre against the Arrians Theodozius his son against the Nestorians Marcians and Manicheens And that our kings had not attained the name of christrian Princes but by most vertuously sacrifising their liues for the defence of religion You take not the Historie said the defendants as it is to be vnderstood Warre was not made against heretiques til after they were condemned of heresie you read not that wars were made against the Arrians Nouatians Manicheens and other hereticques vntill the Councels of Nice Ephese and Calcedonia had confuted their errors and condemned their opinions Wee haue not to doo with such people they are called members of one church like vs they confesse one redemption with vs hoping for their saluation therein as we do there is neither Infidelitie nor Idolatrie in their maner of seruing God they blaspheme his name lesse then we do punishing such as offend his lawes more then we and there is nothing in their doctrine that shaketh the foundations of our faith You call them heretiques it is long since they affirme this word not to be agreeable to their doctrine ther is no sentence nor iudgemēt pronoūced against thē such as er are not therfore to be accounted heriticques heresie is the folly of an opinious minde so that false opinion and obstinacie are the two poynts that make an hereticque the one depēdeth of the vnderstāding carried away with errors and falsehoods the other of the obstinate minde perseuering in those errors If the Huguenots knew they erred or if they were wilfull in their ignorance why would they haue suffered themselues to bee slaine and massacred in that hotte caniculer month of August in the yeare 1572. If they were obstinate would they so often aske Councels eyther generall or nationall to instruct them as for vs that haue this blessing of God to be christians instructed in the Catholicque Church which wee beleeue to be Romaine we know that Huguenots haue more need of pietie thē paine of doctrine then destruction and of Catechising then imprisonment Wee take compassion vppon such as wee perceiue to bee out of their wits and that runne headlong into mischiefe and why should not wee haue the like feeling towards those that are mortally wounded with those errors that in a whole and liuely bodie beare a weake and paste soule lanquishing and spoyled by the poison that hath so long consumed it The Catholicque calleth the Huguenot an hereticque because hee beleeueth not ynough the Huguenot calleth the Catholicque hereticque because he beleeueth too much The Hoguenot beleeueth not euill in that wherein hee agreeth with vs but he beleeueth not ynough and wanteth in that which he beleeueth not hee hath nothing but it commeth from vs but there is a fault committed in the alteration and not in the essence and I say following our instructors that heresie is rather a want of
vnto their libertie hee would destroy and ouerthrow all the Catholicque Churches in Italie The feare of this mischiefe caused him to tollerate an euill otherwise vntollerable pernicious necessitie to haue peace is the most straight band of humane commodities thereby to shunne warres that maketh fathers without childen children Orphans women widdowes Churches without exercise of religion or godlinesse and the world without God without lawe or without faith to bannish warres that change a most christian Realm into a Commōwealth of Atheists Frēchmen that are peaceable and tractable into Scithians and Canibals liuing only by blood this bloodie ciuill warre that maketh the earth a hell and men the diuelles it is most iust and reasonable to appease the differences of religion by peace seeing warre cannot effect it That ancient world of the church which in respect of ours beeing of Iron and brasse might iustly be called golden permitteth this libertie Peace accorded such false concords and made good musicke diuers Princes and Estates which at this day flourish in great honour suffer euery man to liue according to his conscience and manner of religion without any alteration of their estates by such discipline Detestation of massacres They consider that the schisme is begunne that the greatest part of Europe is diuided that diuers good Towns in France make profession of this religion there is no more remedie that wee must leaue this conuersion to the prouidence of God They content themselues that their subiects obey them and that they vse their religion according to their mindes they doo not therefore make a barbarous galemawfre of the members of their subiects they massacre them not they kill them not and beleeue that whatsoeuer wee haue done heretofore is not lesse horrible to the minde then cruell to the will the League replyeth and said Trouble not your selfe so much with tying these examples togither they serue for nothing there is no proportion of one Realme with the other in this poynt that which is good for the Frenchmen is not good for others We must not so much stand vpon the consideration of things that are alreadie done as of those wee should doo France neuer had two religions shee could neuer indure them Arians could not dwell therein the Alligers were not tollerated with them and the Lutherians and Caluinists would not long continue among them if the League bee in force Let your Grace remember what a Chrisostome of France said vnto you at the last Parliament holden in Blois and now giue the like authoritie to his arguments that they then had when they made you take armes to purge the heart of Europe of the poyson of heresie France said hee hath beene such that after it had publicquely receiued the Christian faith vnder Clouis it hath alwaies maintained it in one course immutable iuuiolable France neuer indured the peruerse opinions of faith within her brest France while all Christendome was moued by the pernicious diuisions of so diuers opinions and with so many and different sorts of heresies that vntill this time haue raigned hath alwaies continued constant and vpright not once bending it selfe to any false doctrine France hath been the succor and defence of christian faith and the terror of the enemies thereof And to conclude France hath beene like a rocke or vnexprignable sort of christianitie And how much should it now bee fallen from his auncient honour how much reputation should it loose how much should it want of her first fidelitie towards God if changing her firmitie constancie touching faith it should liue long in such diuision and indure before her eyes in times past so iealous of the vnion of christian beleese and libertie but rather an intollerable libertie to liue vnder diuers religions Your Maiestie looking into the memorie of things past may sufficiently perceiue that as long as France hath been vnited vnder one christian religion shee hath made her glorie and renowne spred through all countries shee hath caused her valor in armes to be prooued felt in all places of the world shee hath alwaies beene victorious ouer all the enemies of Catholicque religion and hath done so many honourable actions achieued so great and happy conquests against Insidels that it wanne such glorie among the Asians Africans Indians Persians Tartarians Moores Sarrazins and others that all the christians in Europe are by them called Frenchmen for that because those strange nations haue onely felt the armes of Frenchmen they haue also comprehended all the Latine churches vnder the name of France Frenchmen But since France hath been diuided rent with two religions let vs see how much it hath loft of her auncient renowne shee that commaunded a great part of Europe that conquered countries farre distant from her that at her onely name made diuers warrelike nations to tremble is found since this vnhappy and vnfortunate diuision to bee reduced into such extremitie that in the middle of her brest she hath receiued forraine powers shee hath in a manner receiued the lawe of her neighbours and of her enemies and that cruell turning her sword against her owne intrailes and although shee was inuincible in respect of all other nations she is now her self so imbased vanquished and ouerthrowne which is the fruit that this venemous plant of new opinion hath induced which seemeth to be at the poynt readie to giue more daungerous thrusts if according to the expectation which your obedient people haue conceiued of your wisdome pietie it pleaseth not your Maiestie speedily to take order therein Remember that your Grace beareth the Scepter of the great king Clouis that first ruled this Monarchie vnder the publike profession of this religion which at this present is put in question within this Realme Remember that you are successor to that great Childeberg that being able to indure such persons about him that had any wrong opinion of christian religion made wars vppon the Visigots that were infected with the heresie of the Arrians and in the end constrained them to ioyne and vnite themselues to the holy and Catholicque Church Remember that you beare vpon your head the crowne of that Charles who for the greatnesse and valor of his actions deserued the name of great and by the vertue of his armes aduanced christian religion and defended the authoritie of the Apostolicque sea against such as persecuted the same Remember that you hold the place of that most woorthieking Philip Auguste who with so much zeale affection imployed his armes against Albigeois hereticques that had sequestred themselues from the Catholicque vnion Remember that you sit in the seate of that renowmed Prince Saint Lewis that spared not his treasures his forces nor his own person for his desence and aduancement of the faith of Christ and by his christian actions deserued the crowne and surname of Saint and without prolonging time to rehearse them all Remember that you are Nephew to that great king Francis
M. de Chiuerny M. de Beliure M. de Villeroy Ad consilium de rep dandume capite est nosse rem public in that cloudenesse of his affaires and whereof hee had most need In the middle of those treasons of the league hee dismissed those that neuer gaue peace to any passiō against the course of publike vtillitie that had nothing in their minds which age had not made rich graue constant and quiet that could yeeld firme and infallible resolutions that knew the present estate that foresawe what would happen that followed not opinions but reason and that haue stayed long in the sterne of the French ship had fought against the waues windes and first troubles of the torment of the League Then the seales were left in the hands of Monsieur de Monthelon Aduocate of the Court of Parliament an honest man and one that had no other passion that draue him forward but onely religion The Duke d'Espernon although hee stayed so long from the Court that it could not be said The Duke d'Espernon Gouernour of Aniou and Poitou that he rule the voluptuous minde of the king his Maister could not so much absent himself but that the cōspiracies of the league made him apprehend the greater mischiefes they would breed in a contented estate and hauing receiued the power from his Maiestie to command in the Prouinces of Aniou Thouraine Poitou Angoumois and Xaintonge road from Loches to Angoulesme vppon aduise giuen him that the League had conferated with certain of the Inhabitants thereof to deliuer the towne vnto them there hee was receiued with all the honor that the people might giue to the Lieftenant of a King and with as much ioy as if the King himselfe had been there but those faire daies continued not long without cloudes this goodnesse was soone followed with a terrible torment this publike reioycing with a straunge trouble for although hee shewed sufficiently both in words and effects that he had nothing so deare as the conseruation of Catholicque religion and the excution of the Edict of vnion which hee had caused to be published the people neuerthelesse were perswaded by the impostures of certain leaguers that his intent was to cause certaine troupes of Huguenots to enter into the Castle and to surprise the Towne A tumult in the presence Chamber of the Duke d'Espernon The Maior of the Towne beeing altogether a Leaguer conspired vpon Saint Lawrence day to take the Duke of Espernon and to kill him and for that purpose vpon the same day they entered into the Castle vnder pretence to present certaine Posts vnto him that came from the Court and therewith entered into the high chamber where discharging two Pistolles they cried kill kill but the Gentlemen of his traine put themselues in defence and presently draue the traitors backe their leader beeing hurt with a Pistolle that gaue him but seuen houres respite to take order for his affaires with that an alarme was giuen in the Towne and presently the people made Barricadoes rose in a mutinie raged and stormed but they were like prisoners kept in a strong Tower for the Duke d'Espernon held the Castle and had the Citadell at his commaundement whereby both through the one and the other hee could let as many forces enter to relieue him as hee should need A vainte mutenie made by the people Captaines for the league summons the Duke d'Espernon The people perceiuing that he held the Castle and that the Lord of Tagens came in all haste to help him that the Lord of Bordes their prisoner Captain of the Citadell would not redeeme his libertie at the price of his place that the Sieurs de Mere dela Messeliere de Marquerolle Desbouchaux sommoning them had found them resolute rather to diethen yeeld they determined to fall to an agreement Which Nonsieur de Tagens Cousin to the duke d'Espernon agreed vpon which appeased their strife and therewith they layde down their armes the dead bodies were honourably buried and the prisoners on both parts released The Duches of Espernon who before the commotion was gone out of the Castleto heare Masse in the Iacobins Church had beene stayed in the Fryers Couent and threatned to serue for a Gabion if shee caused not her husband to yeeld vppe the Castle was by the Lieftenant generall of the Towne Tumults appeased ledde to the said Castle because the gate was as yet rampierd with stones shee was constrained to go vppe by a lather and to creepe in at the window The second day after this reuolt beeing the twelsth of August one thousande fiue hundreth eightie and eight they proceeded to the election of a new Maior who with the Sheriffes presented himselfe vnto the Duke d'Espernon to excuse the folly of the people and hee as if hee had not been offended thereat receiued them with the best countenance he could and sent them away well pleased onely that hee would not suffer the body of the Maior principall of the rebellion to be buried with the state that belonged to his office The Historie of Gauerston printed at Parris in the yeare 1588. About the time that the Maior made the first tumult in his vtter chamber he was in his own chamber staying the time to go to Masse shewing the Abbot of Elbene and Monsieur de Marimon a most infamous libell printed not so much against him as against the honor of the Ma. of the king Which was the Historie of Pierce Gauerston whose life and fortune was therein compared to the life of the Duke of Espernon and the conclusion thereof was that as the Gascon Pierce Gauerston loued and onely fauoured by Edward the second king of England preferred to all offices in the Court inriched with the treasures both of the king and of his subiects at the peoples request was bannished and exiled out of England and after that beheaded so the Duke of Espernon would play the like tragedie in France vnder Henry the third king of France This libel was answered by a discourse imprinted at Parris which the Lord of Mandelot would not suffer to bee solde in Lyons because it did liuely describe the tragicall actions of estates made a most odious comparison of a good and religious Prince with a bloody hypocrite and tyrannicall Prince saying that Edward and Henry were all one Hee said that Edward a man of no gouernment Hist Angl. subiect to his pleasures of a vilde mind litle caring for the affaires of his Realm spent and prophaned the treasures of his country appoynted for the preseruation of religion and gaue them to Gauerstone his Mignion oppressed his subiects with great and excessiue exactions solde and ingaged part of his lands and demaines vsed his Nobles vnwoorthily not caring for men of good reputation beeing a great hypocrite thinking to couer a great number of inormities by building and erecting a Couent of Iacobius his Barrons constrained him diuers
in Citties and Townes in which cases they are vnited by well gouerned lawes and ordinances euery one according to his charge and necessary function but that the mischiefe was that in these daies lawes are nothing else but written papers hee set downe the vnexcusable faults committed in obseruation of lawes pollices and ordinances made for the punishment of swearers blasphemers players idle persons vsurers vnlawfull exacters cousoners wicked liuers men vsing prohibited and vnlawfull places with all such kinde of vices Idle Schollers the libertie of liuing idlely and desolutely without pollicie or gouernment but only by bad and disordered meanes causes and originalles of troubles and seditions which ouerthrow and subuert all kingdomes and good Common-wealths adding therevnto a most earnest exhortation to seeke remedies to all those michiefes The kings debts Lastly hee shewed the great debts the king hadde fallen into his great diligences and hazards by making warres against the hereticques his pietie religion and deuotion to the Romish Church with the rare behauiour actions and counsell of the Queene his mother Ending his Oration with the vnitie and concord that ought to bee as a most necessary thing in that assembly thereby to holde the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane Church with general and particular estate of all that are comprehended therin in true obedience to the king in all vnion and concord which doing this Monarchie would bee found to be inuironed with all happinesse vnder the authoritie of the most christian king and to the contrary dooing otherwise they should feele a continuall greefe and remorse of conscience within their mindes for disobeying God their King and countrie The Archbishop of Bourges Oration The Archbishop of Bourges Patriarch and Primate of Aquitaine thanked the king in that it pleased him to shewe his great good will towards his subiects saying that thereby the poore and miserable countrie of France which for the space of eight and twentie yeares hadde beene so much tormented beganne to receiue some strength and to take courage hearing the sweete and pleasing voyce of her king witnessing his more then fatherly affection towards his subiects which would cause him to bee honoured and belooued within his Realme as much as in auncient time the world worshipped Herculus Theseus and other valiant men that eased and relieued them from the burthen of oppressions and violences vsed in those daies by Tyrants and monstrous Gyants Saying that as God when his people were afflicted raised Moyses Iosue Dauid Manasses Iosaphat Ezechias and other good kings so by his prouidence hee hadde sent into this desolate kingdome a King who from his young yeares hadde beene guided by the Spirite of the Kings beloued of God wisedome of God to gouerne his people and as the young Eagle a celestiall bird comming out of her nest his Maiestie pricked and prouoked by the vengeance and generositie of his Predecessors hath throwne the thunder of the eternall GOD vppon the faces and heades of the enemies of his diuine Maiestie not once sparing his owne life for the honour of God and tranquillitie of his Realme who in his voyage to Polonia His voyage to Polonia passing and repassing through so many and diuers Nations hath hadde and gotten so much experience in all actions that by the onely wisedome and eye of his vertues hee hath dispearsed a great and puissant armie of straungers Rutters and Switzers A happie houre of his raigne Concluding therewith by so certaine a hope that vnder so good and so mightie a king they should see heresie suppressed and repulsed peace assured the seruice of God established all the Churches restored and reedified Townes franchised and freed from caliuers and drummes the Temple of warres closed and shutte vppe and that of peace opened vnto all men iustice and peace imbrasing each other lawes flourishing charitie abounding among men and by one consent and vnion of religion vnder the obedience of God and the King who representing the person of GOD beareth the sword of Gods iustice heere on earth the kingdome of Christ would thereby beginne to flourish as an example of all goodnesse in the world to come wherevnto wee all aspire Great ioy made by the estates And therewith in the name of them all adding this exclamation Viue Rex in sempiternum Liue King liue and liue eternally and for the gracious vertues and notable inspirations wherewith God hath touched your Princely heart all your Realme of France singeth Benedictus Deus qui misit talem voluntatem in cor regis Blessed and praised bee God that hath inspired so good and notable a desire into the heart of our King which wee beseech his diuine Maiestie to assist fortifie and conduct to a most happie and prosperous end for his honour and glorie The Earle of Brssac his OratioÌ„ made in â—ame of the whole Nobilitie After the Archbishop of Bourges sat downe the Earle of Brissac stood vppe and for a congratulation of those of his order hee shewed the King that the Nobilitie in generall hadde giuen him in charge to thanke his Grace for the good and honour they receiued beeing by his commaundements called and conuoked togither by an assembly of the generall estates and in his royall presence there to heare and vnderstand his holy and good resolutions assuring themselues that the effects would bee as prompt and certaine as it was a naturall and iust thing in him to be a true king acknowledging that by that meanes onely it would make them such as they ought to be The affectioÌ„ of the French Nobilitie in the seruice of the king and state touching the reestablishing of the honour of God the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane religion and of other things profitable to his estate and necessarie for his poore people Promising for their partes to vse the fidelitie zeale affection and generositie that hath allwaies beene naturall in the Gentlemen of France towardes their Kings and soueraigne Princes Offering vnto his Maiestie the most humble seruice of their armes persons and liues to cause him to bee obeyed honoured feared respected and acknowledged of all men as both diuine and humane lawes haue constituted and appoynted And withall to restore his Realme purged of heresies the spring and cause of all diuisions to her first and ancient dignitie wherevnto they would expose themselues freely generously and liberally vnder his authoritie euen to the last drop of their blood The Crati of the third estate The Prouost of Merchants within Parris President for the thirde estate fell on his knees and for those of his degree spake and sayde That seeing it had pleased his Maiestie so to open his minde and to declare his holy intents vnto his people thereby assuring them of his great charitie truely named most fatherly in their behalfes his most humble most obedient and most faithfull subiects of the third estate first praised God that it had pleased him to cast the eyes of his mercie
vppon them in the extremitie of their afflictions and then yeelded most hartie thankes vnto his Maiestie who shewing his power ordained from aboue to rule and gouerne this Christian Monarchie with all courtesie and princely inclination hath not refused to bend his royall eares to their most humble petitions to heare their greefes and complaints and withall to shewe a most singular and speciall desire to restore his people to their auncient force to whom as then there rested but the onely libertie of speech and that very weake and feeble to reestablish holy religion in her pristinate estate by the extirpation of all errors and heresies to rule and remit all auncient orders altered by the iniurie and alteration of times vnto their first forme and manner of beeing and to comfort his poore people protesting that therein their most humble and most faithfull seruices should neuer bee wanting euen to the last gaspe which Oration beeing ended the assemblie with a maruellous contentment ended the first day of their meeting The second day of meeting vpon Tuesday the 18. of Octob. 1588. The second day of their meeting beganne vppon the Tuesday after in the same manner as it did vppon the first day and because the King had been mooued by the Archbishop of Ambrun the Counte de Brissac and the Aduocate Bernard Deputies for the three estates to renue his oathes of vnion and perceiuing their pursuite to proceede from the distrust they had in him seeing that hee hauing once sworne it within the Cittie of Roane it was as then needelesse to renue his oath againe hee went neuerthelesse to satisfie the importunitie of the League and so beganne that seconde meeting with the same action The Kings proposition made to the Senate at their meetings Silence beeing commaunded by a Herault his Maiestie saide that at their first meeting hee hadde shewed what great desire and care hee hadde that in his raigne hee might see and beholde his subiects revnited in the true Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane religion vnder the obedience which it hadde pleased GOD for their partes to giue vnto him and for that cause hauing made his Edict in the moneth of Iuly last ordaining it to bee confirmed and holden for a The Edict of vnion made a lawe fondamentall law of his Realm therby to binde both himself and them with all their posterities his meaning was as then to haue it redde openly before them all which done euery man should sweare to obserue it accordingly And with that hee commaunded Monsieur de Beaulieu his principal Secretarie to read it togither with the declaration made vpon the same so to giue it the force and authoritie of a law of his Realme and yet without derogating the liberties and priuiledges of his Nobilite The reading thereof with the declaration beeing ended the king desiring that the woorthinesse of the cause should bee preferred with as much Maiestie as it deserued thereby to mooue the whole assembly better to consider the importance of the contract which as then they were to make with God crauing his horrible and most fearefull vengeance might fall vppon all those that disloyally should falsifie their faiths therevnto giuen as assurances of the obseruation of his said Edict of vnion he commanded the Archbishop of Bourges to make an Oration vnto the states concerning the same The oration of the Archbishop of Bourges touching the Edict of the vnion This learned Prelate saide that seeing it pleased his Maiestie that the instruction of so solemne an oath should bee giuen vnto the people by the mouth of the Prelates hee exhorted all the assembly appoynted for that great and solemne actions to humble themselues vnder the mightie hand of God and to acknowledge his Maiestie togither with the effect and quallitie of the oath which they were as then to receiue considering that God is trueth it selfe and all oathes whatsoeuer which are not grounded vppon that trueth are false and vniust That the cause of the oath as then presented was for the Church the onely spouse of God The Church is visible Vniuersall Catholicque visible heere on earth because it comprehendeth all the faithfull that are the christian communaltie Inuisible in heauen where it is said triumphant vniuersall for that it maketh no distinction of persons nations quallities conditions or sects One without diuision or schisme One for that of Alexandria Ephese Ierusalem Affrica and Aegipt are but one Church and her doctrine is one Romane doctrine not in regard of the walles of the Cittie of Rome but by reason of a speciall nomination and demonstration that is saide of it that therein Saint Peter and after him Saint Clement and others their successors haue preached and announced the word of God witnessing the true christian doctrine and many other Martyrs with the price of their blood which they haue freely shed for the name and honour of God The vnion of the Church That the vnion of this Church is so strong that it cannot bee broken nor separated in it selfe beeing placed vppon the firme rocke which is Iesus Christ so that the gates of hell cannot preuaile against it it is called the Lords vinyard and the Gods sheepfolde vnder one head and shepheard of our soules That to preserue the vnitie of his Church it is conuenenient that all the children thereof should be vnited vnder Christ their Sauiour and vnder the king whose faith hath continued from posteritie to posteritie euen vnto his person and neuer separated it selfe from the vnitie of this holy and christian religion Let vs vnite our selues then said this Prelate let vs vnite our selues togither as true faithfull Catholicques let vs renue this great and solemne oath due vnto God let vs ioyne our vowes and hearts togither and so yeeld them and confirme them vnto God Obedience due to the king Let vs sweare vnto our Prince the obedience submission due vnto him by all lawes diuine and humane let vs imbrace christian charitie let vs abandon hatreds rancors both open and secret with all suspitions and distrusts which hitherto haue troubled and diuided vs and which haue hindered yea and broken so good intents and had it not beene for them France had long since enioyed a happie peace Let vs lift vp our hands to heauen to yeelde vnto that great God the oath wee owe vnto him that it may bee a memorie for euer vnto the world that our posterities may beholde our faiths and constancie in our oathes and not our periurie by the good and holy effects that shall insue And seeing it hath pleased your Maiestie most noble Prince to bee the first that heere in presence of vs all shall performe this oath for an example to all your subiects all wee with one accord will lift vp our hands to heauen and sweare by the liuing God to serue and honour him for euer to maintaine his Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane Church to defend your
profit and commoditie of their places and those specially that concerned the receit of treasures made a great and goodly declaration to the king to mooue him to the contrary to hold thē in their places which they possessed vnder the title of officers for his Maiestie shewing him that the good and comfort of the people which was thought would bee procured by the suppression of their offices is the greatnesse glorie and riches of his Crowne and of his people which is alwaies oppressed and troden vnder foote by such as are mightie if there bee not some that like a barre interpose themselues betweene the power of the one and the weaknesse of the other which is specially done by the offices as well of iustice as of his Maiesties treasures that the erection of offices rather wanteth ayde and profit then oppression and wrong vnto the people for that without them the people must of force haue beene constrained to helpe the King in his warres with their owne goods The decree of Charles the fift dated the 28. of May. 1359. That it is a vaine thing to seeke to make those offices that ought to bee perpetuall to become annuall and so to be exercised by Commissaries for that is not to bee indured in any estate or Monarchie and Charles the fist seeking to erect that order during the prisonment of king Iohn perceiued so many discommodities discontentments and seditions therein that hee reuoked the suspencing and depriuation of such offices and himselfe in person pronounced the decree thereof in open Parliament That it is easie to iudge by the passions and instant pursuites of the greatest of those that demaund commissions that they haue a most extreame enuie to confound the order principal supports of the royal estate so to transferre it to the occupation and mannaging of a small company of men or else to put the rurther of this Monarchicall shippe into the hands of the common people and such as haue least skill knowledge to rule it and by that means to bring the head vnder the foot that diuers of those earnest petitioners had not solde their offices which they had likewise obtained by the same means for the most aduantage they would thinke themselues most happy at this day to ioyne with 80. or a 100. thousand officers whereof that body is composed which at this present imploreth iustice due and woorthie the desert of their cause That the suppression of so many estates and offices which at this day are the chiefe most orient brightnesse of the honourablest families among his subiects would vnfainedly drawe on the desolation decay and totall ruine of the best Townes in all this Realme wherein the youth for want of good exercise should easily throw themselues headlong into vanities and follies whereof idlenesse onely is the cause and therefore they most humbly besought his Maiestie to maintaine them in his seruice suffering them to continue therein and to enioy their offices as they had vsually done The billes of the three estates Which allegation beeing ended the complaints and petitions of the three estates were read in such large ample discourses that the least towne in France had matter sufficient to make a long and tedious declaration All of them in generall complaining besides the excesse of tallages of other subsidies impositions customes furnishings of fiftie thousand souldiers tallies augmentations and increasings of new forces impostes vpon wines lendings of mony both generall and particular subsidies of one hundreth soules for euery processe redeeming of their commons new inuentions touching the pauing of walled Towns the raising and calling downe of monies the surcharge of two three and foure soules vpon euery franke the vniuersall number of tallages The common peoples complaints the fourth and eight part of wines that are solde by retaile with other superfluous impositions and to conclude the people complained of the publicque calamities and oppressions which made them as bare and naked of ease and fatnesse as the body of a man that is appoynted for an anatomie The Nobilitie complained of their seruices done without recompence and of the indiscrcet distribution of the kings liberallities and rewards The Cleargie made a greater noyse and found themselues greeued that neither the summes of mony nor yet the great charges leuyed vpon them had not in any thing aduanced the seruice of religion Wherevppon the King supposing to sustaine the golden world and thereby to restore and procure great rest and quietnesse to his people almost spoyled and vtterly ouerthrowne hee commaunded the Deputies to inuent all the meanes they could for their comfort And from thence sprang the Edict of the suppression of offices newly erected and the ouerture of the discharges of talliages but with a most industrious stratageme of the League They mooued the king to reduce the talliages of the yeare 1576. which they did to this end that if the king agreed therevnto hee should perceiue himselfe bereaued of the meanes to pay his souldiers to content his seruants and to maintaine the greatnesse of his royall estate and if hee refused it it would bee an euident occasion to make the estates fall in a mutenie and so to effect their secret determination which was to appoynt a Protector ouer the King and to driue his faithfull subiects from him Read the kings declation vpon this poynt The Duke of Guise perswaded the King not to graunt it to the ende that thereby hee should not imbase his authoritie at the states pleasures on the other side hee prouoked and incited the Deputies which daily repaired to his lodging there to conclude their propositions and aunsweres to continue their pursuite But the king to shunne their fury consented to the reduction of tallages hoping neuerthelesse by that meanes continuing the Parliament he would shewe them that with so small summes of mony hee could not maintaine his royall estate nor yet proceed in warres against the Huguenots which all of them had so solemnely and faithfully sworne vnto Meane time they beganne to enter into the depth of their pretences A proposition made before at Mallet and Bobier and sought to haue pursuits made against such as had beene appoynted the kings receiuers and thereby abused his liberallitie that they should be constrained to yeelde account they shewed the king what losse hee had sustained by his carelesse contract made touching the farming of salt for the term of sixe yeares then ended in the month of September 1588. to the great deminution of his treasure and oppression of his subiects for that the losse thereby sustained did yearely amount vnto the summe of a hundreth thirtie sixe thousand Crownes and for the other sixe yeares foure millions and eight thousand crownes by not rating the farme of the imposts of salt at as high a price as they should bee This aduise beeing great and very important for the increasing of the Kings treasures was giuen by the Presidents Mallet
and Bobier that had laboured for the space of sixe yeares to discouer the same couered and disguised with the Sophisteries and subtilties of their participants Meane time that the estates were busied in the Parliament let vs see what the kings forces did against the enemie The Duke de Neuers led one armie into Poitou and the Duke de Maine conducted the other into Dauphine The armie of the Duke of Neuers in Poictou The Duke de Neuers with a great and strong armie passed into Poitou promising not onely to reduce the whole Prouince vnder the kings obedience but to restore the losse hee had sustained by the battell of Coutrus by some profitable and woorthie exployt hee beeing assisted by Monsieur de la Chastigneraye Maister of the Campe of a Regiment of footemen Monsieur de Sagone Marshall of the light-horse Monsieur de Lauerdin and Monsieur de la Chastre Great-maister of the field the armie being composed of Frenchmen Switzers Italians and diuers voluntary Gentlemen The siege of Manleon The Towne of Manleon was the first place which they pretended to besiege and to the same end it was presently inuironed with great numbers of horse and footemen It is the lawe of armes to punish such as seeking to striue against the streame some to oppose themselues by rash and vaine resolution to hold a fort which of it selfe is wholly weak vndefensable And for that kinde of foolish hardinesse Anne de Monmorancy Constable of France hanged such as hee found in the Castle of Villane and all those that were in a Tower standing in the subburbes of Saint Anthony of Pauie Yet the Garrison of Manleon although they well perceiued both want of amunitions and weaknesse of their walles would neyther parley nor yet yeeld vntill they sawe the last extremitie but when they sought by articles to compound the assaylants vsing all inhumanitie against them beeing disarmed bathed their victorie in the blood of naturall Frenchmen Montague taken From thence they marched towards Montagu where Monsieur de Colombiere Gouernour of the Towne issued and skirmished with the Duke de Neuers forces with equall losse on both sides which done after some resistance made and certaine Cannons shotte against the Towne the souldier fearing the euent of cruel assault not long after drew to an honourable composition and so yeelded the Towne When Montagu had yeelded the armie went to batter la Ganache a Towne with a Castle lying betweene Poitou and Brittaine as I will shewe you heereafter The Duke de Maine at Lyons The Duke de Maine beeing at Lyons and from thence minding to passe into Dauphine found his affection as much cooled as at the first it had beene greatly inflamed and knowing such pretences to bee daungerous and ouer lightly grounded vppon the mutenie of the people hee stayed his proceedings expecting the issue of the Parliament and while hee continued at Lyons Monsieur de Mandelot died beeing in great feare to bee displaced from his gouernment by the Duke de Nemours that had the graunt thereof and for the same cause hee doubted the comming of the Duke de Maine to bee to that end Hee fell sicke about the end of the moneth of October troubled with a windie colicque The sicknesse death of the Lord de Mandelot and certaine fittes of an ague the goute likewise ceasing vppon him and all at once Yet hee seemed not to bee in any great daunger till Sunday the thirteenth of Nouember when hee changed in such sort that on wednesday after in the morning feeling his forces to decay hee began to thinke vppon his end and comforting his Ladie hee besought father Edmond Auger to shewe the king that hee died poore and indebted by reason of his Maiesties seruices Hee recommended his wife and children to the Sheriffes and Magistrates of Lyons desiring them not to shewe themselues friends to mutable fortune that they would not suffer him to die like a â—ancrout and that his goods and mooueables might be openly solde he made the like declaration to the Straungers in the Towne And vppon Saturday at night hee receiued the extreame vnction which done hee besought God that it would please him yet to giue him life for the space of two yeares longer if hee thought it good for the profit of the Church the seruice of the king and the commoditie of the Cittie of Lyons Presages of the leaguers affaires The next day the Duke de Maine went to visit him where for a certain time hee had some conference with him And this Gentleman that had alwaies had a great insight into the affaires of the League by a spirit although not propheticall yet prognosticating said vnto him that the end of the Parliament at Blois would not bee so agreeable as the beginning that the wound of the Barricadoes of Parris was yet bleeding and that the taking of the Marquisat of Saluces had much increased it that the Duke of Guise should neuer finde the meanes to pacifie the sea by him so much troubled and tormented and that the supposed ayde of straungers which hee expected would fayle him hee died the foure and twentieth of Nouember and was buryed vpon Saint Andrewes day at whose funerall the Ladie his wife shewed both by her apparrell honour and order that amitie continueth as well after as before mans death Father Edmond Auger made the funerall Sermon in presence of the Duke de Maine and among other things commending his person saide that hee had neuer subscribed to the League and that hee died constant in religion and the seruice of the King But now let vs returne againe vnto the Parliament where the king laboured with great paine to procure the remedies which hee expected from the wholesome counsell that should bee giuen vnto him and like a wise Pilot that scoureth and maketh clean the plankes of his shippe thereby to clense it of all filth that might hang vppon it and so to hinder the like fish from catching holde thereon which in the middle of the streame vseth to staye the course of the greatest shippe that is hee sought to cutte off all the difficulties that hindered his Realm from passing out of the troublesome waues of long and continuall warres Remore a fish stayeth a shippe and thereby could not arriue at the hauen of happie peace but as hee continued in his great labour and holy desire that goodly harmony of the assembly of the estates beganne to iarre vppon the newes of the taking of the Marquisat of Saluce Newes of the taking of Carmagnoles by the Duke of Sauoye and of Carmagnoles the Frontier-Towne of France and Italie The estate of the Duke of Sauoye I must heerevnto adde this discourse which of force I must declare at large the better to make it knowne first shewing the estate of the Duke of Sauoy then what were the principall causes of this enterprise the right and reasons wherewith hee defended
himselfe and the meanes hee vsed to attaine vnto the same I will put this proposition that this Prince is bound and a neighbour vnto France and in that case neither ought nor may bee an enemie vnto it Hee is the sonne of that great and polliticque Prince Charles Philebert duke of Sauoy who so wisely found the means to recouer that which his father had lost The praise of Charles Philebert Duke of Sauoy The principall glory and truely as I thinke the most necessary for a Prince of his quallitie was that among so many troubles and betweene two great Monarchies striuing togither hee could behaue himselfe so well that neither the one nor the other once touched him maintaining his countrie in peace affectioned to the seruice of our kings as hee that had receiued that honor to marrie the sister of king Henry the second a friend to the King of Spaine in whose Court hee had passed ouer the most part of his greefes for his forepassed losses a good neighbour to the Switzers and other Princes of Italie to liue in peace hee permitted the free accesse of Huguenots into his Townes of Thurin and assured them a retrait into the vallies of Angrongne Lucerne Saint Martin Pragela and la Perouze without constraining them as hee might well haue done to vse the Catholicque religion and looking into the depth of diuers things hee made meanes vnto the king of Nauarre for a match to bee made betweene the Lady Margaret the Kings sister and his sonne and what hee practised for his owne benefite the same he counselled vnto others for when hee perceiued that Henry king of Polonia threatned to renue the warres assoone as hee should set foote within his realme hee disswaded him from that resolution setting before him the incertitude of warres which most commonly are sweete in the beginning but difficult to bee pursued and most bitter and hurtfull in the ende See the order of Montagu Hee desired rather to leaue some parte of his Landes vnto the Switzers then to seeke to winne them by armes Hee behaued himselfe so well in his counselles which our kings reiected and imprinted such an opinion of his wisedome greatnesse and felicitie within his subiects mindes that the Sauoyen not knowing nor beeing able to imagine any greatnesse more eleuated or happyer then that of their Duke that they said that if the king of France could haue guided his affaires in as good sorte hee hadde beene man sufficient and fitte to haue beene Great-Maister of the Duke of Sauoyes house Charles Emanuel Duke of Sanoy Charles Emanuel his sonne perceiuing that the wisedome and pollicie of his father had left his estate in good securitie with a reasonable great quantitie of treasures and yet not so much as would suffice to make any forraine warres determined to imploy that generositie naturally ingraffed in him in some goodly enterprise hee threatned Ceneua and made shewe of doing some great exployt against it but acknowledging the insufficiencie of his forces for his so high an enterprise they determined vppon a marriage and married the King of Spaines youngest daughter and with her the passions of his father in lawe The Duke of Sauoy cannot liue in peace if the king of Frāce be his enemie At the beginning it was thought hee would haue contented himselfe to haue beene friend with France allyed vnto Spaine that vppon the apprehension of the fall of our estate he would neuer pretend any thing against vs that hee would staye himselfe more vppon thinges certaine then vppon vncertaine and variable that knowing that vppon the one side hee hadde the Almaines on the other the Switzers on the third the Venecians and on the fourth the Princes of Italie hee would become friend to the Frenchmen their friends It was thought that if hee had ambition in his minde it would vanish vnder a more iust title that feeling himselfe weake hee would enterprise any thing against a mightie King nor would not breake the bond of amitie for his part due vnto him holding his estates from this Crowne which of late of meere courtesie hadde restored Sauignan and Pigneroles vnto him yet without apparant necessitie and without any reason whatsoeuer hee vndertooke the vsurpation of the territories of France bordering vppon Piedemont And yet it was not done without pretence declaration and excuse for first hee wrote vnto the Pope that the feare hee had least Monsieur de Desdiguieres should cease vppon certaine of his Townes and so in the middle of his countrie make a retraict and refuge for the Huguenots had constrained him to diuert that mischiefe generally from the Church and particularly from his owne estate which hee desired to continue in the puritie of the auncient religion vnder the obedience of the holy sea of Rome The duke of Sauoyes pretence why he inuaded the Marquisat of Saluce Hee excused himselfe vnto the King touching this breach of peace saying that the onely zeale of religion togither with the feare of the contagious neighbourhood of hereticques had constrained him ther vnto sending an Ambassador to giue him notice thereof and so to disguise that iniurie with the fairest and most counterfeit hee could deuise At the first he made shewe as if he would not hold those places but vnder the kings authoritie and by little and little he vsurped all soueragne power degrading the kings officers erected the Sauoyan crosse and threwe downe the flower deluces of France Ann. 1481. His officers couered this vsurpation with an other title and maintained that the Marquisat of Saluces is holden infest of the Duchie of Sauoy and that one of the Marquises thereof beeing a braue and valiant Gentleman disdaining in person to doo homage to Charles the sixt Duke of Sauoy being very young was for his misprision declared a traitor driuen out of his Countries and his Marquisat confiscated The Marquesse of Saluce infested into the countrie of Dauphine But the truth is that this countrie hath alwaies been infest to the principalitie of Dauphine contained in the gift that Prince Humbert made vnto the Crown of France namely that the Marquesse of Saluce had recourse vnto the king of France who receiued homage and fidelitie of him and euer since his successours did continue the dutie of vassalles vnto the Kings Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth and Francis the first From thence it proceedeth that hee which enquired and gathered into a great volume the causes and reasons of the raising of armes in the moneth of Ianuary reporteth this surprising of the Marquisate of Saluces to bee deriued from principalles of the League that dismembreth thier Crowne and Common-wealth perceiuing that neither of them could preserue it whole and intire and these are his words ABout that time the Duke of Sauoy supposing the king by reason of his departure from Parris to bee wholly ouerthrowne sent to speake with Monsieur de Guise minding to enter into League with him vppon
saued but increased not flourishing but eleuated aboue all nations and that from this triumph so much desired his Maiestie shall reape the honour his estate the principall good and all the people of Europe bee participants to this happie chance it beeing an assurance vnto his Crowne the most assured stay of all Christendome The memorable victory of the â—ing against the Rutters That the victories which France desireth to see his Maiestie obtaine shal be but a continuation of the ouerthrow by him giuen to that great and searefull armie of Rutters Switzers Lansquenets and French Huguenots which by the good conduction vigilacie of his Maiestie receiued more shame and losse then it hoped to reape in riches honour and the Switzers found more fauour and mercie then before they had shewed boldnesse and desire to doo him iniurie those that were saued returning like trumpets of his renowne publishing the honours praises and victories of his Maiestie That now the prayers teares and trauels of auncient Frenchmen seemed to aske vengeance against those that after so many religious times haue violated the Sepulchers of their fathers and ours who by fire furie and rage would pull from among vs this onely religion which those holy fathers had planted throughout the world That of all reprobates there can bee no sect found that is so dangerous nor abhominable as that of the Hugunots and as their impietie is extreame so ought their punishment to bee the like That it is knowne whether the furie of the enemie be greater then the disorders are deplorable which are found to bee in the Church by negligence ignorance confidence and abuse And proceeding to shewe the affection and zeale which the Nobilitie continueth in the assistance of the King to remit religion and the state in their first splendure and with the price of their liues following the example of their elders and the hereditary generositie of such as haue driuen out and vanquished the Gothes Vandales Arrians Albigeois Lombardes Sarazins and Pagans that haue pursued the defence of the faith and victories of the kings of France from the furthest parts of the Ocean Seas farre beyond the Westerne and that haue not left any place for the reputation of their honours within the compasse of the circle of the sunne hee besought his Maiestie to fauour the antiquitie of the priuiledge right belonging to the Nobilitie in them to acknowledge the seruices done vnto his predecessors The prowesse of auncient Frenchmen to reforme the rules and militarie ordinances of the Kings his auncestors not to permit that any by mony or fauour may attribute vnto himselfe the name of a Gentleman to maintaine the priuiledges of the order of the knights of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem to cut off the superfluities in iustice to moderate his subsidies order his treasures reestablish the Magistrate ordaine an order and pollicie among souldiers cause the Church to bee reformed and to punish the enemies of our holy religion And so wishing a thousand prosperities to the king and peace vnto his subiects hee ended his Oration The complâ—â—â—ts of the third estate The agreement of subiects to the kings obedience Heresie and schisme Monsieur Bernard Councellour of the Parliament in Dyon presented the complaints of the third estate beginning his Oration with a solemn thanksgiuing for the promise made by his Maiestie fully to execute the holy Edict of vnion written marked pointed vnto by the finger of god by the which heresies shall bee driuen away as cloudes that are dispearsed by the sunne exhorting all the townes and subiects of this Realme besides this vnion in one onely religion to enter into an other vnion good intelligence for the seruice of the King continuance of his dignitie and in defence of the good of the estate euery man remembring that the Prince is giuen of God to commaund and the subiects to obey Hee discouereth all the infirmities of this polliticque bodie which beside the vlcer of heresie and partiallities haue most straungely corrupted this Realme Blasphemies are naturall and ordinarie speeches among diuers Frenchmen adulterie is a sport coniuration is a subtiltie of spirit curiositie honestie and simonie a common trade of marchandise Simony Simony is not onely a spirituall Leprosie of the Church but a poyson which innisibly is tasted by the Nobilitie and a contagion which intecteth the third estate The Gouernments of townes places and Castles are committed to meane Gentlemen the suretie of the Inhabitants of a place of importance is exposed to the hazard of the meanes and riches of a Captaine euill affected The most ignorant beeing rich obtained the chiefest places within this Realm meÌ„ are rather known by the goldennesse of their estates then by their vertues knowledge and wisedome and haue nothing but an officers gowne to hide and couer their ignorance So the beautie of Iustice is darkened the elections of benefices and offices violated good customes peruerted vertue banished exiled vice in authoritie and rapin marcheth throughout the Realme with Ensignes displayed The disorder in warres The insolencie of horsemen the violence of souldiers who like mad men and patrticides haue pilled torne murthered violated and sacked this countrie of France our Common-wealth haue spoyled the villages with so barbarous hostilitie that most part of the lands are vntilled firtile places become desarts houses voyde and the flat countrie vnpeopled and all things reduced into a most fearefull disorder The Partisans Warre is not onely made among the people by souldiers inrolled and prest by the kings coÌ„missioÌ„ but also by another sort of enemies that haue no lesse troubled his subiects then an armie of Rutters which are the partakers such as by importunitie gifts and inuentions of new tallages haue drawne the treasures of this Realme into their coffers and made the people readie to begge those are the deuisers of sibsidies and new Edicts the executors of extraordinary commissions buyers and fellers of offices vermine of men hatched by harpies bred vp in one night who by their deuises haue fretted this Realme euen to the very ashes of houses They march proudly incredite with the Seargent at their heeles at their word to execute the kings subiects with summons in their hands to constraine the consciences of the good and to violate the authoritie and religion of soueraigne Courts by crosssing of payes and interdictions of entries Many Edicts haue been verified and registred with these words by commaundements diuers times reiterated in good and iust Edicts the commandements of the soueraigne Prince is not necessarie Treasures euil imployed That if such and so great nouelties and oppressions neuer seen nor heard of in France had been deuised for the profit and commoditie of his Maiestie the complaints against them were neither iust nor reasonable but the souldiers haue bene without maisters and not payd the wages of officers lessened and the treasures spent and consumed And yet they go about to
deuise new subsidies and receipts of mony but vpon whom vpon a poore countrieman robbed and naked and turned into his shirt for so wee may terme the people of France And after this Orator had shewed that there rested no surer nor better remedie against those disorders then to require an account of those who by the oppression and impouerishing of the subiectse haue heaped vp so much riches then to free himselfe from the practises and false perswations of certaine euill Councellours religiously to execute and violably to obserue his ordinances and not to content himselfe only to see them published and imprinted without causing them to bee practised by a prompt and continuall exercise hee concludeth his learned and long Oration by demaunding the conclusion of the estates saying Sorrow for the death of the Queene mother ANd therefore most noble Prince we humbly beseech you that the eie of your prudencie may alwaies be open for the defence of your poore people and the vnburthening and comfort thereof and that your good resolutions may in no sort be altered nor changed Wee hoped that by a long life the Queene your most wise and most honourable Ladie and mother should therein haue been a great furtherance vnto vs by the proofe and experience that France hath had of her so good and profitable Councels but seeing her daies are finished and that her dignitie of a Queene and Princesse graunted her not the priuiledge to prolong her yeares neither yet to promise her further respite the will and pleasure of God with the necessitie of a tombe must serue you for a consolation and patience and hope that her happie soule will make prayers in heauen that shall be more certaine and profitable vnto your Maiestie and the estate then all the counsels in the world In the meane time we will haue our recourse vnto the fauour and good will of the Queen your most deare spouse in whom your subiects haue beholden so much shining light of deuotion pietie and christian vertues that they expect by her meanes the comfort by them hoped for with a confirmation of your good and iust intents ayded and assisted by those of the Catholicque Princes of your blood The rest dependeth partly vppon your chiefe Iustice and the Keeper of your Seales who beeing chosen for his deserts and by the certaine report of his integritie wee hope will not permit that such ordinances which are made within his time should bee violated and broken as it were at the same instant Which dooing wee will no more lament the holy raignes of auncient kings wee shall not neede to speake of the iustice of Charles the great Saint Lewis nor Philip Augustus much lesse will wee make account of the fatherly affection of king Lewis the twelfth Our bookes shall onely bee filled with your wisedome iustice clemencie and loue the heauens shall open to place vppon your heade a Crowne of great prosperite God will giue you the grace to see your posteritie which in valour shall cause the name of Valois to increase a name the onely continuation whereof will procure the welfare and honour of France Further the sweetenesse of so happie a season and the enioying of the fruits by vs hoped for and expected to proceed from the conclusion of this Parliament will confirme vs in the seruice that wee owe vnto your Maiestie the which by vs is newly assured by a solemne oath made in open assembly of all the estates and registred for a perpetuall lawe in all fidelitie to loue honour and obey your Maiestie And because that time representeth it selfe wherein wee may make proofe of the effects of our good wils and that otherwise the want of means commandeth diuers of vs with speede to depart from hence I am expresly charged to beseech your Maiestie to graunt vs leaue to the ende that beeing in our Prouinces some of vs will bee messengers of your most holy and laudable inspirations others by the authoritie of Magistracie which they beare may there cause you to bee obeyed and that all of vs togither with mutuall minds and certain concord may withdraw ourselues out of a common perill and yeeld you certaine testimonie that we are and will continue most faithfull most humble and most obedient subiects vntill the last gaspe of our liues The king who for the space of fifteene daies had been solitarie without resoluing vpon the billes by the three estates presented vnto him perceiuing that the estates could not attend nor stay the full conclusion thereof without great discōmoditie touching their own affairs that they besoght him to haue licence to depart hee vsed certaine perswasions rather then commaundements to stay them for a time vntill their billes should be fully aunswered or at the least a certaine number of each Order to bee there at the publication of his aunsweres and ordinances All the Deputies that were aduertised of the risings that beganne to bee made within their Prouinces and that vpon a suddaine all the Townes disposed themselues to dance after Paris besought him to depart The king not desiring to hold thē against their wils caused a publication to be made of certaine articles touching some of the principall poynts of the billes put vp in partliament which were the rebating of the fourth part of the balages foreseeing very well that in so great a raising of armes his poore people would bee so extreamely oppressed that they could not paye all A dissolution of the estates the 16. of Ianuary 1589. Attempts of the League against the king And thus the estates being dissolued a declaration was sent vnto all the Prouinces to assure them of his Maiesties good intention The nineteenth of Ianuarie there was published at Paris and in other places a declaration from the Princes Catholicque Townes and Communalties vnited togither with the three estates of the Realme for preseruation of religion and the peoples libertie to whom they promised a discharge from a fourth part of the taxes and of their fruites and increase although hee one night well ynough said that the people of France had suffered greater extortion vnder the league in three yeares then before they had done during the space of three ciuill warres and vnder the raigne of the three last Kings Further the thirtieth of the same moneth the Presidents Princes Peeres of France Prelates Maisters of requests Councellours Aduocates and Procurors generall Registers Porters Notaries Solicitors and Procurours of the Court of Parliament to the number of three hundreth and sixe and twentie made a newe oath of vnion signed by each of them in particular some of them hauing thereto set their blood instead of Inke the purpose and end whereof was to persecute the king by all meanes possible without respect had to his dignitie or any other consideration for the execution of Blois The decree of Sorbonne before made was also published importing that the people of France were freed and absolued from the oath of fidelitie
and obedience made to Henry the third That the same people might lawfully and with good conscience arme and vnite themselues raise money and make contributions for preseruation and defence of the Romain Church against councels replenished with all flagition and the force of the king or his adherents whatsoeuer In that affirmed they hee had violated publike faith to the preiudice of Catholicque religion the Edict of sacred vnion and the naturall and proper libertie of the three estates of the Realme The king first imployeth his pen before he draweth his sword The king perceiuing that the greater mildenesse he vsed in reducing these errants into the right way the more they took bridle in mouth to run whither soeuer their violent passions would transport them scoffing at him and attributing that affection which he bore to revnite them to himself rather to a feare he had of either retaining them as his enemies or loosing them as subiects vsed his authoritie publishing throghout all the Prouinces diuers declarations of his intention as well against the Duke de Maine the Duke and Cheualier d'Aumale heads of the rebellion as likewise against the townes of Parris Amiens Orleans Abeuille and other their adherents He therefore accused them of attempt against his person of fellonie and rebellion hee denounced those heads and members all disloyall rebellious attainted and conuicted of the crimes of fellonie rebellion high treason to their chiefest head and disgraded them togither with their posteritie of all honours if within the space of one month they rendred not thēselues vnder his obedience The terme set downe was the beginning of March but seeing that instead of repenting themselues they committed so many the more outrages taking vp armes on all sides and that they practised out of the land seized on his treasure vnder colour of Lieftenants general of the estate cōfirmed pattents commissions vnder a new seale oppressed by incredible violatiōs diuers prouinces stript into their shirts many of his most faithfull subiects which would not adheare vnto them without intreating much more graciously others who had so greatly desired and laboured the league In briefe that they had vsurped all poynts and prerogatiues of his royall Maiestie except the name and title of king which they reserued to an other opportunitie He then resolued also for his part to put in readinesse an armie to suppresse these insupportable attempters And for performance of this he dispatched letters pattents for conuocation and assembly of his Nobilitie and martiall power Not long after ensued an other Edict of the kings by which he translated to the towne of Tours such exercise of iustice as was wont to be performed in his Court of Parliament of Parris inioyning them of that Court to repaire incontinently to Tours there to execute their offices He made the like transportatiō of his chamber of accounts to the same place and depriued Parris with the other townes of all offices charges dignities and priuiledges whom he would willingly haue made afeard and won vnto himselfe before comming to armes But all this was but a casting of oyle into the fire Exployts of the king of Nauar who came afterwards to be king The king of N. recouered of a daungerous disease hee had a little after the death of the Queen-mother determined for testimonie of his fidelitie towards the king to crosse as far as in him lay the diseignments of the leaguers hindring them from defacing any thing in those places which hee had meanes to assure as well for seruice of the king as for the reliefe of those of the religion Thus therfore he receiued into his protection those of S. Maixent Millezay he safegarded against the league Chastelleraut Loudū I le Mirebeau Viuonne other places adioyning Afterwards he set forward euen into Berry and tooke ouer the leaguers head the Towne and Castle of Argenton And beeing returned to Chastelleraut hee writ in the beginning of March ample letters to the three estates of France full of serious admonitions that they should giue ouer the League and aduertising them that if they proceeded in their euill counsels and determinations he was minded if the king so commaunded him to take the field with his friendes and followers hoping that God would giue him the grace to breake many of their deseignments and to cut them off from their affaires inuentions He took into his protection and safegard all such towns personages as would ioyne with him against the league promising that in the townes he would suffer nothing to be innouated neither in pollicie or church-affairs except on such considerations as shuld touch the libertie of euery one hauing learned said he for conclusion that the true and onely meane of revniting people to the seruice of God and establishing pietie in an estate is mildnesse peace good example not warre nor disorders through which wickednesse and vices spring vp in the world At the same time the Towne and Castle of Angiers were assured to the king but the Duke de Mercoeur brought almost all Brittaine in subiection to the partie of the league with which Roane Thoulouse Lyons were now ioyned and Bourdeaux wanted not much of doing the like but Marshal de Matignon was faithful to the king so that the leaguers and Iesuites were constrained to remooue from thence During these commotions debatement was made of a truce between the king Nauar to the ende they might more commodiously make head against the league Debatement of truce betweene the two kings which augmented euery weeke more more The K. minding to vse Na. forces without which hee could not doo much of himselfe offered and yeelded into his hand Saumur for securitie of his passage ouer Loire by means whereof in attending ratification of the truces the king of N. caused all his troupes to passe ouer on this side of Loire to ioine with the forces of Normandie Maine and other places which attended him with intention to approach the Leaguers and thus to ease them of the labour of comming any more to find him out in Gascon and Xaintongne as before they had don Afterwards the 18. of April he proclamed wars against them if they deferred any longer to lay aside armes But they shewed themselues as little moued with this as before by the kings letters patternts by which he translated the iustice iurisdictiō of the Great-maisters Inquisitors and Reformers generall which was wont to be held in the Pallas at Parris at the bench of the table of marble to his Court of Parliament not long since established at Tours An enterprise on the kings person by the league frustrated by the king of Nauars presence About the end of the same month he published an Edict declaring that al the mooueable immoouerable goods of the Duke de Maine of the Duke and Cheualier d'Aumale and of those which voluntarily dwelt and remained in the Townes of Parris Thoulouse Orleans
oppose themselues by all means against the said Henry and in case they should resist him vnto death if it might be called martyrdome The seuenth of May in the third generall Congregation made for the decission of these articles in the great hal of the Colledge of Sorbonne all the Doctors of that facultie in generall and each one in particular which were by oath called to this Councell concluded and resolued with one accord vpon this that followeth It is by the right of Ecclesiasticall lawes forbidden and prohibited that Catholicques should receiue an hereticque for their king or a fauourer of heresie and a notorious enemie of the Church and more straightly forbidden to receiue one that was fallen away and excommunicated from the holy mother Church That if it came to passe that any one defamed with these faults had obtained by exterior iudgement absolution of these crimes that hee rested notwithstanding in an euident daunger of dissimulation and perfidiousnesse and the vtter ruine and subuersion of the Catholicque religion and the same partie ought neuerthelesse to be excluded and banished the realme by right of the same law And whosoeuer should bring againe such a person into the realme and either ayde or fauour or otherwise permit that hee should come againe If he might hinder it and beeing bound to do it according to his charge that person should doo open iniurie to the sacred cannon of the lawes and therevpon hee might bee iustly suspected of heresie and reputed a pernicious person both to the religion and Romaine Church and for this cause they might and ought to proceed against him without respect either of degree or preheminence And for as much as Henry of Bourbon is an hereticque and a fauorour of heresie a notorious enemie to the Church fallen away from the Romaine faith namely excoÌ„municate by our holy father and that there would be euident danger of dessimulation and parfidiousnesse and ruine of the Catholicque religion If hee should obtaine outwardly his absolution the Frenchmen are in conscience bound to hinder him to the vttermost of their power from comming to the gouernment of that most christian Realm and not to make any condition of peace with him notwithstanding his foresaide absolution Although euery other lawfull successour of the Crowne should surrender vp his right and all those that fauour him doo offer iniurie to the holy cannons are suspected of heresie pernicious to the Church and as such ought to bee diligently reprehended and punished And like as they which giue ayde or shew fauour in any manner whatsoeuer to the said Henry pretending title to the Realme are disturbers of religion and dwell continually in deadly sinne so likewise those that with all their might doo oppose themselues against him mooued therevnto by a religious zeale doth vndoubtedly merite great praise both of God and men And as wee may rightly iudge of those which by their false opinions established the kingdome of Sathan to haue eternall paine prepared for them in hell so may it bee saide with reason that those here mentioned shall bee rewarded in heauen with eternall glorie that persist euen vnto death against him and as defendors of the faith shal they beare in their hands palmes of martyrdome The Sorbonists cast oyle into the fire of sedition the chiefe of the leaguers being aiders thereunto Now although before this diuision the Parisians were of full opinion to keepe the gates shut against the King yet afterward they became far more obstinate and at the beginning assayed by often issuing foorth to indomage the kings troupes who contented themselues onely to repulse them hoping that the extream want of victuals which they perceiued to grow euery day greater then other would at length constraine them to repent their follie But oner and aboue the deceits before mentioned they were helde in hand with other subtilties for the chiefe of the leaguers hauing purposely set spies in euerie place to marke the countenance speeches of such as they held in suspition that is to say such persons as longed after peace shewing by their words that the flower deluce and the true Princes of France were not expelled out of their hearts So soone then as any one durst but speake of peace accord or communication of agreement without forme or figure of law they were presently killed in the place or drawne foorth and then throwne into the riuer there were aboue twentie seuerall persons thus vsed onely for saying that it were good and necessarie to make peace with the enemie On the other side the Duke de Maine being in the Duke of Parmas Court writ diuers letters to the borderers of Picardie that shortly they should see a puissant armie sent for the deliuerance of Paris Afterward the Duke de Nemours beeing the Popes Legat the Ambassadour of Spaine the Bishoppe of Vaine remedies sought by the Popish Câ—â—â—rgie Paris the Archbishop of Lyons the Bishop of Plaisance those of Renes Senlis and others Panigarole the Bishop d'Aost Bellermin and Tycens lesuites with many more of the Romaine Clargie caused solemne processions to be made double fastings brotherhoods visiâ—ations of Temples vowes and supplications and all to entertaine and hold the people in a vaine hope of deliuerance Likewise many Doctors Priests Curates and Friers girt weapons to their sides and made shews abroad with many fond ceremonies which caused the people both to laugh and weepe They trauelled without ceasing to the walles trenches and rampiers of the Towne The Iesuites and other Monkes being well stored with munition of victuals in their Colledges and Couents kept watch according to their turne The Ladies of Nemours of Maine of Guise of Montpensier and others solicited the people on their side with strong perswasions rather to perish by the famine then to speake or seek for agreement with the king But the famine grewe great for the Leaguers Captains hauing imbarqued their people and passengers without bisket they had no meanes for the space of three or foure months but to stay for the Spanish succours to bee assistant to the Parisians All their prouision of wheat and other graine which was broght in for publicke reliefe was spent consumed in the first three weekes of the siege Famin made war against the Parisians Those which had any reuertion left in their houses did most closely lay it vp in secret places from being found The others which put their confidence in the speeches of the chiefe Leaguers and seditious Preachers soone perished or indured infinite sorrowes The king kept them closed in on euery side beeing Maister of Mant Poissy Corbeil Melun and Montereau holding the riuer of Sein by that meanes shut vp both aboue and below Laigni and the fort of Gournay kept also the riuer of Marn stop from them Cempiegne Creil Beaumont other of the kings holds stopt the passage of the riuer of Oise So that al prouision that shuld come by water to the Parisians was
thousand horse among the which he had foure thousand Gentlemen of the chiefe houses in the Realme Hee had also sixe Princes two Marshals of France and many gallant Captaines The leaguers being not disposed to fight intrench thēselues in a strong place The Duke of Parma tooke then a resolution the which saued himselfe and all his armie which was not to fight at al. And following this opinions his people changed their swords and launces into pickaxes doing no other thing all the euening long and that Saturday night but to intrench and fortifie themselues within a great Marsh into the which they were all withdrawne The daies following they had diuers skirmiges made vppon them but they kept still within their trenches And soone after they besieged and battered with nine peeces the Towne of Lagne vppon Marne which was a little weake towne and kept with two or three hundreth men which for a space valiantly defended themselues but in the end they were ouerthrown by great multitude of the besiegers This place was not passing halfe a little myle from the Marsh and hard at the back of the Spanish armie by meanes whereof the chiefe of the leaguers caused a bridge of boats speedily to be made wherewith they did as it were ioyne the place And the eight of the same moneth by breake of day the most of their footemen passed away by the same causing nine peeces of Ordenance to bee shot off the riuer beeing betweene them the breach was made before the king could haue knowledge thereof by reason that the winde was turned contrarie and the blustering so great that the sound of the cannons could not bee heard in the royall armie After the taking of this the Dukes of Parma and of Maine seeing the weaknesse of the place did dismantle it And although the king to draw them vnto fight fained as though hee would assaile Parris and published a purpose to scale it beeing departed from them in the euening the tenth of this moneth with a good troupe notwithstanding they would not stirre out of the Marsh VVherfore the king by aduise of his Councell dismissed his armie and fortified the Townes which hee held about Paris chiefly those on the riuer of Seine sending a part of his troups into Touraine Normandie Champagne and Bourgongne and kept notwithstanding a sufficient armie to amaze his enemies Some haue boldly written that the king was then very ill counselled and in fauour of the Prince of Parma who in fewe daies had beene inforest to fight or to haue fled that it was not possible for so great an armie as hee had to continue long in a Marsh where they should indure much harme That Parris and the league were now in safetie That the fault came through part of the Nobilitie induced therevnto by certaine enemies to the religion and the kings prosperities who was forsaken at his need Other some also being accustomed to fish in troubled waters would not it should bee yet cleared and others pretended to serue the king as it seemed best vnto them alwaies to see one confusion rise of another The Duke of Parma commeth to Paris and taketh Corbeil By meanes of which proceedings the Dukes were incouraged to go out of the Marshes to enter triumphantly into Paris whereof the Duke of Parma named himselfe the deliuerer And to make his valour appeare the greater hee departed incontinent to besiege Corbeil about halfe a daies iourney from thence vpon the riuer of Seine Captain Rigaud commaunding ouer certaine companies of footemen behaued himselfe so valiantly that he slew a great number of the leaguers As for the Duke of Parma after the heating of his troupes of whom many were slaine he lost much of his reputation For it was there wher his armie was so weakned and during the time hee rested in that place the king got togither his troupes addressing them to new purposes which brought the league into greater incumbrances then before The king of Spaines Agents thought to fill his good Cittie of Paris so the Spaniard called it in his letters with Spanish companies and VVallons But on the one side they had nothing to eate and on the other so soone as those of Guise and other Captaines of the league moreouer the sixteen and the fortie of Paris sawe themselues somewhat at large they began to giue the Duke of Parma thankes for his good will and intreated him to go with his people to Bruxelles againe This request or secret commaundement fell out verie well for the Duke for on the one part his armie in all mens sight was seene daily to waste and himselfe did plainely behold that hee stood in the midst of an vnconstant multitude and that it was not good for him to put confidence in faithlesse peple The leauing of his forces there to glut Paris euen as Antwerp had bin was to turne all vpside downe and build a new and perilous matter for the Spaniards that the king watcht to giue them a shameful ouerthrow if they should separate themselues neuer so little Therefore hee determined to get him gone with all speed possible hauing consumed a world of money leauing the Leaguers Captaines more altered with the gold of Peru then euer they were before The Duke of Parma returned to Bruxels hauing done nothing but growne unto shame and euill report with the Leaguers Of all his forces hee had great neede for the king ceased not to runne vpon him pursuing him to the verie frontiers of Arroys and diminishing his armie euery day more and more to signifie vnto the Spaniards that France could not bee ruinated or taken but through their owne follie Now assoone as they were thus departed Corbeil and other small townes which they had taken were againe recouered by the kings troupes the which brought the Parisians into new confusions The D. of Parmas comming serued to no other end but to fil their purses and to intangle and bring all their affaires to a remedilesse end In diuers parts of the kingdome as in Brittaine Prouence and Languedoc the League stirred and did many outragious and wicked acts working desolation to the great preiudice of the kings subiects but it little aduantaged the Leaguers whose armies consisted of such people that sought no other thing but disorders Also they could neither grow nor continue but by the confusion of others which they raised by their forces bad purposes for whereas they fained that they wold haue the Spaniard to ioyne with them it was for no other thing but to draw into their hands his double Pistollets in lieu whereof they would present him a new nothing betwixt two dishes And if hee shewed himselfe discontent they would helpe to throwe him out of those places which hee had vsurped as it came to passe soone after In the beginning of this year the king continued his inclosing of the Parisians which were fallen into their wonted distresses as before The Queen of England with
a good harguebuze shot in length the heads of the fugitiues was seen floting vpon the riuer This vanquished armie consisted of 600. horsemen and 4000. foote togither with 1400. lance-knights which was a part of a greater number that was raised in Almanie by the Emperors commandement as it appeared by the original of the commissions which were found after the discomfiture By the confession of the vanquished they lost at that time about 3000. men three cannons two coluerins They also had from them 22. Ensignes carried from thence 43. prisoners They on the kings side lost only ten men foure of the which being not very well known were for want of heed slain by their own fellows The town of Villemur hauing indured 2000. cannon shot saw themselues finally deliuered hauing in all lost but 17. common souldiers The body of Duke Ioyeuse was the next day drawne out of the water and carried into Villemur there to bee interred The royall armie consisting of fiue hundreth horsemen and two thousand fiue hundreth hargue buziers beside those that were within the Towne of Villemur withdrew themselues in good order into their Garrisons after they had giuen thankes vnto God in all the Churches neare adioyning for so miraculous and prosperous a victorie Now although the leaguers affaires were in great disorder yet did not their principall Captaines cease to make many reports before the people wherewith they besotted the most subtillest assuring them that shortly they would so prouide by the assembly of the estates at Parris that they would proceede for the election of a newe king adding that as for him whom in disdain they called the Bearnois that raigned partly by those named Catholicks was not to bee receiued or suffered any longer and to this effect was their counsell published according to the affection of the new made Pope the King of Spaine The peoples complaint in open Parliament And whilest the Spanish king made payment of their pentions by a day assigned many of the Moonkes being of one opinion left the Duke de Maines affaires perceiuing that in the end his pretended Lieftenantship would intangle and bring them from the greatest to the least into a pitte of vtter subuertion and confusion beganne to lift vp their heads and to seeke after conditions of peace At length in the open Parliament of the Leaguers at Parris they cast in many billes of complaints and the principall of the Cittie cried out in such sort that an assembly of the Citizens was held in the beginning of Nouember where they spake so openly for the ending of their troubles that the Duke de Maine beganne to shake But in the end to strengthen his affaires hee came into the lower house desiring the assembly to commit the deciding of that poynt to the estates conuocated for that month And hee added in the end of his Oration these words staying for the Estates I pray them that haue set things so forward that they would send to the king of Nauarre to intreate with him that hee would depart vpon this proposition if hee will not do it I shall haue occasion to beleeue that hee is euill affectioned to our side and well pleased with those that are enemies to our religion Notwithstanding these threatnings it was agreed vpon in the said assembly that they should send toward the king staying for the renuing of the Estates to the ende agreement might be made that traficque and marchandize might be free as well for Parris as other Cities of the kingdome The Duke that could not resist their wils in this matter fained to giue his consent therevnto In middest of these matters the Popes Legat strengthened by the principall leaguers and according to his intelligences with the Spaniards whose Pentioner hee was continued the troubles of France by his bulles so that it prouoked the Parliament of Paris sitting at Chaalons to proclaime an edict the 18. day of Nouember which was published euery where among them the which for a remembrance to all posterities I haue here in this place set down at large An act of Parliament made at Cha alons against the Popes Bulls and the assembly of the Leaguers Estates Vppon this which the kings Atturney generall hath declared to the Court that the rebellious and seditious to execute their euill and wicked purposes which they haue of a long time attempted to depriue the lawfull successors of this kingdome from the Crowne not beeing content to fill this Realme with murthers massacres robberies and spoyles but haue aboundantly brought in the most cruell and pernicious Spaniardes enemies to this Realme perceiuing the Inhabitants of the rebellious Townes to beginne as from a long lethergie and trance to come againe vnto to themselues and to enter againe into the way of obedience wherein God and nature both binde them towards their lawfull King thereby to kill and mortifie all poynts of loue and charitie that should bee working in them and to bring this Realme into greater trouble and diuision then before by proceeding to the election of a new king And to giue some colour to the same they haue published a certain writing in forme of a bull giuing power and authoritie to the Cardinall of Plaisance to assist and authorize the said pretended election wherein the rebellious and seditious sort discouered openly that which till then they had kept close All which they did vnder pretence of religion to couer their wicked and damnable enterprise This is a thing that all good Catholicque Frenchmen ought to detest and abhorre as a matter directly contrary to the word of God holy decrees Councels and liberties of the Gallican or French Church the which openeth a gappe to all ruine and subuersion of all humane societies and pollicies instituted of God namely in this renowmed and flourishing Monarchie the ouerthrow of the ground of the law wherein principally consisteth the true order of the lawfull succession of our kings For the preseruation whereof all good and true borne Frenchmen ought to spende their liues rather then to suffer the same to bee altered or violated as the foundation on the which the certaintie and quiet of the estate is builded The Court in allowing this request made by the kings Atturney generall hath and doth receiue him complaining of the abuse committed in the obtaining of the said bull the contents publication and execution thereof and all the rest that should follow the same and hath and doth holde him well relieued and doth order that Philip by the title of S. Onuphrius Cardinall of Plaisance shall bee assigned in the same to aunswere to the said appeale and the decree made in the Cittie of Chaalons by publicke proclamation shall haue as full strength and effect as if it were done on his owne person or in his owne house And in the meane while the said Court doth exhort all Prelates Bishoppes Princes Lords Gentlemen Officers and all the kings subjects of what estate condition or
of all the Catholicques of the Realme This was an invectiue against the King couered vnder colour of religion and a summoning of all those which profest the Romaine religion to withdraw themselues from the obedience of their lawfull and soueraigne Prince and a conuocating of his partakers into the Cittie of Paris on the seuenteenth day of Ianuarie next insuing that they might determine togither without passion saide hee and without respect of any mans interest such remedie as they should in their consciences thinke requisite for the preseruation of the religion and the royall estate But while the Cardinall of Bourbon named by the League Charles the tenth was prisoner they vsed other speeches but after his death they not daring to deny but that the Crown appertained to king Henry the fourth vsed the colour of religion to blinde the simple And soone after by this meanes there arose other changes notwithstanding the king of Spaine gaue not ouer the prosecuting of his enterprises in France As for the warre of Sauoy and Piedemont wee will speake briefly about the ende of the yeare following Against this declaration made by the Duke de Maine The kings answere to the Duke de Maines declaration the king published an other wherein he discouered the deceits of his rebellious subiects namely of the chiefest sort also the fâ—lonie committed by the Duke de Maine in assembling the estates of his kingdome wherin he manifestly vsurped his royal authoritie confuting his excuses and vaine coulour to the same maintaining his right in claiming the Crowne And for the state of religion hee declared that if without the conuocating of a Councell there might bee found far better and easier meanes to come vnto that instruction or admonition which they pretended to giue him to withdraw him from the exercise of his religion to that of the Romaines hee was so farre from reiecting such a meanes that to the contrarie hee did desire and imbrace it with all his heart As wee suppose said hee that wee haue sufficiently witnessed by the permission which wee haue graunted to the Princes Officers of the Crowne and other Catholicque Lords which do follow vs to send their Deputies to the Pope for the more easie and speedie performance of the said instruction or admonition Beside the K. doth accuse the leaguers that they had hindered the said instruction or admonition Hee doth largely discourse of the dutie of true Frenchmen promiseth to receiue the said instruction and for answere to the chiefe poynt of his aduersaries declaration he doth on the other side declare that this pretended assemblie of Parris is enterprised against the lawes the good and publicke quiet of the Realme and that all which shall bee therein concluded is meere abuse and of no effect or force Hee likewise pronounceth the Duke de Maine and all that should therein assist him guiltie of treason in the highest degree Hee doth furthermore offer pardon to the Citties Communalties and persons which haue beene seduced by the Captaines of the League And hee doth exhort them to acknowledge their dutie A declaratimade by the kings Councel to the estates of the League The Princes and Catholicque Lords who were of the Kings Councell published the same time a declaration and sent it about the end of Ianuarie to the estates of the League By the same they required that Deputies might be assigned on both sides to determine togither of the most readiest means for the asswaging of the troubles and the preseruation of the Romaine Catholicque religion and the state The Duke de Maine and his adherents answered that they were readie to send their Deputies so that they on the Kings side would with a good conscience ioyne themselues to the Catholicke Romaine Church vnder which cloke of reconciliation they did carefully hide their furious actions and former rebellion The Popes Legat made on his part an exhortation to the Catholiques fraught with reproach against the King who was on euery side defamed and euill spoken off by his enemies All his discourse beeing imprinted tended all to this poynt to perswade all Frenchmen that the king beeing of long time cut off from the bodie of the Church had bin most iustly pronounced vncapable of the Crown Soone after they did disanull those acts of Parliament that were made at Tours and at Chaalons against the monitaries of Landriano and the assembly at Chartres which they called a conuenticle they sung their Maisters praises damned the Parliament of Chaalons which had condemned their bulles magnified the estates of the League which wholy reiected so obstinate an hereticque with full purpose neuer to bee subiect vnto him declaring that in deed the Pope had so commaunded it to be In this assembly of Parris appeared the Duke of Feria for the King of Spaine who also made an Oration exhortarie to elect a new King then presented he his Maisters letters tending to the same effect with promise to aide and succour the Leaguers by all meanes possible For this had hee great thankes giuen him in the name of all the rest by Cardinall Pelué Archbishop of Reimes who was a slaue to the house of Guise While the Spaniards and their Pentioners indeuoured with all their power to continue France in her miseries hoping by meanes of these estates of the League more and more to intangle the affaires of the Realme yea to throwe them headlong into such confusion that in the mean space they might haue leisure to set forward their purposes against the Lowe Countries England and France it selfe the king was solicited from diuers places by Councellors both neare about him and farre off openly to forsake the profession of the reformed religion and to imbrace from that time forward the Romaine ceremonies The summe of their solicitations was that to expulse the Spaniards to recouer Parris and the other of the leaguers townes he must be inforcst to take away from the chiefe of that side the onely colour of Papisme by meanes whereof they would continue their rebellions And while the king openly imbraced his accustomed religion those of the contrarie side an hundreth times in greater number might follow the house of Guise and other chiefe Leaguers who by meanes of the Spaniardes and the Pope might well finde means to maintaine and augment the discentions through all the corners and in the middest of his kingdome the which was well woorth a Masse and that it were not good to let it bee lost for a few ceremonies nor to bee subiect to so many censures and to bee couerted by euery bace person that would controll the kings pleasures and hinder his recreations after so many troubles And for as much that such a voyce was spredde abroad by the notable aduertisements of other Councellours Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall it seemed to them that the king would incline therevnto and the Deputies of the Princes and Lords of his Councell communicating with those of the League to preuent the election
of a new king gaue some hope thereof On this report the Frenchmen in diuers sorts suspended their iudgements according to their seuerall affections Those that desired to see a change which came soone after did carefully keepe the Protestants from comming neare the king to shewe him by word of mouth or writing reasons of diuinitie pollicie for which it was not lawfull or conuenient to change his religion on the other side they did daily driue this counsell into his eares that hee must needes espouse the Crowne of France to the Masse and not otherwise These men followed this matter so much that at last they procured diuers learned Prelates to bee assembled which were the Popes subiects in whose presence the state of the reformed religion should bee ouerthrowne heerevpon diuers Archbishoppes Bishoppes and Doctors of Sorbonne were appoynted to meete at Mant the fifteenth of Iuly without any mention made of the protestant Ministers which were before clapt vp The Leaguers deuices against these solicitations The Deputies of the leaguers fearing this blowe deuised a new shift to thwart the kings affaires and to set forward the Spaniards they first complained of these suddaine changes declaring that they could not put any trust therein also that it appertained to the Popes holinesse both first and last to haue his hand therein That the king ought to shew all submission to the sea of Rome and to attend for a declaration from thence if he would be found meete to gouerne the Realme of France That vnderstanding the Popes pleasure they would determine on all things that were reason Moreouer they condemned the voyage made by the Marques of Pisani whom the kings Catholicque Councell had sent toward the Pope thinking it very ill that the king should giue vnto him any charge at all who would beleeue these were their words that they would proceed in an other sort afterward and with more respect to the Popes dignitie and their dutie toward his sea They added moreouer that it was impossible to determine any further with the kings Deputies before that the change of religion which the king was to make was receiued and approoued by the Pope of which matter they pretended to take further counsell as it was requisite for the onely conseruation of the Romaine religion in France They left also in suspence the surcease of armes because of their other troubles Now while the Romaine Cleargie which were appoynted to dispute of their religion in the Kings presence assembled togither and that the states of Parris followed to conferre of their affaires where the principall leaguers especially the Duke de Maine the Popes Legate the Duke of Feria a Spaniard and others still practised for the bringing in of a new king continually standing vpon this poynt to maintaine the warres in France vpon expence of the Indian golde the Parliament of Paris assayed to hinder part of these practises and to driue the Spaniardes home againe Means made by the Parlament of Paris against the League the Spanyard By an act made the twentieth eight of Iune they ordained that declarations should bee made the same day after dinner by the President the Maister assisted with diuers Councellours to the Duke of Maine in presence of other Lords to this effect that no act might bee made to set the Crowne on the heads of any forraine Prince or Princesse ordaining moreouer that the auncient lawes of the Realme should be still kept inuiolate That the decrees giuen by the Court for the declaration of a Cathoclique King a Frenchman borne should bee executed That the Duke de Maine should bee exhorted to imploy his authoritie of Lieftenanshippe to prouide that vnder colour of religion the Crowne should not fall into the handes of straungers contrarie to the lawes and statutes of the Realme And to prouide speedily for the peoples quiet declaring ouer and aboue all manner of acts made or pretended to bee made for the establishing of a forraine Prince or Princesse to bee of no strength force or effect but to bee as deeds preiudiciall to the Salicque lawes and other ancient lawes and prerogatiues of the Realme of France The Duke de Maine beeing extreame wrath at this Edict grew to very hard words with the President who confuted all these houe speeches vsed by him and certaine other of the leaguers which held with him At last after much conference commings and goings letters and answeres The K. changeth his religion from the Deputie on each side the supplications of those which desired that the king would make profession of the Romaine religion preuailed in such sort that the king who since he withdrew himselfe from the Court of France for fifteene yeares before had made open profession of the reformed religion contrarie to the aduice of his Ministers went to see and heare Masse sung in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Dennis the fiue and twentieth Sunday of Iuly where hee was receiued by the Archbishop of Bourges and other Prelates lates with certaine peculiar ceremonies peculier to this receiuing which was incontinent published throughout the Realme with diuers censures as well of the Catholicque Nobilitie as also of those of the religion whereof not one followed this example As for Courtiers there were a very small number or other particulars in seuerall parts of the Realme which shooke at this change but men made not thereof any account for they were all speedily suspected And as for such as went about to gratulate the kings conuersion as they called it their recompence was only to bee mockt and soone after the most part of them perished in miserable sort A generall truce practised The Duke de Maine and his greatest fauourites seeing their intended enterprises preuented by that which was now come to passe and on the other side that the practises of the Spaniardes was still to maintaine the fire of discention by meanes of the election of a newe King which should bee married to the Spanish kings daughter to the ende they might giue some hope to haue at length a day for their turne and to frustrate the Spaniards practises began in Iuly to treat a general truce and after much adoo made therein the articles were agreed vpon the last of Iuly Notwithstanding this truce the chiefe of the league with their estates of Parris gaue not ouer the following of their purposes New deuices made by the Leaguers to hinder the king And as they had before opposed themselues at Rome by the meanes of the Spanish Ambassadour against the suite of the Marques of Pisani and the Cardinall of Gondy Deputies to the Kings Cathonique Councell toward the Pope before the foresaid ceremonie the fiue and twentieth of Iuly also they resolued to hinder the king of whom they spake most odiously from being receiued and to withstand him as much or more then before by the Sermons of seditious Preachers by declarations to the contentment of their adherents by secret
a litle Towne of his owne name Aneci scituat in Sauoy in the Countie of Geneuois During this generall truce many matters were intended for the establishment of the affaires of the kingdome The king which desired the agreement of his subiects and the abolishment of the pernicious league assayed by faire meanes to winne the Duke de Maine in making him offer of charge and honourable assurances of preferment The Duke which seemed yet to haue two strings to his bowe bargained promised refused aduanced gathered and stretched these matters to the length procuring vnder hand that the decision of the Sorbonnists in the yeare 1590. might take place that is to say that Henry of Bourbon was declared vnworthie of all right or pretence to the Crowne although hee made profession of the Romaine religion The Spanish Agents in France set this matter forward working with all their power for the preferment of the Duke of Neuers On the other side they induced both great and small to continue their accustomed request for the abolishing of one of the religions in France many other were of this opinion that the king could not be receiued except hee first promised expresly to driue away all those of the reformed religion or at least to abolish and put downe their publicque exercises This counsell did hatch or breed infinit vniust matters in the rest of the yeare through diuers parts of France where they of the religion could obtaine no true rest but in promise and papers being molested in effect with all reproaches that might bee imagined wherevnto they opposed themselues in nothing but in peaceable complaints and humble supplications Notwithstanding they obtained nothing the deuices of their enemies beeing such that all their forepassed and faithfull seruices were disdained and contrariwise the most part of the chiefe Captaines and leaguers Townes receiued into fauour cherished and raised vnto honour Briefly all the kings good and faithfull seruants were cast into the lake of forgetfulnesse and the enemies and conspirators of the estates set as it were in a chaire of triumph before whom iustice was so shamefully abused that the wronged cried vengeance from heauen to fall vppon their detestable dealings There were also at this time other deuices against the king There was also at this time an other sort of Courtiers that greatly fauored the League and yet notwithstanding fained to bee fauourers of the Commonweale and quiet of the Realme who daily spredde rude reports of the kings insufficiencie saying that all meanes failed him to make him be obeyed that his enemies were of two great a number and too mightie for him yea inuincible that they would ouerthrow him in short time That France vnder his raigne beeing scourged with so many warres then falling into a new sicknesse of desolations and shamefull deceits it could not but languish and that it would come to passe after once it hung the wing that she should remaine a pray for a greater Maister This was by their account the king of Spaine of whom they made great bragges of his honour reputation and greatnesse His double Pistolles had so bewitched their thoughts that they also supposed to make the Frenchmen afraid with the very name of this Prince remembring not at all that an hundreth yeares before Philip Artch-Duke of Austrige great Grandfather to the king of Spaine made homage within the towne of Arras to king Lewis the twelfth in the person of his Chancellor the Earles of Flanders Artois and Charrolois where on his bended knees hee called him his soueraigne Lord swearing to become true seruant vnto the said king Lewis promising to bee faithfull all daies of his life and in his behalfe to stand against al other to procure his welfare to preuent his harmes and in all things to behaue himself toward him as to his soueraigne Lord and Maister of which the Histories of these times do make true mention While yet this truce indured the king deliberated to assemble at Mante certaine of the chiefe Nobles of the Realme to take counsell on diuers matters at that time needfull The Deputies of the reformed Churches were there present about the end of Nouember whom the king caused to be called togither the twelfth day of the moneth following and hauing giuen them audience and heard the great sorrow which they made vpon the infinit contradictions of his decrees and their complaints of the greeuous wrongs done vnto them through all his Prouinces hee aunswered that the change of religion had not any whit changed his affection from thē that hee would redresse their greefes and make peace and concord among his subiects He receiued their billes of complaints to haue them perused But these affaires were drawn to such length that the distance of many yeares hath buried all And the Captaines of the league hauing plunged the Realme into new miseries those of the religion almost in all parts of the kingdom continued as greeuous vnder the crosse as before The war of Piedmont As for the warres on the other side of the mountaines their affaires fell out in this sort About the ende of the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth nintietwo the Lord of Diguieres beeing entered into Piedmont had taken there for the king Briqueras Cauours and three or foure other little townes hauing ouerthrowne the Duke of Sauoy in diuers incounters as hee did also in Prouence and on the frontiers of Dauphine hee chased them out of all these Prouinces and droue him to his owne house in such sort that if hee had beene strengthened in the yeare following with men money and munition hee had inforced the Duke to giue ouer all that which hee vsurped from the Crowne of France But the Duke who was not ignorant of the estate and affaires of France assayed to couer and hide the shame he had gotten in so many iournies as in the plaine of Pontcharra at Espernon de Pallieres and otherwise in so many incounters in Piedmont where hee had lost in two yeares as also about Geneue many of his best approoued good souldiers and a great number of Captaines hauing also consumed a maruellous heape of treasure and munition in these continuall warres Hee did then through his father in lawes fauor who furnished him with a new masse of money besiege batter assault and take by composition the Townes of Briqueras and Cauours beeing content to keepe them to himselfe without seeking any further in Prouence where his Garrisons could not long remaine without chase of the enemie the Towne of Berry onely accepted Thus did the Frenchmen loose in small time that which they had gotten in Piedmont whereof men do write in diuers sorts In these sieges the assayled did their duties maruellous well but being ouerwatcht by the multitude of the assailants and depriued of the principall commodities to withstand a siege destitute of succour and the passages stopt they were of necessitie constrained to yeeld while the said L. of Diguieres was as it
and sacred a thing as is the religion and the truth of the sonne of God and that it was to be feared that for the same occasion God wold send a greeuous plague and punishment both vpon the King and his Realme But the King being moued and sore greeued with such exhortations which touched her to the quick to whom they were spoken Punishmēts of those of the religion hauing commaunded that his iudgement should speedily be giuen said he would in person behold the execution of his Taylor and the better to do it he went vnto the house of Monsieur de la Rochpot in Saint Anthonies streete before Saint Catherins Church right against the scaffold where the Taylor shewed most singuler and constant patience and hauing espied the king he beheld him with so stedfast a countenance that by no means he would looke of and the sire being put vnto him he had his eyes so stedfastly fixed vppon him that the king was constrained to leaue the windowe and to withdraw himselfe being so moued thereat that he confessed that he thought the shadowe of the Taylor followed him and with the apprehension of that spectacle for the space of certaine nights after it still represented it selfe before his eyes in such maner that he made an oath and protested that he would neuer see nor heare any more of those Lutherians The Kings protestation But not remembring the same about ten yeares after he heard that which he ought to haue giuen better respect vnto and pretending to see the person of a man of great estimation burnt he lost both his sight and his life as when time serueth you shall reade Orders for apparrell made in paper At that time excesse of apparrell was so great in euery man by reason of the pompe and magnificence of the Court that it bred a dearth and scarcitie of all things so that cloth of gold silkes lace and imbroydery were forbidden to be worne by diuers persons euery estate being appointed what he should weare But this was but an ordinance made in paper and of litle cōtinuance and the greatest example showne by the king himself who ordinarily went plain in his apparrell the rest of the Court vsing what apparrell they would Estate of Scotland Monsieur de Termes knight of the order was sent into Scotland to supply the place of Monsieur de Esse there to continue the warres Mary Queen of Scots being of the age of sixe or seuen yeares hauing the yeare before bene conueyed into France Monsieur d'Esse before his departure hauing giuen the English men an ouerthrow before Hedungton and taken the Isle of Horses left the rest of his affaires vnto his successor that behaued himselfe most brauely and with great honour Hard dealing vsed against Monsier du Biez because of Bullen For the recouering of Bullen holden by the Englishmen the king commanded his Nobilitie and Captains to assemble themselues by the first of September next after ensuing before Bullen In the month of Iune Iaques de Couci Lord of Veruin had beene beheaded in Parris and Edward du Biez Marishall of France his father in lawe after a long imprisonment degraded of his estate The Marishall was accused to haue vnaduisedly placed his sonne in lawe within Bullen and the other for hauing yeelded vp a place so impregnable and well furnished vnto the enemie to the which ende diuers witnesses and Commissaries were appointed and procured by suche as had credite about the king so that not verie long after it was plainly and manifestly seene and openly knowne that the innocencie of those gentlemen had beene falsely accused and condemned by the enuie of certaine Courtiers that ruled the king who acknowledged the fault by him therein committed but remedied it not the condemnation against Monsieur de Veruin continuing still in force vntill the yeare of our Lord 1575. that his sonne and heire by petition made to king Henry the third besought the king to restore the name and honour of his Father and Grand-father by the mothers side and commaundement was giuen vnto one of the Heraults to be assistant at the funerals of those two Lords which were solemnely holdē at Bullē in the month of Iune 1577. VVarre at Bullen But to returne to the warres of Bullen the king being arriued at Monstrueil vpon the sea the 17. of August caused his armie to march towards Bonlamberg and hauing taken the Fort of Selaque where Monsieur de Chastillon entered by force and that of Blaconnet by composition The Englishmen left Bonlamberg which was presently repaired after that they besieged the Tower of Ordre but by reason of the winter time the Forts beeing garnished with men and victuals the king dismissed his armie and withdrew himselfe till spring time This yeare the proces of Merindol was pleaded in the Court of Parliament at Parris beeing the 50. time that it had beene heard which was thus The notable proces of Merindol Cabrieres In the moneth of September 1540. the parliament of Prouence had by default condemned 17. persons of Merindol to bee burned for religion and that the Village of Merindol should be rased and all the trees cut downe within 200. paces round about it this iudgement for a time cōtinued in suspence although both the Bishops and Spiritualtie of the countrie were very earnest to haue it executed but many Gentlemen and others of good account stayed the rigor thereof and about fiue moneths after king Francis first Earle of Prouence sent a pardon to those of Merindol and others surnamed Vandois vppon condition that within three yeares after they should abiure and renounce their errours They accordingly made their apparance in the Court of Parliament requiring to let them see the Coppie of their accusations which was denied them touching the poynts that accused them to haue maintained and published certaine errours and that they should by the word of God be better instructed which done they said they would bee readie and most willing to follow al good counsell whatsoeuer And because their error was ntot shewed vnto them and that they only sought their blood they in open Parliament presented the confession of their faith with a most ample and large declaration and answere vnto the false reports and vntruthes imposed and deuised against them desiring therein eyther to be maintained and vpholden or otherwise to be heard and permitted to speake in their owne defences From that time till the yeare of our Lord 1544. there was diuers practises vsed to oppresse and ouerthrowe those poore people but while their enemies contented themselues to assault them by words and threatnings they solicited and besought the king that it would please his Maiestie to call the hearing of that arrest of contumacie before himselfe The President Chassane a man of indifferent iudgement being dead one Iohn Menier succeeding in his place who hauing forcibly taken the goods of certaine husbandmen of the village of
Oppede whereof he was Lord vnder pretence of religion was become a mortall enemy vnto those of Cabrieres and Merindol where those husbandmen dwelt who in haruest time in despight of Menier reaped the corne which as then they found vpon their ground which hee held from them by force so that as then the execution was pursued And thervpon the Parliament at the instant request of M nier sent an huissier to the Cardinall de Tournon at whose request king Francis the first sent letters pattents to the parliament for the execution of that first sentence and by that meanes in the moneth of Aprill 1545. Menier naming himselfe Lieftenant to Monsieur de Grignan Gouernour of Prouence hauing assembled an armie of theeues and beeing accompanied by Monsieur de la Garde set fier in diuers villages about Merindol sent great numbers of poore Countrie-men into the Gallies and caused a young man to bee openly harquebushed and finding no man within Merindol pilled sacked burnt and rased all the houses and hauing besieged battered and by composition taken the litle Towne of Cabrieres in stead of holding his promise made vnto them he chose out 25. or 30. men such as pleased him that were cut and massaced to peeces in a Medowe that lay vnder the Towne about 40. women wherof most of them were great with childe were burnt within a barne and many beeing found hidden in their Cellors were tyed two and two togither and so ledde into the Hall of the Castle of Cabrieres where they were most cruelly murthered Within the Church many olde women young maides and children that had saued themselues were all put to the sword The number of the slaine and massacred amounting vnto 800. persons and more The Barron de la Garde ledde aboue 800. persons away and put them into the Gallies where the most part of them died in great miserie Many women and maides were deflowred and great numbers ledde prisoners to Marseille Aix and Auignon Diuers villages beeing wholly burnt and consumed by fire whereby the desolation and misery of that countrie was exceeding great But king Francis being sicke for the space of certaine years after that cruell massacre and vrged in conscience with a remorse of that mischiefe whereof hee had partly beene the cause and sorrie before his death hee could not execute open punishment vppon those that abusing his name and authoritie had committed so horrible a mischiefe among his subiects of Prouence expresly charged his sonne Henry not to deferre that punishment saying that if he put it in obliuion God wold bee reuenged thereof against him and that their memorie would remaine in horrour and execration vnto all straungers if the persons that had committed so notable a crime should bee suffered to escape vnpunished This clause expresly set downe within the Kings testament aduanced the discredit on the Cardinall of Tournon and put Grignan and la Garde in great paine but to conclude they had more feare then hurt for the king by his letters patents of the 17. of March 5549. caused the matter to bee heard by the Court of Parliament in Parris where Menier and three others his companions appeared in person the rest of the Councellors by their Atturneyes And there after long proces in stead of punishment one man onely called Guerin a Councellor lesse culpable then the rest was hanged in Parris Menier principal of that massacre escaped and falling out of his wits died beeing ceased with a secret fire within his bodie in the open sight knowledge of all the countrie of Prouence The rest of the matter vanished as it were in a smoke before the sight of men but God made both the king his Councell all his Realme to know and well perceiue that the blood of so many innocent persons and others that were put to death both before and after that time for the confessiō of the Gospell is most precious in his sight as the things that happened and fell out in the yeares ensuing haue well declared which we must in order set downe as time and place shall serue The death of Margaret Queene of Nauarre The same year in the month of December did Margaret de Orleans Queen of Nauarre sister to king Francis the first a most noble and famous Princesse and of as notable a spirit as any that liued in her time In the beginning of this year the king suppressed and abolished the imposition of salt in the countrie of Guyenne with all the officers that had the execution thereof for the summe of 450000. frankes with the countries of of Poicton Saintonge Angoulmois Perigort high and lowe Limosin and high lowe Marthe should pay vnto him with 25000. frankes to the officers for their charges Touching those of Bourdeaux in the month of October before they had procured and obtained a general pardon vpō condition that they and their successors shuld alwaies keep two ships furnished for the wars readie to put to sea to serue vnder whomsoeuer it should please the king to commaund and to receiue into the Castles of Trompette and du Ha such garrison as the king should send into them and to victuall them with all sorts of victualls which they should yearely furnish and renue taking away the olde And therevpon in the moneth of Ianuarie after the king reestablished the parlement and their Towne was reduced into the former estate they that had beene beaten making the amends Three Presidents in Parris displaced and after reestablished onely Liset At that time three Presidents of Parris not well thought of by the house of Guise as then beeing in great credit were displaced out of their offices but not long after S. Andre Minard hauing promised to become good seruitors were restored againe Liset was made Abbot of S. Victor that an other of lesse iudgement then himselfe might haue his place And so hee tooke vppon him to deale in matters of diuinitie wherein hee sped so hardly and of a good practition hee became so ignoranta sophister that falling in a great laughter hee was suddainly taken with a disease and so died Hee shewed himselfe a sworne and perpetual enemie to those of the religion thinking to aduance himselfe by cruell inuentions but hee was cut off by the way thereby seruing for an example to many better men then himselfe not to bandie against him vho is able to surprise and intrappe the subtillest in their fond inuentions and against whom the wisedome and force of man is nothing but meere beastlinesse and vanitie Remedies for false clipt mony This yeare because that most of the mony in France was found to be clipped by the kings edict al such mony was commaunded to bee cut in peeces and molten and many of that occupation among the which were diuers quoyners executed Bullen restored to the King In the monthes of Februarie and March a peace was agreed vppon betweene the kings of England France wherevpon
haue violently broken so solemne an edict The Prince hauing demaunded permission of conference with his Councell in Orleans desired to haue the aduise of the Ministers who by three of their Deputiès gaue him at large expresly to vnderstand that neither the Queene nor hee by the lawe of God nor reason could in any thing whatsoeuer once derogate so solemne an edict made at the request and desire of the States and so notable an assembly of all the Parliaments of France and by them all sworne and pronounced The next day at his request all the ministers beeing to the number of seuentie two being assembled they made an humble request exhortation in writing vnto him touching the cause aforesaid withall The Ministers aduise added diuers good and necessary articles to make an assured peace as that those of the religion acknowledged by the King to bee his faithfull and obedient subiects might bee peaceably maintainted in the exercise of the religion the king declaring himself protector of their doctrine discipline against al Atheistes Libertines Anabaptistes Seruitistes and other Heretickes or Scismatikes that the Baptisme administred in their Churches might not bee reitterated and that the marriages therein celebrated might bee holden for good and lawfull that without other leaue it might be permitted by those of the religion to haue free exercise thereof in all places that the religion might no more bee called new seeing their Churches are founded vpon the ancient doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles that euery man might peaceably enioy his estates offices and goods with perusing recalling of processes touching such as are interessed by suspect Iudges that all murtherers the eues spoylers exacters and others that without warre their massacries and other inormities beeing acts of hostilitie should bee taken and punished according to their deserts Notwithstanding so many declarations both by word of mouth and writing the Prince was in such sort perswaded by promises that after that Peace agreed vppon they would make another and better agreement for him making him beleeue that the conditions as then set downe were done only to please those of the church of Rome and by little and little to attaine vnto a full and perfect libertie withall that many of them desired nothing else but whatsoeuer it cost them to returne vnto their houses That he consented to the altering of the Edict of Ianuary suffering certaine exceptions to be added therevnto which hee caused to be read vnto the Gentlemen desiring that none but they bearing Armes should giue their aduise which hee spake openly before all the assembly in such manner that after that time the Ministers were neither sent for receiued nor heard speake or giue their aduise in any sort nor likewise the Admirall and his company knewe nothing more thereof then only the conclusion The Queene mother that was in great doubt to be reduced vnto the Edict of Ianuary and the Constable as much or more then she imployed all speedie meanes to conclude and set downe the Articles in manner of an Edict agreed vpon the 12. of March and fully resolued by the Kings Councell at Anboise vpon the 27. of the same month and the same day published in the Towne by sound of Trumpet The exercise of religion was thereby restrained to the houses of certaine Gentlemen and in some Townes besides those wherein it had bene vsed at the beginning of that moneth with a certaine confused remission and pardon for all forepassed matters Exploits of the Admirall To returne to the Admirall after the taking of the Castle of Caen he sent Monsieur de Colombieres to set vppon Bayeux who at the second assault wanne it vsing the inhabitants somewhat hardly because they had abused themselues The Captaine called Iulio a wicked villaine if euer there were a-any was hanged in Caen by reason of diuers crimes imputed and laide against him The next day after being the fift of March the Garrison of Saint Lo being in feare yeelded the place vnto the Admirall that sent thither the Counte Montgomimery who from thence marched straight to Auranches wherein he was receiued without resistance The thirteenth of the same moneth he tooke Vire by assault and punished the principall offendors And minding to proceed further the packet of the peace was deliuered vnto him About the same time that Bayeux was taken The Admirals forces march to Orleans Monsieur Mouy receiued Hondefleur by composition And as he minded to reduce Ponteau de Mer the Admirall sent for to returne to Orleans repealed to Caen from whence the Horsemen departed vpon the 14. of March diuided into two battells The Prince of Portien conducted the auantgard composed of foure Cornets of Rutters that marched towards Lisieux and the 18. â—ntred forcibly into Bernay where certain Priests were slain hanged that fought yet knew not how to make war The town of Aigle in the borders of NormaÌ„die was forced by the Vicont de Drux vpon the 20. of the same moneth al such as wâ—â— found in armes slain in the streets The same day the Admiral departed with the greater part of his forces marching by Falaise Argentan that yeelded hauing agreed for a ransome of a 10000. frankes from thence he went to Mortague a great borough Towne in Perche where certaine Priests moued the people to do him iniury whereby diuers of Mouies company were both hurt and slaine that marched in winges wherevpon the Borough was entered by force and the chiefe offendors specially the Priests rewarded for their paines Monsieur de Coignee likewise punished the Monkes of S. Calais who with their Garrison had cruelly handled his houshold seruants On the other side Mousieur de Coruoy tooke the Castle of Mezieres harde by Drux and slewe the souldiers that were in it The 23. of March the Admirall arriued at Orleans and vsed all the meanes hee could to remedie the Princes accord hauing agreed to the breach and abolution of the edict of Ianuary The Queene mothers praâ—â—â—ses vnder the shadowe and pretence of the Queenes promises who on the other side about foure daies before had caused Poltrot to bee executed with all extremitie that might bee inuented caused a funerall pompe to bee celebrated for the Duke of Guise in Parris and gaue his estate of high Chamberlin and Great-maister to his sonne Henry as then an infant both of yeares and vnderstanding but aster shewed openly vnto the third king in what schoole hee had been taught as heereafter you shall read The estate of the prounues and Townes Now I must shewe you a summarie recitall of the estate of the Prouinces and principall Townes in France during the first troubles from the moneth of Aprill 1562 vntill the peace Parris the principall Towne of the Realme during that time committed many great and terrible spoyles vpon those of the religion Parris diuers therein were executed not onely of the Towne but such as had beene
Ienlis aduentures who had gathered foure thousand footemen and fiue hundreth horse Ienlis and his troupes defeated for the succor of Countie Lodowicke and la Noue whom the Duke of Alue had besieged in Monts In the meane time commeth the new dispensation toward the ende of Iuly wherewith the Cardinal seemeth satisfied and the eighteenth day of August is nominated for the marriage In the meane time commeth the news of Ienlis surprise and aduenture whereat the king seemeth to bee much agreeued who writeth to his Ambassadour in the lowe Countries to procure by all possible meanes the deliuerie of the prisoners taken in that surprise as also he suffereth the Admirall to send all the succour hee may to ioyne with the Rutters whom the Prince of Orenge had buried at the same time causing him to haue mony deliuered for the footemens paye who were thought to amount to foure Regiments besides some thirtie companies of men at armes The Ambassadour of Spaine seemed to be malecontent because the king went about to make war in Flaunders and for the same cause withdrew himselfe out of France the Queene-mother also played many parts in this tragedie faining not to haue knowne the kings proceedings and knowing them made as though she would haue left the Court in such manner that the Admiral Teligny his sonne in law and other Lords confirmed themselues more and more that the kings actions were correspondant to the Admirals aduice which was to make warre in the king of Spaines countries that had kindled it and pretended to make warre in France thereby in time to cease vppon it Rochel inuested prouideth for it selfe The last of Iuly the Rochelers wrote vnto the Admirall that the armie at sea approached neare them and that it spoyled the plaine Countri-men comming euery day from Xantongue and Gascon vsing terrible threatnings against their towne openly speaking of the spoyle thereof sending to aske his counsell therein specially touching the receiuing of eight hundreth men for Garrison which they sought to put into the Towne Hee made them an honourable aunswere dated the seuenth of August assuring them of the care hee had ouer them and added that hee sawe the king so well disposed to the entertainment of peace that all men had cause to commend him The Rochelers notwithstanding neglected not to looke vnto themselues and to fortifie their Towne In other Townes their ranne diuers mutterings and many were the threats of the Romish Catholicques against the Protestants which daunted some of them Others relied vppon the Admiralles presence in the Court and trusted to his answere deliuered as well by word of mouth as by writing vnto those that asked his aduice vppon all accurrences whose speeches were in effect as followeth That as concerning the Guisians whom they so vrged the King had taken order by setting them at vnitie and causing both parties to swear friendship that the marriage of the Ladie Margaret whom the King gaue saith hee not to the King of Nauarre onely but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to ioyne with them in an indissoluble vnion was the type of their peace and safetie Heerevpon hee often besought such as sent him any packets gaue him any aduice of the hatred of the King the Queene-mother the Duke of Anion or the house of Cuise against either himselfe or the Protestants no more to trouble him with any the passed calamities but rather to be content with their daily prayers to God to whom they were to giue thankes that hee had vouchsafed to bring all matters to so quiet an end In brief the Admiral euer like himselfe stood fast in all these motions not that hee knew not of the malice of infinite his aduersaries that inuironed him neither that beeing at Parris hee laye in the very goulf and deepest pit of death but because through constancie and long continuance he had framed himselfe to rely vpon Gods prouidence as also for the hauing secretly layed open vnto the King the very springs of the ciuill warres in France and most liuely painted foorth the practises of his secret enemies and treacherous seruants that aymed at the soueraigntie since it hath manifestly appeared hee supposed that he had left him in a faire path to preuent them For sure it is that the King albeit as then but yong had a very good wit and could reasonable wel perceiue the course of his affaires so that had not such bloodie and furious Councelles preuented and crossed his capacitie France had not incurred those calamities that since haue almost subuerted the whole estate thereof For in the end he found albeit ouer-late for his person and crown that they that termed themselues his seruants ment nothing lesse but were his most cruell enemies and such as had exiled and murthered his best subiects to the end afterward with more facilitie to ridde their hands of himselfe and so to seize vppon the Realme There happened yet an other matter as the waies of God are maruellous and vncomprehensible that more and more stopped the eares of the Admirall Negotiation of Polonia not to way so many aduertisements as daily were giuen him to depart out of Parris to take with him out of Parris such Lords Gentlemen and Captaines as the Queene-mother the Duke of Anion the Guisians and the Parrisians most vehemently hated For certaine weekes before it had been determined in the Councell to send Ambassadours into Polonia king Sigismond beeing dead to desire the Estates to chuse for their king the Duke of Anion whom the Admirall accounted an irreconcileable enemie to the Protestants The Admirall therefore perceiuing that the king was earnest to further that matter of Polonia for his brother that had great credite throughout the Realme of France iudged that the king had a good insight and desired to reduce all things to a sure and firme peace that the Duke of Anion confined in Poland his adherents would be constrained to become milder that the house of Guise destitute of such a staye and doubting the king that many times looked with a fierce countenance would bee carefull not to bee too busie that in time and not long the Queene-mother would bee constrained to leaue the conductions of the affaires of the Realme vnto her sonne wherevnto hee beganne to frame himselfe and perceiuing that the King and the Queene appoynted Iohn de Monluc Bishoppe of Valence a man of great iudgement and one that had effected many serious enterprises and at other times had trauelled into Polonia for the same purpose which voyage hee beganne the seuenteenth of August it put him in better hope Monluc to the contrarie perceiuing the tempest at hand desired nothing more then to get him out of France that hee might not bee a witnesse nor forced Councellour to the mischiefes which hee perceiued readie to fall vppon those of the religion A little before hee had wished the Countie of Rochefoucaut other Lords neuer to meddle in
this imaginarie flemish war but rather with speed to return to their houses telling them that they had no great cause to relie too much vpon the faire shewes of the Court neither to soiourne long there considering the enuie and mallice that most of the greatest and generally the whole cittie of Parris did beare them but God would not suffer them as then to hearken to this good counsell In the meane time the Barron de la Garde posting from Brouage to the Court The Rochelers stand vpon their guarde returning in great haft wrote the 14. of August to the Rochelers exhorting them to giue credite to the king to his mother and to the D. of of Anion not to mistrust the soldiers that lay round about withal promising them for his part al fauor intreating them to intreat his men well that came to their Towne for their necessaries Heerevpon they grew the more warie and with like quoine and as good speeches payd this spie who writ himselfe their most assured friend The 17. of August Henry king of Nauarre and Ladie Margaret of France sister to the king in the euening were conducted to the Louure The espoufals and mariage of the king of Nauarre and Lady Margaret and the next day married by the Cardinall of Bourbon in the sight of all the people vpon a great scaffold made before the gate of the great Church of Parris That day passed ouer in banquets daunces and maskes with strange mixsture of those of the religion with the Catholicques wherat diuers were no lesse mooued then at the bloodie butcherie which alreadie they began to doubt and that happened not long after While euery man imployed himselfe to bee merrie and make good cheare diuers that were sent for by the King the Queene-mother and the Duke of Guise that they might bee the stronger part arriued in the town The conclusion hauing beene made not long before and then fully performed as well in Parris as at S. Cloud wherin the Dukes of Anion and Guise were the principall actors not to suffer the Admirall to depart but rather to dispatch him in Parris with al such as wold defend him The Queen-mother with two or three of her most faithful and secret seruants had a counsell a part the end whereof tended not onely to kill the Admirall Counsell against the Admiral and his adhereÌ„ts but also to set other at strife that they might rule with more ease Those of Guise pretended to extirminate the Admirall and causing those of the religion to be massacred by the people in the kings name to saue such as they might to make the king his mother his brother so much more odious so by little and little to aduance their desires The Marshall de Montmorencie beeing come to the wedding perceiuing such confusion and doubting the Ambuscadoes of the house of Guise mortal enemies both to him and his vnder pretence of riding out to hunt went home to his house which fell out well for him his absence beeing cause that his bretheren were not slaine The 22. of August as the Admirall came out of the Louure where all that morning hee had beene with the Marshall de Cosse Vpon fryday the Admirall was hurt and Tauanes to end a quarrell between two GentlemeÌ„ going to dine in his lodging accompanied with twelue or fifteene Gentlemen being on foote about one hundreth paces from the Louure and reading a petition one shot at him with a harguebuze the bullet whereof tooke away the forefinger of his right hand and hurt him in the left arme He that shot it had a horse readie at the back-doore of his lodging whereon being mounted he escaped at Saint Autâ—omes gate where finding a Ienet of Spaine held readie for him he tooke poste and got him to a place before appointed for his retrait The doore of the house being burst open the harguebuze was found therein with a Lacquey an other seruant it was knowne that one Chally a Steward of the kings house and a dealer in the Duke of Guises affaires the day before had brought that harguebusier into that house belonging to Villemeur Tutor to the Duke recommeÌ„ding him most earnestly vnto the Hostes that the same Fryday in the morning the Harguebusier naming himselfe Bolland one of the kings guard but it was Maureuel sent his Lacquey to desire Chally to prouide that the Duke of Guises Groome of the stable should prouide the horse that hee had promised The Admirall brought to his lodging shewed most singular pietie constancie patience vnder his Surgeans hands was visited by diuers Lords and Gentlemen of the religion the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Coude asking licence of the king to depart as beeing but hardly assured within Parris The king complained to them of the mischiefe happened swearing and promising to vse and execute such iustice vppon the offender that the Admirall and his friends should thinke themselues satisfied In the meane time he stayed them with promise shortly to take order therein and presently commaunded pursuite to bee made after the offendor on the other side willing the Prouost of Merchants in Parris to appoynt certaine men to bee readie prepared to execute what should bee giuen them in charge by the Duke of Aniou caused all the gates to bee shut swearing and blaspheming as his manner was that hee would not that they which had done that fact should so escape suffering two gates to stand open for such as passed out and in where a great watch was holden that no man might passe through without licence and faining to take order for all things touching that search caused all the towne to rise in armes As also hee appoynted sundrie Lords and Gentlemen Protestants to bee lodged in the Admirals quarter and round about him for feare said hee least lying scattered abroad in the Towne they migh encur some danger but there should be defended by the soldiers of his guard Maureuel was but easily pursued and Chally went to the Duke of Guises chamber where no man sought for him Two houres after noone the king went to visite the Admirall to whom in presence of the Queene-mother the Admirall made a long declaration wherein hee forgot not to maintaine his fidilitie to the seruice of the countrie of France of others miseries of the same by reason the peace could not bee well obserued specially touching those of the religion whereof he specified some particularities desiring the K. to do iustice vpon the offendors to haue regard vnto his faith and promise and to the quietnesse of the realm The king made aunswere that he accounted him an honest man a good Frenchman and one that loued the increase of the Crowne that he esteemed of him as of a most discreet excellent Captain and that vpon that opinion he had so farre entered into his former resolutions that his whole desire was to haue his Edicts of peace fully
haue one eye thrust out the other the greatest Princes in the world are much troubled thereby and yet constrained to indure it The Princes of Almaine haue this diuersitie in one Towne yea in one Host and in one familie without either trouble or diuision The interim of the Emperour Charles the fist 1530. Confirmed 1555. The Emperour Charles the fift was constrainsd to passe that path and his brother Ferdinand a man most affected to the Catholicque religion consented to the same libertie in his kingdomes of Bohemia Hungaria and Austria Pietie is the foundation of all estates which cannot be in all places where God is diuersly serued It is so and you finde many that complaine thereof but fewe that seeke the remedie we knowe but two that is rigor and peaceablenesse either by a generall Councell or by armes For the first it needeth not because the trueth once knowne and determined ought not to be brought in question or disputed of againe The latter is altogither straunge and it was neuer heard that men were put to death to force them to beleeue To kill burne and massacre are words neuer vsed but in seditious enterprises those of the new opinion that liue among the Catholicques without preaching or open exercises are content to seeke no further freedome then the libertie of their conscience without being troubled A King cannot refuse his subiects the libertie of not speaking for that mens tongues and consciences are not vnder the Soueraigntie of his Scepter Tacere liceat Nulla libertas minor a rege Petitur Senec. O ed. Lictance li. 5. cap. 14. God is the God of mens soules Kings may constraine mens bodies and force them to say that outwardly which inwardly they deny For as he that is called the Cicero of Christians saith Who can constraine me not to beleeue that which I will beleeue or to thinke that credible which seemeth incredible there is nothing so voluntarie as religion but if the minde be separated from it it is no more religion but hypocrisie and dissimulation force will do that Purpure cultores efficies non Dei. which should be done onely by loue for by it men respect more the penalties of the lawe then the lawe it selfe they will reuerence the Iudges scarlet gowne not for the loue of the Iudge but for feare of the executioner that attendeth on him â—ides suadenda non imperanda Bernard and when they are gone their courages are found to be strongerthen their torments their constancie greater then their cruelties peaceablenesse is more conuenient and hath more force Faith commandeth not but is taught the strongest or roughest bits are not fit for good horses Our coÌ„sciences are the like for force breaketh sooner theÌ„ bendeth theÌ„ If the Lute bee not well tuned or if the Meane do not agree with the Base we must not therefore breake it About the end of Iune 1574. the king called him his father but winde it softly vp and you shall make them accord The Emperour Maxemilion that said that no sinne could be greater then to violate mens consciences answered the king of France returning out of Polonia proposing the ruine of the Huguenots the restablishing of the only religioÌ„ of his forefathers in his realm that those wich seek to rule ouer meÌ„s consciences supposing to win heauen do oftentimes loose their possessions on earth To obey God and serue the king Two religions cannot command in one Realme It is true but that is no consequent why there should not be two for the subiect is not bound to follow the religion of his Prince as long as he permitteth him the libertie of his own he must obey and serue hee giueth to God that which is Gods and to Caezar In the time of Clouis a Pagan there was Christians in FraÌ„ce that which is Caezars and confoundeth not the difference between those two seruices and duties He that hath one religion cannot haue two and hateth and detesteth that which is the contrarie Clouis our first christian King being a Pagan tollerated christians in his Realme and so did our King being in Polonia permit Latin and Greeke Churches with the confession of Ausbourg Lutherans and Caluenists to liue togither in Muscouia and other countries belonging vnto the Emperor the prince of Greece a great part of his subiects are different froÌ„ him touching religion And although the Turke receiueth not the Crowne yet he constraineth them not to leaue their christianitie The Frenchmen could not indure Iewes in France They bannished them not because of their religion but for their Barbarous cruelties wherewith they crucified young children in dispight of the sonne of God and for their extreame vsuries wherewith they consumed the common people The king suffering Heretickes doth wrong to the Catholicques The king is Common-father to them as well as to the others Iewes banished out of France and for what cause as there is no reason to prooue the ingratitude of the sonne towards the father so all lawes detest the inhumanitie and impietie of the father against the son Those whom the king so oftentimes proclaimeth rebelles and his enemies are his children his subiects and his seruants God neuer prospereth the enterprises of the subiect against his Prince very sildome haue kings had great triumphs by wars ouer their subiects It belongeth to a Vittellius and not to a king of France to walke along the fieldes his garments all died with the blood of his subiects Vitellius said that the body of the enemie slaine sauoureth well but that of the citizen beeing dead is better Tacit. lib. 17. Suet in the life of Vitellius Cap. 10. The people neuer die The 5. Edict of peace An. 1577. made at Poictiers in the moneth of Septemb. Conference at Nerac the last of Februarie 1579. The 6. Edict of peace in An. 1581. and to delight in the sauour of their dead bodies lying slaine vppon the ground VVhen the Huguenots shall be ouerthrowne and consumed the king shall liue in peace Suppose he putteth them to death and that at one time hee cutteth off a hundreth thousand heads The General seed is immortall by the succession of euery particular familie kindred and seuerall man which still increaseth one after the other although euery particular man of himselfe is mortall the bodie of the people in general neuer dieth The K. may wel destroy al the particulars of this new opinion but they will leaue as many children whose innocencie God and nature will not permit to touch that will succeed not onely in their goods but in the humors quarrels and passions of their fathers In fine those that perswaded peace by their reason alleadged got the vpper hand of those that desired warre and there vpon it was concluded with great concontentment on both both parts that the Prince of Conde the same night he receiued it caused it to be published by torch-light although with lesse aduantage on
made against Giles Bishop of Reims Didier Archbishop of Vienne the king vsed the helpe of the Bishops of France and had no recourse vnto the Pope Chilperic sent Pretextatus Archbishop of Roane to the Councell holden in Parris to bee iudged by them but with this clause Although that of our owne authoritie wee could deale therein it beeing treason for the which he is accused neuerthelesse Gregorie de Tours Atmon Ado Vincent because it concerneth our own person to the end it shall not bee thought that wee will do otherwise then by iustice and reason wee giue you leaue to deale therein The Emperours themselues neuer remitted the examinatioÌ„ of causes that touched the estate of their Empire vnto the long solemne daies of the Popes Councel The Emperour Zenon condemned and bannished two Bishops the one of Alexandria named Iohn the other of Antioche named Calendion Euagriuâ—s lib. 4. whereat Pope Simplicius was offended and for the same cause wrote vnto the Emperour who made him answere that the execution was not done for any Ecclesiasticall crime neyther yet touching religion but that one of them had lyed in his owne presence and the other fauored Basiliscus his enemie And good Popes neuer sought into that iurisdiction whereby to peruert the order of polliticque lawes Saint Gregory admonished Victor and Iohn C. experientiae ca. sequ 11. q. 1. Bishop of Taurese which as theÌ„ was the Metropolitane Church of Dalmatia founded by Iustinian in the Towne by him called Iustinian after his own name to cause two Bishops that had troubled the state of Aquilee and Millan with a good guard and all speede to bee ledde vnto the Emperour and such was the institution of the fathers assembled in the first general Councels of Constantinople vnder Theodose and in that of Carthage to remit Ecclesiasticall causes to the iudgement of the Cleargie Pauliuus Bishop of Aquilee but the persons to the temporall Magistrate when it is a crime the punishment whereof dependeth not vpon the authoritie of the Ecclesiasticall Iudge is to be otherwise ordered then by Ecclesiastical Canonical censures It is true that the ordinances of France ful of respect reuerence towards the church haue induced the ConcordaÌ„ce of the spirituall the teÌ„poral Iudge when the cause dependeth vpon priuiledge ordaine that the processe should be ioyntly made to the end CoÌ„currance of the spirituall temporal Iurisdiction that if the offender be found guiltie he should be degraded according to the prescript order ordinance of the cannons then sent to the secular power to be coÌ„deÌ„ned to death or other punishmeÌ„t according to his offence but wher it coÌ„cerneth the CoÌ„mon-wealth suretie preseruation of an estate it is not the maner to follow the ordinarie course therby to auoyde a great disorder and the extreame necessitie to prouide things present ought not to bee restrained vnto the long detractions of the Romish Courts The king prouoked by these reasons after he had let the Archbishop rest in prison for the space of fifteene daies with resolution to refuse all the Iudges that should bee sent vnto him but such as were appoynted him from Rome sent the Bishop of Beauuais and Mousieur Ruze his Secretarie to certifie his pleasure vnto him which was that hee should aunswere to the Articles by them to bee propounded vnto him wherein they perswaded him not to deny the King that had not refused to graunt him pardon of his life The Archbishop of Beauuais The Archbishop asked the Bishop of Beauuais in what quallitie he had taken that charge vpon him framing an argument consisting in two points Asking him if he came thither as a Bishop or as a Peere of France It as Bishop he saide hee could not examine him hee in that poynt beeing his superiour If as a Peere of France it was a temporall office and therefore hee could not aunswere nor the Bishop examine saying You haue beene in the Courts of Parliament where you neuer sawe processe framed against a simple Priest without the consent of his superior I thanke God I haue red what authoritie and priuiledge belongeth vnto the Church and cannot beleeue that the King in any wise is minded to infringe it nor yet to beginne with mee and seeing hee hath graunted me my life hee meaneth likewise that my conscience should bee at libertie the honour and respect whereof is dearer vnto mee then a thousand liues The Bishop of Beauuais perceiuing that hee could not effect his charge withdrew himselfe the Archbishop desiring him to acquaint the king with his reasons and to beseech his Maiestie that hee might bee comforted by some religious persons and to haue Masse within his chamber Which the Bishop of Beauuais certified vnto the King who made aunswere that hee would put the Archbishop in such a place where hee should haue both religious persons and Masses as many as hee would desire In the meane time vpon aduise giuen vnto him that the great blow which hee had giuen the league had not in such manner astonished it The rising of Parris but that alreadie diuers of them began to rise and to leuie armes he had recourse vnto his first remedies and to that dangerous maxime by him vsually obserued as neuer doing any thing but by halues And while he sent tongues and not armes therwith to retaine the people so well prepared vnto sedition hee found the towne of Orleans to reuolt both against him and Monsieur d'Antragues Orleans is declared against the Citadel and the Gouernour Gouernour of the Citadell that the Towne of Parris had alreadie shewed the beginning of their mutenie against his Castle of Louure his armes and his seruants But the contentment hee had receiued to see his enemie dead made him so carelesse touching the rest of his affairs that in stead of mounting on horsebacke to shewe himselfe to those of Parris and Orleans and to send for the armie in Poitou therwith to stoppe the passages and forces of the Duke de Maine hee contented himselfe to publish a forgetting and remitting of things past and renued the Edict of vnion thinking that the Catholicques of the League The Kings declaration touching the things past vpon the 23. and 24. of December would lay downe their armes raised against their king to imploy the same against the King of Nauarre In his declaration hee saith that at all times and especially since his Edict made in the month of Iuly last he had assayed by all means possible to vnite all his good Catholicque subiects in peace concord vnder his authoritie by the same vnion and the effects thereof to reape the fruite by him alwaies expected and sought to purge his Realme of heresies therein wholly to establish the faith Catholicque religion foreseeing that by the diuisioÌ„ of his said subiects there could rise nothing but a total desolatioÌ„ of religion ruine of his estate that althogh
for the space of certain time ther had bin some about him that most manifestly practised in his presence elsewher by their adherents to renue raise deuision to cause his actions to be disliked wholly to suppresse his authoritie neuerthelesse with great patience and calamitie hee had tollerated the effects of the euill will in those respects appeared to bee in them assaying by all the fauours and courtesies hee could deuise to mollifie their hearts and to drawe them vnto those things that concerned reason with the good profit of his estate and the conseruation of religion That this notwithstanding they not beeing disswaded from their pernicious deuises by the aforesaide effects of his good and holy intents neither yet by any other considerations his Maiestie had discouered that they had proceeded so farre as by new inuentions to enterprise against both him and his estate That to withstand the same to his great greefe hee had bin constrained to preuent their sinister dealings but that for the singular loue and good wil naturall in him and which hee hath alwaies continued and will continue vnto his said Catholicque subiects with like care of the quietnesse safetie and conseruation of their liues as much as any father towards his children Hee had therein vsed so much clemencie and moderation that hee had restrained and layde the paine and punishment onely vppon the heads and authors of the euill sparing their adherents and seruants and fauourably receiued admitted them among the rest of his good subiects vpon promise by them made from thenceforth to become his true and faithfull subiects That although not only by his actions past as by this last proceeding hee hath giuen and declared by euident testimonies of his holy intent and clemencie that no man ought to doubt neuerthelesse to make it more manifest to all his subiects his Maiestie declareth and protesteth that this which hath happened hath beene effected by reason of the preuentions vsed against his Edict of Iuly and since that time And in the execution of that which is contained therein his will and meaning is to keep and cause it to bee kept and to obserue and maintaine it from poynt to poynt for a lawe as it hath been established and sworne in the Parliament according to the forme and tenor thereof Forgetting and wholly remitting all whatsoeuer is or hath bin done against dutie and fidelitie by those that haue participated in the said practises vppon condition that heereafter they shall depart and wholly forsake all leagues associations practises deuises and intelligences with all persons whatsoeuer both without and within the Realme The practises against the Edict of vnion wherevnto the King referreth the cause and motion of the death of the Cardinall and the Duke of Guise are specified in the treatie written concerning the troubles that ensued this execution Causes of putting the D. of Guise to death The first that assoone as the edict of vnion agreed vpon within the Cittie of Roane was published in the Parliament-house the principall heades of the League in stead of causing their partakers to leaue their armes had entertained them with further hopes and meanes contrary to the Edict sworne summoning them to bee in a readinesse to effect a great exployt The second that they had determined to seize vpon the Kings person and to coÌ„strain him to dismisse his Councel whom they thought to be most faithfull vnto him and least affected to the aduancement of their intents and to bereaue him of his authoritie yea and of the name of a king The third their practises leagues and deuises to breake the libertie of the Parliament and to hinder them from consulting with the king touching the good of his estate and the quietnesse of his people hauing a great number of the Deputies so much affected to their pretences that they neuer assembled before they had first consulted with the Councell of the Duke of Guise touching their aunsweres propositions and resolutions The fourth the fained perswasions deuised against the good intents of the king to disswade him from the easing of the long oppressioÌ„s of his people the Duke of Guise on the one side counselling him not to imbase his authoritie so much as to depriue himselfe of the meanes to maintaine the glory of his Maiestie royall by reducing the tallages to a lower rate then was conuenient and on the other side hee perswaded and pricked forward his participants to craue it by that meanes to make his Maiestie odious among them by refusing the easing of his peoples oppressions or else to force him therevnto The sift the confirmation of the treaties and confederacies made with forraine Princes as the king of Spaine the Duke of Sauoy and Lorraine and the fiue small Cantons the leagues and intelligences with diuers Lords and Gouernours of Townes and Prouinces within the Realme all contrary to the Edict of vnion which they had sworne and promised so religiously to obserue A great person in our time in the second part of the Historie of the League Vulgus audacia turbidum nisi vim metuat The second discourse of the state of France noteth the vnrecouerable fault of the king after that action that busied himselfe to iustifie his pretence and to flatter the people who by lenitie become obstinate by seueritie are constrained This great tree ouerthrown saith he such as shadowed themselues thereby were for a time discouered and without doubt the Duke of Guise himselfe was all the League hee onely had more parts and valour then all his participants togither And if the king had beene resolute to go forward with his actions and not to doo them by halues as his maner was and if within two houres after the act performed hee had mounted on horsebacke and so had added his presence his forces vnto the feares of the townes that helde with the League abashed at that great accident it is very likely hee had auoyded the mischiefe which after fell vpon him But God that derided the vaine enterprises of the one mocked the remedies by the other prouided This Prince who neuerthelesse wanted neither iudgement nor courage had no sooner perceiued his enemie dead put presently perswaded himselfe to haue no more in all the world and certainly being among his familiars he vsed this speech saying This day I am king and yet to the contrary from that day forward his royall estate begane to decline Incauta semper nimâ—â— presumptio sui negligents Egesippus This presumptioÌ„ caused him to be so carelesse in his affaires that he lost Orleans which he might haue saued by shewing himselfe vnto it that he suffred the D. de Maine to come fortifie himself with men munitioÌ„ he laughed at those the moued him with al diligeÌ„ce to send for his armie that laye in Poitou hee was offended against such as counselled him at the same time to vse the ayde of the king that now is