contented himselfe to send certaine of the cheefest which galloped euen to their Campe and tooke some which they brought away with them among whome they tooke Langue du Keste The next morrow aduancing forward with the Infanterie 200. men at armes arriued at the straites of the mountaines which about 800. of the Emperours souldiers kept with two fielde peeces but they quickly seuered them so as they being put to flight sufficiently astonished those which were nere vnto Rute the rather for that the Princes following them foote by foote in such sort set vpon the rest that they defeated them in killing about one thousand and sundrie other as well taken as drowned within the Riuer of Lech with an Ensigne there lefte behinde The next morrowe they battered the forte of Ereberge with so good hap as they tooke the fortresse seated on the top of the Castle thereby rendring themselues masters of the Causie and of the great Cannons which they found there which done they clambred vp the mountaine strong and painefull euen to the Castle albeit the bullets fell among them like hailestones notwithstanding which it was for all that rendred vp vnto them by 13. Ensignes of foote whereof nine were taken and foure saued themselues and among them three were of Germanes and three of Italians about two thousand prisoners were led away with some losse of the other this done and as Maurice would haue gained the Causey the souldiers ouer whome Rifeberg had charge refused to goe on any further except they might receaue extraordinary wages by reason of the taking of Ereberg whereupon hauing caused one of the seditious persons which cryed out highest to be taken the rest did not onelye bende their Pikes against him but many in like sorte shot a number of bullets at him out of Harquebuses in such sorte as he hardly saued himselfe in the end notwithstanding the Chiefetaines appeased all and the 21. of May two regimentes were sent by the Alpes to Enipont which was but two dayes iourney thence the Cauallerie remayning with a regiment of Fantassins about Fiesse and Rute to keepe the passage then Maurice and the Princes allied followed the next morrowe and ioyned with the Infanterie neere Ziole distant from Enipont two leagues an occasion why the Emperour hauing receiued newes of the winning of Ereberge departed from Enipont in the night in great haste and much trouble with his brother Ferdinand who was come thither but a little before to perswade a peace as hath beene tolde you so as by keeping the way of the mountaines on the lefte hand which leadeth to Trent he retired himselfe to Villac a towne of Cornia vpon the Diane he likewise had set at libertie a little before that Iohn Frederic Duke of Saxe whome hee had caused to be shutte vp in prison fiue whole yeares together and now released him for feare least the enemy should arrogate the same to his glorie which likewise the captiue was not himselfe desirous of being at liberty he notwithstanding accompanied the Emperour whether soeuer he went Maurice being arriued at Enipont whatsoeuer was found lefte of the Emperours stuffe or appertaining to any of the Spaniards or to the Cardinall of Ausbourg was pilled but no harme was offred to the goods of Ferdinand nor of the Citizens And for so much as there rested then but three dayes of the truce which had beene accorded in respect of the future treatie Maurice wēt from thence to Passau but the princes his companions returned backe the same way they came and rendred thēselues at Fiesse the 20. of May and afterwardes published letters at Ausbourg as well in their owne name as in Maurices in these tearmes The confederate Princes letters against the Emperour for religion and the liberty of Germany WHereas in our former wrightings we haue affirmed that our entrance into armes was for the defence of religion and the liberty of Germany the matter it self our bound dutie doth require that we ordaine sufficient Doctors for the Churches and instruction of youth for it is most cleare and hath not any need of more ample proofe how the enemies of the truth haue euer employed all their force to destroy the good Doctors thereby to establishe their Popish Idol and cause youth to encrease therein being nourished in these errours and false doctrines for euen at that instant when they durst not publickly speak their mindes of religion they then studied by all meanes to roote out at the very bottome all true doctrine and not onely haue they imprisonned the good doctors but likewise in this very towne vnlooked for and with great inhumanity haue they constrained them by oath to departe out of the whole teritorie of the Empire and albeit that this oath be most wicked and not grounded vpon any right or equitie yet to take away all occasion of detraction we haue reuoked the selfe same Ministers and Schoolmasters which our aduersaries had chaced hence wherefore we declare all those absolued which haue beene cast out by meanes of the band wherewith they stood bound through their oath we restore them to their full libertie with commaundement that not onely in this cittie but also in all other places they preach the word of God purely and according to that confession which hath bene heere at other times presented and teach their youth rightly and holesomelye in good learning relying vpon our succour and protection We forbid in like sorte that none taunt thē with any iniurious worde as if they had done ought against their faith and oath considering that without any deserte but meerely for confession of the truth that they haue already liued many moneths in exile we make no doubt but good men wil greatly pittie them and esteeme them worthy of being succoured and releeued with all fauour And for so much as those which in the absence of the other haue taught in this Cittie be men suspected and vnconstant so as by reason of their diuers fashion of teaching they may not be commodiously with those which we haue called home We require the Senate to take from them the chaire and to carry themselues in such sorte as this our present Edict may remaine in force After that the Princes had published these letters the 7. of Iune fiue dayes after they installed againe the Protestant Ministers in their places and gaue them againe a great charge to preach to the wonderfull reioycing and pleasure of the people Maurice went his way in the meane time to Passau to entreat of peace where the first of Iune all that had beene handled at Lincy was repeated and the whole matter set downe and explaned at large by Maurice There were present the Emperors embassadours King Ferdinand Albert D. of Bauiere the Bishops of Salisbourg and Deistet and the Embassadours of all the Princes Electors of Cleues and of Witemberg Maurice greatly complained how the common wealth of the Empire which ought
continuall instance of the Cardinals and other of the Cleargie about the King who besides would make him selfe appeare most Christian throughout all Europe especially for the reasons aboue mencioned the Court was so pressed that all the articles of the Edict were there in publique audience read the 3. of September 1551. in the Chamber called Doree Of all which Pierre Seguier the Kings Aduocate demaunding the ingrossing of the behalfe of the Proctor generall saide that it was well knowne how the Kinges of Fraunce had bene alwaies zealous protectors of christianitie of the faith and vnion of the Church for which they worthily deserued the name of most Christian that there was no doubt but zeale of Religion was one of the principall causes for which it pleased God to maintaine the estate of that Realme in that greatnes it was vntill that day that historyes did witnes among all the misfortunes and vnhappines which fell out betweene the Romaine Kings the raigne of Numa Pompilius to haue beene found most long happie and peaceable because hee was most zealous in Religion And Titus Liuius and Plutarch write Quod Numa Primus condidit templum fidei primus fidei solemne instituit And albeit that the Religion of Numa was not ruled after the worde of God yet hauing had so great an increase of good fortune in his Heathenishe Religion it may verye well cause vs to thinke that the care and zeale which the Kings of Fraunce haue had for Christian religion hath greatlye auailed and helped towards the maintenance and enlarging of the Monarchie of Fraunce Contrarywise negligence of Religion the leauing and apostacie of faith and the scismes and diuisions in the Church are the beginning and spring of all mischiefes and the forewarning of desolation and ruine to a Common-wealth The examples are verye common De neglecta Religione both in Valerius and other our owne Histories as the Bookes of Moses doe testifie that the children of Israel while they helde themselues vnited in the faith of God and precepts of Moses prospered and ouercame all aduersities but when they withdrew themselues from religion they fell into great ruine The most Christian King considering and well vnderstanding these things hath studiously diligently searched by all possible meanes how the error of the Pseudo-christians might bee extermined and cleane rooted out of this Realme and to this end hath commaunded these letters now read to be approued in this Courte and further said that he could not omit to yeelde due thankes vnto the King for his most gracious royall and most Christian will moste humblye beseeching God that it would please him to preserue the King in this charitie deuotion and zeale many yeares and hereupon concluded and required the publication and approuing of the letters enioyning the Prelates and Cleargy in what appertained to their charge to obey the contents thereof Then the Presidente after the counsellers had deliuered their opinions gaue this sentence The Court in obeying of the Kings will ordaineth that vpon the plight of the said letters shalbe set downe Lecta publicata Registrata audito requirente procuratore generale Regis and that the Iudges Presidiaux and such as assist them in iudgement of criminall enditementes shall vpon sight thereof cause the prisoners to be brought before them and heare them speake in person and such iudgements as shall be so giuen by the Presidiaux and their assistantes shall not be helde and reputed for sufficiently concluded and awarded except it passe the consent of two at the least according to the ordinance And gaue in charge to the Court of the said Iudges that after iudgement giuen vpon the said criminall enditements they should make them safely to be kept by such Greffiers as the court should appoint to haue diligent care of the same to the end they might both deliuer answere the same whatsoeuer they should be called vpon Moreouer he warned exhorted the Court the Archbishops and Prelates that resorted thereunto enioyning them to keepe and fulfill the contentes of the saide letters in whatsoeuer might concerne them the 3. of September 1551. Now let vs handle againe the imperials practises against the French you shal belowe see in place fitter for it the second meanes which the King had to iustifie himselfe for his actions in the occurrence of Parma If the Emperor were angry knowing of the Kings resolution in fauour of the Farnezes Pope Iulye made no lesse shew thereof and thereupon the 11. of Aprill hee bitterly accused Octauian by a writing published to that end When said he he receiued Parma at my hands and the estate of Supreame Gouernour hee promised me vpon his faith that he would neuer serue other Prince nor put any Garrison of Strangers into Parma without my leaue and assoone as any apparance was of any change I oftentimes very louingly admonished him by men expressely and by his own brother the Cardinall Alexander that he should remember his dutie But because he answered very strangely I threatned him by letters vnder great paines if hee should forget himselfe hoping in time to haue wonne him But since being aduertised how farre he swarueth from the accord I haue great cause to be extreamelye angrye that one whom I had enriched and aduanced to honor should offer me such an iniurye Now then though it were lawfull for me to pronounce iudgement in so apparante and cleare a matter yet to the end to make him know my curtesie I charge him to appeare at Rome within 30. daies to answere to his accusations and to put in good security for his comming if hereof he make no accompt I condemne and holde him for guilty of treason disloyaltie and other crimes willing and meaning that all his goods shalbe confiscat for which I require aide of th'emperour that he will holde a strong hand to helpe me to punish the same forbidding all in generall to yeelde him any releefe or succour The King of Fraunce in the meane time to appease the Pope and his Cardinals declared by his Embassador Paul de Termes of purpose sent vnto Rome that he was no whit at all to blame for receiuing of Octauian into his protection considering it a matter proper to the office of Kings to succour the afflicted Besides sayth hee he sought no particular profit to himselfe but all for the benefit of the Church of Rome according to the example of his progenitors which had inriched the same more than all other and oftentimes defended it with the sword for considering that Parma was of the patrimonie of the Church he would especially seeke to preuent that it might not fall into the handes of anie stranger which was the verie reason that hee was at so great ordinarie an expence Therfore he earnestly besought him to take it in good part and not to remaine in that harde opinion hee had conceiued of him a matter which should bring great profite to the commonwealth
ought to haue done cōsidering how much the Turk at this day wasted Hungary albeit that they furnished all against the Infidels yet except there were a mutuall consent by a peace and brotherly beneuolence among the estates no thing could be brought about aduantagious against so puissant an enemye the Deputies notwithstanding gaue vp their appeale in writing and in the end had leaue to departe so as all being deliuered in councell the 14. of October 1529. the Princes and others assembled towardes the end of Nouember at Smalcade where the difference of Religion hindering as yet any resolution they departed vnder condition that whosoeuer would in each point consent to this doctrine and receiue it should meet at Noremberg the sixt of Ianuary 1530. there to deliberate of what were to be done Now they concluded nothing but to tarry vntill the day which the Emperour should publish in the Spring which was at Ausbourg the 8. of April 1530. Charles the fift elected Emperour in Iune 1519. at Francforde vpon the Rhyne notwithstanding the contrarye pursuites of the French for their Prince after the death of Maximilian the 12. of Ianuary and sacred at Aix in the end of October was crowned at Bologne le Grasse the 24. of February by Clement And whereas vpon the 20. of Iune when the day assigned by him at Ausbourg where he made his entry began he commaunded the Duke of Saxe to carry the Sword before him going to the Masse according to the office of Marshall to the Empire Hereditarie to the house of Saxe the Elector would first take the aduise of his Doctors who perswaded him that it was lawfull considering that he went thither to execute his office and not to heare the Masse he was there then onely accompanied by George of Brandebourgh After many affaires proposed and debated in the end he caused to be published this decree for religion that hauing reiected the confession of the Protestants faith hee ordained in summe that nothing should be changed in matters concerning faith and diuine seruice that whosoeuer should doe the contrary should be punishable both in body goods that reparation should be made of all the iniuries which had beene done to the Churchmen and to the end this decree should remaine inuiolable for religion he assured that he would imploye all the meanes which God had giuen him thereto euen to the spending of his bloud and life yea it was forbidden that any should be able to pleade in the imperyall chamber which astonished a great many for the Emperour took good assurance of all the rest for the execution thereof whereupon the Protestants being assembled the 22. of December 1530. at Smalcade concluded a forme of alyance to succour one another to the which the Princes at that instant bound themselues and with them many other Lords and free Citties thinking good to trye therein the King of Denmarke and Princes of Pomerania and Magdeburg with all to write to the Kings of Fraunce and England to disswade them from such false reportes as their enemies might make runne of them and their religion which they accordingly did the 16. of February 1531. The Landgraue allied himselfe with them of Zurich Basle and Strasbourg in Nouember vpon condition to succour one another for their religion but after the breaches betweene the fiue little Cantons and the rest which passed in certaine reencounters where the reformed had the worst and the accord made betweene them since that in October 1531. was put this clause that they of Zurich Berne and Basle should quit the allyance of the Landgraue and Strasbourgh with the fiue Cantons of K. Ferdinandes Afterwards the 29. of March 1531. they met againe at Smalcade where they receiued but slender answers from Denmark and Pomeranye they consulted of meanes how to haue succours ready at need of men monye and munition and for that they had had the opinion of learned men before they confederated together and that Luther had before taught and published in writing that it was not lawfull to resist the Magistrate hee now changed his minde for when as their Lawyers did declare in this meeting that such a case might bee offred as the Lawes permitted a man to resist as they did in this he said he was cleane ignorant of that point for that the Gospell did not impugne the lawes pollitick but often times confirme them and because they sayd that such an accident might arise in which necessitie and duetie of conscience did put the sworde into their hands he made a book by which he admonished all men in generall not to obey the Magistrate if he sought to imploy them in such a warre for they stoode well assured how that the Emperour sollicited by the Pope and other went about some mischeefe for them vnder colour of hauing a care for the common wealth of Germany King Frauncis the first wrote curteously back vnto them the 21. of April 1531. with offer of his helpe so did the K. of England the 3. of May. Now after the decree of Ausbourg the Emperour being sollicited by the Pope and other of the Cleargye seemed that he would make the Protestants range themselues to the common doctrine but for that certain Princes more peaceably addicted among the Catholicks saw that that could not be brought to passe but with great inconueniences to all Germanye considering that the Protestant Princes and confederate Citties had already prepared themselues they councelled the Emperour to assigne some daies to examine therein their doctrine and to seeke meanes of peace and accord in religion which often had bene assaied and euer in vaine by reason of the great difference thereof and that the Princes as Luther at other times had done by Pope Leo his Bull had appealed from the Decree of Ausbourgh to a future councell to whom properly appertained the debating of Religion In the end notwithstanding about the beginning of October the Princes wrote againe to the deputies Embassadors for peace that if any did thinke or could proue that their doctrine proposed at Ausbourg were erronious in any point or in default of so doing would submit himselfe to the testimony of the holy Scripture they held it most agreeable that if the Emperour would assigne a day at Spire and giue safe conduct and ostages to themselues their associates and Luther which they ment to bring thether besides if he would permit their free and publique preachinges together with the vse of the Supper according to Christs institution and not constraine them to make difference of meates they or their Deputies would be present with ful power and if their doctrin were not confuted they trusted the Emperour would no more hinder them in their Religion In the mean time since that they had formed an appeale to a lawfull Councell they besought the Emperour that he would not in the meane season innouate ought against them Now besides the point of religion the election of Ferdinande to
almost to the discretion of the Emperour who afterwards proposed a league at Vlme to appease all such troubles as might ensue either for Religion or otherwise But the whole was referred to Ausbourge Hereupon the Landgraue hauing demaunded and receiued pardon and promise that he should not remaine prisoner was stayed and commaunded to follow the Emperour after that he had accomplished all the rest of the conditions For which Maurice and Brandebourge being his suerties for his libertie grew in great rage so as the Emperour to defraye the expence of his warre got what with these ransomes and otherwise among the Catholiques and Lutherans aboue sixtene hundred thousand crownes and well fiue hundred peces of Artillerie which hee sent into Spaine Naples Milan and the low countrie The Emperour after these victories assigned a day first at Vlme then at Ausbourg to accord points in Religion reforme the Iustice of the chamber obey the Councell The Palatin Maurice and Brandebourge would not consent to any but in place free and sure In the end that thereby they might the sooner get the Landgraue out of prison they accorded one and by their example the more resolute Citties by writing graunted somewhat of their demaunde So as the Emperor being very ioyfull thereof made great instance towardes the Pope that hee woulde remoue the Councell to Trent from Bologne where he had appointed it to be held 1544. in respect of the vnholsomnes of the aire said Hierosme Fracastor who monthly had a great pension from him And vpon the difficultie which the Pope made therein hee sent Mendoza to protest of his parte before the Pope and the rest of Bologne that hee held of no account whatsoeuer should be there concluded declaring that he would prouide thereto well enough by a lawfull conuocation of the estates of Germanie 1548 which were of his very opinion being assembled at Ausbourge And further for that he would not haue the Councell to bee cleane in dispaire of being held the delaying thereof so much importing him when as power was giuen vnto him to chuse the Collocutors Iudges and witnesses he tooke Iules Flug Bishoppe of Numbourg Michael of Sidoine Iohn Alebe Agricola who 18. yeares before had beene a Lutheran Melancthon and Brence who very secretly wrote a Booke of Religion and after they had againe perused and corrected it presented it vnto him But Bucer finding many things contained therin refused to signe it saying that the Popes doctrine was there manifestly confirmed and since that in like sorte they added sundrie other things So as both the Pope and Protestants alowed of it albeit small reformation was had therein of any such Articles as were generally receiued of the Catholiques Romee generall of the Iacobins wrote against it at Rome and so did Robert Bishoppe of Auranches in Fraunce for that this booke permitted marriage to Priests and the Supper vnder both kindes The Emperour notwithstanding pressed the estates hard to sticke fast vnto it and not to innouate any thing either in their preachings or writings to the contrarie attending the decree of a Councell Afterwards the fiftenth of May the Archbishop of Mayence cheefe of the Electors thanked him for his so great care of the publike in the name of them all and saide that all ought to obey his decree The which he accounted as a common approbation and woulde not for euer after admit of any other reason or excuse to the contrarie whosoeuer would say that they had not consented thereunto In sort that he caused it to be imprinted both in the Latine and vulgar Germaine tongs Fower daies after he besought the estates to contribute by hed towardes the remedying of such inconueniences as either for Religion or otherwise might fall out in the common wealth and that the money might bee reserued as a publike treasor in some places fittest for that purpose to haue succours readie at neede and Ferdinand required as much to releeue him against the Turke the fiue yeares of truce being expired Afterwardes the Emperour somewhat and superficially reformed the state of the Church about the end of Iune 1548. and caused a Booke to be imprinted Maurice departing from Ausbourge about the end of 1548. went into his owne countrie where his estates vrging him with his promise to maintaine among them the pure confession of Ausbourge in the end hee caused to be made a forme of Religion which all ought to holde from whence great Scandale arose All the Princes and Cities except Breme and Magdebourge consented to the decree of Ausbourge an occasion that the latter was by the Emperour exposed as a pray to all such as would warre vpon him in the yeare 1549. Now as this decree of Ausbourge was alreadie as it were generally receiued throughout all Germany so greatly did the victorie and Spanish Garrisons of the Emperour together with the Saxons and Landgraues imprisonment astonish the people at such time especially when there was an apparant chaunge of Religion thoroughout all the countries of Maurice the ministers of the Churches of Lubec Lunebourg and Hambourge confuted well at length the Booke and decree of Ausbourge by another contrarie which they caused to be put in printe whereof Iohn Epin was the principall author Shortly after the Doctors of Magdebourge Nicholas Amstroff and aboue all Mathias Flaccius an Illiricque borne in the Citie of Albonne who since was one of the principall authors of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Magdebourge and Nicolas Le Cocq opposed themselues stoutly against them of Witemberge and Lipsa and condemned them in sundrie printed Bookes as dissemblers ouer simple to timorous and by indifferent and meane things how they had made a high way to the papisticall Religion the which at the first proceeding from a good beginning grew in simplicitie afterwards suffered it selfe to corrupt thorough a disordinate lycence of such thinges among the Christians of the primitiue Church who ouercome by little and little with to great a feare of displeasing and roundly resisting such as at the first woulde bring in their fantasies for sure rules of Faith in the end cleane marred vnder a Maske of things indifferent and such like humaine traditions the true and pure worde of God For conclusion they set downe this rule that all ceremonies and fashions how indifferent soeuer they may be of themselues are no more neare at this present considering that the vertue opinion and necessitie of seruice is now annexed thereunto and that the occasion of impietie is yeelded thereby Illiricque one of the authors of this learned and laborious Ecclesiasticall historie had beene certaine yeares an Auditor and Disciple of Melancthon but in this different retyred himselfe to Magdebourge and caused a Book to be imprinted wherein he rendred the reason of his act They of Hambrough wrote likewise to them of Witemberg especially to Phillip Melancthon making a Catalogue of such things as they termed Neuter or indifferent setting downe what might bee
maruelously diminished and lessened euery day both by reason of sicknesse among the Souldiers as of the companies which were sent vnto the townes which were threatned with a siege at hand This done the D. of Vendosme knowing his Souldiers to be very wearye with the long trauaile of this voyage to refresh and solace them brake vp his Campe and sent certaine companies of men at armes of the most tired to winter in their ancient Garrisons and his light cauallerie in places neerest to the enemy and to helpe and succour the poore people to husband and sowe their fieldes The foote companies of French English and Scottish were lodged in the Townes and Borroghes all alongst the the banke of the Riuer of Some The Almanes of the County of Reingraue and Baron of Frontenay at S. Esprit de Reux which they caused to be fortefied for a counterforte to Mesmil and those of the Count Rocdolphe and Reifberge tooke their way towardes Piemont and Italy The Historie of Fraunce THE THIRD BOOKE YOu haue already seene how the French and the Imperialles sought out one another with as great stomacke as euer eche of them the more forward thorough the presence of their Princes which as then conducted the armies when as Henry with great fury battered the castle of Renty and had carried it had not the Emperour broght thither all his forces the better to encourage them which were besieged and allaye the fury of the French by the skirmishes and hotte sallies which he caused to be vndertaken by the cheefest of his army so as the Erench albeit they carried away the honour of the memorable reencounter which I haue mencioned in which the Spanish Fanterie put to rout the Almane Pistoliers of Count Vul-uensort since called Reisters were broken and put to flight by the French Cauallerie were yet in the end constrained to quit the place retyring themselues in march as if they should haue presented battaile to the Imperials from which the Emperour kept them thorough the fauour of his trenches Afterwards the two Princes hauing for the reasons which I alleadged elsewhere broken dissolued their armies wherof they placed a good part in the garrisons of their frontiers the better to be able continually to vndertake an enterprise more secretly as opportunity serued helde themselues a long time vpon their garde without much discouering themselues through the discommodities of the Autumne and violence of the blustring Winter employing themselues onely in some surprises and secret intelligences whereof verye fewe succeded so well as the vndertakers desired These two Princes in the meane space pricked forward no lesse with enuye then a reciprocall ambition boyling with a worldlye desire of reuenge by the remembrance of so great losses old new offences made ready al kinde of preparatiues for a war at hād and much more bloudye then the former so as the brute being spread throughout France of the rodes which the Imperial garrisons stil made the French therby soone tooke occasion to march vnder the Marshall of S. Andre for to surprise scale at breake of daye and cutte into peeces whomsoeuer they should finde in armes in the Castle of Cambresy At what time the Spaniards had notwithstanding the fauour of a faire warre to retire themselues whether it liked them best About the beginning of the same spring Bouillon as the K. lieutenant in the absence of the D. of Neuers Gouernour of Champaigne was sent thither to rescue those of Mariembourg afterwards to enterprise vpon the enemy as occasion should be offred for the Imperialles meant no lesse to the place then to the Garrison because that this Towne hauing before beene a Village and pleasant seate of Mary widdowe to Lewis King of Hungarie which she had caused to be most curiously builded and fortefied whilest that she was gouernesse of the Countrye for the Emperour her Brother was builded and raised vp much stronger and farre better prouided then before yea the K. would needs bestowe his owne name thereof as this Princesse before had done hers which notwithstanding more happye in that could not out of the memorye of the people bordering round about The three and twentith of March Pope Iulye the third of that name deceased after hauing taken great paines in the latter end of his yeares to reconcyle these two great Lordes whome himselfe before had set to debate an occasion that the ninth day of Aprill the Cardinall Marcel Ceruin of Montpulcien in Tuscane was chosen and proclaimed Pope who by no meanes would change his name as the rest were wonte to doe He was Bishop of Nicastre and Cardinal of the tittle of Holye crosse in Hierusalem who died poysoned for all that as some affirme the two and twentith day of his election for that he was of too good a life But in very truth as hee was before giuen to be sicke of the yellowe Iaunders the disease grewe so sore vpon him in his olde yeares as hee dyed the three and twentith day of his Papacye True it is that a fewe dayes before his death he made himselfe be crowned with very small expences and very modestly Now as he was very wise so men had a great hope that he would correct many thinges in the Romish Church and especially that he would chase away all the dissolution and superfluitie thereof from whence the brute of his poysoning did growe for indeede hee abolished the superfluities of gardes and other honours which the first Bishops of Rome knew not once what they meant Afterwards the three and twentith of May the Cardinals those in their conclaue the Cardinall Iohn Pierre Caraffa Deane of the Colledge called Theatin Neapolitain named Paul the fourth esteemed to be a man very eloquent and learned The first author being a Monke at Venise of Iesuistes of whome I will speake else where For at diuers times and throughout all the Prouinces of Christendome yea as farre as the East and West Indies they haue engrauen and thundred out the name of their profession thorough the merite of their paines incredible hazardes and cruelties which they haue suffered among the Barbarians for the name of Christ In this time Philip of Austria by Mary King of England as well to appease the mutinyes which were growne betweene the English malcontentes thorough the alliance with a Stranger and other greeued with the change of the Protestant Religion for the Romane as the better to entertaine traffique and other commodityes with the French one parte of the great riches of that insularie kingdome curious on the other side of the generall good and repose of Christendome refused not with Charles the Emperour his Father and Henry the second to hearken to a vniuersall peace especially at the perswasions of the English Cardinall Poole who hauing passed betweene the Emperous and the King of France did maruelouslye sollicite them to a good accorde whereunto the rather to induce them he insisted both by
vanished from among vs yet doth their goodnesse and memorie stil remaine fresh and fixed in the minds and harts of manie But how can it otherwise fare Illustrious Ladies but that you must needes succeede or rather abounde in all or greater worthinesse hauing the honour and blisse to bee trayned vpp in the same Schoole from the which they and all other borrow their light as the Moone doth frō the Sun at the mouth of that diuine Oracle Ex cuius ore melle dulcior fluit oratio that sacred Queene vnmachable and victorious Virgine Supereminens omnes Mans mirror Ioues darling worlds wonder and natures perfection whose Angelicall face so often as I doe beholde as behold to often I can not me thinketh J still with daseled eyes see as it were in full aspect Solarem Maiestatem cum Saturnina grauitate That the powerful and essentiall thing of things may number the peaceable yeeres of her Raigne like the sands of the Sea that the shadow gonne downe in the Dyall of Ahaz may be ten and ten degrees brought backward that the Sunne abide and the Moone stand still vntill she may be auenged of her enemies Let all her Subiects pray our age rest thankefull posteritie admire and the heauens eternise her name for euer The Historie of Fraunce THE FIRST BOOKE NOw that those our Actions are most worthy of praise which can both please profit together wherein a History ought to haue the aduantage to excell all other I do not wel know though I did hardly could I tell whether in representing vnto you the estate of Fraunce and nations neighbours vnto it since fortye yeeres past I might doe a generall pleasure considering the mallice enuye and diuersitie of iudgements of euery man True it is that if I be not deceiued through the selfe liking of my owne labour the truth herein so clearely represented the free desire of euery ones profit in sundry sortes the varietie and notable euente of so many accidents doe sufficiently promise vnto mee a gratious acceptance euen at the handes of the more gentle and better vnderstanding sort of strangers who being farre from my knowledge and thereby lesse tickled with enuie an ordinary compagnion of the liuing shall be more rightly able to iudge of my labours I doe lesse doubt how small or much pleasing soeuer the first Treatises of this Historie shal be but that all wil euen hasten to see the progresse and issue therof some allured thereunto through the pleasure which the diuersitie of so strange and memorable an Argument offereth vnto them and other of a curiositye praise worthie to be willing to know the meruailes of Gods iudgments the great hatreds and small charitie So many peaces broken so many warres renewed so strange cruelties so small fauours in summe al the Potentates of christendom at banding for and against the French who most miserably haue made themselues the foole in the play and the vnhappy end variable reencounter of more rare miseries then euer worldlings did practise I cleane contrarye knowing the verye causes and meanes through which wee haue beene cunningly ledde to such pouertye endeuour as much as possibly I may to estrange from my selfe the consideration of so miserable effects and fetch my history from more high reaching somewhat beyond the beginning of our ciuill warres where wandring in a true discourse of forraine affaires and such as are common vnto vs with our neighbours I seeke the recompence of my paines In this chiefely that as maister of my selfe I cōmand my owne affections for a while to forget our calamities passed from which I may boldely borrow so much leasure as I shall esteeme necessarie to turne awaye for a season so sorrowfull and pitious a remembrance as thereby I am howrely put in minde of and albeit the memory of such greefes ought not any wayes to cause a vertuous disposition to swarue from the truth no more then the frendship of some hatred of other or respect of great personages should doe and though hee is verye rarelye to be found which is not spyed in the ende if not throughlye gained yet at the least tempted by some one of these passions especially in so confuse graue and deepe a matter I will notwithstanding be found so little partiall as all men shall haue more cause in other matters to disgrace me then in the truth of such accidents as are heere set foorth which if they shal bring a form of a more agreeable setting forth either by the number of strange occurrents or exceeding by a more excellency of deliuery the rudenes of my naturall language howsoeuer it be so farre am I from enuying so great a benefite to those of my age that I shall holde my selfe for well satisfied when I shall not gather any other profite of my long watchings then to see my selfe at the end of so great trauailes to haue vndertaken more for the pleasure of others then my owne particular And now that among Historiographers my name resteth as obscured their high valour number which are able to shadow the light wil bring me some comfort ioyned therewithall is that my qualitie holding more of action then of contemplation doth dispence with me to make any profession of writing but in matter of consequence wherein I am most delighted which being the cause that I best iudge of my insufficiency for being able to conduct and profit so laboursome a trauaile I will call vpon his grace which is able to blesse the beginning pursuite and last end of such a labour Being then resolued to lay before your eyes the estate of Fraunce and her neighbours since fortye peares passed and considering how the causes of humaine accidents are maintained by an eternall bonde and knowne of fewe people I thought I should make my worke a great deale more commendable if I did fetch the matter from more high thogh not from the first spring yet at the least from the more apparāt occasions which haue brought forth so strange occurrents For when I should entreat but of the wars between Charles the Emperour and Philip his sonne against the Kings of Fraunce or of the change of Religion throughout Christendome or of the Seditions that ensued thereon I should worke you very small pleasure and lesse profit in laying downe these matters so rawly vnto you leauing in the meane time vndiscouered the roote and cause of these great ones enmities the beginning and progresse of the reformation the paines and pursuites against such as were wilfull in the faith when whence and how the Lutherans were dispersed throughout the whole world by what meanes and successe they haue beene maintained against the Catholiques in euery Countrie together with the motife and conduite which both the one and the other pretended to bring to the defence of the true and auncient religion And hereby in shewing you the beginnings and preparatiues of the stomacking warres among the Christians I shall make you to iudge
how the most notable broyle which euer was seene in Christendome had his beginning from the diuersities of opinions in the explanation of the religion of our Fathers To the maintenance of which the persecutions which were ordained and pursued against the more stedfast in their faith haue brought forth lesse troubles in all sortes of vertues but much greater be it in quantitye or qualitie of vices yea surpassing all misfortune number and varietie of notable accidents all the warres which euer our ancestours had against their neighbours as the narration of the pittifull effectes both of the one and th'other worldly passion shall make apparant vnto you if you will patiently abide the reading thereof vntill the end The peace which was concluded between Charles 5. Emperour and Frauncis the first togither with that which ensued at Ardres betweene Henry 8. K. of England and the K. of Fraunce maintained as well the estates and subiects of these Princes as of sundry other Christians which by alliance neighbourhood or other dutie of frendship communicated with their passions in such rest and aduantage as all esteemed themselues happie of their present ease considering their toyles passed euery one reioysing so much more as hauing suffered a world of miseries vnder the continuance of so long and cruell warres they had euen fully perswaded themselues that the immortall hatreds of their Soueraignes would vtterly enuy the comming of so greatly a desired peace ledde hereunto for that finding their harte burnes grounded vpon a slight enough despite yea more ambitious then reasonable they often enough sawe them counselled by those who hauing nought else thē their Maisters pleasure their owne particular before their eyes represented vnto them but an apparance of good the pursuite whereof being alwaies vnfortunate to subiects brought only honor and profit to such as full cunningly knew how to make their owne markets But such was the eternall prouidence or to speake naturally the vndiscreet lightnes of the French ioyned with a too vaine ambition of their neighbours drawing from so euill guided a passion a lamentable spring of all our miseries to come that so yong a peace could not be suffered to wax old among the Christians who too ticklish in their ease as it were leaping with a desire of new chāges seemed to seek nothing else thē an occasion how to free thēselues from this rest which alredy seemed too noisome vnto thē Now as according to the infinite reencounter of humaine accidents they could not long want matter to entertaine the fire of their ancient enmities the occurrence of the protection of Parma presented it selfe but too soone to heate the well neere tempered affections of these Princes of their people and allies by a new motion which so greatly changed their counsailors harts not yet ful cooled of their burning enmities that there needed no long time to perswade them to make warne and fall together by the eares with greater stomack then euer Beholde the very cheefe occasions The ancient hatreds between the Spaniards and French grounded vpon the pretence of Naples Milan Flaunders Burgundie and sundry other rights for the maintenance wherof so much Christian bloud hath bene shed reuiued between Frauncis the first Charles of Austria continued for light enough occasions were no lesse entertained through the enuy of the glory which the French atchieued at the memorable defeat of at their times the inuincible Swissers at Marignan the conquest of Milan and sundry other great aduantages happened to the Flowredeluce then the ielousie of the honor and and aduancement which Charles got at such time as the seauen Electors of Germany bestowed vpon him to be meete with the French the title and soueraigne power of Emperour ouer the Christians and since being tooth and nayle pursued by the ambitious and sturdie nature of these two though yong yet the greatest Princes of Christendome there euer fell out such store of matter to nourish this fire of enmitie that one could not but iudge it eternall if Charles had not first shewed both to the Princes of his owne time and to come as well by his succession to the goods and rights of his ancestors as by his voluntary resignation of his estates and free retreate into a solitary life voide of the pranckes of this worlde how one ought to take and leaue hatreds rather with discretion then blinde passion or aduise of euil councellors into which almost all Lords by indiscretion faintnes of hart or other insufficiencie suffer themselues to be but too much ledde Charles notwithstanding was cunning a dissembler a great husband as well in the expence of his time as treasure patient staide and well setled couragious in aduersitie discreat in his wordes and actions of a good and strong stature scorning the outward gloryes and shewes of the worlde hauing for counterpease of his good partes the indisposition of his person selfe will in his own opinion and the wealth of his estate for the end of his actions more then reason honor or iustice what euer could be alleadged vnto him to the contrary Frauncis on the other side was open too bountifull sumptuous in diet apparell buildings and other outward things royall in perfourmance of his worde valiant couragious a great freend to learning and other rare matters but blemishing his praise-worthy partes with too suddaine a change of opinion and and too free credite giuing to such as he had lightly enough chosen for his cheefe fauourites no lesse then by worldlye pleasure which carrying him to the fruition of things corporall and fleshly shortned the course of his life which otherwise could not chuse but haue beene very long considering the estate of his person and a reasonable good forme of dyet which hee helde by the aduise of his Phisitions Both of them freends to the people whom they would not ouercharge but in great necessitie couragious ambitious yea to haue imagined eche one in their owne conceite to haue had the Empire of the worlde alike frended of Fortune if you compare the losses which Charles sustained at Metz in Fraunce in Affricque and els-where with the imprisonment of Erauncis they both left their children heires to some of their vertues as well as of their wealth and passions but much surpassing them in yeelding credit to their counsellors to whome they meerelye referred the resolution of good or bad which sometimes they too much put in practise for their owne particular as well as for the good of the estate Of which leauing vnto the historie to discouer the ouer-plus vnto you I will but deliuer the matter of Parma which reuiuing their halfe dead contrariety of affections seemed vnto them a sufficient occasion and fit meanes to be throughly reuenged of whatsoeuer had bene before passed Pope Paul 3. had exchanged certain of the church lands by the consent and ratification of the Colledge of Cardinals with Parma and Plaisance in which he inuested his
the Pope of whose deepe disgrace hee stoode well assured declaring therein what iniurye was doone him The cause of the warre of Parma and why receiuing of Octauian into his protection he forbad vnder great penaltie any mony to be transported to Rome for considering that monye was the very sinew of warre what follye were it saide hee to nourishe a mans enemye with his owne wealth The propertie of Popes was to pacifie quarrelles among Kings which Pope Paul the third did who altogeather creeping with age came as farre as Nice into the Country of Genes to reconcile his late Father to th'emperour But Iulye ranne a cleane contrary course for hauing no sooner published the counsell most necessary for the common-wealth he presently mooued a warre whereby the French Church one of the most principall of Christendome was cleane excluded requiring a lawfull counsel might be summoned to amend as wel the faults of the Prelates and other Ministers of the Church as a number of other thinges being there handled to correct the vices of euery one This was publyshed at Paris by sound of Trumpet the seuenth of September anon after hee had proclaimed the Edict of Chasteau-Briant against the Lutheranes Shortly after the Imperials caused the cleane contrary to be giuen out and proclaimed in which the beginning of the warre of Parma was specified where hauing shewed how great reason the Pope had to be angry with Octauian and the Lord of Mirandolle how contrary the King of Fraunce was bent that sought all occasions and wrought all meanes to hinder the most honest enterprises of the Emperour gaue notwithstanding to wit that Charles of Austria who helde his practises for little worth would most couragiously and stoutly pursue the ende thereof And whereas Octauian gaue out that he was constrained by necessitie to put himselfe vnder the safegarde and protection of the King of Fraunce by reason of the outrages and pranckes of Ferdinand Gonzague it was cleane refuted for had there beene anye occasion of feare quoth the Emperour he was the motyfe who had often sought meanes to cause him to be killed it was after declared how Plaisance was rendred vp to th'emperour by reason that Pierre Louis the Popes Bastard enioying Parma and Plaisance behaued himselfe so cruelly in his gouernement that hee drewe the wrath of God vpon him and euery mans hatred by the example of Nero especiallye for his execrable wickednes not onely with women but very men wherefore hee was most iustly murthered in his owne house by the Cittizens which could not endure his cruelty any longer This doone the inhabitants forseeing their apparant and imminent danger if they should fall againe into the subiection of the Pope and Church of Rome could finde no other refuge or more assured libertie then to render thēselues to the Emperour namely hauing beene at other times vassailes of th'empire they sollicited then Gonzague and praied him to receiue thē into the Emperours protection otherwise they would thinke of some other succour and defence it is but counterfait then in making semblance of feare for the Emperour neuer gaue him occasion as one that had greatlye benefited the Farnezes hauing chosen Octauian for his sonne in law and giuen the Citie of Nouarre for euer to his father Louis and bestowed on him the honor of Marquesse but both of them oftentimes shewed themselues maruelouslye vngratefull and especially when they made shew of ayding him against certain rebels of Germany for in the meane time they endeuoured to take from him both Lombardie and Gennes it selfe for proofe whereof Ioannin Dorie a vertuous man if euer were any was most villanously murthered in the tumulte while he faithfully employed himselfe for the Emperour and sought to deliuer the Countrie from that daunger into which he saw it most ready to fall there was shortly after an answere put in print vnder the name of the King of Fraunce in which was rehearsed how the Emperour desiring to winne vnto him Paul the third had bestowed vpon his sonne Pierre Louis the tytle and dignitie of Marquesse had taken Octauian sonne to Pierre for his sonne in law yeelding goodly benefites to Alexander his other sonne besides which he had made an alliance with the Pope wherin was especially set down that the Emperour should confirme the decree of the consistory of Cardinals namely that the Emperour should confirme the principallitie of Parma and Plaisance to the familye of Farnezes Now whereas the Emperour made warre in Germany punishing some priuate rebellions vnder pretence of setting vp of religion this sleight meruailously displeased the Pope considering by this meanes he shewed well enough that hee had no regarde but to his perticular profit and making of himselfe great And in truth saide the King the Pope was no whit therein misconceiued for as soone as the warre was finished and the Emperour no more in need of the Fernezes aide he publiquely declared his euill meaning conceiued against the Pope for his Liuetenants of Italie had already found meanes to compasse Plaisance and anon after murtherers were hired to kill Pierre Louis in his chamber and before that euer the Cittizens had notice of the murther men of warre were sent in to seaze of the Castle in the name of the Emperour who if he had beene so ignorant of the fact it had bene great reason that after the death of Pope Paul he should haue sought the deliuery of the Cittie to the Church of Rome but so farre was he from it as he went about to take Parma out of the hands of his owne Nephewe yea while Pope Paul liued hee made pursuite thereof in such sort that Paul taking a conceite thereat died for griefe Afterwardes Ruffians were found at Parma which of their owne accorde confessed that Fernande Gonzague had giuen them in charge to murther Octauian He then perceiuing himselfe in this distresse that such as ought to haue preserued him yea his own father in law sought to take from him not only his substance but his life demanded succour of the King and yeelded himselfe into his handes which hee could not by any meanes gainsay pressed thereunto by so many teares and reasons The case standing thus and for these occasions all the Princes being animated euery one bestirred him to doe the worste he could against his enemie Captaine Powlin hauing in readines his gallies and fleete at Marseilles furnished and victuailed for Scotland tooke certaine Merchants Ships of Flaunders vpon the English Sea the which hee rifled alleadging that vnder colour of traffique they transported the victuail and munition of the Realme to make themselues the better able to preuaile against Fraunce Else-where the Gouernours of the frontires prepared themselues openly to the war the Queene of Hungary in like sorte being gouernesse for her Brother in the Lowe countrie made stay of all Frenchmen and their goods neere at the same time that th'emperour discharging of Marillac Embassador for the King about his person
themselues sooner beaten then assailed by those whose very first March they alwaies before despised Then after manye and light brunts with the common faith receiued in Fraunce since the sure and publicke establishmentes of Christian Religion by Berenger of Tours Abeyllard Breton Amaury of Chartres Arnold of Bresse and other followed by a great number of Sectaries as well in this Realme as else where it neuer was so earnestly assaulted as by the Vaudoios and their successors in Guienne and Countries about which they named Albigeois of the towne of Alby chiefe of Albigeois scituate betweene Languedos and Quercy Who in spight of all the Potentates of Christendome sowed about the yeare 1100. and euen since their doctrine smally differing from the Protestants at this day Not onely through Fraunce but almost all the Countries of Europe For the French Spanish English Scots Italians Germaines Bohemians Saxons Polonians Lithuaniens and other people haue mightily defended it vntill this present After that this doctrine had a while crept thorough Fraunce in the end as the heate of burning coles doth exhalate and pearce thorough by little and little the thicknesse of the Sinders not able to quench it it grew more commonly knowne by Prayers publike exhortations administrations of Sacraments and other vses the course whereof the Clergie not being able to hinder sought vnder the authoritie of the Pope aide and force at the hands of Christian Princes whome they speedely armed against the Albigeois Whom after a number of assaults battels reencounters losses ruines victories and reciprocal aduantages from the yeare 1200. For 50. yeares after euer maintaining by armes and force the outward shew of their liues their doctrine and their Countrie together vntil that the chiefe of them were defeated and empouerished other gained by faire protestations promises of better hap and all in generall together wearie with the continuance of so long Ciuil warres The Christian Princes and Prelats of the Church left as in contempt a wandering people of all parts terrified with so cruell a warre insisting in their first opinion which rather the ease of the rest they after felt caused them to chaunge then any rigour of their enemies So as all the French anon after returned to the same doctrine from which their fathers had so much swarued except such as retired themselues into the mountaines chiefely the Prouencaux Sauoyarts Dauphinois and Piemontois of whome there were many sent into Lombardie Calabria Pouille Sicille Germaine and other places to the end they might plant the fruite of that doctrine which they stoode assured was the most true auncient of Christendome Now the English was Lord of Guienne in the time of these Albigeois wars by reason that Henrie of Aniou after the death of Stephen became king of England Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou Tourraine and Maine And afterwards grew to be Earle of Poictou and Duke of Aquitaine called Guienne by vertue of Eleonor his wife daughter to Guillame last Earle of Poictou whom king Louys le Ieune had diuourced So as sundry English men which ordinarily came into those countries either by reasons of trafique and marchandise or warre against the French had speedely enough being imbrued with the same opinions spread them abroad in their owne Countrie Which hauing beene conceiued and explaned by manie in the end fell from hand to hand into the heade of Wicklife about 50. yeares after a greatly renowned Diuine in the Vniuersitie of Oxford and Curate of Luteruorth in the Diocesse of Lincolne Who in the end being a Doctor in Diuinitie thorough his eloquence and rare Doctrine gained so farre the harts and vnderstandings of the English and chiefely of the greatest sorte as the Duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard Henrie of Persye Lewes Clifford the Chaunlor Kegli the Earle of Sarisburie others as a long time after he preached wrought and dispersed with all libertie what best seemed good vnto him Most chiefely vnder King Edward True it is that Pope Alexander thorough the sollicitings of the chiefe of the Clergie animated Richard his successor much against him in the yere 1382 Who preuailed so farre that after sundrie disputations of the Articles of his faith hee was banished afterwards called home and dyed 1387. But 40. yeares after his decease his body was puld out of the grounde by the Popes commandement and his bones burned at Oxford 1410. before the Abbot of Shrewsberie then Chancelor And albeit that 13. yeares after his death 1401. his doctrine was vtterly condemned in open Parliament with an Iniunction to all men to seeke out those Lollards so called they such as professed that order of doctrine according vnto those of Pologne and borderers vnto it yet for all that could it not hinder the multiplying thereof as well in that Countrie as else where Chiefely in Germanie by reason of the great learning which was taught by the famous Fathers of the Vniuersitie of Oxford Wher among other a Scholer of Bohemia being much delighted in a booke of Wicklifes called The Vniuersales caried a Coppie thereof with him into his Countrie where the Vniuersitie of Prague was of great commendations In which Iohn Hus more renowned then the rest for his quicknes of spirite made himselfe for all that much better knowne after the reading of those bookes which he explaned and so much thereby encreased the doctrine which long since was spread abroad in those quarters that many of the people Scholers and of the very Nobles and Clergie themselues followed the same as a matter worthy to bee receiued among men Now among the rest of the people which for their conscience were persecuted the Bohemians had beene long before Iohn Hus by Venceslaus King of Bohemia who made great search after them roundly punished them And by the Pope who long before that had sent thither an inquisitor of the ill affected of the faith who Iohn Hus liuing was named Bishop of Nazaret Be it then that the persecutions either coolled this kinde of people thorough out Christendome or that the Princes and Cleargie made no accounte of those who standing fauoured by no great personages became all simple people and inhabitants of the Montaignes as those of Piemont Sauoye Calabria and other the Bohemians stoode at that instant most renowned and worst ment to Especially after that Hus had reformed his preaching leassons and writings by the tradition of Wicklife So as in the yeare 1414. the Counsell being summoned at Constance for the controuersie of the Popes and reformation of the Cleargie Iohn Hus a Batchelor in Diuinitie to the end to purge himselfe of the heresie which was laide to his charge was cited thither by the Pope and after hauing refused to come accounting it no safe or sure place hee was perswaded by Sigismond the Emperour that they might safely goe thether and returne againe at the request of his brother Venceslaus King of the Countrie and besides that
aliue the first of Iuly 1523. Hereupon Adrian died the 13. of September 1523. to whome Clement of Medices 7. succeeded vnder whome the doctrine of Luther began to creepe in amidst the French among whom albeit couertly and secretly the Lutheranes were soone enough suspected and known afterwards examined of their faith were very often pursued by the Clergie so as the French army being broken vp and the King taken before Pauie by Fernand Daual Marquisse of Pescaire Charles of Bourbon and Charles De Launoy Viceroy of Naples 14. of Februarie 1525. who caried him prisoner into Spaine his mother Loyse regent in his absence desiring in this so great an affliction to entertaine the good fauour of Christian Princes especially of the Pope besides the good affection and singular reuerence which by her letters shee protested to carrie towards the Church of Rome demaunded at their hands succour against such an accident and Councell how shee might staie the course of heresies which were already hatched thorough out the whole Realme Then Clement the seuenth besides his priuate letters full of hope and comfort signified from Rome the 20. of March 1525. to the Parliament of Paris that he had vnderstoode by letters from the regent how those wicked heresies began to slide thorough the whole Realme and whom by great prudence and good aduise they had deputed certaine to whom they gaue charge to see the punishment of such as stroue to abolish the faith and auncient Religion whom so deputed he confirmed by his owne authoritie It is necessarie saith he that against this great and maruailous disorder sprong from the malice of Satan and the rage and impietie of his supporters the whole world should bend their forces to preserue the common health considering that this forcenerie woulde not onely confound and broyle Religion but also all principalitie Nobility lawes orders and degrees For his owne parte he would neither spare any diligence or labor to remedie such an inconuenience that they in like sorte whose prudence and vertue hath euery where beene highly renowned ought to employ themselues to the preseruing of the true and right faith And moreouer that to the end the weale of their Realme and dignitie of their estate should be exempt from the perill and domesticall misteries which this pernitious and pestilent heresie sowed round about they needed not to bee pricked forwards considering how great testimonie of their prudence they had already yeelded yet to make his dutie appeare and shew the good will which he bore vnto them he would doe no lesse then adde this For that which they hetherto had done was most agreeable vnto him and was the cause why he exhorted them from thence forth to keep good watch against so mischieuous a plague of heretiques for the honour of God and safetie of the Realme In some hee assured them that this their diligence should bee greatly acceptable to God and worthy of much praise before men that he in like sorte would set to his helping hand and giue vnto them aide and all possible fauour Vpon this then the Diuines of Paris during the imprisonment of King Francis the first tormented greatly among other Iacques Le Feure of Estaples who hath left behinde him many bookes in Philosophie and Diuinitie In sort that hee was enforced to retire out of Fraunce The King aduertised hereof especially by the recommendation of his sister Marguerite who greatly fauoured Le Feure for his vertue sent letters to the Parliament of Paris in which he signified how hee had beene giuen to vnderstand that they had indited Iacques De Feure and sundry other of excellent knowledge before them at the pursute of the Diuines who deepely hated Le Feure for euen before his departure out of France some of that facultie had highly accused him before himselfe but wrongfully and without cause That if it had beene so saith he he gaue charge to the greatest personages and most notable in all erudition to canuisse out his bookes and writings wherewith he was charged which they diligently executing euery thing thoroughly examined a most ample and honorable testimonie was deliuered vnto him touching the said Feure considering then that the truth is such as hee did afterwards vnderstand that he was highly esteemed among the Italians and Spaniards for his doctrine and vertue he would stand maruailously discontented if they should offer any iniurie or put in any danger so innocent a person And for that at that instant he ment to haue iustice more rightly rigorously administred thoroughout his Realme then before as also for that he resolued to shew all fauour and amitie towards learned men to that end hee commaunded that if they had put any men of knowledge in question since his departure that it should be suspended by his mother the regent to the end he might be aduertised by her and that they should therein attend his intention and good pleasure In the meane time not to proceede any further but surcease vntill his returne which he hoped would be shortly by the grace of God or vntill that he or his mother should bee otherwise aduised These letters were dispatched to goe from Madrila Cittie in Spaine the 12. of Nouember and presented vnto the Parliament of Paris the 28. of the same month Loyse shortly after seeing that she was not able to winde the Emperour to such an accord as shee desired for the deliuerie of her sonne made alliance with Henrie the 8. King of England about the end of August 1525. The first Article purported that they should imploy them selues to the repelling of the Turkes strength and courses together with the pestiferous sect of Luther no lesse dangerous then the Turkes Now as the Emperour perceiuing the King to grow verie sicke in respect the pretended accord could take no good effect feared least by the encreasing of his sicknesse he might loose thorough a suddain death so certaine aduantages as presented themselues he went to see him at Madril comforted him and put him in better hope then euer In the end the 14. of Ianuarie 1526. the treatie was concluded Among the Articles whereof it was specially set down that the Emperours and Kings principall end was to haue the enemies of the faith and heresies of the Lutherans cleane rooted out And that a peace being concluded between them they should settle the common wealth and vndertake a warre against the Turkes and heretiques excommunicate and cut off from the communion of the Church A matter aboue al most necessarie and to which the Pope had often dealt and sollicited them to become watchfull To satisfie then his good pleasure they resolued to beseech him to commaunde Embassadours from all Kinges and Princes to meete at a day in some certaine place with generall charge and commission to aduise how they might well make a war against the Turke and defeate the heretiques enemies of the Church that the Pope would permit euerie Prince according
done in other places They of Merindol seeing all on a fire round about them presented a supplication to Minier crauing onely liberty to depart in their shirts with their wiues and children into Germany but hauing for answere that he would send them all to inhabite in hell among the deuils they abandoned their houses and fled into the woods passing that night neere the Village of S. Falaise in great fright The inhabitants of the Village were already determined to flie likewise the B. of Cauaillon vice-legate of Auignon had giuen charge to some Colonell to make a short dispatche of the worlde so as the next morning they got somewhat further into the wood for there was euery where danger throughout and Minier had forbidden vpon paine of death that no soule should helpe them but that they should be all alike sacked wheresoeuer they were found The like forbidding was made in all places round about bordering vpon the Popes territorie besides that the Bishops defraied a great parte of th'army The poor paisants then marched on through a monstrous vile way carrying their little children vpon their shoulders in their armes or in cradles yea some of their wiues following thē great with child Being arriued at the place apointed they found many who had saued thēselues there after hauing lost all but soon enough newes was broght them how Minier had gathered together all his men of warre to come and followe them This was towards night an occasiō that after a whiles cōsultation they took a sodain and an hastie deliberation and for that they were to passe by hard and rude wayes they left their wiues daughters children with some other among which was one of their Ministers th'other went on to Mussi as they had agreede hoping the enemy would take some pittie of such a multitude without weapon and vnable to defend it selfe Euery man may well gesse what groanes and sighes what teares what imbracings they made one with another at the parting hauing trauailed sore all night and in the end gained the toppe of the Mountaine of Lebron they could discouer nothing but a number of villages and farmes all on fire Minier hereupon deuided his troupes into two partes and for that he had vnderstanding by a spye which way they of Merindal were gone he went to the village and sent the rest to followe them Before that these men had entred the forrest a certaine Quidam of pittie being moued ranne before so as being at the brim of the Rocke and hauing cast two stones where he gessed those people rested cryed out to them that had reposed themselues that they should flye to saue their liues albeit that he no waies perceiued them At that instante two of those that were gone to Mussi gaue them warning that their enemyes were comming and then they made the Minister runne awaye with the rest which were left to garde the women shewing to them a high way throughout the Forrest by which they might escape hardly were they departed but that the souldiers were come with faire naked swordes and great howtes crying that all should passe by the point and edge of their swordes notwithstanding they put none to the sworde But after many insolences they led away the women bare both of victual and mony hindred of doing worse by a Capten of horse who by chāce passed by and threatned that they should dy if they did the contrary but commaunded them with all speed to repaire to Minier so as the enterprise was cleane broken of in sorte that hauing left the women which were aboue 500. they rushed on vpon the butyn and cattell Minier in the meane time came to Merindol and finding it cleane voide of inhabitantes pilled and burned it after an horrible execution done of whatsoeuer was found therin for hauing met with a yong lad he made him be tied to an Oliue tree and slaine with harquebuse shot from thence he went to the towne of Cabrieres battred it with Canon and by meanes of Captaine Poulin perswaded the inhabitants to open vnto him the gates and yeeld themselues promising thē that they should sustain no iniury but anon after that the Souldiers became masters euery one was cut in peeces without regarde of age sexe religion alliance neighbourhoode or any other respect some fled into the temple other into caues of the castle but they were all drawne thence and ledde through a medowe where being stripped bare they passed all by the sharp of the sworde not onely men but women and of them some great with childe afterwards Minier made about 40. women to be enclosed into a barne full of hay straw where he set it a fire and as some stroue to quench it with the winde of their gownes and preuailed nought other ran to the windowes of the barne into which they were wont to pitch in the haye with intent to haue leaped downe but being driuen back from thence with blowes of Pikes and Clubs they were all burnt the 21. of April After that Minier sent one parte of the armye against La Coste they so no sooner were departed then those were found which were thrust together in the caue of the Castle of Cabrieres then all cryed out against those that were shut in the caue and calling back those which were gone to La Coste they made likewise as strange a shambles without reseruing any one eight hundred were counted for dead as well without as within sundry infantes which were saued were rebaptised that done Minier sent his troupes to La Coste the Lord whereof had already perswaded the Citizens to carry all their armes into the Castle and to raze the towne in foure places promising vpon his credit with Minier that no iniury should be offred vnto them he was beleeued and obeyed but departed from thence to beseech Minier he was not farre vntill he found the army which spared not to passe forward at the first entrye they did nought to the towne but the next morrow they gaue a more fresh assaulte vpon a few that defended it so as hauing set the fanebourges on fire they tooke it at their ease because that many that were fearefull slunke away and slipped downe by ropes abandoning their companies and the place ordained for their defence In summe the towne being taken and pilled with great murther of all such as were met there they runne all to a garden neere vnto the Castle where without any regarde they enforced the wiues and maides which were retired thither with a great fright yea hauing shut thē in a whole day and a night they intreated them so inhumanely as such as were with childe and the yong maides died presentlye after In the meane time they of Merindol and their companions wandring through the woods and rockes if they were taken as soone slaine or sent to the Gallies sauing those which died of famine About 25. were hidden neere vnto the towne of Mussi within a caue but being disclosed
halfe a league from Mezieres to which it had doone many shrewde turnes because the Lord pretended certaine rightes besides that it was a retraite to all lewde persons an occasion that Frauncis the first had there builded a blockhouse which for all that serued to no purpose by meanes of the euil gouernement thereof The Lord of which had beene brought vp a Page in the Kinges house and euer held the French partie vntill that vpon some spite he changed for the Bourgonion crosse with which he dyed of the shiuer of a peece which hee tryed afterwards the King being determined of his returne and hauing made the D. of Niuernois Gouernour of Luxembourg all also furnished Roc de Mars and the other places with all necessaries notwithstanding the daily roades of Theonuille and other imperial places sent his armye to batter take and cut in peeces all those that were retired into the Castle of Trelon which was vndermined and raised as Glaion and other places and to content the olde Ensignes the sacke of Cimetz was bestowed on them a Towne and Castle of the Duke of Ascottes whither many of the Countrie and of Ardennes were retired with cheefest goods of valewe but seeing the batterye they cleane lefte the towne and ranne into the Castle the great Tower whereof was no sooner battered downe but those that were besieged being willing to parley were knocked downe by the Portail and other places where they found an entrance to sacke and rifle with so great greedines and indiscretion as within one of the towre vautes where the Powder lay were aboue sixe score Souldiars roasted by meanes of the fire which the kindled matches of some of the Harquebusiers put thereto After the Towne and Castle was consumed to ashes which greatly astonied the Bourguinions and other the borderers which already feared the siege of Auanes whether the King had indeede caused his armye to marche had it not beene for the sickenes which day by day encreased among the Souldiers of whome a good parte were alreadye secretly stolne away some charged with good booties some with sicknesse some with tedious and long paines and many with blowes more then riches hard to be endured in warre although but soddaine and of small continuance euen of the most hazardous An occasion that in the end of Iuly the armye was parted into Garrisons attending what the Emperour now would vndertake who much troubled with the Protestant Princes army of Germany saw him selfe then brought as it were into two extremeties either to accorde almost whatsoeuer Maurice and his cōpanions would demaund as well for Religion as the libertye of Germanye and so to enter into Fraunce and reuenge such iniuries as he had receiued by King Henry or else to let him alone at his ease to gaine the Countrie whereby he might another time enforce the Germanes to submitte themselues to the yoke of his power notwithstanding whether it were that an iniurye receiued from an equall seemed vnto him more hard to be abidden then the offence of an inferiour and one especially bound with a kinde of dutie of subiection or whether hee thought himselfe in better readines against the French or whether as some say that his hatred conceaued against King Henry did more passionate him then against any other Prince the Emperour resolued himselfe of a peace with Germany as it were to espouse a warre with Fraunce by such meanes as I will deliuer vnto you Maurice stood principally vpon two pointes besides the deliuerye of the Landgraue the one that Ferdinand with Maximilian his Sonne and the commissioners might from thence take notice of such matters as were hurtefull to the libertye of Germanye and iudge thereof according to the ancient custome of Germanye the other that Religion should be let alone in peace and no harme in respect thereof to any man in the Worlde vntill the difference might be decided The Commissioners allowed of this forme but the Emperour shewed what hee desired and iudged fitte how it was reasonable that such as had euer remained loyall towards him and thereby greatly fallen into calamities might receiue recompence for their losses After long debating and some articles eased it was concluded that the Emperour should giue his full answere by the third of Iulye and that in the meane time there should bee a truce and cessation of armes The Commissioners then sent their letters to the Emperour the 26. of Iune to exhorte him to a peace Afterwards the French Embassadour being pressed to deliuer the occasions of his Maisters discontentment and vnder what conditions he would enter into a peace hauing receaued newes from his Master answered that the King had not vndertaken this warre in respect of his own particular but to succour Germany so farre going to decay as touching the conditions of peace it was not the custome of the Kings of Fraunce to demaund it as became themselues in all respects therefore he did not thinke he had any cause to propose ought without an assured hope of obtaining the same especiallye considering that the Emperour had most vniustly made warre against him while he marched for their succours notwithstanding he would quit much for a peace so as he might see it generall and refused not but that they might take knowledge and determine of these differents to which if Charles would not doe reason he protested the fault shuld onely light of his necke for all the miseries which might ensue thereon In summe that these Princes perceiuing the delaies of the Emperour had no sooner besieged Francforte where was a great Garrison of the Emperours but by the aduise of the most parte of the Princes of Germanye the peace was concluded the last of Iulye 1552. See the occasions which draue the one and the other to conclude the same Among other reasons the great danger was laide before Maurice which he should stand in as well on the Emperours side which had alreadye prepared a great armie as of his Cosins behalfe Iean Frederic whom the Emperour meant to send home free into his Countrie The Emperour likewise stoode in feare of the force of the Germanes and of the French The Landgraues sonne for the long detention of his Father Among other articles the Captiue Princes were to be set at libertie no disquiet for their Religion which they would aduise of at the first assembly within sixe moneths the King of Fraunce was to declare vnto Maurice his demaunds Albert was comprehended therein if he layde downe armes The King misliked with the whole course yet hee sent back the Hostages and Maurice his to wit the Earle of Nanteuil and Iametz The Historie of Fraunce THE SECOND BOOKE YOu haue heere before seene what preparatiues the Emperour and the Catholicke Princes confederate for Religion made of all partes against the Protestant Princes to furnish the great armye that they might be able to the end they might range them at deuotion The Germanes notwithstanding
French men esteemed themselues most happie to fall prisoners into the handes of more gracious Lordes from whose furie hardly could Frances de Montmorencie saue himselfe who onely remained there within lieutenant for the king whom in seeking to couer and defend D'ouartie was sore set vppon and hurt in his presence yet afterwardes hee was knowen and carried prisoner to Binecourt the Emperours Lieutenant The other more apparant prisoners as the Vicount de Martiques Dampierre de Losses Baudiment Bailet de S. Romain the Captaines Grille le Breul and Saint Romane yeelded themselues to diuerse masters as the hazard gaue them leaue and forasmuch as the simple souldiers were the first which entered in and not the captaines or Lordes of authoritie such prisoners as could readily make anye money went out good cheape as the Vicount De Martiques Dampierre de Saint Romane and the Captaine Breul But such as tarryed tardie were knowen and in great daunger there to abide by it long The surplus of the souldiers found at the Spaniards hands to whose mercie the most parte were fallen an honest entertainment taking of such as had meanes reasonable ransome and the poore hauing stript them of their weapons and best stuffe they sent backe safely and oftentimes themselues conducted them Within this little towne was found a great deale of good and grosse artillerie chiefly two verie faire and long Culuerines In this time the great Turke Sultan Soliman carryed himselfe too rigorously towardes the person of Sultan Mustapha his eldest sonne which he had of a slaue Who hauing beene sent with his mother from his first youth into the prouince of Amafia which was giuen vnto him was so well and carefully brought vp as hee there atchieued great honour and amitie not onely of all in that Countrie but thoroughout all the gouernments of his Father This mother beeing absent Soliman tooke another slaue vnto him named Roza of whome hee had foure other sonnes Mahomet Baiazet Selim Giangir the crooke backe and one daughter which was marryed to Bassa Rostan Roza being indued with admirable beautie accompanyed with all the flattering delights and allurements which possibly one could imagine knewe so well howe to plaie her part towardes Soliman who was as it were a man rauished that by the helpe of Muchthy as much to saie as the soueraigne Priest of the lawe of Mahomet and vnder colour of religion shee was not onely made free of condition but lawfull wife spouse of Soliman to which neuer anie before her attayned Raised now vnto such honour and seeing her selfe entirelie beloued she had no greater care than how to establish the Empire vnto one of her children after the death of the father But foreseeing that the singular vertues of Mustapha would bee so farre contrarie thereunto that whilest hee liued shee should neuer haue rest because that he had gotten the loue of the men of warre and how the eyes of all men were vppon him for the great hope of his magnanimious courage and singular dexteritie she studyed as much as she could to make him become odious to Soliman to which her sonne in law greatly aided her for that hee as then gouerned all the affayres Her reasons were how that Mustapha building vppon the loue and fauour which hee had gotten of all men thorough his great liberalitie courage dexteritie of spirit burned with such a longing to raigne as euerie man feared least in affecting the Empire hee would shorten the dayes of Soliman as alreadie Selim had done to his father Therefore shee vrged Soliman and besought him with many and great teares that hee would take order therein thereby to prouide for his owne safetie Now albeit in the beginning shee smally preuailed and that Mustapha had well discouered the crossebarres which shee ordinarilye prepared for him yet shee neuer ceased to continue by the helpe of a Iew a most renowmed inchantresse who hauing giuen vnto her certaine drugs shee caused the amitie of Soliman to bee redoubled towards Roza so well as she assured her selfe of a good euent at the last to her enterprises albeit a delaie might bee for a time Finally after many practises shee found meanes to suborne the gouernour of Mustapha and caused him to write though falsely vnto Soliman howe his sonne meant to take in marriage the daughter of the Kinge of Persia This olde man moued by the continuall plaintes of Roza and Rostan easily gaue credite to these newes and false aduertisements so as in the yeere 1552. hauing caused a bruite to runne of the Persians comming downe into Syria hee sent Rostan thether with a puisant armie for vnder colour of going to meete with his enimies to ceaze vpon Mustapha and bring him prisoner to Constantinople with expresse commaundement to kill him if otherwise hee coulde not take him But Mustapha aduertised of the whole matter and howe that the Persians were not at all in the field came towardes him with seuen thousand men of the best experienced in the warres which caused Rostan to make a quicke returne without dooing ought Whereat Soliman beeing the more prouoked the next yeere caused the same bruite agayne to runne and how hauing leauied a great armie he meant to go himself in person agaynst the Persians Beeing arriued in Syria hee commanded his sonne to come vnto him to his campe Mustapha knowing how it was him alone which they shot at albeit hee was prayed and greatly solicited to auoide the furie of his Father and retire himself into some other part trusting in his owne innocencie and thinking it a matter more commendable and worthie of his greatnesse to die in obeying of his Father than liuing to incurre a note of infamie and treason yea though thereby hee might gaine the Empire of the whole world thinking in like sorte that for that he neuer made anie refusal by his owne presence hee might appease the furie of his father went on his waie thether but being entered within Solimans tent hee was sodainly taken and strangled in his owne presence after at the same instant the Bassa his head of the Prouince of Amasia was stroke off This crueltie beeing come to the knowledge of Giangir the crooke backe one of the rest of the foure brothers hee manfully reiected the gifte and spoile which his father had presented vnto him so that lamenting the death of his brother he could not command himselfe nor refrain from vttering these speeches Ha cruell Traitor I cannot say Father take now to thy selfe the treasures the Horses the Tapistrie and the Prouince of Mustapha and gouerne it at thyne owne pleasure could it fall into thy thought O infamous man and without humanitye to cause to dye against all lawe so valiant a personage as neuer was nor neuer will be the like in all the house of Ottomans Ha ha it shall not bee true and I will take order that thou shalt neuer bee able impudentlye to vaunte that euer thou didst the like
and safe In such and like reencounters and skirmishes there passed 8. daies in great necessitie of victuals and maruelous discommodities of the ayre before Mariembourg vntill that almost all the waggons and carriages were entred in Then they retired themselues to the garrisons neere at hand as also the Prince of Orenge to Bruxels to the Emperor hauing sufficiently prouided for Philippeuille and Charlemont To enter againe into the estate of Almane Ferdinande K. of Bohemia assigned in that time in the name of the Emperour a diet at Ausbourg of the estates of Almane to accorde about the point of Religion and prouide as well for the necessities of the Empire as the particular of each one the yeare 1555. The Protestant Princes sent thither their Embassadors shewing that they held with the confession of Ausbourg according to which if they would giue them suretie they would contribute to all reasonable charges Hereupon August Duke of Saxe and elector by the decease of his Brother the D. Maurice whom the Pistoll shot which hee receaued the daye of the battaile against the Marquesse Albert caused to dye as elsewhere I haue tolde you and Touachin Marquesse of Brandebourg electors the Sonnes of Iean Frederic the Lantgraue and some other Princes neighbours about assembled at Numbourg vpon the Riuer Solo and there renewed the alliance which is hereditaire betweene the houses of Saxe and Hesse And vpon that they concluded constantly to stick to the confession of Ausbourg But fearing least some suspition might growe of any new and secret enterprise the fift day of their assemblie they wrote the cause therof vnto the Emperor insisting vpon the article of the treatie of Passau where the peace was concluded as I haue shewed vnto you and protesting that in all thinges they sought the repose of Almanie they proposed the confession of Ausbourg exhorting euery one to a generall quiet and beseeching that hee would not beleeue any which perhaps sought to trouble the tranquility of the Empire The K. Ferdinande had proposed vpon the fifth day of February such matters as were to be entreated of but for that many came so slackely thither they began not vntill the 7. of March Then the Deputies of the Princes Electors consulted of the byls and against the aduise of many they all consented in the end to begin with the point of religion The like was concluded in the councel of the Princes and townes After a long debate it was agreede that they should leaue religion in peace but they differed in that the associates of the confession of Ausbourg would haue it to be indifferently permitted to all kinde of men to follow their doctrine and that they might likewise be partakers of the benefit of the peace The other side stronglye withstoode that alleadging that that ought not to be permitted to any Townes which since seauen yeares had receaued the decree made at Ausbourg touching religion nor to any ecclesiasticall person And in case that a Bishop or Abbot should change his religion they would haue him depriued of his place and another put into his roome They of the confession of Ausbourg alleadged that the diuine promises as wel of the olde as new Testament in which our saluation is contained appertained to all men in generall by meanes whereof it was not lawfull for them to curtall or straighten them for feare of shutting both themselues and others out of the kingdome of heauen There was neither Iewe nor Turk were he neuer so little affectionate to his religion but would wish to drawe the whole worlde vnto it how much more ought we to be thus encouraged seeing we haue an expresse commandement from God for the fame it must needs be then that all remaine in their libertie Notwithstanding to gain peace they permitted vnto them that they should keepe their fashions and ceremonies vse and enioy all their goods possessions customes rightes and priuiledges vntil the different of religion should be determined But they would not allow the same condition to be prescribed vnto Bishops for thereby it might growe that they should be bound to make warre against their allies of the same religion and with great dishonour condemne their own cause for it were as much as to confesse said they that our doctrine and religion were not worthy of ecclesiasticall goods and that vntill this day such goods had bene vniustly bestowed vpon our Churches Ministers Moreouer we should confesse the Papists doctrine to be holy and their ministerye grounded vpon the word of God and that their goods were iustly deuoted to their order life statutes and ceremonies and what a scandall would it growe if we should defend their cause and goods which serue to no end in the Church and contrariwise we should betray them whome we ought to holde in singular recommendation by reason of the same religion The Catholiques alleadged other reasons that if it shuld be lawfull for ecclesiasticall persons to change religion within a while Bishops and like chapitres would be prophaned and being cut of from the Churches would fall into the Princes hands and so remaine vnto them as an heritage to which they answered that there was neuer any such matter meant but that their entent was to reduce things to their first institution and appropriate them to their true vsages annexing the goods for euer vnto the Churches and to take away all doubt they promised to giue caution that no goods of Bishops or chaptres should be aliened in case their religion should be changed prouided that after the decease or resignation of the Bishop or superiour the election and administration should be left free to them of the Colledge Now after many differents of the one part and other as well by wrighting as by speeche there was in the end agreede and enacted the fiue twentith of September and read in publicque audience according to the custome such decree as followeth the which being well obserued hath maintained the Empire and the Almanes in good peace vntill this present The decree of Ausbourg THat Emperour the K. Ferdinande and the rest of the Princes and estates should doe no wrong to any of the Empire in case whatsoeuer in respect of the doctrine of the confession of Ausbourg concerning the point of Religion and faith receiued nor hereafter compel by their commaundements or other meanes those which were confederate in the saide confession to abandon their religion ceremonies and lawes instituted by them within their territories or to be instituted hereafter especially that they haue not their religion in contempt but leaue them free with their goods enheritances customes possessions and all other rightes so as they may peaceably holde them That the different of religion be no otherwise determined but by holye amiable and peaceable meanes They of the confession of Ausbourg shall in like sort behaue themselues towardes the Emperour the K. Ferdinande and the rest of the Princes and estates addicted to the ancient religion
cannot preiudice the rights of their Prince much lesse then Christians the right of the Pope especially in a case of such importance Iointe that Truces doe not forbid war but in Countries of obedience not in other places where they haue nought to doe Moreouer they do not hinder one from taking vpon him the defence of some friend or allie by a much more strong reason then of him to whome all Christians are redewable for what soeuer they haue in this worlde as to Gods Lieutennant on earth Anne de Montmorency and his nephewes Odet and Gaspart of Coligny called Chastillon with many others represented vnto him for the contrarie the eternall and generall dishonour in all countries which he should get by breaking his faith so solemly sworne for the repose of his subiects vniuersall good of all Christendome so miserably torne in peeces thorough the continuance of so vilanous warresl yea and that there was a time in which ther was demaunded of Princes only their word for all assurances by reason that they saw them so wise and vertuous as they woulde not change their promises for all the aduantages of the worlde But as the malice of men encreased whereto the Princes by little and little participated so subiectes and strangers haue required at Princes handes their faith and oath which all men yea the very Turkes and other of contrary Religion hold inuiolable sauing at this daye Christians which first made shew of being willing to dispence with so Religious a bond as an oath is which cannot but turne to the great dishonour and generall obloquic of all Christendome the which no longer acknowledging any assurance vailable among men will fall into such a confusion that the strongest and most malicious will make subiect the good right honour and all vertue at his pleasure By consequence then there is no apparance of honour to be gotten in succouring the Pope who of himselfe in respect of the dutie of his charge ought to be ashamed to aske it and to giue occasion to such periurie and disloyaltie Yea if he were asked how hee would truely iudge or practise in his owne act if he were a King he would make no difficultie to disswade so pernitious a deliberation much lesse the hope of a conquest of a Realme ought to stur him vp thereunto considering the impossibilitie of gayning it or at the least keeping it by men so farre off so euill husbands and bad prouiders against a nation so neere and wel aduised as the Spanniard and especially that this hope is founded vpon the amitie of Italians whome we haue found for the most part vnconstant and variable in their duties as so many examples passed may verye well make vs wise enough to counsaile well therein our suruiuours And it is so farre off that the farre distance of the Emperour ought to encourage vs to doe euill as the good aduices wherewith he hath instructed his sonne the aduised and prouident personages which he hath lefte vnto him for counsell the alliaunce of the English which will furnish him both with men and money together with the resolution which he hath not to degenerate in ought from the vertues of his father nay rather to encrease them higher if occasion did present it selfe ought to make vs the more to feare the vndertaking thereof and to assure vs that we shall find ynough nay more forces and meanes to stay vs euen in the best of the enterprise then if the father himselfe had taken the conducte thereof All this notwithstanding and many other reasons which were alleadged coulde not hinder the breach of the truce and the expedition which was made into Italie chiefely in the ende by the diligence of the Conestable For albeit that he helde a hard string to the contrarie yet hee slacked for two occasions First that he perceyued through the absence of these vndertakers he mought haue faire and easie meanes to make great and assure his house so as hee was not in the ende ouer sorrie to see them of the house of Guise bearing armes to quitte the Courte and goe the voyage whereof hee hoped for no happie euente Iointe that he sought to marrie his eldest sonne whom 50000. crownes had a few dayes before redeemed out of prison with the widdow of the D. of Castre the kings aduowed daughter Whereupon the marriage being accorded euen as it stood vpon the poynte to be accomplished his sonne let him to vnderstande in October by Odet and Gaspart of Coligny his cousin germanes howe he had made a promise vnto the Ladie of Pienes that he coulde haue no other Whereat the father grieuously displeased endeuoured notwithstanding by all meanes to accomplishe this marriage So as hauing caused Pienes to be put in sure guarde within the house of Filles Dieu he considered with himselfe that herein he shoulde stande in neede of the Popes assistance vpon that he sent his sonne to Rome where he found Pierre Sirossy mareschall of Fraunce and they beganne together so well to besturre themselues for the Pope as they recouered agayne the porte of Ostye and other places occupied by the Spaniardes about Rome which serued him but as a prison And yet all the meanes which mought be was wrought with the Pope that he should not dispense with him to marrie any other then Pienes fearing least that being once obtained the Conestable would breake the desseins of the warre Whereof he being aduertised and seeing howe the Pope vsed him but with delayes dissimulations he besought him to contente himselfe with the seruice which he had done vnto him So as hauing taken his leaue he retourned to Paris a few dayes before Easter 1557. declaring vnto his Father that that which he let him to vnderstande of the promisse which he had made vnto Pienes was only to induce him vnto the marriage but that in trueth there was no other matter in such sorte as presently after the marriage was accomplished with the Lady of Castres The denyall thereof notwithstanding proceeding from the promisse which he mainteined he made vnto Pienes was the cause of an Edicte which was then published for the reciprocall duetie of parents and children vpon the occurrance of their marriage Edicte of childrens marriages THe K. ordayneth That such children as shall contract secrete marriage against the will or vnwitting vnto their father and mother be disinherited and declared vncapeable of all aduantages and profites which they might pretende by the meanes of nuptiall conuentions or by the benefite of customer or lawes of the contrarie And that the fathers and mothers may reuoke any guifts and aduantages giuen by them They likewise declared punishable which shall giue counsell ayde for the consummation of such marriages That this ordinance shall take place as well for the time to come as passed because there is therein a transgression of the lawe and commaundementes of God wherein no man may couer himselfe by any ignorance or
him aboue the Criminell to whome in very deede it ought to haue appertayned A little before the King hauing beene perswaded that by some fault of obedience in the iudges or thorough the strife for one an others iurisdiction and to auoide the expenses of the pursuites how that the Lutheranes were so sore multiplied and assemblies alreadie made by them in publike ordayned at Compiegne 24. of Iulie 1557. That the Ecclesiasticall Iudges shold not be troubled in the trial award of processe or iurisdictions of any crime of Heresie That the royall iudges should hold plea award Proces and punish all Sacramentaries disturbers of the publike repose vpon paine of death But the confiscations and fines which should growe vpon their iudgementes to charitable and publike workes not to the kinges vse who renounceth the giftes and whatsoeuer els might thereby growe vnto him Shortely after the Prince being as yet further animated by the Churchmen for the great assemblies which the Lutheranes made throughout his whole Realme especially in Paris aswel to celebrate the Supper and other exercises of their religion as to goe a whoaringe said they and commit other detestable actes forbad these conuenticles vpon payne of raising the houses in which they should bee made to what Lord soeuer they were proper at Vilier Cotteretz the 14. of September 1559. And for the better confirmation thereof King Francis the second added since payne of death to all such as should bee the authours of such assemblies whether they were made for religion or no and that as well by day as night and to all such as should assist without hope of euer hauing their houses builded vp againe at Blais in the moneth of Nouember 1559. And the 14. of Nouember hee pardoned the discloser thereof and gaue him for the first time one hundred crownes And afterwardes he willeth in February following that all Lords Iustices shall be depriued of their iusticeshippes and the royall officers of their estates and offices which shoulde any wayes bee founde negligent in punishing of the authours of these assemblies with an iniunction to the officers to aduertise him of their duetie within on moneth after any such assemblie made and his procters generall to whome they should send the coppie of the information and other proceedinges thereupon The Lutheranes in like sort to put out of mens heades especially of the Princes and Churchmen such vile conceites as had beene giuen out and imprinted within them as well of heresie as of their filthie and lewde behauiours in their assemblies which they made night and day aduised themselues to cause the articles of their confession of faith to be presented vnto the King and published in all places and to beseech his Maiestie that it might be permitted vnto them to assemble themselues in publike to the end all men might see how they behaued themselues offring to yeelde themselues to any such payne and punishment as it shoulde please him to ordayne in case they were founde of any worse conuersation then the rest of the Christians There ensued thereof what you shall belowe perceiue Now since that all Fraunce feeling the discommoditie of the disastre of S. Quentin no man could abstaine from pouring out complaintes some attributing the euill to haue proceeded from the ambition of the one side some from the couetousnes of the other parte there were enough founde which imputing the cause to arise no whit from any man saide that God was the sole authour thereof to stirre vp the flacknes both of great and small because they did not their duety in the prosecutinge of the Lutheranes of whome if Fraunce nay all Christendome were not in shorte space purged the Kinge himselfe ought not to expect any other progresse of his life managing of his estate then accursed and reprochfull to his whole posteritie In somme they so animated this Prince to renew and increase the punishment of those people that it neuer grewe so hot a time for them as then which not being able to remedie by any so earnest pursuites as by flight recantation or dissimulation they endeuoured to mollifie the courage of the greater sorte so hotly enflamed against them by a little writing wherein they inforced themselues to proue that all the scourges and calamities sent from God vpon that Realme proceeded onely from the contempt corruption of the true worde of God whereof they persecuted the true ministers and executors Adding in the end such meanes as the King should holde if he would see his Realme happie with a repose agreeable to all his subiects and cleare deliuered from all differentes which might fall out for the matter of Religion THe calamities and afflictions said they which possesse all Christendome cleane oppressed and left desolate were so great as euery man confessed that they proceeded from the iust iudgements of God and for that men suffred so many sortes of heresies to be hatched forth as raigne at this present But the mischeefe was indeede for that none of them which had the publicke gouernemente and to whome it appertained to prouide thereto did regard with any good iudgement founded vpon the holy Scriptures who were the Heretickes and what the true and false is thence to drawe out a true rule concorde and that the true office of a King was to giue himselfe to the knowledge of such differentes as had done to the good Kinges Ezechias Iosias and other And afterwardes hauing laide downe which were the markes and differences of the true and false Religion it was written in these termes Consider I beseech now Sir and you shall finde that all afflictions happened vnto you at such time as you vndertooke to runne ouer those whome you call Lutheranes When you made your edict of Chasteaubriant then did God sende warre vnto you But when you caused the execution thereof to cease and as long as you were enemie to the Pope being gon into Allemaigne for the protection of the Germaine liberty defended by the Protestantes and afflicted for religion your affaires prospered as your owne hearte coulde wish Contrariwise what is happened vnto you since that you are ioyned with the Pope hauing receiued from him a sworde which hee sent vnto you for his protection and who was the cause to make you breake the truce God hath turned in one instant your prosperities into such afflictions that they are no lesse to bee feared vpon your selfe then vpon your realme To what ende is Monsieur de Guise his enterprise in Italie turned going to the seruice of the enemie of God with full deliberation to ruine at his returne the valleies of Piemont to sacrifice them vnto God as a fruite of his victories The issue hath well shewed how that God is able to reuerse our deliberations as of late hee did that of Monsieur le Conestable at S. Quentins on S. Laurence day hauing vowed vnto God that at his returne he would go ruine Geneua if he obtained
an assembly The French Embassadors oration in the Councell of Trent The choise of Bishops and Cleargie denied to the Pope The enacting of La Pragmatique Sanction 12. Articles in Fraunce The K. letters and complaints against the Pope The K. answere to the Emperours obiection The originall and differēce of Christian religion in Fraunce How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Albigeois was dispersed thorough Europe Opinions soner changed by ease and rest then violence The English Lords of Guienne in france Normandie Poictou Anioy c. The Religion of the Vaudois dispersed thorough England VVicklife his Doctrine Lollards in England Liuonia Sermatia c. How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Wicklife was carried into Polonia Bohemia and other countries of Almaine The Bohemians and Almaines persecuted by the Popes inquisitors before Iohn Hus. Councell of Constance summoned for the refomation of the Church Iohn Hus cōdemned and burnt as an heretique at Constance notwithstanding the Emperours safe conduct Popes deposed Ierome of Prag condemned and burned at Constance as Iohn Hus. The Bohemians angrye growe more resolute by the death of Hus and Hierom. Captain Zischa leuieth men against the Priests Monkes of Bohemia Luther his beginning 1518. Generall pardons published through Christendom 1517. Luther cited to Rome What caused a stay of Luthers reformation Martin Luthers beginning profession and carriadge of life Luther himselfe confesseth it in his answer to the book which H. D. of Brunwick wrote against him 1541. as Sleyden reporteth in the 14. of his history repeating Luthers words who discouered the occasions which moued him to preach and write against pardons My name saith he began to grow famous because no man was found else that durst oppose himselfe This little glory was pleasing as then vnto me c. Selim King of Turkes dreadfull to his enemies Selims crueltie towards his father bretheren and race Pope Leo endeuoureth the Christian Princes to enter league against the Turkes How the Christians armie should be bestowed to annoy the Turke Christian Princes rather respected their perticular then the common cause Selim dieth Soliman succeedeth The palorepiscopal mantle how made and giuen by Popes (4) Made of the wool of two white Mattons set vpon the Aulter in S. Agnes Church while Agnus Dei is sung vpon that holy day and afterwards giuē to the Subdeacons of S. Peters who shere them at shering time and of the yarne which cōmeth from them among other maketh a mantle three fingers broad reaching from the shoulders to the calfe of the leg with little knobs of lead at the skirts from thence laide vpon the corps of S. Peter S Paul with certaine praiers and kept there one night with great ceremony after deliuered to him that must haue it and is only for Archbishops Luther appereth before Caietan the Popes Legat. Luther apealeth from Caietan The foundation of pardons and Indulgences Luther eager against the Court of Rome Erasmus his opinion of Luther Luther condemned by Pope Leo. Luther appealed againe from the Pope Luther publiquely burneth the cannon law and Popes Bull. Luther banished by Charls his letters pattents at Wormes The Masse first abolished in Germany Iohn Hus prophecieth of Luther The Emperour visiteth in person the K. of England Images broken downe in Germanie Luther misliketh the breaking of Images by the people Leo 10. dieth Adrian 6. succeedeth Adrian dieth Clement 7 de Medices succeedeth Letters from the Pope to the Parliament of Paris King Francis writeth in the behalfe of Iacques Faber League betweene the regent and Henrie the 8. King of England Peace concluded between the Emperor Charles and Francis y e first Suissers reformed Geneue a first retreate to French Lutherans The decree of Spire permitted euerie mā to maintaine his Religion without alteration The beginning of the league of Smalcade among the Protestants Whence the name of Protestants first sprong The opinion of the Supper being diuers among the reformed is cause of great inconueniences The King of Fraunce and England succour the Lutheranes The Protetestants demaund of the Emperour Election of the K. of Romanes Frederic of Saxe elector dieth Accord between Fredederic K. of Bohemia and the D. of Saxe Peace thoroughout Germany and Religion free The race and descent of Medices in which the translator doth desire the indifferēt Reader to consider what scandalous libels haue of late yeares by to humorous affections bene cast out in disgrace of the house of Medices onely to a base the royal race of Vallois of this look Guicciardin in his first booke c. The Q. Mother descended out of the house of Bologne by the mother side K. Frauncis aideth the Protestants Pope Clemēt dieth Paul Ferneze succeedeth Persecutions in Fraunce The Pope hath no authoritie to assigne a councell (4) According to the Romaine Emperours who named the informers quadruplatores The Emperours Interim The Protestants oppose themselues to the decree of the Emperour Councell of Trent Decree of the Councell of Trent Martin Luther dieth 1546. The Emperour writeth to the townes for succour The townes send answers Speach betweene the Emperour and Landgraue The holy league betweene Pope Emperour and other Princes The Emperors army against the Lutheranes The Emperor banisheth and condemneth the D. of Saxe Protestants defie the Emperour The Emperors deuice to draw Maurice against his Cosin Elector of Saxe The Protestants fault and error Maurice warreth against his cosin and the Protestants The Elector hurt taken broght to the Emperour Great ransomes which the Emperour had of the Germaines The Emperor would haue the Councell remoued frō Bolonia to Treat Melancthons answere Persecution of Lutherans Diet of Ausbourge The Landgraue discouered minding to haue made an escape Difference about succession in the empire Councell Maurice demaundeth a more safe-conduct The Catholiques helde that faith was not to be holden with heretiques Safe conduct from the coūcell at Basle for the Bohemians Magdebourg deliuered vp Embassage from the king of Fraunce to Maurice Maurice and Brandebourg Embassadors speech The Princes Embassadors Maurices demaunds at the councell Diuersities of opinions in the Councell of Trent The Councell of Trent deferred for 2. yeares Crescence Cardinall Legat and president for the Pope died of an apprehension The birth of H. 3. K. of France and Pologne The Baronnie of Montmotency erected into a Duchie with right of a Petre. The K. letter to the Electors Hostages of Fraunce and Germany The propositions of Maurice The resolution of peace deserred and wherefore The Vaudois of Prouence how when by whom and wherefore persecuted as Heretiques Arrest of the parlament of Aix They were about 24. as well inhabitants of Merin dolas other their neighbours Particular iudgements vpon the merite of the arrest The president La Chassane differreth the execution of the arrest and his reasons Cause of delay of the execution Catalogus gloriae mundi made by Chassane and printed at Lions Guillaume du Bellay L. of Langeay lieuetenant for the
K. in Piemont The K. Letter in behalfe of the Vaudois Confession of the Vaudois faith The proceedings vsed in the proces of them of Merindol The war lie exploit of Minier vpon the execution of arrest The princes of Germany write to the King of Fraunce in fauour of such of his subiects as were persecuted This touch at the poynt of death leaueth neither King not subiect vnsought without any respect an especiall warning to all princes Guerin hanged at paris The voiage of the army of Henry King of Fraunce for the succour of the protestant princes of Germany against the Emperour Charles the fifth Priuiledges of Metz debated Metz Toulh Verdun Nancy c. taken by the French Priuiledges of the townes maintained The armie of Fraunce represented in the fielde and first the Fanterie The men at armes and light Caualierie Light Caualerie Harquebusiers mounted Englishmen The K. army before Metz. The K. entry into Metz and priueledges graunted to the towne The K. aprocheth to Strasbourg The K demaund to them of Strasbourg Strasbourg leuieth men fortifieth it selfe by the eâ—â—mple of Metz. The Princes deputies sent to the King The Germanes beâ—â—â—â—h the K. not to enter Germany but retire The K. answer to the Deputies The exploits of Maurices army vpon the Emperors troupes The princes gaine the straites of the mountaines The defeating of the Emperors people Sedition in Maurices Campe. The Emperour flyeth The D. of Saxe deliuered out of prison but followeth the Emperour throughout Germany Ministers and Schoolemasters restored by the Protestant princes in Germany Maurice his complaint against the Emperour The French Embassadors oration The confederate Princes answere to the French Embassadour Familie of Luxembourg Albert of Austria The Q. of Hungary causeth the K. army to returne The Imperials army in Luxembourg The K. armie aduanceth forward What place the army was first to attempt Roc de Mars besieged battred taken sacked by the French Deanuille represented besieged battred and rendred to the K. discretion· The K. entry into Verdun The Prince of Salerne quitting the Emperour commeth to the King Yuoy and his representation siege batterie and yeelding vp to the K. The Gouernour of a place his dutie Mommedy yeelded vp The first conquest of Luxembourg De Anâ—ille Yuoy The Marshall of Sedan heire to the house of La March vndertaketh the conquest of the duchie of Bouillon A wile to make ones troupes seeme greater and astonish the enemy Cimetz battered taken sacked and burned by the French The principall demaunds of Maurice The French Embassadours answere to the Commissiones for peace Peace throughout Germany and the occasions thereof The Emperour perswadeth the Protestant princes and other to succour him against the K. of Fraunce for the recouerye of Metz Thoul and Verdun The Emperours army against the K. of France for the recouery of Metz Thoul and Verdun Albert of Brandebourg why not comprehended in the peace and banished the Empire with the exploites of his malcontent armie The answere of Marquesse Albert to the B. of Bayonne and his behauiour against the K. and Emperour and their reciprocallie towards him The behauiour of Marquesse Albert of Brandebourg towards the D. of Guise gouernour of Metz and his towards the Marquesse his armie The French armie assembled with all diligeÌ„ce at S. Michael a little towne of Lorraine The imperiall army at Deuxponts scattered ouer the Country of Vaulges The Marques Alberts armie verie dissolute about Pont Camouson The last answers or resolution of the marques to the French and the behauiour of his armie Colonel Reif-berg with a regiment of the marques Alberts retireth himself to the kings seruicâ— The Marques demandeth pasport to returne The D. of Aumal appointed to accompanie the Marques Aduice counsell among the Emperors Captaines if they ought to besiege Metz at that time of the yere Vireton surprised and besieged through the secret and great diligence of the D. of Neuers Vireton rendred vp to the discretion and mercy of the D. of Neuers The Imperial armie approcheth within 7. or 8 leagues of Metz. The D. of Alua and Marquesse of Marignan came to descry Metz. The D. of Aumales aduertisemeÌ„t to the K. vpon the determination of the Marquesse of Brandebourg The D. de Aumales trumpeter staied by the Marquesse Albert. The couragious perswasions of the Marquesse to make his people to fight The D. de Aumelle and the French charged vpon fiercely The D. companies put to flight by the Marquesse The D. de Aumelle sore hurt taken Prisoner Death of Vicecount Rohan The Castle of Clermont in Argonne surprised by Chastillon Du Reux with the imperiall army would faine surprise La Fere in Picardie Hedin besieged by Du Reux Hedin yeelded to the Emperour by de Rasse Admirall de Anebaut dieth at La Fere. The D. of Grise assured within Metz. The distribution of the Imperiall army about Metz. The D of Ne-Lieutenant generall ouer all the K. forces in Loraine Chastillon being made Admirall of France bringeth all the K. army from out of Picardy toward Hedin The D. of Neuers his companies make roads to cut off victualles from the enemies The Italians of the Emperours campe repaired to the Duke of Neuers to be intertained in the kings seruice The castle of Hedin yelded vp by de Reux his son to the D. of Vendosme for the king The D. of Neuers at Vaucoâ—leuâ—s to stop such victuals as came from the French countie to the Emperors camp his courses to anoy the imperials A guile to passe amidst ones enemies without danger The Emperours battery at Metz. Mines begun to be made by the imperials before Metz to make a breach The Emperour vpon the point to retire from Metz. Retreat of the imperiall armie before Metz. * There were aboue seuen thousand men put into Abbies by the D. of Guise and releeued as ofteÌ„ hath ben reported vnto me the Translator by the most renowmed Lord C. H. L. high Admirall of England who himselfe saw all remained in the towne all the siege and serued the daie that the Duke of Aumall gaue battell to the Marques narowly escaping being of the suit of the Vidasme of Chartres in al those warres Sallies skirmimishes between the soldiers with in Metz. Marques Alberts campe Thankesgiuings to God by the French for the siege raised at Metz. A furious assault to Terroane by the Fleminges Hanuiers helde out by the French A stratageme of the Captaines Breuill Saint Romain Terroane surprised â—ppon the tearmes of composition The crueltie of the Germanes Burgonians at the taking of Terroane The principall prisoners taken within Terroane The humanitie of the Spaniards towardes the French soldiers Soliman the great Turke causeth his sonne to be slaine Religion lightlâ— a colour for anie villanie Teroene razed to the foundation by the Emperours commandement The D. of Bouillon within Hedin Lieutenant for the King Great diligence vsed by the imperials to besiege Hedin Hedin besieged