THE MASQVE OF THE League and the Spanyard discouered Wherein 1. The League is painted forth in all her colâ—â—â—â— 2. Is showen that it is not lawfull for a 〈…〉 Arme himselfe against his King for 〈…〉 tence so euer it be 3. That but few Noblemen take part with the 〈…〉 an Aduertisement to them coÌ„cerning 〈…〉 TO MY LORD THE CARDINALL OF BVRBOâ— Faythfully translated out of the French 〈…〉 at Toures by Iamet Mettayer 〈…〉 Printer to the King PATERE AVT ABSTINE AT LONDON Printed by I. Charlewoode for 〈…〉 Smyth and are to be sold at his shoppe 〈…〉 West ende of Paules 1502. TO THE RIGHT vvorshipful Mistris Dorothy Edmonds one of the Gentlewomen of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Chamber All happinesse in this life and in the world to come hartily wished Your worships in all dutie to commaunde R. Smyth TO MY LORD THâ— most honourable reuerende arâ— religious Cardinall of Burbon Prince of the bloode MY Lord being dâ—â—sirous to warrant aâ—â— protect my selfe froâ— the iniurie and reproâ—â— of false French-meÌ„ vâ—â—der your inexpugnaâ—â— shielde that are so great a Prince and Prelaâ—â— most faithfull to God the King the estaâ—â— which by diuine grace is now though wiâ—â— mighty and trouble-some trauerses in yoâ—â— most noble and royall House your generâ—â—sitie and kindnes excusing me froÌ„ the tearâ—â—â— of ouer-bold prouoked me peraduentuâ—â— some-what rashly hauing enterprised witâ—â—out your knowledge to addresse this dâ—â—â—course to you For this cause to with-stanâ— such as will immediatly cry nothing but 〈◊〉 reâ—ique vnder shadow of making passage to â—â—th as being cloaked with the habit of holiâ—â—es religioÌ„ betray God to whose seruice â—â—ey are vowed in sporting with their swords 〈◊〉 the seruice of the deuill father of dissentiâ—â— and author of blood-sheds and murders â—herby we may euideÌ„tly discerne that they â—â—ue no part of religion but the habit that â—â—y abuse their profession seeing that withâ—â—t any feare of God or the Magistrate to 〈◊〉 great disgrace of Christian religion they â—â—mbat for the earth with material Armes 〈◊〉 for heauen with spiritual forces I beseech good men that duly vnder this habit make â—â—ofession of Christian Catholique religion 〈◊〉 to make a scandale of it seeing that keeâ—â—ng this pure whitenes the humility simâ—â—â—city of their forefathers not contending â—â—â—war otherwise then vnder the Ensigne of â—â—rist Iesus they cannot heere sustaine any â—â—derance protesting that hetherto I haue 〈◊〉 in Christian religion therein wil perseuere so long as God giues me grace As for the rest of my discourse touchiâ—â— the prayses and Trophies of our victorioâ—â— Prince the obedience which I haue prâ—â—ued by scripture his subiects owe him of dâ—â—tie what-soeuer pretence the Leaguers oâ—â—pose I thinke there is no one if he be not â—â—uer passionate an Anti-catholique or Spâ—â—nyarde as are these zealous murderers aâ—â— theeues of the rebellious vnitie that can will speake against it If there be any one 〈◊〉 hardy as dare produce any false inductioâ— on the behalfe of the rebellion of these faâ—â— French-men to beate down the estate royâ—â— or to vse any collour against your royal hoâ—â—â— which they attache with a false semblance 〈◊〉 shew of religion by estranging or stayniâ—â— the French Nobility that stand in defence 〈◊〉 theyr King the sword of this great and maâ—â—nanimous Prince put into his hande by tâ—â— highest puissaunce shall quayle by his aydâ—â— all such shyfts scourge the Rebels vp-hol◠〈◊〉 estate and preserue the florishing Noâ—â—esse that with so good hart doe follow his â—â—ruice And if these Armes will deigne to admit â—â—e assistance of the penne there are so many â—â—rned and faithfull for his Maiestie as soone â—â—ll dysprooue such false propositions God â—â—ding whom my Lord I pray to preserue â—â—d keepe you as an ornament and piller of â—â—s Church the good of this estate so vexed â—â—d afflicted by the Stranger as also the maâ—â—ging of his affayres which so neerely conâ—â—rnes you for the seruice of his Maiestie From Toures the 27. of February 1592. Your most humble obedient and affectionate Seruaunt L. T. A. THE MASQVE OF THE League and the Spanyard discouered THE Tyrant of Spayne gaping and watching a long time for the inuasion of Fraunce and generall ruine of the French working to his own desire the disorders not long since and which yet continueth in all the estates of thys Realme Seeing likewise that the last of the house of Valois swayed the Scepter after the death of Monsieur his brother who was reported to be poysoned By his owne subtilty by the means of hys Agents Ambassadour and adhering Pencionars whom he hath drawn into a very great and high hope to his owne profit and their perdition hath raised a League and thereby engendred Monsters more horrible and hiddious then those that of old are sayd to be subdued by the valour of Alcmenaes Sonne It were needlesse to make further search for newe horrours in the depth of Lybia let mee rather question howe to banish hence the crueltie and barbarisme of these Scithians Gothes by nature these Moores Sarrasin Spanyards whose first Fathers had theyr originall from the Gothes and from hence thys League the mother of all mischiefe that is heer so louingly cherished had her beginning Thys Pandora hath so cast abroade her poysons out of her boxe as the ayre the earth and men beeing vnprouided of a counter-poyson yea very neere all things els are infected therewith It hath changed in many places the face of this fayre Monarchie into an Anarchie or many headed gouernment it hath ouerthrowne the throne and royall Authoritie violenced the Magistrates murdered the Prince peruerted all order and policie both diuine and humane It hath made Fraunce a den of theeues murderers robbers and spoylers such Monsters hath thys League prodigiously brought foorth among infinite of the very worst sort is ignorance malice deceit guile hypocrisie robbing theft incest feigned Religion all kinde of execrations murder sacrilidge and parricide thys Witch engendered by the terror and ambition of the Spanyards hath made a strange metamorphosis of a most beautifull estate But GOD the Authour of all good foreseeing in mercie such as he made choise of gaue courage to theyr harts to detest thys Scithia to flye from thys Lybia whose Monsters strangle liuing men as hath beene known and seene and so to come into a sweete ayre pure and not poysoned vnder the gracious Lawes of their naturall and legittimate Princes To worke this effect a meruaile amongst them esteemed of greatest meruaile it is his will and pleasure that out of a great euill shoulde spring and arise as great a good that from a most strange conspiracy of fellons murderers and parricides of theyr King should be raised and lifted to the Maiestie royal the man whose life this Sorcerer daily sought to abridge confound For heereon did he build and to this day doth builde all his arteficiall and pernicious deseignes thinking
treades your state vnder his feete but you drawe your weapons to helpe him to his enterprise Knowe ye not that alteration in all things but chiefelie in these publique affaires is most dangerous Without wandring for farre fetcht examples Phillip de Commines deliuereth one of the Realme of England where thorow the partialities betweene the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke each aspyring to the Crowne dyed in eyght and twenty yeeres more then four-score persons all of the blood royall with the verie flower of the English Nobilitie and infinite other valiant men the onely and best Souldiours in all the Land The other Lords were thrust in prison or banished passing the remainder of theyr liues very miserably in strange CouÌ„tries In the end the two Houses being vnited by the marriage of Henrie the seauenth with Elizabeth daughter to King Edwarde the fourth all these troubles ceased See the hurt that ensueth by such deuisions what more strange matter are wee then to expect in such a huge rebellion as this is of the Leaguers Find you it any way reasonable that the true and naturall successour of the Crowne shold endure any other to call his right in question by force of Armes to take it from him that is the most hardie valiant Prince on the earth and who hath learned to haue his Armour oftner on his bodie then the habit royall or the pompe and seruice that other Princes haue which lyue in quiet It is the common cause of all Monarchies to maintaine against the Subiects the estate of a iust and lawfull King and you beeing Noble-men that holde assuraunce of your noblesse goods and faculties of your King will not you maintaine the same against his Subiects and rebellious enemies The Lawe and custome of Fraunce receiued at the first establishing of the Kingdome dyd alwaies refer the Crowne to the next Male issue of the blood royall our Kings then heerin beeing giuen vs by nature mee thinkes there is no reason that any occasion shoulde remooue our estate The Crowne is seated in this so ancient illustrious and royall House of Burbon next succeeding that of Valoys discended of the linage of Orleance In the time of K. Charles the sixth thorowe the practises of the Duke of Burgundie who had made a League with the King of England against Charles Dolphine sonne to the King beside the exheriditation his Father made of him depriuing him of succession in the kingdome there was a certaine iudgment giuen against him in an assembly held at Paris wherby he was exiled banished the Realme beeing declared vnworthy there to succeede On this vniust iudgement he appealed to God and hys sword when the iustice of his cause beeing assisted by the inuincible power of GOD the Crowne was preserued for him and hee established with very wonderfull victories thorow all all his kingdome from whence hee chased the Englishmen beeing reconciled to the Duke of Burgundie and deceassed to the great griefe of all his Subiects leauing them in good peace quiet Whereby you may perceiue that albeit euery one was set against the true heyre to the Crowne yea the Father himselfe yet God in his admirable prouidence woulde not permit that the kingdome should be trans-ferred from the race and linage of S. Lewes neither is it to be doubted that his grace preuenting with the deuoire of all good and faithfull French-men but that it will be continued to all his posterity whereof this most famous and royall House of Burbon is the very neerest and onely heyre to the Crowne What cause then is there to prolong these ciuil warres troubles for the estate seeing we haue the legittimate successour Ah nothing els but absurd and monstrous ambition But some zealous Rebel tels me that he is an Heretique tush these are old stale lyes thys poynt if he were so seeing he demaundeth and offereth to be better instructed is not as yet discided To be an heretique as els where I haue said is obstinately to holde an opinion concerning Religion and rather to die then to forsake it Seest thou in our King any such headdie or obstinate resolution Howe many times hath hee giuen thee to vnderstand his ready will and intent Moreouer this is no argument and good consequent The King is not of our Religion therefore hee is dishabled from succeeding in the Crowne Thou argumentest very ill not like any good Logitian The debate thou vrgest for the Crowne makes a greater breach blemish into Christian religion then if willinglie thou didst consent giue him place as in dutie thou art bound to do seeing that right neither thou or hee can hinder from him to whom it appertaineth which thou hast neither eyes to behold or wit to conceiue If heerin thou mightst preuaile couldst thou be tearmed a good Christistian that flyes and abhors as a plague the ininfamous note of rebellion yea fosakes landes goods wife children and all to follow his King That tearme thou maist returne vpon thy selfe though now thou callest his Highnesse followers pollitiques and heretiques as pleaseth thee to baptise theÌ„ notwithstanding they are more assured of their fayth then thou art and better Chritians then any that take part with thee Of what Religion were our first Kinges of the Merouingians race vntill Clouis the fiâ—t king of Fraunce and first Christian King VVere they any Christians or knewe they what the name of a Christian was What were their subiects hauing receiued the Christian fayth Dyd they for thys cause refuse the obedience they ought in dutie Did they reiect chase or kyll them Ye shall not find one such poynt or anie History that maketh such mention But you Rebels that are too much at your case will not acknowledge your King who so many times hath protested to ye to preserue maintaine ye in your estates and in the Christian Catholique Religion vnder a shadow saist thou himselfe not beeing a Catholique Doost thou know the inward of his words purpose Is there any one can say that euer he falsified his fayth Hee hath sollemnely sworne to defende the Catholique religion as his proper life thinke then if it should be hindered although he neuer will goe against his owne commaundement thy selfe must be the onely cause therof Obey theÌ„ the King let the estate be brought againe into quiet and then thou maist assure thy selfe that when the King would alter any thing in Religion whereon I am perswaded he neuer so thinks he cannot do it nor is it any part of his intent You rather ought to pray to GOD with vs that he will graunt him grace stedfastly to embrace the Catholique religion to plant it heere mildly by reason and not force violence or fyre likewise to loue and esteeme so many valiant good French of contrary opinion that sell not as our zealous Leaguers doe theyr King and Countrey to the Spanyard It is not by blood and death to winne mens consciences
and Gentlemen if yet ye haue not sufficient manifestation that euen against Tyrants Religion cannot serue for anie cloake or collour The Spanyard hath not he declared so much who tearming himselfe in Fraunce Protector of the Catholique Religion hath not hee neuerthelesse suffered Paganisme in many places of Granado Andalozia and Arragon for the great profit hee got by it many yeeres together Will ye not yet bethinke your selues what good affection the Spanyards haue of old borne to the French Did they not no long time since kindly intreate theÌ„ at Florida where they pluckt out theyr eyes to make them die the more miserably Their drift is to bee Commaunders ouer ye and if you haue goods and faire wiues to put you and your heyres to death to possesse your wiues and your goods as they haue practised the like in Flaunders Naples Millaine and in euery place where they by force doe domineere It is the Crowne it is the Crowne that all this debate is for although we hauing as I haue proued a lawfull succeeder there cannot be gathered any occasion for such a debate VVhen heere-to-fore there happened anie such like strife they had recourse to the estates of FrauÌ„ce as it chanced after the death of Lewes the 10. called Hutin that the Crowne was adiudged to Phillip le Long his brother And after Charles le Bel to Phillip de Valloys his Cousin against Edward king of England who pretended the cause of his Mother the daughter of Phillip le Bel sister to the last three kings but there she had no right by force of the Salique Lawe which excludes the daughters of Fraunce from any succession It is now no question of holding the estates in this regard seeing no one maketh doubt but that the Crowne appertaineth to Henry of Burbon by whoÌ„ for his race admirable perfections with his happy fortunes in war amidst so many trauerses the estate receiueth more honor being gouerned by such a king theÌ„ the King dooth of the estate which comes to him by succession as beeing the very neerest heire to the Crowne Then you braue Lordes and Gentlemen of Fraunce whose famous Grandfathers defended this Kingdome by their vertuous strength and made their glorie wondered at through the world spend not your valiant noble blood to your eternal destruction but as your spirits are rockes of far more excellent perfection so seeke such waies as are more worthy and coÌ„mendable for ye To bring again this estate with the whole body of the Nobillity who haue euer stood with the King from whom through false impression your selues are dismembred into her former splendour honorable quiet Vnite your selues to your king your soueraigne Lord to extirpate this rebellion and chase hence your entertained euils the Spanyards your auncient and mortall enemies thereby to bring and re-establish this poore afflicted Realme into such peace and tranquillitie as all good mindes desire and is promised by your generositie force with the grace and blessing of God who I pray to open your eyes to let you wade no further in the loue of thys vnlawfull League that like a subtill Thais is prouided of a thousand baytes and sleights to catch yee withall But if ye continue in her seruice ye shall find your selues betweene two stooles wher-through as the Prouerbe is the taile falles to ground and too late repentance with most pittifull end will be the recompence of your pernicious pursutes and the dishonest pleasures you haue had with her Followe followe then the steppes of the most magnanimous and valiant Princes of the blood so many great Lordes Marshalles of Fraunce Dukes Earles Marquesses Barons and Gentlemen of marke the number wherof is infinite and innumerable al which expose them selues and their deuoire for the seruice of hys Maiesty the reliefe of the estate to preserue you if ye forget not your selues in your goods priueledges and immunities seeking nothing but the quiet and prosperitie heereof God giue them grace and you likewise to make some profit of this fore-warning to the end that wee hauing occasion more and more to bee thankefull to the King for his infinite bountie those faithful subiects that attend on him the celestiall fauour and assistance accompanying the Kings power your amendment and reconciliation may turne to the happie successe of these publique affayres the rest and re-establishment of thys disolate Kingdome FINIS A. M. * The King 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 by Iacobiâ— Fryar * Biaâ—â— a naâ—â— scorneâ— they 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—utward 〈◊〉 the â—â—tenance â—edition murder 〈◊〉 the exâ—â—ples Two Iacobines the procurers 〈◊〉 foure thoâ—â—sand and more to bâ— murdered Lisbone â—n obserâ—â—â—t Fryar â—â—â—swaded King of â—â—stile to 〈◊〉 sundry â—â—ristians â—eath â—â—ming 〈◊〉 Apoâ—â—â—â—aes * The dysâ—grace of 〈◊〉 begging Fryars by Doctor of Sorbonne Iesuits too â—roud to be â—eggers â—â—ey rather â—ake begâ—ers to â—aintaine â—â—emselues A Spanyâ—rd the first â—uthour of 〈◊〉 Iesuits â—lame â—â—ning 〈◊〉 proud â—â—nde of â—â—le that 〈◊〉 whole â—â—doms â—â—ther by â—â—ares * The 〈◊〉 counâ—â—â—naunce this 〈◊〉 vn-holie League * An othâ—â— bragge aâ— dissembliâ—â— shewe of these wickâ—â— CoÌ„federaâ—â— * The FreÌ„â—â— against 〈◊〉 French exâ—â—cute the bloody 〈◊〉 of the Spaâ—nyards And is â—â—â—ewise in â—â—glish by 〈◊〉 name of 〈◊〉 Spanish â—â—â—donie * A fitte â—â—â—ample of the Leaguers proâ—ceedings 〈◊〉 Fraunce â—â—at 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 black 〈◊〉 Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 3. â—ngland 〈◊〉 re 〈◊〉 thys â—â—â—lesse K. 〈◊〉 seate 〈◊〉 he had 〈◊〉 it * The Sâ—â—â—nyards 〈◊〉 coÌ„tinue deuotion their Goâ— * A Caâ—â—â—logue of honest 〈◊〉 Spanâ—â—â—ards such they 〈◊〉 still to thâ— day * Bloodie Spanyard murderer of Kings spoylers oâ— Commoâ— weales * No examâ—â—es alleadâ—â—d but 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—cked Spaâ—â—ards * Parmaeâ— war but 〈◊〉 his owne profit and the King 〈◊〉 maister The holy 〈◊〉 is â—â—ll it selfe * The blâ—â—dished 〈◊〉 of y e 〈◊〉 wherby tâ— deceiue 〈◊〉 world â—â—hn 29. 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 59. â— Thes. 5 〈◊〉 6. * True Râ—â—ligion noâ— to be decâ—â—ded by thâ— sword 〈◊〉 the examâ—ple * Religioâ— not to bâ— changed any constraint bâ—â— to be 〈◊〉 stood by 〈◊〉 sufâ—â—raunce God in iâ—â—stice righâ— the cause â—ath 10. 〈◊〉 23. 〈◊〉 13. â—ct 2 â—â—ou 8. â—hat we 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 our 〈◊〉 and â—â—â—rebell any 〈◊〉 of cause * Deut. 17 * 1. Sam. 9 1. Peter 2 * 1 Sam. 1 * 1 Sam. 2 1. Sam 24 1. Sam 24 〈◊〉 26 1. Sam. 24. â— Sam 26. 1. Sam 3â— 2. Sam 1 â— Sam 16 â— Kings 1. * 1. Reg. â—â— * 1. Reg. â—â— * 1. Reg. â—â— * 1. Reg. â—â— Kin. 19. Kin. 21. Kin. 22. Kin. 9. Kin. 22. * Epiphaâ—us in hys boâ—ke oâ— the lyues the Prophets * Dan 3 and 6. * Iohn 1 â— * Luke 9 Acts 23 Exod 23 Rom 12 â— Pet 2 〈◊〉 1 et 3. * Baru 3. * Heb 11 * Math 3. Iohn 1 Marke 1 Esay 40 * Math â— * Math â— * Luke ◠〈◊〉 18 â—ath 15 â—ath 10 * Iameâ—â—
vowed enemie in thy pretence to this Realme which pertaines not to thee neither canst thou gaine it by thy forces so often vanquished but heerein thou resemblest the bold-faced and shamelesse Woman iudged by Salomon who was contented that the Childe which neuer sprang from her body rather then it shoulde be deliuered to the rightfull Mother should be deuided and cut in halfes according to the discreet iudgement of the King who pronounced that sentence onely to know the true Mother well knowing that she would neuer condiscend to such a crueltie Thou canst not by right obtaine Fraunce wherein remaineth nothing of thine and therefore thou wouldest rather dismember it and giue it as a pray to the Spaniard our greatest enemie then we should enioy our true legittimate successour who shewes himselfe a Father of his Countrey the estate and as one rather desirous to loose then see it ruinate woulde by kindnesse call home the Rebels to repentance Heereto tended his so long siedge against Paris beeing certaine that if hee had not detested the spoyle thereof notwithstanding it was the fordge of all this rebellion hee had long since forced taken and possest it or layd it leuell with the ground in cinders Thys succour of the Spanyards which at at this present are thy Gods yet in the ende thou shalt finde them rauening Woolues is very conformable to thee but if by thy incantations and charmes thou canst call the deade from theyr graues or draw them out of the fire infernall call to thy ayde if thou wilt Don Pedro the first and onely of that name sur-named the cruell hee beeing the fourth King of Castile and the thirtie-fyue of Leon who began his raigne in the yeere one thousand three hundred and fiftie by crueltie and therein continued all his life tyme. In vnhappy houre hee espoused fayre Blanch of Burbon of that royall house which raigneth at this day in despight of thee whose life he shortened by poyson in the pryson of Medina Sidonia and her bodie was afterward taken vp by the French who on this occasion entred into Castile on the behalfe of Don Henry and so was buried at Tudela in Nauarre Rayse vp thys Python rayse vp this monstrous Tyrant if thou canst whose cruelties surpassed all other cruelties addicted to vnlawfull loues to murders massacres persecution of his Lords cruell to his Subiects and his owne proper blood a periured wretch a parricide an impious robber he will serue thee for a goodly guide to thy men of warre Call vp Erithia who vnder collour of Religion and holinesse in the time of the former Kings established and caused to be builded in Spayne a great and magnificent Temple in the I le of Tartessus nowe called Calis or Tarifa whereof she then changed the name caused it to be called Erithia To this Temple was due the tenthes of the pyllages and theeueries of the West parts by perpetual ordinaunce and very long time obserued because those Kinges of Spaine to couer theyr thefts and spoyles gaue part thereof vnto their false Gods Drawe foorth of Hell a most ambicious Cardinall of Spayne called Ximenes no meane enemy to them that were of greatest authoritie in his time for he could scant brooke any companion in the gouernment of Castile and therfore would deuide betweene the King and himselfe the authority royall Call the authours of the tumult of Medina Sidonia and those turbulent fellowes that forced and violenced the Courts of Parliament and Chauncerie in Vailledolid whereupon ensued a rigorous determination yet no more then the rebellious breakers of iustice had deserued Summon the sedicious people of the Cittie of Badaios to the Realme of Castile who reuolted from theyr King Don Sancho and yet neuerthelesse were too cruelly punished for the King hauing giuen thē assurance of their lyues suddainly caused them to be massacred without sparing man woman or child to the number well neere of foure thousand Send for the sedicious of Lisbone of whom I spake before Call for the rigour crueltie of the Spanish Inquisition Ayde thy selfe with the factious of Castile for the Bishop of Siguenca Draw to thee by thy sortiledges the conspyring Vailledolitaines in the yeere foure hundred sixtie foure who rebelled against the King Don Henrie the fourth who were accompanied with certaine of the chiefest personages beeing mooued with a kind of iealousie against Don Bertrand de la Cueua made Maister of the Caualierie of S. Iames because he was the Kings Minion yet defended they themselues with other reasons and made the desire of publique benefite a shadowe for theyr conspiracie Which was not punished when it might haue beene through the negligence and ouer-great compassion in the King who rather loued to shewe himselfe quiet then valiant Hee endured the peremptory speeches of the Byshop of Calorra without being moued and was betrayed on all sides but principallie by Aluaro Gomes whom he putting in trust with hys greatest affayres because from meane degree he had highly aduaunced him yet hee notwithstanding wrought the meanes wherby hys aduersaries warred against him and gyuing no credite to the coūsel was giuen him was betrayed to the Arch-bishop of Toledo depriued of courage was afterward disgraded ignominiously in Auila so deposed frō his royall seate But it may be these fellons are not bad enough to receiue thy prest-money because thy present companions surpasse them in villanie and treason for these rehearsed contented thēselues wyth chasing theyr King marie thy companions haue murdered theyrs Then call yet if thou wilt from Plutoes kingdome other worse Spanyards the rebellious Subiects of Phillip de Castro Prince of Arragon whom they kylled in Castile the Granadanes who slew Ioseph the seauenth and Ismaell the fift theyr Kinges The Valentians in the yeere one thousand three hundred and fortie-seauen because of the succession in the Realme of Arragon notwithstanding their rebellions were subdued by the King Don Pedro the fourth who gaue battaile to these rebellious confederates Sarragossa was captiuate and Valentia conquered albeit at the first the Valentians thought to make resistance and many skyrmishes past betweene them and theyr Kings but beeing many times vanquished and repulsed wyth losse they resolued in the end to surrender vp the Citty which the King beeing by nature sharpe and rigorous would haue rased that the plough might passe thereon and then haue sowed salt in the place in hatred of the dishonourable insolencies hee sustained by the Valentians Neuerthelesse he was disswaded from hys angry purpose by his Lordes that then were with him and contented himselfe with the execution of iustice on certain of the conspirators I see thee nod thy head and that yet thou hast neede of other kind of whelpes for these yet rehearsed thou wilt but place among so many Rebels as holding yoke with thee do yet trust to the clemencie of our Alcides wold be submitted to his mercie Then ioyne to all these
could alleadge so that Saule acknowledging his humanity by the demonstrations he had of Dauid at his comming forth of the Caue he fell into teares and thus spake vnto Dauid Thou art more righteous then I for thou hast rendred me good whereas I intended thee euill and thou hast shewed mee this daie the good thou hast doone me for asmuch as when the Lord had gyuen me into thy handes yet thou wouldest not kill me For who shall find his enemie and let him depart into a good waie wherefore the Lord will reward thee with good for that which thou hast done vnto me this day And nowe I beholde and knowe for a certaintie that thou shalt be King and the kingdome of Israell shall be stablished in thy hands Such were the words of Saule to Dauid beholding the humanitie Dauid had vsed towards him by which pardoning of hys enemy he aduaunced hym and was so farre of from beeing auenged as hee withdrewe himselfe from his right of raigning in the Kingdome which God had giuen him I cannot omit in thys case another deede of Dauid toward Saule The Ziphians being come to Saule in Gibea aduertised him that Dauid was hid in the Mountaine of Hachilah which was face to face before the Desert of Iesimon Then Saule renuing hys mortall enmity against Dauid accompanied himselfe with three thousand able men and pitched his Campe on the Mountaine of Hachilah Nowe Dauid dwelled in the wildernes and knew by hys espials that Saule was come neere him wherfore in the night hee came to the place where Saule had placed his Campe and hymselfe slept within the Fort hys Tents beeing pitched rounde about him and very neere him was Abner the sonne of Ner the chiefe Captaine of hys Armie Which Dauid perceiuing discended into that place with Abisay approched neere his enemy Saule when Abisay thus spake to Dauid God hath closed thine enemie into thy hand this day now I pray thee let me smite him once with my speare to the earth and I will not stirre a foote from thee wherto Dauid answered I will not haue him smitten for what is he can lay his hand on the Lords annointed and be guiltlesse And Dauid said furthermore So truelie as the Lorde liueth no harme shall be doone him but rather God shall smite him or his day shal come to die or he shall discend into battaile and there perish The Lord will keepe me from luying my hand vpon his holie and annointed but I pray thee onelie take hys Speare that standes at his heade and his Cruse of water and so let vs depart Thus Dauid contented hymselfe wyth thys brauado euer-more declaring hym to be no way excusable that should attempt any thing against the person of the King Let me say beside that Saule beeing slaine in the fight against the Philistines and Dauid hearing tydings of hys death was very sorrowfull and vsed meruailous lamentations commaunding him to be brought before hym that had cut off his heade who thought to delight hym with bringing the head of Saule saying that he had doone him to death when Dauid mooued with pitty and anger How is it quoth he that thou wast not afraid to lay thine hand on the Lords annointed Thy blood be vppon thine owne heade for thine owne mouth hath testified against thee saying I haue slaine the Lords annointed All the water of the Sea cannot then serue to wash the murderers of the late King neyther shall any of them be held excusable that pursue the life and estate of hys successour our vertuous and most valiant Prince But thou alleadgest the Prouerbe common among the barbarous Si ius violandum est regnandi gratia violandum est If right be to be violate for a kingdoms sake it is to be violate Wherfore then vsest thou the pretence of Religion and common-good to ouer-throw the most simple with these deceits Thys prouerbe is of Tyrants and Atheists who regard not that God is the reuenger of Kings and returneth euill to such as enterprise against theyr estates VVhat aduauncement receiued Absalon listning to the pernitious counsell of Achitophell and following it attempted against the person of King Dauid hys Father What happened to Adonia who thought to vsurpe the Realme against Salomon hauing deceiued the Mother of the King as very well it was made knowne vnto him afterward How is it chaunced to those who to the hard hap of Fraunce taking a morsell wyth the Spanish enemie and the trecherous League haue troubled thys estate Howe will it fall out with such who after beeing in fauour wyth the coniuration dyd by a Monke murder the late King let them not now stand doubting seeing that GOD is iust But to confute the colloured obiection of the Leaguers at thys day who say that the King is of a contrary Religion and thereby pretende an excuse for theyr conspiracie Haue they not read in the holy Scripture that Ieroboam king of Samaria had raiected the auncient Religion VVhat Prophet perswaded to make war against hym Hys Sonne dyed of disease because of hys sinne the ruine of his Realme was fore-told him but not executed by hys Subiects offenders against the Law of God Great euils befell to Achab the Realme of Israell for hauing brought in new Religion by the perswasion of Iezabell Daughter to the King of the Sidonites false Prophets were permitted the Altars were destroyed and the better sort of people put to death Neuerthelesse Elias the chiefe Prophet of that tyme albeit he was of wonderfull zeale yet did not hee cōmaunde that any one shoulde rise against the King The Prophets of God were hid in Caues an hundred in one place and an hundred in an other secretly nourished with simple breade and water the good men of behauiour afflicted on all sides and yet was none of them offended with the King or any enterprise prepared against hys person The Prophet onely shewed him his sinne and that GOD would punish it by drought three yeeres and a halfe but who euer read that hee incited any one to contend against his Prince Farre off from him was quae vim vi repelleret he willed none to repulse violence with violence and so to deliuer their Countrey but hearing that Iezabell sought for him to put him to death he referred vengeance to the hand of God only who sheweth himselfe a Reuenger when any one is vniustlie punished by the Magistrate whome no man is permitted to resiste with armes according as it happened to Achab and Iezabell For besides the death of many Prophets they caused righteous Naboth to bee murthered thereby vniustly to gette his Vineyarde and then our God who reserued the punishments heereof till conuenient time suffered Achab to endure such necessitie as hee ouerthrewe himselfe and was slaine As for Iezabell shee was throwne from the height of a Towre by her Eunuches rent in peeces with dogs her members
all detestation in the end wil set their feet on thy neck before they be swallowed in this depth altogether as already many of the better aduised are who find themselues drawne forth of thys Labyrinth euen as it were by the thredde of Ariadne An aduertisement to the small companie of Noble men that follow the League YOV Gentlemen of honourable minde byrth that make loue to thys deceitfull Courtezane good God! how are you abused Doe yee not behold that in promising she plucks from ye and in giuing she takes away Despoyling ye of your Noblesse renowne and honor See ye not that she cherisheth ye to the end to slack and weaken ye to your King and Countrey by making ye drunk with her vnlawful loue Know ye not the cunning of this withered Geryon that would separate and deuide ye in the end to triumph ouer ye Doe ye not yet discouer her mallice Haue ye yet your eyes sealed vp will ye not purge them of the powder of so many collours and false pretences as are thrown into them that yee might cleerelie discerne your selues to come into a good way The League you reuerence so much is like a Tree secretlie and subtillie planted in the midst of you the fruit whereof at the first beholding seemeth faire yet are they verie bitter and poysonable to poore Fraunce how happens it thē that they are so sweet and sauorie to you whose tastes are so fine delicate Know yee not that such Leagues confederacies and particuler associations of Subiects amongst themselues or with other Princes vnder what-soeuer pretence it be are forbidden by Monarches Yea the King of Spaine himselfe that thus beguiles yee hath by expresse Edicts inhibited his Subiects from thē yet shal this old Reynard by the same meanes spoile destroy you Are ye ignorant my Lords that there was no accusation more great against Lewes of Fraunce Duke of Orleance after he was slaine by the pollicies of the Duke of Burgundie then because he was allied and leagued with the English Duke of Lancaster Nor can yee defende your selues with the authoritie of the late most worthie Prince the Cardinall of Burbon whose integritie and holie zeale to Christian Religion the Maister whom you serue vnder the afore-named pretence of pietie and Religion abused And doubtlesse as much would he doe to this honourable vertuous religious Prince the Cardinall of Burbon his Nephewe if he did not well perceiue that so great a Prince and Prelate by his wisedome and most carefull fore-sight instructed by nature cōfirmed from his yongest tender yeeres by the vertuous documents hee receiued of Mounsieur de Bellozane a sharp sighted good Catholique most faithful Frenchman would discouer his fraude and coniuration and finde readie at his fingers endes what he entended to his King and all other of his blood It was not lawfull for that great Prince the late Cardinall of Burbon of praise worthy memorie so kindly and easily notwithstanding his authoritie to league himselfe or to giue any occasion or couerture of a League because it pertaineth to none but the King to doit or to commaund or consent to Leagues hee hauing the onely soueraigne authoritie But the enemies to the King the estate and his honour very easilie deceiue him vnder the colour of Religion the Weale publique You are capable of reason then conceiue what I say Forsake the error of thys vile kynde of people that are dulled and infected with this daungerous poyson defende your selues with this preseruatiue and consider that these Rebels haue their weapons in hande euen against you seeing they menace the estate which you ought and are bounde to maintaine and defende because thereon dependeth your Noblesse goods and liues The enemie hath diuers times receiued shrewd checkes but that your assistance and hostilitie relieued him had we your fidelitie with all the rest of this noble body soone should both the checke and mate be giuen him or rather this Hydra with so many heads shold be ouerthrowne and vtterly vanquished Abandon and giue ouer this Sorcerer vnwrappe your selues out of these snares if you bee wise and knit your selfe in a Gordian knot vnto your King our Hercules who holdes his armes wide open to receiue you courteouslie albeit ye haue so greatly offended Would ye by any badde deede of perfidie loose the name of Frenchmen heeretofore so admyred amonge strangers as that for the auncient Noblenesse of the French it was attributed by the Orientall Greekes before all the Latines and people of the West Can ye endure that the Spanyard who wold commaund euery where shall distaine your names and famous race Will ye let your selues loofe the naturall enfranchise and libertie so long time frequent among the auncient french before it was peece-meale rent by manners and opinions of strangers nowe when yee haue nothing left more deere then your honour and reputation Neuer thinke to make your selues great by that which you ruinate but think what shall become of you yours in such accidents The difficulties and occurrances that happen in an estate troubled with affaires of partialities are the moreful of dangers in that they depend on what may ensue and cannot easilie be referred to anie certain rule so that prouidence must there haue greater place thē knowledge But the humane spirit is so blinded with selfe-loue and dazeled with things present carrying shewe of delight as it imagines such pleasures ought alwaies to endure and little cares for ought may afterward come to passe the next way to vse speciall regard heereof is not to entertaine our thoughts with flattering desseignes or opinions So GOD who to himselfe hath reserued all power destributeth no otherwise his gyftes to men but that often-times hee ouer-throwes their determinations so soone as they are conceiued and some-times fore-seeing the scope of mens drifts conuerteth the enterprise to the ruine of the inuenter Then flatter not your selues concerning the part you take which is directlie against God against the estate and against your King and so cōsequentlie to the extirpation of al the French Nobilitie for the Stranger accompanied with a multitude of base peasants and groomes will loose and betray you to the Switzers If anie one of the wiser sorte that attendes on which side the winde will turne and now are halfe Spanyards nowe on the Kings side according to the occurrences shall say vnto me that I shew my selfe ouer passionate I aunswer him that in generall deuisions a man ought to take one partie for otherwise hee shoulde shewe himselfe to be faultie standing as a Neuter and so deserue the punishment ordained by Solon for such people As for me reason tels me that I faile not in taking and following the part of my King whom God hath lawfully and by the degree of succession giuen vs to gouerne and relieue this poore afflicted kingdome which doth nothing else but stagger beeing so extenuate and weake as if his Maiestie
haue a King that wel enough wil preuent them but God especially on our side who hitherto hath ouerthrown the enterprises of the Rebels and theyr Defenders and will confounde the one with the other that in the end we may haue the maisterie ouer them Behold howe the Spanyard woulde reconcile and bring ye into quiet if it were possible for him if so be the King and his fayre forces had their hands bound to gyue leaue to these Rebels and their gracious Deliuerers to vse them at theyr pleasure Doe not yee remember the ciuill warres that endured so long time in the reignes of King Charles the sixt and Charles the seauenth occasioned through the partialities and dissentions betweene the houses of Orleaunce Burgundie when the Burgundians caused the King of England to enter Fraunce The times were then so full of calamity and miserie the French being afflicted with warre famine pestilence so cruelly as the Fieldes were long time fallowed and vnmanured the Cittie 's ransacked the houses and Fortresses ruined destroyed and burned the great Lordes and loyall Officers of the Crowne the most worthy heroyick valiant personages kilde massacred or banished then was iustice prostituted and brought into bastardie merchandise and publique negotiation abolished In breefe all religion and humanitie violated for certaine yeeres was so great a mortalitie in Paris as the Woolues could not be kept out but entred the Cittie and deuoured the dead bodies Are we not now in danger to beholde the like times If the French Rebels get not some whol-some Elleborus and become wise by the remembrannce of passed examples well may they doubt to see farre worse troubles For the violence of this warre so long time closely practised and intended tooke beginning by excesse of treasonable offences and afterward proceeded by murder of the King the progresse and end cannot but presage but to be worse then the warres I haue alreadie alleaged Let vs be aduised by what wee haue seene because the testimonie of sight is more assured and certain then that which we receiue by hearing and we know that there is nothing so diuine humaine holy religious chast nor anie thing so well established and ordained but the rebellion of these Leagues hath troubled spoiled broken violated defaced and ouer-thrown See yee not alreadie a most deplorable estate of all the Leagued and rebellious Citties Semblable to the opinion of Thucidides vvho speaking of the vniuersall dyssention which in his tyme happened in Greece most ellegantlie in these tearmes set downe his minde So soone as anie noueltie or insolence is vnderstoode to be committed in a Cittie there are such as presently practise howe to make it worse prouoked moreouer to enterprise new stratagems eyther to declare themselues more insolent or for their burning desire to be reuenged And what-soeuer euil is doone they haue arteficiall names to disguise it withall which for their excuse they change into contrarie signification as if they were no such matters as they call them For they tearme rashnesse to be hardinesse and magnanimitie so that such sudden fellowes are called valiant defenders of theyr freendes Softnes or temporising they name honest feare modestie couert cowardlines violent rage couragious resolution wise and discreet deliberation cloked dissimulation So by these meanes he that is most vehement and audacious is reputed faithfull and as they say verie zealous and wel affected to the cause and he that wil not ad-here to thē is held suspicious As for him that brauely executes their enterprises and reuenges he is a wise and able man but much more he that knowes best how to fore-see and discouer the intent of his enemie and prouides that no man on his side shall depart from the faction or stand in feare of the Resister In breefe who most readily out-rageth or offendeth others is praised but especially he that can induce another to execute his determinations Such a faction is farre greater among strangers thē freends or kinred because they are disposed to all enterprises without any excuse euen so conspiracies and assemblies are not doone by authoritie of the Lawes or for the weale publique but for auarice against all reason and the fayth kept among such is not for Religion as they would haue it seeme but to entertaine such contagious euill in the Common-wealth Thucidides declared that such was the valour and courage among these partialists as the one party thought nothing that proceeded frō the contrary faction and altogether tended to no other end then the extermination and destruction the one of the other As for anie appointment or reconciliation made with theyr sollemne oath there was very slender assurance in their words when they had neyther feare or reuerence in an oath because they wold keepe them no longer then while they found occasion to lay hold on theyr aduersaries or some-what returned to their own aduantage These factions proceeded of couetousnes and ambition and they that were the cheefe heereof in the Citties made an honest pretence of euery partialitie Each one in words debated the defence of the Common-wealth but theyr deedes did witnesse the contrary because that without hauing any regarde to the common-good they laboured but to satis-fie their owne greedines making profit of others spoyle executing vengeances as themselues pleased If there were any one that shewed himselfe a newter he was forth-with assailed by both parties where because he was affected to neither side or the enuie of them to see him in quiet he was thrust into the euil which the other suffered In such ciuill diuisions the mishaps are so great that without cōsideration of good turnes and benefites receiued or the vertuous actions of excellent men the people so furiously cast themselues vpon them as they cease not to pursue them euen to death or banishment As it happened in Athens to Themistocles Aristides Demosthenes and Phocion in Rome to Coriolanus Camillus Scipio Affricanus Cicero and others Beholde ye not my Lordes you that should see more cleerely thē the rest euen a like forme of estate among these Leaguers and Rebels Will yee not acknowledge it to be an extreame disorder and insolence See yee not heere tyranny in place of Monarchie which is the most perfect firme and surest fourme of a Common-wealth so highly commended by Homer It is not good saith he that many haue an equal authoritie but one sole King to haue the prehemenence to him hath God giuen a golden scepter therwith to cōmand and well gouerne his Subiects Heere you see in stead of an Aristocratia which is the iust and ciuill administration of certaine vertuous personages who haue all their thoughts and deliberations prouided for the Weale-publique beeing called by the Latines Optimates such as through the will and consent of the soueraigne Prince haue euermore beene ioyned to thys Monarchie to keepe it in a temperate state cōdition is now growen among vs a confused