c. 367 Secretary Villeroy and Duke d'Espernon fall into such a discord as in process of time produces many evil effects 280. foments a Conspiracy at Angolesme against the Duke by a secret Order from the King 356. goes over to the League where the Duke of Mayenne will not let the King speak with him who desired it 412. he dissuades the Duke of Mayenne from causing himself to be made King 114. treating with the King at Melun persuades him to turn Catholick 454 Secretary Pinart Governor of Chasteau Thierry brings all his Goods into it treats a Composition with the Duke of Mayenne for Twenty thousand Crowns and renders it 497 Sieur de Baligni in necessity at Cambray Coins Copper-money 640. makes composition with the King upon large Conditions 652 Sieur de Monthelon made Lord-Keeper 357 Sieur de Vins receives a Musquet-shot at Rochel to save Henry III. 151. he and the Countess de Seaux conclude to give the Supâ—riority of Provence to the Duke of Savoy c. 483. repenting himself begins to disfavour the Duke of Mayenne's designs though he wrote resentingly to him 484 Skyt-gate what it is 524 T. TAvennes vid. Viscount Tercera Islands 244 A kind of Toleration permitted to the Hugonots 46 Toquesaint an Alarum-Bell used as the Ringing of Bells backward with us 72 Henry de la Tour Viscount de Turenne marries Charlotte de la Mark Hâ—ir to the Dutchy of Bouillon 511 Tours taken by the Kings Army at the first Assault 70. an Interview there between the Most Christian King and the King of Navarre 397. made the Head-quarters Henry IVs. Party 416. is there acknowledged King of France by Publick Solemnity Page 427 Triumvirate vid. Union A Treaty of Agreement between Henry IV. and the Duke of Mayenne 436. Treaty propounded the L gat and Cardinal Gonde meet the Marquis of Piâ—ani but nothing concluded 465 A â—ruce made for two months in the new King Henry IIIs absence 205. Truce propounded to the Duke of Mayenne who refuses it 388. concluded for a year between the Most Christian King and King of Navarre 391. concluded for four Leagues about Paris and as much about Surenne 600. for three months making first a Decree for receiving the Council of Trent 614. prolonged for two months 624 V. VALois see Crown and House Anthony of Vendosme of the House of Bourbon that was Father to Henry IV. marrieth the Daughter of the King of Navarre by whom he inherits the pretensions of the Kingdom 10 Vendosme taken by the League by agreement with the Governor 397. taken by Henry IV. who gives the Pillage to the Soldiers condemns the Governor for his Infidelity and Father Robert a Franciscan for commending the killing of Henry III. 426 Veedor-General is Commissary-General c. 235 Verdun the first City taken by the League 265 In Victory moderation more profitable than at another time 455 De Vins vid. Sieur Viscount de Tavenne's error in drawing up his divisions of his Horse 445. Governor of Rouen but not liking him an Insurrection there 504. defeated and taken Prisoner going to put relief into Noyen 506 Viscount de Turenne obtains assistance of Queen Elizabeth of England the Hollanders and Protestant Princes of Germany for Henry IV. 486. brings him German Supplies 512 Union of the King of Navarre Duke of Guise and the Constable called by the Hugonots the Triumvirate 52. opposed by Queen Catharine 53 Holy Union a Decree so called made to combine themselves for defence of Religion 379. its Council consisting of forty of the chiefest persons of the League 384 W. WAR with Spain breaks out against Charles IX his will 178. between the Catholicks and the Hugonots 288. against the League begun by the Duke of Monpensier 394 Civil War the Incendiaries thereof are persons of desperate fortunes 59 Wolphangus of Bavaria aids the Hugonots with Fourteen thousand men 144 A Woman kills eighteen German Soldiers with a Knife 328 A Writing set forth by the Legat to keep the League on foot 630 Y. YEar begun is taken for the Year ended in matters of favour 90 Z. ZEalots in Religion and men disaffected to the Government compose the Catholick League 251 FINIS The Franconians a people of Germany not being able to subsist in their own Country issue out in armed multitudes and possess themselves of the Gallia's Pharamond chosen first King of the French at the river Salâ— and the Salique Law established The Salii Priests 419. The Franks began to invade the Gallia's in the year 419. being then possessed by the Romans Clodian the second King made himself Master of Belgia and this was first conquered Meroue the third King continues his Conquests as far as Paris and unites the two Nations into one Princes of the Blood The Assembly of the States hath the power of the whole Kingdom The pre eminencies of the Royal Family Inheritance and Administration The Royal races The Meroue Caroli Capetts and Valois St. Lewâ—â— the Ninth The Crown continued in the House of Valois thâ—ee hundred years 1515. The House of Bourbon being next to the Crown and grown to a monstrous greatness was hated kept under and suppressed by the Kings Francis the first advanceth Charles of Bourbon and afterwards suppresseth him whereupon he rebâ—lleth The House of Momorancy descends from one of those who issued out of Franconia with the first King Pharamond and pretends to be the first that received Baptism Anne de Momorancy after the death of Bourbon made High Constable The House of Guise descended from that of Lorain reckons in the male-line of their ancestors Godfrey of Bullen King of Ierusalem and shews a pedigree from a daughter of Chaâ—les the Grâ—at Anne of Moâ—erancy and the Duke of Guise fall into disgrace with King Francis 1547. Momorancy and Guise are recalled to the management of the affairs by Henry the Second Emulation between the Constable and the Duke of Guise The three brothers of Guise made absolute administrators of the politick and military Government by reason of their alliance with the Dolphin Antony of Vendosme of the House of Bourbon he that was father to Henry the 4th marrieth the daughter of the King of Navarre by whom he inherits the pretensions of that Kingdom The birth of Henry the 4th Dec. 13. 1554 in the Territory of Paw in theViscounty of Bearâ—â— a Free State 1559. Henry the 2d killed in a Tournament by Montgomery Francis the 2d his Son being 16 years old succeeds to the Crown TheObsequies of King Henry the Second last 33 days The King by the perswasion of his wife commits the management of the affairs to his Mother the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorain The causes of the Constables disgrace at Court and his exclusion from the affairs The Constable retires the second time from the Court. Francis Olivier the High Chancellor and the Cardinal of Tournon are recalled the second time to the Court. Secret Assembly of the Princes of Bourbon and
falling into a great distrust of his affection towards them they resolved either by that opportunity to establish the foundation of their own power or else by so great an obstacle to hinder those designs which the King had begun and contrived in his mind to bring their followers and adherents into one well-united Body drawing together and confirming that engine of power which though vast and mighty was yet spred and dispersed as blood in the veins through all the parts of the Kingdom And because the present occasion gave them a wonderfuâ— opportunity to allure mens minds with honourable specious pretences to affright the fearful into a consent to their desires and to stir up the anger â—f those that were unsatisfied and utterly displeased at the conclusion of the Peace they began to work upon the Parisians and Picards Those as in all times jealous of the preservation of the Catholick Religion These as terrified with the fear of being commanded by the Prince of Conde to whom the Goâ—ernment of their Province had been promised The way of meeting together and holding intelligence with one another was opened to them by the Kings own institution who either moved by his inclination to piety by the admonitions and writings of Father Bernard Castor a Jesuite and many other religious men of that and other orders or else to cover and palliate those hidden intentions which he had resolved on for the course of his future Government had brought in the use of many Fraternities who under divers habits and different names met together upon days of devotion to spend their time in processions prayers disciplines and other spiritual exercises under the pious pretence of appeasing Gods wrath of imploring a remedy for their present divisions and calamities and of procuring unity peace and concord amongst all the people of the Kingdom by which means the Catholicks did not only meet freely together in all places but also found matter and opportunity to discourse of present affairs and to bewail the miserable condition to which the Crown was reduced by division and by the increase of heresie from which lamentations coming to talk of businesses of the Government and the affairs of State it was not hard both for those Brethren themselves and perchance for others more crafty and better acquainted with the designs of the principal contrivers to sowe the seeds and ingraff the beginnings of that league which had a near connection with that devout pretence for which the Catholicks assembled themselves in so many several places This practice was first begun in Picardy by Iaques Sieur d' Humiers Governour of Peronne Mondidier and Roye who being a remarkable man for riches and followers in those parts and for some private causes an Enemy to the House of Momorancy and by consequence to the Prince of Conde whose authority he hated and whose greatness he apprehended for fear of being put out of his Government began by means of those Assemblies which were no less frequent there than in other places to exhort the inhabitants of Peronne not to suffer their Town to be made the nest and receptacle of Heresie nor to let that fire be kindled in their bosoms which was like in time to inflame their whole Country and consume all the other parts of France he perswaded them that the first day of the Princes admission would be the last of their liberty for being made subject to the tyranny of Hereticks Seditious Men and Foreigners there would no longer be any possibility for them to enjoy their Estates Houses Wives nor their own Children all which would become a prey to the covetousness and cruelty of those that governed he added that they could â—â—pect nothing but mischief which way soever things were carried for if the Hugonots prevailed they would certainly be exposed to the slavery of the English with whom it was known the Prince had made an agreement to give them places and Fortresses in Picardy and though the Catholicks should prevail they were to look for no better than long sieges miseries and calamities of War and Famine since he was so earnest to get the possession of that Government for no other reason but by the help of its strength to resist the last assaults of his evil fortune By which plausible reasons that people being moved and the inhabitants of Mondidier Roye and Dorlan their neighbours being perswaded to the same they consented to make a League among themselves to hinder the Prince from taking possession of that place and of the Government of Picardy and to maintain and preserve the Catholick Religion in their Province Nor was this practice less advanced in the City of Paris where the zeal of the common people in matters of Religion and the open enmity which they had at all times professed against the Hugonots afforded them very fit matter to foment those designs wherefore there being many of the Parliament-men and Sheriffs of the City Eschevins as they call them and not a few of Religious Orders who in those meetings and Fraternities laboured cunningly the promoting of that League a great number of men of all degrees and qualities were by a strict Oath already tyed and united in the bond of that Association The example of the Picards and Parisians was followed by the Nobility of Poictou and Tourain as nearest to those places possessed by the Hugonots and more exposed to the imminent danger of their authority and being led by Louis de la Tremouille Duke of Touars a Lord of great dependents and of ancient nobility and reputation but a man full of turbulent unruly thoughts were already united and associated drawing after them not only the greater part of the Clergy but also a great many of the Commonalty Nor did the other Provinces want either Heads to introduce or fit matter to receive the same Confederacy which being proposed by men of great subtilty and no less authority under a plausible name and specious apparence easily gained credit even among the wisest and spread wonderfully through all Cities and Provinces The Form of that League and Covenant which was to be signed by all those that consented to it was this IN the Name of the most holy Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost our only true God to whom be Glory and Honour The Covenant of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of the Catholick Religion ought to be and is made for the establishment of the Law of God in its first estate and to restore and settle his holy service according to the form and manner of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Church abjuring and renouncing all errours contrary unto it Secondly For the preservation of King Henry the Third of that Name and his Successours the most Christian Kings in the State Honour Authority Duty Service and Obedience due unto them from their Subjects as it is contained in those Articles that shall be presented to him in the Assembly of the States which he swears and
promises to observe at the time of his Consecration and Coronation with protestation not to do any thing against that which shall be ordained and setled by the States Thirdly To restore unto the Provinces of this Kingdom and to those other States which are under it those ancient Rights Pre-eminences Liberties and Priviledges which were in the time of Clovis the first most Christian King or yet better and more profitable if any such can be found under the said protection In case there be any impediment opposition or rebellion against that which is aforesaid be it from whom it will or proceed it from whence soever it may those that enter into this Covenant shall be bound and obliged to imploy their Lives and Fortunes to punish chastise and prosecute those that shall attempt to disturb or hinder it and shall never cease their endeavours till the aforesaid things be really done and perfected In case any of the Confederates their Friends Vassals or Dependents be oppressed molested or questioned for this cause be it by whom it will they shall be bound to imploy their persons goods and estates to take revenge upon those that shall have so molested them either by the way of justice or force without any exception of persons whatsoever If it shall come to pass that any man after having united himself by Oath unto this Confederacy should desire to depart from it or separate himself upon any excuse or pretence which God forbid such Violaters of their own Consciences shall be punished both in bodies and goods by all means that can be thought of as Enemies to God Rebels and Disturbers of the Publick Peace neither shall such revenge be ever imputed unto the aforesaid Associates nor they liable to be questioned for it either in publick or in private The said Associates shall likewise swear to yield ready obedience and faithful service unto that Head which shall be deputed to follow and obey him and to lend all help counsel and assistance as well for the entire conservation and maintenance of this League as for the ruine of all that shall oppose it without partiality or exceptions of persons and those that shall fail or depart from it shall be punished by the authority of the Head and according to his Orders to which every Confederate shall be obliged to submit himself All the Catholicks of several Cities Towns and Villages shall be secretly advertised and warned by the particular Governours of places to enter into this League and to concur in the providing of men arms and other necessaries every one according to his condition and ability All the Confederates shall be prohibited to stir up any discord or enter into any dispute among themselves without leave of the Head to whose arbitrement all dissentions shall be referred as also the determining all differences as well in matters of goods as good name and all of them shall be obliged to swear in this manner and form following I swear by GOD the Creator laying my hand upon the holy Gospel and under pain of Excommunication and Eternal Damnation that I enter into this holy Catholick League according to the form of that Writing which hath now been read unto me and that I do faithfully and sincerely enter into it with a will either to command or to obey and serve as I shall be appointed and I promise upon my life and honour to continue in it unto the last drop of my blood and not to depart from it or transgress it for any command pretence excuse or occasion which by any means whatsoever can be represented to me The Copies of this League framed with so much art by the Guises that making a shew to obey and maintain the King took from him all his obedience and authority to confer it upon the head of their Union were very carefully and with much cunning dispersed by the hands of discreet wary men and such as were deeply engaged to them so that by little and little it began to spread in every place the cause or original not at all appearing whereby making very great but hidden proceedings because custom had already disposed mens minds to a desire of novelties they easily and in a short time drew all those into one body whom either for zeal of Religion dependance of interest desire of change or hatred of the Hugonot Princes they thought fit to bind together in that League and Confederacy But it being necessary to provide moneys for the nourishment and maintenance of that United Body and to find out some protection of great power and authority to shelter and defend it from the Kings forces the Lords of Guise turning their eyes out of the Kingdom thought that both for their Religion and themselves it was as lawful for them to make use of the help and favour of foreign Princes as it had been for the Hugonots to require the assistance of the Queen of England and the Princes of Germany and therefore they began secretly to treat at Rome for protection and in Spain for men and money nor did they find in any place any averseness to their desires for the Pope being displeased at and affraid of the Peace concluded with the Hugonots willingly gave ear to those things which might conveniently oppose their establishment and the Catholick King grown jealous that the designs of the Duke of Alancon would at last break out upon Flanders and that the King to quench the fire of his own house would be content to kindle it in his Neighbours willingly concurred to foment those in France who laboured to renew the War hoping that the discords in that Kingdom might one day give him an opportunity of some grand design and in the mean time preserve the peace and quietness of all his own Nicholas Cardinal de Pelle-ve bred up in the house of Guise treated the interests of this Union at Rome which by Gregory the Thirteenth a man of great candour and goodness but of a facile nature was hearkened unto with much readiness it pretending nothing but Faith Religion Charity Zeal to the publick good correction and reformation of abuses though in effect it contained private passions mingled with particular interests which not being unknown to the Court of Rome many discoursing of so new and high a design ascribed the cause of it to a desire the Guises had to govern the Kings will who excluding their help and counsel shewed that he would rule as it pleased himself others drawing the business another way attributed it to their care of conserving their own greatness which they had with so much sweat and labour been so long a building up Nor did there want those who passing yet further perchance through the malice they bore to that party taxed the Heads thereof to aim at vaster ends which whether true or false were after published to be the deposing of the King himself as a dissolute incapable mean-spirited man and in time to settle the Crown in
the Duke of Nevers unto the Assembly he caused them to propose that it being requisite to make War with powerful Armies against those that were disobedient to the Catholick Church great sums of money were also necessary and that therefore the Kings Treasury being exhausted he desired the States to assist him with two millions of Ducats to maintain the vast expences of War which none ought to refuse since they had all solemnly taken the Oath of the League and thereby obliged themselves to contribute their Fortunes in common at which demand the Deputies for the City of Paris not being present because some were indisposed and the rest gone home to elect the Prevost des Merchands the chief Officer of that City and therefore Iean Bodin being President of the Order of Commons and knowing all that burthen was to be laid upon the people rose up and answered That the Third Estate had always propounded and protested to desire unity in Religion and the reducing of those that went astray but without the noise of Arms and War and that if they looked into the Records of the Assembly they should find those very words formerly expressed in the Vote of the Commons which he had caused to be registred and that since they had not consented to the War neither were they bound to contribute to the expences of it to satisfie the fantastical humours of some of the Deputies and consume their own Estates to renew the yet bleeding wounds of the Kingdom to which speech of his not only the other Orders but the Clergy themselves assented who having sworn that in words which they were not so forward to perform in actions and desiring no less than the rest to ease themselves of those contributions wherewith all of them were equally wearied and burthened the ardour and constancy of those began to waver who had so readily resolved upon a War at the charge and danger of other men whereupon the King turning his sail according to the wind the next day he himself propounded to the Deputies That since they thought the charges of War so grievous a burthen they should patiently expect the Duke of Montpensier and Monsieur de Byron sent by him to the King of Navarre to procure his conversion in a friendly and peaceable manner with which motion notwithstanding the opposition of many the major part of the Deputies were contented Not many days after the Duke of Montpensier returned and being brought into the Assembly by the Kings command related in order all that had passed in his Negotiation and in substance shewed them that the King of Navarre being most desirous of the Peace of the Kingdom would be contented with such reasonable conditions as cutting off all exorbitant superfluous matters which were granted in the last Edict might moderate and compose all differences without putting themselves upon the necessity of a War and gave almost assured hopes that he himself though he would not give occasion to have it thought that he turned Catholick by compulsion might yet in time condescend to alter his opinion and make a happy conclusion of all things which relation coming from the Duke who was of the Blood-Royal Brother-in-law to the Duke of Guise and always partial to the Catholicks wrought such an effect in the minds of all as encouraged Iean Bodin and others of the Order of Commons again to try the way of agreement with express protestation that unity in Religion ought to be procured without War Which Vote being some days stiffly opposed and as constantly maintained was at last carried and a Writing drawn up in the Name of the States beseeching the King to endeavour an unity in Religion by peaceful means and without the necessity of War which being propounded by the King himself in his Council the opinions concerning it were diverse for the Duke and Cardinal of Guise the Duke of Mayenne the Duke of Nevers and others were against the proposition of the States alledging that the end they aimed at could not be obtained without the extirpation of the Hugonots who were up in Arms and moreover had already renewed the War and affirming that last proposition of the Deputies to be artificially contrived and extorted whereas the first had been voluntarily and generally agreed on and the Oath taken in approbation of the League which was directly contrary to the present proceedings But the Queen-Mother the Duke of Montpensier the Mareschal de Cosse Monsieur de Byron the High Chancellour Byâ—ago Morvillier Chiverny Bellieure and Villeclaire with the major part of the Council being of the contrary opinion alledged that there were many other means though such as required more time to bring those that were out of the way home into the bosom of the Church and that to destroy so much people would exceedingly weaken the Kingdom and bring it again into the late miseries and dangers Wherefore it was concluded that the Duke of Montpâ—â—sier should return to the King of Navarre to know his last answer concerning his conversion and reconciliation to the Church and the setling of a lasting reasonable Peace In the mean time many other things were debated in the Assembly about the rule of justice the ordering of the Finances the payments of debts and the reformation of manners among which matters some of the Prelats moved that the Council of Trent might be received and observed but the Deputies of the Nobility and those of the Commons opposed it stoutly with which the major part of the Clergy concuring for the conservation as they said of the priviledges of the Gallique Church and such as had been granted to it by several Popes it was at last resolved that it should pass no further The Heads of the Catholick League and their followers omitted not to seek some way of restraining the Kings power and propounded that his Council might be reduced to the number of four and twenty Counsellors which should not be chosen at the Kings pleasure but by every Province of the Kingdom as is the custom in other States But this motion being made but coldly and stifly opposed by many as contrary to the anâ—ient constitutions and all former precedents it was in the end cast ouâ— â—est the mention of it should too much exasperate the King With these deliberations not only ambiguous and uncertain but also opposite and disagreeing among themselves the Congregation of the States broke up which having neither concluded Peace nor War the King was left free to do what pleased himself who having happily though not without much pains and industry overcome the conspiracies of the League was in good measure confirmed in the resolution of his first designs having not only increased his inward hatred toward the House of Guise but found by experience his own weakness and the too great power of their Faction Wherefore being resolved to establish Peace because both parties were nourished and fomented by the War he first of all put the Bishop of
possibly be governed These so weighty difficulties which on all sides seemed impossible to be overcome and the hope of drawing over many to the League in time unto his party and of loosening by his wonted arts that bond which then seemed invincible by strength made the King resolve to take the counsel of the Queen his Mother and of Bellieure and Villeroy which was to procure delays as much as possibly he could and in the end to give the League such satisfaction as was necessary to divert the violence and force of the Confederates and to endeavour by art and time to disunite their Combination experience having so often given certain proofs that by fighting and resistance the forces and dangers both at home and abroad were increased but that by yielding and complying those hazards might be deferred and those imminent calamities and miseries avoided To this end the Queen undertook the charge of treating with the Duke of Guise and the other Princes of the League and being attended by the Mareschal de Retz Monsieur de Brulart Secretary of State and Monsieur de Lansac she went to Espernay in Champagne ten Leagues from Chalons to confer with the Lords of Guise and the Cardinal of Bourbon Thither also came the Confederate Lords and without further delay they began to treat of the means of an Accommodation But the intentions of the parties were so different that they could hardly come to any conclusion for the Queen minded only the gaining of time as well to give the King leisure to arm and prepare himself and the Swisses to draw near to Paris as to give opportunity to those engines which were secretly set on work to disunite the League whereas on the other side the Guises taking very good heed to each of those particulars pressed for speedy expedition either of an advantageous Agreement or of a resolute War Wherefore though the Queen laboured very much both by her authority and perswasions yet could she obtain no more but a truce for four days in which space she dispatcht Monsieur Myron her chief Physitian to the King to bring back his resolution touching the Accommodation The time of truce being expired the Queen drew nearer and advanced as far as Charry a place belonging to the Bishop of Chalons whither the Confederate Lords came also to meet her she let them know that the King by Myron the Physitian had sent her Order to assure them that in matters of Religion he was of the same mind with them and that he desired the security of the Catholick Faith the extirpation of Heresie and one only Religion and Belief in his Kingdom no less than they but that to attain unto that end he neither had sufficient Forces nor money enough to maintain the War in so many places and that therefore they that shewed themselves so zealous of it ought to propound the means of gathering Armies together and of providing for their pay and maintenance The King hoped by this proposition to put the Confederates in as great confusion as he had done the Deputies at Blois in the same manner for there was no doubt but the charges would necessarily fall on the Clergy and upon the Commons a thing contrary to the Proposition of the League which was to ease the grievances of the Kingdom and in these Armies that were to be raised in several parts it was necessary to imploy all the Nobility to the burthen and obligation as well of their Estates as Persons wherefore it was not very easie for the Duke of Guise and the other Lords to resolve this doubt and thereupon to the great contentment of the Queen they took three days time to give their answer After many consultations they determined at last to shun the encounter of those means and advertisements which the King required lest they should discover express falshood in those promises which they made at the propounding of the League and draw upon themselves the hatred of those burthens and grievances which at that present lay upon the Kings own person and therefore making use of both Force and Authority they answered the Queen resolutely that it concerned not them to provide those means but that the King who was conscious to himself of his own Forces ought to find them and that without further delay they would presently have a Declaration and an Edict against the Hugonots security for themselves and a certainty that the War should not be deferred towards which they proffered those Forces they had then in readiness or else they would make their Army to march whither they thought most convenient for the end of their enterprise and indeed they dispatched the Duke of Mayenne at that very instant with part of their Forces and with Commission to meet the Kings Swisses and if he thought fit to fight with them presently At this resolute determination the Queen demanded eight days time to give the King notice of it and to know his pleasure and the Duke of Guise who had need to meet his German Souldiers which as he was informed were near to Verdun was easily perswaded to consent unto it But whilst he goes to meet them and to take order for their coming in the Queen watching all opportunities imployed Luigi Davila a Cyprian who was a near attendent of hers to work with Francisco Circarssi a Gentleman of the same Country belonging to the Cardinal of Bourbon to try if she could by that means remove and separate him from the combination of the Lords of Guise which business being followed and redoubled many times whilst the Treaty lasted the old Sieur de Lansac chief of the Queens Gentlemen was cunningly engaged in it and on the Cardinals part the Sieur de Rubempre himself who being of a haughty mind and not having that authority in the League which he thought he deserved began to apply his mind to a reconciliation with the King and his Party and in the end Monsieur de Lansac conferred with the Cardinal himself under colour of a complemental visit They urged many reasons to him in substance that he might take notice that he was not Head of the League as befitted the quality of his Person and the honour of his Blood but a Subject and Vassal to the passions and affections of the Duke of Guise and the other Lords of his Family that the business was not any interest at all of Religion since the King having offered to give them all manner of satisfaction in matters of Faith his offer was not accepted but that it was now manifest and publick to all the World that under colour of Religion they prosecuted their private ends and interests that it was not fit for a man of so great zeal and integrity and one that was placed in the most eminent dignities of the holy Church to serve for a stale to the pretensions of the Lords of Lorain and to give colour to a most open Rebellion against the Person of a
Paris and having left the Cardinal of Bourbon to govern the City was gone to Meaux and Chasteau-Thierry to make himself Master of those places His Brother the Cardinal of Guise at the same time neither wanting wit nor courage but boldly following his steps and counsels had stirred up the people and made himself strongest in the City of Troye which from the beginning had declared that it would continue under the Kings obedience and the Duke of Aumale with the Forces of Picardy had laid siege to Boulogne by the Sea side a very principal Fortress of that Province and the Adherents of the League laboured on every side to surprise Towns and Castles to gather Horse and Foot and to draw the greatest number of followers they possibly could unto their party yet the Duke of Guise after he saw the King had escaped the net and that he could not so easily bring his first design to perfection desirous to make that seem to have been done purposely which indeed was only oversight with writings cunningly framed and reasons eloquently set forth directed to the King and the whole people of France he endeavoured to perswade that his actions only tended to the benefit of the Kingdom the obedience of the King and to the general service and benefit that the Insurrection of Paris had without his consent been stirred up by the peoples fear and that his intention was ever to yield such obedience as he ought to do desiring only that evil Counsellors might be put away and that sincere thought might be taken to secure Religion And though his deeds were for the most part very contrary to his words yet the colour of Religion was so powerful and plausible and he knew so well how to behave himself that the multitude thought him a faithful Servant to the King and believed he was only moved by zeal to Religion and most ardent charity toward the good of the whole Kingdom While they proceeded in this manner on both sides the Duke of Espernon who was in Normandy having heard the success of the Sedition at Paris went with a good number of Gentlemen to the King who being already resolved to dissemble with all and to trust none but himself received him neither with his accustomed intimacy nor his wonted demonstrations of favour but made small shew of valuing him seeming to desire his departure from Court to put an end to all those scandals which were said to arise from his extraordinary greatness And indeed having determined to give outward satisfaction to the Duke of Guise and the League and knowing that Peace would never be concluded unless he consented to remove him from the Court his intention was to do it before the Agreement that it might seem a voluntary act and not constrained by force wherefore â—e began by the means of Monsieur de Bellieure and of the Abbot del Bene to desire him in respect of the distractions of affairs and to remove the occasions of them that he would lay down his Government of Normandy give up the Fortresses of Metz Loches Angoulesme Xaintes and Boulogne and only retain his Government of Provence wherein for his greater security his Brother la Valette should continue his Lieutenant That he should retire thither far from the clamour that was made about his person and wait for a more quiet and fitting season to return to Court The Duke of Espernon a man of exceeding great understanding and bred up by the King himself among the stratagems of State perchance ghessing at the Kings secret intentions by having been so conversant with him was contented without contradiction to quit his Government of Normandy wherein he saw himself not well setled by reason of the resistance many Governours made against him But for the rest though in words he promised to satisfie the King in all his demands yet was he resolved not to part with any of the strong Holds wherein he hoped to defend himself from the storm of fortune which he saw coming upon him Whereupon while he treats about the manner of delivering them into the Kings hands and to whom and which way they should be resigned shewing still more care of his Masters security than of his own good and while the King cannot so readily resolve in whose power it was fit to trust them he departs suddenly from Court feigning that he would give way to Fortune and being accompanied with the Abbot del Bene who was no less persecuted by the League than he went with all speed to Angoulesme where by reason of the strength of the Castle and the nearness of the Hugonots he thought he might stay more securely and from whence thorow the Towns of Languedoc held by the Mareschal d' Anville it was easie for him upon any occasion to retire into Provence This retreat clipt the wings of the pretensions of the League and removed all impediments that might have hindered Peace and it was likewise a prudent determination of his side for already the Duke of Guise and the people of Paris turning all their Forces against him had divulged many Writings wherein he was accused to be a sower of discord and a principal cause of so great mischiefs which though he had caused to be answered with many reasons shewing that the mischief proceeded from the ambition of the House of Lorain and not from the modesty and obedience of him and his Brother who receiving the Kings favours with a thankful and loyal mind did use their uttermost endeavours to serve him so as might be for his advantage and their reputation yet he saw that the cloud would undoubtedly break upon him whereupon he chose rather by retiring to keep his most important Governments than by staying be forced by one means or other to give them up Many doubted that the King was privy to his departure and so much the rather because the Abbot del Bene's going with him made it to be suspected nor was the suspicion without ground for the Duke of Guise demanding that he should resign those four principal Fortresses and the King not willing to deprive himself and the Duke of Espernon of them at the same time to give them into the hands of such persons as he could not confidently trust it was necessary the Duke should feign to go away discontented without the Kings knowledge and that he should shew that he would not quit them but by force to the end that the King might be excused afterward if he did not presently demand them and that the Duke of Guise might not constrain him to take them from him since he shewed they were withheld against his will But whether they understood one another by signs or whether the King imparted his design unto him by the means of the Abbot del Bene or whether the Duke took that resolution of himself it was unknown to every one at Court and the Kings most intimate Counsellors knew nothing of it Yet this I affirm that
which were Lorenzo Bianchetti and Philippo Sega who after were Cardinals Marc Antonio Mocenigo Bishop of Caneda a man well versed in affairs and highly esteemed by the Pope Francesco Panigarola Bishop of â—sti a Preacher of great renown and Roberto Bellarmino a Jesuite of profound and admirable Learning To the choice of these men the Pope added Bills of Exchange to the Merchants at Lyons for three hundred thousand Crowns with Commission to the Legat to dispose of them according to need and occasion but particularly to spend them for the Infranchisement of the Cardinal of Bourbon upon which he shewed his mind was fixed more than upon any other thought whatsoever But this so ardent resolution was cooled in the very beginning and the Pope was put in doubt by Letters that arrived from the Duke of Lâ—â—cembourg wherein he gave him notice that by the French Nobility who in a very great number followed and acknowledged the King of Navarre to be the legitimate King of France he was chosen Ambassador to his Holiness and the Apostolick See to inform him of the causes which had moved the minds of all good French-men to that acknowledgment and to require from him as from a common Father the proper means and remedies for the Peace and Union of the whole Kingdom By which Letters the Pope did not only find that what the Agents of the League had represented unto him was vain viz. That the major part of the Kingdom was joined to the party of the Union and that only a few desperate persons followed the King of Navarre but he also conceived some hopes that by the way of Pacification an end might be put to the miseries and discords of the Kingdom those that were gone astray might be reduced into the bosom of the Church and his aim of having a lawful Catholick French King might be attained without submitting the afflicted people of France any longer to new dangers and calamities of an obstinate War Wherefore being also excited by the diligent informations which were given unto him by the Venetian Ambassadours intent upon the preservation of the Crown of France he returned favourable Answers to the Duke of Luxembourg and the French Nobility which were in the Kings Camp assuring him that he should be well respected and kindly received and exhorting them to persist constantly in the Catholick Religion as in their Letters which came with the Dukes they asserted they would do and that they would continue it even to the effusion of their blood And yet the Agents of the League especially Frison Dean of Rheims lately sent thither by the Duke of Mayenne urging him not to delay the Legats expedition for that these were artifices of the King of Navarre to take him off and gain the benefit of time he dispatched the Legat towards France but with Instructions very different from his first designs For whereas before all the endeavours tended to the confirmation and freeing the Cardinal of Bourbon now passing over his name in silence the design was only to re-unite by any means whatsoever the Catholicks under the obedience of the Church and establish a Catholick King to the general liking without naming the person To these Commissions set down in a Writing dated the Fifteenth of October were added particular express Advertisements to the Cardinal Legat to shew himself no less neutral and dis-interessed in the Secular Pretensions of the Princes than most ardent and zealous concerning Religion and not to value one person more than another provided he were a French-man obedient to the Church and generally liked by the Kingdom Nay more at his last coming to receive Instructions the Pope added and repeated it effectually that he should not shew himself an open Enemy to the King of Navarre so long as there was any hope that he might return into the bosom of the Church But these Advertisements were very contrary to the principal scope of the Embassie which was to uphold the Catholick party of the League as the foundation of Religion in that Kingdom a thing often repeated in his Instructions and which was always the aim from the beginning but which the Pope pretended to have altered in his last directions so that the substance of the business changed in the variety of circumstances as it often happens did so disturb the execution that it was afterwards governed more by the diversity of accidents than by any firm determinate resolution The Advertisements of Cardinal Moresini differed not much from the Popes Instructions for being met by the Legat Gaetano in the City of Bolognia he as vers'd in the interests of the Kingdom gave the Legat a particular account of the intentions of Spain of the pretensions of the Duke of Mayenne of the weakness of the League composed of various different humours and of the Kings Forces which had more secure foundation in the concurrence of the major part of the Nobility than the party of the Union had in the conspiracy of the common people The same was told him at Florence by Ferdinando Great Duke of Thuscany who being perfectly informed of the interests which were on foot in the Kingdom of France perswaded him to keep himself Neuter and not to refuse those overtures of Agreement which might be with the profit of the Catholick Religion and the reputation of the Pope But both the advice of Cardinal Moresini and the Great Dukes counsel were suspected by the Legat doubting that the one sought to make him fall into the same faults whereof he was accounted guilty in the Court of Rome and that the other did not counsel him sincerely Wherefore as a man bent with severity to sustain the greatness and power of the Church and accustomed to the affairs of Italy where the Popes authority by the piety of the Nation and the nearness of the Princes is held in high veneration he firmly perswaded himself that by the meer terrour of Spiritual Arms he should keep all the Catholicks at his devotion and excluding the King of Navarre make a King to be declared and obeyed wholly depending upon the Apostolick See and neerly joyned and obliged to the Crown of Spain to which both by his ancient breeding and the new practices of the Conde de Olivares the Spanish Ambassador at Rome he was infinitely inclined He was the more confirmed afterwards in this his thought that all ought to depend upon his Authority when being arrived at Turin he saw that the Duke of Savoy did with exquisite terms of submission intreat him as one that might dispose of matters at his pleasure to consider his right to the Crown of France as born of Margaret Sister to King Henry the Second by whose right the course of the Salique Law having been formerly interrupted he alledged the Crown ought rather to be confirmed to him than to any other that in antient times had pretended title by the womans side and alledging his deserts to the Apostolick See since that
of Nemours and the Chevalier d' Aumale did use all possible means to keep them together The besieged finding themselves in this streight writ to the Duke of Mayenne for a final resolution that if they were not relieved within ten days it would be impossible for them to hold out and having done all that was possible they should be excused both before God and man if they took care of their own safety and the Dutchess of Mayenne wrote to her Husband to the same purpose conjuring him by his affection to their children that he should not suffer them to fall into the hands of so bitter an Enemy Which Letters being reing received by the Duke and being in no less perplexity of mind than the Parisians he united all his Forces together and advanced to Meaux ten leagues distant from Paris and dispatched the Marquiss Alessandro Malaspina to let the Duke of Parma know that if he made not haste with his Army all their labour would be lost the besieged not being able to hold out any longer and for assurance of it sent him the same Letters he had received There were with the Duke of Mayenne besides Quiroga's mutineers Capizucchi's Tertia and the Walloon Horse the Duke of Parma had given him six hundred Lanciers of the Duke of Lorain's commanded by the Count de Chaligny Brother to the Queen Dowager of France the French Infantry under Colonel St. Paul the Duke of Aumale with the Troop of Picardy the Marquiss de Menelay Monsieur de Balagny Governour of Cambray and the Sieur de Rhosne and de la Chastre with their Regiments and Attendents which in all amounted to the number of Ten thousand Foot and Two thousand and four hundred Horse With these Forces though he advanced as far as Meaux to be ready upon any occasion that should be offered and to put courage in the besieged by being so near yet he did not think them sufficient to be able to relieve or victual Paris because he knew the King by the addition of many supplies had under his Colours Six and twenty thousand Foot and more than Seven thousand Horse among which Five thousand were Gentlemen who bearing Arms only for Honour being well attended and gallantly mounted were esteemed by him both for their number and quality without comparison superiour and therefore he dispatched Letters and Messengers every hour to the Vice-Seneschal de Montelimar who resided for him near the Duke of Parma to the end that he might with all diligence sollicite his coming without which he thought it impossible to relieve the besieged The Duke of Parma having called a Council of War upon the first of August told them the Order he had received from the Catholick King to march with the whole Army into France and said That that resolution was contrary to his opinion alledging the Reasons for which he esteemed the enterprise to be of great danger and little advantage But since it had pleased the King their Master to command it so as he was resolved in that Expedition to imploy all those abilities God had given him so he prayed all the rest to apply their endeavours to the end that the Offices committed to their care might be discharged to the praise of God the Kings satisfaction and to their own honour And there having given every one his charge he commanded that the Army already drawn down together should be ready to march by the fourth of that month He writ to the Duke of Mayenne the certainty and time of his coming and gave the Parisians notice of the same attesting to them That for the only purpose of relieving them and for the maintenance of Religion the Catholick King neglecting his own Affairs sparing neither blood nor money and without those securities of strong Towns for Magazines of Arms and places of Retreat upon the Confines which are wont to be demanded and granted to the end that every one might know his candour in proceeding to be more lively and more real undertook that weighty enterprise which nevertheless he hoped by the help of God and the justice of the Cause to bring to an happy conclusion and with this Resolution his Army moved upon the Fourth of August toward Valenciennes The Marquiss de Ranti led the Van in the Battel with the Duke were the Princes of Ascoli Chasteau-bertrand and Chimay the Count de Barlemont the Count of Arambergh and many other Flemish Italian and Spanish Lords The Sieur de la Mothe Governour of Graveling commanded the Reer in which there were twenty pieces of Cannon two Bridges to be made upon Boats and all those other warlike instruments which are wont to be carried along in Royal Armies The Duke of Parma's Armies had ever been very well disciplined ready and accustomed to hardship punctual in obedience of commands and no ways given to pillage or plunder in a Friends Country And now knowing he was to enter into a Kingdom where the name of a Spaniard was generally hated by the people and that he was no less to govern suspicious minds ready to rise upon every slight occasion than to make War with a victorious Army and a wary compleat Souldier he was more careful than ever and strove with all possible diligence to keep his Souldiers from doing any injury using any violence or giving any cause of complaint unto the French He encamped always as if the Enemies Army had been close by him kept all his men together from stragling and orderly in their quarters he made careful discoveries and marched without confusion or tumult he came into quarters betimes in the evening and while they were disposed of and made defensible he caused the greater part of the Army to stand to their Arms he ordered strong Convoys to attend the Victual whereof he had made and did still make exceeding great provisions and yielding the honour and advantage in all things to the French strove to gain the love of the Nation to which end he having lived in Flanders among the Spaniards with retiredness and gravity equal to the humour of those with whom he conversed now being come into France he laid aside the state of Ante-chambers and the strict keeping of doors eat in publick kept a Table for the French Gentlemen and both in words and actions shewed himself wonderful affable and familiar And because in that multitude of Officers of note that were about him he resolved only to trust himself he would personally hear the relations of those parties that had been abroad to discover and scowr the ways himself would talk with Spies dispose the order of the Guards and hearken to all things appertaining to the discipline of his Army for which purpose watching all the night he only gave those few hours to sleep which past between the beating of the Keveille and the marching of his Army With this diligence marching gently not to tire out his men he came to Meaux ten
Places Cities and Fortresses should for the space of six years remain in the hands of those that possessed them at that present to restore them to the King and to his free disposing within that time if they saw the Peace go on sincerely That the Government of Bourgogne with all the places also that held for the King should be left to the Duke of Mayenne which Government should be hereditary to his Sons with authority of disposing and distributing the Benefices Offices Governments and Places which should become void in that Province for the time to come That the King should give him an Office of the Crown superiour to the rest as it might be of Constable or of his Lieutenant-General That he should give him such a sum of money as should be sufficient to pay those debts which he was run into upon that present occasion That to the Government of Bourgogne that of Lyons and Lyonois should be added That the King should provide another Government for the Duke of Nemours which should be equivalent to it That the Duke of Guisâ— should have the Government of Champagne and two strong Holds for his security the Duke of Mercâ—ur that of Bretagne the Duke of Ioyâ—use that of Languedoâ— the Duke of Aumale that of Picardy and for his security St. Esprit de Rue That all the Lords of the League should be maintained in their Places Offices Dignities and Governments which they had possessed before the beginning of the War That the Catholick King should be comprehended in the Peace and reasonable satisfaction given to him for his pretensions That there should be an Act of Oblivion concerning all things that had befaln in the War and that the Narrative and Preamble of the Accommodation should be written in such manner as it might clearly appear the Duke of Mayenne had not acknowledged the King till then in respect of Religion and that now he did it by reason of his Conversion with the Popes consent and that also it might expresly appear he had no hand in the death of the late King Henry his last Predecessor These Conditions the Sieur de Villeroy imparted to Monsieur du Plessis and gave him an extract of them they being set down at large with their Causes and Reasons in the Presidents Letter Du Plessis first made small show to approve of them but Villeroy replied That this was not an Agreement with the Hugonots who by all Laws Divine and Humane were obliged to acknowledge their King established but a Capitulation whereby the Lords of the Union were contented to acknowledge or to say better upon certain conditions to make one King who was not Possessor of the Kingdom that that acknowledgment of theirs coming to pass the King would thereby attain the Crown of France which he possessed not and that therefore the Conditions ought not to seem strange unto him That the Lords of the League did now require all which they thought fit for their security because when the acknowledgment was once made they should be then no longer able to treat or demand any thing but as Subjects simply to beseech their Sovereign Lord That it was no wonder they should demand much at one time being very certain that after that they should never obtain any thing more during his Reign nor perchance in that of his Sons neither That the Duke of Mayenne had shewed himself so good a French-man that he would rather acknowledge a French King though an Enemy upon these conditions than a Stranger though a Friend and a Confident upon much greater ones That the King had always said he would content and secure the Lords of the House of Lorain and all the others of their party and lately while the War was in the heat before Caudebec had affirmed as much with his own mouth to the Baron de Luz with whom he had discoursed long about it in the field telling him That if the Lords of the Union would acknowledge and follow him he would not refuse any conditions and particularly that to his power he would give worthy satisfaction to the Duke of Mayenne whom he knew to be a good Prince and a good French-man That the Mareschal d' Aumont had by his orders repeated the same to the same Baron and therefore that ought not to appear strange now which he himself had proffered but a few days before But the Sieur du Plessis considered that to refer the business of the Kings Conversion to the Pope from whom by reason of the Spaniards power nothing at all would be obtained replied That it was not a thing to be expected from any other means but from Gods Divine Inspiration after such Instructions as should make him know himself to be in an errour for otherwise it was an unlawful thing to demand it and much worse to grant it the Soul being first to be thought of and then the affairs of the World And as for the other conditions repeating them one by one he shewed that if all the Governments and all the Places and Benefices should remain in the gift of the Lords of the Union the King would neither have any thing to reserve nor to grant to those of his own party and that it would be a monstrous thing to see all the Provinces in the hand of one only Family and the Princes of the Blood and so many other Lords excluded who had laboured and endangered their lives for the Kings Crown And yet after having again promised secrecy which the Duke of Mayenne required above all other things he said he would speak with the King himself concerning it and refer the resolution to his pleasure But being come into the Kings Council at Bussy where they were he was so far from favouring the Treaty of Peace and the Conditions propounded or from observing that secresie he had promised that publickly in the presence of all the Council he demanded pardon for having till then not any way out of an evil intention but through inadvertency deceived His Majesty since such Conditions had been propounded to him that he was ashamed of them and did much disdain to publish them He confessed that he had believed too much out of his desire of Peace and out of a will to serve the Publick Cause but the Conditions that were propounded were so unjust and dishonourable for the King and so pernicious for the whole Kingdom that they plainly shewed the Duke of Mayenne and those of his party had no thought of Peace but that they sought to hold the King in hand and to work a jealousie in the Spaniards to draw money and satisfactions from them That the things propounded were such as did not deserve any answer nor did he think them worthy to be heard by that Council and yet having proposed them with this Preamble not only the whole Council but even the King himself thought them not so exorbitant as he represented them and so much the rather because every one knew
try what they could do upon that place but the taking of it proved so difficult being defended by the Sieur de St Offange that after Two thousand and five hundred Cannon-shot and the loss of much time and the best Soldiers of the Army the rains of Autumne falling and the Duke of Mercoeur's relief drawing near they were at last constrained to rise without having obtained their intent But the Duke having held the Enemy in suspence by taking several ways and by making shew of turning sometimes to one place sometimes to another came suddenly to Quintin whither 700 Germans were gotten who were under the command of the D. of Montpensier in those parts and having found them unprovided of those things which were requisite to make a long defence he forced them to yield with express conditions to go out of the Province and not to serve any more against him a thing which proved very hurtful to the King's affairs for he had no Foot that were more forward more expert nor better disciplined than they The loss of the King's party was augmented by the defeat of the English who being as they still are wont afflicted with grievous diseases and brought to a very weak estate had obtained leave of the Duke of Montpensier to go to Danfront in lower Normandy to change the air and to recover their strength by rest but being set upon in the way by the Sieur de Bois-Dauphin with the Garrisons of Laval Craon Fougeres and of the near adjacent places they were so shattered that of so great a number hardly 200 remained alive On the contrary the affairs of the League in Lorain went on unsuccessfully for while the Duke of Bouillon who had taken Stenay with a Petard and possessed some lesser places at last went to relieve Beaumont besieged by Monsieur d' Amblise General for the Duke of Lorain the Armies encountred fiercely and the Lorainers losing their Trenches and Artillery were utterly routed and dispersed after which business the Duke of Bouillon took Dun suddenly by having likewise fastened a Petard to the gate and overrunning all the Country without hinderance had put the Forces of the League in very great confusion In this condition of affairs began the year 1593 the general dispositions of mens mindes as well of the one side as the other being more inclined to the setling of affairs than to the management of Armes The first novelty of this year was the Duke of Mayenne's Declaration made from the December before but not published before the fifth of Ianuary in which making known his intention in assembling the States of his party he prayed and exhorted the Catholicks that followed the King's party to unite themselves to the same end with him and to take some course for the safety and peace of the Kingdom It was of the tenour following CHarles of Loraine Duke of Mayenne Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France To all persons present and to come Greeting The inviolable and perpetual observance which this Kingdom hath had of Religion and piety hath been that which hath made it flourish above all others in Christendome and which hath caused our Kings to be honoured with the name of Most-Christian and First Sons of the Church some of them having to obtain that so glorious Title past the Seas and gone as far as the utmost bounds of the earth with most powerful Armies to make War against the Infidels and others of them fought often against those that sought to introduce new Sects and Errors contrary to the faith and belief of our fore-fathers in all which Expeditions they were alwayes accompanied by the Nobility who voluntarily exposed their lives and fortunes to all dangers to have part in that onely true and solid glory of having helped to conserve Religion in their Country or to establish it in places far remote where the Name and Worship of our Lord was not yet known from whence not onely the fame of the valour and zeal of the whole Nation resounds in all parts but by the example of it other Potentates have been stirred up to follow in the honour and danger of so worthy enterprises and of so laudable atchievements After this ardor the holy intention of our Kings and of their Subjects was not at all cooled nor changed till these last dayes that Heresie hath been secretly introduced into this Kingdom and increased in such manner by the means which every one knows that there is now no more need to set before our eyes that we are at last fallen into so lamentable a misfortune that the Catholicks themselves whom the Union of the Church ought inseparably to joyn together have by a new prodigious example taken Arms against one another and disunited themselves in stead of joyning together for the defence of their Religion Which we judge to be come to pass by the wicked impressions and wonted artifices Hereticks have made use of to persuade them that this War is not for Religion but to destroy and usurp the State though we have taken Arms being moved thereunto by so just a grief or rather being constrained by so great a necessity that the cause thereof cannot be ascribe d to any others than the authors of the most wicked disloyal and pernicious counsel that was ever given to a Prince though the King's death happened by a blow from Heaven and by the hand of one man alone without the help or knowledge of those that had but too much cause to desire it and notwithstanding we had made protestation that all our aim and desire tended onely to preserve the State to follow the Laws of the Kingdom by acknowledging for King the Cardinal of Bourbon the nearest and first Prince of the Blood declared so to be in the life-time of the late King by his Letters-Patents verified in all the Parliaments and in that quality designed his Successor in case he should die without male-children which obliged us to confer that honor upon him and yield him all kind of obedience fidelity and service as our intention was to do if it had pleased God to free him from the captivity he was in And if the King of Navarre from whom alone he could hope for that good had been pleased obliging all Catholicks to set him at liberty to acknowledge himself as King and to stay till Nature had brought his dayes to an end making use of that occasion to cause himself to be instructed and to reconcile himself to the Holy Church he should have found all the Catholicks united and disposed to yield him the same obedience and fidelity after the death of the King his Uncle But he persevering in his Errors it was not possible to do it if he would remain under the obedience of the Apostolick Roman Church which had excommunicated him and deprived him of all the rights he could pretend to the Crown Besides that by so doing we should have broken and violated that antient
knowing that this point alone by necessary consequence draws after it the ruine of the Catholick Religion in France and thâ— establishment of their impiety which could not take footing where the Throne of St. Peter is reverenced as it ought to be And not to touch any thing here but what is most to our purpose What likelihood is there to think that the Head of the Christian Church would in part assist or consent to the ruine and destruction of this most Christian Crown What good could he expect and what misfortune ought he not to fear from thence Although this is the principal calumny wherewith they have laboured to make you abhor the name and holy memory of the late Popes howbeit they swerved not at all from the footsteps of their Predecessors whose sollicitousness for this Kingdom you were wont not long since with reason to commend as also the acknowledgment which they rendred for so many so signal enterprises atchieved by the most Christian Kings with most singular piety liberality and valour for the benefit of the holy See and to omit more ancient examples you cannot so soon have forgotten with what applause and thanks you received the notable supplies which were sent against the Hereticks from Pius Quintus of happy memory to Charles the Ninth then your King Can you then now accuse that in his Successor which you approved in him Heresie is still the same still pernicious cursed execrable and it is against that Infernal Monster that the Vicars of Christ and the Successors of St. Peter not to transgress in the duty of their Office do wage mortal War and not against the Catholick Kings and Kingdoms to whom they are Fathers and Pastors It is against it that withoâ—t exception of persons they do no less justly than wholsomly employ the Sword of Supreme Jurisdiction which our Lord Jesus hath put into their hand to cut off the festred putrified Members from the body of the Church to the end that their contagion might not be pestiferous and mortal to the rest which nevertheless they do as late as they can mildness and fatherly pity still going before in the Office of Sovereign Judge so that their rigour never chastiseth any but those that are incorrigible But if you please to turn your eyes upon other Countries or rather without going out of your own Kingdom to consider what usage it hath ever received from the holy Apostolick See you will find that since the combustion kindled in it by Heresie which still continues to consume it no Pope hath omitted any thing that he ought or could do to help to quench it The good intelligence which they have ever held with your Kings and the continual assistance which they have always given them of men and other means and the frequent sending of Legats hither do sufficiently shew the zeal they have ever had for the tranquillity repose and conservation of this most noble State Nor were their actions ever suspected or ill interpreted by you while as true Catholicks and Frenchmen you desired rather to give the Law to Hereticks than to take it from their hand You have always found them to be such as need required till these late days that by your discords and connivence you have suffered Heresie to gather such footing upon you that now it no longer demands favour of impunity from you as it was wont but begins it self now as every one knows to punish those who more careful of their Salvation refuse to submit themselves unto their yoke A strange unhappy revolution which makes you detest that as a most hainous crime which you your selves have taught others to be a rare and excellent vertue and which on the contrary makes you to crown vice which you ought still as in former times you have done to condemn unto the fire See what the deadly poison of Heresie can do from whose touch so many other absurdities and contradictions are bred which you would not deny to be spread amongst you if you would lay your hands upon your hearts For to go about to maintain that the priviledges of the Gallique Church extend so far as to permit that a relapsed Heretick and one excluded from the Body of the Universal Church should be acknowledged King is the dream of a mad-man which proceeds from nothing else but heretical contagion And from the same original we may likewise say have sprung all the sinistâ—r interpretations which have been made of the actions and intentions of our holy Fathers But let us see a little whether those of the late Pope Sixtus Quintus which are expresly declared by his Bulls concerning the business of the most illustrious Cardinal Gaetano's Legation can in any part be calumniated That Cardinal was sent by the aforesaid Pope of happy memory into this Kingdom not as a Herald or King at Arms but as an Angel of Peace not to shake the foundations of this State nor to alter or innovate any thing in its Laws or Policy but to help to maintain the true ancient Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion to the end that all Catholicks being united together for the service of God the publick good and the conservation of the Crown with a mutual unanimous consent might with security and repose obey and yield themselves subject to one only Catholick and lawful King Now as these intentions were pious and directed toward the common safety so can it not be denied but that the effect and execution of them hath been endeavoured as well by the said Pope Sixtus as by Cardinal Gaetano not perhaps with that severity which according to some mens judgments had been necessary but with all the mildness clemency and charity that could be desired from a most loving Father towards his dearest Children No sooner was that wise Legat entred into the Kingdom but to begin to lay his hand in good earnest to the work he addressed himself at his first arrival to all those whom he believed he should find so much the more disposed to shew him all favour in the administration of his Charge by how much greater were their obligations and means to do it he sent some Prelats purposely unto them to confer particularly about what might concern the fruit of his Legation those men as also all the Archbishops Bishops Prelats Lords Gentlemen and others with whom he treated or caused to be treated during his Legation and to whom he wrote about this matter can give testimony whether he ever exceeded the limits of his Commission and how much he always protested that his Holiness had no other aim nor design than to maintain and defend the Catholick Religion and to conserve this Crown entire for the lawful Catholick Successors that were capable of it But if by the same means he complained that having as it were forgotten not only the singular Piety and Religion of your Ancestors but the conservation and together with it the reputation of your Country and which is worse
acknowledge the King of Navar for Superior though he should turn his Religion and make show to live as a Catholick to which the Duke of Mayenne not consenting as a thing very different from his practices and intentions the other Deputies that were present spake against it with divers reasons But the Legat urging with wonderful vehemence at last the Archbishop of Lyons said that the States were Catholicks obedient to the holy Church under the superiority of the Apostolick See in such cases and met together in obedience to the Pope and that therefore they would not be so impudent as to go about to bind his hands and presumptuously to declare that which he had not declared preventing his Judgments and declaring the King of Navar irreconcilable to the Church by a vain determination which was out of the Secular Power and wholly proper to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and that therefore they were resolved not to proceed to that Oath lest they should offend their own consciences and the Majesty and Jurisdiction of the Pope and the Apostolick See Which reason with the decency thereof stopt the Legat's mouth and the Duke of Mayenne's intention not to proceed to that Declaration prevailed But upon the Twenty eighth day there came one of the King's Trumpets to the Gate of the City desiring to be brought in that he might deliver a Packet of Letters directed to the Count de Belin Governor of it and being ask'd what his business was he answered freely and publickly That he brought a Declaration of the Catholicks of the King's party addressed to the Assembly of the States and being come before the Governor he gave the Letters into his hand and made the contents of them more fully known among the People The Governor carried the Packet to the Duke of Mayenne who lay troubled in his Bed and not being willing to open it but in the presence of all the Confederates he sent for the Legate the Cardinal of Pelle-vé Diego d Ivarra the Sieur de Bassompiere Ambassador from the Duke of Lorain the Arch-bishop of Lyons Monsieur de Rosne the Count de Belin the Viscount de Tavannes the Sieur de Villars by him newly declared Admiral Monsieur de Villeroy President Ieannin and two of the ordinary Secretaries which they called Secretaries of State in the presence of whom the cover being taken off there was a Writing found with this Title The Proposition of the Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and chief Catholick Lords as well Counsellors of the King as others now present with his Majesty tending to the end of obtaining Peace so necessary to this Kingdom for the conservation of the Catholick Religion and of the State made to the Duke of Mayenne and the Princes of his Family the Lords and other persons sent by some Cities and Corporations at this present assembled in the City of Paris Having seen the Title and every one being desirous to hear the contents the Writing was read by one of the Secretaries being of this Tenor following THe Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and Chief Catholick Lords as well of the Council as attendance of His Majesty having seen a Declaration Printed at Paris in the name of the Duke of Mayenne dated in the month of December published with the sound of the Trumpet in the said City upon the Fifth day of this present Month of Ianuary as is found at the bottom of it and which came into their hands a◠Chartres do acknowledge and are of opinion with the said Duke of Mayenne that the continuance of this War bringing the ruine and destruction of the State doth also by necessary consequence draw along with it the ruine of the Catholick Religion as experience hath but too well shewed us to the great grief of the said Princes Lords and Catholick States who do acknowledge the King whom God hath given them and serve him as they are naturally obliged having with this duty ever made the Conservation of the Catholick Religion their principal aim and have then always been most animated with their Arms and Forces to defend the Crown under the obedience of his Majesty when they have seen strangers enemies to the greatness of this Monarchy and to the honor and glory of the French name enter into this Kingdom for it is too evident that they tend to nothing else but to dissipate it and from its dissipation would follow an Immortal War which in time could produce no other effects save the total ruine of the Clergy Nobility Gentry Cities and Countries an event which would also infallibly happen to the Catholick Religion in this Kingdom Thence it is that all good Frenchmen and all those that are truly zealous thereof ought to strive with all their Forces to hinder the first inconvenience from which the second is inseparable and both inevitable by the continuation of the War The true means to prevent them would be a good Peace and a reconciliation between those whom the misfortune hereof keeps so divided and armed to the destruction of one another for upon this foundation Religion would be restored Churches preserved the Clergy maintained in their estates and reputation and Justice setled again the Nobility would recover their ancient force and vigour for the defence and quiet of the Kingdom the Cities would recover their losses and ruines by the re-establishment of Commerce Trades and employments maintainers of the people which are in a manner utterly extinct the Universities would again betake themselves to the study of Sciences which in times past have caused this Kingdom to flourish and given splendour and ornament unto it which at this present languish and are by little and little wasting to nothing the fields would again be tilled which in so many places are left fallow and barren and in stead of the fruits they were wont to bring forth for man's nourishment are now covered with thorns and thistles in summ by Peace every one might do his duty God might be served and the people enjoying a secure Peace would bless those who had procured them that happiness whereas on the contrary they will have just cause to complain and curse those that shall hinder i◠To this effect upon the Declaration which the said Duke of Mayenne makes by his writing as well in his own name as in the names of the rest of his party assembled in Paris where he alledgeth that he hath called the States to take some course and Counsel for the good of the Catholick Religion and the repose of this Kingdom it being clear that if for no other reason yet because of the place alone where it is neither lawful nor reasonable that any other but they of their own party should interview no resolution can proceed from it that can be valid or profitable for the effect which he hath published and it being rather most certain that this can nothing but inflame the War so much the more and take away
that the Conference should be accepted and upon the Fourth day of March they framed an Answer to the Catholicks of this Tenor. WE have seen some few days ago the Letter which was written to us and sent by a Trumpet in your Name which we could wish came from you with such zeal and affection as you were wont before these last miseries to bear to the preservation of Religion and with such respect and observance as is due to the Church our Lord the Pope and the holy Chair we should for certain quickly be agreed and united together against the Hereticks nor would other Arms be longer necessary for us to beat down and break in pieces these new Altars which are set up against ours and to hinder the establishment of Heresie which because it hath been tolerated or rather honoured with reward and recompence when it should have been punished is not contented now adays to be received and accepted but will become Mistriss and domineer imperiously under the Authority of an Heretick Prince And though that Letter name no body in particular nor is subscribed by any of those whose names it bears and that we therefore are uncertain who sent it us or rather certain that it was done at the suggestion of others the Catholicks not having in the place where you are that liberty which is necessary to bear deliberate and resolve with the counsel and judgment of their conscience any of those things which our misery and the common safety require yet should we not have so long delayed to make answer to it had it not been that we stayed expecting to have the Assembly fuller and increased by a good number of persons who were upon the way to come unto it of whom the greater part being arrived out of a doubt that our so long silence may be calumniated We do it this day without deferring it to another in expectation of the rest who are yet to come And we declare first of all That we have all sworn and promised to God after having received his most precious Body and the blessing of the holy See by the hands of the Cardinal-Legat that the scope of all our counsels the beginning means and end of all our actions shall be to secure and preserve the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion wherein we will live and die Truth it self which cannot lye having taught us that by seeking the Kingdom and Glory of God before all other things temporal blessings shall be added thereunto among which in the first place after Religion we put the conservation of the State entire and hold that all other means of hinderance ruine and destruction grounded only upon humane wisdom smell of impiety are unjust contrary to duty and the profession we make to be good Catholicks and without likelihood of ever having any good success And we being freed from those accidents and dangers whâ—â—h good men foresee and fear by reason of the mischiefs Heâ—esie produceth will not reject any counsel which may help to diminish our miseries or bring them to an end For we acknowledge and are but too sensible of the calamities which Civil War brings forth and have no need of any body to shew us our wounds but God and men know who are the authors of them It sufficeth us to say we are trained up and instructed in the Doctrine of the holy Church nor can our Souls and Consciences have repose and tranquillity nor taste any happiness while they are in fears and jealousies of losing Religion whose danger can neither be dissembled nor avoided if men continue as they have begun Thence it is that judging as you do that our reconciliation is most necessary we seek it with a truly Christian charity and pray and conjure you in the Name of God to grant it us Nor let the blames and upbraidings which the Hereticks cast upon us any way hinder you As for ambition which they publish to be the cause of our taking up of Arms it is in your power to see us within and discover whether Religion be the cause or pretence leave you the Hereticks whom at the same time you both follow and detest If we lift up our hands to Heaven to give God thanks if we be disposed and ready to follow all good counsels to love you to honour you to yield you that respect and service that shall be due to you then praise us as honest men who have had the courage to despise all dangers for the preservation of Religion nor have wanted integrity and moderation to forbear the thought of any thing that is against honour and reason but if the contrary happen then accuse our dissimulation and condemn us as wicked persons by so doing you will set both Heaven and Earth against us and make our Arms fall out of our hands as conquered or leave us so weak that the Victory over us will be without danger and without glory In the mean time blame the mischief of Heresie which is known to you and rather fear that canker that devours us and every day gets ground than a vain imaginary Ambition when there is no such thing or if there be it will be left alone and poorly attended when it shall be deprived of the cloak of Religion It is likewise a calumny to accuse us that we bring Strangers into the Kingdom it is necessary either to lose Religion with our Honours Lives and Estates or else to oppose the force of the Heretick whom nothing can please but our ruine and therefore we are constrained to make use of them since your Arms are against us They are the most holy Fathers and the most holy See that have sent us relief and though many have been called to that supreme Dignity since these last troubles yet have there not been one of them who hath changed his affection towards us a most certain testimony that our cause is just It is the Catholick King a Prince allied and confederate to this Crown only powerful now adays to maintain and defend Religion who hath likewise helped us with his forces and powers yet without any other reward or recompence but the glory which so good a work hath justly acquired him Our Kings against the Rebellion of Hereticks and in the like necessity have had recourse to them we have followed their example without entring into any Treaty prejudicial to the State or to our reputation though our necessity hath been much greater than theirs Rather set before your eyes that the English who assist you to establish Heresie are the ancient Enemies of the Kingdom who yet bear the title of that usurpation and have their hands imbrued in the innocent blood of an infinite number of Catholicks who have constantly suffered death for the service of God and the Church Cease likewise to hold us guilty of High Treason because we will not obay an Heretick Prince whom you call our natural King and have a care that bending your eyes to
the King ' Ambassadors very sharply who came to excuse it to him Sixtus Quintus chuseth a congregation of Cardinals who were to consult about the affairs of France * The French sayes Commandeur Vn Commandeur is one that having Ecclesiastical Livings may not Marry and yet is not compelled to be a Priest as the Grand Prior of France and all the Knights of St Iohn's in Iâ—rusalem Commines lib. 7. cap. 9. The King writes kind Letters to the Duke of Mayâ—nne promising him very great things The Duke of Mayenne notwithstanding the Kings promises being perswaded by Madam de Montpensier his sister makes himself Head of the Holy Vnion * Oâ— sâ—veral C urâ—s The Duke of Mayenne being come to Paris is declared Lieutenant-General of the Crown of France The Council of the Union is chosen consisting of forty of the chiefest persons of the League The Bishop of Mans is sent by the King on purpose to demand absolution for the Cardinal of Guise his death The Abbot of Orbais sent to Rome by the Duke of Mayenne treats of the affairs of the League very effectually The Legat propounds a Truce to the Duke of Mayenne but he refuseth it The King of Navarre grants Liberty of Conscience in those places he had taken and publisheth a Manifâ—st offering to take Arms against those that rebelled against their natural King The Duke of Espernon returned into his former Greatness treats a Truce with the King of Navarre Cardinal Moresini the Legat makes grievous complaints unto the King The Spanish Ambassador departs from Court without taking leave and goes to Paris Cardinal Moresini stays with the King and the Pope falling into suspicion of him accounts him guilty The peace is concluded between the King of France and the King of Navarre Capt. du Gast who killed the Cardinal of Guise treats an agreement with those of the League by the perswasion of the Archbishop of Lyons The prisoners given in custody to Captain du Gast Governour of Amboise are sent to several fortresses under safer guards The Truce is concluded for a year between the most Christian King and the King of Navarre Cardinal Mâ—resini the Legat assoon as the Peace is concluded with the Hugonots departs from Court to go out of the Kingdom * Two thousand pounds sterling The Legat moves the Duke of Mayenne to an accommodation who refuses to hearken to it The Parisians at the news of the Truce between the King and the Hugonots besides many publick signs of contempt forbid the King to be prayed for any longer in the Canon of the Mass. The Duke of Montpensier begins the war against those of the League and besieges the Falaise The Gautiers Country people up in Arms to the number of 16000 fight for the League Montpensiâ—r defeats the Count de Brissac's Forces who came to divert the siege of Falaise The Gautiers being fortified in three places after they had fought a long time some are cut in pieces and some yield Vendosme taken by the League by agreement with the Governour * Or Plessis les Tours The Interview between the most Christian King and the King of Navarre at Tours The Duke of Mayenne defeats the Count de Brienne and takes him prisoner The Duke of Mayenne assaults the Kings Army at Tours where they fight a long time The King himself orders and disposes his Souldiers puts himself among those that fight At last supplies coming from the King of Navarre the Duke of Mayenne gives off the enterprise St. Malin who gave the first wound to the Duke of Guise at Blois slain in the Fight at Tours his death is boasted of as a Miracle and as a presage of Victory The Duke of Aumale besieges Sâ—nlis Monsieur de Longueville goes with small forces to relieve it and raises the siege with a great slaughter of the Leaguers The Duke of Aumale loses the day with his Artillery Baggage and thirty Colours Monsieur de Sancy having raised great Forces in Switzerland and begun the War with Savoy marches-towards Paris against the Leaguers The Count de Soissons assaulted at Chasteau-Gyron by the Duke de Mercoeur is taken prisoner The Sieur de Saveuse going with 400 horse to joyn with the Duke of Mayenne is routed by the Sieur de Chastilloâ— and taken prisoner The King takes Gergeau and Piviers Chartres voluntarily sets open the Gates The Pope by a Monitory declares the King liable to Censure if within 60 dayes he releases not the Prelates and does not Penance for the Cardinal of Guise's death The King troubled at it fasts forty hours Words of Hen. the Third upon the Excommunication thundered out against him The King of Navarr's Answer The King taking Estampes hangs the Magistrates and gives the pillage of the Town to the Soldiers The Swisses arrive and joyn with the King at Poissy The King with a victorious and numerous Army lays siege to Paris having taken all those placâ—s that furnisht it with victual A saying of the Kings who having been to discover the Enemies Works staid at a place from whence he looked upon the whole City of Paris The birth age and condition of Iaques Clement a Fryar of the Order of St. Dominick The King is called Henry of Valois the Tyrant and Persecutor of the Faith Frier Iaques Clement having advised with the Prior and others of his Order resolves to kill the King and to that end goes from Paris A Question made to the Frier and his Answer Upon the first of August the Frier brought in to the King gives him a Letter and then drawing a Knife thrust it into his Belly The King strikes the same Knife into the Friers Forehead Monsieur de la Guesle runs him thorough and being cast out of the window he is torn in pieces The death of Hen. the third upon the first of August at night Anno 1589 he having lived 36 years and reigned 1â— and two months the House of Valois ended in him and the Crown devolved upon the House of Bourbon The King of Navarre having many Lords in the Camp ill-affected to him in respect of Religion and other private causes is in great perplexity Causes of hatred between the King of Navarre and the Duke of Espernon The Catholicks assemble themselves to consult about the future Kâ—ng The Catholicks resolve to declare the K. of Navarre K. of France upon assurance that he would change his Religion The Duke of Luxembourg delivers the resolution of the Catholick Lords in the Camp to the K. of Navarre The King thanks the Catholicks and his answer about changing his Religion The Sieur de la Noue a Hugonot tells the King that he must never think to be King of France if he turn not Catholick The Catholicks of the Camp swear fidelity to the King by a Writing signed and established and the King Swears to the maintenance of the Catholick Religion by the same Writing The Duke of Espernon standing upon precedency will not sign the