himselfe that God would blesse their counsell and woulde make them to reape much fruite to his glory and the deliuerance of his children Hee represented vnto them the good and prosperous euents which might ensue vpon their firme and fast vnitie in a cause so iust and holy as this that presently was in question by establishing of all good order towards the whichâ—ause hee exhorted all the assembly to continue as well affected as they had done before and to bring so much the more aboundantly as the nouelties and late alterations happened by the malice of the enemies did most euidently require Aboue all things hee willed them to prouide for that which imported most of all the glorie and seruice of God the good order policie and Discipline of the Church And to auoyde the prouoking of Gods wrath by swearing blasphemies rapes whordomes robberies forbidden games and other disorders who had crept among many by the vnhappines of war the required that the lawes made for repressing of such things might bee straightly enioyned commaunded and obserued by the Magistrates without any dissimulation support or respect of persons commaunding also the Magistrates to assist euery one in his behalfe vppon great paines that the Discipline of the Church may haue a due authoritie and execution He willeth them also that the poore may bee assisted with certaine ordinary summes of money which should be dedicated to the same effect according to the forme of the books that should be made for that intent with the authority of certaine chiefe officers magistrates consuls or commissioners appoynted for that purpose Also that charges and offices bee giuen to men capeable and sufficient for the due execution of the same to the ease contentation of euery one and as for other orders it should be ordayned as the sessions and propositions should be made in order All the assembly gaue most humble thankes to his Maiestie for the care which it pleased him to haue as well in particular of the said Churches as true and lawfull nurser protector and defender of the same as also in respect of the publick peace welfare and preseruation of all with proffer of their most humble seruice and obeissance for so good so holy and so lawfull puâ—poses protesting with a most constant resolution to employ their persons their liues their goods to fauour so good and rightfull a cause with praier vnto God to continue in him his blessing and fauour for his honor and glory for the preseruation of his Church for the good and quietnes of the publick estate The Sessions propositions resolutions and ordinances were afterwarde made and continued in good order in the presence of the said king vpon the diuers arguments which were there to be handled And first they entreated of the glory and seruice of God next of iustice of a good counsell and good ordering of the same then afterward of the mannaging of the treasure gifts pasports officers order of warre commissions bootyes prisoners of warre protections â—taking of townes and places of the safety of husbandmen and many other statutes as euery one of the deputies of the Prouinces was seuerally charged by their remembrances and instructions Many such things were there determined vntill the dissolution of the sayde assembly which was made the sayd King sitting accompanied as aboue in the presence of all the deputies on the Lords day being the 17. day of December after the preaching of the worde and inuocation of Gods name with the vnitie consent voluntary approbation of al men to the glory of God and for the Kinges seruice the preseruation of the Crowne and Realme restablishment of the State and for the defence of all faithfull Frenchmen against all enemies leagued mutinous and seditious persons who directly or indirectly would seeke the trouble and euersion of the same Whilest these things did passe and so contrary assemblies did take contrary counsells and resolutions to worke so contrary effects for at Bloys counsell and deliberation was taken to destroy the K. the Crowne the Realme the State the true Church of God In Rochel they went about to saue the King to defend the Crowne to preserue the Realme to vpholde the state to maintaine the true Religion the Duke of Sauoy after great preparations of warre made the Duke de Maine being as then at Liomoys and about the borders of Daulphine inuaded the Marquiz at of Saluces and by treason and intelligences of the Captayne surprized Carmagnole one of the Arseuals of France he tooke also Rauel and Chasteaudauphin with some other holdes These newes brought to Bloys did greatly trouble them who coulde take no pleasure therein But the Leaguers did greatly reioyce thereat For they thought that â—his increase of miseries would further their enterprizes and that the sire being kindled in diuers places that which they did blow in the middest of France would not be either quicklie or easily put out This enterprize of the Duke of Sauoy was by the practize and counsell of the League which was that the armies of these two Dukes of Sauoy and Maine should respectiuely fauour each other each keeping his entent seuerall to himselfe For the Leaguers and the Duke of Sauoy did agree in this to wit in hating the true religion and the professors thereof and in making against them cruell warre to roote them out if they could doe it But the particular thoughts of the partie were kept incommunicable within the heart of them both of them reseruing to themselues the meanes to worke their affayres according to the opportunitie and occasion And in this respect as it commonly falleth out among them who doo aspire to any Soueraignetie there was neither societie nor saith betweene the Duke of Sauoy and the house of Guyze each of them enuying his fellow in that which he wished for himselfe The Duke of Guize with his partakers intended to raigne and to stablish his authoritie in France and would not admit any fellow neither the Duke of Sauoy nor any other The Duke of Sauoy on the other side thought himselfe so well descended in blood that he might claime to haue a good part and thought it very conuenient for himselfe to enlarge his dominions and that being Sonne to a Daughter of France he was nigh enough to possesse all and would haue beene very sory to haue had any companyon either of the house of Guyze or any other whatsoeuer These diuers drifts did lurke close hidden in the hearts of both parts being holpen and aduanced mutually by the common pretence which they tooke on both sides to wit the rooting out of the reformed religion which tearmed heresie and to that end in open words they agreed together did helpe and ayde each other reseruing to the craftiest the beguyling of his felow or to the strongest to preuaile Fryer Sixtus Vicar vnderstanding of this inuasion of the Duke of Sauoy fearing least the King should suppose that to haue beene some of Fryer Sixtus tricks
and vpon a sodaine desire of reuengement would haue his peniworth vpon the Countie of Veuese and Auignon which is a part of the de Mains which Saint Peter purchased with his penie that the Fryers might liue like kings after him to wash his hands and to make the world beleeue that hee saw nothing first beganne to chide and brawle with the Duke of Sauoy and findeth great fault in him reprouing him for such an enterprise The Duke of Sauoy playing falshood in good fellowship faineth although that Fryer Sixtus had no finger in that pie goeth about to excuse the matter and did colour this action specially with Fryer Sixtus saying that hee had done all thinges for the aduantage of the holy church of Rome because he vnderstood that the K. had determined to put those places which he had taken into the hands of the Lord des Diguiers and other heretikes which thing would be very daungerous both to him being nigh neighbour as also in tyme very domageable to the holy church and the county of Veues Some of his counsellers also did greatly mislyke his enterprise foreseeing that it would be in tyme as pernitious vnto him as it had béene to his father in tymes past for not knowing the measure of his forces Whilest the King of Nauarre did holde the assembly of the reformed Churches at Rochel as is aboue sayd and that the Duke of Sauoy inuaded the Marquesdome of Saluce the States did continue at Bloys with strange mistrust which did spring from hower to hower among the partakers The pretence of Religion did continually rowle among the Leaguers and Leagued Their liues and state sayd they did hang on a rotten threed In December two great alarums and pannick terrors were raised within the castell of Bloys who did put the whole court in armor and made them stand vpon their guardes The cause of the first was a quarrell which arose betweene the pages and lakeys who did hold with the Bourbons and them which did hold with the League The commotion and the feare was such that the Duke of Guyze tooke the alarum ranne into his chamber shut vp the dore with Cofers and other such like things as were at hand The second alarum was geuen by a souldier hurt which saued himselfe in the chamber of the Duke of Guyze into the which hee was pursued by some of the Kings guardes who went vp with sword in hand whereupon once agayne all the court was in an vprore About the same time also there were great enmities and seedes of quarrels in the court besyde the vlcer of ambition desire to raigne betwéene the Lord of Guyze and many other Lordes of the court by reason of loue for as the Duke of Guyze in the middest of those waighty matters which he went about to compasse was greatly in loue with a Lady of the court there were some Lords also who pretended the like affection to her whether it were that they did so of purpose to pick a quarrell or otherwise but so it was that there passions of loue were openly perceaued The Duke of Guyze about the middle of December did shew himselfe a more contemner of the Kinges authority then euer he had done before for there was seene after him in great security following his trayne and lodged euen in the Kings house a great number of ruffiens and malefactors condemned in diuers places for diuers crymes and executed in picture for contumacy euen many of them which in August before had raised vp a sedition in Engolesme agaynst the Lord Espernon they were in such security vnder his wing that no magistrate durst say any thing to them The said Duke also had shewed himselfe more saucy and malapert in his words and behauiour then euer hee did before For the King hauing intercepted many of his letters by the which hee did shew in open tearms the vilanous intent which he had purposed in his hart called his Nobles willed them to sweare to him that they would neuer consent nor practise any thing agaynst his person he most arrogantly and contemptuously denyed so to doo euen in his presence saying he will not do it and if hee did it there was good lawes to punish him spare him not let him bee punished bould and arrogant speaches were geuen dayly by him and his partakers The Duke of Guyze considering that by these fresh iniuries the King could not be much prouoked calling to remembrance his former attempts and that the stroke which he had long before intended was made knowen to the King began to enter a great fearfull apprehension that the King would not delay his reuenge but will goe about to preuent him And now considering that all his partakers had bent their eyes vppon him and expected some great atchieuement which should farre exceed the former attempts seeing also how the K. of Nauarre by the edict of reunion sworne by the assembly of the States was condemned and disherited that there was nothing left in the way to hinder him of his enterprise and that hee himselfe was now vpon the last step of the stayrs either to be King or first commaunder vnder the name of King of France so that nothing was wanting but either quite to dispatch him or else to take him prisoner Hee resolued himself therefore to hasten one of these two executions least perhaps he might bee preuented hee vndertooke himselfe to do that feat and layed that burthen vpon his shoulder And that such disorder might bee done orderly he called the chiefest of the conspiracy to counsell The chiefest of this counsell and conspiracy were Fryer Ladouik cardinall his brother and Fryer I. Archebishop of Lyons with few other to whom he shewed in what state his matters stood and that all thinges are brought to some good effect that nothing is obstant to obtayne the thing so long and so greatly desired but the person of the King and that their counsels beeing come to light hee was driuen to such extremity as that â—ither he or the King must needes perish Hee propounded vnto them therefore whether the King was to bee dispatched out of hand or else to bee imprisoned till all thinges were confirmed and established for a new gouernment They answere that this matter is not to be delayed but that the King was to be made away and dispatched out of hand their reasons be these for say they fetters and prisons are altogether vnprofitable that no dungeon how deepe soeuer could be able to keep close so great and mighty a Potentate and that so long as he should liue hee would couâ—t alwaies for reuenge If hee were kept in prison it would seeme cruell and strange to the common people and intollerable That they of late after the Kings fleeing from Paris had found and learned by experience that pitty preuaileth more then fauour But assoone as he should be dispatched new deuises should bee practised new counsels taken and that euery man would fall
moneth Possonnes the Duke de Mayne his gouernour there considering the state of the Duke of Sauoy his affayres seeing the Canon planted and the Lord Diguieres fortified with newe supplies all the commonaltie bent against him and being without any hope of ayde or reliefe the 30. of September yeelded the Towne of Essiles by composition that his Souldiers should freely depart with bagge and baggage So by these meanes the passages into Piemont doo remayne in the Kings power and the countrey of Daulphine is limitted with his olde limits long before fortified by the French Kings during the warres of Italy Sonnes generall of the Duke of Sauoy had prouoked the Lord Morges his nephewe to fight fiftie agaynst fiftie on horsebacke and appoynted the place which thing the Lord Diguieres vnderstanding conducted the sayd Morges vnto the place where the sayd Morges remayned with his forces readie to accept the offer from nine a clocke in the morning vntill three a clocke in the euening and at length came a Trompetter with a letter from the sayd Sonnes carying an excuse The Lord Diguieres in attending the comming of y e enemie had espied a passage néere Iallon where the enemie had entrenched himselfe and there lodged eight companies vnder the conduct of Captaine Venust and perceauing that there was no more hope of Sonnes comming to the combat appoynted he determined to spend the rest of that day in doing some exployt and to assault the sayd companyes who did lye vpon the hanging of the mountayne betweene Suze and Noualize and hauing found meanes to place one hundred Musketters who battered the enemie vpon the side of their fort the trenches of the enemie were forced and fourescore of them slayne among whom were Captaynes Venust Gassard and Charband Captayne Vilars with some other was taken prisoners and foure companies of Senton master of the Campe were so scattered that they came neuer together agayne This exployt was done the first of October This being done the Lord Diguieres returned again to Essiles and sent backe the foure Canons to Ambrun and caused two great peeces to bee drawne from Gap to Barcelona a place situated in the County of Nice and pertayning to the Duke of Sauoy hee sent his forces before to besiege the sayd Barcelona and when hee came himselfe about the eleauenth day of October and had made a breach the same day the enemie did parley and yéelded themselues with safetie of their liues leauing behind them their armour colours horses and baggage the Captaines were permitted to depart with their swords vpon an hackney The inhabitants had graunted them to enioy their goods abiding vnder the Kings obedience as the rest of his subiects vpon condition to pay sixe thousand Crownes for the army and the fraight of the Artillerie The 13. day the gouernour called Coreloere departed with three souldiers with him and as many of citizens and countrey men who repayred to their houses vnder the Kings safegard The 14. day the Lord Diguieres layd batterie before the Castle of Metans which he slenderly battered the 15. day only to view the enemies countenance But they being greatly afrayed the next night did steale away and so saued themselues except thirtie of them who were intercepted by the watch In this way of Piemont the Lord Diguieres had neuer aboue three hundred horses and twelue hundred shot and found no greater enemie then the inaccessible height of the mountaynes where ouer he was forced to passe the Canon but chiefly in his iourney to Barcelona The Citie of Grenoble in the land of Daulphine notwithstanding the truces and good entertaynment from time to time receaued of the Lord Diguieres had been seduced after the King last deceased and did hold still after for the League though not with such desperat madnes and insolencie as many others had done Now the L. Diguieres hauing well repressed the madnes chastized the rashnes and folly of the D. of Sauoy and hauing in a manner subdued and pacified that countrey forsooke the Duke of Sauoy and determined to scoure as much as he could all the remnant and ragges of rebellion out of that prouince which thing to bring to passe he thought good to begin at the head to wit the Citie of Grenoble and as by the euent which followed it seemed that he did besiege distresse that Citie which thing caused the inhabitants to consider that the Lord Diguieres had in a manner all the land of Daulphine at commaundement His power was increased and returned out of Piemont with few victories of many they weighed also how they were out of hope of any succour as well from the Duke de Mayne as from the Duke of Sauoy who being taught by the schoolemaster of fooles which is experience would not haue hereafter great lust to returne in haste into Daulphine These circumstances caused them well to consider the danger wherein they stoode which thing moued them to make a motion of peace by the which they were reduced to the dutifull obedience of their lawfull Soueraigne This peace was concluded in the suburbs of Saint Laurence by Grenoble the two and twentith of December betweene the Lord des Diguieres one of the kings priuie counsell and of estate captayne of a hundred men at armes of his Ordinances and generall of the armie leuied for the kings seruice in the land of Daulphine on the one part and the court of Parliament the commonalties of the countie and the Consuls of the same First that the exercize of the Romish Religion shall remaine frée both within the towne and suburbs thereof as hitherto it hath béen and that the Cleargie in all the prouince shall enioy the full possession of their goods in any place in the prouince vnder the kings protection Secondly that the frée exercize of the reformed Religion may be publikely celebrated within Trescloistre suburbs of the sayd citie without any let trouble or molestation Thirdly that all dwellers in the same towne that will continue therein shall personally protest and acknowledge Henrie the fourth king of France and Nauarre for their Soueraigne and shall yéeld to him the oth of fidelitie in like cases requisite in the hands of the Lord Saint Andrew president of the court of Parliament and Chastelard counsellor in the same court in the presence of the Lordes of Blemew and Calignon and vpon the same oath taken the sayd inhabitants shall bée maintayned and restored in the full and peaceable enioying of their goods offices priuiledges and franchizes Fourthly if any man of whatsoeuer calling or condition soeuer it bée shall be vnwilling to take the sayde oath and shall be desirous thereupon to departe else where hee shall be safely conducted to any place that they will go and may enioy their goods offices and dignities either by sale or by receauing their annuall fruits or stipend thereof at their choyce prouided alwayes that they enterprize nothing against the Kings seruice Fiftly that the custodie and
committed treason but also solicited others to the like offence The sayd Citty had admitted the Duke of Sauoy for their Soueraigne who had put in garrisons to keep them in subiection and about the beginning of this yeare began also to build a citadel in the Citie whereuppon the people fell to a mutiny refused to receaue any more garrisons in his be hoofe The Citie of Marseilles is an ancient Colonie of the Greckes named Phocoei who forsook their countrey when Cyrus king of the Persians did war and subdue Asia the lesser that citie had been commended in the time of the Romans by reason of learning and good discipline which florished there It is a Citie gouerned by their owne Magistrates as Rochel is vnder the protection and obedience of the kings of France and hath continued very long in their sidelity vntill now a dayes degenerating greatly from their ancient vertue they haue shewed great inconstancie in their duty of sidelity vppon these occasions The king of Spayn hath beene greatly iealous of that Citie and hath vsed all the meanes possible to reduce that Towne vnder his obedience since that he dreamed of some possibility to inuade FraÌ„ce supposing that it would haue been a fit Port as a gate for him to passe and repasse to goe in and out of France vppon all occasions at pleasure To bee short to make it an Arsenall to subdue all those Southernly Prouinces lying vppoÌ„ the Mediterran Seas Therefore at the beginning of the League this citie was one of the pledges that should haue béen deliuered him by the Leaguers which practises haue been put to execution twise all ready but through the watchfull dilligence of some faithfull Citizens haue beene disappoynted of their purpose The King of Spayn notwithstanding the great charges which hee sustayned by giuing great pâ—nsions vnto some Captayns and Inhabitants there to fauour his proceedings seeing himselfe still disappoynted yet would he not geue ouer but began to worke another way to wit to continue or rather increase his beneuolence towards the inhabitants perswading theÌ„ in the mean time to associat themselues to the League and to accept the Duke of Sauoy their neighbour for their Protector supposing by these meanes in time the faction of the League preuailing there to make himselfe master of that place The Citizens corrupted with Spanish money and otherwise greatly addicted to Popish vanity and superstition to continue this Spanish liberality among them and to please thus farre the king of Spayne at his request accepted the Duke of Sauoy for Protector of their City and in signe that they were Leaguers aduanced the Standerd of the holie League and set it vppon their walles which is an Idoll which they called the Crucifix in that state they continued nigh a yeare But now vnderstanding the cogging and double dealing of the sayd D. at Aix in intending and attempting there to build a Citadell and how both the nobillity of the Countrey had forsaken him and the people resisted his attempts pulled downe the Standerd of the League and erected the armes of France publishing that they would hold for the King of France Wee haue left the King with his Princes at Chartres there to take possession of that great riche and florishing Citie and haue walked through part of Piemont Daulphine and Prouance Now let vs returne to Chartres there to know what the King doth and shew also the prosperous successe which haue followed the taking of this Cittie of Chartres The Citie of Chartres beeing in the Kings power the Parisiens conceaued a great amazement and terror knowing very well that this exploit would be a scourge vnto them For as in the ancient time Alexandria and Sicilia were the Nurces of Rome so the countrey of Beausse and this Citie of Chartres were the chiefest prouiders for the Cittie of Paris Now therefore the carriage of any kind of victuals and prouisions beeing stopped both aboue and beneath the riuer from the North side and the South and finding themselues destitute of victuals money and all other warlike prouisions for their strength and succour they fall to their olde custome that is to demaund bread of their Idols therefore the Bishop of Placentia their Fryer Gregory the thirteenth his Legat after the returne home of Fryer Henrico Caietano Sponte insanientes instigat set them on to running and gadding about the streetes to carry their Idols with or a pro nobis there is mourning weeping and beâ—ayling there is stridor dentium horror â—empiternus and regnum tenebrarum Yet the Fryers and Iâ—suits do comfort them with seditious sermons and bitter wordes as well as they can but venter non habet aures During the Kings soiourne at the siege of Chartres the Duke de Maine with such power as he could make went and layd the siege before Chasteauthierij situated vpon the riuer Marne The gouernour which was within sâ—nt word to the King that he would hold it against the enemie a whole moneth The King hauing taken order of the safe kéeping of the Citie about the twelfth day of Aprill remoued his armie from Chartres to Aulneaw and Macheuile which townes were reduced to his obedience About the fiftéenth day the armie remoued to Dourdan which towne immediately his armie entred by force where was found great store of victualls gathered with intent to be conueighed to Paris The sixtéenth day the castell a very strong place was assaulted and taken So by this expedition Paris is disappoynted of victuals and prouision and distressed neerer and neerer The same day the King separated himselfe from his armie and leauing the same to the leading of the Marshall Biron with a great troup of horsemen took his iourney toward Chasteauthierij purposing to rayse the siege and to see his face whome he had not seene many yeares before and to craue more acquaintance The Duke de Mayne ashamed and afeard to shew his face for the guiltines of rebellion and parricide procured had no great liking of that acquaintance neither durst be so bold to stay there and contrarie vnto the promise of the captaine of the place and the Kings expectation the Castel being râ—ndred to the sayd de Maine he fled as fast as his horse could cary him to the Citie of Reames The King hearing not onely of the hastie retire of the Duke de Maine from Chasteauthierij but also that he had deuided his armie into sundry parts and that they should continue in that sort for a certaine time determined to stay at Sanlis there to view the countenance of the enemie and in the meane while to take the townes of Dowserie and Claye where the enemies kept garrison which thing was speedelie done In this pursuite the king also tooke the towne of Tremblay by Mountfort which is nowe a great hinderance fo the enemie by reason of the passage The one and twentith day of Aprill while the King pursued the enemies the Duke Espernon and the Lords d'Ho and Vicres
bed to doo what he was commanded they sayd vnto him that he doated But after he had told this follie to Pipin the 13. of August 753. he annoynted Pipin King of France and Berte and with his Popish blessing sanctified all the Barons Nobles of France binding them with an oath neuer to choose King of France but of that rase of Pipin Thus goeth the sottish fable of the brainsicke entusiasme Pope Stephen The Guizes fayning to haue descended out of that rase by the helpe of this fable besides the determinations set downe concerning other States of Christendome it was concerning Fraunce thus decreed That the house of Capet which was the house of Valoys and Burbon with the rest of the principall Nobilitie must needes be rooted out and that these lustie buds of Charles the great must haue their turne and for to bring to passe these things the wofull Tragedie must be thus played The Guizes must kindle the fire The Priests Friers and Iesuites shall blowe it with the bellowes of â—ayling and sedition The King shall sit still vntill his brother and the Burbons come to their triall The Pope shall play the Monarcho This Monarcho was of late yeares a franticke Italian well knowne both in Germanie and England who imagined that all the Kings of the earth were his vassals so Sir Hugh Vicar of Rome sitteth a farre off will not drawe nigh the fire and imagineth that all is his wherevpon he condemneth the Valoys and Burbons and the Nobilitie of France to the slaughter The name of the States shall be vsed and waite vppon the Guizes to play the hangman and when all things be in a readines the King all the Princes and Nobilitie shall be cast into the fire there to be consumed and destroyed When all this is happily performed there will be a newe heauen and a newe earth For the Guizes and Sir Hugh bon companion Vicar of Rome and all his bands Ganimedes and Chaplaines shall haue all and may take their pastimes with their Curtizans without any feare or controulment of the Hugonets Here followe the acts of this Tragedie or the summe of the secret Counsell of Rome holden contayning the meanes how to destroy the kingdome of France as they were deliuered by Sir Hugh vnto his stage players First the house of Guize and their partakers shall procure new Commotions in the Realme and intertaine warres They shall also league the Nobilitie with their othes to persecute the Gospell and that they shall not acknowledge any other Captaine and head of the League but onely the Duke of Guize 2 The King shall be counselled to fit still and to take no care for such vprores but to let the Duke of Guize alone for hée knoweth well how to handle the matter 3 The King shall send his mother to Monsier her sonne to perswade him to come to Bloys to the States 4 In the meane time the King shall goe from Paris into a place of sure accesse and voide of suspition where he shall entise by fayre promises by fayre meanes and fayre words the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde if it may be done whom he shall receiue with as much entertainment and courtesie as he may shewe them So the King was made a foole at Rome by a sort of beggerly Friers and godles rabble But in the meane while that the King shall shewe such fayned courtesies to his brother and the Princes of his bloud the Guizes shall retire from the Court with tokens of discontented minds 5 These things being a working the King shall assemble the States at Bloys and such as bee deuoted to the League shall bee sent to the seuerall Prouinces to picke out such Deputies as may bee well taught and skilfull to play their parts 6 During these stirres the Friers and Iesuites shall mooue vp the people to vprores by seditious Sermons against the Hugonets 7 The Priests in their Parish Churches shall secretly take the names of able men and by appoynted Captaines it shall be ordered what weapons be most fit for them and in their shriuing they shall warne them to prouide such weapons 8 The States holding shall sweare to obserue and obey whatsoeuer shall be concluded and shall binde themselues and their commonalties to beare the charges of the play 9 But if Monsieur the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and others of the house Burbon doo not appeare they shall bee condemned of contumacie and as Rebels And furthermore all other who shall seeme to oppose themselues against the States shall be executed if they can bée taken and if not rewarde to be appoynted to such as shall kill them 10 All these things being thus compassed the States shall be sworne to the Sea of Rome and to obserue the Councell of Trent 11 Request also shall be made to the King by the States that in case any man should resist these procéedings hee shall appoynt the Duke of Guize his Generall to pursue them by all meanes to death 12 Yet the morrowe Masse Priests must come once more vppon the stage and there they shall cause their Captaines to muster them of the conspiracie and to make them readie to march when the assemblie of the States is once begun 13 All these things being so brought to passe the States shall picke out Minos and Rhadamanthus to enquire and iudge of the life and déeds of Monsieur for ioyning himselfe with the Hereticks and to make his processe after the naturall and godly example of the King of Spayne which sacrificed Charles of Austrich his naturall sonne a Prince a Prince of great hope vnto Moloch the Idoll of the Iesuites 14 When Monsieur is condemned the forces secretly gathered shall march to strengthen the execution 15 Then immediatly the conspired Souldiers shall set vpon the Hugonets in all Prouinces without any respect of persons 16 The Duke of Guize that great Captaine y t great Charlamaigne with his power shall destroy all shall take the King and his mother eyther put them in Monkeries or els to rid them out of this world according to the Prouerbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this wee see that the King long agoe was condemned at Rome either to be a Frier or els to be slaine by a Frier So all these things thus happily done loe the Duke of Guize shall haue all and in so doing the Crowne shall returne to the blessed stocke of Charlamaigne and he and his successors hencefoorth shall holde the Crowne of France of the Apostolike sea and shall abolish the prerogatiues of the French Church Valete plaudite Calliopius recensui Now I pray you good Sir Hugh good master Vicar seeing you haue so wel sped let vs haue a fine Te Deum landamus and a demure solemne Procession and all in your Pontificalibus such as wee had for the noble and famous victorie of the Spanyards against the Englishmen before Calis the 29. of Iuly 1588. And after a sweete
beliefe Fiftly they shall beleeue that in the transubsâ—antiation the bread and Wine are chaunged into the bodie bloud soule and deitie of Christ Sir William Ruze either is an asse who knoweth not what he saith or else a false Prophet which leadeth men to a strange God for such a paradoxe Note was yet neuer heard in Christs Church that the Bread and Wine was changed into Christs deitie Sixtly he saith that wee must beleeue the Masse to be a sacrifice propiciatorie for the sinnes of the quick and the dead What proofes hath Sir William Ruze to shew out of Gods word that the Masse is a propiciatorie sacrifice for sinne more then the sacrifices of Note the heathens Last of all the fire of purgatorie the hauing and worshipping of their Images the adoring of Reliques and praying vnto them and also that the counsell of Trent is to be receaued as good Catholick and an article of the faith of the Church of Rome All these things are articles of faith which they that will goe to the diuell must needes beleeue but cleane contrarie vnto the faith of the true Note Catholick and Apostolick Church The persecutions imprisonments seazing of goods and abiurations had begun and went forward in diuers places but especiallie in such as were addicted to the League long before and had receaued the last edict set forth by the King And among other places there is a towne in Poytow called Niort great and rich where the faires and martes of the countrey beyond Loyre are kept This towne had béen seduced of long time and of all townes in France most earnestly adicted to the League there of all places and in the townes there abouts they began most cruelly to persecute the Church which was assembled at Saint Gelays in the which persecution many bowed downe the knee to Baall Therefore about the 20. of December Lewis Blachiere Pastor of that Church hauing retired to Rochel and vnderstanding the fall of many in that heate of persecution writeth a letter to raise them that are fallen and to binde that which was broken In the which first hee sheweth the vse of persecution that is to discerne the true Disciples of Christ from false bretheren and hypocrits who yeeld and turne after euery winde of doctrine Secondly hee dooth terrifie them that are fallen by the threatnings of Christ against them that shall denie him before men Thirdly he detecteth the subtiltie of the enemie in the forme of his abiuration in that he hath made a doore of golde to enter into a priuy or dongeon full of filth stinking and poysoned ayre placing in the beginning the Nicen simbole afterward patcheth to it all the filthie abominations of Antichrist Fourthly hee sheweth to them that are fallen the gate of mercie to remaine alwaies open to them which seeke the right meanes to enter in and that repentance is neuer too late Last of all them who doo stand he doth encourage to preferre the confession of the son of God wherein doth consist eternall life before this present life or the commodities and pleasures thereof Thus wee will make an end of this second Booke of this Tragicall Historie raised vp in the Kingdome of France by the Leaguers The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE IT is shewed in the former Booke how the Leaguers after hauing long vnder hand practised the supplanting of the house of Valoys at length did burst out into a manifest rebellion I haue shewed what pretence coulour and buckler they tooke to wit religion iustice the Cardinall of Bourbon Thou hast seene gentle reader how the King tooke them for enemies rebels and traitors and some of their partakers were condemned and executed for such Also by what meanes practises and wicked counsell the King was drawne to ioyne friendship and armour and to deuide his kingdome with them whome hee a little before had declared rebels and traitors What edicts declarations iniunctions the King afterward set out in fauour of them against the reformed religion The atemptes of Merceur in the Lowe Poytow the exploytes done by the Prince of Conde in Xainctonge Poytow and his voyage beyond Loyre to Anger 's and the successe of that voyage the exployces done by the Vicount Turenne the comming of the Duke De Mayne with his armie and all his conquest in Perigord and Limosin Now will we begin the third Booke with the beginning of Ianuarie The first day of Ianuarie the King of Nauarre being at Montoban a citie in Quercie wrote letters vnto all the states of France and first of all vnto the sacrificing Priests commonlie called the Cleargie in the which he protesteth first of his moderatenes which he hath vsed toward all men euen in the middle of warre and that hee hath often times remitted sundrie and great iniuries done to him in respect of the publick peace Secondly he complaineth of them that they doo assist with their power and meanes them who making their ambition a zeale to holy Church and the reuenging of their priuat discontentments with a publick warre haue set the whole realme in a miserable cumbustion Thirdly hee letteth them vnderstand that he feareth neither their money their names nor the armes of his enemies but pittyeth the state of the poore people who doth suffer all the oppressions and miseries which will ensue these enterprizes of his enemies Fourthly he threatneth them that they who should be the vpholders of peace and the support of the poore people shall answere before God for all the bloodshed confusions vices and miseryes which the warre caryeth with it for entertayning with their meanes and norishing with their goods this vniust and damnable warre with the disorders which insue thereof Fiftly hee protesteth that hee hath proffered himselfe to be tryed by a conference and distentation in a free counsel but they haue preferred war fire and sword before these good lawdable and ordinary meanes of conference which is most worthy of man Last of all he sheweth them that this warre is most vnworthy of Christians but specially of such as do pretend to bee teachers and Doctors of the Gospell and committing his innocency and iust cause to God warneth them that the dangers of warre are common as well to them as to him and his so maketh an end with them Vnto the Nobility hee rehearseth the summe of all thinges passed euer since the raising vp of the League First how that in the middest of peace these sturres are bred and borne Secondly he reciteth with what patience he hath borne all the iniuries proffered vnto him by the Leaguers who haue made him the subiect and scope of their warre Thirdly he putteth them in remembrance of all the Kings actions before the edict of vnion how the King declared them rebels and perswaded them as such in all his courtes of Parliament And how they to wit the Nobility haue béen armed agaynst the Leaguers and that all these actions of the king did proceed
with their continuall brabling and brawling with him with few popish vnreasonable reasons which they tooke out of certayne Sermons of popish Frierly Doctors which they had among them and not onely did daily complaine vppon him to the magistrate but also were some time ready to set vppon him to murâ—her him and the more hee was feruent in prayers the more they did moiest and vexe him The third sort of enemies who did assault him were they which professed friendship who oftentimes came to aduertize him in the prison that the Iudges had concluded to condemne him to die and that it were high time to looke about perswading him to auoid the danger to goe to Masse once or twise and after he could make some shift to get him out of the way but he refused all that counsell So he made his will fully determined to die which hee sent to his wife yet the Iudges must haue a fling more to trye what he would do or otherwise resolue to condemne him made him sit vpon the stoole whereupon they that are condemned of capitall crimes are vsed to sit when they do receaue sentence of condemnation But behold on a sudden they changed their mynds and sent him againe into prison The King had written and set his owne hand to a letter commaunding them to make his Processe with all â—igour of the lawe The Iudges were cruell Papists and Leaguers the Italian was an Atheist contemner of all religions but a notorious blynd enemy of the trueth The opportunity of the time might haue encouraged them to vse all extremity But the Lord to the comfort of his children did put a ring in their Nostrels and after a long imprisonment the eight of Aprill they pronounced sentence agaynst the sayd Tyxier by the which they banished him out of the realme for euer and commaunded him vpon paine of death within two moneths to auoyde his goods were forfaited to the King Which sentence was signifyed vnto him the same day by the secretary of the same Court of Bloys It is sayd how the two noble Princes of Boillon and his brother the County de la Mark dyed the one in the Moneth of October at Lany and the other in Geneua in Ianuary The death of this noble Prince being published abroad the Leaguers tooke it for a presage of their good successe and occasion to encrease their power As for to enterprize any thing against Guyenne or the king of Nauarre the bad successe of de Mayne and the death of Ioyeuse at Coutras did not counsell them There was as little hope in other Prouinces where they of the reformed were strong in armes and fortes as in Languedock and Daulphine where now of late an assotiation vpon the defensiue was made betweene the Catholikes and them of the Religion To attempt the old plat agaynst the kings person the time was not yet come On the other side they did greatly feare the tempest which did threaten them on the side of Germany by reason of the fires which they had kindled in the County of Montpeliard and the execrable outrages by them there committed where as is aforesayd they charged the Rutters in them retyring homeward This feare caused the Duke of Lorreyne to send to the king for succour for they thought that it would be greatly for their aduantage if the King in defending them on that side might haue procured the hatred of the Germans and with all consumed his forces in defending and iustifying theyr vilanies and so all by one meanes should spoyle himselfe of the amity of his neighbours and of his owne forces in being after more easy to be oppressed by them Therefore among so many difficultyes nothing seemed vnto them more commodious to bestow and exercize their forces and by little and little to encrease their power then to inuade the said principallity of Boillon supposing that to be of an easy executioÌ„ considering the opportunity proffered it selfe thereby preparing the way by easy thinges to harder and more difficult matters The oportunity seemed vnto them very fit to wit the death of the two bretheren the amaze which fell vpon the subiectes in the territory of Sedan and Iamets The weakenes of the yong Princesse fatherles in tears and mourning by reason of the death of her two brethren a mayd euen vnder age destitute of men armour and Captaines and as if it were disdayned of the world forsaken of her friends not through vnfaithfulnes but being themselues hampered and busied in the selfesame daungers that shée was in Other friends of the contrary profession durst not shewe her any fauourable looke for feare to be heretikes or fauourers of heresie and so to prouoke agaynst themselues the bloodie power of the League And that which is more she being accounted an hereticke for professing of the trueth and therefore accursed by the Pope proscript by the League and as it were dead to the world by the articles of Nancy whereof it shall be spoken hereafter at large And to that ende they might the better both to inuade that yong Princesse and resist the Germans whom they feared by reason of the villanies wherewith they had prouoked them as is aboue sayd they had succour of the Duke of Parma Italians Spanyards Wallons Legeoys Germans vnder the conduct of the Baron of Sarexenbourg to the number of ten thousand men in all All these occasions opportunities causes forces mooued the Duke of Lorreyne to lay the siege before the Towne of Iamets next of the principalitie which lyeth nigh the borders of Lorreyne about the 20. of Ianuary In the meane while the Princesse caused the inhabitants to sweare fidelitie to her and gaue the gouernment of her affayres vnto the Lord Nueuile vntill she might vnderstand of the Prince Monpensier her vncle appoynted Warde and of the Lord la Noue executor of the Will of her brother but specially of the King of Nauarre whose counsel she desired greatly to followe The companie which she had were the Princesse her selfe the Princesse Bourbon and the Lord Laual a young child the heire of the Lord Laual who dyed at Taillebourg the yeare 1586. in Aprill as is aforesayd The forces were the inhabitants of the countrey and a certaine number of Frenchmen exiled out of their countrey by reason of the persecution of the League The Duke of Boillon being dead the King of Nauarre was certified thereof from Geneua and also from Sedan an expresse messenger was sent to the sayd King to let him vnderstand the state and necessitie of the affayres The King of Nauarre vnderstanding the state of Sedan the iniuries and violences of the League sent thether the Lord Reaulx and from thence to the King to put him in mind of the protection which he did owe to the sayd Princesse and of the seruices done by her predecessors to the Crowne of France but specially to shewe him the importance of the places which the Leaguers did intend to inuade
We haue recited in as good order as such a deformed confusion could be reduced vnto those things which passed in Paris in that damnable commotion Now the King being at Trappes considering the treacherie of that house which he had fauoured and honoured more without comparison then the houses of his owne bloud the person also whom hee had loued and vnited to himself more then any other the sauagednes of his subiects and familiar houshold seruants representing to himselfe the rage of the people whom he had alwaies tendered almost more then all the residue of his Realme the ingratitude of that Citie which had béen alwaies his delights and to the which he had neuer denied any thing that he could do for the peace preseruation ease riches and greatnes of the same calling to minde the tumuits rage and violence attempted and executed against him their benefactor reasoning with himselfe how that they were Catholikes of his owne religion and that they had béen his right hand in persecuting them of the reformed religion how they were his fellowes followers in committing the most vile and sauage murther that euer was heard of in the world Calling to remembrance the long and daily warning geuen him by the King of Nauarre the Princes of the bloud noble men and gentlemen of all degrees and of many forreine Princes of the Guyzes intent against him his crowne and state Pondering in his mind the token which his eies had seene his eares had heard and all despised and contemned and withall in stéed of looking to his security against such practizes he had from tyme to time hardned his hart agaynst Christ and to shed innocent blood and vnder the colour of defending the Catholike religion had countenanced strengthened and armed his enemies agaynst himselfe whereby he hath receaued that foile shame and confusion this day Euery man may iudge in what distresse of minde this great King passed all that night full of iust indignation of sorrow which although in outward apparance it might be kept close yet inwardly inhart it could not be dissembled The selfe same day of the tumult in Paris the Duke de Mayne attempted vppon Lyons but he was put backe by the inhabitantes About the same time also the inhabitantes of Orleans Anious Bourges Abeuille and in other places did expell the Kings garrisons and officers with the Citizens who did hold with the King whom they did call politickes and many of them were taken prisoners The thirteenth day the King went to the Citty of Chartres where many of his faythfull seruantes resorted to him and also his gardes which had escaped the slaughter of Paris The Duke of Guyze though very sory that so foolishly hee had missed to take the King in the Loure as he made his ful reckoning the day before followed the victory as well as hee could and first beginneth to play the good husband in Paris to further the affayres to the premeditate intent First he brought to his house aboue seuen hundered thousand crownes of that which was none of his which there hee layed for an earnest of the whole The same daye also hee tooke the Kinges Arseuall at the Bastile and sealed vp the Kings treasury and in hope shortly to make all his owne in the meane time hee will carry the key When the Duke of Guyze had so played the good husband now hee will trie in a small matter how hee can play the Kings part in great and waighty matters For suspecting the Prouost of Marchantes named Perreuse the Escheuins to be politickes and fauourers of the King assembled the state of the citty and there in his presence the said Prouost and Escheuins were deposed and by his commaundement one Chapel a most treacherous and seditious man was elected Prouost and one Rowland Compan with other factious and mutinous companions all deuoted to the Duke of Guyze were elected Escheuins Immediatly after these thinges done in Paris the fame there flyeth abroad from towne to towne reports are spread abroad not as before that Cities are surprized that the people rise in armes that muster is taken but the king was besieged in the Loure and in great daunger to be slaine by the Duke of Guyze hee is fled from Paris the Duke is in possession of the sayd Citty It was incredible to many some made but a â—ush at it good men were greatly mooued as it for seeing that such a treason would draw after it many calamities But the Leaguers lifted vp their heads thes stoutnes and high courage of the Duke of Guyze was in the mouthes of them of his faction but specially the Priestes Monkes and Iesuits did in their Pulpits extoll him to heauen and vpon the newes of this exploit done in Paris by the aduertizements which the Duke of Guyze gaue euery where but specially by the preaching of the Friers and Iesuits the partakers make them selues ready to battaile A sudden feare came vpon the Duke of Guiz and them of Paris his partakers for after the Kings departure from Paris they considering their error and that now they are further to execute their enterprize vpoÌ„ his person than euer they were the guiltines of their consciences doe represent to them the reuengement and the King making already as they see in their fearfull vision an agreement of peace with the King of Nauarre and calling him with his forces to his ayde to chastize them according to their deserts Therefore they sent presently to their partakers to arme themselues The Fryers and Iesuites sound the allarum euery where their seditious and impudent tongues seruing them for trompets and their pulpits for a drumme and giue the rendes vous at Paris about the person of the Duke of Guyze When the Duke had so played the good husband and had no more to take and had played the king in altring the state of the citie and seazing vpon the kinges arseuall and treasurie and had shewed himselfe a good prouident Captaine yet considering that in a little while the king was like to wax stronger than the Leaguers specially if he should ioyne himselfe to the king of Nauarre whose name they not onely hated but also feared extreamly in the meane while they goe about both to strengthen themselues and to amend their error as well as they can espetially three maner of wayes by letters by spyalls and seeking the way of reconsiliation As for the letters the Duke himselfe playeth the secretary to shewe how pretily he can skill of that occupation when it pleaseth him And for that the part of a good Orator is to delight he hath a speciall care of that and supposeth that vanitie is the chiefest thing whereby to delight the Reader therefore to atchieue this part of eloquence happily he plucketh quilles out of one of Polypus wings wherewith hee maketh him three pennes and with the one he writeth to the gouernour of Orleans of whom he had alwayes asmuch assured himselfe as of the
things will befall which they greatly desired The feare of these thunderclaps was great euery where the forces in number and furniture were inequall therefore in France many not considering that God may defend his people as well with few as with many and that hée hath Legions of Angels to fight at his commaundement for the defence of his Elect yéelded to the time and reuolted made their abiuration and followed the world The Duke of Guize was the Northen Star by the which all this Nauigation was guided so that it was perceaued that neither all this preparation and stoare neither the Prophesies and visions of the rauing Prophets could assure the happy successe except the Duke of Guize might be in court nigh the Kings elbow Therefore the Q. Mother she must be set to worke she with other Leaguers which were about the Kings person tell what a great wise man the Duke of Guize was and that hée could not bée well without such a counseller hauing such great waightie things in hand The King thought it was a dangerous thing to haue such a guest so nigh him yet supposing that it would be the néerest way to surprise him and that at some occasion he might rid his hands of that perilous burthen consented thereto All caueats and prouisions which the prouidence of man could deuise for his safetie being prouided and made sure he purposeth to depart out of Paris to goe to the court He tooke in his companie the Q. Mother and raigning w t a great traine of the inhabitants of Paris the Lords Byron and Neuers who had béen alwaies with the King the one as a faithfull seruant to the King the other as a secret fauourer of the League went to meete the said Duke At his comming to the Kings presence what welcomes what complainings what excuses what praiers what promises what gréetings and what dissimulations there was betweene them to wit the King Guize euery man of iudgement may consider The Duke of Guize caused his table of great master of France to be established and good and assured meanes for the maintenance thereof he obtained also a patent of great Master of men of war in France which is a â—iminiâ—iue title of Constable for an earnest and in hope shortlie to haue all And whereas in the request presented to the King it was demaunded that he should be the Kings Generall of that armie which should bee sent into Guienne Now he dooth recant and vpon the push doth refuse to take that charge but willeth another to be appoynted and that for two causes he would rather venture another mans skin then his owne knowing well that hee could neuer repasse Loyre without a broaken skin which thing he loued not the second cause was that he would not go farre from the King and from Paris there to be at hand vpon all occasions to take opportunitie to execute his enterprise In his roome therefore the Duke of Neuers is appoynted to conduct the armie into Guienne against the King of Nauarre he maketh his excuse fearing the whip as the other did of his indisposition and offereth to mainetaine one hundred Gentlemen so that he might be excused which charge notwithstanding at length he accepted The wisest sort feared in general that this wound could not be closed vp and healed without some fowle scarre remayning or that hee who had once presumed to beat his Prince out of his imperiall citty should not want audacity to attempt further matters All these vprores being now pacifyed and all these great preparations vrged with great courage they of the reformed religion all ready proscript all things threatning death and desolation by land and by water a parliament of the States is appointed by the King to be holden at Bloys the 15. day of August next following there to determine vpon the affaires of the land according to the said edict of reunion and not otherwise and about the reformation of the State but specially for the disheneriting of the Princes of the bloud that they should not succeede to the Crowne In this Parliament the King and the Duke of Guyze had diuers and contrary meanings and neither of them both did intend to do the thinges aboue sayde touching the affaires of the land and reformation of the State But the Kings purpose was that now hauing recouered as he thought part of his authority hee might bridle his domesticall enemy to wit the Duke of Guyze whose practises and attempts had béen so euidently shewed to the eie of all men agaynst his person and estate and there either to haue had him condemned and executed by the full assembly of the states or else by surprising to haue dispatched him out of the way as hee at length performed The Dukes meaning was either to exclude the King from all gouernment or else to haue condemned him by the authority of all the states or if opportunity might serue to do him away by some violence and after to haue tryed how to bring his intent to passe Euery one of them therfore hauing his contrary thoughts in his mind yet they in common do prepare all things for this assembly of the Parliament they make the ouerthrow of the King of Nauarre and the rasing of the Blockhouse of Rochel as they tearme it very easy While they keepe this great adoo and replenish the world with cruell threatnings and are in hand both by land and by water to aduance the treasons of the Leaguers which cannot be done without the rooting out of the true Religion Therefore it is assaulted on the South syde by the Dukes of Sauoy and Mayne with two mighty armies on the West by the omnipotent Armado on the North by all the forces of y e low Countryes in the middle of France by the Duke of Neuers with a mighty army behold God who holdeth the stearne of the whole world doth produce euents all contrary vnto those which men had promised to themselues For in the meane time God doth execute his dreadfull iudgements against the inuincible as they did call them but in deed barbarous and sauage nation of Spaniards partly beating them out of the narrow Seas with a notable slaughter and shame of them by that nation which they had so deadly hated for the Gospell and so arrogantly despised and partly God sent his messengers the wind storme and tempest with the rocks in their waies that by shipwracke thirst famin and pestilence and other calamities of the Sea they might be drowned in an euerlasting obliuion lyke Pharao his horses and horsemen In August the Kings writtes are sent into all prouinces and citties to send speedily their Deputies so that they were catholikes Romans and not otherwise and in the meane time doth fortify himself but not mistrusting the practises of the Leaguers in the Prouinces he gaue them leaue to do all by partialities in the Prouinces in choise of the Deputies For they gaue order that their partakers might come
horses of carriage the onset was giuen within two leagues of Pilmil suburbe of Nantes The King after giuing of thankes vpon that place where the skirmish was fought for that prosperous successe and victorie made a light dinner vnder a tree and after retyred to his lodging at S. Georges where hee soiourned the whole day following for the long daies iourney which he had made the day before notwithstanding that day hee went a hawking for Partridges and in the euening viewed the towne of Montagne to take order for the fortifications and garrisons of the sayd towne and purposed to haue layed the siege to the towne Clisson not farre thence The King being yet at S. George was strengthened with foure regiments of footmen to wit of Charbonieres Sallignak Preau and the regiment of his gardes commanded by the Lord Querine there also he receaued the light horsemen of the Lord Trimouille who had discomfited the regiment of Lestele and taken foure Ensignes which they presented vnto the sayd King The selfe same day being aduertized of the daunger wherein the Duke Espernon stood within the Towne of Engolesme besieged there within the Castell by a conspiracie of the Leaguers caused him to giue ouer his enterprise vpon Clisson the day following being the 15. of August departed from Saint George purposing to make toward Engolesme to succor the saide Lorde Espernon but hearing by the way how the tumult there was pacified went not so far as that place It is saide before how that the Leaguers in their request presented vnto the King made a great complaint against the Duke Espernon charging him to haue intelligences with the King of Nauarre and them of the religion to haue been the cause that their armies had heretofore small successe and that if he should grow to greater authoritie it were danger that in time he would deliuer the places of his gouernement to the King of Nauarre that he is the onely cause that the politick state is so corrupt and out of frame and therefore the King must needes put him from about his person and fauour This Lord Espernon of the auncient house of Valette grew in great fauour with the King through his faithfull seruice a man altogether sold to popery yet a louer of the Kings person crowne and state a louer of the realme and peace of the same a hater of conspirators and perturbers of the quietnes of the King and his subiects who neuer could bee drawne to the conspiracies of the Leaguers neither by faire promises nor other meanes whatsoeuer which thing was the cause that the Leaguers hated him as the onely man about the Kings person who did hinder the execution â—f their enterprises that man therefore must not be about the King nor be admitted into the assembly of the states The King to giue place to their hatred for a time and to auoyde the inconueniences which through y e malice of his enemies might befall to such a trustie seruant determined to send him out of their sight and where hee thought that they should be least able to practise against him And giuing him a very great power and commission in a most ample manner to commaund in the Prouinces of Aniou Toureyne Poytow Engomoyes Xainctonge commaunded him to depart the Court about the same time that the edict of reunion was made by the Leaguers who hauing soiourned a while in the Tower of Loches situated in Toureyne vpon the riuer Vndre which falleth into Loyre betwéene Tours and Samure to fortifie and assure the said place to the Kings obedience against the practises of certaine Gentlemen of the League made against that place From thence he tooke his iourney to Engolesme where he vnderstoode that many enterprises were a working by the League against the Kings seruice There commaunded the Lorde Tageus his kinseman vnder the charge of the Lord Valette his brother The saide Lorde Espernon arriuing at Engolesme accompanied with a great number of the nobilitie was honorably receaued by the Maior and Aldermen of the Citie by the officers of iustice policie with great numbers of people who went to meete him at the gates of the Citie hee was likewise receaued by the Bishop and his Priests at the doore of Saint Peters Church where they sung solemnly a great te Deum laudamus in the worship of him Not long after the said Lord Espernon called together the Bishop and his Priestes the Maior and the Escheuins the Kings officers and other chiefe Citizens to giue them notice of the occasions of his comming which was first to preserue them all in the Catholicke Romane religion for the which and for the Kings seruice he would willingly aduenture his life against all manner of men Exhorting them to aduise what was requisit for their conseruation and that they would propound the same vnto him All answered with one consent that they would dye vnder his authority in the same resolution and for to testify their willes the better they would haue his authority from the King printed read and published as the manner is through all the towne The said Lord hauing many companies both of horsemen and footmen yet would he innouate nothing not so much as to change any part of the garrison of the Citty and to testify vnto them more apparantly of the confidence which hee had in the promises and fidelity of them he would not lodge in any stronger place nor more aduantagious for his preseruation but in the Castell which is called the Kings house wherein he found his Cosin the Lord Tageus lodged as the gouernours heretofore had accustomed to do This Castell hath no strength which is any thing worth nether in Ditches nor in any handy worke except some great Towers of stone very olde but otherwise very commodious for the store of chambers which are therein The said Lord had brought his Lady with him and had also lodged the Lady Tageus there Hee went the same day into the Citadell wherein he commaunded the Lord Bordes with all the nobility which accompanied him could euen then haue lodged there if he had had any diffidence of the inhabitants for the keies were presented to him by the Lord Bordes That Fortresse was sufficient to haue bridled the inhabitantes considering the strength and great store of Munitions of the said place as well in Ordinance as in other necessary things But specially hauing a gate to get out of the towne whereby may be let in as many men as one would But the sayd Lord in stéed of mistrust kept an open house as well for the nobility of the countrey as for the inhabitantes of the citty without any respect of persons whereof a great number but specially the Maior of the town with his conspiratours sat ordinarily at his table with great curtesy and welcome shewed vnto them by the sayd L. Espernon He walked familiarly with them through the citty and suburbs with a small company of his
naturalis libertatis conuoâ—ationis trium ordium huius regni Whether the people may with a safe conscience take armâ—s vnto theÌ„selues and make collections and contributions for the defence and preseruation of the Catholick Romish religion against the haynous practizes and attempts of the aforesayd king and all other his adherents and against the breach of publike faith committed by him at Bloys in the preiudice of the aforesayd Catholicke religion and of the edict of holy vnion and of the naturall liberty of the assembly of the three Estates of the Realme The seauenth day these priestes of Apollo after a generall procession of all the orders of the said facultie and a Masse of the holy Ghost adsit reuerentia auribus sung in the sayd colledge of Sorboune at the request of the Prouost Escheuins Consuls Catholick citizens of the Citie of Paris the maisters of the said facultie assembled to the number of threescore and tenne hauing debated these questions as they say by the holy scripture but specially by the Cannons and decrees of the Popes al with one consent either extreamely wicked or else most pernitiously ignorant or both rendred this oracle out of the bewitching hell of Apollo to wit The people of France may doe all things which are propounded in the questions against their lawfull king and his adherents onely they required that this their oracle of rebellion might be sent to Rome there to be sealed by the pope and be burned with the mark of the spirit of diuels and beare the Image and print of Antichrist The eight of Ianuary the said Vrban came to knowe the answere of the oracle which he brought to the counsell of the citie and after they had perused it taking it for an answere of Vrim and Thumim and a voyce of God by whose authoritie they were put at liberty to doo what they would with armed hand brought it to the Senate of Paris which was the second Maiesty of France and with drawen swordes required of the same to approoue the said oracle The Senate flatly denied such a wicked vnnaturall and diuelish act to bee lawfull and worthy of the ancient loyalty of France requiring to take some deliberation vpon it and whilest they satte vpon it the mutinous rebels impacient of delay brake open the gates of the Pallace and seazing vpon the whole bench casting them into prisons so now the Senate being carried away in a triumph all reuerence of Magistracie being troden downe the Temple of iustice is poluted forsaken and vsurped by robbers The ninth day of Ianuary the seditious doo in hast choose a new counsell to the number of seauen and forty who should administer the State in stead of the kings prime counsell of the most vilest and factious persons in the citie as Rowland Compan the villanous and incestious Picheuard Louchard Rue Clerke Oliuer Seuault others of such like sortes men neither of abilitie authoritie wisdome nor counsell but onely because they had solde themselues to the League to worke all manner of villany and shewed themselues bitter enemies vnto the King This new Senate of conspiratours firebrands of Hell to replenish the Citty with confusion and mischiefe considering â—â—at to preserue an vnity among their company of robbers they must needes haue a head and rather then they should haue none they will make one of an old blocke they aduised themselues whom they might make that would vphold their misâ—eedes To take some of the Princes of the bloud they knew well them to bee wise ynough from leauing their lawfull vocations to become heades and leaders of theeues murtherers and traytors Therefore they concluded to continue the rebellion in the house and family where the conspiracy the mother of this rebellion sprang out was nourished and entertayned these 40. or 50. yeares continually The Duke de Mayne was thought to be most fit as one who in so vile an enterprise should succeede his brother considering that he was brought vp and nourished in the same schole learned the same bookes and had proceeded in the same degrees as his brother had done was well acquaynted with such matters from his infancy will and ambition boyling in him as hot as euer it did in his brother after his brothers death not much inferiour in fauours of partakers to his brother though not equall in haugtines of mind He therefore by the earnest sute and solicitation of his agent and partakers is made the head of the rebellion and inuested in his absence of that proude and new title of Lieutenant Generall of that state and Crowne of France which is a Periphrase of this word King The Duke de Mayne now beeing made manipulus furum must play the King for he doth assemble all the Captaynes of the sedition as namely the aforesayd counsell newly established with the Dukes Aumale and Nemours with other seditious persons few in number nothing in countenance nor authority to hold the States of the Realme as they did tearme them assembled of the Princes Nobillity and Commons when as there was not one Prince nor any communalty but few seditious persons The Dukes Aumale and Nemours and Cheualier Aumale were made gouernours of Paris to lead the seditious people to do such outrages and robberies as neuer were done yet in any towne or Citty in this world These three Captaynes of robbers and murtherers dayly went to the houses of them which were knowen to be the Kings friends depriued them of their authorities if they had any put them in Prisons ransacked their goods lodged their robbers whom they called garrisons in their houses whereof many by a wise and prouident mynd foreseeing the horrible tempest and thunderclaps which would fall from heauen vppon that sinke of traytors fled out of their houses carrying their liues for a pray The Ladie of Monpensier sister to the Duke de Mayne the Ladyes of Mayne Aumale 〈◊〉 Nemours beeing then in Paris caused a booke of the riche men to be geuen them so that there was no day but they sent some of these Captayns to raunsake and cary away the goods of some rich Marchant or other vnder colour that they were royals heretikes or fauorers of them After many robberies and murthers committed in Paris the seditious people were lead by their Captayns vnto the Loure the royal house where they committed such outrages vppon the goods mouable which did partayne to the King that the posterity will scarse beleeue it They violated the seale of France the sacred instruments of Soueraigne iustice brake it to pieces trampled it vnder foot they did breake and dragged in the stréets in a most spitefull sort the armes of France Valoys and Bourbons The tenth day whilest these things were dooing at Paris the King caused an expresse commaundement to be published at Bloys that all the partakers of the house of Guyze should depart and retire to their houses with pardon of their offences so that they would remayne faythfull seruants
the defence of the Romish Church What neede therefore had that church of any other protector then their owne King whose bountifulnes and liberality they so oftentimes haue tryed Whilest these things did so passe at Anger 's the citty of Nantes vppon Loyre began to hault by the secret practises and treacheries of the seditious Leaguers who were within the cittie But when the newes came of the taking of Anger 's and of the execution done vpon some seditious Iesuits and other Fryers the rebels at Nantes tooke the alarum in this wise for the Ladyes Martignes Mercure wife to the Duke of Mercure gouernour of Britayne tooke occasion thereupon to hasten the rebellion for beeing aduertised that many of the cheefest officers of iustice in that cittie as also other good Citizens faithful to the King seeing the practises which were wrought in their cittie by the Leaguers did disswade theyr fellowe citizens to geue eare to such seditious persons and aduised them rather to remayne faythful vnto the King then to draw vpon themselues the Kings wrath with a cruell and mortall warre For to breake the good purpose and intents of these men and to chastise them for their too great fidelity to their King These Ladies sent for two Captaynes of the towne well knowen for their seditious practises great affection to the traytors they shewed vnto these two Captaynes their passions with great amplifications of the thinges past at Anger 's They began by many inuectiues and spitefull speaches against the K. to shew how the King had put to death a great number of Priests and Friers who were taken at the winning of Anger 's how he had taken the chalices and relickes and wholly became an heretike then with much lying they fell to talke of them whom they would haue to bee taken prisoners in the citty charging them that they sought to bring into their cittye the K. of Nauarre with all his troups with determination to haue the cittie ransacked to take away their goods liues and religion and that therefore it was needfull they rayse the people to rebellion out of hand to seaze vppon them which were faythfull to the King and make the citty sure for the League The chiefest Captaine appointed for this execution was one Gassion a Gascoine brought vp in the house of Martignes and greatly affected to the League An order before that time was that the said Gassion for one halfe yeare commaunded in the castell and the Lord Crambok who was faithfull to the King the other halfe yeare this man no authority then at all The counsell of these two accursed women was quickly executed by the said Gassion hauing for that time the rule of the castell The people vpon these furmises were armed the streats were fortify to with Baricadoes The first execution of this rebellion was the apprehending of foure score of the most notable men and richest families in all the Citie and among the rest were the Lord Miron the Kings threasurer in Britaine the Lord Bourin a great Lawier and one Doctor Rogues Dean of the facultie of Phisicke and many other faithfull seruants of the King who were put in straight prison in the Castle their houses were spoyled and goods rifled The Citie being thus made sure for the League by the Rebells the countrey about was not free from that tempest light horses are sent into places most suspected many gentlemen are taken prisoners abroad without respect of age qualitie or religion such as did escape with the losse of their goods thought to haue sped well In like manner the Citie of Rhemes head Citie of the lowe Britaine which had behaued themselues modeslie enough hetherto might greatly haue fauoured aduaunced the treasons of the Duke Mercure if he could haue got it to his deuotion But for that purpose first it was needfull to haue the helpe of the Bishop of the place named Emare Hannekin sonne to a citizen of Paris for the stage play could not bee well seazoned with mirth except a Priest might play the diuels part Sir Hannekin therfore bestirreth himselfe all that euer he can to bring his treason to passe but his credite being there yet vnder age and small account he taketh the Bishop of Dole of the noble of Espinay to countenance the play being also assisted by a citizen named Botelier who was much beholding to the sayd Sir Hannekin because he was such a louing ghostly father to his wife he had also some other citizens some of the court of Parliament there men of faction who secretly set their shoulders to that worke All this blessed companie by the counsell of these two sedicious Priests deuisers of rebellion against their naturall and lawfull Prince doo raise vp the people in armes giuing to vnderstand though most falsly that the Lord Huuanday Lieutenant generall for the K. in that countrey the Lord Moubarot gouernor of the Towne and the Lord Asserake who accompanied them would haue oppressed the libertie of the Towne and brought in garrisons to sacke it Vppon this false rumour spread abroade by those two lying Priests the people armed did seaze vppon the Market place and fortified the streates with Barricadoes The Duke Mercure who then was a petie King at Nantes aduertised of these things so passing at Rhemes and desirous to enlarge his newly swallowed vp kingdome of little Britaine doth gather forces as great as he can and fayning to goe to Vaunes to the States of the countrey taketh his way to Rhedon and turned vp short to Rhemes where he arriuing was receaue◠with great ioy of thē of the League he put garrisons within the tower of the Fuller within the gate of S. George in the white gate It was time then for the Lords Huuanday Montbarot and Asserak to keepe themselues close within their houses being sought out for no lesse matter then for the price of their liues The Lord Montbarot had seazed vppon the tower of the gate Mordelese hee was summoned by the Duke Mercure to yeeld the sayd tower into his hands which thing he refused to doo saying that there he was placed for the King and for his seruice Vpon this refusall the Canon was brought before the Tower and many houses pearced to make it ready to the battery There was no appearance to sustaine a battery much lesse to hope for any succour which thinges béeing considered the Lord Montbarot agreed and yeelded the place with honorable conditions both for himselfe and his fellowes By these meanes Mercure remained master of the place whereof hee changed the whole estate and gouernment placing therein men at his deuotion there he caused a Iesuit most bitterly seditiously and vnworthy to inueygh and rayle agaynst the King he dispatched a Captaine Spaniard named Iohn with his company to scoure y e country hee did execrable oppressions robbing and sacking all indifferently he tooke many gentlmens houses which he robbed many men whom he cruelly entreated and put to great
forces there nigh at hand and ready to succour him although that so oftentimes hee had been deaffe at his most reasonable counsells The king being at Tours the first thing which hee did was in the beginning of Aprill there he depriued the Duke Mercure of his gouernment of lands dignities offices and prerogatiues to him granted by him for his treasons committed against his Maiestie in his gouernment In the beginning of Aprill the king being at Tours and perceiuing the great dangers which compassed him about on euery side hauing many Leaguers of his counsell and about his person the Citie for the most part leagued bent against him by the meanes of some of his saythfull counsellers as of the Marshals Biron and Hautmont and others and considering more deepely the reasonable and modest protestation of the K. of Nauarre who in his great prosperitie yet of late craueth for peace desireth to be taught proffereth his seruice to the king willeth them to deuise some good wayes to remedie the horrible confusions which doe ouerflow France began to hearken to some good and moderate counsell as to take some truces with the said king of Nauarre to vse his counsell and forces for his iust and lawfull defence In the moneth of March following after the taking of the Citadel of Orleans by the rebels and the ennouatious which they had made in Paris in the changing of the State and treading downe vnder foote the kings royall authoritie The Dukes of Mayne and Aumale began to shew such ielousies and suspitions which ambition did worke in their hearts as it did before in the two brethren to wit the Dukes of Guize and Maine For the Duke de Mayne was caryed to the vsurpation of the Monarchy after his brothers death as if it were vpon the shoulders o. rebells and would haue had been sory if his cousin the Duke de Aumale should haue had either the whole or else any part thereof in superioritie but rather desirous that he should depend of his commaundements and therefore did holde him short with secret practizes and factions The Duke d' Aumale would haue beene glad to haue had all to himselfe rather than his cosin and if not all yet he thought to get as good part in the cake as he might but the factious were not so fauourable vnto him as to the other Fearing therefore some Guizien trick such as hee was well acquainted with to be played against him by the helpe of the mutinous Parisiens he putteth on a good countenance and after infinite sackings riflings and manifolde robberyes committed vpon the rich Marchaunts and others in Paris for in those dayes all rich men were either royalls or hereticks he departed out of the Citie into Picardy where he thought his parte might bee stronger and hee mought bee in greater safetie Mercure on the other side for his part was content if he might make sure vnto himselfe the Dutchie of Britaine supposing that the throte of his ambition was not so wide as that he might swallow down the whole kingdom Crown of France yet betweene them 3. the glorious name of the League and holy vnion holy Church and holy Catholick Religion did rowle among them and were patched by the Fryers and Iesuites for an olde gaberdine to hide vnder all their treacheries against the king and robberies against his subiects All these things did flie abroad vnder the authoritie of the newe great generall Protector of the Crowne of France to wit the Duke de Mayne to whome that title was giuen by conspirators assembled at Paris vnder the name of States as it is afore sayde All these three did well agree together in resisting the kings authority and oppressing the kings subiects euery where euery man reseruing to himselfe his owne thoughts yet would they not be kept so secret but that their enuies ielousies and enimities sometime would flame out so that they could be euidently spied by other men The Duke d'Aumale absented himselfe from Paris and in the I le of France Picardie Brie Tartenoys and Vermandoys went about to doo his busines as well as he could his part as strong as strong might be made with those great summes of money which for his share he had made of the spoyle of the rich men of Paris The Citie of Paris is one of the greatest Cities in the world but doubtles the greatest in Europe It is deuided into three parts The one and the greatest part lyeth in Belgik on the banck of the riuer Seyne in a low fayre and plaine situation That part is called the towne Among other edifices on the lower end by the riuer nigh Newgate is the kings house called the Loure and right ouer against it on the other side of the streete is the auncient house called L'hostel de Bourbon about a mile and a halfe vpon the same side of the riuer is the town house called by a temple nigh to it Saint Iahn en Greue There is a long street from the pont anchange directly to Saint Denis warde called Saint Martins streat which deuideth that parte of the Citie well nigh through the middest The other part lying in the celtick on the south side of the riuer is the Vniuersitie lesser than the former part it is full of Monkeries Friâ—ries and Nunneryes of all feathers and colours vnder the heauens So that a man comming out of a strange countrey and seeing so great diuersitie of fantasies would think himselfe to wander into a countrey of monsters or a Citie of mad men but if he consider well he shall finde himselfe in the middest of Sodome so cleane is their conuersation Beside these infernall Locusts there is a great number of colledges and houses of learning for the which cause it is called the Vniuersitie wherein are chiefly two colldges to wit Sorboune and Nauarre Sorboune is a colledge where Diuines and students of Diuinity cheefly haue allowance and beside it is an association of Diuines whersoeuer they haue taken degrees it is more famous than Nauarre by reason of their ignorance but Nauarre is greater in liuing and multitude of students This Vniuersitie was founded or rather reformed I feare me from better to worse by Charles the great by the helpe of his schoolemaster one Alboinus an Englishman sometime scholler of the learned Beda who as it seemeth changed the former order of studie and fashioned them to the forme of doctrine laide downe by the learned S. Augustine This forme there continued vntill y t time that a visioÌ„ was seen in the ayre to wit a man naked hairy and deformed carying a wallet ful of stones gnawing on a stone which he had in his hand Immediately after that forme of studie was changed and diuinitie reduced to vaine speculations carnall Philosophy and fâ—iuolous questions without edifiyng or breeding any knowledge or wisedoms in the students Then began Aristotle to beare sway in the Diuinity schooles and to fitt in the chayre of Moses The
but one he seazed also vpon many other weake Townes in that champian countrey where hee stayed very long doubtfull of minde what to doo whether he should go néerer to Tours or goe backe To goe further he feared the King of Nauarre being so nigh a neighbour to goe backe shame his great bragges and promises made to the rebels of Paris would not suffer him Concluded therefore to stay in Beausse where lodging and victuals for the taking were to be had without money liuing in hope and watching still for some conuenient occasion to execute his damnable purpose vpon the Kings person by the intelligences which hee had with the Leaguers of the Court and of the Citie of Tours During his soiourne in Beausse he made the like bragges and promises to the Nobilitie and people as he had done in Paris The Wallons which were in his armie considering that nothing was done and lacking money determined to retyre home but with much adoe were stayed vpon promise that great forces were expected from the Duke Aumale out of Picardie and that shortly they would goe about their busines handsomely like good fellowes and that one houre would make them men for euer In the latter end of April the Leaguers of Poytiers began to stir against the King and to make that great and large Cittie sure for the League holy vâ—ion vpon the newes thereof the king sent the greatest part of such forces as he had to rescue that piece which was of great importance The Leaguers aduertised the Duke de Mayne who was about Vendosme of the state of the affaires and how the King was left destitute of the greatest part of his forces now imploied about the reuolt of Poitiers how that he might come easily and without finding any resistance to lodge in the Suburbs of Tours or the Abbey of Marmonstier neere by and that they would so prouide within the citie that by the helpe of his frendes the King might be dispatched or deliuered into his hands aliue The Duke de Mayne vpon these intelligences setteth order for the safe keeping of Vendosme and marched toward Chasteaurenault the towne Caâ—tell hee battered he layeth also the siege before Saint Oine nigh Amboyse where the Countie Brienne was appointed by the King for the keeping of that place intending the night following by stealth to haue resorted to Tours to execute y e enterprise of the Leaguers which were in the court and the Citie vppon the Kings person And that hee might be sure to worke safely he had sent into Picardy to the Duke of Aumale his cosin praying him to send him such forces out of Picardy as he might putting him in hope by some new supply of succour to bring to passe the thing which they had most desired but the towne of Gaulis which by the means of the Lord of Thore was reduced to the Kinges obedience hindered that this new supply could nether be so great as was expected nor could come in any time to do him seruice Of these forces of Picardy it shall be spoken hereafter but for this time wee will leaue this great Duke to batter Chasteaurenault and Saint Oine and will shew what was done in other places at the same time The King considering that the enemy with a puissant army was on his armes and stayed for nothing but to know what assistance he might haue of the Leaguers of the court and of the cittie to worke his feat knowing also the infidelity of his subiectes and seruants both in the court and in the cittie and on euery side and almost dispossessed of his Crowne and Kingdome is enforced for the safety of his person to cast himselfe into the armes of his mortall enemy as he was made beleeue by the Sycophants who alwayes had béen most in eredit with him but in very deed his most profitable and necessary frend if long before he had vsed him Truce therfore at length is concluded betweene the two Kings and among other things it was agréed that the King of Nauarre should haue the Pont de Sel a Towne vpon the riuer of Loyre betweene Saumour and Nantes tight against Anger 's for the safety of his passage But some difficulty beeing made at the surrendring of the said Pont de Sel by the Captayne the King graunted him the towne of Saumour vpon Loyre The sayd towne was receaued for the King of Nauarre by the Lord Plessis Marlin to whom the sayd King gaue the gouernment thereof But now before wee proceede further to shew the accidents which happened after this vnexpected reconsiliation of these two Kinges wee wil search out what hath happened in other countreys After the death of the Guyze the Duke de Mayne sent into the Prouinces but specially into Normandy to perswade the people that the Countrey men might arme themselues without any leaue or consent of the Nobility who were not of their side for the defence of the Catholike religion their liberty he hired specially in Normany the priests monks Friers Iesuits such rabble of woolues with summes of money in their Sermons to stir the people to rise agaynst their Soueraygne and to take counsell agaynst the nobility The means or arguments which these Atheists both for money will ryse agaynst God his ordinance and set the world in an vprore to pollute the earth with bloud were these The King sayd they with great vehâ—mency and amplifications hath murthered the Cardinall of Guyze imprisoned the Primat of Lyons and hauing touched two of the Lords annoynted and layed handes vppon two chiefe Pillers and rulers of holy Church ouer whom neither hee nor any of his had any power or iurisdiction agaynst fayth and promise and hauing violated the publike faith at the States at Bloys the King was no more childe of the Church was excommunicat banished out of the Church and cast out of the communion of Catholikes and therefore the people were not bound to obay him any more but that it was lawfull to persecute him by all meanes possible as the holy faculty of Theologie had also of late determined but rather that it was lawfull to murther and to destroy the King and persecute them by all means possible that wil not league themselues and beare armes against the King They dayly preached also that the King was a protector of heritikes and had intelligences with them and that he sought nothing more then to stablish heresie in his kingdome And for as much as examples do both moue and encourage to doo or discouraging from dooing they encourage the simple and ignorant first declared themselues enemies to the King renounced his obedience gaue forth vilanous vnworthy and traiterous speeches of him so as nothing more vile may bee named and spoken These were the deuout prayers of such despisers of God and all godlines in their Pulpits to the which the People said Amen But after the truce was taken betweene the two Kings then they had a large
of the famine the wilâ—ull obstinacy of that damned people who will rather perish like the heathenish Saguntines then to try his clemenâ—y and fauour whom they knew to be therewith indued more then euer had béen any King in France before him hearing also of this sauage and barbarous act of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some that fled vnto him out of the City was greatly moued so that lifting vp his hands to Heauen before his nobility protested vnto the Lord as Titus did in like case at the siege of Ierusalem that hee was not guilty of those abominations which were there committed neither of the bloud of them that so desperatly perished That hee was their lawfull King ordayned of God to gouerne them that he had proffered vnto them contrary to their deserts mercy that he might haue forced them but to spare their bloud he had delayed it to his great hinderance hoping that néed would haue caused them to consider their duty But contrary vnto duty and nature they had obstinated themselues and committed more abominations then any City euer did among the heathens This good King his eyes full of teares retyred into his Chamber full of compassion admiration and loue of iustice Compassion was not in him only as it was in Scipio at the burning of Carthage an affection procéeding of a milde nature but a true Christian mercy by the which he did féele the griefes euen of his mortall enemies and therefore gaue certaine passeports vnto many to haue dayly out of his campe a certaine alowance of victuals and liberty to his souldiours to sell some victuals vnto the besieged for necessary thinges as shooes hose apparell and other such things which did somewhat relieue them and stopped the barbarous eating one another The admirations of this strange hardnes of hart of that people brought him to consider Gods iust and secret iudgements who in his wrath hath sent euill spirits of Idolomany in the mouthes of their false prophets that as through blindnes of Idolatrie this fiftie yeres past and more they had replenished their streates with burnings murthers and massacres of the Saints and had stopped their eares vnto the voyce of Christ so they should bee replenished with error and idolatrous hardnes by the wicked Friers and Iesuites possessed with lying spirites to bring them to that thraldome and obloquie neither will that Citie euer be restored to peace and iustice vntill that the streetes thereof be washed with the bloud of that damned generation The King considering his office and charge annexed and inseparably ioyned to his Crowne to minister iustice that is to punish the offenders and transgressors and that there began the rebellion there was by the consent of most wrought the death of the King and that by the reioycing and approbation of the sayd death they had rendred themselues accessarie and guiltie of the same euen their walles houses temples all whatsoeuer they had Therefore he considering correlatiuely his office their offence could not giue ouer the siege and seeing that they refused lawfull try all by their rebellion hee would followe that which in such a case God hath ordained that is force violence and warre yet hee determined to trye fashioning himselfe after Gods Image who is long suffering whether they might be prouoked to take pitie vpon their afflicted estate Here we will leaue the King for a time and will passe into other places to see what preparations of warre be made We haue sayd how the Duke de Mayne returned from Bruxels where hee was royally receaued as a poore simple lackie as is sayd into Champaigne thence he sent to the Duke Aumale and the Vidasme d'Amiens into Picardie to gather such forces as they could and to repayre vnto him with as much speede as they might to ioyne with the Duke of Parma who was comming with great forces Wherevpon about the middest of August the Lord Iumeges vnderstanding that the sayd Duke Aumale and Vidasme had gathered forces were going toward the Duke de Mayne to ioyne with the Spanyards comming out of the Lowe Countrey met with them nigh Amiens discomfited them and slewe thrée thousand of them as the common report is among whom was the Vidasme of Amiens The Duke Aumale by flight saued himselfe within Amiens The Duke of Parma in the meane time commanded the two regiments of Spanyards appoynted by the King of Spayne to keepe home and to doo their feate as they should vnderstand when the opportunitie should serue to march forward before him For although leauing the countrey vnprouided of sufficient forces the States would take occasion to do their busines and to surprise places yet according to the prouerbe he consented to some losse for feare of loosing all The Spaniards were very vnwilling to goe to that iourney but hee put them in hope of doing some great and waightie exployts which were not for euery man to knowe and which could not be effected without their counsell and helpe making them beléeue that they were the onely Souldiers of the world At length the Spanyards as a restie horse which striueth with the rider and goeth backward afore hee will take his way forward Vpon their departure hee sent foorth euery where to shewe his iourney into France hee setteth foorth a description of his armie how many thousand footmen how many thousand horsemen how many Princes Dukes and Earles what Caesars and Alexanders there was in that armie And when all came to all there were three which are by him called Princes euen such as he is himselfe such as may be a Knight here in England which do hold some small Dukedomes of small townes in Italy either of y e Pope or els of King Philip such as are holden in flauerie as the Bassas by the Turke to wit the Princes for so hee tearmeth them of Ascoly Castel Bertran and Symay two Princes as obscure as the name of their principalities There were y e Marquesse of Renty the Earle Berlamount There were also Dons of Spayne as Sanctio Layeua Iuan Baptista Tasis Alonso Idiaques Antonio de Zuniga Pedro Gaetano and Capechuca Romano All these Dons were such as might be twentie groates in the bookes of Subsidie so great noble men they were men that could haue shewed great prowesse vpon the naked Iudiens To be short there were three great Lords Pride Vanitie and Folly who were masters of the Campe. There were also fewe Carrowssers out of Flanders Henault and Brabant hee gaue them terrible names as Amutinados that is angry men Mansferidos and other such I wot not what as would make the poore heathnish women in Italy and Spayne crosse their foreheads thinking to heare some names of diuels He setteth foorth his furniture his stable his pages the couerings of his coffers and moyles and why not the belles of his moyles But a great ouersight was committed by him that made no mention of his Curtizans that was not for lacke of good will but
for the which cause he had ordayned aforehand prouisions of corue and wine to be set vp in certayne townes and cities among others the Duke de Mayne was appoynted to that warre not as one who was thought fit for that charge but for the causes which do follow As the Guyzes to wit the Dukes Guyze Mame Cardinal bretheren Aumale cosin vnto them did consent in these three points to wit in altering the state by transporting the crowne from the true owners and haires into their familie in killing degrading or at least disinheriting the house of Bourbon and destroying the auncient nobilitie whom they knew would resist their atempts and beare vnpacientlie their vsurped tiranny The Priests were the fire brands to kindle this ambitious rage and by their money to aduaunce the same So they all did prouide to bring this treason to effect that of all things the kings forces should not fall into any other hands then in to their own or of their partakers but specially that none of the Princes of the bloud should by any meanes be armed with the guiding of the Kings power Wee see then how they all did agree to vndoe the King with his owne forces But herein they did vary for euery one had particular fetches and drifts which did swim in their braynes whereby they went about to aduaunce their particular affaires by the Kings forces for the Duke of Guize did determine to stay nigh the Kings person and not to goe farre from Paris and Belgike where he had gotten great fauours and many partakers there expecting either fit oportunitie to strike the blowe which he had long afore hand purposed or else at the least hee bearing the sway about the Kinges person and counsell might both spy and preuent the Kings driftes and policie if he should seeme to wauer neuer so little and keepe of the Princes of the bloud and Nobilitie from entring into fauour with the King whereby they might disapoint his driftes He also imagined that whatsoeuer might happen Paris and the Belgike being at his deuotion either were able to defend him againstthe Kings attempts or else if the King might be cut off by any misfortune the saide citie and countrey would be able to lift him vp into that roome whereon he did so greatly desire to sit euen against the consent of the rest of the realme and against his owne brother the Duke De Maine whose emulation hee not onely alwaies suspected and desired to preuent but also endeuored to send him farre from the said King citie and countrey beside that he knew to be a fit instrument by skilfull entising and policie to seduce their great and populous cities of Poytiers Limoges Perigueux Bourdeaulx others where he should come regarding not at whose deuotion those cities might bee so that they were not in the power and fidelitie of the King or of the King of Nauarre that by so much they might be weakened The Duke De Mayne being appointed for Guienne not to subdue it but to haue the Kings forces in the hands and at the deuotion of the League and farre from him if at a pinch he should haue neede of them was very vnwilling to depart from Paris to his iourney aleaging alwaies some excuse The causes of his vnwillingnes were loue ambition and feare the obiects of these affections were Masters Saint Beusue and other Courtesans in the towne of Paris where he walowed himselfe in filthie pleasures and whoredome as the Boare in the myre his owne brother whome hee would haue preuented what occasion might haue happened by keeping Paris ouer his head for he was acquainted with the intents and driftes of the League as one of the chiefest of them yet vncertaine of the euents and what in his absence being so farre from Paris might happen vnto the King he would faine haue kept Paris still in possession so that if either nature or violence should bereaue the King of his life â—e might haue that capitall mightie rich and factious citie in his owne possession by whose helpe hee supposed to ataine to his long wished desires and become his eldest brothers master The third cause was feare and the obiect thereof the King of Nauarre for knowing that the said King of Nauarre was priuie to their driftes not onely by his deepe and princelike prudencie many euident tokens and their own too manifest attempts but speciallie by their inticing him and them of the reformed Religion to their conspiracie and faction knowing him also to be a Prince most faithfull to the state Crowne and Realme of France a Prince of great valour and implacable to traitors thus hauing a conscience which is more then a thousand witnesses guiltie feare made him continually to enter into such apprehensions that he thought certainly to goe into Guienne was to goe to a most assured death Thus these two bretheren aspiring both to the crowne yet did varie in thoughts as the auncient saying is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Duke De Mayne would faine to keepe the possession of Paris and therefore maketh many excuses hauing not sometime money enough another time hauing to weake forces sometime aleaging health sometime the vnseasonable weather The Duke of Guize was greatly desirous to haue him out of Paris supposing that there his shadowe did infect the citie and therefore to take away all excuse least he should aleage his forces not to be sufficient to march with the King of Nauarre he caused the King to adde vnto him the regiments of Swissers So the Duke De Mayne hauing eight thousand Swissers twelue regiment of French footemen twelue hundred horsemen French Forces sufficient for a good Captaine to subdue the whole countrey receaued eight and twentie thousand Crownes which the treasorer of the Cleargie deliuered him and shortlie after eyght and twentie thousand more and not long after his departing sent him foure and fiftie thousand more Yet the King could by no meanes perswade him to take his iourney for the Kings commaundements he regarded not vntill the newes came to the King that the Prince of Conde had passed Loyre out of Poytow into Anjou so that at length with great importunacie being perswaded by his brother that in the absence of the Prince being as if it were inclosed in he might easily subdue all that countrey and that it was neede with his armie all by one voyage to goe to the other side of Loyre to let the repassing of the Prince if he should atempt it about the 23. of October weeping and wayling as a child he went out of Paris assured of stripes if he should come within the reach of the said King of Nauarre And wher as at his departing he had opened his timerousnes to euiuently he thought good to couer it with the cloake of vanitie for want of a better in breathing bloud slaughter and fire in words and bragges which at length were turned into a blast of colde winde yet fully resolued
trust in man and make their force the arme of flesh Beside these three mighty armies and the armies of the king of Nauarre and Ioyeuse whereof it is spoken before The Lords Mommorency and Diguieres had the fifth in Daulphine agaynst the Lord Valete beside the armes and assembled forces scattered elswhere Such was the state of miserable France which had great cause to grone vnder the heauy burthen of so many so great and mighty armies This tempest was very blacke and thicke and at length thereout issued dreadfull thunder clappes But now we haue to speake of these three armyes conioyntly to wit of the Leaguers lead by the Guyzes of the Catholikes conducted by the king himselfe and of the Germans guided chiefly by the Duke of Boillon Here we haue to consider the iudgementes of God which were powred vpon these armies First y e Leaguers by the K. forces did work y e K. vndooing y t by his fall they might be lifted vp on high The king in pretending y e defence of the Catholike religion which no man did oppugne by violence but the Leaguers went about to root the Gospell of Christ out of France The Germans for the most part were mercenaries who regarded not the right of the cause neither came to serue him who procured them but did in mynd swallow downe the spoyle of France And some among them who were lead with an vpright mind yet being mingled with prophane and irreligious men and trusting in the outward apparance of that army turned theyr confidence from God to the arme of flesh therefore all were disappointed of theyr intents for neyther of them all had any benefit by this great warre but blowes slaughters and calamityes About the latter ende of August after this great armie had passed the mountaine of Zauerne and began to enter into Lorreyne the Dukes eldest sonne with certaine regiments approached so nigh them at Salabrine that 3. of his companies were discomfited and six Ensignes sent to Strasbourg and proceeding further they tooke Blasmond The said army drawing neere to Nancy about the beginning of September certayne seruantes going about to forrage with their cartes were set on by certayne companies which issued out of Nancy when they had seazed vppon some cartes were pursued and beaten into the very gates of Nancy This army of Germans being about Nancy there was a counsell holden to wit agaynst whom they should first turne theyr armes The French men were of that aduile to make warre in Lorreyne and that it was the pleasure of the king of Nauarre that they who had of lustines kindled that miserable warre in France might first of all feele the heauy burthen of the same but specially the Duke of Lorreyne who was one of the heads of the League The Germans in taking a certaine summe of money which the Duke of Lorreyne proffered them were at length content to passe by as neighbours and friends yet notwithstanding they concluded warre did there many acts of hostilitie such as warre doth commonly drawe after it This armie being yet newe and lustie did neglect a notable occasion to oppresse the enemie at the bridge S. Vincent vpon what occasion that opportunitie was neglected it is vncertaine But it is confessed of all men that if they had come to hands that day they had seene the end by the iudgment of men of that warre assoone as the beginning Thus some exployts of warre being done there the scarcitie of victualls beginning to growe they determined to goe foorth out of Lorreyne But vpon the determination of the way which they should followe there was great difficultie found For the Germans desired to passe toward Sedan from whence they might hope of many good commodities and if néede should be they might haue a newe supply of forces out of Germany which thing could not bee if they enclosed themselues among so many riuers which are on the South side of Seyne Some French men on the contrary sayd that they should turne right to the riuer of Loyre for to ioyne with the King of Nauarre The Lord Boillon desired greatly that they would approach to Sedan as they had as he sayd promised him and that in hope of it he had made great preparations of powder and artillerie which hee had made of purpose Considering also that he had to prouide for the securitie of his places which might incurre some daunger if they were not prouided for All reasons debated and weighed on both sides the course to the riuer of Loyre was concluded Whilest these things so passed in Lorreyne the Lord Chastilion the 22. of September came to the armie with his troupes he had much adoo to passe and was as if it were enclosed in the towne of Gresille but was rescued by the Countie de la Mark yonger brother to the Duke of Boillon The armie drawing néere to Chaumont in Bassigny there it was put in deliberation to execute a certaine enterprize which the Lord Chastilion had in hand but it could not be done The armie came to Chasteauuilaine where they soiorned some dayes and in the meane while they tooke a Gentleman named Viliers comming from Rome his iourney to Rome was to solicite the Pope to helpe his master with money to make warre against them of the reformed religion and also to pray the Pope Frier Sixtus to name the King head of the League assuring him that it would greatly mooue him to warre and roote out them of the religion whom he named heretickes The answere which the Pope made him as it appeared by his words was that they should liue in peace with their neighbours and that hee could not furnish them with money being not willing to make warre against any man who desired peace among all men The sayd gentleman carried a letter very ill written which he sayd to be the hand of the Duchesse of Lorreyne mother of the Duke contayning thus much I am very glad to vnderstand the state of your affayres and I aduise you to goe forward for neuer a fayrer occasion was offered you to put the Scepter in your hand and the Crowne vpon your head This letter gaue occasion to them of the Counsell to agree that this Gentleman should be kept carefully and brought to the King of Nauarre The armie soiourning at Chasteauuilaine the King with his great armie stayed about Montereau faut Yonne and Sens but vnderstanding the determination of the Germans retyred with his armie into Berry beyond Loyre there to stop the passing ouer to the King of Nauarre and to giue them freer accesse betwéene the two riuers of Seyne and Loyre where hée thought either to weary them or by ioyning his with the armie of the Leaguers at the tayle of them easily he might oppresse them During this soiourne the Baron Oneau brought the artillerie before the Abbey of Cleruaulx which compounded to giue a certaine summe of money and some quantitie of wine and meale notwithstanding that capitulation
the king commaunded the sayd Belieure that in case the sayd Duke would néedes continue his purpose of comming thether plaine termes he should tell him that it was against his Maiesties will and that in so doing he held him as a Traytour and author of all the troubles and diuisions of the Realme and therefore iustly to deserue his displeasure The Lord Belieure gaue notice of all the Kings will and intent vnto the sayd Duke as he was charged to doo The Duke subtilly gaue him a doubtfull answere not declaring whether he would goe or not but as the water being stopped waxeth stronger and more violent so the prohibiting of him encreased his heate and ambition by nature impatient and made him thinke that the delay was an irreuocable losse So that at one instant after the departing of Belieure out of Soyssons the Guize tooke horse and his way to Paris and followed the sayd Lord Belieure so nigh that the one arriued the Monday about nine a clocke and the Duke likewise arriued at Paris the same day about twelue a clock accompanied with eight gentlemen hauing in all not aboue fifteene or sixteene horses that could be seene and being there arriued he lighâ—ed at the lodging of the Q Mother at the penitent Sisters the 9. of May. The King being aduertised of the Dukes comming to Paris tooke great discontentation therof conceaued a great displeasure against the said Belieure as though he had not faithfully deliuered his commandement and in the same tearmes as he was charged to the Duke of Guize This solitarie comming of the Duke of Guize encreased the suspitions and mistrust making euery man that knewe him and his pompe thinke that such extraordinarie comming had some mysterie which ere it were long should be reuealed For if it had been simple and without fraude a cooling of the partakers had ensued as commonly they who doo obey doo frame their actions according to the manners of them which doo command so that such a tumult had not insued it as did A little while after the arriuing of the Duke of Guize the Q. Mother caused her selfe to bee carried to the Loure to speake with the King The Guize with a small companie to see too followed the Q. Mother on foote and it is to be noted that by the way the Lord of Guize going through the streates of Paris with the Q. Mother the people flocked in great companies to bid him welcome and among others a gentlewoman standing vppon a bulke plucking her maske downe saluted him with these words Good Prince seeing thou art come we be safe The Q. Mother and the Guize arriued at the Loure together entered into the kings chamber who then sat nigh his bed and did not stirre out of his place for the comming of the sayd Duke who saluted the King with a fayre and humble countenance making a courtesie almost his knee to the ground Fewe would haue iudged by this interuiew that there had been so dangerous vlcers in their hearts the King greatly displeased at his comming shewed neither to his mother nor to the saide Duke any other welcome but asked him thus Cosin wherefore are you come He answered that it was to purge himselfe of the calumnies and slaunders that hee was charged of as though he were guiltie of the crime of treason In making this answer he seemed very much moued and pale as though he had feared that the King euen then would take punishment of that contempt wherewith he had despised his commaundement The King relyed that he had sent him an expresse commaundement that he should not come for that time The Duke made answer that it was not told him in such sort as that hee had occasion to feare that his comming should bee so disagreeable to him The King then turning his speach to the Lord Belieure asked him whether he had not commaunded him to make him vnderstand his intention When Belieure would haue recounted in what sort hee performed his message the Duke of Guize interrupted him and said to the King speaking by Belieure that he had tolde him more Vpon this the Q. Mother beginning to talke with the King a side the Duke of Guize drew nere to the Queene raging and talked together with her during the parley of the Q Mother with the King The Guize a little after went away being neither accompanied nor followed by any of the Kings seruants The King being aduertized a new how Paris was full of armed men replenished with faction and madnes and that there had resorted and howerly did resort a number of strangers of all qualities and that the Duke of Guize was the adamant stone which did draw the yrâ—n of that commotion began to double his mistrust thought it was high time to take order to assure his affayres and prouide both for the safety of his person and the state of the Citie And first to assure his forces about his person sent for two thousand and fiue hundred Suissers which were in Picardy for the companies of his guardes and some regiments which were extraordinarily ordayned by him for two companies of Suissâ—rs to fortifie his gardes and three companies of Frenchmen The tenth day he commaunded the Escheuins that is the Aldermen and chiefest men of the Citie to make search through the Citie in all houses of all such men as were to be found without any lawfull busines they dissembled the matter as though they had good liking thereof He caused also notice thereof to be giuen to the Duke of Guize who had no great liking of it but tooke it for a token which hasted him to doo his feate this order was taken but not executed vntill the morrow after The same day the Master of the League that is the Duke of Guize came to Loure accompanied with thirtie or fortie horses and accompanied the King in his walking to the artilleries and there conferred together verie friendly about the warre of Guienne against the King of Nauarre The 11. day the search being a making through the Citie by the chiefest of the Magistrates and certaine Knights of the order of the Holy Ghost commonly called the Kings order to countenance the matter gaue great occasion of mistrust whereupon the King caused the search to cease The 12. day very early the Suissers and the French companies being 12. Ensignes of footemen entred into Paris through the gate Saint Honore the King and his nobles being there on horseback to receaue them At the arriuing of them the Parisians gaue themselues the alarum and faigned great feare as though the great Turke had entred the Citie with an hundred thousand men euery man ran into his house shut vp their doores and windowes many cried that they were lost vndone and would be all murthered It had been an easie thing for the King if he had had an euill intent against them as afterward they made themselues beleeue to haue let the attempt which they
againe rather to their priuate present and sure commodities then to attempt dangerous enterprises Grounded vpon these reasons the seruants do determin vpon the death of their Lord the anoynted of the Lord and a man reuerenced of so many Nations is condemned to die by the bloudy swordes of them who might haue said that whatsoeuer they haue besydes their béeing they haue it of him and his predecessors liberality whose Grandfather came to begge to the dore of his auncestors Rise vp O Lord defend thyne Ordinance and the powers which thou hast appointed The 24. day of December is appointed for that cruell execution their desperat parricide is sealed with an oth so they depart The King ignorant of this sentence of condemnation geuen against him yet prouoked both by the old and new iniuries proffered him daily by the Duke of Guyze did meditate how and watched for the opportunity as by one blow to rid himselfe out of that danger and feare wherein he saw himselfe and perceauing well by the partialities and partaking of in a maner the whole assembly of the States and that contrary vnto his expectation for he thought by the consent of the States to haue conuicted condemned and executed both the Duke and few of the chiefest of his partakers he was in danger that which he pretended would be wrought against him either directly or vndirectly by the sayd estates determined to follow an extraordinarie way and to preuent his enemy knowing the Prouerbe to bee true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and knowing the cause so to do to be lawfull thought the course taken for the execution would be diuersly iudged yet hee thought to follow a iust cause some what vnlawfull necessity enforcing him so to doo might be well interpreted in a man of his degree and calling he pronounceth therfore sentence of death against the Duke of Guyze and few others Here Christian Reader thou seest the subiect and seruant to haue condemned appoynted to the slaughter his Lord and Prince only through aspyring vnlawfully vnto his Scepter and Throne Here thou seest the soueraigne power ordayned of God for to reuenge the euill doer to haue condemned his seruant for diuers crimes committed the procéeding is extraordinarie but necessarie and not at all to be condemned considering the circumstances but it is to be wished that it could haue béen done otherwise by ordinarie course Marke also Gods iustice vpon carnall men destitute of the right knowledge of God fellowes in a manner and companions of one affection of one minde of one consent in persecuting the Sonne of God in deuouring the innocent as if they would eate bread the Lord sent euill Angels among them to scatter them their counsels and power the one is possessed with an vncleane spirit of ambition the other bewitched with a spirit of hatred against the trueth of God is made secure and flacke to preuent the euill betunes vntill he is enforced to followe that course which commonly men will condemne vpon his companion his friend and familiar who went into the Temples of their Gods to take sweete counsell together O the depth of Gods iudgments how deepe and vnsearchable be they The Kings counsell and determination could not be kept so secret the King hauing so many Leaguers about him to smell his breath but the 22 of December as the Duke of Guize had set downe to dinner he found vnder his napkin a little bill wherein was written that he should take héede for they will play a shrewd play with him In the same bill he wrote with his owne hand a mocking answere thus They dare not and so cast it vnder the table The Leaguers neither could not keepe their breath so warily but that their determination tooke flight abroad For the same day the King receaued diuers aduertisements of this perilous conspiracie and determination of the Duke of Guize against his person But specially y e Duke de Mayne brother to the Duke of Guize sent Alphonse Corse expressedly to the K. to aduertise him to take heed of the Duke of Guize his brother it was an easie thing sayd he to carrie a rope of Beades about his necke but for certaine hee knewe very well that his brother had a shrewd enterprise in hand against him He knewe not when the execution would be but he knew very well that it would be shortly and that he was in doubt least this warning should come too late and warned him in these words that his Maiestie should beware of a furious and desperate minde The Duke Aumale likewise sent his wife to Bloys to the King to aduertise him of the same daunger and conspiracie against him and that the conspirators were vpon the poynt of the execution Also one of the conspirators themselues mooued in conscience disclosed vnto him the whole conspiracie the day appoynted the tokens the names of the conspirators but in such a short time that the King had scarse opportunitie and time to escape and preuent that imminent danger The King also had intercepted not long before many letters wherein in plaine tearmes the Leaguers had vttered their determination The King hauing receaued so many messengers of death and reduced to this extremitie doth perceiue that he is beaten with his owne rod. For calling to remembrance the great iniuries which hee and his brethren had receaued of that house euen from their infancie acknowledging now that all the former troubles as hee confesseth in a certaine letter of his to the Lord Tageus in his Realme haue béen by their practises and procurement how that hee hath seene all the euident tokens of their aspyring to his estate their clayming of the Crowne by their fayned geuealogies set foorth in the sight of the world He remembreth also the decay of his authoritie among all his subiects to haue béen their worke by the diffamatorie Libels dispersed abroade with diuers slaunders and calumnies He acknowledgeth the practising of the deliberation of Rome about the rooting out or disheriting the royall bloud in France in the houses of Valoys and Bourbons to set vp the house of Lorreyne Among other things he reckoneth the seditious preachers as Iesuites and other vncleane foules of that colour hired by them of Guize and Lorreyne to stirre vp sedition and steale away the people from his obedience thereby to strengthen their partes He calleth to remembrance the taking vp of armes against his will in the yeare 1585. the raising vp of the tumult in Paris against his owne person the letters of Guize intercepted wherein he discouereth his minde so deepely that thereby he might see euery veine and hole in their braine and hearts the saucie parts and manifest attempts which both hee and his partakers had vsed toward him in his owne presence both in words and behauiour the consideration also of these aduertisements from so many parts did cause great passions in his minde But did not consider from whence these blowes did come neither from
Poole against another regiment which was lodged at Guinefole where certaine Gascoynes of the garison came to hand blowes with the enemie All these skirmishes were so fauourable to them of the Towne that beside the first day they lost not one man onely some were hurt so that the enemie could not during all these skirmishes get any aduauntage vppon them not so much as the hedges within foure hundred paces of the Curtine and Forts Euen ten dayes after they were besieged they issued foorth and pulled downe certaine houses in the sight of the enemie and burned others and among them a house called Escraziere from whence the enemie who had lodged therein was driuen out with losse of certaine men The horsemen also did issue foorth and tooke so great number of prisoners that they were enforced to send back a great many of them that were most vnprofitable they kept a great number to worke at the fortifications others of greater calling were put to their raunsome The Lord Chastre accompanied with ten or twelue hundred horses passed at the Planches to the place where the Lord of Neuers was and séeing certaine horsemen who were issued out of the Towne when he would haue gone to view and aduaunced somewhat for that purpose his horse fell in a ditch and had not béen the diligence of them of his companie in succouring of him and that he was couered with a great number of harquebusiers which followed those horsemen hee had béen taken by them of the Towne As thinges did so passe there the Lord Plessis sent diuers times to the King for to aduertise him of the state of the affayres and by the same messengers had answere againe Whilest these skirmishes and blowes were geuen at Ganache the artillery was brought from Montagne and tooke the way of Maschecow for to auoyd the foulnes of the other way they were whole fifteene dayes before they could conuay the said ordinance although they of the Countrey did shew themselues so desyrous and ready to conduct the sayd ordinance that they omitted nothing of all their meanes industrie and labour but specially the Lord Belisle for the desire which hee had to possesse that place There was of that artillery twelue peeces of Ordinance vz. sixe canons of battery foure great Culuerins and two of a meaner sort This Ordinance being arriued the 21. of December about noone the Duke of Neuers set his army in battell array and saluted the towne with a voley of all these peeces from the top of a little hill nigh the place of execution about fiue hundered paces from the towne That being done he sent an Herault of armes to sommon the Lord Plessis to surrender him the towne as vnto the Kings lieutenant The Lord Plessis by the aduise of al the captaines answered that he and all his fellowes were most humble and faithfull seruantes and subiectes to his maiesty but that hee did not acknowledge in all Guienne any other lieutenant generall for the King but onely the King of Nauarre to whom to none other if it were not by his expresse commaundement hee would surrender that place The Herauld was yet sent twise from the Baron Paluan and the Lord Villeneufue of Anjou for to find the means to speake to the Lord Plessis who knowing the importance of such parley flatly refused it At the selfe same time that the army did so muster in battell aray in the sight of all men a souldier Wallon of the companies of Picardie with his sword in hand drawen began to runne ouerthwart a great medow right to the Fort of Captaine Beauregard crying viue Nauarre the Duke of Guyze is dead and Niort is taken that voice was so high that it was heard of both sides they let flie at him diuers shot but not one did hit him but only in his hat They of the towne were fully aduertised by him of the state of the armie and of the strange euents which had happened at Bloys They vnderstood also of the exploit which the King of Nauarre had donein igh Poytow since the siege All these newes brought not only great ioy to them of the towne but also encreased their courage The Duke of Neuers hauing receaued answere of the besieged caused his Ordinance to bee planted in certaine ruinous houses on the one side of Maschecow defended with certaine Gabions which caused them besieged to thinke that they should bee battered of that side where they also began to crench themselues with great labour and dilligence But now wee will leaue the siege of Ganache whilest the Duke of Neuers doth prepare his battery to make a breach and maketh himselfe ready to giue the assault and also the besieged do prepare themselues to defend the place and receaue the enemie and wee will goe to see what exploits the King of Nauarre hath performed in high Poytow It is sayd before how the King of Nauarre after the taking of Beauuoyre set garrisons in the townes of Poytow to keepe the countrey about and to make head against that army which was comming with great preparations might fury and threatnings which thing beeing done heretired to Rochel to gather all his power and to prouide all necessary things either to crosse or to geue battell to that army if occasion might serue And whilest these blowes and skirmishes aboue sayd did so passe at the siege of Ganache and such strange and so vnlooked for euents did fall out at Bloys the Lord Saint Gelays had long before hand curiously sought out the meanes to enterprise vpon the towne of Niort as well to do seruice to them whose part he followed the inhabitants hauing béen alwayes of the chiefest of the League and great enemies to them of the reformed religion as also for the iniuries which they of the sayd Towne proffered vnto him and to his houses thereabouts doing vnto him all the wrongs that euer they could deuise The King of Nauarre arriued from Rochel into Poytow vnderstood as well by the sayd Lord Saint Gelays and by others of the enterprise vpon the said towne of Niort but the execution thereof was oftentimes delayd at length the sayd King hauing with a type iudgement wayed all the circumstances and seene the facility of the means to compasse that enterprise at length ended his counsell with resolution to try speedily the execution thereof and for that purpose departed from Rochel to Saint Ihan d'Angely vnder other colours about the 21. of December The 24. of December the Lord Saint Gelays departed from Rachel accompanied with the Lord Ranques with ten horsmen of his traine only and arryued at Saynt Iahn about nine a clocke in the night The 26. of December arriued at S. Iahn early at the first opening of the gates a Post from Bloys riding with two Horses who sayd that voluntarily he had departed from Bloys to bring newes to the King of Nauarre touching the death of the Duke of Guyze These newes did not stay the execution of
vnto him Hee sent Cotteblanch Prouost of Paris and the president Neuilly to Paris to see whether they could reduce that seduced people to their dutye the Lords Vilaguier and D'Abin did the like but neither of them could do any good About the fifteenth day these strange alterations beeing done in Paris vnder colour of the authority of the States there called and holden by few seditious persons letters were sent from they sayd assembly of rebels there vnto all citties of their confederacy to go forward in the like outrages and furie as they had done And first to autorise their seditious procéedings with great honourable tytles they call their letters a declaration of the Princes Catholikes vnited with the three estates of France touching the Massacre committed vppon the persons of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinall his brother First they doo warne their fellowes to beware of any manner of instructions giuen vnto them by the King himselfe or any others contayning any excuse of the execution committed at Bloys vppon the Duke and Cardinall his brother Secondly they doo aduertise them that they haue as yet of that broode the Dukes de Mayne Aumale Mercure and Nemours and that the Duke de Mayne hath a great armie in readines to defend them Thirdly they go about to cléere the Duke of Guize of the crime of treason saying that it is but calumnies of hereticks denised against that house the space of 25. yeares So with them to spye from time to time the trayterous attempts and Note secrecies of the house of Guize is heresie and a worke of heretickes Fourthly they accuse the King of violating the publike faith and prophaning their corpus Domini as they tearme it vpon the which hee had sworne the edict of reunion But in déede the King swore the edict and not to suffer himselfe to bée murthered by the Duke of Guize Note At length they doo aggrauate the death of the Cardinall of Guize and the imprisonment of the Cardinall of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lions and exhort their companies to vnite themselues and to followe theyr example In the first page of this letter was this marke in the other side the Image of the Duke of Guize Now wee will leaue these confusions of Rebells assembled vnder the colour and name of the States of France to procéede further to fill the measure of their trespasse and will goe to see what the King doth at Bloys and elsewhere Immediatly after the death of Guize the King thought good to make Orleans sure of his side The Citadell in the middest of all these tumults and rebellions of Cities was and did hold for the King And the Lord Antragues who a little before had giuen ouer the League did all that euer he could doo to hold the Citie in the Kings obedience But the inhabitants being seduced afore hand by the Leaguers partakers of the Duke de Mayne encouraged by the conduct of Captain Breton and others who did promise to the inhabitants readie succour from the Duke de Mayne tooke weapons and by the confidence which they had in their riches and strength of their walles did openly reuolt It is commonly said that the Citie of Orleans is the Citadel of France as well for the commodious situation of the same vpon the riuer Loyre as for the fortifications thereof These reasons among others caused the King to trie by gracious and fayre meanes to bring them backe to their duetie But reason not preuayling with a people carried away with passion and seduced by the louers of alteration from the obedience of their King he was compelled to trie by force the meane of the Citadell He therefore sendeth the Marshall Haumont with forces as well of footmen as of horsemen with him hee sendeth part of his gardes and the Swissers The inhabitants on their side goe about by all meanes possible to rid themselues of the Citadell as of a heauie burthen they doo besiege it within the towne side doo trench themselues and couer themselues with horsmen and platformes doo vndermine it to blowe vp that Fort which nothing els but onely one of the gates commonly called Porte-bamere they make issues out and euen vpon the Swissers with some successe they doo thunder and rase that Fort with shot of Ordinance on the inside thereof They of the Kings side doo what they can there is a great number slaine on both sides The Lord Antragues promiseth notwithstanding to the King to keepe during the space of a moneth the out side although it were but broken walls and ruines during the which time he might call backe the armie which was in Poytow at the siege of Ganache vnder the conduct of the Lord of Neuers The inhabitants made two Mines vnder the Citadell but they were vented by them within About the 17. of Ianuarie there went forth out of Paris thrée thousand men well furnished but young souldiours and not trained vp in warre to goe to succor Orleans but they were discomfited by the Lorde Montigny and other Gentlemen who charged them betwéene Estampes and Orleans many of them were slaine the remnant were turned home naked The Duke d'Mayne about the last day of Ianuarie sending some supply of succour to Orleans stayed so their estate which did seeme to hang a side that they tooke courage partly by ruines partly with shot of ordinance and other meanes so wrought that they of the Kings side were inforced to giue ouer the ruines that rested of that which was called the citadell By these meanes Orleans remained hardened at the deuotion of the League So good Christian reader thou séest how the right of God and man is turned vpside downe their popish religion which they would séeme so much to honour reuerence and defend they haue most wickedly prophaned vsing it for a couering of their rebellion thou séest how the reuerence of all soueraigne power and authoritie is blotted out of the minds of them the respect of all lawes troden vnderfoote the sanctuarie of iustice violated and poluted thou séest here a damnable and diuelish anarchie the séeds and foundation of a barbarous and intollerable seruitude laied downe in France by the Duke d'Mayne and his partakers in a manner in like sort as Mahomet began his rebellion against the empire of the Romans Therefore yée O Noble Princes and Nobles of all the Kingdoms of Europe all men who are the louers of vertue and ciuility desirous to resigne to the posteritie good lawes christian libertie and discipline vp make hast to runne vppon these accursed enemies of all mankinde put out by time that fire which dooth threaten all authorities and powers of an horrible cumbustion Now there remaineth but thrée things for the League to bring to passe to set vp and dedicate their Idoll which they haue made to wit the Duke d'Mayne and to finish that piece of worke which his brother the Duke of Guize had brought almost to an end if he had
not béen ouerthrown by the way They follow on their accustomed course and method vsed by them these 14. or 15. yeares to wit to seduce the people more and more to make the King hatefull to his subiects that hee may bee forsaken of all men if it be possible and to render the King of Nauarre abhorted of all men in hope that if they could bring to passe any thing vpon the Kings person by these meanes the said King of Nauarre may be excluded from his right of succession The first poynt to performe was left to the assembly of the pretended states as it shal appeare hereafter the other two pieces of work were committed to the Iesuites Friers and other of like sorte de bacchandi calomniandiperitissimis for their dignitie runneth most of all vpon these two common places Whether the King considering the great necessities which hee should haue of money to maintaine a dangerous and long warre against the rebels and traitors had sent his coÌ„missions vnto his threasurors and receauers of his impost to continue the receauing and gathering of tallages and impost as they had done the yeare before or else that the rebells in Paris vsurping the name of the thrée estates of France had forged such a thing I am vncertaine But so it is that if they did not deuise yet they did vse his action to steale away the hearts of the people from his obedience and thereby to make their part stronger to aâ—ure the Kings subiects to ioyne hand with them in their rebellion For immediatly after the Duke d' Mayne came to Paris they set foorth a declaration bearing the name of the Princes Citties and commonalties vnited with the thrée estates of the realme where in deede there was not one Prince onely the Dukes d' Mayne Aumale Nemours and certaine other seditious persons of Paris Anious Roen Orleans and Abeuile with their generall counsell which consisted of seauen and forty persons most vile and for their wickednes picked out of the sinke of that rebellion whereof we haue spoken before First they doo still hide their damnable rebellion vnder the olde ragged gaberdine of defending the popish religion and because the poore people had béen of long time oppressed with diuers payments and greatly impouerished by long continuance of warre vnto the defence of popery they ioyne this plausible snare to wit to ease the people of the former accustomed payments Secondly vsurping the royall authoritie they forbid all manner of officers to gather any payments money tole impost or tallage for the King but to pay vnto their officers the tallages according vnto the rate of the yeare 1576. Thirdly they commaund that in case they haue payed the saide somms vnto their commissioners and the Kings officers should come to demaund the saide sommes or should goe about to compell them to pay the same sommes they to apprehend them and to bring them vnto the next prisons and there processe to be made as vpon publick extortioners Last of all they commaunde all officers and receauers of the Kings demaynes woods graines farmers of salt garners receauers of tenths and others whatsoeuer to bring pay and deliuer the same to none other then to them or their officers and that vpon paine of death It is said before that after the Oracle giuen out by the facultie of Theologie in the colledge of Sorboun the seditious brought it to the Senate of Paris to bee alowed inregistred and published who vppon the refusing of such a disloyall treacherie were all brought to prison and there as malefactors detayned Now vpon the Dukes comming to Paris they were called and offered either to remaine still in prison or else to doo two things First to alowe and approue the resolution of Sorboune Secondly to sweare to the new vnion which was a confederacy of the rebells This Senate in olâ—e time so famous and honorable for feare of this dangerous conspiratie of the Leaguers and rage of the people against their alegeance and loyaltie doo fall to this composition with the generall counsell of the citie aboue saide and the pretended states to wit the Senat shall ioyne with the rebells and sweare with them to persecute their King by all meanes without any respect of person or dignitie for the execution done by him vpon the persons of the Duke of Guize and the Cardinall his brother the 23. and 24. of December which they doo tearme with an odious name of massacre This excerable rebellion nowe hath gotten credit by that so famous and reuerent Senat the second Maiestie of France in olde time so renowmed The 30. day of Ianuarie all the chambers of the Senat with all the officers appertaining to that court to the number of 326. gathered together in the presence of the Duke d' Mayne the generall counsell aboue saide and the pretended states did sweare and subscribe some with their owne bloud as Catelina in olâ—e time in like case that forme of vnion which they had concluded the day before whereof the somme followeth First they doo sweare and promise to God to his mother to the Angels to al the hée saints and shee saints of Paradise to employ their liues their goods and all their meanes to the defence of the Catholick religion and doo protest that all that which they doo in this vnion is for the setting foorth of Gods glory and for the defence of the holy Church Secondly they sweare to defend the citie of Paris with the state there established also other cities of their association which then were or might be hereafter Thirdly they sweare to defend the Princes to wit the Dukes d' Mayne and Aumale for so they loue well to be called the Priestes Lords and Gentlemen vnited with them both in their persons and goods with the liberty of the states of the realme Last of all they sweare to pursue by al meanes possible them that haue violated the publick faith broken the vnion franchizes and liberties of the states meaning the King in committing the massacre so they cal the iust punishment of the Duke of Guize and the Cardinall his brother without any respect of persons dignity or prerogatiue whatsoeuer and also al them who shall fauour and assist the King by any meanes with promise neuer to forsake one another As this rebellious people did rage in the Senat house in the counsell of the citie and in their pretended states so the people are set at liberty to commit al outrages violences the poorer sort are against the rich the vile person against the honorable the wicked against the vertuous the ignorant and blinde against the learned to be short there is nothing but an infernall horror The Iesuits Friers other vncleane fowles of like feathers doo rage no lesse in the places and charges appoynted vnto them to wit in rayling most villanously against the King and slandering the King of Nauarre and them of the reformed religion for the causes aboue saide
raunsoms sparing neither Nobles nor others of the romish religion for that onely they were faithfull to the King This exploit done Mercure gathered as great forces of men of warre as he could and from thence tooke his iourney toward Fongeres in the low Britayne a towne which he had gone about long before to seduce and had the chiefâ—st of the inhabitants at his deuotion they receaued him very willingly and hauing the towne he agreed with the Captaine of the castell who solde him the place with all the moueable goods and furniture therein belonging to his master the Marquesse Roche for the summe of fifteen thousand crownes which he receaued In Aprill the Lord Bordage and other Gentlemen of the religion accompanied with few men tooke the town of Vitre belonging to the yong Lord Laual which thing when Merceur who was then at Fongers vnderstood hee sent a Gentleman of Britaine named Tailowet with certaine companies of men of warre and the commons of the countrey whom he raised vp in armes to the number of sixe thousands they besieged Vitre the space of fiue wéekes but the place was valiantly defended by the saide Gentlemen and their small company During this siege in the moneth of May they of Roen hauing receaued letters from the King by the helpe of some honest and faithfull men came againe to their right wittes and returned to the Kinges obedience with whom they agréed for the impunity of that offence which was past They tooke prisoner the Lord Charroniere whome Merceur at his departing to Fongeres had left there gouernour they tooke also the Spanish Moore to wit Captaine Iohn and many other of that faction and behauiour if the Lorde Merceur had béen there it had béen an easie thing to haue taken him also Whilest these things were a dooing on both sides the Lord Morlak entred into the Castell Iosselin the strongest place of all Britaine for the Kings seruice The Lord Saint Lauuers a Captaine of the Leaguers with certaine companies enterprised to surprise the Towne and so to kill Morlak therein choosing for the executioÌ„ of his purpose the day which they call holy Friday a day of great deuotion among the Papists least of al suspected and so to haue taken it when they should haue béen busie about their ceremonies and enchauntings so he surprised the towne but not the Lord Morlak who did holde the Castell Whilest these broyles did so passe in Britayn in other places also as if it were at a day appoâ—nted the traiterous Leaguers tooke Molins in Borbonnoys situated vpon the riuer Allier which rising out of the Mountaines of Anuergne falleth into Loyre at the towne Charite That place was well defended by the Lord Rostayn but being set on when the Garison was absent for lack of men the towne was caried away to the Leaguers About the selfe same time the faction of the League in the citie of Bourdeaux shewed themselues and attempted to surprise the towne against the King They had conspired an accursed practise both against the Marshall Matignon the Kings gouernour there and also against the towne and good inhabitants who were knowne to bée faithfull to the King their intent was to stab the said Marshall Matignon to sâ—aze vpon the citie and Castles and to kill all them that should not bée of their side The traitors had made a great preparation of shippes at Browage had stayed many shippes which were bound to Newland for fishing to fauour the enterprise vpon Bourdeaux Vpon Easter euen therebels there vppon the watch word rose vp in armes part of them did seaze vpon the gate of Saint Iulien and part of them had incamped themselues at another side without the citie The Magistrates of the citie séeing this commotion with strong hand went toward them who had stayed vpon the gate Saint Iulien the rebels did resist the Magistrates and beate them back The Marshall Matignon taking part of the Garisons out of the Castells with the assistance of the inhabitants faithfull to the King dooth march with some forces a foote through the streates of the towne toward the gate that they had seazed vpon The rebells séeing this power comming against them without any fight began to faint and in a while after to run away and shift for themselues yet could they not so spéedily auoyde but there was fiue slaine vpon the place many of that conspiracie were apprehended There were two executed one a captaine of the citie and the other was of the gaâ—des of the Marshal who declared the whole conspiracie and accused a great number and of the chiefest of the citie They who had remayned within the towne fearing to be detected by reason of a guiltie conscience the night folowing left behinde them their maker whome they shoulde haue swallowed downe whole and aliue the next day following being Easter day They leapt ouer the walls for on the morow a great number of ropes were found hanging at the wals by which they slided down the greatest part of them retyred to Browage and shortly after the King sent eyght hundred Launce-knights there to bée in Garison to kéepe the rest in their duetie Whilest these rebellions were a working in Britayne and other places and Prouinces of the realme the King vnderstanding the greatest part of his realme to be reuolted from his obedience and how a great many Noblemen and Gentlemen whome he hath forgiuen at Bloys and let scape vnpunished abusing his lenitie or rather accounting it as it was in trueth pusillanimitie had turned againe to his enemies began to fal in great mistrust and to despaire both of himselfe and of his estate The Leaguers who were about his person to increase this his amaze aduertised him though falsely for the most part that the Spaniard the Princes and States of Italy the Dukes of Sauoy and Lorreyne had sworne the reuengement of the death of the Duke of Guize Also they perswaded him that he was not in safety at Bloys and therefore aduised him to retyre to Tours this counsell they gaue him not for any care which they had of his safetie although that God turned it to the best but for that they thought to haue more assistance there to performe their wicked intent purposed against him that citie being great and populous and where were many of the chiefest Leagued who had promised their helpe to the traitors They tolde him also how the King of Nauarre with great power approched and was already at Saumour to passe ouer Loyre for to inuade the Realme The king not knowing what to doe nor whom to trust and perceiuing theÌ„ that were at Bloys for the most part to be his secret enemies to haue intelligeÌ„ces w t the rebels in the latter end of March departed from Bloys and remoued to Tours being wel assured that at al extremities he should haue the King of Nauarre whose fidelitie and valour he knew well howsoeuer the Leaguers of his counsel did terrifie him of his
was made in the Citie in Ianuary last they had appoynted a Captain for euery warde of the Citie which be eightéen which by turnes should haue out of his warde twelue hundred men to march to the Boys of Vicennes nigh Paris to keepe that Castle from surprizing by the Kings friends Captaine Aubret his regiment was appointed that day to that charge to wit to conduct the Ordinance to whome was added the companie of Captaine Compan they leauing for that day the kéeping of the Castle Vicennes their baggage apparell and prouision of victuall which was gone before through the gate S. Anthony went through S. Martins gate where the Ordinance was gone before vnder the charge of one Brigard Procurator of the Towne-house They arâ—iued with these three pâ—eces at Seulis the sixt day of May in the euening At their arriuing they saluted the Towne with a peale of that Ordinance At the noyse therof they of the Towne on a sudden came to the Towne walles and offered to make as great a breach in the wall as they would demaund and so to ease them from taking so much paynes as to vse the Canon shot The Duke d'Aumale presently sent to summon them to yeeld vnto composition they within promised to make an answere the morrowe following Vpon this answere a Post of the Towne went to Paris to bring them good newes which encreased greatly by the way as the manner is there the report went that Seulis had proffered thréescore thousand Crownes some multiplied that to one hundered thousand for their rauâ—some The 7. day they of the Towne gaue their answere both by portraiture and by mouth for they all night had portrayed on a cloath the Dukes de Mayn Aumale hanged on gibbets the Dutchesse Montpensier kneeling at the feete of them with her head all vncouered weeping and wailing and tearing her haire which they caused to be set on the morrow being the 7. of May to bee spread vpon the walles the people crying with vile and reproachful speaches that the same was the portraiture of the composition that they demaunded Vpon the sight of this picture and words spoken out of the wall they sent agayne to Paris for more Ordinance to beat the Towne to dust for they had sworne so to doo The Parisiens made excuse that they lacked Bullets and such Pieces as they demaunded The cause of this excuse was not lacke of will to do so much mischiefe as the other intended to haue done but for feare of the ielousies betweene the Duke de Mayne and Aumale for the Duke Aumale had béen greatly and oftentimes desired after his departure from thence to returne to Paris which he denyed to doo The Parisiens therefore fearing that Aumale hauing such forces as hee had at Seulis and expected dayly from the Lord Balagny and hauing store of Ordinance and munition either might turne all these forces agaynst them or keepe them short from hauing any victuals out of Picardie or to make a third faction and to striue with the Duke de Mayne about the state and so weaken their party to expose them to be a pray for the King The Duke d' Aumale seeing that there was little succour to bee expected from Paris sent to Peronne where he had sixe pieces of Ordinance and out of Anjous one which were conducted to Seulis by y e Lord Balagny gouernour of Cambray About the 13. day of May they of Seulis made a sally out of the Towne with a hundered horsemen whereat they that besieged the towne were so amased that they thought best to flee so the Parisiens casting away their armor fled and hid themselues in bushes on euery side Of these hundered horsemen fiftie returned into the towne and the other fifty kept the field for to ayde any that might come to succour them About the 15. of May the Lord Balagny with his companies of Wallons Cambresines and Picardines came and ioyned to the D. Aumale with sixe pieces of Ordinance which hee had taken at Peronne and Anjous as is aforesayd The 12. day of May they began to batter Seulis with ten pieces of battery and within a while hauing made a great breach the enemy confusedly gaue the assault who was repulsed with some losse The same day about noone word came to the enemy that the Duke of Longueuille accompanied with the Lordes of Humieres Bonniuet la Nowe Giury Mesuiller and Tour and other nobles of Picardy were at hand to the number of a thousand horsemen and three thousand footmen to rescue the towne of Seulis Whereupon the Lord Balagny pitched in campe the best power of his men and beeing then accompanied with the Lords of Mainuile of Saisseual Mezieres and Congy with others approched somewhat neere to the Duke of Longueuille in good hope to discomfit him The horsemen of Cambray and the Wallons also first charged the footmen of the Duke of Longueuille The said footmen departed themselues in the middle gaue roome for the ordinance to shoot which at the first volye made a great flaughter of the Cambresines and Wallons who lyking not that play recyred backe with greater hast then they went to it but afterward they came all to a set battaile fought stoutly on both sydes and with great courage but the Ordinance of the Duke of Longueuille made still so great spoite of the enemy that conceauing a great dread they began to wauer neither could the Duke d' Aumale nor the Lord Balagny by any perswasions encourage them nor bring them to good order agayne so the confusion and terror encreasing the whole army which besieged the towne fled away presently The Duke of Longueuille his power with the power which was in the Towne issuing forth did so follow the chase that with handy blowes they killed as many as they could ouertake There remayned slayne of the rebels vpon the place betweene fifteene hundred and two thousand as many were slaine in the chase besides them who were slayne in the Villages by the countrey people All the Ordinance and munition of warre bagge baggage was left behind The Duke d' Aumale had a blow which did him no good the Lord Balagny had an other which did him no great hurt hoth of them fled to Paris in lesser company then when they went to Seulis The Duke d' Aumale the 19. of May went out of Paris fearing there to be welome and mistrusting the snares of de Mayne mutiny and factions of the Parisiens he retyred to Saint Denis Balagny remayned in Paris faining there that hee would take order for the gathering of the Souldiers breathing out cruell threatning what hee would doo and promising to the Parisiens that a new supply of Wallons would come out of the low Countrey he cheareth the people of Paris who were smitten with the dread of Iericho The selfe same day the rebels of Rion in Auuergne had an ouerthrow no lesse then this but the particularityes are not knowen vnto me for lacke
appeare that as the sayd Duke of Parma was not able to doo good to his partakers so came he not but to bée a scourge of Gods wrath vnto them For he came to raise the siege from before Paris if that had not béen done by dutifull submission the Citie might haue been relieued iustice iudgement which are more then centâ—plex murus to a Cittie had beene established they might haue had their owne Autonomie to wiâ— their Religion and Franchises in peace security and libertie Their commerce and traffike by which the greatnes of that Citie is entertained and nourished had been opened to bee short it would haue florished more then euer it did but the comming of the Duke of Parma disappointed them of all these benefites The Duke of Parma brought a little store of victuals but hee and his consumed not onely that within a few dayes but also all other prouisions which could be made for the Citie so the inhabitants were hungerbitten still with sorrowfull eies they saw others to intercept that which should haue béen their sustenance So that if it were not for the Kings goodnes which by winking and forbearing some store of victuals to goe to their market they would haue beene enforced in few dayes to open their shambles of horse flesh and dogs flesh Hee came to deliuer them as they thought from cruell handes but what could Busyris haue done to his enemies that this man did not to his friends to their wines and children To be short now he is returneâ— home with shame dishonor hunger nakednes feeblenes and stripes and they remaine in a worse case then euer they were before for before they liued in hope of him now they know that he neither may nor will do them good but hath lingered their miseries and heape of euils that they may perish as with a sharpe and consuming sicknes Last of all that al men may learne by seeing the punishment of rebellion to submit themselues vnto the powers ordayned of God as vnto his ministers for the good of the iust and the punishment of the wicked and vniust and that they may discerne between a sawfull power and 〈◊〉 It is sayd before how after the death of the Duke of Guyze the Lords Diguieres and Valete vppon a good iudgement entred in league of amity for the Kinges seruice and after that separated themselues and within a short space scoured the Leaguers for the most part out of Daulphinee some he enforced to receaue the Kings commandement and the rest enforced to seeke for truces for foure yeares which in March were granted and proclaimed in Grenoble vpon Easter day It is saide how the Lord Valete went into Prouance and gathering the states of the countrey by a common consent they concluded to warre against the Senate of Aix who were the ringleaders of the rebellion and had intelligences with the Duke of Sauoy The Lord Diguieres hauing put the countrey of Daulphine in a good stay went into Prouance to the Lord Valete making warre against the rebellious parliament there and the Duke of Sauoy The rumors went abroad that they had lost a field and were sent into their countrey with store of Bastinadoes but for lack of instructions I affirme nothing The Lord Diguieres being in Prouance with the Lord Valete had diuers letters from the King but specially in the latter end of May commanding him to warre against the Duke of Sauoy But the saide countrey of Prouance being assaulted by the Leaguers of Sauoy Lionnoys and Daulphine he thought good yet to employ the moneths of Iune and Iuly with the Lord Valete for the establishing of the affayres of the sayd Prouance wherein they had so good a successe that the enemie in token of that cowardnesse which their rebellion doth bréede in their hearts abandoned the townes and Castells of Peruis Pumichet Valansele Montignak Soluiers Pignauers and Lorgis some were brought to the kings obedience by force and some by composition In Iuly during the soiourning of the Lorde Diguieres in Prouance there was in Daulphine one captaine Cazete who with intelligences which he had with the Duke of Sauoy would haue sould him the townes of Briancon and Essiles in Piemont yet pertayning to the Dolphinate These two townes were kept by the Neutrals that is to say by them who would admit neither the K. nor the Leaguers The said Cazete had receaued commission from the Duke of Sauoy to leauie souldiers to that intent in expecting the arriuall of foure and twenty companies of Spaniards to bring his enterprize the more easie to passe The inhabitants of the valleies perceauing well that if this trayterous captaine should preuaile great warre and miserable desolations of their countrey would ensue therefore the chiefest of those valleyes making acquainted the Lord Diguieres of their purpose determined to rid the sayd Cazete out of the way and did worke so that the fifteenth day of Iuly his house was blowne vp and he slaine This traytor being made out of the way the inhabitants of the valleis seat word to the Lord Diguieres that they would send their deputies to Ambrun to treate with him Vpon the receipt of this message the Lord Diguieres considering the greatnes of the affayres and that it was very expedient for the king to haue those townes of Briancon and Essiles in possession to haue passe and repasse into Piemont when néede should be departed out of Prouance and in hast marched towards Ambrun where the deputies of the valeys did méete him And among other things shewed the treasons of Cazete by the papers which they had found in his house After that they bound themselues by oath to be faythfull to the King they promised also to doe their indeuour to confirme the people into his Maiesties seruice and obedience this was done about the fourth of August Immediatly after this méeting the Lord Diguieres being aduertized of the wauering which the death of the sayd Cazete and voluntarie yéelding of the valeys did cause in the towne of Briancon which was Neutrall knowing also that those who did fauour the kings side in the towne began to be encouraged caused foure Canons to be drawen and brought to that place and after a breach made the enemie did parley and came to that issue that Clauison appoynted there gouernour by the Duke de Mayne surrendred the towne and Castell the tenth day of August Whilest the Lord Diguieres did these exployts in Daulphine Martinengo one of the Duke of Sauoys great warriors did besiege Saint Maximine in Prouance for which cause the L. Valete did daylie solicit the sayd Diguieres to assist him in the rescuing of the sayd Saint Maximine The Lord Diguieres considering the safetie of Saynt Maximine to make much for the preseruation of Prouance when as hee had gone to Montgeneure to take Essiles vpon intelligences which hee had with the gouernour thereof and séeing that there was neither certaintie in al that neither was he
gouernment of the said towne shall be referred to the Kings good pleasure who shall be requested to prouide it of such a gouernour and so sufficient garrison as he shall thinke meete for his seruice and the preseruation of the towne Item that in the meane time as the Lord Arbucy hitherto gouernour of the sayd towne vpon some considerations cannot as yet resolue to take that oath that the sayd place shall remayne in gouernance of the Lord Rochegiron and that the Lord Arbucy shall haue three moneths respit to resolue vpon the same oath which thing if hee doth the King shall bee requested to graunt him againe the gouernment of the same towne Sixtly that generally all the inhabitants of whatsoeuer calling or degrée they bee shall stand discharged and acquited of all leuying of the kings impost or coynes bearing of armes treaties and practizes euen with Forreiners or any other acts of hostilitie and that the Lord Diguieres hath vndertaken within two moneths to deliuer vnto them sufficient prouisoes for the same from the King Seuenthly that the memorie of all the offences past in all these troubles shall be extinct as matter not happened And that the Lord Diguieres with all other gentlemen of his partie doe promise that by themselues and by their meanes such matters shall neuer bee reuiued and that it shall not be lawfull to call such things to remembrance and that it shall be forbidden to argue or quarrell about it that al the kings subiects may liue together in peace like brethren friendes and fellow citizens Eightly that for a more perfect vnion of the hearts of the Kings subiects the Lords of the court of Parliament who by the Kings commandement had retired and are yet resident at Rouan or elsewhere shall returne with conuenient speede to Grenoble there to follow and continue their charges Last of all that within two moneths there shall be summoned a generall assembly of the states after the manner accustomed for the hasting of the meanes to discharge and relieue the people and establish the common bodie of the countrey Now Christian reader I beseech thée to consider both the euident and sencible mercie and iustice of God the difference which is betwéene the vessels of glory of wrath for this honourable L. des Diguieres in all the wars of Daulphine euer since the rising of y e execrable League hath neuer shewed any point of crueltie vpon his enemies in which there might appeare any small token of particular anger or appetite of reuenge but alwaies hath shewed good gracious entertainmeÌ„t euen vnto the very enemies in whom he hath marked some simple dealing had not vsed any â—normities or proud insoleÌ„cies If he hath shewed somtime some extremity yet did he neuer so much as he might haue iustly done hath knowen in such alwaies some notable iniuries which he w t a iust prudent wisdome hath thought to haue deserued some sharpe punishment To be short it may bée sayd of him In consilijs sapiens prouidus in aciâ— fortis in pace foederibus iustus fidus constans Therefore the Lord hath guided his armes hath made him victorious in all conflicts and méetings and hath endued him with such strength of the bodie as beyond all expectation to haue surmounted the inaccessible Alpes and at length hath not onely suppressed and rooted out the naturall rebells of the countrey out of Daulphine and Prouance their confederates of Spayne Italy and Piemont but with an incredible felicitie hath restored the afflicted state of that countrey and established peace iudgement and iustice On the other side whereas it is the dutie of Christian Princes not to rauish other mens kingdomes to enuade their landes and principalities to robbe spoyle and murder their borderers and neighbours but to gouern their Dominions in peace with piety iustice and discipline to liue friendly with their Neighbours but specially to relieue other Estates afflicted to assist Princes neighbours when through disobedience and rebellion of vnnaturall subiects they are disquieted and tormoiled But it fell so otherwise with France for when through the sinnes of the people and euill counsell of Henry the third the Kingdome was so torne with dissentions and rebellions that it seemed as in a shipwrack the pieces did flye abroad exposed to euery man that could catch hold First the King of Spaine who had beene this day a Muscleman and not a Catholike if it had not beene for the kinges of France with his Gold thought to haue all Secondly the Duke of Sauoy who whithout the goodnes of the Valoys had beene a pety and a poore Duke made his reckoning to goe away with the Prouinces of Daulphin and Prouance bordering vpon him for his part Thirdly the Duke de Mayne who without the gratious fauour of the Valoys had layn obscure in the Mountains of Lorrein there a digging for brasse in the cauerns thereof made his accampt of some scambling among the other as to haue carried away all that bordereth to Lorreyn d' Aumale made his reckoning of Picardie and Merccur of Britayn Last of all Fryer Sixtus and after him Fryer Gregorie the fourtéenth thought by these meanes to maintayne their tyrannie in that Realme All these I say were so farre from dooing the duties of Christian Princes and Pastors of the Church in assisting the right owner of the Crowne and in preseruing that Realme as one of the chiefest members and ornament of Europe that euen as the Edomites in the sacking of Ierusalem crieddowne with it downe with it euen to the ground so haue they not in words but in kindling and nourishing the flame of rebellion assaulting by all meanes the said Realme haue encreased the plagues and multiplyed the sorrowes of that aflicted state Therefore behold the Lord hath accursed their armes and as for the Duke of Sauoy his owne hand hath weakened him so that he durst neuer come to see the said Lord Diguieres in the face one way but he is gone out of the field seauen waies He did neuer in all these warres any thing with valour but by treachery and treasons as the taking of Carmagnole and his practises in Prouance doo testify thousands of his most approoued and skilfull Souldiours and Captains haue béen killed by few not only in their inuasions attempted in Daulphine Prouance but also at home where the said Lord Diguieres hath forced their strong holds hath put them to the sword and cast their carcases on their mountains to bee meat for the beasts of the field and fowles of the ayre See therefore how contrarie licours do flow out of contrary vessels and how the Lord protecteth the vertuous and iust according to his promise and clotheth the wicked with calamity shame and dishonor as with a Cloude Here endeth the eight Booke THE NINTH BOOKE I Haue declared in the former booke those euents which happened in the yeare 1590. and how the King conducted very curteously the Duke