of Ferrara left three male children Henry Duke of Guise a youth of singular hope and exceeding expectation Lodovick destined to the Church and the dignity of Cardinal and Charles first Marquiss then Duke of Mayenne he who in the late Wars maintained the Catholick League against Henry the Fourth These Sons who neither for greatness of mind nor courage degenerated from their Father though they were very young yet being upheld by the fierceness of the Duke of Aumale and the authority of the Cardinal of Lorâ—in their Uncles boldly attempted to make themselves the Heads of the Catholick party and therefore indeavoured to gain credit in the world and to promote new motives to maintain the ardour of the Faction For which cause having assembled a great number of their kindred and servants they went together all clad in mourning to the King demanding very earnestly and with great clamour of the people of Paris who ran in multitudes to this spectacle that justice might be done upon those who had so bruitishly caused their Father to be murthered whilst in the service of GOD and the Crown loyally and gloriously bearing arms he laboured for the good of the Commonwealth To which demand the King not being able to make other answer than that in due time and place he would not fail to do exemplary Justice upon those that were found guilty of so hainous a crime the Brothers of Coligny became more diffident than before and were brought as it were into an inevitable necessity again to arm their Faction that they might be able to withstand the powerful enmity of the Guises But if all Arts were used to raise the Catholick party the endeavour was yet greater to suppress the Calvinists For the Cardinal of Lorain knowing that the interests of his Nephews being united and mingled with the cause of Religion they would gain greater honour and render themselves more strong and powerful as soon as the Council of Trent was broken up which hapned this present year in the month of November he went to Rome and perswaded the Pope Pius Quartus who was ill satisfied with the Peace concluded in France that he should press the King and the Queen-Mother to cause the Council to be published and observed in their Kingdom promising that his Nephews with the whole house of Lorain and the greatest part of the French Nobility would be ready and united to cause declaration thereof to be made and sufficient afterwards by force to suppress the followers of the Hugonot Doctrine The Pope was sollicited to the same effect by the Catholick King and the Duke of Savoy being entred into a jealousie that the nearness and introduction of the Hugonots might endanger their States seeing the Low-Countries belonging to King Philip were already infected and not only Savoy but even Piedmont also exceedingly pestered with them where through the neighbourhood of Geneva they had sowed the seeds of their heresie Wherefore they both desired that this dangerous fire kindled in so near a Country might without further delay be extinguished Nor was it a difficult matter to perswade the Pope to be earnest in a business which more than any thing else concerned the greatness of the Apostolick Sea and the Authority of the Papacy For which reasons they resolved to join together to send Ambassadors to the King of France to exhort him that he should cause the Council to be published and observed with proffers of forces and aid to expel and extirpate heresie out of his Dominions This Embassie which to give it the more credit was sent in the names of them all exceedingly troubled the King and the Queen-Mother For though they concurred with the Pope and other Princes to irradicate and suppress the Hugonot Faction which they knew to be the source of all the troubles yet they judged it not agreeable to their interests to do it tumultuously and with such a noise on a suddain nor to precipitate their deliberations which being designed with great wisdom were not yet come to maturity And they took it wondrous ill that the Catholick King and much more the Duke of Savoy should presume as it were by way of command to interpose in the Government of their State Besides that this so pressing sollicitation put them in an evident necessity either to alienate the Pope from them and with publick scandal and ignominy of their names to separate themselves from the obedience of the Apostolick Sea or else to discover the designs with which proceeding leisurely they had determined without the hazard of War to attain by the benefit of time to the same end but if they were by this means discovered whilst they endeavoured with their uttermost skill to conceal them it was evident that the knowledge thereof coming to the Hugonots not only a Civil War would be kindled again in the bowels of the Kingdom but a way opened for stranger Nations to invade and spoil the best parts of France as the example of the past War had sufficiently proved For which reason there being no other way but by art and dissimulation to render this negotiation of no effect they received the Ambassadors privately at Fountain-bleau a house remote from the concourse of people that by the little ceremony used at their reception their business might be thought of less consequence Afterward they endeavoured by delaying their answer and dispatches to make the Negotiation antiquate it self and by degrees fall to nothing And lastly sought by ambiguous speeches capable of divers interpretations to leave the Ambassadors themselves doubtful of their intentions concluding in the end that they would forthwith send Ministers of their own to the Pope and the other Princes to acquaint them particularly with their resolutions The Ambassadors being thus dispatched away at the end of Ianuary in the year 1564. the King and the Queen resolved to visit all the Provinces and principal Cities of the Kingdom meaning by this progress to advance those designs which was the only end they aimed at for the present For coming to a Parley with the Duke of Savoy in Dolphine with the Popes Ministers at Avignon and with the Catholick King or else with the Queen his Wife upon the confines of Guienna they might communicate their counsels to them without the hazard of trusting French-men who either through dependence or kindred had all the same interests to have them revealed to the Hugonots So that in this manner preserving the amity of the Pope and the other Catholick Princes they might by common consent have leisure enough to bring their projected designs to maturity They thought it also no little help to have the opportunity to treat in person with the Duke of Lorain and by his means with the Protestant Princes with whom they hoped to make so firm an alliance that they should not need to fear they would any more shew themselves in the favour of the Hugonots or interpose in the affairs of
Saluzzo Bellegarde had for many years held the chief place in the Kings favour and in the beginning of his Reign was by him created Mareschal but afterward for some jealousies the King conceived of him and by the instigation of his competitors Chiverny and Villeguier he was faln out of favour and under pretence of sending him into Poland to negotiate for the Duke of Alancon he had cunningly sought to put him from Court But being openly favoured by the Mareschal d' Anville and secretly by the Duke of Savoy he went into the Marquesate of Saluzzo where having found a light occasion of dispute with Carlo de Birago the Kings Lieutenant who held the principal places he easily drove him away by force and having without much difficulty made himself Master of that State he carried himself in imitation of d' Anville obeying the King's orders onely so far forth as he himself thought fit This action of his did not onely prove very prejudicial to the Affairs of France but likewise wrought great suspicions in the Italian Princes who with reason doubted that Bellegarde set on by the Catholick King to deprive the French of the Marquesate of Saluzzo might give the King occasion for the recovery of his own to bring the War into Italy and put the affairs of that Province into confusion and that so much the rather because they saw Bellegarde leavy Soldiers and fortifie places and yet knew not with whose money he could do those things Wherefore the Pope being moved had prayed the Venetian Senate as Friends to the King to interpose their wisdom to take away the occasion of that fire the preparations whereof were so near at hand The Senate undertook the business very carefully and having caused their Ambassador Grimano to treat with the King and Francesco Barbaro Resident in Savoy with the Mareschal de Bellegarde was the occasion that the King committed that affair unto the managing of his Mother For this cause the Queen not being able to draw Bellegarde unto Grenâ—ble whither the Duke of Savoy and the Venetian Ambassador were come to meet her was content to go to Montluel according to her custom making small account of Ceremonies which use so much to trouble Princes so she might obtain her ends in the substance of things There having wrought the Mareschal to acknowledge the King and receive the Patent of his Government from him she dispatched it for him with many demonstrations of honor but whatsoever the occasion were the Mareschal died suddenly as soon as he was returned unto Saluzzo and before the Queen departed from those Provinces the Governours and Guardians of his Son delivered up that State into the hands of the King of France The Queen being gotten out of that trouble passing thorough Bourgogne was returned unto her Son to assist in the administration of the Government whilest he retired from the management of affairs seemed onely to mind Feasts and Solemnities leaving all businesses to her and to his Council though indeed every least particular passed thorow his own hands by which arts he thought himself so secure of present and certain of future matters that he believed he had already fully executed all that he had secretly contrived in his mind Onely he thought the course of his designs was stopt by the Duke of Alancon who fickle and unconstant in his desires sometimes retiring himself from Court sometimes returning confidently again now holding intelligence with the Male-contents and within a while refusing to meddle with them kept him still solicitous with many jealousies and anxieties The Queen-Mother endeavoured principally to remedy that fear as a thing so material that the tranquility or disturbance of the Government depended on it Wherefore the people of the Low-Countries being already withdrawn from the subjection of the Catholick King having first besought the King of France to receive them into his protection and after he refused it having offered the Command of themselves to the Duke of Alancon if with a powerful Army he would deliver them from fear of the Spanish Tyranny the Queen desirous to free one Son from his suspicions and to provide a convenient State for the other exhorted the King to let the Duke of Alancon accept of the protection of the States of Flanders and to raise an Army upon fained pretences within the limits of France alledging that all unquiet factious spirits would go along with the Duke and diminish that pestilent matter which maintained the discords and troubles of the Kingdom and the better to ground and settle that design she tryed to renew the so often rejected Treaty of Marriage between the Duke and the Queen of England which though it could not be concluded yet at least this consequence might result from it That the Queen by her Forces and Authority would incline to favour the Duke in his new Command wherefore omitting nothing that could advance that end after many Embassies on both sides Alancon himself went this year personally into England where being honourably and sumptuously received by the Queen he stayed there a great while and though she abhorâ—ed to submit her self to the yoke of Matrimony and that the State of England did likewise abhor the Government of a French King yet because the interest of State required to dissemble as well to encrease the Dukes reputation and by consequence the strength of the States of Flanders as also to cause a jealousie in the Catholick King who at that time was intent about many other designs which were much suspected by all the Princes his Neighbours the Queen famed to consent unto the match and amongst the pomps and delights of her Court honoured and favoured the Duke of Alancon very familiarly in whose behalf the King dispatched an honourable Embassie the chief whereof was Francis de Montpensier Prince Dauphin a Lord of winning carriage and often imployed being known to be of a sincere minde an honest but not crafty nature and very far from medling or conforting with factious minded men At the arrival of this Embassie which was received with great tokens of honour the articles and conditions were treated of which were to be observed by both parties and the business went so far that the Duke and Queen gave each other a Ring in token of future Marriage though she nevertheless persevered constantly in her resolution of a free single life and therefore would by no means suffer it to go any further But these things happened in the course of the year following In this year the King of Navar after the departure of the Queen-Mother did assemble a Congregation of his Party at Mazere in the County of Foix to deliberate in what manner they should behave themselves for the time to come where amongst the discourses of Peace the spirits of many that desired War shewed their inclinations in the end it began to be debated whether the Peace should be continued or that they should return to the hazard
absolute Authority in the Government News comes that the Duke of Savoy hath seized upon the Marquesate of Saluzzo businesses are changed by it but the Duke of Guise orders matters so that all redounds to his advantage and power The King being very much streightned resolves to cause the Duke of Guise to be slain He finds difficulties and impediments but at last his design is effected and upon Christmas-Eve the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother are slain and the Cardinal of Bourbon with many others imprisoned He sends Colonel Alfonso Corso to seize upon the Duke of Mayenne at Lyons but he is forewarned and retires to Dijon The Queen-Mother dies in the seventieth year of her age and affairs remain in confusion THE defeat of the German Army caused the depression of the Hugonots no less than the greatness and exaltation of the League for the King of Navarre having received the news of so great a loss though he were victorious beyond the Loire yet fearing so black a cloud would suddenly pour a storm upon his head he retired without making other attempt into his wonted retreat the City of Rochel and the other Heads of his party shut themselves up in the strongest places expecting the resolutions which they saw would be taken against them On the other side the Duke of Guise after the destroying of the County of Mombelliard being come to Nancy with the other Lords of his Family began without further delay to consult of the means of accomplishing speedily the designs of the League and of reaping fruits suitable to their present Victory In this Consultation debated and reiterated for many days the greater part of the Lords of the House of Lorain forgetting moderation so necessary in prosperity and spreading their fails very boldly could talk of no less than the extirpation of the Hugonots the deposing of the King from the Crown of putting him into a Cloister as they had learned in Story had been in former times done to Chilperick of destroying the House of Bourbon pulling down the Minions and Favourites of the Court and disposing the Offices and Dignities of the Crown unto themselves and in conclusion of commanding and ruling the whole Government of France their own way and were so puffed up with the presumption of themselves that their counsels were neither measured by justice nor possibility presupposing they had all things in their own hands which were lawful for their deserts to undertake and that they could easily execute any determination how high how advantageous soever These great designs were partly opposed by the Duke of Lorain who of a mild nature and moderate mind no less remote from danger than far from the pretensions of the Lords of Guise tried by the authority he had as Head of that Family to restrain those deliberations which he thought too precipitate and to keep matters for the most part within the limits of reason The Duke of Mayenne assented to his opinions and commended them very much thinking according to his old inclination that every moment they put the whole state of their Family in danger without much necessity But the Duke of Aumale and the Chevalier his Brother the Duke of Nemours the Duke of Elbeuf the Count de Chaligny and above all the rest the Duke of Guise who led no less by the boldness of his own nature and the acuteness of his wit than by the prosperous success of his enterprises could suffer no delay in following his conceived hopes argued not without reason that the longer they deferred the longer time they gave the King to contrive their ruine and to perfect the design of their suppression which he had already begun This diversity of opinions was the cause that they concluded as it were in the middle way and therefore about the end of Ianuary in the year 1588 they resolved upon two conclusions One that the Duke of Lorain with all his Forces and the assistance of Flanders should assail the Towns that belong to the Duke of Bouillon to root out the Hugonots from those parts and to keep the Forces of the League in action the other that the Duke of Guise and the other Confederate Lords should not enter to oppose the King at the very first but that being united with the Cardinal of Bourbon to strengthen their reasons and to make appear that the nature of things did of it self carry businesses to their designed end they should present a Petition which should contain many demands for their advantage and which should necessitate the King to declare his last resolution for if he granted them their desires would be effected without noise or trouble and if he refused them he should thereby give them occasion and opportunity to make use of arms and to acquire that by force which he would not consent to of his own accord The conjuncture of invading the Dutchy of Bouillon was in shew very opportune for the Duke himself and the Count de la Mark his Brother being both dead and having left Charlotte their Sister only Heir under the tuition of the Duke of Montpensier they knew that he being a Catholick was not acceptable to the City of Sedan Iamets and other places of that Dukedom and that they would not trust his Government and Monsieur de la Noue being Executor of the late Dukes will was not only absent but also to deliver himself from the imprisonment of the Spaniards by whom he had been taken in the Wars of Flanders had promised not to bear Arms against the King of Spain nor against the Duke of Lorain whereby it appeared that Charlotte wanting a powerful protection and being likewise molested by the Count de Montleurier her Uncle who pretended right to the inheritance would hardly be able to resist the Forces of the Duke of Lorain who also upon old pretences laid claim to many places of that State and therefore without losing a minute of time the Duke having put an Army in readiness under the command of the Marquess du Pont his Son accompanied by the Sieurs de Rhosne and Osonville after he had over-run and spoiled the Country laid siege to Iamets with certain hopes to take it But he found it a difficult business for Monsieur de Schelandre the Governour of it made very wise and careful provisions for the defence of it and Monsieur de la Noue having first by a long Apologie in writing excused his stirring in a defensive War and for the just right of a forsaken Orphan came to Sedan and began to make strong preparations to maintain the War so that the Siege of Iamets cooling of it self proved so long that it hardly ended with the year wherein those things that happened directed their Arms to more important expeditions But the Duke of Guise being departed from Nancy and come into his Government of Champagne caused a long Writing in the names of himself the Cardinal of Bourbon and the other
weakness and for other respects were returned unto the Kings obedience by whose perswasions they very submissively asked pardon of the Apostolick Sea which humiliation being forwarded by the good assistance of Cardinal Moresini who to please the King and favour the Blood Royal took great pains in the business and being helped by the earnest sollicitations of the Marquess de Pisani the Kings Ambassador at Rome it was hearkened unto by the Pope and those Princes received absolution which cast some rubs and difficulties in the Duke of Guise's hopes and did partly weaken the specious reasons of the League But while these things were in agitation the mind of the King of Navarre of the Duke of Guise and of the States were all much troubled at the news which was broughâ— unto them that Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy having entred in an hostile manner with an Army into the Marquesate of Saluzzo had made himself Master of it driving out the Kings Garisons and Officers The Duke of Savoy a Youth of a most high spirit and much raised in his thoughts by his new union with the Catholick King having married the Infanta Catherine his Daughter had taken a resolution to possess himself of the Marquesate of Saluzzo to which his Ancestors by ancient suecession pretended to have much right wherefore seeing the troubles of France and particularly the last attempt of the League in the Insurrection of Paris wherein the Royal Majesty seemed trodden under foot and the power of that Name quite overthrown would not neglect such an opportunity but partly by intelligence partly by open force had gotten into his hands Carmagnola and the other Strong-holds of that State together with great provisions of Artillery and Ammunition which as in a Magazine had been left in many of those places since the late Wars of Italy But having boldly executed his design and doubting on the one side that the French would resent it and on the other that the Princes of Italy would not be well pleased he presently dispatched a Messenger to Court to let the King know he had been constrained to take that resolution not with a thought to offend the Crown of France but to provide against the imminent ruine of his own State in case the Hugonots should get footing in the Marquesate as Les-digueres earnestly endeavoured who having made himself Master of Castel Delfino in the Alps had a strong inclination to seize upon the Marquesate from whence would have insued the infesting of Piedmont and those calamities unto himself wherein he saw France involved by the poison of Heresie and therefore he would keep the Marquesate until such time as that danger were past and that Justice had weighed his reasons being ready to restore it when the Hugonots of Dauphine being rooted out he should be free from those just fears into which that imminent danger had drawn him and in case his reasons should be found to be unjust He caused the same things to be presented to the Venetian Senate to whom as Moderator of the Peace he knew any such novelty in Italy would be infinitely unpleasing and the same at large were alledged by the Pope adding to appease him the more that this was the prologue of a War against the City of Geneva as he desired and to work upon him urged the confederacy and intelligence which the King of France held with that Commonwealth But it was a wonderful thing how much mens minds were disturbed and the affairs of the States of Blois altered by it for the King and his adherents said publickly that the Duke of Savoy had been encouraged to that boldness by secret intelligence with the Duke of Guise who thought by this means to deprive Monsieur de la Valette of the Marquesate who was Governour of it That by that price he had bought the friendship of the Duke of Savoy and satisfied the Spaniards who desired to have that Gate shut thereby to cut off the passage of the French Forces into Italy and many among the Nobility believed it constantly so that men began to murmur that it was too unjust and too unworthy a thing to persist obstinately wallowing in the blood of Civil Wars and in the mean time to suffer the honour of the Nation to be trodden under foot and the possessions of the Crown to be violently taken away by foreign Enemies That already too much had been done to satisfie the ambition of the Great Ones and to glut the greediness of the Factions That it was now high time to reunite their minds and join their Forces together to defend themselves against the insulting of Foreigners and that this injury was so great that they ought by no means to defer the taking of a speedy and exemplary revenge From which popular plausible reasons carried by the favour of the Nobility who were moved with exceeding great anger the other Orders also resented it very much so that they seemed inclined to lay aside the thoughts of Civil War to turn their Forces against the Duke of Savoy Many of the most understanding men thought the Duke of Guise was not privy to that intent of seizing upon the Marquesate in that conjuncture of affairs for the time was not seasonable and this accident alone disturbed his designs which were already prosperously on their way to the desired end yet Fame reported him the Author of that enterprise and the States were resolved to decree a Foreign War and to slacken or defer their home-bred quarrel with the Hugonots This did much afflict the Duke of Guise whether he were partaker or no in the surprisal of the Marquesate for he perceived that the diverting of those humours and employing them in a Foreign War would settle the intestine passions of the Kingdom and that by consequence Liberty of Conscience Peace and the Establishment of the Hugonots would ensue whereby so many designs would be frustrated and so many plots so long beforehand contrived to suppress the Calvinists and to establish his greatness upon the ruines of the House of Bourbon would come to nothing but the War being turned against his own Confederates which were Spain and Savoy he saw he should by little and little fall from his authority and that the name and credit of the Princes of the Blood would rise again since the flourishing age of the King might give time to infinite not yet thought of changes But if on the other side this thought tormented him on the other the reports spread abroad by the King struck him very deeply the universal inclination of the States troubled him and as the Head of a popular Faction he could not oppose nor contradict so just reasons and so popular a Cause thinking that the whole foundation of his affairs would fall if he having always professed to protect the general good and reputation should now be seen either to assent unto or to make small reckoning of so great an injury done to the Crown Wherefore
being by the affliction of his mind brought into a deep meditation he resolved making use of the same arts the King did to feign a consent to the inclination of the States to shew himself an eager revenger of the offence committed against the Crown and by other means to frustrate the effect of the Foreign War which he thought not very difficult by his arts to bring to pass with this design he began to raise a rumour that the taking of the Marquesate of Saluzzo had been procured and plotted by the King himself to cross the good resolutions of the States and to hinder the Decrees against the King of Navarre and the Hugonots and that none could more deeply resent the boldness of the Duke of Savoy nor was more ardent against him than he and his Family And in effect seeming wonderfully sollicitous for the loss of the Marquesate he caused some of his Dependents to propose unto the States that they should resolve to make a War with Savoy and that not being able to go in person upon that enterprise because he could not be so far from Court he desired the Duke of Mayenne his Brother might who being appointed to follow the War in Dauphine was already come as far as Lyons This proposition gave great satisfaction and did very much settle the minds of such as were troubled so that without much delay it was by geâ—â—â—al consent resolved that they should turn their Forces against the Duke of Savoy for the recovery of the Marquesate and that the Duke of Mayenne should go thither in person In the mean time observing those ceremonies with strangers which they observed not with the King of Navarre they determined to send Ieban Sieur de Poigny to the Duke of Savoy to demand the restitution of those places he had taken and if he restored them not to denounce War against him after which absolute Orders were given both to the Marquess de Pisani the Kings Ambassador to the Pope to Monsieur de Meâ—s Ambassador at Venice and to the other Ambassadors every where to make grievous complaints against the Duke The ardour of meâ—â— spirits being by degrees qualified with these determinations this so important affair was set in such a way as was not likely to do much harm to the principal intentions of those of the League At that time many doubted how the business of Saluzzo had really come to pass for though the most common report was that all had been done with the secret intelligence of the League because every one knew the correspondence that was between the Duke of Guise the Spaniards and the Duke of Savoy and though they of the League on the other side laboured to make it be believed that it had been the Kings invention yet the wisest opinion held for certain that it was meerly a motion of the Duke of Savoy himself who of a ready courage and high thoughts would not omit that desirable occasion which offered it self which he himself made more credible for after the taking of the Marquesate he caused a coyn to be stamped in which a Centaur trampled a Crown under foot which lay overturned upon the ground with this word Opportunè which was interpreted that he would not pass by the opportunity of that conjuncture while the Crown of France was overturned and weakened by inward divisions True it is that men generally believed the Duke of Savoy's forwardness had been excited by the King of Spain's exhortations desiring by the possession of the Alps to cut off the passage into Italy from the French Army At this very time the Duke of Nevers General of the Kings Army in Guienne having begun the War with the King of Navarre had taken Mauleon and Montaut and though retarded by the rains of Autumn and many other impediments had laid siege to Ganache a very strong place upon the Confines of Poictou and Bretagne defended by a strong and valiant Garison put into it by the Hugonots the Favourers of the League raised a report that he had cunningly besieged Ganache a very strong place but of no advantage to the main business of the War only to protract time whereas with those Forces fresh and entire he might presently have destroyed the King of Navarre who ill provided of men and utterly unfurnished of money had not force enough to make long resistance nor was this report altogether vain or at least improbable Whereupon the Duke of Guise intended when the States were broken up and his power of Lieutenant General confirm'd to go in person to the Army and forward the business of the War But the determinations of the States proved more long and difficult than at first it was thought they would have been for the affairs of Savoy though in great part setled again had yet left mens minds unquiet and had put many designs out of frame and which imported most the King intent upon the ripening of his secret thoughts did in all matters interpose long artificial delays It is a strange thing how chance alone was accidentally almost like to have produced that bloody issue of the States which the King was secretly contriving in himself for the Pages and Lackyes of the Princes and Lords no less divided than their Master into two different factions and quarrelling openly every day with the plain names of Royalists and Guisards it happened upon the thirtieth of November at night while about nine of the Clock they were waiting for their Lords being all together in the low open Galleries and Courts of the Castle that the Pages of the Cardinal of Vendosme and of the Duke of Montpensier killed one of the Pages of the Duke of Guise at the noise whereof all the rest taking arms every one for his party the King 's the Cardinal of Vendosm's the Duke of Montpensier's the Prince of Conty's the Count of Soisson's the Mareschal de Retz's and others standing on the one side and on the other the Duke of Guise's the Prince of Iainville's the Duke of Nemour's the Duke of Elbeuf's the Count of Brissac's and many others they began a most cruel bloody fray wherein the other Servants mingling themselves by little and little and at last the Souldiers and some Gentlemen the business proceeded so far that the party of the Guisards prevailing the fight was reduced into the great Hall joining to the Kings lodgings and above those of the Queen-Mother where all the Lords oâ— the Court were together The noise was wonderful great and the inraged voices sounded so loud that they were heard into the Town and wakening those that were asleep the general opinion was that the Princes themselves were fighting and that they should be all cut in pieces in the Castle the Gates whereof were already locked wherefore the Cardinal of Guise who lodged in the Town having put off his Cardinal habit and drawn all his dependents together was gone armed up thither and on the other side the
other might if he could in some measure withhold the Catholick King from the open favour which he was seen to lend unto the Union to which Mendozza did manifestly perform the Office of an Ambassador Having thus provided in the best manner he could for matters without the Kingdom he began to take care of those within it and having called all the Presidents and Counsellors of the Parliaments of Paris Rouen and Dijon who were fled from the popular fury he determined that the Parliament of Paris should reside in the City of Tours that of Rouen in the City of Caen in the same Province of Normandy and that of Dijon at Chalons a City also of the same Dutchy of Bourgongne and then by a most severe Edict declared them all Rebels who being chosen to the dignity of the Parliaments should continue to reside in those Cities and places which had withdrawn themselves from his obedience and forbad all men to have any recourse to them to seek for justice declaring all sentences to be void which they should pronounce under the name and title of Parliament The same Declaration he made against the Duke of Mayenne against the Duke and Chevalier d' Aumale and others who having caused Cities to revolt took Arms against him intimating to them that if within the term of fifteen days they returned not to their due obedience desisted not from disturbing and molesting the Kingdom and laid not down their Arms they should be judged guilty of Rebellion and should be so declared with the Confiscation of their Estates After these Writings followed Actions and having appointed Governours in all Provinces he gave Commission to make Levies to draw Souldiers together and that the War should be begun in every place The Count de Soissons was made Governour in Bretagne the Duke of Montpensier in Normandy the Mareschal de Martignon Lieutenant to the King of Navarre in Guienne the Mareschal of Momorancy in Languedoc Monsieur de la Valette Lieutenant to the Duke of Espernon in Provence Alfonso Corso in Dauphine the Count de Tavannes Lieutenant in Bourgongne the Duke of Longeville Governour of Picardy the Mareschal d' Aumont of Champagne and Monsieur de Tinteville his Lieutenant Filibert Sieur de la Guiche of Lyonois Monsieur de Montigny of Berry Monsieur de Sourdis in Beausse the Sieur de Entraques in the Dutchy of Orleans and with himself he kept the Mareschal d' Aumont to command the Army and gave order that the Duke d' Espernon and the King of Navarre should come unto him the agreement with whom after some delay was accepted and published the 28 of April But after the Peace was concluded and before the publication of it the Cardinal-Legat not thinking it decent for him to stay longer near the Kings person and on the other side not being willing by his presence and residence to authorise the League in the taking up of Arms resolved after many doubts to go towards Moulins and thence out of the Kingdom assoon as he should have received orders from Rome where he knew himself to be wonderful ill thought of by the Pope and his name blasted by those who favouring the affairs of the League endeavoured to make his counsels be excluded And yet the King after he had tried all means to make him stay in his quarters and excused his agreement with the King of Navarre by the urgency of necessity and after he had promised that howsoever he would presevere in the Catholick Religion which received rather help than any hurt at all from the Accommodation with the Hugonots at last he prayed the Legat that he would once again try the Duke of Mayenne by meeting personally with him and endeavour to bring him to an agreement since that neither by means of the Duke of Lorain to whom he had written nor by means of Madam de Nemours with whom he had caused the Queen to treat about it had he been able to make him vouchsafe to lend an ear to any Treaty of Peace And that all the World might see his desire to remove the necessity of agreeing with the Hugonots and to take away the credit from the Arms of the League he gave the Cardinal a Paper subscribed with his hand which contained those things he was contented to grant to the Lords of the Vnion He offered the Duke of Lorain the Cities of Metz Thoul and Verdun under the title of Government and promised to use his endeavours to get the Heir of Bouillon in Marriage for the Count de Vaudemont by which means he might gain the possession of Iamets and Sedan places so considerable and so much desired by those Lords He was contented to leave the Duke of Mayenne the Government of Bourgongne To confer all the Governments of Cities and Fortresses in that Province upon such as he should name To permit that it should pass in the same manner to his eldest son To give him an Hundred thousand crowns ready money To satisfie those debts he was run into upon the present occasion and a pension of Forty thousand Crowns per annum To the Duke of Guise the Government of Champagne St. Disier and Rocroy for the security of his person Twenty thousand Crowns of annual pension and Thirty thousand of Ecclesiastical revenues for one of his Brothers whom he would endeavor to get advanced to the Dignity of Cardinal To the Duke of Nevers the Government of Lyons and Ten thousand Crowns a year To the Duke of Aumale St Esprit de Rue for his security and likewise Ten thousand Crowns in pension To the Knight his Brother the Generalship of the Infantry and Twenty thousand franks a year To the Duke of Elbeuf the Government of Poictiers and Ten thousand Crowns pension He referred himself to the Pope for the Declaration of the Edicts and Agreements made in time past and was contented that as a friendly Mediator he should compose all differences leaving it to his own liberty if he pleased to join the Venetian Senate with him or the Great Duke of Thuscany being contented if he took the Venetian Senate that the Duke of Ferrara Uncle to the Lords of Guise should be added for the League And if he chose the Great Duke that they on the other side should take the Duke of Lorain the Head of their Family But neither did this Writing produce any effect For the Duke of Mayenne having had an Interview with the Legate at Chasteau-dune refused to give ear to Peace excusing himself that he could not accept of any Condition without assembling the States of the League and all the Princes of his Family to have their consent unto the business and added that he could no more have commerce nor security with him that had violated his Faith This he said because he thought himself much superior to the King in strength and because the Catholick King and the Duke of Savoy promised him assistance of Men and Money and at
Blavet and having easily taken it began with infinite celerity to build a Fort by the Sea side which might command and hinder the entry of Ships that should come unto that Port and bestirred himself in such manner that he would have brought to perfection the service he had in design if the Duke of Mercoeurs Army still increasing which was advanced to Vannes seven leagues from Blavet he had not been constrained though the Fort were not yet quite finished to retreat into the places of his own party Nevertheless having left a strong Guard in the Fort with six pieces of Cannon and having put Eight hundred Foot into Annebont he hoped that those places might be able to hinder the entring and setling of the Enemy The Spanish Fleet arrived at Blavet with Six and thirty sail of Ships and four Gallions and with so prosperous a gale that notwithstanding the shot from Fort Dombes redoubled with infinite fury by the defendents it entered the Port without receiving much harm and landed Four thousand and five hundred Foot commanded by Don Iuan de l' Aquila who to free the Port from all impediments set himself without delay to take in Fort Dombes Which not being brought to perfection and having no hopes of relief from any place yielded it self the fifth day of the siege and was presently demolished by the Spaniards After which enterprise being joined with the Duke de Mercoeur they recovered Annebont and the other neighbouring places with the same facility and at last under favour of the Fleet began to fortifie Blavet securing it no less with two Forts Royal built at the entry of the Haven for conveniency of bringing in relief by Sea then they strengthned it with Moats Bastions and all other kinds of Military Fortifications on the Land-side But the King and the Prince of Dombes knowing that they could not resist the power of the Duke and the Spaniards with the Forces they had in that Province sought for assistance from England which lying over against it hath conveniency of giving relief to that coast no less than Spain And having obtained Six thousand Foot from the Queen they expected their Landing at St. Lo the farthest Port of Lower Normandy With the like variety and as great danger did the War rage on the other side of the Kingdom For Dauphine and Provence Provinces bordering upon the Duke of Savoy and spred in length to the very foot of the Alps wavered with various fortune in the management of Arms. The Duke of Savoy from the very beginning of the War had applied the greatness of his mind to divers and those not ill-grounded hopes For the affairs of Piedmont being secured by his seizing upon the Marquesate and lying conveniently for the affairs of Dauphine by the near adjoining of Savoy he hoped by fomenting the League in some sort to enlarge his confines On the other side being interessed in Provence by the Towns he holds there he had an eye set upon getting the whole whereof already he possessed a part So that he held intelligence in both Provinces and with Money and Arms endeavoured to advantage the course of his designs Nor did his hopes stay there but seeing the Kingdom in so great distraction â—nd ready to break the Salique Law and to cut off the Legitimate Succession of the Royal Family in the King of Navarre there arose a certain conceit in him that the States might perhaps incline to make choice of him as being born of a Daughter of France which he thought would prove so much the more easie to him by how much more his name was famous in Arms and by how much greater merit he should acquire with the Catholick party and in the opinion of the Pope the principal mover in respect of Religion in the determination of the affairs of France Nor did he forget whatsoever event these designs should have that the opportunity of present affairs gave him an occasion of subduing the inhabitants of Geneva now that the King of France being busied by himself could not afford them any present relief With this height of hopes which increased his courage having sent his Agents to treat with the Duke of Mayenne and having contracted a reciprocal intelligence with him he had raised a great Body of Horse and Foot and had sent forth Count Francesco Martinengo General of his Army into Provence and his Brother Don Amadeo of Savoy against Geneva and by means of the Governours of his Garisons he gave help and assistance to the Forces of the League in Dauphine Nor was the beginning unlike the greatness of his design For the Sieur de Vins and the Countess de Seaux a Lady of more than manly spirit who both held for the League in Provence finding themselves inferiour in strength to Monsieur de la Valette the Kings Lieutenant not only willingly received supplies and assistance from the Duke but began also to treat of giving him the Dominion of that Province and to put themselves under his protection and superiority Which being treated and concluded by the Duke he went in person to his Army carrying with him some addition of Horse and Foot which by Commission from Spain he had obtained from the Governour of Milan At his arrival the Kings party inferiour in strength going down the wind though Les Diguieres being come out of Dauphine into that Province did labour marvellously with his wonted valour and celerity which were singular the affairs of the League grew up to such a height that his Arms already gave the Law to the whole Country Wherefore the Duke being come into the City of Aix where the Parliament of Provence doth reside and being received with those pomps and solemnities which are wont to be given to Sovereign Princes though he imitating the Duke of Mayenne refused to use the Cloth of State he was in the Parliament declared Head of the War and of the Civil Government in that Province to preserve it in the Union of the Catholicks and under the obedience and Royal State of the Crown of France This business displeased the Duke of Mayenne no less than it did the King thinking not only that the Duke of Savoy sought after and usurped that Authority which the general consent had conferred upon him but also that he had an aim to dismember Provence and with the help of Nizza and his other Towns by little and little to make himself Master of it where he wrote sharp resenting Letters not only to the Parliament but also to the Sieur de Vins and to the Countess shewing them the fault they committed in separating themselves from the rest of the Union and in putting themselves in danger to alienate so great and so important a portion of the Crown These Letters wrought a very great effect in the Sieur de Vins an old dependent upon the House of Lorain and he began to shew himself more backward in complying with the
received into Paris not being in all both Spaniards and Neopolitans above One thousand and three hundred Foot a number fitter to sasatisfie the people in appearance than to bridle the City Nor being yet able to wean himself from his conceived hopes as soon as he had received the safe-conducts he dispatched them with Letters added to all the Provinces that they should meet together in the City of Rheims in Champagne not to apply themselves to Peace as had been agreed but to make election of a new King which as soon as it was known and divulged abroad the King finding himself deceived since now the talk was of assembling the Deputies to his prejudice which he had permitted to meet together to treat of a re-union and peace between the two parties having made grievous complaints thereof to Villeroy he recalled his safe-conducts and gave command that all the Deputies that should fall into the hands of any of his party should without delay be put to death which nevertheless would not have hindred the Duke of Mayenne from calling the Assembly But things not being yet ripe nor disposed fully in the manner he desired under pretence of that fear the Convocation of the States was suffered to vanish insensibly of it self The Dukes hopes were augmented by the Declaration of Gregory the Fourteenth who as the resolutions of Popes are almost ever hot and earnest at their first coming in despising that flegmatick humour which Sixtus not to foment with the colouâ— of Religion the interests of those who were in greatest power had in the latter end of his life expressed in the affairs of France shewed himself wholly inclined to favour and promote the progress of the League accounting it necessary so to do for the safety of Religion and the reputation and greatness of the Apostolick See and desirous that Hercole Sfondrato his Nephew newly by him invested in the Title of Duke of Montemarciano should with military actions and eminent command increase in reputation and riches he decreed to send him with numerous Forces in assistance of the League and had therefore given order that Horse and Foot should with all speed be raised in the Territories of the Church for the payment of which though he found great contradiction in the Consistory of Cardinals he resolved to take those moneys which having with extream diligence been gathered together by Sixtus were kept in the Castle of St. Angelo and to spend what should be requisite as in the greatest and most urgent occasion the Church could have And at the same time he appointed Legat to the Kingdom of France Monsignor Marsilio Landriano a Prelat of Milan his Confident and a man that was wont as they say stoutly to assert the liberty of the Church Which things after they were resolved on and set in order he sent several Messengers with speed to the Duke of Mayenne and to the Bishop of Piacenza whom he had in the mean time confirmed Vice-Legat in France promising to them both plentiful supplies of men and money that they might be able not only rooting out heresie to secure the Kingdom from imminent danger but chusing a Catholick peaceable King and one obedient to the Church to compose discords in peace and restore tranquillity and repose to the people already wearied out and ruined with the calamities of War and because the City of Paris had with infinite merit shewed it self by proof to be the true Metropolis of the Kingdom and the constant Bulwark of Religion he professed That he would imploy his utmost endeavouas to ease it of its grievances and settle it again in its first splendor of riches and greatness These Letters did not only rejoyce the Vice-Legat and confirm the courage of the Duke of Mayenne and so much the more because with them the Pope sent an assignment of Fifteen thousand Crowns a month to be paid by the Merchants of Paris and Lions but being published in Print to the whole party did also fill every one with infinite expectation seeing that the new Pope stood not like Sixtus doubtful and unresolved what he should determine to do but declaring himself resolutely shewed he was an open Enemy to the King and an effectual Protector of the Union adding also deeds to words while he was scarcely sought unto That which increased the hopes of the Duke of Mayenne no less than the Popes forwardness was the cunning of the Duke of Parma who persisting in his design of drawing out the French Wars in length to make advantage at last of their weariness and weakness and therefore not willing that the Duke of Mayenne remaining inferiour in strength should lose courage and resolve to make an Agreement with the King seemed not to like well of those things which Mendozza and Don Diego d Ivarra who were in Paris managed particularly without the Duke and with frequent Messages assured him that he was setling the affairs of Flanders that he might be able with all speed to march with his Army into France promising him that he would dispose of things in such manner as they with a joint consent should resolve without taking notice of the opinions of others the Commissions being such which he had from the Catholick King For confirmation of which things to those men the Duke of Mayenne sent to him he shewed preparations for the gathering of an Army and the lists of Forty thousand fighting men to enter into Picardy for the payment of which and to supply the League plentifully with money according to the desires of the French he affirmed a course was taken in the Court of Spain and that he expected the assignment for it every hour By which the Duke of Mayenne being encouraged and returned to his wonted hopes had dispatched his Secretary Baudoin Sieur des Portes to Rome the second time with order to sollicite the Pope to hasten away the Duke of Montemarciano who was to pass thorow the States of the Duke of Savoy and the County of Bourgongne streight into Lorain to oppose the Forces which were preparing for the King in Germany by the Viscount de Turenne and the Prince of Anhalt and to the same effect he dispatched an express Messenger into Spain to President Ieannin who was already gone to that Court to the end that he might obtain from the Catholick King that the Forces which that year were to pass from Milan into Flanders should join in Lorain with those of the Pope for the same purpose hoping assuredly that the Germans finding a brisk opposition at the Confines so that they might not be able to advance and unite themselves with the King and the Duke of Parma with the Forces of Flanders entering into Picardy the League would quickly and very easily remain victorious In the mean time he had invited the Duke of Lorain and the other Lords of his Family to meet at Rheims to the end that with their general liking and consent things might
its advantage and profit and much more for its honour and reputation that so famous an Assembly should be made in their City they intervening and assisting in it The Cardinal Legat assented also to this opinion as well not to incommodate himself with the expence of new journeys as because he thought by the heat of the Parisians to bring the Assembly to make election of that King who should be of greatest satisfaction to the Apostolick See and to the intentions of the King of Spain Wherefore the Duke of Mayenne having left the Government of the Army to the Sieur de Rosne by him created Mareschal and Governour of the Isle of France went to Paris with a small retinue and there with his presence and with his words laboured to comfort the afflicted people for the dearth of victual and the interruption of commerce and trading in the City shewing them that within a few days there would be some course taken in the Assembly of the States and convenient order setled totally to free the City and ease it of its present necessities striving with liberal promises and by honouring and cherishing every one especially the Magistrates of the City and the Preachers to gain the good will of the people which by his late severity he feared he had wholly lost It was not without great reason that the Duke of Mayenne hoped at last to transfer the Crown upon himself and his Posterity for considering the present estate with due regard it was clear that neither the Union of the Crowns nor the Election of Infanta Isabella things laboured for by the Spaniards would ever be endured by the French who by no kind of interest by no kind of practice could ever be brought to submit themselves to the Empire of their natural Enemies and though some particular men corrupted with money or by the expectation of places and honours had accommodated their gust unto it yet the general which was more powerful would never have been perswaded by any means Wherefore these pretensions failing and being excluded he thought and reason told him so that the Catholick King could not concur more willingly to the election of any other than his own person since if either the Duke of Lorain or the Duke of Savoy should be elected as the report went by the party that they should make new States and power would be added to the Crown of France with the augmentation whereof it was likely the Catholick King would not be well pleased but rather that it should decrease in strength and greatness he did not see that the Catholick King could expect to draw greater fruit from his past labours and expences than in chusing him who by reason of the need he should have of him to establish himself in the Kingdom would be constrained by necessity to content him and to condescend to many things which the rest peâ—haps would not so easily consent to The same he judged of the Pope who as far from interests and full of that moderation which he made shew of would more willingly yield to him than any other not to deprive him of the fruit of his so great labours considering that he alone had sustained the Catholick party and the Cause of Religion which no other either by authority or prudence could have been able to sustain He saw the French generally inclined and disposed in favour of him by reason of his authority in the party whereof he had so long been the Chief and that between the Dignity and Office he now possessed and the full power of King there was no other difference but the title he already holding the administration of affairs as Lieutenant of the Crown He knew that not one of the rest of his Family could equal himself to him either for valour merit experience or authority and that the sole shadow of his will would confound and terrifie them all To this was added the diligence wherewith the Deputies had been elected to his advantage the inclination of the Parliament newly by the punishment of the Sixteen by him restored to its being the dependence of the Council of State and the art of managing this design in which Conditions all the rest were incomparably inferiour to him The sâ—me conceit had the Duke of Parma who after that his counsel of overcoming things with patience and drawing matters out in length was no longer hearkned to in Spain thought the election of the Duke of Mayenne more profitable for the Catholick Kings affairs than that of any other man because he might be established with more facility less charge and more advantageous Conditions wherefore he writ into Spain about it and it appeared that in the course of the business he would have favoured his affairs either because he so judged it profitable for King Philip as he demonstrated or as the other Ministers said because he desired not that the Spanish Monarchy should increase to such a height and come to the only one in Christendom without counterpoise or opposition But his death which happened upon the second day of December in the City of Arras after a long painful sickness did something vary the state of things as the Spaniards then said to the advantage of the Catholick Kings affairs but as it appeared afterwards by the effects to their notable damage for the reputation of his name being removed which had already brought the humour of the French as it were into obedience they neither much esteemed the other Spanish Commanders and Ministers nor were the Ministers themselves equal to him either in knowledge or authority and having conceits and opinions different from those which he prudently nourished in his mind and wherewith he had managed the business till then they went on afterwards with such a precipice that the Catholick Kings affairs took an impression very different from what they held at that present But the Duke of Mayenne with the loss of him lost also much of his hopes and seeing the other Ministers particularly Diego d' Ivarra utterly averse from him he began to doubt he should be forced to take another resolution and thought to guide his businesses with more art and caution than he had formerly done Nevertheless the Convocation of the States was advanced so far that it could no longer be deferred and it was necessary to assemble it as well not to break absolutely with the Spaniards as to satisfie the Popes importunities but most of all because the Deputies were already elected and many of them upon their way to Paris These things happened Anno 1592 in which year various fortune had with divers accidents troubled the other Provinces of the Kingdom Monsieur de la Valette Governour of Provence had in the beginning of the year laid siege to Rochebrune a place held in that Province by the Duke of Savoy and after he had in vain battered it many days being resolved to remove his Artillery and plant them in another
business but to deceive him he not being able to perswade himself that they should should have laboured and done so much to bring the Infanta to the Crown and should after be content to subject her to an Husband who being a Frenchman and encompassed with his own party might govern her and be King indeed while she should only be Queen in title That no profit nor advantage of any kind whatsoever would redound thereby to King Philip and his Kingdom for if his desire were only to marry his Daughter to a King of France he might easily compass that with whosoever should possess the Crown whether he were Friend or Enemy but if he aspired to unite the Crowns this was not the way to do it and therefore he could not see what advantage could thereby result unto the Spanish Monarchy wherefore it was good to think and provide against the deceit that might lie hidden under it That to elect the Infanta now and reserve themselves afterward to marry her within a certain time was to refer it to her choice either to take or refuse him and that it was necessary to find some conditions to secure the Match But moreover though the King of Spain should proceed sincerely in that business it was good to consider without letting ones self be deceived by passion what means there were to establish themselves in the Kingdom That there was no doubt but the Duke of Lorain who had hoped to have the Kingdom for himself or that the Infanta should marry the Cardinal his Son would be disgusted at it and withdraw his assistance which how much hurt it would do might easily be comprehended by reason of the opportuneness of his State through which all the supplies passed that came out of Germany to both parties that it might be doubted the Duke of Savoy would do the same who had till now upheld the War in Provence and Dauphine for being deprived of the hopes he had already conceived of obtaining the Kingdom or at least some Province of it he would no longer submit himself and his States to the dangers and calamities of War that the Duke of Nemours was already almost wholly averse from them and only the respect he bore to an elder Brother yet held him which if it were taken away he doubted not but he would do his own business himself that the same was to be feared of the Duke of Mercoeur as soon as he should lose the hopes of obtaining Bretagne Wherefore the Forces of the League being diminished in that manner it was good to think how they should be able to oppose the Kings power which they could hardly resist now they were all united that the King of Spain had his hands full with the War of Flanders and the commotions of Aragon that his Kingdoms were exhausted and that he was indebted Two Millions to the Genoueses that he had no good Commander in Chief and therefore it was to be doubted he could not perform all he promised and in conclusion that this was a Rubicon which could never be sufficiently thought upon before it was past over To these considerations the Duke of Guise answered moderately making shew that he would not digress from his opinion but in his mind he thought otherwise whereof his treaties and manner of proceeding the concourse of his adherents the meetings that were made in his house and his Mothers gave manifest conjecture wherefore the Duke of Mayenne not trusting absolutely to him thought as a second means to propose such high conditions as might terrifie the Spaniards which were That the Duke of Guise should be elected King at the same time when the Infanta should be chosen Queen that the election should be kept secret till the marriage were consummate to which effect the States should give authority to the Duke of Mayenne to declare it when it should be time that in case the Infanta should die first the Duke of Guise should remain King alone and govern the Kingdom by himself that if she were left a Widow she should be obliged to take a Husband of the House of Lorain with the counsel of the Princes Peers and Officers of the Crown that if she had no issue the eldest of the Duke of Guise's Brothers should succeed and so the first-born of the Family successively from male to male that only French-men should be admitted to Offices Places Dignities Benefices Governments of Provinces Cities Castles and Fortresses of the Kingdom that the command of the Militia together with Authority of Lieutenant-General should be left unto the Duke of Mayenne that the Government of the Provinces of Bourgogne Champagne and Brie should be given to him and his Heirs for ever with power to dispose of the Governments Offices and Benefices of them all that Two hundred thousand Crowns should be paid to him in present and Six hundred thousand more within a certain time for which fit security should be given him that the debts should be paid which he had run into upon occasion of the present War that One hundred thousand Crowns Revenue should be assign'd to him for himself and his posterity as also the principality of Iainville and the Cities of Vitry and St. Disier and after many other lesser demands that all the presentations and nominations he had made of Churches Benefices Governments Donatives Places and Favours bestowed by him as Lieutenant of the Crown should remain valid as likewise all those he should make or grant till the consummation of the Marriage and the establishment of the King and Queen But these conditions though they were high and difficult did no way startle the Spaniards who already were resolved to satisfie him provided they might attain to the Infanta's election being certain they should find a thousand occasions and a thousand excuses afterwards to observe only what they should think convenient and being also willing that the Duke of Mayenne should be reasonably requited but he seeing he was excluded from the reward of his labours and that they thought of giving the Kingdom to others and not to him and his posterity though the foundation of all things consisted in his person and endeavours and finding that the conditions propounded were neither sufficient to divert the resolution of the Spaniards nor the inclination or rather the will and desire of his Nephew resolved to set other engins awork to interrupt the course of those proceedings wherefore having still though but luke-warmly kept the Cardinal of Bourbon in good hopes he now prosecuted that business with so much heat that it was brought in a manner to a conclusion He demonstrated to every one of the Deputies apart how odious a thing it was to break the Salique Law how difficult to exclude the House of Bourbon from the Crown whose succession they had confirmed when they declared the late Cardinal of Bourbon King by the name of Charles the Tenth how dissonant it would be to mens ears and
began now to be troubled with the Bloody Flux and the Plague in such manner that the Treasurers putting him in mind that all means of paying his Foot was utterly gone the King resolved to disband his Army and to apply himself heartily to the Treaty of Peace which now being high in reputation and honour and having satisfied himself and the expectation of his people he desired more boldly and openly than before This reciprocal desire of both Kings facilitated the Treaty of Peace but the Duke of Savoy's interests kept all things in difficulty For though the War these two last years had been various and with hot encounters and bloody assaults rather disadvantageous than otherwise and though Monsieur de Lesdiguieres having taken St. Iehan de Morienne and all that valley in the Alps was gone down into Piedmont to the ruine and spoiling of the Country yet he being resolved to retain the Marquesate of Saluzzo either crossed the Peace or cared not to have it concluded But yet the meeting at Vervins held whither Monsieur de Bellieure and President Sillery came from the King of France and President Riccardotto Iuan Boptista Tassis and Ludovicâ— Verichen Auditor of Brabanza for the King of Spain The French Deputies were brought by the Popes Nuncio and the Spanish by the General of the Cordeliers and the Cardinal-Legat came to the same place by whose Authority all difficulties of precedency being removed they entred upon the Treaty of the business but not before the beginning of the month of February in the year 1598 a year destined by Divine Providence to close up the grievous wounds of forty years past Great was the desire of Peace on both sides and great likewise the Authority of the Legat with each party nor were the demands very different For the Spaniards proffered without difficulty to restore Ardres Dourlans la Cappelle Castelet and Montaulin in Piccardy and the Port of Blauet in Bretagne and desired only to retain Calais as long as the War with the Hollanders lasted and to give the King of France an equivalent exchange in the mean time And the French stood to have Calais restored freely they likewise demanded Cambray and renewed some old pretensions upon the Confines of Flanders The Spaniards shewed that all old pretensions were terminated in the Peace concluded between the two Crowns at Chasteau Cambresis in the year 1559 and that Cambray was not of the King of France his Jurisdiction but a City of the Archbishops usurped a few years before by the Duke of Alancon's Forces and that therefore being a free Town the King could not pretend any right unto it but that the Master of the Low-Countries had the ancient protection of it and yet not a direct Dominion but one established by reason Upon these Answers the French easily gave off their old pretensions and the demand of Cambray and with as much facility did the Spaniards lay aside the demand of retaining Calais Whereupon all the difficulty was reduced to this point That the King of France would have had Blauet in the condition it then was with all the Artillery Shot and Ammunition of War and the Spaniards stood totally to demolish the Fort they had built and to carry away the Artillery and other things which they had brought thither of their own but this difficulty also was easily taken away for the Treaty being managed with great sincerity the French satisfied themselves knowing that the Spaniard had reason on their side All other matters were of small importance so that nothing remained save to treat about the interests of their adherents for the King of France desired there might be an Agreement made with the Queen of England and the States of Holland and the King of Spain would have had the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Mercoeur comprehended in the Peace About this there arose a sharp contention for the French having said that they would not include the Duke of Mercoeur as being the Kings Subject the Spaniards answered That also the States of Holland were the King of Spâ—iâ—s Subjects and here mutually upbraiding one another that they fomented Rebels they grew extreamly angry and broke forth into words of indignation and yet the Cardinal-Legat interposing they agreed to make their Princes acquainted with the business and expect their resolute orders But within a few days these difficulties were removed for the King having left the Constable with reasonable Forces in Picardy was gone personally to Angiers to draw his Army together and march with all his Forces into Bretagne Wherefore the Duke of Mercoeur seeing his designs ruined and not being willing to hold out till the last necessities which he was not able to resist condescended to the Agreement by which marrying his onlâ— Daughter to Caesar the Kings Bastard Son and receiving other recompences of Pensions and moneys he delivered up that part of Bretagne that was in his possession unto the Kings obedience whereupon the occasion ceased for which the Catholick King endeavoured to include him in the Peace Nor was there any need to contend long for the Queen of England and the States of Holland for those Princes after they had done all that was possible to hinder the Treaty of Peace shewing themselves ill satisfied with the King because in the League of the year before he had promised not to agree without them declared that they would not be comprehended as Adherents and that they would have no Peace with the King of Spain There remained only the point concerning the Duke of Savoy which was like to have interrupted the whole agreement when it was brought to perfection for the Marquiss de Lullin the Dukes Ambassadour being introduced into the Conference said That President Sillery one of the Deputies there present had from the year before treated an accommodation with the Duke and that the King was then contented he should hold the Marquesate of Saluzzo in fee from the Crown The President answered That it was true the King was so contented but at a time when the state of his affairs perswaded him by all means to divide the Duke from the King of Spain and that to that condition the Marquiss knew well there were others joined which he would not mention lest he should set discord among Friends by which words he meant to infer that the Duke to retain the Marquesate had proffered to make War against the State of Milan Many contentions there were about it and the whole Treaty seemed to be discomposed but the General of the Cordeliers going to the King and Iuan Baptista Tassis to the Archduke they returned within a few days and concluded that the Duke and the King should retain what they possessed at that present and that the difference about the Marquesate should be referred to the Pope who was to give judgment within the space of one year and then what each held of the others would mutually be
restored But the Marquiss refused that the King should retain the Valley of Morienne and would not ratifie it without advertising the Duke and this by reason of his nature would have been a difficult impediment if good fortune had not removed the obstacle for the Duke about this time recovered Morienne with a great slaughter of Les Diguieres his Forces and on the other side Les Diguieres took a Fort which the Duke had built near Grenoble and having put the Garison to the Sword demolished it to the very ground wherefore there remaining nothing but Berre in Provence in the Dukes possession they agreed that he should restore that Town in present and that the business of the Marquesate should be decided by the Pope The Peace was concluded and subscribed by the Deputies upon the second day of May with express condition that it should not be published till a month after for the King of France desired that the English and Holland Ambassadors should first be gone from Court that the Peace might not be published in their presence and the Cardinal Archduke desired space to receive the Countersign of Blauet from Spain The Peace was published upon the seventh day of Iune in Paris and the same day at Amiens in the presence of the Legat and the Kings Deputies as by agreement it was likewise done at Bruxels all men generally rejoycing that after so long and so calamitous Wars the Kingdom of France distracted into so many Factions was at last re-united in the entire obedience of a Catholick French King to enjoy the fruitâ— and blessings of Peace for the future in recompence of so many past miseries and afflictions FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE PRINCIPAL THINGS Contained in this HISTORY A. ABbot of Orbais sent to Rome by the Duke of Mayence treats of the affairs of the League very effectually Page 387 Administration of the Royal Family 4 Admiral Coligny's Propositions to the Malecontents embraced 19. made General of the Hugonots 84. hires one to kill the King 107 flies to Rochel 129. the Army committed to his care 143. sickneth yet desists not from the Siege of Poictiers 155. quits it and goes to relieve Chastel-rault 156 wounded and flees 162. being sick is carried with the Army in a Litter 168. Duke of Savoy grows suspicious of him for marrying Madam d'Antramont a Savoyard against his will 174. after many years Wars against the King prostrates at his feet and is graciously received 176. causes the Hugonots to surprize Mons in Flanders to force him to a War with Spain 178. is seemingly made friends with the Lords of the House of Lorrain before the King ibid. prefers himself before Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great 179. shot in the left elbow 181. King and Queen mother set strict Guards upon his House is slain thrown out at the window and drag'd into a stable ib. Cruelties used to his Body 184. his Statue burnt and his Palace razed 185 Admiral Villars goes to besiege Quilleboeuf 558. is forc d to rise from thence 559. submits Rouen to the King 638. fighting gallantly at Dourleans is slain â—84 Agreement between Henry IV. and Duke of Mayence 694 Aix in Provence submits to the King 629 Albanians or Croats 3â—4 their story 322 Ambassadors from the Low-Countries to the King of France entreating him to take the Protection and Dominion of their States 259. from the Pope King of Spain and Duke of Savoy to Charles IX to sollicite the Publication of the Council of Trent 93. from the Protestant Princes of Germany speaking highly to the King for the Hugonots are sharply answered and depart 300. from the King to Pope Sixtus to excuse the Cardinal de Guise's death sharply answered 382. from Venice to Henry III. passe a Compliment in Publick with Henry IV. as King of France 427. of Venice sent to Congratulate Henry IV. his Assumption to the Crown 665 Amiens puts it self into the Kings hands 652 surprized by Porto-Carero 716 717. besieged by Henry IV. an account thereof 718 c. Andelot with the Reliques of the Hugonots sustains the Siege of Orleans 85. mingling with the Enemy at Brisac lifts up the Duke of Monsalez's Bever and discharges a Pistol in his face 140. after loss of the Battel dyes for Grief 142 Answer of the King Queen and Parliament of Paris to the Prince of Conde's Manifesto 62. of Grillon Captain of the Guards 368 Antony of Vendosm of the House of Bourbon he that was Father to Henry IV. marrieth the Daughter of the King of Navarre by whom he inherits the Pretensions of that Kingdom 10 Antonio Possevino a Iesuite sâ—nt by Pope Clement VIII to tell the Duke of Nevers hâ— should not come to Rome to execute his Embassage 621. sends him again to bid him come as a Catholick Italian Prince though not as Ambassador Page 622 Arcenal is the Magazine of Arms designed to be taken but not effected 302 Archbishop of Lyons made Prisoner 370. often examined would never answer alledging as Primate of all France he had no Superior but the Catholick Church 374. with others put into the Castle of Ambois ib is made High Chancellor to the Duke of Mayenne 437. he and Cardinal Gondi chose by the Council of Paris to treat with Henry IV 466. Archbishop of Bourges his Pretensions upon the Spiritual Superiority of Gallia 558 Archduke Ernest his resolutions at the loss of Paris 642. approved by them of Spain 643 Archduke Albert Cardinal of Austria goes to be Governor in Flanders 696. his History 704 c. Arms of Henry III. thrown down 379 Armies dismissed and Peace published 193. an Army sent by Henry III. against the King of Navarr 311. one of 40000 men raised by the Protestant Princes of Germany under conduct of Prince Casimire led by the Baron d'Onaw his Lieutenant General 313. its Transactions 315 c. disbanded 328 Assemblies secret of the Princes of Bourbon and other discontented Lords 14 Assembly of the States at Fontainbleaâ— 28 c. dismissed and a general one resolved on 31. begins 37. dismissed 45. at Moulins the Decree made there 98 appointed at Blois 220. meets 227. whether it or the King be superior 228. is dismissed without concluding any thing 232 358. of Catholicks to consult about a future King 408. of the States appointed by Henry IV. at â—ours 416 Attigâ—y taken by Henry IV. and the Germans he gives them the pillage 512 Ausone a strong place in Bourgogne besieged and taken by the Duke of Guise 305 B. BArons take Arms against Queen Blanch Mother to St. Lewis taking upon her the Government in her Sons minority to maintain the right in whom it belonged 18 Baron de Guiry recovers Corbiel and Lagny which had been taken by the Duke of Parma 478. having undertaken to defend New-Chastel though weak against the Duke of Parma he does it gallantly at last the Duke grants him honourable conditions 535. sorely wounded 536. slain 650 Baron d'Onaw Lieutenant
under pretence of defending him sets strict Guards upon his House 181. his words to the Prince of Condé 186. deprives the Marshal d'Anville Son of Anna de Momorancy of his Dignity by a Decree 198. dyeth May 30 1574. 201 King Chilperic of an Effeminate Nature put into a Monastery by Charles Martel and Pepin Masters of the Palace 360 King Clodian second King of France made himself Master of Belgia and this was first conquered 4 King Francis I. advances Charles of Bourbon and afterwards suppresseth him whereupon he rebelleth 5. taken with an Apoplexy under the Barbers hands 38 King Henry III. succeeds Charles IX 205. returning out of Poland at Thurin restores certain places to the Duke of Savoy kept by the Kings of France for security 207. is ill affected to the King of Navarre and Prince of Condé Heads of the Hugonots and Duke of Guise Head of the Catholicks 209. demands the King of Sueden's Sister to Wife 211. Consecrated at Rheims by the Cardinal of Lorrain Brother to the Duke of Guise and next day marries Louyse de Vaudemont Neece to the Duke of Lorrain 212. takes Mombrum who had taken his Carriages and executes him ibid. frames a new model of Government 213. his Speech at the beginning of the Assembly at Blois 227. declares himself Head of the Catholick League 231. sends two Armies against the Hugonots and makes Duke of Alanzon Lieutenant-General 233. his manner of Life 236. Institutes the Order of the Holy Ghost 238. sends forth three Armies 242. Takes upon him the protection of Geneva 250. answers the Spanish Ambassador sharply makes an Edict against raising Soldiers 260. his Answer to the Catholick Leagues Declaration 267. esteems Luigi Davila the Authors Brother and makes use of him in managing Affairs and War 274. makes a specious Proposition of Peace 275. his Edict against the Hugonots 281. calls the Heads of Paris together and demands money for the Wars of the Catholicks against the Hugonots 282. a Saying of his 283. confers the Government of Provence on the Duke d'Espernon ibid. despairing of Issue resolves to further the King of Navarre's right to the Crown and unite himself with him for the destruction of the Guises 297. his solemn Oath 308. Another Saying of his sends an Army against the King of Navarre and gives secret Order to Savardin to oppose but not suppress him 311. Honours the Wedding of the Duke of Espernon and Countess de Candale with great Presents 312. Goes in person to keep the German Army from joining with the King of Navarre 320. declares Duke d'Espernon Admiral of the Kingdom and Governor of Normandy 333. commands the Duke of Guise not to come to Paris 337. shews himself angry with the Duke of Guise coming to visit him 338. is strongly guarded for fear of him 339. commands Fifteen thousand to be driven out of Paris 341. leaves it and retires to Chartres 346. orders the Duke d'Espernon to quit his Government of Normandy 351. receives the Duke of Guise at Chartres with great demonstrations of kindness in appearance 354 dismisseth many old Servants for their too much wisdom after the example of his Grandfather 357. begins the Assembly at Blois with a fine Speech which stings the Duke of Guise and his Adherents 359. swears with the States to perform a former Edict 360. after much opposition consents coldly to declare the King of Navarre and all others suspected of Heresie uncapable of the Crown 362. He the States and Duke of Guise send to the Duke of Savoy to demand restitution of Saluzzo and upon refusal to denounce War 365. goes Armed to a factious quarrel ibid. admits Pio Mocinego Ambassador from Venice though he were not one of the Savii de terra firma 367. resolves to free himself of the Duke of Guise 368. orders him to be killed 369. admits every one into his presence speaking very resentingly 371. A Saying of his upon the Duke of Guises being killed ibid. discourses a long while with Cardinal Moresini about the Dukes death ib. highly offended at the Popes sharp Answer to his Ambassadors sent to excuse the Cardinal of Guises death 382. promises the Duke of Mayenne very great things by Letter 384. sends the Bishop of Mons on purpose to demand absolution for the Cardinals death 385. puts himself in the Fight and orders his Soldiers at Tours 398. takes Gergeau and Piviers 402. Troubled at the Popes Censure and Monitory and fasts 48 hours 402. his words upon being Excommunicated ibid. taking Estamps hangs the Magistrates and gives the Pillage to the Soldiers ib. layes Siege to Paris 403. A Saying of his when looking upon it 404. called Henry of Valois the Tyrant and Persecutor of the Faith ibid. is thrust into the Belly with a Knife by Fryer Jaques Clement strikes the same Knife into his forehead dyes August 10. 1589. having lived Thirty six years and Reigned fifteen and two months Page 406 King Meâ—ove the third King of France continues the Conquests of Belgia by Clodian as far as Paris and unites it to France 4 King of Navarre sollicits in the name of the Princes of the Blood that they might share in the Government 16. kept a Prisoner 36. excommunicated by the Pope applies himself to the Opinions of Beza and Peter Martyr 42. dyes 76 King of Nâ—varre afterwards Henry IV. his Answer to Henry IIIs words at the Excommunication against him 48. is in great perplexity 407. his Answer about changing his Religion 408 swears to maintain the Catholick Religion 410. raises the Siege before Paris and divides his Forces to convenient places 412. desires to speak with Villeroy but the Duke of Mayenne will not consent ib. He and the Duke treat by a third person but nothing done ib. appoints the Assembly of States at Tours 416. marches successfully to Diepe and fortifies the places about it 417 c. is in great danger in the midst of his Enemies a Speech of his 421. a Saying of his 422. refuses in modesty to go under the Canopy of State at Amiens 423. marches towards Paris assaults the Suburbs gives the Pillà ge to his Soldiers 423. dismantles Estamps ibid. takes Vendosme gives the Pillage to his Soldiers condemns the Governor to death for his infidelity and Father Robert a Franciscan for commending the killing Henry III. 426. acknowledged King of France by Publick Solemnity at Tours and by the Republick of Venice 427. makes himself Master of all Towns and Fortresses in Normandy 428. besieges Dreux 440. raises the Siege 442. designs his form of Battel and draws it with his own hand 443. All armed on Horseback visits and exhorts his Soldiers with great efficacy and at the head of his Army lifting up his eyes to Heaven prayes heartily 446. his Clemency towards the French gives the Suisses quarter puts the Germans that revolted to the Sword 448. takes Two hundred and four Ensigns and Câ—rnets with all the Cannon and Baggage on his side but Five hundred slain 449.
Quintus writes congratulatory Letters to the D. of Guisâ— full of high praises The Pope thought he saw not cleerly into the affairs of the League The Pope chuseth Giovaâ— Francesco Moresini Bishop of Bergamo Legat to the Congregation of the States he being much desired by the King to whom he was Nuncio At the same time he is made Cardinal The Duke of Espernon is conspired against at Angoulesme Secretary Villeroy fomenting the business upon a secret order from the King The King according to the example of his Grand-father dismisseâ—h many old servants for their too much wisdom In the place of the High-Chancellour Chiverny Francois Sieur de Mâ—ntâ—elon is chosen Garde de Seaux * Lord Keeper The Assembly of States-General called at Blois upon the agreement between the King and the League begins with extraordinary preparations The King begins the Assembly with a fine Speech which sâ—ings the Duke of Guise and his adherents Monthelon the Garde des Seaux prosecutes and amplifies the King's Speech * Râ—naud de Beaune * Michel Marâ—eaâ— The King and the States swear in solemn manner to perform the Edict made before or persevâ—ring in the Catholick Religion The common opinion that the Duke of Guise aspired to the authority which the Masters of the Palace were wont to have * Les Maires du Palais Câ—ipâ—ric King of France of an effeminate nature put into a Monastery by Charles Martel and Pâ—pin Masters of the Palace The Proposition of receiving the Council of Trent made in the Assembly of the States-General is rejected with great contradiction The King is râ—quested to declare the King of Navarre incapable of the Crown and all others suspected of heresie after much opposition he consents coldly unto it The King seeing the râ—solution of the States against the King of Nâ—varre procures an abâ—oluâ—ion at Rome for the Prince of Câ—nâ—y and Count Soissons of the House of Bourbâ—â— which much troubles the Duke of Guisâ—â— Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy possesseth himself of the Marquesate of Saluzzo Causes alledged by the Duke of Savoy in excuse for his surprisal of the Marquesate of Saluzzo They send to the Duke of Savoy to demand the restitution of Saluzzo and upon his refusal to denounce War A fray happens among the Lords Pages one of the Duke of Guises is slainâ— the uproar riseth to that height that the whole factioâ—â— are divided under the names of Royalists and Guisaâ—ds the King himself being armed goes to the quarrel The King admits Giâ— Mocenigo Ambassador from Venice though he were not one of the Sauii dâ— Tâ—â—ra Firma * Magistrates so called at Venice because they have the principal adminâ—stration of affairs by land and the care of matters belonging to Peace and War Chrestienne de Lorain which should have been given to the King of Navarre is married to Ferdinandâ— de Medici Grand Duke of Thuscany The King desiring â—o free himself of the Duke of Guâ—se proposeâ— his design to four of his most trusty Confidents who after long consultation resolve to have him killed * Le porche aux Bretons The answer of Grillon Captain of the Guards Lognâ—c promiseth the King that the Duke of Guise should be slâ—in The King's resolution against the Duke of Guise comes to the ear of the Duke of Guise himself A consultation between the Duke of Guise the Cardinal his Brother the Archbishop of Lyons and the Duke d' Elbeuf The order taken by the King for the killing of the Duke of Guise The Captains invention to double the Guards and not be suspected by the Duke of Guise * The French Translation says Grand Mastre de la Garde robbe Pelicart the Dukes Secretary sends him a Note in a Handkerchief to bid him save himself but it comes not to his hands The Duke of Guise swoonin theCouncil-Chamber An ill omen of his approaching death The Duke of Guise is slain as he lifts up the hanging of the Closet-door The Cardinal of Guise and Archbishop of Lyâ—â—s are made prisoners as also all the Lords and other chief adherents of the Duke of Guise * The ordinary Iudge of the Kings houshold his command extends to all places within six leagues of the Court. It was reported that the Duke of Guise had received from Spain the sum of two millions of Crowns The King admitting every one into his presence speaks very resentingly The King says to his Mother Now I am King of France for I have put to death the King of Paris The King discourseth a long while with the Cardinal of Moresini about the Duke of Guises death The King seeing that the Legat shewed no trouble at the imprisonment of the Cardinals commands that Lewis of Lorain Cardinal of Guise be also put to death Du Gast a Captain of the Kings Guard causes the Cardinal of Guise to be slain by four Souldiers The bodies of the two Brothers were burned in quick Lime and their bones buried in an unknown place The Duke of Guise's Virtues and Endowments both in body and mind The Archbishops of Lyons being often examined would never answer alledging that as Primate of all France he had no other Superiour but the Catholick Church The Cardinal of Bourbon the Prince of Iainville now called Duke of Guise the Archbishop of Lyons and the Duke d'Elbeuf are all put into the Castle of Amboyse Charles Duke of Mayâ—nne third Brother to the Guises being advertised of his Brothers death flees from Lyons 1589. Katherine de Medicâ—s Wife to Henry the Second died on Twelfth-Eve in the 70 year of her age thirty whereof she spent in the Regency and in the management of the greatest affairs and troubles of the Kingdom of Franceâ— 1588. 1589. The Insurrection of the Parisians at the news of the Duke of Guise's death Charles of Lorain Duke of Aumale being made Governor of Paris by the City armes the people and orders them regularly under Commanders The Preachers detracting from the King celebrate the Duke of Guise his Martyrdom with exceeding high praises The Colledge of Sorbonne declares Henry the Third to have forfeited his Right to the Crown and his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance The King's Arms and Statues are thrown down the Navarrists and Politicks persecuted and slain All the Counsellors of Parliament and Officers who adhered to the King are imprisoned in the Bastille A Decree is made to combine themselves for the defence of Religion and it is called the Holy Vnion The Dutchess of Guise comes to the Parliament and demands justice they determine to do it her and chuse those that should form the Process Places and Cities which rise and unite themselves with the Parisians * Rather in Languedâ—â— A description of the miserable condition that France fell into by the means of the Duke of Guise his death The Names which the Factions gave one another * Bandes Blanckes Sixtus 5. being told of the Cardinal of Guise's death is highly offended and answers
composition of Twenty thousand Crowns The King in Council with the most conspicuous men of â—is party declares the necessity of giving some satisfaction to the Hugonots He proposes the confirmation of the Edict of Pacification made last by Henry the Third which grants them Liberty of Conscience with some circumstances and limitations and it is consented to The Cardinal of Vendosme begins to raise a third party of Catholicks to make himself Head of them and thereby to bring himself to the Crown Scipio Balbani is sent to Rome by the Cardinal of Vendâ—smâ— to treat with thâ— Pope and to communicate his design unto him The Cardinal of Lenon-court gives the King notice of the designs of the Cardinal of Vendosme The Sieur des Portes Secretary to the Duke of Mayenne informs him of the practices of the said Cardinal but a Letter being intercepted falls into the Kings hands The High Chancellor being told by the King of the Cardinal of Vendosmes designes perswades him to turn Catholick Monsieur de la Noues Answer to the High-Chancellor The Count dâ— Soissons brother to the Cardinal Veâ—dâ—sme is removed from the Government of Poictou upon suspicion Landriano the Popes Nuncio arrives at Rheims with Monitory Letters to the Prelates and Catholicks of the Kings paâ—ty After long opposition by the French Lords the Monitory is published to the satisfactioâ— of the Spanish and Popish party The Parliaments of Câ—alons and Touâ—s decree That the Pope's Monitory should be publickly burnt The Parliament of Paris makes Decrees contrary to those of the Parliaments of Tours and Chalons The Meeting at Rheims dissolves without any determination The Pope sends 1200 horse and 6000 foot into France under the command of the Duke of Monte-Marciano The people of Rouen disliking the Viscount de Tavannes their Governor make an Insurrection The Marquiss de Menelay is killed by order from the Duke of Mayenne because he would have delivered up la Fere to the King and have gone over to his party The Duke of Mayenne gives a scalado to Mante where the Prelates Lords and Officers of the Kings party were weakly guarded but being discovered is beaten off He goes to assault the Swisses at Hudan and having found them well fortified is fain to return By the Council of Mocenigo the Venetian Ambassador the King removes his Officers and Prelates from Mante to Chartres The situation of Noyon besieged by the King The Viscount de Tavannes going to put relief into Noyon is defeated and taken prisoner The Duke of Aumale going to relieve Noyon after a sharp sight retires The Duke of Mayenne having heard of the siege of Noyon marches with his Army to Han to give courage to the besieged The Duke of Mayennâ— resolves not to hazard a Battel with the King The Sieur de Ville Governor of Noyon seeing the King's Forces ready to give the assault parleys and concludes to surrender the place if it were not relieved within two dayes which is performed The Duke of Savoy obtains that the Popes Forces marching towards France should stay some time in his State to strengthen his designs against the Sieur Les Diguieres The Duke of Savoy besiegeth the Fort of Morestelâ—o The Savoyardâ— are routed and defeated by the French President Ieannin returns from Spain but brings no resolution to the Duke of Mayenne The King of Spains answers to President Iannin Charles Duke of Guise having been long kept prisoner at Tours â—scapes at 〈◊〉 and flees to Bourges The Duke of Mayenne inwardly afflicted for the D. of Guises escape strives to shew signs of joy and treats underhand with the Cardinal of Bouâ—bon and the other Lords that endeavour to set a third party on foot Charlotte de la Mark Heir to the Dutchy of Bouillon is given in Marriage to Henry de la Tour Viscount de Turenne at which the D. of Nevers iâ— disgusted The King being joyned with the German Army takes Attigny whither all the wealth of the neighbouring people had been broughtin and grants the pillage of it to the Germans The King reinforced by the German supplies brought by the Viscount de Turenne offers battel to the Duke of Mayenne in the Plain of Verdun The Dukes of Lorain and Mâ—â—enne agree secretly not to condescend to the election of any to be King of France not only that was a stranger but also that was not of their Family or at least a Prince of the Blood of the Catholick Religion The Duke of Mayenne being at Retel the Duke of Guise comes to him well accompanied and is received with outward shews of love but iâ— their secret conferences their confidence is not correspondent At the news of the death of Pope Gregory the XIV the Duke of Montemâ—rciano interposes delays and declares that he will depend upon the will of the Duke of Parma The Council of Sixteen falls into an emulation with the Parliament of Paâ—is and with the Council of State chosen by the Duke of Mayenne Brigard who had been imprisâ—ned upon suspition of Plots against the League being â—scaped the Judges that made his process are by the people in Armâ— tumultuously put in prison and by the Council of Sixteen are caused to be strangled as accomplices in his flight The Council of Siâ—teâ—n resolves to put it self under the protection of the Catholick King The Contents of certain Articles made by the Council of Sixteen The Duke of Mayenne being come to Paris to appease the Insurrection takes the Bastillâ— kept by the Sieur de Bussy and having set strong guards in the several quarters of the City causes four of the chief of the Council of Sixteen which were most guilty to be strangled * Or Notary The Duke of Parma declares that he had not been privy to the commotion of the Parisians praises the D. of Mayenne for having punished the delinquents and having met with the Duke of Guise at Valenciennes refuses to treat with him without the presence of the D. of Mayenne The Spaniards grant small supplies to divers French Heads of the League to alienate them from the Duke of Mayenne and divide them from the body of the League The Duke of Mercoeur with the Spaniards and the Prince of Dombes with the English face one another in Brâ—tagne The Sieur de la Noue going to view the breach and the works at Lambale is killed with a Musket-shot in the head Count Francesco Martinengo is defeated by Monsieur de la Valette and the siege of Vinon iâ— raised The Sieur de Sancy who was at Basil to raise men in that Canton having heard of One hundred thousand Ducats that were carrying from Milan toward German to levyforces theâ— places himself in ambush in a Wood assaults the Convoy and with much ease takes the Money * The French says Vitry * Quercy The course taken by the Sieur de Villars in ordering disposing and preparing things to receive the siege which was going to be laid to Rouen by the Kings
But nevertheless desirous to withstand as much as was possible the publick distractions and tumults of War she proposed to her self not to leave them altogether hopeless but to essay by dissimulation and artifices to divert the King of Navarre whom she knew pliable enough from such intentions and by delays in time to effect something that might be beneficial to the Common-wealth To which purpose at their first meeting having with shew of kindness filled him with hope she began most dexterously in the progress of their discourse to demonstrate unto him that the King being of a delicate disposition was not to be exasperated by demands and unreasonable complaints but that it was necessary to expect some fâ—t opportunity which time would at length produce For as the King being now past his minority was not bound in matters of Government to conform himself to the arbitrement or opinion of any body but only to his own will and judgment so when an occasion should be offered to honour or gratifie the Princes of Bourbon he would without all doubt satisfie the bond of consanguinity and shew to all the world how great an account and esteem he made of their vertue and loyalty That the King ought not in any manner by a change to destroy or alter the things already established lest he should give occasion to be thought of a variable nature unconstant irresolute and inconsiderate But when places grew void as daily some or other did he would not fail so far as was reasonable to satisfie the pretences of every one Withal she offered her self to undertake the protection of the Princes of the Blood and earnestly to sollicite her Son as soon as was possible to satisfie their desires that it would not be seemly for the King of Navarre who was a wise man and had ever been a pattern of moderation that he should now suffer himself to be guided by youthful rash Counsels and led into those precipices which were neither becoming his age nor wisdom but expecting with patience that which he ought to acknowledge simply the Kings courtesie and affection teach others the way how to receive in fit time the favours and benefits of their Prince With these discourses having often tasted his temper and perceiving he began already to stagger finally to give him the last shock she proposed to him that Elizabeth the Kings sister being to be sent into Spain accompanied with some Person of great quality and esteem she had thought to recommend that charge to him being every way qualified both for gravity and Royal Birth to honour and dignifie those Nuptials which besides the content the King her Son would receive by it would by the way prove very advantageous to his particular ends For he would have opportunity to gain the Catholick King and withal to treat in person concerning the restitution or change of his Kingdom of Navarre in which business she proffered to imploy all her own authority and the power of the King her Son to bring his desires to their wished ends The King of Navarre who in discovering and penetrating into the inclinations of the Court found those who had any employment there complying with the present occasions took little care of the pretences of the Princes of the Blood and those that had reason to desire his greatness and his Brothers some of them disheartned others ill satisfied with his long stay and all equally desperate of effecting any thing easily returning to his former thoughts of recovering his Kingdom he conceived he ought not to refuse that occasion which would be a means not only to renew the Treaties of Agreement with Spain but also to depart with honour from the Court where he found he could not remain with any reputation Wherefore willingly entertaining the motion to conduct Queen Elizabeth into Spain and filled with infinite hopes by the Queen-Mother notwithstanding the other Princes his adherents were very much offended at it he hasted his departure with such eagerness of mind that his enemies themselves could not have desired it more Nor did he with less facility entrap himself in the Treaty with the Spaniards for King Philip being already advertised of the particulars of that business by the Queen-Mother and he desiring no less than she that the King of Navarre who had such strong pretences against his State should be kept low and far from any power in the Government commanded the Duke of Alva and the other Lords appointed to receive the Queen his wife that they should be forward to use all manner of means to allure him on and entertain him but slowly imbracing his propositions they should offer themselves to make report thereof to the King and his Council without the opinion of whom nothing could be determined that concerned the interest of the State So the King of Navarre being come to the confines of Spain and having delivered Queen Elizabeth to the Spanish Deputies he presently entred into a Treaty that began fairly as he thought of his own private business which being managed with excellent dexterity by the Spaniards so filled him with great but delayed hopes that he had no other thoughts but of his own affairs in such manner that having at their request sent an Ambassador to that Court he determined to retire himself to his ancient quiet in Bearn with a firm resolution not at all to meddle in the businesses of France since their desires by way of negotiation proved fruitless And for the War he thought there was but little Justice in it and too much hazard But contrary was the opinion and other the resolutions of Lewis of Conde his Brother a poor Prince but hardy and couragious who having fram'd his hopes to aspire to great matters precipitated through the hate of his adversaries constrained by the narrowness of his fortune and continually spurr'd on by his Wife and Mother-in-law this Sister that Neece to the Constable but both of them fierce and ambitious women he could no longer support the wearisomness of his present condition but with all his power promoted new and dangerous counsels having already figured to himself that if he were a means and instrument to set the War on foot he should not only obtain a great power amongst his own party but riches also with divers other conveniencies many adherents to his faction and absolute Dominion over divers Cities and Provinces in the Kingdom Wherefore having again assembled at his own house at la Ferte in Champaigne the Princes his Allies and Lords adhering to his faction he laid before them that having till then tryed gentle pleasant remedies and found no ease by them it was necessary to apply a stronger medicine to cure the distemper which from the beginning so violently tended to the ruine not only of the Royal House but even of all that did not adore and depend as slaves upon the rule of the Queen-Mother and the Guises That it was no longer time to hide
their wounds till then with so much patience concealed for they appeared manifestly to the eyes of all the world That the injuries with such indignities cast upon the Royal Family were now openly to be seen as their banishment from the Court depriving them of the Government of Picardy the usurpation of the Office of Grand-Maistre The superintendence of the Kings Revenues The dividing of all the Charges and Offices amongst strangers and persons unknown The artificial imprisonment of the King himself to whom no body could have access that spake freely or honestly And finally the oppression of all good men and advancement only of those who looked after nothing else but to rob and waste the riches of the Crown The eager persecution of the Blood Royal was known to every one and the tyranny of strangers established amongst them whose violence could not be withstood but in the same manner by violence That it was not the first time the Princes of the Blood had taken Arms to deâ—end the Jurisdictions and Priviledges of their Family So Peter Duke of Brittain Robert Count of Dreux and divers other Lords ingaged themselves in a War when in the minority of the King Saint Lewis Queen Blanch his Mother of her own accord took upon her the Government of the State So Philip Count of Valois after the death of Charles the Fair made use of his power to exclude from the Guardianship and Regency those that unjustly pretended to usurp it so Lewis Duke of Orleans made war in the time of Charles the eighth to make himself be chosen Regent and Governour of the Kingdom against the power and authority of Anne Dutchess of Bourbon who being the Kings elder sister had assumed the charge of his Government That these and many other examples were so evident that they could not do amiss in following the steps of their ancestors whose case being clearly the same with theirs then directed them the way to their own preservation That they ought no longer to linger in expectation of the Kings pleasure who buried in the lethargy of his own incapacity perceived not the miserable slavery into which he was brought But as a wise careful Physician gives medicines and potions to a sick man against his will to cure him of an infirmity and recover him from that danger which he perceives not in himself so the Princes of the Blood to whom by consent of the whole Nation and ancient custom this care naturally belongs ought to endeavour to free the King from that slavery and those bonds which he overcome by his infirmity perceived not though so prejudicial to himself and destructive to the whole Kingdom but that it was necessary before the present danger precipitated them into extremities to arm themselves with a strong resolution and to proceed with a resolved constancy For by quickness prevention and boldness they should easily overcome those difficulties which appear more in a Council or putting doubts in a debate than they are indeed when they come to be attempted That on the contrary by dejectedness of courage and slackness they should for ever subject themselves to a ruinous shameful servitude Wherefore he desired every one all doubts and uncertainties laid aside couragiously to trust his present safety quiet and future honour to the strength of his own Arms. These things being spoken with efficacy and Souldier-like boldness and courage by the Prince wrought upon the minds of the greatest part of his audience who were already of themselves through their own affections and interests disposed to take Arms. But the Admiral with more weighed counsel measuring the greatness of the attempt opposed the Princes opinion and advised to take another way which he thought more secure and likelier to take effect For to hazard so openly all the Royal Family and so many their Allies and Dependants with little force not any adherents no strong places without men and no provision of money to the arbitrement of War and Chance appeared to him too desperate a resolution and therefore thought it necessary to have recourse to industry and art where there was a manifest defect of strength and so working under-hand without discovering themselves bring their design notwithstanding by the ministry of other persons to the end they desired He shewed them how the whole Kingdom was full of multitudes of those that had embraced the opinions and faith newly introduced by Calvin that by reason of the severity of the Inquisitions exercised against them and rigorous punishments they were through despair brought to a desire nay to a necessity of exposing themselves to any danger whatsoever could befal them so they might be free from the misery of their present condition that they all believed that the severity used against them proceeded from the motions and advice of the Duke of Guise and much more from the Cardinal of Lorain who not only in the Parliament and Kings Council ardently wrought their destruction but in publick discourse and private meetings opposing their Doctrine never desisted to persecute them that the resolution and violence of that people was till then suppressed because they had no head to guide them nor any person whose counsel and activity might put heat into them but with any little shew of assistance they would without regard hazard themselves in all difficult and dangerous designs through hope to be delivered from those calamities that so much oppressed them Wherefore it would be an excellent Expedient to make use of that means to animate and get into a body a multitude so prepared and then secretly to set them on when occasion served to the destruction of the House of Lorain in which manner the Princes of the Blood and other Lords of their party should secure themselves from danger increase their strength by such a number of followers gain the adherents of the Protestant Princes of Germany and Elizabeth Queen of England who openly favoured and protected that belief set a greater shew of honesty upon the cause lay upon others the burden of so bold an attempt and make it believed for the future by all the world that the Civil War was set on foot and stirred up not by the interest of the Princes and their pretensions to the Government but by the discords and controversies in matters of Religion It was not hard for the Admiral by his eloquence and authority to perswade the rest to approve of this design of it self in appearance much conducing to the state of their present affairs and there being many in the Assembly which secretly inclined to Calvins Doctrine it was resolved with a general consent to follow that advice the which with lively and no less present hopes hindred so precipitate a War and kept off for a time those evident dangers to which men unwillingly expose themselves when there is any means wholly to avoid or at least to delay them But it was a counsel and resolution so fatal and pernicious that
time when it was most necessary to remain united would have occasioned the Kings ruine and the subversion of the State admitting with disorder and confusion in the Government advantageous opportunities for the Conspirators to execute with greater facility their intended designs Besides it appeared very reasonable to her that to such imminent dangers should be opposed the absolute power of some one experienced person of great reputation and that it was not fit to relie upon one of weak capacity who with doubts and delays might give the enemy that opportunity which he desired and take off from his own that resolution and freeness of courage which the urgency of the present affairs required And by the example of past occurrences which teach excellent lessons to govern the future she was put in mind that not only Kings who govern absolutely according to their will but even Re-publicks had conferred the supreme Authority upon one man when the occurrence of any great dangers seemed to require extraordinary and powerful opposition But besides these respects which concerned the welfare of her Son and the publick good she was perswaded to it by her own private interest For foreseeing afar off the desolation that must of necessity follow the enmities of the Princes of the Blood and the hate and envy that would fall upon her if she opposed it she thought it very fit for her purpose that the Duke of Guise commanding absolutely in chief all the blame and envy should fall wholly on him and she by that means preserve the love of the people and the liberty to bend her counsels that way which she should think most fit and advantageous for her self But Olivier the Chancellor a man in all times esteemed the Author of wise counsel and averse to such unlimited power seemed to stand doubtful and in suspence whether or no he should consent to the Kings Proposition and such was his constancy and authority that the business had been held longer in debate and with doubtful success if the Queen-Mother had not made it appear to him that the present danger was so extraordinary and so pressing that it could not be prevented with ordinary moderate counsels That it was necessary to provide for the urgency of the instant affairs and rather than ruine the present lay aside a little the consideration of future things which might be otherwise remedied by time and opportunity That it would be very easie this urging necessity once past to moderate with new Decrees and new Edicts the now unlimited power of the Duke of Guise which would quickly transport him beyond the limits of duty and reason if he were not restrained by his own vertue And finally it would be of advantage to every one that in the effusion of so much blood which it was foreseen must be spilt no other power nor authority should be used but the Dukes only neither the King himself his Friends or Ministers having their hands imbrued in those slaughters Which considerations moving the Chancellor he sealed the Commission drawn by l' Aubespine Secretary of State In which was granted to the Duke of Guise the Title and Authority of Lieutenant-General for the King in all the Provinces and places under his command with supreme Power in all causes Civil and Military The Duke of Guise having obtained this charge which he had ever aspired to began resolutely to attend the suppression of the Conspiracy and presently causing the Gate of the Castle into the Garden to be walled up and having placed the Switzers and French Archers which use ordinarily to guard the Kings person at the other he sent forth the Count of Sanserre with some Horse to scout abroad and give him continual advertisement what he could discover In the mean time Renaudie arrived with his Complices at the place appointed and finding the King was retired from Blois to Ambois nevertheless his courage not failing he went on in the same order towards the Court. The unarmed multitude came first who falling prostrate before the King were to demand Liberty of Conscience But they were not only not admitted to his presence but being roughly driven away from the Gates by the Souldiers that were in Guard they retired and scattered up and down in the fields and without either order or advice expected the coming of their other Companions Not long after Captain Lignieres one of the Conspirators either terrified at the point of execution with the greatness of the danger or else through remorse of Conscience leaving his Companions went a by-way to Ambois and acquainted the King and Queen-Mother particularly of the number and quality of the Conspirators the names of the Commanders the ways by which they came and withal their whole design Wherefore by the Kings order a Guard being set upon the Prince of Conde that he might in no manner be aiding to the Conspirators as he had promised them the Duke of Guise sent forth Iaques d' Aubon Marescal de S. Andre and Iames Savoy Duke of Nemours with all the horse they could make either of the Kings Guard or the attendance about the Court who being placed in Ambushes in the woods thereabouts intended to expect the coming of the Conspirators Mazeres and Raunay who led the Troops of Bearne were the first that fell into the Ambuscade laid by the Count of Sanserre and astonished with the sudden assault neither knowing how to flee nor defend themselves were taken prisoners without much dispute The Baron of Castelnau who led a great number out of Gascoigne being arrived at Noze and and there refreshing his Horse to continue their march was met by the Duke of Nemours who besieging him in that place where he had no manner of provision to make any defence they thought it best to yield themselves to the Dukes mercy who carried him and all his company prisoners to Ambois La Renaudie passing through the woods having avoided all the Ambuscadoes approached near the Gates of Ambois where encountred him Pardillian with a Squadron of resolute Cuirassiers yet seeing himself in good condition to fight he made a fierce assault but soon found that his men as it is ordinary in such tumults began to yield to the Kings old Souldiers Wherefore desiring to end his life honourably he spurred on his Horse to Pardillian and running him into the Vizor with his Tuck laid him dead upon the ground whereupon being shot in the thigh with a Carabine by Pardillian's Page who was near his Master he died fighting valiantly and the rest of his Companions without much resistance were for the most part all killed upon the place The next day the rest of the Conspirators Troops hearing of the death of la Renaudie and the defeat of their Companions and considering that the Country about being raised upon them there was no means to save themselves by flight they resolved under the conduct of la Mothe and Coccaville who were the only Commanders left to assault the
with them as soon as she saw they had assembled such a force as might be sufficient to resist the power of their Adversaries And on the other side she made protestations to the King of Navarre the Constable and the Duke of Guise that she would never forsake the Catholick party nor ever consent to the establishment of the Hugonots further than granting them a moderate liberty such as by the advice of persons well-affected should be thought necessary for the quiet of the State Her Letters concerning this business were no less ambiguous than her words nor did she declare her self more openly abroad to foreign Princes than at home within her own Kingdom but often changing the tenour of her discourse and varying the instructions she gave to Ambassadors in other Courts and particularly to Monsieur de l' Isle who resided in Rome sometimes restraining them other while giving them a larger scope so confounded the understandings of all men that they could not conclude any thing But now she began to have a hard task For the heads of both parties were grown by experience to be no less their Crafts-masters than her self and in such a long time that she had held the Regency they had had the commodity to discern and understand her arts besides now that the King began to grow of age she was necessitated to cut off those delays which she formerly used many things being in apparence just which when He should come to years to govern of himself depended absolutely upon his judgment and arbitrement which none could oppose without manifest delinquency of Felony whereas at the present every one might pretend that they did not withstand the Kings will but the wicked pernicious counsels of his Ministers The Duke of Guise who being of a more violent disposition and resolute nature than the rest absolutely swayed the resolutions of his party having already drawn to his opinion the Constable and the King of Navarre perswaded them that going presently together to Court they should bring the King and the Queen-Mother to Paris and afterwards make them confirm such Determinations and Edicts as seemed necessary for the present times and not by expecting run the hazard of being prevented or suffer their Adversaries to seize first upon the Kings person and so invest themselves with the authority of his Name The Prince of Conde had the same intention who when he left Paris retired first to Meaux a Town in Brye ten leagues distant from thence and then to la Ferte a place of his own there to assemble his Forces To this resolution he was advised by the Admiral invited by the promises of the Queen-Mother and perhaps further induced by the design of the Catholicks which was not concealed from him as for the most part in civil dissentions through the infidelity of Counsellors and frequency of spies it is very easie to penetrate into the very thoughts of the Enemy But the Catholick Lords with their ordinary followers were sufficient to manage this design besides they were near to Paris which depending absolutely upon their wills afforded strength and commodity to effect it Whereas on the other side the Prince of Conde being far weaker than they and but few of his men armed he was forced to expect the other Lords and Gentlemen of his party who being sent for from divers Provinces of the Kingdom were not speedily to be brought together In the mean while the Catholicks prevented them and on a sudden appeared in great numbers at the Court. Yet the Queen nothing dismayed at their so unexpected coming though doubtful that her former arts would no longer prevail began to perswade the King of Navarre that the Princes and other Lords that came with him should presently withdraw themselves from about the Court that every one plainly perceived the cause of their coming which was to force her being unarmed and the King yet in minority to order things in the State according to their humours and to accommodate publick affairs to passions and private interests which was not only far from the loyalty and integrity they professed but absolutely contrary to the peace and safety of the Kingdom which they pretended only to desire For to seek new Edicts and new Institutions different from those which were already enacted was no less than to arm the Hugonots who bold enough of themselves and ready for Insurrections would believe and publish to all the World that they had reason on their side if without any cause that Edict should be recalled which by a general consent was confirmed and established That it was expedient whilst the King was under age to avoid the necessity of a War and the troubles and inconveniencies that accompanied it left besides the universal prejudice a greater brand of infamy might be fixed upon them who held the greatest authority in the Government That she for this reason consented to the Edict of Ianuary for this cause left Paris to take away all manner of pretence and opportunity for that mischief to break out which secretly crept up and that to return to a place suspected and to disturb the Edict already published would be openly to foment the violence of it Withal she put the King of Navarre in mind and the other Catholick Princes that to raise Civil Wars was only proper to those who were either of unsetled or desperate fortunes and not for such who possessing riches dignities estates and honours lived in a flourishing eminent condition That the King of Navarre should enjoy the principal Command of the whole Kingdom which already without contradiction he was possessed of the other Princes should enjoy their estates greatness and dignities and should comply with the people that by enjoying or believing they enjoyed a borrowed and momentary liberty they might suffer the King without War to accomplish the age of his majority That nothing had been done which was not forced by an absolute necessity That only was given which could not be sold and that liberty granted to the Hugonots which of their own power they arrogated to themselves And therefore the Catholick Princes should have patience that this so frantick humour might be overcome with art and dexterity and not wilfully be an occasion by anticipating the remedies before the time the King came of age to anticipate likewise the disease which would carry along with it many adverse revolutions and dangerous accidents and if they were positively resolved to regulate the Edict that it was to be done insensibly and with opportunity of times and occasions and not with such open violence which would afford that commodity to the seditious which they themselves desired and sought after These reasons effectually expressed and reiterated would have moved the King of Navarre and perhaps the Constable also if the Duke of Guise had consented thereunto But he having setled his hopes not only to recover but enlarge his former greatness by the fortune of the war and desirous as
ample liberty as was granted by the Edict of Ianuary could not contain themselves within the limits of the Articles agreed upon at the Pacification Wherefore following the example of the Catholicks who by a joint Embassie from the Pope and the other Princes sollicited the publication of the Council of Trent they procured likewise from the Protestant Princes of Germany to send an Embassie of some eminent persons who complaining that those of the same Religion with them were very ill treated should desire the King that in consideration of those Princes and for the quiet of the Kingdom he would permit the Hugonots a full liberty to assemble themselves in all places This Embassie sent by the Palatine of the Rhine the Duke of Wittembergh the Duke of Deux-ponts one of the Dukes of Saxony the Duke of Pomerania and the Marquess of Baden many thought it was made at the expence and with the money of the Hugonots for the interests of those Princes were not such that they should make this Expedition which was so extraordinary at this time However it were the Ambassadors having first conferred with the Prince the Admiral and the rest of that faction went afterwards to the King who was returned to Paris and at their Audience in a tedious formal Narration testified the good will of their Princes and the intentions they had to continue their ancient friendship with the Crown of France after which preamble they desired first the observance of the Edict of Pacification and afterwards by little and little expressing themselves more at large demanded that the Ministers of the Reformed Religion might preach both in Paris and in all other places of the Kingdom and that the people might freely in what numbers they pleased go to hear them The King by nature beyond measure cholerick and by reason of his long conversation in the War of a rough behaviour being now of an age to discern good from ill was before exceedingly offended knowing since they came into the Kingdom they had first treated with others besides himself but afterwards when he heard their demands he was so out of order that he could hardly answer them in short that he would preserve a friendship and affection for those Princes as long as they did not interpose in the affairs of his Kingdom as he did not meddle in their States and after he had recollected himself a little while said with manifest shew of disdain That he had need likewise to sollicite their Princes to suffer the Catholicks to preach and say Mass in their Cities and Towns and with these words took his last leave of the Ambassadors Notwithstanding that they might not remain altogether unsatisfied and return with this distaste to their Princes the Queen to make them some amends for the liberty her Son had used besides many other honours gave order that they should have great and noble Presents The Kings anger was wrought to the heighth by the carriage of the Admiral who being come to Court in this conjuncture and fearing to lose his reputation with his party or else ashamed whilst stranger Princes sollicited in the behalf of the Hugonots not to shew himself the morning after being in the Kings Chamber and seeing there by chance a Declaration published a little before That at the Preachings tolerated in private houses none should be present but those of the Family he took occasion to make great complaint thereof saying In this manner we are deprived the liberty of admitting a Friend who cometh by chance to our houses in a visit to hear the Word of God whilst on the other side the Catholicks are permitted to assemble wheresoever they please without prescribing their number manner or any other circumstance of their meetings at which words the Constable being present sharply reprehended his Nephew and answered The case is not the same for the King doth not give a Toleration to the Catholicks but it is the Religion he himself professeth which is derived to him by a long succession from his Ancestors whereas on the contrary the exercise of the new Religion was simply a grace of his Majesty for what time number or place he was pleased or should be pleased to grant it them And the King in choler added At the first you were content with a little liberty now you will be equal within a little while you will be chief and drive us out of the Kingdom The Admiral held his peace but was much troubled in his countenance and the King in a great chase went to the Queen-Mothers Chamber where aggravating the business he said in presence of the Chancellor That the Duke of Alva's opinion was right that their Heads were too eminent in the State that no arts could prevail with such subtile Artificers and therefore it was necessary to use rigour and force and though the Queen endeavoured to appease him from that time forward he was so fixed in that belief that it was not possible to alter or make him of another mind Daily something or other hapned to increase and augment the Kings anger For the Queen of Navarre shewing as much malice as she could had a little before made a sudden Insurrection at Pamiers a City in the County of Foix where the Hugonots taking a scandal at a Procession on Corpus Christi day betook themselves to their Arms and falling upon the others that were unarmed made a great slaughter among the Chruch-men and in the same fury burnt and ruined their houses and by her instigation with the other principal Heads of that party strange tumults were raised at Montaban Cahors Rhodez Perigieux Valence and other places in Languedoc and Daulphine in which though no great matter hapned no killing of men nor shedding of blood yet as it came to their turns either the Catholicks or the Hugonots were driven out of their Countries according as the one party or the other was most powerful in the place with perpetual trouble to the King and Queen who many days together were very much in doubt of the revolt of Lyons where through the great concourse of people that from all parts but especially from Savoy fled thither for Religion the Hugonots were so increased and raised such commotions that the City had certainly remained in the power of that party if Renato of Birago President who was afterwards Chancellor and successively Cardinal had not with great dexterity and courage suppressed those tumults after which though the first fury were over yet the Factions ceased not continually to persecute each other and in particular the Hugonots were accused to have wrought a Mine a thousand paces long under the Bulwarks with an intent whilst the people were in these distractions to give fire to it and surprize the City and though they excused themselves by shewing that the Cave found under ground was the relicks of an ancient Aqueduct yet the King remained not without jealousies and sent the President order to reinforce
the kindred was also gone from Court as likewise the Prince of Daulphine his Son But about that time the Kings designs which with so much care and diligence had been kept secret were like unexpectedly to have been discovered The Duke of Anjou did much favour and was very familiar with Monsieur de Ligneroles a young Gentleman of very acute wit and high spirit who often discoursing intimately with the Duke of the present state of affairs induced him at last to impart the Kings most secret designs to him partly because he was most confident of his fidelity partly to hear his opinion upon so important a business and to receive his advice and counsel in that as he was wont in many other things Ligneroles by means of his favour being grown into such esteem that the Queen-Mother the Duke of Guise and even the King himself made great account of his wit and courage He being one day in the Chamber with the King who much displeased at the high insolent demands of some of the Hugonot Lords after he had dismissed them with shew of favour letting loose his anger and laying aside dissimulation shewed some tokens of being extreamly offended either moved with ambition to appear not ignorant of the nearest secrets or with the lightness incident to youth which often over-shoots discretion told the King in his ear that his Majesty ought to quiet his mind with patience and laugh at their insolence and temerity for within a few days by that meeting which was almost ripe he would have brought them all into the net and punished them at his own pleasure with which words the Kings mind being struck in the most tender sensible part he made shew not to understand his meaning and retired into his private lodgings where full of anger grief and trouble he sent to call the Count de Retz thinking that he who was likewise familiar with Ligneroles had revealed this secret to him and with sharp injurious words reproached him with the honours and benefits he had conferred upon him threatning to take vengeance on that perfidiousness wherewith forgetful of so great favours he had betrayed him and discovered his most secret intentions but the Count constantly denying it and offering to be shut up in prison till the truth were known he called the Queen-Mother and complained grievously to her that she had made known those thoughts which he with such patience and constraint of his own mind forcing his nature had so long dissembled to which words the Queen smiling answered That she needed not to learn the art of secresie from him and that he should look whether by his own impatience he had not discovered something of that which he thought to be revealed by others the King as he was exceeding cholerick fretting and storming very impatiently sent at last for the Duke of Anjou who without further urging confessed freely that he had imparted the business to Ligneroles but withal assured them they needed not fear that he would ever open his lips to discover so weighty a secret No more he shall not answered the King for I will take order that he shall be dispatched before he have time to publish it The Duke of Anjou either not daring to oppose that so sudden resolute determination or else angry at the lightness of Ligneroles and for fear of the worst not caring to divert it the King sent to call George de Villequier Viscount of Guerchy who as Masters are seldom ignorant how their Servants stand affected he knew bear a secret emulous hatred to Ligneroles and commanded him by all means to endeavour the taking away of his life that very day with which resolution the King presently taking horse with the Duke of Anjou as he often used to do without staying for any attendants went to hunt in the fields and woods not far off which the Courtiers no sooner heard but as fast as their horses could be brought they followed severally stragling after the cry of the Hounds and Ligneroles by their example instantly did the same but the Viscount de la Guerchy and Count Charles of Mansfield who was privy to his purpose mounted upon fiery unquiet horses hunted in the same company with Ligneroles and drew near under colour of talking and discoursing with him which while he endeavoured to avoid not being able to keep his horse in order among theirs that was so quarrelsom and unruly and while they persisted still following him as it were in sport they presently came to high language and then to challenges whereupon the Viscount suddenly drawing his sword and Count Charles at the same instant they fell so furiously upon him that before he could be rescued by those that came to help him they left him dead upon the place which being come to the Kings knowledge with great shew of anger and trouble he caused them both to be taken and imprisoned in the Palace from whence in process of time by the intercession of Monsieur d' Angoulesme the Kings Bastard-brother and by particular grace and favour they were after set at liberty This business being passed over which for a while had troubled the whole Court the next was to overcome the obstinacy of the Lady Marguerite who more fix'd than ever to her former thoughts denyed now absolutely to marry at all since she was forbidden to take the Duke of Guise to which the Popes continued denyal of a dispensation being added the conclusion of that marriage remained still uncertain The Queen-Mother by the means of the Bishop of Salviati the Popes Nuncio to whom she was near allied endeavoured to perswade them at Rome that the effecting of that match would conclude to the good of the Catholick Religion for to draw the Prince of Navarre into so near a relation and confidence with the King would be an occasion that not only he being young and easie to be won to better opinions would come into the bosom of the Church but also infinite others part moved by his example and part out of fear to lose so considerable a prop as the first Prince of the Blood would do the like that they often had tryed in vain to overcome the Hugonots with sharpness and violence therefore it was now fit to try some gentle remedies But when they saw the Popes mind could not be changed by perswasions they began to try if they could alter it by neglect the King and the Queen saying openly That being necessitated to make a match with one of another Religion they would do it howsoever without caring for any dispensation nor would they suffer the peace and quietness of their Kingdom to be disturbed and by the Popes obstinacy involved in the former wars dangers and inconveniencies Which things confirming the assurance and boldness of the Hugonots the Admiral in the end perswaded by Count Lodowick of Nassau and the counsels of Teligny his Son-in-law and of Cavagnes a man great in his esteem but much
cost pains nor danger but using all military force and industry to storm it yet the Citizens and Souldiers and even the very women as well as men defended it with admirable valour and constancy sustaining for a long time the force and power of a whole Kingdom and holding out against hunger and famine no less than against the assaults and batteries of the Enemy Amongst the various events of this Siege Monsieur de la Noue had opportunity to regain the Kings favour and get leave to live privately at his own house for while the Council of the Citizens treated of yielding to that force which they saw they could not much longer resist he being fallen into a contestation with some of the Ministers whose authority was infinite over the minds of the common people and who without any regard to reason exhorted them still to constancy one of them named la Place was so bold and inconsiderate that after having basely abused him and many times called him Traitor he insolently offered with his hand to strike him in the face which injury though he seemed to pass by for quietness sake and though the Minister was kept in prison many days for a mad man yet inwardly it troubled him very much and moreover foreseeing that at the arrival of the Count Montgomery who was expected with supplies from England the chief command would be taken from him and conferred upon the Count with whom by reason of an ancient emulation he had no very good correspondence he resolved within himself to leave the Town and the next day sallying out of the works as he often used to skirmish with the Enemy he went over with some few in his company to the Duke of Anjou's camp making that pass for the fulfilling of his promise to the King which upon new considerations he resolved to do either for revenge of the affront he had received or for the securing of his own safety which he saw exposed to the calumnies and practices of the Ministers But whatsoever the motive was his example was followed by a great many Gentlemen and Officers yet all that shaked not the perseverance of the Citizens nor abated the courage of the Souldiers supporting with gallant resolution the furious bloody assaults which night and day were made against them on every side and enduring with constancy of mind the great scarcity of victual and the perpetual duty which they were forced to undergo without intermission For towards the Sea were raised two Forts one at the point called de Coreille the other over against it in the place which they call Port-neuf which being mann'd with a thousand Souldiers were kept by Captain Cossein and Captain Gas each with fifteen pieces of Cannon and between them a great Carack was fastened at anchor which furnished with Culverins shot into the mouth of the Haven and hindred the entrance into it so that by continual industry it was blocked up on that side and on the other toward the Land all the Princes and Lords of the Army had divided the work among them in such manner that the Trenches and Redoubts touched one another every where not did they cease to redouble their assaults every hour and yet the resistance of those within equalled the courage and industry of those that were without The valour and constancy of the Defendants was much increased by the intelligence which they secretly received from their friends which were in the Camp for not only among the private Souldiers but also among those that commanded there were some that did not desire the destruction of Rochel nor the extirpation of the Hugonot Faction and Byron who commanded the Artillery following his former intentions did with great dexterity as many were of opinion delay the progress of the Batteries and strengthened the resolution of the besieged But for all these arts their most constant Citizens and most valiant Souldiers were already consumed the hopes of relief from England and Germany were vanished of themselves for the Protestant Princes perswaded by Gaspar Count of Schombergh who was sent to them by the King had resolved not to interpose in the commotions of France there being now no Prince of the Blood who with his authority and supplies of money might maintain the War and the Queen of England to whom the King had sent Alberto Gondi for the same cause had refused to send them either men or shipping and the Count de Montgomery being departed to relieve the besieged with a good number of ships but ill mann'd and armed though with much ado he got a ship of Ammunition to enter the Haven yet being chased by the Kings Fleet and despairing to do any more good in the business he made out to Sea laid aside all thoughts of raising the siege or relieving the City now brought to extremity and only as a Pyrate annoyed the coasts of Britagne and Normandy Their victuals were likewise quite spent and their ammunition almost all wasted and on the other side though the Duke of Anjou in a siege of so many months had lost the Duke of Aumale killed in the Trenches with a Cannon-shot an infinite number of Gentlemen and Officers and above twenty thousand Souldiers killed and dead of the sickness and the Duke of Anjou himself whilst he was viewing the works wounded though but lightly in the neck in the side and in the left hand by a Harquebuze a croc charged with tarling had more need of rest than continual action yet neither the fierceness nor frequency of the assaults were at all allayed but there arriving daily new forces at the Camp among which six thousand Swisses newly entered into pay the siege grew rather streighter and the service hotter than at first so that the City was reduced to an impossibility of holding out longer and would at last have been taken by force and utterly ruined by the King if a new far-fetcht occasion had not saved it and prevented its so imminent destruction There had been a treaty many months before of electing the Duke of Anjou to be King of Poland the hope whereof being begun in the life of Sigismund Augustus King of that Kingdom with this proposition That the Duke taking Anne the Kings Sister to Wife should by the States of those Provinces be declared Successour to the Crown after his death it was much increased for though Ernest Arch-Duke of Austria Son to the Emperour and Sigismond King of Sweden were both Competitors in the same design yet neither of them seemed comparable for valour and glory to the Duke of Anjou whose name by reason of his many victories flew through all parts of Europe with a most clear same of singular vertue and renown The King of France applyed his mind wholly to that end and much more the Queen-Mother for the infinite love she bore to that Son and therefore they neither spared money promises pains nor industry necessary to effect that business which being brought very
besieged on every side In the mean time the Squadrons of Cavalry under Malicorn and Meleray being come up those that sallied out were within a little while beaten in again though with loss on both sides there being slain above sixty of the Catholicks and about eighty of the Hugonots The Catholick Army being divided lodged it self into two several quarters shutting up the ways both by Sea and Land for it was their chief design to keep the Count from any means of saving himself and as soon as it was quartered they presently began their trenches and to plant their Cannon believing the Town was able to hold out but a very few days But the Count knowing his weakness and making it his chief aim to save himself having the night following often given them their alarms in several places to try and amuse the Catholick Camp at last he with a few of his Souldiers forced a Corps de Guard of the Sieur de Luce his Regiment which kept a passage toward the Land and knowing the Country very well by the help of the night saved himself undiscovered in certain low moorish grounds which use to be overflow'd by the Tide and then passing an arm of the Sea in certain small Fisher-boats which he found by chance went to Danfront having left his Son and Son-in-law at St. Lo but with an assured hope of relieving them within a few days His flight was not known unto the Catholicks for the darkness of the night the small number of his company and his means of getting away had concealed his escape till grown strong in Horse by the help of many Gentlemen of his party he began to run about the Country cutting off passages and making shew that he would relieve the besieged whereby being at last assured that he was slipt out of the net and insulted furiously over the neighbouring Country they called a Council of War wherein the opinions being various the Sieurs de Fervaques Ruberpre and many others counselled the prosecution of the siege of St. Lo a business which they esteemed but of a few days to take away that secure retreat from the Enemy and cut off all hopes of saving themselves by Sea but Villers and St. Colombe were of opinion that leaving St. Lo still besieged to divide the Forces of the Enemy they should with the same celerity they came thither follow the Count de Mongomery thinking that to suppress him would quite extinguish the War This resolution being approved by Matignon having left Fervaques and Maliâ—orne to block up St. Lo he himself with Villers and St. Colombe taking with them two Regiments of Foot six hundred Horse and only four small pieces of Cannon marched so speedily to Danfront that they prevented the Enemies intelligence who though the Walls of the City were very weak yet trusting to the River Mante that runneth about one side of it and to the Fort which seated upon the top of a Hill guards it on the other side were resolved constantly to defend the place The night following the Cannon were planted and in the morning there being hardly forty yards of the wall beaten down Villers despising the hindrance of the River passed over at the head of the Infantry up to the brest in water and assaulted it so boldly that the Souldiers being terrified fled without resistance into the Castle and the Town remaining in the power of the Catholicks was by the fury of the Souldiers almost utterly ruined and destroyed Much greater was the difficulty of assaulting the Castle seated upon an intire Rock where the Sap could do little good and so high above the plain that they were forced with infinite difficulty to raise Cavaliers for the planting of their Ordnance which while the Catholicks put in execution with the same speed and courage the Hugonots still molested them with sharp bloody sallies which at last ceased for one Cavalier being finished they began furiously to batter the Curtin After the battering followed a fierce assault in which though the Catholicks lost St. Colombe with a great many Voluntiers and about two hundred of their most valiant men the Hugonots received so much loss by the death of a great many Gentlemen and the greatest part of their Souldiers that they were able to hold out no longer for which cause lest the assault which was preparing with more Forces than at first should be renewed the next day they yielded themselves the same night to the discretion of the Conquerours and Monsieur de Matignon entring the Castle caused the Souldiers to be pillaged and let them all go keeping only some few Gentlemen prisoners and the Count de Montgomery who with a very strong guard was brought to Court where by the sentence of the Parliament of Paris he was publickly executed as a Rebel in the place appointed for Malefactors The King and Queen not only rejoycing that they had freed themselves of so fierce an Enemy who held perpetual correspondence with foreign Princes but also that they had revenged the death of Henry the Second slain by him though accidentally as we have said in a Tournament from the occasion of whose death proceeded afterwards all those following calamities Danfront being taken Monsieur de Matignon returned to St. Lo which he began to besiege mâ—re streightly and the seventh day Villers storming it with the chief of all the Infantry remained Master of the wall though with the loss of much blood and of a Tower which placed in the flank defended the Avenue that led toward the gate The assault being renewed in the morning by break of day the victorious Army entred the Town where the Son-in-law of Montgomery being slain and Monsieur de Colombiere a Souldier of great valour and noble birth Monsieur Lorges Son to the Count was taken who being condemned to the same punishment which his Father â—ad suffered corrupted his guards and saved himself by flight Carentanâ— and Valognes yielded without staying to be besieged that 〈◊〉 being thus extinguished which with so much danger had been kindled in the most suspected parts of the Kingdom But at that time the Kings life was drawn almost unto the last period for having begun some months before to spit blood being afterwards oppressed with a slow but a continued internal Feaver he had in the end utterly lost all strength whereby knowing himself to be already near his death he caused all the Lords and Officers of the Crown which were then at Court to be called unto him and having told them the danger of his sickness and nearness of his death he declared his Brother Henry King of Poland to be his Successor in the Kingdom and until his coming the Queen his Mother to be Regent strictly commanding the Duke of Alancon the King of Navarre and all others under pain of Rebellion to obey and serve her faithfully until the arrival of the lawful King After that the Secretaries of State and Renato de Birago who
a while before was chosen High Chancellor in the place of Michael de l' Hospital already dead had passed the Patents for these matters and registred them in the Parliament the King recommending the Peace of his Kingdom to his Council and his little Daughter the only Child which he had by the Queen his Wife and Charles his Bastard Son who was yet a Child unto the care of his Mother with grave and pious discourses having dismissed all those that were present he held his Mother still fast by the hand and ended the course of his troublesom Reign upon the Thirtieth day of May before he was full Five and Twenty years of age leaving his Kingdom after the revolution of so many Wars in no less danger and confusion than he had found it in Fourteen years before when he came a Child unto the Crown The End of the Fifth BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The SIXTH BOOK The ARGUMENT THe Sixth Book contains the Arts used by the Queen Regent to hold matters in suspence till the coming of the King Henry the Third out of Poland He departs secretly from that Kingdom and passing through Italy comes to Turin The Queen sends thither to inform him of the affairs of France and thither also comes the Mareshal d' Anville The King denies to resolve upon any thing till he have conferred with his Mother he restores those places to the Duke of Savoy which for security had till then been kept from him He passes at Pont Beauvoysin is met by the Duke of Alancon and the King of Navarre by him they are set at liberty He meets the Queen his Mother and they enter the City of Lyons The Kings designs and ends to which he intends to direct the course of his Government are particularly set down he desires Peace and to procure it resolves to make War coldly He treats of Marriage and resolves to take to Wife Louyse of Lorain Daughter to the Count de Vaudemont He is Crowned at Rheims and there marrieth her He labours to get his Brother elected King of Poland but he is put beside it The War continues in the mean time and Mombrun Head of the Hugonots in Daulphine is defeated taken and executed The King alters the manner of Government to lessen the Authority of the Great Ones The Duke of Alancon deprived of the hopes of Poland and not being able to obtain the Title of Lieutenant-General flees from Court and becomes Head of the Politicks and Hugonots All the other Lords of that party put themselves under him and the Prince of Conde sends him great Supplies out of Germany which passing through Champaigne are routed and dispersed by the Duke of Guise The Queen-Mother goes to confer with the Duke of Alancon and concludes a Truce in the mean time the King of Navarre leaves the Court flees into Guienne and declares himself Hugonot The Prince of Conde advanceth with the German Army and at Moulins joins with the Duke of Alancon The Queen returns and concludes a Peace but with such exorbitant Conditions that all the Catholicks are offended at it The Duke of Guise and his Brothers lay hold of the occasion declare themselves Heads of the Catholick party and make a League to oppose the Establishment of the Hugonots the grounds and progress of that League are related The King of Navarre thereupon pretending that the Catholicks began first by the means of the Prince of Conde takes up Arms. The King assembles the States General in the City of Blois to settle things in order but after several attempts and contrivances they break up without concluding any thing The King desires Peace but seeing the Hugonots inclined to War raises two Armies against them The Duke of Alancon with one of them takes la Charite Isoire and other places the Duke of Mayenne with the other takes Thone-Charente and Marans From War they come to a Treaty of Agreement Peace is concluded and the Queen-Mother goes to confer with the King of Navarre to make it the stronger The King intent upon the design of his hidden thoughts imploys his time wholly in Religious Exercises assumes all Offices to himself and disposes of them to his Favourites among whom the Dukes of Joyeuse and Espernon are especially exalted by him He Institutes a new Order of Knighthood called du S. Esprit The Queen-Mother goes from the King of Navarre and visits a great part of the Kingdom The Duke of Alancon to obtain Queen Elizabeth in Marriage goes over into England is much honoured but notwithstanding publick demonstrations nothing is determined The Hugonots renew the War the Prince of Conde takes la Fere in Picardy and the King of Navarre possesseth himself of Cahors and other places The King dispatcheth several Armies against them by which la Fere is recovered but little done in other places The Duke of Alancon being returned into France interposes and settles the Peace again He goes into Flanders to command the States that had cast off their Obedience to the Crown of Spain does little good there returns into France and dies THE death of Charles the Ninth happening just at that time when the remedies used by him to purge the humours of his Kingdom were in the height of their operation He left not only all parts of France in great disorder and confusion but also the state of the Crown in exceeding danger and uncertainty by the subversion or at least weakning of all the foundations of the Government For besides the lawful Successour so far distant in a strange Country who if he had been present might by assisting at the Helm in a time of so great peril have steered and moderated the doubtful troublesom course of the Commonwealth all the Instruments of Rule and Power were also either very much weakned or utterly perverted and even those means which usually maintain and preserve others were universally bent to the distraction and ruine of that Kingdom The Duke of Alancon and the King of Navarre nearest of the Blood Royal and by that prerogative chief of the Council of State were held as guilty of a most hainous crime and straitly guarded as prisoners The Prince of Conde though very young yet of an ancient reputation by the same of his Ancestors not only absent and fled from Court but protected by the favour of the Protestant Princes and ready by foreign Forces to bring in new Inundations The Hugonots up in Arms in every Province and manifestly intent by all means possible to surprise and possess the chiefest Cities and Fortresses Many of the greatest Lords some secretly some openly were alienated and divers of those who had most experience in affairs most authority with the people and most reputation in war were already if I may use that word Cantonized in their several Provinces and Governments the Treasury empty or rather destroyed the Gentry wearied and impoverished the Militia wasted and consumed the people
1576. with assured hopes of bringing it to a happy conclusion for the King by his own inclination already affecting Peace and the Cabinet-Council to deprive the Rebels of the person of the Duke of Alancon and free themselves from the imminent danger of a foreign Army were content that very large conditions should be granted which afterward either by an assembly of the States or by some other means they were resolved not to observe which Negotiations while they were prolonged by the many pretensions of the Male-contents behold a new accident interposed it self before the Accommodation was concluded for the King of Navarre being already two and twenty years of age of himself full of sprightly thoughts and spurred on by so frequent examples and by the emulation of other Princes his equals not enduring to be ill looked on and almost despised at the Court whilst the Duke of Alancon a vain indiscreet man and the Prince of Conde his inferiour both in years and honour arrogated to themselves the chief command of that party which he was wont to rule and his spirit not suffering him longer to bear the humours of the Queen his Wife which whilst he stayed at Court he was forced to dissemble either drawn by some supernatural hidden cause or set forward by his own inclination to a beginning of eminent success took a resolution to leave the Court and retiring himself to his Government of Guienne to try if he could draw that power to himself which he saw was going to be setled upon the other discontented Princes The difficulty was to put this thought in execution for he was not only carefully watched by his guards who under shew of doing him honour were his diligent keepers but even the nearest attendents upon his own person depended wholly upon the King and Queen-Mother who mixing hopes with fears led him gently in hand with continued ambiguous promises to hold him in an opinion that they would trust him with the charge of Lieutenant-General which they had refused to venture upon the unsetledness of the Duke of Alancon but he being secretly advertised by Daielle a Provencial Gentlewoman one of the Queens maids whom he privately enjoyed and by Madam de Carnavelet with whom he had a very near familiarity that those were but arts to keep his hopes fastened to the Court he took a resolution to try his fortune knowing that he should be assisted and followed by d' Aubigny and Armagnac the one Gentleman the other Groom of his Bed-chamber the only men that remained with him of his old Family But this not being sufficient for the well effecting of his design embracing the opportunity which occasion offered he communicated his intents to Guiliaume Sieur de Fervaques with whom by a certain sympathy of extraordinary spirit he had contracted a familiar friendship who highly offended at the present affairs the unquietness of his mind being accompanied with great subtilty and no less courage approved the resolution and warily contrived both the time and manner of their escape for which purpose being gone out of the City upon the twenty third of February with a few Gentlemen and Servants under colour of hunting the Stagg which the King of Navarre was wont much to delight in and having deceived his guards by many several ways they passed the River with all possible speed below Poissy and thence changing their Voyage in stead of continuing toward the West they turned presently toward the South and avoiding the great high-ways arrived at Alancon without the least stop or delay where staying no longer than was necessary to refresh themselves they suddenly passed the River Loyre by the Bridge of Saumur and preventing fame by their so speedy journey came before they were looked for into Guienne where the King of Navarre taking the opportunity of his so unexpected arrival because they knew not whether he was come as a Friend or as an Enemy to the King with an incredible diligence which gave them who were unprepared no time to arm or certifie themselves still making use of his Authority as Governour for the King and with that authority mingling force he began to make himself Master of the chiefest places calling in and reducing all those who for the memory of his Father and his own late command were willing to follow and depend upon him Although this sudden turn did at first disturb the minds of the King and Queen-Mother who while they laboured to remedy disorders saw daily new unexpected troubles to arise yet as soon as their thoughts were quietly setled they began to find both advantage and satisfaction by it hoping that the multiplicity of Heads would bring forth discord and emulation whereby the power of the Male-contents would be weakened and being divided into many parts every one of which would be severally governed by particular interests would in the end be unable to maintain it self With these hopes they shewed so open a joy at the departure of the King of Navarre either for that consideration or because they would not seem dejected at so great an opposition of Fortune that many believed the King of Navarre was perswaded to that resolution by Monsieur de Fervaques rather by the advice and consent of the Queen than out of any faithful care of his advancement which was the more credibly believed by many who know not the truth of the business when they saw that Fervaques within a little while after forsaking that party returned again unto the Kings obedience But I have since heard Monsieur de Fervaques himself affirm that the occasion of his so sudden change was because he saw the King of Navarre next whom as one that had run the same fortune he hoped for the first place was fain to let himself be governed by those of most ancient authority in that Faction and many were preferred before him that were not only less affectionate to his affairs but of less ability and meaner condition But it is certain that this revolt of the King of Navarre produced an effect not much unlike that which the King and Queen hoped for though at first it was probable that it would give a great addition of power unto the Hugonot Faction to which he had joined himself with open Declarations alledging that his Conversion to the Catholick Religion four years before had been constrained and forced by the imminent terrour of a cruel death yet it was the occasion that the Duke of Alancon being as it were eclipsed by the lustre of the Prince of Conde and King of Navarre who by reason of the ancient confidence had of them were in greater esteem and reputation did the more easily condescend to a conclusion of Peace knowing that the true essential authority would be in them and in him only the title and appearance for the King of Navarre having with much ease assumed the command of Guienne and the protection of the Rochellers and on the other side
the Duke of Nevers unto the Assembly he caused them to propose that it being requisite to make War with powerful Armies against those that were disobedient to the Catholick Church great sums of money were also necessary and that therefore the Kings Treasury being exhausted he desired the States to assist him with two millions of Ducats to maintain the vast expences of War which none ought to refuse since they had all solemnly taken the Oath of the League and thereby obliged themselves to contribute their Fortunes in common at which demand the Deputies for the City of Paris not being present because some were indisposed and the rest gone home to elect the Prevost des Merchands the chief Officer of that City and therefore Iean Bodin being President of the Order of Commons and knowing all that burthen was to be laid upon the people rose up and answered That the Third Estate had always propounded and protested to desire unity in Religion and the reducing of those that went astray but without the noise of Arms and War and that if they looked into the Records of the Assembly they should find those very words formerly expressed in the Vote of the Commons which he had caused to be registred and that since they had not consented to the War neither were they bound to contribute to the expences of it to satisfie the fantastical humours of some of the Deputies and consume their own Estates to renew the yet bleeding wounds of the Kingdom to which speech of his not only the other Orders but the Clergy themselves assented who having sworn that in words which they were not so forward to perform in actions and desiring no less than the rest to ease themselves of those contributions wherewith all of them were equally wearied and burthened the ardour and constancy of those began to waver who had so readily resolved upon a War at the charge and danger of other men whereupon the King turning his sail according to the wind the next day he himself propounded to the Deputies That since they thought the charges of War so grievous a burthen they should patiently expect the Duke of Montpensier and Monsieur de Byron sent by him to the King of Navarre to procure his conversion in a friendly and peaceable manner with which motion notwithstanding the opposition of many the major part of the Deputies were contented Not many days after the Duke of Montpensier returned and being brought into the Assembly by the Kings command related in order all that had passed in his Negotiation and in substance shewed them that the King of Navarre being most desirous of the Peace of the Kingdom would be contented with such reasonable conditions as cutting off all exorbitant superfluous matters which were granted in the last Edict might moderate and compose all differences without putting themselves upon the necessity of a War and gave almost assured hopes that he himself though he would not give occasion to have it thought that he turned Catholick by compulsion might yet in time condescend to alter his opinion and make a happy conclusion of all things which relation coming from the Duke who was of the Blood-Royal Brother-in-law to the Duke of Guise and always partial to the Catholicks wrought such an effect in the minds of all as encouraged Iean Bodin and others of the Order of Commons again to try the way of agreement with express protestation that unity in Religion ought to be procured without War Which Vote being some days stiffly opposed and as constantly maintained was at last carried and a Writing drawn up in the Name of the States beseeching the King to endeavour an unity in Religion by peaceful means and without the necessity of War which being propounded by the King himself in his Council the opinions concerning it were diverse for the Duke and Cardinal of Guise the Duke of Mayenne the Duke of Nevers and others were against the proposition of the States alledging that the end they aimed at could not be obtained without the extirpation of the Hugonots who were up in Arms and moreover had already renewed the War and affirming that last proposition of the Deputies to be artificially contrived and extorted whereas the first had been voluntarily and generally agreed on and the Oath taken in approbation of the League which was directly contrary to the present proceedings But the Queen-Mother the Duke of Montpensier the Mareschal de Cosse Monsieur de Byron the High Chancellour Byâ—ago Morvillier Chiverny Bellieure and Villeclaire with the major part of the Council being of the contrary opinion alledged that there were many other means though such as required more time to bring those that were out of the way home into the bosom of the Church and that to destroy so much people would exceedingly weaken the Kingdom and bring it again into the late miseries and dangers Wherefore it was concluded that the Duke of Montpâ—â—sier should return to the King of Navarre to know his last answer concerning his conversion and reconciliation to the Church and the setling of a lasting reasonable Peace In the mean time many other things were debated in the Assembly about the rule of justice the ordering of the Finances the payments of debts and the reformation of manners among which matters some of the Prelats moved that the Council of Trent might be received and observed but the Deputies of the Nobility and those of the Commons opposed it stoutly with which the major part of the Clergy concuring for the conservation as they said of the priviledges of the Gallique Church and such as had been granted to it by several Popes it was at last resolved that it should pass no further The Heads of the Catholick League and their followers omitted not to seek some way of restraining the Kings power and propounded that his Council might be reduced to the number of four and twenty Counsellors which should not be chosen at the Kings pleasure but by every Province of the Kingdom as is the custom in other States But this motion being made but coldly and stifly opposed by many as contrary to the anâ—ient constitutions and all former precedents it was in the end cast ouâ— â—est the mention of it should too much exasperate the King With these deliberations not only ambiguous and uncertain but also opposite and disagreeing among themselves the Congregation of the States broke up which having neither concluded Peace nor War the King was left free to do what pleased himself who having happily though not without much pains and industry overcome the conspiracies of the League was in good measure confirmed in the resolution of his first designs having not only increased his inward hatred toward the House of Guise but found by experience his own weakness and the too great power of their Faction Wherefore being resolved to establish Peace because both parties were nourished and fomented by the War he first of all put the Bishop of
side desiring that the King of Navarre should be repressed but not utterly suppressed because he would not cast the Scale so much on that side and make the Faction of the Guises Superior which had no other counterpoise so proper as his party he sent Armand Mareschal de Byron to the end that by his old inclinations he might proceed very warily in opposing it And being necessitated to employ some one of the Lorain Princes by reason of the power of the House of Guise to which it was requisite to bear a convenient respect and because he would not utterly alienate those of the Catholick League he made choice of Charles Duke of Mayenne for Dauphine as well because he esteemed him to be of a more setled nature then his Brother as out of a belief the business of those parts was very easie and of but small consequence Nor did the effect differ from the Kings expectation for Monsieur d' Matignon having besieged la Fere from whence the Prince of Conde was already departed and gone into England he within a small time recovered it though not without some blood The Duke of Mayenne having taken la Mure and put the Hugonots of that Province in a very great terror did not onely reduce the Gentry and Commons to obedience but also the Sieur des Diguieres himself And the Mareschal de Byron having about Nerac defeated some Companies of Gens d' armes and taken many weak places in Guienne at last his horse falling under him and his thigh being hurt in two places he drew his Army into Quarters without any further progress So that the King of Navarre not being able to keep the Field nor undertake any design by reason of the opposition of the King's Army yet shewing much more courage than strength maintained himself still in Armes with actions of small importance In this interim the Duke of Alancon being returned out of England full of hopes by the Queens promises but without any certainty of the future Match and preparing for the journey of Flanders interposed between the King his Brother and the King of Navarre his Brother-in-law to settle businesses in the former Concord fearing that if the War should break forth in good earnest in France he should not then be able to draw those helps from thence which he expected for the accomplishment of his design wherefore being gone personally to Libourne and la Freche Towns in the County of Foix whither also came the King of Navarre and on the Kings part the Duke of Montpensier the Mareschal de Cosse and Pompone Sieur de Bellieure he wrought so far that he brought the business to a good conclusion for the King by nature was inclined to it and the King of Navarre besides the smallness of his Forces and the ill success of his late enterprises had no hopes at all of any assistance from abroad the Prince of Conde who went into England and thence into the Low-Countries and after into Germany found all their mindes intent upon the business of Flanders weary of the instability of the French Hugonots and unsatisfied at the taking up of Arms without any lawful occasion whilst the King living in peace observed punctually the Conditions of the Agreement wherefore having no hope of aid and not daring to set up his rest within the Kingdom the former Articles were willingly accepted by him and the Edict of the late Peace confirmed as also the Conference held at Nerac with the Queen and in this manner Armes were laid down again and all things were composed in a peaceful way The Civil broils being quieted two different enterprises kept all France in action That of the Duke of Alancon who with the tacite permission of his Brother prepared himself to go into the Low-Countries against the Catholick Kings Forces under the Command of Alessandro Fernese Prince of Parma And that of the Queen-mother by occasion of the Kingdom of Portugal For the King Sebastian being dead in the War of Affrica and after him King Henry Cardinal without sons among many others who pretended to that Crown the Queen-mother as heir of the House of Bologne and descended in a right line from Robert the son of Alfonso the third and the Countess Matilda his first and lawful Wife pretended also to that succession alleadging that all the Kings who had reigned since Alfonso being descended from Beatrice which could not be the lawful Wife but the Concubine of Alfonso Matilda being yet alive were illegitimate and because by reason of her being so far distant and many other respects she thought her self not so powerful in Forces as some of the other Competitors she pretended that the business was to be decided by the way of Justice without coming to force of Arms. But the King of Spain out of a confidence of his power and nearness having in the mean time usurped that Kingdom with an Army and causing himself by the Governors thereof to be proclaimed the lawful Successor the Queen joyning Counsels with Anthonio Prior of Crato who pretended to the same Kingdom but had been put beside it by the Spaniards set forth a mighty Navy under the command of Filippo Strozzi against King Pâ—ilip to relieve the Tercera's Islands in the Ocean Sea belonging to that Kingdom which were yet held by Anthonio and to make new acquisitions if they could land upon the Coasts near the City of Lisbon The death of Strozzi the dispersing of that Navy and other things that happened in that business I leave to those Authors that shall write the History of Portugal it not being necessary to enlarge this Narration and make it more prolix by the addition of forraign matters that little or nothing concern the knowledge of the French affairs The same silence and for the same reason I observe in the business of Flanders whither the Duke of Alancon having with the Kings tacite consent levied a very great Army went the following year being 1581 to relieve the City of Cambray and after he had succoured it and reduced it into his power passed on with greater Force into the Low-Countries to receive the Title and Possession of those States which having withdrawn themselves from obedience to the Catholick King had put themselves under him with certain limited conditions Nor did the King of Spain and the Pope fail by means of their Ambassadors to complain of the King of France as well for what concerned the Duke of Alancon as because Antonio of Portugal was received into France and by the Queen-mothers attempts abetted in his pretensions to that Kingdom But he answered the Ambassadors and by means of his Agents at Rome and in Spain excused himself to both That Antonio had been received by his Mother and assisted as her Vassal she her self pretending to the Crown of Portugal That the Fleet which had been set forth was made ready at her own charges without his knowledge or consent and though it should be
first Month for the maintenance of the War would amount to Four hundred thousand Crowns a month In the end he turned toward the Cardinal of Guise saying with something an angry countenance that for the first moneth he hoped he should be able to do well enough without the help of the Clergy searching to the bottom of all particular mens purses but for the other moneths as long as the War endured he purposed to raise moneys upon the Church and that in so doing he thought he should not do any thing at all against his Conscience nor would stand upon any leave or authority from Rome for they were the Heads of the Clergy who had put him upon that business wherefore it was reasonable they should bear part of the charge in conclusion that he was resolved every one should bear his share the Nobility and the Kings Revenues having already been sufficiently burthened There he held his peace to hear their answers and when he found they made some difficulty he cried out with an angry voice It had been better then to have believed me and to have enjoyed the benefits of peace and quietness then standing in a Shop or in a Quire to determine Councels of War I am very much afraid that going about to destroy the Presche we shall put the Mass in great danger But howsoever deeds are more needful here than words And in that manner he retired into his Chamber leaving them all in trouble for fear of their purses who had been promoters of that War But neither did this take off the edge of the people stirred up continually by their Preachers and the Guises being a far off murmured that the War would never be begun to recover those places which were possessed by the Hugonots Wherefore the King lest he should destroy all that was built up and be brought again to those difficulties which he had overcome already began to think of drawing an Army together to be sent into Guienne He was exceedingly vext and troubled in his mind that he must be fain to chuse Commanders for that enterprise at the pleasure of the League considering that besides putting his own Forces into other hands all the good success of it would be publickly attributed to the Lords of the House of Lorrain who without doubt desired to be Generals of those Armies themselves but as a Prince who by the sharpness of his wit would alwayes find an evasion in the hardest and most difficult businesses after he had for many dayes turned the matter on every side he sent Guy Sieur de Lansac to the Duke of Guise to know his intention about those that were to command the Armies who after long consultation resolved that the Duke of Mayenne his Brother should command the Army that was to march into Guienne against the King of Navarre and he reserved to himself the charge of keeping the Confines and hindring the passage of the Protestant forces of Germany thinking that to be the more difficult enterprise and it concerning him verymuch to be near the Court to frame his resolutions according to those occurrences which are often wont to happen unexpectedly The King having had this answer resolved that the Marescal de Matignon of whose fidelity he might confidently assure himself should command in Guienne as Lieutenant of that Province under the Duke of Mayenne that the Mareschal de Byron should go with Forces to make War in Xaintonge and that the Duke of Ioyeuse with an Army should march into Gascogne Provinces so near that the Duke of Mayenne would be encompassed on every side by those Armies and because about that very time happened the death of Monsieur de Angoulesme Grand Prior of France the Kings Bastard Brother who was Governor of Provence he conferred that Government upon the Duke of Espernon and resolved to send an Army thither with him against the Hugonots designing by that means not onely to have many Armies on foot commanded by his Confidents and Favourites but also retarding the Duke of Mayenne's progress by making him want Money Ammunition and Victual that the honor of those actions might fall upon them that were nearest to him But not to give occasion of new complaints and murmurings the Duke of Mayenne s Army was prepared first of all and yet to delay the proceedings of it he first sent three Ambassadors to the King of Navarre to endeavour his conversion which were the Cardinal de Lenon-Court one antiently bred up in his Family the Sieur de Poigny Knight of the St. Esprit and President Brulart who went but a few dayes before the Duke of Mayenne's Army whereupon the Dutchess of Vzes a Lady of an excellent wit taking occasion to jest told the King that the state of the King of Navarre was now at the very last gasp and that he would certainly be converted now for fear of dying without repentance since that after the Ghostly Fathers the Minister of Justice went to put the Sentence in execution The Ambassadors had Commission to excuse the breach of the Edict of Peace with many specious reasons to exhort the King of Navarre to return to the obedience of the Catholick Church to move the restoring of those places they held into the Kings hand to come and live near his Person and remove all occasions of the present War and all this onely to seek occasions to delay the beginning of the War The King of Navarre more resolute then ever not to return to the Prison of the Court as he called it whilst the Lords of the House of Guise had more Forces and Adherents then he had and seeing himself in so weak a condition that it was necessary for his defence to make shew of not being afraid after having with great submission given the King thanks for the care he had of his Salvation and after having modestly complained of the breach of the Edict in a time when he in all reason should have believed that Armes would rather have been imployed against the Seditious Abettors of the League then against him who was most observant of the Kings commands and of the Articles of Peace he began very gravely not onely to condemn the perverse Ambition of the Heads of the League in contending about the Kings Succession during his life but also the poorness of the Duke of Guise in not accepting his Challenge which might have ended the differences and enmities between them hand to hand without troubling the King and disturbing the whole Kingdom and concluded finally that as he would ever willingly submit himself unto a lawful Councel and the instructions which should be sincerely given him by learned men so neither did it stand with his Conscience nor with his honor to be brought to Mass by force hoping that God would protect his innocence as he had miraculously done in former times At the departure of the Ambassadors the Army advanced to enter Guienne the War beginning to
extremity of desperation wherefore the same Sieur de Cormons interposing they resolved to submit themselves to the King's Mercy who upon condition they would deliver him all their Colours furled up and would promise not to fight any more against him profered to grant them a most ample safe conduct The Prince of Conty the Duke of Bouillon the Sieurs de Clervant Chastillon and other French Commanders laboured to withstand that resolution promising them relief from the King of Navarre within a short time and the arrears of all their pay and endeavoured to perswade them not to do so dishonourable a thing as to acknowledge themselves subdued and conquered alleadging that the Forces in Lyonois were not so strong but that they might pass that way and go securely into the Territory of Geneva but whilest they treat of these matters being informed that the Reiters persisting in their determination of yielding intended to make them prisoners thereby to win the favour of the King and assure themselves of their pay to which they pretended they resolved to steal away secretly and separate themselves several wayes to try if they could save themselves by flight before the Germans had opportunity to execute their design So the Duke of Bouillon with a few Horse making his escape without delay by the way of Roane and Lyonois but travelling out of the ordinary road after many troubles and dangers got to Geneva where being no less wasted with grief of Mind then toil of Body he died within a few dayes after leaving his Estate to his Sister whom he recommended to the care of the Duke de Montpensier The Sieur de Chastillon with an hundred Cuirassiers and two hundred Harquebusiers on horse-back having often fought with the Forces of Bourgongne and Lyonois with wonderful success and no less valour got at last into Languedoc and retired himself to his wonted Government in Vivarez The Sieur de Clervant hid among the Swisses that went with a safe conduct escaped in their company to Basile The Prince of Conty with a few Horse lurking in remote places got at last unknown to his own house and the other Commanders taking several wayes ran very various fortunes The Reiters having obtained leave of the King to carry home his Cornets but not displayed divided themselves into two parts one with the Baron de Oneaw and Colonel Damartin passed thorough Savoy where being shrunk to the number of but Five hundered they were pillaged by the Duke's Forces the other with the Baron de Bouck passing thorough Bourgongne to the confines of the County of Mombelsiard was followed by the Marquess du Pont and the Duke of Guise by whom being overtaken without the borders of France they were all cut in pieces in many several encounters Nor did this satisfie those Heads of the League but with a hostile fury they also sacked and burned the Towns and Castles of the County as well to revenge the like outrages committed by the Reiters in Lorain as because that Count had been the principal author of raising those Forces The slaughter of the Germans was most lamentable even to the eyes of their very Enemies who sick with Feavers and weakened with bloody Fluxes falling down by the High-wayes and in the Towns as they passed were miserably slain by the Country people eighteen of them were seen who were left sick in a poor Cottage in Bourgongne were cruelly butchered as the vilest Creatures by a Woman who cut all their Throats with a Knife in revenge of those losses she had sustain'd Not had those Swisses better fortune who to the number of Three thousand were gone into Dauphine under the command of the Sieur de Cougy to joyn with Lesdiguiers who keeping the Hugonot party alive in that Province could make no great progress for want of Forces but busied himself in taking in little places of small importance and in actions of small moment having with him but a few Foot Souldiers and only the Hugonot Gentry of that Country These Swisses accompanied with four hundred French Musquetiers having passed the narrow places marching on to join with him as they passed the River Isare were assaulted by Monsieur de la Valette Brother to the Duke of Espernon with the Cavalry of Provence and by Colonel Alfonso Ornano of the Isle of Corsica with the Infantry of Dauphine and so furiously charged there that all the rest being slain upon the place only sixty of them escaped from so great a slaughter whereupon also the Sieur Lesdiguiers himself was forced to seek security among the Mountains This end had that mighty Army of the Germans after the defeat whereof the King returning armed to Paris entered as in triumph upon the twenty third of December being in appearance solemnly received by the people though with the incredible applause of every one but especially of the Parisians the whole glory redounded to the Duke of Guise whose name being become admired and immortal was celebrated by the Tongues and Pens of all his Adherents The End of the Eighth BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The NINTH BOOK The ARGUMENT THis Book relates the determination of the Duke of Guise and of the League to obtain in the heat of the Victory their designs of the King and the ruine of the Hugonots The Parisians assent unto it and are more resolute than the rest They prepare themselves to constrain the King by force and to shut him up in a Monastery The King being advertised takes order to curb their unruliness and to that end causeth the Swisses to draw near and makes many other preparations The Parisians finding they were discovered to save themselves send for the Duke of Guise At his Arrival they take Arms make Barricadoes drive out the Swisses and besiege the King in his Palace He being not able to resist flees away secretly and retires to Chartres and thence to Rouen He resolves to make Peace with the Duke of Guise causeth it to be treated by the Queen-Mother and it is concluded The Duke of Espernon goes from Court and retires to Angoulesm where by a Conspiracy of the Citizens his life is in great danger The Duke of Guise comes to the King to Chartres and is favoured and exalted to the height of power The States are assembled at Blois according to the appointment made in the Articles of Peace The Pope declares Cardinal Moresini his Legat in France The King dismisses from Court the High Chancellour Secretary Villeroy and the Sieur de Bellieure He sends an Army commanded by the Duke of Nevers against the King of Navarre who after the taking of many places lays siege to Ganache The States at Blois are begun Many practices and machinations are contrived on both sides The Duke of Guise causeth the States to demand that the King of Navarre may be declared incapable of the Crown and labours to be created Lieutenant-General with
complain since they themselves had been the Incendiaries of the War and above all the Parisians that War could not be made without money and money could not be raised without oppressing the people by which means he was brought to bear the blame of a fault that was not his for those that cried out against Impositions were the very same who seditiously had forced him to make a War that the City of Paris to which he had done more good than ten of his Predecessors together which had ever been his Favourite wherein he had made his constant habitation which caused the riches and plenty of the Citizens had now declared it self his Enemy and having derided and defamed his Name had also gone on to conspire against his Person that he knew very well that those Plots were contrived by strangers and that the good people who were originally of the City consented not unto them and that therefore he had resolved to turn all strangers out of the City to take away the fuel from that pestilent fire which begun to spread that he would not make use of foreign Arms to purge the City whilst he should be faithfully served by the Citizens themselves that he required his assistance in that business and that he would give him that proof of the fidelity and sincerity he professed for when he should once be assured of the obedience of his Subjects he had nothing more to desire of him and when once the strangers were driven out and the City setled without tumult in the condition it ought to be he would cast away all former suspicions and willingly consent to the moderation of future businesses After he had ended his discourse he called the Prevost des Merchands and the Eschevins of the City who were present and commanded them to search all houses diligently the day after with such other persons as he should appoint for that purpose and that they should turn out all strangers who had setled themselves there without urgent necessity That they should make no distinction of persons for he was certified there were fifteen thousand who were set on to raise scandals and come to stir up new commotions to the danger of the lives and goods of the Citizens With this Commission the Deputies departed promising to serve him faithfully and after many such discourses the Duke of Guise departed also having promised the same For he had lull'd the King with his arts and that his presence had so terrified him that he should no longer need much Force Whereupon he said to some of his familiar Friends that he hoped without noise or difficulty to obtain an Assembly of the States General wherein he doubted not but matters should go on according to his wish and design The King appointed Monsieur de Villequier and Monsieur d' O to make search for the strangers which the same Guards and jealousies continuing was begun the next morning but with obstinate backwardness and most apparent dissimulation of the Parisians who knew that those that were lodged in the City were all the Duke of Guise's dependents and sent by him nor were they willing that by expelling them their own Forces should be dissolved Whereby the Kings Deputies perceived that they laboured but in vain and that the intention of disarming and weakning the Duke of Guise could not succeed by that means nor produce any effect and therefore they let the King know so much who angry and exasperated resolved at last to tame the people by force and endeavour to suppress the Conspirators without longer delay To that end he presently dispatched the Mareschal de Byron to bring the Swisses into Paris and Monsieur d' O to fetch the Companies of his Guards which were lodged out of the City in the near adjacent places and gave order that neither the Gentlemen Archers nor Souldiers of the Guards should stir any more out of the Court but that all should keep close about his Person This was not unknown to the Duke of Guise who to set the strength of the People against the Kings Forces caused a report to be presently spread about the City that the King had resolved to put to death Sixscore of the principal Catholicks and to put Garisons in the chief places to suppress the Citizens and that therefore it was necessary for them to prepare for their defence A counterfeit List was framed of the Sixscore names the Copies whereof were dispersed abroad the Duke of Guise being set down first of all and President Nully President Maistre the Sieurs de Bussy and la Chapelle Hautman the Receiver and after them all the Curates Preachers Deputies and Eschevins and finally all such as were beloved of the people the fear of whose danger might stir them up to take Arms causing this forgery to be divulged with so much vehemence of words and actions and with so much feigned terrour by cunning active persons who were acquainted with the peoples humours that they began to talk of rising that very night the Commanders being ordered and chosen in every quarter and the Dukes Gentlemen appointed to rule and moderate the rashness of the armed people But things were not yet fully ripe and the night of the eleventh day was spent in these practices on every side till in the morning upon Thursday the twelfth of May they heard the Swisses Fifes and Drums which beating their march entered at the Porte St. Honore the Mareschal de Byron on horseback leading them and then the French Companies followed under their several Captains with all their matches lighted The King being also got on horseback went out to receive them welcoming the Souldiers at the entry of the gate and commanded with a loud voice repeating it many times that they should all forbear to commit the least insolence or do the least injury to the Citizens upon pain of death without mercy And having given order to Monsieur d' O and the Mareschal de Byron to possess and guard all the chief places of the Town went back to the Louvre where the Souldiers of the Guards were armed and in a readiness upon all occasions The Mareschal de Byron perhaps not acquainted with the Kings design thought it expedient first to possess those places which were nearest the Louvre for the security and defence of the Court and therefore first of all he possessed himself of St. Innocents Church-yard being at the end of the Rue St. Honore and there he placed nine hundred Swisses setting the rest to the number of one thousand six hundred about the Boucherie the Marche-neuf the Chasteleâ— and Townhouse Monsieur d' O took the Pont au Change and the Pont St. Michel placing Monsieur du Gast upon the one and Monsieur Marivant upon the other the Companies of Beauvais Nangy and Monsieur de l' Archant being left to guard the Gate of the Louvre toward the Rue St. Thomas But the business was very ill ordered in that
Paris and having left the Cardinal of Bourbon to govern the City was gone to Meaux and Chasteau-Thierry to make himself Master of those places His Brother the Cardinal of Guise at the same time neither wanting wit nor courage but boldly following his steps and counsels had stirred up the people and made himself strongest in the City of Troye which from the beginning had declared that it would continue under the Kings obedience and the Duke of Aumale with the Forces of Picardy had laid siege to Boulogne by the Sea side a very principal Fortress of that Province and the Adherents of the League laboured on every side to surprise Towns and Castles to gather Horse and Foot and to draw the greatest number of followers they possibly could unto their party yet the Duke of Guise after he saw the King had escaped the net and that he could not so easily bring his first design to perfection desirous to make that seem to have been done purposely which indeed was only oversight with writings cunningly framed and reasons eloquently set forth directed to the King and the whole people of France he endeavoured to perswade that his actions only tended to the benefit of the Kingdom the obedience of the King and to the general service and benefit that the Insurrection of Paris had without his consent been stirred up by the peoples fear and that his intention was ever to yield such obedience as he ought to do desiring only that evil Counsellors might be put away and that sincere thought might be taken to secure Religion And though his deeds were for the most part very contrary to his words yet the colour of Religion was so powerful and plausible and he knew so well how to behave himself that the multitude thought him a faithful Servant to the King and believed he was only moved by zeal to Religion and most ardent charity toward the good of the whole Kingdom While they proceeded in this manner on both sides the Duke of Espernon who was in Normandy having heard the success of the Sedition at Paris went with a good number of Gentlemen to the King who being already resolved to dissemble with all and to trust none but himself received him neither with his accustomed intimacy nor his wonted demonstrations of favour but made small shew of valuing him seeming to desire his departure from Court to put an end to all those scandals which were said to arise from his extraordinary greatness And indeed having determined to give outward satisfaction to the Duke of Guise and the League and knowing that Peace would never be concluded unless he consented to remove him from the Court his intention was to do it before the Agreement that it might seem a voluntary act and not constrained by force wherefore â—e began by the means of Monsieur de Bellieure and of the Abbot del Bene to desire him in respect of the distractions of affairs and to remove the occasions of them that he would lay down his Government of Normandy give up the Fortresses of Metz Loches Angoulesme Xaintes and Boulogne and only retain his Government of Provence wherein for his greater security his Brother la Valette should continue his Lieutenant That he should retire thither far from the clamour that was made about his person and wait for a more quiet and fitting season to return to Court The Duke of Espernon a man of exceeding great understanding and bred up by the King himself among the stratagems of State perchance ghessing at the Kings secret intentions by having been so conversant with him was contented without contradiction to quit his Government of Normandy wherein he saw himself not well setled by reason of the resistance many Governours made against him But for the rest though in words he promised to satisfie the King in all his demands yet was he resolved not to part with any of the strong Holds wherein he hoped to defend himself from the storm of fortune which he saw coming upon him Whereupon while he treats about the manner of delivering them into the Kings hands and to whom and which way they should be resigned shewing still more care of his Masters security than of his own good and while the King cannot so readily resolve in whose power it was fit to trust them he departs suddenly from Court feigning that he would give way to Fortune and being accompanied with the Abbot del Bene who was no less persecuted by the League than he went with all speed to Angoulesme where by reason of the strength of the Castle and the nearness of the Hugonots he thought he might stay more securely and from whence thorow the Towns of Languedoc held by the Mareschal d' Anville it was easie for him upon any occasion to retire into Provence This retreat clipt the wings of the pretensions of the League and removed all impediments that might have hindered Peace and it was likewise a prudent determination of his side for already the Duke of Guise and the people of Paris turning all their Forces against him had divulged many Writings wherein he was accused to be a sower of discord and a principal cause of so great mischiefs which though he had caused to be answered with many reasons shewing that the mischief proceeded from the ambition of the House of Lorain and not from the modesty and obedience of him and his Brother who receiving the Kings favours with a thankful and loyal mind did use their uttermost endeavours to serve him so as might be for his advantage and their reputation yet he saw that the cloud would undoubtedly break upon him whereupon he chose rather by retiring to keep his most important Governments than by staying be forced by one means or other to give them up Many doubted that the King was privy to his departure and so much the rather because the Abbot del Bene's going with him made it to be suspected nor was the suspicion without ground for the Duke of Guise demanding that he should resign those four principal Fortresses and the King not willing to deprive himself and the Duke of Espernon of them at the same time to give them into the hands of such persons as he could not confidently trust it was necessary the Duke should feign to go away discontented without the Kings knowledge and that he should shew that he would not quit them but by force to the end that the King might be excused afterward if he did not presently demand them and that the Duke of Guise might not constrain him to take them from him since he shewed they were withheld against his will But whether they understood one another by signs or whether the King imparted his design unto him by the means of the Abbot del Bene or whether the Duke took that resolution of himself it was unknown to every one at Court and the Kings most intimate Counsellors knew nothing of it Yet this I affirm that
convenient remedies for the publick need and the quiet of all men in particular to reunite themselves sincerely and principally under his obedience forsaking all Novelties condemning all Leagues Practices Intelligences and interessed Communications which both within and without the Kingdom had disturbed both him their lawful and natural Soveraign and the mind and tranquillity of all good men for as he pardoned and would forget all that was past so for the time to come he would not endure it but account it as an act of absolute Treason And insisting upon that Proposition he enlarged himself a long time concluding with grave and effectual words That as he sincerely laboured for the good of his Subjects and resolved to persecute and tread down Heresie to favour those that were good to restore the splendour and force of Justice to advance Religion to uphold the Nobility and to disburden the common people so he earnestly prayed and conjured every one of them to assist him with their good Counsels and sincere intentions in that so necessary regulation of all things for if they should do otherwise minding intelligences and particular practices and consenting to the interests of factious men they would stain themselves with perfidiousness and Treachery and would be brought to give an account of it before God's Tribunal making themselves guilty and blame-worthy to humane justice with the perpetual infamy of their names unto posterity This Speech of the King 's stung the Duke of Guise to the quick and all those of his party and so much the more when they saw him resolved to have it Printed wherefore the Archbishop of Lyons endeavoured to disswade him from it saying that it was better to lose a few words though never so elegantly composed then to lose the hearts of many of his Subjects who felt themselves injured thinking that he had not forgotten what was past but would tax them in the presence of all France and condemn them of perfidiousness and Rebellion Yet notwithstanding that the King would have it known to all men what he had said to the Congregation of the States and caused his Speech to be Printed which served wonderfully afterward to excuse those things that followed Some have written that the King perswaded by the Archbishop of Lyons had cut off many things from the Press and taken away many words which he had spoken in his Oration But I my self who was present and heard every word very near can certainly affirm that as much was Printed as was spoken but the expressions being quickned by the efficacy of his action and tone of his voice were much more sharp and moving then when they came forth in Print wanting that life and spirit with which they were delivered After the King's Speech followed the Oration of Monsieur de Monthelon Garde des Seaux who according to the ordinary custom praising the King's intention repeated at large the same things which he had spoken To which with demonstrations of great humility and obedience the Archbishop of Bourges answered for the Order of the Clergy the Baron de Seneschay for the Nobility and the Prevost de Merchands of Paris for the third Order of Commons After which Replies the Assembly was dismissed and the second Session adjourned till the Tuesday following That day was famous for the Oath which the States took to receive for a Fundamental Law of the Kingdom that Edict of the Union which the King had published in the Moneth of Iuly before whereby reuniting to himself all his Catholick Subjects of the Kingdom he swore to persevere till death in the Roman Catholick Religion to promote the increase and preservation of it to employ all his Forces for the rooting out of Heresie never to permit that any Heretick or favourer of Heresie should Reign not to elect into Places and Dignities any but such persons as made constant profession of the Roman Catholick Religion and would have all his Subjects to Swear and promise the same who being so reunited unto him he forbade to joyn themselves in League or company with any others under pain of Treason and being held violaters of the Oath they had taken with other particulars wherein abolishing the memory of all things past he made himself Head of the Catholick League and Union and incorporated all the Orders in their proper natural obedience The circumstances of this Oath were remarkable for the King himself spoke concerning it with grave and fitting Speeches and the Archbishop of Bourges made an Exhortation to the States shewing the greatness and obligation of the Oath which they were to take Beaulieu the new Secretary of State inrolled an Act of that Oath in memory of so solemn an action after it was done they gave thanks to God publikly in the Church of St. Saviour all which demonstrations which many thought were used to extinguish the memory of things that were past served after to excuse and authorise those things that were to come for notwithstanding all these obligations whereby the adherents to the League bound themselves to forsake all former attempts and machinations and to tie themselves sincerely in obedience to the King and notwithstanding all his Protestations in the publick Assembly of the States to forget what was past but severely to revenge the future they did not at all slacken their pretensions and contrivances but pursued them with effectual practices and the Duke of Guise aspired to the express name of Lieutenant-General which he had not been able to obtain from the King though he had gotten almost the same power to be joyned to his former title of Grand Maistre and the rest ceased not to treat with the States that the Government might be reformed in such manner as leaving unto the King onely the name and outside of a Prince the sum of businesses might be managed by the Duke and his Dependents of the League and even the Deputies of the States mingling themselves in the interests of the Factions plotted and laboured for the same things without any regard to so many and so solemn Oaths and with manifest scorn and contempt to the King's Name Person and Majesty Wherefore the event plainly shewed the art the King had used in the Assembly of the States for knowing the obstinacy of the Confederates he by the bonds of publick Oaths Acts and Ceremonies which in appearance redounded all in favour of the League but secretly contained a most sharp sting against it cunningly spread the net to catch them in those faults and crimes wherewith they had protested not to stain themselves for the time to come and which he had declared that he would severely punish and chastise There wanted not many who believed that if the Duke and the Deputies with the other Heads of the League had after these Oaths given over the enterprize they had begun and having laid aside their private interests and old passions had proceeded sincerely for the future the King
alwayes of a good intention and milde nature would yet at that time have forgotten all that was passed and have let alone the House of Guise But the Duke either not discovering or despising that policy being transported with the prosperity of his affairs and seeing the greater part of the Deputies were inclined and ready to favour his greatness strove with all his utmost forces to bring matters to that point which from the beginning he had propounded to himself The constant report was that he inwardly aspired to that power which the Masters of the Palace in old time were wont to have while the Kings standing but for shadows or ciphers and leading a soft idle course of life left the Authority of the Government wholly unto them whereby it came to pass in process of time that King Chilperiâ— a man of an effeminate nature being deprived of his Crown and put into a Monastery to lead a private life Charles Martell and afterwards his son Pepin Masters of the Palace in whose hands the Government and the Forces did reside at last assumed the name and Majesty of King robbing those of it to whom of right it did belong Those that were interessed openly said that the example of things past was very apposite for the present affairs for the King seemed to have shewed no less tokens of an effeminate minde and of a soft idle nature then Chilperic and the Duke of Guise by his late Victories and the height of his understanding was esteemed not inferiour in worth and valour to what Pepin or Charles Martell were in those times and though he was not of the Blood-Royal as the Masters of the Palace formerly were wont to be yet the interests of Religion to which his designs were nearly united gave him a marvellous opportunity to deprive the House of Bourbon of the Succession of the Crown and to transfer it upon himself or his posterity under colour that necessity so required lest the most Christian Crown should fall into the hands of Hereticks and excommunicated persons To this end it was whispered that he aimed to be declared Lieutenant-General not by the King but by the States with supreme Authority that he might make use of it no less to bridle the power of the King himself who he doubted would return unto his custom of Governing than to suppress the House of Bourbon for causing the King of Navarre to be declared incapable of the Crown by the States themselves and by consequence the Cardinal of Bourbon to be lawful Successour it came jointly to pass that he who was decrepid with old age dying within a while the Royal Line would thereby be extinct and the rest of that House excluded as suspected of Heresie and incapable and then that the Duke born up by the applause of the people and strengthened with those Forces which would be in his power could have no obstacle in obtaining the election of his own person and his posterity to the Crown either during the life of the King himself or at least after his death if to shew the greater modesty he would defer it so long howsoever the King being a man of a dissolute life a profuse nature a suspicious humour and not beloved of the people they talked among themselves that by degrees he as another Chilperic might be shut up for ever within the walls of a Monastery These things were spoken in a manner publickly But the Kings nature and inclination were so different from that of Chilperic that the Duke of Guise was deceived by them whether he really had such thoughts or that his aim was only to secure himself and Religion which he could not do if he did not settle himself in a certain permanent greatness wherefore having directed all his counsels to that end that he might perfectly win the love and affections of the people he laboured before all other things to set the business on foot of lessening the Taxes and Impositions making himself the author of that most important motion The King opposed it as did also not a few of the wisest among the Deputies alledging that they were contrary things To settle so frequent resolutions of making an obstinate War of raising so many Armies of daily entering new Souldiers into pay with perpetual protestations never to lay down arms without an absolute Victory and on the other side by weakning and destroying the Kings revenues to cut the sinews of the War and after so many brags to reduce themselves to a necessity of condescending for want of money to a disadvantageous dishonourable Peace But the interest of the Order of the Commons was so great their inclination so precipitate and the Duke of Guise's authority so powerful that notwithstanding that so evident reason it was at last resolved that they should demand of the King a moderation of the Taxes an abatement of the new Impost which amounted to the sum of two millions of Gold per annum the reformation of many Offices erected to bring in money and the total taking away of many other grievances But the Duke of Guise having tried his own strength and found his power with the Deputies being much augmented in courage and grown in favour by that resolution which he had luckily carried against the Kings will propounded to himself for a second attempt to make the States receive the Council of Trent as a most powerful engine not only to destroy and exclude the Hugonots for ever but also to cause the King of Navarre and the rest of the House of Bourbon to be declared uncapable of the Succession but this was no such plausible matter as the other was but suspected not only to the Nobility by reason of the liberty of their lives but also to a great many of the Clergy who feared to lose the immunities and priviledges of the Gallique Church Wherefore though the King by nature an Enemy to Heresie consented willingly unto it hoping also thereby to gain the Popes good will which he suspected by reason of those things he intended to put in execution and though the Cardinals who were there present stickled much in the business and that the Duke of Guise applied all his endeavours to it yet the contradiction of the Deputies and of many of the Clergy was so great that it being impossible to be carried the resolution was referred till another time But the Duke of Guise not at all discouraged considering that the reason why that Proposition had not taken effect was because every one feared to be constrained in their Consciences would needs without that previous preparation venture boldly upon one step higher and caused to be propounded in the States that the King of Navarre and the rest of his Family being guilty or suspected of Heresie should by a Declaration be made uncapable of ever coming to the Succession of the Crown And indeed contrary to the opinion of many who esteemed it an impossible business by reason
wherefore though the King at first had made some difficulty of admitting Giovanni Mocenigo chosen Ambassador to him from the Senate in the place of Giovanni Delfino because he was not of the Colledge of the Sauii de Terra Firma out of which number the Ambassadors to Kings are wonted to be elected yet having in the end admitted him he was so pleased with his discreet silence and prudent behaviour that he contracted a great intimacy with him and with him and the Senate passed business of very great trust and confidence But with Ferdinandi de Medici Grand Duke of Thuscany he proceeded further for he having newly succeeded his Brother Francesco in that State and having renounced the title of Cardinal to take a Wife it was at that time concluded to give him Chrestienne the Duke of Lorain's Daughter and Neece to the King who had been bred up with the Queen-Mother and hastening the Ceremonies of the Marriage Charles the Bastard Grand Prior of France contracted her in the name of Ferdinando and the Bride made her self ready to take her journey Things being ordered in this manner the next business the King had to think on was to contrive which way to catch the Duke of Guise surrounded with so many Guards and with so great a number of adherents for though he had cunningly drawn the States to Blois a City depending upon him and far from the assistance of the Parisians yet was the Duke come thither so strong and so many of the Deputies depended upon his will that it was no easie matter to set upon him The Queen-Mother was so ill of the Gout that she kept her bed and the King troubled with his wonted suspicions had not nor did not intend to impart that design to her and therefore having taken occasion upon Sunday the eighteenth of December while they were feasting in her lodgings for the Marriage of the Great Dutchess and the whole Court was busied there he called into his own Closet the Mareschal d' Aumont and Nicholas d' Angenay Sieur de Rambouillet whom he accounted most trusty one for the profession of Arms the other for the Gown and discovering his whole design desired their counsel in that particular Their opinions were not very different and all agreed that things were brought to that pass that now necessity forced a resolution to bridle the attempts of the Duke of Guise but about the means which were to be used they were not so well resolved for the Mareschal d' Aumont consented to have him resolutely killed and Rambouillet alledging the breach of Faith and the Law of Nations counselled to take him prisoner and then to proceed against him in a legal way Whereupon not knowing how to resolve among themselves they called the same night unto them Colonel Alfonso Corso and Lewis the Brother of Rambouillet to have their opinions they all thinking it a very hard matter to be effected After many hours consultation it was at last determined that he should be slain and that the business should be ordered in this manner following Upon the top of the stairs in the Kings Palace there was a great Hall in which commonly the Council was wont to be held and which except upon such occasions stood open and free for the ordinary passage of the Courtiers at the upper end of the Hall was the door of the Kings Ante-chamber upon the right hand whereof was his Bed-chamber and on the left the Wardrobe and just over against the door of the Ante-chamber was the door of the Closet from whence there was a way out into a fair room and thence a back-stairs that went down into the Queen-Mothers lodging When the Council was held the Gentlemen and Courtiers were wont to accompany the Lords that went in to the Hall-door at the top of the stairs and there they stayed because the door was locked and guarded by the Keepers of the Council-chamber then they used to return back into the Court which being spacious was commonly called The Bretons Porche because they coming often to Court about their frequent Law-suits were wont for the most part to walk and entertain themselves in that place The King and his Counsellors resolved that the deed should be done upon a Council-day for the Duke being then left alone without his train with the other Lords and Counsellors in the Hall he might be called by the King into his lodgings which at such times were wont to be shut and without company and being there apart and deprived of any help might be dispatched out of the world for he being once dead they feared not those dangers and tumults at Blois which they should have done if they had been at Paris Then treating of the persons that should execute the business the King chose to trust Grillon the Colonel of his Guards a fierce bold man and for many occasions an Enemy to the Duke of Guise Having therefore sent for him he unfolded his design unto him with fitting words and gave him to understand that he had appointed him to be the man that should perform the enterprise wherein consisted all his safety Grillon answered with short and significant words Sir I am really your Majesties most faithful and devoted Servant but I make profession to be a Souldier and a Cavalier if you please to command me to challenge the Duke of Guise and fight with him hand to hand I am ready at this instant to lay down my life for your service but that I should serve for an Executioner while your Majesties Justice condemns him to die is a thing sutes not with one of my condition nor will I ever do it whilst I live The King did not much wonder at the liberty of Grillon whom he and the whole Court knew to be a plain honest man and one that spoke his thoughts freely without fear of any body and therefore replyed that it was enough provided he kept the matter secret for he had not communicated it to any body else and if it should be divulged he would accuse him for the revealing it To this Grillon answered That he was a Servant of honour and fidelity and one that would never discover the secret interests of his Master and so going away left the King very doubtful what he should do in which perplexity he continued till the one and twentieth day when having trusted the business to Lognac one of the Gentlemen of his Chamber who had been brought first into the Court by the Duke of Ioyeuse and by his graceful fashion discreet carriage and gentle behaviour began to rise into the place of the Minions he without much difficulty promised with some of the five and forty who depended nearly upon him to do the deed most readily The King having setled his mind resolved to put it in execution upon the morning of the three and twentieth day being Christmas Eve's Eve and being come personally into the Council the
against his lawful Prince without any reasonable occasion which he had long born withal and dissembled out of his desire of the general quiet and out of the gentleness of his own disposition But that after the last Pacification in which he had profusely granted more to the League than they knew how either to demand or desire notwithstanding the Act of Oblivion of all things past and the Prohibition of all such-like practices for the time to come the Duke of Guise persisting obstinately in his first designs violating so many Oaths so many Promises and so many Sacraments reiterated among the holy Ceremonies and in the presence of the Assembly of the States which represented the majestick face of the whole French Nation had both begun again and continued the same things leagues and intelligences with Foreign Princes receiving of moneys and pensions from Spain agreements with the Duke of Savoy to the prejudice of the Crown factions and practices with the States to tie up the liberty of his Prince to exclude the rightful Successors of the Crown and by seditious wicked acts to transfer the whole Government upon himself by which things he made himself guilty of High Treason and had often manifestly incurred the crime of Rebellion insomuch as Justice neither could nor ought to forbear to punish him thereby once to remove the perpetual danger and unquietness in which he kept the whole Kingdom and all good men That the ordinary forms of judging and sentencing could not possibly be observed For no Prisons were secure nor Bonds sufficient to restrain his power that no Officers would have dared to examine him no Judge to sentence him nor no Power would have been able to execute the sentence That the King himself was Justice and that he had so many proofs as did more than abundantly condemn and convince him to be guilty That he was assured he had satisfied God's Justice his own Conscience and the good and quietness of his Kingdom and therefore he intreated the Legat to represent the truth as it was unto the Pope to the end that the arts of his Enemies might not by their false relations transform the face of so necessary so just an action These things were no news unto the Legat being fully informed of the reports already divulged and the Kings reasons contained peradventure what he thought himself And because he firmly believed that the Shepherd being struck the flock would easily be scattered the greater part of the Heads being taken and the rest much unprovided of strength and force to resist the Kings power in so sudden an accident not much valuing the popular commotion which he foresaw might ensue because he thought the seditions of the people were like a fire of straw which riseth with great violence but presently ceaseth and is extinguished he judged it not fit to alienate the Kings mind from the Apostolick Sea but to confirm and establish it to the protection of Religion and with a gentle rein and moderate respect to withhold him from agreeing precipitately with the Hugonots Wherefore seeming to believe that the Pope as disinteressed and as a common Father would kindly give ear unto his reasons he only exhorted him to shew that his words and excuses were true by a firm and principal argument which was To persevere in the resolution of protecting the Catholick Religion and extinguishing Heresie that by that means he might perswade the Pope and the whole World that he had been constrained by necessity and not drawn by hatred to the Catholick party Whereas not persisting in that safe Christian determination he should authorize the false reports of the League and give occasion to have it thought that his inclination to favour the King of Navarre and uphold the Hugonots had moved him to put to death the Head and imprison the principal Members of the Catholick party This point seemed so important to the Legat that he enlarged himself long upon it till the King gave assurance by an Oath that if the Pope would unite himself with him in mind and Forces he would endeavour the extirpation of Heresie with more fervour than ever and that he was firmly resolved to suffer only the Catholick Religion in his Kingdom After which asseveration accompanied with effectual words and gestures the Legat made no scruple of treating with him with the same intimacy and confidence as before thinking he had obtained that point which would serve to satisfie the Pope since the King though exasperated with the injuries of the League did yet confirm himself in his wonted obedience and veneration of Religion and that though the Duke of Guise were removed he yet continued the Catholick Union and the determination of making War against the Hugonots wherefore he gave the King no doubtful hope that the Pope would be satisfied with his reasons Nor did he think fit to pass any further at that meeting but believing he should have time enough afterwards to speak about the enlargement of the Cardinals he would not in a time of so great distraction and in a conjuncture wherein the Kings mind might waver anticipate businesses unseasonably but proceed with well-pondered counsels first setling the publick and then private interest But the King having entertained great hopes by the Legats words and seeing that he seemed not much troubled at the imprisonment of the Cardinals and other Prelates resolved to go forward and to free himself from the Cardinal of Guise a no less fierce and terrible Head of the League than his Brother had been To which end having found the Five and forty unwilling to imbrue their hands in the blood of the Cardinal he commanded du Gast one of the Captains of his Guard that he should cause him to be put to death the next morning by his Souldiers So upon the Four and twentieth day being Christmas-Eve in the morning Captain Gast being come into the Chamber where he was with the Archbishop of Lyons and where they had been all night in most terrible fear confessing one another and watching in continual prayer he bad the Archbishop come along with him for the King called for him At which words the Cardinal believing that he was led to death said to him My Lord think upon God But the Archbishop ghessing better than he and not willing to fail in the same Office replied Nay rather do you think of him my Lord and going away he was brought into another room A while after du Gast returned and told the Cardinal that he had Commission to put him to death To which he only answered that he desired time to recommend his Soul to God And having kneeled down he made a short Prayer and covering his head with the lower part of his Robe he undauntedly bad him execute his Commission when presently four Souldiers armed with Partezans slew him with many wounds and his body was carried to the same place where the Dukes Brother lay The King doubted
Lyons with infinite speed so that upon Christmas-day in the evening about Sun-set the Duke left the City to retire to Dijon a place under his Government at the same time the Colonel entered the City by another Gate to execute the Commission he had received and so of the three Brothers he escaped free from danger into whose valour and wisdom all the foundations and hopes of the League were now reduced The death of the Queen-Mother shut up the last act of the Tragedy of Blois who in the 70 th year of her age having been long afflicted with the Gout and at last oppressed with a slow Feaver and extream abundance of Catharrs departed this life upon the fifth day of Ianuary 1589. being the Eve of the Epiphany of our Lord a day which was wont to be celebrated with great joy by the Court and the whole Kingdom of France The qualities of this Lady conspicuous for the spacious course of thirty years and famous thorow all Europe may better be comprehended by the context of things that have been related than described by any Pen or represented in a few words For her prudence always abounding with fitting determinations to remedy the sudden chances of Fortune and to oppose the machinations of humane wickedness wherewith in the minority of her Sons she managed the weight of so many Civil Wars contending at once with the effects of Religion with the contumacy of her Subjects with the necessities of the Treasury with the dissimulations of the Great Ones and with the dreadful engines raised by Ambition is rather to be admired distinctly in every particular action than confusedly dead-coloured in a general draught of all her vertues The constancy and greatness of courage wherewith she a Woman and a Stranger durst against so potent Competitors aspire to the whole weight of Government having aspired compass it and having compassed maintain it against the blows of art and fortune was much more like the generosity and courage of a man versed and hardned in the affairs of the world than of a woman accustomed to the delicacies of the Court and kept so low during the life of her Husband But the patience dexterity sufferance and moderation with which arts in the suspicion which her Son after so many proofs had conceived of her she knew still how to maintain the authority of Government in her self insomuch as without her counsel and consent he durst not resolve of those very things wherein he was jealous of her was as it were the highest pitch and most eminent proof of her great worth To these vertues which appear plainly in the course of her actions here related were added many other endowments wherewith banishing the frailties and imperfections of the Female Sex she became always Mistress of those passions which use to make the brightest lights of humane prudence wander from the right path of life for in her were a most elegant wit royal magnificence popular courtesie a powerful manner of speaking an effectual inclination liberal and favourable to the good a most bitter hatred and perpetual ill-will to the bad and a temperature never excessively interessed in favouring and advancing her dependents Yet could she never do so much but that being an Italian her vertue was despised by the French pride and those that had a desire to disturb the Kingdom hated her mortally as contrary to their designs wherefore the Hugonots in particular both in her life-time and after her death blasted and tore her Name with poysonous Libels and with malicious Narrations and Execrations and a certain Writer who deserves rather the name of a Satyrist than a Historian hath laboured to make her actions appear very different from the truth attributing often either ignorantly or maliciously the causes of her determinations to a perversity of nature and an excessive appetite to govern abasing and diminishing the glory of those effects which in the midst of so certain dangers did more than once securely produce the safety and divert the overthrow of the Kingdom Not but among so many excellent vertues some weeds of worldly imperfections did also spring up for she was esteemed of a most deceitful Faith a condition common enough in all times but very peculiar to that age greedy or rather prodigal of humane blood much more than became the tenderness of the Female Sex and it appeared in many occasions that to attain her own ends though good she thought no means unfit which seemed conducing to her designs though of themselves they were unjust and perfidious But the eminence of so many other vertues may certainly to reasonable Judges cover many of those defects which were produced by the urgency and necessity of affairs The King was present with demonstrations of extream griefs at the last gasps of her life which ended very Christianly and her death was honoured with his tears and with exceeding great lamentations by the whole Court though the present distractions did in the hasty Funeral of the Mother very much hinder the wonted Magnificence of the Son Her Heirs were Chrestienne de Lorain Wife to Ferdinando Grand Duke of Thuscany and Charles Grand Prior of France Bastard-Son to Charles the Ninth who was therefore called the Count of Auvergne and to her Servants she left many Legacies but the unquietness of the times that followed and some debts contracted by her liberality did by divers ways swallow up in great part both the Inheritance and the Legacies The End of the Ninth BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The TENTH BOOK The ARGUMENT IN the Tenth Book are related the Insurrections caused by the death of the Cardinal and Duke of Guise the Union renewed in Paris and many other Cities of the Kingdom The Authority of command and Title of Lieutenant-General of the Crown given to the Duke of Mayenne The King commands process to be made against the actions of the dead Princes he continues the States but breaks them up at last the Deputies being variously inclined The King strives to appease the Pope who is highly offended at the Cardinal of Guise's death He dispatcheth the Bishop of Mans to Rome for that purpose but the Pope persists and makes grievous complaints in the Consistory The King endeavours to make peace with the Duke of Mayenne but neither doth that design take effect The Duke goes to Paris and begins several ways to take up Arms he establishes the General Council of the League and the particular one of the Sixteen at Paris He dispatches Ministers to Rome to confirm the Popes inclination who afterward publisheth a Monitory against the King of France and foments the League exceedingly The King being necessitated to make War agrees with the King of Navarre and concludes a Truce with him The Spanish Ambassador leaves the Court and goes to reside in Paris with the Heads of the League the Popes Legat departs also and not having been able to perswade the
party The Monitory was posted up in Rome upon the Three and twentieth of May and within a very few dayes after published at Meaux ten Leagues distant from Paris the Bishop of which place was made High-Chancellor by the Duke of Mayenne in the Council of the Vnion The King was so grieved for this determination of the Pope that it produced an universal sadness and the progress of the Army was very much slackened by it Wherefore the Archbishop of Bourges began publickly to comfort him saying That as the Pope ill-informed by the suggestion of the Confederates believing what they did was out of zeal to Religion had pronounced that Sentence so when he should be better informed and assured that they fought for Passion and Ambition and not for the Apostolick See nor for the Faith he certainly as a common Father would change his opinion But the King after a deep sigh replied That he thought it very hard that he who had ever fought and laboured for Religion should be rashly excommunicated because he would not suffer his own throat to be cut by the Armes of his Rebel-Subjects and that those who had sacked Rome and kept the Pope himself prisoner had never been Excommunicated to which the King of Navarre who was present answered But they were victorious Sir Let your Majesty endeavour to conquer and be assured the Censures shall be revoked but if we be overcome we shall all die condemned Hereticks The King assented and all the by-standers did the like and upon that hope order was given the Army should march and having laid siege to Estampes and that Town being taken by assault the King very much exasperated and moved by his natural melancholly now outwardly stirred up by so many provocations caused all the Magistrates to be hanged and gave the pillage of the Town freely to the soldiers From Estampes the King being desirous to shut up all the passages of those Rivers that were fit to streighten the City of Paris marched on with the body of his Army to besiege Poissy and the Duke of Espernon enlarging himself with the Reer took and with the same violence sacked Montereau upon the River Yonne Poissy made very little resistance and the Town yielding it self the King was Master of that brave spacious Bridge which there gives passage over the Seine by the help whereof he was able to enlarge himself on both sides the River In this place the D. of Montpensier who had followed the track of the D. of Mayenne out of Normandy without receiving any opposition joined with the King's Army who intended to make that Town his Magazine gave the Government of it to the Sieur de Villiers and leaving his Baggage Ammunion and part of his Artillery there put in a Garrison of 2000 Foot Poissy being taken and manned the King of Navarre with his Van-guard went without delay to besiege Pontoise in which Monsieur d'Alincourt was Governor and with him the Sieur de Hautfort put in also by the Duke of Mayenne to supply what should be defective these having fortifi'd a Church which stood in a corner of the Town and reduced it to the form of a Raveline stood constantly upon their defence The first force was imployed against the Church which battered and assaulted and no less resolutely defended maintained it self for the space of nine dayes at the end of which Hautfort being killed with a Cannon-shot the Church was also taken and utterly demolished and the defendents retired to make good the Walls But the Sieur d'Alincourt being wounded in the shoulder and the most valiant of the Defendents being slain by the violence of the Artillery and in the fury of a bloody assault the rest were necessarily forced to yield who marched out of the Town upon the four and twentieth of Iuly with this condition that they should not bear arms again in service of the League till after three months The next day after the taking of Pontoise the forreign Army arrived at Poissy-bridge for Monsieur de Sancy being first met by the Count de Tavannes with Five hundred Horse in the Confines of Bourgongne and then in Champagne by the Duke de Longueville and the Sieur de la Noue with Twelve hundred Horse and Two thousand French Muskettiers had advanced with great diligence nor durst the Duke of Mayenne who had made shew that he would oppose his passage meet him with so much weaker Forces so that upon Saint Iames's day they passed the Bridge at Poissy being received with great joy and provided for with great plenty to refresh themselves by Monsieur de Villiers who had caused many carts full of Wine and provisions to be brought beyond the Bridge to welcome the Swisses and the Germans The next morning which was Saint Annes day the King desired to see them and view them in their Divisions largely spread over the fields and being accompanied by the King of Navarre and the Duke of Montpensier he welcomed and cherished the Commanders with great familiarity honouring them with such warlike presents as the state of things in the fury of Arms would permit There were 10000 Swisses 2000 German Foot 2000 Reiters to which the Forces of the King the Duke of Longueville the Duke of Montpensier the Baron de Giury the King of Navarre being added the Army amounted to the number of Two and forty thousand fighting men The terror of this Army made all the places thereabout to yield and the Bridge of St. Cloud a place within a League of Paris having had the boldness to shut their Gates upon the nine and twentieth day was victoriously forced open and the relief which the Sieurs de Bourdaisiere and Tremblecourt had attempted to put into it with two Regiments of Foot and Four hundred Horse was likewise furiously driven back by the Cavalry The affairs of Paris were already reduced into an exceeding ill condition for all the Bridges being lost all the neighbouring Towns surrendred all the passages of the River stopped and the City streightned on all sides there was no other hope left than what the presence of the Duke of Mayenne and of the Army afforded which was all shut up within the circuit of the Suburbs of Paris The Army was 8000 French Foot and 1800 Horse but so great was the scarcity of victual and the terror that had seized every one by reason of the Kings's prosperous successes and severe resolution that within two dayes the French Foot were reduced to Five thousand and the Germans demanding meat and money began to threaten that they would go over to the Enemies Camp Nor were the inhabitants more resolute or more unanimous than the soldiers for the common people following the ordinary course as they had been precipitate to rebel so hoping by their meanness and obscurity to lie hid and escape unpunished were easily induced to submit themselves to the King and those who from the beginning had been inclined to his devotion
his life This Counsel prevailed with the Duke of Mayenne as well for these considerations as for two other reasons one that Don Bernardino de Mendozza the Spanish Ambassador did in a manner openly contradict his election wherefore by reason of the Authority and Forces of the Catholick King he thought it would be impossible to effect that which he should attempt against his will the other that if it should be discovered that he suffered himself to be swayed by his own interests and not by the respects of Religion and the general good he feared he should be forsaken by the Pope and all the Confederates and particularly by the Parisians For which reasons he chose rather to expect the maturity of time and in the interim to cause the Cardinal of Bourbon to be declared King towards whom he saw the common inclination bent and leaving the Name and Arms of King to him that was old weak and which imported most a prisoner to keep the force and authority of Government in his own hand being certain that by how much the more favourably he should he nominated and elected by the League by so much the more closely and warily would he be kept and guarded by the King of Navarre and by consequence so much the longer would the supreme authority remain in him in which time either by his death or some other occasion and perhaps by the help of Victory more easie and expedite opportunities might offer themselves hope in the mean time serving to spur on the other pretenders whose assistance would either be quite taken away or very much cooled if they should see that place possessed at the very first which they were plotting to procure for themselves Thus the Duke preventing the peoples desire and the Council of the Vnion was the first that declared the Cardinal of Bourbon King of France with the Name of Charles the Tenth and so caused him to be declared in the Parliament in the Council of the Vnion and to be proclaimed in the streets of Paris retaining to himself the name and authority of Lieutenant-General through the whole Kingdom This Declaration was pleasing and plausible to the people who were thereby well setled and confirmed to continue the War as they said for the liberty of their King and to root out the seed of Heresie it was well approved of by the Spaniards who desired to gain time to dispose of their affairs but above all it was a great satisfaction to the Pope who in the same point saw both the lawful Succession safe and the preservation of Religion The Cardinal of Bourbon being declared the lawful King by the Council of the Vnion the Duke of Mayenne by a lofty Edict full of high words exhorted every one to acknowledge that King which God had given unto the Kingdom to yield him due obedience and to endeavour with all their might to free him from that imprisonment in which he was detained by his Enemies he commanded that every one should tye himself by Oath before the Officers of his Province to live and die in the Catholick Religion and to defend protect and confirm it and pardoned all those who within the term of fifteen dayes should separate themselves from commerce with the Hugonots and retire into those places where the Catholick Vnion commanded Which Edict as soon as it was registred and published in the Parliament he dispatched the Commendatory de Diu to Rome again who had brought the Monitory against the late King to inform the Pope of the state of Affairs giving him notice that King Charles the Tenth was declared and intreating him to assist the cause of Religion not only by his approbation but also by supplies of men and money Into Spain he only dispatched a great many several expresses with particular news of the whole business deferring to send any persons of quality till he had conferred with Don Iuan de Morrea who having been sent by King Philip before the King's death he had notice was at that time in Lorain For the Catholick King though he had not been willing openly to declare himself Enemy to King Henry the Third to whom he in appearance bore respect for many reasons yet as from the beginning he had laid the foundation of the League and helped and strengthned the Duke of Guise with great sums of money so after his death he had caused Mendozza his Ambassadour to stay in Paris and there under colour of favouring Religion cunningly to be present at all businesses who by his arts and money had so won the hearts of the Parisians that he had as much power amongst them as the Princes of the House of Lorain and though the Catholick King did never send any supplies of armed men openly to the League while the King lived yet he permitted that Count Iago de Collalto who had raised a Tertia of German Infantry for his service and which was paid by him should under shew of friendship to the Duke of Mayenne go to serve him and had by his authority and partly with moneys assisted the leavies of Swisses and Germans which the Duke of Brunswick Count Charles of Mansfelt and the Sieur de Bossompierre had made in favor of the League But now the Kings death had taken away that scruple and that so honourable a pretence of assisting the Catholicks against an Heretick excommunicated King presented it self the Duke of Mayenne hoped he would turn all his Forces to assist the League and therefore he staid to hear his mind more particularly from the mouth of Don Iuan de Morrea and then he meant to send some person of Authority to establish the agreement of common affairs But the King having heard of the Declaration which had been made at Paris and received in other places of the League concerning the Cardinal his Uncle the first thing that came into his mind was just as the Duke of Mayenne had imagined to dispatch his Confident du Plessis-Mornay to Chinon where the Cardinal was and give order That he should be removed to Fontenay and there kept more carefully with stricter Guards thinking that place more secure because it was near Rochelle and invironed on all sides with the Hugonot Forces The second thing was to sollicite the Catholicks who had acknowledged him to send the Embassie already resolved on to Rome to begin to enter into a Treaty with the Pope and to see if it was possible to satisfie him Wherefore the Catholick Lords desiring that their Embassie might have authority both by the Birth and Wisdom of the person employed chose the Duke of Luxembourg a man of most noble Blood of singular parts and great experience in businesses of the Court The Embassie to the Pope being dispatched the King desirous to shew that he remembred what he had promised to the Catholicks caused the Assembly of the States to be appointed in October following at the City of Tours which the Parliament and Court of
the Sieur de la Noue they hastened their march in such manner that upon the Six and twentieth day they quartered within six leagues of the Duke of Mayenne's Army Wherefore the Duke that he might not be encompassed and because he was out of hope of doing any good at Diepe raised his Camp upon the Eight and twentieth day in the morning and drew toward Picardy to meet the Forces which by order from the Catholick King were coming out of Flanders with the Sieur de la Motte to his assistance The next day the Duke of Longueville and Mareschal d' Aumont joined with the King who having left the Mareschal de Byron at Diepe went forth with six hundred Horse and two thousand Foot to meet them and following the Army of the League the same way took Eu and the Castle of Gamaches before he passed the River Somme opportunely making use of the occasion while the Duke whose Army diminished continually by the running away of his men being intent upon his way marched still close and in order and went further from them so that without receiving the least harm the King came to Amiens the chief City of Picardy where he was entertained with very great pomp being met without the Gates by all the Citizens who presented unto him a Canopy of State to be carried over him as the custom is to do unto the King but he refused it giving great testimony of his prudence and moderation by an act of so great modesty Whilst he stays at Amiens to put the Army again in order and settle the affairs of that City four thousand English and a thousand Scots sent by Queen Elizabeth arrived at Diepe Wherefore the King to whom prosperous fortune began on all sides to shew her face being returned with his whole Army received them to the great contentment of every one for they had not only brought an exceeding quantity of victuals but also a certain sum of money which without delay or shewing the least sign of covetousness was presently all distributed to his Souldiers by which readiness though the sum was not great every body was equally pleased and satisfied The English having rested themselves and those that born the toils in the service at Diepe being refreshed after their sufferings in the best manner that possibly might be the King desirous not to lose time now that the Duke of Mayenne and his Army were far off resolved to assault the Suburbs of Paris not so much out of any grounded hope that by the benefit of some unexpected accident he should be able to take the City in the terrour and tumult of the people which by him and all his Commanders was thought impossible as by the pillage of those Suburbs full of the riches of many years to supply the evident necessity of his Army in which the Gentry no less than the private Souldiers were reduced to very great scarcity of money and not only the furniture of their horses but even their arms and wearing clothes spoiled and broken with ill weather and perpetual service With this design he departed from Diepe upon the Nineteenth of October having in his Army Twenty thousand Foot Three thousand Horse and Fourteen great Pieces and with convenient marches took the direct way to Paris The Grand Prior and the Baron de Guiry who succeeded in the place of Baqueville scoured the way before them with the Light-horse The Count de Soissons and the Mareschal d' Aumont led the Vanguard In the Battel was the King with the Mareschal de Byron and Monsieur de la Noue the Duke of Longueville led the Reer With this order as soon as the Army was come to Pont de l' Arche the Duke of Montpensier having passed the Seine with Three hundred Horse went towards Normandy to go to Caen and look to the affairs of that Province where the Forces of the League were very powerful Upon the last of October the King quartered with his Army a league from the Fauxbourgs of Paris where the tumult of the people and the trouble of the Dutchesses was very great seeing the Duke of Mayenne far off and the King come unexpectedly to assault the City at a time when they were perswaded he had enough to do to defend himself and that he was so weak he must needs be either presently suppressed or beaten out of the Kingdom for the Duke of Mayenne crying up the greatness of his Forces to the people when he went to the assault of Diepe had written to Paris that within few days he would either bring the King up prisoner or force him to flee shamefully into England Now businesses proving so contrary the City unprovided of Souldiers and seeing they could not hope for any relief was full of fear and trouble especially there being no Head of Authority who might keep the people in order and provide what should be needful For though Don Bernardino Mendozza the Spanish Ambassador laboured with all his power to comfort them with grave Speeches and with his presence in every place yet there was no man in whom the Parisians could much confide either for experience in arms or for alliance to that Family But at night Monsieur de Rhosne arrived opportunely who being at Estampes which Town he had taken a few days before marched fourteen leagues without any stay and came into the City though with but a few Horse in the beginning of the night At his arrival the Council of the League recovering courage resolved That the Suburbs should be defended to which end the people taking arms and all both great and little and even the very Fryars running armed they were in the best order that might be distributed in those Works which had been cast up three months before at the time when it was besieged by Henry the Third The King before peep of day upon the first of November being All Saints day divided his Foot into three Tertiaes one of which was led by the Mareschal de Byron the Baron his Son and the Sieur de Guitry to assault the Fauxbourg of St. Victoire and St. Marceau the second led by the Mareschal d' Aumont Monsieur d' Anville and Colonel de Rieux against the Fauxbourg of St. Iaques and St. Michael and the third commanded by the Sieurs de Chastillion and de la Noue assaulted the Fauxbourg of St. Germain The Cavalry being likewise distinguished into three Divisions one led by the King another by Count Soissons and the third by the Duke of Longueville stood all ready in the Field each Body as a reserve to its Squadron of Foot in case of any unexpected accident which might happen The assault began when it was broad day light and lasted very fierce for the space of an hour but the Works being beaten down in many places and there being no equality between the inexpertness of the people and the valour of the Kings Souldiers the Defendents were at
continue united with the rest of the Confederates That he should not disgust the Pope nor alienate the Catholick King nor the Duke of Lorain That he should not be abashed for the ill success of the beginning but hope that as God had revenged the Blood of his Brothers so he would give him assistance to establish Religion and exalt his state to the greatness he hoped for The Duke was moved on the one side by the justness of the Proposition of those of the Kings party as also by his anger at the instability and impertinency of the Parisians The scarcity of money afflicted him for want whereof he knew not how to pay his Foreign Forces nor how to satisfie the demands of all the Garrisons and all the Governors who addressed themselves to him for whatsoever they needed but the cunning and obdurateness of the Spaniards troubled him more than all the rest who having caused the Sieur de la Mothe Governor of Graveline to come out of Flanders with Supplies to the very Frontiers of the Kingdom denied to make him advance any further or to pay any sum of Money for the maintenance of the War if the Catholick King were not first declared Protector of the Crown of France with authority to dispose of the principal Dignities as well Ecclesiastical as Civil which they called Las Marcas de Iusticia whereby he would have power and superiority over the League which things seemed to him so exorbitant so prejudicial to the Crown and so unfit that neither he himself could endure to hear of them nor did he believe that any of the Confederates except the Parisians would condescend unto them knowing that it was a putting off the Bridle into the hand of the Catholick King to give him leave to guide the event of things whithersoever he pleased at last to direct them But on the other side the doubt of being left alone and forsaken the uncertainty of the Kings Conversion and of his Word the ancient enmity stirred up against him and much more the hope of attaining the Crown for himself at last did not suffer him to consent to the Marquiss de Belin's Propositions Wherefore he sent him back to his imprisonment with general ambiguous words and cut off the proposed Treaty of Agreement And to remedy as much as in him lay the disorders of present affairs partly by importunity partly by cunning partly by terror of Arms he caused the Council of the Vnion to be very much moderated which from the beginning was composed of seditious persons and such as did not depend wholly upon him and would have the Archbishop of Lyons newly set at liberty by Captain du Gast for a great sum of money and come to Paris to execute the Office of High Chancellor and in that quality to be President of the Council and brought into it the Sieur de Villeroy and President Ieannin Men that were his Confidents and averse from condescending to the will of the Spaniards and increasing the number he put in so many of the principal Gentlemen that he did no longer fear the insolency and instability of the common people in those deliberations which occurred daily and yet to satisfie all in appearance he caused a Decree to be made in the Council by which the Princes Peers Mareschals of France Governors of Provinces Officers of the Crown and the Three Orders of the Kingdom were appointed to meet at Melun in the Moneth of February following to hold the States-General there where all present affairs should be deliberated and resolved on wiâ—h the common consent Which appointment though men of understanding saw that in respect of the confusion of the War it was like to prove vain it not being possible either to meet or stay together in a place that was in the middle of the combustion served nevertheless to bait the common people who are sooner catched with vain but specious things then with such as are serious and substantial With the Spaniards who importuned him most earnestly for the Declaration the Duke held another temper excusing himself by the coming of the Cardinal Legat who already was very near without whose assent and presence he said it was not fit to conclude a business of so great moment and fed them with hopes so artificially and with so much dissimulation that they not distrusting the inclination and ready consent of the Legat it was easie to perswade them to stay his coming Neither therefore would they make the supplies advance or disburse any sum of money alledging the same reason that for their parts they would stay for the approbation of the Cardinal Legat. But because the Parisians straightned with scarcity of Victual murmured exceedingly nor did it appear that in that they were much to blame the Duke drawing together all the Forces he had in being laid siege to Pontoise to open on that side a passage for the provisions of Normandy In the mean time the Cardinal Legat arrived with whom the Duke of Mayenne having had an interview at Paris many of the principal Lords who were nearest at hand being there present and among the rest Cardinal Gondi who since the King's death being retired to Noysy a house of his Brothers the Mareschal de Retz had kept himself neuter they began to treat of the progress of the affairs of the League The Spaniards above all insisted upon declaring the Catholick King Protector and upon the Marks of Iustice they demanded for him and were fomented by the Council of Sixteen who affirmed there was no other opposition against it but that of the Duke of Mayenne and that the whole party would willingly concur to satisfie the Catholick King as he from whom they acknowledged the security of Religion and their own safety On the other side the Duke resisted with the major part of the Nobility and with the Counsellors of Parliament who were resolved not to consent unto it And some inconveniency might have sprung from it if Cardinal Gaetano had not put the Spaniards in mind That it was no time to stand upon those demands nor to force the wills of the French unseasonably That it would make them agree and reconcile themselves to the King of Navarre who not being wanting to himself proposed large and advantageous conditions That the maturity of the business was to be waited for and mens mindes were not to be put into suspicions unseasonably for that without doubt the event would be the dissolution of the League with the danger of Religion and ruine of the whole enterprise That it was needful first to withstand the Arms and progress of the King lest he by means of those discords should have time to establish himself andthen that danger being removed neither ways nor occasions would be wanting to satisfie the Catholick King 's interests which he in due time would advance and favour with all his power And it fell out very opportunely that about the same time either
feel the extremity of hunger and only sustained the bitterness of their present fortune by the constancy of their courage While the siege and defence of the City of Paris is thus laboured with infinite contention on each side the Cardinal of Bourbon burd'ned with years and wasted by the tediousness of his imprisonment departed this life aâ— â—ontenay whose death gave evident proof to all the World that his person had only served for a cloak to cover the passions and interests of those that were most powerful for it caused no alteration at all in the party of the League but both the Parisians continued their constancy with new Decrees of Sorbonne That a new King of a different Religion could not be accepted of and the Duke of Mayenne setting forth a Manifest to invite the Deputies of the Provinces to meet at Meaux for the electing of a King with the common consent kept the same title of Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France and continued in the same manner to make War the end whereof at present was wholly set upon the way of relieving the City of Paris which being not to be done without powerful assistance from the Catholick King the Duke of Mayenne both to agree upon the means and to hasten the execution went to Conde a place upon the confines to confer with Alessandro Farnese Duke of Parma under whose Government were all the Spanish Forces The intention of King Philip was that the League should be relieved and the people of Paris delivered from the present danger but with such moderation that so many sums of money profusely spent and so great forces as were employed in that enterprise might not prove vain and unprofitable to his proper Interests For he foresaw That if the Duke of Mayenne and the League should agree to acknowledge the King of Navarre he should reap no other benefit from so many labours but the gaining of a powerful Enemy and likewise if the Crown should fall to the Duke of Mayenne or any other of the House of Lorain he knew he should advantage himself but little more since the interests of State would in a short time make him his Enemy whosoever should be free and sole Possessor of the Crown weighty present interests having more power with men than the remembrance of past obligations Wherefore he being to spend vast sums of money for the bringing a powerful Army into France and in the mean time leave the affairs of Flanders in great danger where the States of the United Provinces under the command of Grave Maurice of Nassau not finding the wonted obstacles were like to make very great progress he desired that at least things should be composed in such a manner that the benefit might in good measure redound to him which should succeed from his charges dangers labours endeavours and from his Armies which by reason of the nature of the French and the present state of affairs was most difficult to be brought to pass For the Duke of Mayenne Head of the League and absolute Master of the Forces did not only pretend to obtain the Kingdom for himself but was also firmly resolved not to consent that any Member Province or City that belonged to the Crown should be alienated from it and the major part of the people being naturally Enemies to the Spaniards and made their adherents now only by necessity would never endure to be commanded by them and thought it should suffice the King of Spain to be cryed up for the Protector and Defender of the Catholick Religion and that the King who should be established should assist him to subdue the Provinces of the Low-Countries without pretending any other benefit from that principal relief which he lent to the common cause Wherefore it was very hard to find a middle way among so many difficulties and almost impossible to keep such leight uncertain minds from inclining to acknowledge and take part with King Henry a home-born Natural Prince and therefore it was necessary to govern that design with huge expences great industry long delays and infinite patience which among so many suspicions and so many difficult businesses appeared to be of great loss and detriment without much hope of proportionable advantage For this cause the Duke of Parma a prudent wary Prince and an Enemy to leight adventuring upon the arbitrement of Fortune thought it pernicious counsel to leave his own businesses of Flanders to employ all his Forces in so uncertain an enterprise wholly founded upon the instability of the French and had endeavoured to divert the Catholick King from such a thought but the Council of Spain either desirous to augment their glory in the defence of Religion or perchance too much allured by future hopes having judged otherwise and order being come from the King that he should apply his mind principally to the affairs of France he thought that might more easily be brought to pass which was desired in Spain if avoiding the necessity of venturing whole Armies and hazarding all their reputation at one clap the protracting of the War and the spinning of it out with slow proceedings were endeavoured by which means the Party of the LEAGUE no less wearied out than the KINGS it would in the end remain in the King of Spain's power to dispose of the Affairs of France and Religion his own way and therefore he was not so ready to give aid as the urgent need of the Parisians required and as the Duke of Mayenne would have had him who being come to Conde and having met him there endeavoured by most effectual perswasions to move him to march without delay to the relief of Paris But he considering that the reputation of the Catholick King and the sum of affairs ought not without convenient Forces to be put in danger against a valiant and expert Souldier and against a victorious Army shewed That the provisions that were requisite could not be got together so suddenly neither could he so soon give order as well for the drawing of the Army into a Body as for the defence of their own businesses in Flanders and concluded finally that he could not be in France before the beginning of the Moneth of August a time which seemed wonderful long to the Duke of Mayenne and doubting or rather thinking for certain that the Parisians could not hold out so long he desired him in the mean time to let him have some number of men with which added to his own he might attempt some way to put victuals into the City With that the Duke of Parma was contented it being a proposition suitable to his own thought which was to keep the War alive with slow proceedings on the one side by little and little to consume the Kings Forces and on the other by length of time to tire out and break the constant resolution of the Duke of Mayenne and his adherents not to admit a stranger to the Crown nor to
the beginning or that the Counsel given and imprinted by the Ministers that resided in France had caused that resolution they in Spain desired the War should be drawn out in length with a slow progress that the Duke of Mayenne should not rise so high in credit and authority with his party as to be able to dispose of things by himself and that by degrees the way might be facilitated either to the union of the Crowns or to the election of the Infanta Isabella which could not without long time and much patience be obtained and at least if nothing else could be done they would make themselves sure that so many expences and troubles should redound to the profit and augmentation of their Monarchy Wherefore when Ieannin was come thither he in his first audience found that King Philip was fully informed in all things and very far from that inclination which the Duke of Mayenne at so great a distance had fancied to himself yet did he with all possible arts labour in his following audiences to take away those impressions which he thought contrary to the Dukes interests and to perswade the King to concurr with him in his own ends but all was in vain nor could he see that he advanced or profited any thing for treating about Money he not only found the King indisposed to allow a greater sum than he was wont but even those very Moneys which were before given to the D. of Mayenne he had now determined should pass through the hands of his Ministers though with the Dukes participation alledging that he had seen but very small fruits of so many expences that he would not have his supplies to be secret but that every one should see and know from whence they came and should be obliged for them to the principal Author Then concerning the Armies he said his will was they should advance into France to help against the danger of Religion and to establish a Catholick King that might be generally liked of but that the Duke of Parma could not so soon leave Flanders the States of Holland having taken Zutphen in Friesland and other places in Brabant and that it was needful not to proceed longer by chance without knowing what was to be done and that therefore it was necessary to assemble the States to resolve upon the election of a King to the end that they might go on with order and deliberation to a certain determinate end Finally as for the paying of the Duke of Mayennes French Forces raised and commanded by him he said he was ready to do it when the principal resolution was once taken wherefore he concluded that he would send a new Ambassador into France to declare his intention to the States and to cause that to be determined of which was necessary for the perfecting of the enterprise and that in the mean time he would give order to the Duke of Parma to return into France as soon as the affairs of Flanders would permit but that time was not to be lost and that the Assembly of States ought to be appointed and called till the end of which he was not disposed to make any more powerful expedition of men or moneys This was the last conclusion nor could Ieannin by urging the state of Affairs the diffidences of the French the interests of that party the merits of the house of Lorain the pains and authority of the Duke of Mayenne obtain any thing more And with this resolution he was returned to give the Duke an account thereof who more perplexed than ever he had been and having lost the confidence that his arts should overcome those of the Spaniards was also overtaken with new trouble at the liberty of his Nephew Charles Duke of Guise That Prince since the death of his Father had alwayes been kept prisoner nor though his freedom had been much treated of had any attempt ever succeeded and the King had always stiffly denied to change him for any body alledging That he was not a prisoner of War but of Justice Nor though his Mother made great complaints and exclamations had the D. of Mayenne ever cared much to get his liberty foreseeing that his freedom would endanger the division of his party by reason of the dependence that many would have upon him in respect of the memory of his Father and of benefits received from him and that the common people would willingly concurr to exalt him so that if he would not acknowledge his superiority but should attempt to put himself in the place long held by his Father and Grandfather the League was without doubt like to be divided and disunited wherefore he designed not to apply himself in good earnest to procure his freedom till things were reduced to such a condition that it should not be in his power to disturb them if he were at liberty But now whether the King as some believed foreseeing the same had underhand given way to his enlargement or that the Sieur de la Chastre an old servant and dependent of his father's who had the near Government of Berry had prosperously procured it certain it is that having plotted and agreed that a Lackey and a Valet de Chambre with a very swift Horse sent by la Chastre should stay for him in the fields under the Castle of Tours in which he was kept prisoner he upon the fifteenth day of August being risen from Table about noon and having afterward shut himself up in his Chamber to take his rest while the Guards that kept him and his other servants entertained themselves merrily eating and drinking he having locked them all dexterously into the room where they were at dinner went up to the top of a Tower that stood toward the field and with a ladder of silk which had been secretly sent him in a Pie let himself down the wall with exceeding great danger and being come safe to the ground ran along the Riverside of the Loire towards the fields where he found the horse and those that expected him and with infinite speed galloped to find the Baron de la Maison son to the Sieur de la Chastre who stayed for him some few miles off beyond the River Cher with Three hundred Horse wherewith being conveyed into Berry he was received with infinite signs of joy in the City of Bourges Monsieur de Souvray Governour of Tours and Monsieur de Grillon who since the wound received in his left Arm in those Faâ—xbourgs had ever stayed in that Town having heard news thaâ— la Chastre's Horse were roving about those parts and doubting some intelligence 〈◊〉 the City had for some dayes kept the Gates shut and looked more strictly to their Guards than they were wont but being suddenly adveâ—tised by Captain Rouvray Governor of the Castle of the Duke's â—light they entered or feigned to enter into â— much greater suspition and caused the Gates to be opened with so much caution becâ—use they
would first draw all the Soldiers into Arms and make a diligent discovery without that the Duke having had the advantage of above an hour and half could not afterward â—e overtaken by those that followed him which confirmed the jealousie some had that the King had secretly commanded he should be permitted to escape since that all those dayes Letters and Messages were without restraint suffered to come to him and Presents to be sent among which was the Pie with the Silk Ladder in it without which his escape could not have been effected This news being brought to the Heads of the two parties as it did not displease the King who hoped some good would grow out of that evil so did it pierce the Duke of Mayenne to the quick especially in that present conjuncture of time wherein he was diffident of the Spaniards and of many French of the party who were ill-satisfied with him yet dissembling this affliction and not losing courage having expressed fitting joy for the freedom of his Nephew he exhorting him as soon as he could to come unto him thinking that not being well informed of matters nor known to many as soon as he should be with him he would yield to his age prudence and the possession wherein he was of governing all things and having recourse to art to bridle the arts of the other Confederates he presently by the means of Monsieur de Villeroy caused a Treaty of Intelligence to be begun with the Cardinal of Bourbon and the other Princes of the blood whom he knew by the relation of the Sieur des Portes to be discontented with the King and to try to set on foot a third and different party judging that he should by that means beget a jealousie in the Spaniards and necessitate them to consent if not to all at least to many of his demands Nor was Villeroy being alwayes desirous that the War should end in an Accommodation slack by the means of his brother the Abbot de Chesy to promote that Treaty which with hopes and imaginary Conditions was artificially kept alive But the King who had got an inkling of the business standing between the machinations of these which did necessitate him to his conversion and the earnest desires of the English and of the Princes of Germany who urged him to give them places in his Kingdom and securities 〈◊〉 the liberty of Religion wherein they pretended that he must still persevere if he would have their assistance was no less afflicted than the Duke of Mayenne which affliction increased much after he was arrived at Sedan for the Moneys of England were not yet disbursed and the Germans had therefore delayed their coming so long that it was thought the Popish and Spanish Forces would get into Lorain before them and to his other troubles was added that Charlotte de la Mark Heiress of that Dutchy being kept in that City of an age ripe and marriageable he was forced to take a revolution of matching her lest the Duke of Lorain preventing him as he had a most earnest desire should give her to Wife to one of his sons As the importance of that Dutchy and particularly of the City of Sedan did necessitate the King to provide that it might not fall to the Duke of Lorain so did it keep him in great doubt to whom he should give that Lady in Marriage who carried with her the possession of a State of so great consequence Carlo Gonzaga son to the D. of Nevers aspired to this Match confining with her Lands by the Dutchy of Retelois whereof he bore the title but her being of the Hugonot Religion as likewise the People and Gentry of those places was the cause the King would not resolve to satisfie him lest he should alienate that party from him and discontent those whom he laboured to keep with so much pains and industry On the other side he doubted lest the D. of Nevers of a nature apt to take disgusts should be offended if he should propose any other Match of inferiour quality to his son Which contrary considerations after they had held him some dayes in suspence it being necessary to resolve at last he concluded to marry her to the Viscount de Turenne as well because of the confidence he had in him as because he was of the same Religion and much more to reward him for his excellent service done in raising and bringing in the forreign Army but it presently produced that effect which the King had before apprehended for the D. of Nevers was incensed to such a height that he began to encline to those that pressed his conversion and to hold secret intelligence with the Cardinal of Bourbon the D. of Longueville his son in Law and with the rest of the new party who made shew to move principally for Religion which they said was trampled under foot and themselves deceived while notwithstanding all promises those were advanced in strength and power who openly professed to live and die Hugonots Nor was there any other remedy for this mischief save to be incessantly in action and not to suffer idleness to give nourishment to those thoughts but to let victorious enterprises put to silence and quiet those spirits which were yet kept hidden in the brests of men for which cause he laboured so much in solliciting the march of the German Army and in sending them those sums by little and little which with infinite diligence he had been able to get together from several parts that in the end he joyned with them before the Popish and Spanish Armies were come up to cross that union as the D. of Mayenne had ever striven and endeavoured to do so great an errour that it rendered vain all those so vast expences made and so many labours undergone for the gathering together and bringing in of those Forces for they having inconsiderately spent their time in Savoy to attend businesses that did no ways advance the sum of the War arrived not soon enough to hinder the King 's joyning with the Germans upon which depended the principal point of the War of this year Now the King united without opposition with the Viscount de Turenne and having taken many Castles about Metz and Sedan at last assaulted Attigny a great Town into which all the riches goods and Cattel of the neighbouring places were reduced and having very prosperously taken it he gave all the pillage which was very great unto the Germans who being ill provided of Money were refreshed and quieted for some time after which booty the King alwayes ready to embrace valiant counsels thought good to try whether the Commanders of the League had a heart to come to a Battel wherefore having known that the Forces of the Pope the Duke of Lorain and the Duke of Mayenne were also at last joyned together at Verdun he would needs draw up to them and provoke them by his presence and all other possible means to
put it to a day judging the Italian Forces to be yet raw and the Duke of Lorain's not well assured and therefore no way be compared to his Wherefore being departed from Attigny upon the first of October he quartered that night with his Van-guard at Grandpre upon which day Monsieur d' Amblise who commanded part of the Lorain Forces having marched from Montfaulcon joyned with the Army of the League The next day aâ—â—ut noon the King arrived with his Army within sight of Verdun spreading his â—â—uadrons largely imbattelled along the Plain On the other side they of the League who were encamped without the City drew themselves up in Battalia under the Walls the Italians having the right Wing the Duke of Lorain the Battel and the Duke of Mayenne's French the lâ—ft yet the Duke himself commanding and ordering the whole Camp as he pleased At the first arrival there began so great and so hot a skirmish between the two Armies that many of the Commanders themselves thought it would be a Battel for the Sieurs de Praslin de la Curee d' Arges and the Baron d' Giury with the Kings Light-horse in sour Divisions advanced to the very face of the Enemy to skirmish being seconded on the right hand and on the left by the Count de Brienne and the Sieur de Marivaut with Two hundred Cuirassiers and on the other side Cavalier Avolio Ottavio Cesis and Ascanio della Cornia were likewise advanced with the Popes Light-horse and the Sieur d' Amblise seconded them with a Body of Lorain Lances But though the skirmish was very fierce in the beginning the Sieur de Praslins Horse being killed under him and the Sieur de la Curee thrown to the ground with the shock of a Lance the Italians behaving themselves very gallantly every where yet were the Dukes of Lorain and Mayenne resolved not to fight because the Catholick Kings Forces that were come out of Italy following their wonted Counsels had denied to follow them and were marched streight to joyn with the Duke of Parma and the Popes Swisses were not above Three thousand Wherefore not thinking themselves strong enough to deal with the Kings Army in so open a place as is the Plain that lies before Verdun the skirmish by their order cooled by little and little and they drawing back their men under the Walls yet without shew of fear the King took up his Quarters and entrenched himself within sight of the Town and of their Army All sorts of provisions came in plentifully to the Camp of the League and the City furnished them with many conveniences not onely for victual but for lodging under cover whereas the King in the midst of an enemies Country and the weather being very rainy suffered both for want of victual and conveniency nor could his Soldiers accustomed to another kind of Discipline endure the hardship and incommodities of lying in the field in so contrary a season To other things was added a most cruel storm that night with thunders whirlwinds and infinite rain which spoiling all the Soldiers Huts and overflowing all the Plain put the whole Army in wonderful confusion Wherefore next day the King after he had stood firm in Battalia for many hours and none of the enemies appearing in the field faced about with his Army and marched back to quarter again at Grandpre There the Germans were like to have mutinied not being paid the money that had been promised them Wherefore the King who could now do no less than perform his promises to the Queen of England that he might receive the other Two hundred thousand Ducats having made provision at Sedan with the Jewels and credit of the Princess Charlotte of a certain sum of money to quiet his Germans took without delay the way towards Normandy to besiege at last the City of Rouen The Duke of Mayenne contrary to whose expectation the Popes forces had so long delaid their coming and who had also seen the King of Spain's march streight towards Lorain without making any stay presently dispatched the Count de Brâ—ssac to the Duke of Parma to protest unto him that if he entred not into the Kingdom or sent not such Supplies as should be sufficient to oppose the King the affairs of the League and the state of Religion would be very much endangered and that he should not be able to hinder many from making their peace as seeing the slowness and ill counsels of the Confederates they daily threatned The Duke made this protestation more at large to Diego d' Ivarra who was there present shewing him the wonderful ill effect which the delays and secret practices of the Spaniards did produce for if all the Catholick Kings expences and forces which he had granted severally to this man and to that in Bretagne Provence Savoy and Languedoc haâ— been put into one Body and all imployed to the root of the business and to the Spring-head of affairs the victory over the King would thence have ensued and also the suppression of their Enemies in all places but whilst the division of the League was endeavoured whilst his counsels were not believed and whilst the Duke of Parma would not advance the King had found opportunity to receive his Foreign Forces and now being grown powerful he over-ran all France at his pleasure to the admiration and grief of all good men But these Protestations and Reasons not availing with Diego d' Ivarra who had received another impression and was otherwise inclined and the cause from whence this hardness proceeded being clearly seen by the relation of President Ieannin the Dukes of Lorain and Mayenne not being able any other way to hinder it agreed together though secretly in this general to keep close and united together and not to suffer that any should be admitted to the Crown not only who was a stranger but who was not of their own Family and that if they were constrained to yield to any other persons a Prince of the Blood of the Catholick Religion should be chosen and never to consent either to the alienation or division of the Kingdom With this firm resolution confirmed also by a Writing which they signed the Duke of Mayenne set himself in order to prosecute the War and being departed from Verdun with the Popes Army and his own and with the Supplies he had obtained from the Duke of Lorain who gave way that the Count de Vaudemont the Count de Chaligny and the Sieur de Bassompierre should follow him he took the way toward Champagne that he might not go too far from the Confines till he heard the determinations of Flanders When the Duke was arrived at Retel in Champagne the Duke of Guise came up to him accompanied with Six hundred Horse all Gentlemen who upon the same of his being at liberty were come in to him and though at his arrival their greetings and outward actions shewed kindness and confidence in one another
should be suppressed by it and seeing that he could no longer delay to assist the Duke of Mayenne he resolved to do it but still persevering in his determination not to shew any interessed end but simply a desire to succor and sustain Religion that he might not put things in disorder and begâ—t an unseasonable jealousie in the French Diego d' Ivarra was of another mind who by his own opinion and that of the other Ministers who were in France perswaded that upon occasion of the present necessity which was most urgent the Duke of Mayenne and the other French Lords should be constrained to assemble the States and cause the Infanta Isabella to be declared Queen who should afterward with the consent of the Confederate Princes take such an Husband as should be resolved on which coming to pass he thought best to spend with a free hand and with all their Forces to assault the King and never to draw off their Army from him till he was absolutely suppressed and overcome But the Duke though he knew this to be the last intention of the Catholick King and of the Spanish Council did not judge the present time seasonable for that business as well because the French Lords holding themselves deceived and that upon occasion of their present exigency they meant to bring their necks into a noose would in despair cast themselves into the Kings mercy who with many inticements sought to make them his friends as also because there was not time to manage that design with that patience and dexterity it required while Rouen was already besieged and the necessity of relieving it admitted no delay The Spaniards and particularly Diego d' Ivarra a man of a most fiery wit and naturally of a stinging tongue added that the Duke of Parma being an Italian for his own interest and that of the other Italian Princes did not desire the so great growth of the Spanish Monarchy and that therefore he went interposing doubts and delays no less than the French Lords did But the effects of after-times have clearly shown how prudent and profitable the Duke of Parma's opinion was who being resolved to help in the so great need of the Confederates was come to Guise where he met with the Dukes of Mayenne and Montemarciano and having left Count Mansfelt in the Government of the Low-Countries gave order to his Son Prince Raunuccio and the other Commanders to draw together and lead the Army toward the Confines The Duke could do no less than give the Duke of Mayenne and the rest a touch of what King Philip had with his own mouth spoken to President Ieannin That it was thenceforth necessary not to do things by chance and without a determinate end but to assemble the States who having understood the Catholick Kings intentions which he would cause to be made known unto them by new Ambassadors should resolve upon future things which could not alwayes go on in the present uncertainty And when he saw that the Duke of Mayenne answered him very coldly to that particular he caused it afterward to be spoken of to him by President Riceardotto one of his Counsellors but the Duke not refusing the Convocation of the States said it was necessary to refer it till another time and that first it should be treated on with the Dukes of Lorain Nemours and Mercoeur and that the ends to which they should unanimously tend should be agreed upon lest they should proceed indeed by chance and cause some division among the Confederates Which reasons being very conformable to the sense and opinion of the Duke of Parma and having observed that at this proposition all the French Lords were put in suspence and no less than they Madam de Guise who was then present he seemed to remain satisfied and imposed silence to thâ—â— point but fell onely to demand la Fere for his retreat whither he might bring all the Artillery Ammunition and Baggage of his Army it not being fit that they should remain open to the Enemies incursions and that he advancing into the boweâ— of an enemies Country should not have one place whither he might retire at his pleasure There was enough to do to obtain this point for the Duke of Mayenne refused to alienate any place from the Crown But having discovered that the Vice-Seâ—â—schaâ— de Montelimar Governor of that Fortress held intelligence with the Spaniard doubting that they howsoever would get it against his will he was at last contented that the Duke should bring in his Arms and Artillery thither and that he should leave â— Garrison there of Five hundred Walloons paid by the Catholick King but still under the same protection of the Crown the same French Magistrates residing to administer Justice and not satisfied with that he would also have a bill of the Duke of Parma's hand to leave it free to him again whensoever he should draw forth his Artillery The D. of Parma about that time gave great satisfaction to the Confederates by a very prudent and generous action for certain Deputies being come to him from the City of Orleans to let him know That their Citizens not having wherewithal to pay the soldiers of the Garrison who were many months behind and seeing that the D. of Mayenne had no great care of their interests were desirous to put themselves under the Catholick King 's protection being ready to receive what Garrison he should think fit he reprehending them for seeking to swerve from the obedience of the Lieutenant of the Crown refused to accept of them though Iuan Baptista Tassis and Diego d' Ivarra were of a contrary opinion to whom he answered that if they thought to get possession of the Crown of France by reducing the Cities one by one the World would be at an end before they had absolutely gain'd it and that it was necessary to strike at the root and not busie themselves in pruning off the boughs Matters being set right with the French Lords it was necessary to set them right also with the Ministers of Rome for after the death of Gregory the XIV th Giovanni Antonio Fachinetto Cardinal of Santi Quattro being chosen Pope who took the name of Innocent the IX th the affairs of the League seemed not to be hearkened to by him with the same inclination wherewith his Predecessors had imbraced them for he told both the French Agents and Spanish Ministers freely that he would not stir to give any relief to France till a free Catholick King but such a one as was generally liked of were chosen whereby he seemed to point at a Prince of the Blood-Royal for Scipio Balbani had communicated the Cardinal of Bourbon's design to many and their mindes were much entangled with it nor was the Pope himself much averse from this new thought whereupon being earnestly sollicited to assist the so urgent necessities of the League and not to forsake the cause of Religion he answered that he could not
being well provided of Victual passed the River Somme at a place called Blanguetaque where spreading it self at large it is less rapid and more shallow and in six days march came very near to Rouen having with this celerity made that journey in so short a space which the time before they were no less about than thirty days The King having heard of the Enemies sudden coming presently made them who were in the Fauxbourg of St. Severe come back over the River to join with the rest of the Army and with extream diligence recalled all his Cavalry to the Quarters at Darnetal with an intention to oppose and meet the Enemy but having made a strict muster of his Forces and knowing them to be so diminished both in number and vigour that they were no way equal to the numerous Army of the League he resolved to raise the siege and reserve matters till a better occasion being certain that the greater part of the Nobility would within a few days be come back to him again But lest the Army of the League drawing near apace and without resistance should disturb the order of his retreat he sent forth the Duke of Bouillon with the German Horse accompanied with a few French Light-Horse and Cuirassiers upon the great road toward Neuf-Chastel to hinder and fore-slow the Enemies march The Country thorow which the Army of the Confederates came was all plain not troubled with either Hills or Woods which was a great disadvantage to the Duke of Bouillon who with a few men intended to make shew to be the whole Army and yet he took his time so opportunely to assault the Duke of Guise's Vanguard when the rest of the Army was not yet moved out of their Quarters that he put the first Troops of it into some disorder and in the first fury of the charge took a Cornet but Rosne Bassompierre and the whole Vanguard coming up and within a while after the Duke of Parma with the Battel the business was reduced to faint skirmishes upon advantage for the Duke of Parma commanding out many Troops of Horse every way endeavoured to discover his Wings and Reer to find whether or no the Kings whole Army was there and the Duke of Bouillon perceiving his design made as many Fronts as the Enemy sent forth Troops and extending his Battalion to the utmost would not suffer them to effect their intents with which arts the whole day was spent in petty Incounters and the King with his Commanders had time to raise his Camp from before Rouen without disorder The Artillery were drawn off without delay and while the Army was imbattelling they were sent before with the Carriages to Ponte de l' Arche toward which place the King intended to retire who after he had made a stand about half an hour facing the City left the siege upon the 20th day of April and the Baron de Byron making good the retreat marched commodiously the same way The Duke of Pâ—â—ma with his Army in Battel-aray arrived the same day at Rouen and having sent Georgio Basti to follow the Reer of the Kings Army to observe which way he marched entered with the Duke of Mayenne into the City where having given infinite praises to the Sieur de Villars and the rest that had been with him in the siege he reâ—iâ—ed the same night to quarter with his Army in the Neighbouring Villages The End of the Twelfth BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The THIRTEENTH BOOK The ARGUMENT IN this Book is set down the Determination of the Confederates to besiege Caudebec thereby to open the passage of the River and totally free the City of Rouen They lay siege unto it the Duke of Parma in viewing the Works receives a Musket-shot in the Arm The Town is taken but things go on so slowly that the King hath time to get his Army together again and taking all the Passes to besiege the Army of the League in the Peninsula of Caux many actions of importance follow The Duke of Parma troubled with his wound and straightened with want of Provisions thinks of passing the River Seine to disingage himself from that danger which he found he was run into He manages that design with so much art that he passes the River and retires without receiving any loss he draws off with long marches repasses the River at St. Cloud returns into Flanders and leaves Supplies not very powerful under the Sieur de Rosne The Duke of Mayenne being angry goes not with him he takes Ponteau de Mer and falls into discord with the Popes Commissary he enters into a Treaty of Agreement with the King who vexed at the unexpected passage of the Confederate Army lessens his own and follows the Enemy with a flying Camp He lays siege to Espernay in Champagne which had been taken a while before by the Sieur de Rhosne the Mareschal de Byron is slain there with a Cannon-shot Espernay is taken and other neighbouring Garisons fall of themselves The King raises a Fort upon the Seine to keep Provisions from the City of Paris the Duke of Mayenne attempts in vain to divert him There arises on the Kings side a third party of the Princes of the Blood and many Machinations are set on foot Pope Clement The Eighth is created who applies himself with great Moderation to the Affairs of France The Duke of Mayenne at the Sollicitation of the Pope and the King of Spain resolves to call the States-General to Elect a King upon this there follows divers Artifices and different Treaties King Philip sends new Ambassadors to declare his Will unto the States The Duke of Mayenne meets them they disagree but piece up again for their own private interests The King attempts to dissolve the States He causes the Catholicks of his Council to hold a Conference with the Confederates which with the Duke of Mayenne's consent is begun at Surenne He takes Noyon the King being necessitated to go speedily into Poictou cannot relieve it The Catholick King 's Ambassadors propose the Infanta of Spain to be elected Queen the Proposition is ill relished by the States and there are divers practices about it The King takes Dreux and being constrained by the importunities of his own Catholicks who threaten to forsake him resolves to turn his Religion He removes to St. Denis and goes publickly to Mass. He appoints the Duke of Nevers his Ambassador to the Pope to ask Absolution the States of the League are troubled at it The Duke of Mayenne seeing that he could not obtain the Kingdom for himself nor for his Posterity consents that a Truce should be treated on the Deputies at Surenne conclude it till the end of October it is willingly accepted and the States at Paris are dismissed THE relieving of Rouen effected with so much ease and without Blood by the Duke of Parma's excellent dexterity in making use sometimes of slowness
of the enemies hands That he had taken away the victory and reputation from the King of Navar who oppressing the French in all places had been opportunely bridled onely by the power of his Army and that now also though the Count de Vaudemont with the Forces of Lorain had left him and though the chief French who were interessed had come but slowly to the Army he would have made an end of suppressing the King if they would have agreed to follow him and if by imprudently thrusting themselves into a net shut up on all sides they had not spoiled the fruits of the Victory and lost the opportunity which presented it self of ending the War victoriously at the last That the Catholick King poured out the gold and blood of his Kingdoms prodigally for their benefit and they on the contrary having no other aim but to grow rich in particular cared but little for the publick good and much less for the safety of the Kingdom and finally That he would not stay unprofitably and without fruit at Rouen and suffer not onely the affairs of Flanders but even also those of France to go to ruine without remedy From these words their actions were not different for the Duke of Mayenne pretending a necessity to take Physick would needs stay at Rouen and not follow the Army that marched away and the Duke of Parma vext that he would not go with him would not leave him any Forces at all but on the other side taking with him the Duke of Guise gave out that he would leave the Command to him of those Spanish Forces that should stay in France which more than any thing else nettled the Duke of Mayenne who the Cardinal-Legat departing also with the Army remained alone and forsaken being scarce able to obtain that the Pope's Swissers and Commissary Matteucci should stay with him at Rouen and yet even this also was a stone of exceeding great scandal for Matteucci a man of a harsh carriage and most wilful in his opinions either having such orders from Rome or because he had not money to pay them would needs dismiss the Swisses within a while after neither was it possible by any kind of reasons perswasions or threatnings to alter his determination but the Duke of Mayenne having earnestly desired him to stay them yet a moneth longer offering to pay them himself if he would not keep them in his own pay could not prevail any thing at all whereat highly incensed and grieved that he was ill dealt with by them all he gave order that Matteucci should be seized upon which though it were not effected because he hid himself in the habit of a Soldier and departed with the same Swisses and because the Duke the first fury of his wrath being over dissembled the business and did not care to have his order put in execution yet notwithstanding the Legat complained grievously about it and the thing was very ill taken at Rome whereupon the Duke's discontents multiplied on all sides which had so much power on him that he began afresh to lend his ear to a Treaty of Peace which Monsieur de Villeroy had never given over to manage out of a desire to conclude an Agreement with the King and by that means to free themselves from the mischief as he said of forraign Forces Monsieur de Villeroy had kept the Treaty alive sometimes with one sometimes with another of the King's party and as either side had the better so did the Treaty vary accordingly for when the King felt himself much straitned by the Enemy he fell into a thought of satisfying the party of the League and of freeing himself from danger and trouble and when the Duke of Mayenne found himself either ill dealt withall or slenderly assisted by the Confederates he also inclined towards the hopes of an Accommodation but the insuperable difficulty that was in the King's conversion because he would not do it at the request of his enemies and the Duke 's not being willing to conclude the Treaty unless he were first a Catholick had alwayes cut off the practices and put the business in a total desperation But about this time Monsieur de Villeroy having treated long and freely about it with Monsieur de l' Ominie one of the King's Secretaries of State who had been taken prisoner and was at Pontoyse he after he had his liberty treated of it with the King just at the time when by reason of the Duke of Parma's drawing near he was both in danger and trouble wherefore he gave order to the Sieur du Plessis Mornay who formerly had treated about it being a man in whom by reason of his wisdom and learning he confided very much that he should renew the discourse of it again with Monsieur de Villeroy who having written several times to the Duke of Mayenne and to President Ieannin concerning it at last after much treating the Duke who had never been willing to condescend to any particular had at this time declared himself by Villeroy That if the King would give security of his conversion and satisfaction to him and the other Lords of his party he would agree to acknowledge and submit himself unto him Du Plessis and Villeroy treated together with mutual promises of secrecy but no evasion could be found whereby the King not turning his Religion at the present they of the League could be secure that he would do it for the future since they alledged that the King had from the beginning promised those very Catholicks that followed him that he would do it and yet had never performed it to them whereupon it could not be hoped that he would assuredly do it at the importunity of his Enemies Besides that the King would make that promise with uncertain and ambiguous words and with a reservation of being taught and instructed which as they were like to afford sufficient matter of excuse to whatsoever resolution he should take so did they not quiet the Duke of Mayenne and the Conditions that were propounded in his particular and in that of the other Princes and Lords of his party did not absolutely satisfie them Wherefore after much treating and after much writing and replying in the end President Ieannin wrote by the Dukes order to Villeroy and gave him Commission to propound for the last Conditions That the business of the Kings Conversion should be referred to the Popes arbiâ—rement to whom the King should send the Marquiss de Pisani accompanied with Cardinal Gondi to know his pleasure and to receive those Conditions in that matter which the Apostolick See should judge convenient and that he himself would send a person expresly and would give order to his Agents at Rome to promote the business and help to overcome the difficulties that the Pope might be brought to some reasonable determination That for security that the King should persevere in the Catholick Religion and maintain the Peace the
of the Peace of Christendom and him by reason of his great prudence to be intent to follow the same way and therefore he straitly confirmed that confidence with the Senate which his Ancestors had in that State having taken refuge there in their adversities And with the Great Duke forgetting those ancient factions for which his Father had been banished out of the City of Florence he contracted a new confident correspondency to advance by the assistance and advice of these the Government of the Church to the common benefit and safety of Christians The first and most important business that represented it self unto him was that of France in which as matter of Religion was chiefly considered by him so the private emulations the ancient discords and the present ambition of the Great Ones were very well known unto him But because time and opportunity were to administer those overtures that were necessary for the Peace and Union of that Kingdom he determined in himself in the mean time to sustain the League with convenient relief but not with that interessed fervour his Predecessors had profusely done desiring things should be in such a condition as might not tend towards the division and destruction but to the safety and restauration of so great a Kingdom which he thought would follow if a King were elected and established who was not only a Catholick and obedient to the Apostolick See but also a French-man and of such a condition as might draw along with him the general peace and satisfaction He therefore confirmed the Cardinal of Piacenza in his Legation judging him by reason of his long employment there not only to be well informed but also more fit to manage that business than any other and though he in times past had shewn himself very partial to the Spaniards yet the Pope thought that his Master being changed and his Commissions altered he would as a prudent experienced man endeavour rather to satisfie his intention than to follow the interests of Spain the ends whereof could not always run united with those of the See of Rome but having by the confirmation of the Legat shewed as much as was sufficient his intentions to be well 〈◊〉 towards the League in other matters under colour of the present disabilities of the Apostolick See he freely declared that he could not assist the Confederates with more than fifteen thousand Ducats by the month shewing that the excessive expences formerly made to the wasting of the Treasury and to the burdening of the people had not produced any fruit equivalent to so vast a charge and to so great preparations and insisting upon that remedy which he esteemed convenient he gave the Legat order to endeavour the assembling of the Free-States to the end that a King being chosen with a common consent all machinations might be cut off the way lockt up against ambition and that as a certain end and a visible apparent mark they might aim at the good of Religion and the restoring of Peace in the Kingdom These thoughts which by many conjectures were known unto both parties as they put the Duke of Mayenne in good hope that the Pope was inclined to acknowledge his merits and his so great labours and would favour his designs so did they not displease the King who despaired not in that moderation to find some temper to settle his own affairs wherefore being forced by the Commotion of the Catholicks who all were already determined to see some resolution he discoursed at Vernon with Giovanni Mocenigo the Venetian Ambassador and told him that having a purpose to find some way whereby an overture concerning his affairs might be made unto the Pope he desired that the Republick which he knew had a very near correspondence with him would either by an express Ambassador or by the means of the ordinary Resident at Rome assist that his just intention having determined to procure that Cardinal Gondi in whose prudence and candour he confided very much should go into Italy and with him the Marquiss de Pisani in the name of the Catholick Nobility of his party to treat of the means of attaining to a Peace and Reconciliation but that this Treaty being in appearance very difficult by reason of the Considerations at Rome and of the extraordinary power of the Spaniards he believed the intercession counsel authority and endeavours of that Republick would serve as a Pole-star in so important a business He found the Ambassador ready to give notice of it at Venice who knowing the good intentions of the Senate toward the conservation of the Kingdom assured him that he should have all manner of assistance he could desire The same did he cause to be treated of with the Grand Duke by Girolamo Gondi requesting him not only to use his endeavours with the Pope wherein he more esteemed the power of the Venetian Senate but also to deal with the Cardinals to the end that the business coming into debate it might be crossed as little as was possible These Foundations being laid he sollicited Monsieur de Villeroy's coming for he designed to set things right with the Duke of Mayenne in such manner that he also might favour his affairs in the Court of Rome since his reconciliation with the Apostolick See coming to pass the scruple of Religion would be taken away and the Duke of Mayenne might with his honour embrace those large advantageous offers which he would make him But the Duke who had taken a distrust by reason of the trick put upon him by du Plessis and who hoped to settle his own affairs with the Spaniards suffered the Treaty to run on that he might make use of it for his own profit but without any desire to conclude those thoughts being again revived in his mind which despair had before disordered and destroyed Wherefore though Villeroy went to Rouen to him and afterwards had a conference with the King himself by night at Gisors yet went they not on to treat of any conditions but the Duke consented that the King should send to Rome leaving the Treaty to go on and be concluded when the business was settled with the Pope and the King was content that the Duke should assemble the States of his party to treat with them concerning the present resolution The Spaniards had never intermitted to press for the assembling of the States and jointly with the Cardinal Legat had made both publick and private instances about it and the Duke had always interposed difficulties and delays sometimes alledging the urgency of following the management of the War sometimes saying it was fit first to treat and conclude with the Princes of the party and sometimes the difficulties of assembling the Deputies because of the general combustion of the War by reason whereof they would very unwillingly forsake their own Houses and Cities in the present distractions and that they would not venture to take so great journeys with the danger of their
try what they could do upon that place but the taking of it proved so difficult being defended by the Sieur de St Offange that after Two thousand and five hundred Cannon-shot and the loss of much time and the best Soldiers of the Army the rains of Autumne falling and the Duke of Mercoeur's relief drawing near they were at last constrained to rise without having obtained their intent But the Duke having held the Enemy in suspence by taking several ways and by making shew of turning sometimes to one place sometimes to another came suddenly to Quintin whither 700 Germans were gotten who were under the command of the D. of Montpensier in those parts and having found them unprovided of those things which were requisite to make a long defence he forced them to yield with express conditions to go out of the Province and not to serve any more against him a thing which proved very hurtful to the King's affairs for he had no Foot that were more forward more expert nor better disciplined than they The loss of the King's party was augmented by the defeat of the English who being as they still are wont afflicted with grievous diseases and brought to a very weak estate had obtained leave of the Duke of Montpensier to go to Danfront in lower Normandy to change the air and to recover their strength by rest but being set upon in the way by the Sieur de Bois-Dauphin with the Garrisons of Laval Craon Fougeres and of the near adjacent places they were so shattered that of so great a number hardly 200 remained alive On the contrary the affairs of the League in Lorain went on unsuccessfully for while the Duke of Bouillon who had taken Stenay with a Petard and possessed some lesser places at last went to relieve Beaumont besieged by Monsieur d' Amblise General for the Duke of Lorain the Armies encountred fiercely and the Lorainers losing their Trenches and Artillery were utterly routed and dispersed after which business the Duke of Bouillon took Dun suddenly by having likewise fastened a Petard to the gate and overrunning all the Country without hinderance had put the Forces of the League in very great confusion In this condition of affairs began the year 1593 the general dispositions of mens mindes as well of the one side as the other being more inclined to the setling of affairs than to the management of Armes The first novelty of this year was the Duke of Mayenne's Declaration made from the December before but not published before the fifth of Ianuary in which making known his intention in assembling the States of his party he prayed and exhorted the Catholicks that followed the King's party to unite themselves to the same end with him and to take some course for the safety and peace of the Kingdom It was of the tenour following CHarles of Loraine Duke of Mayenne Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France To all persons present and to come Greeting The inviolable and perpetual observance which this Kingdom hath had of Religion and piety hath been that which hath made it flourish above all others in Christendome and which hath caused our Kings to be honoured with the name of Most-Christian and First Sons of the Church some of them having to obtain that so glorious Title past the Seas and gone as far as the utmost bounds of the earth with most powerful Armies to make War against the Infidels and others of them fought often against those that sought to introduce new Sects and Errors contrary to the faith and belief of our fore-fathers in all which Expeditions they were alwayes accompanied by the Nobility who voluntarily exposed their lives and fortunes to all dangers to have part in that onely true and solid glory of having helped to conserve Religion in their Country or to establish it in places far remote where the Name and Worship of our Lord was not yet known from whence not onely the fame of the valour and zeal of the whole Nation resounds in all parts but by the example of it other Potentates have been stirred up to follow in the honour and danger of so worthy enterprises and of so laudable atchievements After this ardor the holy intention of our Kings and of their Subjects was not at all cooled nor changed till these last dayes that Heresie hath been secretly introduced into this Kingdom and increased in such manner by the means which every one knows that there is now no more need to set before our eyes that we are at last fallen into so lamentable a misfortune that the Catholicks themselves whom the Union of the Church ought inseparably to joyn together have by a new prodigious example taken Arms against one another and disunited themselves in stead of joyning together for the defence of their Religion Which we judge to be come to pass by the wicked impressions and wonted artifices Hereticks have made use of to persuade them that this War is not for Religion but to destroy and usurp the State though we have taken Arms being moved thereunto by so just a grief or rather being constrained by so great a necessity that the cause thereof cannot be ascribe d to any others than the authors of the most wicked disloyal and pernicious counsel that was ever given to a Prince though the King's death happened by a blow from Heaven and by the hand of one man alone without the help or knowledge of those that had but too much cause to desire it and notwithstanding we had made protestation that all our aim and desire tended onely to preserve the State to follow the Laws of the Kingdom by acknowledging for King the Cardinal of Bourbon the nearest and first Prince of the Blood declared so to be in the life-time of the late King by his Letters-Patents verified in all the Parliaments and in that quality designed his Successor in case he should die without male-children which obliged us to confer that honor upon him and yield him all kind of obedience fidelity and service as our intention was to do if it had pleased God to free him from the captivity he was in And if the King of Navarre from whom alone he could hope for that good had been pleased obliging all Catholicks to set him at liberty to acknowledge himself as King and to stay till Nature had brought his dayes to an end making use of that occasion to cause himself to be instructed and to reconcile himself to the Holy Church he should have found all the Catholicks united and disposed to yield him the same obedience and fidelity after the death of the King his Uncle But he persevering in his Errors it was not possible to do it if he would remain under the obedience of the Apostolick Roman Church which had excommunicated him and deprived him of all the rights he could pretend to the Crown Besides that by so doing we should have broken and violated that antient
approved and that might be like to cause new Wars more pernicious than the former yet the Legat either because he really thought the interests of Religion so linked to those of Spain that they could not be separated or in respect of his own private designs which perswaded him to get the Catholick Kings favour absolutely oâ— else by reason of the enmity he had contracted with the King because of the Declarations made by the Parliaments against him or that the Popes so obscure Commissions were not well understood by him did not take himself off from his first manner of treating but with the pretence and colour of Religion which truly was very great did wonderfully serve all the Plots and Practices of the Spanish Ministers These were yet uncertain of the means but most certain of the end of their treating the Council of Spain having determined that for the greater decency and speciousness the Union of the Crowns should not be mentioned a thing rather to be discoursed of in the Infancy than to be hoped for in effect but that the election of the Infanta Isabella should be propounded which by divers ways came to the same end But at this time in Paris there was no other Spanish Ministers except Diego d' Ivarra who continuing his disaffection to the Duke of Mayenne and being of opinion that without him the Catholick Kings Forces Money and Authority were sufficient to cause the States to make that election continued still private practices with the Deputies all which nevertheless came perfectly to the Duke of Mayenne's knowledge Laurenzo Suarez de Figueroa Duke of Feria appointed Head of the Embassie was expected and with him Inigo de Mendozza a most learned Spanish Lawyer sent to dispute by way of right the lawful Succession of the Infanta and Iuan Baptista Tassis who that he might give them information was gone as far as the confines of Flanders to meet them but these also came with an impression that the Infanta's right was evident and that the Catholick Kings Forces and Authority were so feared in France that without the Duke of Mayenne they should be able to obtain their intent of the Assembly and though Iuan Baptista Tassis told them otherwise believing that without the Duke of Mayenne they could not compass any end yet they being prepossessed with the opinions of Spain and far from the moderate counsels which the Duke of Parma in his life time had held and represented persevered in their conceit and continued on their practices in the manner they were begun Iuan Baptista Tassis and together with him the Counsellors of Flanders who knew the French humour and by reason of their neighbourhood saw things at a nearer distance counselled that they should march into France with a powerful Army and that with it Count Charles of Mansfelt to whom that charge was committed should draw near to Paris That at the same time with great sums of money they should gain the Duke of Mayenne especially and then the other principal Lords and every particular Deputy that had credit and authority in the Assembly and that to the Lords of the House of Lorain who were chief of the Union large advantageous offers should be made and full security given them for their performance and with these Conditions and not otherwise they thought the election of the Infanta which was to be propounded might be brought about for if the French were not besieged and taken on the one side by profit and on the other by fear they thought it impossible that of their own voluntary will they shall ever consent to submit themselves to the Spanish Dominion And if the Princes of Lorain who were in so great power and in a very near hope that one of them might attain to the Crown were not by exceeding high and secure Conditions removed from that design they did not think that ever they would condescend to transfer that to others which they pretended to for themselves besides there was no doubt but that to establish an election so new and so contrary to the nature of the French powerful and extraordinary Forces were necessary and such preparations of Souldiery Money and Commanders as might overcome those difficulties and oppositions which would discover themselves much more in the progress than in the beginning of the business To this was added that to break into a matter of so great difficulty a great increase of reputation was necessary and a certainty that the King of Navarre might without much length of time be overcome and suppressed which was not possible to be effected without very great store of Men and Money These were the solid and well-grounded counsels of those who judging with reason of the importance and weightiness of those affairs were of opinion that for the Catholick Kings honour the thing should not be propounded without an infallible certainty of bringing it perfectly to an end But those that were newly come from Spain either by reason of the different opinion that was there or of the relations given by Diego d' Ivarra judged quite differently that neither many Forces ought to be drawn into France nor much money distributed nor that the House of Lorain should have satisfaction in deed but in words and appearance only because by keeping the Duke of Mayenne low and by driving him and his party into a straight they thought they should put them upon a necessity of consenting to their demands that thereby they might obtain such assistance from them as might raise them from the abject condition they were reduced to for they were moreover informed that they were not inclined to content them willingly that if they should free the League and particularly the City of Paris from their present want and scarcity they would not afterward be content to condescend to the Catholick Kings will gratitude being but a weak instrumenâ— where such weighty matters were treated on but that then rather they would consent unto it when they saw no other remedy to free themselves from misery which would be so much the more effectual by how much the more nearly it pressed and straightened them That to give money now was but to throw it away without any ground or assurance that it should produce the effect and to satisfie the greediness of those who being once glutted with Spanish gold and having compassed their own designs would not care afterward to satisfie their promises as they ought That in plenty and prosperity the French would be proud and insolent but in want and necessity abject and tractable That it was not fit to dismember the Kingdom and tear it in pieces to give part to this and part to that man of the House of Lorain thereby to attain to it afterwards being weak mangled and destroyed The present state of the Catholick Kings affairs inclined most toward this Counsel for his treasures at this time being much exhausted by his past expences and by the commotions
his Religion and perchance for his own interest it displeased him not that the King should turn Catholick to the end the first place among the Hugonotsa might remain to him Wherefore all these obstacles being removed and necessâ—ty urging for already the Cardinal of Bourbon and Count Soissons with many other began to talk very plainly and the States assembled by the League being in much greater consideration with the King than perhaps they were with the Confederates themselves after many consultations with the Duke of Bouillon the Duke of Nevers the High-Chancellor and President de Thon to whom by reason of his learning and experience the King gave much credit he resolved that the Catholicks should make this Overture with intent either to interrupt the course of the State by that means or else to resolve upon an Accommodation and Reconciliation with the Apostolick See and the Lords of the house of Lorain As soon as the Writing was read in the presence of the Duke of Mayenne and the other Lords the Cardinal of Piacenza rose up in choler and without consultation or deliberation said angerly that that Proposition was full of Heresies and that they were Hereticks that should take it into consideration and therefore it was by no means fitting to give any Answer to it Cardinal Pelle-ve and Diego d' Ivarra assented without any demur but the Duke of Mayenne remained in suspence as also the rest that were present who durst not immediately oppose the Legate's words But Villeroy and Ieannin not losing courage without contradicting the Cardinal found another evasion and said That the Writing not being directed to the Duke of Mayenne alone but to the whole assembly of the States and the Trumpet having freely said so to many at his entrance into the City whereby the business was become publick it was fit to communicate it to the States and refer it to them to the end that the Deputies might not be disgusted in the very beginning and believe that they were not freely and fairly dealt withal but that endeavors were used to conceal many things from them and to deceive them That this would be an ill beginning and would not onely cause suspition but also disunion among the Deputies The Count de Belin added that the Trumpet had not onely told that the Writing was directed to the whole Assembly but had also scattered some copies of it among the People as he thought he had heard whereby it was so much the more publick and could not be concealed from the Deputies It was determined that every one should consider of what he thought most convenient to resolve about it in the same place against the next day which being come though the Legate and Spanish Ambassador laboured stifly that the Writing might be suppressed and rejected the Duke of Mayenne nevertheless with the votes of the major part concluded not to use his Deputies ill nor give them cause of distaste but bearing that respect to them which was fit would have the Writing read in the full Assembly where afterwards that should be resolved on that should be thought most convenient which while it was deferred by reason of the contrariety of opinions and of the Obstacles that were interposed the King being at Chartres published a Manifest upon the nine and twentieth day wherein after having briefly attested his singular affection toward the general good and safety He said he was extremely grieved to have happened in such perverse times wherein many degenerating from that fidelity towards their Princes which had ever been peculiar to the French Nation did now use all their studies and endeavors to oppugne the Royal Authority under pretence of Religion which pretence how falsely it was usurped by them was clearly seen in the War twice attempted against the happy memory of Henry the Third which it was not possible to value so much as to think the cause thereof could be attributed to matter of Religion he having ever been most Catholick and most observant of the See of Rome and imployed with his Arms even against those that were not of the Catholick Religion to subdue them at the same time when they having furiously taken Arms ran to Tours to suppress and besiege him and that now it was more clear than the Sun it self how improperly and unjustly they made use of the same colour against him for by how much the more they sought to mask and palliate their malignity under that specious cloke so much the more breaking forth did it shew it self clearly to the eyes of all men nor was there any one who knew not that their conspiracy attempted for the oppression and ruine of their Country was not caused by zeal to Religion but that their union appeared manifestly to be composed of three kinds of Persons for three different reasons First the wickedness of them who led by an incredible desire to possess and dissipate the Kingdom had made themselves Heads and Authors of this Rebellion Secondly the craftiness of Strangers antient enemies to the French name and Crown who having found this opportunity of executing their inveterate designs had voluntarily joyned themselves with their assistance to be Companions in so perfidious a Conspiracy And lastly the fury of some of the meanest dregâ— of the People who being abandoned by fortune to extreme beggery and misery or else led by their misdeeds in fear of Justice out of a desire of spoil or hope of impunity had gathered themselves together to this factious confederacy But it being the custome of Divine Providence to draw good out of evil so it had now miraculously come to pass since that the Duke of Mayenne by setting down in Writing his reasons of assembling a Congregation in Paris by him called the States had clearly laid open and manifested his designs by his own confession for striving with all his power dissemblingly to represent the face of an honest man and to make it believed that he had no thought of usurping that which belonged not unto him he could not in the interim give greater testimony of his ambition and impiety toward his Country than by framing an Edict and sealing it with the Royal Seal for the Convocation of the States a thing reserved onely to the Royal-Power and never communicated to any other whereby he had made clear to the World his usurpation of the Royal Office and Majesty and his crime of High-Treason having taken upon him the Royal Ministry and the proper marks of Soveraignty But What eye was so dazeled or what mind so blinded as not to see how false those things were which he had inserted in his Edict with so much pomp of words That the Laws permitted him not to â—ender due observance and obedience to the King God had given him a Lye as apparâ—nt as it is true that the Salique-Lam a wholesome fundamental one born at one birth with the Kingdom hath ever been the basis of the Subjects obedience and
the foundation and safety of the Crown That open injury is done to the constitution of this Law when the lawful Dominion of him is called in doubt or controversie who by the prescribed order of it is called by God unto the Crown That the force and authority of this Law is so great and venerable that no other Law hath power to prejudice it and the Kings themselves which are loose from other Laws are subject and not superiouâ— to this alone and that therefore it was a vain thing to alledge against it the Decree of the States at Blois in the year 76 for not the King nor the States but that Law it self ought to decide the Succession of the Kingdom and yet What man of sound understanding could ever hold the Assembly at Blois to be a lawful Congregation of the States in which the liberty of votes being taken away and the voice of good men suppressed there was nothing else minded by the Conspirators of that Confederacy the fruits whereof are now found but to oppugne the King's Authority who then reigned and to reduce him to the slavery of his enemies disposing of the affairs of the Kingdom according to the will and fancy of factious persons That perchance that violence used against him from which he had so much laboured to defend and free himself was not clear enough who was he that could believe the late King would voluntarily break and violate that Law by vertue of which his Grandfather Francis the First was come unto the Crown But What needed there other proofs The same men who had forcibly and treacherously caused that Decree to be made had themselves waved forsaken and declared it ineffectual and of no validity for if the Duke of Mayenne had esteemed that constitution valid after the seditious deposing of King Henry the Third caused by him he would not have entituled himself Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France before the Kingdom were vacant but Lieutenant to the Cardinal of Bourbon to whom by that seditious Decree the Kingdom appertained But what not onely then but also after the King's death who was by them caused to be murthered he for three moneths together usurped the same title declaring how little valid he esteemed the determination of those States that therefore it was manifest and known that it was not out of reverence to the determination of his own States which they now publish that he made use afterwards of the fained person of the Cardinal of Bourbon when it was convenient for him but thereby to usurp the Royal-Power and Ministry and to gain time and means to establish himself in his intended usurpation But that no less vain was the reason he alledged viz. That he was not a Catholick but of a different Religion for he was neither Infidel nor Pagan but confessed the same God and the same Redeemer the Catholicks confess and adore nor ought some difference in opinion to make such a desperate irreconcilable division That he would not be obstinate nor refuse to be taught and instructed and that he was ready if his error were shown him to forsake it and reduce himself to those rites which the Catholicks of his Kingdom desired and that he wished he could with safety of Conscience take away all scruples from all his Subjects but he prayed the Catholicks not to wonder if he did not so easily leave that Religion which he sucked with his milk nor ought it to appear strange that he should not forsake the ancient institution of his life unless first he were made to see the error which they were of opinion he â—as in which when it should come to pass no body should need to desire his readiness and willingness to condemn his fault and enter into that way which should be known to be the best That it was fit iâ— a business that concerned his Soul and eternal life he should proceed with great circumspection and so much the more because his example was like to draw many with it whom he would not help to damn but willingly to save them if he could That therefore he had often demanded Councils not to oppose himself against those already celebrated as his Enemies reported but to the end that he together with them of the same Religion might be instructed and taught thereby that it was no absurd thing to celebrate a Council and moderate many matters which times and occasions produce and to say they had already been decided by other Councils was nothing for so all later Councils would have been vain and absurd in confirming and ordering things again which had been setled and determined by former ones That â—f a more speedy and more proper way were found for his instruction he would not refuse it and that he had given cleaâ— testimony of it to the World when he gave leave to the Catholicks under his obedience to send Ambassadors to the Pope to take some course in it and when he so often caused his very adversaries to be told that iâ— the midst of Arms it was no time to talk of Conversions but that making Peace they should resolve upon a Conference wherein he might be instructed but that they abusing his goodness had made shew to lend an ear unto it onely when for their own designs they desired to work a jealousie in the Spaniards That it was certain they abhorred to have him instructed since now in their Writings they reckoned it as a thing to be despaired of having never yet so much as attempted it and because that presently assoon as the Marquiss de Pisani's Embassie tending to that effect was agreed upon they had by all possible means crossed his negotiation and brought it so to pass that the Pope would not admit him to his Audience That if they published and vaunted That they would refer the business wholly to the Pope He on the other side did not despair but the Pope at last knowing their subtilty and cunning would take that resolution which should be most conformable to decency and reason That therefore seditious persons ought no longer to tempt the good Catholicks that stood armed for the defence and safety of their Country but that they rather should acknowledge their error and as members gone astray return to joyn themselves with the rest of the Body for except the Princes of Lorain who were strangers all the Princes of the blood Prelates Lords Officers of the Crown and in a manner all the strength of the Gentry were of his party and made the true Body of France united for the defence of their Liberty and the safety of the Kingdom That they should consider how unworthy how monstrous a thing it was to open the Gates to the Spaniard to come and invade the bowels of the Kingdom their Ancestorâ— and even they themselves having spilt and poured out so much blood to drive them from their confines That they should see how impious that insatiableness was which for
covetousness of Gold sold the French Name Glory and Liberty but that it was no wonder they felt not the priâ—â— of conscience in that business since they felt it not in the most cruel Parricide committed on the person of the late King which they were so far from detesting and abhorring that they impiously attributed it to Providence and the hand of God That if as they now made shew they would be held innocent of that fact which obscured the glory and laid a foul blot of wicked perfidiousness upon the Name of the French they should not at the same time joy and rejoyce at it commend exalt and Canonize the Name of the Murderer and do so many other barbarous monstrous things but should rather shew that they were moved at so great a wickedness and resolved to reconcile themselves to that Country that had bred nourished and raised them to the height of greatness and not take part with barbarous Nations that are enemies to and separated from France as in language and manners so in candour and disposition That if these reasons could not prevail to persuade those that were gone â—stray and make them know their error at least they would confirm the resolution of good French-men to continue constantly in the defence of their Country wherein He â—s he had for the 〈◊〉 past so he would also for the future afford them alwayes his example exposing his body health blood and life before them all as a sacrifice for so worthy so profitable a work That his affection and devotion till that present were sufficiently known and with what tenderness of mind he had embraced the Catholicks conserved protected and maintained them in their possessions and in their priviledges â—ow he had â—voured and preserved their Religion and constantly and inviolably observed all that he had promised them at his coming to the Crown and now for more security and absolutely to take away all scruples he swore before God and Men that he was ready to persevere in their protection and conservation till his latest breath and that he never would do any thing to the prejudice or diminution of them or their Religion and that he desired those things which his Subjects required of him might to the glory of God be orderly and fitly executed as he hoped in Gods divine Majesty and in his infallible Providence that the effects would quickly be seen which out of a confidence in God's mercy he doubted not to promise and attest That in the mean time he with the advice of his Council had decreed and by that present manifest did decree and declare that the Duke of Mayenne in having assembled a Congregation in Paris under the name of States had seditiously and unjustly usurped the office and power of King and that those States being null invalid and seditious were not to hold nor to be effectual nor any thing that in them should be done established or determined This Writing which carried with it no necessity of an Answer was according to the disposition of mens minds variously received and interpreted but that of the Catholick Lords of the King's party sent to the Assembly at Paris held the Confederates anxious and sollicitous for different respects for the Legate having caused it to be examined by the Colledge of the Divines of Sorbonne persisted to say that being heretical it was not worthy of any answer and the Spanish Ambassador said it was but a trick to disturb the good for which they were met together but the Arch-bishop of Lyons Villeroy Ieannin the Count de Belin and those of the Parliament maintained that what a kind of one soever it was it ought neither to be despised nor rejected and gave their reasons for it and between these the Duke of Mayenne stood doubtful what should be resolved for on the one side he had a great desire to begin a Treaty with the Royallists and on the other he would not absolutely alienate nor exasperate the Legate and the Spaniards In the end after many consultations held privately with his friends he resolved to defer the consideration of that business in the Assembly till he had conferred with the Duke of Feria and the rest that were coming and till he had seen the strength of the Army and what Orders Count Charles of Mansfelt had who was already prepared to enter into the Confines to the end he might regulate himself afterward according to time and occasion wherefore he determined to go and meet the Ambassadors and to receive and imploy the Army himself lest the Duke of Guise should go to receive it and to the lessening of his reputation have it consigned to him by the Spaniards who openly favoured him He hoped also to make some progress in the War which might augment his credit and reputation but above all it was necessary for him to draw a certain summ of money from the Spaniards to be then distributed in favour of him among the Deputies many of whom by reason of the dearth of Paris and their own poverty had urgent needthereof This resolution being taken he called the Deputies of the Assembly and prayed them to busie themselves about smaller matters but not to deliberate any thing concerning the Election till his return it being fit that all the Catholick Ambassadors should be there as likewise himself together with the Duke of Guise and the other principal men of the party which he would bring along with him within a few dayes and because his praying was commanding they all promised it without contradiction and he having left Monsieur de Villeroy and Presidenâ— Ieannin to prevent those secret practices which might be set on foot in the mean time went with Four hundred Horse to Soissons where he had given order that his Frenchâ—Forâ—â—s should be in a readiness Being come to that City upon the ninth of February he found the Duke of Feria and the other Spanish Ambassadors there with whom having conferred discontents began to break forth in their first meeting In Spain they thought it very agreeable to justice and decency that the Salique Law should be broken because all they of the Family of Bourbon were notoriously either Hereticks or favourers of Heresie and that the Kingdom should come to the Infanta Isabella the Catholick King 's Daughter who by the ordinary Laws was the nearest heir to the late King as being born of Elizabeth his eldest sister And on the contrary when it was alledged that the posterity of the Royal Family failing the authority of making a new King returned to the commonalty of the People of France they replied that though that were true yet was it seemly that the Commonalty in that election should have respect to the Law of Nations which alwayes calls the nearest heirs and that it was very fit much should be condescended to in regard of the so great expences the Catholick King had been at and of those many things he had done
the Earth to look upon humane Laws you forget not the divine Law that came from Heaven It is not Nature nor the right of Nations that teacheth us to acknowledge our Kings but the Law of God the Law of his Church and that of the Kingdom which require from the Prince that is to command us not only proximity of blood which you stand upon but also the profession of the Catholick Religion and this quality hath given name to that Law which we call the Fundamental Law of the State always followed and observed by our Ancestors without any exception though the other of proximity of blood hath been sometime altered the Kingdom remaining nevertheless entire and in its former dignity To come therefore to so holy and necessary a reconciliation we accept the Conference which you demand provided it may be only between Catholicks and to deliberate about the means of preserving Religion and the State And because you desire it should be between Paris and St. Denis we intreat you to like of Mont-Martre St. Meaux or Chaliot in the Queens Palace and that you would be pleased to send those that shall be deputed by you upon some day you shall think fit before the end of this month whereof we being advertised will not fail to have ours there and to proceed with sincere affection free from all passion praying to God that the event of it may be such that we may find the preservation of Religion and of the State and a good secure durable peace as we also pray him to conserve you and give you his Spirit to know and imbrace the most wholsom profitable counsel for the general safety This answer being received and read in the Council of the King who was not yet come back from his journey into Poictou they that were there present determined to prosecute the Conference but to defer the particulars thereof till they had the Kings consent to them and the general votes of the Council Thus by a Writing full of courteous expressions they excused the delay and finally having received their approbation and replied again with other Letters they concluded to hold the Conference at Surenne between Paris and St. Denis There was great contention at Paris about the election of the persons that were to intervene at this Treaty for the Legat and the Spanish Ambassadors strove to procure that one of them might be Guilliaume Rose Bishop of Senlis a man of a sowre nature and sharp eloquence which for many years he had profusely used against the Kings and against their party and on the other side they that inclined to peace desired the Sieur de Villeroy might be admitted who by many was excluded as partial to the King at last for the common satisfaction they were both left out and those that were unanimously chosen were the Archbishop of Lyons Pericard Bishop of Auranche Godefrâ—y de Billy Abbot of St. Vincent de Laon the Admiral Villars the Count de Belin the Baron de Talmay the Sieurs de Montigny and Montaulin President Ieannin and President Maistre Estienne Bernard Advocate in the Parliament of Dijon and Honoré de Lâ—urent Counsellor in the Parliament of Aix They of the Kings side chose the Archbishop of Bourges the Sieurs de Chavigny and Bellieure the Count de Schombergh President de Thou Nicholas Sieur de Rambouillett the Sieur de Pontcarré and Secretary Revol But at the first meeting with the mutual consent of the Deputies there were added the Sieur de Vic Governour of St. Denis on the Kings side and for the League the Sieur de Villeroy who the Duke of Mayenne desired by all means should assist in the Treaty and in the progress of it the Sieurs de Rosne and la Chastre were likewise admitted In the mean time the Duke of Feria upon the second of April had solemn publick audience of the States at which in a Latin Oration he proffered the Catholick Kings assistance and supplies to the Assembly for the conservation of Religion and the election of such a King as the condition of the times required and likewise presented Letters from King Philip wherein after many courteous expressions he referred himself to what the Duke of Feria and the other Ambassadors should represent in his name who said that they reserved themselves to do it when the Duke of Mayenne and the other Princes should be come unto the States who were yet at the meeting at Rheims with the Duke of Lorain There their minds were no less disagreeing nor the opinions less differing than in the States for the Duke of Lorain seeing the rest were not inclined to yield to him as Head of the Family and knowing the Spaniards were already engaged in the design of getting the Infanta elected began to be weary of the War which he had sustained all those late years to the great damage of his people and though the Spaniards sometimes scattered reports that the Infanta being chosen Queen should take the Cardinal his Son to be her Husband it seemed to him so absurd that he was not at all inclined to believe it and since he could attain to nothing else would have been content with Peace whereby the Cities of Thoul and Verdun should remain his On the other side the Duke of Mayenne desired he should persist in Arms and favour the election of him and his Sons thinking his pains and endeavours deserved that reward and that no other body at that present was able to undergo that weight but he rather gave signs of this intention than propounded it and laboured dexterously to insinuate it into the rest among which as the Dukes of Aumale and Elboeuf adhered to him so the Dukes of Nemours and Guise assented not both being intent to endeavour for themselves and full of hopes that the Spaniards might at last concur to marry the Infanta to one of them The Duke of Mayenne strove to withdraw them from that thought by letting them see it was far from the intent of the Spaniards who had no other design than to get the Crown into the power of the Infanta and by her either in her life-time or after her death to have it united and incorporated to that of Spain to which it was very repugnant to give her a young French Husband and such an one as might be able not only to govern her but also the people and forces of the Nobility and Kingdom It was a remarkable thing that though this was an Assembly of the House of Lorain the King should yet have a very great party in it for by the Grand Duke of Thuscany's consent Girolamo Gondi had formerly begun and now continued to treat with the Duke of Lorain to induce him and the rest to think of agreeing with the King proposing his Conversion full caution and security for Religion and to give his Sister in Marriage to the Prince of Lorain with those Cities which the Duke desired
Conversion the censure whereof was not under their power and authority and though they persisted in this opinion yet the Kings Deputies would needs present a Writing to them which contained three points One an offer of the Kings Conversion another that in the mean time while that came to pass the means of securing Religion and concluding Peace might be treated of and the third that while these things were doing a general cessation of Arms might be concluded through the whole Kingdom The Deputies could not refuse to accept this writing which being by them brought to be discussed by the D. of Mayenne and the States the debates were very long and various for as the Royalists endeavoured to discover the intentions of the Confederates so they would not declare what they would do if the K. should publickly return unto the Church But this Proposition made by the Kings party wrought such a jealousie in the Spanish Ambassadors that with their utmost spirits they pressed for a resolution to their desire for the facilitating whereof they were fain to offer that the Catholick King should be content the Infanta should marry one of the Princes of the House of Lorain but this proposition also raised many doubts because there was no certainty the Infanta being once elected and declared that either she or the King her Father would observe that promise to which any private man can hardly be obliged much less a Queen or Princess and again because if that first Husband should dye she might perhaps take another either of the House of Austria or a Spaniard or of some other Nation likewise because she having no children by this marriage the King of Spain would afterwards pretend right to the Crown but much more than all the rest because the Duke of Mayenne saw himself and his posterity excluded from that advantage whereupon not only this business was protracted without coming to any resolution but it was determined in the States that there should be a very moderate answer made to the Writing presented by those of the Kings party in the Conference without untying or breaking off the thread of that Treaty wherefore both parties being met at la Roquette a house in the field without the Porte S. Anthoine the Arch-bishop of Lyons said that as concerning the King's Conversion they wished it might be real and unfained but that not only they could not hope it was so but on the contrary they had great cause to believe it was not without dissimulation for if it had proceeded from sincerity so many delayes and puttings off would not have been sought and if he were touched with any inspiration he would not remain in his Heresie and in the publick exercise of it he would not cherish and keep about him the principal Ministers that taught it nor would he still leave the chief Offices of the Kingdom in their hands and yet because it appertain'd not to them to approve or reprove that Conversion they lest the Judgment thereof unto the Pope who alone had authority to determine it as for the Treaty of Peace and security of Religion they could not treat thereof for the present for many considerations lest they should treat with the King of Navar who was without the Church and lest they should give a beginning to the acknowledgment of him or anticipate the Pope's judgment Then for the point of Cessation they would give answer to that when satisfaction was given to the two first Articles Thus neither assenting nor very much dissenting they held the matter in suspence till the Duke of Mayenne saw whether the business begun with the Spaniards was like to end But the Cardinal-Legat being wonderfully solicitous not only because the Spanish negotiation went on difficultly but much more because he saw mens minds inclined to the Cessation out of the hope they had conceived of the King's conversion and the desire of quiet used his utmost power to hinder it and faining himself not well wrote a Letter to Cardinal Pelleve upon the Thirteenth day of Iune praying him to go to the States and in his name to make them a grave Remonstrance of the danger and damage that depended upon the Conference of Surennâ— and advertise them that not only they could not treat concerning the conversion of the Navarrois but not so much as about Peace a Cessation of Arms or any other business with him as well by reason of the Decrees of the sacred Canons and the Declarations of the Apostolick See as also of the Oath they had taken never to assent to or make an agreement with the Heretick Which things were set forth in the Letter with great vehemence of words protesting in the end that if they should continue to treat of Peace or a Cessation he would depart from the City and from the Kingdom that he might neither assent to so great an evil nor disobey the Commissions he had from the Pope This Letter first read by the Cardinal in the States and afterward published in print to the knowledge of every one did something bridle mens minds who were running on eagerly toward a cessation of Arms. In the mean time the King knowing how much harm the want of reputation and the weakness of their Forces did unto the Spaniards and not being willing to run into the same error resolved to set himself upon some notable enterprise not far off with the noise and fame whereof he might increase his reputation and foment those affairs that were transacting in favour of him wherefore having drawn his whole Army together with great diligence he commanded out all the neighbouring Garrisons and made plentiful provision of Cannon Ammunition Pioneers and other things proper for a secure resolute design upon the seventh of Iune he had laid siege to Dreux a Town but sixteen leagues from Paris which for its situation fortification and the quality of the defendents was accounted very strong The Suburbs of the Town were valiantly taken the first day they within who before thought to defend them being beaten back in all places but when they had lost all hope of making them good they endeavoured to have burnt them down The whole Army being quartered with great celerity they began the next day to throw up four Trenches which were hastened with so much diligence by the Baron de Biron and the Sieur de Montlouet one of the Field-Marshals that upon the thirteenth day all four of them were brought into the Moat nor with less diligence were four Batteries planted one of four pieces of Cannon against the great Bulwark toward the Porte de Chastres another of six against the Porte de Paris the third of three against the curtain toward the great Church and the fourth of five Pieces in the Fâ—uxbâ—urg St Iehan which battered a great Tower that stood on that side The King hastened and encouraged the Works in all places with his presence wherefore scarce was the Orillon
how unpleasing to mens minds to hear Treaties were held to introduce the succession of Women and the assumption of new Families to the Crown while there were so many Princes in the Royal Family among which one might be chosen to the general satisfaction that though the King of Navarre was obstinate in Heresie the Prince of Conty insufficient for Government the Count de Soissons lost in the love of the Princess Catherine who was no less an Hugonot than her Brother yet was there the Cardinal of Bourbon who had always with his own danger undauntedly opposed the increase of Heresie that he was a Cardinal and had ever been obedient to the Church so that he could neither be excluded by the Pope nor by the King of Spain that he was in his manly age so that he would be a King without a Guardian and one able to uphold the Government of the Kingdom himself that no great trust was to be had to the Spaniards who had failed so much both in publick and in private that the Ambassadors who promised such mountains of Gold lived themselves very mechanically and without that decency that befitted the Majesty of their King and the greatness of those offers they made that he himself had very great sums due to him and yet could not get so much as a denier from them that they had seen the gallant exploits Count Charles his Army had done that they had so much to do in Flanders they would have no leisure to mind other mens businesses that on the other side the Cardinal of Bourbon's election would of it self destroy and conquer the King of Navarre for there was no doubt but all the Catholicks of that party would follow the Cardinal and the Navarrâ—is would be left alone with the desperate dependence of the Hugonots whereby the French Forces alone would be able to subdue Heresie and establish a Catholick King and a true French-man without having further need of foreign Supplies that it was needful to remember the Bishop of Senlis his words and not confirm men in a belief that whatsoever was past had been done out of interest and ambition but that it was necessary to shew the world that the sole respect of Religion had put Arms into their hands These reasons seconded by his authority wrought a wonderful impression in the minds of the French of themselves inclined to observe the Salique Law and to reverence the Royal Family wherefore the Duke seeing he had drawn the major part of the Deputies to his opinion dispatched the Admiral de Villars with a Writing of Articles with his own hand to confer with the Cardinal of Bourbon who was at Gallion a house of the Archbishop of Roüen's but he was no sooner gone when he sent one post after him to give him order not to make too much haste for President Ieannin and the Archbishop of Lyons together with Madam de Montpensier had put him in mind of another sufficient means to divert the Spanish designs without running so hastily to the election of one that was his Enemy who also by the weakness of his understanding and lightness of his nature would not be very fit to govern in times of so great distraction and that he endangered the dividing of his party for it was very probable the Duke of Guise and his adherents upheld by the Spaniards would not approve that election in which case his third party would be the weakest of them all The remedy they propounded was that of the Parliament whose authority they thought suffâ—cient to hinder the business in agitation wherefore Madam de Montpensier having excited the first President le Maistre to think of some means that the Crown might not fall into the hands of Strangers he as a man of good intentions and who had followed the League for no other end but the Catholick Religion set himself boldly to the enterprise and after the managing of it many days assembled all the Chambers of the Parliament and with full consent of all caused a Decree to be made of this Tenor following UPon the Propositions already made to the Court of Parliament by the Procureur General and the business taken into deliberation in the meeting of the Counsellours of all the several Courts the said Parliament not having as it never formerly had any other intention than to maintain the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion and the State and Crown of France under the protection of a most Christian Catholick French King hath ordered and doth order that this day after dinner President la Maistre accompanied by a good number of the Counsellours of this Parliament shall make remonstrance to my Lord the Duke of Mayenne Lieutenant General of the State and Crown of France in presence of the Princes and Officers of the Crown who at this present are in this City that no Treaty ought to be held for the transferring of the Crown into the hands of Foreign Princes or Princesses that the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom ought to be observed and the Decrees made by the Parliament about the declaring a Catholick and French King executed that the said Duke of Mayenne ought to use the authority that hath been given him to hinder the Crown from being under pretence of Religion transferred into the hands of Strangers against the Laws of the Kingdom Moreover that he ought to provide as soon as may be for the repose of the people by reason of the extream necessity to which they are reduced and in the mean time the said Parliament hath declared and doth declare all Treaties held or that shall be held for the future about the establishment of any Foreign Prince or Princess whatsoever invalid and of no force or effect as being in prejudice of the Salique Law and the other Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom This Intimation or Remonstrance being made in publick by the President unto the Duke of Mayenne though he made shew to resent it and with grave words reprehended the boldness of the Parliament yet it bridled the Spanish Treaty very much for the Assembly of the States which more than any other body ought to have resented this decree of Parliament as made in prejudice of their authority shewed on the contâ—ary that they were not displeased at it and being possessed by the Duke of Mayenne's Agents abhorred the attempt of the Spaniards and inclined to a Truce concerning which they treated now more hotly than ever in the Conference at Surenne Mâ—ch greater was the inclination of the Parisians who tired out with their necessities and seeing no nearer way to their redress than the conclusion of a Truce the sweetness whereof they had begun to taste in that little Cessation of Arms that had been in those quarters impatiently desired an accommodation and raging threatned the Princes and the Assembly unless they took a speedy resolution and being perswaded that the Spaniards would not suffer their Army to come and help the
barricadoes being made up close and a greater number of men being in Arms they of the Council went armed unto him and told him that for the security of his person the people being in a mutiny and for the safety of the City that was in danger to be sacked they intended he should retire into the Castle of Pierre Ausise which not being able to contradict he was at last brought thither and with more severe Guards diligently looked to and the chief men having assembled the Council made a Decree whereby they deprived him of the Government and likewise the Marquis his Brother though from him they confessed they had never received any injury at all and gave the Authority of Governing the City unto the Archbishop which was afterward confirmed upon him by the Duke of Mayenne But this news being come to Paris many were exceedingly troubled at it the Spanish Ministers grieving that they had lost one of the chief Instruments of their power but Madam de Nemours being afflicted much more for the danger and ruine of her Son and many there were who perswaded themselves that all the mischief proceeded from the Duke of Mayenne who not only had desired to abate the arrogance of his Brother but had also done it to get Lyons into his power and join it â—o his Government of Bourgogne that he might remain Master thereof whatsoever the event of things should be it being known to every one that in the Treaties he held with the King and also with the Spanish Ministers he had demanded that Lyons and Bourgogne should jointly be granted to him wherefore though he laboured to seem disconâ—ented and angry at the accident that had happened unto his Brother there was not any body that believed him seeing he not only omitted to treat of freeing him indeed though he talked much of it but also that he had confirmed the authority of Governour upon the Archbishop which those Citizens had conferred upon him This new dissention opened a passage to new troubles which at that time were like to have steered a more prosperous course for the Duke of Mayenne had at last reunited himself and composed matters with the Duke of Guise their common Friends having made them perceive that their discord would in the end be the ruine of them both whereupon the Duke of Mayenne to free himself fâ—om the aspersions of crossing his Nephews advancement and the Duke of Guise not to shew himself regardless of his Uncle's labour in upholding the party wâ—re mutually agreed that if the Duke of Mayenne found means to attain the Crown for himself the Duke of Guise should be obliged to keep united with him and assist him with all his Forces and in case the Duke of Mayenne could not obtain the Kingdom for himself or for one of his Sons he should likewise be obliged to help the Duke of Guise to attain it either by the marriage of the Infanta or some other way This accommodation did infinitely displease the Duke of Feria and Diego d' Ivarra who saw themselves deprived of the proper instrument to keep the Duke of Mayenne in jealousie and to be able when occasion should require by that means to keep down and suppress his greatness and yet Iuan Bapâ—ista Tassis being returned from Flanders who had been there to confer with Don Pedro Enriquez of Toledo Conde de Fuenâ—es who held the Government of the Low-Countries till the arrival of the Archduke Ernest began to treat of piecing up again with the Duke of Mayenne such being the opinion and desire of that principal Minister who perceiving well that without his help and consent all other attempts would prove fruiâ—less and though the Spanish Ministers at Paris thought themselves deceived and ill dealt withal by him yet the Conde did not judge it a fit time to take revenge but to manage things with patience and dissimulation since they had seen by experience that the principal Deputies of the States depended upon the will and authority of the Duke of Mayenne At Tassis his aâ—rival they began to treaâ— the Legat also interposing though he was much more inâ—lined to the Duke of Guisâ— but not being willing to digrâ—ss from the King of Spain's reâ—olutions not only by reason of his ancient inclination but also because in that State of affairs there was no breaking friendship and good correspondence with him without indangering Religion Tassis began with letting him know the good will the Conde de Fuentes bore him then he went on himself condemning the perverse carriage of his Collegues and in the end intimated and implied but did not affirmatively declare That the Catholick King would be content to give the Infanta to one of his Sons provided they could but agree in other matters After this conference the other Spanish Ministers began to change their manner of proceeding and to bear more respect to the Dukes person and authority and the Cardinal-Legat himself to do the same so that it was easie for him to believe there were new orders come from Spain in favour of him as it was true King Philip being finally resolved to procure the Infanta's election with any Husband whatsoever and having conceived an opinion that the Duke of Mayenne standing fixt in his design of attaining the Crown for his posterity would consent to most profitable conditions for his Kingdom But that which made the business difficult was the present weakness of the Kings condition for his Treasures being wonderfully exhausted he could not make those great preparations that were necessary to uphold so great an enterprise and he was brought so low that the Merchants could no longer accept his Bills of Exchange and the Genoueses to whom he was indebted many Millions refused to make new payments this weakness was with all possible care concealed by his Ministers and they continued to affirm that against the end of the Truce twelve thousand Foot and three thousand Horse should be in a readiness to enter into Picardy and one hundred thousand Crowns should be paid to the Duke of Mayenne every month to maintain as many French Forces and to gain the greater belief they strained themselves to pay him twenty thousand in present and give him Bills for sixty thousand more upon their credits striving in all things to win and still to increase new hopes in him every day more and more This piecing up with the Spaniards besides the accommodation with the Duke of Guise was the cause of interrupting the Treaty of Peace which had been continued many days with the Kings Deputies in which though not only Monsiuer de Villeroy but also President Iannin had laboured very much yet was there not any conclusion agreed upon for the King was grown jealous that the Duke of Mayenne treated but feignedly without any desire to conclude and this suspition grew from some of the Legat's Letters to the Pope which were intercepted wherein though he spoke very ill of
diligence caused certain Bridges to be made of a middling length which reached from the edge of the Moat as far as the Mud each having in the Front of it a little Gabion filled with Earth under favour whereof casting great brush Faggots Stones and other rubbish into the hollow of the Moat they laboured to fill it up by little and little though it was done with evident danger and the loss of a great many of the best Souldiers by reason of the continual showring of Musket-shot Stones Fire-works and other inventions with which the Defendents used incessantly to offend them But the work being finished in four days they found the Enemy had cast up a great Trench within wherewith they had made up and covered all that space of the Wall that was battered Whereupon the place being viewed it was judged very difficult and in a manner impossible to enter it Wherefore the Duke making all their endeavours to be imployed that same night at the Bridge which was broken down caused it to be so pieced up with new Beams and Planks that it might be passed over though with some difficulty and but few in Front which was effected beyond every ones belief for the night was short and they wrought in the dark except only the light the Defendents made by throwing great store of Fire-works to discover what was doing The same night five pieces of Cannon were drawn thither from the next Battery and they began furiously to give fire by break of day in such manner that they beat down the Tower of the Gate and a great part of it before the besieged had time to make any Retrenchments Scarce was the breach so wide that two or three might enter abrest when the Sieur de Pompiere and the Baron d' Ailly with two valiant Squadroâ—s ran furiously to the Assault but finding a no less valiant resistance from the besieged there began a short but furious conflict wherein they of the Town prevailing by reason both the Commanders that made the Assault were sorely wounded the Infantry within half an hour drew off from the Wall which that it might not be repaired the Artillery began to play again without intermission so that toward the evening Colonel la Liserne and Colonel Colombiere two Brothers renewed the Assault in the same place which though constantly sustained by those within yet the stoutest Provencials being slain Captain Glaise wounded Fountaine Martel lamed their Fire-works spent and four of the best Pieces they had broken Commendatory Grillon began to think of surrendering so that news coming thither opportunely by Sea that the Admiral Villars and the City of Rouen Monti-villier Honfleur and Havre de Grace standing on the other side of the River had imbraced the Kings party being by that means deprived of all hope of being relieved he bent his mind to think of saving the abundance of riches they had there gotten together For which purpose it was necessary to make composition and not stay till they were brought to the utmost weakness Wherefore having sent to parley with the Sieurs de Fervaques and Surene he at last concluded to surrender upon condition to go forth their goods and persons safe laying down Twelve thousand Crowns for the payment of the Army and to march on the other side of the River to those Towns that held yet for the League Thus the Town being put into the hand of the Sieur d' Aleret Governour of Tuques a Servant of the Duke of Montpensier's the whole Province of Normandy remained in the Kings obedience for la Fountaine Martel who was Governour of Neuf-Chastel in the County of Gaux submitted himself in like manner about the same time But already the people and the Governours being weary of the troubles of War and allured by the Kings clemency and the liberal conditions he gave who with full satisfaction contented the desires of all those that came over to his Party made haste in all places to acknowledge him and the Court was full of those that negotiated the Peace either of their Friends and Dependents or of the Cities and Towns that came into the Kings obedience Abbeville and Montrevil followed this counsel in the Province of Picardy Troys a great City and well-peopled in the Province of Champagne Sens a City and Archbishoprick in the confines of Brie and Bourgongne Agen Ville-neufue and Marmande in the confines of Guaseogne and finally the City of Poictiers was reduced to the Kings devotion by Scevole de St. Marthe Treasurer of France a man no less adorned with excellent Learning and sweetness of Eloquence than with Experience and Civil Prudence Charles de Lorain Duke of Elboeuf compounded also by means of the same St. Marthe to come over to the Kings Party with promise that the Government of that Town should be reserved for him and that he should have Thirty thousand Franks in Pension But he desired the Agreement might for some time be kept secret hoping that even the Duke of Mayenne also would come in within a while and desiring if it were possible not to separate himself from him But the Duke of Mayenne was quite of another mind for being still intangled in his long-setled hopes or thinking it so befitted his reputation he was resolved to look Fortune in the face and not to come by any means to terms of Agreement unless the Popes judgment and consent preceded Wherefore after he went from Paris going straight to Soissons he began with infinite diligence to reunite his Forces and set them again in order and had sent to the Duke of Lorain that together with the Dukes of Guise and Aumale he would come and confer with him in some convenient place to take some resolution about their common affairs judging that if they would keep united with him they might gather so many Forces again together as being assisted with Supplies from Spain they might easily either set their own Fortune on foot again or advantage themselves in a beneficial and honourable Accommodation in case the Pope should resolve to approve the Kings Conversion The Duke of Lorain came to Bar-le-Duâ— in the confines of his State and there were the Dukes of Mayenne and Aumale but the Duke of Guise could not be at the meeting because the Province of Champagne was all in a tumult not only by reason that the City of Troys had driven out his Brother the Prince of Iainville and declared for the King but because the Count de St. Paul anciently bred up in and depending on his Family was suspected to plot new designs Wherefore not to leave those places that yet acknowledged him he was fain to stay in the Province and to send Pellicart his Fathers old Secretary in his name unto the Meeting There the opinions disagreed for the Duke of Lorain weary of the War to the end that he might not see his state more destroyed by the continual passing of Foreign Forces inclined
written to Rome and amplified the Pope made no other shew of resenting it than to tax Gondi for no good Cardinal and to threaten that with time and opportunity he would punish him for his fault adding that the affairs of France were in such a condition as it was not fit to put more fuel to that fire which was already kindled since the businesses of the Catholick Union went on so ill that it would be no small matter to be able to uphold it but the news of the taking of Laon and the retreat of the Spanish Camp being come the Pope made shew to be very angry and desiring to find means to make it appear that the fault was the Spaniards he told the Duke of Sessa that the Catholick King desired to have him to resist onely with spiritual Arms but that he in the mean time was not careful to make use of Temporal ones that he should remember though Excommunications are pernicious to the Souls of the obstinate yet are they not destructive of their corporal affairs and that whosoever would have businesses effected must unite the two Swords and proceed equally with both hands that he saw or thought he saw the Catholick King was already weary of expence and of the War and that if it were so he desired to be made privy to it that he might in time find the best remedy that might be for the danger of Religion since the French Union was already in a manner dissolved and the Spanish Armies either could not or did not care to sustain that weight These stinging words of the Pope deeply pierced the minds of the Spaniards who suspecting the end to which he tended and not being willing to give him that occasion which they were of opinion he sought they wrought with the same heat not only into Spain shewing the King the necessity either of yielding or of doing something in good earnest but also to Bruxelles to the end the Arch-Duke might sustain the manifestly falling affairs of the League Wherefore the Duke of Mayenne after the loss of Laon being gone back to that Court to find means to settle their common affairs yielding now something on both sides to the quality of the time they treated a little more pleasingly to each other for the Duke knowing himself in a weak estate had abated much of his first demands and the Arch-Duke knowing it was no time to exasperate him for fear he should be driven into utter desperation and seeing that he could neither accommodate his mind nor his ears to hearken to a Treaty of putting himself under the Catholick Kings obedience as Rosne and the Duke of Aumale had done he resolved to hold him in hand with a shew of fitting conditions and of a Treaty in a manner equal still keeping alive the proposition of the Infanta's election being certain afterwards to bring matters to his own end and intention and to behave himself in his secret design in such manner as time and opportunity should advise Wherefore there having been a long Treaty between President Riccardotto and President Ieannin and the Princes themselves having often conferred together they at last agreed to establish a Capitulation which seemed just and honourable to both parties The Agreement contained in substance that the Catholick King should continue to use the Duke of Mayenne as before in the quality of Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France and that so he should be acknowledged in all places and Armies where he should chance to be That the Ten thousand Crowns by the Moneth should continue to go on which had been assigned to him by the Catholick King from the beginning That he on the other side should continue to make War in those Places where he should think best and particularly in the Province of Bourgongne for the upholding whereof certain supplies of Horse and Foot should be given him That whatsoever should be acquired should be held by him in the name of the King who in due time should be chosen by the common consent of the French Confederates of the Apostolick See and of the King of Spain That the said King should be obliged to reinforce his Armies to make War in Dauphine Picardy and Bretagne those conquests likewise which should be made being to be held in the name of the future King under French Governors and that the Dukes of Lorain and Guise and the other Lords and Heads of the Vnion should be exhorted to continue the War The Duke of Mayenne thinking that by these conditions though ambiguous he had in some measure stopt the precipice of his affairs departed from Bruxelles and with a Gentleman sent from the Arch-Duke went straight to Nancy to speak with the Duke of Lorain His intention was to try to keep him united to the League and to perswade him to continue the War but he by the means of Monsieur de Bassompier had not onely concluded a Truce with the King of France but also being desirous to disburthen himself of the expence permitted his soldiers to take pay under him wherefore the Baron d' Ossonville and the Sieur de Tremblecourt with Three thousand Foot and Four hundred Horse had put on white Skarfs and were gone to serve the King having obliged themselves to molest the County of Bourgogne which till then had been neutral and had not been troubled on any side The Duke of Mayenne having found things in this Condition and not having been able to remove the Duke of Lorain from his inclinations to Peace resolved to go into the Dutchy of Bourgogne the Dutchy and the County are Provinces divided one from another that appertaining to the King of France and this by antient division to the King of Spain and there endeavoured to establish himself absolutely holding already the most part of the Towns as Governor of the Province for he had plotted whatsoever event his affairs should have to retain either the free dominion or at least the Government of that Dutchy But the King who was very well aware of his design after he saw the Treaties of Peace broken off which had been held by the means of Villeroy and President Ieannin resolved to oppose what he intended concerning the Dutchy of Bourgongne and that he might make use of the boldest of all his Commanders he chose the Mareschal de Biron Governor of that Province and made him be set in order with convenient Forces to go to recover those places In the mean time Tremblecourt and Ossanville were gone into the Franche Compte and having suddenly made many incursions into the Country took Vesu and Iainville putting the whole Province in wondrous terror and confusion for by reason of the Neutrality which had made the People secure there were no Forces in the Province able to oppose their invasion wherefore having hastily demanded succors both from Savoy and Flanders though some few were sent to keep Garrison in the
that he might take some counsel from the maturity of time The Mareschal d' Anville likewise who in former times would have readily imbraced that occasion at that present was little inclined to side with them for being already old without Sons for those he had were unfortunately lost newly married to a young Wife out of a desire of issue and as concerning the rest of his fortunes firmly established in his Government of Languedoc was not like to adventure himself upon new designs and put that into the arbitrement of fortune which with so much pains and so long patience he had attained among the difficulties of a thousand dangers wherefore they had necessarily set their thoughts upon the Prince of Condé yet a Child who living at St. Iehan d' Angely with his Mother was bred up in the rites of their Religion but the tenderness of his age and the many accidents that might happen before he could come to mans estate held the whole Faction in suspence and trouble wherefore ever and anon making meetings and assemblies sometimes at Rochel and sometimes at Saumur sometimes at St. Foy and sometimes at Montauban and not abstaining to speak high injurious words against the King calling him an ingrateful man and one that did not acknowledge what they had done for him and threatning not only to forsake him but also to take that Crown away from him which they professed though without reason that they had gotten him they put jealousie and trouble into the mind of the King himself who by long experience knowing their humours and what they might contrive and put in execution doubted not only that they would alienate themselves from him but that before he could absolutely conquer the forces of the League they would stir up War against him otherwhere And though he had gained one Morlas an Hugonot Minister born in Bearne and not Rottan another born in Piedmont subtil men of great-authority and eloquence who discoursing severally among those of their Religion concerning his Conversion exhorted the party not utterly to lose their confidence but expect the benefit of time making profession that they were privy to some secret designs of his yet he feared these arts would not be sufficient to bridle the violence of some new dangerous insurrection This Doubt which had retarded his Conversion much longer than the necessity of his affairs required had also made him yield to many things which were contrary to his own Genius and inclination for he had declared the Mareschal d' Anville High Constable of the Kingdom though t here were many to whom he had much great obligations that he might confirm him to his devotion and deprive the Hugonots of the hopes of having him He had likewise preferred the Viscount de Turenne before the Duke of Nevers in the marriage of the Heiress to the State of Bouillon whereby he had attained that Dukedom and now he imployed him in the War upon the Confines of the Low-Countries to divert his thoughts and ingage him in long businesses far from the Countries possessed by the Hugonots and finally desiring to get the young Prince of Conde out of their hands and in some part to sweeten the bitterness which they generally had received at his Conversion he thought of causing that Edict to be proclaimed and ratified in the Parliament which Henry the Third had made in favour of them in the year 1577. which was much better regulated than all the rest It was a very hard matter to get it to be received in the Parliament where the debates were very long and diverse for by how much the more dexterously the King laboured to proceed in the business lest he should discontent the Pope and put him into an ill opinion of his inclination so much the more ardently did many of the Counsellors oppose it and the King not being willing that either the Chancellor or any other should go in his name to desire it the first President Harlay and President de Thou who knew his intention had much ado to perswade the rest who thought they did as they ought to consent unto the promulgation of it But in the end the Counsellors whom the King had confirmed through favour after the reducing of the City and particularly Lazare Coqueille formerly a great Stickler and a Minister for the League desirous to shew themselves less sharp and severe in what concerned the Hugonots lest they should seem to persevere in their old opinions laboured so far that the Decree was received and proclaimed though neither did this publication much satisfie the Hugonots with whom the King both by reason of his past Obligations and present need proceeded mildly and kindly endeavouring to remove suspicions out of their minds and confirm them by good usage to his devotion and knowing by his long conversing with them the poverty of many of the principal Hugonots and the narrowness of the condition they were in and being certain that the Heads and Incendiaries being taken away the poor common people would be abundantly contented with quietness and security he procured that many Deputies should be sent from several places to treat of the affairs of that party the most part of which he afterwards gained to himself with gifts pensions and promises so that by mild and gentle ways he insensibly took away the pulse and strength from the whole party but if the Kings incredible want of money and his own nature frugal in expences together with the hard austerity of Monsieur de Rosny who then manag'd the Finances had given this remedy liberty to dilate it self more amply those that are well versed in the Kingdom believe that a few years of such sweet poyson would have extinguisht that faction which so many years of desperate War had not with the effusion of so much blood been able to weaken The second action of this year was the Kings resolution to denounce open War against the King of Spain for though in the beginning of the year before the Duke of Bouillon united with Count Philip of Nassaw had taken some weak Towns in the County of Heinault and in the Dutchy of Luxembourg that was rather an incursion than a formed War and partly by reason of the sharpness of the weather partly for want of money they quickly retired having also received no small loss from Count Charles his Army in their retreat but now the King had determined to proclaim open War and turn all his Forces against the States of King Philip. This resolution to many seemed strange and unseasonable considering that the King of France was so troubled and so unsecure at home that he had no need of foreign contentions they saw the Kingdom so exhausted of men and moneys and so tired and worn out with Civil War that they knew not which way he would be able to sustain the weight of a Foreign War and recalling to memory that the King of Spain without hazarding at
neither Ammunition nor Victual they are constrained to surrender the Conde de Fuentes grants them honourable conditions The King departing from Bourgongne marches to relieve them but comes not time enough He consults what is best to be done and resolves to besiege la Fere there follows an Accommodation with the Duke of Nemours and the Duke of Joyeuse and finally also with the Duke of Mayenne who comes to wait upon the King before la Fere. Albert Cardinal and Archduke of Austria comes out of Spain to govern the Low-Countries he puts relief into la Fere by means of Nicolo Basti but the King slackens not the siege for all that The Archduke resolves to try if he could raise him by diversion and suddenly assaults Calais and takes it He obtains Guines lays siege to Ardres which yields for want of men to defend it la Fere yields to the King at the same time who finding his Army in an ill condition resolves to disband it Cardinal de Medici the Pope's Legat arrives in France and is received there with great honour An Accommodation is treated with the Duke of Mercoeur who artificially prolongs it The King assembles the States in the City of Rouen to provide moneys and settle the affairs of his Kingdom being indisposed he retires into the quarters about Paris The Spaniards surprize Amiens the chief City of Picardy The King exceedingly stricken with that loss resolves to besiege it without delay the varieties of the siege and defence are related The Archduke marches with a very potent Army to relieve that place the Armies face one another many days and have divers encounters The Archduke retires and the besieged City surrenders The King makes an incursion into the County of Artois but because of the Winter and of the Plague he retires A Treaty of Agreement between the two Crowns is introduced by the Cardinal-Legat the Deputies of both parties meet at Vervins The Duke of Mercoeur submits himself unto the Kings Obedience After some defficulties in respect of the Duke of Savoy the general Peace is at last concluded and published MAtter 's of War went not on so prosperously for the King of France in the confines of Picardy as in Bourgongne and the Franche Comté for the Spanish Forces ordered by Commanders of experience and resolution having found in the French either little unanimity or much weakness besides the slaughter of men which had happened in divers encounters had likewise made themselves Masters of many Towns and places of importance The Duke of Bouillon and Count Philip of Nassaw had from the year before prosecuted the War unsuccessfully in the Dutchy of Luxemburg and made divers incursions into it where having possessed themselves of some places of small consequence they were so streightened by Count Mansfelt's Army but much more by the inundation of the Rivers and the excessive abundance of waters that they were necessitated to retire one into the City of Sedan the other by Sea into Holland and though the Duke of Bouillon had afterwards in the beginning of the year rais'd the siege of la Ferré which the Spaniards had laid yet that was done rather by art than force and except some excursions things were quietly setled on that side But the Archduke Ernest dying unexpectedly in the beginning of March the Condé de Fuentes took the Government of the Low-Countries who full of Warlike Spirits and desirous to restore the reputation of the Spanish Forces apply'd his mind with all diligence to reform the Discipline of the Militia which he had seen flourish gloriously in the time of the Duke of Parma wherefore Count Charles of Mansfelt being gone to serve the Emperour in the War of Hungary he was left alone to the administration of both Civil and Military affairs and making use of the assistance of the Sieur de la Motte the Prince of Avellino Monsieur de Rosne and Count Giovan Giacopo Belgiojoso and Colonel de la Berlotte old experienced Commanders that were observant of Military Discipline he had not only quieted a great part of those that mutinied for want of pay but also reforming and re-ordering the companies of every Nation and filling them up with old Souldiers he had brought himself into such a condition that with an Army more valiant than numerous he might put himself upon the attempt of some gallant enterprise which whilst he was contriving in his mind they of the Province of Haynault and of the County of Artois propounded unto him the taking of Cambray offering a good number of men and great contributions in money as soon as they should see the Army encamped before that City from whence those Provinces received great and continual damage with the interruption of commerce and the hinderance of tillage The Archbishop of Cambray made the same request who having been driven out from the power of that Town proferred likewise money and Souldiers provided the Spaniards would attempt to recover it This enterprize seemed great and magnificent to the Condé de Fuentes as well by reason of the greatness and splendour of the City and its Territory as for the glory he should attain thereby for since the time it was gotten by the Duke of Alancon the Spanish Forces had never had the heart to venture the recovery and the Duke of Parma himself either withdrawn by more necessary occasions or disswaded by the difficulty of effecting it had given it over But if the enterprize carried with it so great reputation it carried also no less difficulty by reason of the strength of the City and Castle of the number of the people the riches of the inhabitants the Garison which Monsieur de Balagny kept in it and many other circumstances which represented themselves to the consideration of the Count who though in mind he was resolved to attempt it did yet dissemble it prudently making those preparations maturely which he thought convenient that he might not strike in vain But while being intent upon this action he was preparing matters a new Emergent that sprung up in Picardy did with very great and reciprocal danger hasten the motion of the War Han a considerable Town in that Province was governed by the Sieur de Gomeron who having in the declining of the League taken a resolution to join with the Spaniards agreed to receive what Garison they should think fit not only into the Town but also into the Castle to which effect Ceccho de Sangro being come with eight hundred Italian foot and Signor Olmeda with two hundred Spaniards two hundred Walloons and four hundred Germans Gomeron though he admitted them into the Town would not yet admit them into the Castle fearing lest being become the stronger they should attempt to drive him out of the place upon which doubt there having past many letters and messages at last Gomeron was perswaded by Don Alvaro Osorio Governour of la Feré to go into Flanders where he should receive not only
it to his Posterity or if he could not do so much in favour of himself at least to keep up that State in the name of the Infanta Isabella who pretended to succeed unto it as next Heir of the House of Valois since women were not excluded from the inheritance of Bretagne For this purpose he had sent Lorenzo Tornabuony to the Court of Spain and still held practices within the Province to draw many of the principal men to be of his mind hoping he should obtain much larger conditions from the Infanta than he could do from the King of France But because the adversity of the affairs of the League crossed his designs and the agreement of the other Princes of his House and particularly of the Duke of Mayenne held his mind in suspence He still kept the Treaty of Accommodation alive and still prorogued the Truce with short additions making use sometimes of force sometimes of art to obtain some convenient place and to keep the Provinces confining upon Bretagne in commotion Following this his design he about this time set on Charles Gondi Marquiss of Belisle Son to the Mareschal de Retz to seize upon Fongeres a Town of much importance upon the Confines of Normandy and from that place he had held a Treaty that the same Marquiss might be let in to Mont S. Michel a wonderful strong place upon the shore of the Ocean to which one cannot go by Land except for the space of two short hours by day and by night when the Tyde is low which Treaty having gone on so far that the Marquiss was already certain to be let in he departed secretly by night from Fougeres with an hundred Horse and four hundred Foot and came to St. Michel just at low water there having given and received the appointed signs he was invited by the Governour of the Castle to come in with half a dozen in his company to possess the first Gate and bring in his men at which invitation the Marquiss a young man more fierce than circumspect refused not to enter but seeing the Gate that led into the first Raveline was presently shut at his back he turned about with an angry countenance to the Captain that shut it and commanded him to keep it open which command being no lâ—ss haughtily answered they of the Castle took occasion to fall to their Arms and having killed the Marquiss with his six Companions they began to fire their Artillery against his party which being already certain of their Commanders misfortune retired unpursued to Fougeres This accident slackened not the designs of the Duke of Mercoeur who having had the success to get the Fortress of Tifange in Poictou and to make other progresses in divers parts continued to treat of peace ambiguously being minded to govern himself according to the variety of affairs sometimes moderating his demands in the Kings prosperity sometimes enlarging them in his adversity being himself no less uncertain of the event than others Nor did the King to whom the cause of these alterations were known withdraw himself from his purpose of treating being disposed to grant him advantageous conditions to exclude the Spaniards from Bretagne and re-unite unto himself so important a part of the Crown wherefore to that effect he had newly destined the Count and the President whose wisdom he thought sufficient to deal with the Dukes arts and inconstancy He likewise sent the Sieur d' Emery and Godefroy Calignon Chancellorâ— of Navarre to the Hugonots who absenting themselves from the Court and being retired to the Towns near Rochell had drawn some number of armed men together continuing to make their Conventicles and Assemblies to the great jealousie of the King and great indignation of his Council But the Duke of Mayenne though formerly an Enemy to that party yet having moved the rest of the Council to consider how pernicious it was to provoke a new Civil War at a time when the whole State was afflicted and that the Arms of the Spaniards insulted with many successful proceedings they determined to send those two persons of very great esteem to treat to shew them that nothing prejudicial to Conscience was intended nor thought of for though the conditions imposed by the Pope were such as every one knew yet that clause was added that they should be executed without danger of War or perturbation with which condition at the same time the Popes obedience and the security of the Hugonots was preserved since the conjuncture of the times was manifestly such that the King could not constrain their Liberty not only without commotion of War but also not without great danger of the Crown These two Deputies being come to the places of the Hugonots treated many times with the Heads of that party and the rest that were come to Chastelrault and assuring them that the Edicts made in favour of their Religion should be observed stayed the breaking out of new troubles which were already contriving but they could not obtain that the Duke of Bouillon and the Duke de la Tremouille should as the King desired march with the Forces of that party into Picardy for the coming of the Legat and the near correspondence that past had made them so suspicious that they would not stir from the places of their own security While they were negotiating on this side Arms were not altogether quiet upon the Confines of Picardy for the number of Garisons on both sides did with frequent encounters keep matters in commotion and the Mareschal de Byron not failing to molest the Enemy in all places made incursions into the Catholick Kings Provinces in such sort that in the month of September being entered with his Horse into the County of Artois he put the whole Country in a very great tumult wherefore the Marquiss of Varambone Governour thereof having sent for Count Giovan Giacopo Belgiojoso and the Count de Montecucoli resolved to meet him with Eight hundred Horse to put a stop to those mischiefs which he did on all sides but the Mareschal informed of his coming having staid the whole day to rest himself at St. André within the Jurisdiction of St. Omer set forward in the dusk of the evening with his men fresh and purposed to fall unexpectedly upon the Marquiss who thought him a great many miles from thence nor did he fail of his design for having marched easily all the night in the morning at Sun rise he light upon the Enemies Vanguard led by Montecucoli and without much considering they charged courageously on both sides In the beginning the French had the worst for their first Troops were beaten back half in disorder to the main Body but a while after the Mareschal advancing in person charged Montecucoli so furiously that he was forced to turn his back full speed it not being possible to stay his men who fell foul upon the Marquiss his Battel and disordered it so that he being forsaken was taken
condition 404. having advised with the Prior and others of his Order resolves to kill the King 405. his answer to a question made to him brought in to the King gives him a Letter then drawing a Knife thrusts it into his Belly ib. cast out of the window and torn in pieces ib. Colonel Alphonso Corso's answer to Cardinal Gaetano's request 433 Colonel St. Paul kill'd by the Duke of Guise 651 Colledge of Sorbon declares Henry III. to have forfeited his Right to the Crown and his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance 378. its Decree 439. Declares Henry IV. Absolution valid and the Doctors thereof do him Homage at the Louvre 645 Conditions of Peace concluded at Orleans 88 Conditions agreed upon between the Deputies of the King of Spain and the Heads of the Catholick League Page 254 Conditions between Henry III. of France and the League 353 Conditions to be observed by Henry IV. upon his Absolution 675 Conspiracy against the person of Henry III. 334 Constable Momorancy falls in disgrace with King Francis 7. recalled to management of affairs ib. Constables Vnion with the King of Navarre and Duke of Guise 52. taken Prisoner and his Son killed 82. parlies with the Hugonots and the Lye passes between him and the Cardinal de Chastillon 115 Consultation between the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his brother 369 Corbiel besieged and taken by the Duke of Parma 477 c. Corby assaulted by the King and taken 485 Council of Trent breaks up Novemb. 1563. in the Papacy of Pius Quintus 92 Cabinet Council iâ—s beginning 127. a Proposition of receiving it made in the Assembly of the States General rejected 361. The Council â—f sixteen framed at Paris by suggestion of the Heads of the League 300. informs the Duke of Guise of 20000 men ready for any design 333. suspect a Plot of theirs discovered by the Kings preparations dismay'd thereupon send for the Duke of Guise 336. of the Union consisting of 40 of the chiefest persons of thâ— League 385 Secret Council resolves to punish the Favourers of the Hugonots 27 Counsellors of Parliament who adhered to Henry III imprisoned in the Bastille 379 Count de Bouchage Brother to the Duke of Joyeuse after the death of his wife whom he dearly loved turns Capuchin 312 Count de Brienne defeated by the Duke of Mayenne and taken Prisoner 397 Count de Brisac's Forces that came to divert the siege of Falaise defeated by Monpensier 396. is made Governor of Paris in place of Count Belin 632. deals presently with the chief of the City to submit to King Henry IV. 633. Conditions in favour of him 634 by his artifice Proclamation is made that upon pain of Death and confiscation of Goods none should assemble but in the Town-house 635. his Decree to receive the King into Paris 636 Count Egmont and his Lanciers all cut in pieces 446 Count de St. Fiore sends 26 Ensigns to Rome taken by his Soldiers 163 Count de Fuentes made Governor of the Low Countries 678. besieges Chastelet in Picardy 679. causes Goneron to be beheaded in sight of the French and besiege Dourlans 681. his manner of besieging Cambray 687 Count Mansfelt succeeds the Duke of Deux-pont 146. enters France and besieges la Chapelle 644. the Governor surrenders it 645 Count de Schomberg treats with the Duke of Mayenne but with weak hope of success 600 Count de Soissons of the House of Bourbon 363. assaulted at Chasteau-Guiron by the Duke of Mercaeur and taken Prisoner 401. removed from the Government of Poictou 501 Crown pretended to by the Cardinal of Bourbon 253. aspir'd to by the Cardinal of Vendosme 498. divolved upon the House of Bourbon 400 D. DAughter of Charles the Great and Godfrey of Bullen were Ancestors of the House of Lorrain and Guise 6 Declaration of the Duke d' Alanson 214. of the Heads of the Catholick League 261. of the King of Navarre 276. of the Duke of Mayenne for the States 511. of the Popes Legat. 577 Decree at Moulins 98 Decree of the Holy Union made to combine themselves for defence of Religion 378. for receiving the Council of Trent â—14 of the Colledge of Sorbon 439. of Henry IV. in favour of Ecclâ—siaestical Dignities and Catholick Religion 558 Deputies of Henry IV. present a Writing to the League is accepted 604 Description of the misâ—rable condition France fell into by the death of the Duke of Guise 381. of the Confederate Army 531 Design of taking Bastille Arcenal Paris and the Louvre and to cut in pieces the Kings Minions and Adherents and to take him Prisoner revealed and not effected 302 Device of the Royallists 422. of the Colledge of Sorbon 439 Discord arises between the Duke d'Espernon and Secretary Villeroy producing evil effects 280 Dreux Battel 82. besieged by Henry IV. 400 607 c. Francis Duke of Alanson the Kings youngest Brother makes himself Head of the Malecontents with hope to usurp the Crown 195. imprisoned 196. excluded from the Crown of Poland 213 his flight and declaration 214. declared Head of the Hugonots by the Prince of Condé 215. musters 35000 fighting men 219. made the Kings Lieutenant General 233. rejected by those called him into Flanders driven thence by the Duke of Parma returns into France and awhile after dyes 245 Henry Duke of Anjou made Lieutenant General of the Army 118. batters Loudun on one side and the Prince of Condé coming to relieve it on the other both resolving to fight are hindred by coldness of weather 136. dismisses the Nobility of his Army sends the rest into Garison and goes to Loches 149. recovers many places from the Hugonots 165. goes with mighty preparations to the siâ—ge of Rochel 190. not to prejudice his Election to be King of Poland moves slowly in that enterprisâ— Page 192 Duke d'Aumale made Governor of Paris by the City arms them and orders them Commanders 318. is in readiness with 500 Horse to assist the Conspiracy of the Parisians 333. bâ—sieges Senlis Longueville with small Forces raises it loses his Artillery Baggage and 30 Colours 400. going to relieve Noyen after a sharp Fight retires 506. for 40000 Crowns Pension revolts to the Spaniard with the places under his Government 642. incensed at being declared Rebel keeps with the Spaniards 695 Duke of Bouillon flies to Geneva and dyes there 328 Duke of Deuxponts enters France spoiling the Countrey dyes with excess of drinking before he joins the Princes 145 Duke d'Elbeus first of the House of Lorrain that makâ—s peace with Henry IV. 641 Duke d'Espernon sent from Henry III. to meet the King of Navarre 25â— Government of Provence conferred on him by the King 283. marries the Countess of Candale a rich Heir 312. Treats with the Suisses Army and they have leave to return home 327. is declared Admiral of the Kingdom and Governor of Normandy 348. cause of distaste between him and Villeroy ib. quits his Government of Normandy by the Kings order and retires
to Aâ—golesme 51. where he is conspired against Villeroy fâ—menting the business by secret order from the King 356. returned to his former greatness treats a Truce with the King of Navarre 389. standing upon precedency will not sign the writing to make him King f France parts from Court 411. recalled by the King 486. recovers all the Towns heâ—d by the Duke of Savoy as far as Vare 568. will not be removed from the Government of Provence but refers himself to the Constable who declares he should go out 659 Duke of Feria and Mendozza Spanish Ambassadors and Juan Baptista Tassis at the meeting of the States urge and propose the Infanâ—a to be chosen Queen 592 c. thâ—ir Answer concerning a Husâ—band for her 604. promise to give her to the Duke of Guise as soon as she shall be chosen Queen 608. are abused going through the streets of Paris 611. Duke of Guise falls into disgrace with K. Francis 7. recalled to management of affairs 17. Keyes of the Palace taken from him and given to the King of Navarre 46. as first Peer of France is declared to precede the rest 47. his union with the King of Navarre and Constable 52. is hurt with a stone in a conflict between his Servants and the Hugonots A saying of his made him thought Author of the War 57. giving it under his hand that he would leave the Court the Catholick Lords leave the Camp 66. takes the Prince of Condé Prisoner 83. sups and lies in the same Bed with the Prince of Condé his bitter Enemy Made General of the Kings Forces 84. shot in the shoulder treacherously by one Poltrot a Hugonot whereof â—e dyes 86. leaves three Sons Henry Duke of Guise Lodowick a Cardinal whom Henry III. caused to be murthered and the Duke of Mayenne who was after Head of the Catholick League 94 Charles Duke of Guise having been long Prisoner at Tours escapes at noon day and flees to Bourges 510. tells the Spaniards his being chosen King would prove ridiculous to others and ruinous to himself 613. he and the Duke â—f Mayenne unite to favor each other to be choâ—en King 623. leaves the League and makes his composition with the King 655. as Heir of the House of Anjou pretends right to Provence ib. ploâ—s to get into Marseiâ—les 699. makes himself Master of it 700 Francis Duke of Guise recovered Calais from the English anno 1557. invited by their negligence in guarding it 702 Henry the young Duke of Guise gets great reputation by sustaining the Siege of Poictiers 156. admitted to the Cabinet Council 158. resoâ—ves to marry Catharine de Cleves 173. besets the Admirals house 183. shot in the face 216 by his cunning politick discourses are brought into Assemblies instituted for Devotion 221. Causes that moved him and his Brothers to frame the League 224. v. 325. they foment the peoples hatred against the King 237. forâ—sâ—eing their own ruine contrive new designs 247. by means of Preachers and Fryars in Pulpits and other places of Devotion labours to insinuate the Catholick League into the people 250. besieges and takes Ausone 305. falls upon the Germans in their quarters and gives them a sudden assault at Auneau and with a great slaughter obtains a famous Victory 326. causes a Writing to be presentâ—d to the King with many cunning demands redounding to his own benâ—fit 332. is discontented at the Kings declaring the Duke of Espernon Admiral of the Kingdom and Governor of Normandy 333. disobeys the King commanding him not to come to Paris 337. goes to wait upon the Queen-mother visits the King who is angry with him in words and looks perceiving what danger he was in takes leave and departs 338. being fearful of the King is strongly guarded and goes with 400 Gentlemen privately well armed to the Louvre to wait upon the King to Mass his discourse with the King and Queen-mother 339. makes the Parisians believe the King meant to put One hundred and twenty of the chief Catholicks to death 341. ceases to force the Louvre and appeaseth the people seeing the King as it were a Prisoner and the City in his power 343. he and his adherents are stung at the Kings Speech at the Assembly of Blois 359. sends with the King and States to the Duke of Savoy to demand restitution of the Marquisate of Saluzzo and upon refusal to denounce War 365. his consultation with the Archbishop of Lyons the Cardinal his brother and Duke d'Elbeuf 369. hath an Handkerchief sent him by his Secretary Pelicart to bid him save himself but it comes not to his hands swoons in the Council-chamber an ill omen of his approaching death slain as he lifts up the hangings of the Closet-door all his chief Adherents made Prisoners 't was reported he received two millions of Crowns from Spain 370. his and the Cardinal his brothers bodies burnt in quick-lime and their bones buried in an unknown place his virtues and endowments both in body and mind Page 373 Duke of Joyeuse at Coutras prepares to Battel with great confusion 321. is thrown to the ground offers 100000 Crowns in ransom yet is slain 322 Duke of Lorrain agrees secretly with the Duke of Mayenne not to elect any to be King that was not only a stranger but not of their family 513. offers the grand Duke of Thuscany in the Kings behalf the Princess Catharine in marriage to the Duke his son 610 Duke of Mantua Ludovico Gonzaga marries Henrietta de Cleve sister to the Duke of Nevers 99 Duke of Mayenne commands his mutinous Soldiers to be cut in pieces 18. persuaded by his sister Madam de Monpensier makes himself Head of the Holy Union at Paris is declared Lieutenant General of the Crown of France 384. refuses a Truce 388 defeats the Count de Brienne and takes him Prisoner 397. assaults the Kings Army at Tours fights a long time but supplies coming from the King of Navâ—rre gives off 398. a Treaty of Agreement between him and Henry IV. 436. he will not hearken to it 437. makes the Archbishop of Lyons his High-Chancellor ibid. layes siege to Melun 439. after twenty five dayes raises the siege and marches towards Rouen to appease new Troubles 440. invites the Deputies of the Provinces upon the death of the Cardinal de Bourbon to choose another King 460. confers the Government of Paris on the Duke d'Esguillon his eldest Son and appoints the Marquis of Belun his Lieutenant 448. is troubled at the attempts of his Family designs of the Duke of Savoy and delays of the Spaniard 489. is not satisfied with the new Pope sends President Jeannin to the King of Spain and Sieur des Portes to the Pope to sollicite aid ibid. orders Marquis Menelay to be killed gives a Scalado to Manâ—e but is beaten off 504. goes to assault the Suisses at Hudam but forced to return 505. marches to Han to give courage to the besieged of Noyon 506. will not hazard a Battel with the King
507. afflicted for the Duke of Guise's escape strives to shew signs of joy but treats underhand with the Cardinal of Bourbon and other Lords to set up a third Party 511. he and the Duke of Lorrain agree not to elect any King of France that is not only a Stranger but not of their Family or a Prince of the blood and a Catholick 513. receives the Duke of Guise at Retel with outward shews of love but corresponds not in their conference ibid. going to oppose an Insurrection in Paris takes the Baâ—â—â—â—le and causes four of the Council of sixteen to be strangled 518. murmurs against the Duke of Parma ascribing the glory of all actions to himself 551. besieges Ponteau de Mer 558 takes it 559. gives Villeroy liberty to favor the Kings conversion at Rome and at the same time opposes it with all his power 563. interpreting the Popes proceeding in favour of him hâ—pes to be chosen King â—64 Causes moving him thereto his Declaration for the States 571. Troubled at the pretensions the Lords of his House had to the Crown as well as he c. 583. sitting under the Cloth of State as King in the Hall of the Louvre â—xhorts the States to choose a Cathol King 584. Threatned by the Spanish Ambassadors departs in anger 593. besieges Noyon is surrendred to him sends his Sons Regiment to Paris 595. being sure none of his Sons should be named Husband to the Infanta prosecutes a Treaty with the Royalists 604. Troubled at offering to give her to the Duke of Guise desires to disturb it c. 608. dâ—siring to hinder the Duke of Guise's greatness asks exorbitant Conditions of the Spaniards 609. seeing himself excluded from the Crown treats to bring in the Cardinal of Bourbon 610. gets the Parliament of Paris to decree the Crown should not be transferred on strangers c. 611. sends Montpezat into Spain to have the Infanta given to his eldest Son 617. he and the Duke of Guise agree to favour each other to be chosen King 623. v. 630 643. his office of Lieutenant General taken away by the Parliament of Paris goes to Bruxels to â—reat with the Archduke 645. makes an Agreement with the King 670. declared innocent of the death of Henry III. 694 Duke de Mercoeur takes the Count de Soisons Prisoner at Chasteau-Eyron 401. his pretensions to the Dutchy of Bretagne 482. being brother-in-law to Henry III. agrees with Henry IV. giving his onely Daughâ—er to Caesar of Bourbon his Bastard-son and what he had in Bretagne under his obedience 733 Duke of Monpensier begins the War against those of the League and besieges Falaise 394. defeats the Count de Brisac who came to divest it 396. dyes at Liseaux 551 Duke of Nemour's vigilancy at the siege of Pâ—ris 475. refuses the Government of it for some discontent from his brother the Duke of Mayenne 488. Insurrection against him at Lyons imprisoned and escapes out of the Castle 660. seeing himself deprived of all retreat falls sick and dyes 692 Duke of Nevers disgusted at the marriage of Viscount de Tâ—renne and Charlotte de la Maâ—k 511. relieves the Kings Army 533. ordered by the Pope not to come to Rome as Ambassador from Henry IV. but as an Italian Prince 621 622. entred privately goes the same evening to kiss his feet 625. beseeches the Pope upon his knees he would absolve the King at least in Foro Conscientiae is denied goes discontented to Venice 626. his death Page 695 Duke of Parma's saying of the Duke of Guise 344. refuses to treat with him without the Duke of Mayenne 519. resolves to succor the League only for Religion 529. marches with his the Popes and French Forces in allTwenty four thousand Foot and Six thousand Horse to relieve Rouen 530. his Answer to the French Lords 534. besieges Neuâ—-chaâ—el and grants Byron de Guiry honourable Conditions 535 sends Eight hundred Horse into Rouen goes to besiege St. Esprit de Hue 539. leaves it and goes to relieve Rouen 540 viewing the Siege of Laudebec shot with a Musquet in the arm 544 shewing he had twice delivered the League sayes the French were the cause the King of Nâ—varre was not quite suppressed 551. goes to the Spâ—w to be cured of a Dropsie 559. his death hurtful to the interests of Spain 556 Duke of Savoy hath certain places restored him by Henry III. at Thurin coming from Poland kept by the Kings of France for security 207 Grand Duke of Thuscany Ferdinando de Medicis is desired by Henry IV. to use his endeavors with the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals about his reconciliation with the Church 556. with his consent Girolâ—mo Condi treats with the Duke of Lorrain in the Kings behalf offâ—rs him the Princess Catharine in marriage for the Duke his Son 610 Dutchâ—ss of Guise demands justice of the Parliamâ—nt they grant it her and choose those should form the Process 380 E. Earl of Essex challenges Sieur de Villars to a Duel who puts it off till another time 524 Walter d'Evereux Brother to the Earl of Essex slain in the first Skirmish at the Siege of Rouen 523 Ecclesiastical Affairs in an unhappy condition 563 Edict that no body should be molested for Religion 48. of July 49. of January 51. to forbid the Hugonots Assemblies in Paris or near the Court 63. Another against them 131. forbidding raising of Soldiers 260. against the Hugonots 281. to succor them 488 Emperor Rodalphus II. commands the Baron d'Onaw by a publick Edict to disband the Army he had raised without his leave upon pain of Imperial banishment 313 Bitter Enemies Conde and Guise sup together and lie in the same Bed 84 Errors imputed to Henry IV. and his Army 475. Excuses in his favour 476 Espernay taken by the League 559. yields to Henry IV. with condition to leave their Colours much desired by him because there were some Spanish Ensigns among them 561 Estamps taken by the King the Magistrates hanged and Pillage given to the Soldiers 402. caused to be dismantled by him 425 Estates of the Kingdom are three 33 F. FActions by the name of Hugonot and Catholick 46. of Royalists and Guizards 365. are fought for by Learned men with their Pens as Soldiers with their Swords 434 Father Robert a Franciscan condemn'd to death at Vendosme for having commended the killing of Henry III. 426 La Fere a place strong by art and nature besieged by Henry IV. 696. yields having large Conditions granted 709 Flanders under that name the Italians usually comprehend all the Low-Countries 299 Forces of Henry IV. sent to relieve Villamur the Foot almost all cut in pieces 570 France the Princes that aspir'd to its Kingdom 435 Francis go to King  Franconians a people of Germany not being able to subsist in their own Countrey issue out in armed multitudes anno 419. and possess themselves of the Gallias being then possest of the Romans 3 4 Fougade what ' t is 650 G.
after Victory made his Commanders sup with him at Rosny familiarly speaking to every one and praising the meanest Soldier 450. besieges and takes Melum 454. his Answer to Villeroy persuading him to turn Catholick 455. dismisses him not resolved to grant a Cessation of Arms 457. assaults the Fauxbourgs of Paris sits on his Horses back Forty four hours at the Siege of St. Denis 465. recalls the Chancellor Chiverny to his Office 466. rises from the Siege of Paris and marches to Chelles to hinder the relief 471. sends a Trumpet to the Duke of Mayenne challenging him to Battel 470. deceived by the Duke of Parma ibid. withdraws and marches towards St. Denis 474. in the midst of night gives a Scalado to the walls of Paris c. 475. coming to St Denis without victuals or money sâ—parates his Army oppressed with diseases 476. batters Clermont and takes it on the third day ibid. assaults the Spanish Army and his Horse had cut the Rear-guard in pieces if Georgio Basti had not disingaged them with his Lanciers 480. assaults Corby and takes it 485. his remedies to conserve the affections and obedience of his Party 486. recalls the Duke of Espernon and other Catholiâ—k Lords to his Army ibid. his design upon Paris discovered a second time 491. Chartres surrenders to him 496. declares in Council the necessity of giving the Hugonots some satisfaction confirms an Edict of Henry III. granting them Liberty of Conscience 498. besieges Noyen 605. surrendred to him 507. gives the Germans the Pillage of Attigny offers Battel to the Duke of Mayenne in the Plain of Verdun 512. summons Rouen and refused c. 524. raises the Siege 540. his Saying of Guiry gives distaste to others 539. returns 545. escapes a great danger 546. prayes the Republick of Venice by their Ambassador to treat with the Pope about his reconciliation 559. weeps for the death of Marshal de Biron 560. desires the Duke of Thuscany also to use â—is endeavors with him and the Cardinals ibid chooses Cardinal Gondi and Marquis of Pisani to go to Rome 557. sends his Forces to recover Espernay 559. desires a Reconciliation with the Catholick Church by way of agreement not pardon 562. his Manifesto at Chartres 588. proposes his Conversion to see how it would be relished 605. besiegeth Dreux to give reputation to his Party 607. sends for Prelates and Divines and being instructed at Maule publishes he will go to Masse at St. Denis 612. sends the Duke of Nevers and four Prelates Ambassadors of Obedience to the Pope 617. goes to Mantua 621. desires to be Crowned 634. besieges Laon and surrendred 646 650. sends the Lorrain Forces to make Incursions into the County of Bourgogne 655 causes open War to be proclaimed against Spain 664. besieges the Castles of Dijon 667. half disarmed succors the Marshal de Byron 669 routs the Spaniards in Franche Comte 671. is absolved of his Heresie 675. agrees with the Duke of Mayenne 694. lays Siege to la Fere 696. complains to the Pope of the Spaniards 798. his design about Somme answers not the intention 700. goes Pâ—st to Mont-le-hery to meet the Legat 710. ratifies all his Procurators had done 711. calls a Congregation at Rouen of the Officers of his Crown to settle his Kingdom and Supplies for War 712. breaks off a course of Physick and goes to relieve Amiens excuses the murmurings about it 718. follows the Archduke going from Amiens and his praise of the Spanish Infantry Page 730 King Pharamond chosen first King of the French at the River Sala and the Salique Law established 3 L. LAdy Marguerite being asked If she would have the King of Navarre for her Husband answered nothing being urged by the King bowed her head 180 Lagny taken by the Duke of Parma before the face of the Kings Army 474. recovered by the Baron de Guiry 478 The Popes Legate propounds a Truce to the Duke of Mayenne but he refuses it 388. makes grievous complaints to the King 390. is suspected by the Pope to side with the King 393. as soon as Peace was concluded with the Hugonots departs from Court to go out of the Kingdom ibid. moves the Duke of Mayenne again to an Accommodation but he refuses ib. League its form 222. composed of the disaffected to the Government and Zealots in Religion 251. set forward by Mendozzâ— the Spanish Ambassador 260. the Heads publish a Declaration 261. set the Parisians to frame a Council of Sixteen 300. consult to take the King returning from Hunting to take the Bastille Arcenal Paris and the Louvre cut in pieces the Minions and his Adherents and himself Prisoner 302. first assault the Germans in Lorrain 316. Forty of their chiefest persons châ—se for the Council of the Union 385. take Vendosme by agreement with the Governor 397. great slaughter of them at the Siege of Senlis 400. declare Cardinal of Bourbon King and call him Charles X. 417. takes a disgust at the Duke of Mayenne which is fomented by the Spaniards 487. besiege Caudebec with no good advice 544 c. A League concluded between Henry IV. and the Queen of England almost the same that was made with Charles IX 706 Learned Men fight for their Factions with their Pens as Soldiers with their Swords 434 Lewis Duke of Oâ—leans in the time of Charles VIII takes up Arms to maintain the Right of Government in whom it belonged 18 Ligneroles killed by the Kings command for shewing he knew what he desired to be kept secret 173 Livery made to Wards 90 Lord Peregrine Bertue Lord Willoughby Fahter to the valiant Earl of Lindsey who was slain at the Battel of Edgehill being General of the Kings Army was General of the Forces sent into France to Henry IV. by Queen Elizabeth 423 Lowyse de Vaudemont Neece to the Duke of Lorrain married to Henry III. 212 Low-Countries withdrawn from the King of Spain's Dominions seek first Protection from the King of France then put themselves under the Duke of Alâ—nzon 239. send Ambassadors to the King of France intreating him to take the Protection and Dominion of their States 259 Ludovico de Gonzaga Duke of Mantua marries Henrietta de Cleve Sister to the Duke of Nevers 99 Lyons the first that rebelled and last that returned to obedience 629 M. MAdam de Monpensier persuades the Duke of Guise her Brother to make himself Head of the Holy Union 384. she and others exhort him to make himself be declared King of France 413 Management of Affairs under Francis II. committed to his Mother Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorrain by his Wifes persuasion 12 Manifesto of the Hugonots 130. of the King 588 Marks of Iustice is having the Authority to dispose of the chief Ecclesiastical and Temporal Dignities 437 Marquis de Villars made Admiral in the place of Coligny 161. besieges Quillebeuf 558. is forced to rise from it 559. submits Rouen to the King 638 Marquis of Pisani meets the Legat about a Treaty but
after eight months siege 1573. The Duke of Anjou with mighty preparations goes to the siege of Rochel The strong situation of Rochel The Duke of Anjou not to prejudice his election to be King of Poland moves slowly in the enterprise of Rochel Rochel yielded to the King The Conditions The Peace is published and the Army dismissed A third party called Politicks and Male-contents composed of Catholicks and Hugonots Prancâ—s Duke of Alancon the Kings youngest Brother makes himself Head of the Male-contents with hope to usurp the Crown The Hugonots begin again to take Arms. The Duke of Alancon and the King of Navarre imprisoned 1574. A new Insurrection of Hugonots stirred up by Monsieur de la Noue The Queen sends three Armies into three parts of the Kingdom to suppress the Insurrections The Mareshal d' Anville Son of Anna de Momorancy is by the Kings decree deprived of his dignities Villers Brother-in-law to the Author St. Lo is besieged by the Catholicks Montgomery being in it Montgomery flees from St. Lo. The Count Montgomery is taken in Danfront sent to the Court and executed Charles the IX dieth the 30 of May 1574. In the absence of the new King Henry 3. a Truce is made for two months The Parliament of Tholouse ordains that the Truce shall not be accepted noâ— executed The Rochellers break the Truce 1573. Henry the III. ill affected to the King of Navarre and Prince of Câ—ndâ— Heads of the Hugonots as also to the Duke of Gâ—ise Heaâ— of the Catholicks The Prince of Conde is made Head of the Hugonots Henrâ— the III. returning out of Poland stays at Thurin and restores certain places to the Duke of Savoy kept by the Kings of France for sâ—curity * Qu' il estoit temps de metâ—re les Roys horâ— Page Henry the III. ill-affected to the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde Heads of the Hugonots as also to the Duke of Guise Head of the Catholicks The King demands the Sister of the King of Sweden to Wife The death of the Cardinal of Lorain 1575. The King is consecrated at Reims by Lewis Cardinal of Lorain Brother to the Duke of Guise and next day marrieth Louyse de Vaudemont Neece to the Duke of Lorain Mombrun who had taken the Kings carriages is taken himself and executed Francis Bonne made Head of the Hugoâ—ots and after High-Constable of the Kingdom Henry the III. frames a new Model of Government The manner observed at Court in the granting of Petitions The Duke of Alancon excluded from the Crown of Poland and Stephano Battori a Hungarian elected to succeed Henry the Third The Duke of Alancon his flight and Declaration The Mareshals of Momorancy and Cosse set at liberty The Prince of Conde comes with a great Army out of Germany The Prince of Conde declares the Duke of Alancon General of the Hugonots The Duke of Guise is shot in the face A Cessation of Arms for six months 1576. The King of Navarre displeased for many causes flees from the Court and proceeds against the Catholicks The King of Navarre publisheth that he was forced to turn Catholick Charles Duke of Mayenne commands his mutinous Solâ—diers to be cut in pieces The Duke of Alancon mustered 35000 fighting men The King of Navarre and Prince of Conde offended at the Duke of Alancons power think to free themselves of him by a Peace Peace is made with the Hugonots the fifth time The Prince of Orange formerly declared Rebel is restored to his Estate The Assembly of the State is appointed at Blois the 15 of November By the Duke of Guise his cunning politick discourses are brought into those assemblies which were instituted for devotion The form of the League or Covenant Causes that moved the Guises to frame the Catholick League The King of Spain becomes Protector of the Catholick League The King of Navarre declared General of the Hugonots and the Prince of Conde his Lieutenant-General At the intercession of the King of Navarre the Rochellers permit the Catholicks to say Mass in their City The Assembly of the States at Bloys King Henry the Third his speech at the beginning of the Assembly of the States at Bloys It 's an ancient question whether the Assembly of the States or the King be Superiour Iean Bodin contradicts the Prelates in tâ—e general Asseâ—bly 1577. The Prince of Conde will not acknowledge the Assembly of Bloys to be the States General nor treat with their Commissioners Henry the III. declares himself Head of the Catholick League After many disputes the general Assembly is dismissed without concluding any thing The King sends two Armies against the Hugonots The Duke of Alancon made the Kings Lieutenant-General Through weakness of both parties the Peace is concluded and published by torch light * High jurisdiction authority to judge and determine all criminal or capital matters except High-treason within his own precincts and all civil actions or controversies except in Royal cases and such as concern Gentlemen and the high ways * Courts of justice wherein half were Catholicks half Hugonots The High-Chancellour Biraâ—o being made Cardinal Philip Hurault is chosen in his place 1578. 1579. 1579. Henry the III. his manner of life * Including the Gentry who are alwayes meant by the French Nobless as well as the Lords The Guises foment the Peoples hatred against the King Henry the 3d institutes the order of Knighthood of the Holy Ghost Bellegarde by intelligence with the Duke of Savoy usurps the Marquesate of Saluzzo The Low-Countries being withdrawn from the King of Spain's Dominion first seek protection from the King of France and then put themselves under the Duke of Alancon * The Italians under the name of Flanders usually comprehend all the Low-Countries The Hugonots stir up new commotions 1580. Cahors is taken 〈◊〉 sackeâ—â—y 〈◊〉 â—â—gonots At the news of these stirs the King sends forth three Armies La Fâ—re recovered by Monsieur de Matignon * Geographers call these Islands the Acores and only one of them the Tercera as being third in the passage from Spain towards Virginia Florida and those parts 1581. 1582. 1583. The Duke of Alancon rejected by those who had called him into Flaâ—ders is driven thence by the Prince of Parma returns into Fraâ—ce and a while after dies there 1584. The Guises foreseeing their own ruine contrive new designs * Lord High Steward of the Kings Houshold heretofore called Le Comâ—â— du Pâ—lais le Senesebal de France Henry the III. takes upon him the protection of Geneva The Duke of Guise by means of the Preachers and Friars in Pulpits and other places of Devotion labours to insinuate the Catholick League into the people The Catholick League composed of men disaffected to the present Government and Zealous in Religion The Sieur de Vins at Rochel receives a Musquet shot to save Hen. 3. * De Robe Longue Charles Cardinal of Bourbon Uncle to the King of Navarre is desired for head of tke
Catholicks The Cardinal of Bourbon his pretensions to the Succession of the Crown 1585. Conditions agreed upon between the Deputies of the King of Spâ—in and the Heads of the Catholick League A meeting between the King of Navarre and the Duke d' Espernon sent from Henry the Third The Low-Countries send Ambassadors to the King of France intreating him to take the Protection and Dominion of their States Bâ—rnardino de Mendozza the Spanish Ambassador having received a sharp answer from Henry 3. begins openly to set forward the League * German Horse The King Edict forbidding the raising or gathering of Souldiers together A Declaration published by the Heads of the Catholick League * Contrary to their Majesties hopes Note that this addition and all the other alterations and additions in the following Declarations standing in the margin are according to the French Book intiâ—uled Memories de la Ligue * Projects Verdun the first City taken by the Army of the League The Insurrection at Marseilles The Kings answer to the Declaration published by the Catholick League [* Which would not have come to pass if in the Assembly of the States General held at Blois when the Deputies induced thereunto by his Majesties servent affection to the Catholick Religion had requested him utterly to prohibit the exercise of the pretended reformed Religion in this Kingdome whereupon followed the determination which was there taken and sworn which his Majesty hath since laboured to execute they had at the same time provided a certain stock of Money to prosecute that War unto the end as it was necessary to do and as it was motioned by His Majesty * And they would now have had no pretence of complaint who nevertheless publish c. Mem. de la Lâ—gue [* Whatsoever is published to the contrary Mem. de la Ligue * Evocation is a transferring of causes from one Court to another * And preservers Mem. de la Ligue [* Who onely will triumph and make advantage of the publick miseries and calamities Mâ—m de la Lâ—gue * Desolation Mem. de la Ligue * As well by reason of the good and gracious usage which they have ever received from him as because His said Majesty is c. Mem. dâ— la Ligue * Luigi Davila the Authors elder Brother was favoured by the Queen-Mother and esteemed by the King who made use of him in the managing of affairs and of the War in those times Whilst the Cardinal of Bourbon Head of the League stands wavering to reconcile himself to the King the Duke of Guise makes a specious Proposition of Agreement * These which the Author calls Harquebuziers on horseback differed from our Dragoons in that they did serve both on foot and on horseback and it is conceived by men experienced in War that they were the same with those which they call Argolâ—ttiers The King of Navarre's Declaration There ariseth such a discord between the Duke d' Espernon and Secretary Villeroy as in process of time produced many evil effects The Kings Edict against the Hugonots The Hugonots Answer to the Kings Edict The King calling the Heads of the City of Paris together demands moneys for the War which the Catholicks laboured for against the Hugonots * This particular is not in the French Original of the Kings Speech which is in a Book called Memoires de la Ligue A saying of Hen. the third * The Hugonot Sermons Monsieur Angoulesme Grand Prior France being dead the King confers the Government of Provence upon the Duke of Espernon Gregory XIII dies in 1585. Sixtus Quintâ—â—â— succeedâ—â—â— Sixtus Quintus on the ninth of September 1585. Excommunicates the King oâ— Navarre and the Prince of Conde declaring them incapable of succession The King of Navaâ—râ— makes the Bull of Sixtus â—uintus to be answered and the Answer set up in Rome De Robbe Lâ—â—gue The War is begun again between the Catholicks and Hugonots The Castle of Angiers taken suddenly by the Hugonots The Castle of Angiers is recovered by the Catholicks before it is relieved The enterprise of Angiers being vanished the Hugonot Army encompassed by the Catholicks and reduced to great streights disbands it self and part of them with the Commanders save themselves by flight 1586. Maran besieged by the Catholicks Great Forces are prepared in Germany in favour of the Hugonots Mary Qu. of Scots Cousen to the Guises imprisoned by Elizabeth Qu. of England Hen. the Third despairing of issue resolves to further the King of Navars right to the Crown and to unite himself with him for the destruction of the Guises By reason of the licentious life of Margaret wife to the K. of Navarre the King and Q. Mother resolve to break the Match and to give Christiâ—nnâ— the daughter of the Duke of Lorain who after married Ferdinando de Medici Great Duke of Tuscany An accommodation treated with the Hugonots by the Queen-Mother and much disliked by those of the League The Ambassadorâ— of the Protestant Princes of Gâ—â—mâ—ny â—eing come to â—â—is to treat in favour of the Hugonots having spoken highly to the King are sharply answered and depart unsatisfied from the Court. The Parisians by the suggestions of thâ—â— Heads of the League being set against the King frame a Councel of 16 principal persons by whom they were governed receiving their Orders and resolutions * Or Companies * Le berceau de la Ligne Nicholas Poulain discovers all the Plots of the League unto the King They of the League plot to surprise Boulogne by the Spanish Fleet which is revealed by Pâ—ulain * The Author in many places calls that the Ocean Sea which we call the Brittish Sea * Attendants or guard so called because in old time they went with Bowes and Arrowes 1585. They of the League consult about taking the King as he returned from hunting The Dâ—sign of taking the Bastile Arcenal Paris and tâ—e Louvre and to cut in pieces the Minions and the Kings adherents and to take the King himself prisoner revealed and not effected 1586. * Captain of the ordinary VVatch of Paris * A Court of Justice in Paris as Guildball in London where also many are imprisoned * The Magazine of Arms. * Atturney-General * The Garden of the Louvre * Master of the Horse Aussone a strâ—ng place in the Dutchy of Bourgongne besieged and taken by the Duke of Guise The interview between the Queen-mother and the King of Navarre at S. Bris wherein nothing was concluded 1587. The Solemn Oath of Henry the Third A saying of Henry the III. * Maistres de Camp The King sends an Army against the King of Navarre andgives secret order to Lavardin to oppose but not suppress him The Count de Bouchage Brother to the Duke of Ioyeuse turns Capuchin after the death of his wife whom he dearly loved The Duke of Espernon marries the Countess of Candalâ— a rich Heir the King honours the wedding with great presents The Protestant Princes of Germany
Writing but departs from Court Many Lords and a great part of the Souldiers following the Duke of Espernons example leave the Camp so that by the seventh of August thâ— Army is decreased to half the number The King of Navarre raises the siege from Paris and divides his Forces into convenient places The King desires to speak with Villeroy who was gone over to the League The Duke of Mayenne will not consent to it They treat by a third person but nothing is concluded Madam de Montpensier and others exhort the Duke of Mayenne to make himself be declared King of France The Duke of Maâ—eâ—ne disswaded by Villeroy and others doth not embrace the Council of making himself to be elected King of France The Cardinal of Bourbon who was prisoner at Chinon is declared and confirmed K. of France by the League and called Charles the Tenth Charles the Tenth taken out of Chinon and removed to Fontenay a stronger place where he is kept with stricter guards The Duke of Luxembourg is sent Ambassador to the Pope by the Catholick Royalists The King appoints the Assembly of the States at Tours which is made the Head-quarter of his party The Body of Henry the Third is laid in the great Church at Compeigne The Kings Army is reduced to but 6000 Foot and 1400 Horse yet he marches with good success as far as Diepe The situation of Diepe described The King lies with his Army and fortifies the quarters about Diâ—pe possessing all places of advantage The Duke of Mayenne being come before the Kings trenches draws hiâ— Army in battalia but the Kings Soldiers coming only to skirmish no battel followeth The Germans of the League make signs of coming over to the Kings party are received by them at the Maladery but being entred fall hostilely upon them that had brought them in and make themselves masters of the place The Armies join battel The Grand Prior challengeth the Count de Sagone and killshim in the sight of both Armies The King is in great danger in the midst of the Enemies A Speech of the King of France The King being relieved by Monsieur de Chastillon recovers the Trenches and the Duke of Mayenne loseth the opportunity of the Victory The Duke of Mayenne who with so much greater Forces and such prosperous success began the battel of Arques retired because his men were wearied and wanted Ammunition A saying of the Kings A device of the Royalists The Duke of Mayenne marches from Diepe with his Army The King in modesty refuseth to go under the Canopy of State at Amiens The General of these forces was that Noble Lord Peregrine Bertue Lord Willoughby Father to the valiant Earl of Lindsey who was slain in the Battel of Edghill where he was General of the Kings Army The Kings Army marches towards Paris The King assaults the Suburbs of Paris upon All Saints day takes them and gives the pillage to the Souldiers Father Edmond Bâ—â—goin of the order of S Dominick taken prisoner is sentenced to be torn by four horses for having counselled and praised the Kings murderer The King leaves the Suburbs of Paris at the arrival of the Duke of Mayenne The King causes Estampes to be dismantled A narration of several successes which happened at the same time through all France The Duke of Savoy besiegeth Geneva The K. takes Veâ—dosme and gives the pillage to his Souldiers condemns the Governour to death for his infidelity and Father Robert a Franciscan for having commended the killing of Henry the III. Henry the IV. is acknowledged King of France with publick solemnity at Tours The King desires that the Assembly of the States in which his conversion was hoped for might be deferred and obtains it The Republick of Venice â—cknowledges Henry the IV. King of France and Mocenigo who was Ambassador to Henry the III passes a compliment with the King in publick Gieronimo Matteucci the Popes Nuncio having complained and protested against the Venetian Senate departs which not being well approved â—y the Pope he returns to his residence The King makes himself Master of all the Towns and Fortresses of Normandy 1590. 1590. The Pope resolves to send assistance to the League against the King Cardinal Henrico Gaetano a man partial to Spain is declared Legat to the League in France Prelates appointed by the Pope to accompany the Embassie and 300000 Crowns to be employed for the liberty of the Cardinal of Bourbon Pope Sixtus V his Orders and Commissions to Cardinal Gâ—etano Legat in France * Or Cajetan The Cardinal Legats request to Colonel Alphonso Corso and his answer The Cardinal Legat having overcome many doubts and difficulties arrives at Paris The Publication of the Popes Breve at Paris and the content thereof The Parliament of Tours forbids to acknowledge the Legat and the Parliament of Paris exhorted all to give him due reverence All the learned men fight for their factions with their Pens as the Soldiers with their Swords Princes that aspired to the Kingdom of France * Coâ—missaâ—y-General A Treaty of Agreement between Henry the Fourth and the Duke of Mayenne The Sieur de la Mothe refuses to advance beyond the Frontiers unless the King of Spain be declared Protector of the Crown of France with authority to dispose of the chief Ecclesiastical and Temporal Dignities which Prerogatives were otherwise called Marks of Iustice The Duke of Mayenne will not hearken to an agreement with the King The Archbishop of Lyons lately prisoner at Amboise is made High-Chancellor to the Duke of Mayenne A false rumor is divulged of a Treaty of Agreement which increases the confusion of the Parisianâ— The Spaniards consent that the Supplies of Flanders should advance and jâ—yn with the Duke of Mayenne Cardinal Gaetanâ— grants unto the D. of Mayenne the three hundred thousand crowns brought for enlargement of the Cardinal of Bourbon The Decree of the Colledge of Sorbonâ—e Meulan stands upon the Seinâ— below Paris A description of the situation of Meulan and of the siege laid to it by the Duke of Mayenne The Duke of Mayenne after 25 days raises the siege of Meulan and marches towards Rouen to appease new troubles The King besiegeth Dreâ—x At the news of the siege of Dreux the people of Paris mutiny The Duke of Mayenne joins with the Spanish Supplies from Flanders and marching towards Dreux resolveth to fight The German Infantry raised for the K. of France turn for the League under the command of Col. St. Paul The Army of the League being 4500 Horse and 20000 Foot march to relieve Dreux The King advertised of their coming raises the siege A terrible Prodigâ— seen by the Kings Souldiers The Kings Army 3000 Horse and 8000 Foot Reasons moving the King to fight though his Army was less by half than that of the the League The King designs his form of Battel and draws it with his own hand * The hedge or inclosure of the meadow The manner of drawing up the
King beats up the quarters of the Light-horse of the League The Duke of Parma sends Prince Ranuccio to assault the Kings out-guards and while they are fighting there being favoured by a mist he removes his Camp without noise of either Drum or Trumpet The Army of the League shut up in the Peninsula is reduced unto necessity of Victual and is in a great strait The Duke of Parma to free the Army which was in a manner imprisoned in the Country of Caux resolves to pass the River Seine and his attempt succeeds The King perceiving the Enemies design though too late goes to hinder their passage over the River but they were past already The King dissolves his forces and sends the Lords to their Governments and with a quick fleeing Army follows the march of the enemy Francois de Bourbon Dukâ— of Montpensâ—er as he was returning to his Government of Normandy dies at Lisieâ—x the third of Iune 1592. The Duke of Mayenne murmurs against the Duke of Parma ascribing the glory of all the actions to himself The Duke of Parma shâ—wing that he had twice delivered the League attributeâ— the cause unto the French why the King of Navarre was not utterly suppressed The Duke of Mayenne upon excuse of taking Physick stayes at Rouen The Sieur du Plesâ—is Mornay Secretary of State to the King and the Sieur de Villerâ—y for the Duke of Mayenne Treat of an Accommodation with mutuâ—l promises of Secrecy President Ieannin by order from the D. of Mayenne signifies those Conditions to Monsieur de Villeroy who was in Treaty which the Duke desires for the effecting an Accommodation The Treaty of Agreement divulged by the Sieur du Plessis comes to the ears of the Princesses and Spanish Ministers working a contrary effect to what he that published them desired The Duke of Parma leaves Forces in France under the Sieur de Rosne depending upon the Duke of Mayenne to whom also the other Spanish Ministers forbear to give further discontents The Catholicks of the Kings party displeased that the Peace should be treated by the Sieur de Plessis a Hugonot renew the Treaty of a third party Innocent the Ninth is succeeded in the Papacy by Cardinal Hippolito Aldobrandino with the name of Clement the Eighth being aged Fifty six years Clement the Eighth gives supplies unto the League with more moderate expences and resolutions than his Predecessors had done The King by the means of Mocenigo the Venetian Ambassador prays that Republick to treat with the Pope concerning his reconciliation with the Church The King desires Ferdinando de Medici Grand Duke of Thuscany to use his endeavors also with the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals in favour of his business The Duke of Mayenne who had still deferred the Convocation of the States writes to the Cardinal Legat and to the Duke of Parma that the time of assembling them was now present Cardinal Gondi and the Marquiss de Pisani are chosen to be sent to Rome The Decree of the Parliaments of Tours and Chalons that none should run to Rome for the procuring of Benefices The pretensions of Râ—nâ—ud de Bâ—aune Archbishop of Bâ—urges upon the Spiritual Superiority of the Galliae A Decree made by Henry the Fourth in favour of the Ecclesiastical Dignities and of the Catholick Religion The Duke of Mayenne besieges Ponteau de Mer. The Sieur de Villars goes to besiege Quilleboeuf a Fort not yet brought to perfection The Sieur de Villars is forced to rise from Quillâ—boeuf The Duke of Mayenne takeâ— Ponteau de Mer The Duke of Parma goes into Flanders to the â—aths of Spaw to be cured of the Dropsie Monsieur de Rosne takes Espernay The King sends his Forces to recover Espernay The Mareschal de Byron a Commander of great valour is killed with a Cannon-shot Iuly 26. in the Sixty fifth year of his age The King wept â—or the Mareschal de Byâ—on The Baron de Byron to revenge the death of his Father scales a great Tower at Espernay and takes it but is sorely wounded Espernay yieldeth it self with condition to leave their colours which were much desired by the King because there were some Spanish Ensigns among them The King desires a reconciliation with the Catholick Church by way of Agreement not by way of Pardon Causes that make the Pope backward in determining about the affairs of the Crown of France The Duke of Mayenne gives Villeroy liberty to favour the Kings Conversion at Rome and at the same time opposes it with all his power Pope Clâ—m 8. gives notice to Cardinal Gondi and to the Marquiss de Pisans that they should not enter into the Ecclesiastical State Cardinal Gondi sends his Secretary to Rome to excuse himself to the Pope The unhappy condition of Ecclesiastical affairs in the Kingdom of France The Pope sends Monsignor Agucchi to Cardinal Sega Legat in France with prâ—dent Instructions concerning the affairs of that Kingdom Cardinal Sega affectionate to the Lords of the League and perswaded by hope being become partial to the Spaniards doth not execute his orders accordding to the Popes intentions The Duke of Mayenne interpreting the Popes manner of proceeding to be in favour of him applies himself to the Convocation of the States with hope to be chosen King of France The City of Paris is appointed for the Convocation of the States The Duke of Mayenne leaves the command of the Army to the Sieur de Rosne and goes himself to Parâ—â— Causes that move the Duke of Mayenne to hope to be chosen King of France The Duke of Parâ—a's death was hurtful to the interests of the King of Spain Monsieur de la Valette is slain with a Musket shot at the siege of Râ—câ—ebrâ—ne The River Vare is the confine that separates Italy from France The Sieur de Les Diguiâ—res makes great incuâ—sions against the Duke of Savoy Monsieur de Maugiron Governour of Valence for the King gives up the place to the Lords of the League The Duke of Savoy recovers the places taken by Les Diguieres and takes Antibo The Duke of Espernon going into Provence recovers Antibo and all the towns held by the Duke of Savoy as far as the River Vare Antoine Scipion Duke of Iâ—yeuse lays siege to Villemuâ— Fortresâ— near Montauban Monsieur de Temines enters with men into Villemur The Kings Forces sent to relieve Villemur assault the Duke of Ioyeuse's Camp and make themselves masters of the first Trench While the Royalists fight with the Leaguers with equal fortune Temines sallies with most of the Garrison of Villemur and catching the Enemy in the midst routs them and puts them to flight Câ—aon a great strong Town that held for the League is besieged by the Princes of Câ—nty and Dombes The Royallists raise their siege at Craon by reason of the Duke of Merâ—oeurs arrival with relief The Kings Forces desiring to make their retreat in sight of the enemy losâ— almost all their Foot who are
cut in pieces The Prince of Conty without ever turning his face saves himself with all the Horse at Chasteau-â— ntier The Declaration made by the Duke of Mayenne for the congregation of the States published the fifth of Ianuary 1593. 1593. 1592. 1593. * Mem. de la Ligne Him The Tenor of another Declaration published by the Cardinal Legat wherein he exhorts the Catholicks of the Kings party to forsake the Heretick and unite themselves with the States to elect a Catholick King Pope Clem. 8. sends Innocentio Malvagia into France in the place of Commissary Matteucci with more particular Commissions to Cardinal Sega the Legat but they work small effect The Spanish Council resolves to propose the election of the Infanta Isabella to be Queen of France Diego d' Ivarra ill affected to the Duke of Mayenne practises with the Deputies of the States apart to dispose them to the election of the Infanta but every one of his private treaties comes to the Duke of Mayenne's knowledge The Spanish Ministers ill informed of the inclinations of the French and of the Duke of Mayenne's authority contrary to Iuan Baptista Tassis's opinion prosecute their Treaty a wrong way The Duke of Mayenne knowing the Spanish practices as he was certain that without his consent none of their designs would take effect so was he troubled at the pretensions which the Lords of his House had to the Crown as well as he The Overture of the States is made in Paris Ian. 26. 1593. The Duke of Mayenne fitting under the Cloth of State as King in the Hall of the Louvre makes the Overture of the States exhorting them to elect a Catholick King able to sustain the weight of the Crown The Cardinal Legats Proposition The Arch-bishop of Lyons his Answer A Trumpet of the Kings comes to Paris and brings a Packet to thâ— Governor which being opened by the Duke of Mayenne in the presence of the Confederates contains an offer from the Catholick Lord and Prelats of the King's party The Sieur de Villeroy averse from the Spaniards and a friend to peace writes to the Sieur de Fleury to advertise the Catholicks of the danger the King was in and of the attempts to cause the Infanta Isabella to be elected Queen The Duke of Bouillon a Hugonot was ever of opinion That the King could not be a peaceable possessor of his Crown unless he turned Catholick perhaps to the end he might remain Head of the Hugonots The Legate's opposition against the Propositions of the King 's Catholicks It is concluded by the Votes of the major part of the Lords in the private meeting that the Writing should be read in the assembly of the States notwithstanding the opposition of the Legat and the Spaniards The tenor of a Manifest published by â—he King at Câ—arâ—â—es 1592. The Duke of Mayenne resolveth to deferr the business of the protestation of the Kings Catholicks till he had conferred with the Duke of Feria Ambassador from Spain to the Assembly of the States The Duke of Mayenne having left order with the Deputies not to meddle with matters of importance till his return goes to Soissons where having conferred with the Spanish Ambassadors they break out in disgusts The Duke of Feria and Mâ—ndozza Spanish Ambassâ—dors urge the Duke of Mayenne for the election of â—he Infanta Isabella to the Kingdom The Answer of the Catholick Ambassadors to the Duke of Mayenne The Duke of Mayenne by reason of the answers and threats of the Spanish Ambassadors departs in anger from the Meeting The Popes Ministers and others labour so far that the differences between â—he Duke and the Spaniards are composed in show but not in their hearts The Duke of Mayennâ— with the Spanish Forces commanded by Câ—aâ—lâ—s of Mâ—nâ—fâ—lt and with the Popes commanded by Appiâ— Conti and with his own besieges Noyon Monsieur d'Estrâ—e surrenders Noyon to the Duke of Mayenne afteâ— a few days siege It is determined at Paris that the Popes Forces should enter into the City â—ut their Commander being killed and the Souldiers dismissed the Duke of Mayâ—nne sends hiâ— Sonâ— Regiment thither to put heart into his adherents Count Soissons to whom the King had formerly promised his Sister the Lady Catherine to wife departed from the Camp and went secretly into Bearne where being assisted by Madam de Granmont once beloved and after forsaken by the King he intends to marry the Princess but the King being advertised goes into those parts and bringing back his Sister with him cuts off the Counts designs The Writing of the Kings Catholicks sent to the Convocation of the Stateâ— is damned by the Spaniards for Heretical and therefore they urge that it should neither be accepted nor answered The Cardinal-Legat perswaded by the Archbishop of Lyons consents in secret that an answer should be given to the Catholicks of the Kings party The Tenor of the Answer wherein the Conference demanded is accepted Surenne is chosen for the place of conference The persons elected on both sides to intervene at the Conferenâ—â— The Lords of the House of Lorain being met at Rheims to treat about the election of a King differ in opinions by reason of their own interests Girolamo Gondi with the Grand Duke of Thuscany's consent treats an Agreement with the Duke of Lorain in the Kings behalf offering him the Princess Catherine in marriage for the Prince his Son and the Count de Schombergh treats an agreement with the Duke of Mayenne but with weak hope of success A Truce is concluded and published for four Leagues about Paris and as much about Surenne for the security of them that treated the Parisians rejoyce at it very much May the 19 1593 there is a private meeting in the Legats Palace where the Lords of the House of Lorain are present and other Deputies representing the three Orders The Duke of Feria in the meeting proposeth the election of the Infanta to be Queen being Daughter to Philip the Second King of Spain by Elizabeth elâ—est sister to Hâ—nry the Third King of France The Bishop of Senlis though a â—ieâ—er Enemy to the King answers the 〈…〉 The Duke of Mayenne dextrously excuses what the Bishop of Senlis had too freely spoken Iuan Baptista Tassis and Inigo Mendozza propose the Election of the Infanta in the publick Assembly of the States The Spanish proposition is ill relished by the Deputies and esteemed unjust The Spanish Ambassadors Answer concerning a Husband for the Infanta The Duke of Mayenne being assured that none of his Sons should be named for the Infanta's Husband prosecutes the Treaty with the Royallist Pretenders to the Infanta out of hope to attain the Crown The Royallists excluded from the hopes of reigning and weary of their toils make great complaints against the Kings obstinacy saying That whereas before they had a King of gold they had now a King of iron The King perswaded by those he trusted in and by necessity causes a Proposition to be
made in the Conference at Suâ—enne to find how his Conversion would be relished if he should resolve to turn The Arch-Bishop of Bourges tells them in the Conference that the King inspired by God would turn to the Catholick Religion The Deputies of the League answer the Archbishop of Bourges his proposition The Kings Deputies present a writing to those of the League which is accepted The Spaniards fearing the propositions of the Royallists offer that their King should give the Infanta in marriage to one of the Princes of the House of Lorain The Cardinal Legat writes to Cardinal Pelleve to make protestation in his name unto the States that they can neither treat of the Kings conversion peace nor any thing else because of the Decree of the Canons and the Oath the Deputies had taken The King to give reputation to his party besiegetâ— Dreux The defendents quit the Town and having fired many houses to gain time to save themselves retire into the Castle The Spanish Ambassadors promise in their Kings behalf to give the Infanta in Marriage to the Duke of Guise as soon as she should be chosen Queen which troubles the Duke of Mayenne The Sieur de Bassompierre Ambassador for the Duke of Loraâ—n demands to have that Treaty suspended till his Master were advertised of it The Duke of Mayenne desirous to disturb â—he Proposition of the Spaniards pâ—ss many difficulties into the Duke of Guise his consideration * Rubicon the nâ—me of a River in Italy which Julius Caesar passed in the beginning of his expedition against Pompey whâ—nce To pass the Rubicon is become a phrase for to enter into a dangerous exploit The Duke of Guise though inwardly of another mind answers that he will not digress from his Uncles Counsels The Duke of Mayenne faining to be glad but desiring indeed to hinder the Duke of Guise's greatness askâ— exorbitant conditions of the Spaniards The Duke of Mayenne seeing himself excluded from the Crown begins a Treaty to bring in the Cardinal of Bourbon The Duke of Mayenne to hinder the Spanish design gets the Parliament of Paâ—is to make a Decree that the Crown should not be transferred upon strangers and to give order to him to hinder all such like Treaties The Spanish Ambassadors going through the streets of Paris are mocked and abused with ill language The King sends for Prelates and Divines from several places and being instructed at Mante publishes that he will go to Mass at St. Deniâ— upon the Five and twentieth of Iuly The Archbishop of Bourges tells them in the Conference at Surenne that the King is resâ—lved to reconcile himself to the Church The Duke of Guise tells the Spaniards that his Election to be King of France would prove ridiculous to others and ruinous to himself The Ceremonies used in the Act of the Kings Conversion upon St. Iames his day Anno 1593. by the Archbishop of Bourgâ—s in the chief Church of St. Denis The Duke of Mayenne tells the Spanish Ambassadors in the name of all the States that they had determined to defer the electâ—on of their future King till another time The Truce is concluded and published for three monthâ— the States are dismissed and invited to meet at the same place in October following having first made a Decree for the receiving the Council of Trent 1593. Lodovico Gonzaga Duke of Neveâ—s is chosen Ambassador of obedience to the Pâ—pe from the King after hiâ— Conversion and four Prelates are appointed to accompany him The Duke of Mayeâ—â—e sendâ— the Sieur de Montpezâ—t into Spain to treat with the Catholick King that tâ—e Infanta being elected Queen of â—rance might be given in marriage to his eldest Son The Pope neither approves of the Infanta's election nor marriage as things not feâ—sable but only seems to consent unto them not to disgust the Spaniards Pope Cleâ—â—nt could have wished that some Catholick Prince of the House of Bourbon might be elected to the Crown and that he should marry the Infanta but when he heard the Kings intention to turn Catholick he began to encline to hiâ— Giacopo Sanâ—esio a Servanâ— to the Family of Aldobrandino favoured by Clement the â—ighth was afterward enriched and elected Cardinal Arnaud d' Ossâ—t Agâ—nt at Rome for the Queen Dowager of Henry the Third Giacopo Sannesiâ— a Friend of d' Ossats hath order from the Pope to treat with him but as of himself about the affairs of the King of France and the Kingdom Monsignore Serafino Olivario having received Letters from the King brought by Monsieur de la Clielle shews them to the Pope The Sieur de lâ— Clielle is brought secretly to the Pope leaves the Kings letters and departs with no very good answer Cardinal Toledo treats often with la Clielle but resolves that the Pope cannot admit the Kings desires he being a relapsed Heretick D' Ossat gives order to la lielle to perâ—wade the â—King to go on in shewing himself a Catholick Divers Treatises are printed against the Absolution of Henry the IV given him by the French Prelates D' Ossat answers them but cannot geâ— leave to prinâ— his discourse The Pope sends Antonio Possevino a Jesuitâ— to tell the Duke of Nevers that he should not come to Româ— to execute his Embassy because the King was not yet acknowledged a Catholick thereupon the King goes to Manâ—uâ— The Pope sends Posseviâ—o again to the Duke of Nâ—verâ— to bid him come â—n to Rome where he should bâ— received as a Catholick Italian Prince though not as an Ambassador An â—nsurrection in the City of Lyonâ— against the Dâ—â—e of Nâ—mours who being Governor plotted to make himself absolute Lord but being discovered he is imprisoned and the Government given to the Archbishop of the City By a Decree of the chief heads of the City of Lyons the Duke of Nemours is puâ— out of the Gâ—vernment and the Marquisâ— of St. Sâ—â—lin out of â—hat of Dâ—upâ—iâ—e Thâ— Duke of Maâ—ennâ— and Guisâ— united thâ—mselves in affection and agrâ—e jointly to favour each other in thâ— electioâ— to be King Tassis being returned from Flanders treatâ— with respect and confidence with the Duke of Mayenne The King of Spain provided the Infanta might be elected resolves to give her any husband The Truce is prolonged for two months more The Pope seâ—dâ— the D. of Neuers word he intends not be shall stay at Rome above ten dayeâ— The Duke of Nevers being entred privately into Râ—me goes the same evening to kiss the Popeâ— feet The Pope lets the Duke of Nâ—verâ— know that he cannot prolong the term or ten dayes and that he could not admit the Prelates who came along with him to his presence unless they submitted themselves to the Penitentiâ—ro Maggierâ— who is the chief Officer that hath power to absolve a Penitent The Duke of Nevers falling upon his knees beseeches the Pope at least to give the King absolution in Foro Consâ—ientiae anâ— it is denied The Duke of Nâ—vers goes away dâ—sâ—ontented from
lain hid secretly and carrying arms under their garments went divers ways in several companies according to their order at that time prefixt from divers parts towards Blois where for the present by reason of the goodness of the air the Court remained a plain open City and not any ways fortified near which in the places adjacent they were all to meet the 15 day of March in the year 1560. a day more than once destined for the execution of great designs But the diligence and secrecy of the Conspirators was not such although very great but that it was exceeded by the industry of the Queen-Mother and the Guises who through great rewards and the authority they had in the State having infinite dependants in all parts of the Kingdom were particularly informed of the whole frame of the Conspiracy and it was impossible in reason that the rising of so great a multitude could be concealed for we see the secretest plots trusted to few persons of tried secrecy and known faith use often to be discovered before they come to execution Some will have it that la Renaudie communicated all the particulars to Pierre Avanelles an Advocate in the Parliament of Paris whom he thought a man to be trusted because he was one of the same Religion But he either looking upon it as too great an attempt or designing to get a reward revealed the business confusedly to the Duke of Guises Secretary by whose counsel afterwards sent for in person to the Court he discovered all the particulars to the Queen-Mother But whether this secret came from Avanelles or spies entertained in the houses of the chief Conspirators accused them or that the advice as some have said came out of Germany the Queen-Mother and the Guises having notice of it consulted what course to take to divert or else suppress the mischief of the present Conspiracy The Cardinal not accustomed to the dangers of War inclining to the securest resolution advised that all the Nobility of the nearest Provinces should be sent for that all the Foot in the Neighbour-Garisons should be drawn into a Body that Curriers should be dispatched to all the Princes and Governours of the Kingdom with absolute command to put themselves into the field to pursue all such as they found bearing Arms conceiving that the Conspirators finding they were discovered and hearing of such great preparations which are commonly increased by reports would of themselves scatter and disband rather than try the uttermost danger But the Duke of Guise who used to the greatest dangers made little account of the force of a confused multitude without discipline or government thought by following that way which the Cardinal proposed the mischief would be delayed but not extinguished which still perniciously creeping into and setling in the inward bowels of the Kingdom would break forth again at some other time with greater violence and perhaps with more trouble and damage to the State In which consideration he was of opinion that dissembling and making shew of knowing nothing they should give courage and commodity to the Conspirators to discover themselves that so being vanquished and punished the State might be freed from the repletion of so pestilent and dangerous an humour which shewing it self like to occasion such great distempers it was no time to appease it with lenitives only but being already grown to a head to expel it with strong purging medicines He added yet to those reasons that the Conspirators being so separately suppressed but in part it would be in the arbitrement of malignants to calumniate the act and the people not accustomed to such proceedings would difficultly believe it so that many would think it an invention of those that governed to depress their enemies and more surely to establish their present power but that oppressing them all united together in one Body at the same instant that they meant to put their designs in execution all calumnies would be taken away and the truth and sincerity of their proceedings be evident to all the world The Queen-Mother moved with these Reasons concurred with him in opinion Wherefore not making any provisions extraordinary that might make the Conspirators suspect they had any advertisement of their design they carried the King with all the Court as for recreation only from Blois to Ambois ten leagues distant a French league contains two English miles upon the River Loire and by reason of that and the woods that inviron it very strongly situated They did this partly to delude the Conspirators in their first attempt who thought to find the King in a nearer place and more open partly that by means of the Castle the Kings person and the Queens might be more secure and being a place but of little compass it was easily to be defended by those few people that were to be gotten thereabouts There the day appointed drawing near in which the Conspirators were to appear the Guises having devised amongst themselves how to make use of this so great an occasion for their own advantage not only better to establish but to increase and bring to perfection their newly atchieved greatness and convert this assault of their enemies to their own advancement as from poisons are often extracted cordials without making the Queen privy thereunto they went directly to the King and with shew of great fear exaggerating and magnifying the attempt of the Conspirators laid before him how greatly the Government and by consequence his own person and all his Allies were indangered by their practices and withal told him of the nearness of the danger the Conspirators being already at the gates of Ambois and that their number and force being more than at first was believed it was necessary to resolve upon some present expedient to prevent them The King of a timorous feeble nature and at the present much moved with the greatness of so imminent a danger calling to his presence not only his Mother but all the Council began to debate the means of opposing the force and suppressing the violence of so great an insurrection The Council was tumultuous and confused by reason whereof many doubts and infinite dangers appearing on all sides which were much increased by the vehemence and art of the Cardinal of Lorain the King of himself unable to resolve any thing in matters of such difficulty much less to sustain the weight of the Government in so troubled a time without any other motive but his own was of opinion to declare the Duke of Guise his Lieutenant-General with absolute power and relying upon the vigour of his courage and mature wisdom to leave the Government of the State during those troubles wholly to him for as much as he found himself unable to undergo so great a burthen The Queen-Mother though inwardly struck with so bold an attempt readily consented to the Kings opinion because she saw she could not oppose that resolution without coming to open variance with the Guises which in that
Art of dissembling graciously received the Paper and with affable speeches commended the Admirals confidence in presenting to him the desires of his Subjects This Paper being read by Aubespine it appeared to be a Petition from the Hugonots by which with many tedious circumstances they desired in substance Liberty of Conscience and Temples to be assigned them in every City where they might freely exercise their Religion After the reading of which the Admiral being returned to his place and the murmur ceased which proceeded from the diverse sense that men had of this proceeding every one was appointed in order to deliver his opinion The Cardinal of Lorain of himself ardent and put on by the obligation of his calling could not forbear to answer the contents of the Petition which he termed seditious impudent rash heretical and petulant concluding that if to strike a terrour into the Kings youth it had been said that the Petition should be subscribed by 150000 seditious persons he made answer There was above a Million of honest men ready to suppress the boldness of such rebellious people and make due obedience be rendred to the Royal Majesty Whereupon the Admiral offering to reply a great contest would have followed to the hindrance of the business intended if the King imposing on them both silence had not commanded the rest to proceed in order to deliver their opinions For so much as concerned Controversies in Religion those that favoured Calvins Doctrine as there were many even among the Prelates that inclined that way proposed that the Pope should be desired to grant a free General Council where the differences in matters of Faith might be disputed and determined by common consent and if the Pope refused to grant it in such manner as was necessary for the present times and the general satisfaction of all men the King ought according to the wise example of many his Predecessors to call a National Council in his own Kingdom where under his protection those differences might be determined But the Cardinal of Lorain and the rest who constantly persevered in the Catholick Religion and were the major part in the Assembly denied that any other Council was necessary than that by the Popes order many years since begun and now newly entred into again in the City of Trent whither according to the Canons and ancient use of holy Church it was free for every body to have recourse and to bring all differences in matters of Religion to be decided by the natural competent Judges and that to call a National Council whilst the General was open would be to separate through the capriciousness of a few desperate persons a most Christian Kingdom from the union and fellowship of the holy Church that it was not necessary to look so far back For the General Council of Trent having discussed and examined the Doctrine of those Teachers that dissented from the Roman Church had already for the most part reproved and condemned it That they should endeavour by the best means that could be to purge the Kingdom and not by hopes or propositions of new Councils increase the disorders and multiply the confusions But if the manners of the Ecclesiasticks or abuses introduced into the Government of the Church of France required reformation or more severe constitutions an Assembly might be called of Divines and Prelates in which without medling with controversies in Faith those disorders might be remedied by common consent This opinion was approved by the major part of voices and finally imbraced by all Then for the concernment of the State after many Propositions and Disputes which proceeded from the divers interests Iohn de Monlâ—e Bishop of Valence having by secret order from the Queen proposed an Assembly of the States both parties willingly consented thereunto The Constable the Admiral and their faction because they hoped from that a Reformation in the Government The Queen-Mother and the Guises because they saw things go on of themselves to their own ends This consultation ended the King by his Chancellor thanked the Lords of the Assembly and forthwith Letters Patents were dispatched by the Secretaries of State to all the Provinces in the Kingdom containing That in the Month of October next they should send their Deputies to the City of Orleans there to hold a general Assembly of the States and order was likewise given to the principal Prelates that in the Month of February following they should all meet at Poissy to reform by common consent those abuses that were introduced in the Government and Ministry of the Church and to take such order that a considerable number of them should go to the general Council of Trent The Assembly ended all were licensed to return to their houses and desired to meet again at Orleans to assist at the Assembly of the States But Iaâ—ues de la Sague the King of Navarre's servant being charged with Letters of Instructions from the Constable the Admiral and the rest of the Adherents directed to his Master as soon as he left the Court returning towards Bearne being gone as far as Estampes was by secret order of the Queen stayed prisoner from whence with all his papers he was privately conveyed to Court The Letters contained only private and general compliments such as use to pass amongst friends and being examined he constantly denied that he had any other commission than what was plain to be seen by the Letters But being brought to the place of torture to draw the truth from him by force not enduring the rack he confessed That the Prince of Conde had advised and the King of Navarre in part also consented thereunto that he should leave Bearne and under pretence of coming to the Court by the way take possession of all the principal Towns thereabouts seise Paris by the help of the Constable his Son the Mareshal of Momorancy being Governour of it make Picardy revolt by means of the Lords of Senarpont and Bouchavaâ—ne and draw Britanny to his party by aid of the Duke of Estampes who being Governour of that Province had great dependances there and so armed and accompanied by the Forces of the Hugonots come to the Court and force the States to depose the Queen-Mother and the Guises from the Government and declaring the King was not out of his minority till he came to 22 years of age create his Tutors and Governours of the Kingdom the Constable the Prince of Conde and the King of Navarre He added to his confession that if they put the cover of the Visdame of Chartres Letters which were taken from him in water the characters would presently appear and they should find there all written that he had said Thus by the confession of one imployed by them and the testimony of the Letters the new designs of the Conspirators were discovered But as the discontented Princes resolved to bring in Innovations increased in power and dependents with so much the more sollicitousness and
Conditions Also this other consideration was no small motive to perswade an agreement That the Duke of Guise being dead and the Constable prisoner to the Enemy there was no Captain of like Authority and esteem who having the command of the Kings Army could in any degree equal the Admirals weariness or the fierceness of Andelot For the Duke of Aumale Brother to the late Duke of Guise though he were a man of great courage yet he was not esteemed answerable in counsel or wisdom Besides he was for the most part held unfortunate in the War and which imported most he was at that time by reason of the hurts he received in the Battel unfit for labour and the Mareshal of Brissac though a Captain of great experience and known valour had not such an Authority as was requisite for a General of the Kings Army composed of the chief Princes and principal Lords of his Kingdom To these was added one reason more that it made it very necessary to desire a peace For the devastations of a Civil War had so wasted broken and hindred the Kings Revenues and the excessive expences which the beginning of a War brings along with it had so exhausted the Publick Treasury that they were not only unable to pay the interests of those debts contracted by the former Kings but the King was constrained to make them greater having received in the time of her necessity a considerable Sum from the great Duke of Tuscany and 100000 Duckets from the Republick of Venice Wherefore having not wherewithal to continue the War she thought it wisdom to lay hold on the advantage of the present conjuncture On the other side the Prince of Conde seeing himself prisoner to the Enemy to obtain his liberty ardently desired a Peace and Andelot being reduced to a necessity of yielding thought it would be more for his reputation to be included in a general accord than to deliver up the Town upon a capitulation made only by himself The Admiral was of a contrary opinion who neither trusting to the Kings reconciliation nor the Queens promises and knowing he was inwardly hated and detested chose for the best rather to continue the War now the chief Leaders of the adverse party were gone than to expose his person to the danger of a suspected and dissembled Peace But he being absent and the accommodation treated at Orleans where the Queen was in person in the Camp and the Constable prisoner in the City whither also came about the same business Madam Eleonor wife to the Prince of Conde without having any regard to the opinion of the Admiral the Peace was concluded and established upon these Conditions That all those that were free Lords over the Castles or Lords that they possest not holding of any but the Crown might within their Jurisdictions freely exercise the Reformed Religion and that the other Feudataries who had not such dominion might do the same in their own houses for their families only provided they lived not in any City or Town That in every Province certain Cities should be appointed in the Faux-bourg whereof the Hugonots might assemble at their devotion That in all other Cities Towns and Castles in the City of Paris with the Jurisdiction thereof and all places whatsoever where the Courts resided the exercise of any other but the Roman Catholick Religion should be prohibited Yet every one to live free in his Conscience without either trouble or molestation That the Profâ—ssors of the pretended Reformed Religion should observe the holy-days appointed in the Roman Kalender and in their Marriages the Rites and Constitutions of the Civil Law That all the Lords Princes Gentlemen Souldiers and Captains should have a full Pardon for all delinquencies committed during the time or by occasion or ministry of the War declaring all to be done to a good end without any offence to the Royal Majesty and therefore every one to be restored to his Charges Dignities Goods Priviledges and Prerogatives That the Germans should be sent and have safe conduct out of the Kingdom and that it should be in the Kings power to recover all his Places Towns and Castles from any persons whatsoever that presumed to withhold them from him This Capitulation being published in the Camp and in the Court the eighteenth day of March the Prince of Conde and the Constable came out of prison Andelot delivered the City of Orleans into the Queens hands the Nobility no less wearied with the toils than expences of the War very willingly departed and the Reiters being conveyed to the confines and satisfied for their pay returned to their own houses The Eight Parliaments of the Kingdom but particularly those of Paris Tholouse and Aix those three being always more averse than the rest to the Hugonot party refused to accept and register the Edict of Pacification But the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Duke of Montpensieur appearing in the name of the State at Paris at Tholouse the Vicount de Ioyeuse and the Count de Euze at Aix they laying before them that the King thought it most convenient for the quiet of the Kingdom and the welfare of his Subjects that the Pacification should be accepted and approved at last the Articles were published yet still reserving a power in his Majesty whensoever he should think fit to correct or revoke it There was no less resistance amongst the enemies and Hugonot Ministers seeing the Edict of Ianuary so streightly moderated and it was exceedingly resented by the Admiral who had conceived a great hope to overcome the War But the Prince of Conde being pleased it should be so and the Nobility greedily concurring with him they were forced to comply for the present though in the mean while contriving among themselves new and more dangerous revolutions The Peace being agreed on and published the Queen not giving her self leisure to breathe having sent the Army into Normandy under the command of the Mareshal de Brissac went thither in person designing without delay to reduce Havre de Grace by force and to order matters by her own presence and directions Whereby besides that she was secured from the arts and treacheries of the great Ones and her Councils were more effectually directed to their proper ends she also gained the affections of the Souldiers to the King who being brought up amongst the Armies and present at all Councils and Actions was replenished with generous lively thoughts daily learning by experience the practical part of governing his Kingdom Charles was of magnanimous and truly Royal nature of a sharp ready wit and for the Majesty of his aspect and gravity of manners in so tender an age not only esteemed but greatly reverenced by those that were about him On the other side the English which were to the number of 3000 in Havre de Grace under the command of the Earl of Warwick failed not carefully to provide for and fortifie themselves hoping by the strength of the place to
certain number of men and to bear Arms against all his Enemies From Bearne the King continuing his Visitations came to the City of Lyons in which the Hugonots had so great a party that in the last War it was one of the first that rebelled and the last that returned into obedience Wherefore considering the importance thereof the neighbourhood of Geneva and Germany with other conditions of the place it was resolved in the Council to build a Cittadel between the Rhofne and the Saone two great Rivers that run through the Town whereby to bridle the people and secure the City from the treachery of its neighbours The foundation of which Fortification being laid then in the presence of the King it was afterwards brought to perfection by the diligence of Monsieur de Losse newly put into that Government by the discharge of the Count de Saut who had rendred himself suspected by favouring the Hugonot party From Lyons the King being come to Valence in Dolphine he caused the City to be dismantled and built there a new Fortress that Town having ever been a great place of receipt for those that were in rebellion But being arrived at the Castle of Roussilion Filibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy came thither post to meet him with whom having treated of such things as concerned both States this Prince was sufficiently informed of the Kings intentions and of the way designed to free himself without noise or danger from the molestation of the Calvinists So that being fully perswaded and satisfied he promised such aids as could be sent from those parts From Roussilion the King went to Avignion immediately under the Jurisdiction of the Pope where Fahritio Serbelloni the Governour and the Bishop of Fermo Vice-Legate received him with very great solemnity and Lodovico Antinori one of the Popes trusty Ministers a Florentine being according to the Queens desire come thither they began to confer about businesses of common interests There the King and the Queen gave an Answer to the Popes Embassie which they would not trust to the Embassadors shewing that they were ready to extirpate Calvinism and to cause the Council to be observed in their Dominions but to avoid the Introductions of the English with the Incursions of the Lutherans of Germany and to effect their purpose without the danger or tumult of new Wars in which so many thousands of Souls perished and the Christian Countries were miserably destroyed they had deliberated to proceed warily with secret stratagems to remove the principal Heads and chief Supports of that party to reduce the Prince of Conde and the Brothers of Chastillon to a right understanding to fortifâ—e such Cities as were suspected re-establish the Kings Revenues gather Moneys and make many other provisions which could not be had but by the progress and benefit of time that they might be able afterward to work their ends with more security without those dangers and prejudices which a too precipitate haste would plunge them into with little hope of good success By the apparence of which reasons the Pope being perswaded who was by nature averse from cruel counsels and the effusion of Christian Blood in civil dissentions he consented that the publication of the Council should be deferred till such time as they had brought their designs to maturity It was now the beginning of the Year 1565. when the King continuing his Voyage through the Province of Languedock and celebrating the Carnival with youthful pastimes arrived at Bayonne situated in the Bay of Biscay and upon the confines of Spain just in that place where ancient Writers describe the Aquae Augusti The Queen of Spain being come to this place accompanied with the Duke of Alva and the Count de Beneventa whilst they made shew with triumphs turnaments and several kinds of pastimes to regard only their pleasures and feastings there was a secret conference held for a mutual intelligence between the two Crowns Wherefore their common interest being weighed and considered they agreed in this That it was expedient for one King to assist and aid the other in quieting their States and purging them from the diversity of Religions But they were not of the same opinion concerning the way that was to be taken with more expedition and security to arrive at this end for the Duke of Alva a man of a violent resolute nature said That to destroy those Innovations in Religion and Insurrections in the Commonwealth it was necessary to cut off the Heads of those Poppies to fish for the great Fish and not care to take Frogs by these conceptions he expressed himself for the winds being once allayed the billows of the common people would be easily quieted and calmed of themselves He added That a Prince could not do a thing more unworthy or prejudicial to himself than to permit a Liberty of Conscience to the people bringing as many varieties of Religion into a State as there are capritious fancies in the restless minds of men and opening a door to let in discord and confusion mortal accidents for the ruine of a State and shewed by many memorable examples that diversity of Religion never failed to put Subjects in Arms to raise grievous treacheries and sad rebellions against Superiours Whence he concluded at the last That as the Controversies of Religion had always served as argument and pretence for the Insurrections of Male-contents so it was necessary at the first dash to remove this cover and afterwards by severe remedies no matter whether by sword or fire to cut away the roots of that evil which by mildness and sufferance perniciously springing up still spread it self and increased On the other side the Queen fitting her deliberations to the customs and disposition of the French desired to avoid as much as was possible the imbruing of her hands in the Blood of the Princes of the Royal Family or the great Lords of the Kingdom and reserving this for the last resolution would first try all manner of means to reduce into obedience and the bosom of the Church the Heads of the Hugonots who being withdrawn from that party they should likewise take away though not by the same means the fuel that nourished the fire of civil dissentions She said that she well knew the inconveniences that were derived from a Liberty of Conscience and that it would have been indeed expedient to have provided against it by severity at the beginning when it was newly planted but not now that it had taken root and was grown up that the motives of Religion are so universal and efficacious that where they once take footing it is requisite to tolerate many things which without that necessity would not be indured and to make a long various navigation to that Port where they could not arrive by steering a direct course shewing withal that in the Government they were to do what they could not all that they would and in matters of Conscience it
of Anjou having given three days to refresh his men who were wearied out with continual labour and busied in dividing their booty by the advice of his Captains resolved to set upon those very Cities the Hugonots meant to possess as the most ready way to manage the War to which purpose he sent for the great pieces of Battery from Poictiers having for the more expedition marched only with field-pieces This time of respite retarded for some days the course of their Victory and gave the Hugonots leisure to put their before-mentioned designs in execution besides the expecting Orders from the Court which was far off and where the resolutions are not always easie and positive produced at least delays and loss of time The first place they moved against was Cognac but it soon appeared they had undertaken a long and difficult enterprise for the late Victory was gained rather by industry in passing the river and the death of the Prince of Conde than any great loss or slaughter among the Hugonots and their running away which proceeded only from a sudden terrour as it was a cause of losing their General so it preserved the Army which being now divided with abundant provisions to defend the strong places burnt with a desire by some remarkable valiant actions to cancel the infamy of their late flight whereby the taking of the principal Cities became exceeding difficult There were in Cognac seven thousand Foot and more than six hundred Horse with Monsieur d' Aciere and divers of the Nobility and chief Commanders who as the Army approached and several days after sallied out in such numbers that their encounters seemed rather little Battels than great skirmishes and besides the fierceness and courage the Hugonots shewed they did likewise great damage to the assailants so that they had no leisure by reason of the continual sallies to think either of making their approaches or raising batteries but were forced for their own securities and to avoid the fury of the Enemy to keep the Army in perpetual duty and in arms by which difficulties the Duke of Anjou concluding it was in a manner impossible in the state the Town then was to take it not to spend his time in vain or to consume the Army to no purpose resolved to advance farther to assemble and clear those places more in the heart of the Enemies Country which were neither so strong nor so well provided so that they being taken Cognac would remain like an Island cut off from all commerce and fall of it self which in time he hoped undoubtedly to effect for experience had in all occasions manifestly shewn that there was no poison so deadly to the Hugonots as delays Wherefore the Duke of Anjou at the end of four days leaving Cognac and marching toward St. Iean d' Angeli he or some of his Commanders by the way took Tifange Montaut Forest and Aubeterre and at length came to besiege Mucidan There the Count of Brissac with his wonted courage tending his batteries whilst he resolutely advanced to view the breach was shot in the right thigh of which wound he died generally lamented by all men His misfortune slackned not but on the contrary added to the fierceness of the Catholicks in so much that having made a furious assault and taken the Town in revenge of his death not only all the Souldiers but the Inhabitants likewise were put to the Sword In this interim Wolfangus of Bavaria Duke of Deux-ponts moved by the money and promises of the Hugonots had by the aid of the Duke of Saxony and the Count Palatine of the Rhine and by the perswasions and assistance of the Queen of England gotten together an Army of 6000 Foot and 800 Horse Monsieur de Muy and Monsieur de Morvilliers with 800 Horse and Monsieur de Briguemaut with 1200 French Musketiers being sent into Germany to join with them In this Army were William of Nassau Prince of Orange with Lewis and Henry his Brothers who being driven out of Flanders to avoid the severity of the Duke of Alva followed the same Religion and the same fortune with the Hugonots The King of France and the Queen his Mother had endeavoured first by Embassies to the Protestant Princes and afterwards by the authority of the Emperour Maximillian the Second with whom they entertained a streight league to hinder the raising of this Army but the Protestants being much more zealous to advance their own Religion and the hope of gain and booty more prevalent than either the Kings promises or the Emperours threats they brought their Forces together with a firm resolution despising all dangers to pass without delay to the aid of the Hugonots But the King and the Queen-Mother who to shelter themselves from this tempest were gone to Metz upon the borders of Lorain when they saw this Army raised to hinder which they had used all manner of arts gave commission to the Duke of Aumale with the Cavalry of Champagne and Burgundy and 6000 Swisses newly received into pay to enter the Confines of the Protestant Princes wasting their territories and spoiling their people to force them to keep the Army at home for their own defence so that they might not pass that year into France believing the Emperour in consideration of the justice of their cause and the league they had with him would not oppose this resolution But the Duke of Aumale having in the territories of Strasbourg one of the free Towns of the Empire met with and made a great slaughter among a certain number of French that were going from Geneva and the Country about to join with the Duke of Deux-ponts his Army not only the other Towns and all the Princes of the Empire but even the Emperour himself was so offended thereat that the King and the Queen not to exasperate them further or raise new Enemies sent directions to The Duke of Aumale that he should presently withdraw his forces into Burgundy to keep things in order at home being already assured through the perverseness of stranger Princes that they should have work enough in their own Kingdom The Duke of Deux-ponts with his Army presently followed the Duke of Aumale into Burgundy with exceeding cruelty wasting and spoiling all the Country through which he passed nor could the Duke of Aumale being so much inferiour in strength either hinder his march or fight with him in the field wherefore retiring into the Towns he only kept him from entring into the strong places or making that spoil and those incursions which he would have done if finding no resistance he had made himself Master of the Country In this manner the Armies skirmishing almost every day though sometimes with loss they marched all over Burgundy till the Duke of Aumale seeing the Enemy for want of pieces of battery could not force the strong Towns and knowing to follow them at a distance would be to no purpose went directly through the Country of
and the Admiral were in very great perplexity of mind because they had received news from England That by reason of the discovery of some intended conspiracy against the Queens Person that Kingdom was in such distraction that they could not expect much help from thence besides they found not that readiness which they had imagined in the Princes of Germany and they knew that Nation could not move to come into the Kingdom without a good sum of money to raise and furnish their Army They saw likewise that the Prince of Orange who was sent to solllicite the Protestants was a great deal more careful of the Low-Country affairs wherein he had a very great interest than of the business of France wherein he was not so much concerned whereby finding themselves destitute of moneys and unprovided of all other things without other means of living than what they got by rapine which already was grown very scarce every one having conveyed their goods into the strong Cities their horses tired and lamed not having so much as means to shooe them for which cause they had lost above four hundred of them by the way they foresaw that at last they must necessarily be ruined and destroyed by the Kings Forces against whom in the end they could not possibly make resistance though for a few months they might be able to defend themselves For these reasons the Princes with a desire to conclude but the Admiral only to gain time by the means of the Queen of Navarre began to introduce a Treaty of Peace and to that end with great humility and submission sent Monsieur de Beauvais and Monsieur de Teligny to Court with a safe conduct who nevertheless propounded conditions very far different from what the King intended to grant who holding himself as Conquerour pretended they should submit themselves wholly to his mercy so they were sent away without any hope of agreement but they obtained That Monsieur de Byron should go back with them to the Princes Army to know their final determination who returned to the Court with nothing but general terms matters not being yet ripe nor the Princes resolution setled for any conclusion But in the beginning of Spring-time Fortune varying as the chance of War useth to be uncertain the state of affairs varied also for the Princes having past the sharpness of the Winter in Languedoc with five or six thousand Foot and two thousand five hundred Horse for toil and hard duty had brought the Reiters to the number of but one thousand two hundred were come down from the Mountains to the banks of the Rhosne to enlarge themselves in a more fertile the Country the greatest difficulty they had there was to pass the River for Monsieur des Gordes the Kings Lieutenant in Daulphine had placed himself there with a considerable strength to hinder them yet Monsieur de Mombrun knowing the Country very well found means to pass over his Regiment in boats unknown to the Catholicks and defeated them who advanced in disorder to fight with him in the heat of which Victory having made a Sconce close by the River Count Lodowick under favour of it passed over first and at last the Princes with all the Army and the Admiral who sick of a malignant Feaver made himself be carried almost half dead in an open Litter Being past the Rhosne and come into the Country of Forests thence into Beurbonis and the Dutchy of Nevers sacking and spoiling all they could they endeavoured to draw near to la Charite and the places adjoining which yet held of their party not only to re-inforce themselves by the addition of those Germans but also to supply their want of Powder and other Ammunition whereof their store was totally exhausted and without which their Arms seemed to no purpose Their design was when they were recruited and provided with those necessaries which they wanted to over-run and pillage the Countries about Paris to open to themselves by that last attempt some way to a better and more tolerable state of fortune remembring that the Hugonots had never obtained advantageous conditions of agreement but when they had made the seat of the War in the heart of the Catholick party and brought both fear and damage unto the City of Paris it self whose danger and jealousie had always extorted an assent to peace from those that bore the sway in the Government But if they could not grow to a strength sufficient for the execution of that design they resolved to repass the Loire and return into their old nest Xaintonge where since the departure of the Duke of Anjou they heard the state of their affairs was not a little amended for Monsieur de la Noue with admirable conduct and no less valour sallying out of Rochelle had recovered many places near unto it given a great defeat to Pugalliard one of the Kings Commanders taken one of the Gallies of the Fleet and over-running all the Country ceased not sometimes by cunning surprizes sometimes by open force to improve the condition of his party and though giving a sudden assault to Fountenay he had received a shot in the arm for which it was necessarily to be cut off yet being cured and returned to the exercise of Arms fiercer than before he kept the whole Country in fear and trouble The King by this means seeing the War renewed contrary to his expectation and and the Duke of Anjou's sickness still continuing for which cause he was gone to St. Germains a place of pleasure few miles distant from Paris was constrained to put his Army again in posture to oppose the Princes and as soon as it was in order he unadvisedly resolved to give the Command thereof to the Mareshal de Cosse for not daring to put it in the hands those Subjects who for greatness power adherents or animosity were very much suspected by him he trusted it to a person who not at all digressing from his wonted inclinations gave greater opportunities to the Enemy for inclining to Calvin's Doctrine in his heart he was nothing forward in prosecuting the Princes of the Blood and being a man of a slow heavy nature his intention was only to hinder the Hugonots from getting foot in those Provinces which they aimed at but not at all to venture the hazard of a Battel and much less totally to suppress that party as he easily might have done finding the Princes far inferiour to him in strength without Cannon without Victual without Money and their Souldiers with long marches quite wearied and disheartned having gone above three hundred leagues in the space of a few months This counsel was attributed by many to the Duke of Anjou who by reason of his indisposition not being able or for some private ends not willing to make a perfect end of the War would have been displeased that another should enjoy the glory and reap the fruits of his labours wherefore rendring all the other Princes and
sudden expedition of the Germans and to relate to him the state of their affairs and their common resolutions At this very time the Hugonots using all possible means to help themselves printed an infinite number of little Pamphlets under divers Titles but all with biting stings and fabulous Narrations against the Actions and Government of the Queen Regent to whom many of them being brought and the Council purposing to decree severe punishments against the Authors and Printers of those defamatory Pamphlets and seditious Libels she opposed that opinion alledging that to prohibite them was a certain means to make them authentick and that there was no greater proof nor trial of the good than when they were hated and abused by malicious people and persevering in her resolution not to regard outward appearances she dissembled all those injuries with admirable patience but when she saw the preparations for the coming of the Germans being most resolute to oppose them with force if policy were not sufficient she went from Paris accompanied with the Duke of Alancon and the King of Navarre who not yet set at liberty followed her but without constraint and being come into Burgongne she her self mustered the Swisses and Germans confirming the affections of the Commanders with liberal gifts and many favours and then marching with them towards the Provinces that were up in Arms which were the same where the Kings coming was expected and through which the Army of the Protestants intended to enter the Kingdom she resolved to stay in Lions as a convenient place to move which way soever need required In the mean time the King having had notice of the death of Charles brought to him by Monsieur de Chemeraut within thirteen days though the Nobility of the Kingdom of Poland infinitely satisfied with his valour and comportment did use all possible means to stay him there yet he not willing to forego his hereditary right to France for the elective Kingdom of Poland there being so great a difference between them and sollicited by those urgent affairs which called him away to remedy such violent dangers departed secretly by night with a small retinue and passing through Austria with all possible speed went forward toward his own Kingdom by the way of Italy He was continually hastened by Letters and Messages from the Queen Regent who with much ado smothering the sparks of that fire which was ready to break into a flame infinitely desired her Sons presence that she might without further delay apply such remedies as were proper for the malignity of the disease wherefore the King suspending no longer time than just what necessity required in the entertainments of the Princes of Italy and particularly in the delights of Venice where he was received with wonderful pomp and honour about the end of August arrived at Thurin where it was expected he would begin to prepare and lay the ground-work of his designs The Mareshal d' Anville upon security of the Duke of Savoy's word came thither to him as also Philippe Huraut Viscount of Chiverny his old Chancellor Gaspar Count of Schombergh Bernard de Fizes and Nicholas de Neuville Sieur de Villeroy both Secretaries of State who all were sent from the Queen Regent to give him an account of the affairs of his Kingdom But the King having heard their relation with the secret designs of his Mother and on the other side the pretences and excuses of the Mareshal though not only Roger Sieur de Bellegarde and Guy de Pibrac his favoured Counsellors but also the Duke of Savoy and the Lady Margaret laboured all they could to bring him to some determination that might be favourable to d' Anville yet nourishing high thoughts in the depth of his mind and making his excuse that he would resolve nothing without the assistance and approbation of his Mother to whose vigilance and prudence he was so much obliged he dismissed d' Anville with ambiguous answers and hastned his journey so much the more lest he should be put upon a necessity of referring that to the determinations of others which he purposed to reserve to the execution of his own premeditated designs for the better compassing whereof seeing he had so many businesses to settle in his own Kingdom that for many decads of years it would be in vain to think of any enterprise on that side of the Mountains and desiring absolutely to gain the Duke of Savoy and the Lady Margaret that he might make use of them afterward in the effecting of his purposes he resolved to restore unto them Pignerol Savillan and la Vallee de Perouse which for security of the intentions of those Princes had been held by the Kings his Predecessors thinking it superfluous to keep places with a vast expence out of his own Kingdom which were of no other use but in consideration of those hopes which as affairs then stood were very far off and unlikely Yet many condemned that his precipitate restitution of them and Lodovico Gonzaga Duke of Nevers Governour of those places and a man of equal wisdom and loyalty after having used all possible endeavours that they might not be restored laid open his opinion finally in writing which he desired might be kept for his discharge among the Records and Charters of the Crown whereat the King was offended though he wisely dissembled it thinking them vain and ambitious who would seem to know more of his own secrets than he himself The fifth day of September he came into the confines of his own Kingdom at Pont-Beau-voysin where the Duke of Alancon and the King of Navarre expected him who having till then though with much gentleness been kept as prisoners were with demonstrations of much honour and affection fully set at liberty by him at the first meeting and to give the greater testimony of his good will toward them he placed himself in the midst between them both to receive his subjects which were come thither to the confines to shew their dutiful respects unto him The next day he met the Queen his Mother who was purposely come to a little Castle near Lyons and being entered together into the City they began without further delay to treat of businesses concerning the Peace or War which they were to make with their armed subjects The King knew very well not only the wavering troublesom estate of his Kingdom but also the miserable condition to which he himself at that time was reduced for the whole Kingdom being divided into two different factions the one of the Catholicks the other of the Hugonots both which had their chief heads appointed and established long before hand and through the long reiterated distractions not only the Cities and Provinces but also all particular persons divided between them he found that he was left as we use to say dry between two Rivers and that his power being shared and dismembred between those two great parties he retaining nothing but the name of a King was
parts and in seising upon many places convenient for the defence and maintenance of party which succeeding according to his desires he had possessed himself of Bazas Perigâ—eux and St. Macaire in Guienne Chivray in Poictou Quimperley in Bretagne and with a more Warlike than numerous Army laid siege to Marmande a great Town seated upon the bank of the Garonne near to Bourdeaux and therefore very commodious to strengthen that place which was the only principal City of that Province that made resistance In the mean time the States Commissioners being come unto him he gave them audience at Agen in the beginning of the year 1577. with demonstrations of great honour and respect There the Bishop of Vienne having eloquently declared the resolution of the States to suffer no other but the Catholick Religion in the Kingdom of France exhorted him effectually in the name of all the Orders to come unto the Assembly to re-unite himself in concord with the King his Brother-in-law to return into the bosom of the Church and by so noble and so necessary a resolution to comfort all the Orders of the Kingdom by whom as first Prince of the Blood he was greatly esteemed and honoured and afterward inlarging himself he represented the several commodities of Peace and the miserable desolations of War The King of Navarre with succinct but solid words replyed punctually That if the happiness of Peace and miseries of War were so great and many as he alledged the States ought therefore sincerely to establish that Peace which was before concluded and not by new deliberations and by revoking Edicts already made to kindle again the sparks of War which were almost extinguished That it was an easie matter to discourse of the rooting out of a Religion by the Sword but experience had always shewed it was impossible to effect it and therefore it was to be esteemed a more discreet advice to allow a spiritual Peace thereby to obtain a temporal one than by disquieting mens Consciences to fancy the conservation of an outward Peace That for his part he was born and brought up in the Religion he professed and he believed still that it was the right and true Faith but yet when by sound reasons urged to him by men of understanding and not by force and violence he should find himself to be in an errour he would readily repent his fault and changing his Religion endeavour the conversion of all others to the belief of that Faith which should be acknowledged the true one Therefore he prayed the States not to force his Conscience but to be satisfied with that his good will and intention and if that answer were not sufficient to content them he would expect new and more particular demands for the better answering whereof he would presently assemble a full Congregation of his party at Montauban but in the mean time while he saw all things prepared to make War against him he was constrained to stand armed upon his own defence to prevent that ruine which he plainly saw contrived by his Enemies The Prince of Conde's answer was very different for having received the Commissioners privately he would neither open their Letters nor acknowledge them for Deputies of the States General alledging that that Assembly could not be called the States General which wanted the Deputies of so many Cities Towns and Provinces and which treated of violating mens Consciences by force of shedding the Blood-Royal of France and suppressing the Liberties of the Crown to comply with the desires of strangers who were so hot upon the prosecution of their own intolerable pernitious interests of ambition and private ends that it was a Conventicle of a few men suborned and corrupted by the disturbers of the publick Peace and therefore he would neither open their Letters nor treat with their Commissioners The Mareschal d' Anville gave an answer not much unlike but something more moderate the Deputies having found him at Montpellier For having represented to them that his heart was real as any mans to the Catholick Religion wherein he had been born and would continue as long as he lived he told them that it would be both vain and impossible to prohibit the exercise of the Reformed Religion granted by so many Edicts and confirmed by so many Conclusions of Peace and that by blowing up the flames of War the destruction and ruine of all parts of the Kingdom would be continued but that it ought to be consulted of in common in a lawful Assembly of the States General of France and not in a particular Congregation as that of Blois where only the Deputies of one party were met together and therefore he did protest against the validity of whatsoever should be there decreed or resolved The Commissioners returned to Bloys with these answers in the beginning of February and the Duke of Guise being come thither to give a colour to the business on his part the inclination of the States appeared manifestly ready to disanul the late Edict of Pacification and resolve upon a War with the Hugonots Wherefore the King not willing to draw the hatred of all the Catholick party upon himself nor give them cause to suspect the sincerity of his Conscience making the Pope and all Christendom believe he held intelligence with the Hugonots which jealousie would have endangered the Catholick League to take Arms of themselves without his Authority and disorder the whole state of things Besides being advised by the Bishop of Lymoges and Monsieur de Morvillier two of his principal Councellors he determined since he could not by open resistance hinder the designs and progress of the Catholick League which already had taken too deep a root to make himself Head and Protector of it and draw that Authority to himself which he saw they endeavoured to settle upon the Head of the League both within and without the Kingdom hoping that he being once made Moderator of that Union in time convenient means would not be wanting to dissolve it as a thing directly opposite to his intentions Wherefore shewing a great desire to extirpate the Hugonot Faction and making all believe that he was highly offended with the Princes answers he caused the Catholick League framed by the Lords of the House of Lorain to be read published and sworn in the open Assembly where they themselves were present establishing it as an Irrevocable and Fundamental Law of the Kingdom Then he declared himself principal Head and Protector of it with loud specious protestations that he would spend his last breath to reduce all his people to an unity in Religion and an entire obedience to the Roman Church Thus did he labour to avoid that blow which he saw he could not break by making resistance But the King having for many days shewed a wonderful desire to suppress the Hugonots purposed with one mortal blow to try the constancy of the Deputies for having sent his Brother the Duke of Alancon and
fought withal and beaten by the Catholick King he would not at all think himself injured or ill dealt withal it being a business apart that concerned not his Interests or the Crown of France That for the Duke of Alancon he had opposed him stiffly more then once but that he was more apt to follow the suggestions of others then to obey his commands That he was sorry he had not been able to restrain those French that went with him but that the disobedience of his Subjects was known to all the World and also the quality of those persons that were gone thither who for so many years had disturbed the Kingdom in his time and in the Reigns of his Brothers and Predecessors That he had given a sufficient testimony of himself when the States of Flanders desiring to put themselves under his Authority he had refused them without any demur at all So that he having no hand in those preparations made against Flanders nor in the others against Portugal he believed that the Peace and Friendship which he held with the Catholick King were neither violated nor disturbed concluding that to give a clear evidence of himself and to conserve the Peace with the Crown of Spain if the Catholick King should desire it he would at any time send men into Flanders to serve the Prince of Parma with express order not onely to fight against the States and against the other Commanders but also against his brother the Duke of Alancon himself This was the substance of what the King said adorning it with many particularities and circumstances but in effect he endeavoured to make both businesses continue being glad not onely that the Duke of Alancon should go out of his Kingdom but that with Monsieur de la Noue the Mareschal de Byron and many other Commanders the greatest part of that matter which did molest and disquiet his State should also be removed which when he saw effected in the year 1582 having setled himself in his former repose he continued the prosecution of those designs which by long practise were grown familiar to him and because cunning and dissimulation were already converted into nature and he now did that by use and custom which his humour inclining to he was from the beginning resolved to bring to pass by art he went on exalting and giving power onely to those who bred up by himself were beyond measure esteemed and most excessively favoured by him amongst which to Anne de Ioyeuse by him created Duke and Peer of France he gave in Marriage his own Sister-in-law sister to the Queen and to Iehan Louis de la Valett created also Duke of Espernon and Peer of France he granted the most important Governments and the greatest Offices that were daily vacant Next to these in his favour were the Chancellor Chiverny Rene Sieur de Villequier Francis Sieur d'O Pompone de Bellieure Villeroy the Secretary of State and the Mareschals of Retz and Matignon who no less mature in understanding than in age cared not to be the first in the King's favour lest they should also be first exposed to the blow and envy of Fortune but yielding the highest place to the vanity of young men â—â—ontented themselves with a more setled and more moderate condition The wisdom of the Marescal de Retz was particularly very remarkable who knowing himself to be an Italian and therefore subject to the hatred and persecution of the French though the King did by the vastness of his Gifts seek to exalt him to the highest pitch of greatness yet did not onely put rubs and hinderances in the way of his own advancement but afterward when he saw that the King was resolved to make him great he most discreetly endeavoured that those things which he knew were destined to him might be procured by the intercâ—ssion of some one of the great Princes A thing that succeeded so happily for him that his greatness was established without envy every one being either unwilling or ashamed to cross that fortune which he himself had favoured and that man which he believed he had made one of his obliged dependents But Ioyeuse Espernon and the other youths whose age and experience had not taught them so much moderation spreading all their Sails before the prosperous Wind of Fortune laboured by all possible means to attain to the most eminent Dignities Wherefore the death of Philippo Strozzi who was General of the French Infantry hapning at the Tercera's that that charge was given to the Duke de Espernon but much more amplified in Command and Authority And the Marescal de Byron having left the Office of Lieutenant of Guienâ—e to go into Flanders with the Duke of Alancon it was conferted upon the Mareschal de Matignon And the Governments of Orleans Blois and Charâ—res void about that time by the death of the Mareschal de Cosse were transferred upon the Chancellor The same rule being observed in all things that the most important Places and Governments should still be bestowed upon Creatures of his own breeding But the year following 1583 the Duke of Alancon having attempted to bring his limitted Command in Flanders to a free absolute Dominion the success proving very contrary to his hopes and therefore he being hated and opposed by those very men who had first called him thither was driven from thence by the Forces of Alessandro Farnese and to the Kings great trouble returned again into France where it was feared he would contrive some new mischiefs according to his rash inconsiderate nature most ardent to leap headlong into any dangerous design Wherefore he being recalled into Flanders by his adherents and by those who more abhorred the Tyranny of the Spaniard then his fickle instability the King promised him very great Supplies of Men and Moneys that returning to his former design he might ease him of the jealousies and fears of new Commotions and without doubt the effects would have made good his promises if the Duke of Alancon afflicted with the crossness of his late Fortune and quite worn out with perpetual toil and trouble or else as some said with those dissolute courses to which he had wholly given himself over had not died at Chasteau-Thierry a Castle of his own in the Moneth of Iune 1584 leaving Flanders at liberty and his Brother free from a most certain revolution of new troubles After his death the Signories of Anjou Angoulesme and Berry which had been assigned for his Appennage returned into the Kings power But the City of Cambray taken two years before and put under the Government of the Sieur de Balagny the King not desiring to transfer it openly to himself least it should break the Peace with the Catholick King fell in appearance and as by inheritance unto the Queen his Mother The End of the Sixth BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The SEVENTH BOOK The ARGUMENT IN this Book are
all those other Lords and Gentlemen that should subscribâ— unto the League promising to assist them against the Hugonots and their adherents so that they should be kept safe and harmless That no Treaty or Agreement whatsoever should be made with the King of France without the mutual consent of both Parties and that the Articles of this Union should for many convenient respects be kept secret till a more fitting opportunity This was the substance of the Capitulation made with King Philip who besides the aforesaid things promised secretly to the Duke of Guise the assignment of Two hundred thousand Crowns per annum for his own particular to be employed in the advancement and for the benefit of the League But the Treaty was not so easie nor so speedily dispatched at Rome where the same interests of State did not perswade For though Father Mattei riding Post with admirable celerity sometimes to this place sometimes to that did take great pains to contract this Union and though Cardinal Pelleue staying at Rome did use all possible means to make it be received into the Pope's protection yet Gregory a wonderful good man and not of too violent a nature counselled moreover by Tolomeo Gallo Cardinal of Como his Secretary a man of very great experience in matters of Government finding that he could not see clear into the designs of that League and thinking it unfit for him to consent to the taking up of Armes against a King that was manifestly a Catholick and an infinite honourer of the Roman Religion under pretence of hidden secret things and such as were onely to be left to mens consciences whereof he thought he could not easily judge went still putting off and deferring his resolutions that time might bring to light the bottom of those thoughts which to him seemed yet very obscure and much entangled Wherefore having made choice of certain Cardinals and other wise men who were to meet and consult upon the Propositions of the League and those Deputies still answering conditionally with the clause If it be so whereby they shewed their doubt of those Propositions which were made by Pellue and Mattei the Pope still giving the Agents of the Confederates good hopes and exhorting them to be watchful for the good of the true Religion and the extirpation of Heresie For the rest he held them on with continual delays nor could they ever with all the diligence they could use get any Writing out of his hand whereby they might securely affirm he had approved the League or taken it into his Protection Whilst the confederate Lords are thus busie in strengthening the Body of their Union the King of France particularly advertised of all these things consulted with himself and with his most intimate Confidents what resolution he ought to take to oppose or divert the violence of those proceedings The Duke of Espernon the high Chancellor Chiverny Monsieur d'O and Alberto Gondi Mareschal de Retz were of opinion that the King shewing his face boldly and uniting himself presently with the Hugonots and the King of Navarre should prevent the Guises and finding them in disorder and unprovided as the motions of Leagues where the concurrence of many is requisite use to be unready and disagreeing he should endeavour to pull up the first sprouts of that scandalous seed alledging that they being yet unarmed and disunited might be put into confusion and suppressed before they could have time either to draw any Forces together and to get assistance and supplies from Spain That it was not good to stay till that great Fabrick being brought to perfection should unite all the members of its Body and that it was no sound Counsel to give time till the great abundance of humours which daily grew more malignant and pernicious had seized upon some vital parts of the Kingdom for as while dispersed they might easily be purged away in their beginnings so it would be very hard and dangerous to provide against them when being grown to a mass of corruption they should stifle and suffocate the natural vigour That they knew neither the Duke of Guise nor any of his Faction had an Army yet united together but onely the consent of some Church-men and the concourse of the common people with the adherence of some few of the Nobility of the Kingdom Forces weak and uncertain of themselves the greatest part whereof as soon as they should see any considerable strength would fall asunder of their own accord That the Catholick King was so taken up with the Affairs of Flanders that he could not without much difficulty and many delayes peâ—form so much as part of those things which now he so largely promised to raise the turbulent spirits of the French and that the Pope a Prince far remote and not very strong who seldom used other then Spiritual Weapons was not yet well resolved either to protect or assist the League On the contrary the major part of the Nobility alwayes prepared with Arms and ready for the War would presently meet together wheresoever the King in case of so great necessity should call them That the Swisses who had lately renewed their Confederacy with the Crown would for money supply them with any number of Soldiers their need required That the King of Navarre and the Hugonots who still continued in Armes for their own defence would thank God for so happy an occasion and readily submit themselves to the King's obedience to oppose their natural enemies That in the course of so many Civil Wars experience had taught them the neglect of beginnings made the disease mortal and incurable and thâ—t the vivacity and boldness of noble sprightly revolutions was alwayes wont to bring forth fortunate proceedings and glorious conclusions But the Duke of Ioyeuse Rene Sieur de Villequier Pompone Sieur de Bellieure and Villeroy the Secretary of State were of contrary opinions urging that the King intending to make War against the House of Lorrain and against all the other Confederate Lords he must necessarily either do it of himself alone or being united with the Hugonots That if he stirred alone his Forces would be very weak and slender for all the Kingdom being divided into Catholicks and Hugonots he being an Enemy to both would have no other Party but some few servants and dependents against two powerful antient and inveterate Factions which possessing all the greatest and most considerable Provinces of France viz. the Hugonots Poicâ—ou Guienne Languedoc Gascogne and great part of Daâ—phine and the Guises Champagne Bourgogne Picardy Lyonois Provence and Bretagne besides the City of Paris very much inclined to favour them the King would certainly remain without Revenue without fortified places without Subjects without Militia and without Money by making a War so ruinous to himself and so ridiculous to the whole World But to unite himself with the Hugonots besides the unworthiness of the action so contrary to the customs and ancient purposes of His Majesty and so
approved by reason of that colour which the course of present affairs afforded it With these Answers the Duke d' Espernon returned to Court from whose Conference they of the League taking occasion divulged every where that it had been to treat an Union between the King and the Faction of the Hugonots for the establishment of Heresie and the introducing of the King of Navarre an Enemy to the Catholick Church unto the Succession of the Kingdom for which purpose the King had also sent him two hundred thousand Ducats Which things being thundred out of the Pulpits by their Preachers filled the people with vain pretended fears and with a most bitter hatred against the Person of their Prince and against all his Favourites and Councellours But the curiosity and itch of the Hugonots did in great part cut up the roots of these lying slanders for the Sieur du Plessis burning with an ambition to be known the Author of the King of Navarre's determinations and to get himself credit and esteem amongst those of his own Party published a little Book in print of the whole Treaty that had passed with the Duke d' Espernon with the reasons alledged by the King of Navarre's Councellors and his last answer and resolution whereby it appeared that the King sought not to unite himself with the Hugonots to the prejudice of the Catholick Religion as was divulged by those of the League but by endeavouring to bring home the King of Navarre and the other Princes of the Blood into the bosom of the Church As also that it was not true that the King voluntarily consented that the Hugonots should keep the possession of those places but that they refusing for apparent reasons to restore them he made shew to bear with their denial rather than in so unseasonable a time to put Arms into the hands of that other Faction also The Duke d' Espernon at his return found new matter of doubts and consultations For the Low-Country-men the Duke of Alancon being dead were left without any foreign assistance and being as it were abandoned of all thought to put themselves under the Crown of France and by that means to gain the Kings Protection against the Spaniards wherefore they sent an honourable Embassie about that time to the King of France to intreat him to take the Protection and Dominion of all their Countries and making War with the King of Spain to deliver them with a powerful Army from that Tyranny from which they had already for many years withdrawn themselves This Embassie at first kept secret by the King lest it might exasperate King Philip was afterward publickly received and admitted when he saw the Spanish Agents continued to foment the League There were many and those the same that had counselled him to unite himself with the Hugonots who exhorted him to accept of that so ample Dominion and so noble occasion to raise and increase his own estate urging that since the Spaniards thought it lawful by secret practices and suggestions to disturb the peace and quiet of his Kingdom it was much more lawful for him to undertake the defence of that oppressed people retorting the injury which he received and bringing those to a necessity of looking to their own who now craftily sought to put the affairs of others in disorder and confusion That this was the way to digest and expel the hurtful humours of his Kingdom which could never enjoy Peace at home but by the help of War abroad to take up the minds and employ the active Forces of his Subjects They said This was a most powerful means to abase the League which being deprived of the money and assistance of the Spaniard would fall of its own accord not having any strength or ability to maintain it self That finally it was time to ease themselves of so many miseries as were every where about them to give vent to the French fury and rather employ their Arms to the destruction of the old Enemies of the Kingdom than use them to tear in pieces the body of their common Mother But as these probable apparent reasons were very noble and generous so were they likewise difficult and little less than impossible to be effected For with what Armies with what Forces could the King his Kingdom being torn and divided and he himself suspected by both Factions undertake and manage a War of so great importance He could settle no foundation in the Catholick Party for most of them were united by secret intelligence with the Catholick King and to join himself with the Hugonots produced the same difficulties and the same oppositions that were before considered Wherefore the King perswaded by the evidence of Reason and counselled by the Queen his Mother answered the Ambassadors with kind words expressing his grief for the oppression they complained of excusing himself by the present divisions and intestine discords of his Kingdom and shewing how ready he should be to succour and protect them at another time With which answer and all demonstrations of honour they were at last dismissed And yet Don Bernardino Mendozza the Catholick Kings Ambassador grievously complaining that the Embassie was admitted and that the Ambassadors of those that rebelled against his Master had been so much honoured the King either highly exasperated against the Spaniards or not willing to shew fear and poorness of spirit answered boldly that the common right of Countries and the neighbourhood of so near a people derived from the French Nation and Empire did perswade him to take them into his protection yet because of his own interests he had not consented to do any thing at all in the business and that he would not break the peace in publick though he knew it had been violated by the King of Spain in private but that in his own time he would signifie his pleasure not fearing the forces or threatnings of any one and knowing himself to be a free King Master of his own Will and one that might make War or Peace wheresoever it pleased himself By which answer the King thinking to bridle the Spaniards with a jealousie of the affairs of Flanders he on the contrary hastened their practices and made them labour to kindle the fire in his Kingdom that he might not be at leisure to do so to his neighbours Wherefore Don Bernardino departing with that answer began to sollicite the Guises and the Cardinal of Bourbon that taking Arms with the assistance and with the money of Spain they should begin to execute the designs of the League and presently disbursed two hundred thousand Ducats to the Duke of Guise for his first years pension disposing three months pay in Germany for the raising of Souldiers in that Country For Lodovick Fifer the chief Commander of the Swisses being corrupted with great bribes had yielded to receive a stipend from the League and Christopher Sieur de Bassompier was gone into Germany to levy Reiters nor did they omit
in those Provinces which were held by the Lords of the House of Lorain to raise both Foot and Horse in all diligence that with such mighty Forces they might give a beginning to their intended designs But the King who could neither frame his mind to join with the Hugonots nor to give satisfaction to the confederate Lords expecting counsel from the Benefit of time went on with slow preparations rather setting a gloss upon his cause and justifying himself than hindring the progress of the League For besides the publick Prayers and Processions continually made to beseech God to grant him a Son being advertised from many several places at the same time of their so frequent raising and drawing armed men together he thought it sufficient to send forth a Decree published the 28 of March to all the Governours of Provinces wherein after having with his wonted preambles testified that all his actions were led by a desire of the publick peace and tranquillity and that he had begun to provide for the ease of all his people by fitting remedies which some Enemies of quiet laboured to oppose and hinder He did expresly forbid all raising and gathering together of Souldiers commanding that the Leaders of them should be rigorously chastised and that at the ringing of the Toquesaint the Gentry and Commons should rise to defeat prosecute and cut them in pieces delivering as many of them as they could into the hands of Justice to receive the condign punishment of their insolency and insurrection Which Edict only caused those that drew Forces together to be acknowledged his Enemies but neither hindered nor stopped the proceedings of the Confederates But in the end it being necessary to make other provisions more fit for the quality of the present times after long doubt and uncertainty he resolved to oppose the designs and attempts of the League by himself alone without any intelligence with the Hugonots hoping to have so much strength as would be sufficient to restrain them and thinking that the Hugonots would not only be natural indifferent spectators of the event without troubling or molesting him but that without other union or confederacy they would give both heat and life unto his enterprises But he scarce began to put this resolution in practice when the deceit of that expectation appeared in the weakness of his Forces for though the Sieur de Fleury Brother-in-law to Secretary Villeroy who was then the Kings Ambassador in Switzerland had in a short time raised ten thousand Foot of that Nation for his Majesties service yet they being to match thorow the Provinces of Burgogne Champagne and Lyonois which were possessed by the Heads of the League their passage was very uncertain and difficult and Gasper Count of Schombergh who was sent to raise some German Cavalry being forced to pass thorow the same Provinces was by Commission from the Duke of Lorain taken prisoner for the Duke being spurred on by the hopes of getting Metz Thoul and Verdun Cities upon the confines of his State and long ago taken away by the Kings of France from the Dukes his Predecessors had at last changed the determination of standing Neuter which he had observed in all the late combustions and consented to the League of the Lords of his own Family Nor were matters any more successful within than without the Kingdom for the Nobility divided by the respect of Religion and their old sidings not yet forgotten but revived by these new Commotions came in very unwillingly and in small numbers unto the Kings party the people ill-affected to his name did not administer any help unto his necessity and the Kings Revenues not only interrupted by the rumour of Armies but purposely intercepted by the Heads of the Faction were in great part diminished so that he was every way destitute of the sinews of the War The Heads of the League taking courage from these difficulties of the Kings began boldly to gather Forces and to give a beginning to the execution of their intended purposes The first breaking forth was the departure of the Cardinal of Bourbon from the Court who under colour of keeping Lent at his Bishoprick of Rouen went to Gallion a fair house four leagues from the City where he was received by a great number of the Gentry of Picardy and for his security conducted to Peronne the womb that gave birth unto the League where the Duke of Guise being come to meet him with the Duke of Mayenne his Brother as also the Dukes of Aumale and Elbeuf they published a Declaration which though it spoke in general under the Name of Catholick Peers Prelates Princes Lords Cities and Corporations of the Kingdom of France was yet subscribed by the name of the Cardinal of Bourbon alone The Declaration contained precisely these words IN the Name of God Almighty the King of Kings Be it manifest unto all men That the Kingdom of France having for fourteen years last past been tormented with a pestiferous Sedition raised to subvert the ancient Religion of our Fathers which is the strong bond of the State such remedies have been applied as have proved more fit to nourish than cure the disease such as have only had the name of Peace but have not established it to any except those that had molested it leaving honest men scandalized in their Consciences and engaged in their Fortunes And in stead of a remedy for these mischiefs which in time might have been hoped for God hath permitted that the late Kings have died young not leaving as yet any Children able to inherit the Crown and to the grief of all good men hath not yet been pleased to give any to the King that now reigneth although his good Subjects have not and will not cease their most earnest Prayers to beseech God of his mercy to send him some so that his Majesty being the only Son remaining of all those which his Divine Goodness gave unto Henry the Second of famous memory it is too much to be feared which God forbid that his House to our great misfortune will be extinct without hope of Issue and that about the establishing a Successor in the Throne great tumults will arise thorow all Christendom and perhaps the total subversion of the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion in this most Christian Kingdom where it would never be endured that an Heretick should Reign for as much as the Subjects are not bound to acknowledge or submit themselves to the Dominion of a Prince fallen from the Christian Catholick Faith the first Oath which our Kings do take when the Crown is set upon their heads being to maintain the Roman Catholick and Apostolick Religion by which Oath and not otherwise they afterwards receive that of their Subjects Loyalty Yet since the death of my Lord the Duke of Alancon the Kings Brother the preâ—ensions of those who by publick profession have ever shewed themselves Persecutors of the Catholick Church have been so favoured and
possibly be governed These so weighty difficulties which on all sides seemed impossible to be overcome and the hope of drawing over many to the League in time unto his party and of loosening by his wonted arts that bond which then seemed invincible by strength made the King resolve to take the counsel of the Queen his Mother and of Bellieure and Villeroy which was to procure delays as much as possibly he could and in the end to give the League such satisfaction as was necessary to divert the violence and force of the Confederates and to endeavour by art and time to disunite their Combination experience having so often given certain proofs that by fighting and resistance the forces and dangers both at home and abroad were increased but that by yielding and complying those hazards might be deferred and those imminent calamities and miseries avoided To this end the Queen undertook the charge of treating with the Duke of Guise and the other Princes of the League and being attended by the Mareschal de Retz Monsieur de Brulart Secretary of State and Monsieur de Lansac she went to Espernay in Champagne ten Leagues from Chalons to confer with the Lords of Guise and the Cardinal of Bourbon Thither also came the Confederate Lords and without further delay they began to treat of the means of an Accommodation But the intentions of the parties were so different that they could hardly come to any conclusion for the Queen minded only the gaining of time as well to give the King leisure to arm and prepare himself and the Swisses to draw near to Paris as to give opportunity to those engines which were secretly set on work to disunite the League whereas on the other side the Guises taking very good heed to each of those particulars pressed for speedy expedition either of an advantageous Agreement or of a resolute War Wherefore though the Queen laboured very much both by her authority and perswasions yet could she obtain no more but a truce for four days in which space she dispatcht Monsieur Myron her chief Physitian to the King to bring back his resolution touching the Accommodation The time of truce being expired the Queen drew nearer and advanced as far as Charry a place belonging to the Bishop of Chalons whither the Confederate Lords came also to meet her she let them know that the King by Myron the Physitian had sent her Order to assure them that in matters of Religion he was of the same mind with them and that he desired the security of the Catholick Faith the extirpation of Heresie and one only Religion and Belief in his Kingdom no less than they but that to attain unto that end he neither had sufficient Forces nor money enough to maintain the War in so many places and that therefore they that shewed themselves so zealous of it ought to propound the means of gathering Armies together and of providing for their pay and maintenance The King hoped by this proposition to put the Confederates in as great confusion as he had done the Deputies at Blois in the same manner for there was no doubt but the charges would necessarily fall on the Clergy and upon the Commons a thing contrary to the Proposition of the League which was to ease the grievances of the Kingdom and in these Armies that were to be raised in several parts it was necessary to imploy all the Nobility to the burthen and obligation as well of their Estates as Persons wherefore it was not very easie for the Duke of Guise and the other Lords to resolve this doubt and thereupon to the great contentment of the Queen they took three days time to give their answer After many consultations they determined at last to shun the encounter of those means and advertisements which the King required lest they should discover express falshood in those promises which they made at the propounding of the League and draw upon themselves the hatred of those burthens and grievances which at that present lay upon the Kings own person and therefore making use of both Force and Authority they answered the Queen resolutely that it concerned not them to provide those means but that the King who was conscious to himself of his own Forces ought to find them and that without further delay they would presently have a Declaration and an Edict against the Hugonots security for themselves and a certainty that the War should not be deferred towards which they proffered those Forces they had then in readiness or else they would make their Army to march whither they thought most convenient for the end of their enterprise and indeed they dispatched the Duke of Mayenne at that very instant with part of their Forces and with Commission to meet the Kings Swisses and if he thought fit to fight with them presently At this resolute determination the Queen demanded eight days time to give the King notice of it and to know his pleasure and the Duke of Guise who had need to meet his German Souldiers which as he was informed were near to Verdun was easily perswaded to consent unto it But whilst he goes to meet them and to take order for their coming in the Queen watching all opportunities imployed Luigi Davila a Cyprian who was a near attendent of hers to work with Francisco Circarssi a Gentleman of the same Country belonging to the Cardinal of Bourbon to try if she could by that means remove and separate him from the combination of the Lords of Guise which business being followed and redoubled many times whilst the Treaty lasted the old Sieur de Lansac chief of the Queens Gentlemen was cunningly engaged in it and on the Cardinals part the Sieur de Rubempre himself who being of a haughty mind and not having that authority in the League which he thought he deserved began to apply his mind to a reconciliation with the King and his Party and in the end Monsieur de Lansac conferred with the Cardinal himself under colour of a complemental visit They urged many reasons to him in substance that he might take notice that he was not Head of the League as befitted the quality of his Person and the honour of his Blood but a Subject and Vassal to the passions and affections of the Duke of Guise and the other Lords of his Family that the business was not any interest at all of Religion since the King having offered to give them all manner of satisfaction in matters of Faith his offer was not accepted but that it was now manifest and publick to all the World that under colour of Religion they prosecuted their private ends and interests that it was not fit for a man of so great zeal and integrity and one that was placed in the most eminent dignities of the holy Church to serve for a stale to the pretensions of the Lords of Lorain and to give colour to a most open Rebellion against the Person of a
for those respects which made him proceed warily and dissemble all things to attain to the end of his designs wherefore if he had before feigned himself sick that he might have more conveniency to ripen his determination now he was necessitated to do the same for fear of being taken and put to death by the King if he should go to the Louvre But when after the space of many days it was known that the King made no greater preparations being satisfied with having secured himself the Duke of Mayenne recovering courage resolved to leave the City and retire to his Government of Bourgongne whereupon going to the Louvre he made as if it had been necessary for him to go into the Country by reason of his want of health and asked the King leave who for all his dissimulation could not forbear to say How now Duke will you forsake your League whereat the Duke feigning not to understand him and saying That he knew not what his Majesty meant departed without further delay the King rejoycing no less to see him go and leave the Parisians without a Head and without any setled resolution then he to be out of that danger and to have escaped the Kings Forces without hazard of his life or reputation The Duke of Guise took it very ill that the Parisians had revealed their designs to his Brother as well because knowing himself to have a freer courage and a more subtil sprightly wit he desired in all things to be the man that should give the first motion and beginning and that should order the course of all enterprises as because he knew the nature and actions of the Duke of Mayenne were not altogether conformable to the aims of his intents but the Parisians excused themselves that they suspected their counsels were already discovered whereupon their fear lest the King should prevent them had caused the determination of imparting it to the Duke of Mayenne that they might execute the business without delay having also believed that the having recourse to one Brother more than to another was of no great importance since one was present and the other far off and imployed in other affairs Wherefore the Duke of Guise not to be idle in the midst of so many businesses and not to let his reputation grow stale and decay had upon slight occasions begun a War voluntarily with the Duke of Bouillon who possessing Sedan and Iamets very strong and important Towns with other less places upon the Confines of Lorain and Champagne did by them keep open the passage for the German Army which came in favour of the Hugonots to enter France wherefore the Duke of Guise who desired to shut up that way by trying to drive the Duke of Bouillon from thence having made a great complaint that the Garisons placed in those Towns which were under Sedan where great store of Hugonots were gathered together did much harm to the villages joining upon Champagne he assaulted suddenly and took Donzi a place in that territory very commodious to block up the principal City as he presently would have done if another enterprise had not diverted him The Governour of Aussone a very principal Town in the Dutchy of Bourgongne denied to yield it up to the Duke of Mayenne to whom it had been particularly assigned being encouraged by his so far distance and his having been imployed so long with the Army in Guienne and the Grand Esquier Lieutenant of that Province a man meerly depending upon the King though he made shew of desiring to force that place did yet cunningly defer to do so nor could he find the way to bring him to his due obedience Wherefore the Duke of Guise who would endure no such affronts in the Provinces held and governed by his Family and particularly in Bourgongne closely united with Champagne and standing upon the Confines of the Kingdom and jealous of his Brothers reputation and of his own laying aside the enterprise of Sedan came suddenly into Bourgongne with all the Forces of the League and without other leave from the King unexpectedly besieged Aussone which having a sufficient Garison the Defendents shewed themselves so courageous that in their first sally they defeated Colonel St. Paul's Regiment of Foot killing six Captains and three hundred Souldiers and in the following assaults which were fiercely given unto the wall bâ—at back the Assailants oftentimes with much loss but being streightned by the continual battery of three and twenty Cannon the greatest part borrowed from the Duke of Lorain and distressed with Mines Escalodoes and redoubled assaults and expecting no relief from any place because some few Foot and Horse raised in Mombelliard which State borders upon Bourgongne and in Geneva by Monsieur de Clervant were defeated by Monsieur de Rhosne Camp-Master to the Duke of Guise they capitulated in the end to yield themselves and having leave from the Duke to go to Sedan and Iamets upon the eighteenth of August they delivered up the place to the Duke of Guise who having made the Baron de Senesay Governour returned presently to the Government of Champagne and from thence went to Soissons where in a Diet of the principal Heads of the League it was resolved that the War with the Duke of Bouillon should be continued wherefore as he was resolute in his determinations and most quick in the execution having in a few days put his Army in order he attaqued Racroy a place fortified after the modern way and constantly defended by the Sieur de Monmore But in that multiplicity of assaults and variety of attempts wherein the art of the Duke of Guise was admirable and his valour no less the having no hope of relief constrained the Defendents to yield at last amongst which one called Persevalle and two other Captains corrupted with money and promises by the Duke feigned to retire to Sedan and Iamets giving him assurance they would deliver up a Gate of each of those Cities when it should be their turn to have the guard of them upon which hopes though with forces inferiour to what was requisite for the besieging a place of so great moment he quartered at Moucon a Town near Sedan and resolved under colour of streightning it to expect the performance of those promises But while the Duke of Guise does these things in Champagne the Queen-Mother the place of interview with the King of Navarre being appointed was come to Cognac attended by Ludovico Gonzaga Duke of Nevers who having left the League had put himself wholly under her protection by the Mareschal de Retz the Sieurs d' Abin and de Rambouillet by the Abbot Guadagni Secretary Pinart Monsieur de Lansac and divers other personages who for quality and wisdom were of great esteem On the other side the King of Navarre was come to Iarnac with the Viscount de Turenne the Sieur de la Force and Monguidon the Baron de Salignac and many other Lords of his party
with reason that their common Enemies being the same and the same interests pleading for them both he would labour with that candour and that efficacy which the exigency of the matter required To these reasons the Queen answered That as his Conversion was easie so neither could it want just pretences for if the King should make a League with him while he was disobedient to the Catholick Church and openly excommunicated besides the infamy which his name would incur by mingling in a conjunction not only abhorred and never so much as in thought consented to by any other of the most Christian Kings but also immediately contrary to the Vow and Oath taken solemnly at his Consecration he should moreover give colour to the complaints and justifie the practices of the League and which was of very great consideration he should stir up all other Catholick Princes of the World against him That upon their agreement would presently ensue the revolt of the City of Paris already in an uproar with but seeing that they treated with him and the rebellion of many other chief Cities as also the alienation of all the Catholick Nobility and the greater part of the Kingdom that this was the way to facilitate the King of Spain's assistance of the League who would presently be forced to turn those preparations into France which were made against England That at the first news of it the Pope of an angry hasty nature would run precipitately to Excommunications and Interdictions would presently dispatch great Supplies in favour of the League and stir up all the Italian Princes to unite themselves with him for the defence of Religion That the Duke of Lorain would not consent the marriage of his Daughter should be consummate whilst he was an alien from the Church nor would the States endure he should be declared the lawful Successor of the Crown whilst he held the Faith of the Hugonots In conclusion that his perseverance was accompanied with all manner of difficulties and impediments but his conversion did wonderfully facilitate and lay open the way to all his hopes neither doubtful not uncertain but well grounded and secure The King of Navarre excused himself sometimes with the indecency of changing sometimes with his Conscience sometimes discovering his fear of being brought into the net again but in his excuses the perplexity of his mind and the force of the Queens reasons appeared whereupon new time was taken and another Conference appointed within two or three days wherein to facilitate the business the Duke of Nevers was admitted on the Queens side and the Viscount de Turenne on the King of of Navarre's but they contrary to expectation did rather increase the difficulties than open the way to any resolution for the Duke of Nevers desiring to shew his Eloquence and Learning as he was wont to do wrought greater doubts in the mind of the King of Navarre to whom the Italian arts were suspected and the Viscount a man no less wise and cunning than stout and valiant though he shewed a great inclination to favour the Queens reasons yet the common opinion was that for fear of being abandoned with the Duke of Momorancy so they called the Mareschal d' Anville after the death of his Brother and of losing those great hopes which he had of power and command in the Hugonot party neither desired Peace nor the King of Navarre's Conversion and that therefore he secretly disswaded him from it wherefore neither in this third Conference could they conclude any thing but at the very time the King of Navarre had warning given him to take heed of the artifices of the King and Queen who at the same instant while they treated with him did assure the Popes Nuncio the Duke of Guise and the people of Paris that whatsoever was done was in favour of the League and that the end would justifie that this Treaty included such a design as would at last break forth for the good of Religion whereby his jealousie increasing not thinking it safe to trust either the Kings inconstancy or the Queens too much cunning he resolved in the end to follow the fortune of the Hugonots and not to trust the Court neither would he come to the Conference any more himself in person but continued to send the Viscount of Turenne who treating very dexterously with the Queen would never come to any conclusion at all With these Negotiations began the year 1587 upon the first day whereof the King celebrating the Ceremonies of the Knights of the St. Esprit in Paris swore solemnly not to suffer any other Religion than the Roman Catholick This Oath of his as it was sudden and inconsiderate so both then and many times after it was blamed as absurd and contrary to his own designs for to treat of an Agreement with the King of Navarre and vow the extirpation of the Hugonots did immediately contradict one another But neither they that spake of it then nor they that looking upon things afar off reprehended it did so afterwards when they knew either the Kings intention or the contents of what was secretly treated with the King of Navarre for Monsieur de Rambouillet being come post from Pâ—ictou and arrived already at Court upon the 27 of December with Letters from the Queen and with a Relation of all that had passed with the King of Navarre whereby the King was certified that it was impossible to conclude any thing he standing averse from changing his Religion and proposing an Agreement without speaking any thing about matters of Faith the King to take away that hope from the King of Navarre and to make him consent to be converted or if he would not change his mind being resolved or rather necessitated to join with the League to oppose the German Army made this Protestation very opportunely whereby he at once beat down all the complaints and calumnies of the Heads of the League and appeased in great part at least for a time the minds of the Parisians who as the commotions of the people are wont varied their thoughts and inclinations with the breath of every the slightest accident whereupon he was afterward able to stir to gather an Army and turn against the foreign Forces without being molested by the Parisians though the wonted Incendiaries did not fail to strive to raise them more than once The Kings inclination was clearly seen in this That when the course of affairs did necessarily force him to treat of any thing in favour of the Hugonots he consented to it very slowly ambiguously and after long consideration But if the business were to favour or unite himself to the Catholick party he concurred in that with so much readiness and resolution that his motion to the benefit to the benefit of the Catholick Faith plainly appeared to be natural but the other produced by necessity and violently constrained And as for the King of Navarre the news of the Kings Proteâ—â—ation being
new Prohibition about the middle of August the Army was ready to begin to march And to the end that businesses might prosper under the conduct of the Duke of Bouillon and the Baron d' Onaw the Count de la Marck was appointed to lead the Van the command of the German Cavalry was given to the Baron de Bouck an expert Souldier of that Nation that of the Swisse Infantry to Claude Anthony Sieur de Clervant to Mouy the command of the French Foot the Sieur de Guitry a French man and Lodovick Romf a German being Marshals of the Field Against all these preparations the Duke of Lorain who in all the other Wars had ever stood Neuter and now had declared himself in favour of the League and of the Lords of his Family being first at the Frontiers was in a very great fear finding he had not sufficient force to make resistance and with Letters and Messages sollicited the Duke of Guise and all his Friends and Confederates that since they had drawn him into so much danger they would also be ready and speedy to help him out He had raised two thousand Reiters out of the Territories of the Catholick Princes of Germany under the command of the Baron of Swartzembourgh eight hundred other Horse some Albanians some Italians and four thousand Foot of his own State to which Forces the Prince of Parma Governour of the Low-Countries in performance of the League with the Catholick King had added eight hundred Bourguignon Horse under the Command of the Marquess de Havray and two thousand Foot all Walloons under the command of the Marquess de Varambone But it being necessary to put a Garison in Nancy the chief City of Lorain and many other lesser Towns he had neither Force enough left to hinder the passage of the Germans nor to defend his Country from their Incursions and therefore the Duke of Guise the very Soul and Life of his Party and upon whom the Foundation of all the Affairs of the League was setled drew Friends and Forces together from all parts to assist and defend the Duke of Lorain Nor did the King of France make less preparations than the rest but being resolved to shew his face and make himself Arbitratour of Affairs he drew all his Forces together for besides eight thousand Swisse Foot raised under the publick colour of the Catholick Cantons he also levied fourteen thousand French Foot summoned all the Souldiery called all the Nobility to attend him having determined to command his Army himself in person wherein he received no other hinderance but the unquietness of the Parisians for the Preachers and the Council of Sixteen ceased not to stir up the people and to make frequent tumults in the City insomuch as the Authority of the King and his Magistrates was despised and trodden under Foot with very great danger of an open change desired and procured by them Nor durst the King in that present condition punish the authors of those tumults for fear of causing an absolute revolt and in a conjuncture of so great danger deprive himself of that City which had ever been the Basis and Foundation of his Party this encouraged them with more boldness to multiply their designs which would have produced the event aimed at by the Heads of the League if first the imminent fear of the German Army and then the Kings Oath taken against the Hugonots and the promise wherewith he took Arms for the common defence had not restrained and withheld the people who out of fear and some certain respects of duty were not very forward to embrace seditious counsels But the King having with great dexterity and patience often quieted those uproars raised without occasions full of ill-will towards the Heads of Sedition though cunningly dissembling it having left the Queen-Mother as Regent in Paris and Monsieur de Villequier as Governour departed from the City about the end of Iuly and went to Meaux ten leagues from thence about which place he had caused Quarters to be taken up for his Army Thither the Duke of Guise came unto him Meaux being a Town under his command and they met together with shews of exceeding kindness and respect but thoughts very different from the outward appearance The division of both Horse and Foot was made in the Duke of Guise's presence the King having appointed twenty Cornets of Horse and four Regiments of Foot for the Duke reserving all the rest for the Army which he was to lead himself but almost all the Horse were withheld afterward with several excuses and the Duke of Guise had only those Foot left him which were brought by his dependents for in their meetings and discourses suspicions being rather increased than former hearts-burning taken away the King was so much the more firmly setled in his intention to beware no less of the Duke of Guise than of the foreign Army and to leave him weak that he might be the more easily cut off since that whether his Forces were many or few he could do no less than draw near the Enemy and fall upon him either in the State of the Duke of Lorain or in the Confines of his own Government After two days the Duke of Guise departed and making his Rendezvous at St. Florentine a place near Troye with seven hundred Cuirassiers of Gentlemen that were his dependents six hundred Light-horse part Albanians part Italians and part sent by the Sieur de Balony Governour of Cambray and with two thousand French Foot led by the Sieurs de Ioannes de Clusseau de Gies and de St. Paul his old Colonels he marched streight toward Lorain All the Lords of that Family were met together at Nancy where the Duke commonly resides and there fell to consult which way they should oppose the German Army The opinions were different or rather oppositely contrary for the French Lords among which the Duke of Guise was the chief would have made the seat of the War in the State of the Duke of Lorain a streight narrow Country and by reason of the abundance of Rivers fit for some great enterprise keeping the Germans busied in a place where they could not hope to join with the King of Navarre and where being near their own Country they would easily disband and run home upon every small occasion or disorder that might arise nor did the greatness of the foreign Army at all dismay the Duke of Guise a man of a resolute undaunted courage but despising the number of raw untrained men newly raised in haste he thought himself able to accomplish any thing with his old tried Souldiers But the Duke of Lorain was of a contrary opinion who with the Marquess du Pont his eldest Son the Count de Saulme his principal Minister the Count de Chaligny one of the King of France his Brothers in law and with the Sieurs de Ossonville and Bassompierre thought not fit to submit his Country to all the dangers
and miseries of the War and thought he had done too much in declaring himself for the French Lords of his Family and in being at so great charges and in undergoing so many dangers to satisfie them wherefore he desiring the Germans might not be hindred in their passage but that keeping all the principal Towns well provided and waiting upon them with a flying Army to the end they might have less opportunity to hurt the Country that impetuous torrent might be suffered to make an inundation in those parts to which it naturally tended and by how much the more he saw the Duke of Guise ready and desirous to put the event of businesses opportunely to the hazard of a day so much the more did he fear that danger Wherefore because the opinions differed he concluded freely that he would not have them to play his State at that Game and that if the Duke of Guise and the French Lords had an humour to fight they should reserve themselves till the Enemy were entred into France it satisfying him to preserve his own with as little loss as possibly he could considering the greatness of the Enemies Army With this resolution all the guards were recalled from the Confines to quarter in strong places and the Sieur de Ossonville General of the Duke of Lorains Forces rode thorow all the State causing the Mills and Ovens to be destroyed and the victuals to be carried away from all places to the end that the German Army finding scarcity of provisions might resolve to pass on without delay and because the Duke of Guises forwardness made the Duke of Lorain suspect that against his will he would with inferiour Forces and without necessity put it to a Battel he himself though far in years would command the Army and to honour the Duke of Guise gave him only the charge of the Van-guard The same divisions were in the German Army for the Duke of Bouillon and the Count de la Mark desired to make the seat of that War in Lorain not only to have conveniency of victual and to garison Sedan and Iamets their own Towns which bordered upon that State but also to ruine and undo the Duke of Lorain whose neighbourhood was suspected by them believing that he aspiâ—ed to their possessions the truth whereof they had seen in the War made upon them by the Duke of Guise and knew much more evidently afterwards On the other side Monsieur de Monglas the King of Navarre's Agent lately come from him and the Sieurs de Muoy de Clervant de l' Auguiere and almost all the French pressed to have them go forward and entring into France without delay to take the shortest cut that might bring them to join with the King of Navarre whom they affirmed to be upon his march to come as far as he could to meet them There wanted not some among the Germans who were much pleased with the nearness of their own Country and with a War that was like to be so easie by reason of the inequality of Force but the Baron d' Onaw intent to execute the Commissions he had received from Prince Casimir resolved at last to go into France without making any longer stay in the State of Lorain than what was necessarily requisite yet purposing to do as much mischief there as the brevity of the time would permit without going about to take in any Towns with this intention but with little correspondence among the Commanders and as little Government among the Souldiers there being no man whose authority and experience was proportionable to so weighty a business the German Army began to move and upon the 26 of August came in the Confines of Lorain Already were the Guards withdrawn which at first had been placed at the priâ—cipal passes of that State and the Forces being retreated into their walled Towns had left all the ways free wherefore the Germans began to plunder all the Country without any resistance not forbearing murthers firing of Towns nor any kind of hostile act whatsoever though the harm were much the less because the people had had convenient time to absent themselves to drive away their cattel and hide their goods in secret places and what they could not carry away they had spoiled and burned But it was not long before the Germans felt the Forces of the League for the Duke of Guise desirous to discover their strength and to try their valour and discipline sent forth the Sieur de Rhosne and the Baron of Swartzembourgh with two hundred Reiters and three hundred French Horse to beat up their nearest quarters These two Commanders being come upon the thirtieth of August where the Enemy lay fell upon the quarter of the Baron de Bouck and at first put them into great confusion and though they were driven back at last by so much a greater number yet they brought away a Cornet with them which the Duke of Lorain sent presently to the King of France as a token that to their cost the German Army was come already into his Country Yet did the Army continue in the same confusion in quartering in keeping their Guards in rising and in marching for the great abundance of men bred tumult and disorder of it self and there was no Commander able to govern a Body composed of so many several Nations mixt together and of a different manner of discipline The Duke of Bouillon a young Lord and though of great courage yet of little or no experience was not very much obeyed by the Germans The Baron d' Onaw whom they obeyed might rather be counted in the number of valiant Souldiers than of Commanders who for birth and wisdom were fit for such an employment and the other inferiour Officers being of several Nations and different dispositions did rather increase than lessen that confusion These things being known to the Duke of Guise he desired to meet handsomly with them either as their Army was about to quarter or to rise before time or experience should inform the Commanders of their errour But the Duke of Lorain persisted in the same opinion nor would upon any terms suffer them to come to a Battel within his Territories and the Duke of Guise was necessitated to comply with him both because of his age and because he was in his own Country as also by reason of the inequality of the Forces So the Reiters passed on without any lett or impediment as far as Pout St. Vincent a great Town seated upon the declining of a Hill at the foot whereof the River Meuse passeth under a spacious Bridge of ancient building There Monsieur de Rhosne and an hundred Harquebuziers on horseback being quartered with three hundred Light-Horse the Duke of Guise came up to view the place having resolved to lodge the Vanguard there to make the passage of the River more suspected to the Enemies and to make them a little more wary in pillaging the Country but at
the very time of his arrival the German Army was espied from the top of the Hill marching in their divisions directly toward the Bridge thorow a little Plain that spreads it self from the bottom of the Hill whereupon the Duke of Guise desirous to discover the quality and order of the Enemy having commanded out the three hundred Light-Horse drawn them up without the Town and spread the hundred Harquebuziers along the bank of the River he himself unarmed as he was with the Sieurs de la Chastre Bassompierre and Dunes and two Gentlemen of his Attendents all six in number passed over the Bridge hoping to get up to some high place from whence they might conveniently discern the motions and distinctly perceive the number and order of the Germans but he was hardly come to the other side of the bank when he was charged by two Troops of Reiters who marched before the Army to discover the Country to avoid whose fury he was fain to retreat over the Bridge again at a good round Trot. The Enemies Horse being come to the bank of the River and seeing it defended by the Harquebuziers and that the Duke of Guise with five and twenty Gentlemen that were come up to him stood firm at the entry of the Bridge they made a halt to stay for the first Troops of the Army and in the mean time one of them which was a very remarkable thing being come to the very brink of the River lighted from his Horse spanned his Carabine very leisurely and taking aim gave fire with wonderful security and though above two hundred shot were made at him in the mean time he was not only untouched but not so much as daunted at all so that he got on horse-back again with the same gravity and retreated safely a foot-pace to his fellows In this interim the Sieur de Guitry Mareschal of the Field arrived upon the bank of the River with fouâ— hundred other Horse who with the two first Troops of Reiters came directly forward to possess the Bridge But the Duke of Guise finding himself much weaker than was requisite to defend the Pass and that not only the Duke of Lorain's Army was a great way from him but also his own Van-guard which had been left far behind he caused the Harquebuziers to retire and put themselves again in the Body of Monsieur de Rhosne's Cavalry and having dispatched Bassompierre and la Chastre with order to put the Army in readiness to receive him in case he should be streightned and followed by the Enemies he began to retreat skirmishing himself in the last ranks and very gallantly sustaining the Charge of the Reiters who having passed the Bridge without further resistance followed him close at the heels caracolling and giving fire continually with their Pistols but being come to the bottom of the Hill which had a steep troublesom ascent the Duke of Guise's Light Horse and he himself with his Gentlemen who were bravely mounted got up quickly whereas on the other side the Reiters with their great Friezeland-Horses were much longer about it and after they were at the top of the Hill were fain to make a stand to give their Horses breath which time he opportunely making use of passed over another small River that was before him and without any shew of flight arrived safely where the Field-Marshals had with excellent order set the whole Army in Battalia which being drawn out between three Hills in form of a Half-Moon with the Cavalry on each Wing and Foot placed within the banks and ditches by the High-ways and among the stakes in the Vineyards defended by the Cannon planted upon a little Mount made so gallant a shew that the German Commanders being come up to face them with the first Troops of their Forces judged that in respect of the strength of that situation the Battel was not to be hazarded being they could by no means make the Lorain-Army dislodge from their post nor fight with it there without too evident and almost insuperable disadvantage Wherefore retiring to the main Body they quartered in the Villages near St. Vincent in the Castle whereof the Sieur de la Chastre entred that same night with six hundred Musquetiers that it might not be left in the Enemies poweâ— and the Duke of Lorain who saw that contrary to his desires the Duke of Guise by his boldness and to disengage himself from the Reiters had like to have put his State in very great hazard to avoid the same danger removed a great many miles from thence leaving them free passage to continue the voyage which with pillaging and burning they had begun and quartering his Army in the chiefest places that the Enemy might not have opportunity to take and sack them with very great care and circumspection stood barely upon his defence At last upon the eighteenth of September the Germans arrived upon the Confines of France and took up their first quarters at St. Vrbin which Town being of the Duke of Guise's patrimony was by them in a hostile manner burned yet to put themselves in order and by reason of the extraordinary rains that fell they stayed there foâ—â— days in which time Francois Sieur de Chastillon came up with a hundred Cuirassiers and eight hundred Harquebuziers on horse-back who with wonderful great difficulty had from the farthest parts of Languedoc passed by the way of Dauphine and the Confines of Savoy as far as Grizelle a Town upon the borders of Lorain to join with the foreign Army but being come to Grizelle he was suddenly charged by the Dukes Forces and constrained to retreat into the Castle of that Town where he had been in manifest danger by reason of the weakness of the place if the Count de la Mark had not advanced with the Van of the Army to disengage him who no sooner appeared but the Lorain Forces retiring he went on to St. Vrbin to join with the rest of the Army upon the 22 of September which day the Duke of Guise having left the Duke of Lorain at Bar who refused to enter into the Confines of the King of France unless he were called quartered with twelve hundred Horse and two thousand Foot at Ioinville but two Leagues distant from St. Vrbin The German Army entred France with an infinite deal of Baggage not only by reason of the great store of carriages which they had with them according to the custom of their Country but also of the abundance of spoil and plunder they had got in the Territories of Lorain and which they still increased daily nor did their disorders and confusions cease though they were come into an Enemies Country suspected on every side but rather every one presuming upon the greatness of their strength for they were above forty thousand fighting men they quartered very wide and open minded nothing but pillage were negligent in their guards and marches the fields being every where full of
Heads of the League to be presented to the King wherein after many preambles and many reasons very cunningly laid together they demanded in substance That he would unite himself truly with them and would sincerely make himself Head of the League to the destruction and rooting out of the Hugonots That he would put those persons from the Court from his Councils and from their Offices who should be named by the Catholick Princes as suspected and ill-affected to Religion That he would make the Council of Trent be received and observed through the whole Kingdom only excepting those things which did prejudice the priviledge of the Gallique Church That he would grant some certain places which should be thought fit unto the Confederate Princes for their security wherein they might keep Garisons and make necessary Fortificatiâ—â—s at the expences of the Crown That he would maintain an Army about th◠〈◊〉 of Lorain under the command of one of the Confederate Princes to hinder 〈…〉 of Foreigners That he would cause all the Estates of the Hugonots to 〈◊〉 and sold wherewith the expences of the late Wars might be satisfied and the Confederates might be assisted toward the maintenance of future matters The Writing contained these prinâ—ipal things and many others of less consequence which being presented to the King in the beginning of February was received by him with his wonted dissimulation and the answer deferred with his wonted delays nor did the Duke of Guise press much to know his resolution for the end of the demand was only to make the King contemptible and render him odious to the people suspected to favour the Hugonots and furnish the League with an occasion and pretence to take up Arms and presecute their begun-designs while the prosperity of their fortune lasted But these artifices were needless to make the Kings person odious and contemptible The burdens which the War the maintaining of so many Armies and his own profane manner of spending daily increased had lost the hearts of the people The noise and splendour of the Duke of Guise's Victories had obscured the majesty of his Name his obstinate favour to his Minions had alienated the minds of his most ancient most devoted Servants and the People of Paris swayed by the ambition of the Council of Sixteen could no longer endure Government The City was full of infamous Pamphlets politick Discourses Satyrical Verses and fabulous Sories which for the most part abusing the Name of the Duke d' Espernon redounded to the scorn and disgrace of the Royal Majesty On the other side all the Streets and every corner of Paris resounded the praises of the Duke of Guise celebrated in Verse and Prose by a thousand Writers with the Title of the new David the second Moses the Deliverer of the Catholick People the Prop and Pillar of the Holy Church and the Preachers in their wonted manner but with greater licence openly inveighing against the present affairs filled the ears of the people with wonders or rather miracles so they called them of this new Gideon come into the World for the desired safety of the Kingdom Which things spread from the City of Paris as from the heart diffused themselves thorow all the Provinces as into the members which were possessed with the same impressions as well to the Kings disadvantage as in favour of the League This Commotion was fully perfected by the Kings own determination who either blinded with the affection he bore the Duke d' Espernon or because he would not advance other men whom they had no great cause to trust declared him Admiral of the Kingdom and Governour of Normandy places that were vacant by the Duke of Ioyeuse his death which absolutely pierced thorow the heart of the Duke of Guise seeing that he continued in his wonted customs and that one man alone being exalted to the highest degree of greatness himself his Brother and the rest of his Family how great soever their merits were could never obtain nor compass any thing so that forgetting the determinations resolved on at Nancy and that wary moderation which the Duke of Lorain had advised he began without more delay to think of reducing the authority of the Government into his own power making the Parisians his principal instruments who no less displeased and incensed than himself did earnestly sollicite him to that resolution Wherefore having received particular information of the state of things from the Council of Sixteen whereby they assured him that they had twenty thousand armed men in the City at their devotion ready to be put upon any enterprise That they were divided into sixteen Squadrons to every one of which they had appointed a Commander and that the rest of the people would without question follow the stream of the chief men by reason they were ill affected to the person of the King and the Duke d' Espernon and on the other side most zealous in the cause of Religion he considering that confusion easily ariseth among the multitude and that the division into sixteen several quarters was too many to meet altogether suddenly in one body when need should require writ to the Council that they should lessen that number and reduce it into but five quarters to which they should appoint a place where they should meet at the sign that should be given them and that they should dispose things in such a manner as might breed neither disorder nor confusion and as well to assure himself absolutely that that business should proceed according to his own will as because he had no confidence in the small experience of those Heads appointed and chosen by the Parisians he sent them five Commanders who were to order the five quarters and to rule and moderate the turbulence of popular Arms. These were the Count of Brissac the Sieur de Bois-Dauphin the Sieur de Chamois the Sieur d' Esclavoles and Colonel St. Paul to whom the Sieur de Meneville was added who from the first had been the Mediator and chief Instrument in that business These entered openly into Paris under colour of private affairs and being lodged in those quarters of the City that were appointed them frequented the Court and followed divers businesses leaving the care to Meneville of bringing the matter to its conclusion and to give the greater assistance to it the Duke of Guise gave order to the Duke of Aumale who had Forces in Picardy to make himself be obeyed by many Governours of places who fomented by the Duke of Espernon refused to acknowledge him That he should keep five hundred good Horse in a readiness to be there in due time to put life in the design of the Parisians who knowing that such order was given desired Iehan Conty one of the Eshevins or as we call them in England Sheriffs of the City that he would let them have the Keys of the Port St. Martin which he kept as the custom is to the end that when
occasion should serve they might bring in that supply which was to come out of Picardy but he refusing they dealt with Pierre Brigard Eshevin of the next quarter who promised them the Keys of Port St. Dennis by which their assistance might be brought in as well as by that of St. Martin And because they doubted that Conty who had denied to consent unto it might reveal the business to the King they found an invention to make him be complained of for an Heretick and many other misdemeanours putting him by that means in discredit to the end that his relation might not be believed Things being contrived in this manner the means of executing them remained to be resolved on The Commanders sent by the Duke and the major part of those â—hosen by the Council of Sixteen thought that to assault the Louvre where the King lay encompassed with his Guards and the Nobility that attended him would be a dangerous enterprise of too loud a violence and no ways likely to succeed and they foresaw besides that the fact would seem very scandalous to the rest of the Kingdom that also if it failed but never so little or that the effecting of it should be a work of time many disorders would arise and the King might have opportunity to make himself Superiour wherefore they resolved unanimously to make use of the occasion which the time of Lent would afford them to take his person then when with the Duke of Espernon he should be in procession as he was wont in the habit of a Penitent among the whipping Friars neither accompanied by his Guards nor the ordinary retinue of the Court and as soon as he should be seized upon under colour of a popular Sedition caused by the indignation of the common people exasperated by the heavy punishments that lay upon them aad Enemies to the Authority of the Minions that he should be shut up in a Monastery with strong Guards after which the Duke of Aumale's five hundred Horse and his other Forces should presently come in to take absolute possession of the principal places and keep them guarded till the Duke of Guise should arrive who calling the States General and shewing either the Kings incapacity or his evil intentions and evil Government might cause the affairs of the Kingdom to be disposed at the arbitrement and to satisfaction of the League But Nicholas Poulain who was privy to all this Conspiracy did by means of the High Chancellor quickly make the resolution that had been taken known to the King who though he did not absolutely give credit to the discovery by reason of the weight and importance of the thing grounded upon no other assurance than the bare affirmation of Poulain a man of no very good repute and suspected by that means to seek for profit and reward yet thinking fit to look to himself he feigned himself not well and upon that excuse forbore to go to any spiritual exercises with the Fraternity of the Penitents And that he might be the better assured of the truth he caused Poulain to be brought one night secretly into his closet and in the presence of the High Chancellour Monsieur d' O and the Abbot del Bene examined him particularly concerning all things he had revealed seeming not to believe him and to doubt that he was set on and suborned to say so by those of the Hugonot party Poulain with a secure confidence and distinct narration confirmed all that he had discovered added all the particulars and smallest circumstances named all the accomplices related from the beginning the whole Conspiracy and at last with a free courage and setled countenance offered to be put in prison and kept there till he had justified all that he had said and in conclusion added That the Council of Sixteen was to be held the next day in the house of Monsieur de la Bruyiere one of the Conspirators and that if the King would send whom he pleased along with him with a sufficient Guard he would put them all into his hands so that none of them should be able to hide themselves or deny the Conspiracy The King dismissed him with gracious words and very great promises and went presently to the Duke of Espernon's lodgings where they conferred together the space of half an hour and being come from thence about midnight went to the Queen-Mothers Chamber which was in the Palace and having wakened her told her distinctly all that had been revealed unto him and began to consult whether he should do well to follow Poulain's advice and send the next day to take the Conspirators The thing in appearance was easie and secure but in effect full of great difficulty and danger for it was not to be doubted but upon very little stir all the quarters of the City would be up in Arms according to the order already taken and under the Commanders already appointed who would never suffer their Heads to be laid hold on and carried away prisoners by so small a number as a Company of the Guards which was all they were able to send about that business nor could they doubt of this effect since they had often proved that when any one of the Heads of the City had been taken by the Officers of the Court either upon civil or criminal occasions the common people had ever run violently and seditiously armed to deliver him and if the people being raised upon the apparent colour that their Heads and Protectors were like to be seized upon should suddenly assault the Louvre the King and Court unarmed unprovided undefended except by the ordinary Guards they would hardly be able to make resistance against so great a Force led by so expert resolute Commanders and who being come to that pass would readily embrace so specious an occasion of making it appear that they stirred not to offend others but only in their own defence They considered that the people of Paris were so powerful that they could not be curbed but by mighty Forces and to undertake what they could not compass would be nothing else but to overthrow the business and come off with loss and dishonour They foresaw that the Conspirators would presently be relieved by the Dukes of Guise and Aumale who were hard by in Arms whereas the King had no Body of men ready to assist him in a case of so great danger They knew that they were not to trust in the Hugonot party as well because they had always feared the King and esteemed him a bitter Enemy to their Religion as because the defeat of the Germans had so terrified them that they all thought rather of leaving the Kingdom to save their lives by flight than of following the conduct of the Princes to save themselves by the Sword and so much the more by reason that the Prince of Conde's death which happened about this time at St. Iehan d' Angely by poison given him as was reported by his
she hoped when the truth was once known every one would be setled in quietness After this discourse in publick they went together into the Garden where the Duke of Guise making his pretence that he knew the Kings designs and intentions were to destroy the Great Ones and suppress those that opposed his Favourites and that therefore it was necessary for him to look well to himself to secure both his own and the common safety began to make infinite high and exorbitant demands and such as were truly proper for an absolute Conquerour That the King should declare him his Lieutenant General in all Provinces and places under his Dominions with the same authority his Father had in the time of Francis the Second That the States-General should be called at Paris in which Assembly that power granted to him should be confirmed That to secure the people from their fears of a Hugonot Prince the King of Navarre and the other Princes of Bourbon his adherents should be declared to have forfeited their inheritance to the Crown That the Taxes and Impositions upon the people might be limited That to take away all hated and suspected Novelties all Forms of Government should be reduced to a certain Rule which it should not be lawful for the King to alter That the Duke of Espernon Monsieur de la Valette his Brother the Mareschals of Retz and Byron Monsieur d' O and Colonel Alfonso Corso suspected all to hold intelligence with the Hereticks and every day to find out inventions of new grievances should be deprived of all their Offices and Governments and banished for ever from the Court That to take away all suspicion which every one had with reason that the Hereticks were not proceeded against really and in good earnest the absolute charge of the War should be given to him which should be prosecuted with two Armies one in Poictou the other in Dauphine That to remove jealousies and fears of tyrannical proceedings the King should dismiss his Guard of the five and forty Gentlement and forbid them to return to Court reserving only the Guards which his Predecessors were wont to have That he should take away the Regiment of Guards from Monsieur de Grillon and give it to such a person as the Catholick Princes might confide in That all the Fortresses of Picardy might be delivered up to the Duke of Aumale as Governour of that Province That the Duke of Nemours might have the Government of Lyons and the Duke of Elbeuf that of Normandy That the King should put into the hands of the Lords of the League six such Towns as they should name in which they might keep Garisons under such Governours as they should like That a convenient assignment might be given to the Parisians for the payment of the Rents of the Town-house And that the Government of the City might be given to the Count de Brissac upon whom also should be conferred the Office of Colonel General of the French Infantry held at that time by the Duke of Espernon That the charge of Admiral should be restored to the Duke of Mayenne and Monsieur de la Chastre made Mareschal in the place of Monsieur de Byron Which Demands being carefully examined by the Queen one by one and the injustice and exorbitancy of them being shewn she at last asked the Duke of Guise what he believed the people of France would say and what the Princes of Europe would think if with the Kings consent a Subject should accept much less demand such conditions and whether he meant not to put shackles upon the King and take the Crown from his head To which words the Duke answered freely That he demanded no Place nor Office for any that was not very worthy of it and that to drive away Incendiaries Enemies of the publick good Favourers of Hereticks and Persecutors of the Catholick Religion was to purge the Body of the State of a most dangerous poison to the end that the King might afterwards enjoy that tranquillity and obedience that belonged to him and that the Medicine indeed was bitter at first but would be fruitful and healthful in the end In sum after many debates and prolix contentious arguments this was the Duke of Guise's conclusion That since the King himself had at last laid open his secret intentions and brought matters to that pass he was resolved either to lose his Life or to secure Religion and the Estate of his own Family The Queen returned at night with this Answer to the Louvre where they continued still in Arms private persons discoursing and consulting no less than the Kings Counsellors in his Closet among whom the variety of opinions was very great private passions and particular interests contending no less than respect of the publick and the universal good For the High Chancellour Secretary Villeroy and Monsieur de Villequier who desired the abasement of the Duke of Espernon and the ruine of the Hugonots and hoping that they should not fall from their credit and authority though the League should prevail consented to the greatest part of the Duke of Guise's demands to the secret dislike of the King who could by no means endure them On the other side Monsieur d' O Monsieur de Rambouillet the Abbot del Bene and Colonel Alfonso Corso argued that the greatest adversities in the world were to be suffered rather than to yield unto them Monsieur d' O nevertheless offering to lay down his Offices and the Colonel his charge of Lieutenant in Dauphine if that were the only means to appease the tumults The Queen and Secretary Pinart kept the middle way and hoped that the Duke of Guise would fall from a great part of his demands The siege pressed very much on the one side there being no provision of victuals in the Louvre and it was feared that the people going out of the City would likewise besiege it on the other side and shutting up the passage towards the fields reduce the King and the whole Court presently into their power but then again the Propositions were such as the King could in no wise hearken unto The night was spent in this manner full of terrour and uncertainty the Duke of Guise being diligent in visiting the Guards of the City every hour lest their carelesness and negligence should give the Kings Souldiers opportunity to recover those places they had lost before and lest the darkness should give occasion to some disorder or stir up some tumult In the morning after Mass the King and Queen-Mother being shut up privately together resolved that she should return to the Duke of Guise and making some shew of consenting to the Agreement should draw the Treaty out in length whilst the King should secretly get out of the new Gate on the back-side of the Gardens of the Louvre which was in his power and escaping from Paris before the Enemies had time to block it up should go to the City of Chartres the
till that time he had had very little or nothing to do Martin Ruzay Sieur de Beaulieu and Lowis de Rouel were made Secretaries of State both men of unblemished reputation faithful dis-interessed and bred up in his service from their youth but not esteemed to have too great a reach in affairs of Government and matters of State On this manner he thought he had taken away from about him as he said the prying Foxes eyes and that he had assured himself he should receive faithful and sufficient service so that his Ministers should not search deeper into his designes then he of his own voluntary accord was pleased to impart unto them By this novelty the whole Court was transformed not onely in shew but also in the form and manner of Government for the Duke of Guise whoformerly was wont to have but small share in the Councel seâ—med now to moderate all the resolutions of it and together with him the Arch-bishop of Lyons and the Sieur de la Chastre his near Dependents were held in very great esteem and in the Cabinet-Councel where the Queen-Mother was wont to bear all the sway now by reason of the King's suspitions her part was not very much and all the old Confidents being excluded onely the Marescal d' Aumont Colonel Alfonso Corso and the Sieur de Rambouillet had the King's ear and were the onely partakers of his most intimate determinations The Duke of Nevers also who in former times had been suspected and hated by him had now great power with the King who was now become different from himself Nor was he so much moved to it by the fame of his wisdom and experience which was generally known as because he was an emulator and a secret enemy of the Duke of Guise's greatness in so much that though they were Brothers-in-law their Wives being Sisters yet could not the one brook the others advancement and now the Duke of Nevers his inward animosity was so much the more increased by seeing that the Duke of Guise having obtained the power of Lieutenant-General ruled all and commanded every one which being known unto the King and he desiring reciprocally to blow the fire of their hatred had declared the Duke of Nevers General of the Army that was to go into Poictou and Guienne to set them so much the more against one another and to the end that their emulation might grow from thoughts to deeds because on the one side he knew Nevers would never endure to obey Guise and on the other that Guise to tread down Nevers and because he was jealous of him would not fail to go unto the Army Whereupon their secret heart-burnings would break forth into open discord and dissention To avoid which though the Duke of Nevers foreseeing the same tryed by all excuses of his age indisposition and other occasions to decline that charge yet the King would never consent to confer it upon any other thinking also that was no convenient time to trust the Command of an Army in the hands of a person whom he suspected By these Arts the mindes of both parties being more kindled against each other the King was still secretly informed by the Duke of Nevers concerning all particulars that might make to the Duke of Guise's disadvantage whereby it came to pass that he who before was suspected became now his absolute Confident With these practices the Court arrived at Blois the seven and twentieth day of September where the Deputies of the Provinces were already met together in whose election though both parties had taken much pains yet the dependents of the League did much exceed for the Order of the Clergy drawn by the interests of Religion did in a manner wholly incline to that side and the Order of Commons exasperated by the heaviness of impositions and whose end it was to cause them to be removed did willingly joyn with the King's Enemies who promised nay professed they would ease the people of the excessive weight of Contributions and among the Nobility were many neerly interessed with the House of Lorain and the League whereby the King perceived plainly at the very first that in this Congregation the Duke of Guise would captivate all mens opinions and obtain all his own desires But being disposed to go another way and desiring to satisfie all humours having received the Deputies indifferently with great signes of apparent good will to all he composed his mind to make shew that he had setled all the hope of his own quiet and of the safety of the Kingdom in those remedies which were to be applyed by the States Wherefore intending to begin a business which he fained to esteem of so great consequence with wonderful great state and preparation upon Sunday the second of October he caused a solemn procession to be made in which he himself being present with all the Princes all the Court and all the Deputies of every order in their places the Sacrament was carried with exceeding pomp through the Streets which for that purpose were all hung with Tapistry high Mass was sung with show of profound and sincere devotion in every one and the Sunday after being the ninth day of the Moneth the King himself and the Duke of Guise with all the Deputies received the Communion publickly in the Church of St. Francis confirming by that holy pious action the correspondence and reciprocal intelligence which they shewed to perfect the happiness of the Kingdom for which end they professed that the States-General were come together The Assembly began upon the third Sunday being the sixteenth day of the moneth when presently after dinner all those being met in the Great Hall of the Castle who ought to be present at so solemn a Convention the King sate down in a Throne raised by many steps from the earth and covered with a very rich Cloth of State the Queens Princes Cardinals Peers and Officers of the Crown sate upon seats fitted for that purpose in two long rowes on the right hand and on the left and between them in the inner part of the Theater sate the Deputies according to the antient preeminence of their degrees and the Duke of Guise as Grand Maistre with his Staff of Office in his hand sate down upon a stool at the foot of the State on the right hand and on the left sate the Sieur de Monthelon who represented the person of the High-Chancellor of the Kingdom When every one was setled in his place and order the King accompanied with a Royal Majesty and singular eloquence gave beginning to the assembly of the States with a long elegant Oration wherein attesting his most earnest desires of the good and welfare of his People and shewing the dangerous troublesome condition wherein intestine discords and private interests had involved the Crown he exhorted every one of them effectually to lay aside their passions to forget their enmities to avoid the animosity of Factions and providing by
Mareschal d' Aumonâ— and the Duke of Longueville having assembled the Kings adherents went the same way and were not far from meeting one another all the Deputies being also in arms some for one side some for the other and so great was the terrour and the assurance that there was a bloody conflict in the Castle that many who fled away for fear carried the news abroad and the report came to Paris that all the Court were cutting one another in pieces among themselves the event not being yet known The King having put on his arms went out of his private lodgings doubtful that the Duke Guise endeavoured by that means to prevent him and all his followers that had wherewithal did the same and so being armed they expected with more assurance to turn their assistance whither most need required On the other side the Duke of Guise who sate talking with the Queen-Mother neither moved his place nor countenance but thinking it to be what indeed it was said so often to the Queen and perceiving that some of his Gentlemen seeing the advantage of their party expected some token from him to proceed further he kept his look still firm upon the ground turning toward the fire and gave no sign at all of his intentions either not assenting to the business or desiring they should go on but without his fault or order In the mean time the Sieur de Grillon having commanded the Souldiers of the Guard to stand to their arms made the quarrel be parted the fire being easily extinguished because there was no fuel added to it by the Heads of the two parties and so in the space of little more than an hour the whole uproar was appeased and setled in the former quietness an accident that had a terrible beginning and a ridiculous end but shewed evident marks of the most ardent hatred kindled morâ— than ever between the Factions But things were now brought to their full maturity for the Duke of Guise having sufficiently tryed the Deputies both in general and particular and being grown more secure and bold by these late tryals began to get the business introduced of his being made Lieutenant-General at the request and with the authority of the States which was the last aim of his present hopes and the King losing his power and reputation every day more and more and seeing that billow which he had so often avoided now coming to break upon him his long patience was at length turned into fury so that the course of so many contrivances could no longer be withheld from breaking forth to their appointed end The King had from the beginning intended to put the Duke of Guise to death with all his chief adherents and dependents being thereunto incited by the sense of past injuries and the apprehension of future dangers he was only withheld by the respect he bore to the Catholick Religion and his fear lest the Pope who besides his being of a fierce resolute nature he saw was infinitely inclined to favour the League should make use of Spiritual weapons against him and stir up all the Princes of Christendom to do him mischief whom by reason of the divisions of his Kingdom they knew to be in a weak and dangerous condition But because he was assured that the Catholick King and the Duke of Savoy would most certainly be against him and that the Queen of England the Swisses and Protestants of Germany would be for him and that the other Princes were so far off that they could do him but little harm he turned his mind wholly towards the Princes of Italy among which the Pope was chief by reason of the authority of the Apostolick See and of the Spiritual Arms that were in his power and then the Venetian Senate as well for the eminent opinion of their wisdom as for the supplies of money which he might hope for from them in time of need and finally the Grand Duke of Thuscany from whom he remembred King Charles the Ninth had in the heat of War received considerable assistance both of men and money To win the Pope and make him his Friend besides a most propense inclination which he had shewed to cause the Council of Trent to be received by the States and the great respect which upon all occasions he had shown to the Ecclesiastical Order he had also sent Iehan Marquiss of Pisani his Ambassador to Rome a man â—f long experience and of a dexterous mature wit who his Wife being a Roman of the Family of Savella was wonderfully versed in that Court and acceptable to the Pope himself and to the whole Consistory of Cardinals by whose means he laboured not only to keep Sixtus favourable unto him by all the demonstrations of duty and confidence but also to dive into the affections of his Nephews and Favourites by all those ways which his sagacity could invent And because he conjectured that the relations of the Cardinal Legat as one who was upon the place and was both by the Pope and the whole world esteemed a man of singular wisdom would have great power which way soever they should incline he used all his endeavours to make him his Friend and Confident which was not very hard to do as well because the Cardinal being a Venetian by birth was naturally inclined to the good and greatness of the Crown and because his particular genius abhorred the new turbulent Counsels of the League Wherefore the King trusting him with many secrets and seeming to depend much upon his advice and authority he had by his means not only obtained absolution for the Prince of Conty and Count of Soissons to the prejudice of the League but also having made him acquainted with many hidden things which were managed under the name of Religion had perswaded him to withdraw his hand from favouring the Duke of Guise for the prudence of the Cardinal being there present had sounded to the bottom of those things which always came to Rome covered with the specious title of Religion whereupon by his relations opportunely introduced the Popes mind was brought into so much doubt and suspence that he often told the Spanish Ambassadors and the Agents of the League he could not see clearly into the affairs of France It was more easie to gain the Venetian Senate for besides the many acts of friendship shewed by that Republick to Charles the Ninth in the greatest exigencies of his Kingdom and besides the real welcoms wherewith the present King had been received in the City of Venice which had produced a reciprocal and confident friendship between them the proceedings also of the Senate were very much averse from the Disturbers of quietness and from Conspirers of new designs and their own interests made them to desire the peace and union of the Kingdom of France under the obedience of the natural King to the end that being united in strength it might counterpoise the excessive greatness of other Christian Potentates
two and twentieth day he told them he desired some business that concerned him might be dispatched the next morning that with a quiet mind he might retire himself to perform his exercises of devotion for the holy Time that was at hand and therefore he intreated all of them to come early to the Council In the mean time the suspicion of this business no body knows which way was crept so far that a confused knowledge of it came unto the ear of the Duke of Guise himself who being in private with the Cardinal his Brother and the Archbishop of Lyons consulted whether he should give credit to that report and whether believing it he should go from the States to avoid that danger The Cardinal said It was better to fail in believing too much than in being too confident and that it was good to lean to the securer side and perswaded his departure so earnestly that the Duke set his affairs in order to go away the next morning but the Archbishop of Lyons opposed that resolution so stifly that he caused it almost at the same time to be altered He shewed what a lightness it was to believe a rumour of fame not grounded upon any certain proof that it might be a plot of the Kings to make him go away and leave the States to the end that all hopes designs and practices falling at once he might be left free from that yoak which he saw preparing for him by the consent of the States and he being gone that should order and moderate the affections and promises of the Deputies who should withstand the Kings authority and cunning Who should hinder the State from coming to a contrary end from what they had designed For he being absent the Deputies seeing themselves forsaken and left alone would fall under the Kings authority and in reverence to the Royal Name would make their determinations according to his pleasure and revoke those already past disturb matters already established and reduce the Government to the former or perhaps to a worse condition to the total ruine and utter destruction of the League that all those of his party would with reason complain that they had been betray'd and meanly forsaken by him and every one by his example would think of their own interests and to make their peace with the King so that in the end he alone would be left forsaken and abandoned in conclusion that it was better though the danger were certain to hazard only his life by staying than certainly to lose both life and honour at once by going away His departure being deferred the Duke of Elbeuf came in who being made privy to the business in debate confirmed the opinion of the Archbishop of Lyons adding many things to prove that the Duke of Guise was so well accompanied with faithful Friends all fast united that the King would not dare to think of so rash an enterprise and that he wondered they should now be in so much fear of those forces which till then they had ever undervalued and despised Whereupon the Duke of Guise taking courage resolved not only to stay till the end of the Assembly but shewed also evident signs of slighting those rumours that ran about the Court. The evening of the twenty second being come the King commanded Monsieur de Larchant one of the Captains of his Guard to double them the next morning and to keep the Hall-door after the Lords of the Council were gone in but that he should do it in such a manner as the Duke of Guise might not suspect any thing Wherefore having staid with a great number of his Souldiers the same night till the Duke came from his own Lodgings to the Kings he went to him in the middle of the way and beseeched him that he would be pleased to speak a good word for those poor Souldiers who had wanted their pay a great many months that they made their address to him as the Head and Protector of all Souldiers and that the next day he would wait upon him with the same Company in the morning to put him in mind to speak in their behalf to the Council The Duke answered courteously and promised the Captain and the Souldiers to take great care for their satisfaction The same night the King gave order to his Nephew the Grand Prior of France to make a match at Tennis the next morning with the Prince of Iainville Son to the Duke of Guise and to keep him in play till he received further order from him In the morning the King made himself ready before day under colour of going personally to the Council and pretending he should stay there many hours dismissed all his Servants and in his Closet there remained only Revol the Secretary of State Colonel Alfonso Corso and Monsieur de la Bastide a Gascon Gentleman of very great courage who were all commanded by him to stay there In his Chamber was St. Pris one of his old Gentlemen-Waiters in the Wardrobe the Count de Termes Great Chamberlain who was a Kinsman of the Duke d' Espernon's and in the Ante-chamber two Pages an Usher that waited at the Council-Chamber-door and Lognac with Eight of the Five and forty to whom the King had with very great promises signified his pleasure and found them most ready to obey his command It was about break of day when the Counsellors met and there went into the great Hall Cardinal Gondy the Cardinal of Vendosm the Mareschals of Aumont and Retz Monthelon the Garde des Seaux Francois Sieur d' O Nicholas Sieur de Rambouillet the Cardinal of Guise the Archbishop of Lyons and at last appeared the Duke of Guise to whom Captain Larchant stepping forward with a greater number of Souldiers than the night before presented him a Petition for their pay and with that excuse accompanied him and brought him to the Hall-door where being entered and the door shut the Souldiers made a long lane to the bottom of the stairs seeming to stay there to wait for an answer of their Petition and at the same time Monsieur Grillon caused the Gates of the Castle to be locked whereupon many suspected what would be the event and Pelicart the Dukes Secretary writ a little Note in these words My Lord save your self or you are dead And having put it up into a Handkerchief gave it to one of the Dukes Pages to carry it to the Keeper of the Council-Chamber-door pretending that the Duke had forgot to take it when he went forth of his Chamber but the Souldiers would not suffer the Page to pass In the mean time the Duke being come into the Council and set near the fire fell into a little swoon whether it were that he remembred himself of the danger in which he was being separated from all his dependents or that Nature as it often happens presaging his future misfortune did of her self give that shew of resentment or
Duke of Mayenne to consent to peace goes out of the Kingdom The war is begun furiously in every place The Duke of Montpensier defeats the Gautiers in Normandy The Kings of France and Navarre meet in the City of Tours The Duke of Mayenne takes the Duke of Vendosm and the Count de Brienne prisoner he assaults the Kings Infantry in the Fauxbourgs of Tours and takes and possesseth himself of many Posts The King of Navarre comes up with his Army and the Duke going away takes many places in his march toward Normandy The Duke of Aumale besieges Senlis fights with the Duke of Longueville and Sieur de la Noue and loses the day The Duke of Mayenne to recover this loss marches towards Paris The King with his Army follows the same way takes Gergeau Piviers Chartres Estampes Montereau Poissy and other places he joyns with the Duke of Montpensier The Swisses and Germans raised for his assistance arrive He takes the adjacent Towns and layes siege to Paris where the Duke of Mayenne and the People having but small hopes to defend themselves resolve to stand it out to the utmost Frier Jaques Clement a Dominican goes out of the City is brought into the King's Chamber and stabs him into the belly with a knife the King dying declares the King of Navarre his lawful successor and perswades him to turn Catholick The Army and particularly the Nobility waver in their resolutions at last they resolve to acknowledge the King of Navarre provided Religion might be secured He makes them a promise in writing to imbrace the Roman-Catholique-Faith He rises from Paris by reason of the wasting of his Army makes shew as if he would besiege Rouen and goes to Diepe The Duke of Mayenne much encreased in strength follows him they fight at Pollet at Arques and under the Walls of Diepe Supplies come to the King from many parts The Duke of Mayenne marches off and goes into Picardy the King enlarges himself towards the Isle of France He takes and sacks the suburbs of Paris goes directly to Tours and by the way seizeth upon many places He enters into that City is received with great pomp sits in the Parliament excuses to the Nobility his delay of changing his Religion Marches into lower Normandy and reduceth all that Province into his power AFter the bloody Tragedy which ended the year 1588 followed a dreadful terrible alteration of the Scene for the news of the death of the Lords of Guise being come the same day to Orleans the next to Paris and from hand to hand into all parts of the Kingdom it is not possible to believe how much it troubled and disturbed the mindes not onely of the common people inclined by nature and custom to embrace all emergent occasions of change but of all degrees and all qualities of persons and which seemed very strange of many also who in times past had been esteemed prudent moderate men This so great perturbation of mens minds produced in their first fury rash precipitate effects for the City of Orleans which for a long time before had held the party of the League and moreover had been wont in all the course of the Civil Wars to be first up in Armes having heard of the Duke of Guise's death and the imprisonment of all the rest by them who fleeing hastily from Blois were gotten thither at the first stage and particularly by the Sieur de Rossieuz one of the Counsellors of the League without any determinate resolution and without staying for a Head to order them they took Arms openly the very same night and having driven away or suppressed the King's Magistrates who endeavoured to hinder the Insurrection they went all confusedly to assault the Fortress in which Monsieur d' Entraques his Lieutenant was for the King with a very few Soldiers and as in a sudden accident in want of all those things which are necessary to make good a place The Citizens of Chartres did the same though in the late Commotions it had been of the King's party and having taken Arms thrust out all that favoured the King's name or that would have opposed the Insurrection and began to govern it self without the consent of the Magistrates But the news being come to Paris upon Christmas-eve at the shutting in of the day brought first by a Post dispatched from Don Bernardino Mendozza and afterward by Captain Hippolito Zanzala of Ferrara one of the Captains entertained by the Duke of Guise the Shops were hastily shut up and the multitude in their wonted tumult ran some to the Hostel de Guise where were the Dutchesses of Guise and Montpensier the Dukes Wife and Sister and some to the City Gates to look for more certain news and more distinct particulars of the business which when they had learned by the arrival of those who having fled from Blois came all running without stay to Paris the people sometimes with howlings sometimes with lamentations sometimes with exceeding fierce cries wavered in their resolutions there not being yet any one ready to govern the violence and direct the determinations of the confused giddy multitude For the Dutchess of Guise with a Womanish softness was all in tears and the Dutchess of Montpensier a Lady of a haughty mind and full of bold manly spirits who had torn the Kings name and credit more with her Tongue than her Brothers had done with their Swords and all their practices being from her birth lame of one foot and subject to frequent infirmities was then lying in her bed and had already been indisposed for many dayes Wherefore the Council of the League being come together in the midst of the tumultuous people resolved to send for Charles of Lorain Duke of Aumale who fleeing from the States at Blois out of a certain presaging fear had staid in Paris and that very day was retired to his devotions to the Covent of Carthusians hard by the City at whose arrival though late at night all the multitude ran to his house but onely spent the time in bewailings and lamentations The next day the whole City being in grief they dispatched Divine Service quickly without their wonted Musick and Singing and from the Churches being come to the Town-house the same Council met again there at which were present the most noted Citizens and also many of the Magistrates some drawn by an anxious curiosity some driven by the fear of being torn in pieces by the fury of the multitude and some came with a desire to find remedy against the unbridled rashness of the common people But it was all in vain For in stead of Counsels there being nothing heard but bitter Invectives and Injurious Threats against the King's name they resolved in the first place that till a further determination the Duke of Aumale should be declared Governor of the City and that under his obedience they should from new advertisements expect new occasion of taking another resolution Yet he not
quitted seize upon those already fortified take rich men prisoners lay wait for the lives of their adversaries pillage the goods of the Country people rob upon the high-wayes and with horrible unheard of wickedness and without fear of Justice or Form of Government filled every thing with terror mourning and confusion so that all commerce being broken of it self the Wayes beset the Gentry and Commons armed and even the very Clergy encompassed with Guards and Weapons sometimes under the names of Hugonots and Catholicks sometimes of Royallists and Leaguers sometimes of the Holy Vnion and White Forces sometimes of Navarrists and Lorains they were as with a fatal general frenzy bent upon the destruction of their common Country But the King to whom the news of these Insurrections were brought every hour from all parts was exceeding sollicitous to appease the Deputies and to shew them the necessity he had to free himself of the Lords of the House of Lorain For he thought that they returning into their own Countries with the impression of his reasons might help very much to settle those mindes that were violently stirred up and to restore their Cities unto the wonted obedience and therefore did very carefully cause inquisition to be made concerning the intelligences held by the Lords of Guise both within and without the Kingdom about the pensions which they had received from Spain and particularly that they had consented to the conspiracy of the Duke of Savoy whereby he had possessed himself of the Marquesate of Saluzzo though beyond the Alpes a most important member of the Crown and in this they proceeded by the Writings Letters and Accounts that had been found and the depositions of prisoners Monsieur de Monthelon Garde de Seaux and two Masters of the Requests assisting to form the Process and examine Witnesses But the secret opinions of the States were divers though they all resulted to the same end For those who before held for the King being confirmed and encouraged by what had passed stood more boldly and stoutly for the Royal Authority and that all things might be concluded according to his intentions But those that were for the League and that depended upon the House of Guise being in fear for themselves sought all manner of means to the end that the Congregation of the States breaking up of any fashion they might have leave to depart freely having resolved afterwards to dispose of themselves according to their own inclinations notwithstanding all that should be determined in the Assembly as things extorted violently by fear and force Which though the King perceived by more signs than one and knew clearly that every one making a fair shew endeavoured to withdraw himself and depart yet desiring to justifie his actions he again confirmed the Edict of the Vnion in the States hoping to take away all suspicion from the Legat who did very much press for that Declaration and from his Catholick Subjects of his adhering to the Hugonots or of labouring to procure the King of Navarr's succession whilst he was disobedient to the Roman Catholick Church Afterwards the Edicts being confirmed which had been made for the moderation of Taxes and lessening the number of Offices in all other things he kept on the same way being diligent to shew that he had done all of his own accord and not as having been constrained by the Duke of Guise Finally many Decrees were made about the form of Judicature and other matters touching the ease and relief of the People and in this manner the States concluded the most suspected of them with deep dissimulation striving in emulation of one another to shew themselves the King 's dependents and affectionate to his service Among which were the Count de Brisâ—ao the Sieur de Bois Dauphin Bernard the Advocate and others who assoon as they were gone from Blois joyned again unto the party of the League The King besides the frequent news of so many Insurrections was infinitely troubled at the loss of Orleans for he took great thought about it and had laboured with all possible diligence to keep it as a City that was near unto him seated upon the great road of Paris and very convenient to make the seat of the War And though presently after the death of the Lords of Guise he had sent thither first Monsieur de Dunes Brother to Monsieur d' Entraques and then the Mareschal d' Aumont with some of the Soldiers of his own Guard yet Claude de Lorain Knight of Ierusalem Brother to the Duke of Aumale being come to assist the People with supplies sent by the Parisians the obstinacy of their sollicitousness in assaulting it was so great and so great the want of Ammunition and other things necessary to defend it that in the end of Ianuary the Mareschal d' Aumont marching away with Four hundred men gave way that some few who remained should render it up unto the people and so that City was left totally in the power of the League But above all things the means of appeasing the Pope kept the King in greatest perplexity for though the Legat knowing all things that had passed in France shewed himself from the beginning very favourable to his party and ready to represent what had been done advantageously for him at Rome yet was he not certain what the Pope would think of it being far from the place and perchance having received an ill impression both by the relations of the League and the ill Offices of the Spaniards Wherefore presently after the Cardinal of Guise's death he dispatched most particular informations to Iehan de Vivonne Marquiss of Pisani his Ambassador at Rome that he might have wherewithal to answer those things which might be objected and wherewithal to make good his reasons and having before sent Girolamo Gondi a Florentine to the Pope to intreat him to make the Cardinal of Guise his Legat at Avignon now changing his Commission he gave him order to take Post and make all possible haste to Rome to excuse the death of the same Cardinal unto the Pope and if need were to intercede for his absolution for it But the Pope having received the news of the Duke's death first seemed to make no great reckoning of it and turning to the Cardinal of Ioyeuse who was there present he said See what becomes of such men as commit errors and afterwards know not how to look to themselves But four dayes after the news being arrived of the Cardinals death and the imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lyons being a man of a most fierce precipitate nature he broke forth into so great wrath that thundering on every side he caused the Ambassadors to be called before him to whom with very sharp words he told the news he had received complaining beyond measure of the King That he had had the boldness contrary to the Ecclesiastical Immunities and contrary to the Priviledges of the dignity
favoured and exalted their family as he desired to do again for the time to come and that therefore he prayed him not to let himself be guided and transported by his affection to his Brothers but to remember that he had been forced by those attempts which he certainly knew had ever been unpleasing to him as one averse from the ambition and evil designs of his Brothers that for that reason he had ever desired to exalt him and had alwayes conferred upon him the commands of his Armies because he knew him to be far from those wicked arts which the others had intended to practice He exhorted him to persevere in that good and laudable resolution not to make himself an instrument to divide the Catholick party and tear in pieces their common Countrey nor to joyn himself to the ambition of factious men from which even in the fervour of his youth he had ever been averse but shewing that he made more account of the general good and his own duty towards his Prince than of those private passions which use to draw and govern mean vulgar spirits he would sincerely unite himself to him to preserve the peace of the Catholicks and make War against the Hugonots which if he would consent unto he offered him all manner of security and the most reasonable satisfaction he could desire But the Duke's mind was already set upon other thoughts never believing that he could be secure much less favoured by the King who gave him those fair words because he was escaped out of the net and seeing the great distractions of the Kingdom he hoped for a much higher power and greatness then what his brothers had possessed wherefore his inclinations and hope meeting both together in the same end and thinking that it so became his honour he leaned toward revenge and the command of that faction which resolution was absolutely concluded after that Madam de Montpensier not valuing her own health nor the inconveniency of the season came with great speed to Dijon whose vehement effectual exhortations and the Letters of the Duke of Aumale and many others of the faction exciting him he at last determined to consent to the taking up of Arms and to prosecute the designs of the League making himself Head of the Holy-Vnion The resolution being taken he presently gave order to the Sieurs de Rhosne de St. Paul Chamois and d' Eschavoles to receuit their Regiments of French Foot and began to summon the Nobility and Gentry his dependents and to win the hearts of the people in every place And because the foundation consisted in the City of Paris the Duke determined to go thither with Madam de Montpensier the way being now secure by the taking of the Castle of Orleans and by the revolt of Bourges Troye and Chartres The Duke passed through all these Cities gathering Forces and drawing men together some raised with his own Money some brought in by his friends and adherents and some furnished by the People and being already grown to the number of Four thousand soldiers and Five hundred Gentlemen he came upon the fifteenth of February into the City of Paris There the Duke and Chevalier d' Aumale putting themselves willingly under his authority and the Councel of the Vnion with most ready consent of the Citizens acknowledging him for their Head the Parliament having assembled all the Chambers Bernabe Brisson first President of the League making the Proposition declared him Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France giving him except the name the very power and authority which uses to be natural to their Kings which yet they intended should continue but till the States-General of the Kingdom should determine otherwise they being appointed to meet in the City of Paris in the month of Iuly following Thus the Duke of Guise's death did with admirable facility and the universal inclination of that party produce that power in his brother which he with so many toils and so long machinations had so eagerly laboured for in his life-time yet never could obtain it for himself Upon the two and twentieth of February the Duke took possession in the Parliament of this extraordinary dignity having taken a publick Oath to protect and defend the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion against every one To preserve entire the State belonging to the Crown of France To defend the Priviledges of the three Orders the Clergy Nobility and Commons and To cause the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom to be observed as also the authority and power of the Parliaments After which Oath many Prayers and Processions having been made he chose and appointed the Council of the Union consisting of Forty of the most eminent perspicuous persons of the League which with his assistance was to treat of and conclude all the most weighty businesses the Council of Sixteen being nevertheless still left and particularly appointed for the especial Government of Paris Having taken the command of the League upon him the Duke began to increase the Body of his Forces to form an Army of them with which he might march whither need should require But in every Province he allotted both Forces and Commanders to order the affairs of the League and to make War against those who were yet of the Kings party Bretagne was governed by the Duke de Mercoeur who not at all moved with the Kings and his Sisters Exhortations to unite himself unto them was very strong and powerful having with his authority made all that Province to revolt except the Parliament of Renes and some few Towns and little Castles In Normandy it hapned otherwise for though the greatest part of the Towns had declared for the League yet the Nobility held of the Kings party so that the Heads were few and divided The Sieur de la Londe at Rouen Andre Braneace Sieur de Villars at Havre de Grace Long-champ at Lisieux and the Baron d' Eschaufour in the Country of Perche Wherefore the Duke sent the Count of Brissac thither with authority to command them all The Duke of Aumale who was Governour of it went into Picardy a divided Province yet one of the most favoured by the League because it bordered upon the Territories of the Catholick King The Count de Chaligny and Col. St. Paul an old Servant bred up in that Family went into Champagne a Province destined in succession of his Father to the young Duke of Guise who was yet in prison The Viscount de Tavannes an old experienced Souldier had order to command in Bourgongne the particular Government of the Duke of Mayenne The care of Lyonois was given to the Duke of Nemours and in his absence to his Brother the Marquess of St. Sorlin The command of Berry continued under the Sieur de la Chastre who being Field-Mareschal in the Duke of Nevers his Army assoon as he could free himself of that obstacle followed the party of the League as he had formerly
still with continual pains and exceeding great charge he endeavoured to subdue the City of Geneva the basis and foundation of Calvinism he laboured to win the protection of the Legate who not being well informed how matters went did not take notice that the Duke brought on his pretensions that way because he had no better prop to uphold them and strove to get into favour with the Pope and Legate to draw supplies from them of men and money whereby he might bring those of Geneva under his yoke and fortifie and establish himself in the possession of the Marquesate of Saluzzo against whosoever should at last be elected and acknowledged King of France wherein he saw he could not have a more safe Protector than the Pope But the Cardinal Legate being come into France was not long before he found effects contrary to his opinion for having sent to require Colonel Alfonso Corso not only to forbear molesting Grenoble and Valence which Cities alone held for the League in Dauphine but also that as a Catholick and a Stranger he should forsake the King's party and joyn with the Vnion that trial proved vain for the answer he received was That he was indeed a Catholick and an obedient Son to the Apostolick See in Spiritual things but that having made his fortune as a Soldier in the service of the King of France he could not desist from following him and following him he was bound to do that to Grenoble and Valence which he thought fit for the affairs of the Prince whom he served By which answer the Legat was a little dashed who was so much the more troubled when being come to Lyons he found the business of the League in such disorder by the King 's prosperous success that he was so far from obtaining any thing else that he could neither have security nor convoy to prosecute his journey for the Count of Brissac appointed at first by the Duke of Mayenne to meet him and secure his passage was necessitated to face about and imploy himself in the affairs of Normandy and Monsieur de la Bourdaiâ—iere to whom that Commission was given afterward had been defeated by the King's Forces under the command of the Sieur de Pralin near Bar upon the Seine so that being reduced into very great perplexity he knew not by what resolution to steer his course so various were the things that represented themselves to his consideration The Duke of Nevers being retired home and not interessed on either side invited him to come into his State where standing neuter as befitted one that represented the Apostolick See he might freely take those wayes that should appear most convenient to him and this determination seemed to agree with the Popes intentions and instructions On the other side the Duke of Mayenne ceased not to sollicite him to come to Paris shewing him that without the authority of his name and without those helps which were hoped for from him the League was in danger to be dissolved and to be subdued by the King's Forces and by consequence not only the City of Paris but all the rest of the Kingdom would remain oppressed by the Hugonot party The King did not at all despair but that if he could not be wrought to come into the places under his obedience he might at least be perswaded to stay in some Neutral Town out of the way and perchance to go to the City of Avignion till he saw the issue of the Duke of Luxembourgs Embassie at Rome to forward which hopes he had caused to be published That if the Popes Legat who was reported to be coming should take his journey toward him every one should receive honor and reverence him taking care neither to offend him nor any of his followers and should by all means give him safe conduct and security But if he went towards the quarters of the League he did expresly forbid every one to acknowledge him for a Legat or to receive him into those places that were under his obedience upon pain of Rebellion But the Legat did not only think it unsafe to go to the Duke of Nevers a weak Prince who had neither Fort nor principal City wherein he might shelter himself from the snares of the Hugonots and unhandsome to return back But also he esteemed it much more indecent and prejudicial to abandon the Catholick party and by that demonstration utterly to confound and deject the mindes of those who were for the League with a manifest increase of the King's Forces and reputation from whence a greater mischief would have followed in Spiritual then in Temporal Matters because to the Popes dishonor the Catholick party would have been abandoned through his default and the King who at that time for fear of his enemies made shew both in words and actions that he would turn Catholick would be left free with power to do what he pleased without respect of any Body and finally he thought with himself that he was come into France not onely to compose the Discords but principally to endeavor the suppression of the King of Navarre an enemy to the Church and the election of a new King depending wholly upon the Pope as a friend and confident to the Kingdom of Spain This opinion had so much power with him that being grounded upon decency and not finding any obstacle to the contrary in his Commission he resolved at last to satisfie the party of the League and to go on without delay to Paris Wherefore seeing the Duke of Mayenne extreamly taken up with Military employments he sent Monsignor Bianchetti to the Duke of Lorain to demand a Convoy of him for his safe passage which being obtained without difficulty passing by Dijon and Troys he came upon the Twentieth day of Ianuary into the City of Paris being received with most solemn pomp and lodged in the Bishops Palace richly and sumptuously furnished with the King's stuff taken out of the Lodgings of the Louvre At his arrival he caused the Popes Breve of the Fifteenth of October to be published wherein after an honorable commemoration of the merits of the Kingdom of France toward the Apostolick See and of the reciprocal benefits and kind demonstrations of it towards the most Christian Kings in all times and after having compassionately deplored the present troubles and calamities he attested that with the counsel of the Cardinals he had chosen Cardinal Gaetano Legat to the Kingdom of France with power to use by the Divine assistance all means which by him should be thought fit to protect the Catholick Religion to recall Hereticks into the bosome of the Church to restore the peace and tranquillity of the Kingdom and finally to procure that under one onely good pious and truly Catholick King the people of the Kingdom might to the glory of God live in quietness and tranquillity after so many dangers and calamities of War Wherefore he did pray and exhort all the Orders
appertained to his Son the Marquiss du Pont as being born likewise of Claude the Sister of Henry the Third and took it very ill that any other of the House of Lorain should dare to stand in competition with him the Head and Chief of the Family The Duke of Savoy likewise pretended a right to the Kingdom because he was born of Margaret the Sister of King Henry the Second and trusted that he should perchance be favoured by the Spaniard but perswaded himself certainly that he should have the protection of the Pope These two Princes besides their designs upon the Crown had also other particular aims The Duke of Lorain to get Metz Thoul Verdun and the Dutchy of Sedan upon which places he had divers pretentions The Duke of Savoy to conserve the Marquesate of Saluzzo and by that as it began after to be discovered he hoped to joyn Provence to his State a very commodious Province and opportune by reason of the footing he had there already possessing in it the City and County of Nizza The Duke of Nemours and the Duke of Mercoeur thought also of this division of the Kingdom into many parts The first out of a desire to reduce his Government of Lyons into a proper Signory the other to attain Bretagne which by ancient rights he pretended did belong unto his Wife and many others among particular men who out of a design to reduce their Governments into patrimonies would willingly have followed that resolution Of so great diversity of humours and designs and of so great variety of Counsels was the League composed who justling and thwarting one another interrupted the course of affairs and slackned that fervour wherewith from the beginning they had conspired to establish that bond which seemed to have no other end save that of Religion Nor could the variety of counsels or the uncertainty of the resolutions of the League be unknown to the King by reason of the experience he had of them and of the intelligence which came daily to him and therefore endeavouring to draw advanâ—â—ge from them and make profit of them he had from the time he departed from Diepe given liberty upon his parole to the Marquiss of Belin who had been taken prisoner in the business of Arques with Commission to proffer peace to the Duke of Mayenne in his name and to exhort him as a Prince of a good moderate nature not to consent to the pernitious thoughts of strangers but that freeing himself from the vexations of the common people and from the arts of the Spaniards he would hearken to a good wholsom Accommodation for by that means he might with more desert and honor obtain whatsoever he himself could desire of him And at the same time he had brought to pass under-hand that the Catholicks of his party should pray the same Marquiss to beseech the Duke of Mayenne from them that he would exhort and perswade the King to turn Catholick for that was the way to reduce him into the bosom of the Church and with his honor and reputation to restore peace and tranquillity so necessary and so desired of all France But the Marquiss having done his message and reiterated it again after the King's departure from the Fauxbourgs of Paris the thoughts and reasons were different not onely in the minds of his Counsellors but also of the Duke of Mayenne himself They that favoured the Propositions of the Catholicks of the King's party said There could be no resolution taken either more to the purpose or of more benefit and honour to the Duke let the event be what it would for if the King should accept the invitation and make himself a Catholick Discords would thereby be buried Religion secured the Kingdom come into the hands of the lawful Successor and an end put to the fatal revolutions of Civil War That the name of the Duke would thereby remain glorious to all the World as the Author of so great a good his intentions would be justified and the end of his taking up Arms would plainly appear with the eternal Benedictions of all the people of France That as a consequent of so pious a work would result the freeing of the Cardinal of Bourbon who in so decayed an age one ought to believe desired rather his liberty and a quiet passage out of this life than a vain shadow of dominion accompanied with a most strict imprisonment That thereupon likewise would follow the freeing of the Dukes of Guise and Elboeuf of whose recovery they had for a long time had but small or no hopes And finally that the state of the Duke himself and of his posterity would be as great as he hâ—â—self knew how to ask or desire But if the King should refuse to satisfie his request and should persevere in the Hugonot Religion then not only the reasons of the League would be justified to all the World to the confusion of those who did sinisterly interpret the actions of the Confederates but also the Catholicks who followed the King despairing of his conversion and having found the falsness of his promises would all forsake him whereby he remaining onely with the dependence of a few Hereticks it would be easie to suppress him and make an honorable end of the War by Victory On the other side they that disswaded from that resolution said That the War being wholly grounded upon the point of Religion that overture could not be made without a precedent Licence from the Pope whom it concerned to approve and confirm the Kings Conversion And that the Duke of Mayenne not being absolute Prince of the League but onely Head of his own party ought not to proceed to so important and so peremptory an act without the consent of all those that followed his party and of all the Princes that adhered to and favoured the League For if the Pope should not approve of his conversion whatsoever he should have treated or resolved on would remain void and of no effect and if the Confederates should not follow his determination they would chuse another Head and he would be left deprived of the prop of the Catholick party and unhappily exposed to the will of his enemies That this was a plot of the King himself to beget distrust between him and his party and to sow discords and suspicions among the Confederates That it might be he would fain himself a Catholick to the end he might more securely dispose of Religion at his own pleasure in which case the too hasty and too simple credulity of the Duke would for ever be condemned and likewise that the King to break the Union of the League would promise mountains of Gold but without any security that being setled King in peace he would not after observe that or the least part of that which he had promised from whence to his eternal blame would follow the ruine of himself and all his adherents That the course of present affairs required he should
wherein he declared the same things with very gentle words and proffers of all possible security and satisfaction He added also private kind Letters to the Duke of Nemours the Dutchess his Mother and to Madam de Guise exhorting each of them to Peace and assuring them all That they should receive more from his favour than they knew how to desire With this Answer the Deputies returned But the Duke of Nemours being averse from Peace by the counsel of the Legat and the Ambassador Mendozza would not give way that the Writing should be read unto the people but that the Deputies should tell them only that the King would have no other Agreement but that the City should put it self into his power without the assent of and without including the Duke of Mayenne and the other Lords of the League which being contrary to the sense of the major part especially of those of the Council for the City would by no means separate themselves from the Duke of Mayenne but run the same fortune with him to the uttermost the thought of Peace being laid aside they returned to the care of their defence In the mean time the Duke of Parma notwithstanding that he had made his opinion fully known in Spain had received a new absolute order from the Catholick King to march personally with the whole Army into France to relieve the Confederates and to raise the siege of Paris the Council believing that enterprise so honourable so important and full of so lively hopes that it was without doubt to be preferred before the interests of the affairs of Flanders which they thought to be reduced into such a condition that they could receive but little or no damage by the absence of the Duke and his Army for a few months and therefore approving that part of the Duke of Parma's opinion which was to nourish and prolong the War to obtain that from the weakness and the weariness of the French which at first seemed impossible to be effected they had nevertheless determined that Paris should be powerfully relieved purposely not to suffer the League to be so soon subdued and the King to remain Conquerour to whom that City being once taken all other things would become easie and quickly be dispatched Besides that that Monarchy even from the weakness of its beginnings having been accustomed ever to unite its own ends with the so favourable and plausible pretence of Religion it could not now in this important occasion disunite those interests so nearly joined without taking off that glorious reputation which they so much boasted of that they never had other Enemies but the Enemies of the Church it self Therefore they had caused a determinate order to be given the Duke that having strengthned those Garisons of Flanders as much as he could which were frontiers towards the Confederate States he should not defer to relieve the City of Paris with all his force which being once delivered and freed from the siege he should not care to proceed or do any thing further But the Duke assoon as he had received this last so absolute order was in much trouble which way to execute it For on the one side he could not leave the Cities of Flanders so well Garison'd but that some great loss was to be feared which in Spain where he saw the opinion in this business was very different from truth would be imputed to his carelesness and not to the necessity of things and the Orders he had received and on the other side he could not march into France without the strength of the Army being to make a War wherein there was little to be trusted to from his Friends and much to be feared from a brave valiant unwearied Enemy bred up in War and guarded with almost an invincible Body of French Nobility and so much the more because it was necessary to go and find him at home in the midst of all his Forces Moreover the straightness of time troubled him very much because he knew Paris was already reduced to the extreamest necessity of hunger and yet first to furnish Flanders with what was requisite and then to go into France with that order and thosâ— provisions which were fit for the greatness of the enterprise it was necessary to spend some time so that it was infinitely to be doubted the Parisians could not be able to hold out so long But as a Prince of high courage who to maturity of resolution joined celerity of execution judging this as indeed it was the most weighty and difficult enterprise that had ever fallen within his conduct he proposed to himself to overcome all difficulties and to effect it with that glory which he had gained in his other actions and therefore having disposed the order of all things in his mind he betook himself to the effecting of them with so much diligence that he hoped to be able to relieve Paris by the midst of August wherefore desiring neither to deceive nor be deceived as he had told the Duke of Mayenne before so he writ a Letter to the besieged about the end of Iuly wherein giving them an account of his expedition he assured them that he would be in France by the midst of the next month and exhorted them to overcome all difficulties and arm themselves with patience to expect that time within which he hoped certainly he should be able to free them from all trouble This Letter came to Paris upon the first of August and being read by the Magistrates and communicated to the people filled every one with wonderful great despair the time seeming so long to them that they believed they should never be able to hold it out with life wherefore the Souldiers began by stealth to forsake their Colours and fly away by night and the poor of the City being destitute of sustenance sought to get out of the siege and escape some whither else the Governours in chief not forbidding them who from the beginning had given leave to all to depart freely But the King as he willingly suffered the run-away Souldiers to pass so had he given strict orders that the Towns-men should be driven back and forced to return into the City knowing that the besieged sought to unburthen themselves which order being punctually executed by the Guards was the cause that very few of them could escape by stealth Among the greatest difficulties that the Governours had was the restraining of the Germans who having lived in all kind of liberty and without regard destroyed fair houses and gardens to sell the wood and get money now that every thing was consumed had given themselves over to all manner of villany so that they might but get any nourishment by it and many have reported that they secretly killed all the children they could get into their hands to feed upon their flesh and notwithstanding all this they began to mutiny and desire to disband though both the Duke
more urging conjuncture In the mean time the Viscount obtained that she should lend the King One hundred thousand Crowns for the Levies that were to be made That she should send the Six thousand Foot we spoke of into Bretagne for relief of the Prince of Dombes That along with him she should send Horatio Pallavicino a Genoâ—ise who for Religion was fled into that Island to perswade the States of Holland and the Princes of Germany to assist the King with men and money on their part and she promised likewise that if the Duke of Parma moved again to return into France she would powerfully assist Grave Maurice of Nassau and the Hollanders to make a strong diversion by entring into Brabant and Flanders With this Agreement the Viscount being gone out of England and come to the Hague obtained from the States of Holland not that which he pretended which was Thirty thousand Crowns ready money but Three thousand Foot paid which were to unite themselves with those Forces that were to be raised in Germany though afterwards by reason of the urgency of their affairs that promise also remained without effect With the Princes of Germany there was much more to do because there were many of them and their interests different but the Viscount carried himself with so much dexterity being opportunely assisted by Pallavicino that in the end of some he obtained men of some money and took order for the levying of Four thousand Horse and Eight thousand Foot which with a convenient Train of Artillery and Ammunition should be ready at the beginning of the Summer to march with him under the command of Christian Prince of Anhalt for the assistance of the King of France The thoughts that troubled the Duke of Mayenne were not very different from those that perplexed the King for there being many Princes of his Family who pretended no less than he he could not find means to satisfie them all and to the other Lords and Commanders of that party who continually demanded money to maintain the Souldiery it was impossible to give a full satisfaction whereupon many being displeased and many falling off he feared a division and that some would resolve to go over to the Kings party which was much to be doubted for on the one side the people thought themselves extraordinarily burthened and were no longer able to bear the losses and incommodities of the War on the other side the Souldiers were not contented with any kind of licentiousness nor did they ever cease crying out for liberty pay rewards and satisfactions but amongst them all the Parisians as they were chief of the party so were they chief in their complaints not only because they saw not that progress which from the beginning they had fancied to themselves but because the contributions and charges incâ—eased without end they accused the Duke of want of conduct or of too greedy a desire to engross all to himself or of extream profuseness and prodigality of other mens moneys nor did they consider what a huge gulf a Civil War is and how many interessed particulars were to be provided for in all parts of the Kingdom To this were added the practices of the Spanish Ministers who not to suffer the authority of the Duke of Mayenne whom they thought little inclined to follow their designs to grow too excessive and to put the Catholick King in greater reputation and favour with the people magnifying the expences supplies and provisions which had been afforded them cried out against the ill management of the Duke who for want of well employing them had reaped so little advantage There were some discontents between him and the Duke of Lorain for he having taken Villa Franca the Duke of Mayenne because it was a place belonging to the Crown pretended to nominate the Governour and to place the Garison and the Duke of Lorain having taken it at his own charge and with the industry and blood of his men contended that he ought to be the disposer and master of it and being incensed that he had not obtained his desire he arose from the siege of Montealto which he had begun alledging that he would not have the fruits of his pains and dangers converted to the use of others but these were but sprouts that grew from a deeper root for the Duke of Lorain who pretended to the pre-eminence as Head of the Family knew that the Duke of Mayenne did not only possess the top and count himself superiour now as Lieutenant-General of the State of France but had also a design to advance himself to the Crown to the pretensions whereof he thought the right of a Son born of a Daughter of France to be more valid and conceived it reasonable that all the rest of the House should give place to the Head of the Family But these secret thoughts which were yet internally hid did not let things break out to a manifest discord Greater were the disgusts with the Duke of Nemours who of a bold generous courage but of a proud disdainful nature having constantly and valiantly defended and made good the City of Paris beyond all mens belief pretended to no lesser place than to be his Brothers Lieutenant-General and to have supreme Authority in the affairs of Paris as their Preserver and Governour which being a thing of great jealousie to the Duke of Mayenne who would not that any other should meddle in the Government and that the affairs of Paris the foundation of the League should not only be managed by him but that they should not be so much as touched by anothers hand they disagreed in such manner about the election of the Prevost des Merchands and the other Magistrates that the Duke of Mayenne without making him or any body else acquainted with it chose them to his own liking and satisfaction without demurring upon those that were proposed and favoured by others judging it to be so tender and so important a matter that the respects which moved him to it ought not to be imparted to any body but the election being divulged the Duke of Nemours making open clamour that those were refused who had done best service in the siege and on the contrary men were chosen either of little trust or no valour told the Duke of Mayenne that with such like Magistrates as those he had not heart enough to defend and maintain Paris as he had formerly done and that therefore he did surrender up his Government to him which falling out luckily according to the Dukes intention he made no difficulty to take the surrender and presently invested in the Government his eldest Son Charles Emanuel Duke of Esguillon giving him for his Lieutenant during his minority the Marquiss de Belin a man wholly at his devotion at which though the Duke of Nemours shewed himself highly incensed and no less than he the Parisians who by reason of his late defence of them bore a wonderful great
pretensions and the other places were in possession of the League wherefore he at last propounded and by sending the Sieur de Salettes a Hugonot Gentleman gave firm promise to the Queen that he would lay siege to the City of Rouen towards the taking whereof if the English would help with Men and Money he would give them some reasonable jurisdiction in it to the end that they might freely and securely traffick and then if he could take Caudebec and Harfleur Towns near that City he would consigne unto them one of those Ports which might serve for a free open retreat for their shipping To which Conditions while the English unwillingly consented and while they were treated of on both sides with usual caution the coming of the Germans was protracted nor could they ever be got to move till the first One hundred thousand Ducats were paid down and assignments given for the other Two hundred thousand On the other side the Duke of Monte-Marciano and the Forces which from Milan marched towards Flanders at the Duke of Savoy's urgent importunities had received orders to stay for some dayes within his State to the end that with their countenance and assistance he might recover some places which had been taken from him and repress the Forces of Monsieur Les Diguieres who fiercely bestirred himself sometimes in Dauphine sometimes in Provence The Duke was troubled that the Kings party had taken some places though of no great importance but he was much more troubled at a Fort which Les Diguieres had begun to raise over against Montmeillan Wherefore having obtained that the Italian Army and likewise Four thousand Swisses raised by the Pope should stay some time with him he spurred up Don Amadeo for the recovery of that Fort called Morestello from the place where it was built and he with other Forces entred into Dauphine another way while Count Francâ—sco Martinengo with the greatest strength of his Army besieged and streightned the Town of Barre in Provence Monsieur Les Diguieres who was forced sometimes to assist in the affairs of Dauphine sometimes to help Monsieur de la Valette in Provence was now set forward to raise the siege of Barre while la Valette besieged and battered Gravion but being arrived so late that the Defendants had already articled to surrender it after some slight encounters he was returned with exceeding great celerity to relieve Fort Morestello and with Four hundred Horse and Three thousand Foot was advanced as far as Ponte Chiarra a place near and proper for his intetention which being known to the Savoyards who were strengthned with part of the Popes Forces they rose silently from the siege which they had continued already many days and leaving the Fort behind them encamped themselves upon the same way by which they saw the French Army would advance But Les Diguieres having himself viewed and discovered the Camp and number of the Enemy and making no great account of the raw men that were in that Army in comparison of his old Soldiers resolved to sight thinking with a fierce boldness easily to strike a terror in them Wherefore both the Armies being between the Mountain and the River Isare in a narrow place which favoured the small number of his Forces he parted his Infantry into two Bodies one of which he sent up by the steep of the Hill and the other along the bank of the River and he keeping the Plain with his Cavalry divided into four Squadrons with some Muskettiers mixed and placed among the Horse advanced resolutely to attack the Enemy The Savoyards having drawn up the Army in very good order advanced likewise and received the encounter in the Front very couragiously but while they fought and in fighting had their eyes and mindes wholly taken up with the Enemy that was before them they were suddenly charged in the Flank by the Foot that were come about by the way of the Hill which they had not taken care to make good Wherefore being staggered at that unexpected accident they broke their ranks and without making much resistance easily took flight But being come into the Plain that was behind them recovering courage they fell to rally again and once more to face about and so much the rather because their being stronger in Horse and having a very spacious open field gave them very great advantage in renewing the Battel yet nevertheless the Conquerors following up with wonderful speed and fury they were terrified in such manner that being dispersed they were pursued to the very Walls of Monmeillan with the loss of Fifteen hundred men two Cornets Eighteen Foot-colours and great store of spoiâ— and baggage But this unhappy accident which cut off all hopes of making any further progress at that time and the importunities of the Dukes of Mayenne and Lorain to have the Popish and Spanish Forces to march to hinder the passage of the Germans were the causes that Savoy being left they advanced through the Country of Bourgongne directly towards Lorain The Duke of Mayenne since the taking of Noyon to put in order and increase his Army had staid still at Han whilest the King victoriously advancing over-ran the whole Country in which place President Ieannin being returned from the Court of Spain found him but brought back no pleasing answer to any of those things he had negotiated with the Catholick King The Duke of Mayenne had been of opinion that the artificial reserved proceedings of the Spaniards had sprung from the nature and will of the Ministers ill-affected to his person or desirous to do more than what was given them in charge by the Royal Council he thought that the D. of Parma a very wary prudent Soldier would unwillingly hazard his reputation against the King followed by almost an invincible Nobility and in his actions prompt fearless and resolute he believed that Diego d' Ivarr and Mendozza who for many particular accidents were ill-disposed towards him either to make him lose his credit or out of covetousness did convert those Moneys that were sent to other uses and often disposed of them without his privacy at their own pleasures and did assuredly think that as soon as the Catholick King was once fully informed of the affairs of France of the interests of every one and of his pains endeavors and authority he would soon resolve in favor of him give him sufficient assistance to make an end of the War and permit him to negotiate the getting of the Crown for himself For this cause he had deprived himself of the help and counsel of President Ieannin sending him to the Court as one privy to all his most secret thoughts well informed of all particulars full of wary prudence and for experience and eloquence able to undergo the weight of so difficult a business But both he and the President found themselves much deceived in their opinion for whether that had been the aim of the Spaniards from
they were weary of Contributions which the greedy nature of the Duke of Mayenne did often multiply beyond what was fit the disbursing of them afterwards not excusing the weight of those burdens with his honour and equity Wherefore some of the chief of the Sixteen that were most affectionate to the party whom they called Zealots began to contrive the way to abase the authority of the Parliament that they might be able more easily to dispose of the affairs of the City and put it either under the Duke of Guise or the immediate protection of King Philip. The Spanish Ministers assented to or rather concurred in this attempt and no less than they the Bishop of Piacenza who since the Popes death was wholly turned to favour Spain and the principal men were the Sieur de Bussy Governour of the Bastille the Sieur de Cromay Counsellor of the Great Council Commissary Louchart Ameline an Advocate Olivier a Treasurer Boucher a Divine Father Commolet a Jesuite and divers others of the same condition After many consultations and debates among them by advice of the Bishop of Piacenza they chose four of the Sixteen who should go to the Duke of Mayenne to carry their complaints and to demand that the Council of State might be replenished with sufficient faithful men and such as the City might confide in That that Council might always reside in Paris That the Treasurers Accounts might be over-looked and especially of one Ribes that kept the Duke of Mayenne's particular Coffers That this might be done by select persons approved of by the Council of the Vnion That the Gabelles might be taken away which were newly imposed by the Governour Belin and the Prevost des Merchands That the City-Garison might be payed and increased for their security and finally That President Brisson against whom they carried a whole heap of complaints and some other principal men of the Parliament might be put out of their Offices and severely and exemplarily punished and rooted out as Traitors and Rebels These four Deputies came to Rheims at the time when the Duke of Mayenne was gone into Lorain and having waited for him many days they at last found him at Retel where having been heard by him they were at first sharply reprehended as men that demanded too much and aspired unto an absolute power but afterward not to exasperate them utterly he used them more favourably in their other audiences shewing them that whilst he was busied with the Enemy he had not leisure to attend those matters that in due time and place he would come personally to Paris to give them all possible satisfaction and that in the interim they should abstain from medling with new designs which put all things in confusion and doing themselves harm did wonderfully advantage the Enemy But these men being returned to Paris not much edified by the Dukes Answer and particularly offended at his first reprehension of them in stead of moderating increased the boldness of the rest exclaiming afresh against the Duke and saying it was necessary to take some resolution for that they found him wholly averse from their intentions wherefore all of them boiling with anger thinking themselves undervalued by the Duke and at last being resolved either to abase or absolutely to change the Parliament that they might govern the City their own way they began to stir up the people perswading them that Religion was betrayed and that the Parliament endeavoured to put the City into the hands of the Navarrois It happened that Brigard one of the first Fomenters of the League at Paris having been accused as if having changed his mind he held intelligence and plotted secretly in favour of the King was by the instigation of the Sixteen violently cast in prison but in the mean time while they proceeded slowly against him with due proofs he found means either by money or his own industry to escape out of the place where he was kept and also to get secretly out of the City and out of the hands of his Enemies which thing seemed very foul to the Council of Sixteen and thinking he had been maliciously let go by the Judges themselves who made his Process being raised to the height of their fury and with this incentive fomented by the Spanish Ministers and by the Garison which depended on them they put the people in Arms upon the fifteenth of November in the morning and without further consideration being led by the Sieur de Bussy and Commissary Louchart having taken and blocked up all the ways that led to the Palace of Justice they took prisoners the first President Brisson Claude l' Archer and Iehan Tardif one Councellor of the Chastelet and the other of the Court who were the same men that had made the Process of Brigard these being brought fast bound to the Chastelet the same day without any lawful form of Process but some precipitate informations taken by the Sieur de Cromay were strangled in prison and the next morning ignominiously hanged up in publick upon the Gallows Then as if they had obtained some signal Victory running up and down the City with the common people armed and furious they set their Guards in many places and threatned to take the same course against many others The Governour desiring to put some stop to these proceedings being also advised to it by the Dutchesses of Nemours and Montpensier began to try whether the strangers of the Garison would obey him but having found them all disposed to favour the Council of Sixteen and their present actions and Alessandro de Monti having freely said that he would not stir against those who sincerely managed the Cause of God and of all good men he thought it a better way to go out unarmed to parly with them and to endeavour to appease the people and in part remedy those mischiefs that were like to follow But neither did this succeed for they valued him but little and the Prevost des Merchands much less desiring ardently to put them both out All the sixteenth day was spent in this tumult and on the seventeenth in the morning their Council being met in the house of a Divine named Pellettier Curate of St. Iaques de la Boucherie they resolved to put themselves freely under the King of Spain's protection and in the mean time to present some Articles to the Council of State for the Government of the City which by all means they would have accepted and put in execution The Articles contained That a Court of Justice should be formed of men of their party which should proceed against Hereticks and Favourers of the Navarrois thinking with the Judgments and Executions of this to destroy and annihilate the Parliament That all Commerce with those of St. Denis should be broken which the Duke of Mayenne had established to facilitate the concourse of victuals That the Imposts upon Wine should be taken away and that the Account of all those
should be over-looked who had managed the moneys raised by the Contributions and Gabelles of the City That the moneys that came in by the ordinary Imposts should not be spent but in the payment of the Garison which should be increased with Foreigners either Walloons Italians or Spaniards That the Council of State should be filled up to a certain number and the men that should be chosen of it were named by them That likewise a Council of War might be framed whereof some Colonels of the City were to be and the chief Commanders of the Foreign Militia without the consent of which Council the Governour should not be able to resolve any thing And finally That the Seals of the Crown which the Duke of Mayenne carried about wheresoever he was himself should remain constantly in the City and not be removed to any other place This being resolved on they presently dispatched Father Claudio Mattei with Letters to King Philip in which they prayed him to take upon him their Protection and Government And having with cries and clamours made the Council of State to be assembled they propounded the Articles to the end they might be confirmed and executed The Governour and Prevost des Merchands with some of the gravest Eschevins endeavoured to get the benefit of time alledging that the day was too far spent and hoping that by delay the ardour of the people would be cooled But the Council according to their advice having determined to stay till the next day the Sixteen with the people in arms stopt Madam de Nemours as she was going out from the Council and would by all means have the Articles confirmed which the Council having chosen to do as the lesser evil the Dutchess her self carrying forth the Decree that was made about it pray'd them with gentle words to forbear the execution of it till her Son the Duke of Mayenne had given his consent without whose knowledge it was not fit things of so great importance should be done that the delay was but for a few days that the Council and she her self would dispatch the Sieur de Bourg to the Duke to carry him the Decree and bring back his confirmation of it and she assured them they should remain fully contented and satisfied The fury of the people being in part appeased with this grant they began to lay down their arms and to be quiet again expecting the resolution of the Duke who from Retel being gone to Laon to meet with the Dutchess Mother to the Duke of Guise upon the twentieth day in the evening received the news of what had hapned in Paris He was wonderfully moved at so dangerous an accident which was about to strike directly at his authority but yet would not shew any trouble of mind lest the Duke of Guise who was present should take notice of his anger against his dependents but only said that he would expect the Sieur du Bourg who the Governour wrote him word was immediately to depart to be better informed of the business and that it was good to remedy popular commotions with gentleness and not to be incensed against them to avoid greater scandals and more pernicious errours for the people drawn by a good zeal do ordinarily move without consideration These words setled the mind of the Duke of Guise who was afraid lest he should prove cruel against his dependents and the discourses of the next day quieted him much more so that though the Duke of Mayenne said he would go to Paris to prevent those mischiefs that might happen by the divisions of mens minds yet he let himself be perswaded to stay because he had the command of the Army and was to meet with the Duke of Parma who being come to Valenciennes was in the end of the month to be at Guise that they might resolve together of the time and manner of his coming The Sieur du Bourg arrived the day following from whom the Duke had the whole Narration of the business and of the Decree that had been made in the Council of State to appease the people whereupon being resolved to depart and determining with himself to establish his own power and authority by this occasion he dispatched Monsieur de Rosne to the Duke of Parma to excuse him if he could not be at the place appointed upon the prefixed day and left the charge of the Army and of meeting with the Duke of Parma to the Duke of Guise but with such caution that to the end he might not be able to do any thing in arms he gave secret orders to Rosne and Tavannes who were Mareschals of the field that they should neither draw forth Artillery nor Ammunition which were all at la Fere and he gave the Duke of Guise no Information at all of the particulars that were to be treated of with the Duke of Parma to the end he might not be able to conclude any thing of moment and having obtained of the Duke of Montemarciano and of Commissary Matteucci that the Switzers might not be dismissed at that time and that all the Forces should stay till his return shewing haste and want of time he took with him the Counts of Vaudemont Chaligny and Brissac the Sieurs de Bassompierre and Villeroy with Seven hundred of his best Horse part French part Lorainers and departed upon the Five and twentieth in the morning towards Paris leaving President Ieannin with the Duke of Guise to moderate his Counsels and to observe his carriage The same night Don Diego d'Ivarra went the same journey though the Duke had desired him to stay not being willing to let himself be deceived as the Duke of Guise had been but being by all means resolved with his help and counsel to assist against the danger of the Spanish adherents The Duke making speed in his journey would yet nevertheless take with him two Regiments of Foot that were at Soissous and having received the Sieur de Vitry with Two hundred other Horse at Meaux he arrived near the City of Paris upon the Twenty eighth day in the evening The Sixteen with the Preachers and the Colledge of Sorbonne seeing the Duke come armed and knowing that the Governour and the Prevost des Merchands with the dependents of the Council of State and Parliament would be powerful in the City though Bussy kept the Bastille for them being much affrighted propounded to appease him with words and demonstrations and sent four of the chief of them with many of the Citizens to meet him to the end they might endeavour to divert the anger which they imagined he came withal These met him at the Abbey of St. Anthoyne without the Walls and with a discourse full of submission strove to perswade him that all had been done to an extream good end for the safety of the City the conservation of Religion the maintenanâ—e of his own Authority and to satisfie the people that were desperate because there was no shew at all
that demands are high in the beginning but afterwards in the course of a Treaty they fall by little and little so that they were all scandalized at du Plessis Nor was there any one who was not of opinion that he as being an Hugonot abhorred the Kings Conversion and therefore desired not but rather crossed the Peace The King being of the same mind gave the Sieur de Villeroy to understand that he would willingly treat with him by word of mouth and the Mareschal de Byron and the Duke de Boüillon desired to confer with him though both of them were little enclined to Peace Boüillon because he was an Hugonot and Byron because his whole fortune depended upon the Wars whereupon by the continuation of them he hoped to rise to the heighth of Power and Honour and those Offices and Titles which the Duke of Mayenne demanded he grounding himself upon his own merits aspired and pretended to for himself Du Plessis continuing his intention and publishing his secret thoughts to men of understanding divulged the whole Treaty contrary to his Faith given to Villeroy and to many persons shewed Copies of the Articles propounded whereby they were not only known to all the Kings party but also the Princesses who were in Paris saw them and believed them so that they made grievous complaints that the Duke should go about to establish a Peace without making it known to them and to the Lords of his party and which was much worse they came also to the knowledge of the Spanish Ministers who though they believed not the business could so easily be established were yet filled with jealousie and suspition Du Plessis believed that at one time he should work two good effects for his own intentions one to cross and totally break all Treaty of Peace because he thought he had discovered that the King to obtain it enclined to change his Religion which the Hugonots feared above all things the other to make the Duke of Mayenne be distrusted of his own party and particularly by the Spaniards whereupon the disunion and ruine of the League would more easily follow But as counsels that have too much of a mans particular interest have often either by the will of God who is not pleased with them or by reason of their own deceitfulness very different events from what the Intenders of them confidently design unto themselves this divulging produced an effect very diverse from what du Plessis did assuredly expect for it wrought no ill effect in the party of the League and on the Kings side it made an exceeding great stir and confusion It hurt not the Duke of Mayenne because the Pope was much satisfied with his candour seeing that without the Kings Conversion he refused all other particular greatness and advantage and that he referred the whole business of Religion to the Apostolick See and the Spaniards being faln into some fear that Peace might easily ensue forbore to give the Duke of Mayenne further cause of discontent and the Duke of Parma necessarily departing by reason of his health and in respect of the affairs of Flanders left some Forces in Champagne and gave not the command of them to the Duke of Guise as he had intended but left the charge of them to Monsieur de Rosne with the title of Camp-Master-General he being to obey the Duke of Mayenne without contradiction and Iuan Baptista Tassis going to him endeavoured by his dexterity to remedy the late disgusts Diego d' Ivarra continuing with the Army because he knew his presence was not pleasing to him To this was added that the Duke who had entred into that Treaty out of the despair which he was brought unto seeing that he had already recovered his authority and reputation which he had in great part lost with the Popes Ministers and with the Spaniards was afterward more backward in lending an ear to Peace But thinking that his having been deceived by the revealing of that secret contrary to promise afforded him not only excuse but a lawful occasion for him also to make use of the Treaty for his own profit he continued it in such manner that it served to keep sometimes one sometimes another faithful according as need required On the other side the Catholiâ—ks of the Kings party wakened by the noise of this Treaty and highly disdaining that the Peace should be negotiated by the means of a Hugonot and that the Kings Conversion should be promised to the League which they by many reiterated instances had not been able to obtain began a fresh to contrive a third Party and more boldly than before to assemble themselves severally and discourse of forsaking the King or to make an agreement with those of the League in such manner that the business having often been consulted of between the Cardinal of Bourbon the Count de Soissons the Duke of Longueville the Count de St. Paul the Duke of Nevers the Mareschal d' Aumont Monsieur d' O Monsieur de Lavardin the Count de Lude and many other Lords they gave the Duke of Mayenne to understand that it would be profitable for the common safety and security to unite all the Catholicks and desire the King that within the term of a certain prefixed reasonable time he would turn Catholick and give security for the maintenance of Religion which if he would do he should be acknowledged and established and if he would not they all together should elect a Catholick King who should be acknowledged and obeyed by all This practice beginning to grow warm the King seeing that the event would be either a forced dishonourable Conversion or the utter ruine of his affairs since from secret consultations that matter was come to open murmurings he caused Villeroy to be very earnestly sollicited by the means of Monsieur de Fleury his Brother-in-law to come personally to confer with him and resolved to apply himself of his own accord to a reconciliation with Rome Innocent the Ninth after a long and troublesom Conclave was succeeded in the Apostolick See by Hippolito Cardinal Aldobrandino a man not weakned with age being not above fifty and six years old but endowed with mature prudence and singular dexterity in affairs of State which he had gotten by continual practice in the Court and by the management of the most important businesses of his time He having assumed the name of Clement the Eighth though he had been favoured by the Spaniards in his Election and was therefore full of kind grateful demonstrations toward them was not yet totallyâ—disposed to let himself be ruled by their designs but would depend upon himself and after the chief interest of Religion would have an aim at the general safety and equality He held a great correspondence with the Commonwealth of Venice and with the Great Duke of Thuscany judging that State to be not only the Foundation-stone of the Liberty of Italy but also a wary Reconciler
lives but at last his backwardness was ascribed to an irregular ambition and to a desire of continuing in the power he held at that present neither could he without grievous complaints nor without danger of discord and disunion refuse any longer to call the Assembly wherefore turning his thought to remove that scandal from whence arose all the discontents with the Spanish Ministers he considered that as to deny the meeting was dangerous and now at length odious to every one so the difficulties that would spring up and those which he would artificially interpose should be so many that the States should dissolve and end of themselves without coming to any determination and in the mean time they might afford him conveniency and opportunity either to revive his authority or else to find means of reconciliation with the King if so be he could not bring to pass that the Kingdom should fall to his posterity Wherefore as the Spaniards did now show a desire to satisfie and honour him and the same did the Legat by Commission from Rome so he showing that he would grant that in courtesie which he would not yield to for fear nor for threatnings wrote to the Legat and to the Duke of Parma that now the time to assemble the States was ripe he would give satisfaction to the Princes who had sollicited him with so much earnestness and would come at last to a resolution and therefore they should endeavour to get Commissions from Rome and Spain because within a few months the Deputies should be convened for which effect he dispatched Letters to every Province and every Bailiage to the end they might chuse Deputies to meet in the place that should be appointed for the holding of the States-General At the same time the King had caused Cardinal Gondi to treat concerning his passage into Italy and had required the Catholicks of his party to appoint an Ambassador to the Pope which though some opposed alledging That the Parliament had decreed that for the time to come none should send to Rome upon any emergent occasion yet the King answered That the Decree was made in the Papacy of Gregory the Fourteenth but that he granted leave to send to the present Pope so the Marquiss of Pisani was chosen and Cardinal Gondi was contented to take that journey to satisfie the King and to procure the general repose of the Kingdom This determination did in great part stop the resolution of the Catholicks who were attentive to see what that Embassie would produce being partly satisfied in that the King began already to treat of reconciling himself to the Pope and the Apostolick See The Decree which the King made about this time concerning the disposing of the Benefices of the Kingdom did help much to appease them for after that the Parliaments of Tours and Chalons had decreed that for the conferring and confirmation of them none should go any more to Rome and after that the Congregation of the same Prelats had made the Declaration in favour of the King those Benefices that became void were disposed of to all kind of persons without regard in reward of their expences in requital of their labours and for particular inclination and the administration of Spiritual Matters was by the Grand Council assigned to one of the Priests of the Diocess with title of Spiritual Oeconome Which was not only against the Decrees of the Cannons but scandalous and dangerous contrary to the good of the people and very near the custom of the Hugonots Renaud de Beaune Archbishop of Bourges a man of exceeding great learning and singular eloquence had thought that he having the name of Patriarch that title they use to give to the Archbishop of that City it was very easie and no less reasonable that the authority of disposing the Benefices of the Kingdom should be conferred upon him as Spiritual Superiour of the Galliae and that he should hold that degree thorowout all France which the Pope holds over the Universal Church and as this thought had long been nourished in his mind so had he attempted all those means which he thought proper to effect his design to this end at his exhortation the Popes Bulls had been so sharply handled to this end those that represented the Apostolick See had been so hotly proceeded against and to this end the disorder in conferring of Benefices being now represented and the abuse of those Oeconomes chosen by the great Council a Temporal Magistracy whom it concerned not to judge of Spiritual sufficiency it was endeavoured in that heat of mens minds that a resolution might be taken and that a Prelate might be constituted in the Galliae Superiour to all the rest in power and dignity to whom that election should be committed But the Cardinal of Bourbon and the other Catholick Lords exclaiming that this was an express way to alienate themselves from the Apostolick See to make the Kingdom Schismatical and for ever to cut off all hopes of an Accommodation that they would never endure it and that as soon as ever that Decree should be made they would take some course to secure their own affairs The King declared publickly That he would not take away the obedience from the Apostolick See and that if not to foment the evil it had been decreed That Money should not be carried to Rome to the end War might not be made upon the Kingdom with its own blood and substance that had been established by way of provision as long as the Popes should persist to oppose the lawful Successors of the Crown That he did not intend nor mean there should be any innovation but to maintain Ecclesiastical Matters and the Religion and Priviledges of the Gallique Church in the same being he had found them at his coming to the Crown And finally he caused the Council to decree That the Bishops every one in his own Diocess should create the Administrators of Spiritual Matters and that where the Bishopricks were vacant the Metropolitan should supply that defect and for want of him the nearest Bishop which did exceedingly quiet the minds of the Catholicks and did also for some time stop their resolutions In this interim Matters of War went not on more slowly than the Councils and Treaties of Peace for the Duke of Mayenne being cured of his indisposition at Rouen was come forth with part of his Forces to lay siege to Ponteau de Mer a place which because it was near did incommodate and straiten the Commerce of that City and on the other side Monsieur de Villars was likewise gone to besiege the new Fortress of Quilleboeuf to open totally the passage and navigation of the Seine being displeased besides the impediment and inconvenience of it that the Hollanders and English should nest themselves in that place very opportune to receive their Ships and seated in the midst between his Governments of Havre de Grace and Rouen
heinous to you to confess your selves guilty of it But since his obstinacy hath already deprived him of all the rights which he could pretend to it likewise takes from you all pretences and excuses that you can alledge in his favour and your own discharge It is now time that you discover boldly all that you have in your hearts and if there be nothing in them that is not Catholick as your former actions have made known when the sorcery of Hereticks had not yet bewitched you declare for Gods sake with the rest of the Catholicks that you desire not any thing so much as to see your selves united under the obedience of a most Christian King both in name and actions It will be a prudent thing to have such thoughts a magnanimous one to endeavour the execution of them and a vertue every way most perfect to do both Now as at this present there is no more just nor more lawful means to compass this end than the holding of the States General to which you are invited by the Duke of Mayenne who following the duty of his Office and Authority hath ever sought and doth now more than ever seek with a piety constancy and magnanimity worthy of eternal praise the most certain and secure means to defend and secure this State and Crown in its integrity and to maintain the Catholick Religion and the Gallique Church in its true liberty which consists principally in not yielding obedience to an Heretick Head So we have thought fit in this place to protest unto you that containing our selves as our intention is within the limits of the charge it hath pleased his Holiness to give us we neither could nor would in any way assist or favour the designs and enterprises of the Duke of Mayenne nor of any other Prince or Potentate in the World be he who he will but rather with all our Forces would oppose them if we should know that they were in any part contrary to the common votes and desires of all good men true Catholicks and good Frenchmen and in particular to the holy pious intention of our Lord which moreover by these presents we desire to declare to have no other aim nor object but the glory of God the conservation of our holy Roman Catholick Apostolick Faith and Religion with the utter extirpation of Heresies and Schisms which have reduced this poor Kingdom of France to so miserable a condition which his Holiness desires to see principally crowned with its ancient splendor and majesty by the establishment of a King truly most Christian such an one God in mercy grant the States General may name and such an one no Heretick ever was nor ever can be Thither then in the name of his Holiness do I invite you to the end that separating your selves totally from the company and dominion of the Heretick you may with minds free from all passion and full of an holy zeal and piety toward God and your Country assist in all that you shall judge may serve to extinguish the general combustion which hath even almost burnt it to ashes It is no longer time to propose vain excuses and new difficulties you shall find no others but those that proceed from your selves For if you please to come to the said Assembly for the effect you ought we can assure you in the name of all the Catholicks who by Gods Grace have still persevered in obedience and devotion to the holy Apostolick See that you shall find them most ready to receive you and to imbrace as Brothers and true Christians whom with the price of their bloods and very lives they desire to save a holy peace and reconciliation with you Take order therefore that in good earnest we may see you there separated from the Heretick and in such a case demand all the securities you shall think necessary that you may freely go and come speak and propose in the said Assembly all that you shall judge most expedient to attain to the desired end The Duke of Mayenne is ready to grant you them and we on our part make no difficulty to oblige our selves that nothing shall be done to the contrary in any kind offering in that respect to take you if there he need under our especial protection that is of the holy Church and of the holy Apostolick See And we conjure you again in the Name of God that at last you would with lively effects shew that you are true Catholicks conforming your intentions to that of the chief Head of the Church without longer deferring to render to our holy Religion and to our Country that faithful duty which it expects from you in this extream necessity There is nothing to be expected from your divisions but desolation and ruine and though from elsewhere every thing should succeed according to your wish which me thinks you should not dare to promise to your selves under an Heretick Head yet ought you nevertheless to consider that Schisms which this Kingdom seems to be full of do in the end turn into Heresie which God of his Mercy be pleased not to permit but rather to enlighten your hearts and minds making them capable of his holy Inspirations and Benedictions to the end that being all united in deed and will in the unity of the holy Roman Catholick Church under the obedience of one King who may deservedly be called Most Christian you may in this life enjoy a secure tranquillity and finally come to that Kingdom which his Divine Majesty hath prepared from eternity for them who persevering constantly in the Communion of his said Church out of which there is no Salvation do give clear testimony of their lively Faith by holy and virtuous actions With this Writing in appearance like that of the Duke of Mayenne's but indeed full of matter very different did the Legat endeavour to establish the principal end of the Assembly to be not to treat of business with the Catholicks of the Kings party not to agree with him if he should resolve to reconcile himself to the Church not to raise any Prince of the Blood to the Crown but to elect a new King not only depending upon the Apostolick See but approved also by the Catholick King that they might make use of the power of his Arms and Moneys to protect and establish him And though the Pope being made acquainted with the Legats inclination and particularly advertised by the Venetian Senate that there was great suspicion of him and that many were scandalized because they thought he seemed to have more care of the satisfaction of the Spaniards than of the safety of the State and Religion did declare himself much more than he had done before by the Pronotary Agucchi by the means of Monsignor Innocentio Malvâ—gia sent by him to be Commissary of the Army in the stead of Matteucci and gave him particular Commission that above all things he should take heed of a monstrous election not generally
of Arragon he could not draw together those sums that would have been necessary for the first advice and the affairs of the Low Countries and of the Army there being by reason of the Duke of Parma's death in great weakness and confusion it was not possible to make so great a Body of men as the contrivance of that design required and finally the nature of the Spaniards made them begin with thrift and parsimony to manage the affairs of that Kingdom which was not yet begun to be obtained For these reasons the Spanish Ministers would needs follow the last counsel perswading themselves also that by their arts and the Legats assistance they should overcome many difficulties and that with words and promises they might supply where deeds were defective But the Duke of Mayenne to whom these conceits were in great part known was very certain that without his will and consent they could never obtain any thing and by reason he saw the Spanish Ministers so disaffected to him but much more because he hoped to attain the Kingdom for himself was wholly averse from contenting them only the discords that arose between him and the others of his Family held him in suspence for the Duke of Lorain still pretended right unto the Kingdom and the superiority above the rest of his Family and the Dukes of Guise and Nemours pretended to the Crown no less than he the first by reason of the name and merits of his Father upon whose blood as he said the whole structure of the League was grounded and the other because of his prosperous defence of Paris whereby he judged himself to have deserved more than any one of the rest and to have that people at his devotion besides that being both of them young and unmarried they were not so averse from the election of the Infanta hoping that one of them might be destined for her husband The Duke of Mayenne being led by this doubt resolved to prepare many strings to his bowe that he might have several ways to hinder the designs of the rest and to bring his own businesses to their appointed end Whereupon after having by his Declaration invited the Catholicks of the Kings party to a Treaty a Weapon by him esteemed most powerful to cross the Spaniards in the business he also caused the Cardinal of Bourbon's design to be renewed that he might keep it alive and make use of it in convenient time and place and Iehan le Maistre a man totally depending upon his will having after the death of President Brisson taken the place of first President of the Parliament he began by his means not only to deal with the Counsellors of that Parliament and Magistrates of that City but also with those who because they inclined to favour the King were called Politicks that in time of need he might also make use of their heâ—â— and having found the Parliament most disposed to his designs and grounding himself very much upon the support of the Commanders of the Militia chosen and raised by him he propounded and obtained for the greater reputation of so great an Assembly and for the greater assurance of the election of a King a thing of so great weight and consequence that also the Parliâ—ment and Governours of Provinâ—es and the Commanders of the Militia might Vote in the Assembly of the States not every one by himself but by Deputies for each body to the end that by the counterpoise of these he might balance the Votes of the other Deputies if they should ever dissent from his will wherein because he was exceeding well versed in the business and knew the persoâ—s very particularly he proceeded with so much art and dissimulâ—tion that the Spanish Ministers and the Legat did not take notice of many things till after they were established and he gained more men with arâ— than they were able to do with gold or promises and on the other side they could hardly design the framing an engine but he sounding the end of it found many evasions to dissolve or hinder it In this state of things time no longer allowing that the celebration of the States should be deferred the Overture as they call it of the Assembly was made upon the Six and twentieth of Ianuary at which all the Deputies being met in the Hall of the Louvre and with them all the Magistrates and Officers of the Crown the Duke of Mayenne fitting under the Cloth of State as Kings are wont to do said That he had called and with very much ado assembled that Solemn Meeting that they might take some course to find a remedy for the calamities and miseries that afflicted their common Country He exaggerated the evils of the present condition the danger of Religion and the unhappiness of the War and concluded that the only remedy was the election of a King who in the first place should be so constant and sincere a Catholick that he should prefer the good and honour of the holy Church before his own life and in the second should be such an one for valour experience and reputation that not only unruly minds might willingly obey him but also might be able to fight with and conquer the Enemies of the Church and Kingdom Wherefore he exhorted the Assembly that being met not to moderate grievances or to find means to pay the debts of the Crown things ordinarily introduced to be treated of in the States but to provide a King a Pastor for themselves and the whole people of the greatest Kingdom of Christendom they should not let themselves be carried away with any private interests but should take that holy that worthy resolution which the present need and their common safety required When he had done speaking Cardinal Pelle-vé as Ecclesiastical President of the Assembly with a long tedious Oration full of digressions praised the Duke of Mayenne's zeal and valour and by several ways coming round about again concluded at last with exhorting the Assembly to elect a King who as the present exigent required might be totally devoted to the holy Apostolick See and an Enemy to Heresie against which more than any thing else it was at that present necessary to make opposition The Baron de Senecey for the Nobility spake to the same effect but much more briefly and to the purpose and the same did Honoré de Laurent Counsellor in the Parliament of Provence for the third Order of the Commons There was nothing else treated of at this first meeting it being the custom only to use these Ceremonies at the first overture The next day in a particular meeting which was held among the chiefest about this business there was a very sharp dispute between the Legat joined with the Spanish Ambassador and some of the greatest Personages of the Assembly for the Legat proposed That at the second Session for the beginning of the States all should take a solemn Oath never to be reconciled to nor
acknowledge the King of Navar for Superior though he should turn his Religion and make show to live as a Catholick to which the Duke of Mayenne not consenting as a thing very different from his practices and intentions the other Deputies that were present spake against it with divers reasons But the Legat urging with wonderful vehemence at last the Archbishop of Lyons said that the States were Catholicks obedient to the holy Church under the superiority of the Apostolick See in such cases and met together in obedience to the Pope and that therefore they would not be so impudent as to go about to bind his hands and presumptuously to declare that which he had not declared preventing his Judgments and declaring the King of Navar irreconcilable to the Church by a vain determination which was out of the Secular Power and wholly proper to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and that therefore they were resolved not to proceed to that Oath lest they should offend their own consciences and the Majesty and Jurisdiction of the Pope and the Apostolick See Which reason with the decency thereof stopt the Legat's mouth and the Duke of Mayenne's intention not to proceed to that Declaration prevailed But upon the Twenty eighth day there came one of the King's Trumpets to the Gate of the City desiring to be brought in that he might deliver a Packet of Letters directed to the Count de Belin Governor of it and being ask'd what his business was he answered freely and publickly That he brought a Declaration of the Catholicks of the King's party addressed to the Assembly of the States and being come before the Governor he gave the Letters into his hand and made the contents of them more fully known among the People The Governor carried the Packet to the Duke of Mayenne who lay troubled in his Bed and not being willing to open it but in the presence of all the Confederates he sent for the Legate the Cardinal of Pelle-vé Diego d Ivarra the Sieur de Bassompiere Ambassador from the Duke of Lorain the Arch-bishop of Lyons Monsieur de Rosne the Count de Belin the Viscount de Tavannes the Sieur de Villars by him newly declared Admiral Monsieur de Villeroy President Ieannin and two of the ordinary Secretaries which they called Secretaries of State in the presence of whom the cover being taken off there was a Writing found with this Title The Proposition of the Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and chief Catholick Lords as well Counsellors of the King as others now present with his Majesty tending to the end of obtaining Peace so necessary to this Kingdom for the conservation of the Catholick Religion and of the State made to the Duke of Mayenne and the Princes of his Family the Lords and other persons sent by some Cities and Corporations at this present assembled in the City of Paris Having seen the Title and every one being desirous to hear the contents the Writing was read by one of the Secretaries being of this Tenor following THe Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and Chief Catholick Lords as well of the Council as attendance of His Majesty having seen a Declaration Printed at Paris in the name of the Duke of Mayenne dated in the month of December published with the sound of the Trumpet in the said City upon the Fifth day of this present Month of Ianuary as is found at the bottom of it and which came into their hands a◠Chartres do acknowledge and are of opinion with the said Duke of Mayenne that the continuance of this War bringing the ruine and destruction of the State doth also by necessary consequence draw along with it the ruine of the Catholick Religion as experience hath but too well shewed us to the great grief of the said Princes Lords and Catholick States who do acknowledge the King whom God hath given them and serve him as they are naturally obliged having with this duty ever made the Conservation of the Catholick Religion their principal aim and have then always been most animated with their Arms and Forces to defend the Crown under the obedience of his Majesty when they have seen strangers enemies to the greatness of this Monarchy and to the honor and glory of the French name enter into this Kingdom for it is too evident that they tend to nothing else but to dissipate it and from its dissipation would follow an Immortal War which in time could produce no other effects save the total ruine of the Clergy Nobility Gentry Cities and Countries an event which would also infallibly happen to the Catholick Religion in this Kingdom Thence it is that all good Frenchmen and all those that are truly zealous thereof ought to strive with all their Forces to hinder the first inconvenience from which the second is inseparable and both inevitable by the continuation of the War The true means to prevent them would be a good Peace and a reconciliation between those whom the misfortune hereof keeps so divided and armed to the destruction of one another for upon this foundation Religion would be restored Churches preserved the Clergy maintained in their estates and reputation and Justice setled again the Nobility would recover their ancient force and vigour for the defence and quiet of the Kingdom the Cities would recover their losses and ruines by the re-establishment of Commerce Trades and employments maintainers of the people which are in a manner utterly extinct the Universities would again betake themselves to the study of Sciences which in times past have caused this Kingdom to flourish and given splendour and ornament unto it which at this present languish and are by little and little wasting to nothing the fields would again be tilled which in so many places are left fallow and barren and in stead of the fruits they were wont to bring forth for man's nourishment are now covered with thorns and thistles in summ by Peace every one might do his duty God might be served and the people enjoying a secure Peace would bless those who had procured them that happiness whereas on the contrary they will have just cause to complain and curse those that shall hinder i◠To this effect upon the Declaration which the said Duke of Mayenne makes by his writing as well in his own name as in the names of the rest of his party assembled in Paris where he alledgeth that he hath called the States to take some course and Counsel for the good of the Catholick Religion and the repose of this Kingdom it being clear that if for no other reason yet because of the place alone where it is neither lawful nor reasonable that any other but they of their own party should interview no resolution can proceed from it that can be valid or profitable for the effect which he hath published and it being rather most certain that this can nothing but inflame the War so much the more and take away
all hopes and means of reconciliation the said Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and other Catholick Lords now present with His Majesty being certain that the other Princes Lords and Catholick States who acknowledge Him do concurr with them in the same zeal towards the Catholick Religion and the good of the State as they agree in the obedience and fidelity due unto their King and natural Prince have in the name of all and with the leave and permission of his Majesty thought fit by this Writing to make know 〈◊〉 the said Duke of Mayenne and the other Princes of his Family Prelates Lords and other persons assembled in the City of Paris that if they will enter into conference and communication about the means proper to bury these tumults for the conservation of the Catholick Religion and of the State and depute any persons of worth and integrity to meet joyntly at a place which may be chosen between Paris and St. Denis they will on their parts send thither upon the day that shall be appointed and agreed upon to receive and carry all those resolutions and overtures which may be proposed for so good a purpose as they are confident that if every one will bring those good inclinations he is obliged to which they for their parts promise to do means may be found to attain to so great a happiness protesting before God and men that if neglecting this way they shall use other unlawful means which cannot chuse but be pernicious to Religion and the State if they shall compleat the reducing of France to the last period of all calamity and misery making it a prey and a spoil to the insatiable greediness of the Spaniards and a trophy of their insolency gotten by the practices and blind passions of a part of them who carry the name of French-men degenerating from the duty which hath been held in so great veneration by our Ancestors the fault of that evil that shall come thereby cannot nor ought not justly to be ascribed to any others than those who shall be notoriously known to be the sole authors of such a refusal as men who prefer the ways that are fit to serve their own particular greatness and ambition and that of their fomenters before those which aime at the glory of God and the safety of the Kingdom Given in the King's Council where the said Princes and Lords have purposely assembled themselves and with his Majesties permission resolved to make the above-said Propositions and Overtures at Chartres the Seven and twentieth of Ianuary 1593. Subscribed Râ—vol The first mover of this Writing penned and presented in this manner was the Sieur de Villeroy for being of himself averse to the Spanish attempt and rather inclined to an Agreement with the King than to any other resolution and being set on by the Duke of Mayenne desirous to put some Treaty on foot to make use of it as occasion should serve for his own advantage wrote to his brother-in-law the Sieur de Feury that addressing himself to the Duke of Nevers and the other Catholick Lords that were with the King he should shew them in how great danger the affairs of the Kingdom were with how much earnestness the Spaniards had set themselves to promote the election of the Infanta Isabella how many there were that for their own interests favoured that election and how the Duke of Mayenne who had never been able to indure the King to be reconciled to the Church was now in such a necessity that he would be constrained to agree with the Catholick King if by some means they did not interrupt those proceedings That they should consider if strangers should obtain their intent and that the Lords of the House of Lorain and the other Confederates should oblige themselves unto it in how great danger the King would be to be deprived of the Kingdom being to fight with the Spanish power which then would employ it self wholly to his ruine the mindes of the French Confederates would become irreconcileable as if of their own accord they had put themselves under the servitude and engaged themselves under the dominion of strangers the way to a reconciliation with the Pope and with the Church would be shut up when once he should have approved of the election which the States were to make within a few weeks and that therefore time was not to be lost but some way found to interrupt the course of those designs These Considerations were represented by the Sieur de Fleury not onely to the Duke of Nevers but to Gaspar Count of Schombergh who about that time having been sent for by the King was come to Court He by birth was a German and by nature a man not onely of great courage but free in his opinions and words and for his experience and valour highly esteemed by every one wary in his courses provident in his actions infinitely inclined and very faithful to the King and which at that time was much to the purpose one who had not been present at the consultations that had been held among the Catholicks about forsaking him and for this cause had more authority and belief with him to treat upon this business than the Duke of Nevers and many others Wherefore being of opinion that the Considerations represented by Villeroy were most important and that to them many others were added for already every one knew that the Cardinal of Bourbon was thinking to depart and go over to the League and that many Princes of the Blood and other Lords were inclined to follow that resolution that the Catholicks for the most part holding themselves deceived and mocked by the King's promises were very ill satisfied and that every one weary of the War longed impatiently for Peace he found a fit conjuncture to discourse with the King about it and with solid effectual eloquence wherein he was very prevalent made him fully acquainted with those reasons which out of respect were coldly and but in part represented to him by others and demonstrated to him the nearness of his ruine unless he suddenly took some course to content the Catholicks and to cross the designes and attempts of the Spaniards The conjucture of the time was also favourable for the King 's late prosperities had brought him into such a condition that if the Catholicks persevered constantly to serve him he had but little need of forraign Forces which of how little benefit they were and how much mischief they did to his Country he himself had already found The Sieur du Plessis was far off who with his reasons partly Theological partly Political was wont to withhold him and put scruples in his minde to the end he might not change his Religion and the Duke of Bouillon then Head of the Hugonots who was present at the business had ever been one of those who were of opinion that the King could never be a peaceable possessor of the Crown unless he changed
the Catholick King would be careless of his Daughters interests but would empty his Kingdom both of men and money to place her in the Throne and to establish her perfectly That the King weary of so many disturbances and of so many expences without fruit would no more tire his people and ruine himself unless he knew the charge and labour should in the end come to effect but the Infanta being chosen he would send Fifty thousand Foot and Ten thousand Horse which should be paid till the enterprise were perfected and would freely pour out all the Treasures of his Kingdom upon the French The Duke of Mayenne smiling at the proffer of these future Magnificences said it was necessary to think of present things and that to make the States swallow that bitter Pill of Foreign Dominion it was necessary to temper it with the sweetness of profit and reputation else it would prove impossible to get it down But Inigo Mendozza more able to dispute among learned men than to manage so weighty an Affair of State replied That they knew all the Deputies would not only accept the Infanta but also beseech the King to grant her for their Queen and that he alone opposed that Election which already was desired by them all The Duke grew angry and told Mendozza he was little acquainted with the businesses of France and not knowing the magnanimity of the French promised himself they should govern the Deputies as they were wont to do the stupid senseless Indians but that in the effect he would find himself much mistaken Mendozza added That rather in the effect they would make him know they were able to make the Infanta be elected by the States without his help But the Duke not enduring that replied That he feared it not and that if he should not consent unto it all the world would not be able to make that election To which the Duke of Feria answering said They would quickly make him perceive his errour and would take away the command of the Army from him and give it to the Duke of Guise This netled the Duke of Mayenne more than all the rest and as he was most passionate in his anger he added that it was in his power to turn all France against them and that if he pleased he could in a week shut them all out of the Kingdom That they play'd the parts rather of Ambassadors from the King of Navarre than the Catholick King nor could they serve him better if they were paid by him but they should not think to use him as their Subject for he was not so yet nor did ever think by that manner of usage to be so for the future and scornfully taking leave departed from them Iuan Baptista Tassis took the business in hand again the next day striving to pacifie and overcome him with promises but the Duke told him freely that if now they used him in that manner he might if he were not mad perceive how he should be used when he was obliged and a vassal and refused a great while to confer any more with the Duk of Feria and Mendozza But Pronotary Agucchi and Commissary Malvagia who were present by order from the Legat and Count Charles of Mansfelt who was come thither to consult what should be done with the Army laboured so far in the business that on the one side the Spaniards knowing they could do nothing without the Duke of Mayenne and he when the violence of his anger was past remembring that he was not in such a condition that it was convenient for him to lose the supportation of the Spaniards differences were composed again at last but with so much prejudice to the Catholick Kings designs that the Duke to put a hard bit in their mouths wrote to Villeroy Ieannin and the Archbishop of Lyons by all means to cause the Writing of the Kings Catholicks to be answered and that he should begin the conference which they proposed to the end they might have that refuge in a readiness whensoever they should be ill dealt withal by the Spaniards for the future and yet dissembling on both sides they agreed among themselves that the Duke of Mayenne should assent to the election of the Infanta and favour it with the States and on the other side that she being elected he should have the Title of the Dutchy of Bourgogne the Government of Picardy for his life the Title and Authority of the Queens Lieutenant-General thorow the whole Kingdom that all debts should be paid him as well those that were contracted in the name of the Publick as those in his own particular and that he should be repaid all the money which he could make appear he had spent of his own they paid him Five and twenty thousand Crowns at that present and consigned Letters to him for Two hundred thousand more and gave order to Count Charles of Mansfelt with the Army to obey him and dispose of himself according to his Orders This Convention pieced up in this manner did indeed stop the discords and disgusts for the present but made not things so secure as to go on unanimously in their endeavours fâ—r the future for the Duke of Mayenne on the one side did not believe himself obliged to observe what the necessity of publick affairs had extorted from him by force and the Spaniards as they had but little confidence that he would observe them so were they ready to imbrace any occasion that should present it self of treating and establishing the business without him But being departed from Soisons upon the Five and twentieth of February and come to Paris as soon as they began to converse with the Deputies they easily perceived that the Duke of Mayenne ruled all the Assembly and that without him nothing at all could be obtained On the other side he being gone to the Confines where the Army was found it so weak that he lost hope of doing any enterprise of such moment as was like to bring him either profit or reputation They all agreed that the Army should not advance into the inward parts of the Kingdom but for diverse ends the Spanish Ministers to the end Paris might not be freed from scarcity following their conceit that it was profitable for their designs the League and the City should be streightened and kept low the Duke of Mayenne on the other side to the end the Spaniards might not take heart by the nearness of their Forces and Count Charles because by reason of the weakness of his Army and that he had but little money would not engage himself in places far from the confines and in actions of long and difficult event wherefore though the Legat and the Parisians were earnest that the Army should advance and besiege St. Denis to free the passage of victuals into the City on that side yet it was nevertheless unanimously determined that the Forces should be employed in other enterprises among which the
having before sent the Baron de Byron by him created Admiral under pretence of taking possession of that dignity in the Parliament followed him speedily leaving his houshold and Council at Charâ—res and having caused the Princess to come to Tours he brought her with him after the space of two months unto the same City being exceedingly angry to see himself so little esteemed by those of his own Blood But this was a thing that made him more clearly know it was high time nor could he any longer defer to take some resolution and to establish his affairs since that even the Princes of the Blood were openly alienated from him Thus every little accident though it seemed cross was yet always favourable to his greatness and establishment Whilst they were fighting about Noyon with no less ardour did they contend in Paris about resolving upon the Answer that was to be given to the Catholicks of the Kings party for the Spaniards supported by the Cardinal-Legat strove to cross it and for a manifest reason alledged that the Writing being heretical as the Divines of Sorbonne had declared it could not be taken into consideration nor ought the States to give an Answer to it That which made it heretical they said was because it affirmed that Subjects were obliged to yield obedience to their Prince though he were an Heretick both known to be such and condemned by the holy Church They added that this was a net to catch the inclinations of the simple an obstacle to hinder the progress of the States and a stone of scandal to retard Gods service that it was not fit to lose time about their Enemies subtilties nor about the interpositions of the King of Navarre from whom it was certain that Writing was derived since they themselves that caused it to be presented confessed they did it with his consent and it was subscribed by no other man but Revol one of the Secretaries of State and therefore as he that will do well ought not to hearken to the temptations which the Devil suggests so they that would procure the safety of the Kingdom and the establishment of Religion should in no sort mind the interpositions of the King of Navarre and those that spoke by his instigation and thorow his very mouth On the other side many of the Deputies said that they ought not to shut their ears against those of the same Blood and Religion who perchance sought to amend their errours and cure their Consciences by retiring to the party of the good Catholicks and adhering to the Confederates that if it should come to pass the King of Navarre would remain so weak and abject that it would need no great paâ—ns to vanquish him that all means ought to be used and covetously laid hold on which might lead to Peace that being the last end to which all good Frenchmen tended and to which for their own safety all aspired and if with a common consent the way to attain to quietness could be found why should they ingulf themselves in new miseries of War and in new perpetual distractions of Arms That to this end the Duke of Mayenne had in his Declaration invited the Catholicks of the contrary party to meet and confer with him That he had protested this unto them adding that if they resolved not to unite themselves with him they should be guilty of all the subsequent mischiefs and calamities Which Protestation the Catholicks trusting in had now demanded a Conference and if they should not accept it they should make themselves guilty of the same crimes That their speaking by the Kings permission imported nothing for things are not done and obtained all at once That being now subject to his power they were necessitated to speak in that manner but that afterwards being perswaded and drawn by little and little by reason and gentleness perchance they would make a more clear more express resolution That it was no matter though Revol weâ—e Secretary to the King of Navarre for he was a Catholick and perchance no less inclined to a revolt than the rest That it was already known how even the Princes of the Blood thought of changing their party that the Catholicks were ill satisfied because the promises of his Conversion were not kept and therefore it was necessary to foment that beginning of alteration to help them to bring forth a firm determination and by means thereof reunite all the Members into one Body to attain the safety and 〈◊〉 of the Kingdom This was the more plausible opinion and it was carried by the Duke of Mayeâ—ne's Confidents from whom they had received order to bring it to pass nor did theâ—e want any thing save the Legats consent from whom neithâ—r the States nor the Duke himself would in any wise alienate themselves Therefore the Archbishop of Lyons went to him and demonstrated that if the Proposition of the Royalists were not accepted some very great tumults would follow for the Nobility and the Order of Commons stood so stifly for it that being tired out with the Waâ— and 〈◊〉 of Arms they would make an insurrecâ—ion with great danger of revolting to the King of Navarre That no harm could be feared from that Conference for such persons should be imployed in it as there would be no danger of their forsaking the cause of Religion That if the Catholicks of the Kings party would join with that of the Confederates it would be the very point of Victory and if on the other side they should show themselves averse from doing so it would be easie after having given satisfaction to the World and to the States in appearance to dissolve the Conference a thousand ways That also in the time of Cardinal Gaâ—â—ano there had been many Treaties and Conferences both by himself and others and yet no absurdity had followed and if at that present there should not be one he would not only be accounted scrupulous and severe but also obstinate and an Enemy to Peace That if only through his opposition the proposal of the Catholicks were not imbraced it would be attributed to an unseasonable pride and a too interessed union with the Spanâ—ards which perchance would not be pleasing at Rome that already all men murmured at it and that the demand was so just that whosoever should refuse it would manifestly put themselves on the wrong side The Legat whose ears were already filled with the popular discourses which condemned his too much assenting to the Spaniards the Prevost des Merchands having added that the City which by this Conference hoped for the benefit of being partly freed from scarcity would certainly mutiny if it were refused and those of the Parliament still boldly crying and giving out that they would make Protestation to the States at last yielded in secret that the Catholicks should be answered and that the Conference should be accepted but without his apparent consent So with a general Vote it was decreed in the States
and pretended to and on the other side by means of the Count of Schombergh he had begun to deal with the Duke of Mayenne shewing him that they might with much more ease agree privately between themselves than if they should stay for the event of the conference for he was ready to gratifie him and give him that really in present which the Spaniards promised but verbally to give in future But the hopes of every one of these interessed persons were still too fresh and lively which dazling their understanding and incumbering it with passion would not suffer them yet to come to this determination so that neither agreeing among themselves nor in any third person they parted at last without any conclusion save that the Duke of Lorain gave Commission to the Sieur de Bassompier his Ambassador to the States to adhere in the Treaty to the Duke of Mayenne's will in what concerned their interests and the affairs of the Spaniards without declaring himself in the business of election The Duke of Mayenne with his Nephew of Guise and the Duke of Elboeuf went towards Paris being yet uncertain of his own design the Duke of Lorain more desirous of quiet than any thing else returned into his own State and the Duke of Aumale went into Picardy to assist Count Charles who staid about the confines with the forces of the Catholick King In the mean time the Conference at Surenne was begun upon the Nine and twentieth of April where after the first Meetings and mutual Exhortations to lay aside all affections and interests and to apply themselves sincerely to the common good and safety the Deputies shewed one another their Commissions and Authority they gave Passports and Safe conducts on both sides and a discourse was begun of making a Cessation of Arms in the neighbouring places to the end that the Deputies themselves and those of their retinue might stay freely and treat without disquiet or suspition which Truce was afterwards established and published upon the Third of May for four Leagues about Paris and as much about Surenne which did so rejoyce the Parisians who had been so many years shut up and imprisoned within their Walls that every one might easily perceive how much joy and consolation the peace if it should follow would bring to all the people of France Both parties agreed in this one point that peace was necessary to raise up France from her present miseries and future ruine every one praised it and shewed himself ready to embrace it but they disagreed absolutely in the means proper to attain it For the Deputies for the League held the foundation of all things to be Religion and that no other agreement ought or could be concluded wherein the first and chiefest consideration was not about it and therefore exhorted the Royallists to forsake the Heretick Prince whom they followed and uniting themselves all to one end unanimously to chuse a Catholick King such a one as might be acceptable and approved by the Pope by whose establishment the roots of discord being extirpated which sprung up from diversity of Religion they might joyntly come to settle Policy good Government Peace and the repose of the Kingdom On the other side the Deputies on the Kings part maintained that the foundation of Peace was the acknowledgement of and obedience to a lawful Prince truly French and called by the Laws Under whose shadow all of them reuniting themselves troubles and dissentions might be made to cease they said Religion was a second consideration for Christians anciently had obeyed and acknowledged many Princes that were not onely Hereticks and Schismaticks but also enemies and persecutors of the Church and the most holy most learned Fathers of Christendom nay even the Apostles themselves had taught and preached that obedience and therefore they exhorted those of the League to reunite themselves in the acknowledgment of their King to whom the Crown undoubtedly belonged both by a right lineal descent and by vertue of the Salique Law for as he would give all kind of securities the most full and ample that could be desired for the preservation of Religion so in time he might also be reduced to embrace and follow the Catholick Doctrine from which he did not shew himself absolutely averse The Archbishop of Lyons and the rest of his fellow Deputies could not endure to hear this Doctrine but abhorred and confuted it with detestation though the Archbishop of Bourges with great flourishes of Learning Authorities and Examples laboured to maintain it but they on the other side said freely This was the way to make the Kingdom Schismatical and alienate it from the Fellowship of the Catholick Church and that they would rather chuse to lose their lives than consent to so brutish so pernitious a thing and then again the Archbishop of Bourges demonstrated that to be so obstinate upon that point was a subjecting of the Kingdom to the Dominion not onely of Foreign Princes but of its most bitter enemies and that for their parts since they knew they might live with Liberty of Conscience and in the maintenance of their Religion they would not by any means make themselves guilty of so great a crime After long disputations the Archbishop of Bourges proposed that since they could not frame themselves to acknowledge a King that was not publickly and certainly a Catholick they would joyntly exhort King Henry to change his Religion and come into the bosome of the Church for if he should accept of the invitation and resolve to do so all doubts and occasions of dissenting from him would cease and if he should refuse it then every Catholick would forsake him and all united together would chuse another Prince of the Blood that were a Catholick and one generally approved The Confederates replied they neither could nor ought to exhort nor invite the King of Navar who had not onely oftentimes shewed he regarded not nay rather despised those invitations but also having promised them to turn Catholick had deceived them and abused their credulity Wherefore if he had made no reckoning of his friends much less was it to be believed he would value his enemies and that having by the Apostolick See been declared a relapsed Heretick and excommunicated they could not treat with him nor meddle with any thing that appertained to his interest The Royallists shewed that now he seemed to be of another opinion and that the invitations formerly made unto him had been threatning ones accompanied with force and therefore he had rejected them as unseemly to his reputation but that now he took those exhortations in good part which were made to him by way of extremity and shewed a thousand signs that he would reconcile himself to the Church that he had not kept his promise by reason of the hinderance of Arms and War for it was fit his conversion should be with decency and honor and without violence and that they hoped to see him a Catholick very
shortly to which the others replyed that they should be very glad of his conversion if it should come to pass for his own souls sake but that these were politick artifices to deceive the simple nor could they ground any resolution at all upon it Divers Sittings were spent in these disputes without coming to a conclusion so that many judged as they had prognosticated from the beginning that the Conference would be dissolved without fruit Hence the Spaniards taking courage both because of the resolution which they of the League shewed that they would never assent to acknowledge any other King than one that was sincerely a Catholick and because of the perseverance they saw in the King and his Deputies to set the point of Religion after the Salique Law and the politick Government of the Kingdom resolved to make the utmost push for it and to propose the election of the Infanta for the last engine of their attempt Wherefore the Cardinal-Legate having caused many Processions and Prayers to be made with no less pomp than devotion to beg of God that he would inspire the States in the good choice of convenient means for the common safety There met in his Palace upon the nineteenth of May besides the Spanish Ambassadors who where to make the Proposition the Dukes of Mayenne Guise Aumale and Elboeuf the Count de Chaligny the Sieur de Bassompier in the name of the Duke of Lorain the Sieur de la Pierre for the Duke of Savoy Lorenzo Tornabuoni for the Duke of Merâ—oeur Cardinal Pelleve and the Count de Belin Governor of Paris and in the name of the States six Deputies to treat with the Spanish Ministers the Arch-bishop of Lyons and the Bishop of Senlis for the Clergy the Sieurs de la Chastre and Montolin for the Nobility the Prevost des Marchands of Paris and Estienne Bernard for the Commons In this meeting wherein all the spirits of the States and the very soul of the League consisted the Duke of Feria began to detest the Conference that was held with those of the Kings party saying that the Cardinal-Legate and he had assented to it onely that they might not fail of any possible means to reduce those that were gone astray into the bosome of the holy Church and to the end that the obstinacy of the Politicks being more clearly seen who set Religion behind the consideration of temporal things the World might be certified of their wickedness and of the good intent of the Catholick King whose principal object was Christian Charity the safety of Religion and with these conditions the peace and happiness of that most Christian Kingdom but this trial also having been made that nothing might be left undone and to satisfie the curiosity of all men it was now at last time to dissolve those Treaties which without hope of any fruit carried with them the danger of many mischiefs and thenceforth apply themselves to the election of one who by common consent should possess the Crown for which end they were met together with so much difficulty and from so many several places that as the Catholick King who had spent so much gold and poured out so much blood of his Subjects for the upholding of that cause had never refused any overture of those remedies which he believed might conduce to the general good so at last he was come to know that there was no better nor more helpful resolution for all parts than one alone wherein both justice and decency profit and conveniency did joyntly concur that this was the election of the Infanta Clara Eugenia Isabella Daughter to his most Catholick Majesty to be Queen of France to whom as born of Elizabeth eldest daughter to Henry the Second whose male-line was ended the Crown justly and lawfully belonged as by a thousand Authorities and constitutions of Law and Reason it was easie to prove that the King wished and desired the consent of the States should concur in that just election for the more general satisfaction to the end that the gratitude of the French remembering how much he had done for their service might agree with the justice of the cause to establish the common peace and contentment Here he enlarged himself fully in the Infanta's praises shewing her prudence worth and magnanimity qualities worthy to order so noble a Government and finally concluded there were already Eight thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse ready at the States least request to enter into the Confines and that as many more should be ready within three months all which Forces should be paid by the King till the Wars were ended and that the Duke of Mayenne should have an Hundred thousand Crowns paid him every month to maintain Ten thousand French Foot and Four thousand Horse that if these were thought less than was requisite the Catholick King would add so many more as should be sufficient it being to be believed that out of the infinite affection he bore his daughter he should not fail to imploy all his force to make her a free peaceable possessor of the Kingdom promising and assuring last of all that the Princes of the House of Loraine especially and then all the other Lords and Gentlemen should be largely requited and contented the Clergy brought to their first splendor the Nobility satisfied the People eased and all the several Orders of France setled not onely in full peace and tranquillity but also in the ancient lustre and glory of their Nation The Duke of Feria having concluded his speech in this manner the Bishop of Senlis who with Impatience had expected the end of it without giving time to any other body whom it concerned by order to tell his opinion stood up and said scornfully The Politicks were in the right who had ever said that interest of State was hid under the Cloak of Religion which he with those of his coat having with infinite labour alwayes endeavoured to confute in their Pulpits he was now sorry at heart to hear from the mouths and by the confession of Ambassadors that it was true and that the Preachers deceiving themselves and others had defended and protected a thing that was false that from thenceforward he should believe the Spaniards were no less politick than the Navarrois but he prayed them for their own honor and the 〈◊〉 of the Holy Vnion to desist from that thought For the Kingdom of France having for the space of Twelve hundred years been gloriously possessed by Men according to the institution of the Salique Law it was not fit now to transfer it upon Women who by the variety of their Marriages might call in variety of Masters and subject the French Nation to the dominion of Forreigners This free unexpected answer made by one of the chief instruments of the League and of the Kings sharpest enemies did not onely dismay the Spanish Ambassadors but many also of the Assembly doubting that so free a reproof made without
any respect might discompose all things and put them in confusion But the D. of Mayenne endeavoured with dexterity to excuse the Bishop of Senlis his words ascribing them to excess of zeal or too much fervour of mind intimating that sometimes he went beyond himself and shewing that when he was made sensible of reason and what was fit he would of himself correct that which being drawn by his first violence he had so licentiously spoken unawares The Ambassadors took heart again at the encouragement of the Duke of Mayenne of Cardinal Pelleve and some others but truely it remained evident that it was not out of ambition or for any interests as many would have had it thought but because his conscience so perswaded him that the Bishop of Senlis in all the course of those commotions had so profusely favoured the party of the Vnion and spoken so sharply and with such continued Liberty against the person of the present King and the memory of him that was dead However it were certain it is his words helped to abate the credit of the Spaniards and his example moved many of those who followed the League not for their own interest but in respect of Religion And yet the Spaniards not losing heart by reason of the Duke of Mayenne's dissimulation and of the hopes they had in many of the Deputies demanded publick audience in the assembly of the States and having obtained it upon the Six and twentieth day Iuan Baptista Tassis was the first that spoke who with a short but very cunning speech made the proposition of the Infanta and after him Inigo de Mendozza with a long disputation divided into seven heads explained the rights that she pretended to the succession of the Crown both of them concluding that it was not to put that in controversie which was to be acknowledged from the voluntary election of the State but to inform and satisfie them that he alledged those reasons to the end that with prudent advice the free disposal of the assembly might go along with right and conform it self to Justice the Infanta being willing to acknowledge that from them by way of election which duely belonged to her by rightful succession This proposition was no less deeply resented by the major part of the Deputies than it had been by the Bishop of Senlis many disdain'd that the dominion of Strangers should be proposed to them as to men who were either slaves to the will of others or ignorant of their own interests others laught to see this proposition made without preparations of Arms men and moneys as both need and the reputation of the business required others condemned the Spaniards of little discretion in having had the boldness to declare their design without having prepossessed their minds and disposed them towards it by the powerful preparative of private interest and there wanted not of those who disputed also about the right and said that though women should be declared to have right to the inheritance of the Crown it probably belonged not to her but to the Kings of England who were first descended from daughters of France and with whom there had been so many and so tedious Wars to reject that pretention and to uphold the Salique Law and the legitimate succession of the Males But they that were most of all displeased at it though secretly were the Princes of the House of Lorain who pretended to the election themselves and the Duke of Mayenne though he more cunningly dissembled it shewing in appearance that he would not dissent from the King of Spain â—s will nor from what he had agreed upon with the Ambassadors at Soissons yet he underhand stirred up the Deputies to reject that proposition as dishonorable to the Nation dangerous in point of servitude hurtful to themselves and to the liberty of those that should come after them and not grounded upon any present security but all vainly supported by the uncertainty of future promises There was no doubt but the Deputies would unanimously refuse that proposition yet not to exasperate the Spaniards and to give matters time to ripen they answered after many complements that their desire should be taken into consideration to the end an answer might be given as soon as was possible which while it was expected the Duke of Mayenne to find out a way to exclude that business began to treat with the Ambassadors what Husband the Infanta should have when the Sates had elected her Queen and urged them to declare what Commissions they had from the Catholick King concerning that Their answer was altogether like the rest of the treaty for they made no scruple to declare that the King thought of matching her to Ernest Archduke of Austria the Emperors Brother whom he had also appointed to succeed the Duke of Parma in his Country of Flanders This answer was presently excluded for all replyed with joynt consent That they would not have a King of a different Language and Nation and that the Ears of Frenchmen could never endure to hear it and though the Duke of Mayenne for divers respects feigned to approve of the Archduke the rest notwithstanding declared freely they would none of him which as soon as the Spaniards knew seeing the Infanta's election would go but in a desperate course if some considerable prop were not added to uphold it they said they had Commission in case the States approved not of the Archduke to propose that the Catholick King would marry the Infanta to a French Prince who should be nominated and elected by him within six months This Proposition displeased not all of them in general because there were many pretenders among which were the Duke of Guise the Duke of Nemours and the Cardinal of Lorain but the Duke of Mayenne publickly commending the proposition endeavored to sound whether they inclined to any one of his Sons and being sufficiently certified they were not like to consent unto it because they would not put the Dominion of the Kingdom into his hands being certain the Infanta should be barely a Wife not a Mistriss he began to draw the contrary way much more than he had done before and applyed himself to foment the Conference which had never been intermitted at Surenne between the Catholicks of both parties The King who had notice of all that was in agitation sought every way by means of the Conference to hinder each resolution of the States but his Deputies could not do much in it by reason of the important opposition of Religion nay rather his own Catholicks were discontented themselves that his Conversion so much desired and so often promised was deferred more and more every day The Princes of the Blood threatned openly and now thought in good earnest of taking some resolution because they saw the election of a King of another Family was so closely treated of And every one even of himself fell easily into an opinion that by going
by that means to pacifie the Kingdom From this general inclination the Great Ones were not averse who though they would not swerve from the Popes Judgment and the Declaration of the Apostolick See thought yet it was not fit to innovate any thing more till they saw the effect of his Conversion and the Popes intention which opinion fomented by the Duke of Mayenne and forced by the necessity of affairs was imbraced even by the Duke of Guise himself who in such a conjuncture thought his election would prove ridiculous to others and ruinous to himself which he himself being accompanied by the Mareschals de la Chastre and St. Paul gave the Spanish Ministers to understand In the mean time half the City of Paris ran to the spectacle of this Conversion even from the day before the Absolution which was the Five and twentieth of Iuly being the Feast of the Apostle St. Iames which day the King cloathed all in white but accompanied with the Princes Lords and the whole Court with the Guards before them in Arms went to the chief Church of St. Denis the Gates whereof they found shut at which the High Chancellor knocking they were presently opened and there appeared the Archbishop of Bourges sitting in his Chair in his Pontifical Habit and invironed with a great number of Prelates He asked the King Who he was and what he would have The King answered That he was Henry King of France and Navarre and that he demanded to be received into the Bosom of the Catholick Church To which the Archbishop replying asked If he desired it from the bottom of his heart and had truly repented him of his former Errours At which words the King protesting upon his knees said He was sorry for his former Errour which he abjured and detested and would live and die a Catholick in the Apostolick Roman Church which he would protect and defend even with the hazard and danger of his very life After which words having with a loud voice repeated the Profession of Faith which was presented to him in writing he was with infinite acclamations of the people and incessant vollies of shot brought into the Church and kneeling down before the high Altar he repeated the prayers that were dictated to him by the Archbishop and thence having been admitted by him to secret Confession he came to set under the Daiz or Cloth of State and with a general gladness and rejoycing was present at the solemn Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Nantes after which thorow a wonderful throng of people and resounding cries of Vive le Roy which ascended to the Skies He returned again to his Palace In this interim affairs having taken such a different impression the States gave answer to the Duke of Feria and the other Spanish Ambassadors who being brought into the Assembly the Duke of Mayenne gravely gave thanks unto the Catholick Kings Majesty as well for the assistance of his past and the promise of his future Supplies as for the honour done unto his Family in offering the Infanta in marriage to his Nephew the Duke of Guise and in the end told them that the Assembly having well considered all things did not think the time seasonable to make any Election but that they prayed his Catholick Majesty to stay for the ripeness of opportunity and in the mean time not to fail them of his wonted protection and promised Supplies After this resolution which dashed all the Spaniards it was determined in the States that they should follow the conclusion of the Truce and though the Legat opposed it strongly and protested oftentimes that he would be gone yet being pacified by the reasons that were represented to him and with the offer of causing the Council of Trent to be received in the States he let himself be perswaded to continue in the City being also uncertain whether his departure would be well taken at Rome So in the Conference at Surenne a general Tâ—uce was established thorow the whole Kingdom for the three next months August September and October and it was published with infinite joy among the people in all places after which the Duke of Mayenne being desirous to dismiss the Assembly honourably first caused a Decree to be made for the receiving the Council of Trent and then assembling the States upon the eighth of August he made them all swear to persevere in the Vnion and not to depart from it and having given order that they should meet again in the same place in the month of October following to deliberate upon the state of affairs with those Instructions they should have from Rome he at last dismissed them all and the Deputies willingly departing returned to their own houses The End of the Thirteenth BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The FOURTEENTH BOOK The ARGUMENT THis Book contains the means used by the King to make his Conversion more fruitful the continuation of the Truce for the two other months November and December at the end of which Meaux first of all submits to his obedience The Sieur de la Chastre follows with the City of Bourges and the Admiral Villars with Havre de Grace and Rouen the Count de Brissac Governour of Paris makes a composition and the King being received into the City without tumult drives out the Spanish Ambassadors and Garison the Cardinal-Legat departed also and goes out of the Kingdom Many other Cities follow the Kings fortune and finally the Duke of Nemours is imprisoned and the City of Lyons surrenders it self The Duke of Mayenne renews other conditions with the Spaniard to prosecute the War he comes to parley with Ernest Archduke of Austria Governour of the Low-Countries and at last goes into Picardy with Count Charles of Mansfelt and the Army The King besieges Laon the Duke of Mayenne and the Spaniards attempt to relieve it there follow many encounters at last they retire and the place is yielded The Sieur de Balagny goes over to the Kings obedience with the City of Cambray he is likewise received into Amiens and other Towns in Piccardy The Duke of Montpensier takes Honfleur There happen divers encounters in Bretagne Languedoc Provence and Dauphine The King being returned to Paris is in his own Lodgings wounded in the Mouth by a young Merchant he is taken confesses the fact and is executed forâ—it and the Iesuites are banished out of the Kingdom The King publickly proclaims War against the King of Spain and renews the Negotiation at Rome to obtain Absolâ—tion from the Pope The Mareschal de Byron is declared Governour of Bourgogne He begins the War prosperously in that Province takes Autun Auxerre and at last Dijon and besieges the Castles of it The Sieur de Tremblecourt and d' Ossonville enter to infest the County of Bourgogne which is subject to the Crown of Spain and takes some places there The Constable of Castille Governour of Milan
he might spare the pains of coming The Duke not losing heart though much troubled went forward but not the straight way to Rome and being come to Mantua he sent Possevino back unto the Pope endeavouring by many reasons written to him and the Cardinals his Nephews to obtain permission to execute his Embassy and the Marquiss de Pisani Cardinal Gondi and the Monsieur de Metz Leiger Ambassador for the King at Venice being come unto him they with a common consent wrote and treated many things which were promoted at Rome by the Venetian and Florentine Ambassadors Cardinal Toledo also carrying himself very favourably in the business The Pope making use of the advertisement the Legat had given him to colour his secret intention shewed that Article of Montorio's instructions to the Duke of Sessa Ambassador for the King of Spain and to many Cardinals depending upon that party and feigned to let himself be drawn by that respect and that to that end he would not totally exclude the Duke of Nevers and though both the Duke of Sessa and the Spanish Cardinals stifly opposed it affirming that at the end of the Truce the Catholick King would certainly have such forces in a readiness as should to the general satisfaction of the Confederates be able to establish the proposed election yet the Pope took a middle way which was to admit and hearken to the Duke not as an Ambassador from the King of Francâ— but as a Caâ—holick Prince and as an Italian and therefore he sent back Possevinâ— to him again to Manâ—â—a to let him know that his intention and last determination and to advertise him thaâ— he should come without state and with but a small retinue to the end he might not be held and acknowledged in the degree of an Ambassador but of a privaâ—e person which though the Duke thought very hard and from so difficult a beginning guessed he should compass no prosperous end of his Embassy yet he resolved to go forward as well because he would not digress from the Council of the Venetian Senate and the other Princes who were the Kings Friends as also to make the uttermost royal in a business of so mighty importance But in France there happened at this time besides the ordinary discords a new misfoâ—tune to the League for the City of Lyons unexpectedly â—ook Arms against the Duke of Nemours who was Governor thâ—â—â—of and proceeded so far that they made him pâ—isoner in the Casâ—le of Pierre Ansise The Duke of Nâ—mours a Prince of great courage but of a haughty imperious nature being departed full of pride by reason of his prospeâ—ous defence of Paâ—â— and come unto his Government of Lyons had begun 〈◊〉 noâ—rish a design within himself to reduce it into a free Signiory together with Beaâ—ioloiâ— and Poâ—ests which were three Precincts jointly under his command and to add 〈◊〉 them as many other places and towns as he could and his Brother the Marquiss of St. Soâ—lâ—â— having the Government of Dauphine he designed to unite that Province also unto himself and by that means joining his State to that of the Duke of Savâ—y fâ—om whose House his Family descended to be assisted and fomented by him but because he knew that neither the Nobility nor people would ever consent willingly to separate themselves from the Crown of France and submit themselves unto his tyranny he had by long contrivance been raising all those means which might serve to obtain his intent by force For this purpose he had under several pretences driven many of the chief Citizens out of the City and exposing the Nobility to manifest dangers was glad to see many of them perish who were able to oppose his design nor that sufficing him he had upon several occasions caus'd a great many Forts and Citadels to be built which incompassed the City of Lyons with a Circle having begun at Toissay Belleville and Tisy and then continued at Charlieu St. Bonnet Mombrison Nirieâ— Câ—iâ—drieu Vienne Pipeâ— and lastly to perfect that circumference he treated with the Sieur de St. Iullen that for Fifty thousand Crowns he should let him have Quirieu to raise another Foâ—t there likewise and passing from the Circumference unto the Center he meant to rebuild the ruined Citadel of Lyons and designs and platforms were already drawâ— for that purpose In these strong places he kept Garisons of Horse and Foot that depended upon his pleasure and not having enough to maintain them of his own fed them wiâ—h extorting from the people and with a pernicious licence of plundering and spoiling the Country To these actions were added outward shews not unlike them for he kept about him a great retinue of Strangers undervalued and abused the Nobility of the Country and in his publick writings no longer â—sed the Title of Governour but barely of Duke of Nâ—mours as an absolute Lord. In this inteâ—im the time of holding the States at Paris being come he though invited would neither go not send thither still speaking dishonourably of the authority and actions of the Duke of Mayenne his Broâ—her by the Mothers side and when the Truce was concluded though he declared that he accepted it for as much as concerned the Kings party yet nevertheless would he not dismiss the least part of his Souldiery but rather entertaining and raising new every day kept the Country more oppressed in the time of the Cessation than it was before in the heat of War The principal men and the people of Lyons moved by all these things resolved to complain of it to the Duke of Mayenne who for the safety of the City and the maintaining of his own reputation thought it good to withstand his Brothers ambitious designs and therefore under colour of desiring that the Archbiâ—hop of Lyons should go to Râ—me with Cardinal Ioyeâ—se he caused him to go unto that City giving him Commission to maintain the peoples liberty and to give him â—oâ—ice of every parâ—iculaâ— to the end he might seasonably provide against danger This Remedy hastened the breaking out of the mischief for the Duke of Nemours having no good correspondenâ—e with the Archbishop and seeing the Citizens ran popularly aâ—ter him thought to draâ— some Compâ—nies of Souldiers into the Town either for his own security or to bridle the people who were already half in an uproar But this news being come amongst the Citizens increased by the wonâ—â—d additions of the report they no longer delayed to rise and having taken Arms barricadoed up the City and shut the Duke into a corner of the Town who having in this necessity desired to speak with the Archbishop whom before he had not cared to see the event proved different from his design for the Archbishop making then no account either of his words or complements which he knew proceeded but from necessity continued to exhort the people to defend their own liberty and told them which way they should manage their business so that finally the
might march out of the City armed in rank and file their Drums beating Colours flying and light Match to go whither they thought good That two hundred thousand Crowns should be paid to the Count de Brissac in recompence of his expences and losses and that he should have twenty thousand Franks of an annual pension the Charge of Marshal of Frâ—nce conferred upon him by the Duke of Mayenne should be confirmed and the perpetual Government of Corbie and Mante granted to him which things with many other of less moment being agreed upon both sides applyed themselves to the execution of them The King at this time was at Chartres where he had caused himself to be Crowned and Anointed or as they call it Sacré about which there had been many difficulties which nevertheless by the authority of the Council were seasonably removed for he that he might take away the doubts of scrupulous minds desiring to his Conversion to add this Ceremony which is wont to be used to all Kings some objected that the Consecration by an ancient custom could not be but at the City of Reimes nor by the hands of any other than the Archbishop of that Church but having diligently over-looked the History of former times the learned found that many Kings had been Consecrated in other places and since that City was not in the Kings power reason consented not that he should therefore remain without that due Ceremony which they thought necessary for his perfect Establishment This difficulty being removed there succeeded another how the King could be Anointed without the Oyl of St. Ampoule which was kept in the Cathedral of that City and which as fame reports was brought down by an Angel from Heaven purposely for the Consecration of King Cloüis and the other Kings of France his Successors but neither of this was there any other necessity save bare tradition whereupon it was determined that neither the City nor the Oyl being in the Kings power the Oyl should be brought that is kept in the City of Tours in the Monastery of the Friers of St. Martin of which there is a report confirmed by the authority of many Writers that it was likewise brought from Heaven to anoint that Saint when falling from the top of a Ladder all his bones were broken and shattered in pieces wherefore Monsieur de Souvray Governour of Tours having caused that Vial to be brought out in Procession by those Monks that had it in keeping and having placed it under a rich Canopy of State set round pompously with lights in the top of a Chariot made expresly for that purpose and guarded by four Troops of Horse he himself going before it all the journey brought it along with him to the City of Chartres and with that Oyl they Anointed the King at his Consecration causing it afterward to be carried back to its place with the same Ceremony and Veneration There arose also a Competition among the Prelates Which of them should perform the Act of Consecration for the Archbishop of Bourges pretended that Function belonged unto him as Primate and on the other side Nicholas de Thou Bishop of Chartres alledged That the Ceremony being to be Celebrated in his Church it could not be taken away from him The Council sentenced in favour of the Bishop of the Diocess and so upon the Twenty seventh of February the King was consecrated with great Solemnity and Pomp both Ecclesiastical and Military the twelve Peers of France being present at the Ceremony six Ecclesiastical and six Secular which were the Bishop of Chartres Nantes Mans Maillezays Orleans and Angiers representing those of Reimes Langues Laon Beauvais Noyon and Chalons and for the Secular Peers the Prince of Conty for the Duke of Bourgogne the Duke of Soissons for the Duke of Guienne the Duke of Montpensier for the Duke of Normandy the Duke of Luxemburgh in stead of the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Retz in stead of the Count de Toulouse and the Duke of Vantadour in stead of the Count de Champagne the Archbishop of Bourges did the Office of Grand Aumosnier the Mareshal de Matignon of High Constable the Duke of Longueville that of High Chamberlain the Count de St. Paul that of Grand Maistre and the High Chancellor Chiverny holding the Seals in his Right Hand sate on one side of the Cloth of State The King according to the custom of the Kings of France upon the day of this Solemnity received the Communion in both kinds took the Oath which all the Kings of France are wont to take to maintain the Catholick Faith and the authority of the Holy Church and at his coming out of the Church touched those that had the Kings Evil to the number of three hundred from the Church he went unto the Feast where according to the custom sate the twelve Peers that had been present at the Ceremony the Princess Katharine Sister to the King with the other great Ladies that were at Court and the Ambassadors of the Queen of England and the Republick of Venice After Dinner the King went to Vespers where he received the Order of the St. Esprit renewing his Oath for the conservation of the Faith and the persecution of Heresie which Ceremonies as they filled the hearts of his own party with great joy and gladness so did they the more move the inclination of the others to acknowledge and obey him In the mean time the Treaties in Paris were ripening for the reducing of that City being managed with great dexterity and secresie by the Governour the Prevost des Marchands and President le Maistre but thwarted more than ever by the violent perswasions of the Preachers who ceased not to cry from their Pulpits that the Kings Conversion was feigned and dissembled and no body could acknowledge him with a good Conscience The business was likewise crossed by the practices and boldness of the Sixteen who since the accident of President Brisson having remained with small credit and less power being now fomented by the Legat and the Spaniards and no less by the Dutchesses of Nemours and Montpensier who had turned their Sails according to the Wind they began to rise again meeting frequently often stirring up commotions and proceeding audaciously against those that were suspected to be of the Kings party but the Governour making use of his authority and also of the Duke of Mayenne's Name laboured to dissipate and suppress them under colour that he would have no Conventicles nor armed insurrections in a time of so great suspition and finally having accorded with the Parliament they caused publick Proclamation to be made That upon pain of death and confiscation of goods none should go to any Meeting except in the Town-House and in the presence of above five Magistrates Upon the foundation of this Decree the Governour sharply using force did within a few days destroy and take away the opposition of the Sixteen insomuch
GAbels are a kind of Impositions especially upon Salt 114 Garde des Seaux is Lord Keeper 3â—7 359 Gautiers Countrey People Sixteen thousand of them fight for the League 395. fortified in three places after they had fought a long time some are cut in pieces and some yield 396 Geneva undertaken to be protected by Henry III. 250. besieged by the Duke of Savoy 426 Gentry alwayes meant by the French Nobles as well as Lords 237 A German Troopers bold act 317. Sixteen of them killed by a Woman with a Knife 328 Germans of the League make sign of coming to the Kings Party are received by them at the Malâ—dery but being entred fall hostilely upon them that brought them in and make themselves Masters of the place 420. German Infantry raised for the King turn to the League 441. all put to the Sword 447. kilâ— little Children to eat in Paris 469. joining with the King and taking Atâ—igny he gives them the Piâ—lage 511 Geux a sort of Hereticks 108 Du Ghast Captain of the Kings Guards causes the Cardinal of Guise to be slain by four Soldiers 373 Godfrey of Bullen and a Daughter of Charles the Great were Ancestors of the House of Lorrain and Guise Page 6 Goville a stout Priest fighting singly alwayes got the victory 525. is kill'd with a Musket-shot 528 Grand Maistre is Lord High-steward of the Kings Houshold heretofore called Count de Palais and le Seneschal de France 248 Grâ—nd Provost de l'Hostel 376 Grenoble after a long Siege returns to the obedience of Henry IV. 484 De la Guesle runs Jacques Clement through who killed Henry III. 405 Guise's the three Brothers of them made absolute Administrators of the Politick and Military Government by reason of their Alliance with the Dauphin 9 H. HAN its Siege 679 Harquebusiers on Horseback differ'd from our Dragoons in that they served both on Foot and Horseback and 't is conceived they were the same with Argolettiers 276 Havre de Grace delivered upon Conditions 89 Henry II. killed in a Tournament by Montgomery his Obsequies last Thirty three dayes 11 12 Henry IV. his birth 10 Henrietta de Cleve Sister to the Duke of Nevers married to Ludovico Gonzaga Duke of Mantua 99 Heresie to be judged by the Bishops 50 Hereticks their divers opinions 50. A Seat of them called Gueux 108 House of Bourbon next to the Crown and grown to a monstrous greatness was hated and supprest by the Kings 5. the Crown divolved upon it 406 House of Guise descended from that of Lorrain reckons in the Malâ—-Line of their Ancestors Godfrey of Bullen and shews a Pedigree from a daughter of Charles the great 6 House of Lorrain too much puft up by prosperous success 331. vid. Lords House of Momorancy descended from one of those that issued out of Franconia with the first King Pharamond and pretends to be the first that received Baptism 6 House of Valois ended in Henry III. 405 Hugonots whence named 20. manner of their proceeding 21. determine to meet at Blois where the King and Court was are defeated at Ambois 25. Petition and demand by the Admiral Liberty of Conscience and Erection of Temples 30. grow insolent towards the Catholicks 49. slight the Kings Edict 65. their Heads declared Rebels 71. receive the English to Hauvre de Grace Diepe Rouen 72. Negligence their ordinary defect 81. one of their Ministers prints and preaches 't is lawful to kill the King 110. jealous of his preparations resolve upon a War ib. resolving to besiege Paris stop passages make incursions into the Suburbs and burn the Mills 112. retake the City of Orleans 114. accept not the Accommodations motioned by the Queen 124. their Manifesto 130 set out a Fleâ—t to fetch in Provision ibid. rise from before the Catholicks for want of Provision 148. possess themselves of Chastel-rault c. 152. rise and do great outrages 167. chief of them in the Louvre are killed 183. Ten thousand of them massacred at Paris at ringing a Bell whereof Five hundred were Barons and Men of Quality 85. begin again to take Arms 196. stir up new Commotions 240. take and sack Cahors 241 their Answer to the Kings Edict 281. take the Castle of Angiers suddenly 289. incompassed by the Catholicks they disband and save themselves by flight 291. threaten to forsake the King and take the Crown from him which they said they had gotten him 662. plot new Troubles being jealous of Henry IVs. conjunction with the Pope 712. the chiefs absenting from Court and drawing Soldiers together near Rochel the King sends to appease them 713 Philip Huralt chose Chancellor in the place of Birago made Cardinal 335 I. JEsuites banished out of the whole Kingdom of France 661 Inclinations of Innocent IX to the Affairs of France 530 Infanta of Spain proposed and urged in the Assembly of the States to be chose Queen of France 592 c. her pretensions to Bretagne 713 Inheritance of the Royal Family 4 Insurrection of the Hugonots 197. of the Parisians 377. another appeased with the death of divers that made it 464 Interview between Charles IX and Duke of Savoy 95. between Charles IX and the Queen-Mother with the Queen of Spain at Bayonne 96. between the Queen-Mother and King of Navarre at Bris 305. between the Most Christian King and King of Navarre at Tours 396 397 John Bodin contradicts the Prelates of the General Assembly at Blois 229 John Chastell a Merchant of Paris wounds Henry IV. in the mouth whil'st he was saluting the Knights of the Holy Ghost at the Louvre Confesses he was moved thereto by the Doctrine he learned of the Jesuites condemned to be dragged to pieces by four Horses 661 D'â—varra his opinion concerning the League 529 Izabella Daughter of Maximilian the Emperor married to Charles IX 582 K. KEyes of the Palace taken from the Duke of Guise and delivered to the King of Navarre Page 46 King Charles IX after much opposition declared out of Minority by the Parliament of Paris 91. opposes the Popes Monitory against the Queen of Navarre 94. makes a general Visitation of the whole Kingdom ib. meets with the Popes Ministers at Avignon 95. Not being able to persuade the Queen of Navarre to change Religion moves her to restore the Masse and Priests to their former liberty 97. disbands part of his Army by advice which proves hurtful 167. his answer to the Duke of Guise resolved to marry Catharine de Cleves 173. commands Ligneroles to be kill'd for shewing he knew what he desir'd to be kept secret 175. Graciously receives the Admiral prostrating himself at his feet after so many years Wars 176. dissembles so with the Hugonots that he is suspected by strange Princes presents a rich Iewel with his own hands to Cardinal Alessandro and Pope Pius Vs. Legat who refuses it his Sister married to the Prince of Navarre by dispensation from Pope Gregory XIII 177. displeased with the Admiral but dissembles it 178. visits the Admiral and
and do Penance for the Cardinals death 402. resolves to send assistance to the League against the King 431. his Commissions to Cardinal Gaetano Legat in France 432. his Breve published at Paris and the Contents thereof 434 grows jealous Gaetano inclines to favour the Spanish designs 453. his death 4â—8 Pope Urban VII lives but Twelve dayes and is succeeded by Gregory XIV a Milanese ib. who resolves to send men and money to assist the League 493. chooses Mastilio Landriano Legat to France assigns Fifteen thousand Crowns per mensem for the League ibid. sends Twelve hundred Horse and Six thousand Foot into France under command of Monte-Martiano 503. dyes 530 Preheminences of the Royal Family are Inheritance and Administration 4 Princes of the Blood ib. Prince of Condé set at liberty 28. practises to possess Lyons but without success 32. committed to Prison excepts against his Tryal and appeals to the King but not accepted 37. Sentence pronounced against him 38. set at liberty and declared void 44. his Manifesto 61. Coins the Plate belonging to the Churches 63. his demands in favour of himself and the Hugonots 65. returns to his Army 67. going to besiege Paris amuses himself before Corbiel whereby he fails of his design 78. taken Prisoner by the Duke of Guise 83. sups and lies in the same Bed with the Duke his bitter Enemy 84. offers the King a great number of Hugonots to make War with Spain 109. incenseth the King with a Letter of Protestation 128. sells the Goods of the Church for the Hugonots 137. is shot in the head at the Battel of Brisac and dyes 140. his Body is carried in Triumph upon a â—ack-horse by the Catholicks and after restored to the Pâ—ince of Navarre his Nephew 141. his Son a Child and the Prince of Nâ—varre made Heads of the Hugonots 142. is kept in the Kings Chamber duâ—â—â—g the Massacre and after kept Prisoner 183. he and his Brother turn Catholicks 186. made Head of the Hugonots 206. brings a great Army out of Germany and declares the Duke of Alanzon Head of the Hugonots 215. offended at his power seek to make Peace with him 219. is declared Lieutenant General of the Hugonots 226. will not acknowledge the Assembly at Blois to be the States General nor treat with their Commissioners 230. excommunicated by Sixtus Quintus and declared incapable of Succession to the Crown 284. poisoned at St. Jehan de Angely by his own Servants 235 Princess of Condé dexterously refer'd by the King to the Parliament of Paris about imputation of her being guilty of her Husbands death and is clear'd by them she promising first to turn Catholick and instruct her Son in the same Religion 672 Prince of Navarre marries the Kings Sister by dispensation from the Pope 177. assumes the Title of King 179 Prince of Orange formerly declared Rebel is restored to his Estate 220 Q. QUeen Blanch Mother to St. Lewis taking upon her the Government in her Sons minority the Barons take Arms to maintain the Right in whom it belong'd 1â— Queen Catherine joins with the Prince of Conâ—â— and the Admiral in opposition to the Triumvirate 53. feigns an inclination to the Hugonot Religion ibid. forced to declare for the Catholicks and at the same time maintains hopes in the Hugonots 60 Queen Elizabeth of England offers Conditions to the Hugonots 6. imprisons Mary Queen of Scots 296. grants assistance to Henry IV. by Viscount de Turenne 487 Queen Margaret Wife to the King of Navarre her licentious Life causes the King and Queen-mother to resolve to break the match and give him Christien Daughter of the Duke of Lorrain to Wife who afterwards married Ferdinand de Medicis Grand Duke of Tuscany 397 Mary Queen of Scots Cousin to the Guises imprisoned by Elizabeth Queen of England 296 Queen-mother and Prince of Condé parley 64. persuades the Duke of Guise Constable and Mareschal de St. André to leave the Court hath it promised under their hands they will whereupon the Catholick Lords leave the Camp 65 66 is threatned in a Letter to be killed 107. with the King she visits the Admiral and under pretence of defending him set strict Guards upon his House 181. sends three Armies into several parts of the Kingdom to suppress Insurrections 198. favours Lugi d'Avila the Authors Brother 274. she is resolved to break the match between the King of Nâ—varre and Queen Margaret by reason of her licentious Life and give him Christien Daughter to the Duke of Lorrain to Wife 397. treats an Accommodation with the Hugonots ibid. an Interview between her and the King of Navarre but nothing concluded 305. A Saying of hers 335. becomes pale and afrighted at the Duke of Guises waiting upon her dissuades the King from his thoughts against him 338. is strongly guarded for fear of him 339. goes to him in her Sâ—dan being denied passage in her Coach confers with him but brings back nothing but complaints and exorbitant demands 344. goes with him to the King at Chartres 354. dyes on Twe fth-Eve in the 50th year of her age 30 whereof she spent in the Regency and management of greatest affairs and troubles of the Kingdom of France Page 374 Queen of Navarre causes Churches to be ruined and expels the Priests 94. goes with all the Hugonots to the Prince of Condé and the Admiral at Rochel 129. her Letters and their Manifesto 130. Coins money with her own Figure on one side and her Sons on the other 143. is poisoned with a pair of Gloves 178 An ancient Question Whether the Assembly of the States or the King be Superior 228 R. REformed Religion began to spread in France in the time of Francis I. 20 Reiters are German Horse 260.327 those of the League fight till they are all destroyed 448 Religion a veil of private Interests 46 Remedies used by Henry IV. to conserve the affections and obedience of his Party 486 Renard Procurer of Chasteler with others put to death for crying Bread or Peace 464 Renaudie a man of a desperate fortune Head of the Hugonot Conspiracy 21 Republick of Venice acknowledges Henry IV. King of France and Mosenigo their Ambassador to Henry III. passes a Compliment with him in publick 427 Rhenus a Vial of Oyl kept there wherewith the first Christian King Louis was Consecrated 47. a meeting there dissolved without any determination 503 River Vare divides Italy from France 565 Rochel revolts to the Hugonots which serves them ever after for a Sanctuary 122. its strong situation 190. yielded to the King 192. they break the Truce 205. permit Catholicks to say Mass at the intercession of the King of Navarre 226 Rouen taken by the Catholicks and sack't 75. disliking their Gâ—vernor de Tavennes they make an Insurrection 504. A Relation of its Siege 523 524 c. Royal Races 5 S. SAla the River where the Salique Law was established 3 Salii Priests ibid. Savii de Terra Firma are Magistrates of Venice so called
moved at the King of France his answer to their Ambassadors raise an Army under the conduct of Prince Casimir which being come into Alsatia was forty thousand men led by the Baron d'Onaw Lieutenant-General to Prince Casimir Rodolphus the Second the Emperor commands the Baron d' Onaw by a publick Edict to disband the Army raised without his leave and to desist from the business upon pain of the Impeâ—ial banishment to which the Baron answers with excuses that he ought not to desist * Or Crâ—ates Care taken by the Duke of Lorain that the German Army might not stay in his Country The first assault given by those of the League to the Germans in Lorain A bold act of a German Trooper The German Army going out of Lorain rich with spoil enters France where not esteeming the Duke of Guises small Forces they continue to pillage and destroy the Country The great abundance of all things causing surfeits brings great morttality in the German Army Hâ—nry the III. goes in person with an Army to oppose the Germans and to keep thâ—m from joining with the King of Navarre The German Army mutinies At Coutras the D. of Ioyeuse with his Army prepares himself to Battel but with great confusion The King of Navarre takes opporâ—unity â—y the Enemies slowness aâ—d puts his Army in excellent order * Thâ— French Translation sayes and to the Maâ—quess of Galerande The Armies face one another and the Battel begins The Albanians break through a Squadron of Cuirassiers run to Couâ—ras pillage the Hugonots baggage and could no more be rallied in the Battel The D. of Ioyeuse thrown to the ground offers 100000 Crowns in ransom yet is slain The Catholicks lose the day are all killed and taken prisoners except a very few that save themselves by flight The King is not displeased at the loss nor at the Duke of Ioyeuse death The Swisses do not willingly fight when they see the Ensignes of their Cantons displayed in the Enemies Army The Duke of Guise jested at by the Duke of Mayenne for saying he would assault the Enemy because they were indiscreetly quartered The D. of Guise knowing the want of discipline and experience in the German Army resolves though much inferiour in number to fall upon them in their quarters The Baron dâ— Onaw gets out of Vilâ—ory and having fought is wounded in the head and saves himself by favour of the night The Duke of Guise gives a sudden assault to the Germans at Auneau and with a great slaughter of them obtains another famous Victory The Duke of Espernon begins again to treat an Agâ—eement with the Swisses of the German Army and they have leave granted them to return with a safe-conduct to their own home The Reiters and the Geâ—mans following the exaâ—ple of the Swisses do thâ— same All the Army that was commanded by the Baron d' Onau disbands at last The Duke of Bouillon flies to Gâ—â—â—va and diâ—s there A Woman kills 〈…〉 with a knife * And therefore usually called Colonel Alfonso Corso The miserable end of the reliques of the mighty Army of the Germans 1588. Vast thoughts of the House of Lorain too much puffed up by prosperous successes The Duke of Guise causes a Writing to be presented to the King with many cunning demands redounding to his own benefit The King declares â—he D. of Espâ—â—non Admiral of the Kingdom and Governour of Normandy to the great discontent of the Duke of Guise The Council of Sixteen informâ— the Duke of Guise of 20000 men in readiness for any design The Duke of Aumale is in a readiness with 500 Horse to assist the conspiracy of the Parisians A Conspiracy against the Kings person Nicholas Poulain reveals the whole Plot to the High Chancellour and confirms it also to the King himself Henry Prince of Conde poisoned at S. Iehan d' Angâ—ly by his own servants * He that will stir up a Wasps-nest had first need to cover his face well A saying of the Queen-Mother Resolutions taken to free themselves of the Conspiracy of the Parisians The Kings preparations to make himself sure of the Conspirators to block up the passages about Paris and keep victuals from thence The Council of Sixteen by the Kings preparationâ— begin to suspect that their Plot is discovered and the Heads being dismayed send for the Duke of Guise to Paris The King commands the Duke of Guise not to come to Paris but he disobeys The Duke goes to wait upon the Queen-mother who becomes pale and affrighted * I will strike the Shâ—pherd and the Sheep shall be scattered The King being visited by the Duke of Guise shews himself angry both in words and looks because he was come to Paris contrary to his command The Queen disswades the King from his boughts aâ—gainst the Duke of Guise who perceiving in what danger he was presently takes his leave and departs The King and Queen are strongly guarded for fear of the Duke of Guise and he being fearful alsâ— takes the same care The Duke of Guise goes with 400 Gentlemen privately well armed to the Louvre to wait upon the King to Mass. Discourses that pass between the King the Queen-mother and the Duke of Guise The King commands fiâ—teen thousand strangers to be driven out of Paris but the execution is hindered whereupon he resolves to suppress the Insurrection by force The Duke of Guise makes the Parisians bâ—lieve that the King meant to put Sixscore of the chief Catholicks to death The Kings Soldiers come into Paris and guard the Loâ—vre with the streets about it as also the Bridges and Market-places of the City The Parisians raised at the ringing of the bells make barricadoes cross the streets and blocking up all the Kings Corps de Garde come up to the Louvre and begin to assaule the Royalists The Duke of Guise seeing the City in his power and the King as is were a prisoner ceaseth to prosecute the forâ—eing of the Louvre and appeaseth the people Aleâ—â—andro Farâ—â—se Duke of Parma his saying of the Duke of Guise The opinion that the Duke of Guise made way for his designs to seise upon the Crown of France and possess it after the death of Henry the III. The Queen-Mother goes to the Duke of Guise in her Sedan being denied passage in her Coach confers with him but brings back nothing but complaints and exorbitant demands While the Queen returns to the Duke of Guisâ— treaâ—s with him the King with sixteen Gentlemen leaves Paris and retires to Chartres The cause of distaste between the Duke of Espernon and Villeroy The Duke of Espernon coming to Court is not received by the King with his wonted favour by his order quits his Government of Normandy and retires to Angoulesme The Conditions of Peace between the King and the League The Duke of Guise goes with the Q Mother to Câ—artres to the King and is received by him with great demâ—nstrations of honour in appearance Pope Sixtâ—s
Army * The French sayes towards the East The Mareschal de Byron layes siege to Rouen Nov. 11. 1591. In the first Skirmish before Rouen the Earl of Essex his Nephew is slain by Berosey * The Author is a little mistaken in this partiâ—ular for it was the Earl of Essex his Brother Sir Waâ—ter d' Eureux A double practice is discovered which vanishes without effect The Earl of Essex challenges the Sieur de Villars to a Duel who refuses it not but refers it to another time and so nothing is done The King with the rest of the Army comes up to the siege of Rouen he sends a Herald to summon the Town but is refused * A Mount raised on purpose to plant Cannon on Some call it a Caâ— * Orillons are the round shoulders at the ends of the faces of Bastions next the Flanks which cover the covered Flanks little used in Holland but much in Italy and France One Goville â— Priest one of the stoutest Defendants noted both by the Kings party and his own aâ— often as he fights single still gets thâ— victory * Or digging tools Lieutenant Landon being taken prisoner by the Kings party promises to let them in at a Gate of the City but being set at liberty he discovers the business to the Governor who on the night appointed takes Captain Raulet and others that came for that purpose Another practice but not a fained one is discovered and those that are guilty condemned to the Gallows There sally out of Rouen 1000 Foot and 300 Horse The Baron de Biron wounded The Skirmish increased almost to a Battel many Commanders are either killed or wounded and the Sieur de Villars also being hurt hath much ado to retire to the Walls under the protection of his own Cannon * A Skyt-gate is that gap in the Parapâ—s where the mouth of the Cannon lies out called in French l'Embraseure or Cannoniere Goville the valiant Priest is killed with a Musket shot The Duke of Parma is of opinion to succor the League without shewing any other end save that of Religion and Diego d' Ivarra thinks it better the League being in a strait to force them to call an Assembly of the States and to declare the Infanta Isabella Queen of France Pope Gregory the 14th dies Giovanni Antonio Fachinetto Cardinal of Santi Quattro succeeds with the name of Innocent the 9th His inclinations concerning the affairs of France The death of Pope Innocent the Ninth Upon tâ—e 4th of Ianuâ—ry 1592 the Duke of Parma being come into France and joyned with the Popes and the French Forces musters his Army Upon the 16th day the Confederates march to relieve Rouen with 24000 Foot and 6000 Horse The description of the Confederate Army The Kings Army before Rouen amounts to 10000 Horse and above 27000 Foot The King at Folleville having intelligence that the Army of the League was marching near advanced with some Horse to view it and being met with two Troops of the Enemy skirmishes and retires with all his men to Berteville The King going from Aumale with a few Lords to discover the enemy is forced to fight upon the sudden in disorder yet notwithstanding after a short resistance puts them to flight While the King views the Enemies Army their Cavalry come up to him and he being in wonderful great danger comes off wounded The Duke of Nevers relieves the Kings Cavalry that was retiring to Aumale and makes good their retreat The Duke of Nevers having fetched off the Kings Cavalry follows the King who had saved himself in a Wood. The King caused his wound to be drest in the Wood which found not dangerous he goes presently to Neuf-Chastel The King leaves the â—aron de Guiry at Neuf-Chastel he having underâ—aken to defend it and goes to Diâ—pe to be cured of his wound The Duke of Parma's Answer to the French Lords The Duke of Parma besieges Neuf Chastel which though weak is gallantly defended by Giury but a breach being made and the assailants ready to fall on Giury capitulates The Duke of Paâ—ma angry at his resistance shews himself unwilling to treat but being appeased grants him honourable conditions A skirmish growâ— almost to a Battel Chicot the Kings Jester takes the Count de Chaligny prisonâ—â— The Duke of Parma draws near to Rouen A generous offer of Georgio Basti and Camillo Capizucchi The Duke of Parma is of opinion to follow the enterprise of Rouen and to prosecute the Kings forces already terrified The Duke of Mayenne is of another mind and his advice is followed The Duke of Paâ—ma sends 800 Horse into Rouen and then goes to besiege St. Esâ—rit de Rue an exceeding strong place The King receives supplies by the Holland Fleet and applies himself with his utmost endeavors to the siege of Rouen The Kings Souldiers at Rouen desire to recover their Cannon which the besieged had cast into the moat their designs are discovered and the defendents at last though after many skirmishes draw them up with engines and bring them into the Town with great joy * Or Quintane The Sieur de Giury is sorely wounded for which the King much grieved said That if he should die he had no body to whom 〈◊〉 could commend the charge of the Light-House which speech disgusted the Sieur de Montigny and la Chappelle the first of which spurred on by the Kings words continues to serve him with more diligâ—nce and the other in despair goes over to the League The Duke of Parma leaving the siege of â—ue draws near to Rouen to relieve it * Which is between Cretoy and S. Valery The King mâ—sters his forces and finding himself much weaker resolves to râ—â—se his siege The King sending away his Carriages before draws up his Army in battalia and marches away from the siege of Rouen The Army of the League with no very good advice go to besiege Câ—udebec thereby utterly to free the City of Rouen The Duke of Parma viewing the situation of Caudebec receives a Musket-shot in the arm Monsieur de la Garde surrenders Caudebec to the Lords of the League Upon notice of the Enemies return the Nobility return to the Kings Army with great Supplies The Kings Army returns being near 18000 Foot and 8000 Horse The King marching with his Army between the walls of two Parks puts himself in great danger which he escapes by reason of the D. of Parma's being in a Feaver The Armies quarter within a mile of one another The Kings soldiers make themselves masters of the Trench made by them of the League before the Wood. Camillo Capizuâ—â—hi with his Tertia recovers the Trench again and secures it with fortifications The Army of the League being in the Peninsula of Caux the King strives to shut up their passage out being but one and that very narrow The Kings soldiers take a Post from those of the League which after a long dispute is recovered by the Italians and Walloons The
Rome The Duke comes to Venâ—ce where the French Prelaâ—es print a Book of the reasons that moved them to absolve the King Pie re Barriere a Vagabond fellow having conferred with two Fryers resolves to kill the King but being discovered he is takeâ— tortured and put to death * No Money no Vitry Monsieur de Vitry Governor of Meaux goes over to the King's Party and causes the Townsmen to send Deputies to the King to deliver the place into his hands The Duke of Alva by granting a strict ambiguous pardon to the Flemmings alienates more Cities from the Catholick King than his former punishments and rigours had done The Deputies of Meaux are graciously received by the King who grants them many Priviledges and confirms the Government upon Monsieur de Vitry and his Son 1594. The Sieur de Estrumel and Monsieur de la Chastre compound with the King for themselves and their Government The City of Lyons declares for the Kings Pâ—rty The City of Aix in Provence besieg'd by the Duke of Espernon being not relieved submits to the Kings obedience The substance of a Writing set forth by the Cardinal Legat to keep the Catholick League on foot The Duke of Mayenne 〈◊〉 avering iâ— so manâ— adversities â—hinks to make his peâ—ce with the King The Pope being sued to by the Duke of Mayennes Ambassadors for supplies of men and money excuses himself by the War of Hungary against the Turk The King of Spain shows the same coldness in assisting the League to the Sieur de Montpezat The Parisians murmur by reason of their sufferings which they begin again to feel and so much the more because the point of Religion being taken away they every day hear of the Kings good usage of the Catholicks The Count de Belin is removed from the Government of Paris and the Count de Bâ—â—ssaâ— elected in his place The Duke of Mayenne being resolved to lie no longer idle to the lessening of the reputation of his Party goes from Paris The Count de Brissac presently begins to deal with the chief men of the City to perswade them to submit to the Kings obedience Conditions of agreement concluded between the King and the Governour of Paris Particular conditions concluded in the favour of the Count de Brissac The King desires to be crowned some object that it cannot be done but at Reimes where the Sante Ampoule or holy Vial is kept which they say was brought from Heaven by an Angel to anoint King Clouis * The French says Dinan The obligation of France upon the day of their consecration By an artifâ—câ— of the Governour of Paris a Proclamation is made that upon pain of death and confiscation of goods none should assemble but in the Town-house The Count de Brissac having agreed to receive the King into Paris sends forâ—h the â—orces he distrusâ—s feigning that the Duke of Mayenne was sending Supplies and that it was necessary to meet them The manner used by the Governour to bring the King into the City of Paris The manneâ— how the King and his Forces entered into Paris After eight years space for so long it was since King Henry the III. fled from thence the City of Paris returns into obedience and Henry the Fourth enters into it The Count de Brissac cries Vive le Roy and the same cry runs thorow the whole City The people strive who shall mark themselves first with white Ribbands and white Crosses in their Hats and open their Shops the City being quiet within two hours The Cardinal-Legat goes out of the Kingdom Many out of jealousie depart with the Cardinal-Legaâ— and with the â—panish Ambassador The Bastile after five days resistance is surrendâ—ed to the King by the Sieur du Bourg Monsieur de Vâ—llars Governor of Rouen submits himself to the Kings obedience The Duke of Montpensier lays siege to Hâ—nfl ur which was the only place that held for the League in lower Normandy * Tarling is small pieces of Iron for which kind â—f Charge the narrow â—ore of Falconets is not very prâ—per and therefore I rather ghâ—ss they were Perriers which are commonly used for that puâ—pose The Kings Forces going on to the Assault without having well discovered the Moat are killed in it with showers of Musket-Bullets * Or Cuttings off Honfleur is delivered up to the Duke of Montpensier Places that â—ield themselves to the Kings obedience The Duke of Elâ—oeuf is the first of the House of Lorain that makes his peace with the King The Lords of the House of Lorain meet at Bar to treat of their common interests The Duke of Mayenne seeing the Lords of his Family were inclined to peace permits the Duke of Lorain to treat of it in all their names and in the mean time endeavours to reinforce himself that being armed he might obtaiâ— the better Conditions The Archduke Ernest at the news of the loss of Paâ—is resolves to think no longer of the Infanta's elecâ—ion but to seize upon some places in the Provinces confining upon Flandâ—rs to make amends for the past expences The Vice-Seneschal for money put a Spanish Garison into la Fere. The Duke of Aumale for 40000 Crownâ— Pension revolts unto the Spaniard with the places under his Government The Archduke Ernest informs them in Spain of the state of affairs and lets them know his determinations The Archdukes resolutions are approved and imbraced in Spain The Duke of Mayenne seeing the thred of his hopes broken and knowing himself to be constrained to one of two Resolutions wavâ—â—â— in determining and interposes obstacles to gain time The Pope permits Cardinal Gondi who had stayed some time in Florence to come to Rome but with a command not to speak a word about the Affairs of France Count Charles of Mansfelt enters into France with his Army and besieges la Cappelle The Sieur de Mailleraye Governour of la Cappelle surrenders to Count Mansfâ—lt The Parliament of Paris decrees That the King ought to be obeyed as lawful Prince declares them Rebels that disobey and takes away the Duke of Mayenne's Office of Lieutenant General * The Court of Accompts or Exchequer there is one of them in every Parliament The Colledge of Sorbonne declares the Kings Absolution valid and the Doctors thereof come to do him solemn homage at the Louvre The Duke of Mayenne goes to Bruxelles to treat with the Archduke The Spanish Ministers advise to keep the Duke of Mayenne prisoner in Flanders It is resolved at Bruxelles that the Duke of Mayenne shall join with Count Mansfelt to oppose the King together The King besieges Laon in which the Duke of Mayenne's Son was with much of the Dukes wealth Count Mansfelt having received order from the Archduke to relieve Laon with his forces as the Duke of Mayenne should think fit marches within a league of the Kings trenches The Spaniards â—eat the Kings forces out of a Wood where they had fortified themselves The Kings forces
to which he answering That he came to serve his Majesty the King replyed That he had no need of his service which whether it was spoken in jest or earnest touched him so to the quick that the next day he resolved to take to Wife Katherine de Cleves Sister to the Dutchess of Nevers and Widow to the Prince of Porcien who though of very noble Blood and enriched with a plentiful Dowry was in every respect but especially in beauty much inferiour to the Kings Sister but his ambition of governing and desire to revenge his Fathers death the perswasions of his Uncle and chiefly fear to offend the King were more powerful with him than any other considerations whatsoever These practices were carried with so much efficacy and dissimulation that not only most part of the Hugonot Lords were perswaded of their reality but the Pope himself began to grow jealous of them for the King and the Queen his Mother for fear they should be discovered had not imparted to any body those their so secret counsels whereupon the Pope doubtful of their proceedings did not only deny to give a Dispensation for the Marriage between the Prince of Navarre and the Kings Sister but also sent Commission to his Nephew Cardinal Alessandrino then his Legat in Spain to go with all possible speed to the Court of France to break the Treaty of that Match and to perswade the King to renew the War with the Hugonots Nor was King Philip without suspicion of the French designs for he saw that many ships rigg'd and mann'd in the port of Rochel the King allowing or not opposing it made incursions into the Indies and the coasts of Spain he perceived also a gathering together of Souldiers about the confines of Picardy who under Hugonot Captains gave out that they were to go into the Low-Countries to assist the Prince of Orange with the other Lords and people there up in Arms for which causes besides having made complaint at the Court of France whereto he only got ambiguous general answers he exhorted the Legat Alessandrino to be exceeding careful to sound and discover the intentions of the King of France But the Duke of Savoy was in greater trouble for besides the same jealousies which gave suspicion to the others it fell out about that time that the Admiral being left a Widower by the death of Charlotte de la Val his first Wife married Madam d' Antramont a very rich Lady of his Country who contrary to the Dukes will and command was gone to Rochel to consummate the Marriage desirous as she said to be second Martia of that second Cato for which reason the Duke greatly feared lest the Admiral so great and politick a Contriver should by help of the nearness of Geneva kindle the same fire in Savoy that he had done in the Kingdom of France But these respects slackened not the proceedings nor interrupted the counsels of the King and Queen-Mother being assured that the conclusion would at last satisfie all the world of their intentions Wherefore persevering in their resolution they had taken they purposed to go to Blois that being in a place so much nearer they might more conveniently treat with the Princes that were at Rochel amongst whom were various opinions for Count Lodowick as banished men are commonly inclined to hope and as one who had less offended and was less engaged to the King than any of the rest was willing to go to Court to sollicite and resolve upon the War which the King made shew to desire against the Spaniards but the Queen of Navarre and the Admiral who by their consciousness of things past measured their prognosticks of the future were still averse and doubtful neither willingly consenting to the Princes Marriage nor to the journey to Court Wherefore Count Lodowick called and encouraged by the King took a resolution to go thither alone but very privately to negotiate his own business by himself to settle a safe coming for the rest and to ripen those designs which with so much approbation he nourished in his mind of the Hugonots desired enterprise against Flanders Wherefore departing from Rochel with only two in his company giving out that he went to his Brother the Prince of Orange when he was a few miles distant from the Town he took post and arrived by night secretly at the Court where being received with many demonstrations of favour and affection he treated confidently with the King himself not assisted by any of his Council concerning the propositions of his party for Charles the better to increase a confidence in them continuing to make shew of governing his Kingdom by counsels very different from those which his Mother had followed during his minority The conclusions of which meeting were That the Prince of Navarre should have the Lady Marguerite in Marriage with 400000 Duckets whereof 300000 should be paid by the King and sufficient security given for them the rest to be paid by the Queen his Mother and the Dukes of Anjou and Alencon his Brothers That the Low-Country design against the Spaniards should be put in practice with all speed in which War Count Lodowick should go before and order matters with those that were banished out of Flanders and the Admiral should be Captain-General of the enterprize concerning which consultations he was presently to come to Court having liberty for the guard of his Person to keep about him fifty Gentlemen that might wear all kinds of arms even in the City of Paris or wheresoever else the Court should be and that to gratifie Count Lodowick the Kings Garison and Government should be drawn out of the City of Orange and left free to the Prince his Brother who might absolutely dispose of it and his Subjects as he pleased the King not medling in the Government or Superiority to which he had pretended which things with many other of less moment being granted and established Count Lodowick returned to Rochel to perswade the Queen of Navarre and the Admiral to come to Court and the King departing from Blois went into the Countries about Paris where feigning only to intend hunting and other youthful pleasures he gave time leave to ripen the counsels which had been taken to procure that meeting for the facilitating whereof the Cardinal of Lorain the Duke of Guise and his Brothers seeming angry and troubled for the honours and favours which the King so liberally granted to all those of the Hugonot Faction left the Court and the King either shewing himself unsatisfied with them or little to regard them and their merits received nearer to his person and into a more eminent degree of managing the affairs of State the Mareshals of Momorancy and Cosse both partial to and by nearness of blood and friendship interessed with the Princes and the Admiral wherefore the Duke of Montpensier who had newly married one of the Duke of Guise's Sisters shewing the same dislike with the rest of
declared that he desired a Catholick King and an Enemy to Heresie should be elected and that he abhorred that one who still persevered in his errours should be admitted to the possession of the Crown and therefore made shew to consent also to the assembling of the States to come in the end to a good and wholsom election yet he dispatched his Nephew the Pronotary Agucchi to the Legat himself giving him secret advice to carry himself very dexterously and very cautiously and not to suffer that in the Assembly of the States Votes should either be forced or corrupted but that mens wills should be free and their voices not interessed That he should not permit the election of a King who was more like to kindle discords than to put an end to the War That he should endeavour no wrong might be done to any one That that course should be taken which by the most easie most secure way and with the least novelty that could be possible might produce Peace and that he should not be over-scrupulous but yield what he handsomly might to time and the nature of affairs and provided Religion were secure he should pass by many other considerations in the order and manner of treating Admonishing him finally That this was a business of so great importance as could never be sufficiently pondered and examined and that therefore he should keep himself from hasty resolutions and from specious counsels and that without other respect he should aim only at the quiet of Souls and at the service of God The Pope believed these Instructions without any further Declaration would be sufficient to the prudence of the Legat to cause moderate proceedings in the States and to make him understand that he should not carry the election for a Foreign King about whose establishment longer and more ruinous Wars would necessarily ensue than ever yet had been but that if with the honour of the Apostolick See and the Security of Religion he could either establish a King of the House of Bourbon or compose the discords with the King of Navarre it would be a much better and more expedient determination But the Legat giving himself wholly over to the will of the Spaniards by whom he hoped to be raised to the dignity of being Pope since the favourable endeavours of the Catholick King being in good earnest added to the merit of his labours he thought himself in a condition to attain it and having by his long residence in France and by conversation with the Parisians already contracted a partiality to the League and an enmity to the King was either so blinded by affection that he could not or so drawn by his own designs that he would not understand the Popes meaning and therefore set himself with all his power to advance the enterprises of the Spaniards But the Duke of Mayenne being by his Secretary des Portes and by the Bishop of Lisieux advertised in part of the Popes moderate Commissions judged that his mind inclined to favour him and that those words of causing a Catholick King to be elected who might be a Defender of the Church and an Enemy to Hereticks but such a one as might be established with the general approbation without commotion or subversion pointed at his person and therefore firmly hoping he should have the Popes favour and by consequence the Legats and that the attempts of the Spaniards were not fomented by them having loosened himself from the Treaty of Peace he turned his mind wholly upon the assembling of the States being intent to do it in such manner that it might succeed to the advantage and secure establishment of his Affairs For this purpose he had with exceeding great diligence laboured that the Deputies who were selected might not be of those that were taken with the gold or promises of the Spanish Ministers but of his dependents and where those could not be had he at least obtained that they should be for the most part men of good understanding affectionate to their Country and the general good thinking that such would hardly condescend to a Foreign King and one that was not of their own Blood The place where this Assembly of the States was to be held remained to be resolved on and the Spaniards who designed at the same time when it should be convened to make the Duke of Parma enter into France and draw near with the Army to back and colour the Catholick Kings pretensions desired principally that it might be the City of Soissons The Duke of Lorain proposed the City of Rheims as nearest to him from which the Spaniards did not much dissent But President Ieannin and the Sieur de Villeroy counselled the Duke of Mayenne to reduce the Assembly into the City of Paris without having regard to the length of the journey the danger of the Deputies or to the incommodiousness and dearth of victual to give content and satisfaction to the inhabitants thereof who were wonderful earnest to have it so and had need after so many calamities to be comforted and kept faithful And moreover to make the Congregation of the States more publick and more famous by the quality of the place and not to put the Cities of Rheims or Soissons in danger for it was considered that the Duke of Parma coming thither accompanied according to his custom with strong Forces might easily force the Assembly to his will and make himself Master of those places which would be hard for him to obtain in Paris as well by reason of the greatness of it and the number of the people as because it was further from the Frontiers and all surrounded and encompassed with the Kings Fortresses full of strong Garisons which upon all occasions might be called to hinder any violence that should be offered to the City or to the States Besides this the City was better inclined than ever it had been in former times for the pernicious power of the Sixteen being weakned the Government remained in the hands of the wonted Magistrates elected with great care by the Duke of Mayenne himself and the Incendiaries not being there they quieted the minds of the people without those insurrections that were wont to disturb all businesses Moreover the Parliament residing in the City might serve as a fit instrument to treat and hinder many things This determination did very much displease the Spanish Ministers and they opposed it at the first shewing the necessity of the Duke of Parma's being there who could not advance so far into the Kingdom and withdraw himself so far from the Frontiers and arguing also that the great number of the Deputies would increase the dearth and necessity of the Parisians But the objection concerning the Duke of Parma was removed by his death and the interests of the Parisians was not put into consideration for they themselves perswaded the Spaniards to desist from interposing any hindrance because the City esteemed it to be for