make the Peace more sure and durable all former Leagues Plots Actions especially those of the 12th and 13th days of May last at Paris done by the Guisards and their Party are pardon'd and forgot as if they had never been done HENRY At Rouen 15 July 1588. By the King in his Council Publish'd in the Parlement at Paris Publish'd by sound of Trumpet by the Crier Visa * * Afterwaâ—ds better kâ—own by the name of Villeroy De Neufville Du Tillet T. Lauvergnat Thus we see how careful some were to have this Agreement ratified published and confirmed But this was not all for besides this two Armies must be rais'd and paid against the Huguenots one commanded by the King the other by the Duke of Mayenne the Leaguing Lords are to retain for six years the Cities and Fortresses granted them 1585 and that Orleans Dourlans Bourges and Montereau should be added to them the Duke of Guise to command all the Forces in the Kingdom that in October next the States General should be held at Blois and several such like advantages were granted to the Leaguers Upon which Guise waits upon the King and none seem so kind as those two but it was but from the teeth outward of which we are told one story how the King at dinner ask'd the Duke to whom they should drink To whom you please quoth Guise then said the King Let us drink to our Journal Aoâ—st 12. 1588. good friends the Huguenots 'T is well said Sir replied the Duke Yea added the King and to all our good Barricadors at Paris to which Guise yielded a counterfeit smile not well pleas'd that the King should compare the Barricadors with the Huguenots And now behold the greatest wonder that Toute la Cour fut veue habillée à l' Espagnole le long Estoc à la garde Crossée à l' Espagnole les grosse chausses les jartieres houpées le pourpoint collé sur le corps la grande fraize bien godronnée la Monstache la barbe le chappeau à l' Espagnole tout leur parles Espagnol Rodomontades Espagnoles bref vous eussiez dict qu' en ce temps la le François avoit en horreur mispris de parler se dire François qu' on luy faisoit tort de ne l'appeller Espagnol Andre Favin Hist de Navarre p. 940. ever yet happened in France The whisking Monsieur converted to a grave Don all the Court clad after the Spanish garb a long Tuck with a cross-bar'd Hilt great Trunckbreeches tufted Garters strait and close Doublet a great high-set Ruff staring Mustachoes with Beard and Hat after the Castilian mode all they speak is Spanish and that Rodomontadoes too insomuch that one might think that now Monsieur was asham'd or scorn'd to speak his own language or call himself a Frenchman nay would take it in snuff not to be thought a Spaniard Such an esteem and love had the Castilian got amongst the people for his assisting them in their wicked League and Covenant against their King and Soveraign And by this also appeared not onely the Boldness but Authority and Power of the Guisian Faction to whose caprichioes and Interest the Royalists were thus forced to submit and truckle Guise thus having all sway and glory the better to advance his Reputation Pope Sixtus V. sendeth him long Congratulatory Letters giving him many thanks for his Zele and Actions comparing him to the old Maccabees bidding him go on as he had begun and telling him that he would send a Legat into France to assist at the approaching States which Letters were spread abroad by the Leaguers in great triumph to the no small discredit and regret of the King who in these Papal Commendations and Blessings had no share nor taken notice of and such Pontifical Neglects used to be the Forerunner of Laying aside or Cutting off Well the Assembly of the States General meet at Blois the major part 16 Octob. 1588. being Covenanters by which Guise was so strengthened that 't is thought that he at least aim'd at the same Authority that the ancient Major-domes had in France whereby the King would be but a mere Cypher whilest the Duke might make himself King when he pleas'd So to gratiate himself with the people and remove all obstacles he proposeth that Taxes and Impositions might be lessened which was thought irrational seeing at the same time he will have the war vigorously carried on against the Huguenots yet he gain'd his desires Then he moveth that the Council of Trent might be received but this is denied by most as contrary to the Liberties of the Gallican Church But which was the main of all he proposeth that the King of Navarre and his Relations as Hereticks shoul'd be declar'd uncapable of Succession which was presently granted him by the Three Estates but it was not so recâ—ived by the King who though he was forc'd to consent to it in dubious and general terms yet told them that he would think further of it and would take care himself to have the Decree drawn up But before this Navarre understanding their designs had at an Assembly at Rocâ—el fram'd a Protestation pronouncing all their Votes and Actions against him and his Right null as being no stubborn Heretick willing to submit to a General Council and to be instructed that the States were not free nor full and that they could not justly condemn him before they heard him Whilest these Proposals were vexing the King news is brought that Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy had seiz'd on the little Marquessate of Saluzzo towards the head of Po in Italy who had also pretended a right to it end so took advantage at the Kings Expulsion out of Paris and these French Troubles though at this time he pretended a necessity viz. that otherwise the Huguenots from Dauphine would have taken it and Favyn p. 93â— others suppose that he wanted not assurance from the Leaguers However it was the Kings jâ—alousie and anger did daily increase and 't is said that here Guise expresly refus'd though commanded to Ant. Colynet p. 303 304 305 306. swear Allegeance to the King saying He would not and if he offended they might punish him But this is not so bad as a further design plotted by him and his Complices which they say was to take away the Kings life of which 't is said the King had private Information In short the Spond § 18. King considering what Favours the House of Guise had received from the French Crown yet how many Rebellions he had rais'd against him Hist des dâ—râ—iers troubles de France l. 4. fo 142 143 144 152 158. what Combinations he had made against him and the Crown with the very Enemy to both viz. the Spaniard that for all his outward pretensions for Religion yet he had made secret Overtures to joyn with Navarre how he had beaten and driven him from his Royal
Doctors of Sorbonne were wonderfully terrified but he not willing to lose them quite knowing such men to be dangerous enemies amongst the people waited upon them himself gave them good words told them all was pardoned and Justice satisfied which he ratified by an Edict At the same time he also decreed year 1592 that upon pain of death no more Councils Meetings or Conventicles should be had any way except the Ordinary one of the Union with the sense of the lawful Magistrates which being registred in full consent of Parliament put an end to the power and greatness of the Sixteen and somewhat spoil'd and cool'd the designes of the Spanish Ministers And an Oath was also drawn up and read in Parliament for all the Souldiers in the City to take the better to keep them in Obedience Whilst these things were acting Pope Gregory XIV dying Innocent IX succeedeth him who allowed the League fifteen thousand Ducats a month desiring them to fall to work and chuse a King of the Roman Religion aiming as 't is thought at Cardinal Bourbon the Head of the third party but what his other designes were his * 30 Dec. death after a two months Popedome would not let be known And after him succeeded Clement VIII The Parliament at Rouen now puts forth a severe * 7 Jan. 1592 Edict against any that shall adhere to Henry of Bourbon as they call'd him yet the prosecution of the League was somewhat hindred by the Jealousies arising betwixt Parma and Mayenne the latter fearing to be out-vapoured by the Spaniard was not so averse as formerly from an Agreement with the King to carry on which the great Statesman Villeroy who as yet kept himself with the Leaguers and du Plessis Morney the Kings faithful friend had divers meetings but the Covenanters Propositions were so high and lofty getting all into their own hands leaving his Majesty a meer shadow that it brake off without any determination though the King was willing to grant much to be at rest and quiet This Treaty was presently made known thinking to do Mayenne a displeasure and so it did both the Spaniards and Leaguers being offended at him in offering to treat without their consent or knowledge and so made jealous as if intended to leave them in the lurch But on the other side the King gain'd not much by the bargain the Romanists who followed him next that it should be carried on by an Huguenot viz. Morney began to have the same suspicions of His Majesty And in this zeal and humour having consulted themselves they forthwith gave Mayenne to understand that it was fitting for the common safety that all the Romanists should be united and so to require of the King to change his Religion within a prefixt time and then they would acknowledge him otherwise they would joyntly proceed to the Election of a King of the Roman persuasion for such an one and none other they would have Adde to this Pope Clements favour of the League allowing it 15000 Ducats a moneth exhorting them to chuse a new King of the Roman belief alledging none to be capable of a Crown but one of that Religion commanding the Nuncio Cardinal Piacenza to forward the Election Upon all these and other such like considerations the King is perplext beyond measure now clearly perceiving that all of them were gone to that height of Conditional Subjection as never to receive him for King unless he would be of their Religion nor was his force sufficient to oppose The case is hard but a Kingdom is not to be lost yet the war goeth on vigorously on both sides In the mean time the Pope having sent to his Nuncio in France to hasten the calling of the States General that a Catholick King an enemy to Hereticks and a Defender of the Church might be chosen the Duke of Mayenne took heart fancying that the Pope might aim at him year 1593 and thus entertaining some thoughts of being King he resolved to convocate the States General the Spaniard would have it at Soissons that Parma might the sooner assist or awe them from Flanders the Duke of Lorrain desires Rheams where his greatest Interest lay but Mayennâ— thought Paris best his own Authority being greatest there by his former weakening the Sixteen In the mean time all care is taken by them to exclude Henry and nothing could thwart them more then his turning Romanist of which they had some fears several earnestly solliciting him to it To prevent this October 't is spread abroad how unlawful it is for any to desire his Conversion how it is against Divine Civil and Canon Law the Decrees of the Popes Mem. de M. de Nevers vol. 2. pag. 634. the Fundamental Law of the Kingdom the Holy Union c. and therefore conclude that those who propose or endeavour such a thing are wicked Citizens unstable perjur'd Politicks seditious Disturbers of the Common-weal favourers of Hereticks suspected of Heresie Excommunicated ought to be driven out of the City lest they should corrupt the rest And those of Chaalons having put forth a * 18 Novemb Decree against Cardinal de Piacenza the Popes Nuncio as also the Popes Bulls as they did formerly against Pope Gregory XIV Those of the Parlement of Paris publish an Act whereby they Declare the said Decree of Chaalons null of none effect or force being published by those of no Right or Authority to be a Parlement being Schismaticks Hereticks Enemies to God and his Church disturbers of the State and publick peace of the Kingdom Order the said Decree as full of Scandal Schism Heresie and Sedition to be torn and burnt by the Hangman Forbid any to receive or obey the said Decree Injoyn all to honour and obey Pope Clement VIII and acknowledge his Legat. Affirm that their intended General States design nothing but the Preservation of the Roman Religion and to choose a true Christian Catholick French King Forbid any to hinder or molest the members coming to the said meeting of States DU-TILLET Paris 2 Decemb. 1592. Accordingly to summon the said States-General the Duke of Mayenne 1593. 5 Jan. Publish'd a large Declaration in which he undertakes To Vindicate himself Desireth the Romanists to unite That though the Leaguers had too much cause to desire the late Kings death yet they had no hand in it it being a blow from Heaven That Navarre could not be King because an Heretick Obedience being only founded upon the of the Roman Religion So they cannot be blamed for their Actions nor can be Rebels seeing they fight only against Hereticks and their Associates who have despised the Popes Bulls and Admonitions c. And so throwing an odd blot upon the King concludes To this the Popes Legat Piacenza thinking that of Mayenne'â— not plain and severe enough added another Declaration Desiring all to be obedient to the Pope who will never assent to an Heretical King or the ruine of the Church
March crying V. ve le Roy all things are carried peaceably all pardon'd and kept in their Places and Offices but Cardinal Pelleve Archbishop of Rheims a furious Covenanter now lying sick in Paris and inform'd what was a doing angrily said that He hoped yet the Arms of the Spaniards and good Catholicks would drive that Huguenot out of Paris which said he died All the Kings enemies had liberty to depart The Legat though the King desired him to stay returned for Rome the Spanish Embassadours and Forces marched away and several * Their names in Mem. de M. Nevers v l. 2. l. 718. Frenchmen jealous of their own Villanies quitted the City and others the Kingdom And now both Parlement of Paris and the Sorbonne Doctors wheel about and declare themselves dapper fellows for King Henry IV. and the Parlement of Paris puts forth a Decree the summe of which was Nulleth and maketh void all Decrees and Oaths made or taken against King Henry IV. since Dec. 20. 1588. Nulleth all that hath also been done against King Henry III. commandeth all to speak reverently of him and that those shall be proceeded against who were any way guilty of his murther Revoketh all power formerly given to the Duke of Mayenne forbids any to yield him any obedience under pain of Treason and under the same penalty commands the House of Lorrain to acknowledge Henry IV. for their King Commandeth all people to forsake the League or Union Revoketh all that hath been done by the late pretended States General at Paris and that for the future they assemble not And that the 22th of March shall for the future be kept as an Holy-day c. De Villoutreys Paris 30 March 1594. The King thus prosperous many places seeing small hopes left submitted themselves The Duke de Elboenf of the House of Lorrain maketh peace the Duke of Lorrain himself is inclinable but Mayenne d'Aumale and some others stand out obstinately As for the Spaniards they seeing the League ruin'd fight for their own Master Philip under that notion beginning a war with France to them the Duke of Aumale submitting himself and Interest rather then to his own Sovereign and Mayenne followed almost the same steps joyning with them though he did not absolutely submit himself to them Thus the League daily losing ground Lorrain maketh a Truce or Peace with the King and Guise seeing little else to trust to renounceth the Covenant and compounds with His Majesty But that all hopes might not fail another attempt must be made upon the Kings Person The * Memoirs du Duc du Sully tom 1. p. 169. Jesuits Capuchines and other Religious Zelots had formerly contriv'd his murther and †Mem. de la Ligue tom 6. p. 263. Lâ—urâ—nce Bouchil Hist de la justice criminelle de France tit 11. ch 15. François Jacob a Scholar of the Jesuits at Bourgeâ— had boasted and threatned his death but here we meet with a fellow that will endeavour to be as good as his word His name was Jean Chastel son to a Draper in Paris a young man of a wicked life and bred up in the Jesuits School Having consider'd with himself what an abominable life he had led resolved to do some noble and meritorious action for the benefit of Religion thereby to wash and wipe out the stains of his own crimes and offences And having often heard it preach'd from the Pulpit discoursed of and disputed in the Schools where he conversed that it was not onely lawful but glorious to kill Heretical Kings and particularly Henry of Bourbon Thus nurs'd up he concluded nothing could be more meritorious to himself and acceptable to God and Man then the taking out of the world Navarre whom he was taught to believe to be truly no King but a damnable Heretick and Persecutor of the Church Thus resolved he year 1593 imparts his design to his father and the Curate of Saint André in Paris And now being fully confirm'd in the gloriousness of the action and being well prepar'd for the attempt he will take the next opportunity The King with several Nobles being at the Louvre in the Chamber of the fair Cabrielle d'Estrees by him for love-sake made Dutchess of Beausort Jean Chastel amongst the rest had boldly thrust himself in At last getting near the Kings person he out with his knife offering a stab at his Throat or Heart but the King by chance then stooping to one in 27 Decâ—mâ— complement received the blow or wound upon his upper lip which also struck out a tooth The Villain upon the blow let the knife fall and having mixt himself with the Company designing to slip away it could not presently be known who was the Criminal till the Count de Soissons by chance casting his eyes upon Chastel and perceiving him in an amazed and affrighted condition seiz'd on him by the arm upon which the fellow presently confest and which was more boldly vindicated the action Upon this wound Perron made a long Copy of a Vide â—â—spâ—nâ—se le Pâ—rnâ—sse com 1. fol. 13 14 c. verses and so did b Poet. Bâ—lâ— toâ— 1. p. 500 501. Baudius c Poet. 〈◊〉 tom 3. p. 718 719. Seba and others upon the Parricide and Pyramide The by-standers would have cut the Villain to pieces but the King wiser then their passions commanded he should not be hurt so he is had to prison tried and condemned to have his flesh pull'd off with hot Pincers his right hand holding the knife to be cut off and himself drawn in piâ—ces by four horses which accordingly was done the Parricide shewing no sign of grief or pain The Father of Chastel was banished his house before the Palace pull'd down and a stately Pyramide erected in its place with many Inscriptions in Golden Letters upon it casting no small reproach upon the Jesuits The Inscriptions at large you may see in other * Lud. Lucâ—s Hist Jâ—suit l. 4. c 3. Jâ— Wâ—ius Lectiâ—â— Memor bâ—o 〈…〉 tâ—m 3â—â—â— c 4. Mem. de la Ligue tâ—m 6. p. 266 c. Writers Of Chastel and the Jesuits thus saith part of it Huc me redegit tandem herilis filius Malis magistris usus schola impia Sotoricorum eheu nomen usurpantibus c. On another side of the Pyramide amongst other words were these Pulso praeterea tota Gallia hominum genere novae ac malificae superstitionis qui rempub turbabant quorum instinctu piacularis adolescâ—ns dirum facinus instituerit On the fourth side of the Pyramlde was the Arrest or Decree of Parlement against the said Chastel and the Jesuits part of which relating to the latter take as followeth The said Court doth likewise ordain that the Priests and Students of the College of ††This Jesuits Câ—llege â— Parâ—s was 〈◊〉 housâ—â—f Guiilaume de Prat Bishâ—p â—f Clermont He â—eâ—mitteâ— tâ—â— Jâ—suâ—ts tâ—â—liâ— and 〈◊〉 thâ—râ— 1564. and when he died he left it
Cardinal de Guise and some others were great sticklers for the League countenanced there by Cardinal Pellevé◠The actions of which Cardinal being a Subject of France did so vex King Henry III. that we are * Journal De 1586. 1587 told that he order'd his Revenues to be seiz'd on and distributed to the poor The King being gone from Paris with an Army to oppose the Germans then marching into France to assist the Huguenots the Covenanters had some thoughts of seizing on the City in his absence according to Guise his Instructions who phansied that he might secure the Kings Person in the Country To this purpose they sent Lauchart to Guise for further information who upon maturer advice would not allow of the plot sâ—eing the King then to have such a Force about the City and a good Army under his command However they assure the Duke of their strength and willingness to attempt any thing that he shall command And the better to incite the Rabble to Rebellion the Pulpit the worst Instrument in Seditious design is made use of several turbulent Priests or Ministers being set on work to bespatter the King and his actions one of the chief of these Firebrands was Jean Boucher Preacher of St. Benoist a zealous wall-ey'd Fellow of whose wicked Doctrines we have told you formerly out of his book De justa abdicatione Henrici III. The King sent for him and publickly told him of his lies and slanders as how he had told the people in the Pulpit that the King caused one Burlart of Orleans to be put into a Sack and thrown into the River although the said Burlart was yet alive and daily kept company with the said Boucher by which the King told him he had committed two grand faults first so basely to bely his lawful Sovereign and then after telling such a lie in the Pulpit to go forthwith to the Altar and Sacrament without acknowledging his foresaid falsities although all confess that every one ought to confess his faults before he receive the Eucharist yet the King told him that at this time he would forgive all though he might revenge himself as Pope Sixtus V. did who year 1587 sent several Franciscans to the Gallies for traducing him in their Sermons Another call'd Prevost being Preacher of St. Severin amongst his many other Seditious prattlements had from the Pulpit told his Parishioners that The King was a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Church and People Upon which the King as became him sent for him which so netled the Covenanters that they forthwith spread abroad that the King was resolved to punish and imprison all the good and godly Preachers A thing very offensive to all manner of Zealots of what pretended Opinion soever Rebellious Experience making it a certain rule that none clamour up Preaching more then those who pretend to know Religion better then their Teachers the more ignorant the people be the more apt they are to think they comprehend the deepest mysteries and though they are bid to obey for Conscience-sake yet for all their crying up of the Bible they make a contrary fundamental-Rule viz. Rebell for Conscience-sake yet let these Toleration comprehensive or in sum Rebellious Villains for their actions hitherto in History hath not separated them be worse then can be imagined they shall never want some rascally upstart Nobles who raised themselves by fighting the King and cheating the Church to be their Treasonable and Sacrilegious Patrons especially where their Twatling Dames have more zeal then honesty and from such Vagabonds in Religion good Lord deliver all Kings Kingdoms and Churches but when Kings are subjects people will be Kings but a brave and daring Prince durst never yet be opposed to the ruine of the Undertakers but such can never be whose Favorites are more for pleasure then true honesty and a National interest as it hapned now in France Prevost inform'd that he was sent for was secur'd in an house of one of his Neighbors call'd Hatte a Notarie and for his farther protection Jean le Clerc Sieur or Landlord de Bussy one of the chief of the Covenanting Sixteen with several other Armed men put themselves into the foresaid house oppos'd and fought against those whom the King sent to enquire for the same Delinquents and made such an Hubbub and Riot that the Kings Messengers though headed by Seguier the Lieutenant-Civil or one of the Judges were forced to withdraw themselves and shift for their own security These and such like seditious actions so incouraged the Leaguers that the Town sounded nothing now but the misdeeds of the King and the Glories of Guise that if it had not been for him the Ark would have fallen into the hands of the Philistins and Heresie would have triumphed over the true Religion Nay the Sorbonists were so bold as to make as we are told a secret Decree That Princes might be depos'd from their Government Journal if they did not what became them as the charge taken away from a negligent Guardian And towards the latter end of this year 't is said that the King was Id. inform'd that the Duke of Guise had posted disguised to Rome where he stayed only three days with Cardinal Pellevé and that the Pope sent him a rich sword Another tells us that one Viliers was sent to Rome to desire the Popes assistance and that a Letter was found about him said to be writ by the Dutchess of Lorraine Mother to the Duke containing thus much I am very glad to understand the state of your Affairs and I advise you to Ant. Colynet p. 173 174. go forward for never a fairer Occasion was offered you to put the Scepter in your hand and the Crown upon your head The two last years we could not expect much matter from the Leaguers though we see their designs bad enough seeing most of the Souldiery in France were imployed against Navarre and his Huguenots many of the Covenanting Nobles being engag'd in those wars which diverted them from their attempts upon the King but we shall see the next year make amends for all The Duke of Guise the better to make all things sure hath a meeting 1588 Davila p. 667 669. D Aubigne tom 3. l. 1. c. 21. Spondâ—nus of the Chieftains of the House of Lorrain at Nancy a strong Town in that Dukedom where it is talk'd high of deposing the King of putting him into a Monastery of destroying the House of Bourbon to dispose of all things themselves and such like extravagancies But at last it was concluded that the Duke of Lorrain should keep the Forces of the League in action and that Guise and others should unite with Cardinal Bourbon to present a Petition to the King much for their own advantage which if granted their business might easily be done without clamour or any great opposition if denied they had force sufficient to obtain it Accordingly the Paper is presented to
purge and discharge our selves before God his Angels and the World not to have forgotten our duties in time of persecution but constantly to have confest the name of Christ It therefore concerneth your Wisdom most Holy Father to foresee seeing we are now in these dangerous days whereout we cannot escape without great miracle that this evil turn not to the destruction of your Holiness and the utter overthrow of the Apostolick See and that the judgment of God as S. Peter saith and the continual and known threatnings of Navarre seem to confirm begin not at his house and that that Serpent which hath till now been nourished defended and by those unto whom it did not become most courteously used spit and cast not his poison and venom upon him by whom it was expedient his head should have been broken and bruised to the perpetual reproach and shame of Sixtus V. but notwithstanding by a just revengement and secret judgment of God And while there is any hope remaining that with all speed your Holiness linger not to draw the two-edged sword although too late we fear but who knoweth if God will be appeased and forgive us our offences upon this noisom beast and display all force and power against it For it is now long enough nay we fear too long tarried delayed lingered and loitered And this is that we crave of your Holiness for the tender love and mercy of God if there be left any regard of duty same and estimation or any care of the publick or the particular health and welfare deeply to think and consider that it concerneth the uttermost danger of the Church and the safety of Christ his flock so dearly bought and committed unto our charge and whiles you are able to slay this wilde Boar that consumeth the Vineyard of the Lord and drive away bridle and repress with thy double Sword all the small Foxes breaking and throwing down the same for fear this being wilfully neglected his anger be not ready to punish and chasten us who will reproach us the hardness of our hearts and require at our hands the innocent bloud-shedding and the great quantity of souls lost for ever who because his flock is become a prey and his sheep a spoil unto the wilde beasts and his Vineyard trodden under foot and made waste will grievously complain and we be not snared and wrapt in his just but most fearful and terrible judgement eternally to be lamented and bewailed Wherein we protest before the same Almighty and High God and his Angels that herein we have performed our charge and duty and therefore if here be written any thing somewhat bitterly we pray your Holiness to take it in good part as coming from a burning zeal towards the Church now periclitating and ready to fall and therefore the rather because it behoveth that all our thoughts be fixed in the defence of Sion whose duties we judge it to be to leave nothing undon whereby we might by all means possibly both things above and beneath and all that is in Heaven and Earth move and provoke for to pity her distressed estate because it is more then full time so to do Farewel And as your Holiness pitieth the French nay the Universal Church ready to fall so God be favourable and merciful unto you In Paris from your Holiness Colledge of Sorbonne 1590. 29 July Your Holiness Affectionate Orators and most Humble Servants the Dean and the rest of the Sorbonne at Paris The Duke of Mayenne intent as aforesaid upon the relief of Paris at last joyneth with Alessandro Farnese Duke of Parma and marcheth towards the City the King wirh a Resolution to fight them raiseth the Siege but Parma carried his designes so cunningly that in spight of all opposition he conveyed great store of Provisions into the City nor could the King force or oblige him to a Battel yet the King resolved to give one lusty storm to the City to which purpose Ladders being provided and silently be in the night set to the walls the City had been won if by chance a Jesuit as * Pag. 958. Davila saith or a few Jesuits as * Pag 343. de Bussieres saith who stood Centinel without the Corps du Garde which was kept by those Fathers and Nicholas Nivelle the Covenanting Bookseller all the rest being asleep and negligent had not discovered them given the Alarum and fought stoutly against them upon the walls The King seeing himself disappointed by Parma the Parisians well stored with Victuals and a Sickness in his Army raiseth the Siege disposeth his Forces into Quarters the Duke of Parma returning also to his Government in the Low-Countreys Many Stories are we told of some mens foolish contempt and scorn over their supposed Superiors some whipping their Gods if not agreeable to them Augustus Caesar could defie Neptune The Thracians would rant against the Heavens if Thundred Xerxes would shackle the Hellespont and though the Ancient Poets and Lucian villifyed their Gods it may be upon good reason by making them guilty of all the villanies in the world yet none could be so extravagant as that which the Ingenious †Leâ— Eâ—saâ—s â— 1. c 3. Montaigne tells us of one of the late Kings neighbouring to France of Spain as some think who having his Expectations disappointed by Heaven swore to be revenged on God himself and if the story be true be commanded his subjects not to pray to God for ten years nor to speak of or believe in him I shall not say that these Covenanters proceeded so far but may justly affirm that never any people acted more against Gods Vice-gerent then they Their stubbornness may here be seen by their miseries and thus their contempt of favour law life duty and obedience doth shew their disrespect to the Divine Oracles and God himself CHAP. VIII The Thirdlings Young Guise escapes out of Prison Barnaby Brisson Strangled The Duke of Mayenne overaw'd the Sixteen The Mock State General meet at Paris King Henry the Fourth declares himself a Romanist and received absolution at St. Dennis VVHilest Parma is returning to the Netherlands Pope Sixtus the 27 Augâ—st Fifth dyeth upon which the Cardinal Legat departeth France leaving behind him in Paris Filippo Sega Bishop of Piacenza he came from Italy with him and was also a Cardinal to act as Vice-Legat Urban VII is elected Pope who dying thirteen days after Cregory XIV is * chosen to sit in the Chair â— Dâ—â—â—mb In the mean time the King is pinched on all hands the Parisians vapour â—s Conquerors Emanuel de Loraine Duke of Mercoeur carryeth all for the League in Brittain with whom above four thousand Spaniards joyn the Duke of Savoy conquereth in Provence and by the Parliament of Aix is Declared Head of their Government having also some Intentions for the Crown nor was the Duke of Lorraine idle But these prosperous proceedings did not altogether please Mayenne fearing their greatness would Eclipse
or that Crown * 15 Jan. Affirming that to think that the Priviledges of the Gallican Church extendeth so far as to admit of an Heretical King is the dream of a Madman and an Heretical Contagion That those who had acknowledg'd Navarre had forgot the Piety of their Ancestors the Reputation of their Countrey and the safety of their souls their salvation being desperate That Navarre had violated all Laws both divine and humane And that the Parliament of Paris is a true and lawful one and so perswadeth them to proceed to an Election To these the King returning Answers endeavoring to clear himself from their Accusations not forgetting also to shew what a favour he had for the Roman Religion And though the death of the Duke of Parma had been no small Hindrance to the Spanish designs yet now Lorenzo Suarez de Figuerâ— Duke of Feria cometh Embassador to manage the Interest of that Crown at the meeting of the States several at this time aiming at the Throne and every one not despairing of their Cause or Interest The Spanish daughter Izabella Clara Eugenia the Dukes of Guise Lorain Nemours and Mayenne having all hopes In short the States-General meet at Paris in the Great Hall of the 26 Jan. Louvre amongst the rest of the Drolleries of these times nothing took more then a Book call'd Satyre Menippee or le Catholicon d'Espagne Composed in abuse of this Convention * Debit Pret. Belg. Tom. 3. p. 339. Justus Lipsius will have a fling at this Book but the greatest honour it received was from Rome where their Wisdomes there as if they had nothing else to do did many years after very gravely call it to remembrance and at last thought it fit to pass under their * 16 Mar. 1621. vid. Ind. Expurgat Alexandri VIII p. 218. Censure of Reprobation The prose of it was made by the Almoner to Cardinal de Bourbon the Verses were composed by Nicholas Rapin commended by * Poet Gall. vol. 3. p. 165. Johannes Passeratius * Ib. p. 420 421. Scavâ—la Sammorthanus with others and Rapin himself hath some * Ib. p. 204 c. 28 Jan. Poems out in Latin The States being met as aforesaid Mayenne King-like sitteth under the Cloth of State desiring them to choose a Catholick King an Enemie to Heresie which was seconded by others The next day at a private meeting the Legat moved that at the next Sessions of the States all should take a solemn Oath never to acknowledge Navarre for their King though he should turn Romanist but this was quashr at the Proposal as to swear against the Popes Authority suppose he should turn and his Holiness command him to be received The next day the Romanists with the King with his consent send Propositions to the States for a Treaty with them at which the Legat stormeth affirming the Proposal to be Heretical and so not fit to be Answer'd Cardinal Pelleve and Diego d'Ivarra one of the Spanish Agents agreâ—ing with him but this was opposed and because the Paper was directed to all the States 't was judged fit to be communicated to them which so netled the Legat that he got the Colledge of Sorbonne to declare it Heretical as intimating a declared Heretick might be King and ought to be obeyed Yet the Proposal is shewn to the States a Conference with the Royal Romanists is consented to but in their Answer they had this odd Conclusion That to oppose an Heretical King is not Treason The place agreed on is Surenne between Paris and St. Denys and Persons are nominated on both sides In the States the Spaniards carried high for the Infanta many seeming willing to it for interest-sake but when they named Ernest Arch-Duke of Austria the Emperors Brother for her husband it was rejected as not fitting to give the Kingdom to a stranger The Spaniards smelling the design offered to admit of a French Prince to be married to Philips daughter which took pretty well Guise Nemours Lorain and Mayenne his sons each of them hoping to be the Man and King Nay some who seem'd to be the Kings Friends and Allies as Cardinal Bourbon Count de Soissons the Prince of Conti with some others began to hearken to this Proposal every one fancying to make the Crown his upon which conceits they were not so earnest in the Kings Cause and Interest as they seem'd to be The King perceiving that the Authority of the Pope was one of his greatest Enemies or Pretences had a great minde to have him pacified to which purpose he formerly had the Republick of Venice and Ferdinando de Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany to use their interests in his behalf at Rome and to further it had also been sent Cardinal Pietros de Gondy Bishop of Paris and the Marquess de Pisani in the name of the Romanist with the King upon the same Errand But the Pope commanded them not to enter into the Ecclesiastical Territories as being Favourers of Hereticks well-Wishers to Navarre with whom they had presumed to speak and treat to which some Reasons and Excuses being returned the Pope at last permits them to enter Rome And at last the King himself gave fair Signes and Proffers to the Conference at Surenne not only of his being willing to be instructed in the Roman Religion but as it were ready to be of it This amazeth the Covenanters to the purpose the Legat protesteth against the Conference as dangerous that they could neither treat with nor admit of a peace with Navarre being a declared Heretick and that if they did either he for his part would quit the Kingdom and this he publish'd in Print that every one might take notice of it Nor were the Spaniard less concerned who fearing the Kings Conversion would make haste and be excepted of thinking to spoil it Nominates the Duke of Guise for Husband to the Infanta shewing it was so in his Instructions At this Mayenne is stung to the heart nor could he so much dissemble but his thoughts were perceived however he thanks them for their kindness to his Nephew and desires time till things were better prepared But this Nomination being known the Embassadors Nobles Citizens and every one flock to pay their service to Guise and give him joy his Palace is fill'd himself cried up and now they vapour of a new Kingling * Charles de Guisâ— Charles XI At all this the Dutchess of Mayenne is mad she frets storms and weeps three days and not able any longer to endure she falleth upon her troubled husband with Sighs Exclamations Threatnings and Railings jearing him as one that hath lost all his labour and pains if he who had hitherto borne the brunt must at last only thus truckle to his young Nephew The Duke also thus perplext to see himself as it were laid aside puts many into young Guise his head demands strange and exorbitant Conditions of the Spaniard for performance yet thinking
Scaffold When Henry III. was kill'd some of them would not acknowledge his Successor Henry IV. but would have a Government or Ruler of their own making others would admit him if he would turn Romanist As when King Charles I. was martyred some would not at all have his heir K. Charles II. to reign whilst others would not reject him provided he would turn Presbyterian otherwise not They often endeavour'd to seize on their King then to kill him or depose him by clapping him up in a Monastery but fail'd in their designes whilest ours had the luck of it to conquer and so to act with our King as they pleased Though 't is plain the French had as bad intents though not the like success and opportunities it may be their Kings were not so much betray'd as ours Yet herein lay the difference whereby the Romanists were most culpable their Troubles and Seditions being countenanced acted and headed by the most learned and knowing of their Clergy as Popes Cardinals and their Prelats whilst our Rebellion and Schism was hurried on and noised up by an ignorant pack of Lecturers fellows of no Religion having not Learning to apprehend any In short our Covenanters and Rebels followed and trod in the Footsteps of the French Leagne a Warr which first occasioned the multiplicity of Pamplets and from which all latter Rebellions have taken the Items Rules Principles and Methods Yet how abominable and wicked soever this French-Roman Solemn League and Covenant was it had its Admirers of those no way engaged in it Amongst whom our English Father Parsons was none of the hindmost vaporing to the world * Andr. Philopater Resp ad Edict Reginae Angl. p. 210 211. § 172 173 How just how famous and how holy the Cause was That it was not only lawful praise-worthy or holy but necessary and of Duty by Divine Command and Christian Obligation Nay that they could not do otherwise without danger of their souls It may be grounding all this upon his Papal Rule That †Nulli populo sub damnationis poena licet Regem haeredicum admittere Ib. margin no People whatever are to admit of an Heretical King under pain of Damnation But 't is known well enough that his Pen is no slander nor are his Commendations of any Credit The End of the Eighth BOOK A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE Romish Treasons AND USURPATIONS BOOK IX CHAP. I. The Quarrels betwixt Pope Paul the Fifth and the Venetians NEer the beginning of this Century by the Death of Leo XI 1605 who sat as Pope but a few days Paul V. succeeded as Bishop of Rome Scarce was he warm in his Chair when he began to consider how to advance the Priviledges and Honour of his See which by Degrees had been neglected and worn out For this purpose he was earnest with the French King to receive the Councel of Trent He procured that in Spain the Jesuits might be exâ—mpted from paying Tithes At Naples he wrought in such sort that the Marquis of Morcone was sent to Rome as punishable in the Inquisition for having condemned to the Gallies a Bookseller The Inquisition pretending the Crime to belong to his Cognisance He offer'd to trouble the Duke of Parma for laying Imposts on his own Subjects in the absence of the Bishop He fell out with the Duke of Savoy for presenting an Abbey to Cardinal Pio so that his Highness for Peace-sake was forced to give it to the Popes Nephew Thus his design went on to ruin the Temporal Authority In the mean time the Commonwealth of Luca considering that many of their Citizens changed their Religion and retired into the Protestants Countries publish'd an Edict prohibiting any of their Subjects to have any Commerce with such people The Pope lik'd the Law but would not have it made by Lay-men so commanded them to â—ase the Edict out of their Records and he would publish another but the same in Substance by his Papal Authority At the same time the Commonwealth of Genoa being informed that the Governours of certain Lay-Fraternities their Subjects instituted by Devotion â—ad not â—â—ithfully dispensed the Revenues intrusted them resolved to examine their Accounts and Commanded their Books should be brought to the Duke At the same time divers Citizens used to meet as for Christian Exercises in the Jesuits Colledg which Club resolved to favour none in pâ—omoâ—ion to Offices but their Associates The State taking notice of it and considering what mischief in time this would bring upon the Commonwealth prohibited all such Assemblies and Conventicles The Pope takes Pet at these honest Orders affirming they were against the Ecclesiastical Liberty so Commands the Commonwealth to revoke these Edicts or else he would thunder against them his Censures of Excommunication By which Terror both the States of Luca and Genoa were forced to obey his Holiness Thus the Popes design went fairly on nor did he doubt any place in Italy unless the Republick of Venice which used to act upon Principles most honourable and beneficial to themselves without any respect to the Interest or Bribery of other Potentates The Pope had now resident at Venice as his Nuncio Horatio Matthei Bishop of Gierace a great Stickler and Boaster of the Ecclesiastical Liberty as they call'd it and in his way so zealous that he thought all Christian Actions and Graces were of no validity unless this also were promoted beyond all proportion The Senate of Venice considering the mistake of Charity and Devotion the Zealots thinking nothing so holy as the multiplying of Churches where no * need is made a Decree 1603. that None la Republique se tronea contrainle d'y mettre la main Autrement il fast arrivè bientost que toutes leurs villes n' eussent plus estè qne Convens Fglises et que tours leurs Revenus qui doivent porter leâ— charges de l'estat qui servent a la Nourriture deâ— Gens Maries les quelâ— ' ournissent des Soldats des Marchande des Laboureurs n' eussent plus servi q◠á l'en tre tien des Religieux eâ— des Religieuses Hard. de Perefixe Ev. de Râ—â—ez Hist du Hen. le Grand part 3. an 1606. within the Precincts of the City should build any new Church or Monastery without the Senats Consent Truly thinking that they were stored well enough having already within the City where ground is so scarce 150 Churches Monasteries and such like places of Devotion The Senat also agreeable to the old Statutes of their Republick anno 1333 and 1536. made a Decree like our English Mort-maine That None should sell give or alienate any more lands to the Clergy without the Senats Commission A little after the making of these Laws the Troubles between them and the Pope began The Occasion taken thus One Scipio Sarraceno a Canon of a Church of Vicenza had with great Contempt desaced the seal of the Magistrate which was put to for the custody
of the Bishops Court of Chancery at the request of the Chancellor the See being vacant And farther had earnestly endeavoured to seduce a young Gentlewoman his Cozin using many solicitations to her both in publick and in the Church but not gaining his desires according to a common kind of Revenge and Affront in Italy he filthily bewray'd her door portal and the ring thereof and did her some other wrongs The young Gentlewoman upon advice puts in her Complaint to the Senate at Venice whereupon the Canon is Cited and Imprisoned Of this the Pope is informed who cryeth out that the Liberties of the Church are violated that he will not permit Ecclesiasticks in any Case to be judged by Lay-men that Satisfaction is to be given and the Canon releas'd The Venetians return That their Republick is free that they have the same autority with other Princes so can take cognisance of the Crimes of their own Subjects within their own Dominions and punish them according to the falt Whilst this is convasing happens another accident The Count Brandelino Valdemarino Abbot of Nervese being guilty of many Exorbitant Crimes as Cruel Tyranny over his Neighbours by taking up their goods at what small price he pleas'd Committing many Rapes and Impurities upon all sorts of Women Accused of Sorcery and dealing in Magick Practising many abominable murthers by poyson whereby he destroy'd his Brother and his Servant and indanger'd his own Father That he had for a long time lain with his Sister and poysoned her Maid lest she should discover it That he had caus'd his Enemy to be kil'd and then poyson'd the murtherer lest he might accuse him and other such like Villanies For these and such other crimes the Abbot is by Order of the Senate Imprison'd At this the Pope also takes offence denying the Temporal Authority over Priests that the Church can only take cognisance of them be their falts never so great or notorious And in this humour layeth a Quarrel against the Venetians unless they will satisfie him in these three things I. That they null the Decree concerning the building of any more Churches II. That they also null and void the other Decree touching the giving of lands to Ecclesiasticks III. That the Abbot and the Canon be releas'd and delivered up to his Nuntio A great deal of do there was on both sides but the Pope peremptorily informed the Senate that at first he would send an Exhortory Breve to them and if he were not obey'd by such a time he would proceed farther having power over all could deprive Kings and to this end had Legions of Angels for his aid and assistance And accordingly he sent two Breves The Nuntio delivers them to the Senate but they were not open'd because Marini Grimani the Duke was then on his Death-bed and dyed the next morning The Pope upon notice of this orders his Nuntio to protest unto the State against any new Election as in it self to be void by being made by men excommunicated Thinking by this Trick to bring a Confusion amongst them The Nuntio to execute this Command with great importunity desired Audience of the State but it was not granted him it being not their Custom to admit any during the Vacancy unless their business be only of Condoling Duke Grimani being buryed for till the former Duke be under year 1606 ground they cannot go to the choice of another they fell to their Ballotation or Lots and the Election fell upon Leonardo Donato Having thus got another Doge or Duke they open the Breves which they found to be one and the same in Tenor which the Pope said was through the Nuncio's mistake in delivering two of the same instead of two different ones The Pope ranted fairly against their Decrees about Churches and Ecclesiasticks affirming that These Ordinances tended to the Damnation of Souls to publick scandal were of themselves void and of no value and no man obliged to observe them That they who had made these Statutes or any like or who did further them had incur'd Ecclesiastical Censures had deprived themselves of such lands as they held of the Church and their Estates and demains were subject to other penalties that they could not be absolved unless they revoked the Decrees So he admonish'd the Republick to consider the Danger whereinto they had cast their souls to seek a Remedy and commanded them under pain of Excommunication to null the said Orders That otherwise he would proceed farther considering the account he was to give to God at the Day of judgment and that he could not dissemble when he saw the Ecclesiastical Authority so abused The Venetians answer'd all warily and wisely but yeilded not a jot of their Authority At which the Pope was incensed saying they were Tyrants and different from their Ancestors being resolved though he should lose his skin yet he would maintain the cause of God of his own Reputation And so orders his Nuntio to give the other Breve which through mistake as he said he had not formerly presented The Nuntio obeys and the Senate opening it found it to concern the Imprisonment of the Abbot and Canon which the Breve said was Contrary to the Holy Canons and to Ecclesiastical Liberty which were grounded on divine Ordinance so commanded under pain of Excommunication that the Canon and Abbot should speedily be delivered to his Nuntio and that if in the mean time the secular power had proceeded to any acts or sentence of Condemnation or Execution he did null them and declare them void Threatning if he were not speedily obey'd he would proceed farther The Senate vindicated themselves by an Answer but nothing satisfactory to the Pope who told their Ambassador that the Exemption of Ecclesiasticks was de jure divino and that his cause was the cause of God that he would not depart any thing from his Resolution and he would be obeyed And thus resolved calls a Consistory where were present XLI Cardinals who agree with the Pope so a Breve of Excommunication or Interdict is drawn up printed and publish'd against the Duke Senate and the Republick It contain'd That the Venetians had lately made some Decrees contrary to the Authority of the Apostolical See the Ecclesiastical Liberty General Councels Sacred Canons and the Constitutions of the Pope For proof of which he instanced their Decrees concerning Churches and the Clergy with the Imprisonment of the Abbot and Canon That these Actions tended to the danger of the Souls both of Duke and Senate and the scandal of others That the Law-makers incurr'd the Censures of the Church the forfeiture of what they had could not be absolved but by the Pope and the nulling of the Decrees That though the Decrees were void of themselves yet the Pope did hereby null them according to the Example of his Predecessors That he doth hereby Excommunicate the Duke Senate and their Partakers if within XXIV days they do not null the Decrees rase them