a straight commaundement to all his ordinance and men of armes to assemble themselues at Pierreport in as warlike maner as might be there to attend his further pleasure and to be in a readinesse to be employed as occasion should be offered King Philip of Spaine had likewise gathered a very strong power and al things were prouided by these two mightie Monarkes as though they ment to determine all their controuersies by some one cruel bloody battell But God who ruleth the hearts of princes disposed of their intentions far otherwise then their blind affections led them For vpoÌ„ the sudden their hard harts began to be mollified and each party inclined to peace so that the place being appointed and the deputies on both sides agreed vpon they met about the midst of October following at Cercam betweene Artoys and Pycardy There were many complaints on both sides and a commemoration of sundry indignities offered on either part Each defended others doings neither was there any likelihood of better agreement so that after many contentious words their assembly brake vp without any coÌ„clusion for peace and yet for that winter approched the soldiers were not able to keep the field Peace concluded between France and Spaine both princes dissolued their armies and licenced their men of warre to repose themselues vntill the next yere But before that time by reason of newe occurrences there was a generall peace proclaimed betweene these two nations each linked with other with very strait alliances For King Philip whose wife Mary Queene of England was lately deceassed was contented to take in marriage Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Henry the French King and Pilebert Emmanuel duke of Sauoy was affianced vnto madame Margaret his sister so that by reason of these new coÌ„iunctions there insued much quietnes to all Christendome but especially to these two kingdoms who now had made an end of all their quarels contentions and seemed to study of nothing but how they might honor and solemnise in most royall maner these new marriages There was exceeding sumptuous preparation against the appointed time all the Nobilitie of France were assembled at Paris to attend the king to honor these espousals The lady Elizabeth was coÌ„ducted by the king her father to our Lady Church at the day prefixed in most pompous and stately maner and there married by the Cardinall of Burbon to the Duke of Alua was who constituted Procurator of the king of Spaine his maister The Duke of Alua marrieth the French kings daughter for his maister the king of Spaine There were all the princes of the bloud attending in their order and many cheefe Prelates and all the officers of the crowne The Duke of Alua was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Count Egmond and sundrie other very honourable personages The marriage being finished there was exceeding feasting banquetting and cheering with dauncing masking and all other pastimes that could be imagined both to delight the eye and please the eare The king reioyced to see his daughter so honourably aduanced the Nobilitie and commonaltie were maruailously glad to remember what ease peace and tranquilitie they should enioy by this newe affinitie and all sorts seemed to triumph hoping there would be a perpetuall league and corespondency betweene these two Nations but now behold a woful mishap and lamentable mischance wherewith all this mirth and iollity was turned into weeping wailing and great sorrow so enterchangeably doo these two accompany each other so certainely do they follow one another The French king who had bin the principall challenger at tilt assisted by the Duke of Guyse Alphonse the Prince of Ferrara and the Duke of Nemours hauing borne himselfe very nobly that day and broken many staues to his great honor and high commendation would needes in the end run a course with count De Mont-gommery a valiant gentleman of France who at the first refusing The French King slaine with running a course at â—â—lt yet commanded by the king accepted the condition and offered so freely that theyr staues flying in peeces some of the shiuers getting in at the sight of the beuer pearced into the kings head greeuously wounded him that he died within eleuen daies after to the immesurable greefe of his subiects after hee hadde raigned twelue yeeres three moneths and tenne dayes CHAP. VI. Francis the second the French King The Guises authors of all the confusion in France The Guises ioyne with the Queene mother against the King of Nauarre The King of Nauarre yeeldeth to the Queene mother The Duke of Guise made Lieutenant for the King and Henrie Cardinall of Lorraine made L. Treasurer of France They incense the King agaynst the princes of the blood The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudie The hatred of the Guises towards the three Chastillons The Prince of Conde beeing discontented goeth from the Court The order of the States of France The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the Hugonots to the king The Prince of Conde committed to prison and is condemned to die The death of the King THe Kingdome of France had for manie yeares togither beene verie well acquainted with the variable and changeable estate of vnconstaunt fortune and vnder Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Francis the first and Henrie the seconde had by wofull experience found how subiect the most flourishing estates kingdoms coÌ„monwealths are to a continuall change and alteration and therfore hauing by long obseruatioÌ„ perfitly learned that the best means to maintain her selfe in her wonted grandeur and glory was to be leagued with her neighbour Countries and to be at peace and vnitie at home beganne to haue a flexible heart and to encline to quietnesse as much as might bee so that hauing ended all quarrels and buried all wronges and indignities in the pit of obliuion and by a neare coniunction with the Spanyard her ancient and mightie enemy in the opinion of most men procured her selfe a perpetuall peace began as it were to clap her handes for ioy and seriously to tryumph in so incomparable a benefite But the fatall and ineuitable mishap of this most noble kingdome which had florished for so many hundred yeares and had been the paragon of her neighbor nations could not as it seemeth be auoyded but that it must needes take place and wanting forraigne enemies to worke her ouerthrow must needes hatch a viperous brood which by gnawing out the belly of their owne mother haue most vnnaturally sought the destruction of her who haue most tenderly fostered and brought them vp The house of Guyse the principall cause of all the sturres in France The principall cause to produce so lamentable an effect and the only means in a maner to hatch so horrible a mischiefe was the immesurable ambition of that haughtie and aspiring house of Guyse who albeit they were straungers and no natural French men yet fortune so fauoured their attempts and made some of them
a time and the yong Prince continued in verie good grace vntill at length by reason of newe occasions of suspition hee was forced to auoyde the Realme so exceedingly was the King his father incensed agaynst him and going to Philip Duke of Burgundie who at that present was a verie great and mightie potentate was most honorably intertained furnished with all things necessarie for himselfe and his retinue where hee remained for a long time notwithstanding the duke was very often earnestly solicited to the coÌ„trarie by the king his father At the last all the stormie tempests being blowne ouer and he vpon the decease of his father being called home to receiue the Diademe and crowne of France Lewis the 11. K. of France he departed from the Court of Burgundie where he had liued a stranger and vnder the coÌ„trolment of others towards his new kingdome and naturall Countrie which he found very peaceable and flourishing in all wealth and prosperitie where hee was no sooner quietly established but that remembring some olde iniuries Lewis the 11. reiecâ—eâ—h his faâ—hers old counsellors and disliking manie of his fathers most faithfull and trustie counsellers hee remoued sundry out of their rowmes and offices and imprisoned others electing new into their places to the great griefe of diuerse of his best affected subiects the exceeding discontentment of most of his chiefest Nobilitie wherupon ensued maruellous trouble to the common wealth and vnspeakeable care and vexation of mind to himselfe The Duke of Britaine and sundrie other of the nobility rise against the King For the Duke of Brytaine the Duke of Berry the Duke of Nemours the earle of Saint Paule the earle of Arminake Beauleu Albret and manie other great Lords and states being highlie displeased with the King and with his gouernement banded togither against him and calling to theyr ayde Count Charolois sonne and heyre to Philip Duke of Burgundie raysed a mightie and puyssaunt armie wherewith they approched Paris and held besieged the chiefest Cittie of the land The King vnderstanding the daunger wherein the towne stoode The K. marcheth toward Paris and the resolution of his enemies hasted by all possible meanes to put himselfe within Paris the safekeeping whereof woulde be most auayleable for the aduancement of his other affayres Wherefore hauing gathered a strong power marched forwardes on his intended voyage not purposing to hazarde his fortune vppon anie aduauntage that shoulde be offered but onelie to defende himselfe and to amuse his enemies vntill the tyme might minister some better meanes to accomplish his desyres notwithstanding The k forced to forsake the field through the rash headinesse of the Lieutenant of Normandie called Le Bressy who had the leading of the auauntgarde the King was constrained to fight and to aduenture to open his passage by force of armes But being valiantly resisted by his enemies after a terrible and bloodie fight hee was forced to forsake the field and to retyre towards Corbeile leauing the entyre glorie of that victorie to Count Charolois and his associates As this good fortune puffed vp the haughtie minde of the Conquerour making him proude disdainfull and highly conceyted of his owne valour which in the ende bred his owne confusion and ouerthrowe The King reconcileth his subiects and maketh peace with Count Charolois so did it teach the conquered to pull downe his spirits and with all circumspect diligence and care to prouide for his future safetie in the most politike manner that hee might and hauing though with much adoo made peace with Count Charolois an enemie that hee greatly feared and reconciled his discontented Nobles who were a long time as prickes in his eyes and thornes in his sydes and withall concluded a league with Edwarde the fourth King of Englande at Pikquennie to his great aduauntage there remayned nothing that might any way endaunger his estate but onelie the greatnesse of Charles Duke of Burgundie who though he were at amitie with the King yet for that hee had a most turbulent spirite and of all other could least abide to continue for anie long time together in peace the King thought hee had iust occasion to suspect him Charles D. of Burgundy slaine at Nancy and therefore howsoeuer in outwarde shewe he made much of him yet in heart hee wished for nothing more then his confusion and ouerthrowe which appeared most apparantly by his secrete practises agaynst the Duke and then coulde no longer be hidde when as hee heard of his discomfiture at the battaile of Nancy where the sayde Duke was slaine his armie put to flight and the glorie of that noble house of Burgundie which had flourished for the space of an hundred and twentie yeares in all pompe and magnificence was vtterly defaced and obscured For presently vppon the newes the King was so exceeding ioyfull that hee did not in a maner regarde how richly and bountifully he rewarded the Messengers of so glad and ioyfull tydings Nowe beganne hee to studie for nothing so much as howe to dismember this poore afflicted Dukedome and by all meanes possible to teare and rent it in peeces K. Lewis of France getteth a great part of Burgundie He first gayned by liberall rewardes and fayre promises the chiefest of the Burgonian Nobilitie and likewise the Captaines of sundrie strong Townes by which meanes hee gate Abbeuille Peronne Arras Hesdin Bollogne Dyion and manie other principall places so that it seemed that the better part of the Dukedome of Burgundie was nowe brought vnder the kings obedience and annexed to the rest of the Dominions of the Flower de Lis By which meanes the reuenewes of the Crowne were greatly augmented the lande exceedingly strengthened the same and honour of the king wonderfully encreased all thinges falling out in a manner as well as might be wished or desired But hee had no sooner attayned to so high a degree of happinesse but hee was presently crossed with newe miseryes and afflictions which in small continuance of tyme did wholie bereaue him of his former ioyes For beeing at dinner at a Village neare vnto Chynon hee was suddainlie stroken with so vehement a payne The King stroken with a sudden disease that hee lost his speach and sences for the space of two dayes togither not remembring nor knowing any that were nearest about him And albeit by reason of those great meanes which were vsed his bodie was somewhat recouered and his mynde much bettered so that he seemed to come to some reasonable vnderstanding and knowledge yet was hee so weakened and euerie parte of him so mightilie decayed that it was not possible to free him of his maladie so long as hee lyued Besides hee grewe so suspitious of all sortes and so iealous of his owne sonne and sonne in Lawe that hee was neuer at quyet but lyued in such continuall feare least that honour and reuerence which had beene for so long a tyme giuen vnto him shoulde now be
farre as Lancy in Masconois where by reason that manie principall Captaines were corrupted with money and fayre promises and the rest suffered great wants they concluded to returne backe so that hauing made their capitulation and gotten theyr Passeportes Sundry of the Germaine Captains corrupâ—ed by mony caused the whole armie to retire The death of the duke of Bonillon euerie man made all the speede home that might bee loden with miserie shame and dishonour with the losse of many Ensignes and Cornets besides their chiefest leaders and commaunders The Duke of Bonillon generall of that armie with the Lord Clerebant and Van being not able to draw them forwards by any perswasion returned to Geneua where they died shortly after The Count de La Marke brother to the duke of Bonillon was deceased long before at a place called Loyne Great numbers of this dispersed armie were inuaded by their enemies and slaine in their passage homewards contrarie to the promise which had beene made vnto them by the Catholiques The Colonels and Captaines of the Switzers the chiefe authours of the dissolution of that Armie were seuerely punished by their Segneuries so that this whole armie was maruellously afflicted and euerie one was scourged after one sort or other and hauing spent and spoyled infinitely did nothing but worke their owne calamitie and ouerthrow The King vndoubtedly had taken maruellous care to sâ—uer this mightie puyssaunce and by cunning handling of the matter The Guises slaunder the King had brought them to this extreame passe that vnder the colour of a Passeport hee exposed them to the butcherie and rage of their enemies And although that by reason of this politique dealing he deserued high commendation yet the Guise so handled the matter that all redownded to his further discredite and caused his subiects to speake worse of him then at anie time before For the Guise had caused it to bee bruited abroad that not onely the King had willingly suffered the Germaines to escape contrarie to the counsaile and aduice of the Duke of Guise but also had giuen them the meanes to retyre in safetie some into Germanie and others into Languedocke there to ioyne with the King of Nauarre and so to continue further troubles in the lande to the great and intollerable harme of the good Catholiques and the encouraging of Heretikes and such as were enemies to holy Chuch When the Friers and Iesuits in Paris and other principall cities were possessed with these newes they brake forth into very seditious speeches openly exclayming against the King and extolling the wisdome prowesse noble acts of the duke of Guise whereby they procured him much fauor among the multitude that knew nothing but what they heard by the Leaguers and their fauorites which made them think that the King had killed his thousand but the Guise his ten thousand All which treacherous dealings tended to no other end but this either to make the French beleeue that the K. was not indowed with such noble and heroycall vertues as were requisite for him that should gouerne so mightie and puissant a nation or else that he was a notorious dissembler a maintainer of Heretikes a secret enemy to the Catholikes And then what should they doo with such a King let theÌ„ make choise of another more valiant more wise more prouident more religious a more stout defender of holy Church and who should that be but the Guise who for the zeale courage valour and singuler dexteritie in the mannaging of matters of estate was not onely superior to the King The leaguers attempt against the yong duches of Bonillon but the paragon of all Europe The leaguers being assured of the death of the duke of Bonillon and that hee had left his sister Madame Charlate de la Marke a yong and tender Ladie heyre to all his soueraigne segneurie and principalitie of Bonillon thought it their best to let the king of Nauarre alone for a time at whose handes there was little to bee gotten vnlesse they payed deare for it and to enterprise somewhat aagaynst this desolate Ladie and either by hooke or by crooke as wee vse to say to get the Dukedome into their possession VVhereupon the Duke of Guise vsed all the cunning hee coulde to match his sonne the Prince Ienuill with her and the Duke of Lorraine was as earnest a suter for his sonne called Marthuis de Pont and Lorde Vaudemont But neither of them being able by all their deuises to winne that Ladies fauour they thought it best to ioyne together and to compell her to match according to their lykings With this resolution they entered the Dukedome of Bonillon with a great power burning wasting killing murthering rauishing and committing all other horrible and detestable villanies that coulde bee imagined The crueltie of the leaguers against the dukedom of Bonillon and besieged the sayde Ladie and her two principall Townes Sedan and Iamets where they continued a long tyme spent much Treasure and lost most of theyr men and in the ende with shame and dishonour beeing well beaten at a womans hand by the valiant conduct of the Lord Necuile were glad to giue ouer and returne home Whilest the dukedom of Bonillon was vexed and tormented with these troublesome sutors the principal leagers assembled at Nancie in Lorrain where there was a great consultation helde how they might aduance themselues and ouerthow the King against whose person and state they had for a long time bout all their endeuors There they agreed to present certain articles to the king which they would haue him agree vnto and those were such as tended to the vtter destruction of the King and the auncient Nobilitie of Fraunce and the safetie of themselues First they requested the King to ioyne more openly with the League and to put all such as they dislyked out of their offices The petitions of the leâ—gue to the king To cause the Councell of Trent to bee proclaymed throughout all his Dominions To establish the Spanish inquisition To put such Castels and strong Townes into their handes as they should name vnto him That hee shoulde sende an armie into Lorraine vpon the borders of G rmanie to let the entrie of strangers into the land and for the maintenance thereof should cause all the goods of those whome they tearmed Heretikes or fauourers of Heretikes to bee solde and the money to bee deliuered into theyr handes That the Catholiques shoulde pay the tenth of their reuenewes for the same purpose and that the surplussage shoulde bee to pay the most needfull debts of the principall Leaguers and that the life of no Heretike prisoner shoulde be spared vnlesse hee would abiure and put in good securitie to liue Catholiquely hereafter and to giue all his goods or the iust valew of them which hee hath then in his possession to the supporting of the League and to binde himselfe to serue three yeares wheresoeuer he should be commaunded The
fifteene or sixteene Gentlemen the better to couer his intended purpose knowing that he should finde a sufficient number of partakers to maintaine himselfe against all men Not long after his arriuall he went very confidently to see the king and with all humble reuerence with his knee to the ground saluted him but the king being highly despleased for that his comming contrary to his commandement gaue him a frowning countenance The Guyse stayed not long at Court but returned to his house in the Citie immediatly after the King being duely enformed of the great number of strangers that were in the same Cittie and that it was verie likely that they remained there for some dangerous exploit caused twelue companies of French men and Switzers to bee distributed into sundrie places to keepe all quiet and in their due obedience The Cittizens at the instigation of the Guyse his companies tooke the Alarum making as though they feared that they should be murthered and haue their houses sacked The Parisians rise a-against the King and kil his guard for diuers were sent about to disperse such reports armed themselues and beeing assisted by Brissac Borsdauphin Chamois and the rest of the Guysards set vpon the Switzers and the rest of the Kings guardes whereof some they killed and others they disarmed and such as remained they kept as prisoners and hoping nowe to attaine to the Period of their desires they made theyr approches and besieged the Louure entending to take the King either aliue or dead The king seeing all that great and populous Cittie in an vprore and that hee had not sufficient forces to oppose against such a rebellious rable determined to leaue the Louure The King lâ—aueth Paris and flieth to Chartres at the perswasions of sundrie his most faithfull councellers who aduised him to giue place to that desperate Rebellion to seeke his safetie some other where whereupon he incontinently departed from Paris and went that night as farre as Trappes and the next day to his Citie of Chartres Many great Lords Gentlemen of good place which were the kings friends went after him as fast as they could some on horsebacke and some on foote making as good shift as they could vpon so short warning wherein wee may note a maruailous strange alteration and vicissitude in the state of this great Prince who hauing beene so mightie a monarke and a king of two such noble and puissant countreyes as were Polonia and France a commander ouer so many great and honourable personages and had ruled such an infinite multitude of all sorts was now driuen out of his owne house and out of his cheefest Citie and forced to flie before him who was his vassaile and subiect to his intollerable greefe and vexation leauing his treasure and whatsoeuer precious things he had to be a pray for his enemies The Guyse vnderstanding that the king was escaped and had auoyded his bloudy fingers was maruailously greeued and cursed his ouersight knowing that hee should neuer haue the like oportunitie againe to effect his purpose and fearing that the King would seeke to be reuenged of so great an indignitie offered to his person thought that hee would prouide the meanes as wel as he could to defende himself and his therfore he seised vpon the Kings arsemall and vpon his treasor The Guyse seiseth vppon the Kings treasor whereof hee brought to his owne house aboue seauen hundred thousand Crownes which hee laide vp as an earnest for the rest Then did he forthwith alter the pollicie of the Citie remoouing Perrense the prouost of the Merchants from his office and the rest of the cheefest officers which he knew to be affectionate to the king and placed such as were the most factious seditious Leaguers in their roumes he wrote also sundry letters to his frieÌ„ds abroad and to the principall Townes such as he knew to bee deuoted to him requiring them to ioyne with him and to be in a readinesse when hee should haue neede and caused it to be bruted that all that which had passed at Paris was not against the king but to defend the Cittie which was in danger to bee spoyled by strangers and that the king by the counsell of the Duke of Espernon who had said he intelligence with the King of Nauarre and the Heretikes had caused sundrie gibbets to be set vp in seueral places of the Citie to hang diuers Cittizens and to spoyle their houses thereby to gather money and to warre against the Leaguers The Guyse seeketh to couer his rebellious action When the Guyse had taken the course to assure himselfe by all the deuises hee could hee wrote letters to the king seeking to disguyse all this action and to perswade him that hee had no euill meaning against his maiestie but had alwaies beene and still remained his most dutifull subiect and had in this tumultuous stirre happened at Paris shewed how hee respected the King and all his seruants in that hee had taken so great prayes euen with the danger of his life to saue sundrie his officers his Captaines and Souldiers and so farre forth as possibly he might to keep the people from murther and bloudsâ—ed which was then so likely to haue fallen out and that to the great and irreperable harme of the Kings best affected subiects After the alleaging of these and many other arguments to proue his fidelitie he besought the king to be his gracious Lord and to account of him as his most faithfull and loyall sâ—biect and for that hee had a guiltie conscience hee was continually in feare least the King would at one time or other bee reuenged howsoeuer peraduenture for the time hee might dissemble the matter and shew him a fayre countenance and therefore hee practised all meanes to make his attonement and to that ende made earnest sute to the Queene mother to stand his gracious Lady Such was his demeanor and so cunningly hee handled the matter that she was woon to be a mediator for him and to assay to bring him againe into the kings fauor The king reposing a maruailous confidence in his mother The Queen mother reconcileth the Guyse to the King who had bewitched him with an opinion of her loue and naturall affection towards him suffered himselfe to be ruled by her aduice notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Catholikes that were about him who exclaimed against the Guyses and their proude and rebellious enterprises and required the king to taâ—e condigne punishment proffering him their seruice their liues theyr goods and whatsoeuer meanes they had for the accomplishment thereof The king thanked them for their good willes but resoluing to make a peace sent them home againe and would not follow their counsels After much going and comming on both sides the reconciliation was made the K. the Leaguers became good friendes and intended to bend all their forces against the Protestants Wherupon two mighty armies were prepared
also considering the intollerable seruitude wherto they were likely to bring themselues and their posteritie if they should longer submit themselues to their Spanish protector and likewise seriously pondering the kings estate which was still supported by the cheefe Princes of the bloud the ancient and most honourable Nobilitie of France fauored by a number of valiant and wise personages and countenanced by sundrie mightie Princes abroade so that it still seemed to bee impossible to bring their purposes to passe but rather that they should hazard their owne estates their liues and liberties yea and in fine the whold kingdome by calling in the Spaniards their olde and ancient enemies who sought for nothing more then for the spoyle of the Flower de Lis. All these reasons with many other beeing well weighed they supposed it to bee their best to reconcile themselues to theyr king of whole readie inclination to peace The Leaguers seeke for peace though it were with hard conditions they nothing doubted wherupon they first priuily practised with sundry of the Papists which followed the king whereof there were no small number and hauing by their meanes made as it were an entrie vnto their pretensed purpose they sent their deputies to treate of a peace for three moneths wherto the king assented in Iuly 1593. and afterwards continued the same for two monethes more videlicet vnto the ende of the moneth of December following in all which time there was nothing doone otherwise then the sending of sundrie messages each to other with continual practising to draw the king to the liking of Poperie wherein there was such paines taken and so farre humane pollicie preuailed that this noble and famous Prince who had for the space of foure or fiue and twentie yeeres so valiantly and fortunately deâ—ended the Gospell and that with the hazard and perill of his owne life The K. enclineth to Popery freely exposing his royall person his treasor his friendes and all other meanes whatsoeuer â—oâ— the maintenance thereof beganne to waxe calme in the defence of his profession and to encline to that false and superstitious Religion of Rome to the high displeasure of almightie God the great dishonour of his princely Maiestie and to the extreme greefe and astonishment of all the Protestants Thus this noble and renowned Monarke the hope as it were of al that fauored Gods truth whom God had beautified with so many excellent graces and notable vertues as courage wisedom zeale and constancy in so many apparant dangers had made him the protecter and comforter of his afflicted church in France had deliuered him out of the hands of all his enemies 2. Sam. 12.8 and had giuen him his Lords house as the Prophet speaketh and if that had beene too little would haue giuen him much more making his proudest enemies to stoupe before h m and to the admiration and wonderment of all men continually protected him in despight of all those who sought his ruine and ouerthrow is another argument of the mutabilitie and interchangeable estate of all things in the world and that not onely the heauens the earth the sea the beasts of the field the fishes in the waters and the soules of the ayre are ful of varietie and change but likewise kingdomes countreyes and commonwealths Cities and townes all estates and conditions of men high and low rich and poore wise and foolish Prince and people are full of change and alteration Sundry principall Cities of France returne to the King In Ianuarie and Februarie immediatly folowing the Kings so apparant inclination to Poperie most of the principall Cities of France which had with so notorious obstinacy for a long while shaken off the yoake of their obedience beganne to bee reclaimed and as it were on the sodaine to bee arranged on the kings side Meaux Lyons Orleance Bourges Pontoâ—se with many other townes of speciall monument account opened their gates and willingly receiued the kings garrisons crying Vine Henry 4. roy de France de Nauarre expelling the Spaniards and hispaniolised French shewing great forwardnesse to withstande the outragious proceedings of the furious and desperate Leaguers The king had no sooner reduced these strong Townes vnder his obedience hauing by this meanes mightily strengthned himselfe and weakened his enemies but that hee was forthwith aduised by the Princes of his bloud the dukes and peeres of France the officers of his Crowne the Lords of his Councel and the most noâ—able personages of his courts of ParliameÌ„ts to frame himself to his corona ion and annoynting and that in such maner as all other kings his predecessors had done before him Which said ceremonious order of anointing is accounted the euident token of their royaltie and the publike approbation of the French nation Whereto the K. assenting as one now entending to obserue the ancient customs of his predecessors it was resolued that this solemne ceremony shuld be performed at our ladies church at Chartres for that the citie of Rheims where for the most part the king of France had wont euermore to be crowned still persisted in her rebellion and banded her selfe with the kings enemies All things beeing in a readinesse for the solemnizatioâ— of thâ—â—◠〈◊〉 magnificent coronation vpon the seuen and twentie day o◠〈…〉 the King came to the sayde Church attended with a great 〈…〉 Princes Earles Lordes and other States of Fraunce And by 〈…〉 some of the twelue Peeres as yet helde out agaynst the King and oâ—her â—ere sicke so that there wanted of the full and competent number to atteâ—◠〈◊〉 and to dootheyr seruice as the tyme then requyred the King 〈…〉 others in theyr steade to make vp the whole number whose names were as followeth Thâ— 6. peeres ecclesiastical 1 Bishop of Charters Representing the 1 Archbishop of Rhâ—mis the first peere Ecclesiastâ— all 2 Bishop of Nautes 2 The Bishop duke of 〈◊〉 3 Bishop of Digne 3 Bishop 〈…〉 4 Bishop of Mallefais 4 Bishop 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 5 Bishop of Orleance 5 Bishop Couâ—t of 〈◊〉 6 Bishop Angiers 6 Bishopâ— ouâ— to 〈◊〉 The 6 peeres temporall 7 Prince of Coney Representing the 7 Duke of Buâ—â—â—â—â—â— 8 County Soyssons 8 Duke of Norâ—â—â—â—â—â— 9 Duke Moâ—tpensier 9 Duke of Aqrâ—â—â—â—â—e 10 Duke of Rays 10 Count of Thâ—â—ous 11 Duke of Vantadon 11 Count of Flanders 12 Lord of Lupembourg 12 Count of Champaâ—â—ne The King was crowned by the Bishop of Chartres who for that day supplied the roome of the Archbishop of Rhemis and enthâ—onised him in his royall and Kingly seate in such maner and order as the rest of the Kings his predecessors had beene accustomed in former times Now began the Kings authoritie to waxe great and to enlarge it selfe euery day more and more and so farre it spread in a short time after that it was receyued into the heart of all Fraunce for the 20. of March following Paris the Metropolitan Citie of the whole realme Paris â—elleth to the 〈◊〉 which had continued in all kinde of rebellious disorder and that for many yeres togither omitting no kind of outrage that could be imagined against her natural and liege soueraignes their crownes and dignities by the vertuous and commendable industry of Brissac was likewise reduced vnder the Kings obedience who pardoning the inhabitants so many and so monstrous offences restored them to their auncient priueligieâ— rights grants Franchises and liberties with the reestablishments of his courts of Parliament and that in as large and ample manner as they had beene at anie time indued by any of the kings his predecessors abrogating all lawes decrees statutes ordinances which had passed in preiudice of theÌ„ as appeareth by an Edict bearing date the 28 of March 1594. So as neither the said inhabitants nor any of them should from thenceforth be troubled molested or disquieted in any maner of sort for their former disobediences imposing perpetuall silence heereof to his Attourneyes generall and to all other persons whatsoeuer commaunding withall all Dukes and Peeres of Fraunce all Officers of the Crowne all his Lieutenants and other Magistrates to cause the same to be proclaymed and published in theyr seuerall iurisdictions and resorts with expresse charge that the contents of the same should be inuiolably kept and obserued to the end that if it were possible the whole kingdome of Fraunce which for a long time had endured so manie calamities might nowe at length feele some ease and mitigation of former miseryes and the beaten barke of that distressed state which had beene so daungerously tossed in a vast Ocean of all kind of affliction might in the ende be brought to some desired hauen of peace and quietnesse and there be safely harboured to the eternall glorie of God the perpetuall honour of the King and the continuall ioy and comfort of the whole Common-wealth FINIS LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597.
sollicited other Princes as the Pope the king of England the Venetians and other states to ioyne with him and made a strong league and fell flat out with the emperour afresh notwithstanding all the promises which had beene made Then presently ensued new warres and all Europe was in a sort infected with this contagious humor Fortune which hadde so extreamely crossed the French designements began to be more fauourable and to beholde the king with a smiling countenance for the Lord Lautrech beeing sent into Italy tooke Bosco Genes Alexandria and Pauia from the emperour maruaylously aduauncing the French affaires The emperour beeing vexed at the heart with these newes complained greeuously of the king offering him the Combate The Emperour offereth the combate to the french King calling him forsworne and periured prince the King gaue him the lie and affirmed that hee would make it good vpon his body when and where he durst Thus did these mightie potentates fight a farre off with their tongues and their armies in Italy and other where sought to ruinate and ouerthrow each other by all possible meanes After many conflicts wherein sometime the emperials and sometime the French as it were alternatiuely had the better there was a peace concluded for tenne yeeres in which time the Emperour in very freendly and louing manner A peace betweene the Emperor and the French King passed through France to represse certaine tumultuous outrages committed in Flanders This peace beeing expired they fell again into new broyles but they were soone ended and nowe began France to bee scourged with the English who hauing gotten Bulloigne wasted their countrey round about The French king beeing very desirous to impale the English forces The death of Francis the first king of France and to keep them from forraging after their woonted manner raysed certaine forts round about in the most conuenient places but whilst hee was earnestly busied herein hee sodainely fell sicke and died 1546. at a place called Rambouillet hauing raigned 32. yeeres leauing his sonne to succeede him in all his territories and dominions CHAP. V. Henry the second maketh warre against the Emperour and taketh Metz and many other townes The Queene of Hungary inuadeth France The great army of the Emperour for the recouerie of Metz which was kept by the Duke of Guyse The Emperor raiseth his siege Teroanneis besieged by the Emperials The King raised a great power to withstand the Emperour The cruelty of the French in Henault The battaile of Reuty The King and the Emperour breake vp their armies Charles the fift yeeldeth ouer his empire Rome besieged and taken King Phillip of Spaine besiegeth Saint Quintins which he taketh after hee had ouerthrowne all the power of France The original of the Huguenots in France Callis besieged and takâ—n by the Guyse Count Egmond ouerthroweth Monsieur de Termes the Captaine of Callis Phillip King of Spaine marryeth the French Kings daughter At whose marriage the King of France is slaine by Montgommery HEnry the second of that name King of France Henry the second King of France was not onely heire of his fathers Kingdome but also of all royall vertues and princely qualities In the beginning of his raigne hee maintained the Scots against the English but at length a composition beeing made The king of France bendeth all his forces against the Emperor hee bent all his forces against the Emperour who at that time made warre against the Princes of Germany and hauing gathered a strong power wherein were 2500 french footmen 7000. Lansquenetes 1200. men of armes besides 2000. horsemen as many harquebuziers on horseback vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumaile ordaining the admirall Annebaut his Vizgerent in France Metz taken by the french commanded the Conestable to march before with the vauntgard who aduanced towards Metz. The towne was quickly yeelded vpon such composition as pleased the king and so became annexed to the crowne of France From thence the king went towardes Strasbourg where the French would gladly haue entred but the Citizens would in no wise permit them howbeit they offered what prouision they were able to spare but that would hardly satiâ—fie notwithstanding considering the Cittie was very strong and the people resolutely bent to defende themselues the King turned towardes Hoguenan and VVisbourg where the Embassadors of the emperiall princes met with him and desired him that he would enter no further into Germany with which message although the King was nothing well pleased yet he made a faire shew and seemed to take all things well and returned towards France The Queene of Hungary leuieth an army to inuade France The Queene of Hungary the Emperours sister vnderstanding of the retreat of the French deuised all the meanes that might bee to impeach them and to cut of as many as shee could catch at any aduantage and hauing leauied an army to the number of twelue thousand footmen three thousand horse vnder the leading of the Count Mansfeild and Martyn Vaurosh entered the faire fields of the Flower de Lys which they spoyled verie pittiously The King beeing aduertised heereof marched with all speede to releeue his distressed subiects but the emperials hearing of his resolution retired speedily whereupon the King began to cast about how he might conquere the Duchie of Luxembourg and hauing taken a Castle called Rock hee laide siege vnto Saint Iehan Solieure and Danuill all which were forthwith yeelded vnto the King Yuoy a place of great importance helde out for a time but in the ende it was gladde to hearken to a composition for albeit that the valiant Counte Mansfeild hadde put himselfe within the Towne and had fortified it very strongly with a resolution to defende it against all men yet by reason of the cowardlinesse of his Souldiers he was forced to yeeld to the Conestable and he with sundrie others of especiall account were carried prisoners to Paris Then ensued the taking of Momedy Luzembourg and the Dukedome of Bouillon by the mareschall of Sedan Cimets was likewise taken and the spoyle thereof giuen to the Souldiers Thus the French king prospered gaining many Townes Castles and strong holds from the Empire The French King breaketh vp his army without any resistance but his souldiers beeing wearied and diseased hee was forced to breake vp his campe and lay them in garrisons and to expect what course the Emperour would take to recouer his honour and to regaine his townes who by reason he was occupied in the warres with certaine of the Germaine princes could not hinder the French proceedings But he hauing with much ado compounded with Maurice and the rest of the Protestants employed all his counsels how to recouer that which the French king had taken from him and hauing perswaded with the Germaine potentates to aide and assist him in hs intended enterprise The preparation of the Emperour against the French king caused al his old bands which were in Italy as
so gracious with their soueraignes that they did not only contend for the superioritie with the greatest Princes of the blood but at length as ambition hath neuer any end striued with their liege Lords and through their rebellious counsels and most trayterous plottes assisted by a multitude of Guysards and Hispaniolized French draue their soueraigne Lord out of his chiefe Citie and not contented to offer so great indignitie to so mightie a potentate neuer left practising vntill they had most wickedly murthered him whose life in all dutie should haue beene vnto them more precious then their owne and with their diuellish sorceries haue so bewitched and sotted sundry of the French nation that at this day to their perpetuall shame and ignominy they will not be reduced vnto any dutifull obedience vnder their most lawfull and liege Lord. Francis Duke of Guyse and Charles Cardinal of Lorrain the two fire-brands of France One of the most notorious plotters of so many mischiefes was Francis Duke of Guyse who with his brother Charles Cardinall of Lorrain as proud subtil and as ambitious a prelate as euer was grew to that height through the benefit of their good fortune that they commanded all France and brought the greatest Princes of that natiō to be their vnderlings and by reason of a mariage between Francis the second with Mary the yoong Queene of Scottes their neece they bare themselues so loftely and so egerly stroue to aduance their house that they turned all France topsy turuy so chaunging the gouernment and altering the state that it seemed in a short time to be a meere Chaos and confusion For after the death of Henry the secōd and that Francis his sonne was crowned King these two so craftily handled the matter that ioyning with Katherin de Medices the Queen mother of France who contrary to the auncient lawes and ordinances of that Realme which permit not women to rule sought to haue the gouernment of the yoong King and to exclude Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and chiefe Prince of the blood after infinite troubles to themselues and vnspeakeable misery to their owne Country they gat the gouernment into their hands and swayed euery thing after their owne likings And albeit the state of that kingdome had begun long before to be much afflicted and through the horrible persecutions of those whom they termed Hugonots maruellously decayed and weakned by reason of a secret diuision bred in the hearts of infinit multitudes who once dissenting in Religion could neuer after well agree in matters of state yet was the land at peace within it selfe and euery one seemed to be enclinable to their princes pleasure choosing rather to endure any affliction then by seeking to defend their liues and liberties by force of armes to bring in any intestine warres the most deuouring plague and sharpest punishment of all other but after that the house of Guyse began to rule and that their factious deuises cloaked with a zeale of mainteining the Catholicke cause had once stirred the coales the flame presently brake foorth and finding conuenient matter to nourish it withall spread it selfe in a short time ouer the face of the whole kingdome of France to the consuming of infinite multitudes of all sorts and the extreame impouerishing of the whole land There were sundry and diuers meanes to hasten this so wonderfull and lamentable alteration in France but the principall of all other was the vnexpected death of t e late King The Queene mother the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Guyse contend for the gouernment during the noneage of the King who albeit hee verie seuerely punished all such as were accounted Protestants and that principally at the instigation of the house of Guyse yet did he so politikely carry himselfe that during his raigne he kept that ambitious monster in some reasonable good order and the whole lande from tumult and rebellion but he was no sooner dead but that all things beganne to hasten to a confusion and the whole common wealth to bee daungerously infected with sundry fearefull diseases the originall whereof arose in this maner In the beginning of the reigne of Francis the second being but sixteene yeares olde there grewe a controuersie betweene Katherin de Medices the Kings mother Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and Francis of Lorraigne Duke of Guyse touching the gouernment of the young King during his nonage The Queene-mother alleaged many reasons to strengthen her claime as the lawes of Nature which would that the mother should haue the bringing vp of her children as one hauing a most tender care ouer them and most willing of all others to doo them good the customes and vsages of sundry nations and the auncient order of the lande which made the mother Gardien of her childe and so by consequent gaue her the Regency of the kingdome The king of Nauarre on the contrary affirmed that he ought in right to be gouernour of the young king for that he was the next Prince of the blood and nearest of kinne vnto him besides that there were fundamentall lawes of that nation which did not only shut out all straungers by whom he vnderstood the house of Lorraine and of Guyse but also disabled the Queene mother by reason of her sexe which the Salique lawe did expresly exclude from all regency and succession to the Crowne The Duke of Guyse had also diuers reasons for the aduauncing of his owne title as that hee was the kinges vncle that by his seruice the whole state had bene in a maner mainteined and the land from sundry imminent perilles deliuered Besides he excepted in a sort against the king of Nauarre for that hee and his brother the Prince of Condy gaue euident tokens of their liking of the Gospel and their hatred of the Romish Religion so that if Nauarre shoulde haue the gouernement of the King it was to bee feared saide hee that the whole lande would fall into heresie Thus did these three contende with might and maine for the superiorite each of them deuising al the reasons they could imagine for the furtherance of their cause But in the ende the Queene Mother and the Duke of Guise doubting that they shoulde not bee able nor sufficient to preuaile and also fearing least that the King of Nauarre by reason of the great preheminence and authoritie that the princes of the blood shoulde by right haue besides his iust tytle shoulde in the ende preuayle and get the better agaynst them both thought it best to ioyne togither agaynst the King of Nauarre The Queene mother and D. of Guise ioine togither against Nauarre and eyther by force or by policie and fayre meanes to winne him vnto their willes and by some deuise or other to make him surcease from his iust claime and interest The better to effect this the Duke of Guise seysed vppon the king whome hee conducted and brought to the Louure in Paris with the yong Princes his
thing This companie consisting of meere polliticks in the beginning and such as sought for nothing but a reformation in the common weale were in processe of time assisted by a multitude of those who were tearmed Hugonots as it is the maner of discontented persons how different so euer the occasion be to ioyne rogether in hope of fortunes accidents who allied themselues with the rest the more willingly for that it was in a ciuill cause and such a thing as tended to the honour of the King and generall good of the whole state Monsieur de Renaudy hauing acquainted many of good account with this great and waightie enterprise as the Baron Chastellnaw Captaine Mazeres Vaillay Bressay Chesnay Chiray S. Mary Coqueuille Chateaunef and sundrie others resolued with all possible speed in as close and secret maner as might be to draw neere the Court which was then at Amboyse and on the sodaine with some fiue hundred Gentlemen The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudy discouered to seise vpon the Guyse and the Cardinall of Lorrain his Brother and hauing once caught them to put them to death for an exemplarie punishment to all other seducers of the King and disturbers of the common wealth This enterprise could not bee so closely kept but that it came to the eares of the Guyses who vnderstanding after sundrie examinations the drift and scope of the whole proiect and howe that most of those who had complotted together hadde long since shaken off the Popes yoake deuised straight to publish so notable a conspiracie and to make it seeme as odious as might bee to the eyes of all men they declared howe that they of the reformed Religion had conspired against the king the Queene mother the kings brethren and Princes of the bloud sought to bring in their doctrine by force to ouerthrow the monarchie of France and to reduce it to a popular estate and gouernement and by depriuing the king of his crowne to pull downe the church to root out the ancient Catholike faith to infect the whole land with all kinde of impietie and irreligion and hauing by sundry proclamations declared the hainousnesse of the fact fearing that a matter of such consequence was not attempted without the priuitie of some great ones in the land they fortified themselues very strongly mustered souldiers gathered forces and gat all things in a readinesse to withstand any attempt that should be made vppon the sodaine Being thus prouided they foorthwith apprehended such as they suspected and proceeded against them with all rigour Many of them who were taken were executed and the rest committed to seuerall prisons sauing some few that by their good fortune escaped their hands At length diuers of the meaner sort were set at libertie fearing indeede that if all should bee punished so great seueritie would alienate the hearts of many who were nothing well affected alreadie And although that the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Admirall nor Dandelot could bee charged with the maintaining or abetting of anie of these attempts yet did the Guyses strongly suspect them and especially the three Chattillons The three Chattillons of all other most hated the Guyses whom of all other they feared most notwithstanding they thought it good pollicie to giue them faire speeches for the time and to entertaine them in all plausible maner vntill they had gotten their forces about them and had prouided a strong armie in a readinesse which was no sooner performed but they began to speake bigge words and to deale more roughly and first of all they dealt with the Prince of Conde who was commanded not to depart the Court without licence while in the meane time they practised to catch matter against him and to that purpose sundrie with faire promises and rewardes were subborned to proue him the cheefe of that seditious tumult at Amboyse They daily whispered in the Kings eare The Guyses incense the King against the Prince of Conde that so long as Conde were at libertie and suffered to countenance such as alreadie were discontented with the present gouernement the whole land would neuer bee at quiet nor the kings person in safetie as appeared by the last rebellious and tumultuous practise The onely way to preuent so many and so great mischiefes was to bring the Prince to his answere and by apprehending the ringleaders to keep the meaner sort in order and due obedience Whereupon the king beeing by these sinister informations mightily incensed against the Prince commaunded La Trousse the steward of his house to attach sundrie of his seruants and to haue them in safe keeping and to commaund the prince himselfe to come vnto his presence the next morrow and to the ende there might be some matter found against him his house was searched and all his papers ransacked the Guyses hadde also sent to search the Chamber and study of the king of Nauarres Secretarie hoping that something would bee founde to minister matter against these great personages for nowe they might do what they listed seeing the king approoued whatsoeuer they did and did speake as it were with theyr tongues As soone as the Prince was informed of the kings pleasure The Prince of Conde brought before the king he readily obeyed and comming before him did so cleare himselfe and answered with such courage and alacritie that it was thought good to dismisse him for that present without any further triall whereupon the king shewed him very good countenance and the Guyses seeing the time serued not to accomplish what they had purposed cloked all in as couert maner as might bee and each departed from other as good friendes But the Prince seeing his life was sought for thought it wisedome to looke to himselfe and for that long since he fauoured the Gospel he supposed it to be best to go to his brother the King of Nauarre The Prince of Conde leaueth the court and goeth to the King of Nauarre where he should be out of all danger and might vse his conscience freely Many wondered at this strange dealings with the Princes of the bloud saying that if they could not liue without perill of their liues that it would shortly come to passe that all true and naturall Frenchmen should bee accounted enemies and no man bee in securitie but the house of Guyse and Lorrayne who being but strangers themselues durst notwithstanding attempt such practises against the kings best affected subiects as were in no sort to bee endured Heereupon great rumors were raised and infinite multitudes grew greeued with these iniurious proceedings To preuent the mischiefes that might ensue hereof the Queene mother with the rest of the Kings councell sought by amiable letters and smoth words to content such as most complained and where they did feare most danger thither did they send such as were most gracious with the people to keepe them in their obedience The Admirall who for his wisedome integritie and experience
giuing him verie gracious wordes and an honourable testimonie of his good seruice commanding euery one to speake his opinion in order and as the case required In this assembly there were three which spake excellently to the purpose laying open vnto the viewe of all men the naked truth and as men resolute in their countries cause not daunted with the faces of any openly reproued that course which was taken in the administration of the Common-wealth and the affaires of the land And those were Moluc Bishop of Valence Marillac the Archbishop of Vienna and Chastillon the Admirall The eloquent speach of Mouluc did somewhat warme the Guises and Marillac with his hardie and learned discourses did make them as hote as a toast Mouluc Marillac the Admiral worthy of immortal praise for their free speach Both concluding that to preuent so many miseries as were likely to ensue it were conuenient to assemble a generall Councell or if that could not be accomplished then to referre the deciding of those controuersies to a nationall Councell and in the meane time to deale more mildely with such as were of the reformed religion But when the Admirall came to speake he made them starke mad hee so touched them to the quicke The Admirall touch the Guises to the quicke For hauing first approoued that which had beene sayde by Mouluc and Marillac he insisted vpon the new garde which the Guises had set about the king which said he was a matter of perillous consequence to nourish the K. in a diffidence and euill opinion of his subiects and in time might draw on the hatred of the people towards their prince who seeing themselues suspected wold be suspitious againe seeing their king and souereigne armed against them and in stead of free accesse to impart vnto him their griefes and doleances to be vtterly secluded from his presence by a multitude of armed souldiours And for his part he could not conceiue what reason there was why the French king should be so garded for he would pawne his honour his goods yea and his life to that there was no harme meant against his person If any of his principall Officers were afrayed of themselues it were good to cut off all occasions of offence which arose especially of the disordered gouernment of such as had the managing of the publike affayres The duke of Guise highly offended with the Admiral The Duke of Guise was in an extreame rage with the Admirall for these speaches and from that day forward grew to be his mortall enemie And albeit that hee and the Cardinall his brother laboured to crosse these good motions before remembred yet was it agreed vpon by the King with the assent of all the Nobilitie that there should be another assembly of the estates at Meaux and there these points to be more fully resolued of and in the meane time that euery one should repaire into their Countries to learne the state of them the better to acquaint the King at the next assembly with their plaints While these things were thus in handling there were many enterprises of the Mal-contents tending to the surprising of sundry townes which occasioned the Guises to send out proclamation in the Kings name and to leuie souldiours to withstand as they said the attempts of the seditious and perturbers of the state But the truth was that hauing their forces in a readinesse they might send on the sodaine for the Prince of Cond◠who was still with his brother the King of Nauarre and if hee would not come then to fetch him by force But first they assayed after a milde manner to accomplish their deuises causing the king to write vnto Nauarre in friendly sort to request him to come to the Court and to bring his brother Conde with him or otherwise hee shoulde bee compelled to fetch him for that there were so many and so euident accusations agaynst him But Nauarre and the Prince aunswered so wisely and with such courage that their enemies thought it not good to attempt any thing agaynst them by violence Whereupon they caused the king to sende an other Messenger by whome they were required to come to his Maiestie The Guises cause the K. to falsifie his worde assuring them in the worde of a Prince that there should no iniurie bee offered them but that they shoulde returne at theyr pleasure onelie hee desired to bee satisfied from the Prince of Condees owne mouth touching such matters as hee was charged with Whereupon these two Princes relying vpon the kings faythfull promises 1560 repayred to the Court whither they were no sooner come but that the Prince of Conde was committed to Chauignie The Prince of Conde cōmitted to prison Captaine of the guarde and by him clapt vppe in prison where no man might speake vnto him The king of Nauarre had no further libertie then to walke from his owne Chamber to the king and no man might speake with him but such as pleased the Guise who set spyes enough about him to obserue his doings The mother in Lawe likewise of the Prince of Conde and Sister to Chastillon the Admirall was sent to prison and verie narrowlie looked vnto Her Closet and all her house was ryfled to find some matter agaynst her This rough dealing with the chiefe Princes of the blood and other such of great qualitie and calling made many muse what would be the issue of such outragious designes The Prince had not beene long committed to prison but there was a priest sent vnto him to say Masse in his Chamber But hee commaunded him to bee thrust out by the heade and shoulders The Prince thrusteth a Masse priest out of his doores by the head and shoulders willing him to tell the King that hee woulde not suffer any such idolatrous seruice in his presence as also that hee woulde not to saue his life offende the Maiestie of God in so high measure VVhen his enemyes had gotten this aduauntage agaynst him they so incensed the King that he forthwith commanded his processe to bee drawne and sentence of death to be pronounced against him The prince condemned to die with commaundement to hasten the execution as speedily as might bee But while they were earnestlie busied about this matter and thought euen nowe to haue attayned to the full period of their desires the king fell dangerously sick of an vlcer The K. falleth sicke growing in his ear which increasing more more the phisitions despairing of his recouery the Princes execution which should haue beene the morrow following was respited for a time vntill they saw what would become of the king who euerie day waxing worse and worse notwithstanding all the meanes that could be deuised by the Guises their solemne vowes to the saints in Paradice their publike processions with earnest praiers for his helth yet he died the fift day of December The death of the French King 1560. after he had
open on all sides and the Reformed persecuted in most cruell maner in euery place especially at Paris where nothing was more common then murthering spoiling and pilling the poore Hugonots yea such was the rage of the barbarous Catholikes that the Princesse of Cōde passing through a village called Vaudray was set vpon beeing in her Coach and great with childe and by hurling and throwing of stones by sundrie of the townesmen The Princesse of Conde assailed in hir Coach by the Papists at the instigation of a popish priest put in hazard of her life wherewith shee was so terrified that shee was deliuered before her time of two twins shortly after and at length with much adoo arriued at Orleance with her eldest sonne the marquesse of Conty where shee found the Prince of Conde the Admirall Dandelot and many other principall persons of the Religion who were busied in gathering forces and prouiding al necessarie meanes to withstande their enemies There were letters written to the Emperour Ferdinando and the Princes of the Empire enforming them of the occasion of their bearing of armes and of the vsurped authoritie of the Guyses and their adherents earnestly beseeching them to haue some commiseration of the King who being a Child was held in captiuitie by their tyranny and al things likely to be brought to a woful desolation throughout the realme of France The Prince had no sooner gathered a great power about him was growne strong by reason of a supply brought vnto him out of Poictou Conde taketh certaine townes vpon the Loyre and Xantoigne of three or foure hundred horse by the count Rochfaucont but that it was thought best to be doing and to employ some of his forces in getting of certaine strong townes and other well fortified places neere adioyning and thereupon certain troups were sent downe along by the Riuer of Loyre who tooke Mun Baugency and others wherein they placed certaine garrisons to keepe them from beeing regained by the enemie who now sought continually to anoy the Prince and to take the aduantage that was offered Sundrie Cities in France as Angiers Tholous Lymoux with many others wherin there were thousands of the reformed Religion seeing that the Prince was growne strong and very able to confront his enemies began to shewe themselues openly and to stande with the rest of their confederates whereuppon foorthwith there ensued a mortall hatred betweene them and the Catholikes each seeking the ouerthrow of others by all possible meanes Then immediatly followed robbing spoyling rauishing murthering massacring in most outragious maner The misery of the ciuill warres with a maruailous confusion in euery corner of the Land No man could well tell whom to trust or where to dwell in safetie The cheefe Cities were fraught with garrisons the small villages were sacked and burned by such as cared neither for God nor the deuill but onely howe to enrich themselues Infinite were the miseries in all quarters and nothing almost heard of but weeping wailing and lamentation and no hope of any redresse of so incomprehensible mischiefes The Prince of Conde and his associats pondering in their minds the wofull desolation that was like to ensue if there were not some present remedy for these diabolicall proceedings wrote diuers letters to the King the Queene mother and the King of Nauarre beseeching them to take some commiseration vppon the poore and desolate people and that by suffering the subiect to vse his conscience so long as he liued in obedience and according to the kings Edict France might enioy her former peace and not be brought to that horrible desolation which doth inseparably accompanie ciuill and intestine warres but the Guyse who in deede with the Cardinall his brother ruled the rost could not endure to heare of any peace but daily and hourely cryed out The Duke of Guyse crieth out for war to muster men to gather souldiers to send for the kings bannes and arierbannes and with fire and sword to persecute the poore protestants And hauing by their damnable practises gotten an armie marched towards Orleance with great furie The confederates beeing daily aduertised by their espials of the approch of the Catholikes thought it best to meete them by the way and if oportunitie serued to giue them battaile being especially mooued thereunto by the continuall perswasions of the Admirall and the couragious resolution of all in generall Wherupon the prince tooke the field the nineteenth of Iune 1562. with three Regiments of footmen amounting to the number of 33. Ensignes The Prince of Conde taketh the field whose Collonels were Gnamont Fontenay the yongest sonne of the vicont of Roham and Iuoy brother to Genlis with two thousand horse encamped at Vausoudun neere vnto Orleance and directly in the way towardes Baugency The Catholikes hauing not as yet al their forces in a readinesse thought it best to amuse the Prince with a parle of peace in which action the Queene mother was thought the meetest to be employed who so handled the matter that the Protestants who longed after nothing so much as quietnesse were readily drawne to hearken thereto onely they required that before any thing was talked of the Conestable the Duke of Guyse and the marquesse Saint Andrew should withdraw themselues to their houses and then the Prince of Conde should come to the King to treate of that which especially tended to the peaceable state of the common wealth and the welfare of euery particular man This was no sooner mooued by the Protestants but it was accepted by the Queene mother so that immediatly those three principall Catholikes departed from the Court and went as farre as Chasteaudan where they stayed to expect the sequell of their secret councels The Prince vnderstanding of theyr departure went presently vnto the K. putting himself into the hands of the Queene mother and other his enemies Conde putteth himselfe into the hands of his enemies but he was no sooner come to the Court but he forthwith repented of his haste and beeing aduertised by sundry of his imminent perill and danger pollitikely obtained of the Queen mother that the principall men of his Armie might likewise come to knowe her further pleasure which beeing granted hee wrote a secret letter vnto them of his estate A polliticke deuise of the Prince desiring them to hasten and to come strongly accompanied The next day early in the morning there came the Admirall Dandelot Rochfaucont the Prince Portian Rohan Genlis Gramont Soubize Piennes and many other lords Captains with a far greater retinew then the Queen expected so that nowe she thought it best to make fayre weather and to sooth them vp considering in deed that shee was not able to detayne the Prince any longer then hee himselfe listed and therefore in very gracious maner shee bad them al welcome and openly in the presence of all the Nobilitie shee gaue them great thanks for their true and faithfull seruice towardes the king assuring
Religion would accept of any conditions But they beeing too often before beguyled with fayre wordes woulde not hearken thereto least the world should thinke that they were no longer able to maintaine their cause a speciall plotte sayd they to discountenaunce the rest of theyr proceedings The Protestants refuse a peace VVhereupon both the Catholiques and Protestants still continued to vexe each other in all hostill manner The Count de Lude and Puygalliard recouered Marans Browages and many other Islandes from the Confederates which were againe regayned by La Noue and stronglie fortifyed for the further aduauncement of the affayres of the Protestants Who preuayled also verie mightily by Sea taking manie great pryses which were no meanes to further theyr designements Whilest things fell out in this maner about Rochell the Princes the Admirall and the rest of the chiefest of the confederates had greatly encreased their forces and hasted to ioyne their troupes with Montgommerie Moubrune and other Chieftaines who had gathered a great number of harquebuziers to supply those bandes which had beene broken at the battell of Mountcounter And hauing thus reenforced their army they marched towards Lorrain there to attend the comming of theyr Almaynes And as they passed through Languedocke and came neare vnto Mountpellier La Loue one of the Mareschals of the campe was slaine as he was fast asleepe in the dead of the night through the great neglâ—gence of the Sentinels La Loue slain through the negligenâ—e of the Sentinels who beeing suddenly surprised by the garrison within the Towne were the cause of the death of this braue Chieftaine who for his valour courage and noble conduct was highly commended of all the Protestants Many townes were gayned by the Princes in these quarters as Lunell Nismes Margarite Saint Ambrose Saint Iean Saint Priuâ—te Bezouze Castillon Alâ—ts with sundâ—y other of good importance by which happy exploits the confederates did begin afresh to countenance themselues and to recouer much of their former honour and renowme When as the K. was aduertised of all their designes and how that they dayly encreased their forces surprised many castels strong holds and were now almost ioyned with their Reisters with whose ayd they resolued to returne againe into the heart of France and peraduenture once more to besiege the capitoll of all the Kingdome he dispatched forthwith the Mareschall Cossy with an armie wherein were 4000. Switzers 6000. French harquebuziers some 3. or 4000. horse and twelue great peeces of Ordinance with which forces he marched towards the princes Mareschal Cossy sent against the Princes who were incamped at a place called Saint Iean in Burgundy with some 2500. harquebuziers 2000. horse and eighteene cornets of Reisters These two armies came no sooner in view each of other but that their Enfans perdus began the game so that there was a hot skirmish on both sides The Prince of Berne and Conde were there in person each of them in the front of their Regiment and resolutely bent to go to the charge and there to make the first triall of their fortune The fight continued long and many were slaine but the Catholikes hauing the worse after they had lost Monsieur de Bellegard Monsieur de Bellegard slaine one of the Knights of the order besides diuerse others of good accouÌ„t were forced to suffer the Protestants to passe who hasting on their way after great trouble and a long and painefull iourney hauing in a maner rounded all Fraunce at the last they drewe neare to La Charitie Sancerre Antrin Vezelay and other Townes of the Religion where they defended themselues to theyr maruaylous comfort and contentation Nowe was the treatie of peace before mentioned reiterated and earnestly pursued by diuerse who perswaded the King The King perswaded to a peace that these intestine warres consumed none but his Subiectes that the murthers robberies burnings and such like miseryes woulde bee the confusion of the whole state and that who so euer gayned yet hee lost to the great impouerishing of the Crowne of Fraunce and the vtter destruction of that noble kingdome which had beene the paragon of all Europe These and the like reasons induced the King at length to condiscend to a peace which was accepted by the confederates and published in the yere 1570. to the great comfort of all the French and exceeding quiet of the whole lande where we may see the strange and wonderful mutabilitie of mens minds which as they are not long contented with one the self same estate so do they seldom or neuer like the better before they haue beene well scourged with the rod of their owne folly and taught by wofull experience howe to discerne betweene good and bad CHAP. XIIII Peace proclaimed in France The mariages of the King the Duke of Montpensier the Duke of Guise and the Admirall The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court The Admirall goeth to the Court The death of the Queene of Nauarre Peace proclaimed THe kings Edict for the establishing of a peace was no sooner published but that the forces on both sides were forthwith licenced to depart euery man to his owne house which hee had not seene for a long time before to the vnspeakable ioy of the protestaÌ„ts no small comfort to the better and honester sort of the Papists who as mariners that haue escaped some dangerous troublesom tempests and are arriued safely in their wished port held vp their haÌ„ds to heauen with giuing thanks for so vnspeakeable a blessing and earnestly entreated the almightie that they might spend the rest of their dayes in peace and quietnes The Princes with the Queene of Nauarre and sundry of the chiefe of the Protestants as the Admirall the Count Lodowick of Nassau Teligny La Noue and diuerse other withdrew themselues to Rochell for their greater securitie vntil they might see how the kings Edict would be executed Now began there a great alteration in the minds of the French all mens actions were suddenly changed as a man would haue thought after a strange wonderfull maner For where as not long before there was no talke but of hatred wrath murther bloodie broyles and most cruel and vnnaturall warres now was there nothing so much spoken of as loue amitie friendship and making of mariages The King was espoused to Isabel the second daughter to Maximilian the emperor The King marrieth whose nuptials were solemnised with great pompe and magnificence Lois of Burbon and Duke of Montpensier maried with the Duke of Guises sister Duke Montpensier marrieth and the Duke of Guise matched with the widowe of the late Prince Portion D. of Guise marieth one of the principall of the Confederates The Mareschall Cossy and Prontiere one of the Secretaryes of estate were sent vnto Rochell to treate with the Queene of Nauarre as touching a marriage betweene the Prince of Barne her sonne and the Ladie Margaret the Kinges sister a
poynted to the house from whence the peece was shotte and willed some of his Gentlemen to go search who was within sending Captaine Pilles and Captaine Monius to aduertise the King of his hurt Whilest he was led home by the lord Guerchy another gentleman the doore of the house beeing broken open the harquebuz was found but the harquebuzier was fled out at a backe gate and finding a spanish Gennet which was there prouided in a readinesse galloped away with all speede crying as hee went that now there was no Admirall in France Captaine Pilles finding the King at â—ennis with the Duke of Guyse The notable dissimulation of the King related vnto him the Admirals hurt which hee no sooner vnderstood but he leauing his play threw down his racket looking very pensiuely went to his Chamber the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Count Rochfaucont and many other Lords knights and Gentlemen of the Religion beeing enformed of this mishap went presently to visit the Admirall The King taking with him the Queene mother The king goeth to visit the Admiral his two brethren and most of the principall Catholikes went likewise to comfort him shewing many signes of great sorrow for his harme complaining that indeede the Admirall felt the harme but the dishonour was done to the King vpon whose faithfull promise hee was come to the Court and therefore both hee that had committed the fact and all that consented thereto should bee most seuerely punished to the example of all other villanous and notorious malefactors whereto the Admirall answered that hee would leaue the reuenge to God and the execution of Iustice to the King but as for the authour hee was knowne well inough and because hee could not tell how long hee had to liue hee besought the king that hee might talke with him in secret touching things of very great importance and such as were most necessarie for the state of the Kingdome The King seemed to bee willing herewith but the Queen mother by a deuise brake off their talke for that time so that there was no further conference and because the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and diuers others moued the king that they might haue leaue to carrie the Admiral to his house at Chastillon which was some two daies iourney from Paris as to a place of greater quiet and securitie the king not willing to condiscend thereunto answered that so long a iourney would very much endanger his health and therefore he thought it better to haue him lodged in the Louure neere vnto his owne person where he should be safe from all perill furthermore he willed all the cheefe of the Protestant Nobilitie to place themselues as neere him as they could in case that if there were any need they might be readie to succour one another and appointed the Mareschall Cossy with a band of harquebuziers to guard his lodging The wolfe appointed to keepe the Lambe Vpon the Satterday which was the twenty three of August the councell sat about the examination of certaine witnesses touching the fact and sundrie other suspected persons taking great paines as it seemed to boult out the truth as though they meant to punish the offender with all rigour and seueritie With these and the like apparances the protestants helde themselues well satisfied neuer suspecting that all was but dissimulation and that so great mischiefe did hang ouer their heads The same day there was a sodaine rumour ouer al the Citie that the king had sent for the Mareschall Memorancy commanding him to come to him with al the forces hee could make and therefore the Parisians were best to stande vppon their guard but all was founde in the end to be vtterly false Teligny beeing giuen to vnderstand by the Admirals trumpetters that there were sixe cart loades of Armour brought into the Louure answered that hee did not like that men should bee so suspitious without cause for his part hee was well assured of the Kings good fauour and wished other men were so likewise seeing it was not possible that there should be any harme intended towardes them whome the king had honoured so many waies and had oftentimes so solemnely sworne to remaine theyr gracious and louing soueraigne But the king with all those of his secret counsell seeing that they had nowe brought all things about euen as they had desired and that the Admirall was taken in a trap and all his principall associats so snarled in their nets that it was impossible for them to get out thought it high time to putte in execution that which they had purposed so long before and at that instant to finish the dayes of all the Protestants Whereuppon a signall was giuen in the dead of the night by the touling of a Bell in the Louure which was no sooner heard by Cossy who as is alreadie sayde with a bande of harquebuziers guarded the Admiralles lodging but that hee commaunded his men to breake open the doores and to kill as many as they sounde in their wayes The Admirall hearing the noyse and fearing some seditious enterprise willed one of his Gentlemen to call to the guard which was appointed him by the King little imagining that it was they that came to offer him such violence and arising out of his bedde putte on his night gowne and kneeled downe to pray By this time were sundrie of the murtherers gotten in had slaine such as they found in the house The first that entred into the Admirals chamber was one Besme an Almaine a desperate ruffian one of the Duke of Guyses houshold seruants who with his drawne sword in his hand sayde Art thou the Admiral who answered with great constancie So I am called Which hee had no sooner vttered but that Besme runne him through with a sword and another called Atinius The Admirall murthered shot him into the brest with a Pistoll and the rest as Causius and Sarlaboix stabbed him with their daggers and threw him out at the window to the Duke of Guyse and Aumaile and the Cheualier of Angolesme who was King Henry his bastard all which stood crying out to make a quicke dispatch and would not departe thence vntil they were assured of his death and for that hee was so bloudied about the face by reason of his woundes vpon his head that it was hard to know him the Guyse kneeled down and wiped away the bloud with his handkercheffe and seeing it was hee whom they looked for cryed out that they hadde made a happie beginning willing them to proceede for it was the Kings pleasure and that the K. commanded them to spare none of the Hugonots and this hee vttered very often and with a loude voyce A certaine Italian cutte off the Admirals head and hauing embaulmed it sent it to Rome as a present to the Pope The Admirals head sent to Rome Some cutte off his handes and others his secret partes and hauing trayled his
warres caused it to bee secretly spredde abroade among the people that hee was descended from Charlemaine and therefore had some right and title to the Crowne of Fraunce And as though hee meant one day to put in his clayme had so ordered the matter that great numbers of the Nobilitie and sundrie of the principall Citties of the lande were wholie at his deuotion but hee was cutte off in the middest of his hope as is alreadie sayde before Orleaunce and all his deuices came to naught sauing that he left behind him a sonne as hautie as aspiring and as ambitious as euer was the father Henrie duke of Guise his ambitious turbulent nature and one that attempted greater matters then euer did any of that line This man beeing growne into great credite with Charles the ninth and likewise with Henrie the thirde so aduaunced himselfe by their fauours that he gaue the lawe to Fraunce and did euery thing as he lysted And practising those rules which his father and vncle had left him was euermore deuising howe to trouble the state and to holde the King at continuall strife with his subiects as the readyest and speedyest way to compasse that which that factious and turbulent house had so greedily gaped after for these many yeares VVhereupon hee pondering with himselfe that if this late reconciliation which was made betweene the King and his subiects shoulde continue that the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde with their adherents and associates would quickely growe mightie and so with theyr power and authoritie easily ouerthrowe all his councelles and that in such sort as hee should neuer bee able to accomplish and fulfill his intended purpose thought it best and most expedient for his aduantages to beginne newe broyles and sturres and with a sixt ciuill warre to bring France againe into a Chaos and confusion The better to effect this and to lay as sure a foundation as might bee for so badde a buylding it was deuised that the Bishop of Paris and a certaine Aduocate called Dauid as craftie as wilie and as wicked a fellowe as anie lyued in those dayes shoulde bee sent to Rome The Bishop of Paris the aduocate Dauid sent to Rome to haue the direction of the Pope and his Cardinalles howe it were best to beginne and afterwards most circumspectlie to proccede and go forwardes in so hautie and weightie an enterprise There were many bitter complaints and sharpe accusations framed agaynst Henrie the third the French King against Monsieur his brother the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde against the race of the Valoises the Burbons Accusations against the houses of Valois and Burbon all the princes of the blood and the auncient Nobilitie of Fraunce they were all either heretikes or fauourers of heretikes and by their late pacification entended the vtter subuersion of the holie Church of Rome There it was shewed to make the King and all his Princes the more odious howe the house of Capet had alwayes withstoode the Bishoppes of Rome and had in olde time maintained the Valdensis and Albigeons and nowe were either Hugonots or else great fauourers and abettors of them But on the contrarie that the house and lynage of Charlemaine which was wrongfully dispossessed of the Crowne had a speciall grace giuen them by the Papall benediction to support and helpe holie Church and that yet there were some of that ofspring left and those stoute maintainers of the Papall dignitie meaning those of Guise and such as had alwayes like notable Champions valiauntlie defended the Romaine fayth and therefore it was expedient nay most necessarie for the preseruation of the Catholike Religion to roote out the houses of Valois and Burbon and to restore the ofspring of Charlemaine which was endewed with all excellent vertues and throughly furnished with most notable gifts requisite for the execution of all commendable and honourable attempts The Councel holden at Rome for the rooting out of the blood Roiall of France And for the more speedie accomplishment hereof it was resolued that the Guises with their partakers should procure newe commotions in the lande and nourish the warres by all possible meanes that might bee That they should league the Nobililtie by oath to persecute the Gospel and to choose for their heade and principall of their league Henrie Duke of Guise whom the King shoulde bee counsayled to let alone and suffer him to proceede as he liked best seeing he was a man of that iudgement that knewe well enough what hee had to doo The Queene mother likewise should bee sent to perswade Monsiour her sonne to beat the assembly of the States which should bee holden at Blois Whither the king shoulde solicite the king of Nauarre and Prince of Conde to come by all the faire wordes that could be deuised And in the meane while there should be sundrie cunning fellowes and such as were most deuoted to the league sent abroad into the seueral prouinces who should secretly labour that such Deputies might be chosen as would further the designements of the Leaguers all that might be During which priuie practises the Friers and Iesuites shall incense the people agaynst the Hugonots by their seditious Sermōs The priests in their parish churches shal secretly take the names of all the able men for the warres and in their shriuings shall charge them to prouide them of all such weapons as shal be appoynted them by their captaines The States shal sweare to obserue and obey whatsoeuer shal be concluded And if Monsieur the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde and the rest of the princes of the blood do not appeare at the said assembly they shall be condemned as rebels and likewise all other that shal any way oppose themselues against the proceedings of the said States who shal sweare their obedience to the Sea of Rome and to obserue the Councell of Trent and withall a request shall be made to the king that if any man shall resist and refuse to giue his allowance thereto that he shall appoynt the Duke of Guise his generall and giue him authoritie to pursue him to the death who hauing so great forces shall cause them to be in a readinesse to march towarde Blois assoone as the assembly of the states is begun All things being thus contriued there shall be certaine commissioners chosen to enquier of the life and deedes of Monsieur and certaine iudges appoynted to condemne him for ioyning himselfe with the Heretikes and so his processe shal be drawene forthwith after the godly example of the king of Spaine who put to death Charles of Austrich his naturall sonne As soone as Monsieur is condemned then shall the forces march to strengthen the execution and shall set vpon all the Hugonots and put as many of them to the sworde as they can come by and the Duke of Guise beeing so strongly appoynted shall seyze vpon the persons of the King and Queene mother and by
the permission of the sea Apostolike shall put them into some monasterie as Pepin dealt with Childeric And by this meanes the Crowne shall bee set vpon his head and so returne to the blessed stock of Charlemaine and he and his successors from thenceforth shall haue their kingdome of the Bishop of Rome and shall abolish the prerogatiues of the French Church Whilest these things were a working at Rome the Guises with their adherents fought by all possible meanes to breake the peace in France and by grieuous oppressions and wrongs to force those of the reformed religion to put themselues in arms to withstaÌ„d so iniurious proceedings Monsieur forsaketh the Protestants and goeth to the Court. And albeit they were but too forward to blow the bellowes of sedition before yet now vpon the returne of Dauid from Rome they went eagrely forward and with great earnestnesse endeuored to put those rules in practise which came from their holy father There wer leagues and associations made and those as strong as could be deuised The states were summoned and by the collusion of the King none admitted to be at that assembly but such as were vtter enemies to the Gospel Monsieur by the earnest intreatie of the Queene mother was brought to the Court and hauing made his benefite of the fauor of the Protestants left them when they had most need of him and associated himselfe with their sworne enemies The King likewise beganne to interpret his Edict after a straunge maner The complaints of the Catholikes and farre otherwise then was expected by the confederates Some articles were strained and racked out to the vttermost and other some snipped and curtailed that they seemed metamorphosed and changed into a new nature as farre differing from their former as might be imagined Many infamous libels were printed contayning most villainous matter agaynst the Protestants and a rumour was spread abroade that they had surprised sundrie Townes and fortes in Poictou Languedocke Guyen Xantoigne and Dauphine and therefore that it was impossible to holde in the Catholiques anie longer who with so manifold iniuries saide they were mightily incensed agaynst those of the reformed Churches Those of the Religion were exceedingly troubled with this strange kind of dealing and knowing that it proceeded of a mortall hatred and that it did euidently argue that there was a secrete purpose to catch them at aduauntage and then to make hauocke of them and to roote them and their Religion out of Fraunce they beganne to looke about them and to prouide for their owne securitie especiallie considering howe the Catholiques were leagued togither and were readie as it were at an instaunt to inuade them on all sides VVhereupon seeing that Monsieur after hee had gotten the Dukedome of Berrie Touraine and Aniou as is alreadie sayd had forsaken them and left them at sixe and seuen the King of Nauarre was chosen chiefe of the Confederates and the Prince of Conde seysed vpon Bowrage Marennes The beginning of the sixt ciuill warre and other Islandes beeing places of great importaunce and verie auaileable for the aduauncement of the Protestant affayres Thus the peace hauing endured but a small time the sixt ciuill war ensued immediately vpon the report that it was concluded by King in the assembly of the states that there should be no other but the Romane Catholike religion tollerated within all his territories and dominions for then began the warres to be open on all sides The Catholikes seysed vpon Du Pont S Espirit Merpin Tallemond Burdeaux and as manie other townes as they could get The Protestants surprised Pons Royan Reole and Cinray and making a counterleague among themselues couragiously withstood the attempts of their enemies and foreseeing the stormie tempest which threatned the ship of their safetie likewise Pilots and skilfull Mariners they stoutly stoode to their tacklings endeuouring by all possible meanes to saue their beaten barke from drowning and to bring it to some safe port and quiet harborrow Each side alledged sundrie reasons for the iustification of their actions the Catholikes layd all the blame vpon the Protestants saying that they were men that would not be satisfied with any indifferent fauor but espying their aduantage had forced the King to yeeld to vnreasonable conditions Besides that the Edict was but prouisionall and might be disanulled at the Kings pleasure and that it was now determined by the Estates generall that no other then the Roman religion should be tollerated within all the French Dominions The Protestants alledged that they were murthered and killed in euerie corner and no punishment inflicted vpon the malefactors The complaints of the Protestants That the Catholikes did dayly breake the Kings Edict which had beene made by the consent of all the noble personages of the land who had solemnely sworne the obseruation thereof and that if such Edicts were accounted prouisionall who would repose any trust hereafter in the Kings worde and promise seeing he helde it lawfull to breake his oath when hee lysted And as concerning the estates generall they sayd they were not lawfully assembled and therefore they protested of the nullitie of them and of whatsoeuer thing they concluded These and manie such reasons were obiected on both sides and they had not long contended in wordes but they fell to blowes and each endomaged other all that euer they might The King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde withdrew themselues to Rochell and hauing gotten some 3000. footmen and 400. horse they dayly enterprised vpon their enemies The D. de Maine The duke de Maine generall of the Catholikes accompanied with Puygallâ—ard Ruffec Roches Baritand and many others to the number of seuen hundred horse besides a strong power of footemen did continuallie vexe and molest the Protestants by spoyling their fieldes and burning theyr houses and beeing maisters of the Champaigne couped in the Confederates verie narrowly and hauing all things in a readinesse planted their siege before La Charitie which in the ende they gayned Yea Rochell it selfe began in a maner to bee besieged enduring maruaylous losses by the continuall roades of the Catholikes who wasted all without pittie or mercie La Charite The Protestants being so hardly vsed offered the like measure where they preuayled dealing verie rigourously with such as fell into their handes The Duke de Maine following his good fortune The prosperous course of the Duke de Maine tooke Tonnay Charentie and Rochford which yeelded vnto him vpon the first summance and so farre hee preuayled that he made himselfe Lorde of all the Riuer of Charente in lesse then fiue dayes and vsing great expedition got Marans from the Rochellors who were sore grieued with the losse of a place of so great importance Now as the nature of most men is to bande with the stronger and euermore to iudge of the end according to the beginning so many at this time began to slippe their neckes out of the Coller and to
runne to the Catholikes supposing that it was impossible for the Confederates to holde out for anie long time For besides that they were ouermatched by lande they were likewise hardly handled at sea and had much adoo to keepe the Isle of Re and Chese de Bay from Lansac who was Admirall ouer the nauie Catholique Lansac beaten at sea by the Protestants But at last they rigging foorth certaine shippes commaunded by Cleremont of Ambâ—is so scoured the coast that no enemie for the time durst appeare in sight of theyr warrelike Fleete wherewith they were maruellously well recomforted But their ioy lasted not long for the Duke de Maine approaching Broâ—age so furiously assayled it that Manducag who was gouernour of the Towne was forced to yeelde vpon composition being destitute of all necessaries requisite to withstand so great a puyssaunce By this time also Lansac hauing repayred his beaten Fleete The Protestantâ— beaten at sea by Lansac put foorth to sea afresh and meeting with the Confederates valiantly set vpon them and putting them to the woorse burnt their Admirall called the Prince and tooke an other vessell called the Floressante to the exceeding greefe of the Protestants who had reposed no small confidence in their sea forces Besides all these infortunate chaunces there fell out an other crosse which did verie much grieue and disquiet the Rochellors and that was the death of their Maior Bobinean The death of Bobinean who for that he was accounted a wise valiant and politique man one who of all others did wonderfully affect the good of his countrey and tendered the welfare of all in general was maruellously lamented of all sortes and especially of the Rochellors The great d stresse of the Rochellors who in a sort were amazed with his death and as men astonished with so manie crosses had fainted vnder their burthen had they not beene recomforted with a sudden report of a newe pacification which was earnestly sollicited by the Duke Montpencier Wherto the king was the more inclinable both for that there was a mightie power of Germaines readie to enter Fraunce and also for that he wanted money to maintaine so great charges Whereupon the Queene mother was employed to make the composition with the king of Nauarre the rest of the Protestants The ende of the sixt ciuill warre which after much running vp and downe was agreed vpon by both parties and proclaimed with great ioy and triumph both at Rochell and other places in token of the earnest desire they had to liue at ease and to spend the remnant of their dayes in rest and quietnesse CHAP. XXI The death of Monsieur The seditious and treacherous practises of the Guisards The beginning of the seuenth ciuill warre called the leaguers warre The Prince of Conde goeth toward Angiers His great distresse and admirable deliuerie THe Guises and the rest of the confederates perceiuing howe the King with great numbers of his nobles and coÌ„mon subiects began to take some delight in peace and that there was an intention to reforme many abuses which were crept into the state in the time of the ciuill warres to restore the nobilitie to their auncient dignitie and to vnburthen the people of sundry charges wherwith for a long while they had bin grieuously oppressed were inwardly vexed at the hart to consider that their former councels tooke no better effect and therfore they fel in hand with new practises and those more pernitious pestilent and more dangerous then any others that euer they attempted before For they considering that the coÌ„demnation execution of Monsieur the kings brother could not so easily be brought to passe as they desired and that the king of Nauarre and prince of Conde did so prudently prouide for their own security that it was a very hard thing to entrap theÌ„ bring their persons within danger thought it best to go secretly to work and by some priuy means to work their ruine ouerthrow against whom they could not preuail by open force and violence They therfore hired Salcedo a Spaniard to kil Monsieur Salcedo a Spaniard hired to kill Monsieur and promised him 6000. crowns for his labor but he failing of his purpose they procured a certain Gentlewoman with whom his excellencie was but too familiarly acquainted to giue him such a receipt as neuer left working till it had wrought the life out of his body so that he died the 10. Monsieur thought to be poysoned His death of Iuly 1582 to the great reioising of the Guises who now began to triumph to see so fortunat successe and happy aduancement of their affaires And considering that by the death of this great prince whoÌ„ they feared more then the King their side was maruellously strengthened they began to stir coles afresh and sought by all meanes to fill the land full of new broiles and hurli-burlies And the time fast approching which was appointed for the bringing forth of that monster wherewith they had trauailed for a long time they had many secret conferences with the duke of Parma The conspiracie of the Guise and the rest of the leaders Bernardine Mendoza the Spanish ambassador and Giouan Bardach no the King of Spaine his Corriero There was the bargain made to sell Marseiles Burdeaux and the Dukedome of Britaine to the King of Spaine their maister an appointted time made that the Duke of Sauoy should inuade the Marquisate of Saluces thereby to occupie the King and to disperse his forces into diuerse and sundrie places And beeing strongly supported by the fauors of many of the Nobilitie and sundry of the chiefe Cities they first required that the Edict of pacification should be reuoked that the K of Nauarre prince of Conde with all those who made profession of the gospel shuld be exiled the realm or else forced to abiure their religion that continual war should be denouÌ„ced against the protestants The King was aduertised of all these treacherous practises as well from sundrie the Princes of Germany as also from the King of Nauarre but hee would not beleeue any thing but tooke them to be but slanderous reports raised vp by the Hugonots and therefore lightly regarded them but still countenanced the Guyses and their adherents The seditious practises of the Guyses who hauing gotten the King to ioyne with them to yeeld to their requests they hired the Monks and Friers to stir vp the people to their seditious ceremonies shriuings and priuate conferences to bande with them and the rest of the Leagues and to persecute those of the Religion with fire and sword and to roote them and theirs out of the territories of France They caused sundrie infamous Libels to be spread abroad and gaue out that the king of Nauarre and the Protestant Princes had sworne to roote out the Catholike faith and to depriue them of the Romish Church of all honour dignitie and authoritie that the murther at Paris
for by reason that Captaine Rochmort who had surprised the saide Castle was slaine with a shot out of the Towne as hee was leaning in his chamber window the Castle was rendered again vpon composition made sure for the League as it was afore time The Prince beeing ignorant hereof passed the Loyre with all his troups which were some eight hundred horse and almost a thousand and two hundred harquebuziers on horsebacke conducted by the Lord of Nemours Lauall Trimouille Boâ—lay Saint Gelais Aubigny Ouches Rohan Touche Flesche and sundrie others The Lord Clermont had likewise gathered a great companie of horse and encamped himselfe with the Prince neere vnto Angiers These companies approching the Towne expected some signall from the Castle whereby they might vnderstand that it still held for the king of Nauarre but they were certified that the saide Castle was yeelded the day before into the handes of their enemies and therefore that it was lost labour to stay there any longer Which newes greeued the Prince exceedingly made him with the rest of his councell to fall to consultation how they might safely get backe ouer the Loyre and free themselues out of that danger which then appeared before their eies and for that they knewe well inough that both the kings forces and the Leaguers were vp in all quarters and hasted by all possible meanes to encounter them they retyred towards the Loyre with a purpose to returne the same way they came The Lord Lauell beeing the formost got ouer without any danger but before the comming of the Prince all the passages were seised by the enemie and the prince was aduertised by many messengers that either hee must resolue to open his way by the sword or else to hazard himselfe at al aduenture through the Countrey of Beause The Prince approching the danger The great distresse of the Prince and the rest of the Protestants that were with him and thinking that in either of these there was but hard choyse called a Councell but by reason of the diuersitie of opinions it was long before any thing could be concluded at length it was agreed to passe through Beause Then euery man prepared himselfe towardes that desperate iourney and marching toward Luche in Aniou purposed there to passe ouer the Loyre vpon the Bridge but the Riuer was so risen that there was no passage without imminent perill From thence therefore they went to Lude and so to Prillay Vandeloyre S. Arnol where they heard newes that the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschall Biron were at Boneuall in Beausse with great forces readie to fight with the dismayed multitude that the Duke De Mayne as on the other side of the Loyre neere vnto Bloy readie to cut off such as should fortune to passe that way and that all the Countrey was full of strong garrisons attending with great deuotion to make a pray of the Prince and that handfull of men which did accompanie him so that it seemed the further they went the neerer they approched their destruction and hauing with their long and laborious marches wearied themselues and tired their horses they did vtterly dispaire of any good successe In this great agony they iourneyed on and euerie day receiued more vncomfortable newes then other wherewith many supposing that all was lost secretly disbanded from the grosse of the Armie and repaired to such friendes as they had in the Countrey The Prince and the rest of the Nobilitie were wonderfully perplexed and knew not what course to take at length they resolued to diuide themselues into seuerall companies some going one way and some another the Lord Rohan with many Gentlemen in his retinew went towards Britaine Saint Gelais went towards Vandosme the Prince the Lords of Trimouille and Auantigny with some of their principall seruants betooke them to their fortune as well as the rest and hasted to get into some place of greater securitie The laborious and tedious trauaile of this noble Prince his wearisome courses his long Caualcados his great and perilous dangers hee escaped before he gat to that Iland of Gernsy would require a long discourse were sufficient for a whole volume As soone as the cheefetaines were thus dispersed the common souldiers were quickly scattered some tooke their way towards Orleance some towards Nomandy and some towards Mayne and to bee short euerie man went which way hee liked best trauailing in exceeding great feare hauing as they imagined neither meanes to escape nor force to resist but were readie euerie minute to fall into the hands of those who did wholly pursue them The Prince of Conde with the cheefest of hiâ— troupes arriued at Rochell much about one time and thirsted for nothing more then for their bloud but when all hope failed God did miarculously deliuer them and so deliâ—ered them in theyr iourneyes that hauing auoyded a million of more then apparent perils they all arriued at length at Rochell and that much about one time to the exceeding comfort of themselues and the wonder of all France CHAP. XXII The cruell Edicts of the King against the Protestants The number of the Popish Armies which were ouerthrowne in one yeere The villanous dealâ—ng of the Guyse The battaile of Coutras WHilst the Prince of Conde and the rest of his distressed Armie made this hard shift for themselues the Duke de Maine The Duke de Maine made captaine generall ouer the forâ—es of the Popish Clergy whome the League had procured to be appointed generall by the Kings authoritie ouer a mightie power maintained at the cost and charges of the Clergie of France bestirreth himselfe and seeketh to annoy the protestants as much as might bee but by reason the Vicount of Turin opposed himselfe against his proceedings with an army of sixe thousand men hee did no other harme but gat some fewe Townes which were of no great importance The League not prospering so fast as they desired by force of Armes caused the king who was nowe solde ouer to worke his owne confusion and the vtter ruine of his Realme and States The cruell Edicts of the king to make many cruell Edicts against those of the Religion notwithstanding all the pacifications and graunts of former times and they were commanded to auoyde the Realme within fifteene dayes otherwise there was libertie giuen to persecute them to death to seise vpon their goods lands and linings and to employ them to the kings vse The king of Nauarre knowing that all this was doone by the procurement of the League and the Popish Clergie seised likewise vppon all the Landes and goods of such as were either Leaguers or fauourers of that factious and rebellious multitude The seuere proclamations made by the king against those of the Reformed Churches wrought many lamentable effects in the Land Some who made profession of the Gospel recanted and turned to Poperie and because they would not bee suspected on any dissimulation they became earnest persecutors of
sure that his brother had a dangerous enterprise in hand against his Maiestie which he knew not certainely when hee would put in execution but hee was well assured that the time was not farre off and that hee doubted least his warning should come too late And aduised him in these words That his Maiestie should beware of a desperate and furious mind The Duke of Aumaile sent likewise the duchesse his Wife to giue the King to vnderstand That there was great danger towards his person and that the conspirators were vpon the poynt of execution The king had also intercepted manie letters by which hee did euidently perceiue as much and how that the Guyses had sworne his death and destruction and disinhereting of the royall bloud of France in the houses of Valoys and Burbons and to sette vppe the house of Lorraine All these remonstrances made the king bestirre him and to deuise some speedie Course for the preseruation of his owne life Wherupon he got the keyes of the Castle doubled his guards and appointed a strong watch in the Town with commaundement not to open the gates without his speciall lisence all which was doone in the night without the knowledge of the Guyse and calling vnto him some seauen or eight of those fiue and fortie pensioners which daily attended on his person hee reuealed vnto them his purpose requiring theyr ayde and assistance who receiued most willingly their seruice with promise to execute his will and to doo as his Maiestie had directed them The next morning the Duke of Guyse the Cardinall his brother the Archbishop of Lyons with the Mareschall of Haultmont were assembled in the chamber neere vnto the king and readie to sit in councell howe and in what manner it were best to commit their detestable parricide The king hauing disposed of all things in the best manner that hee could deuise sent a Gentleman to call the Duke of Guyse to come and speake with him who comming forth and seeing the Guards more carefully disposed then was accustomed hauing a guiltie conscience beganne to suspect and as oftentimes the minde of man vppon the instant of so great aduentures presageth that which afterward ensueth so at this present the Dukes hart fainted and his colour charged as one fearing some imminent perill hee was readie to swound hee had sent his Page for a handkercheffe in one of the corners whereof his secretarie named Pellicart had knit vp a little written bill containing a warning to get him away with all speede or else he were but dead But this handkercheffe was intercepted with the remembrance as the Page was comming vppe and neuer came to his handes The Duke in going through a narrow passage to the King encreased his mistrust and was about to returne but still hee went forwards into the Kings vtter chamber where seeing the Lord Loiguake fitting vpon a chest whom of all other he most hated for that he had beene long perswaded that the same Lord determined to kill him hee set his hand to his sword with a purpose to set vppon the sayde Loiguake but by reason hee did weare his Cloake Scarft wise he was so troubled that he could not draw it past halfe way out of the sheath they who were appoynted for his execution The death of Francis D. of Guyse seeing him enterprise such an audacious act and that at the kings chamber doore preuented him and slew him at that instant The noyse was such in this tragicall execution that the Cardinall entred into a mistrust and made hast to get forth but he was stayed by a Gentleman of the Scottish guard The death of the Cardinall of Guise who had commandement to arrest him and not long after by reason of his former treasons and his presumptuous behauiour at that present mingled with some threatning speeches hee was strangled in the same placce where hee was taken prisoner The Archbishop rushed foorth in great furie and saide hee would helpe the Duke of Guyse but hee was quickly cooled and clapt vp in prison though afterwarde released vppon his submission and acknowledgement of his offence The Cardinall of Burbon the Prince Ieuuille sonne to the Duke of Guyse the Mareschall D'Albenfe with many other pertakers in this treason were apprehended and committed to safe keeping and likewise Pellicart secretarie to the Duke of Guyse with all his papers and writings whereby all the secret Councelles of the Guyses and the rest of the Leaguers as well of Princes and Nobles as of the Clergie Towne and Cities were manifested and discouered The fame of this execution was foorthwith spread abroade in the Towne albeit the Castle gates were shut which made all such as had guiltie consciences to packe from Bloys as speedily as euer did the Protestants from the suburbs of Saint Germaines on Bartholmew day The Guysards flie from Bloys and to seeke to shift for themselues some other where Thus were the Leaguers wonderfully crossed in their designements and many who the day before thought it an honour to bee called Guysards and were readie to challenge to the Combate such as reputed them Royalles were now altered on the sodaine and cast in a newe mould esteeming all that factious multitude worse then theeues and murtherers Shortly after that these things thus passed at Blois died the Queene mother The death of the Quâ—ene mother of France who was very olde and had liued too long for Fraunce where she had beene as the firebrand of the Country the nurse of all rebellions the bellowes of all ciuil dissention the instrument of the diuell to worke all impietie and vngodlinesse the procurer of the fall and destruction of her owne children and the principal worker of all this wofull and lamentable alteration happened in that noble and renowmed Kingdome CHAP. XXV The rebellion of Duke de Maine and most of the principall Cities of Fraunce The King of Fraunce and the King of Nauarre are reconciled The King of Fraunce murthered by a Frier The King of Nauarre proclaimed King of Fraunce THe King thought good to aduertise all his subiects of that which had happened at Blois and for that purpose wrote diuerse Letters to his seuerall gouernors of his prouinces duly enforming them of al these occurrences and sent to the assembly of the States to let them vnderstande that it was his pleasure that they should still continue and that he was fully determined to followe their reasonable counsailes in all things but they by little and little slyding away one after another got them home into their Countryes and by spreading of most accursed and damnable rumours deprauing the Kings fact with many hyperbolicall speeches which they amplified with sundry lying reasons and defamatorie libels tearming this execution by the name of the massacre committed at Blois caused an vniuersall rebellion of all those Townes Cities and Prouinces which had reiected the Gospel in former tymes The Duke de Maine no sooner vnderstood thereof
but that he perswaded himselfe that seeing his brother was dead The duke de Maine rebelleth aga nst the King he might now peraduenture obtaine the Crowne for himselfe if hee would lay in for it for hee had a great power in a readinesse and no doubt but the most of the Leaguers woulde followe him for feare least if they shoulde fall into the Kinges handes hee woulde punish them according to theyr deserts With this resolution hee left Dauphiny and hasted into Burgundie and Champaigne taking with him such strength and power as hee could get and making sure as manie places as hee coulde come by prepared to make warre agaynst the king Paris which was the capitoll Citie of the whole kingdome and had more fauoured the Guise then anie other was mooued to great indignation Paris and the rest of the principal Cities rebell against the King and shewed it selfe highly offended And being further incensed with the piteous outcryes and lamentable complaints of the Duchesses of Guise and Nemours and with the inuectiue Sermons of the Iesuites and Friers grewe into a desperate madnesse shaking off the yoake of obedience and rebelled openlye agaynst theyr naturall Prince and liege Lorde Most of the greatest rychest and strongest Cityes as Orleance Roan Amiens Aniou Lyons Abeuille Remes Tholous and manie others followed the example of the Parisians and conspiring with the rest of the Leaguers imprisoned the Kings friendes seyzed vpon his strong holdes robbed him of his treasure and vsed him in all outragious and rebellious maner The King vnderstanding of all these seditious sturres sought by faire meanes and in gentle maner to reduce them to their obedience sending out his proclaimations to pardon whatsoeuer was past and to burie it in the graue of obliuion so that they woulde lay downe their Armes and liue peaceablie vnder his authoritie The seditious diuinitie of the Sorbonists as in dutie they were bound but they made no reckoning of the Kinges clemencie but tearmed it cowardlinesse as though hee were afrayed of their forces beeing animated by the Sorbonists and their Doctours in Theologie who had resolued that they were set free from theyr oath of obedience and former allegiaunce made vnto Henrie the thirde And that it was lawfull for them and for all the residue of the people of Fraunce to take Armes agaynst the sayde King Henrie and to persecute him and all his adherents with fire and sworde as enemyes to God to their Countrey and to holy Church When they had once gotten this aduauntage that they were able to colour their proceedings as it were with an oracle from heauen they made no more conscience at the matter The duke de Maine made general of the Leaguers but presently determined to choose them a Generall for the leading of their forces and to establish a new Councell by whose direction they might manage the rest of their affayres They refused all the Princes of the blood and chose the Duke de Maine who was a man much fauoured of the leaguers The leaguers appoint a councell of state and one that was well acquainted with all their practises The Dukes of Aumaile and Nemours with the Cheualier of Aumaile were made gouernours of Paris There were also 47. of the most seditious turbulent factious and bitterest enemies to the King appoynted to order the state as the kings priuie councell had done in former times These had no sooner gotten this authoritie into their handes but they committed most horrible outrages against all such as they suspected to be the kings friends imprisoning murthering robbing sacâ—ing and spoyling them in such sort as was neuer heard of within any mans remembrance and going to the royall pallace called the Louure they seyzed vpon all the kings goods The leaguers notorious disobedience they violated the great Seale of France brake it in peeces and trode it vnder their feete They rent and tore the Armes of Valois and Burbon and trayled them in most despitefull manner in the mire and dyrt through the Streetes and assembling as manie of the principall Leaguers both of the Nobilitie Cleargie and Communaltie as they coulde wrote to other Cities theyr Confederates to follow their example and to ioyne with them and also to procure as manie partakers as they might the better to countenance their proceedings The king had often and very seriously disswaded them from this seditious course and with all lenitie sought to reduce them to their former obedience but considering that he preuailed nothing by gentlenesse and clemency but rather that the people waxed worse worse he therfore now determined to take a sharper course and by force to bring them vnder his obedience but fearing his owne weaknesse and want of sufficient power to bring his purposes to passe for that he was as it were coÌ„passed about with his enemies not knowing what to doo or whome to trust The king maketh peace with the 〈◊〉 of Nauarre perceyuing that the most of those who were about him were fauorers of the rebels hee was content to follow the aduice of his most trustie councellors and to make peace with the King of Nauarre and to vse his counsal and forces for his iust and lawfull defence and the rather for that the Duke de Maine approched verie neare vnto him with a great and puissant armie Thus was the king for the safetie of his person forced to cast himselfe into the armes of him whom for manie yeares hee had reputed for his mortall enemie and glad to seeke to be preserued by such an one whose destruction he had sought with all extremitie The King of Nauarre being aduertised of the Kings intent and solicited by sundry messengers to come to his ayde with all expedition called his Nobles and Captaines and gathered all his forces together and passing ouer the Loyre at Samnur went towards the King who was greatly distressed at Toures and in imminent perill to bee oppressed by the Leaguers The meeting of the King of France the King of Nauarre The King vnderstanding of his approach the thirtie of Aprill sent the Mareschall Haultmont accompanied with a great number of the Nobilitie to desire him to come to Plesis de Tours where hee with all his Court staid for him The King of Nauarre readily obeyed passing ouer the bridge of Saint Saphorin where hee left all his forces in battaile array and went towardes the King whom hee sound staying for him in the Parke of Plessis There was such a concourse of people and so great a throng that the two Kings were forced to stay aboue halfe a quarter of an houre stretching and holding out their hands before they could embrace one another so great was the prease and such a multitude were slocked togither to beholde this ioyfull and blessed meeting The kind embracings and louing salutations betweene these two Potentates did euidently declare their inward ioy contentation The reioysing of all sorts was incredible
for the traffick which he promised vndertooke the siege of Corbaile which after 3. assaults wherin he lost a great nuÌ„ber of his best most approued souldiers he tooke by force shewed all crueltie vpon the inhabitants He made the Parisians beleeue that he would go from thence to take Poysy Meulan Maule Vernon Pont del Arch but indeed he was not so good as his word for he did nothing of al this but trifled out the time The Duke of Parma fli th out of France fed the citizens with faire words vntil the latter end of October and then marched homeward through Bric being followed hard at the heeles by the king and those smal forces which he could raise vpon the sodain as far as L' Arbre de Guyze where he entred into the low countreyes with not past some 8000. of all that companie wherewith hee had entred into France After that the Duke of Parma was gotten into the low Countreyes the king hauing gathered al his forces together marched toward Chartres which he besieged Chartres taken by the the king and after many sharpe assaults tooke it and brought it vnder his obedience hee tooke also Aulnean Macheuille Dourdan Bonsery Clay Tremblay Manican Ginlis and so scoured al the part of Picardy that no enemie durst once shew his face and from thence passed into Britaine where hee defeated the Lorde Saint Lawrence Mareschall of the Armie of the rebels vnder Duke Mercury and surprised Louuiers where hee found great store of Corne Wine and all other necessarie prouision besides foure thousand fat Oxen wherewith hee plentifully victualled his army for many dayes Cinqcens tâ—oken About the same time the Lord Chartres gouernour for the King in Deepe and Sir Roger VVilliams a very couragious and well experienced English knight with their English French forces amounting to some seauen hundred men defeated two regiments of the Leaguers at a place called Cinqcens and put them in a maner all to the sword The Prince Conty tooke Mount Morillon Chaurguy S. Sauin Blank en Bury Bourge Archambault Playsance Bellarbre Availes Betoune Bisse and many other forts and Castles in Limosin and Toureyne The Prince D' Ombs accompanied with the valiant fortunate and noble Gentleman Sir Iohn Norris general of such forces as were sent out of England for the ayde of the K. into Britaine tooke Guingcampe Cuingcampe taken where there were a great number of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the Countrey who with the Towne payed fiftie thousande Crownes for their Ransome and tooke the oath of Obedience to the king and passing from thence to Quelnec encountred with the Duke Mercury a principall Leaguer who at the first shewed a countenance as though he would haue tryed the quarrell by an entire fight but after the losse of some two or three hundred Spanish and French Leaguers with Don Roderigo cheefe Mareschall of the Spaniards and the Lord Guebrian Collonel of all the footmen he retired further off to places of greater securitie The king was now at the siege of Noyon Noyon takeÌ„ which in the ende yeelded vppon composition and the Lord Vile submitted himselfe to the king and had leaue to depart whither hee would the Leaguers seeing the kings fortunate successe fearing that all in the ende would yeeld vnto him procured a newe excommunication from Rome against him and all his faithfull subiects The Pope excommunicateth the King and caused it to be published at Pont del Arch in Normandy by Marcellus Landrianus a saucie and malepert Iesuite but the king beeing aduertised hereof commanded his Court of Parleament holden at Cane to proceede against Pope Gregory the fourteenth who sent it and his Nuntio that brought it as against tyrannes conspirators with rebels perturbers of the State sowers of sedition aâ—â— the common and notorious enemies of GOD and all goodnesse and taking the Popes Bull The Popes Bull hanged vpon the gallowes and burned at Tours caused it to bee fastned to a gibbet at Tours by the common hangman of the towne and to bee consumed to ashes to the great reioycing of all the beholders The King vnderstanding that the right honourable Lord the Earle of Essex was nowe arriued in France with a bande of very braue men and was marching towardes him went to meete the saide Earle at a place called Gysors where hee remained not long but returned towards Champaigne for that hee vnderstood that his Germaines were nowe in a readinesse to march on forwards on their waie towardes France In the meane while the English forces tooke the towne of Gourny and ioyning with the Mareschal Biron Goâ—rney ta-tâ—ken by thâ— earle of Eâ—â—â—x distressed the Leaguers in those quarters Much about this time the Prince Ienuille sonne to Francis late Duke of Guyse escaped out of prison at Tours where hee had beene kept for the space of three yeeres and more The yong D. of Guise escapeth out of prison and hauing the waies layde with fresh horse by the counsell of the Lord De la Chastre his kinsman got safely to Selles and from thence to Verdun where hee was most ioyfully receiued of all the Leaguers who had attended his comming with great deuotion and were exceeding glad that they had recouered him by whose means they imagined the better to countenance their actions and to effect their entended purpose Howbeit this their ioy was foorthwith crossed by the comming of the Germaines who were already entred into France and hasted to the succors of the king This great and mightie Armie wherein were some two or three and twenty thousand footmen and horsemen The armie of the Germain was diuided into sundry battailons and led by theyr seuerall chiefetaines and commaunders The Vicont of Turennes conducted the Vauntgard wherein were some 1600 horse next whom followed the Earle of Anhoult cheefe commaunder in the Armie with two thousand and two hundred horse The third place was alotted to Barbisderse with a squadron of some 1000. horse Iselstenius the Lieutenant of the Lorde Robours led 8. or 900. footmen Creighnicht Bernhard Dessaw and Bonnaw had their seuerall regiments each coÌ„sisted of a 1000. horse The Lord Laudins and the Earle of VVide had vnder their leading 6400. footmen equally diuided into two great squadrons which were flanked as it were with another strong battailon wherein were about 4300. footmen and 200. horse led by Templuys and the Earle of VVeda Christopher de Fesler with 300. footmen serued as a wing on the left hand betweene whom and the Earle of VVide was the yong Earle of VVestenberg with 3400. footmen there was also maruailous store of all warlike munition as great Artillerie pouder shotte bridges boats spades shouelles pickaxes and all other necessaries for the warres and nothing wanting which was requisite for the aduauncement of their affaires The Duke of Lorraine made al the preparation that might be to stop the passage of these Germaines and to
toward Paris there to refresh them after so long and tedious trauailes as also to make tryall what store of Crownes might be gotten to satisfie his greedie Souldiers The King pursued him and following him in the taile watched to skirmish with him vpon euerie aduauntage But seeing hee coulde not effect that which hee so earnestly affected which was to drawe him to an entyre fight hee caused all his troupes to turne heade and ledde them before Caudebecke which he foorthwith recouered from the Leaguers and leauing a strong garrison to defende the Riuer he retyred to Deepe The King goeth to Deepe giuing leaue to the greatest part of his army to go refresh themselues in more fertile and commodious Countreys Thus was Roan deliuered out of the hands of the King by the comming of the duke to the great encouragement of the Leaguers who seeing the Kinges fortune to frowne began to triumph and to reioyce exceedingly for this their vnexpected reliefe and the rather for that this their good hap was seconded by diuerse other fortunate exploits in other places for the Duke Ioyense ouerthrew certaine of the Kinges troupes before Lautrech as they went to surprise the saâ—d towne being betrayd by some of those who had promised them to bee a meanes to let them enter without anie empeachment But they vsing this as a stratagem to entrap the Kings souldiours The leaguers ouerthrow sundry of the Kings forces enformed the Duke of all theyr proceedings who as soone as hee had intelligence thereof gathered a strong power and lying in ambush by the way as they sâ—ould passe suddenly set vpon them and slue three or foure hundred and tooke 200. prisoners among whom were Monsieur de Violet de Godius sundry others of very good account Three hundred fled to a castell not farre off called la Trappe which was forthwith besieged by the said Duke and the leaguers they who were within the castell valiantly defended the place for a while induring some thirtie or fortie Canon shot at length considering their want of necessaries how they were not able to maintaine themselues as they desired they yeelded hauing lost Colaun bieres Tanieuse L'estolies Raueleus Bertrand Deluan Biense de Lucques La Brosse Lespinac and many other chieftains and commanders La Barry Portaleâ—se Pibrac besides sundry gentlemen were taken prisoners and well neare two hundred common souldiers About the same time Duke Mercury likewise ouerthrew the power of the prince of Conty the prince D' Ombes in Britany and hauing taken ten field peeces froÌ„ them slue many of their brauest and valiantest men as Membraise Rochpot Picheres with some others preuailing mightily in those quarters and reducing sundry townes vnder the obedience of the seditious league Thus did the Kings affaires begin to go backward and many townes who were wauering before did nowe wholy abandon the King and ioyne with the rebels Sundry of the nobilitie who were popishly affected and therefore glad of the Kings bad successe reuolted and secretly conueyed themselues away either to the enemy or into their owne countries and by their bad example drew on infinite numbers to take the same course forsaking their lawfull prince when hee stood in greatest need of their seruice exposing that noble kingdome to the barbarous villanie of that viperous broode who neuer cease gnawing out of the bowels of her that should be their dearest and best beloued mother The King wanting sufficient power to stop these wicked proceedings was forced to suffer the rebels to range at large and to get many of his townes both in Normandy Britany Prouince and Dauphiny They took likewise Espernon wherin they found great store of wine corne other necessaries for the wars These fortunate exploits so encouraged that rebellious route and so puffed them vp with the pride of their owne forces that they vtterly refused to bow their necks vnder the yoake of obedience or to admit of any other gouernment then such as pleased theÌ„selues The king was loath to loose Espernon being a towne of verie good importance and therfore drew all his forces to the siege therof where the Mareschall Biron was slaine Mareschall Biron slaine with a shot from the wall while hee was verie busie in viewing the army in giuing order for the planting of the siege Yea and the king himself was in great perill The daunger of the King hauing his horse killed vnder him with the same bullet wherewith the Mareschall was slaine before Duke Mercurie in the meane time tooke Manus in Britain and the duke de Maine recouered Caudebecke and cleared all the riuer froÌ„ New-hauen vp to Roan The D. of Nemours gouernor of Lions took Vienna and Valence and by that means coÌ„manded the riuer of Rhodanus Now were the Germains who came into France in 91. desirous to returne home so that taking their leaue of the French K. they marched toward Germany as fast as they could but by reason they were not so many nor so strong as when they came first into France they were desirous to passe rather by leaue then by force and therefore they thought it conuenient to send to the Duke of Parma for to obtaine License of him that they might quietly passe through the Dukedom of Luxemburge who readily condisceÌ„ded therto vpon condition that they should not rifle the Countrey as they went but should trauaile in peaceable manner and pay for whatsoeuer they tooke Thus this great and mightie Army which had in conceite deuoured halfe France The Germaines returne home and at theyr comming had opened their way by fine force returned home without dooing of anie great matter and were driuen to aske leaue and to sue to their enimies for their pasport such and so strange an alteration ensued in a short space The Leaguers beeing drunken with this prosperous successe began to consult about the election of a new King and to that ende the Duke of Ferta and the Cardinall of Sens The Leaguers consult about a new King the Popes Nuntio were sent to Paris to bee present as assistants in this waightie businesse as well to aide with their aduise and counsell as to perswade with sundrie great states who as yet were not fully resolued in this poynt neyther whether they shoulde assent to so wicked and desperate proceedings Now albeit that the rebellious multitude had prospered for a long time and were growen in a maner to the ful period of their desires hauing effected many things greatly tending to the countenancing of their affaires in so much as that they had gayned the strongest richest cities with infinit numbers of turbulent and seditious heades to ioyne hand in hand with them and to take parte in these their wicked and desperate attempts yet as it alwaies falleth out among such a confused and brainesicke rable each mistrusted other and being often admonished by the secret warnings of their owne consciences how damnable a course they had runne as
home to defende their owne territories Much confusion beganne nowe to growe among the Kings Souldiers and many of his mercenaries or hyred souldiers departed before the battaile beeing called home for the defence of theyr owne Countrey and the number which was least was farre lesse then indeed it was reported vnto the King so that the Emperialles spying theyr aduantage sette forwarde and with surpassing courage inuaded the Kings Campe in the dead of the night hauing couered their armour with whole shirts the better to discerne one another Their army was diuided into foure Battailons the first consisting of sixe thousand Almains Spaniards and Italians was led by the marquesse of Guasto a valiant yong Gentleman and of great towardnesse in the warres The second consisting wholy of Spaniards was conducted by the Marquesse of Pescara who commanded as principall in the army in the third and fourth battailes were the Dukes of Burbon and Lanoy who went as resolutely to the charge as any others The King being certified of their approch and hauing ordered his troups in as warlike manner as might bee deuised couragiously prepared himselfe for the encounter both armies were no sooner met The great valor of the King but the fight grew very terrible on both sides each partie doing his best for the glorie of their nation and for the obtaining of an entire victorie The King like a valiant captaine and noble souldier fought couragiously and forced the marquesse of Pescara to giue ground whereas hee being endangered to loose all sent to the Vizroy who had the leading of the formost battaile to come to his succors who vnderstanding in what danger the marquesse was furiously set on the Switzers who that day answered not the kings expectation breaking their array wholy defeated them in a moment Then appeared the misery of the French and the king himselfe was forthwith in imminent perill albeit he fought manfully and was seconded with a valiant troupe of French Nobilitie who did their vttermost for their owne securitie and honor of their country yet hauing the marquesse in his front and Antonio de Leua The King of France taken prisoner who was nowe issued out of Paua with al his forces on his backe after he had beene sore wearied and greeuously wounded both in the face and hand and had his horse killed vnder him hee was forced to yeelde to fiue common Souldiers which knew him not but shortly after the Viceroy passing by the king called vnto him and making himself knowne was with great reuerence receiued as Caesars prisoner Thus was the French king who not long before had beene in so flourishing estate commanding not onely ouer al France but also a great part of Italy being so mightie rich and puissant that hee was dreaded of all his neighbor princes subiected to a maruailous change and alteration The King of France sent prisoner into Spaine being made first a prisoner to common souldiers and conuaied from one place to another vntill at length he came into Spaine hauing left all his army to the mercie of their enemies who slew of them well neere to the number of 10000. and among them there perished twentie of the greatest of the French Nobilitie as Boniuet Chauany Monsieur de la palissa Tremoile Obigny and sundry others of especiall account The great slaughter of the french Nobilitie as Henry the king of Nauarre Renee the bastard of Sauoy Duke Memorancy Francis of Burbon Earle of Saint Paul Biron Imbercourt Floranges Colonell of the Switzers with a great number of especiall account were taken prisoners The Duke of Alanson escaped this bloudy conflict and recouered France with a mighty troupe of men of armes who serued for messengers of this wofull newes The emperials lost not past some 700. men and among them no man of any especiall account but onely Ferdinando Castriota the marquesse of Saint Angelo The Spaniards were maruailously enriched with this victorie for neuer had so few souldiers so great a bootie The gold siluer and precious moueables of the French Nobilitie were that day diuided among their enemies and euerie Spanish bisoneos seemed to walke in a world of wealth brauing it out in most superbious manner with the spoyles of the Flower de lis All Europe was mightily dismaied with the newes of this victorie and all estates beganne to grow iealous of the Emperials greatnesse The Venetians of all others thought themselues most neerely touched therewith The Pope the Venetians and other potentates make a league against the Emperour and therefore they offered to ioyne with the Pope and to hire a ten thousand Switzers to defende Italy against the Emperials hoping that the Lady Regent of France the Duke of Ferrara and many other Princes would ioyne with them against their common enimie In the meane time the King of France was as is alreadie declared transported into Spaine and sent vp into the Castle of Madrill This was no doubt a bitter receipt and a sharpe corrosiue to this magnanimous prince who had not been vsed to be confined in so narrow a roume but patience with hope was his best comfort for the Emperour would not see him much lesse minister any matter of consolation in that his wofull distresse neither yet did he seeme to shewe any externall signes of ioy for so glorious a victorie The moderation of Charles the fift he prohibited bonefires ringing of belles and such like accustomed solemnities saying that it might bee seemely to vse outwarde reioycings for victories against the Turks Sarrazins and other infidels but not against christian Princes The Emperours Councell were long before they could well tell what to do with this prisoner they beeing distracted into diuers opinions but in the ende it was fully concluded to make as great a gaine of him as might bee and therefore they earnestly pressed him to yeeld ouer all his claime and title to Burgondy Millan and Naples besides hee was bound to pay a huge summe of money for his ransome The agreemēt betweene the Emperor and the french King and to condiscend to sundrie other things and those so great that no man of iudgement thought hee would bee so good as his word Yet for assurance the King was contented to marry the Lady Elynor the Emperors sister and to grant that his two sons the Dolphin and the Duke of Orleance shuld be left in hostage for the better performance of the conditions Now was France brought to a lowe ebbe and the auncient splendor and glorie thereof mightily obscured yea that renowmed Kingdome which had beene alwaies accounted the parragon of all Europe and hadde beene a terror vnto the Romane monarchy sate as a desolate widow that had lost her husband in weeping wailing and great lamentation But shortly after this afflicted countrey began to bee recomforted and as it were reuiued after it had felt the pangs of death for the king being once set at libertie and gotten into France