saide nor done any thing began in that kinde of rhetorick which hee was wont to vse among the seditious of Paris when he sharpened them against the King at the last rebellion in May of the same yeare onely altering the name of King into the name of hereticks So that as there was that day many good words cast away without dooing any good so there was many cruell bitter and seditious words vttered in the Kings presence to prouoke him to crueltie and slaughter by it to lull him asleepe to cast him into securitie to take away from him all mistrust the more easily and at some conuenient to oppresse him The 18. of October the King came into the hall with the body of the States for the second session where he began to say as followeth Sirs I haue testified vnto you on Sonday last the desire which I haue alwaies to see during my raigne all my faithfull subiects reunited in the true Catholick Romish religion vnder that authority which it hath pleased God to giue me ouer you and hauing to the same effect made my edict of Iuly last past that it might be holden for a fundamental law of this realme to binde both you and your posteritie to the intent that now the same may be confirmed before me as made by the common consent of you al and that no man may pretend ignorance of the nature and ofspring of it and that it may haue the marke of a fundamentall law of the realme for euer I will that this edict bee now read with a loude voyce and bee knowne of all and after that sworne vnto by all the States to the which thing I will sweare first of all that my holy intent may be knowne both of God and men The King hauing ended his speach commaunded Ruze one of his Secretaries of estate to reade with a loud voyce the declaration which he had made the same day vpon his edict of reunion Wherein he first sheweth his great and feruent desire which hee hath had from his youth and the noble acts which he hath done for the rooting out of heresie also how he hath vsed all gentle waies to call the hereticks to the holy Church againe But considering that all this would not serue but onely to make them more obstinate he dooth declare himselfe to haue made the edict of reunion for an irreuocable lawe of the realme condemning already by this his declaration all such as will not sweare nor obey the same as guiltie of high treason This declaration being read then followed the edict of reunion by the same Secretary which being done the Arshbishop of Bourges made a long exhortation to the States vpon the solemne oath to be taken by the King and required also to be taken by his subiects for the obseruing of the saide edict This faire and learned sermon about a naughtie matter and to couer their dissembling heart First did speak of the truth and of lying then shewed the vse of an oath the necessitie the forme and qualities thereof Secondly he speaketh of the Church which he saith in some respect to be visible and in some respects inuisible and that it is gathered of diuers nations and degrees of men without acceptation and distinction of persons He saith that it is called the Church of Rome in none other sence then that it imbraceth the word of God and true doctrine which S. Peter there taught to the which all other Churches haue vnited themselues by a generall and vniuersall consent hee saith that the triumphant and militant Church is but one in effect And that this Church is grounded onely vpon the stone which is Christ the true foundation and head corner stone thereof and that it hath sustained many assaultes which haue not preuailed He saith also that out of that Church there is nothing but death and that hee who will not holde the same for his mother cannot haue God for his Father Out vpon the heretick â—â—e vpon fowle hereticks so many words concerning Note the Church so many heresies or else they make great iniurie to the Hugonets whose death they doo conspire here in this assembly for holding so much in a manner as this saucie Bishop dâ—re speake here before one of the greatest Potentates of the world I lictor colliga manus caput obnubiâ—o quadrupedem constringito c. Loe the omnipotent power that shauelings haue they can make heresie good doctrine and true doctrine heresie when they list These things being spoken by an Archbishop are no heresie being spoken by another man as Theodorus Beza or some other which they doo not fancie there will bee picked out nineteene heresies a quarter and a halfe Thirdly he sheweth what a great matter vnion is but specially in the Church therefore hee exhorteth them being of one faith lawe and beliefe vnder one Sauiour in one and the same Church of one nation and tongue to vnite themselues for the defence of the same holy Church Fourthly he preuenteth by an obiection that whereof they may be charged saying we meaning the Priestes doo not proclayme waâ—re no no saith he the Church dooth not thirst after bloud but we doo desire them who are out of the way to returne into the right way and if they bee obstinate wee doo desire that they may be cut off as gangrâ—ned and putrified members See here godly Christian reader what hipocrisie goeth about to doo this Bishop would faine see the Kings horses to swim in the bloud of them Note of the reformed religion and bloweth the trompet giueth the watch word to the onset vnder the colour of reuniting the Catholicks yet hee would not for all the goods in the world that men should thinke that it were done by his approbation consent and counsell and therefore he saith that the holy Church seeketh not to spill bloud but that they that are in error may be coÌ„uerted into the right way Now my Lord shall I bee so bould to speake one word to your Lordship what way will you follow to conuert them from their errour as you say they are in my Lorde Bishop will answer that hee will first shewe them their errour and then teach them the certitude of his doctrine Then my good Lord I pray you be not angry why haue you denied this way to the King of Nauarre to the reformed Churches of France which onely thing they haue desired When once you haue followed that way and haue conuerted them of errour and taught them a better way if they shew themselues obstâ—â—at cut them off as rotten and gangrened members in deed But belike this is the methode which you will follow against them you will drawe a forme of aâ—iuration in the first part you will make them to abiure and renounce that forme of doctrine which they say is grounded vpon Gods worde the infallable rule of veritie then you will lay downe your fantasies traditions flowing out of the darke
the said congregation confessed that for feare of death he had consented to the abominations of Poperie and with many teares very feruently prayed to God to forgiue him exhorted the Church to take heede not to followe his frailtie willing them not to be offended with his fall and with an earnest inuocation of Gods most holy spirit promised euer hereafter by Gods grace constancie and stedfastnes in the confession of the trueth After a long and wofull warre the particular accidents whereof I here omit as hastening to my purpose and referre the reader in that respect to such treatises as are of purpose written concerning those matters at length a peace was concluded about the 27. of Iuly 1576. which was sworne vpon by the King by the King of Nauarre Monsieur the Kings onely brother the Prince of Conde and Casimire other Nobles with the lifting vp of their hands The King to wit Henry the 3. to shew how well pleased he was with this peace willed and commanded that it should bee called his peace because he had graunted it with his owne will and proper motion The King of Nauarre then had not onely a iust cause but also opportunitie to complaine of diuers iniuries done vnto him at and after the murther of Paris and also to demaund amends for his great losses yet he neuer mooued one word least by any priuate commodities of his owne the peace should haue béen hindered By that conclusion of peace the King graunted eight Townes beside them which they held before vnto them of the reformed religion to bee gouerned vnder his obedience by the King of Nauarre for the space of sixe yeares It was agreed also at the request of the reformed religion that the King should call the States of the Realme to confirme this peace and to restore the ancient dignitie of that kingdome These States were so cunningly handled that it did almost fall to the vtter vndoing of them of the religion For the Guizes with the collusion of the King made such meanes as none other might be admitted to the same States than the professed enemies of the Gospell For they caused conuocations to bee assembled in the seuerall Prouinces who appoynted such as were farre from peace with secret instructions to bee presented at the saide States without making the Townes Cities or Commonalties priuie to the same They also caused infamous Libels to be printed and proposed in their seuerall conuocations denouncing open warre vnto them of the reformed religion and vnto all that would not consent to the vndoing of them Furthermore they deuised also the meanes to interrupt that peace which of late concluded by their consent and yet so politickly that the causes should not bee founde in themselues but in the professors of the Gospell For they procured infinite iniuries and violences to be done vnto them of the Religion by their partakers hoping that through dispaire and impatiencie they would breake the peace and so the King would arme the Duke of Guize against them that in the meane time hauing the Kings power in hand he might growe in authoritie and the King decrease Immediatly after the conclusion of peace made the Guizes perceiuing that these three noble Princes had auoyded their clawes for the King of Nauarre was gone into his kingdome the Prince of Conde had auoided into Germanie Monsieur had bin set at libertie without any hope to bring them againe within their reach and that not onely they were a terror but also would be great lets to their drifts and that they were able to cut them out more worke than they would be able to patch as long as they should liue considering the name roome authoritie and power that they were of both in France and with forraine Nations To the ende that at the States appoynted they might oppresse these Princes with the rest of the Nobilitie which would not take part with them to ground a sure foundation vpon a strong Councell then sent they their agent the Bishop of Paris and the aduocate Dauid a worse man did not liue then vpon the earth to Rome the holy Citie to take good aduise and spiritual counsell of their ghostly father The Bishop of Paris and Dauid with him came to Rome the Schoole of all murthers treasons poysonings and slaughters against all the Princes and States of Christendome There assembled all the schoolemasters and teachers of the Sciences aboue saide I meane the Cardinalls among whome Sir Hugh bon companion Vicar of Rome for so was his right name afore he was Pope was the forman There was great complaints framed against the King Monsieur his brother the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde against all the house of Burbon and the Nobilitie of France The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were heretickes and relapse The King and his brother with a great number of the Nobilitie if they were not heretickes yet were they fauourers of heretickes they caused heresies to grow and to take roote by making peace with heretickes to the vtter ouerthrowe of holy Church of Rome And that it was high time that Sir Hugh Vicar of Rome should prouide for some speedie remedie to preuent the mischiefe There it was shewed to render the King and all the Princes odious how the house of Capet had alwaies withstood the holy Church of Rome and that they had supported in old time the Valdenses and Albigeoys and now that either they are ioyned with the Hugonets or els are fauourers of them But on the contrary side the house of Charles the great which was wrongfully dispossessed of the Crowne by the Papall blessing had a speciall grace giuen them to helpe holy Church and had left yet some lustie buds which are they of the house of Guize in whom is all the hope of holy Church to roote out the hereticks and to restore all things The fable of this Popish blessing heere aboue mentioned is in the Chronicles of Rhegimon a Monke of S. Benet In the time of Pipin father to Charles the great Stephen Pope of Rome being a factious and turbulent man through his ambition did trouble Italy And when Arstulphe King of the Lombards a nation not vsed to bee controulled by Priests went about to chastize him fled into France to stirre Pipin which a fewe yeares before had vsurped the Crowne of France by the helpe of Pope Zachary against the sayd Arstulphe This Pope being at S. Denis nigh Paris fell brainsicke and in his sicknes the diuell deluded him with an entusiasme making him to see in a vision Peter and Paule before the high Altar in their Surplesses by the which as he sayd he knewe them Then came in S. Denis with a leane face hauing a Censor in his hand whom Peter and Paule sent to the sayd Stephen to heale him who charged him to hallowe the sayd Church Pope Stephen could this vision to them which were present there and being about to rise out of his
treacheries and treasons whereof he feeleth the smart imputing the causes thereof vnto himselfe in that hee had alwaies preferred the bad and violent counsell of his secret enemies before the good wise moderat admonitions and warnings of the Princes of his bloud and many other Princes strangers and faithfull friends willeth him to make a iust reuenge for example sake vpon the authors of such a vile act The King of Nauarre with the rest of the Princes and Nobility departing very sorowfull and dismaied the King called for his Confessor to whose eare he confessed his sinnes and hauing craued pardon for his offences said that he had a sensible feeling that they were forgeuen him through Christ The Mediatour desired to communicat of his sacred body and that all might heare that he had receaued fréely of God the forgeuenes of sinnes in like casehe not onely forgaue the conspiratours but also the very murtherer and procurers of the murther so the poyson preuailing and scattering it selfe through did infect the noble parts whereby the night following the 22. of Iuly he yeelded his soule vnto God Here Christian Reader thou mayest see with the eye notable examples both of Gods iustice and mercy shewed vppon this noble King of a noble kingdome issued out of noble Kings First how this King hauing obstinatly persecuted the Gospell partly for hatred partly at the pleasure and solicitation of Priestes and Fryers and other sycophants and clawbackes who were continually about him and set him on still that vnder the colour of catholike Church and rooting out of heresie they might weaken him spoile him of his authority of his Kingdome and at length of his life For they neuer gaue ouer nor left him at rest vntill they had snatehed his forces out of his hand and kept his armies alwayes in their hands or of their friends and partakers then by calumnies slaunders libels seditious preachings had procured the contempt and hatred of his subieets agaynst him Moreouer vpon oportunity they seazed vppon his Townes and fortresses expelled him out of his owne house seat city of his kingdome and of his realme condemned him twise to die and at last executed that condemnation with hipocrisy and treachery which thing they could not bring to passe by force Who did all these vnnaturall iniuries vnto their naturall King They whom he had so far fauoured as to expose his goods his state his credit his honor his life for the defence of their iuglings filthy pleasures pride ambition and atheisme to wit of the Priests Monks Fryers and Guyzes in whose loue fidelity and force he trusted more then in God But behold with trembling the iudgements of the Lord which are all righteous and pure This King had not harkened vnto Gods wisedome which-cryed in the streates of the Citie O ye foolish how long will yee loue foolishnes Gods wisedome therefore forsooke him in the day of calamitie and so his table was made an occasion of fall vnto him so that his familiar friends with whom hee tooke sweet counsell together in the temple of their Gods haue lifted vp their heeles agaynst him This second iudgement of God is also to be considered with feare and trembling The famous Gaspar Coligny Admiral of France with a great number of the chiefest Nobilitie of the Realme were most vniustly and cruelly murthered in the yeare 1572. the 24. of August This King being then King Charles the 9. his brother and Duke of Anjou who issued out of noble rase not regarding his degree debased himselfe so farre as to become the chiefest Captayne of an accursed sedition and procurer of such a murther as hated both of God and man the fame thereof shall be execrable and stinking in the eares of men for euer And after the murther most cruell indignities were shewed vpon the dead bodies of the sayd Admirall and his fellowes who after were carried to bee hanged at the place where men executed for exemplarie iustice are hanged in chaynes called Monâ—faucon which lieth right against the place where the King was murthered on the North side of the riuer Seyne so that euen as Pompey after the poluting of the Temple of Ierusalem did neuer prosper but after many calamities suffered came to Alexandria where in the hauen as a man should say in the sight of the Temple he was villanously murthered by them whom he trusted Euen so this King after that murther thereby hauing poluted the Temple of iustice neuer prospered and from the Lord deliuered into the hands of vile and base men whom he trusted was brought to receaue the punishment for that murther nigh to that place where they had executed the vttermost poynt of infamie vppon the bodies of the sayd Admirall and other noble men Thirdly whereas S. Peter in his second Epistle and second Chapter doth forwarne the Saints both of false Prophets and errors which they shall bring foorth with them among others maketh mention that they shal not onely contemne but also shall speake euill of authorities Behold thou Christian reader hast seene in the former bookes of this historie all the prankes which this holy League hath played for the space of these twelue yeares all the horrible villanies poysonings and murthers by them committed and hauing in their mouthes nothing els but holy League holy Vnion holy Church holy Catholike faith euen holy murthers and all that is prophane wicked and damnable is holy with them so that it be for holy Church God through iustice and mercie in this peruerse age dangerous times when men will not discerne the trueth from lying by the word but by their affection according to the doctrine of S. Paul 1. Tim. 4. hath marked by these their abominations as with a hot burning yron their idolatries hypocrisie and false religion that men looking vppon the fruites may iudge of the goodnes of the tree which beareth them So in his grace and fauour he hath preserued his Saints professors of his word from such abominable déedes that his trueth being iustified may be louing and amiable vnto men carying the stampe and grauen image of the sonne of God which is innocencie mildnes and perfect Christian loue Herein also is noted the mercifulnes of God who will loose none of his children This king dyed not presently of that wound but God prolonged his life both to giue him time of repentance and to lay the foundation of the restablishing of that afflicted estate For first as concerning his repentance it doth appeare that hée entered déepely into he consideration of his sinnes and by that foundation of faith which remayned in him confessed in the symbole touching the death of Christ the forgiuenes of sinnes through him made him as if it were forget the most part of the idolatrous fantasies and tromperies in the which he had béen brought vp and delighted all the daies of his life and necessitie and feeling of his sinnes enforced him to repose himselfe on the onely sacrifice of