the Realme of France THE FIRST BOOKE CLaude of Vaudemont otherwise of Lorrayne came into France in the time of Lewis the xii in a manner with a wallet and a staffe that is to say a beggerly gentleman in comparison of the great reuenewes which hée and his haue had afterward in France For all his reuenewes when he came into France was not aboue xv M. Franks He began to growe vnder King Francis the first by crouching and capping and double diligence vnder whom after that all offices had béen bestowed hée obtained to bée the Kings Faulkner at the suite of other Noble men That was an office giuen before that time to Gentlemen of small accompt Notwithstanding y e basenes of his degree in Court he was beholden with a suspicious eye by King Francis carying in his mind a certaine presage of that which hath happened afterward For when he had marked with a wise prudencie the sawcines of him and his children hee vttered his iudgement concerning them in these words That they will turne his children into their doublets and his subiects into their shirts The yeare 1515. in the absence of the Duke of Guelders he had the charge of the Swizzers which King Francis had hyred for his iourney to Millaine The yeare 1523. the Lord Trimouille left him the gouernment of Burgondie The yeare 1527. at the suite and intercession of Noble men the King erected his Village of Guize situated vppon the riuer Oyse in the confines of Vermandoyse into a Duchie His Children were the Dukes of Guize Aumale the Marquise D'albeuf the two Massing Priests of Lorraine and Guize These Faulkners did so apply their busines partly with flattering partly with the aliance of lagrand Seneschal which was the Paramour of King Henry the second and the Duke D' Aumale maried her daughter as good as the mother but especially by the facilitie or rather fondnesse of the saide Henry the second that within fewe yeares they obtayned in land and pensions one milion of Frankes beside their Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall offices dignities liuings which did amount to so much But specially they aduaunced themselues greatly in the time of King Francis the second by reason of their aliance with him who had married their Néece the Quéene of Scots In his time they disposed of all things after their owne willes For the King sawe nothing but by their eyes heard nothing but by their mouthes did nothing but by their hands so that there remained nothing but onely the wearing of the Crowne vpon their owne heads and the name of King In this great prosperitie they lacked nothing neither will nor meanes to attaine to their intent but that the Nobilitie of France was a perilous blocke in their way which they could not lep ouer for to ascende to so great and high seate of Maiestie and in stead of a veluet cap to weare a Crowne of pure gold In this prosperous successe it hath happened to them as the Prouerbe is Set a begger on horsebacke and he will ride vntill he breake his necke which the tragicall end of them hath verified But they fearing no such bloodie euents and intending to turne their master out of the house and to seaze on the possession and to lodge themselues therein they vsed cunning and policie The first steppe to reach to that which they intended to get was a dreame in this Iulling of Fortune vnaccustomed to them or theirs For they in their dreame dreamed and sawe in a vision that they were descended from Charles the great and consequently that they had right to the Crowne and that Capet who had dispossessed their auncestors as they say and his posteritie which now enioy it are but vsurpers But considering that to enter into any action of law about such a matter would be a dangerous course and that a peaceable state would rather helpe them backward than forward and that such a fish would bee caught rather in a troublesome than in a cleare water the streame must needes be stirred The occasion of the time fell out fitly to further their intent and to trouble the state They therefore tooke the dissension of Religion to colour the same than the which they thought no better could be deuised for the people was alreadie in ielousie one against another through the diuersitie of religion Unto this opportunitie came many helping causes as the minoritie of the house of Valoys the ambition and atheisme of the Q. Mother the great credite and power which the parties themselues had gotten alreadie afore hand in the Realme the facilitie or rather inconstancie of Anthonie of Burbon King of Nauarre and last of all the headie frowardnes of the Constable and Annas of Monmorency which things conspiring together fitly to further their desires they thought it was time in stead of Atheisme to put on Popish superstition and their ambition should runne for burning zeale of Poperie This part they tooke not for any religion which they cared for but being the stronger and more fauourable side by the which they might get both credite and strength By these meanes the ciuil warres being easily stirred vp they thought all by one meane both to weaken the Nobilitie and to oppresse the house of Burbon which being made away they supposed either that they could easily subuert the house of Valoys being all children or els to suruiue them and as then to make an open claime to the Crowne The ciuill warres being by them and their meanes begun they haue entertained them from time to time And when through wearines or weakenes of their part they haue come to peace they haue through treacherie so manured it that peace hath been more domageable to the professors of the Gospell than open warre as it may appeare by the murthers which they procured and performed at Paris and in other Cities in France the yeare 1572. After the which murther they also procured King Charles the ix to imprison the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and afterward Monsieur the Kings yongest brother The King of Nauarre hauing béen kept prisoner with a garde the space of thrée yeares and more at length in the yeare 1576. went foorth out of Paris to hunting in the Forrest of S. Germayne en faye accompanied with a great number of Catholike Gentlemen among whom was also the Duke Espernon When he came to the Forrest hee opened his minde vnto them that hee was not determined to returne to the Court The Gentlemen considering his hard intertainement and the greatnes of his person were so farr from compelling him to returne from whence he came that they profered to conduct him wheresoeuer he would and so they brought him to the Towne of Alenson 45. leagues from Paris where was a great number of them of the reformed Religion whether also he had requested the Gentlemen to accompanie him Shortly after his arriuing there when the reformed Church had assembled together the said King in the face of
meanes as is aboue sayd in the Prouinces for the making of a strong league with as many as they were able they procured the towne of Montmarsan in Gascoyne to rebell against the King of Nauarre which he shortly after surprized in one night and brought the inhabitants to their duetie without any bloud shedding By their meanes also the Towne of Rause in the Countie of Armignake belonging to the King of Nauarre as the sayd King had entered into the Towne without any mistrust with eightéene Gentlemen the partakers of Guize there let the Percullis fall at his heeles and setting vppon him one offered the Caliuer at his breast But the sayd King neuerthelesse seazed vppon a Tower with his companie and made way to the rest of his traine to enter into the sayd Towne not suffering any of the inhabitants to be put to death buâ— onely him which had leuelled the Caliuer at his breast and that at the earnest sute of the Magistrates of the Towne accusing him with diuers other crimes In Ianuary the King sendeth an Ambassador to the Prince Casimier Palatine of Rhine named Vilaquier to excuse his doings with lyes surmizâ—s and slaunders as that they of the reformed religion had seazed vppon diuers and had committed murthers and cruelties vpon the Catholikes and that they required not the exercize of the religion for any conscience but for fashion sake only and that his States will not suffer him to execute the Edict of peace Vnto this message the Prince Casimier answered as shewing how the King was abused by the States which were none other but such as were enemies of his estate and perturbers of the peace vnder the name of the States and lastly willeth him not to cast his Realme into a miserable flame of ciuill warres for other mens pleasure The Prince Casimier also sendeth Butrich his Ambassador to the King to perswade him if possible were to entertaine the pâ—ace which was made so solemnely which he also willed to be called his peace The sayd Ambassador had audience at Bloys the 23. of February The 7. of March ensuing the sayd Butrich Ambassador surrendred in his Masters name the lands Lordships pensions and offices which the King had giuen him at the concluding of the peace For as much as the Guizes had spread abroad both through France Germany and other countries that the said Prince in consideration and respect of his particular profite was preiudiciall to the publike commoditie of his Souldiers The parish Priests about this time tooke the names of able men Souldiers were euery where secretly mustered according to Sir Hugh his counsell as is aforesaid The Iesuits also began to take the matter in hande to further conspiracies by rayling Sermons who by these meaues crept so deepely into the Kings fauour that he preferred the sawciest of them and them who could thunder most furiously against the reformed religion to Bishoprickes Abbeyes Prebends and other fat Benefices nourishing in his bosome from time to time the firebrands to set him and his Realme in combustion at the first opportunitie The Guizes seeing they could not win them of the religion to fauour their doings but rather that their agents were taken forbeu cozba considering also that they were not able to haue their desire vpon them fearing greatly the King of Nauarre whose wisedome vertue and valour they knewe well goe about to make him to some hatefull and to others contemptible Therefore the Admirall Villars father in lawe to the Duke de Mayne raised vp vpon him the old lye and flander reported of the Christians of the Primitiue Church vp the Pagans to the end that Sathan might bee like to himselfe to wit that the sayd King being at Agen in the night the candles should be put out That false report was spread abroad throughout France afore that any man had heard of it in the Citie of Agen. It was also reprooued for a most false lye by many Noblemen and Ladies of both religions which were then present Now the conclusion or rather collusion of the States was that they required the Edict of peace to bee reuoked the exercize of the reformed religion inhibited and Poperie to be set vp euery where The King was as desirous to graunt them as they to require the breach of the peace wherevpon fearefull persecutions were raised vp euery where great cruelties effected in diuers places vpon them of the religion and open warre denounced And for as much as the condemnation and execution of Monsieur could not be brought to passe as yet for many coÌ„siderations it was kept close and deferred to a fitter time But specially for that he might be a good instrument to be occupied against the King of Nauarre and them of the reformed religion Therefore they thought good to make him and the Duke of Guize Generall ouer the Kings forces Him I say to giue the more authoritie to the actions and enterprizes with greater terror The other was ioyned in Commission to preuent what might happen that Monsieur should not in any wise fauour the King of Nauarre nor his partakers any whit at all The King of Nauarre hauing such power as he could make in Guyen prepared himselfe vppon the defensiue and hauing a mightie power of Germaines readie to enter into France his enemies hearts were somewhat cooled and began to faint On the other side the King wanting money nothing was done By this expedition a great terror of the Germaines hauing seazed France the King now sheweth himselfe as desirous of peace as he was not long before of warre and sendeth his Mother to the King of Nauarre to treat for peace Now old Catie must shewe some Italian iuggling or els farewell Poperie After much chopping and chaunging of words the bargaine was made The King of Nauarre being at Nerack in Gascoyne receiued the peace with some restructions of the former Edict abhorring the slaughters of the Nobilitie and oppressions of the people This peace being concluded at Nerack the Guizes tooke it very grieuously as vnprofitable for the aduancing of that mysterie which did lye hidden in their braine and also for that the King went about to reforme many abuses brought in by warre and to restore the Nobilitie to ease the people of diuers charges For the Guizes would haue all these abuses to continue that in time it might serue for an olde cloake to couer withall their treacherous drifts as they did afterward at the rising of them in armes 1585. Diffidence and iealousies therefore did growe daylie betweene the King and the Guizes But the King to obtaine his intended purpose thought good to pacifie them calleth them to the Court dooth assigue them great pensions bestoweth great gifts and honors vppon them Yet they hauing alwaies a hartburning tickled with their accustomed ambition watching for the death of Monsieur determined to hasten them forasmuch as they feared him more than the King In the yeare 1579. the Guizes sent Frier Claude Mathew
abusie Iesuite of Pontamosson in Lorrayne to Rome to put Sir Hugh to worke and to lay downe some newe direction to execute the secrâ—t Councell of Rome seeing that the former deuises had failed Friâ—r Claude from thence tooke his iourney into Spayne to giue some ghostly counsell to Dom Philipporey despagna Out of this voyage came the expedition of Italians and Spanyards into Ireland vnder the leading of Captaine Saunders which there dyed mad wandring in y e woods From thence also came the lustie flight of Locusts the Iesuits into England vnder the banner of their Generall Campion to roote out the Gospell and to plant Poperie if it could be done But if not to worke some busie peece of worke to her Maiestie that the Guizes in the meane time might work more surely in France without hope of any help out of England to the King and to the King of Nauarre or to them of the reformed religion if they should stand in any neede The Guizes of their part were not idle but by sundrie practizes had renewed the ciuill warres and by the Kings consent Monsieur his brother and the Duke de Mayne were in Commission for the conducting of the Kings Armies which thing they did as well as they could with as great preparations as might bée but yet without doing any harme But because the common report went that Monsieur should passe into England and from thence should go take possession of the Dukedome of Brabanâ— which was offered him by the States of the Lowe Countrey they were content yet once againe to winke at peace that they might be rid of him hoping that he would neuer returne into France to trouble them Therefore in the yeare 1580. Monsieur before he tooke his iourney was sent to the King of Nauarre which both met at Fleyx a Towne in Perigord situated vppon the riuer of Dradogne where they concluded a peace not much varying from the former Which thing being done Monsieur hasted to his iourney Now this being done Frier Mathew the Guizes Pursiuant of méere deuotion must needs post to Rome yet once againe to visite the Stewes and to aduertize Sir Hugh what was past in France to knowe of him how the Guizes should worke vppon this present occasion There Sir Hugh stayed somewhat his wisedome afore hee would giue answere knowing not well what counsell to giue or to followe because his Armado in Ireland vnder the conduct of Captaine Saunders Doctor of Militarie Discipline and his Locusts vnder the leading of the lustie Campion had sped but so so and had a very hot entertainment His brains therefore was driuen to peruss his Christerosse so that in this dumpe Sir Hugh must take counsell of Dom Philipporey despagna Therefore master Frier must trudge ouer the world Haue with you master Frier into Spayne to eate a peny worth of Raphams Vpon this hard mischances of fortune Sir Hugh thought good that Dom Philippo should play Xerxes and whilest he is a preparing the inuincible Arinado meanes should bee made to doo away both Monsieur and the Prince of Orenge that by the death of the one the Low Countreys should be left headlesse vnable to resist the petie Duke of Parma and by the others death the drists of the Guizes might be easily executed in France The procuring of y e death of the Prince of Orenge was committed to the petie Duke of Parma petie sonne to the holy man Pedro Aloisio who for his religion vz. his abominable and monstrous whoredomes was hanged at the windowe of his owne house a holy Martyr and bastard sonne to Sir Alexander Farneso Vicar of Rome called otherwise Paulus tertius This Duke of Parma acquitted himselfe pretily well of his charge as shall bee sayd hereafter The death of Monsieur was vndertaken by the Guizes that that if GOD himselfe would not kill him they would doo it which they also performed in time Frier Mathew Iesuit carrier of the Court of the Guizes returning out of Spayne fell sicke at Barbaste in Gascoyne not for any surfet which he tooke in Spayne except it were for eating too little The poore Pardoner there was so sicke that he would haue eaten any kinde of meate if he could haue had it But his good Masters did so diet him that according to his profession he afflicted his bodie with fasting out of measure to pull downe his courage least when hee should come into the Stewes to giue ghostly counsell to the Curtizans he should doo any thing to the discredite of holy Châ—rch and to the slaundring of the holy order of Iesuits for such fasting as he vsed in that iourney would doo greater miracles in keeping a Frier chaâ—â— than all the weeping which the Iesuites doo vse can doo The King sending his brother into Brabant determined to appoynt him a Counsell But the Kings Counsell being in a manner all Leaguers appoynted him two manner of men one to accompanie him and the other to counsell him They therefore prouided that such counsell should be giuen him as either should altogether nousell him in all filthie life or els should worke such meanes as might dishonor him or put him in danger of his life Another companie was appoynted him of vertuous Noble men of both religions onely to accompanie him to countenance the matter but not to counsell him Monsieur therefore in this equipage of men of so sundrie colours and qualities taketh his iourney first into England and from thence into Brabant the yeare 1582. there to bee inuested of that Dukedome of the holy Empyre which was duely and sumptuously performed Whilest Monsieur soiorneth in the Low Countrey the partakers of the Guizes thinking y e time long were very importunate to set the Duke forward about the busines which he knewe considering the good opportunitie of the absence of Monsieur For if he should returne sayd they and finde all things peaceable it would bee hard for them to worke any thing for as much as Monsieur had knowledge of their drifts who assuredly would seeke to ouerthrowe all and being in France of such power would goe nigh to doo it To these and like perswasions the Duke of Guize was wont to answere that hee will enterprize nothing openly whilest the King had any brother but if he could see one day the last of the house of Valoys to sit vpoÌ„ the Throne he promised them with a round oath to set his hand to worke so surely that if he did not carrie away the whole yet he hoped to haue a good part of the cake In the meane time the Guizes began to sell the most part of their offices and to gather great summes of money making their reckoning shortly to haue all and to dispose of all But thinking the time long that neither sicknes nor the fortune of warre had shortned the life of Monsieur which greatly they desired they determined to do that which God would not do and to execute Sir Hughs spirituall counsell There was
them of the Religion as Sorges and others hee was more moderate and voyde of crueltie and sauagenes yet at length seeing that as he had taken one place he left andther and that warre was an endlesse thing there and that with long toyle of warre and lack of money his army was scattered as at length it went inuisible leauing his brother the Lord Valete there with such forces as he had left to doe what he were able so he went to the King againe and not without cause considering he was one of his most faithfullest about his person The young Ioyeuse in Auuergne walked at liberty tooke his pleasures spent the Kings money francklie and when that was done for lacke of more returnd from whence he came as wise as when he went out Thus we see that within the compasse of a yeare 6. armies haue beene sent with great preparation of all necessarie things into seuerall prouinces to warre against heauen and earth and to oppose themselues against all that is good and godly and how they are all fallen to pieces as though they had been smitten downe by the hand of the God of armies as the Lapithes and Centaures are reported by the Poets During these lamentable tempests the which did so tosse France with these sixe armyes in diuers prouinces The Princes and certaine cities in Germanie moued with compassioÌ„ pittying the miserable subuersion and ransaking of France their next neighbours sent an Ambassage to the King to perswade him if it were possible to extinguish that coÌ„bustion raised by the league by peace to restore the state of his Realme to some good stay The Ambassadours were sent by the Princes Electors of Saxony Palatine and Brandenbourg and by other Princes of the sacred empire as the Noble Princes Ioachim Frederick Marquesse of Brandenbourg and administrator of Magdebourg Iuly of Brundswik and Lunebourg William Lewis and George Landgraues of Hessen brethren Ioachim earnest Prince of Chatten with the foure principal imperial cities Strasbourg Vlmes Mersebourg and Frâ—nckefort with the ambassadours of Vtten and Issenbourg they al came except they of Vtten Issenbourg which vpon certaine vrgent affayres went back deliuering their coÌ„missions to their fellowes to Saint Germain in Laye had audience the tenth of October First they offer the commendations and seruices of their Princes and commonwealths vnto him Secondly they recite how they had beene aduertized euen by the letters of Mandolet gouernour of Lyons for the King that his Maiesties intention had been to preserue the edict of pacification stablished vpon the faith of the Maiestie of a Prince Thirdly that they vnderstand that hee had beene enforced contrary to his godly intention to reuoke the said edict of peace and by way of armes to persecute his most faithfull subiects euen the chiefest of the Princes of his blood which thing they would hardly haue beleeued if it had not beeâ—ne made knowne by his owne letters sent vnto some of the said Princes by the Lord Schemberg hearing daâ—e the 22. of October 1585. Fourthly protesting of the good affection of their Princes and common wealths toward his Maiestie they doo in their names in most humble wise beseech him that considering into what pitifull state France had beene reduced by the former warres and the good benefites which haue ensued the last peace he wil not be induced by the perswasioÌ„s of the Pope to bring in againe blood shed hatred of the Crowne of France losse of so many Princes Lords and Nobilitie and of so many his faythfull subiects which haue done to hâ—m and his predecessors so many notable seruices which thing vndoubtedly will ensue if not worse if he do not defend the edict of peace considering that by his owne declaration he confes seth that the reformed Religion will not be rooted out by the sworde Fiftly wheras he had shewed by his declaration that the edict of peace was made by ripe deliberation and counsell and published with all soleÌ„nities requisite thereunto and that the sayd edict was sworn by his brother of happy memory Duke of Alançon by the Princes and Lordes in lifting vp their handes to heauen and that hee himselfe would haue that peace to be called his peace which he made as he said voluntarily without any compulsion for that would haue it kept inuiolable there was no reason why the benefites of that peace should bee cut off by raysing warre at the Popes pleasure Last of all they doo shewe that there will ensue of the reuoking of this edict of peace a most certaine and assured subuersion of the state and Crowne of France And by the way of conclusion they beseech his Maiestie that considering the reasons by them shewed taking some pitie of his poore Realme it may please him to reiect the perswasions of the Pope and Leaguers and to preserue the edict of peace offering vnto him in the names of their Princes and Commonwealths that if there bee any meanes in them that may further a good peace and restablish his estate his Maiestie shall vnderstand how they are affectionate to procure all things which pertaine to his honour and greatnes and if it pleaseth him they will employ all their faithfull seruice in the assuring of his dignitie and royall Crowne and to the benefite of all Christendome but specially to suppresse this warre whereunto in their iudgement he had béen enforced Hauing made an ende of their ambassage they deliuered him their instructions both in Dutch and 〈◊〉 The King giueth answere the 11. of October but such an answere as he seemed rather to be offended with them for their duetie and good will of their Princes Commonwealths than to be mooued to any moderate counsell It is sayd before that in Aprill of this yere 1586. the King made great preparation of warre in prouiding fiue armies all at once at which time also they made a motion for peace vnto the King of Nauarre By this it was an easie thing to iudge that they who disposed themselues to warre so furiously could not bee brought to condescend to any moderate counsell or reasonable peace But whilest al these armies were readie and marching to doo some great exployts and to inuade the Prouinces whereunto they of the reformed religion had retyred and were strong the Q Mother also marched toward Guienne in hope to obtayne a greater victorie in assaulting the King of Nauarre with a parley than al those armies with force For she tooke with her out of the stoare of Italian trickes temptation disuniting and weakening For first she will trie the tricke of Sathan in the 4. of Mathew when he tempting Christ proffered him all the kingdomes of the earth So shée thought to win this godly and noble Prince in shewing him that if he would forsake the Sonne of God he should be declared the right heire of the Crowne in case the King should decease without issue otherwise it would be impossible to him to attayne vnto
common securitie and that it should haue been done by the common aduise so he caused the publishing to be called in yet was it secretly printed and sent into Germanie As they were about to conclude the saide truce certaine of the companies of the Lord Neufuy were charged which did greatly offend the King of Nauarre Thus this negotiation of peace going forward by messengers to and fro the Duke d'Mayne in the meane while supposing that the Q. Mothers absence from the Court might bee a good helpe to doo some good exploit hasted his iourney from Puynormand where his army partly weary and ashamed to obey such a cowardly Captaine partly for want of money was scattered euery man repairing where hee thought to speede best the Duke de Mayne I say came to Paris where hee and the rest of that house began to make new broyles But to returne to the matter at length after many voyages to and fro la Roche brought an order both for the place and manner of the interuiew and also of the truce graunted of both parts For the accomplishment thereof therefore the King of Nauarre came to larnak a towne situated vpon the riuer Charante betweene Coignak and Engolesme the 11. of December so the 13. day he want to Saint Brice with a good companie At the first meeting there were many complaintes of both sides the Queene reproached him of his disobedience passing ouer the former actions she stayed vpon the present calamities which doo afflict Fraunce she letteth him vnderstand that the King was enforced to make peace with the League to saue his estate and that without that remedie all was lost Secondly that the pretence of religion ought to be taken away to take away the warre out of the realme The King of Nauarre on the other side answered to the first complaining that he had none other way been damnicted or endaungered but by obaying the King for the League was waxed strong because he remained so long feeble and that hee had hazarded his life to keepe his faith Furthermore reducing all the present calamities to the head spring hee imputed all the miseries wherewith the realme is afflicted to the peace made by the League hee shewed also that the King was rather deceaued with ill counsell then forced to doo that which he did Thirdly he shewed that the preseruation of the Kings estate depended of the intertaining of his edicts and that they were his edicts in deede which he had voluntarily sworne Also that they were edicts of peace which chased away warre and not they which for to satisfy certaine seditious persons raised in some prouince replenished the realme with sedition Madam said he you cannot accuse me but of too much fidelitie I doo not complaine of your faith but of your age which dooing wrong to your memorie hath made you to forget what you had promised me This was the end of the first interuiew The summe of the principall articles of this truce was that it shoulde indure vnto the sixt of Ianuarie that shee might aduertise the King what was done and that the saide truce if the King dooth not agree to it shall be prolonged fifteene dayes for euerie one to retire or else to take further aduise Secondly to auoyde the disorders the impostes subtilties and other payments shall not be gathered by neither side and that within the first of Ianuarie next comming fifteene thousand crownes shall bee deliuered or leauied vpon the places which they of the religion holde for the maintaining of the Garisons of the reformed religion Thirdly that the Protestants shall cease to leauie the tenths goods and rents of Priestes where they haue heretofore leauied them and as for the goods of the Catholicks seazed on by them of the reformed religion they shall not meddle neither of the one side nor of the other Fourthly the men of warre of both sides shall make no roades oppressions nor any act of hostilitie during the saide truce Last of all the Q. Mother shall graunt passeports to the King of Nauarre his seruants friends alleyed and partakers through the realme and out of the realme to aduertise them of that which he is about and also that he may send to the King to let him knowe what endeuour the saide King of Nauarre hath vsed to bring all things to a good peace This was concluded at Tours the 19. of December in this truce were comprehended Poytow Xainctonge Engomoys Lodumoyes Mirebaloys The Vicount Turenne was sent to Coignak a Towne vpon the riuer Charante betweene Xainctes and Iaruk to agree vpon the particularities of the truce with the Q. Mother There the Q. hauing agreed to these articles some other depending of these gaue him to vnderstand that for to haue peace the king of Nauarre must needes cause the exercise of the reformed religion to cease in the townes which he did hold and gaue him a speciall charge to declare to the sayd King of Nauarre that this was the kinges will The King of Nauarre being in the way to come to see her was met by the sayd Vicount who declared vnto his Maiesty what he was encharged by the Q. Mother to shew him Whereupon the king was about to turne backe but supposing thaâ— shee had sayd so by the aduise of the Counsell hee determined neuerthelesse to see her and to satisfy his mind in answering her When he had kissed her handes with a sad countenaunce she asked him whether the Vicount Turenne had spoken with him and assured him that it was the kinges resolution The king of Nauarre answered that hee mused much that shee would take so great paynes to tâ—ll him that whereof his eares were already weary to heare and that she being so wise went about to resolue a difficulty by the selfe same difficulty Also that she proposed to him that thing which he could not would not nor ought to do For first if he should forget himselfe so much as to goe about to do that which shee required of him yet were hee not able to reduce all them of the religion nor to cause them to leaue the exercise of the same Secondly he himselfe would not for then should hee greatly hurt his conscience and honor and for the one hee hath God onely for iudge His honor he should greatly empayre doing iniury to himselfe when he should seeme to yeeld more to the armes of his enemies then to the commaundement of his Lord and King Thirdly he answered that he ought so doe for if he should seeme to allow of that which was proposed to him he should seeme to allow the colour which the Leaguers haue pretended in whose pretences doth consist the strength of their armes and in the strength of their armes the decay and vndoing of the state And although he knew well that in so doing he should approach neere the fauors of y e king yet should he geue theÌ„ opportunity to take from him both the right which
which pleased him so that euery one in his owne person did some honorable exployt in this victorie This victorie was the more honorable vnto the sayd King of Nauarre that it was not bloudie to him For so great number being slaine on the side of the enemies he lost a very small number of either horsemen or footmen of his own And among that small number there was not found one of marke or commandement On the other side all the chiefest were slaine wounded or taken except Lauerdine who saued himselfe with much a doo Captayne Mercure while they were in battaile ran to Contras to seaze vpon the king of Nauarre his baggage supposing that the Duke Ioyeuse had gotten the victorie But when he heard the crye of victorie for the King of Nauarre he went out in hast and following the bancke of the riuer Droune toward Rochechalays saued himselfe by flight and shame The victorie was pursued three houres and more in the which pursuing were slaine and taken a great number the ordinance was carried away and the baggage lost After the returne from pursuing of the enemie thankes were giuen to GOD vpon the place of the battell the wounded were taken vp the dead buried the campe of the enemie burned vp But that which filled the measure of the King of Nauarre his vertue and honour was that hee shewed himselfe no lesse courteous and gentle toward the prisoners and wounded than hee had shewed himselfe valiant in the fight Let them who haue tried him by experience giue the testimony thereof who also haue acknowledged by effect y e good affection which he beareth to good French men discerning by a wise prudence all good men from the conspiring and traiterous Leaguers enemies of the state He commaunded the wounded to be diligently dressed and attended he sent away almost all the prisoners without any raunsome he gratified many of the chiefest to some he rendered their Ensignes namely vnto the Lord Montigny If he could haue guided the lot of armes in the battell many were left there vpon the place to whom he would haue willingly forgiuen For there was seene in him in this prosperous successe not one token of insolencie or passion which is commonly the mother of crueltie Here foloweth the names of the most notable men who dyed in this battell The Lord Ioyeuse general of the army and Saint Suuer his brother Bressay Roussay County of Suze County Ganelo County Aubjyou Fumel Neufuy in Perigord the elder Rochefort Gurat Saint Fort. Vaulx Lieutenant of Bellegard The Ensigne bearer of the Lorde Montigny Tierceline master of the Campe. Chesner Valade Baculard Champel the younger Pluuiault Brangerie Al these were lords hauing charg in y e army w t many other men of Mark. These folowing were taken prisoners and wounded Bellegard taken wounded and afterward dyed Saint Luke The Marquis of Prennes County Monsoreau Sansak Cipiere Saultray Montigny Villecomblin Chasteaurenauld Maumont Parriere Chasteauuieulx Chastelou Auuerdiere All these were men of commaundement Beside these were a number of Gentlemen Captaines and other men of name part of them slaine part taken The body of Ioyeuse was embaumed and brought to Paris God in that day and place rained from Heauen his fearefull iudgements and made them of France who loue the bloud of ciuill warres to knowe that in the end the losse is common and that such pestilence destroyeth the authors thereof The King being at Gien vpon Loyre aboue Orleans with his armie to withstand the Germans at the passage of Loyre receaued newes that the two armies had met and it was first reported that it was but a little skirmish where the King of Nauarre was put to the worst But the trueth could not be hidden long for at length it was knowne to all men that the King of Nauarre had obtayned the notablest victory which was yet in all the ciuill warres of France for the defence of the religion with an irrecuperable losse of them who would haue it rooted out The Court kept a great mourning thereof which qualified well the great ioy that they had for the ouerthrow of the Germanes which they had promised to theÌ„selues After this victorie the King of Nauarre folowed his purposed iourney into Gascoyne for the causes afore said he brought with him the best part of all the companies hee was accompanied with the Prince of Soissons The Prince of Conde repayred into Xainctonge for to assemble moreouer al that he might and to be at the appoynted rendes vous when they should take their iourney toward the armie of the Germains vpon the riuer of Lisle and afterward willing to goe further for to haste with great diligence his way he left the bodie of his forces with the Vicount Turenne who loosing neither time nor occasion tooke many places vpon the said riuer and in the rountrey round about which hee reduced vnder the power of the King of Nauarre Here foloweth the names of the places taken by force or composition after the battell of Coutras The house and mill of Auber demont nigh Coutras was rendered by composition there were garisons placed The Mill of Penot beaten downe The Mill of Cause taken and the fortifications destroyed The Castell and Mill of Saint Seuerine forsaken by night of them who did holde it Captaine Roux commaunded there for the King of Nauarre The new Mill giuen ouer and burned to the very foundations with all the moueable goods and victuals which were within whereby many men were vndone hauing lost their euidences The Mill of Coâ—y put vnder the protection of the King of Nauarre with the condition to make no warre there The Uicount Miles answered for it The Mill of Meneplet did the like vpon the same condition so did the mill of Vauclere The house of Captaine Fay. The Abbey of Vauclere The Church of Saint Laurens The towne and Abbey of Guistre taken by force and a Garison put there Saint Denis was forsaken and a Garison put therein Lapalays taken by assault after threeskore and fiue shot of Ordinance there were about 31. persons killed and 32. hanged for the great outrages and violences committed therein and many other reasons which were found worthy of Iustice the strong holde the Church and the towne wholy consumed with fire with all the fruites and goods which were within for that it was a very den of theeues and robbers The Castell of Vigneron rendered by composition and a Garison put therein The towne and Church of Puisiguin sustained the siege a day and a halfe was rendered to diseretion there were some executed iudicially for the great iniuries and complaints laide against them The Lord Semens who was wont to be one of the pillers of the League in that countrie brought the rest there abouts to the seruice of the King of Nauarre and did shew himselfe more adicted to the said King of Nauarre then he did euer to the contrarie side The fort and towne of Lussak forsaken
thousand more entring already into France with foure thousand Rutters which were euery day expected he must needes prouide money for them For these shameles Mercenaries who sell themselues to dye at other mens commaundement neuer considering the iustice of the cause will make no warre longer than they are fed with money Considering the great charge which he through euil couÌ„sell had drawen vpon his armes he gathered a great summe of mony vpon the Courts of his Parlâ—aments wherewith he payed those Souldiers But whilest the K. was so busie to fight against the God of battells his Sonne whome he had anoynted vpon his holy hill Sion and pollâ—d his iudges and Magistrates that they might recouer money with aduantage by peruerting indgement Beholde a preamble of that rebellion which followed against him in Paris the moneth of Maie next ensuing There was a certaine Masse Priest Parson of Saint Seuerine at the lower ende of Saint Iames streate named Preuost who preached most seditiously against the King and certain other Lords who were his faithfull seruaunts without any respect of persons degree or dignitie This Priest being threatned to be had before the King a certaine notarie made a great assembly both of armes and men for to defend the Priest The King being aduertized of this misâ—emeanour commanded one of the porters of his chamber accompanied with two Archers of his garde to goe to the sayd Notary to bid him come to speak with the King They which were assembled in the Notaries house seeing the sayde company to enter into the house set vpon them with great violence and enforced them to saue their liues by flight â—rying arme arme and so put al the side of the Vniuersitie in such a wonderfull commotion that there was nothing else to be hoped but a tragicall euent and afterwarde vntill the 8. day of the sayd moneth the whole Citie was in an vprore keeping watch al night at the corners of the streates Now to returne to the course of the history The King hauing three great mighty armyes and no money to entertaine them turned himâ—elfe to the olde shifts broughâ— into France by the Cardinall of Lorreyne and paltring Italians who came with the Q. Mother and gouernd King Henry the second father to this King at their pleasure when they were disposed to make him a slaue to their passions For the ninth of September the King went to Parliament for to establish fifteene Edicts among the which there were three notable the first was of the establishing 27. Secretaries The second was to choose the sixt chamber of enquests consisting of twenty counsellers and two presidents The third was the creation of the Masters of accounts with two presidents out of the which estates he made his reckoning to pluck two Millions of golde Where thou mayest see gentle Reader in what miserable state France was then from the highest to the lowest The Leaguers secretly agaynst the king They openly made warre agaynst God distroyed his subiectes to bring to passe his owne subuersion and to hide the treasons of his enemies refusing to harken vnto any motion of peace proffered him by the king of Nauarre or to any good counsels and for to maintayne this his enterprises iustice must be peruerted by plurality of offices which is one of the principallest pillers of kingdoms by the which magistracy is vpholden mans society entertayned As concerning the armies which were in hand that which should bee lead by the king himselfe consisted of foure score and eight companyes of men of armes and ten thousand footmen twelue thousand Swissers 4. thousand Rutters he caryed twelue double Canons and two thousand Pioners and about the 1. of September the companies began to repayre to Montereau faut Yoynne with commaundement to stay there abouts about Sens in Bourgony vntill his comming and then to repayre all to S. Florentine there to be mustered The king sent to Marshal Biron to Montereau to view the place where they should campe for the king had determined to campe alwayes and for that cause all the Lords had prouided tentes He tooke for his counsel the Lords Villeroy and Bruslard secretaries the Dukes Espernon Danuile Retes and the Marshals Biron and Aumont The Prince Soyssons was with the king of Nauarre and the Prince County was in NormaÌ„dy Mayne Aniow to gather as many companies as he could to ioyne with the Germans knowing well that these great armies were specially prouided to destroy the house of Bourbon vnder the colour of defending the popish religion The Duke d'Aumaule was appoynted Colonel of the Swissers this armie went not further Eastward then Sens from thence turning South and West ward and crossing the Countrey of Auxeroy and Gastinoys passed Loyre into Berry after the determinatiun of the Germanes was knowne As for the third armies thus is it the Duke of Guize Lorreyne at the beginning of September were at Nancy there they had between 20. and 25000. men among them were many horsemen there they receaued 400. Launces of the Duke of Parma all olde Souldiers 2000. footemen Italians and betweene sixe or seauen hundred light horses they made no great account of the Italians the sonne of the Lord Antragues gouernour of Orleans about the 15. of September brought vnto the Duke of Guize beside horsemen about 700. footemen when a little before all the companies of the Leaguers of Britayn sent vnto him by the Duke Mercure vnder the conduct of the Lord Hault Boys were discomfited by the King of Nauarre nigh Monsoreau vpon Loyre as is before reported The army of Germans for y e king of Nauarre when it departed out of Germany was of fiue thousand Rutters fiue thousand Launceknights armed with corsâ—ets and launces sixteene thousand Swissers foure thousand harquebusiers on horsebacke and about thre hundred horses of French men But after they had passed the mountayne of Sauerne the further it went forward the more it did encrease for the Lord Mouy brought two thousand Harquebusiers French men on horsbacke The L. Villeneufue Cormon one thousandand the Lord Lours one thousand The Lord Chastilion the 22. of September brought to it fifteene hundered Harquebusiers about 200. horses so that the totall summe myght amount to 34. or 35. thousand besides the companies which the Prince County brought afterward They had 16. pieces of ordinance to wit foure great culuerines eight field pieces and three peeces which were taken from Salabrine The Lieutenant of the King of Nauarre was the Prince Bullion assisted with a counsel consisting of these which follow the Lordes Guitri Oneaulx Cleruan Beauuoys la Nocle Vezins Digoyne Louet Ramboillet Laube Cheuorles Huguery and Beauuieu This army was the terror of the one side and the hope of the other and yet both were disappointed of their expectation For God shewed to the one part that he hath means ynough to chastife whom and when he pleaseth to the other part hee shewed that they are not safe who do
trust in man and make their force the arme of flesh Beside these three mighty armies and the armies of the king of Nauarre and Ioyeuse whereof it is spoken before The Lords Mommorency and Diguieres had the fifth in Daulphine agaynst the Lord Valete beside the armes and assembled forces scattered elswhere Such was the state of miserable France which had great cause to grone vnder the heauy burthen of so many so great and mighty armies This tempest was very blacke and thicke and at length thereout issued dreadfull thunder clappes But now we haue to speake of these three armyes conioyntly to wit of the Leaguers lead by the Guyzes of the Catholikes conducted by the king himselfe and of the Germans guided chiefly by the Duke of Boillon Here we haue to consider the iudgementes of God which were powred vpon these armies First y e Leaguers by the K. forces did work y e K. vndooing y t by his fall they might be lifted vp on high The king in pretending y e defence of the Catholike religion which no man did oppugne by violence but the Leaguers went about to root the Gospell of Christ out of France The Germans for the most part were mercenaries who regarded not the right of the cause neither came to serue him who procured them but did in mynd swallow downe the spoyle of France And some among them who were lead with an vpright mind yet being mingled with prophane and irreligious men and trusting in the outward apparance of that army turned theyr confidence from God to the arme of flesh therefore all were disappointed of theyr intents for neyther of them all had any benefit by this great warre but blowes slaughters and calamityes About the latter ende of August after this great armie had passed the mountaine of Zauerne and began to enter into Lorreyne the Dukes eldest sonne with certaine regiments approached so nigh them at Salabrine that 3. of his companies were discomfited and six Ensignes sent to Strasbourg and proceeding further they tooke Blasmond The said army drawing neere to Nancy about the beginning of September certayne seruantes going about to forrage with their cartes were set on by certayne companies which issued out of Nancy when they had seazed vppon some cartes were pursued and beaten into the very gates of Nancy This army of Germans being about Nancy there was a counsell holden to wit agaynst whom they should first turne theyr armes The French men were of that aduile to make warre in Lorreyne and that it was the pleasure of the king of Nauarre that they who had of lustines kindled that miserable warre in France might first of all feele the heauy burthen of the same but specially the Duke of Lorreyne who was one of the heads of the League The Germans in taking a certaine summe of money which the Duke of Lorreyne proffered them were at length content to passe by as neighbours and friends yet notwithstanding they concluded warre did there many acts of hostilitie such as warre doth commonly drawe after it This armie being yet newe and lustie did neglect a notable occasion to oppresse the enemie at the bridge S. Vincent vpon what occasion that opportunitie was neglected it is vncertaine But it is confessed of all men that if they had come to hands that day they had seene the end by the iudgment of men of that warre assoone as the beginning Thus some exployts of warre being done there the scarcitie of victualls beginning to growe they determined to goe foorth out of Lorreyne But vpon the determination of the way which they should followe there was great difficultie found For the Germans desired to passe toward Sedan from whence they might hope of many good commodities and if néede should be they might haue a newe supply of forces out of Germany which thing could not bee if they enclosed themselues among so many riuers which are on the South side of Seyne Some French men on the contrary sayd that they should turne right to the riuer of Loyre for to ioyne with the King of Nauarre The Lord Boillon desired greatly that they would approach to Sedan as they had as he sayd promised him and that in hope of it he had made great preparations of powder and artillerie which hee had made of purpose Considering also that he had to prouide for the securitie of his places which might incurre some daunger if they were not prouided for All reasons debated and weighed on both sides the course to the riuer of Loyre was concluded Whilest these things so passed in Lorreyne the Lord Chastilion the 22. of September came to the armie with his troupes he had much adoo to passe and was as if it were enclosed in the towne of Gresille but was rescued by the Countie de la Mark yonger brother to the Duke of Boillon The armie drawing néere to Chaumont in Bassigny there it was put in deliberation to execute a certaine enterprize which the Lord Chastilion had in hand but it could not be done The armie came to Chasteauuilaine where they soiorned some dayes and in the meane while they tooke a Gentleman named Viliers comming from Rome his iourney to Rome was to solicite the Pope to helpe his master with money to make warre against them of the reformed religion and also to pray the Pope Frier Sixtus to name the King head of the League assuring him that it would greatly mooue him to warre and roote out them of the religion whom he named heretickes The answere which the Pope made him as it appeared by his words was that they should liue in peace with their neighbours and that hee could not furnish them with money being not willing to make warre against any man who desired peace among all men The sayd gentleman carried a letter very ill written which he sayd to be the hand of the Duchesse of Lorreyne mother of the Duke contayning thus much I am very glad to vnderstand the state of your affayres and I aduise you to goe forward for neuer a fayrer occasion was offered you to put the Scepter in your hand and the Crowne vpon your head This letter gaue occasion to them of the Counsell to agree that this Gentleman should be kept carefully and brought to the King of Nauarre The armie soiourning at Chasteauuilaine the King with his great armie stayed about Montereau faut Yonne and Sens but vnderstanding the determination of the Germans retyred with his armie into Berry beyond Loyre there to stop the passing ouer to the King of Nauarre and to giue them freer accesse betwéene the two riuers of Seyne and Loyre where hée thought either to weary them or by ioyning his with the armie of the Leaguers at the tayle of them easily he might oppresse them During this soiourne the Baron Oneau brought the artillerie before the Abbey of Cleruaulx which compounded to giue a certaine summe of money and some quantitie of wine and meale notwithstanding that capitulation
him for his sonne and true heire of the Crowne in France in case he doth decease without issue But to come to the matter now here is a blessed daies worke for the Guyzes and holy Church Vp master Frier and get you to Rome the holy Citie once againe to Sir Hugh to shew him what good lucke wée haue and that all thinges do happen as wée would haue them but that we haue néede of his ghostly counsaile Whilest Frier Mathew carier of the Guyzes goeth to do his message as well as he could they of the Guyze with their partakers do dispearse themselues into all partes of the Realme to allure Townes and Cities but especially them that were Malecontentes to their deuotion after the which progresse of theirs with importunacy they do procure the King to call the assembly of the states of the realme at Bloys to the which they had altogether laboured their fauorers and such as did desire nothing more then the decay of the King and increasing of the Guyzes In the same assembly that the King might haue the blame himselfe of the breaking of the peace it was requested First that the edict of pacification should be reuoked and the exercise of the reformed religion forbidden Secondly that the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and all the nobilitie professing the same religion should be exiled out of the realme all others of the same profession should be enforced either to abiure or els to depart forthwith out of the Realme Thirdly that the 8. townes which were giuen them for 6. yeares should be put into the kinges handes alleaging that the time was expired The king being desirous to entertaine his subiectes in peace knowing well the frutes of ciuil warre dissolued the states promising shortly to assemble the best wisest and most experienced of his realme to haue their aduise for the reformation of all thinges About the same time of the states beeing at Bloys the king of Nauarre sendeth new aduertisementes to the king about the intent and open practises of the league willing him to haue some care of himselfe and sheweth him the present danger that he stood in After the returne of Frier Mathew from Rome the Bariesuits in the latter end of September held a certaine Synode or Clandestine conuenticle in Paris in the which the said Frier Mathew as president did rule the rost hauing receaued direction of Sir Hugh vicar of Rome where according to the said directions they lay downe the methode to stirre vp the coles to raise vp seditions and rebellious in all partes but especially to increase the hatred of all men against them of the religion but namely against the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde and for that end they forged an infamous libell as more amply shal be shewed The king according to his promise made to the States at Bloys in the latter end of the yeare 1584. called at Saint Germayn in Faye his chéefest and best learned Senators of all his Parliamentes there to shew him the best and readiest meanes to ease the people and to restore the realme to some good state On the other side the king of Nauarre considering that the time appointed to surrender the 8. townes committed to his custody was expired and that the rage of his enemies was rather increased then diminished and that their meanes their factions and their furie was now greater then euer it had béene and that imminent daungers were at hand assembled a méeting of the Nobilitie which professed the reformed religion at Montaulban a strong City in Quercye where Monsieur Belieure one of the kinges counsaile was present to prouide for their common affaires And whereas the king of Nauarre his enemies had spread abroad both by false rumors and libels that immediatly after the death of Monsieur he was returned to the Catholike religion and was gone to Masse the said king of Nauarre therefore to satisfy all men against that false rumor and slaunder protested openly that he knew the truth to be on his side and that by Gods assistance he would stand to the profession and defence of the reformed religion vnto the end and that hée would acknowledge none other fortune but onely that There by the common aduise of all that assembly it was thought good that considering the great daungers which seeme to threaten them of the reformed Religion and generally all France a supplication should bee presented to the king that of his méere fauour clemencie be would continue the kéeping of the said Townes to the king of Nauarre for certaine yeares more Vpon this conclusion the Lord Laual with other deputies were sent to the King at the assembly which was at Saint Germain and shewing the cause of their comming to the king and complaining of diuers iuiuries daily done to them of the reformed religion by the leaguers the 11. of December 〈◊〉 the king granted them the keping of the said townes for 2. yeares longer charging them that for iniuries done to them they should not séeke to reuenge their owne cause for breaking of the peace But that they would shew their gréefes to the King of Nauarre who thereupon should make meanes to him for amendes Whilest all these thinges were working on euery side the king of Nauarre séeing that neither so many aduertisementes from euery part of France geuen to the king neither that which hée himselfe saw namely the partialities societies fraternities leagues confederacies and preparations of the house of Guyze did any whit moue or warne the king to looke to himselfe and to his affaires which thing he might easily haue done in time The said king of Nauarre had sent the Lord de Segur Pardillan superintendent of his house to the Quéene of England the king of Dēmarke the Princes electors the Lands-graue of Hessen and to other States of Germany for thrée causes first to compound the controuersies about certaine articles of religion not as yet agréed vpon in the reformed Churches y t the enemies of the commō cause might not distoine them by that occasiō Secondly to renue the ancient friendship and aliaunce in that sort as it had véene of old Thirdly to dispose a summe of money in Germany in such order that therby he might there prouide succour if he were assaulted by his enemies The said Lord Perdillane returned home to the king of Nauarre in December 1584. when the king did hold his counsaile at Saint Germayn The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE NOw when the Guyzes do draw néere their time to bring forth that monster of treason which they had conceaued they haue many secret conferences with y t Duke of Parma pety sonne to Peter Aloyse Pharnese the Popes bastard hanged at his windowes by his owne subiectes for his execrable life Also with Bernardine Mendoze Giouan Bardachino the king of Spaine his Coriero the Bishop of Cominges bastard sonne to the Lord Lansake playing Dromo betweene them
beliefe Fiftly they shall beleeue that in the transubsâ—antiation the bread and Wine are chaunged into the bodie bloud soule and deitie of Christ Sir William Ruze either is an asse who knoweth not what he saith or else a false Prophet which leadeth men to a strange God for such a paradoxe Note was yet neuer heard in Christs Church that the Bread and Wine was changed into Christs deitie Sixtly he saith that wee must beleeue the Masse to be a sacrifice propiciatorie for the sinnes of the quick and the dead What proofes hath Sir William Ruze to shew out of Gods word that the Masse is a propiciatorie sacrifice for sinne more then the sacrifices of Note the heathens Last of all the fire of purgatorie the hauing and worshipping of their Images the adoring of Reliques and praying vnto them and also that the counsell of Trent is to be receaued as good Catholick and an article of the faith of the Church of Rome All these things are articles of faith which they that will goe to the diuell must needes beleeue but cleane contrarie vnto the faith of the true Note Catholick and Apostolick Church The persecutions imprisonments seazing of goods and abiurations had begun and went forward in diuers places but especiallie in such as were addicted to the League long before and had receaued the last edict set forth by the King And among other places there is a towne in Poytow called Niort great and rich where the faires and martes of the countrey beyond Loyre are kept This towne had béen seduced of long time and of all townes in France most earnestly adicted to the League there of all places and in the townes there abouts they began most cruelly to persecute the Church which was assembled at Saint Gelays in the which persecution many bowed downe the knee to Baall Therefore about the 20. of December Lewis Blachiere Pastor of that Church hauing retired to Rochel and vnderstanding the fall of many in that heate of persecution writeth a letter to raise them that are fallen and to binde that which was broken In the which first hee sheweth the vse of persecution that is to discerne the true Disciples of Christ from false bretheren and hypocrits who yeeld and turne after euery winde of doctrine Secondly hee dooth terrifie them that are fallen by the threatnings of Christ against them that shall denie him before men Thirdly he detecteth the subtiltie of the enemie in the forme of his abiuration in that he hath made a doore of golde to enter into a priuy or dongeon full of filth stinking and poysoned ayre placing in the beginning the Nicen simbole afterward patcheth to it all the filthie abominations of Antichrist Fourthly hee sheweth to them that are fallen the gate of mercie to remaine alwaies open to them which seeke the right meanes to enter in and that repentance is neuer too late Last of all them who doo stand he doth encourage to preferre the confession of the son of God wherein doth consist eternall life before this present life or the commodities and pleasures thereof Thus wee will make an end of this second Booke of this Tragicall Historie raised vp in the Kingdome of France by the Leaguers The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE IT is shewed in the former Booke how the Leaguers after hauing long vnder hand practised the supplanting of the house of Valoys at length did burst out into a manifest rebellion I haue shewed what pretence coulour and buckler they tooke to wit religion iustice the Cardinall of Bourbon Thou hast seene gentle reader how the King tooke them for enemies rebels and traitors and some of their partakers were condemned and executed for such Also by what meanes practises and wicked counsell the King was drawne to ioyne friendship and armour and to deuide his kingdome with them whome hee a little before had declared rebels and traitors What edicts declarations iniunctions the King afterward set out in fauour of them against the reformed religion The atemptes of Merceur in the Lowe Poytow the exploytes done by the Prince of Conde in Xainctonge Poytow and his voyage beyond Loyre to Anger 's and the successe of that voyage the exployces done by the Vicount Turenne the comming of the Duke De Mayne with his armie and all his conquest in Perigord and Limosin Now will we begin the third Booke with the beginning of Ianuarie The first day of Ianuarie the King of Nauarre being at Montoban a citie in Quercie wrote letters vnto all the states of France and first of all vnto the sacrificing Priests commonlie called the Cleargie in the which he protesteth first of his moderatenes which he hath vsed toward all men euen in the middle of warre and that hee hath often times remitted sundrie and great iniuries done to him in respect of the publick peace Secondly he complaineth of them that they doo assist with their power and meanes them who making their ambition a zeale to holy Church and the reuenging of their priuat discontentments with a publick warre haue set the whole realme in a miserable cumbustion Thirdly hee letteth them vnderstand that he feareth neither their money their names nor the armes of his enemies but pittyeth the state of the poore people who doth suffer all the oppressions and miseries which will ensue these enterprizes of his enemies Fourthly he threatneth them that they who should be the vpholders of peace and the support of the poore people shall answere before God for all the bloodshed confusions vices and miseryes which the warre caryeth with it for entertayning with their meanes and norishing with their goods this vniust and damnable warre with the disorders which insue thereof Fiftly hee protesteth that hee hath proffered himselfe to be tryed by a conference and distentation in a free counsel but they haue preferred war fire and sword before these good lawdable and ordinary meanes of conference which is most worthy of man Last of all he sheweth them that this warre is most vnworthy of Christians but specially of such as do pretend to bee teachers and Doctors of the Gospell and committing his innocency and iust cause to God warneth them that the dangers of warre are common as well to them as to him and his so maketh an end with them Vnto the Nobility hee rehearseth the summe of all thinges passed euer since the raising vp of the League First how that in the middest of peace these sturres are bred and borne Secondly he reciteth with what patience he hath borne all the iniuries proffered vnto him by the Leaguers who haue made him the subiect and scope of their warre Thirdly he putteth them in remembrance of all the Kings actions before the edict of vnion how the King declared them rebels and perswaded them as such in all his courtes of Parliament And how they to wit the Nobility haue béen armed agaynst the Leaguers and that all these actions of the king did proceed
day of the same August So that the night following the enemy began to draw pieces out of their fort and at the breaking of the day put fire to it which there continued the space of sixe moneths hauing caught vnder the earth to those great pieces of timber wherewith it was made euen from the very foundation The composition was very honorable and to the great aduantage of the king of Nauarre for it was first agreed that the Marshall Biron should lead away his army beyond the riuer without attempting vppon Tonnay Charante a place very weake which hee diâ— hold for the king of Nauarre Secondly that Marans should remayne free for the traffike Thirdly that the king of Nauarre should haue a Gentleman of his in the casteâ—l with certayne number of souldiers to hold the inhabitantes of both religions in the same liberty which they had before the warre This agreement they of Fontenay and Niort would not hold and neuer ceased to make warre vntill that they were well punished for wicked robbers did continually issue out of Fontenay Maillezayes Niort hauing for their Captayne a certayne Masse Priest named Sir Merye parish Priest of Ronde who did dayly robbe Marchants and trauellers of their goods and often times of their liues vntill they were reduced vnder the handes of the king of Nauarre The seuenth of the same moneth the king of Nauarre came from Rochel when it was very late entered the Iles of Maran by the fort Brune and from thence to the Bastile viewed all the fortes and trenches on that side and about ten in the night did suppe at the signe of the Moone The eight day hee deuided his companies sending some into Poytow other into Annis to refresh themselues whilest the L. Byron lead his army into Xainctonge so that armie began to bee broken agaynst Reeds and Rushes of Marans doing afterward nothing but within a while after by litle and litle it was scattered and reduced to nothing The Papistes spake diuersly according to their passion as though this armie had not done what they might haue done But the truth is that the king of Nauarre had prouided such a good order within the Iland and that there was such a number of men of valour that the Lord Biron could not do otherwise then he did except he would haue thrust his meÌ„ to the slaughter without endomaging much his enemy Secondly the marishes which at that tyme were wont to bee drye were yet full of water euen a foot high for the causes aboue recited Thirdly the men of warre haue made fortes at euery entrance into the Iland furnished with good and resolued men for they were about one hundred of braue and 〈…〉 gentlemen making about two hundred good horses aâ—le to oppose themselues agaynst the enemy if he had attempted to enter Also the enemyes had to goe aboue fifteene hundred paces in the Marsh not aboue fiue in a ranke all discouered to our men who were in the forts Fourthly the Marish was full of steppes which the Cattell made in winter so that if the horsemen had waded the one foote had soonke very deepe and the other would haue stayed vppon the firme ground with a great number of Galthrops which were cast in diuers places Such was the state of Maran when the composition was made The king of Nauarre left the Lord Iarry gouernor there as before with charge to warre agaynst no man if they should not warre agaynst him The Lord Nemours whom the King had sent thither to commaund ouer the men of armes stayed not there long for hee was commaunded by the king of Nauarre to retyre in Poytow and after went to Bruant Few dayes after the distributing of the companies out of Marans captayne Lommeau discouered the money of the tributes Impost of Poytow conducted toward Loyre by certayne Albaneses and some gentlemen with Popish souldiers of the countrey whom they set vpon but they saued them selues in a Priory Not farre from thence he compassed them immediatly with certayne companies The king of Nauarre being aduertised thereof at Rochel departed speedily and caused the great Culuerine of Marans to bee brought before the Priory which was strong without canon they within yeelded themselues by composition which was that they should goe away safe leauing behind them six thousand crownes which was the charge of their conuoy As the king of Nauarre vsed a wonderfull diligence in going thether so was his diligence no lesse in retyring thence and commaunded all the companyes to do the like knowing well that y e enemie which was yet at Morye and about Fontenay with his armie would not faile to set on him which thing did happen But the sayd king of Nauarre had already repassed the fort of Brault which thing all his companies did not for many remaining at Lusson to refresh themselues and to fare French-like were charged and put to flight some were slaine some taken prisoners most of them saued them selues leauing behind them their stuffe and baggage and among them captayne Lommeau It is sayd before that by the aduise of the Duke of Guyze diuers armies were appoynted for diuers prouinces and namely the Duke Ioyeuse for Languedock where he entering with a power tooke the Cities of Lodeue and Saint Ponce hée tooke also Montesquion but Marueiolx hee tooke by treason In all these places he committed incredible cruelties and such as it were needfull to find out new wordes to describe them But as God is a iust reuenger of wronges so did he not suffer these crueltyes long vnpunished but shewed tokens that his iustice is neither fayned nor idle nor his hand shortned in punishing such insolent Tyrants For after diuers and manifold excesses and iniuries done in the countrey he besieged the mas Saint Puelles the weakest most miserable and least defensible of all the places of Loragoys there was he so shamefully beaten put back that after they had slaine him thirty Captaines and fiue hundred Harquebusieres they scattered his regiments and so leauing his credit behinde him cracked among men of valour was faine to returne home as well as he could well chastized to tell newes of his good speede to his Master Shortly after the Nobilitie of Languedock aduised better by the proud and insolent outragiousnes of the man and of his companies and taught by the execution of Gods iustice vpon that rabble of sauage robbers assembled the states of that prouince at Castelnawdarry where they concluded neuer to meddle anie more with the leaguers neither to proceede any more by the way of warre and vyolence agaynst them of the Religion It is sayd before how the Duke d'Espernon was appointed for Daulphine and Prouance and the sonne of Ioyeuse for Auuergne The Lord Espernon therefore entring into Daulphine with his power had better successe for first he tooke Valance Tallard and Guileslie from the league and reduced them to the Kings obedience He tooke also many townes from
that Crowne considering the great strength of the Catholikes and how eagerly they are bent agaynst the reformed religion If she heareth the same answere of him which Sathan heard of Christ then will she take the second weapon of her warre in hand which is Disuniting for if the sayd King will not consent vpon the proffer of peace to abolish the exercize of the reformed religion then she will render him odious with infamous Libels throughout France both to them of the reformed religion and also to the Catholikes for both were desitous of peace so she imagineth that by these meanes she might disunite them from the King of Nauarre laying to his charge that it rested but in him that France was not at rest If this would not serue neither then she thought sure that the third would doo the feate which was to abuse the true intentions of the sayd King of Nauarre that holding him long about the hope of peace and whilest he should labour about it he might be surprized by some poynt of Italian valour and if not his partakers would bee so weakened in the Prouinces with these armies that either he would not be able hereafter to defend himselfe or withstand his enemies or els that hee would bee inforced by this weakning to accept at their hands a most disaduantagious peace And to begin withall she sendeth to the Lords Monpensier and Monmorency willing them to dispose the heart of the sayd King to peace as she sayd which thing was diuersly taken For the Leaguers feared the authoritie of the Prince Monpensier mistrusting that by these meanes the Queene vnawares would vnite him to the head of his house They of the religion feared his facilitie that he was made a meane for peace least hée should ioyne himselfe to the King of Nauarre in this quarrell and warre raised by the Leaguers to destroy the house of Bourbon so that by one thing both parts tooke occasion to distrust this message Assoone as the negotiation of peace began the practizes of the Leaguers began also to interrupt the peace which they greatly feared For after the message of these two Lords the Abbot of Gadaigne was sent to the King of Nauarre for no Tragedie can be wel played without a Priest who being wel entertayned at Rochel by the sayd King euery man began to hope well of that thing which was so greatly desired But when the Q. Mother came to Cheuonceau a towne lying vpon the riuer Chere which falleth in Loyre beneath Tours all this hope vanished away like a lightming For then the hatred and deceitfull meaning of the Q. Mother was discouered which had lien hid vnder those courteous messages For the Abbot of Gadaigne was sent to Browage there to play Symons part if he could but his going thether was much suspected of the Rochelers The victualling also of Browage was taken for a stoare house against their Towne There was a Gentleman named la Roche the lesser who went many voyages betwéene the King of Nauarre and the Q. Mother to agree of the place and other meanes of the interuiew The Q. by little and little did draw nere to Xainctonge the King of Nauarre would haue aduaunced as farre as Champaigne in Tourene so that the Marshall Byron who had passed Loyre to assault Poytow would retire beyond Loyre and that thing he required for his securitie The Queene would that he should trust in her the King willed her to trust in him she aleaged her good will he aleaged his fidelitie innocencie who did neuer breake his word toward any person Shee did lay to his charge that he was the cause that the parley could not be brought to passe He answered that it did stay but in her that France was not in quietnes that he was ready to see her so that it were in a sure place and that his way might be sure Whilest these thing passed so betweene thē by messengers some counselled the King of Nauarre to help Chastilion which was then besieged by the Duke d'Mayne others willed him not to take heede to her deceitefull words and to expect the same courtesies which he had receaued heretofore at their hands It is saide before how that among those fiue armies which were prepated in Aprill and May the commaunder Chastre was appoynted to furnish a Nauie in Britain well prouided And in August as they were taking order for the place and manner of the interuiew this Nauy on a suddaine came before Rochel which thing was the cause that all was on the point to bee broken The King of Nauarre complained to the King by the Lorde Riaulx beseeching his Maiestie to call back that armie shewing that hee could not leaue a towne of such importance as that was in that state without seeking for the quietnes and safety thereof The armie notwithstanding remoued not thence as long as they had any prouision of victuals whatsoeuer meanes the King of Nauarre made for it but at length in the moneth of Nouember the famine made them hoyse vp sailes and not the Kinges commaundement The selfe same day that the Nauie tooke vp ancker Captaine Arman was taken with letters of the Queene to the commaunder Chastre by the which hee was commaunded not to depart or else not to goe farre from Rochel these letters fell into the hands of the King of Nauarre Hee notwithstanding ouercomming with patience all these occasions which hee might take to refuse the parely he offered to see the Queene vpon the conditions aboue said requiring that in the meane time there should no act of hostilitie be done of either sides The Queene required a truce to be taken and published The King of Nauarre answered that he could not consent thereunto for as much as hee had promised to his partakers to enter into no agreement of peace without their aduise and consent shee found to her thinking that answer very strange Thus like the Carthagenians who wept when they should pay tribute to the Romans but were not moued at all when they yéelded themselues tributaries to them For when the King of Nauarre answered to the Kings messengers that he would stay yet sixe moneths for the Kings succour afore hee would employ his friends and that he would first be demaunded of peace before he would resolue himselfe to warre Now when shee findes that hee hath giuen his word she weepeth it had been better to haue wept when the edicts were broken the innocent iudged guiltie the obedient rebels and the iust malefactors After much a doo the Q. Mother graunted certaine pasports which the King of Nauarre demanded for to aduertise his friends what he was in hand to doo At the selfe same time shee caused the truce to be proclaymed which almost mard all for the King of Nauarre suspected that vnder colour of that truce shee would stay the leauie of the Germanes Thereupon the King of Nauarre shewed vnto her that this truce had a respect vnto a
that which she had deuised against that vertuous and innocent Prince she heard that it was practized vpon her sonne She departed from Fontenay to Nyort intending thus to take her iourney to Paris where she thought her presence to be needfull But before her departing out of the countrey she would faine to doo somewhat least it should be sayd she had done nothing Therefore she sent to the King of Nauarre that he would send to her the Vicount Turenne to whome she offered libertie to talke withall To the which thing he consented easily The Q. shewed that she would treate with him being informed of his prudence The King of Nauarre consented to that thing being sure of his fidelitie All sorts of men déemed that because he was knowne to loue the blessed state and quietnes of the Realme he was indéede a fit instrument if the counsell of the Q. would haue vsed him vnto that purpose The Vicount Turenne for that purpose came to Fontenay and hauing certified the Q. that he was there to receaue his commandements she proposed vnto him to make a generall truce and that the affayres were such as there could be no talke of a peace as yet for the which proposition hée answered That the King of Nauarre would easily consent to that and that hee would alwayes allow the name of truce so that it would produce the euents of a good peace But that hitherto they had so stopped their cares to his requests that he had beene enforced to imploy his friends to that ende hee might bee heard and that hee coulde make neither peace nor generall truce without their aduise and consent for hee was elected protector of a part forsaken by the King which consisted of many particular persons who had beene particularly iniuryed to whome no satisfaction could be made without hearing their complaintes that if it please her to graunt the requisite pasportes and a reasonable time to call them together that it should be done with all speed And for to bring this thing to passe he thought good to make a particlar truce for the Prouinces of Poytow Xainctonge for two moneths during the which the King of Nauarre might prouide and aduise vpon the means how to make the peace for the treatie whereof the deputies of the Prouinces might come together The Queene thought that truce very ill and commanded her counsell to shew the reasons One of them answered that it were prciudiciable to the King for as much as during that time of truce the King of Nauarre would haue meanes to bring the strangers into the Realme Also that the Catholiks would become idle and accustome themselues to rest also that they of the league would take that truce for a shadow of peace of the which fearing the bodie they would make a second insurrection To those reasons the Vicount of Turenne answered that the place of the entring of the straungers had no correspondence with the high and low Poytow and that the treatie of peace did rather stay than further the leauie of them He answered also to the second reason which hee said to be common to both parts and that they of the reformed Religion would abuse rest sooner than the Catholikes because they were lesse vsed to it As for the insurrection of the league he would say nothing to it because he knew not not what they might doo But this hee knewe that the Duke of Guyze had but a small power The Duke de Mayne had broken his armie and that of small rubbell there was neuer great buildinges made But for because he had spoken hitherto without charge being come only to heare the Queene thought good that hee should returne to the King of Nauarre to bee particularly instructed of his pleasure Comming then to the King of Nauarre hee found him well assured of the leauie of Germaines by a man which came the selfesame day The same day the Vicount Turenne returned to the Queene speedily foūd her at Niort determined to take her iourney to Paris he was heard and made an ample discourse of y e prosperous state of the K. of Nauarre First that he had sustayned the burthen of fiue armies which haue serued for nothing els but to shew that he was still in readines for the tryall of the forces of his enemies contrarywise that they were deceaued both in forces and credit that they had reasons to the conspiracies and seditions of a towne not able to warre in the fielde Also that they could hope for no more succor of the spantard who was so occupyed to defend himselfe that he could not doe so much as to dreame to assault others that if the King of Nauarre had lost some weake villages he had fortified strong holdes And whereas hee had beene hitherto vpon the defensiue now he hath power to make his enemies to take his part That he hath a mightie armie of strangers whom the necessitie of his affayres did neuer procure him to call to his succour That hee neuer thought to imploy their seruice to make warre but rather to make a good peace Furthermore that notwithstanding he hath receaued extreame iniuries yet it neuer came in his minde to vse that to bee reuenged of them whome he knew to be seruants of this Crowne The Lord of Neuers assured him whether the King of Nauarre had not bound himselfe to the preiudice of his crowne The Vicount continuing his discourse beseeched the Queene in most humble wise to beleeue that he was neither rash nor a lyar and that hee would say nothing but what he knew certainly to be true and that if hee knew otherwise he would neuer disguise the truth but that he certainly knew that the King of Nauarre had done nothing with the strangers which be not for the good and quietnes of the state and to restore to the King and his faithfull seruants their authoritie And to that ende Madame saide hee that you may iudge of his intent he protesteth that whensoeuer your Maiesties pleasure is to vse his forces he will euer turne his face that way whither the commoditie of the Realme and your comandement shall call him The King of Nauarre said he continuing his discourses hath alwaies beleeued that the King hauing taken warre in hand being the weaker will neuer be able to restore peace before he be stronger And then shall he be stronger indeed when the Princes of his blood shall haue his forces in hand to restore the obedience which is due to him This is the last remedie Madame said he which I could wish to bee otherwise And I doo tell you this particularly as seruant to your Maiestie and not as a Hugonet to whome it may be it were more sure to expect an armie than a Negotiation and a battell than an edict Beleeue not Madame that damage of the State is sought by the friendes thereof it is more profitable and honourable to consent voluntarily to a peace and to choose
by time with a good will the meanes thereof then to take the same enforced by necessitie The Queene said that they should then stay the armie of strangers and did much braule about the forme of pasportes Then the Vicount replied Madam if yee bee so vnwilling to giue vs good wordes we are not come to that passe to expect good effects for the which we should stay the longer if we should stay for the meanes whereby to enforce you thereunto Madam the time is no more that we will assure our selues vpon a single promise seeing that the edicts haue fayled vs. The Queene did so giue eare to these reasons that shee seemed to haue her minde occupied more vpon the aduertisements which were giuen her on euery side for they set before her face the apparance of a great rebellion and the King was ill prouided of companie The Duke d'Mayne was in Paris practising against the Kings person the Duke of Guize was about to put himselfe into Paris also They made her see in their aduertisements the occasions which the heads of the League had to giue the last blow of dispaire they did shew her that the hope which the Leaguers had of England was dead with the Quéene of Scottes and that the deuotion of the Cleargy did coole as fast as the ambition of the League did heate They shewed her how the sixe armies alreadie were spent and consumed without dooing any thing that they of the reformed religion were growne strong so that there was no more hope for them to build out of the ruines of them whereby it appeared euidently in what daunger of them the King stoode All these things being set before her eyes made her to take her iourney in haste from Niort to Paris fearing least these seditious persons who had left nothing more to enterprise would execute their mischieuous intents vpon the Kings person therefore at the same time the mistrust did greatly encrease at the Court where there were diuers factions for the King mistrusted the Leaguers and the Leaguers the King and among the Leaguers one mistrusted another Euery one going about vnder the colour of defending the Romish religion to lay downe the foundation of their greatnes by rebellion murther and particide which sturring of rebellion caused also that this generall truce which was in hand was not brought to effect It is saide before that the 13. day of December 1586. the Q Mother required of the King of Nauarre that a truce for a whole yeare might bee taken which the King of Nauarre graunted so that it might be by the consent and aduice of his friends seruants and confederats and such as had elected him for their protector and defender whome the King had forsaken by his edicts ploclaiming warre against them and also to certifie the Germans thereof which were his friends and alyed whereupon shee agreed to giue passeports that with safety of the messengers they might be aduertised thereof Vpon this promise of passeports the 29. of December the King of Nauarre to omit nothing which might shew the desire hee had to pacifie the miserable troubles of the realme and for to dispose as well them of the religion as his friends confederates and seruants he sent forth notable gentlemen into diuers countreyes as well of the realme as out of the realme with letters of credit and ample memories to informe them of all that had passed in the interuiew betweene him and the Q. Mother to that end that nothing should be disguised and falsified to them as it had chaunced often times in the former ciuil dissensions by them who doo watch nothing more then to disunite the heartes vnâ—ted to so good a worke as is the quarrell debated so many yeares against the Romish League enemie to al quietnes these were the contents of these letters of credit The King of Nauarre sent to them to whom he directed his letters this Gentleman N. carrier of the said letters to visit them and to let them vnderstand the state of the common affaires and how all things had passed at the meeting of him and the Q. Mother hee praieth them to beleeue the messenger as well about the particularities of the meeting as about all those things which he had to tell them from him he praieth them also to be of good courage and not to bee wearie because of the good hope which hee hath of the blessed issue of so many labours and for his part he will omit no point of his duetie touching the preseruation of the common cause As touching the memories the write inclosed in the letters contained the summe of them The King of Nauarre protector of the reformed Churches in France supposing that to bee the charge of his duety after so many stormes passed to visit and to confirme the remnant of the dissipation hath sent this the Lord N. to represent vnto all them of the religion in the Prouince N. what the estate of the common affaires is And to this effect the saide Lord shal repaire to the Lords Gentlemen other persons of meaner qualitie who haue retired to their owne houses or vnto other places of the said Prouince for the rigour of the edicts if it can be possible that he may find them and shall certifie them how that after so many lettes and delayes which mistrust bringeth hee hath seene the Q. Mother nigh Coignak that hee hath entred into no treatie of peace but onely hath hearkened vnto all that should be proposed to him touching the attaining to the same that he hath promised to doo nothing therein without the aduise of the Churches kinsmen friends confederats and seruants And that acknowledging the honor which the sayd Lady hath done to him considering the labour which she had taken at that tyme of the yeare and in that age that she is of after many discourses which she hath made of her desire and inclination to peace he hath consented to a truce of two moneths in the prouinces of high and low Poytow Laudonoys Mirabaloys Angomoys Xainctonge as well on this side of Charante as beyond as also in the towne and gouernement of Browage and Aluert the countrey of Aunis the town and gouernment of Rochel in the meane tyme to send for the deputies as well of the churches of France as of the conâ—ederats out of the realme for to intreat of the peace by theyr common aduise But hauing sent the Lord Turenne with six men of honor with him to Coignak for to agree vpon the conditions necessary for the entertaining of the sayd truce The sayd Q. mother among other discourses had declared vnto him that the king would suffer but one religion in the realme to wit his owne which determination of the King she saâ—d shee would playnely shew least any man should bee deceaued therein commaunding him to declare the same to the king of Nauarre to his partakers Which message the sayd Vicount reported vnto the king
Lord Saint Luke and others going out of Niort through the countrey of Aunix and the towne Sorgeres went to batter Tonnay Charante which he tooke by composition and there vnderstanding that the companie of the Lorde Puelles was at Croixchapeau halfe the way betweene Tonney Charante and Rochel he went with the choyse of his armie to set vpon them at the breaking of the day This companie commaunded by some officer for the Lord Puelles was then at Rochel did most couragiously defend themselues but the place was such as the enemie had meanes to enclose them on euery side and to get to the top of the houses through the back side and to driue them out by setting the houses on fire great part of them was slaine in the fight other yelded themselues vpon promise of the safetie of their liues other hid themselues in the caues They were almost all killed against the faith giuen to them with like sauagenes and barbarous crueltie as the Souldiours of Debory and Charboniere were at the Mote Saint Eloy This done the Lord Ioyeuse returned to Tonney Charante vnderstanding that the King of Nauarre was gone out of Rochel to set vpon him and thence to Niort At the same time they which were at Marans did looke to be set on but he vnderstanding that some companies of the Prince had taken Tonney Charante vpon the Garison which hee had left there in hast returned thether with his Ordinance tooke it againe being kept only by a sergiant of a band who with 15. Souldiours onely had obstinatly vndertaken the defence thereof In the selfe same place he was aduertised of the euill watch and of the small company which was at the Abbey of Maillezay a very strong place thether he went with speede and the Lorde Malicorne gouernour of Poytow with him he compassed it so that it was not possible to put in new forces so that the fourth day after it was surrendered by composition After the taking of Maillezay it was thought that the Duke Ioyeuse would set on Marans but hee durst not fearing the King of Nauarre and the Prince who were in the field seeking occasion Some dayes after Ioyesue made a shew to set vpon Talmound but the Lord Saint Stephen hauing seazed vpon it first caused him to haue no great affection thereto So as his armie decayed dayly being infected with the Pestilence the King of Nauarres on the other side waxed strong The Lord Ioyeuse hauing stayed in Poytow somewhat lesser then three moneths about the 15. day of August he rode in poste to Paris to the Duke of Guize as well to informe him of his noble actes and what Kingdomes hee had conquered in winning few villages in Poytow as to minister texts vnto the Fryers and Iesuits to preach vpon vnto the sottish people of Paris to wit the notable slaughters which hee had committed vpon the hereticks in Poytow he was receaued with exceeding ioye of the Parisions he left his companies with the Lorde Lauerdine who conducted them after him all by ease But the King of Nauarre who slept not went forth out of Rochel vpon the newes of the retiring of the saide Ioyeuse with a marueilous celeritie and passing through Marans with some horsemen pursued the remnant of that armie so liuely and that with few men that he discomfited three companies of men of warre conducted by the Marquis Renel tooke their Ensignes and many of them with a great number of Gentlemen This being done he pursued after Lauerdine which conducted the footmen with two culuerines but with the fauour of passages ouer the riuers saued himself in the Haye in Tourenne where the king of Nauarre besieged him but hauing neither Ordinance nor footemen forsooke him and went to Monsoreau vpon the riuer of Loyre in Tourenne where he made a Fort vpon the riuer and there he staied 15. daies to expect the companies which were brought to him out of France by the County Soissons Whilest these thinges were passing thus in Poytow the king about the 23. of Iune vnderstood that the army of Germans both great and strong was in readines to take their iourney into France whereupon the King determined to prepare not onely to defend himselfe but also to inuade the enemie Therefore he sendeth his commissioners into all Prouinces to assemble all his Nobilitie with all their forces and them to deuide into three seuerall armies wherof the rendes vous of the one vnder the conduct of the Duke of Guyze comprehending the Nobilitie and others who were knowen notorious leaguers was giuen the 20. of Iuly in the towne of Chaumont in Bassignye The second armie vnder the conduct of the K. himselfe was of the Nobilitie in the which hee had most trust out of Picardy France Normandie Britayne and other Prouinces betweene Seyne and Loyre The rendes vous was appoynted at Saint Florentine in Bourgony between the cities of Troyes and Auxer the first day of August The third vnder the conduct of the L. Ioyeuse was of the Nobilitie of y e coūtries beyond Loyre and the rendes vous was assigned at Gien The Duke of Guize with his armie of conspirators and Leaguers should stop the passage to the Germanes vpon the borders of Lorreyne specially should hinder them frō taking their way through Champaigne on the north side of the riuer of Seyne The King of Nauarre about the beginning of Iune vnderstanding that his armie of Germanes was in readines to departe out of Germanie to come to his succour sent Ambassadonrs to the King humbly to intreate him to take some pitie of his kingdome and poore subiects both to shew him some wayes of peace and also because that heretofore the saide King had acknowledged the heads of the League to be his enemies and to haue raysed all these vprores not so much against the house of Bourbon as against his owne person he requested the King to vse his and the Germane forces against the common enemie of the Realme But the King hauing many disloyall seruants both about his person and in his counsell who were greatly addicted to the league they disloyally betrayed him making him beleeue that if he should accept the King of Nauarre his offers and so change his mind it were the nearest way to rayse an vniuersal rebelliou of all his subiects against him and that this Ambassage of the King of Nauarre did proceed not from loue and duetie but frō feare and dread who saw his manifest ouerthrowe at hand by these three great and mightie armies which he was setting in a readines The Duke of Guyze with his conspirators aduertized by his special friends which hee had alwayes about the Kings person who were priuie to al his secrets of this Ambassage and proffers made by the King of Nauarre was not a little amazed fearing that the King now was better aduised hauing a fit opportunity to reuenge himselfe vpon the pride arrogancie iniuries proffred him by them considering that
crueltyes should be knowen further And also that the saincts as it were out of the middest of those prouinces which do embrace the Gospel might see that the Lord is the iust reuenger of such abominations and defender of the iust cause And that they may learne to feare him and in him onely to trust and repose themselues Here therefore Adrastia doth stay them to answere vnto Gods iudgement Now let vs come to the euents The King of Nauarre early in the morning being first aduertyzed of this preparation was not mooued at it no more was hee vpon the second warning But at the third tyme he shewed no lesser desire to fight then the enemy to whom twise before he had proffered the occasions He taketh horse rydeth forth out of Coutras to méet y e enemy commaundeth the Lord Clermont master of his Ordinaunce in all hast to passe ouer the canon for he could not do it the day before he putteth his army in battayle array placeth his artillery in the forefront so commodiously that all peeces did seruice without harming any man of his owne greatly did endomage the enemy At length hauing encouraged his souldiers to the battayle whom he found full of desire and readines caused prayers to be made from company to company About 9. a clocke in the morning the artillery began to play on both sides the ordinance of the king of Nauarre was so commodiously placed that it did wonderfully annoy the men of Armes which the Lord Ioyeuse had at his right hand and the regimentes which did flanke those men of armes Many being beaten downe with it some of the heads tooke resolution rather to goe to the charge then to die so miserably without any fight The Harquebuziers in like maner began to ioyne and there was no man on both sides who shewed not to haue a great desire to do well The Ordinance of Ioyeuse did let flye certayne shot towards the company of the Prince of Conde but without any effect saue a horse whereon a page did ride which was slayne The cause of this small effect was a litle rising of the ground which did let the free aspect and ayming of the Ordinance so that many shot did light vpon the ground About nine a clocke the light horsemen of the Lord Ioyeuse to the number of foure hundred horses conducted by the Lord Lauerdine and captain Mercure set on the horsemen of the king of Nauarre but after some fight began to wauer and to make roome The rest of the horsemen of the king of Nauarre consisted of 4. Squadrons distant the one from the other in this wise The Squadrons of the King of Nauarre and of the Prince of Conde were distant about a hundred and fifty paces The Squadron of the Prince of Soissons at the left hand of the king of Nauarre about three score paces The Squadron of y t Vicount Turenne distant so much from the Prince of Conde at his right hand The Lord Lauerdine charged the Vicount Turenne but without any endomaging of him These three squadrons where stoode the Princes of the blood standing fast did behold all this fight vntill the Lord Ioyeuse followed with his mayne force of horsemen and hauing both on the right hand and the left two great hedges of horsemen aduanced to giue the generall onset Then these three Princes marching euery one at the forefront of his squadron close first went a soft pace then began to gallop last the watch word being giuen with a loosed bridle set on so liuely euery one seuerally by himself according to his course vpon that multitude that incontinently the companies were mingled and came to handiblowes The speares which were in great number in the armie of Ioyeuse did but small seruice for they ioyned néerer It is a wonderfull thing that in a moment such a furious troupe as was that of the Lord Ioyeuse armed furnished to the aduantage flanked both on the right hand and the left with two great battaillions of footmen was ouerthrowne and vanquished by a troupe which had neither in number nor in furniture nor in armes nor in situation of the battell any aduantage at all God who gouerneth all things and holdeth in his hands the balance of victories and ouerthrowes made then courage to preuayle against multitude the iust cause against iniurie and the lawfull defence against bragging and the great preparation of warre And as the men of armes were quickly ouerthrowne trodden vnder foote and put to flight so in as little space were the footmen discomfited being set on by the regiment of the King of Nauarre where commaunded as Masters of the Campe Castelnaw Parabiere Salignake and others And at the left hand of the King of Nauarre Charboniere Preau Orges and others who all euery man right forward following the occasion of the victorie cut in péeces all that made any resistance and put to flight the rest which were on the side of copses at the right hand as on the side of the riuer Droune at the left hand And as a little before nine a clocke these two armies came to hands the quarrell was so soone decided that at ten a clock there was found not one onely man of the enemies which stood to his defence nor that was in sight but such as were laied dead vpon the ground or taken prisoners or in flight The place where the battell was fought remayned so couered with men of armes horses and armours but specially of Launces matted so thicke that they stopt the way There remayned the Lord Ioyeuse and also his brother with a great number and notablest Lords The King of Nauarre the Princes of Conde and Soissons with the rest of the armie pursued the victorie There were taken many notable Gentlemen and among others the Lord Belegarde gouernour of Xainctonge the Lords S. Luke and Montigny of Berry who commaunded ouer a companie of horsemen hee was noted in ioyning of the battell to haue pearced further then any of the companie for hee entered euen to the side of the gardes of the King of Nauarre which were at his right hand and there by them beaten downe was taken by some of the sayd gardes God gaue this notable victorie to the King of Nauarre and in that iorney did shine the valour wherewith hee hath indued him in all the speciall graces which may decke a noble and vertuous Prince and great Captain not onely for the counsell resolution diligence and wise gouernment but also in the execution of armes For doing the office of a Captaine Souldier he pressed so farre as to take the enemie by the coller The Prince of Conde also shewed himselfe valiant for he had his horse slaine vnder him the Prince of Soissons also tooke prisoners with his owne hand The horse of the Vicount Turenne was also slaine God made these Princes strong in this dayes worke according to the order of their preheminence by them to doo the execution
of Guyze sent his horse coursers and riders with his Oratours to bring in triumph and to shew the horses armor and spoyle of the Rutters taken from them at Vimorye and Aulneaâ— by Montargis and Chartres not onely with amplifications of his victoryes and great valiantnes but also with deprauing and debasing the Kinges dooings with calumnies lies false reportes and slanders into such Prouinces and Citties where these sycophants did venture to goe for such were the graces and ornaments of their rhetorike wherewith these Oratours did beautify their demonstratiue orations It is sayd also how the King of Nauarre after the prosperous iourney at Coutras sent Ambassadors to the King to search the meanes of peace offered him his and the Germans forces to be reuenged of the Leaguers his secret enemies Also how by what pollicy the good hope of this Ambassage was preuented and made of none effect by the Leaguers seeking to nourish dissention and warre in the Realme Furthermore it is sayd how after the dissipation of the Germans the King retyring to Paris and hearing of the proceeding of the Duke of Guzye against his person and honour and what great discredit he had procured him among his subiects too late hee saw his error in hauing reiected the proffers of the King of Nauarre and neglected opportunity of reuengement which he doth purpose to dilay and referre it to another time supposing this to bee his best course first to repayre the fault committed For seeing the communalty addicted altogether and affectionated to the Duke of Guyze hee determined to doo some thing plausible to the Commons to recouer their good wils and affections In the twelfth Chapter of the Actes there it is shewed how a King killed Iames seeing that it pleased well the people to get their loue to the vttermost tooke Peter also intending to kill him like wise so this King with dutiful reuerence of the soueraigne power be it spoken in comparing the counsels and actions not the persons determined to recouer the loue of his subiects by the slaughter of the King of Nauarre Nobility and people which follow the example of Peter and imbrace the same forme of doctrine which he hath deliuered Hee concludeth therefore to make warre agaynst them of the reformed religion The King therefore passing the latter end of Winter in the meditating of these enterprizes in repairing and renuing his forces an expedition was published abroad agaynst them of the reformed religion whereunto the K. in his owne person would go the next Sommer The Iesuits fearing least the colde of the Winter and the sweetnes of the spring next following would both coole and quallify that heat and bitternes which did so boyle in the Kings minde importunatly by their outcryes and tumultuous Sermons did presse him forward their Pulpites ringing of nothing else but fire fire burne burne kill kill the heretikes to sharpen and flesh him to goe about his businesse more eagerly They daily assured him and shewed him certayne argumentes of Gods wrath against the heretikes as they tearmed them promised him an assured victory and blessed issue descanting specially vpon the fatall yeare 1588. so much spoken of by the Astronomers Yet for all these hellish Frogges crying croak croake the King made no great hast to his voiage in Poytow either doubting of some new rebellion of the Leaguers or else mistrusting the euents But whilest the thinges abouesayd do so passe in the Soueraignty of Sedan the king hauing opportunity geuen him by the death of the Prince of Conde and the good successe of Lauardine in subduing so speedily the Iles of Marans which he thought to be a good beginning to bring vnder his obedience the rest of Poytow and Xainctonge and at length to force Rochel began earnestly to resolue himselfe vppon his expedition of Guyenne and thought good to vse some speede and celerity in inuading Poytow and Xainctonge as the neerest of them which did embrace the Gospell Therefore he prepareth all things and deuyseth all the means possible to destroy the King of Nauarre to take the I le of Rhe to Blocke in Rochel to get the towns of Talmond Ganach and Fontenay and gyrdeth about his loynes to goe in his owne person to that voyage there to fill the measure of his prayses and victories hoping thereby to winne agayne the harts of his lost subiectes On the other side the master of the league perceiuing himselfe to haue crept deepely into the hearts of the people and to haue dislodged the K. from thence forgetteth the heretikes and the defence of the holy Church which he had heretofore pretended and beginneth to discouer the haâ—red against the King which had lyen hidden in his brest a long time cryeth out that the warres so often times mooued against the king of Nauarre had vanished away without profit the onely fault is the kings intelligences with the heretikes but the supporter of the king of Nauarre being once dispatched with lesse labour shall he be ouerthrowne hee dreameth that Germanie and England are so angry with the king of Nauarre for the dissipation of the Germane armie that he can hope for no more ayde nor succour from thence As for the K. he is weary of warre his good Souldiers are spent worne out the residue weary of the tediousnes of this war or else for want and neede doe onely desire quietnes and peace Hee doth enholden and incourage himself vpon the fauours which he had at the court of the chiefest about the kings person concludeth that the king may easily be oppressed and the king of Nauarre cannot defend himâ—elfe long and in the meane time he determined to try what miracles the slubbersawce figges of Italy can doe as is afore sayd Of all the armies which were prepared the yeare before against the K. of Nauarre remayned none but onely the Leaguers companyes such as were together were occupied at the siege of Iamets and in wasting the teritory of Sedan who in token that there they had been they left their accursed carkasses for gage for the most part The masters of the League hauing receiued the foyle before Iamets and at Douzie in the principalitie of Boillon as is afore said considering that their counsells succeeded not their forces were greatly diminished and that they had opened diuers wayes at diuers times but nowe specially their intents too euidently and considering also that a small hole in such a dangerons conspiracie would in a little space turne to a great breach which bloweth abroad the counsels weakneth the authority mollifieth the courages tooke aduise to remedie speedily those daungers which might ensue thereof for their goods their honours and liues stoode thereon They knew also that their counsells and treasons had peareed in-into the kings closet who might dissemble but neuer forget it First therefore in hasting the execution of their conspiracy necessitie compelled them to put feare aside and respect of all authoritie vnder foote Secondly
the king commaunded the sayd Belieure that in case the sayd Duke would néedes continue his purpose of comming thether plaine termes he should tell him that it was against his Maiesties will and that in so doing he held him as a Traytour and author of all the troubles and diuisions of the Realme and therefore iustly to deserue his displeasure The Lord Belieure gaue notice of all the Kings will and intent vnto the sayd Duke as he was charged to doo The Duke subtilly gaue him a doubtfull answere not declaring whether he would goe or not but as the water being stopped waxeth stronger and more violent so the prohibiting of him encreased his heate and ambition by nature impatient and made him thinke that the delay was an irreuocable losse So that at one instant after the departing of Belieure out of Soyssons the Guize tooke horse and his way to Paris and followed the sayd Lord Belieure so nigh that the one arriued the Monday about nine a clocke and the Duke likewise arriued at Paris the same day about twelue a clock accompanied with eight gentlemen hauing in all not aboue fifteene or sixteene horses that could be seene and being there arriued he lighâ—ed at the lodging of the Q Mother at the penitent Sisters the 9. of May. The King being aduertised of the Dukes comming to Paris tooke great discontentation therof conceaued a great displeasure against the said Belieure as though he had not faithfully deliuered his commandement and in the same tearmes as he was charged to the Duke of Guize This solitarie comming of the Duke of Guize encreased the suspitions and mistrust making euery man that knewe him and his pompe thinke that such extraordinarie comming had some mysterie which ere it were long should be reuealed For if it had been simple and without fraude a cooling of the partakers had ensued as commonly they who doo obey doo frame their actions according to the manners of them which doo command so that such a tumult had not insued it as did A little while after the arriuing of the Duke of Guize the Q. Mother caused her selfe to bee carried to the Loure to speake with the King The Guize with a small companie to see too followed the Q. Mother on foote and it is to be noted that by the way the Lord of Guize going through the streates of Paris with the Q. Mother the people flocked in great companies to bid him welcome and among others a gentlewoman standing vppon a bulke plucking her maske downe saluted him with these words Good Prince seeing thou art come we be safe The Q. Mother and the Guize arriued at the Loure together entered into the kings chamber who then sat nigh his bed and did not stirre out of his place for the comming of the sayd Duke who saluted the King with a fayre and humble countenance making a courtesie almost his knee to the ground Fewe would haue iudged by this interuiew that there had been so dangerous vlcers in their hearts the King greatly displeased at his comming shewed neither to his mother nor to the saide Duke any other welcome but asked him thus Cosin wherefore are you come He answered that it was to purge himselfe of the calumnies and slaunders that hee was charged of as though he were guiltie of the crime of treason In making this answer he seemed very much moued and pale as though he had feared that the King euen then would take punishment of that contempt wherewith he had despised his commaundement The King relyed that he had sent him an expresse commaundement that he should not come for that time The Duke made answer that it was not told him in such sort as that hee had occasion to feare that his comming should bee so disagreeable to him The King then turning his speach to the Lord Belieure asked him whether he had not commaunded him to make him vnderstand his intention When Belieure would haue recounted in what sort hee performed his message the Duke of Guize interrupted him and said to the King speaking by Belieure that he had tolde him more Vpon this the Q. Mother beginning to talke with the King a side the Duke of Guize drew nere to the Queene raging and talked together with her during the parley of the Q Mother with the King The Guize a little after went away being neither accompanied nor followed by any of the Kings seruants The King being aduertized a new how Paris was full of armed men replenished with faction and madnes and that there had resorted and howerly did resort a number of strangers of all qualities and that the Duke of Guize was the adamant stone which did draw the yrâ—n of that commotion began to double his mistrust thought it was high time to take order to assure his affayres and prouide both for the safety of his person and the state of the Citie And first to assure his forces about his person sent for two thousand and fiue hundred Suissers which were in Picardy for the companies of his guardes and some regiments which were extraordinarily ordayned by him for two companies of Suissâ—rs to fortifie his gardes and three companies of Frenchmen The tenth day he commaunded the Escheuins that is the Aldermen and chiefest men of the Citie to make search through the Citie in all houses of all such men as were to be found without any lawfull busines they dissembled the matter as though they had good liking thereof He caused also notice thereof to be giuen to the Duke of Guize who had no great liking of it but tooke it for a token which hasted him to doo his feate this order was taken but not executed vntill the morrow after The same day the Master of the League that is the Duke of Guize came to Loure accompanied with thirtie or fortie horses and accompanied the King in his walking to the artilleries and there conferred together verie friendly about the warre of Guienne against the King of Nauarre The 11. day the search being a making through the Citie by the chiefest of the Magistrates and certaine Knights of the order of the Holy Ghost commonly called the Kings order to countenance the matter gaue great occasion of mistrust whereupon the King caused the search to cease The 12. day very early the Suissers and the French companies being 12. Ensignes of footemen entred into Paris through the gate Saint Honore the King and his nobles being there on horseback to receaue them At the arriuing of them the Parisians gaue themselues the alarum and faigned great feare as though the great Turke had entred the Citie with an hundred thousand men euery man ran into his house shut vp their doores and windowes many cried that they were lost vndone and would be all murthered It had been an easie thing for the King if he had had an euill intent against them as afterward they made themselues beleeue to haue let the attempt which they
that many of them to serue their turne did not feare to affirme that he was the eldest of the house of Bourbon and that if neede were hee was capable of the succession to the Crowne This man therefore serued much to their faction him they thrust forward for the negotiation and aduauncing of their affayres according to the occasions So that hauing determined to send a supplication to the King to asswage his displeasure while they aduise vpon other wayes to entangle and entrap him yet once more They prepose the said Cardinall his name in the said petition that the greatnes of his name onely of that faction of all the house of Bourbon may serue as a vayle to the affections of them who were more watchfull in handling of their affaires theÌ„ the said Cardinall was in the gouerning of his owne They doo present this supplication in the name of the Cardinall of Bourbon and of the Masters of the League who would faine becalled Princesse and in the name of the Citie of Paris and of the other Cities of their confederacie In this supplication they make a low coursie and al contemptious capping with an humble submission and protestation of their good willes with a proffer of their seruice and of all that they haue for the defence of his estate and of the Catholick religion so that the Duke of Guize may haue the leading of his forces and managing of their affaires Secondly they charge the Duke Espernon and his brother the Lord Valette to be fauourers of the hereticks to haue betrayed y e kings forces in hindering all good exploytes to bee done against the hereticks and the King of Nauarre To haue fauored the armie of the Germanes in their retiring home to haue beene the cause by his counsell of the vprore happened of late at Paris To haue wasted the Kinges treasure to be the author of all the disordeâ— which is in the gouernement Thirdly they purge themselues of any priuat inimitie or affection towards him in this accusation and for proofe of the foresaid offences doo referre themselues to the testimonie of the Queene Mother and of the officers of his Crowne if it pleaseth him to examine them vppon the saide crimes and giue them licence to speake their mindes with libertie Fourthly they demand of him instantly with prayer to put the sayd Espernon and Valette his brother and their adherents from his person and fauour and to discharge them from all charges and gouernements which they haue in the Realme that the king will prouide them of some small charges of no importance at all They also doe assure the King that in so doing he shall greatly please the people in deliuering them as they say from that feare which they haue conceaued of the power of the said Espernon These lets being taken away they require him to make warre in Guienne in his owne person to whome they doe promise their ready will courage and assistance against the heretikes and in the meane time to appoynt his mother to gouerne Paris Fiftly they require that the Duke de Maine may haue an armie to goe into Daulphine against them of the Religion they tell him that hee may make a great booty of the spoyle of Espernon his brother to maintaine the warre and that hee will abolish all new subsidies and charges layd vpon the people Sixtly they doe require that he will name a successor Catholick fearing it greatly to fall into the hands of them of the reformed Religion Seuenthly they of Paris as partakers in this request doo faine and glose with the king and pray him most humbly to beleeue them that all which had happened of late at Paris was not that they thought to do him any harme and that it was done by their Magistrates and that onely they doubted least the authors of the counsel in bringing extraordinary forces into the Citie would haue abused his authoritie in oppressing them They fayne themselues very sory that hee went foorth of their Citie in displeasure and mistrust praying him to giue them leaue to liue in rest vnder his obedience Last of all they require that the Lord d'Ho be discharged hereafter of his charge which he had to commaund in the Citie and that he will allow the deposing of the Prouost and Escheuins and approue the new election which they haue made of others and that hereafter it be lawfull for the Citizens to choose their owne officers Also when it shall please him to returne into the Citie hee will not bring within twelue leagues thereof any other forces beside his ordinary guards This supplication was presented to him the eight and tweÌ„tith of May. The King hauing receiued this suplication answereth it the nine and twentith of May at Chartres wherein first hee rehearseth the zeale which he hath to the Catholick religion the great and dangerous warrs which he had done the great charges which hee hath beene at for the same the famous victories obtained by him against them of the reformed religion and how he hath pacified the troubles raysed by the Leaguers and vnited the Catholicks which were by the Leaguers deuided Secondly he sheweth himselfe willing to put vp all iniuries passed against him in Paris when the inhabitants shall behaue themselues hereafter as it becommeth them to doe and in so doing hee proffereth them to preserue them in their liberties as his predecessors haue doone before him Thirdly hee wisheth nothing more than that all the popish Princes Lords and subiects may be reunited againe to warre against the King of Nauarre Fourthly he greatly desireth the reformation of his Realme in al his partes and for because it is a publike contagion he supposeth that it can not be well done without the assembly of the States which he intendeth to assemble in the towne of Bloys the fifteeneth of August where he promiseth to satisfie them in warranting them from falling into the handes of the king of Nauarre or any other hereâ—ick As touching the complaints against the Duke Espernon he promiseth to them iustice therein It is sayd before how the King after the retyre of the Germans returning to Paris intending to make a voyage to Guienne agaynst the King of Nauarre with all his forces and in his proper person had prepared the way to doo great exployts by sending forces vnto Lauerdine Lieutenant of Niort immediatly after the death of the Prince of Conde and how the sayd Lord Lauerdine with those forces seazed vpon the Iles of Marans and tooke all the Forts within the Iland Which exployts being done the Lord Cluseaulx otherwise called Blanchard obtayned the gouernment of the sayd Iland where hee determined to settle himselfe and after many extorsions ransackings and robberies done during and after the siege of Marans to them of the reformed religion who had abandoned all things to saue themselues at Rochel he promised to himselfe to fortifie and kéepe well the sayd places in hope shortly after to
things will befall which they greatly desired The feare of these thunderclaps was great euery where the forces in number and furniture were inequall therefore in France many not considering that God may defend his people as well with few as with many and that hée hath Legions of Angels to fight at his commaundement for the defence of his Elect yéelded to the time and reuolted made their abiuration and followed the world The Duke of Guize was the Northen Star by the which all this Nauigation was guided so that it was perceaued that neither all this preparation and stoare neither the Prophesies and visions of the rauing Prophets could assure the happy successe except the Duke of Guize might be in court nigh the Kings elbow Therefore the Q. Mother she must be set to worke she with other Leaguers which were about the Kings person tell what a great wise man the Duke of Guize was and that hée could not bée well without such a counseller hauing such great waightie things in hand The King thought it was a dangerous thing to haue such a guest so nigh him yet supposing that it would be the néerest way to surprise him and that at some occasion he might rid his hands of that perilous burthen consented thereto All caueats and prouisions which the prouidence of man could deuise for his safetie being prouided and made sure he purposeth to depart out of Paris to goe to the court He tooke in his companie the Q. Mother and raigning w t a great traine of the inhabitants of Paris the Lords Byron and Neuers who had béen alwaies with the King the one as a faithfull seruant to the King the other as a secret fauourer of the League went to meete the said Duke At his comming to the Kings presence what welcomes what complainings what excuses what praiers what promises what gréetings and what dissimulations there was betweene them to wit the King Guize euery man of iudgement may consider The Duke of Guize caused his table of great master of France to be established and good and assured meanes for the maintenance thereof he obtained also a patent of great Master of men of war in France which is a â—iminiâ—iue title of Constable for an earnest and in hope shortlie to haue all And whereas in the request presented to the King it was demaunded that he should be the Kings Generall of that armie which should bee sent into Guienne Now he dooth recant and vpon the push doth refuse to take that charge but willeth another to be appoynted and that for two causes he would rather venture another mans skin then his owne knowing well that hee could neuer repasse Loyre without a broaken skin which thing he loued not the second cause was that he would not go farre from the King and from Paris there to be at hand vpon all occasions to take opportunitie to execute his enterprise In his roome therefore the Duke of Neuers is appoynted to conduct the armie into Guienne against the King of Nauarre he maketh his excuse fearing the whip as the other did of his indisposition and offereth to mainetaine one hundred Gentlemen so that he might be excused which charge notwithstanding at length he accepted The wisest sort feared in general that this wound could not be closed vp and healed without some fowle scarre remayning or that hee who had once presumed to beat his Prince out of his imperiall citty should not want audacity to attempt further matters All these vprores being now pacifyed and all these great preparations vrged with great courage they of the reformed religion all ready proscript all things threatning death and desolation by land and by water a parliament of the States is appointed by the King to be holden at Bloys the 15. day of August next following there to determine vpon the affaires of the land according to the said edict of reunion and not otherwise and about the reformation of the State but specially for the disheneriting of the Princes of the bloud that they should not succeede to the Crowne In this Parliament the King and the Duke of Guyze had diuers and contrary meanings and neither of them both did intend to do the thinges aboue sayde touching the affaires of the land and reformation of the State But the Kings purpose was that now hauing recouered as he thought part of his authority hee might bridle his domesticall enemy to wit the Duke of Guyze whose practises and attempts had béen so euidently shewed to the eie of all men agaynst his person and estate and there either to haue had him condemned and executed by the full assembly of the states or else by surprising to haue dispatched him out of the way as hee at length performed The Dukes meaning was either to exclude the King from all gouernment or else to haue condemned him by the authority of all the states or if opportunity might serue to do him away by some violence and after to haue tryed how to bring his intent to passe Euery one of them therfore hauing his contrary thoughts in his mind yet they in common do prepare all things for this assembly of the Parliament they make the ouerthrow of the King of Nauarre and the rasing of the Blockhouse of Rochel as they tearme it very easy While they keepe this great adoo and replenish the world with cruell threatnings and are in hand both by land and by water to aduance the treasons of the Leaguers which cannot be done without the rooting out of the true Religion Therefore it is assaulted on the South syde by the Dukes of Sauoy and Mayne with two mighty armies on the West by the omnipotent Armado on the North by all the forces of y e low Countryes in the middle of France by the Duke of Neuers with a mighty army behold God who holdeth the stearne of the whole world doth produce euents all contrary vnto those which men had promised to themselues For in the meane time God doth execute his dreadfull iudgements against the inuincible as they did call them but in deed barbarous and sauage nation of Spaniards partly beating them out of the narrow Seas with a notable slaughter and shame of them by that nation which they had so deadly hated for the Gospell and so arrogantly despised and partly God sent his messengers the wind storme and tempest with the rocks in their waies that by shipwracke thirst famin and pestilence and other calamities of the Sea they might be drowned in an euerlasting obliuion lyke Pharao his horses and horsemen In August the Kings writtes are sent into all prouinces and citties to send speedily their Deputies so that they were catholikes Romans and not otherwise and in the meane time doth fortify himself but not mistrusting the practises of the Leaguers in the Prouinces he gaue them leaue to do all by partialities in the Prouinces in choise of the Deputies For they gaue order that their partakers might come
strong not so much with the outward force as with plurality of suffrages which in all places they had secretly suborued by premises and corruptions And so it came to passe that there came but few to that assembly but they which were of the Leaguers faction Here Christian Reader wee may see Gods iudgements calling this great King as it were by steps to a miserable and shameful fall for his vnthankfulnes He hath forsaken one part of his subiectes and that the best part though not the greatest in number holdeth them for enemyes and wil haue none of their counsell and by the selfe same means hath opened a dore to weaken himselfe in his Parliament and committed his person into the hands of them that were assembled to dispossesse him out of his kingdome either by murther or by captiaitie making the way plaine before his enemies to rule the matter as they would without controulement Now we will leaue the King with all his courtand traine with his Leaguers to goe soft and fayre for feare of sweating too much to â—loys there to take order for their Processions Massing and other solemnities And vsed by men of that religion and there to stay for the arriuing of the deputies while we do see what things had happened in other places While and after the Edict of reunion was a casting in Iuly and the States appoynted all meanes were sought out to vndoe the King of Nauarre and with him them of the Religion The sayd king of Nauarre of his part did make himselfe ready vppon the defensiue grounded vpon all his reasons propounded often times by his declarations and vpon the grieues and iniuries proffered vnto him and vnto them of the religion It is said before how the Lord Colombieres had brought certaine companies out of Normandy vnto the King of Nauarre and in Iune before had seazed vpon the towne of Montagne This was a towne belonging to the Prince of Conde which had beene miserablie defaced in the former ciuill warres The wall and the castell being one of the strongest places in all that countrey had beene beaten downe But the ruine of the towne was not so great but within few dayes it was reasonablie repayred and made defensible by the said Lord Colombieres and other Captaynes with him The companies of the said Lord Colombieres out of that towne made dayly long roades and courses toward Nantes and against other places holden by the papists whereby dayly they greatly molested them After the Edict of reunion Duke Mercure gouernour of Britaine and others of the countrie who did holde with the League but specially they of Nants who could not away with such neighbours gathered certaine regiments of the Leaguers to make certaine roades into the lowe Poytow as well to let the enterprizes of the king of Nauarre there as to prepare the way to that armie which should folow shortly after vnder the conduct of the Duke of Neuers but specially intending to lay the siege before Montagne to gett that place out of the hand of them of the religion The Duke Mercure therefore with as great forces as hee was able to make went in person to lay siege before the said Montagne abouâ— the eight of August and lodged the regiment of Gersay at Saint George And sending from thence to view the towne a hot skirmish was begonne against them of the towne in the presence of the sayd Mercure who stood in battle aray with two hundred horses on the side of Barrillery so called because there they make barrels tubbes and such like stuffe They within the towne at the discouering of the enemie issued so furiously and did so beat them back that many men and horses remained slaine vpoÌ„ the place among whom were some of the guards of Mercure who seing that it was so hard for him to lodge his men of war in y e suburb of Saint Jamets as he had determined to doe sent them againe to their lodgings at Saint George As for himselfe in the euening hee retyred to Elison hauing sent downe the riuer Loyre from Nantes three double cannons to pont Rosseau which is a towne situated on the fall of the riuer Seuie into Loyre The King of Nauarre aduertized of Mercures inuasion into Poytow gathered such forces as he could and vpon some other occasions also departed out of Rochel the ninth of August accompanied with a hundred horses onely and the harquebusiers of his gardes and taking his iorney toward Loyre went that day to lodge at Lusson The Duke Mercure being lodged at Clisson the tenth day of August vnderstoode that the King of Nauarre was gone foorth out of Rochel and vpon the shadow of his owne feare he perswaded himself that it is to raise vp the siege of Montagne so that hauing represented vnto himselfe the accustomed diligence of the King of Nauarre in his exployts of warre he imagineth to see him alreadie whereupon he determined to retyre before he had planted his siege and returned to Nantes the 11. of August two daies before the comming of the King of Nauarre he left the regiment of Gersay to make the retyre and lodged the 12. day at Mounieres a towne situated vpon the riuer Seure The King of Nauarre at his departure from Lusson went to lodge at Bourneueau where the Lord Boulay with his companie of armed men well appoynted and a companie of harquebusiers on horseback commanded by Captaine Nede ioyned to him From Bourneueau the King went to lodge at Essars where he was aduertised that the Duke Mercure was departed and retyred to Nantes and that the regiment of Gersay was lodged at Mounieres These newes did cause him to dislodge the day following very earely least he should lose the occasion to ouertake that regimeÌ„t he went through the Towne of Montagne with much toyle and there tooke the garrison commanded by Luzerne eldest sonne to the Lord Colombieres and with extreame diligence in a little space of time came to the riuer Seure which he passed ouer speedily on foord there he found that the regiment was parted from Mounieres purposing to retyre to Pilmil Suburbe of Nantes The garrison of Montagne being forerunners to the sayd King followed with diligence and ouertooke them in a way hollowe and couered very aduantagious for the enemie by reason of three little houses wherein they had put men to flancke them There the skirmish did continue about halfe an houre vntill the sayd King of Nauarre had arriued with all his companies at whose comming the enemie was discouraged begaÌ„ to faint and flée away in disaray and there was wholly ouerthrowne The King of Nauarre tooke to mercie as many as were taken prisoners to the number of foure hundred and fiftie and suffered none to be killed but such as were slaine in the battell The master of the Camp Gersay saued himselfe by flight by the meanes of a fayre Ienet of Spayne yet hurt with a shot There were eight Ensignes taken great number of carts
siege two Gentlemen to wit the Lord Drow one of his house and one Villebeau Captaine of one of the companies of the Lord Salignak The inhabitants of the Iland Bouing had promised to the King of Nauarre who had vsed them very courteously that they would suffer none of the enemies to enter their Iland which promise they kept not The Lord of Guize though very busie at the States at Bloys yet ceased not but as he was very busie to supplant the King at home so was he very diligent to prouide for the affayres of warre and for to crosse in this siege the King of Nauarre if he could He sent to the Duke Mercure the regiment of S. Paule the fayrest and most dreadfull of all the companies of the League The 22. of October and the morrowe after the rendering of the Castle of Beauuoyre the inhabitants of the Iland Bouing against their promise receiued two of the fayrest companies of the sayd regiment of S. Paule But they had not so soone entered into the Iland but that immediatly they tooke such dreadfull feare that without any shame they sent a Drumme to the said king to beseech him to giue them safe conduct to retyre into a place of safetie They had some reason so to doo for the feare of his sworde put them in a fearefull apprehension For he had so prouided that they were at his mercie hauing sent his nauall armie to a place called Collet aboue Bourgneuf of Rhe which was the place where of force they must needes passe by But the accustomed clemencie of that Prince sustayned and eased the feare of these two companies who trusted that he would be no lesse fauourable to them then hee hath accustomably béen vnto others who did submit themselues vnto him Whereof they themselues among many other examples are and ought to bee hereafter witnesses for although hée might haue cut them in peeces yet of his good will leauing a marke of heroicall humanitie vnto the posteritie he gaue them their liues armour with a pasport for their safe returne so that they should retyre the selfe same day He forgaue also the Iland men who had falsified their faith and had rendered themselues worthie of sharpe punishment This clemencie to them shewed did so touch them that they haue remayned euer since most faithfull being otherwise most deuoted and addicted vnto poperie The saide King being desirous to passe into the Iland to sée it could not doo it for the contrarie windes hee left there for gouernour the Lorde Quergroy a Gentleman of Britayn of great reputation with a necessarie Garison And vpon the aduertisements which he receaued of the great preparation and marching of the royall army vnder the conduct of the Duke of Neuers who descended into Poytow he departed thence the 24. of October with all his army taking his way to Montagne where hee left the regiment of the Lorde Preau ordering all necessary things for the defence of that place which as was thought should be the first place where to that army would lay siege which also hee determined to rescue in conuenient time he deuided his garisons in the places which he iudged necessary and among the rest he put Garisons in Mauleon Ganache Talmond Fontenay and other places That being done he tooke his way to Rochel to be at the assembly of all the reformed Churches of France which hee had called thethere for diuers and notable considerations The deputies of all the Churches of all sorts and qualities stayed sometime in Rochel for him where the said King being ariued receaued them with great contentation and according to his naturall facility and mildenes to the great reioysing of all men which hoped for much fruite of this assembly for the preseruation of the realme of the Kings authority against whome the Leaguers vnder colour of the States at Bloys did worke dangerous conspiracies and for the iust defence of them of the religion so long time so cruelly intreated in all partes of the realme The said King being certified of the comming of all the deputies of this assembly of all degrees and conditions Lordes Nobles Iudges Kinges officers Maiors Aldermen and other notable men of the Prouinces gaue an opening vnto the saide assembly by the inuocation of the name of God the 14. of Nouember in the towne house of Rochel assisted by the Lordes of Turenne his Lieutenant general in the prouince of Guienne Trimouille Colonell of the light horses and many other Lords Barons Vicounts Gentlemen and other his counselers The same day were called all the deputies for the assembly the authority which euery one had of the Prouinces for whome they were sent There was almost no Prouince in France which had not sent their deputies to wit deputies were sent out of Gascoyn Amignak Albret and other places from beyond the riuer Garonne out of the Prouinces of Britayne Anjou Tourene Berry Lodunoys the I le of France Normandy Orleans Picardy Champaigne and others beyond the riuer Loyre out of the Prouince of high and lowe Languedock Daulphine Rowergue Mountalban and out of the gouernement of Terrides there were also out of the gouernement of Xainctonge on this side Charante out of all the Iles of Xainctonge other deputed for Rochel for the Prouinces of Limosin Perigord Agenoys for the towne of Bergerak in particular for the Prouinces of Poytow and Engomoys for the principalitie of Orenge and many others for the baily weekes townes and comunalties with sufficient shew of their charges and commissions The 16. day of Nouember after publick inuocation of Gods name the King of Nauarre accompanied as is aboue said represented to the whole assembly the chiefest causes of their conuocation the great necessities which should moue euery man to oppose himselfe to the enemies whose intent was too apparant for they went euen against the King and the whole estate he shewed that hee had hetherto in so iust and godly a cause spared neither goods nor life as his former actions could testifie and that if these mischieues should growe to the worst he for his part felt his courage to be increased of God in the resolution which he had long agoe taken to spend therein euen the last drop of his bloud and the last pennie of all his goods and desired onely that the world would iudge in this his resolution of his good intent as indifferently and truely as himselfe sincerely had walked before God and determined to doo hereafter He shewed how the long continuance of war and lisence of armes had to his great griefe bred and brought in many disorders to the which hee required them as well it might bée to prouide both in respect of the glorie of God of the King of the realme and in respect of all priuat men Prayed them that were of that assembly to bring with them cleane spirites voyde of all passion endued with the loue of the common wealth which thing if they did hee assured
publike reuenger of Gods lawe and executer of his iustice who commandeth him that his eye shall not take pitie vpon such abominable contemners of Gods ordinance and iustice whose Image his person represented fearing men more then GOD and vnder the colour of clemencie consented to their crimes and through impunitie approoued their misdéedes God a righteous Iudge turned this his pusillanimitie to a snare and a blocke of offence by the which he wrought his owne ouerthrowe and miserable end Now leauing the euents which followed this tragedie played at Bloys we will fetch other matters and exploits which were done in other places that varietie may not onely delight the Christian Reader but also stirre him vp to feare tremble and reuerence Gods iudgements For not onely at Bloys he powred mightie streames of his wrath vpon the wicked but also in other places the Lord at the same time fed his enemies with shame clothed them with dishonour and rewarded them with confusion and in all places deliuered his Saints It is sayd before how at the making and concluding of the edict of reunion in Iuly last it was agreed that two mightie Armies should be mustered and made vp with as much readines as it could be done the one should be conducted by the Duke of Guize into Guienne and the other vnder the leading of the Duke de Mayne into Daulphine there to roote out them of the religion But yet the Duke of Guize aduised by his counsell to wit the Cardinall his brother and the Bishop of Lions altered his purpose for three causes First the cause of religion which he pretended was not the marke that he shot at neither did he greatly care which of the two went backward or forward Secondly he perceaued how he went to cast himselfe into the hazard of warre which is vncertaine but specially agaynst such a Captayne who hetherto had remained inuincible and knewe with fewe how to ouercome great multitudes and mighty forces whom hee feared as the slaue doth dread his Lord whom he hath greeuously offended Therfore he thought good not to hazard that way but to reserue himselfe to a better opportunity which would be offered him ere long The third cause was that if he should absent himselfe farre from Paris it might be that the King would enterprise it there uppon and carry it away from him Also if he should absent himselfe from the Court he were not able easily to bring to passe his intent nor giue the blowe which he had in minde long before Therfore another is to be sent yet it must not be any suspected person As for the Princes they are partiall in this cause and being of great authoritie of themselues are not to bee armed with power for els they may marre the play The Marshals Byron and Haultmont are good noble men good French men and valiant they are Royals and therfore we will haue none of them For it were not good to arme them with such forces for if wee say they should in the meane time execute our enterprise whilest they had such an armie they might marre all and begin a new tragedie vpon the players of the former Therefore such a Generall must néedes bee appoynted as may flatter with both sides and that will turne to the strongest part and if he should be lost in the battell it maketh no matter who that should be The Duke of Neuers of Nation an Italian an Atheist by religion a Spanyard by faction a Leaguer and a Royall both by policie and dissimulation in Nobilitie nouus homo For here is to be noted that in Italy there is no ancient Nobilitie remayning except it bee the Vrsins and Colomuae and some of the Patrilij in Venice For all the rest perhaps some fewe excepted are families raised vp within these few hundred yeares out of Colliers as the Medicis Porters and Chimney sweepers during the vniuersall rebellion of Italy against the Emperours vnder the factions of Guelpses and Gibelius and the Popes bastards also are the stockes of many families which now are accounted of the chiefest Nobilitie there as the houses of Parma Vrbines c. This Duke of Neuers hanging about the skirts of the Q. Mother maried the onely heires of the noble and ancient familie of Neuers whose father was slayne at the battell of Dreulx being of the house of Gonzages neuer heard of before these eight score yeares The noble Princes of the royall blood the ancient Nobility of France are no men but set behinde the doore they may not lead the kings armies not for lack of sufficiencie Why then Because they are suspected by the League to be true to their king good louers of their country and too naturall to their kings subiects and fellow Citizens Whilest therefore the States doe continue at Bloys and Rochel the Kings armie in Nouember taking their iourney into Poytow with great preparatioÌ„ intending as wel to recouer the places occupied by them of the Religion as also to beat the king of Nauarre in which doing not only they should make an ende of the warre by rooting out vtterly them of the Religion but also should recouer the losse of the honour of the armie which a moneth before had beene buried at Coutras by the King of Nauarre This armie was great and strong consisting of Frenchmen Swissers and Italians hauing a great number of armed men And as it marched forward so still it increased For light horses and Noble men with other qualities out of all partes out of the cities and communalties of the Prouinces neere about as well of the one as of the other side of the Loyre did voluntarylie ioyne themselues to it And among others out of the low Poytow were the Lords of Roches Beatault of Bourneueau Boucherie and Saint Andre with their companies The Duke of Neuers as is sayd before was generall assisted with the Lord Chastre and Sagonne two notable traytors Leaguers and Lauerdine loyall and faithfull to his Prince with other Lords and Captaines Ordinance munition and all kinde of preparation of warre was great The greatest part of this armie as well of the heads and commaunders as of the Nobilitie and others which did obey were Leaguers and leagued who thought that they could neuer worke mischiefe enough It is an incredible thing to heare the mischieues hauock and oppression which this armie did where it passed through but specially to them of the reformed religion who were found before them both in their houses and abroad the people men and women euen in diuers places the very cattell did flie before this armie as before a thundering tempest euen as a flock of sheepe before a heard of woolues sauage beasts or monsters neuer seene before Sultan Soliman Siech Selymogly did neuer cary greater cruelty sauagenes barbarousnes and terror into Austrich and Slireland when he came downe with three hundred thousand men to the siege of Vienne than did this râ—bble of turkish broode monstrous Cyclops God-contemners
' and Gyancs into their owne naturall countrey yet doo not I speake of all generally but of the most part Rochel and other townes of safetie round about were quickly replenished of exiled people out of Poytow Britaine Touraine Landomoys and other places nigh the soiourning of this armie Euen many Catholickes fled into the townes of the reformed religion abhorring accursing detesting those misbegotten monsters The first place where this flood spewed out of the Dragons mouth to haue drowned the woman which was in trauaile I meane this army was stayed was before Mauleon which is a small towne feeble and of no strength at all There is in the same a Castell which is of no better defence than the towne The king of Nauarre as it is sayd after the taking of Beauuoyre lest within the same towne the Lord Viliers Charlemaigne for gouernour with a certaine number of Souldiers not for to obstinate themselues vpon that naughty place which was not able to resist a farre lesser than a royall armie but for to keepe the field and for to refresh himselfe The armie descending from Turenne tooke way to Mauleon about the 13 of Nouember The forerunners of the armie shewed themselues the garison there would not dislodge for them but made a shew as though they would hold the place But forces arriuing more and more vnlooked for at length the Ordinance was brought before the place The Lord Viliers seeing that determined to capitulate by the meanes of the Lord Lauerdine the captayne and one Croix were appoynted to conclude the capitulation The Lord Miraumont Sargeant maior of the battell was sent for hostage to Mauleon for safety From Mauleon went forth also for hostage Captayne Laudebrix The agreement was made and concluded with small aduantage to them who were besieged within the towne for the Lords Brigneulx and Chastiagueray did draw nigh the walles of the Town which were already forsaken by the garrison and not defended and after they had pulled down few stones by surprising and contrary vnto the agreement entred into the towne did kill and wound all them whom they found both of the garrison and also of their owne side notwithstanding the resistance and reproofe which the sayd Lord Miraumont could do for to let such a treacherous vnfaithfulnes vnworthy of men of warre The passion of these leagued Souldiers was shewed so disordered and barbarous that they compelled the sayd Lord Miraumont to saue himselfe into the castell with the remainant of the garrison which had escaped for many had béene most vilanously slaine after they had yeelded their armor some did saue themselues by flight casting themselues ouer the wall other were hurt some taken and spoyled of all that euer they had contrary to the agreement The Lords Chastre and Lauerdine aduertised of this disorder hasted thether and caused although very late the killing to cease and conducted the rest of them who had escaped beyond the riuer Seure toward Fonteney After this exploit done the army marched straight way toward the Towne and Castell of Montagne at the solicitation of them of Nantes and Nobility of Aniou and low Poytow who were not of the religion who altogether receaued by it many discommodities the most part of Gentlemen hauing retyred some to Nantes and some to Anger 's and they all desired to haue that thorne out of their heele Some were yet remayning in Poytow vnder the protections of the King of Nauarre wayting for the occasion to stirre at the comming of that army This towne and castle of Montagne pertained to the Prince of Conde which by the outrages of some of the countrey and neighbours had béen surprised and the walles so beaten downe that there was no hope left that any warre could be made there Notwithstanding the Lord Colombieres whom wee haue said to haue brought certaine companies vnto the King of Nauarre out of Normandy with his yongest sonne called Lucerne some companies with them had seazed vpon it the towne was very little repaired of the former ruine and decay which was great the castell had béene better relieued trenched and made commodious The Lord Colombieres commaunded there the King of Nauarre had sent thether beside to strengthen the said towne the Lord Preau with foure companies of his regiment at the approching of that army for his two other companies had béen sent to Ganache and other places All that could bee in that place of footmen was about three hundred and besydes there might be about fifty Harquebuziers on horsebacke There was in that place reasonable store of victuals for the time that they were minded to defend it as well in wine whereof there was aboue foure hundred pipes as in corne meale salt béefe and other necessary munitions for mans life About the 25. of Nouember the Lord Miramont Sargeant maior of the army accompanied with the Harquebusiers on horsback of the army lighted at the Barillery where afterward the Lord Neuers lodged and from thence went with his company to view the place and to make his approches Captayne Beauuoys and Beuf leaders of the company of the Lord Colombieres went out with a certaine number of souldiers to receaue them The skirmish endured very hot a good hower and a halfe and there were slayne of the side of the enemies Brichanteau sonne to the Lord Bigueulx and many others for whome there was great mone made in the army Go now truce-breaker Brigueulx learne yet once to breake the publike fayth at Mauleon Captayne Beuf who issued forth out of the towne was shot with a pellet in the thigh After this skirmish ended euery man retyred and the enemie went to lodge at the Barrillery The two dayes following passed away in light skirmishes The 29. the armie made approches on the side of the heath Buor Then the Lord Preau issued out so there was a fierce skirmish in the which were layed on the ground a great many of the enemies but none of the towne that euer came to knowledge The enemies who had begunne their trenchâ—s were compelled by the sayd skirmishes to giue ouer their worke for that time After that about eight dayes past before that the Ordinance could arriue for the continuall rayne floodes and foule wayes which were the beginning of the sâ—ourge of that armie of sauage robbers The eighth of December the Cannon arriued and there passed three dayes before it was occupied But the eleuenth of December the Duke of Neuers saluted the towne with certaine volies of twelue pieces of ordinance and at the same iâ—stant summoned them to render the towne Whether the Lord Colombieres had beene already labored wonne by some friends whom he might haue had in the armie or otherwise so it fell out that vpon the summons hee shewed vnto the garrison what small apparance there was to obstinate that place against an armie and amplifiyng the great discommodities and inconueniences which might ensue concluded to render the place adding as
fort which dooth couer the gate of the towne towards Maschecow without the which the enemy euen the first night of the siege might haue lodged hard to the wall that place being not flanked with any thing The worke began to goe forward after the succour ariued by the sea with the munitions of warre of whome a part was sent to Beauuoyre by the commaundement of the King of Nauarre to wit they which were of the regiment of Valirant who had embarked themselues with them who were sent to Ganache The Baron Vignoles a Gentleman of Gascoyne entred into Ganache as also the Lord Saint George by the King of Nauarre his commaundement with his companie of 50. Harquebusiers on horseback There was then none of all the forts of sufficient defence vpon which occasion they deuided y e quarters as wel for the defence as for to labour about the fortifications euery one in his quarter with such diligence as necessity required The Baron Vignoles with his captaines Piue and Solas tooke on him the keeping of the fort of the causy right against a broaken chappel of Saint Thomas suburbs This fort was commaunded by a little hill couered with fruitefull trees and also by the suburb for which cause they couered themselues with barricadoes and Gabions The two companies of the Kings gardes which were commaunded by the Lordes Aubiguy and Robiniere vndertooke the keeping of the fort of the tower which we haue saide to haue the forme of a horseshooe The Lord Ruffigny with his companie vndertooke to keepe the fort of the suburb Saint Leonard which was the best hauing the ditches full of water of the height of 9. foote Captaine Beauregard who commanded ouer the company of the Harquebusiers on horseback of the ordinarie garison vndertooke to make a fort at one of the corners of the towne but it was a worke of long time and serued but a little and cost much to keepe and was not begon but in hope that Montagne which was already besieged would debate longer then it did notwithstanding they laboured about it continually and whereas the Captaine Beauregard had not aboue 18. Harquebusiers of his owne halfe of the companie of the Lord Saint George was giuen him The two captaines of the two companies of footemen ordained for the ordinary gar ion did drawe the lots to whome should remaine the fort which was begun at the gate so it fell to the lot of Captaine Ferriere who laboured so hard that euen in ten dayes during the siege it was made defensible and serued to good effect The other companie of the garison vnder the commaundement of the Lord Forestiere a noble man of Britaine was appoynted for the garde of the Castle and the Doue house which was in the garden The charges so deuided euery man doth labour some doo pull downe the Suburbs others goe about the Countrey to get men to labour for there was none of the inhabitants left in the Towne not so much as an artificer but only a butcher The Lord Plessis aduertised of the surrendring of Montagne sent foorth his forerunners to scoure the countrey they reported the 14. day of December that part of the armie was alreadie lodged at Lege The morrowe was discouered a great troupe of horsemen who appeared aboue the mils of Porrieres to view the Towne The Lord Perrine Lieutenant of the companie of the light horses of the Gouernour who had retyred before to his own house supposing there to passe part of the winter returned into the Towne about three daies before the siege and went out with foure or fiue light horses to view them The 16. day of December againe very early he went out on horseback but he had not passed aboue halfe a mile when he found the forerunners of the enemie whereof he aduertised the Gouernour About 11. of the clocke there marched a great number of horsemen conducted by y e Lord Sagonne followed of many regiments of Chastiagueray Brigueulx Leslele and ohers who in hast aduanced to get the Suburbe of S. Leonard These troupes discouered by the L. Perrine hee turned face to them to hold them play to giue time to them of the Town to prepare to receaue them which thing could not be done so timely but that when the bel began to ring for the alarum the enemie was at the entring of the Suburbe The L. Ruffigny went to meete them with sword in hand resolutely followed by the Lord Vignoles and Maretes sons to the Lord Sabboniere and some other Souldiers of their companies with them approached nigh them But the L. Ruffigny for not hauing had leisure totake his Corslet entring into a house where he sawe the enemies lodge receiued a pellet in his stomacke whereof being carried thence two houres after he dyed This his death was occasion that the Suburbs were lost vnto the Chapell sooner then otherwise it had béen Captaine Iahn and fifteene Souldiers besides them who were wounded of the enemies side were slaine aswell within the sayd house as in the Suburbes as afterward some of the enemies reported For to rescue them who did fight came the Baron Vignoles with Captaine Forestiere and 40. Souldiers harquebusiers who defended all the day that which rested of the Suburbe betweene the Chapell and y e towne There was wounded Captaine Mote Standard bearer of the Lord Vignoles with a pellet in the highest part of the thigh whereof he dyed fewe dayes after There was before the towne gate beyond an olde hollow way certaine houses somewhat ruinous The Lord S. George the alarum being giuen went to lodge within the same ruinous houses assisted aswell of his owne as of some armed men of the companie of the Gouernour to helpe the harquebusiers if they should be forced There also the enemie presented all his forces and sent to begin the skirmish which was sustayned and continued vntill night so that the enemie was not able to lodge within the sayd ruinous houses without great losse and seeing the obstinacie of them within lodged in a village vpon the way to Maschecow They of the towne lost a souldier and the Lord Coulee was there wounded The night following the regiment of Brigneulx and Chastiagueray who had gotten the Suburbe of S. Leonard lodged in the houses nigh to the Chappell which were pulled downe Notwithstanding they could not set vp any Barricadoes by reason of the continuall shot which did raine out of the Forts and Curtine so that they could not get out of y e houses All the dayes following to wit from the 16. vnto the 29. of December passed away in continuall skirmishes as the enemie made his approaches for to lodge but specially at the comming of the regiments of the Countie of Beaupre who went about to lodge at the Planches for there commonly began the skirmishes which neuer ended but commonly by the death of some of commandement of the side of the enemie Like skirmishes were daily fought on the side of the
sharpnes of the sicknesse but to a little Castle nigh that village where being the sicknesse did so increase that many doubted of his life He also resolued himselfe constantly to abide the good will of GOD readie willingly to end his life if Gods will was such the thing that only grieued him as that good King Ezechias was the néede which the Church of God might haue of his presence in France if he should fall and also the want of his fidelitie in that kingdome if in the middest of so many great troubles and confusions he should be taken out of this world Notwithstanding he ceased not as much as the disease which was sharpe and violent did permit him to prouide ordayne for the affayres of his armie according as the occasions did fall out He was let bloud and worthily serued and succoured by them who were about him as much as the discommoditie of the place could permit them He sent to all the Churches round about to make prayers and supplications for him which was done with much feruencie and sorrowe The newes of his daungerous disease were brought to Rochel in the euening being the 13. day of Ianuary The congregation was called spéedily with the ringing of the bell to repayre to the Temples This was about seauen of the clocke at night an houre not vsed to such méetings the necessitie notwithstanding requiring the same The people aduertised of the cause ranne with such multitudes to the places of prayers so that the like was neuer seene in that towne All manner of men indifferently euen children and apprentises forsooke the houses to repayre to the Temples the multitude was such that many being not able to goe in went home agayne heauie sad answering by their priuate prayers to those that were made in publike with much lamentation and teares For all men knewe well the greatnes of the affliction throughout all France generally if God at that time so troublesome and confused had taken out of this life that first Prince of the bloud whom he had endued wiâ—h so many graces The sayd extraordinary prayers were continued for the space of many daies vntill that the recouering of his health was certainly knowne The rumour of his death was spread into diuers places of the Realm euen at the Kings Court for the which reports all good and true men did greatly mourne The great contentation which the leagued receiued thereof dured not long for the King receiued newes shortly after of his recouerie It is sayd before how that after the execution done vpon the person of the Duke of Guize the King sent into the Prouinces to aduertise the Gouernours Magistrates and people of the iust causes and necessitie that inforced him to doo that execution And interrupting the continuance of the euents which followed that execution we descended into the lowe Poytow there to see what exployts the great royall armie conducted by the Duke of Neuers had done there and also what the King of Nauarre did all that while Now hauing seene that armie to haue made shipwracke and vanished out of sight we will leaue the King of Nauarre being in bed sicke of a dangerous pleurisie expecting health of the Lord which giueth saluation vnto Kings and to restore him to his health and strength and will come to the matter agayne and consider the horrible accidents which followed the death of the Duke of Guize and of the bounsing Priest the Cardinall his brother After this execution done vpon the bouldest authors of the conspiracie and the rest of the heads of the same being in holde there was great hope that the burning fire of all ciuill dissentions should be on a sudden quenched the flaming torches of tumults being put out But the newes of the sayd execution of the Duke of Guyze being brought into all parts of the Realme by them that fled without bootes and spurres out of the suburbs of Bloys the report came also to the Duke de Mayne being then with an armie in Liomoys he taking with him such as would followe him went out of the Countrey for two causes First fearing vppon these newes the neighbourhood of them of Daulphine Vienoys and Viuarets who might haue doubled their courage vpon that occasioÌ„ being there most of the reformed religion Secondly that because of the death of his brother the hope for the which he and his brother the Duke of Guyze did greatly enuie and malice one an other with mutuall haâ—red doth now proffer it selfe vnto him without any manifest competitour This Duke de Mayne therefore now swallowing downe the crowne of France in one morsell by imagination with as many as would follow him made hast into Burgondie and Champaigne and there made sure to himselfe in those Prouinces as many places as hee could preparing all thinges to warre agaynst the King Here it might bee thought strange how the Duke de Mayne doth so cruelly mooue warre and rebellion against the King seeing that it was he himselfe and his cosin the Duke d'Aumale who gaue aduertisement to the King of the conspiracy and intent of his brother the Duke of Guyze as is aforesayd The question is easily resolued there is no fayth nor fidelity among them who do aspire to the same one kingdome there is no society be it neuer so sworne and holie These three to wit the Duke of Guyze Mayne and Aumale did affect the Kingdome but because the Duke of Guyze was more fauoured of the partakers then the other two he was carryed theretoo as if it were vpon the shoulders by all the partakers who attaining vnto it would haue established the same to himselfe and to his Sonne already in mans estate and to his posterity The Dukes of Mayne and Aumale no doubt did loue more the Duke of Guyze and would haue had the Crowne rather vppon his head then wheâ—e it was yet according to the rules of the Diuinity of Sorboun that charity beginneth at it selfe they would haue worne the Crowne of France euery one vppon his owne head rather then that any other should haue had the occupying of it howsoeuer great and deare friend hee might haue béene This emulation about the affectation of the Crowne was the cause that these two to wit the Dukes de Mayne and Aumale each of theÌ„ in respect of himselfe discouered the conspiracy to the King to the end that he beeing made away they might march a playne way in the same steps which hee had traced before them reseruing to the craftiest or mightiest hereafter to oppresse his cosine for it is not to bee thought that there would haue beene more vnion and loue betweene the Dukes of Mayne and Aumale beeing but cosins then there was between the Dukes of Gnyze and Mayne being brothers Thus wee see what ambition did worke in these new men by affectation of that roall dignity which doth not touch them at all and without any likelihood euer to approch néere vnto namely rebellion
the Kings gardes seazed both vpon the Towne and Castle the which Towne notwithstanding it was without walles yet being situated on high and in a strong place by nature hee vndertooke to fortifie the same by the helpe of them of the religion who did so resort thether from euery where daily that the sayd Lord Requien waxed strong there as hee is a valiant man employed himselfe with them of the religion to make warre against the rebelled Leaguers for the Kings seruice About the 23. of February the King of Nauarre being at Chastelerault tooke occasion to seaze vppon the Castle and the Towne of Argenton in Berry by the meanes which followe That place doth pertaine to the Lord Monpensier but it was graunted to the Lady Dwager of Monpensier sister to the last Duke of Guize by her contract of marriage hauing that honour shewed her to haue married the Duke of Monpensier Prince of the bloud and father to this Duke yet liuing In the beginning of this last warre of the League the castell of Argenton strong and well furnished was made sure for the League the towne remayned at libertie as being not strong and commaunded by the Castell But after the death of the Duke of Guize the garison of the Castell was increased double intending thereby to assure the towne also the garison vnderstanding of the taking of Chastelerault which is not farre of by the King of Nauarre fearing that which afterward happened vnto them they sent to the Duke d'Mayne for succour who sent certaine Captaines with their companies from Orleans They of the towne refusing the association of the rebellion of the Leaguers and willing to remaine faithfull to the King doo aduertise him of all their estate and good wil towards him doo require succor of him as well against them of the Castell as others which did approach to seaze vpon their town The dispatch could not bée in so short space but that in the meane time they of the towne and of the Castell fell at variance vppon the matter each party trusting in the succour which they hoped for The King of Nauarre aduertised of al this and of the succour sent they there by the Leaguers nigh aduaunced with certaine troupes of horsemen determined to make them agrée and vsing his accustomed celerity it fell out with him so happely that hee preuented them in a moment who were sent from Orleans sending before some of his gardes who entred on a suddaine into the towne to the great amaze of the garison of the Castell At the ariuing of the gardes of the king of Nauarre there was a hot skirmish and some were killed on both sides few of the King of Nauarre his gardes but many more of the garison but when the Leaguers of the Castell saw the companies of the King of Nauarre first they were amazed and shortly after conceauing a great terror yéelded the place After that the King of Nauarre had taken possession of that place he appoynted the Lord Beaupre gouernour there where he established the exercise of the reformed religion with liberty and safety in stead of the romish religion as in other places The King of Nauarre returned to Chastelerault where considering how the King was in great danger both abroad and at home how hée had euill counsell giuen him pittying his estate and considering that hee could not bée moued neither to make nor to accept of his seruice for his defence considering also that the Leagued rebels waxed strong and the King weake he putteth forth a protestation bearing date the fourth of March wherein he sheweth that notwithstanding his affaires and estate of them of the reformed religion was neuer stronger who within thrée yeares hath borne the fury of ten mighty armies whereof some had béen beaten to cloutes the others haue béen scattered as dust in the ayre hee doubteth not but the same God will strengthen him with the same force and will defend alwaies hereafter his iust cause and innocency yet hee dooth proffer them that if the King will hearken vnto peace hee was neuer so willing to imbrace it Furthermore hée proffereth himselfe to heare reason and to bée taught by a conference and a counsell promising that if he be conuicted by the word of God to be in any error he will reuoke it and bring all them of the reformed religion to doo the like But to bring him out of that religion wherein he hath béen borne and brought vp euen from his cradell with the dint of the sword he warneth them that therein they haue taken a contrary course by which they will neuer preuaile Last hee dooth adiure all the states by the name of God by the ashes of their ancestors by the loue of their natiue countrey to counsell the King to this ordinary course or else to deuise some better if they can by the which they may stop the subuersion of their countrey About this time came the excommunication rowling from the capitall and thundering like vnto a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the olde Comedy pronounced against the King for the execution done at Bloys vpon the persons of the Duke of Guize the Popes champion and the Cardinal the saide Popes Chapline and the imprisonmént of the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Archbishop of Lyons shot out of the belly of Frier Sixtus at the sute of rebels With the stinke of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Frier Sixtus came forth out of the bottomles pit of hell a number of Iesuites and Friers and such misbegotten monsters to raile to accurse defame their lawfull and naturall King and Prince ordained of God without any remorse of conscience Many of the Leaguers who after the death of their Captaine had hanged downe their heads had retyred to such places as they thought sure far them some other who had forsaken their faith their promise and oath giuen to the League now considering foure accidents which had happened and seen to fauour the affaires of the rebels doo rebell a new doo forsake their King whom God nature thankfulnes and nobility commaunded to dye at his feete First the vnseasonable lenitie or rather pusillanimitie of the King who had stated the execution of iustice for such notorious and hainous treasons committed not against him but against GOD in his person whome God had consecrated to that high dignitie vpon the heads onely of Guize and the Cardinal his brother and in the imprisonmēt of six of the chiefest without proceeding any further Secondly Fryer Sixtus his excommunication by the which they supposed though not in conscience but in passion onely themselues to be set at liberty to doe whatsoeuer without any grudge of conscience Thirdly the beating away of the kings garisons and forces out of the citadell of Orleans by the Duke de Maine therein supposing in a manner for so is the blindnes of mans passion to haue conquered all France Lastly the euill counsell of leagued dissemblers and dissembling traytors whom
they knew to be about the Kings person in great number wayting for opportunitie to deliuer him prisoner to his enemies or else to dispatch him out of his life with one blow knowing that by their counsels his forces diminished his cities and strong holdes were surprized his enemies waxed strong But specially they feared greatly the playes and tricks which they had taught Charles the ninth his brother and him which they had played many times with them of the religion they I say feared at length to bee snared in the like springes Therefore all these things wel considered they begin euery where to strike the alarum and prepare themselues to the battell against God their King their countrey their liâ—erties and the graues of their fathers So that the Lords Brissak Chastre and Boysdauphin to whome a little before the king had forgiuen great treasons who a little before had promised with an oath obedieÌ„ce to the king who did shewe a semblant of great ioy for the execution done at Bloys they priuily doo steale away and breaking their fayth promise and allegeaunce to their king reuolted agayne to the enemie Brissak went to Anger 's where he thought to cause that Citie to rebell agaynst the king for some of the citie of Anger 's had hitherto dissembled their affection and good wills whch they had to the league and rebellion as well because they had the king at Bloys and Tours who looked to them neerely and narrowly as for not hauing the meanes to execute their enterprize But now at the reuolcing of Brissak they made him head of their enterprize for to seaze vpon the Castell one of the strongest places in all France And for to bring their counsell to a good passe with speede fearing least by delay they might be preuanted by the king being so nigh them therefore they followe a short course for first they trie what corruption may doe They doo promise to the Lord Pichery gouernour of the Castell an hundred thousand crownes and to entertaine foure thousand footmen so that he would keepe it for the league The Lord Pichery as a faith full seruant to his Prince refused all those proffers whereupon the Lord Brissak with the rest of the rebells within the towne did assault the Castel and fortified themselues by all meanes with trenches and barricadoes vpon the ditch of the sayd Castell Whereuppon the Lord Pichery aduertised the King of the state of his affayres and attempts of the Lord Brissak and inhabitantes of the towne The King sent the Marshall Haumont with the regiment of Picardy and part of his guardes who were admitted into the Castell by the Lord Pichery who opened vnto them the great bridge of the said Castell Assoone as the Marshall Haumont entred into the Castel although the rebels were in farre greater number yet the skirmish began then was it tyme for the enemy to packe away in hast many of the rebels were slayne There they were taken prisoners to the Kings vse so many as yeelded one hundred throusand crownes for raunsome Some were executed in the towne and chiefly some Iesuits and Fryers who had beene the firebrands to kindle the combustion and the trompets of the rebellion The Lord Brissak head of the rebellion there saued himselfe by flight with few of his company and seazing vpon the townes of Mans Alençon and Faleze caused the inhabitants there to rebell agaynst the King About the same time the Duke Mercure desirous to get the fauour of the townes and people to assure better the dutchy of Britaine to himselfe tooke vpon him the name of protector of the Romish Church in that prouince of Britanie by the helpe of the Bishops and other rabble of that sinagogue who prescribed certaine formes vnto the Iesuites and Friers whereby in theyr sermons to bring the people to that deuotion Although Christian Reader thou mayst easily perceaue by the whole course of this his history how from time to time the house of Guyze who were not so much by nature as to bee admitted into the society of the Nobility of France at the first made a fayre wether after that preferred them selues before the Princes of the bloud And when through too much lenity of the house of Valoys toward them they had obtayned that they haue practized to steale away the hearts of subiects from their natural Prince at length haue enterprized vpon his life And when by a singular prouidence God had deliuered the King out of their snares and clawes and see they are not able to depriue him of his life they doo depriue him of his Crowne ad dignitie First by the iudgment of Sorboune Secondly by the assotiatiation with they haue sworne to present him to death by all meanes possible Thirdly by taking away from him the name of King though not in plaine tearmes yet by paraphrase as when one taketh vpon him to be the protector of the Crown of France y â— other protector of the Church and giue the same to themselues which properâ—y is and hath beene the office of the king of France For the Kings in France haue had alwayes that honour as due vnto them by right to be Protectors of the Crowne Dignitie State Kingdome Church and people of their dominions and neuer yeelded that title to any man neither durst euer any man vsurpe that title vntill this yeare 1589. by these two companions to wit the Dukes de Mayne and Mercure But it may be obiected that the same title hath béene geuen and taken to the King of Nauarre as protector of the reformed churchs of France and therefore they do that which the heretikes haue taught them To this it may be answered that the case is not alike for the reformed churches were forsaken of the King without any cause at the solicitation of flatterrs sycophantes and clawbaâ—kes who to bring the King to that confusion that hee is come vâ—to did hold his kingdome into troubles and ciuill warres by litle and little to entrench vpon his authority at length to tread him downe vnder feete That part therefore of the Kings subiects which was the best though not the greater in number being wrongfully put from the Kings protection and assaulted euery where haue recourse not to a stranger nor strange bloud the first Peere and Prince of France who after the King hath most interest to the Crowne him they haue requested to protect them vnder the Kings authority against the violences of them who did so counsell the King to forsake the protection of his people But these companyons what hath moued them to vsurpe these tytles The King did neuer forsake the Crowne nor the Romish Church in godliues that way in zeale in integrity and austericy of life in wisedome prudence and fortitude to defend the romish Church he hath passed all the Kings of all ages he hath bestowed his forces hath spent his goods hath ventered his life diuers times hath made shipwracke of his honor for
doo leauing of all suspitions and despising the counsell of many who would haue him to differ that interuiewe vntill another time considering also that there was no apparance of danger he passed ouer the riuer at the bridge of Saint Saphorine went to méete the King accompanied with the Marshall Hautmont and many of his nobilitie and his gardes leauing the rest of his forces to stay for him at the passage He found the King staying for him in the alley of the Parke of Plessis there was so great throng as well of Courtiers as of the inhabitants of the Citie who ran thether from euery where that the two Kings stayed the space of halfe a quarter of an houre stretching their armes one toward another before they could touch one another so great was the preace for the place though very spacious would not receaue the multitude so that the trées were loaded with men to beholde that blessed méeting The embrasings the salutations were reiterated diuers times of both Kings with a shew of mutuall ioy and contentation The reioysing of all the Court and of the people was incredible for all men did crie by the space of halfe an houre God saue the King a voyce that had not been hard either at Tours or in any place else where the King had béen in more then foure moneths before Another acclamation followed the first God saue the Kings God saue the King and the King of Nauarre all men praised God and blessed that happie and long desired reconsiliation The two Kings parting thenâ—e entred into counsell where they were the space of two houres and after the counsell they tooke their horses and roade together accompanied with the Court vnto Saint Anne which is halfe the way to the Suburb called Roches the streates were so full of people that it was hard for them to passe all the way sounded with acclamatioâ—s and voyce of ioye for the hope which euery one had conceaued that these two Kings being so vnited would ouercome their enemies and restablish the state of the kingdome and would end the miseries which had vexed France so long The said King of Nauarre departed from the King at Saint Anne repassed Loyre where his troupes stayed for him lodged at the Suburbs of Saint Saphorin nigh the bridges end The morrow after being the first day of May about sixe a clock in the morning the King of Nauarre entred into the towne to goe to salute the King All that morning was employed in counsell vntill ten a clock that the King would goe to Masse where hée was accompanied by the said King of Nauarre vnto the Church doore from thence hée went to salute the Princesse of Condy and County staying for the Kings returne from Masse Afterward the said King of Nauarre as long as hée made his aboade there oftentimes visited the King and tooke counsell together for the common benefit of the realme The same day the said King of Nauarre obtained of the King for them of Sedan ten thousand Crownes for to helpe them in their affaires with letters written vnto the Duke of Lorreyne commaunding him to make warre no longer vppon Sedan declaring that they were vnder his protection Whilest these things were a dooing at Tours the Duke d' Mayne did batter Chasteaurenault but vnderstanding of the interuiew of the two Kings at the selfe same houre of the interuiew hée brake the siege and in haste retired to Vendosme The King as is before said stoode in great danger to be either murdered or else deliuered to the enemy by the intelligence which the Duke d' Mayne had with some traitours which were of his counsell in the Court and in the Citie Now by this blessed reconsiliation here is a great change to bée séene on a suddaine for by this the King is put out of feare liueth out of danger of the rebels is fortified by ariuall of this mighty Prince and army vnlooked for the hearts of all good subiects are herewith encouraged and the conspiratours are terrified for the Duke of Mayne being at Vendosme and in the territory there abouts with a mighty army of traitors had committed such insolencies vppon the people of their owne League and vnion that the countrey was replenished with outcries curses and imprecations Feare therfore of the King of Nauarre and of some insurrection of the people of the countrey constrained him first to place part of his army in garisons in the townes of Beausse Anjou Mayne and Perche to make hauock of all that he left behind and afterward to returne to Paris The Duke d' Mayne hauing so deuided his army with one part of the same giueth to himselfe many alarum in that retire to Paris It is said before how about the beginning of Aprill the King considering the reasonable proffers of the King of Nauarre who in his great prosperity and when he might haue enlarged his authority farre and wide throughout al France proffered peace and ayd vnto the King to his great disaduantage at length necessitie inforced the saide King to conclude a truce with the King of Nauarre for a whole year beginning at the 3. day of Aprill 1589. and ending the same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1590. inclusiuely The conditions of the said truce were agreâ—d vppon and promised to be obserued by the two Kings the 26. of Aprill First in publication of the same truce the King with a long discourse doth protest of his consiancy in the Catholick religion and opposeth the proofes which he hath shewed from his youth vp as well in his priuat profession and exercises as in pursuing the contrary religion by all meanes and restablishing the said romish religion in places where it had béene abolished against the calumnies false reports and slaunders of the Leaguers On the contrarie sheweth how his enemies haue taken the pretence of religion and discharging the people of sundry exactions to make associations to strengthen themselues to replenish the realme with tumults and confusions whereby they haue giuen opportunity to the heretickes to abolish the Catholik religion and to enlarge theirs and they themselues haue by sundry cruelties and extortions oppressed his subiects of the Catholick religion he complaineth that the Leaguers hauing attempted against his person and proclaymed an open war against him and his authority who through their iniuries haue enforced him to call the King of Nauarre to his naturall and lawfull defence against their rebellions and treasons Secondly he declareth how the King of Nauarre acknowledging his duty toward his Maiesty and pittying the miserable state of the realme subuerted brought to a lamentable confusion by the Leaguers hath instantly required peace of him Whereupon by the aduise of the Princes of the bloud officers of the Crowne and Lords of his Counsell he hath concluded a truce and ceasing from all hostility throughout the whole tralme therein comprehending the County of Venisse and state of Auignon belonging to the
holy Church They let him vnderstand how among all other order of Friers his had deserued the greatest praise in spilling daily the bloud of heretikes as water in the townes and citties of Spaine and Jtaly and all for the honor of God and exaltation of holy Church But this pinch would be the noblest act that euer was done by any man the rememberance thereof should remaine for euer and his name should be made immortall thereby and if he should die he should dye a glorious Martir as Thomas Becket did in England Afterwad he was brought to the Ladies catholike and chast women the Duchesses of Montpencier Guyze Aumale Nemours Foyeuse the mother and the holy Virgin the Ladie Saint Beufue who as a speciall fauour had bestowed the pockes of late vpon the Duke de Mayne and beside diuers of the principall leaguers in the time of her Virginitie This Lady is of such holynes that shee is neither a maide nor wife nor widow in this company were Thais Lais and Bacchis of Corinthus all holy Catholike women They began to shriue the Frier if they were men or if they could be so transformed into men that they might haue accesse to the tirant they could finde in their harts to stabbe him that is a speciall point of honor which they do proffer him to doo such a famous deed It is hereditarie to his order to exalt the Church and to deliuer it hee is a man endued with strength they haue béen his good Ladies they haue fauoured him greatly and pleasured him in any thing that euer he requested What will hee not do so much at their request they must die all and all the citie of Paris what a good deede it is to saue the liues of Princesses Ladies good Citizens deuout Priests and religious men of so many innocents whose death the tirant had sworne with the razing of the cittie If he refuseth to do that good deede they thinke him not to be that man that they tooke him for They shewed him how easy it was to performe it for there were many Leaguers and their partakers in his counsell in his court in his chamber in his campe in his gardes who would assist him and if any danger should stirre they would defende him and rescue him and that none would bee so hardie as to proffer him a blowe for else Frier Pagarola would fome like a boare and thunder like a deuill against them What and if it should happen that he should die for holy Church then he should be happie to deserue the name of Martir that his brother Frier Sixtus would make him a Sainâ—t But if hee returne safe as hee shall no doubt God forbid else hee shall be well rewarded in money hee shall haue a Bishopricke for his paines Frier Paugarola will procure Frier Sixtus to make him a Cardinall for a Frier will doo for a Frier and who knowes not that by these meanes hee may be made Pope after Frier Sixtus is weary of his roome To bee short if hee will not do it he shall see with his eies his good Ladies all his order all the good Catholikes of the whole citty of Paris put to the sword the cittie razed for the tirant hath sworne both he shall die himselfe an assured death ere it bee long the holy Masse the holy Saints Images and relikes the Churches shall all be destroyed and the heretikes shall haue all thinges all these mischiefes cannot be auoyded but by his death By these perswasions the accursed Fryer otherwise ready ynough to all mischiefe is induced to commit one of the most villanous parts which euer was committed in France So Sathan hauing possessed his hart the Fryer perswadeth himselfe that an Angell hath appeared vnto him and commaunded him to kill the King he opened this to another Fryer which was greatly esteemed in Paris by reason of a good opinion of great holines which the people had of him The other Fryer doth encourage him promiseth him that by doing such a holy deed he shall deliuer the Church and set the whole realme at quiet banish warre and restore a most assured and perpetuall peace as Iudith did deliuer Betulia by the death of Holofernâ—s Behold Christian reader the King condemned to dye the executioner to commit the parricide sought out by Pichenard perswaded by the heads of the League and some Ladies belonging to them deluded by Sathan confirmed in this delusion by another Frier as good as himselfe with assured promise of a most sure and constant peace Frier Clement desireth to knowe how he may doo it surely and safely The Leaguers therefore enter into deliberation about three things to wit the accesse to the Kings person the stroke and secrecie As for the first poynt to conuey him to the Kings person they considered his coate which for the reuerence and loue which the King did beare to it would prepare him the way Secondly whereas the rebels in seazing vpon Paris after the death of the Duke of Guize had taken the Senate prisoner and did as yet hold a great many prisoners and among other the first President of the Senate named the President Harlay They had also in like sort many of the chiefest Citizens for bearing good will to the King or because they were rich as is aforesayd whom they detayned in like manner prisoners The sayd Lord President and some of the sayd Citizens procured to write letters vnto the King which should bee deliuered to Frier Iames Clement They taught him also a lesson contayning matters of importance with commaundement that they should not be disclosed vnto any man but vnto the King onely and that in secret As for the stroke it must néedes bee deadly too for els it would but increase their miserie and such a blowe could not bee giuen but by a secret weapon that might bee hidden easily about him for otherwise if it could be perceiued it would make the King more warie hereafter and carefull of himselfe But what could be more fit then a knife which might bee easily conueyed in the Friers sleeue and whose noyse might not detect the treacherie But yet there was another mischance to be preuented for the wouÌ„d of a knife might light vppon such a place as could not be deadly they finde the meanes to worke surely that if he cannot kill him out of hand yet that at length it may be his death Therefore Frier Paugarola Frier Sixtus his Chaplaine must blesse the knife with some poulderdoribus of Rome which such men as he is doo commonly carry in store for great holines among other holy reliques of Rome hauing greater force theÌ„ their Agnus dei or any other agios others they haue to worke miracles and such as the master Frier in Rome dooth vse to giue in a drench to his friends when hee is wearie of their companie to make them giue roome But because such waightie matters cannot bee kept so close very long but will vent out
Lords Clermont Antragues one of the Captaynes of the Kings gards who deceased nigh the Kings person The Lord Tischombert who had borne great charges in warre and now would needes serue as a souldier in the Kings Cornet The Lord of Longauluay in Normandy of fourescore yeares of age the Lord of Creuay Cornet bearer to the Prince Montpencier the Lord Vienne Lieftenant to the Lord Benuron the Lords of Manuille Fequers Valoys and twentie Gentlemen more at the most There were hurt the Marquesse of Neste the Earle of Choysy the Lord d'O the Earle Lude the Lords Montluet Lauergne and Rosny and about twentie Gentlemen more without any danger of death The King going to chase the enemie and hauing deuided his companies as is aforesayd left the Marshall Byron with the rest of his forces to conduct them and followe after him Here good Christian Reader thou hast to note certaine fatall periods of things to wit the circumstances of the persons time and place in the execution of Gods iustice vpon his enemies The 23. day of December 1559. Claude Duke of Guize and Charles Cardinall of Lorreyne his brother in the raigne of Francis the second procured Annas du Borg one of the chiefest Senators of the Court of Parliament of Paris to be burned for the Gospell at Saint Ihan in Greues in Paris The 23. of December as their Calender is now which was the day of the natiuitie of Henry of Bourbon which now raigneth in the yeare 1588. the last Duke and Cardinall of Guize were slayne at Bloys when they had concluded to murther the King the next morning following that day The fourth day of March 1561. Claude of Guize father to this last tooke armes agaynst the edict of Ianuary and committed the cruell murther of Vassie by the which breach of the peace were ciuill warres raised vp in France and euer since haue béen entertayned and nourished by his posteritie which warre was his vndoing The same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1585. the last Duke of Guize sonne to the sayd Claude tooke armes against the King which was the beginning of these last ciuill warres of the League by the which they haue procured their owne vndoing and of many others The same day of the moneth the Duke de Mayne brother to the sayd last Duke of Guize and heire of the Captainship of the rebellion made a shipwracke of all his forces at Saynt Andrewes plaine without hope euer to recouer the like forces Claude Duke of Guyze in December in the year 1561. fought the first battell that was giuen in all these ciuill Warres with Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condie Prince of famous and blessed memory in the plaine of Dreux with an vncertaiue issue but in equall losses so that to this day it is vniudged who had y e victory but well knowen that the Duke of Guyze had the greatest losse The Duke de Maine fought agaynst Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name now King of France and Nauarre at the plaine of Saint Andrew next adioyning to the other and the places not distant passing a mile a sunder with a reparable losse The Lord Rendan a rebellious Leaguer in Auuergne with such power as he could make in the sayd countrey but specially in the Townes of Rions and Brion rebelled and holden in the same rebellion by the Iesuits besieged Isoire a great and populous towne in the said Auuergne because it continued in the Kings obedience The Lords Chasseran and Rochemayne willing to do some honorable seruice to the King and good to their countrey gathered such power as they could of the Kings subiectes to rescue the sayd towne of Isoire from falling into the handes of the rebels and with a meane power trusting in GOD the defender of his Ordinance and wayghing the right of the cause marched towards Isoire The sayd Lord Rendan vnderstanding of their approach raysed vp the siege and went intending to meete the sayd Lordes Chasseran and Rochemayne and at the same day and time of the battell at Saint Andrewes playne meeting in a playne field not farre from Jsoire tried the quarell by the sword There the sayd Rendan was ouerthrowen and aboue fourescore Gentlemen of his were slayne on the place all his footmen cut to pieces the artillery bagge and bagage with many prisoners taken so the Towne of Isoyre was deliuered from the danger of the enemie retayned and confirmed in the Kings dutifull obedience It is said how after the victory the King deuided his army into foure parts three of them were appointed their quarters to follow the chase and the Marshall Biron to follow after the King with the residue of the army The King hauing taken this order followed after the Duke de Mayne but finding the bridg broaken was faine to go thrée miles about to passe the riuer afoord and in that way he found many straglers whom he tooke prisoners which was a good turne for them or else they had béen slaine by others he came so fast after the Duke d' Mayne that hee did misse him but a little but vnderstanding how he was receaued in Mant the king lodged that night at Rosni as is said very simple The fift day the Duke d'Mayne very early fearing to be besieged there retyred from Mante to Pontoyse where he soiourned few dayes to take some sure order for the safety of the Towne and after went to Saint Denis The same day the King sent to sommon the Towne of Mante which deliuered the keyes of their towne to his Maiesty receaued and acknowledged him their king and prince and continued there vntill the twentie day of March to refresh his army wearied with so many labours and hardnes of winter to take counsel of the course which he was to take hereafter and to expect certaine munition of warre which was comming to him from Diepe The Citie of Paris first author of this warre had conceaued an assured confidence of all prosperous successe by the vaine bragges which the Duke d'Mayne did cast foorth afore hee went out with the army The Friers Iesuites increased this vain confidence in their pulpets by assuring them either of a certaine victory or else of recoyling of the King as farre as beyond Loyre so that euery day they looked for the King dead or aliue and all his spoyles to be brought for a spectacle and to bee solde and bought among them or else to heare of his flight as farre as the riuer of Loyre This great confidence made them to liue very secure and carelesse in prouiding for the Citie besides that they rested much vpon the great multitude which is within the sayd Citie there beeing great bablers and boasters for the Parisien is as Epimenides speaketh of the Cretayns a lyer euill beast and slothfull belly The towns also which then did hold round about their Citie as Pontoyse beneath vpon the same riuer Charonton Meaux Laguye Corbeil Melun Montereau aboue vpon the riuer
part of them had béene slayne in the assaults geuen to the Cittie and how the King was strong and not like to bee enforced to depart afore hee had the vpper hand ouer the sayd Towne And vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was come to Han with Forces in hope to relieue the sayd distressed towne and that the Lord Rosne who led the Duke de Mayne his army towards Lorreine was returning backe to Laon in Champaygne he delayed the time of composition to see what succor they would geue But at length seeing no reliefe comming and the King vrging the towne the sayd Lord Vile concluded an agreement with the King in this maner following The Lord Vile as well for himselfe as for the Gentlemen Souldiers and inhabitants of Noyon hath promised to yeeld the sayd towne vppon monday next following being the eighteenth of August together with all the munition for warre artillerie and victualls which at this present was therein conditionally if sometime of the day the Duke de Mayne doo not giue him a battell or by force put not within the towne one thousand souldiers or by some meanes doo not raise the siege Also that the sayd Ville Gentlemen and Captains shall depart with armour horses and baggage and the Souldiers with their weapons and horse And that the inhabitants shal be receaued into the Kings fauour entreated as good subiects in rendring him their duetifull obedience but specially and namely that the Lord of Ville his mother may freely remaine there enioy her goods in performing the submission of loyall fidelitie as other subiects Item that if any of the inhabitants be desirous to depart they shal safely passe among the men of warre Item that the Lord Ville shall be permitted to send the Lord of Brouly to the Duke de Mayne to aduertise him of the condition of this capitulation and that the King shall safely conduct him to that effect And for the accomplishing of the premises the sayd Lord Ville hath promised to sende hostages to the King the Lord Rieulx the Abbot of Genlis with foure of the towne such as the King shall choose whom the King doth promise to deliuer vppon the performance of the sayd conditions The King also doth graunt to send two Captaynes into the towne to keepe and see during the time from labouring to the contrary It had pleased the most famous and renowmed Queene of England during this siege to send a new supply of men to the King to assist him in the recouering the possession of his right vnder the conduct of thâ— most honourable and famous Earle of Essex whom the King leauing his power before Noyan went to meet at Gysors in Normandy whom hee receaued in most courteous sort accepting most thankfull her most excellent Maiesties gracious fauour and the said Earle his good and readie will for hazarding himselfe in such a dangerous iourney for his seruice After the death of Frier Sixtus which was hastened by the Spanish faction with a little slubber sauce was elected a newe Vicar of Rome of the house of Sfondraty if I remember well and is as much to say as burst bellie naming himselfe Gregory the 14. This Frier Gregory being set on horsebacke will ride as the prouerbe is vntil he breake his neck First in Ianuary he sent a Legate into France agaynst whom the King procéeded as agaynst an enemie of the publique peace of his subiects and in March last the sayd Frier Gregory pronounced a Bull agaynst the King his Princes Nobles subiects and realme Then not long after it is reported that he sent certain forces mustered out of the Stewes of Rome to the Duke of Sauoy to inuade Prouance conducted by some bastard of his and that Superstition Folly iniury and wrong might goe together he must coniure and charme the Standard of holy Church as all the sort of such idolatrous Antichrists haue bin Coniurers poysoners and Sorcerers many yeares together To play this Comedie he sitteth disguised in his Pontificalibus the Standard of holy Church holden before him he hisseth he bloweth hee mumbleth he crosseth he charmeth he stinketh but behold he that did hold it rather by some presage and token of the fall of that idolatrous rabble than by negligence let the Standard fall vppon the braynesicke Frier Gregories head which not onely did beate downe his triple Crowne from of his head but also gaue a knocke vppon his foolish pate All these companies shortly after were cut to peeces and the charmed Standard taken by the Lord des Diguieres as is reported Fryer Gregorie not content with all these iniurious prouocations sent one M. Marcilius Laudrianus by name an Italian by surname a Britaine but by sawcines and desperatnes a Iesuite vnder the name of his Nuncio to publish a certayne infamous libell full of impietie heresie and sedition vnder a Maske of religion in forme of Bulls against the King his Princes Nobles subieces but specially agaynst the French popish Church which this sawcie companion enterprized to publish at Pont de Larche in Normandie whereupon the K. finding himselfe sore iniâ—ried at the hands of this tyrannous vsurper commaunded his courts of Parliament to proceede by law agaynst these iniuries and so the Kings generall attourney in his court of Parliament holden at Caen in Normandie requiring iustice to be done vnto the King his Princes Nobles and subiects The court of Parliament therefore al Chambers assembled the third day of August did proceede agaynst Fryer Gregorie his person his vsurped tyranny his Nuncio and his Bulls First they doo declare the sayde Fryer Gregorie an enemie vnto the peace of Christianitie a troubler of the Catholick Romane Religion enemie to the King and Estate of France a conspiratour and associate with the rebells within the realme and accessary to the death of the late deceased King most trayterously murthered a firebrand of sedition and stirrer vp of warres and procurer of murthers Secondly they doe condemne his vsurped power vpon the state and Church of France to be vsurped abusiue and wrongful contrary to Gods worde holy decrees and liberties of the French Church commaunding all Primates Archbishops Bishops Colledges Couents Chapters Communalties bodies of Cities Curats Parsons and seruing Priests not to acknowledge any superiority or power of the same Fryer Gregorie nor to render him any obeisance neyther to assist or fauour anie excommunications publications or readings of any thing that should proceede from him The court also dooth forbid not to pursue or receaue of him or anie other whatsoeuer qualitie or conditioÌ„ they be his complices adherents any collations confirmations or prouisions for benefices graces dispensations or other expeditions nor to answere beare or cause to be borne by way of banque or otherwise any gold or siluer to y e court of Rome neither to pay any thing or render obeisance to the Archbishops Bishops his adherents who haue put in execution any of the pretended diffamatory libell
bed to doo what he was commanded they sayd vnto him that he doated But after he had told this follie to Pipin the 13. of August 753. he annoynted Pipin King of France and Berte and with his Popish blessing sanctified all the Barons Nobles of France binding them with an oath neuer to choose King of France but of that rase of Pipin Thus goeth the sottish fable of the brainsicke entusiasme Pope Stephen The Guizes fayning to haue descended out of that rase by the helpe of this fable besides the determinations set downe concerning other States of Christendome it was concerning Fraunce thus decreed That the house of Capet which was the house of Valoys and Burbon with the rest of the principall Nobilitie must needes be rooted out and that these lustie buds of Charles the great must haue their turne and for to bring to passe these things the wofull Tragedie must be thus played The Guizes must kindle the fire The Priests Friers and Iesuites shall blowe it with the bellowes of â—ayling and sedition The King shall sit still vntill his brother and the Burbons come to their triall The Pope shall play the Monarcho This Monarcho was of late yeares a franticke Italian well knowne both in Germanie and England who imagined that all the Kings of the earth were his vassals so Sir Hugh Vicar of Rome sitteth a farre off will not drawe nigh the fire and imagineth that all is his wherevpon he condemneth the Valoys and Burbons and the Nobilitie of France to the slaughter The name of the States shall be vsed and waite vppon the Guizes to play the hangman and when all things be in a readines the King all the Princes and Nobilitie shall be cast into the fire there to be consumed and destroyed When all this is happily performed there will be a newe heauen and a newe earth For the Guizes and Sir Hugh bon companion Vicar of Rome and all his bands Ganimedes and Chaplaines shall haue all and may take their pastimes with their Curtizans without any feare or controulment of the Hugonets Here followe the acts of this Tragedie or the summe of the secret Counsell of Rome holden contayning the meanes how to destroy the kingdome of France as they were deliuered by Sir Hugh vnto his stage players First the house of Guize and their partakers shall procure new Commotions in the Realme and intertaine warres They shall also league the Nobilitie with their othes to persecute the Gospell and that they shall not acknowledge any other Captaine and head of the League but onely the Duke of Guize 2 The King shall be counselled to fit still and to take no care for such vprores but to let the Duke of Guize alone for hée knoweth well how to handle the matter 3 The King shall send his mother to Monsier her sonne to perswade him to come to Bloys to the States 4 In the meane time the King shall goe from Paris into a place of sure accesse and voide of suspition where he shall entise by fayre promises by fayre meanes and fayre words the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde if it may be done whom he shall receiue with as much entertainment and courtesie as he may shewe them So the King was made a foole at Rome by a sort of beggerly Friers and godles rabble But in the meane while that the King shall shewe such fayned courtesies to his brother and the Princes of his bloud the Guizes shall retire from the Court with tokens of discontented minds 5 These things being a working the King shall assemble the States at Bloys and such as bee deuoted to the League shall bee sent to the seuerall Prouinces to picke out such Deputies as may bee well taught and skilfull to play their parts 6 During these stirres the Friers and Iesuites shall mooue vp the people to vprores by seditious Sermons against the Hugonets 7 The Priests in their Parish Churches shall secretly take the names of able men and by appoynted Captaines it shall be ordered what weapons be most fit for them and in their shriuing they shall warne them to prouide such weapons 8 The States holding shall sweare to obserue and obey whatsoeuer shall be concluded and shall binde themselues and their commonalties to beare the charges of the play 9 But if Monsieur the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and others of the house Burbon doo not appeare they shall bee condemned of contumacie and as Rebels And furthermore all other who shall seeme to oppose themselues against the States shall be executed if they can bée taken and if not rewarde to be appoynted to such as shall kill them 10 All these things being thus compassed the States shall be sworne to the Sea of Rome and to obserue the Councell of Trent 11 Request also shall be made to the King by the States that in case any man should resist these procéedings hee shall appoynt the Duke of Guize his Generall to pursue them by all meanes to death 12 Yet the morrowe Masse Priests must come once more vppon the stage and there they shall cause their Captaines to muster them of the conspiracie and to make them readie to march when the assemblie of the States is once begun 13 All these things being so brought to passe the States shall picke out Minos and Rhadamanthus to enquire and iudge of the life and déeds of Monsieur for ioyning himselfe with the Hereticks and to make his processe after the naturall and godly example of the King of Spayne which sacrificed Charles of Austrich his naturall sonne a Prince a Prince of great hope vnto Moloch the Idoll of the Iesuites 14 When Monsieur is condemned the forces secretly gathered shall march to strengthen the execution 15 Then immediatly the conspired Souldiers shall set vpon the Hugonets in all Prouinces without any respect of persons 16 The Duke of Guize that great Captaine y t great Charlamaigne with his power shall destroy all shall take the King and his mother eyther put them in Monkeries or els to rid them out of this world according to the Prouerbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this wee see that the King long agoe was condemned at Rome either to be a Frier or els to be slaine by a Frier So all these things thus happily done loe the Duke of Guize shall haue all and in so doing the Crowne shall returne to the blessed stocke of Charlamaigne and he and his successors hencefoorth shall holde the Crowne of France of the Apostolike sea and shall abolish the prerogatiues of the French Church Valete plaudite Calliopius recensui Now I pray you good Sir Hugh good master Vicar seeing you haue so wel sped let vs haue a fine Te Deum landamus and a demure solemne Procession and all in your Pontificalibus such as wee had for the noble and famous victorie of the Spanyards against the Englishmen before Calis the 29. of Iuly 1588. And after a sweete
For a Stage play can not haue good grace to make the people laugh except there be a popish Priest to play the Deuils part All this whispering among them was about a great summe of money which the king of Spaine should lay out for to beginne the play and least the sayd king of Spaine should be cosened of his money the Duke of Guyze to deliuer him the dukedome of Britayn y t Cityes of Bourdeaux and Marseilles and for the performance thereof he should send some of his children to the Duke of Sauoy in hostages Therefore now the Guyze is as full of Spanish pistolets as a Dogge is full of Fleas as the Prouerbe is when wee will signify great aboundance of thinges He geueth great summes of this Spanish liberality to his partakers but specially to discontented persons He profereth also of this Spanish money to many which neither require it neither would haue of it But all men did excéedingly wonder whence should come this plenty séeing that it was well knowen that he was déepely indebted Now when all thinges séemed to be in a readines to begin the tragedie the Fryers of the society of Bariese the sorcerer named by cutting short Iesuits do play the prologue for they steppe vp into Pulpits euery where whom they haue turned to trompets and drommes of the Deuill to blow and sound the alarme of sedition and rebellion There they do shew the decay of popery which they call the Catholike faith they do vrge the miseries of euery degrée to procéede from the Hugonoets and their fauorers meaning and in a maner openly declaring the king They do propound y e great dangers which did hang ouer the heads of the Catholikes There they did tell how that there was a certaine confederacie of the Hugonoets with the heretikes of Germany England Denmarke and Swisserland to oppresse the Catholike Church It is said before that in September last there was holden a certayne conuenticle of conspirators against Christendom in Paris by the Bariesuits commonly called the Iesuits where they forged a certaine infamous libell to serue them for a firebrand of the sedition There they say and lye all at once that the 14. day of December 1584 ther was concluded at Magdebourge in Saxonie that the kings of Nauarre and Denmarke the Queene of England the Princes of Germany the Princes Palsgraue and Orenge the Landsgraue of Hessen they or their Embassadors should appeare at Basill the next moneth of May following Where is to be noted the impudencie of these lying Fryers For the Princes Palsgraue and Orenge were dead the one a whole yeare before the other they had procured to be murthered in Holland by one of their owne Iesuits 6. moneths before But these two Princes they should raise vp by the Boriesu their master whom these Coniurers founde in their Pamphlets to appeare at Basill They affirmed also in the said infamous libels that the King of Nauarre should haue taken armes the 18. of Aprill the yeare 1585. which in déede was the time appointed for the League to rise vp They affirmed also that the king of Nauarre had promised in the assemblie of Montaulban that in case he should suruiue the king and that hée might attayne to the Crowne he would roote out of France all Popish religion and depriue them of the said religion of all state dignity and autority They said also that the ministers had perswaded the king of Nauarre to reuenge the murther of Paris and that it was concluded that out of euery towne and citie 3. of the chéefest Burgeses should be deliuered to requite the said murther They did reade these forged lyes in their Pulpits where they omitted no point of Monkish railing rhetoricke in their sermons to stirre vp the people to sedition and warre against them of the reformed religion They crye out they rage and fume saying that now the time is come that holy Church for by this word they meane the pride pompe and voluptuous life of Bishops Cardinals Monkes Fryers and Priestes do craue their helpe or neuer They do exhort the people both in their Sermons and prinate confetence and in their shriuing of the people to ioyne with the Leaguers made them great promises of heauenly rewardes they extolled the noble buds of Charlemaigne meaning the Guyzes which haue vndertaken the defence of holy Church against the force and attemptes of heretikes and fauorers of them They preached also their valure their wisedome their woundes and noble feats for the defence of the realme and holy Church They shewed how easie it would be to roote out the heretikes out of all France hauing such Captaines to manage the warres About the beginning of this yeare 1585. there was a Bachiler or rather a lodger of diuinitie in Sorboune which dyed a holy Martir in this wise let good men iudge This Diuine had holden in disputation publikely in the Colledge of Sorboune this Theologall proposition ful of Iesuitical diuinity which he dedicated to the Abbot of Cluny bastard sonne to the Cardinall of Lorreine that was to wit That it was lawfull for any man priuate or otherwise to depose or kill any King or Prince which were wicked euill men or heretikes The king hearing of this new and strange kinde of Diuinitie aryued now of late into the land was greatly offended and intended to call this Bachiler to accompt but he was preuented by these meanes For they which had made him so speake with Pistolets of Spaine hired a good fellow likewise with Pistolets which slew this diuine with all his diuinity in the court of the Colledge which act done fled auoided least he who had set both of them to worke for Pistolets should be disclosed Thus the Prologue being so well played and the hartes of the beholders so prepared the Duke of Guyze also with his Pistolets hauing drawen the Malcontes to helpe to playe the rest and the principall Authors themselues almost readie to come forth There rested one practise more to be set downe before the entrance which was as followeth Betwéene the riuers of Charante Botonne and the townes of Niort Fonteney and Ralmond cituated vppon the Ocean sea lyeth a Countrey called Annix pertaining to the gouernement of Rochel the Riuer Seure comming downe from Niort afore it falleth into the sea méeting with an other riuer running from Fontency deuideth it selfe into many channels which do make diuers Ilandes commonly called the Ilandes of Maran by the name of the chiefe towne there called Portmaran At euery accesse into those Ilandes there are fortes builded vpon the channels of the sayd riuer The third day of February the Minister of Maran being at Rochel was aduertised by the letters of a friend that there was greater and more cruell preparation of warre against the reformed religion than euer had béen afore time and also that there were drifts to seaze vpon the Iles of Maran the Castle and other Forts if it were not looked to For the Guizes
assure themselues of those prouinces townes cities and holdes as had not in a maner one of the reformed religion left among them but they either had béen murthered or else so vexed and disquieted by the continuall dangers which euery day compassed them that they had retyred most into those prouinces in France which were safer from the violence of the Leaguers or into forreine Countries So they warre agaynst the heretikes by subduing the Catholikes to their deuotion They warre against the heretikes where none were to make them resistance and dare not looke on the prouinces where the heretikes as they tearme them were in great number But to the matter Although the vniust and inconstant dealinges of the house of Valoys had empayred greatly their honor and renowne and that this king by his own actions at the massacre of Saint Bartholemy had greatly stayned his garments with a spot that would neuer be washed yet did hee alwayes retayne the authority and reputation of a Soueraygne Prince vntill that for hatred of the Gospell hee suffered the ambition of the house of Guyze to encroch too much vpon his royall authority and prerogatiue vnder colour of Catholike zeale Thus hee weakened his royall authority by following the counsell of Italians thrusted into his seruice by the cunning of the Guyzes for that intent These Italian scholemasters did endeuour alwaies to rule him by the preceptes of Machiauell the Italian prophet so that after he came to the Crowne the Guyzes with their adherents interrupted diuers times the peace made with them of the religion made continuall monopols and secret practises and associations with his subiects to the great empayring of his royall authoritie as is afore sayd and still vnder colour of Popish deuotion so that at length hauing by the means abouesayd seduced the harts of the Priestes Monks of many of the Nobillity and people hauing specially woon his Senators and Counsellers and robbed him of the good will and loue of his subiects in the end by this market they haue made themselues equall to him they haue set their seat as high as his so that now the king is nothing which they are not except onely that as yet they do not take vpon them the name of king but suffer him for a while to enioy the same So that the king now hauing not onely lost part of his Princelike strength which consisted in his townes cities and holds but also part of his authority which lyeth in commaunding alone as a soueraygne is become a fellow of the League If you demaund why the question is soone answered because he set himselfe agaynst him of whom he had receaued all power and authority Hee which had giuen him tooke it agayne for his vnthankfulnesse But now let vs returne to the League These articles called the holy League being concluded to the kinges great disaduantage and dishonor the edict must be made thereafter which was published the 18. day of Iuly and is commonly called the edict of vnion wherein the king doth all that it pleaseth the Leaguers to commaund him to do as a good obedient fellow of that holy association Fyrst hee forbiddeth the exercise of the reformed religion throughout all his Dominions commaunding the ministers of the Gospell to depart the realme out of hand Secondly he commandeth all men to professe the popish religion and that the professors of the Gospell without any respect of persons either shall beleeue poperie or else within sixe moneths shall depart out of the Realme with licence in the meane time to sell their goods to their owne vses Thirdly that as many as haue been infected with heresie for so hee calleth the Gospell of trueth or are knowne to fauour it shall bee incapable to be are any office within the Realme Fourthly he dooth dissolue the bipartit and tripartit chambers of iudgements which were ordayned for the indifferent ministration of iustice in respect of religion Fifthly that the townes graunted to the keeping of the King of Nauarre at Saint Germane the yeare 1584. shall bee surrendred into the Kings hands Sixtly that all whatsoeuer offensiue actions haue been committed by the Leaguers their adherents Townes Cities or comunalties of their association shall be hereafter iudged as lawfull good and acceptable seruice to the King done for the defence of the holy Catholik Romain Religion And that all declarations proclamations iudgements prescriptions condemnations and executions whatsoeuer against the Leaguers or any of them for the said offences pronounced shall be voyd as vniustly wrongfully pronounced against them Where note gentle reader that the King is come to that bondage that hee is perswaded to alowe and approue all the murthers exactions spoylings excorsions treasons rapes whoredomes blasphemies and sacriledges as done for his seruice the defence of the Church and aduauncing of Gods honour Will not the Lord reuenge this pusilanimitie in such a great Magistrate with some notable example of his iustice according vnto his threatnings woe be to you which call euill good Last of all he commaundeth all manner of officers and the Nobilitie to sweare the obseruation of the said edict which he caused to be published and sworne in the Parliament of Paris hee himselfe sitting in iudgement the 18. day of Iuly The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde vnderstanding the conclusion and publication of the edict of Iuly appointed a certaine meeting with the Duke of Monmorency at Saint Paule de cadioulx in the Prouince of Albigerys to take aduise together what were to bee done in those extremities They therefore the tenth of August concluded a certaine protestation in the which shewing what the intents driftes and demeanours of the Leaguers haue been also what the Kings iudgement was of them not long since what meanes the King of Nauarre hath sought and what hee hath proffered for the preseruation of the state What his behauiour had been euer since the League did rise how hee hath kept himselfe quiet and vnarmed to the extreame danger of his person when he had great occasions to doo great exploites At last they protest that they are not the cause of al those miseries which are like to ensue out of those troubles and seeing that no reason will take place committing their innocencie and equitie of their cause vnto God doo resolue vpon the defensiue This resolution being made the King of Nauarre returned to Nerak the Prince of Conde to Rochel and Monmorency to Languedock to view the attempts and expect the euents of this new and strange vnion This vnion being concluded the King considering that in some manner hee had been enforced to breake the edict of peace and that it was not the proclayming onely which would cause the edict of vnion to be obeyed but that a certaine cauell warre would ensue and that there must be some sâ—newes to holde it Therefore hee turneth all his thoughts to make some preparation for the warre for the which cause the 11. of
the courses which he ranne the dangers which hee passed through to get to the Ilandes of Gernsey lying in the narrow Seas betweene England France what courtesies and Princelike intertaynment he receaued of that great Elizabeth Queene of England how with a great number of Nobility and ships of war he returned to Rochel also with great reioycing of all men he was receaued by them of Rochell is the argument of an other booke which the tyme shall produce But here be three thinges worthy to be noted First how God doth lay heauy crosses vpon his children and do compasse them with ineuitable dangers after mans wisedom both to make them see with the eye how weakly man is stayed which trusteth in the arme of flesh and worldly power Secondly to make them vnderstand how nigh he is vnto them that repose themselues in him and how safe that man is who resteth vnder the shadow of his wings by an assured trust and confidence in his promises Thirdly to shew how many wayes hee hath to deliuer his children out of those dangers which in mans reason cannot bee auoyded as this was to that end to make them tast how sweete his deliuerances bee to warne them thereby to amend their liues and to walke more circumspectly in his wayes and to bee more watchfull in the inuocation of his name and thanksgiuing Of all ancient histories this hath a similitude and liknes of the returning of the Greeks from Persia brought into their countrey by that noble Philosopher and Captayne Xenophon reported by himselfe in expedition Ciri minoris But to returne to the matter By this tyme are the Lords Laual Boulay Rohan the Prince of Conde the Lords Trimouille and Auantigny by Gods special fauour deliuered and brought as if it were by the hand into certayne places of safety Now there remayned the Lordes Saint Gelayse Clermont and others with them left in the clawes of the Lyon and a pray to the enemy to trye the selfe same presence of God and to be led by y e hands of his Angel out of all danger into a hauen of safety The head being gone the rest within a while vanished away as dust blowen in the ayre that which is marueilous without the losse of any one man of account or any other that euer could be knowen euery one had his life for spoyle which hath made ridiculous the lying pamphlets spread bâ—oad in Paris of the terrible dreadful ouerthrow of the Prince of Conde But this short discourse doth represent all thinges passed in that army For the discipation of that armye is not to be attributed neyther to the King neither to the Duke Ioyeuse much lesse to the Duke de Mayne or to any ather of that side For none of them al approched nigh to the Prince of Conde since his departure from Lude not by fiue or sixe leages neyther did they euer draw Swoord agaynst him Wheras that night resolution was taken that y e day folowing the Lord Saint Gelays should take his iourney toward Meare a towne vpon the riuer of Loyre betweene Boysgencie and Bloys in so dooing he disappoynted greatly the enemies and gaue great aduauntage to the Prince to auoyde their hands for the scape of the enemies was his person more then all the rest for they cared not for any thing else so that they might haue him dead or a liue so eagerly were they bent against him But the companies being deuided some tooke their iourney toward Orleans others toward Normandie some toward the Mayne by which meanes the enemies knew not which of them the Prince was in and so the chiefest power of the enemie was in doubt still which way to take to folow after him and in the meane while he and his little companie did slide into Briâ—ayn and from thence ouer the sea into England The Lorde S. Gelays to saue the remnant of the armie exposed himselfe as a pray to the enemie that could catch him notwithstanding without the losse of any one man but he escaped with his companie which was with him with incredible labours and losse of theâ—â— carriage and stuffe That night therefore about twelue a clock one houre after the departing of the Prince with the gardes of the said Prince who were about threeshore Harquebusiers he tooke his way to Vilelnisant where the rest of the companies were lodged to take their iourney to the Chapell Saint Martin and from thence dislodging together came to the saide Chapel one houre afore day There were about 500. horses of all sorts but not aboue 200. fit to fight and yet of them who might haue fought many should haue been faine to fight on foote for their horses were readie to fall vpon their noses and the men but a little more worth The 31. of October they ariued at the Chapell Saint Martin verie easilie and because they needed to baite their horses and refresh themselues the inhabitants saw their doores broken afore they were called vp In that vilage the Lord Saint Gelaise learned that the euening before there were two men on horseback which saide that if there should ariue any men of warre they should not stay there but passe further to Orges And as the day began to appeare the Lorde Saint Gelaise receaued letters from the Lord Aubigny wherein hee willed them to take the direct way to Ralsy where he should meete him And when they came thether the said Lorde Aubigny reported that there were no boates nor any hope to repasse Loyre for there was 800. Swartrutters of the League who had lodged at Saint Die a walled towne three Leagues aboue Bloys vpon the high way to Orleans where they thought to haue found passage There were also all along the riuer at Mir de Nonain Saint Laurence other vilages about the riuer three or foure regiments of footemen seeming therefore to them an vnpossible thing to passe Loyre that way the Lord Saint Gelays consulted with the Lorde Tiffardiere and others who concluded to goe to Orges and to some vilages thereabouts with commaundement to soiourne there not aboue an houre and a halfe There was in the Castell of Orges an olde Gentleman Papist who hearing that the Lord Saint Gelaies was in that companie desired to see him and to speake with him and knowing that his companie was wearie and weake and weather beaten asked him whether he went and what he meant to doo with his companie and swearing with a great oath told him that hee was vndone and that if hee had three times as many men as hee had within an houre if he soiorned there he and his would bee cut in pieces This Gentleman was very stout because of the Kings the Leaguers forces which hee knew to bee thereabout hee shewed him that there was great companies as well on the side of the riuer as on the side of Beause not distant from him aboue halfe a League nigh the Forrest of Marchenoyre with this
part of the auncient Nation called Eburones hauing on the East side Lorreyne and Ardenues on the West Henault on the North Liege on the South Baroys and Champaigne it hath two strong places Sedan and Iamets and many other strong holdes and Castels the Countrey is Woody Moorish and strong lying altogether vpon the banck of the riuer Mense This Countrey since it had imbraced the Gospell and become the Garden of Eden hath been the place of refuge for them of the reformed religion of the Nations which doo lie betweene the riuers of Marne Seyne Mosselle and Saosne a place most fit to retire vnto in time of persecution There were two bretheren the Duke of Boillon and the Countie de la Mark two Noble young men of great vertue valour and godlines who had from their cradle as if it were sucked the true religion and vertue with the milke of their vertuous and godly Mother They ventured all that they had liues goods and state for the defence of the Crowne of France and true religion and opposed themselues against the conspiracies of the Leaguers not as Merceuaries but moued with a true zeale and loue toward both These two noble men were called out of this life vnto that which neuer decayeth and to inioy the inheritance of the Saincts in light whose names shall be in the euerlasting remembrance of the righteous The one to wit the Countie de la Mark dyed at Lancye about the beginning of October as is said before but the eldest to wit the Prince BoilloÌ„ at Geneua the first of Ianuarie as is said It is said before how the Duke of Guize set vpon the Rutters at Vimory where many were slaine and taken on both sides and the Duke of Guize tooke also about three hundred wagon horses and in like manner tooke some more in the surprise which he did enterprise vpon them at Aulneau in Beausse This man being possessed with a legion of vncleane spirits named Ambition this vncleane spirit did so torment him that it made him to thinke an houre a day a day a yeare and a yeare an olde mans age so he longed to see the royall familie rooted out and the crowne of France to fall to his lot hee aduised therefore himselfe of this point of policie to make his name ring ouer all France his victories sung out and to store vp the loue and admiration of the people toward him and to procure hatred and enâ—ie to the King He deuyded these horses and armour which hee had taken from the Rutters at Vimory and Aulneau into sundrie companies of horsecorsers and riders transported with affection and factious malcontents and vnquiet to make a progresse through the realme into those Prouinces whereunto they durst venture and into those Townes and Cities specially which were fauorable to him There these horsecorsers carried as if it were in a triumph through the cities the Germaines spoyles horses weapons and all other aray And when the people were flocked together in great troupes to see these new showes there were the Orators ready among them The number of the dead horses and Ensignes taken were increased by the figure of multiplication one killed a hundred and a hundred ten thousand as Pyrgopolinices in Plautus the manner of the fight was made very difficult and dangerous for the conquerours They shewed also how not one of the Guizes Souldiers were found wanting to be short vanitas vanitatis Then they applied their showes how that the Duke of Guize had atchiued himselfe all the difficulties of the warre and either slaine or taken the chosen and valiant Captaines and Soulâ—iers thereof and if hee had been assisted by the King he would haue gotten such a victory as neuer the like had been heard of in France For hee knew the meanes how to haue made such a slaughter of them as not one had been left to tell the newes in Germanie all the realme might haue inioyed the commodities of such a victorie But the King he retyred beyond Loyre as though he had beene vnwilling or afeard of them for he would or durst neuer shew his face or draw his sword against them and for to shew some outward countenance or for shame when the enemie were alreadie vanquished and that the Duke of Guize had left the small remnant who were but pages and scullions so hurt wearie and sick that they could not flie trusting that they would haue been dispatched by the King they were followed so slackly that not onely he gaue them leasure to escape without running but also helped them to ouercome so many distresses wherunto they were driueÌ„ by the said Duke of Guyze also vnder colour of a counterfeit yeelding and submission he granted vnto them their liues horses and furniture and to some of them their goods and by these meanes they came all to their iourneys end and safely arryued to the King of Nauarre Now the conclusion of these infamous reports was left to euery man to inferre that eyther there was not in the King such princelike vertues as should be in him or else that hee was a fauourer of heretikes and a dissembler with the Catholikes Then what should wee doe with such a King Let vs haue another And whome should we haue but him that hath done such exployts and deliuered France from so manie daungers and terrors By these deuises hatred and contempt was no lesse procured against the King as gloria in excelsis prayse loue fauour and authoritie to the Duke of Guyze The Iesuites and Friers on the other side tooke these lyings and slaunderous reportes for a theme to discourse vpon in the pulpits he that was of a timorous minde cryed that the King was a betrayer of the Catholikes he was become either a close and desembling heretike or a fauourer of heretikes and that it was to be feared ere long hee would forsake the catholicisme and ouerthrow the Catholike Religion in France Others which had a more warlike stomack discoursed vpon the other common place that the K. had a timorous mind durst not look few Pages and Scullions halfe vanquished in the face and that was the cause that many attempts vpon the heretikes had come to small effect because the warres were not pursued by men neither of courage nor wisedome But the Duke of Guize that noble branch of Charlemaigne the deliuerer of France the onely protector of the holy Church was the onely man to whome they owe their religion their liues and goods the onely hope of the Realme Thus the frogges that rose vp out of the bottomelesse pit did dayly in their pulpits crie croake croake croake There was great hope that the sundry lamentable euents which did beate the one and the other part in France by the scourge of warre and execution of armours as well in the losse of the battell at Coutras in the death of notable men as in the oppression and hauock which the armies did cary with them would haue
others who were taken prisoners And because the night drew neere apace the Prince thought good with all speede to assault the other companies of rebels who were at Commeaux who were about a thousand or twelue hundred men conducted by the Lord Beaulieu This company had trenched and fortified themselues and therefore the most part of thē were y e cannons priests monks fryers Iesuites of the Citie of Sees and many persons of the countrey round about who would shewe some proofe of their valour and how they could fight better with a Caliuer then with their Portisse but at length it was found that they had more skill in iugling a Masse and making of Gods then in handling their weapons among them was the Parson of Vimonstier a desperate and sedicious Priest The Lord Beaulieu was their captain who at the first onset the sayd Lord Beaulieu was taken among the first in the forcing of the Fort who being carried away by the Captaine Chauuayne before the Prince sayd that there were within that Fort at the least seauen hundred well armed and appoynted The Prince vnderstanding that commanded the Lords Bakqueuile Archand to get into the Fort and for that purpose he left them the Culuering and went that night to Escouche where he arriued about eleuen of the clocke in the night And assoone as he was gone the rebels of Comeaux vnderstanding how their fellowes had sped yéelded with their liues onely saued who were immediatly disarmed and brought to Escouche to the Prince There the Duke soiourned all the next day being the 21. of Aprill to take the view of the prisoners who were in great number of all qualities of persons The same day the Lords Hallot Bakqueuile Beuil Bellefontayn and Archand went abroad with their companies to see if they could méet with any ranging Rebells where they mist not much to haue taken the Baron Vernier The sayd Baron and Brissake with the rest of their complices retyred in great speede to Argenton fearing to be as kindly hit on the hips as their fellowes had béen The 22. day the Prince leauing the Lords of Harcourt of Saint Mary Venoix and Sassay at Escouche went to Courcy where hee vnderstoode that the Lord Pierrecourt was lodged with some Launciers not farre of he mounted straight on horsebacke and went to finde them out but he had dislodged a little before they came to the place Here Christian Reader marke the presence of God in the assisting of a good cause and handled by persons of lawfull calling First thou seest how the King heretofore in the warres against the K. of Nauarre had not prospered but all things haue fallen to his owne charges dishonour and shame because he persecuted him without a cause and such persons were put in trust of his affayres and aduanced themselues forward intending vnder that colour to supplant their master Now when the King hath a iust cause in hand and put men in trust that are lawfully called bearing a true and vnfayned heart to the King kingdome Crowne and Countrey such as bee the Princes of his bloud and other of the true Nobilitie of France the Lord also is of his side and fighteth for him maketh him victorious and restoreth to him his authoritie by steps as it shall appeare hereafter Secondly here is a notable thing happened which neuer did happen vnto any Captaine that euer I haue read saue vnto that noble Athenian Conon that a Captaine had obtayned three noble victories in one day but vnto this noble Prince of ancient and noble rase Thus the Prince Montpencier by these victories gaue a tast vnto the rebels of the cup of their treasons and so did driue them into Townes and Holds that afterward it was rare to see any rebels abroade except it were when they had neede priuilie to steale out to robb their nigh neighbours of their goods Hauing done this exployt he purposed to bring the artillerie from Courcy and returne to the Citie of Caen intending shortly after to be in the field agayne and to carrie by it vntill he had subdued the countrey to the Kings obedience agayne By a pertinent digression I haue shewed what noble and profitable exployts the Prince Montpencier hath done in Normandy against the Rebels now we will returne to continuance of the narration interrupted It is sayd before how the King seeing himselfe in extreame danger made truces with the King of Nauarre and deliuered him the Towne of Saumour for his safe passage and repassage ouer the riuer of Loyre which he committed to the Lord of Plessis Marline Few dayes being expired after the deliuering of the town of Saumour the King of Nauarre went thether to the great contentation and reioysing of all the inhabitants and of all the Nobility round about well affected to the Kings seruice and good of the realme Liberty was geuen by the K. of Nauarre to all the inhabitants concerning religion indifferently as hée had done in other places The King of Nauarre hauing ordered all things at Saumour about the 17. day of Aprill went foorth and besieged the Castell of Brissak the Lord thereof beeing a traitour and a rebellious Leaguer and tooke it by composition The 18. the King of Nauarre passed all his Forces beyond the riuer of Loyre ouer the bridg of Saumour and within few dayes ioyned with other forces which stayed for him gathered out of Normandy Mayne Anjou Perche Beausse and other countries beeing betweene Loyre and Seyne intending shortly to see face to face the army of the rebels conducted by the Duke de Mayne Thus the King of Nauarre greatly iniuried and offended so often and at the request and for the pleasure of the Duke of Guyze assaulted now commeth to rescue out of danger captiuity and death him that had persecuted him so long with all the forces of a mighty kingdome he commeth I say with a chosen army not onely great in number but also in valour so that euery common souldier might haue supplyed the roome of an Officer Goe on O great King put on the armor of God follow his calling this day thou hast obtayned a greater and more famous victory then at the day of Coutras in ouercomming the desire of reuengement which vpon diuers occasions might haue risen by the frailty of mans nature The 21 the King of Nauarre hauing passed ouer the riuer Loyre and ioyned with his forces gathered out of the Countreys abouesayd setteth forth a declaration shewing the causes of this passage First hee sheweth that hee is called to enter into this action by God by nature by the lawe and by the iust approbation of his Prince which causes do moue him to determine to imploy his lyfe his meanes power for the reestablishing of y e Kings authority restoring of the realm and for the defence of good Subiects within the same decayed and oppressed by the treasons of the Leaguers vnder the colour of godlines and iustice Secondly he protesteth
oppressâ—d with famin pestilence sword and with intollerable bondage vnder the Leaguers The King of Nauarre after this ouerthrow of Saueinze and his companies nigh Bonaual about the 22. of May being at Boysgency vpon Loyre veneath Orleans fiue leagues writeth a louing letter to the rebels of Orleans to proue what reason and fayre offers might do with them wherein he sheweth to them First that he hath foreseene and forewarned France of the euils which this last ciuill Warres would bring and protesteth of the dislyking of it at all times And although his protestations and warnings haue béen little regarded notwithstanding the iniuries which he hath receaued yet wil he not fayle in his duty toward his countrey but will séeke the meanes to cure her disease or die wiâ—h it both in generall and particular Secondly aduiseth them to consider the causes of their rebellion to bee in themselues and not in other men for it cannot be for any religion or any violence or necessitie which hath enforced them thereunto but a wicked and rash minde which maketh them pretend a feare of some euill that may come hereafter and so doing they make themselues vnfortunate and cast themselues in a miserable state And in preuenting a fault that may bée hereafter they doo commit a manifest and heynous crime in going about to stop an euill which they doo imagine to see a farre of they doo procure to themselues innumerable euils to assure a libertie to their children which no man will hinder they doo throwe themselues into a present bondage To make sure as they say their state and goods they yéeld themselues to be spoyled and robbed Put them in remembrance of the calamities which will accompanie their rebellion and their obstinacie in the same as that they doo drawe a cruell warre to their gates whereby they shall be continually in feare and alarume by it they shall haue need continually of an armie to gard them by it they shall see their houses their fieldes their vines set on a fire their wiues and children spoyled their traffique stopped their husbandrie wasted and all this they are like to suffer for going about to reuenge another mans naughtie quarrell and for to make their backes to be footsteps for other men to get vp vnto the scaffold of their ambition which if it doth fall as it cannot stand it will quaile stiffle and vndo them Thirdly admonisheth them to call to remembrance the fidelitie and loyaltie of their ancestors to Charles the 7. whom they defended against England and the most part of France which had conspired against him and exhorteth them also to remember their oath naturally giuen to keepe their fidelitie loyaltie and duetie inuiolable to their naturally Prince Last of all hee assureth them of the Kings clemencie and gracious fauour and proffereth them his meanes to further the same if they will returne vnder his obedience Afterward the King of Nauarre scoured all the countrey of Beausse hauing enforced the rebels to keepe in their Holds At length the King hauing receaued certaine regiments of Swissers and encouraged with these good beginnings against the rebels knowing the God of battailes to be of his side in the latter ende of Iune gatheres all his forces together and came in person to his Campe Helpe commeth to him from all parts of the Realme his armie encreaseth daily in number fame and power The state of the King thus suddenly many Cities begin to entreate vpon peace Thus the King hauing recouered part of his authoritie and in good hope to recouer the whole and more then euer he had by refusing the counsell of strangers and following the good wise sage and discreet counsell of the Princes of his bloud and other his noble and faithfull counsellers subiects and friends he marcheth directly toward Paris to begin the punishment where this vnthankfulnes treacherie and rebellion had begun He taketh Pontoys S. Clow seazeth vppon Poissy S. Germayne Charanton and other Townes round about Paris Meloune and Corbeil he had fortified and holden euer since the beginning of the rebellion The Princes of Germany and Italy sent Ambassadours vnto him doo wish him well doo proffer him money and men to represse that barbarous treacherie of his enemies Some of the first conspirators also through dispayre flee vnto his mercie Finally all things now fall contrary to their expectation and traiterous desires without any hope to looke any more so long as the King liueth for any condition of agreement or suretie of life To be short the case is altered For the King leading his power nigh Paris to compasse it round about and hauing all the Townes about beginneth so to distresse it that either none or small store of victuals could be brought into the Citie The conspirators begin to tremble at this newe and sudden chaunge therefore the heads of the traitors seeing themselues so hardly beset doo enter into counsell to determine vppon the extremitie of their affayres One among the rest declared the daunger wherein they liued he shewed that the mindes of the Nobilitie were mutable and inconstant fawning alwayes on Fortunes side He shewed also that the fearefull Cities could not be kept faithfull vnto them and that vppon the sight of any imminent danger they would be ready to reuolt agayne to the King Also hee discoursed how the Cleargie were couetous and neuer gaue but very little of their owne to their Kings and therefore there was small hope that they would giue to them who might but intreat for it And thus stood their case at home From abroade sayd he lesse hope was to bee looked for for the Spanyard was olde and carefull for the quietnes of his owne familie vnto whom it was more securitie that France should bee troubled then vsurped by any other then himselfe The Italian Princes are circumspect and wise The Germanes are couetous and misers The Pope is subtill craftie and inconstant gréedie for his owne gayne and turning with euery blast of fortune therefore he concluded that there was none other remedie remayning for them but to dye or runne away except one thing could bee brought to passe to wit the death of the King which if they would auoyde their assured vndoing was to be laboured by all meanes possible and that there was no other remedie for redresse of their distressed estate In this counsell sat the Duke de Mayne as a King in hope Aumale Nemours the treacherous Bishop of Lions whom the King a little before had pardoned and set at libertie the Lords Rosne Boysdaulphin Brissak Sagonne the 47. chosen for the counsell of the Citie as aboue sayd the seuentéene Colonels appoynted ouer the eightéene wardes of the Citie All this blessed company hauing heard the discourse aboue sayd and séeing with their eyes vengeance to be at the doore concluded the condemnation and execution of the King speedily to bee dispatched and murthered but the meanes are found very difficult to bring such a famous act