comand this is the K. comand Presently the Duke of Guise and his ignoble Train of Nobles goes out of the Court crying Armour Armour we have had good success and a happy beginning let us now proceed to the rest for it is the Kings Commandment which words he repeated often This is the Kings command This is his commandment this is his Will this is his express Pleasure The Alarm bell rings to a general Massacre Then was caused to ring the bloody token for a General Alarum being the great Bell of the Palace and instantly it was bruted and published as the cause of this Murther That the Protestants had conspired against the King Queen and Court and were about to put this design into practice being armed to that purpose The Admirals body cruelly abused his head cut off and sont to the Pope by the King Then a certain Italian of Gonzagues band cut off the Admirals head which was sent to the King and Queen Mother and by them preserved with spices and so sent to the Pope and Cardinal of Lorrain at Rome as a rich Present Others cut off his hands others his secret parts then the common rascally rable for three daies together dragged his dead body which was mangled and besmered with blood and filth through the streets and afterwards drew it out of Town to the common Gallows and so with a rope left his body hanging by the feet at Montfaucon These cruelties were the badges of the Kings commands and these bloody Hell-hounds wore their Masters Livery All they find in the Admirals lodging are basely murthered among whom 2 children of honourable birth Now the Nobles and their cruel Murtherers brake into the rest of the Admirals chambers and those they found in their beds or hidden in any corners they mangled with many bloody-wounds and so cruelly destroyed them amongst which number thus slain was two young innocent babes Pages of an honourable birth and extract which indeed seemed to all that heard it to be too great an act of cruelty but what was bad enough to be done was their best deeds whereby they hoped with the help of the Popes Bulls to prove not only pardonable but also meritorious Count Rochfoucault a brave and noble Commander basely slain and extreamly pittied There was basely murthered the Count Rochfoucault which for his great wisdom pleasant wit and exeeding valour was highly esteemed of by King Henry and for the same cause this King shewed the like favour This brave Commander Statesman and Nobleman de Naunce was commanded to kill but for the true worth he knew was lodged in the heart of this brave Worthy and for the old acquaintance he had with him he utterly abominated it in an absolute refusal but one Laberge an Avernois and Limb of Hell one that was willing to sell his Soul for a little profit one that would receive a reward though it were from the Devils hands one that would enter upon any bloody service though his pay was damnation Deut. 27.25 Cursed is he that taketh are-ward to slay an innocent person and all the people shall say Amen The Admirals Son a noble and valiant Gentleman basely slain his brave speech This bloody unworthy fellow offered himself to the King to murther this brave nobleman if his Majesty would grant him the Count's Captainship of Horse and thus was this gallant Count basely murthered by men not to be spoken of for men when the Count will be remembred and named with respect in the Court of honour At the same time also and in the same place the Admirals Son Teligny was slain he was a young Gentleman of great accomplishments both of wit and valor insomuch that the King by his respects and affections shewed to him did do homage to his great deserts even to exalting him to the highest strain of Adulation this gallant young Gentleman I say being designed to such a cowardly death and base murther cryed out That now he saw it was even grievous for him to live in that he was the cause of his Fathers confidence of the Kings Love in that he had often commended the Kings faithfulness to him and so this brave Gentleman refused not this death offered him yielding his life as a sacrifice to their wrath and cruelty and thus was this poor Gentleman miserably butchered His Lieutenant shews great valor and fights stoutly but is murthered But his Lieutenant a resolute and brave young Gentleman having the advantage of his arms lengthened out his life in a stiff and stout resistance shewing that he would do what he could not who like a valiant Souldier wrapping his cloak about his arm he fought for his life to the feeling and applause of his bloody and merciless enemies but at last overpowred with number and strength was as unworthily slain as highly applauded Many brave Noblemen Gentlemen basely bloodily and inhumanly murthered in their chambers and streets At this time also was murthered Collonel Montaumar and Rouray Son to the Baron Des Adretts with all the rest of the Gentlemen that had relation to the Admiral amongst whom were many flourishing young Noblemen and Gentlemen all being basely and cruelly murthered and butchered in the prime of their youth and so cut off from all future hopes of high attempts who as they were the cream of the Protestnt Gallantry so were they the But of their Enemies cruelty And thus fell these Noble Gentlemen that at all times carried so much intrinsick worth as purchased immortal praise After this Cossins Souldiers with the Noblemens bands The Soldiers encoraged to blood by having the plunder free for their reward Men Women and children murthered children taken out of the womb alive and murthered the street strewed with dead bodys went ransacking from House to house tearing all away that was worth carriage and in such a manner as is commonly done at taking a Town by storm and so many grew rich by others poverty For the Duke of Guise Duke of Montpenscir the Cavalleir King Henry's bastard Gonzague Tavignes and other Principal Lords encouraged the Soldiers to proceed to blood with promise of all the booty free for their pains still crying out This is the Kings commandment So all the day from Morning to evening the skum of the City the gleanings of all villains did run up and down with their bloody Swords raging and glorying in their bloody Massacres unheard of murthers for they spared not the aged nor the women with child nor the poor innocent babes some whereof being taken alive out of their Mothers wombs without pitty they cruelly and presently destroyed and in a Triumphant joy they threw the slain bodies out of the Windows insomuch that there was scarce a lane that was not strewed with the dead bodies of the poor Protestants Nothing to be heard but the doleful crys and groans of the dying and terrible noise of the murtherers And as the City felt
they murthered in his own house In Sens a hundred of good birth and quallity were inhumanly and basely murthered 100. of good quality murthered at Sens the murther at Auxere women read to be delivered wurthered and slain being thrown into the River naked one hundred houses spoyled and their vines pulled up At Auxere one Cossen was barbarously Massacred they also stabed a fair young gentlewoman and cast her body into the River with many other outrages In Chastillon upon Loire they cruelly murthered men and women young and old nay they spared not women with child ready to be delivered The sad and horrible murthers committed with geat cruelty on the Saints of Christ in Maus 50. cast into apond to feed fishes At Maus they spoyled the houses of the protestants both within and without the Town for eight legues compass two hundred were cruely put to death not sparing women of quality and poor innocent children not having the least respect to their own kindred some hanged up some they beheaded others being dayly Massacred they cast into the river half dead above one hundred and twenty men and women and children were murthered in the neighbouring Villages a Captain most cruely cast fifty of these poor innocent servants of God into his fish-pond to feed his pikes and his Leiutenant fills two trenches with fifty protestants that were slain and many were thrown into ditches a Godly weaver had his throat cut ones mouth filled with leavs of the New Testament and his mouth stuffed with leaves of a New Testament which was found about him in Villages neer and further off about sixscore persons were butchered and many fields strewed with the bodies of the slain whose flesh the birds and beasts had devoured Murthers at Montagris At Montagris which was a hiding place for many poor protestant families and which was under the command and countenance of the Lady Rene of France Daughter to King Lewis the twelfth and Dutches Dowager of Ferrara To this place was sent by order of the Duke of Guise one Mallicorn a Knight of the order who with four companies enters the Town killed an antient man and threw him into the River with others committing several outrages but the virtuous Lady with the protestants was safe in the Castle this Mallicorn sends word to the Duches that he would batter down the Castle if she would not yield to deliver up the protestants into their hands But see the Galland reply of this noble and religious Lady to this murtherous villain The Christian noble answer of a virtuous Lady to the summons of a bloody murtherer I charge you to look what you enterprise for no man in the Realm can command me but the King only and if you proceed to the battery I will stand in the breach to trie whteher you dare kill the Daughter of a King neither do I want means or power to be revenged on your boldness even to the infants of your rebellious race this gallant Ladyes Answer overturned the bold attempt of this fellow to a dishonourable departure At Gyen a child cut in two and the liver eaten At Gyen amongst other insolent cruelties and outrages these furies of hell and children of the Devils begetting committed such an horrible cruelty as common impiety would not foster for they cut a young child in two peices alive and with a horrible fury they eat his Liver Murthers at Aurilac At Aurilac Bresons enters rhe Town murthers eight men spoils the Town and Castle and basely ravishes wives and maidens In Molins many hanged without Law In Molins Monsieur de Montare gave his Troops liberty to spoil the protestants houses and without any form or shadow of Law hanged two Artificers and four others drowned five more and suffered the hangman to hang three merchants of Dauphine besides many others they murthered Neer Issoudun at a village called Lisayâ—n thirteen young men of Issoudun were beaten down in the water A sad slaughter and at Issoudun it self Sarzay enters and imprisons the protestants and most of them miserably died in prison being smothered under the ruins of a Tower A promise of free liberty yet presently all murthered At Angiers Puygaillard a Gascoin Captain sent by the Duke of Montpenseir enters the the Town promising the Protestants a free exercise of their Religion but in two dayes after their houses were spoiled and the prisons by his command were filled with men and women and fourscore of both sexes were murthered by the cruelty of the Papists with cruel torments and inventions of inhumanity 80. murthered women of all qualities were put into sacks and dragged through the mire of the streets and their bodies thrown into the River also virgins shamefully ravished and they that resisted their lustful Villanies were presently stabbed with daggers And the Edict of the Parliament of Paris was published that none should exercise the protestant Religion whereupon many Gentlemen and others about Angiers lost both life and goods A guilt Bible they hung upon a Halbeird and in a Triumphant and blaspheming way cryed Behold truth hanged the truth of the Huguenots Horrible and unsufferable blasphemy the truth of all the Devils behold the mighty God will speak behold the everlasting God will speak and coming to the bridge they threw it into the River crying louder Behold the truth of all the Devils drowned An aged Gentlewoman beaten to death dragg'd through the Town calling her the Mother of all the Huguenots Two young maids ravished before their Fathers face A valiant Captain after promise of life yet contrary to faith given was basely murthered Treacherus Cruelty breaking his body upon a Cross and so left him hanging in great misery till he dyed A Ministers eyes put out and his body burned At Ligueul they hanged the poor Protestants put out a Ministers eyes and then burned him and thus they run up and down roving and raging burning both men women and children without any mercy or pitty they flay'd a young man alive A Minister at 75. years drowned and thirty protestants The Village of Aze they burn down murther thirty Protestants and drown a godly Minister John de Tour at seventy five years old At Paris in the year fifteen hundred sixty two a decree was made by the Parliament of Paris commanding all Catholicks presently to rise in arms Men encouraged by the parliament to forsake their trades to murder the protestants to sound the bells in every place to destroy all of the Religion reformed without respect of quality sex or age and so to root them out utterly whereupon all Rogues Vagabonds and Rascals rise in arms forsaking their callings to help forward the murthering the poor protestants whose rage was such for their Ruin that they looked like Tygres and Lions rather then men In Tours one hundred and fourty were destroyed and cast into the River 140. murthered in
not prevail shee 'l peice it with the Foxes tail And so sets on foot a Treaty of Peace with the Admiral and principal of the Protestants holding an assembly in the Isle of Oxen The Constable though prisoner assists in Council and at first vows he will not admit of any peace grounded on the Edict of January The Prince of Conde prisoner with the King desired also to have liberty to send a messenger to confer with his Council at Orleans who gives him to understand that the Queen nor he can in the least derogate from the famous Edict of Liberty in Ianuary so solemnly made and sworn at the instance of the Estates and so great assembly of the 8 Parlaments in France The K. Q. Mother let the Protestants know it should not be altered but only to please the Catholicks and that Arms being laid down on both sides they should by little and little assuredly obtain their free liberty So presently the Articles of peace were drawn up in form of an Edict containing the Articles of the Edict in Ianuary which was as aforesaid That the Protestants should have the free exercise of their Religion and shauld have the freedom of the same in certain places every one to live free in their conscieuces from trouble and Molestation That all Princes Lords Gentlemen Captains and Souldiers should be free from all troubles for any thing done in time of the wars and so every one to be restored to their dignities goods privileges and prerogatives which Edict was concluded The Edict for Liberty proclamed by a Trumpet signed and confirmed in the Kings Conncil at Amboise verified in Parliment and on the eighteenth day was proclamed throughout the Town Camp and Court by sound of Trumpet and the same day the Prince of Conde and Constable were both freed from prison The Reiters were also conveyed to their Confines being paid in full for their services so returning home to their own habitations The many Executions murthers Rapes Robberies Massacres general and particular committed on the persons of the poor Protestants during this first Civil War from April 1562. to this present March 1563. when the peace was concluded I have for the benefit of all Christian sober perusers abstracted from large volumes and here inserted by themselves that the judicious Reader may by a Christian simpathy tast the sad afflictions that these poor Protestants did endure being so shamefully murthered as to this day stands as a stain to the honor of the French Nation when ever they please to review their predecessors cruelty and yet all comes short of what this little book will tell thee CHAP. III. The Contents A Lamentable and sad prospect of the bloody cruelties committed on the Protestants in France during the first civil wars not sparing old nor young virgins nor women with child Their cruelties at Paris At Senlis Their murders at Les Bordes A godly Minister cruelly used yet providentially escaped Three Gentlemen stabbed by their own cosen and sixteen more killed by Treachery Sad slaughters at Nevers La Charity yielded on conditions yet all put to the Sword Lamentable murthers and cruelties At Amiens Bibles burnt The murthers at Abeville Four hundred murthered at Meaux Virgins abused and children dashed against the walls The cruel murthers at Troys the sad bloudshed at Bar upon Sein Cutting off womens breasts then take their hearts and eat them At Sens a hundred of good birth murthered The cruelties at Auxere At Chastillon women murthered that were ready to be delivered The horrible and cruel murthers at Maus at Montagris at Gyen A child cut in two and liver eaten The murthers at Aurilac Many hanged in Molins At Angiers after promise of life all murthered Horrible blasphemy A Ministers eyes put out and body burnt At Aze a Minister and thirty Protestants drowned In Tours one hundred and fourty massacred and the River dyed with blood The Queen Mothers Incivillity At Valongre many of Quality massacred and a Minister blasphemously and inhumanely slain A child roasted Children killed in the womb The sad murthers at Bloys One buried alive The unheard of massacre at Tholouse Rivers filled with bodies and dyed with blood Three thousand stand on their guard are promised life on submission yet are massacred The horriblest blasphemy that ever was heard and one hundred and twenty burnt The Murthers at Mont de Marsan at Carcasson at Foix at Aurenge where Virgins of six years old are ravished Ninety killed after promise of life Murthers at Grenoble At Bearne At Revel At Monpelleir a Captain quartered alive One hundred murdered after promise of life The like at March Castle Women with childe ripped and buried alive THe Protestants during this sharp war had many cruelties and sad sufferings done to their persons without any pitty or remorse the which was not in one City but in most parts of France and with such bloodshed as will make any Christian heart to bewail their said sufferings and may serve to teach us our habitation is not in this world and so may encourage us to look out for another whose foundation and building is in Jesus Christ that Rock of ages that good and gracious anchor-hold in time of Storms and Tempests and to let us a little taste what a happiness it is that when men come with bloody resolutions to assault our innocency then for a soul to have his eye fixed on heaven by a firm faith of assurance in Gods mercy that though mens rage be like the lofty billows yet our salvation and our strength is in God and thrice happy is that soul that can assuredly say in times of persecution that God is my Rock and hiding place in times of Storm Cruelties at Paris The poor Saints of God in Paris were cruelly persecuted by the bloody papists who being fully delighted and set on blood together with the help of the Parliament there did spare none that fell into their bloody hands either in the City of Paris or such as by appeal or summons were brought thither The bloody usage of Christians at Senlis Many dear and pretious Saints of God at Senlis suffered the fury of bloody and deceitfull men some murthered in a popular tumult some beheaded others cruelly whipped imprisoned and sent to the Gallies not so much as sparing women There murthers at Les Bordes At Les Bordes the Duke of Nevers being Governour of Campagn his Lieutenant slew many men and women imprisoning others and spoiling their houses Their unheard of crueltie to a Godly Minister of Christ At Chaalons a godly Minister of Gods word Mr. Fournier was so basely abused as the merciless cruelty by his Enemies and Gods merciful deliverance must crave leave to have a little remembrance and indeed is worthy our Christian perusall and observance This Godly servant of Christ being prisoner was stript of his cloaths put into a Cart and with many abusive jears taunts and scoffs was often in danger
of his life by the common-people At Monchon he was cast in prison where a Captain and many Souldiers came and told him he should be cut in peices afterwards the Judges came and commanded him to be loaden with Irons after a while the Duke of Guise being made Governour he was cruelly tortured by straining his thumbs so hard till blood issued out they then bind his hands behind his back and tying a Rope to his thumbs they hoist him up and then suddenly twitches him down five or six times tying also great stones to his toes and so let him hang till his vitals failed him almost to death at last he was put into prison and no Chyrurgion allowed to dress his wounds although the Cords had made gashes in his flesh to the bones insomuch that he underwent great pain that he could not lift his hand to his mouth but had almost lost the use of them this did this Servant of Christ endure like a true Soldier with invincible courage and patience and by the special providence of God news was brought that the Duke of Guise was dead The very next day one Bussi had order from the Constable to let him free which yet said Bussi came and told this faithful Minister of God with all acquainting him that he should be let free but it should be to the peoples rage But let us yet see another special providence A singular token of Gods care of his faithful Ones for at the same time came by the Prince of Portion with his German Horses who sent in word to the Town that if Mr. Fournier was not speedily delivered to him and from their cruelties he would not leave so much as the tokens of a foundation but raze it to ruin as a monument of their merciless deserts Which message so terrified the enemies of this Godly soul that immediately he was safely conveyed to the Prince he gathers a Congregation and yeilds his soule to God which faithfull servant of the Lord after he had resided a little space at Ver and gathered a Congregation he presently after resigned up his soule to the Lord that gave it and so put a period to the miserable attendance of this life and begun that life of glory A Treacherous and base murther of Mounseir de St. Estiene his two Brothers and 16. more all stabbed by his own Cosen Germain Mounseir de St. Estiene in his jorney from Orleans retiring himself with his two brothers and some others for Refreshment to his own house neer Reims they were not long there till the house was beset by fifteen hundred men who being forced to yield had liberty on their words to go forth to speak with the Duke of Nevers whom as they said desired to see him and going out was there basely and treacherously murthered by the Baron Ceruy his own Cosen German so were his two Bretheren also with sixteen others basely and unworthely stabbed and distroyed without the least composition Their wives they spoyled of all they had and led away prisoners The Catholicks of Nevers on the eleventh day of May The sad slaughters at Nevers 1562. summoned into the Town many Gentlemen of the Country presently shut the gates and in three daies after fell on them and Murthered them without pitty The Minister's they cast into prison one miserably perished by their cruelty another miraculously escaped presently after bloody Fayete arrives ransacks their houses rebaptize their children being filled with his desires of bloud and 50. thousand crownes returns to his house of Auvergue La Charity yielded on Conditions yet all were put to the sword contrary to Covenant The Town of La Charity being beseiged by cruel Fayete was to him yielded on honorable terms by the Governour Issertiux which Conditions were signed and sealed the tenth day of June the Grand prior entring the Town according to conditions presently snatched the capitulation out of the Governours hand and then fell to spoil and murther so that none escaped Bibles burnt and the Protestants murthered at Amiens At Amiens all Bibles Testaments and psalms were sought for and openly with much profanness were burned the Guisans murthering and killing the poor Protestants and casting their dead bodies into the River shooting some to death and hanging others Base cruelty At Abbevilly the Lord Harcourt was slain and many others one Belliart they dragged along the Streets with his face on the ground and then drowned him At Meux 400. murthered The Protestans at Meaux being the stronger partie continued the exercise of their Religion for a while but at last the Parliament at Paris gave judgement against them whereupon a company of souldiers enters the Town disarms the Citizens and unworthyly and cowardly murthered above four hundred poor Protestants and as if it were not enough as if their blood-thirstiness could not be quenched Mounseir De'Boysy enters with souldiers Virgins a Bused in the streets children dashed against the walls committs unheard-of and inhuman villanies deflouring virgins in the open streets many massacred and drowned children dashed against the walls divers papist preists murthered some with their own hands At Troys Bibles and Books of divinity were rent and torn in pieces the Protestants murthered their houses sacked eighteen men hanged like doggs Cruelties at Troys and women dragged through the streets and cast into the River The sad murther at Bar upon Sein The sad cruelties used to the Protestants at Barr upon Seine are hardly to be compared in this first civil war although in the latter part of the book I shall let the world be accquainted with such cruelties as that the most horrid murtheres yet extant come not so near them as to bear a shaddow of comparison They murther women and maydes and cut off their breasts and took out their hearts and eat them But to our purpose this Town the Papists entered and committed such outrages and cruelties especially against women as it is not fit to be related but with an utter detestation for they spared not maides nor poor infants some of their breasts they cut off open their stomacks cutts out their hearts and in a furious manner gnawed them with their teeth boasting that they had tasted of an Huguenots heart and with hellish blasphemies they ravish women and virgins A Popish father murthers his Protestant sonn A just reward There was one Mounseir Ralet a young Advocate and son to the Kings Procter who by his fathers own procurement was murthered which was a sad and prodigious thing and in January following about fifty horse of the Garrison of Antrim surprized the Town at break of day and took it in for the Protestants and with their pistols caused him to expiate the death of his son A gallant Gentleman murthered in his own house The Peasants committed horrible murthers on the poor Saints of God Monseiur de Vigney with his wife and servants
Tours and the President being suspected to favour the protestants he was beaten with staves stripped to his shirt and hanged up by one foot with his head into the water downwards and whilest he was living they ripped his belly The height of bloody cruelty and popish malice pluckt out his guts threw them into the River stuck his heart on the top of a Lance and carrying it about said It was the heart of the president of the Huguenots A sad slaughter Not long after the Duke of Montpenseir gives order that their should be erected Gibbets wheels and stakes whereupon many especially of the richer sort were murthered to the number of some hundreds and River dyed with their blood insomuch that the River was dyed with the blood of the Protestants In this City was a godly Matron who for constancy joy in tribulation and comfortable example may beg leave to stand in this history as a monument of Gods glory for she endured their cruel torments scoffs and jears with undaunted and Christian patience A Christian pattern whom at last they basely hanged the particulars I refer the Reader fully to peruse in Mr. Clarks Martyrologie page the 303. Not long after the City of Roan was besieged and two Forts taken and without mercy they put all to the Sword but that which is most to be wondered at was this Q. Mothers incivility the Q. Mother leads her Son the King being then young to shew him the naked bodies of the women weltring in their own blood at last the City being taken the Souldiers massacred all they could meet withal many English and Scotch Souldiers were hanged the sick and wounded cast into the River Base cruelty Augustin Marlerot the Minister with three Counsellours were condemne to death and so the next day they with five Captains were basely and unworthily hanged Many of quality murthered and a Minister blasphemously and inhumanly slain At Valongre many of eminent quality and repute was massacred among the rest a Godly Minister of the Gospel they most barbarously murthered stripped and dragged him naked up and down his house and then spurned his body and with blasphemous and reproachfull terms they say Now pray to thy God and preach if thou canst they stuffed his mouth with the leaves of his bible saying preach the truth of thy God and call upon him to help thee A child roasted Children killed in the womb 500. hanged In Agen two young children were roasted and many slain At Rein they destroyed children in their mothers womb keeping some women for their lust above five hundred men were hanged upon Gibbets amongst whom was a grave Counsellor in his Gown and Cap they mangled one and filled his wounds with salt Murthers at Bloies At Blois some women escaping their fury by swimming three times safe to shoar yet at last were bloodily murthered many tyed to stakes were cast into the River Virgins and Wives ravished Maids ravished the Protestants complain to the Duke whose bloody answer crowns him with infamy for saies he There is no Remedy we have too much people in France A wretched Speech of the Duke of Guise I will deal so as victuals shall be good cheap As if there were no way to make the ground fruitful but to water the earth with the blood of the Saints One Moluc met a Captain called La Mothe stabbing him divers times with a dagger thrusting him through saying Villain Horrid blasphemy to be trembled at by Gods people thou shall die in despight of God yet this poor soul lived after and this bloody blasphemer found one of the Devils good scholars One Peter Roch was forced to digg his own grave and then they made him ly down in it to try if it would fit his body then they cast earth upon him and buried him alive One buried alive oh Hellish cruelty A proclamation to kill all Protestants At Tholouse some Counsellers proclamed that all the Protestants should be killed for that the King and Pope had given liberty for the same this rejoices the bloody persecutors in ringing the bells Now this City of Tholouse was so populous and full of Protestants that therein was numbred to be thirty thousand 30000. protestants in Tholouse whereupon was a cruel and sad Massacre of the poor people of God when they put any in prison whom the place could not hold they knockt them on the heads and so killed them at the Prison doors Rivers filled with dead bodies the Rivers were filled with dead bodies which in heaps were thrown in many cast alive out of their windowes into the Rivers and if any save themselves by swimming they are presently knocked on the heads like Dogs Some of the Protestants being assembled in a body to one part of the Town they stood upon their own defence resolving rather to dy like men than Dogs So that the Papists agreed and promised the 16th day of May 3500. Protestants stand on their Guards are promised life but basely murthered that if they will deliver in their arms to the Town-house they shall retire with safety and their lives should be saved but oh they were miserably destroyed as if there were no God to revenge covenant-breakers for they fall upon them and murther all they lay hold on to the number of three thousand and five hundred who lost their lives by Popish treachery In Limoux the Papists used all manner of cruelties Virgins defloured deflouring women and maids in an abominable manner the Minister murthered two Gentlemen with six more were hanged A Widdow and loving Mother redeemed her daughters virginity with a great sum of money for a ransom but the villains that promised did presently ravish her in her mothers sight and presence A sad and perfidious murther and then killed both the mother and Daughter nay after peace was proclamed fourteen coming to Town were presently murthered The most sad and horrible blasphemous murther that ever was beard of In Nonnay many sad cruelties were committed for Monsieur Chaumont having surprized the place murthered many poor Protestants with horrible blasphemies against God himself one was commanded to blaspheme God who refusing it was speedily hewed in pieces for the same cause another was knocked on the head with the But end of a musket Another because he would not give himself unto the Devil was drawn up and down by the Ears and at last had his brains beat out with a hammer upon his own Anvil all manner of cruelties was used especially to the principal of the Town whereof many were thrown down a steep hill to make sport some burnt in their own houses others thrown out at windowes some stabb'd in the streets women and maids shamefully abused and barbarously handled a young woman that was found hid in a house with her husband was first ravished before her husbands face A sad murther then was she
forced to hold a Rapier in her hands and one thrusting her arms made her kill her own husband they send about a Drum to sell Prisoners and none coming to buy they there murthered them 120 burnt there was six score burnt to ashes A godly Christian stoned and burned These cruel Papists and bloody Brats of Fury took a godly Christian one Janetta Calvin and carrying her to the City of Brignole they shamefully stripped her and then whipt her cruelly they crown her with thorns then they stone her and afterwards burned her Cruelty at S. Martins At St. Martins in Castillon they took the wife of one Andrew Renand stript her naked and attempted the violating of her chastity which she resisting was with great cruelty whipt and wounded with their Swords at last they shot her to death Some there heads cut off others buried alive In Moni de Marsan six of the chief men of the Town had their heads cut off and others after divers waies were executed one was buried alive a young virgin persued by some villains to ravish her leapt out of a window and so dyed Murthers at Carcasson At Carcasson the Protestants were hearing a sermon out of the Town they return suspecting nothing they find the gates shut upon them the Papists in Town shot divers times at them afterwards come out of the Gates and persue them slew many hurt others they beat one down to the ground and then cut off his Nose and pulled out his eyes others they hanged Many cruelties one they beheaded one they took and made his face hands and feet black then said he had a Devil then hanged him and at last threw his body to the Dogs Some have arms and legs cut off and then beheaded Protestants burned in Churches In Foix no sooner was the Town taken by the Lord of Pailles but the Protestants were cast into prison some having their arms and legs cut off and then beheaded some burnt others hanged others put to the Galleys In Aurenge they destroy without taking notice of Sex Age or Quality some they stabb'd some they threw up with their Halberds some hanged others burnt in churches off some they cut their Privy members sparing neither old nor bed-rid nor the poor diseased in hospitals women and maids are killed others hanged out at their windows and shot with Harquebusseirs sucking children massacred at their Mothers breasts Virgins of six years old ravisht 90. killed after promise of life virgins of five or six years old ravished and spoyled the wounds of the dead were filled with leaves torn out of Bibles those in the Castle yielding upon oath and promise of safety were all stabbed or thrown over the walls to the number of ninety Protestants At Grenoble At Grenoble they slew many throwing them over the bridge into the River At Beaun At Beaun the exercise of their Religion was taken from them all their godly Ministers put into prison eight hundred forced out of the Town the Souldiers spoil their houses and all they find in them are slain Their madness and horrid cruelty to a faithful Minister of Christ In Mascon the blood-thirsty villains having seized on a learned and Godly Minister called Bonnet Bor whose Godly conversation the more enraged these wicked blood-hounds of Hell this Godly Soul had been Minister twenty years and in these daies of murther and cruelties had been ransomed three times him they carried through the Town with many jears and abusive scoffs beating him with their fists then profanely they made a Proclamation That whosoever would hear this holy man preach they might come to the slaughter-bouse At which place again they mocked him and beat him for two hours together he intreated the favour of them that he might pray to God before his death then one stept out and cut off half his nose and one of his ears saying Now pray as long as thou wilt and then we will send thee to all the Devils whereupon the godly soul kneeled and so fervently poured out his soul to God that his Enemies sighed and after prayer directing his Speech to him that cut off his Nose said Friend I am now ready to suffer what thou hast ready to inflict upon me but I intreat thee and thy companions to remember the outrages committed by you upon this poor City for there is a God in heaven at whose Tribunal you must shortly give account of these your cruelties In which mean while a Captain going by cryed send that wretched man to the Devil which one of them hearing took him by the hand pretending to have him to the River to wash his blood of but when he came thither he threw him into the River and cast stones at him till he was drowned the Murthers at Revel At Revel hearing of the confusion and sad slaughters and of their merciless cruelties at Tholouse many saved themselves flying to Castres and elsewhere but left their families and goods to the mercy of these hell-hounds some Protestants being apprehended by virtue of a Commission from the Parliament were carried to Tholouse and imprisoned some condemned to the Gallies some fined and others banished At Montdelleir In Montpeleir they yielded on terms of life but were slain as they came out At Millan about thirty Protestants going under the condduct of one Peigre to relieve a Protestant Village called Cooper they were all taken by one Vessin and were presently cut in pieces and their Conductor Peigre was led to Tholouse A Captain quartered alive Breach of promise and 100. killed and at the command of the Cardinal Armagnac he was quartered alive At the Castle of Granes one Savignac delivered up the Castle on terms of life to all within it yet they were so base as in their usual way of keeping covenant they break promise and kill about one hundred Protestants being all in the Castle except six or seaven Horrible breach of faith March Castle a Castle belonging to the Signeur of Peyre a Protestant was in the beginning of February besieged by Coffart who having taken it by Treason he kept his Faith as if he had no faith at all for he murdered all in cold blood after promise of life A special providencâ— The Baron of La Fare trying all means to have a maid of excellent beauty at his wretched pleasure besieged Florac the place where she was but was forced from it so as the Gentlewomans virginity and Citizens blood were both saved At Cisteron the Protestants being fled the Papists fell bloodily upon the poor innocent women and children VVomen with childe ripped and buried alive and slew of them to the number of three or four hundred some women with child were ript up many buried alive some their throats cut like sheep and others drawn through the streets and beaten to death with clubs These and many more Christian Reader were cruelly committed on the poor
and doubtless is a firm pledge of the Kings fidelity what can be done more is not all clear from the least suspition of fraud yet he resolved to depart only waited for a fit opportunity to take leave But the Deputies that were sent from the Reformed Churches complained of the cruelties still committed on the Protestants and understanding of the Admirals intentions to depart they apply themselves with all speed to him and delivering him their books and petitions they earnestly beseech him not to absent from the Court till he had pleaded the cause of the Churches and delivered their petitions to the King and Council Hereupon he resolves like a good Advocate to stay a while and plead their cause But there was another great cause of the Admirals stay for there was on arriers to the Ruttiers of Germany great sums of money for their service under the Admiral during the Wars in which he laboured earnestly to effect But oh I tremble to enter into the ensuing narrative so full of inhumane and cruel bloodshed oh that I could enough bewail the sad fate of these poor innocent souls led as sheep to the slaughter to consider that so many brave Commanders that scorned any other death than like Souldiers must now suffer base murthers and bloody slaughters oh lamentable and to be pittied of all Protestants nay and of ingenuous Papists that so many innocent children and women should suffer for they know not what for we shall shortly see all the Protestants of France in mourning and following the Hearse of their own Ruin in the Papists unparalleled crueltie The Admiral coming from Court with a great train of Nobles and Gentlemen is treacherously shot in both the Arms with a Harqurbuss These businesses being the occasions of the Admiralls stay he did on the 22. day of August repair to the Kings Privy Council to effect his desire which day was the fifth day after the King of Navars marriage but about noon returning from the Council with a great number uf Noblemen and Gentlemen reading a petition as he went was shot thorow both arms with two bullets by a Harquebuzier out of a Window who feeling himself shot shewed no alteration of countenance saying only through yonder window it came what kind of treachery is this It was no news to the King to know his will and command was performed The Admiral speedily sends to the King a Gentleman of his company to give notice of it who being at Tennis with the Duke of Guise shewed such dislike as that in a rage he threw away the Racket that he played withall being exceedingly and outwardly vexed and taking with him his Brother in Law the King of Navar he retires into the Castle of the Lour the King swearing and promising to execute such severe justice upon the offenders Deep hypocrisie that the Admiral and all his Friends should think themselves exceedingly satisfyed The King causes the City gates to be shut pretending lest the Murtherer should escape but indeed was lest the Protestants should escape their cruelty The King therefore to delude the Admiral and Protestants caused all the Gates of the City to be shut except two only which were pretended to be open for bringing in provision yet there was careful watch kept by a strong Guard with a colour of singular care of his Majesty to find out the Murtherer and that if he were in the City he might by no means escape but the truth was lest any of the Protestants should escape this cruel plot laid for their blood by getting out of the City or net of destruction the King swearing and blaspheming that he would not by any means that they should escape which had committed such a horrid act those that durst presume to commit such a hainous crime even at the gates of his Royall Palace The Queen Mother also seems discontented for saies she Who would have thought any ones impudence could arrive so high as this affront to the great prejudice of his Majesty and if ever the King suffer this to go unpunished in the end the next attempt will be on his Royal person But alas alas for a King Queen and Court so to dissemble as if there were no God that could see into their hearts and discover to the World that this was done by the Kings special command and commission as we shall shortly see it was Presently after the Admiral was shot some Gentlemen of his retinue entered by force and violence into the house from whence the shot was where they find only the woman of the House and a Boy that was his lacquey which did the deed finding also a Harquebuss lying upon the Table in the Chamber from whence it was shot but the wretched villain they found not for that he was fled out of the back Gate Fresh horses prepared at several gates to speed away the Murtherer with security and so mounted on a Spanish Gennet which was waiting for him he speedily posted to St. Anthonies Gate where another fresh horse assisted his more swift flight and if he had gon to Marcelles gate there was also another waiting for him Now the King to perswade the Princes Admiral and all the Protestants that he was really sorry and how much it was against his will though God knows to his great satisfaction and inward content he commands sundry to post out into all parts to persue him Set a thief to catch a thief The Admiral shews himself a good Christian and patient sufferer Now the Admiral being safely conveyed to his lodging shewed great piety according to his Godly soul filled with grace and prudence most like a constant and true Christian and faithful holy servant of Christ The Prince of Conde and King of Navar had thought to have departed Paris but the Kings carriage levelled all suspitious thoughts and so turned their resolutions to a longer stay at Court Three Judges to examine the murther At request of the King of Navar and Prince of Conde the King to dissemble with more facility did order three principal men of the Parliament of Paris Thuan Morsant and Viol to examine the business whereupon it was found that the House belonged to one Villimure a Priest and Cannon of St. Germane once the Duke of Guise his Schoolmaster and now a retainer under him That the woman that was in the house being brought before the Judges did acknowledge that a few daies before there came to her one Chally once a Master de Hostel of the Duke of Guises house and now Steward of the Kings houshould commanding her to respect much the man that had done the deed and to lodge him in Villumures own bed-chamber in regard he was his Friend Several speeches there was concerning the person that did it some said it was one Manrevel who in the last Civil War traiterously flew his own Captain a most valiant Commander and Noble Gentleman in the Admirals
have as firm a guard for his person as he desired Further saying that in his safety consisted his own and that he would defend the Admiral as the hall of his eye having in admiration his fortitude and constancy protesting he did not believe so much valorous courage could reside within the brittle walls of mortallity Thus the King Queen Mother and the rest carried it with great signs of reality returning to the Loure committing the care and custody of the Admiral to the Duke of Anjou one of the conspiracy against him The Admiral and Protestants advised to take leave of the Court and their own ruin but they trust more to the Kings promise than their Friends advice But though the Admiral and Gentlemen about him saw not the ecclipse of the Kings treachery through the deep dissimulation of affection yet the Vidame of Charteres a cleer-sighted and wise man through his foresight of a bloody Comet advised the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Admiral with the Nobility Gentlemen and chief of the Protestants presently to take leave of their own ruin in time which was both too certainly and evidently hanging over their innocent thoughts assuring them that blow of the Admirals was but the prologue to a more bloody tragedy which could not but speedily ensue But the King of Navar Prince of Conde the Admiral with the rest of the Nobility and Gentry of the Protestants said That they could not but trust to the Kings solemn Oaths his sacred vows and covenants as a secure harbour from all threatning and ensuing storms besides the late marriage was an evident demonstration of the Kings intentions tying at once both affinity to the Protestant King of Navar and security for his promises CHAP. VII The Contents THe King and Queen Mother by Letters let the world know how the Admirall was hurt to their great grief They order a Guard for the Admiral but is such a one as secured the Admiral or any of his Friends from escaping their ruin The Gentlemen of the Admirals Friends lodged in the same Street where the Admirall lodged which was desired in pretence of their security also but proved their secure destruction The names of the Protestants in Paris with their several Lodgings put into a Catalogue The Nobles and Gentlemen of the Protestants meet in the Admirals Chamber and advises to remove for security from the threatnings of an ensuing storm yet resolve to rely on the Kings Oaths and Promises The King and Queen Mother assembles to take order for the manner and time of the Admirals Murther To colour this plot they order that it must be given out That the occasion was through the difference betwixt the house of Guise and Chastillon On Consultation it was resolved to spare the King of Navar and Prince of Conde if they would turn Papists The Duke of Guise and his bloody Followers force a strong report to be spread throughout all the City of their danger by the Admirall and his Adherents and so complain to the King and depart the Court in shew of discontent but privately lie in Paris to prosecute his hellish Plot and the Kings command two thousand men on Sabbath night are commanded by the King to be in arms The King sends word to the Admirall that he needs not fear for all was done by his command Some Protestant Gentlemen profer to watch all night with the Admiral but were refused the Officers of the City Assemble and are commanded by the King to destroy the Protestants The tokens to distinguish the murtherers from others to be a Napkin about their arms and a cross on their caps Divers Lords guard the King all night The bloody murtherers approach the Admiralls Lodging The Admirall is fearful yet often silenced his suspition by as often reiterating the Kings Oaths Promises Leagues Covenants and Law of Nations c. They enter his Lodging kill all they meet with The Admirall rises goes to prayer and commands his Servants to save their lives by flight They get on the tops of houses but are persued and slain They thrust the Admirall through the body beat him on the head shoot him with a Pistol and wound him the third time whereof he dies his body thrown out of the window the Duke of Guise kicks him on the face with his foot They cry out Kill Kill this is the Kings command The Alarum bell rings to a sad and generall Massacre The Admiralls head cut off and sent to the Pope All in the Admiralls lodging murthered among whom two young children of honourable birth Brave Count Rochfoucault basely murthered The Admiralls Son basely slain his Lieutenant fights gallantly for his life but is slain many brave Noblemen and Gentlemen basely murthered they give the plunder to the Soldiers crying kill this is the Kings command They spare neither young nor old but kill women and children and women with child till the very streets are covered with dead bodies nothing to be heard but sad crys and groans of the dying with cruel shouting of the Murtherers The River dyed with blood ten thousand slain this day WE concluded the last chapter with the great preparations of the King Queen Mother and Councfl ro effect their Plot and yet how they coloured all with a distembling carriage of love too and sorrow for the Admirals condition now in this chapter we shall see the saddest massacre that ever was acted by any Prince or in any Place Thus we leave the Admiral basely cowardly and bloodily wounded and knew not how to have justice The K. and Q. Mother write Letters testifying their sorrow for the Admirals hurt and yet done by the K. cōmand and so lay in his wounds expecting death as the inevitable issue of his Enemies cruelty Now we shall further see the Kings dissimulation and treachery for the very same day the Admiral was thus wounded does the King the more neatly to colour his own act of treachery with smooth pretences write Letters to Embassadours of Forein Princes and Letters also to the Governours of all his Provinces shewing How sadly he resented the Admirals hurt how ready he was to execute justice in the punishment of the a Forgetting himself Agent desiring that all the world might know how much b How much it rejoiced his aeart is no errata it did grieve him to the Soul that any such thing should happen And yet he ptesently after declares openly that he was slain by his Command for treason against his person as by other Letters we shall shew in due place The Queen Mother did also write letters to the same purpose But Christian Reader when thou perusest the whole story then wilt thou be able to judge of this deep Hypocrisie before ehe face of God and as it were against the face of Heaven But to proceed The King orders a Guard that the Protestants might not escape their Guard being their Enemies an intended for
as we also see a Form of Abjuration yet those that were tempted by Satan to forsake the good way of the Lord were notwithstanding murthered So that whatsoever this King promised was as soon and with as much ease broke as made Let us now gather together a few Observations on the most remarkable passages and also give some notable examples of Gods Justice and Severity to such Covenant-Breakers and perfidious Tyrants and then proceed to the end of his Reign and the beginning of Gods Just Judgements on him and his Adherents in a visible and wonderfull demonstration therof to all the world CHAP. X. The Contents SOme few Remarks on the perfidious Treachery in this sad Massacre Fourty thousand poor Protestants cut off in few dayes The most ingenuous Papists whispered of this perjury and treachery of the Kings Compared with other cruelties but holds no Comparison with the vildest These poor Protestants cut off by the Oaths and Promises of a King enough one would think for the strongest ty of security Examples of the like cruel Treachery and perjury condemned by the light of Nature and several Examples of Heathens worth the study and perusal The great and high esteem of an Oath amongst the Heathens in a few Examples So few Examples of Gods just Judgements on several Princes and others that have broke Truce Engagements Promises and Oaths which are collected out of Scripture and History The Brave Examples of Heathens worthy our Imitation in this Sunshine time of the Gospel though they had but the Light of Nature yet they soared above the present practice of many Christian Kings nay beyond the Practice of many Professours in these latter Dayes The Duties of Kings and Powers of the World which is not inconsistent with prudent Policy and sound Christianity The many inconveniencies of Cruelty and Oppression The little ground of suspition of the Admirals Plots from sundry strong Arguments LEt me a little comment on this sad History and draw out some Christian Considerations on this Tragedy to shew what judgments God justly inflicts on such villanies and treachery being such heavy sins as pull down Gods vengeance not only on themselves but the place even to the third and fourth Generarion And now let this sad doleful and unparallel'd Massacre be erected in view of all the World let it not be forgot by any tract of time Let it stand on a hill as A beacon on fire to all true Protestants to take heed of peace with such faithless men that have no way to enslave their Enemies but a treacherous and deceitful peace Disdain it not that it is old I could wish every age would renew it That it may be set as a Land mark to avoid the Distraction of such Treacherous and perjured Princes and Nations as know no sincerity but what is lodged in the outward behaviour and not able to keep that neither such as know not what is the meaning of sincerity of heart unless it be courtesie and civility and know not that neither such as have no hearts but their Tongues which they tip with peace but intend Treason in their actâ—ons To what can we parallel this unheard-of Massacre had it been amongst Heathens Barbarians Turks it had been the less to be wondered at Bellum Tartaricum I have read of many cruelties committed by the Tartars The King once for one mans fault destroyed a whole street and killed even men women and children not sparing women with child Cruel Tyranny yet short of the French Another time there was a whole Legion of men cut off for one mans fault for another mans fault he caused twenty thousand to be killed Half his Army revolting the rest retired to him like Jobs Messengers with the News and tells him the reason why they went not on in a successful progress to the performance of the Design he sent them about yet this Tyrant causes his Army to cut them all off to the number of fourteen thousand he tyed six hundred thousand by their hands and feet together and caused them to be cut off Now all these cruelties were not to be tainted with either perjury or breach of promise and if it had it was by a Heathen but our cruelty and blood-shed is by a Christian King to his own Subjects in a base Treacherous way contrary to Oaths and Covenants before the Eternal God by a King and Nation that had so much of the Heathenish darkness dispersed that we cannot say but they were Christians according to profession though not according to practice Nay had their cruelty and murthers reached no further than to those they say had plotted against them and so deserved it then had it been better excusable but why ten thousand Innocents in one day and thirty thousand afterwards all as ignorant of Treason as the King and Nation guilty of blood and perjury why so many poor Innocent Noblemen Gentlemen poor Ladies and Gentlewomen Students aged persons sick children innocent of actual sin all must dy to quench the blood-thirstiness of this King Oh! sade and doleful to consider Nay further had it been in a sudden unresistable and mad outrage of a popular Tumult guided by the fury of their own fancies But it was by the Kings special command they had no other light to guide their bloody zeal but the Kings Authority which they so often mentioned as the Eccho reached Heaven but could not peirce their pitty and done by plots and Contrivances premeditated and resolved to be done And lastly had it been in a time of War to cut off so many poor innocent Souls it might also been somwhat pardonable a raging Sword sometimes knowing no bounds especially when in bloody Hands But all was done in cold blood not in a storm or heat of blood nay the only time was in peace and nothing to be seen but favours and acts of Grace poor Protestants they were catched in no net but pretences of Peace and the fullest demonstrations of affections that might be nay it was done also contrary to Promises Covenants and Contracts making a Mariage to defile it with blood no other intent being wrapped up in that wedding but a plot for blood These sad and lamentable Spectacles of mans wrath and the Devils policy how can it but peirce the very hearts and Souls of all Godly Christians nay I dare say of ingenuous Papists who cannot but abhor the thoughts and mourn to see such a bloody Tragedy acted upon the Theatre of a Christian Kingdom by the Treacherous plot unheard-of perjury and down-right command of a Christian King When we shall consider the sad slaughters of so many of Noble blood many gallant young Gentlemen with many young Ladies that came to attend and compleat so seeming and promising a harmony of Reconciliation betwixt both parties in the mariage of the Lady Margaret and King of Navar to consider also how many poor innocent infants and silly souls were basely murthered by the hand