made against Giles Bishop of Reims Didier Archbishop of Vienne the king vsed the helpe of the Bishops of France and had no recourse vnto the Pope Chilperic sent Pretextatus Archbishop of Roane to the Councell holden in Parris to bee iudged by them but with this clause Although that of our owne authoritie wee could deale therein it beeing treason for the which he is accused neuerthelesse Gregorie de Tours Atmon Ado Vincent because it concerneth our own person to the end it shall not bee thought that wee will do otherwise then by iustice and reason wee giue you leaue to deale therein The Emperours themselues neuer remitted the examinatioÌ„ of causes that touched the estate of their Empire vnto the long solemne daies of the Popes Councel The Emperour Zenon condemned and bannished two Bishops the one of Alexandria named Iohn the other of Antioche named Calendion Euagriuâ—s lib. 4. whereat Pope Simplicius was offended and for the same cause wrote vnto the Emperour who made him answere that the execution was not done for any Ecclesiasticall crime neyther yet touching religion but that one of them had lyed in his owne presence and the other fauored Basiliscus his enemie And good Popes neuer sought into that iurisdiction whereby to peruert the order of polliticque lawes Saint Gregory admonished Victor and Iohn C. experientiae ca. sequ 11. q. 1. Bishop of Taurese which as theÌ„ was the Metropolitane Church of Dalmatia founded by Iustinian in the Towne by him called Iustinian after his own name to cause two Bishops that had troubled the state of Aquilee and Millan with a good guard and all speede to bee ledde vnto the Emperour and such was the institution of the fathers assembled in the first general Councels of Constantinople vnder Theodose and in that of Carthage to remit Ecclesiasticall causes to the iudgement of the Cleargie Pauliuus Bishop of Aquilee but the persons to the temporall Magistrate when it is a crime the punishment whereof dependeth not vpon the authoritie of the Ecclesiasticall Iudge is to be otherwise ordered then by Ecclesiastical Canonical censures It is true that the ordinances of France ful of respect reuerence towards the church haue induced the ConcordaÌ„ce of the spirituall the teÌ„poral Iudge when the cause dependeth vpon priuiledge ordaine that the processe should be ioyntly made to the end CoÌ„currance of the spirituall temporal Iurisdiction that if the offender be found guiltie he should be degraded according to the prescript order ordinance of the cannons then sent to the secular power to be coÌ„deÌ„ned to death or other punishmeÌ„t according to his offence but wher it coÌ„cerneth the CoÌ„mon-wealth suretie preseruation of an estate it is not the maner to follow the ordinarie course therby to auoyde a great disorder and the extreame necessitie to prouide things present ought not to bee restrained vnto the long detractions of the Romish Courts The king prouoked by these reasons after he had let the Archbishop rest in prison for the space of fifteene daies with resolution to refuse all the Iudges that should bee sent vnto him but such as were appoynted him from Rome sent the Bishop of Beauuais and Mousieur Ruze his Secretarie to certifie his pleasure vnto him which was that hee should aunswere to the Articles by them to bee propounded vnto him wherein they perswaded him not to deny the King that had not refused to graunt him pardon of his life The Archbishop of Beauuais The Archbishop asked the Bishop of Beauuais in what quallitie he had taken that charge vpon him framing an argument consisting in two points Asking him if he came thither as a Bishop or as a Peere of France It as Bishop he saide hee could not examine him hee in that poynt beeing his superiour If as a Peere of France it was a temporall office and therefore hee could not aunswere nor the Bishop examine saying You haue beene in the Courts of Parliament where you neuer sawe processe framed against a simple Priest without the consent of his superior I thanke God I haue red what authoritie and priuiledge belongeth vnto the Church and cannot beleeue that the King in any wise is minded to infringe it nor yet to beginne with mee and seeing hee hath graunted me my life hee meaneth likewise that my conscience should bee at libertie the honour and respect whereof is dearer vnto mee then a thousand liues The Bishop of Beauuais perceiuing that hee could not effect his charge withdrew himselfe the Archbishop desiring him to acquaint the king with his reasons and to beseech his Maiestie that hee might bee comforted by some religious persons and to haue Masse within his chamber Which the Bishop of Beauuais certified vnto the King who made aunswere that hee would put the Archbishop in such a place where hee should haue both religious persons and Masses as many as hee would desire In the meane time vpon aduise giuen vnto him that the great blow which hee had giuen the league had not in such manner astonished it The rising of Parris but that alreadie diuers of them began to rise and to leuie armes he had recourse vnto his first remedies and to that dangerous maxime by him vsually obserued as neuer doing any thing but by halues And while he sent tongues and not armes therwith to retaine the people so well prepared vnto sedition hee found the towne of Orleans to reuolt both against him and Monsieur d'Antragues Orleans is declared against the Citadel and the Gouernour Gouernour of the Citadell that the Towne of Parris had alreadie shewed the beginning of their mutenie against his Castle of Louure his armes and his seruants But the contentment hee had receiued to see his enemie dead made him so carelesse touching the rest of his affairs that in stead of mounting on horsebacke to shewe himselfe to those of Parris and Orleans and to send for the armie in Poitou therwith to stoppe the passages and forces of the Duke de Maine hee contented himselfe to publish a forgetting and remitting of things past and renued the Edict of vnion thinking that the Catholicques of the League The Kings declaration touching the things past vpon the 23. and 24. of December would lay downe their armes raised against their king to imploy the same against the King of Nauarre In his declaration hee saith that at all times and especially since his Edict made in the month of Iuly last he had assayed by all means possible to vnite all his good Catholicque subiects in peace concord vnder his authoritie by the same vnion and the effects thereof to reape the fruite by him alwaies expected and sought to purge his Realme of heresies therein wholly to establish the faith Catholicque religion foreseeing that by the diuisioÌ„ of his said subiects there could rise nothing but a total desolatioÌ„ of religion ruine of his estate that althogh
him by the Cardinall de Gondy to aduertise the Popes Legate which done shee went to visit the Cardinall of Bourbon that lay sicke and was kept prisoner And assoon as he espied her with tears in his eies he spake vnto her and said Ah Madame you haue brought vs hither vnto the slaughter She that seemed to be much abashed at so violent vnexpected change that then had happened assured him that shee neither had giuen consent nor aduise to any such thing and that it was a most incredible greefe vnto her soule The death of the Queene-mother vpon the fift of Ianuary 1589. But the Cardinal redoubling his complaints shee left him striken at the heart with so great greefe that presently shee went to bed and died therevppon the fift of Ianuary after much lamented by the king her sonne who as yet had need of her counsell The king going out of his mothers chamber went to heare masse where at large hee informed the Legate of the causes that had constrained him to put the Duke of Guise to death as hauing attempted against his person About euening the Cardinall and the Archbishop of Lyons were taken out of the chamber wherein they had been shut to leade them into an other stronger and darker then the first in the highest part of the Castle But sorrow and greefe had so much seized vppon the Cardinall that what apprehension of death so euer he must haue he could not chuse but sleepe assoone as hee was layde vppon the mattresse prepared for him After his first sleepe his spirits reuiued and considering the extream imbasing of his greatnesse and the fall of his house he complained to himselfe of his misfortunes The Archbishop of Lyons vsed al the meanes he could to disswade him from the thinking of any other thing then onely of death which he suspected to bee the ende of both their persons They imployed all their Philosophie to make it seeme easie and lesse fearefull thereby to dispoyle it of the horrible and straunge shape wherewith it is figured vnto vs. They confessed themselues each to other reconciling themselues to God committing their causes vnto him and in that conceit of death they only attended the commandement when and where they should receiue With that the Cardinall had desire to sleepe vntill morning that the Archbishop of Lyons rose vp left him sleeping not long after he waked him to rise to Martins The king in the mean time was counselled yea solicited by most violent reasons to put the Cardinal to death which counsel at the first Iustice regardeth not the qualities of men seemed perilous vnto him considering the quallitie of that Prelate beeing a Peer of France Archbishop of Reims Cardinall of Rome and President of his Order in the Parliament but after he had been shewed that iustice hath her eyes closed not to behold the quallities of men and that the greater authoritie a man is in the greater is his fault that treason is more apparant and a worse example in a Cardinall then in a simple Priest That the Cardinall of Guise would succeed in the credit of his brother and that hee had alreadie vsed threatning speeches hee determined to make him follow after his brother the Duke of Guise and therevppon commaunded Monsieur de Gast to kill him who excused himself of that commission saying it was not a thing conuenient for a Gentleman of his calling But in fine for foure hundreth Crownes they found foure instruments to execute that commission One of them went into the chamber where the Cardinal sat and making low reuerence told him the king sent for him The Cardinall before hee went asked if hee sent not likewise for the Archbishop of Lyons but aunswere was made that he onely must come vnto him wherevpon with an assured countenance that not seeming to thinke vpon the mischiefe that attended on him about three steps within the dore hee bad the Archbishop of Lyons farewell who perceiuing the Cardinall to go without any apprehention of death said vnto him Monsieur I pray you thinke vppon God at the which word the Cardinall ceised with feare was abashed and turned his head towards the Archbishop who at that instant fell downe vppon his knees before the Crucifix recommending his soule vnto God beleeuing stedfastly that they would do the like to him that he supposed they ment to execute vpon the Cardinall who beeing about three or foure pases without the chamber was inclosed by foure men that with blowes of rapiers poinyards and partisans dispatched him of his life and beeing slaine they stripped him The King going to Masse accompanied by the Cardinall of Vandosme and others met the Barron de Lux who falling downe on his feete offered his head to saue the Archbishop of Lyons his vncle The king that loued the Gentleman and that desired not to loose such a Prelate thinking by his meanes to attaine vnto the Quintessence of the Leaguers deuises assured him of his life but not of his libertie Not long after the king sent Monsieur Guiotard and Monsieur Languetot two of his priuie Councell with a Clarke to examine the Archbishop touching the causes and accusations layde against the Duke of Guise He said vnto them that they being Lay-men had not any iurisdiction ouer an Archbishop and that hee beeing such might not aunswere vnto them desiring them not to trouble him any more therein The answer of the Archbishop of Lyons vpon the Duke of Guises accusatiō They returned this answere vnto the King who presently sent the Cardinall de Gondy to perswade him to satisfie his commaundement and to aunswere to the propositions that should bee made vnto him the Archbishop aunswered him and saide that hee could say nothing against the Cardinall nor the Duke of Guise his brother with whom hee had imbarked himselfe that for his owne person hee neither could nor ought to aunswere before any man but the Pope or to those whom it should please him to appoynt and that as Primate of France he had no other Iudge And that that the Cardinall de Gondy himselfe beeing Bishop of Parris was vnder his primatie that if the Cadinall Morosin Legate for his holinesse by the aduise of other Prelates assembled in the parliament thought it conuenient for him to answere he wold follow their resolutiō and that so doing it shuld be they not the Arch. of Lyons that shuld break the Priuileges immunities of the church The king to the contrary esteemed that considering the quallitie and importance of the cause he was not bound to haue recourse vnto the Pope to examine the trueth of the Duke of Guises actions It was shewed him The king hath power ouer Bishops that the priuiledge which the Archbishop demaunded much derogated the soueraigntie and power of his Maiestie who at all times had iurisdiction ouer the Bishops of his Realme specially in things touching the Crowne and when processe was to be
it happened in this warre trauersed by wonderfull deuises on all sides but to conclude the enterprises and pretences of great mightie men of this world are wholly like smoke if the fauor and helpe of the most great and puissant God of heauen doth not assist them The taking of Valence beyond the mountaines The Duke of Guise hauing ioyned his forces in Piedemont with those of the Marshall de Brissac marched towards Valence giuing out that Pauie had been taken by the Frenchmen summoned Captaine Spoluerin that had two thousand souldiers with him to keepe it to put all to fire and sword if hee entered therein by force Spoluerin that feared his skinne and the losse of his booties wrought so well with the Souldiers that they consented to the yeelding vp of the towne so they might issue with liues and goods saued which was agreed vnto and the 18 of Ianuarie Spoluerin and others of the principall Commanders being entered into Pauie were beheaded because of their cowardise The Cardinall of Trent Gouernour of Millan sent to summon the Duke of Guise to restore Valence vnto him againe as taken contrary vnto the articles of truce his answer was that the Duke of Alue hauing first brokē the truce the Frenchmen could not chuse but follow that he intended nought but warre vntill such time as that the Pope should be satisfied and touching Valence that they had iustly set vppon them because their Garrison had shotte their ordinance against the French souldiers that marched by the Towne to ayde the Pope Ostie taken againe with the fort and other places On the other side Strossi Monluc and others that were in Rome perceiuing the Duke of Alue to be gon from thence marched with 5000 foote and 600. horse to besiege Ostie which they presently took the fort yeelded by compositiō the spaniards issuing with their liues armes and goods saued taking with thē certaine peeces of artillery they likewise tooke Velitres Tuscule Marin Grotteferrate Palesan S. Ange. S. Paul Vico Valerio and diuers smal places in the territories of Rome from whence they draue the Spaniards The French armie in Italy Departing out of Piedimont the Duke of Guise hauing consulted what was best for him to do resolued within himself to martch straight forward to Rome and being at Bologne he complained vnto the Popes officers because hee sawe no preparation made for the wars saying that the king had bin otherwise promised They made him answere that there were 10000 souldiers ready prepared in the Marquisat of Ancore wherewith for that time he seemed to bee content and being arriued at Rome he mustered his troupes where he found fiue thousand Switzers their General being the marques de' Elboeuf 4000 Grisons 7000. French men and Gascons some Italian 750. lanciers and 1500. light horses The Duke de Nemours commanding the footemen Warres and taking of townes in Piedemont According to the counsell holden in Piedimont the Marshall de Brissac being in the field by composition tooke Valfeniere lying between Ast Carmagnolle which he vtterly spoyled assailed and tooke Chiauasse a Castle standing vpon a mount wherein he placed a garrison The report being spread abroad that the French men would enter into the realm of Naples the Spaniards took good order for the keeping of the places neer vnto the Marques de Ancoue but the Duke de Guise not desiring to go so farre into the country tooke Campilio besieged Ciuitelle from whence he was constrained to raise his siege hauing lost a great number of his best souldiers In Piedemont Marshal de Brissac was constrained to retire from Coni the Duke of Guise beeing ayded by the Marquesse of Pescaire Estate of Italie Strossi and the Duke de Palliane took Montfort by assault a little towne hard by Cintelle which was spoyled burnt But the Duke of Guise perceiuing his forces to diminish the Spaniards daily to increase that the Popes promises tooke no effect aduertised the king of his estate and on the otherside offered battell vnto the Duke d'Alue lying betweene Ferme Ascoli but the spaniards perceiuing that with a litle patience The spaniards refuse battaile the Pope would soone be brought to reason the French men disperse themselues or else easily be spoyled knowing likewise that some thing was to be effected in the countrey of Picardie they thought it but a point of foolish hardinesse without conuenient meanes so to hazard the estate of the king of Spaine And because that neither the Pope nor the Duke of Ferrare furnished that which had bin promised and to the contrary that the French army receiued not one penny pay of the Pope and that the Ferrarois borrowed forces of his sonne in law the Duke of Guise therewith to defend himselfe they began to consult vpon their returne into France The subtilty of the Pope but the Pope who as yet had not that he sought fearing if he should be left alone the Spaniard wold not faile to pare his nailes sware vnto the Duke of Guise that he wold neuer make agreement nor once accord with the Spaniard without the kings of Frances consent for assurance whereof hee would send the Duke de Palliane his son for hostage into France By which deuises he staied the French men to see what successe the affaires begun in Picardy would haue where the French men hauing bin ouerthrowne in battell vpon S. Lawrence day S. Quintius taken He maketh peace with the King of Spaine France in great distrust the Pope perceiuing his hopes to vanish like smoke and that the Duke of Alue approached neare to Rome hee sent Cardinall Caraffe vnto him with full power and authoritie to agree vppon a peace with the King of Spaine which was concluded about the moneth of September the Pope hauing renounced the league made with the French King who sitting between two stooles fell on the ground and all the intents of the house of Guise and others tooke no effect whereby the armie all wearied and dispearsed returned into France cursing both the Pope and all his traine Truce broken in the frontier of Picardie whereof ensued the battell on S. Laurence day where the Frenchmen with great losse were ouerthrown The taking of S. Quintins and other places The King hauing resolued to send the Duke of Guise to ayde the Pope contrarie to the aduise and counsel of the Constable and diuers Princes and Lords that disswaded besought him to the contrary and that he should rather seeke to maintaine the truce gaue expresse charge vnto the Admirall to take order for the safetie of his Townes and Forts in Picardie and to make some enterprises vpon certaine places in the lowe Countries Wherevnto the Admirall that had been of the Constables opinion although he wel perceiued from whence such resolutions proceeded not daring to refuse the commission giuen with great diligence tooke order accordingly and therevpon made
fatned by the confiscations of the goods of those of the religion and by borrowings neuer to be repayed hauing made offer of all that hee had to the house of Guise was receiued into their band The Constable sent home The Constable perceiuing that the king in open Parliament had declared that his meaning was that from thence foorth al men should haue recourse touching matters of estate the crowne and of his house vnto his two Vncles the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine and that by consequent his mortall enemie entered into his place and doing that which wholly apperteined to his offices of Constable and Great-Maister of France yea and in the presence of the Spaniards and other straungers who before had made so much account of him about eight daies after the kings death went to present himselfe vnto the king deliuering vppe the seales to him committed by King Henry and hauing been certified from the king that the charge of the treasures and other affaires concerning the estate were as then committed to the Cardinall and to the Duke of Guise the commandement of all things that belonged vnto the warres and that for his part the king permitted him leaue to depart and go vnto his house saying hee still retained him of his Councell and that whensoeuer hee would come vnto the Court hee should bee welcome he thāked the king for suffring him so to retire beseeching him that as touching his comming vnto the Councell his Maiestie would excuse him for two causes the one because hee could not serue vnder such men ouer whom he had alwaies commaunded the other for that beeing holden and accounted for an olde and simple man his counsell would not bee necessarie otherwise he offered both life and goods to serue the King Which done he went to see the Queene mother that handled him very rudely reproching him that he in presence of the king with smiling countenance should say that he had neuer a childe that in any thing resembled him but onely his bastard-daughter that married with the Marshall de Montmorency Yet for the loue of her deceased king and husband she said she was content to remit her owne particular quarrell for which if it pleased her she could haue caused him to loose his head yet she exhorted him not altogither to leaue the Court but to come thither sometimes He denied the accusation which she alledged touching her children affirming it to be false desiring her to haue in remembrance the many seruices by him done to her and to the Realme and not to regard the euill report of such as were his enemies that shuld not do him all the mischief which they pretended And so hauing taken his leaue and brought his maister vnto his Tombe he withdrew himselfe vnto his house The Princes of the blood scattered Touching the Princes of the blood the Prince of Conde was sent into Flanders there to confirme the peace to whom was deliuered a thousand Crownes to beare his charges The Prince of la Roche Suryon was sent thither likewise to beare the order of France vnto the king of Spaine and at his returne appointed with the Cardinal of Burbon to cōduct the Princesse Elizabeth into Spain The Parlimēts were appointed at the good pleasure of those of Guise The Cardinal de Turnō an old enimy to the Cōstable to al those of the religiō was repealed from Rome reestablished of the priuy councel The Kings Officers of his house chaunged part of the old officers of the kings house were discharged part sent home vnto their houses with half their pensions to giue place to others And to cōclude there staied not one in the Court that fauoured the Constable The Prouinces of the Realme and the frontier Townes were filled with Guisians and all Gouernours and men of warre commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the king himselfe All the Parliaments were aduertised Those of Guise haue charge of all that the Cardinall had the whole ordering and disposing of the treasures and of the estate The Queene Mother aduanced aboue all obtained the monies proceeding of the confirmation of Offices and the priuiledges of Townes and corporations whereof shee gaue a part to whome it pleased her although such summes ought not of right to be exacted vnlesse the Crowne fall into an other braunch First Edicts The first Edicts were made against such as bare Armes namely Pistols and Bastinadoes then against long Cloakes and great Hose It was a common saying in euery mans mouth that the Cardinall was a fearefull man if there were euer any in all the world hauing vnderstood by a certaine Magician in Rome that by enuie and then when he should be most in credit his enemies would cause him to be slaine with a Bastianado for that cause hee had procured that Edict being alwaies in great distrust euen at the time when all men were in most subiection to him Among so many affaires the 14. of Iuly Letters Pattents from the king confirmed the Commission vnto the Iudges appointed to proceed in iudgement against Anne du Bourg Proces against Anne de Bourg and other prisoners and foure other Councellours that were committed to prison Du Bourg stedfast in religion was hotly pursued Bertrand Cardinall and Archbishop of Siens beeing one of the principall wheeles of this criminall Chariot and the Cardinall of Lorraine the leader therof Those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be at the point of a more violent persecution by expresse Letters vnto the Queene besought her by her authoritie to commaund the leauing off to persecute them in such great rigor Shee promised the Prince of Conde Madame de Roy his mother in lawe and to the Admirall to cause the persecutions for to cease so they would leaue their assembling togither The Queen-mother promiseth to doo for those of the religion and that euery man wold liue according to his own conscience secretly and not to the hurt of others Shee had been most earnestly mooued by the letters of one named Villemadon that knew great part of his secrets putting her in minde of her great affection vnto pittie at such time as shee was barren exhorting her not to withdrawe the Princes of the blood from the mannaging of the affaires of the estate thereby to aduance and make Kings the house of Guise Those letters were written the 26. day of August and wrought with so great effect that from thenceforward for a certaine time the Queene seemed to hearken vnto the comfort and ease of those of the religion meane time those of Guise to make their gouernment seeme agreeable to al the people and to leese nothing in the kings name published letters of the reuocation of all alienations made Alienations made by king Henry reuoked as well for life as yeares beeing for recompences of any seruices past except those sales whereof the monies had beene imployed for the kings great vrgent
first to haue been signified to the Court of Parliament in Parris that the King ought not to permit the exercise of two religions within his Realme that the inhabitants of Parris ought not to be constrained to leaue their armes The Bishop in open tearmes seemed to charge de Thou and all his companions to shew but small vnderstanding in those affaires and much lesse conscience The twentie foure of September following by Decree of the priuie Councell the mawrite of the King or as some are of aduice the regencie and Soueraigntie authoritie of the Queene was confirmed The Pope abandoneth the Realm of Nauarre to him that could take is by force wherevnto the King opposeth At the same time an other deuise was wrought against those of the religion The Pope faining that he could no longer beare with the reformation of religion and doctrine vsed in the Realme of Nauarre and the Soueraigntie of Bearn in the moneth of September caused a declaration to bee published in Rome against Ieane d'Albert Queene of Nauarre who as then made publicque profession of the religion and had driuen the Masse out of her Countries This declaration was made in forme of an excommunication for a dispossession of all that land which as then remained vnto this Princesse by whom soeuer would take it in hand to enioy it as by conquest and his owne proper inheritance Shee was likewise cited to appeare before the Consistorie of Cardinalles within sixe moneths after for default whereof the Pope declared her hereticke her goods confiscate and abandoned as aforesaid The King formed an opposition against this papall thunder which as then was shewed but in Rome The King of Spaine hauing neither the desire nor the meanes to fall vppon that Princesse and the Councell of France esteemed it inconuenient to giue so manifest a shadowe vnto those that were of the religion The death of Charles de Cosse Marshal de Brissac that had done great seruice for the Realm of France in the warres of Piedemont made an ende of this yeare 1563. that dyed vpon the last of December Ann. 1564 In the beginning of this yeare it was permitted vnto the Clergie by an Edict to redeeme their landes that had bin alienated to the value of a hundreth thousand crownes yearely rent An Edict in fauour of the Clergie All this was but a point of cunning vsed to diue into the purses of those who during the warres and that France drowned in teares had sung and for the most part liued at their ease About the beginning of Februarie the Ambassadors of the Pope the Emperour the King of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy came to Fountainebleau desiring that the King would cause the Decrees of the Councell of Trent to bee wholely obserued within the Realme of France for the which cause The King solicited by the Spaniard to breake the Edict of pacification the Deputies were to be at Nancy vppon the the twentie fiue of March then next ensuing to reade the same in presence of the Ambassadors of all the Papisticall and Catholicque Romish Princes assembled togither there to make and frame a generall league against the Realmes principalities and estates that had withdrawne themselues from the obedience of the Pope They likewise desired the king wholly to cease the alienating of the goods of the Cleargie alleadging it to bee preiudiciall both against him and his Realme and contrarie to the word of God that the king of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy could not bee payed the monies due vnto them by reason of their mariages with the Cleargies mony desired that those of the religion might bee openly punished whom they disciphered according to their accustomed manner That the pardon and the edict of peace should bee made voyde that the king should doo iustice specially of those that were consenting vnto the death of the Duke of Guise And to effect these requests they added most faire and great offers thereby to cast the realme into the burning flame of a second ciuill warre Answere to the Ambassadors But the Queene and her Councell perceiuing it to bee a ticklish matter and distrusting in the promises of such men caused the young king to aunswere them that hee thanked their Maisters whom hee ment not to trouble hoping to maintaine his subiects in peace according to the institution of the Romish Church That hee had made the edict of pacification to put straunges out of his Realme that as then he could reenter into a new warre within his realme for certaine reasons which in writing he sent vnto them and that in those affaires hee would aske the Counsell and aduise of the Prince of his blood and the chiefe Lords of his Councell and of the Crowne The king of Spaine with that Ambassage deuising how hee might see his kinsmans house in new troubles tooke no order for his own in the lowe countries where as then warres beganne to bee hatched which not long after came foorth and as yet continue therein to his great shame and confusion In the beginning of March the Queene beganne the voyage of Bayonne to speake with the king of Spaine the pretence was that the king beeing Maior and about foureteene yeares of age Beginning of the voyage to Bayonne would ride about his Realme to visit his Prouinces and that his presence would bee a means to remedie many complaints and discontentments and withall strengthen and establish the edict of pacification But the effect that both approached and ensued did partly shewe the intents and secret practises of that woman and her Councell The king beganne that voyage in Champagne and Bourgongne from whence hee went to Lyons What a scita dell was built at Lyons and to the ende those of the religion should not haue the meanes to fortifie themselues therein as they had done at other times a scitadell was then begunne to bee erected and although at that time the plague raigned within the Towne yet the Queen and her Councell would not stirre from thence and kept the king there vntill that scitadell was almost finished But in the end the plague being entered into the Queens Chamber whereof one of her Gentlewomen fell sicke the king was ledde from thence While they built at Lyons to bridle those of the religion by that means to weaken their forces Defacing of Townes the Townes of Orleans and Montauban were vnwalled in other townes scitadels were made which by some were called Chastre-villaines by others the Nests of Tyrants Those of the religion indured all contenting themselues with simple declarations in paper and receiuing paper for payment For that about the beginning of this voyage the Romish Catholikes of Greuan in Bourgongne massacred diuers of the religion being assembled therein to exercise their religion Massacre of those of the religion complaints thereof beeing made vnto the Queene shee gaue faire words promising to send Commissioners to Creuan such as were honestly
and the resolution concluded at Bayonne grewe manifest both within and without the Realme The Prince neuerthelesse and the Admirall lay still and rested quiet being content plainly to looke vppon the accurrences and readie to advertise their friends of all that was practised least they should bee surprised From diuers parts they were aduertised of the Spaniards preparatiues who purposed a terrible destruction to the lowe Countries and withall they foresawe that his enterprise would breed new troubles in France wherby after so many stormes at Bayonne there must needs ensue some great rage and straunge euents The Prince of la Roch Suryon also a little before his decease had reuealed vnto them many particularities Let them complaine of any breach of couenants they should not want eyther sweet words or courteous letters to lull them on sleepe In the meane time in Faix and Bearne the troubles continued wherein the better sort were most vniustly dealt withall There began a disputation at Parris betweene two Ministers and two Sorbonists at the Duke of Neuers lodging which grewe into very large writings without any resolution as indeede such parlying do for the most part bring foorth small fruite The executrō of Simon May a thiese and notable slaunderer About the same time there was likewise a certaine offender named Simon May broken vppon a scaffolde this man was of meane birth and dwelt in a countrie house not farre from Chastillon vppon Loyn where vnder pretence of an Hostrie or Inne hee practised his robberies Him did Anmalle the late Duke of Guises brother hire to watch the Admirall as hee went on hunting and gaue him in hand a hundreth Crownes and a Spanish Genet The Admirall before vnderstanding his wicked course of life had sharply threatned him and now by witnesses finding him to bee a notable theefe he sent the informations to Parris wherevpon hee was soone apprehended and brought into the Conciergery where hee beganne to accuse the Admirall and some others that they should haue conspired togither and so promised him great reward to kill the Queene-mother but the Councellours that were deputed to perfect his processe presently smelling out the infection of this slaunder and perceiuing that in the boulting out of this matter which notwithstanding they ought to haue done they should haue found some of the house of Guise in more fault then the Chastillons letting fall this false accusation and hauing auerred May his robberies and thefts they committed him to the wheele During the kings voyage to Bayonne wherein hee was accompanied only with Princes and Lords of the Romish religion Anotable proces in Paris betweene the Iesuites and the Vniuersitie The beginning of the Iesuites there happened a notable processe within Parris touching the Iesuites whereof I will set downe certaine notes collected verbatim out of the fourth booke of the Epistles and pleas made by me Stephen Pasquier a Councellour that pleaded for the Vniuersitie against the saide Iesuites his words are these A Nauarrois named Ignace who had beene a souldier all the daies of his life time hauing been hurt in the Towne of Pampelune while hee laye to bee healed vsed to reade the liues of holy fathers by whose examples hee determined from that time forward to frame his life Wherevppon hee entered into conference with diuers men and among the rest with one named Maister Pasquier Brouet They sware and aduowed a societie and Ignace being beheaded they made certaine voyages to Parris Rome and Ierusalem and in the end went to Venice where they continued certaine yeares And perceiuing themselues to haue many followers Their profession went to Rome where they beganne to make open profession of their order among other articles chiefely promising two things the one that their principall intent was to preach the word of God vnto the Pagans to conuert them to the faith the other freely to teach all christians the studie of learning and to accommodate their name vnto their deuotionss they called themselues religious persons of the societie of Iesus presenting themselues vnto Pope Paul the third Their name of the house of Fernese about the yeare of our Lord 1540. at the same time that the Almaines began to arme themselues against the alteration of religion and because one of the principall disputations of the Almaines was touching the authoritie of the Pope whom Martin Luther sought to deface they with a contrary profession shewed that their first vow was to acknowledge the Pope to be aboue al earthly powers At what time they began and aboue the generall Councelles and the vniuersall Church The Pope who at the first made doubt to allow them and after had permitted them to name themselues religious but with charge that they should not exceed the number of sixtie persons began to hearken to this promise and to open the gate to their deuotion and after him Pope Iulius the third vntill Pope Paul the fourth named Theatin the first Promoter of that order authorised them fully and wholly with many and great priuiledges By whom they were receiued into France Now their affaires proceeding in this sort it chanced that the Bishop of Cleremont Bastard to the Chancellour du Prat began to beare them some affection and sought to plant that order in Parris whither hee brought Pasquier Brouet with three or foure others They at their comming lodged themselues quietly in a chamber in the Colledge of Lombards and after that established their habitation in the house of Cleremont in Harp-street by the permission of him that first brought them into France celebrating their Masses and prayers vppon the Sundaies and other Festiuall daies in a Chappell that standeth at the entrie into the Chartreux How they intruded themselues And perceiuing that their affaires beganne to take effect they presented themselues diuers times before the Court of Parliament that there order might be authorised by them But the Atturney generall named Brulart Their boldnesse opposed himselfe against their requests not that hee fauoured not the Catholicque religion but for that aboue all things hee doubted and feared such nouelties as mother of many errors specially in religion Wherevppon hee shewed them that if their hearts were wholly estraunged from worldly care they might without induring any new order Who withstood them content themselues with the auncient professions of Saint Benet Clugny Cisteaux Grandmont Premonstre and others approcued by diuers Councels or with the foure orders of begging Fryers The Court not content with those oppositions wold not seem to be opinious of themselues but for the same cause had recourse vnto the facultie of Diuines who by their decree censured against them partly because that some of their proposition derogated from the priuiledges of the French Churches partly because that terming themselues religious they weare not the habit neyther yet confined themselues like vnto others within Cloysters which censure put them by their whole intent Not long after the Bishop
for attributing to themselues the name of Iesuits deserue a shameful death And thē answering to the Iesuits vow touching the Pope Our faith saith he is otherwise We in France acknowledge the Pope for supreme head of our church with all due honor deuotion but in such sort that he is subiect to the decrees of general coūcels that he can enterprise no authoritie ouer our realm nor against the M. of our kings neither yet against the authoritie of the decrees of our Court of Parliament or to the preiudice of our diuosians in their confines and limits And thervpō he saith Iesuites chiefe creatures and right slaues to the Pope that Iohn Gerson teacheth vs in one of his books that we may well bee without a Pope in the church that it is in the power of a generall Councel to displace a Pope out of his seat therin to place an other for the ordering of the affairs of the church as in effect it was practised in the councels of Constance Basle Thus hauing learnedly pleaded for the rights priuiledges of the French church he discouereth their subtilties thefts dissimulatiōs impostures rauenings shewing by diuers examples that they are mutenous sowers of troubles Atheists and mockers of God And ending his plea said to all the Court You my Maisters that tollerate the Iesuits Vertues of the Iesuites True predition shall one day be the first Iudges of your owne condemnations when by the meanes of your permissions you shall perceiue the mischiefes that will ensue not onely in France but throughout Christendome Aduocate Mesnil who in this care pleaded for the kings Atturney propounded many matters against these sectaries who hee sufficiently prooued to bee a plague to the Realme but because of the kings voyage into Bayonne and that the Queenes councels and those of the house of Guise that ruled all tender onely but to the ruine and ouerthrow of the Prince of Conde the Admirall those of the religion the Iesuites proces was for that time ordered by the Councel that is layd vp by the walles Afterward the second and third troubles togither with the massacre ensuing the Isuites set vp their crests in earnest and compassed the straunge practises whereof ensued the horrible tragedies that were played about the end of the raigne of Henry the third as more at large shall appeare wherewith this yeare ended Now let vs consider what happened in the yeare 1567 when the troubles and miseries of France began againe The king of Spaines intent against the low countries The king of Spaine not being able to indure the increase of those of the religion in the lowe Countries much offended with them for the breaking and throwing down of Images in Flaunders Brabant and other Prouinces determined to proceed against them with fire and sword not once regarding the priuiledges of the countrie nor yet the cruel extortions and iniustices of his officers against those of the religion whose Ministers principal rulers opposed thēselues by all the means the could against the breaking of Images thrown down by a small number of men such as were of no great account in so short a time that it seemed they had fallen of themselues For the execution of this bloodie councel which had bin decreed in the League made at Bayonne Fernando Aluares de Tolede Duke of Alua that had been his Agent in Bayonne was established Liefetenant General with most ample and expresse cōmission who in the beginning of the spring in An. 1567. accompanied with his two sonnes and great troupes of men imbarking themselues at Barcelonne in the month of May arriued at Genes with an armie of 9000. The Duke de Alue commeth to torment the low countries Spaniards 1000. light-horse marched towards Millan What followed therof is at large set down in the Histories of the low Countries The Q. and the Councel of France vnder this pretence of the D. of Alues passage made a certaine report to be giuen abroad that it was to be feared that the Spaniard would attempt somewhat against France vnder pretence of going into Flanders thervpon began to leuy 6000. Switzers to keep the frontiers but not long after they were broght further into the realme for the Duches of Parma was alreadie gone out of the lowe Countries into Italie assoone as she receiued intelligence of the D. of Alues imbarking The Prince of Conde the Admiral with other Lords of the religiō Sundrie councels holden by the Prince of Conde before he entred into armes calling to mind what had past since the edict of pacification perceiuing the Switzers to enter into the realme and that the D. of Alue was alreadie arriued in the lowe Countries assembled togither in small number there they produced certaine letters intercepted from Rome and Spaine wherein the practises how to roote out the professors of the reformed religion at one instant were at large set downe In a short space they had three consultations of Vallery and Chastillon where met some ten or twelue of the chiefest Gentlemen of the religion to debate vppon the present accurrences and to seeke all lawfull and honest meanes of safterie in so many terrors without proceeding to the last refuge In the first two the opinions rested very diuers neuerthelesse rather by the Admirals counsell then otherwise euery man was intreated a while to haue patience and the rather for that in matters of such consequence as wherevppon depended so many miseries and calamities it was more necessary to be drawne in by necessitie then to make too much haste or vppon a greedie desire to runne on headlong besides that shortly matters would bee made more apparant but in the last consultation they grewe into a greater heate For besides all passed calamities or imminent daungers also that they of the religion were openly threatned throughout most townes and Prouinces that they should not long beare themselues so high and that their time drew night to an end they receiued more aduise out of sundrie places and both the Prince and Admirall did plainely affirme that they had expresse aduertisement from a certaine Courtier very well affected to those of the religiō that there had been holden a most secret Councel wherein it was concluded that they should bee seized vpon that the one should bee executed and the other detained prisoner that at the same instant two thousand Switzers shuld enter into Parris two thousand into Orleans and the remainder into Pointiers that the Edict of pacification should bee vtterly repealed and an other made quite contrary to the same Heerevppon they grewe to earnest disputation for whereas some vrged a speedie relolution of necessary defence the rather because the forraine forces marched alreadie openly for the vtter ruine of those of the religion throughout the realme others that were not altogither so hotte shewed that albeit they perceiued the fire alreadie kindled yet they could not see
Archbishop of Lyons of Bourgongne Reinold Earle of Forest Peter of Tarentaise that after was Pope of Rome Henry and Lewis Eales of Villars Montluel Charles d'Alencon Ame Iohn and Hugh de Talaru two Charles de Bourbon Cardinals Andre Cardinal of Espinac Francis de Rouen sonne of a Marshall of France Anthony of the auncient house of the Earles of Albon that were Dauphins de Viennois and Earles of Auuergne Peeces of money quoyned by the Archbishop of Lions with this deuise on the one side Prima sedes And on the other Galiarum And in trueth it is the principall sea of France the most famous and most auncient and in times past the Archbishop had a priuiledge to quoyne mony there are yet certaine peeces of mony to bee seene with their stampe and in the time that the kings of Bourgongne had that authoritie ouer the sea which the kings of France now haue the Archbishoppes were the first and most worthie instruments of their kings Councell Frideric Barbarousse in the time of Lewis le Ieune amplified their priuiledges by his letters writing to the Exarches or Lieftenants or chiefe Councellours of his Pallace of Bourgongne because that part of the Realm of Bourgongne that lyeth on this side the Mont Iura was as then Emperour of Rome The king seeking to withdrawe the Archbishoppe of Lyons out of the league promised him the custodie of the seale of France made him one of his priuie Councell before beeing onely of the Councell of estate recommended him vnto Pope Sixtus the fift and made him beleeue that the Lord of Gondy was sent expresly to fetch him the Cardinals Hat The Kings fauours shewed to the chiefe of the League Hee continued his fauours hee renued and amplified them to all those that had any credit in the League thinking that by the signes of his good fauour those Salmonees that would counterfeit Iupiters thunderboults would acknowledge and withdrawe themselues out of the confusion of their pretences Hee did nothing without them hee disclosed his secrets vnto them thrust his soule into the deepest part of their passions yea and seemed to bee as much mooued as they to the aduancement of treaties most liberally thrusting all his fauours and authorities vpon them and their participants so that there was none of them how farre soeuer in degree among them The Cardinall of Bourbon declared to be chiefe Prince of the blood See the treatise of Ianuary 1589. but felt some part of his benignitie He proclaimed the Cardinall of Bourbon to be the first Prince of the blood royall that is hee ratified the first Article of Ginuille made in Anno. 1585. which was wholly to exclude the king of Nauarre from the Crowne and auoyded that great disputation and argument of the Vncle and the Nephew so much written and disputed of both with tooth nayle thereby to trouble the auncient order of the succession and make the good Cardinal of Bourbon to serue the League on both sides This poynt deserueth some small view of their processe Those that sustaine the right and title of the Cardinall alleadged all these reasons first that the lawe of the Realme or the Salicque law that referreth the succession to the heires Masles referreth also the prerogatiue to raine to enjoy the Crowne to the next of the blood to the king that dieth without children Francis de Valois Duke of Alencon died with this prerogatiue of first Prince of the blood and first of the succession at his decease had no nearer kinsman theÌ„ the Cardinal of Bourbon that was in the tenth degree of consanguinitie from him by consequent succeeded in the prerogatiue of the Duke of Aniou as one cannot be heire to a man if he be not his heire by law so hee ought to haue that quallitie at his death at the which time the hope of succession was ioyned therevnto And as the succession inheritance of the Realm permitteth but one onely heire so this prerogatiue permitteth but one lawfull heire Quoniam sororem c. De iure de lib. This right of prerogatiue neuer rested but in the person of one of the Princes of Valois by the priuiledge of first begotten those of the house of Bourbon neuer had it because they could not represent the chiefe branch of a house from whence it did not issue the colaterall ingendring not the colaterall In such manner that Anthony de Bourbon although he had all the right of the house of Bourbon hauing not nor by any means would haue the right of elder the auncienter house beeing Valios yet liuing could not obtaine the prerogatiue of the first Prince or any hope to attaine vnto it nor yet to transferre it to Henry his sonne To say it commeth to the house of Bourban there beeing no other familie of the Masses but that house liuing and by consequent to him that hath all the preheminence of the right therein by vertue of succession and so to Henry sonne of Anthony as beeing the head of that house and representing his father eldest and first Prince of all that familie it is most certaine that this prerogatiue did not fall from the person of Francis Duke of Aniou Jus suitatis Eghinar din â—ita caroli to the familie of Bourbon for if it were so it would follow that all the Princes of that house should succeed in the same prerogatiue and that he which dieth should cease the whole reuenue of that familie and not the nearest So you cannot say that Anthony king of Nauarre being descended of the eldest house the right falleth to him seeing it is a thing cleare and without difficultie that the familie of the eldest is preferred before the familie of the youngest for in colaterall successors they consider the nearnesse of the Parents to the last that died ceased and the nearest in degree alwaies excludeth him that is further distant in Consanguinitie so Charlemaine comforming himselfe to the lawe of the Realme after the death of Charles his eldest sonne and Pepin the youngest iudged the Crown to Lewis his middle sonne that after was called le Debonnaire as brother and next heire to Charles his eldest sonne and not to Bernard sonne to Pepin the youngest sonne that was but in the second degree vnto him although in paternall inheritance he represented the person of his father Like case the prerogatiue that Francis Duke of Aniou had fell and proceeded to the Cardinall of Bourbon not because hee is of the house of Bourbon but next kin to the Duke of Aniou because hee descendeth of the Capets and of the blood royall of Hugh Capet And as the house of Bourbon at this day is reputed to haue this right because the said Cardinall of Bourbon that is issued from the same obtained it so if the said Cardinall were issued out of an other house so it were royall the familie of Bourbon should not be admitted to this prerogatiue but that from
layde hand on his rapier being halfe drawne as then hauing his cloake cast about him like a scarfe which hee vsed ordinarily to do and his rapier vnder his cloake which by that meanes hee could not so hastily pull out but that som of those that were in presence perceiuing him to bee so bold at the kings chamber dore preuented him This is the aduise of the Collector the noyse and bustling among them was presently heard within the Councell-chamber which made the Archbishoppe of Lyons to come foorth and went to knock at the chamber doore where as then they had newly slaine the Duke of Guise and yet hee came time ynough thither to heare his last words The astonishment of the Cardinall of Guise The Cardinall of Guise was in a maruellous maze his sences troubled and his courage abated and as hee sought the doore to go out he with the Archbishop of Lyons was arested by Monsieur de Larchan and his guard that made conscience to lay hands vppon them because of their order They desired Monsieur de Larchan to bring them into some chamber that they might not be a wonder to such as passed by wherewith they were Iedde into a litle chamber ouer the kings lodging made not long before therein to lodge the Feuillans and Capucins where for a time they remained without either seate or fire The Cardinall of Guise could not cease by his words to poure out the heate of his passions and his greefes and in that chollor spake certain words which in a quiet and more sencible minde hee would not haue vttered so that hee renued the Kings furie who therewith commaunded la Bastier and Monsieur de Valence two of the fiue and fortie to kill him The one refused the commission saying that his hands should neuer bee defiled with the blood of a man of the Church The other determined to execute the Kings pleasure and beeing accompanied with fixe of his companions hee mounted vp the staires close to the chamber doore where hee was there they stood disputing which of them should beginne and as hee thought to enter hee felt a certaine motion that stopped the heate of his furie The imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon and made him to godowne presently after the Duke of Guise was slaine the king appoynted a guard to attend vppon the Cardinall of Bourbon who as yet was in his bed and to stay Madame de Nemours the Duke de Nemours and the Duke d'Al-boeuf The Prince of Iuinuille The memories of the League write that the great Prior rose vp and went very early to call the Prince de Iuinuille to play a set at tennis whereon they had agreed the night before and finding him in his bed desired him to rise who being soone vp and speedily made readie whether it were because the great Prior was presently followed by certaine of the guard or otherwise it is not certainely knowne he entered in distrust and presently after would haue forced a doore that issued out of his chamber and so haue saued himselfe wherewith the guard tooke him And the great Prior perceiuing by that meanes that their set would not go forward hee tooke his leaue and departed but the trueth is that when the Duke of Guise was slaine the Prince Iuinuille his sonne was hearing Masse in the Chappell of the Castle and comming out from thence as he thought to go vp the staires to find the great Prior with whom he had made a match to play at tennis hee was stayed by the Archers and seeking to defend himselfe they held him and led him into the chamber of the great Prior. Meane time the Switzers were set to keepe the Duke of Guises lodging that no man might come foorth Monsieur de Hautefort Monsieur de Pericard chiefe Secretary and Monsieur de Barnardin chiefe Gentleman of the chamber to the Duke of Guise were taken It is said that Pericard beeing brought to this extremitie either to speake for life or else confesse for death disclosed all the secrets of the League and wholly instructed the king of his Maisters intent Monsieur de Richelieu Marshall of the house accompanied with his Archers and certaine souldiers of the companie of Mōsieur de Gast went into the Town-house where the third estate were assembled and there laide hands vpon the President de Neuilly the Prouost of Merchants in Parris Compan and Corteblance Sheriffes of the said Towne Monsieur le Roy Gouernour of the Towne of Amiens the Counte de Brissac Monsieur de Bois Dauphine and other Gentlemen affectioned to the Duke of Guise that were all arested the rest stayed neither for bootes nor spurres to get them thence this accident being so fearefull vnto them Monsieur de la Chastre iustifieth himselfe The Duke of Guise had two principall seruants that were as disposers of all his secret intents the one the Archbishop of Lyons the other Monsieur de la Chastre The first was safe ynough from any more troubling the king but touching the second hee had him in great distrust by reason of the perfect amitie that hee bare vnto the Duke of Guise but assoone as he had receiued the newes hee went presently to the Duke de Neuers in the armie vnder whom hee was Marshall and saide vnto him that although he had alwaies beene a seruant to the Duke of Guise yet hee still held and continued his faith constant vnto the King and because the great amitie hee bare vnto the Duke of Guise might cause him to be suspected by the King hee willingly yeelded himselfe into the Duke de Nemours hands to iustifie his actions and not long after he went in person to present himselfe vnto the king assuring him that from that time forward to become his faithfull seruant Monsieur d'Antragues in all haste mounted on horsebacke to assure the King of the Towne of Orleans but there he found Monsieur de Roissieu who Orleans holden for the League the same morning had been the with D. of Guise and perceiuing the Guard to bee stricktlier disposed then ordinarily they were and knowing the kings commaundement to shut the gates while the Councell sat hee entered into a maruellous apprehension of the cause presently departed out of Blois to take order for the Town of Orleans sending expresse messengers in all hast to aduertise the Duke de Maine his Maister beeing at Lyons The Queen-mother aduertised of the Duke of Guises death The first thing that the king did after hee came out of his chamber was to beare the newes vnto the Queene his mother to whom hee said that as then he was absolute king and that he had no more companions She at the first was strangely abashed and said vnto the king that it would haue fallen out hardly for him if he had not taken order for the assurance of the towns where the name and memorie of the duke of Guise had credit and authoritie Councelling