vewed and put in inuentorie the whiche is alwayes the beginning of Confiscation so that the goodes of the Religious beyng absent were almost put in an Inuentorie but yet were not confiscate the cause whereof was the contrary successe whyche the Kyng looked not for If the Kyng had had such successe in his warre at Rochel as hee desyred it seemed that confiscations shoulde haue flowed wyth murders beyonde all measure thoroughout the whole Realme vppon them of the Religion to theyr vtter destruction Vnder the collour and pretēce of that Edict the king sought to bryng to passe by hys Legate mons Belleure with the Switzers which professed the Religion that those Frenchmen of the Religion whych were fled into theyr countrey myght be constrayned to forsake the same for many were fled especially to Bern and to Basile Notwithstandyng the Ambassadour lost hys labour for they extended still that same humanitie that they dyd before towards those fugitiues Almost about thys tyme a daughter was borne to the king Wherevpon he intreated Elizabeth the Queene of Englande that she would promise for his yong daughter in the holy Sacrament of Baptisme whiche we call the office of a Godmother To this request the Queenes Maiestie graūted and sent the Earle of Worceter into France to the king to be hir deputie for the same There was no man but he saw well ynough that the kyng at that doubtful time wēt about to coorry fauour with the Queene of Englande least she shoulde help the poore Inhabitants of Rochel and to this end the league was made We said before that they of Rochel answeared mons Biron that they woulde not receyue him into the Citie before suche time as the kyng hadde prouided for theyr securitie by assured pledges not minding to come to composition with bare words But the Kyng purposed to make those at his commaundemēt by dint of sworde and open force whome he could not wynne with wordes and deceyt Therefore hee deliuereth letters to mons Biron by whych hee banisheth them from his protection and fauour except they obey this his last commaundement as Rebelles traytors and the troublers of the common peace protesting that he woulde persecute them with mortall warre accordingly he commaundeth all hys gouernours and officers to persecute them with warre and by al other meanes euē as if they were giltie of high treason and pronoūceth that whatsoeuer they do herein against them shal be allowed and maynteyned At the same time mons Noe a noble man and in the former warres one amongst the rest most valiant came out of the lowe Countrey of Flaunders called Belgic and was reconciled to the Kyng and in token of his recouered fauour the king gaue vnto him the goodes of Teligni whose Sister mons Noe had maried whyche otherwise had bin confiscate as the goodes of others that were slayne were in the slaughter of Paris The king gaue hym in charge to perswade with them of Rochel that hee mighte bring them if it were possible to take those conditions of peace which he offered vnto them They of Rochel wondering at his comming after thys sorte sente vnto hym their letters of safeconduct that he might come to the village called Tadon the fyfth day of Nouember and to do vnto them that message which he had brought vnto thē from the king Thither came mons l' Noe and the Burgeses of Rochell Lāguilleir Rechenart Villers and Merelle Mons l' Noe declared vnto them that he had receyued commaundemente from the King Queene to tel thē that it appertayned greatly to their profite to yeeld vp the Citie into the kings hand and power that they mighte thereby deliuer themselues from that destruction presently like to ensue by the siege at hand and might also obtayne great peace for other Churches that he propounded thys condition in the kings name whome if they woulde admit to be their Gouernour according to the kings appoyntment they had free libertie to vse and enioy the Religion Notwithstanding mons l' Noe hauing declared hys good wyll and loue whiche he bare to Religion priuately perswaded them of Rochel to admit none in the kings name into the Citie before such time as they were sufficiently assured of their securitie and safetie The Burgeses of Rochel had onely authoritie and leaue to heare but no licence at all to determine any thing Wherefore they returning certifyed the Senate of the condition offered by mons l' Noe and mons l' Noe being come into the Citie receyued this answer That Rochel would not admit mons Biron beseeching the king that hee woulde poynt some other whiche loued the refourmed Religion to be their ouerseer or els to suffer them to lyue peaceably vnder the obedience of hys lawes In the meane time mons l' Noe being solicited both by the Senate it selfe of Rochel and also required by certayne other Ministers of the Church to imbrace the Religion sayeth that he was no lesse feruent towards the Religion than he had bin afore time and that he determined in him selfe to returne vnto them so soone as he hadde done his ambassage vnto the king The whiche hee perfourmed within few dayes after and was louingly enterteyned of them of Rochel After this they of Rochel cōsulted how they might get the Isle of Rhe the whyche was both neere and also commodious for them The charge to atchieue thys enterprise was cōmitted to mons Essarz He beeyng furnished wyth certayne Shyppes loosed from Rochel hauen about the dead tyme of the nyghte that he myghte deceyue the enimie ryding at anker not farre from hym Nowe there were come nere to the Citie two Shyppes of the Kyngs nauy vnder a colour to bryng letters to them of Rochel in the name of mons d' Guarde but in very deede they were sounding or plumming for the depth of the water for the whych cause they had one wyth them very expert in the same Whyles they were thus occupyed they were boorded by the Shyppes of Rochel the whych hauing slayne one of theyr chiefe Cpptaynes tooke one of the Shyppes and sente all theyr tackeling and cariage into the Citie the other Shyp being afeard escaped away Then they of Rochel returned into the Citie agayne Thys was a foretoken that they shuld haue good successe in the warre whiche was prepared against them THE fourth day of December mons Biron came to the citie wyth seuen cornets of horsemen and eyghteene ensignes of footemen hauyng also wyth hym two great brasse peeces to begin the seege In the meane tyme dyuers came dyuersly to this warre frō al parts of the Realme of those also not a fewe which aforetime had serued the Prince of Conde in the war and had nowe forsaken the Religion shewyng them selues to be more mortall enimies to the same than the Catholiques them selues They of Rochel held those villages that bordered vpō theyr Citie as Maraim Mose Nouaille whych were vnder the charge
the name of authoritie and power to the Maior who notwithstanding did nothing of him selfe without the aduise of the Senate THE same day the kings side prepared a fresh for the batterie the townsmen with no lesse haughtie courage of mynd discharged the thundring shot from the fort l'Euangile against the kings campe to the great annoyance of the same The day folowing the kings ordinance went off so thicke that the roaring stroakes thereof could scarse be numbred and so helde on all the next day The townesmen in the meane while by night left nothing vndone to repaire and fortifie the breaches of their walles Countie d' Retz was stricken behynde in the reynes of the backe with a Calieuer shot beyng come out of the couent of the Engynes The same night mons Normā made an inroade euen vnto the enimies trenche notwithstanding he was constrayned to retyre againe into the citie with losse of two of his men beside those which were wounded The day after he came again to the same place purposing by ouerthrowing the hardels of the enimy to kil many of thē but he had like successe as he had before BVT for so much as we are to describe greater conflictes in this noble siege being such as our age hath not seene and so much the more noble for that after the finall destruction as it were of the Religious the wonderfull constancie of the Rochellians had most happy successe by the wonderfull goodnesse of God we thinke it meete and conuenient to our purpose to speake somewhat more largely and particularly to shewe the exploytes and actes of euerie day seuerally The sixtene day of Marche the kings parte made baskets ouer against the bulwarke l'Euangile planting those peeces of ordināce which were in the fort of Corceile by which we sayd the passage into the hauen from the sea was stopte betweene them The townsmen fortifie that part against the batterie Mons Fontene was chiefe captaine of the watch and ward of the Mines commonly called Cazemates which were made in the dytch seruing to make eruptions and to repulse the enimie from the walles He taking with him tenne of his souldiers came vnto that part of the kings camp which was neare vnto the Lazerhouse where he founde twelue noble men sitting at supper whome he slue notwithstanding that they promised him very large raunsomes to redeeme their lyfe and when he had doone returned in safetie vnto the citie agayne This was doone in the night of the same day The seuententh day was spent wholy in giuing an assault The day folowing when the kings campe went about by trenches and baskets to approch more neare vnto the walles there ensued a sore battell the townesmen comming out of the towne to withstand the enimie The next day after the townesmen came again to the same fortification and for all that the enimie coulde doe they ouerthrewe their baskets burdels and tumbled great woolpackes full of wooll into the ditch and slaying at the same place three score of them chased the rest to the castell Palereau The same day at nyght certaine shot of the kings campe came into the trench of the bulwark l'Euangile taking some of the townsmen vnawares slue them The twentie day the batterie was begon againe with fortie three great peeces which were planted in seuerall places notwithstanding the walles of the city were not much impaired the roofes of houses in diuers places were pulled downe whereat many a vayne shot was discharged There were told the same day a thousand and fiue hundred stroakes The two and twentie day a newe assault was intended to be giuen about three of the clocke in the afternoone but bicause the towne beganne to discharge against them whereby many of the Kings campe were slayne they stayed their former purpose and encountred the towne with mayne shot vntill sixe of the clocke in the euening It was told the townesmen that the enimie had determined the same day to winne the tower which stoode betweene the gate Rambalde and the Bulwarke l' Euangile and the treasons of the citie were feared Therefore the townsmen prepared them selues for defence appoynting in diuers necessarie places watch and warde All this while the townsmen tooke great paines in making bulwarks in the citie of earth compact with turffes and stakes to bynde the same One of the kings mynes was ouerwhelmed to the greate spoyle of the pioners That nyght there was in the citie a great earthquake the which some say was the cause of the ouerturning of the sayde myne but in my iudgement it is vnlikely From the last day of Februarie vnto the sixe and twentie of this moneth there were tolde twelue thousand and seuen hundred stroakes of the kings gunnes The same daye by the commandemente of the Maior one Chale whose name was famous in Rochell and whome we reckoned before among the captaynes of the warre went out of the citie for that the Rochellians had him in suspition and so came vnto the kings campe The day folowing the townesmen made an eruption vpon a troupe of horsmen which they discouered to stande at Tadon and after a skyrmishe by which both partes sustayned losse they retyred The eyght and twentie day of Marche the whole armie of the king was set in battell araye euen as if they woulde haue giuen an assault to the gate of Cogne and to the bulwarke l'Euangile Notwithstanding after they had for the space of one houre discharged shot one against the other with the losse and hurt of both partes they sounded the retraycte About sixe of the clocke in the euening the kings campe returned agayne and placing a troupe at Sannicolas gate the rest stoode in battell aray at Cogne gate Their purpose was to take the Cazemates whiche were in the dytche And for this cause fortie of the kings souldiers went downe into the dytche notwythstanding they were so repulsed by the townsmen that many of the kings campe fell into the ditch In the meane time the great gunnes thundered both from the towne and also out of the kings campe from which fortie shot were discharged The day following was spent onely in giuing an assault But the next day after that there was a sore battaile fought betweene the Rochellians and the kings campe The cause of the battaile was this Three souldiers went out of the towne and set vpō the first watch of the kings camp Then the whole campe armed thēselues By by there came out of the towne others to rescue the first wherupō the enimie came on by heapes vpon whom the Caliuer shot came as thicke as haile and such a tempest of great shot droue agaynst the threesquare battaile whiche was set in aray wedgewise to pearce into theyr enimies that of the forefront of the same fiue with targettes were slaine and after them many other souldiers There appeared at Tadon certaine horsmen at the first but few in number to allure the townesmen
Duke of Alba which loused from Antwerpe to carrie victuall to Middelburge part whereof they chased away and the rest came to Middelburge Furthermore the Prince of Orange tooke the towne of Mounts in Brabant The twentith of September the Orangians fought wyth happy successe vpon the coast of Amsterdam in the whiche fyght the Duke of Alba had a great ouerthrow with losse of a great number of his Shippes and also of his men The eleuenth day of October the Orangians after a long battayle fought vpon the sea got the victorie of the King of Spaynes nauie of whome they slue a great number and tooke the County Bossu Lord Admirall of the whole nauie In the beginning of December the Duke of Alba forsaking his authoritie of gouernment in the low countrey being Brussels by the authoritie and cōmission of the kings letters put ouer his said office to Lewis de Requizence great Commaunder of Castile and then prepared for his returne into Spayne THE new King of Polonia notwithstanding that the Ambassadors of Polonia made great hast found dayly new delayes to deferre his iourney whether it wer for the pleasure and delight which he had in his owne countrey or for greefe to leaue a more noble kingdome the assured possession whereof his mother had promised vnto him The king him selfe vrged his departure in somuch that it is reported he sayde in anger That eyther he or himselfe must needes goe into Polonia For the secret grudges of emulation which was in eyther of them could not be so couertly restrayned but that often times they brast foorthe The Queene loued the Duke of Aniou more than the king whose great towardnesse she greatly feared It is certainly reported that the Queene sayde to Henry beeing very carefull cōcerning his departure Be of good cheere only goe thou shalt not remayne long in Polonia By the rumor heereof many thought that the Queene meant little good vnto the King and that hereof that euill which happened within a while after vnto him proceeded the whiche verily I would not set downe if so be the same had not bin obiected vnto the Queene hir selfe by letters written by certayne Courtiers whiche knew well ynough the affayres of the court Yea it is most certayne that the Quene was so addicted vnto hir sonne Henry that she hated hir other two sonnes HENRY hauing couenaunted and agreed with hys brother concerning those thinges whiche appertayned to their affayres departed at the length from Paris the eyght and twenty of September The king sayd that he would bring him on his way to the boundes and limits of hys kingdome The which he could not performe for that he fel sicke of a soare feuer at Vitri a towne in Champaigne most menne thinking that he was poysoned Therefore the king tooke his leaue of his brother and went no further who wente through Germany as his iourney lay and was curteously entertayned of the Princes of the same notwithstanding he hearde them in euery place greeuously detest the murders of Fraunce the principall cause whereof was layd to his charge in obeying the wicked counsayles of hys mother About the same tyme Frauncis Hotomanus a famous Lawyer a man endued with godlinesse and singular learning published a booke which he intituled Francogallia and dedicated the same to Frederic Countie Palatine In the same booke the sayde Hotomanus declareth with exquisite reason what was the state of the kingdome of France in olde time bringing the same to memorie againe out of the ancient antiquities of the historie of France And he declareth that although the Frenche Gaules tooke in olde time theyr kings from the Nobilitie and therefore chose them suche kings as were come of kingly race had bin royally trayned and brought vp whether the same were of the number of their childrē or of their neere kinsmen yet neuerthelesse the kingdome of France of olde time was wont to be gyuen not by right of inheritance as a priuate patrimonie but by the iudgemēt free electiōs of the people For proofe wherof he bringeth many things out of the expresse words of the Testamēt of Charles the great out of the elections of Pharamund of the sonnes of Pipin of Charles and of Charlemain of Chilperic of Clothar of Ottho and of other kings of whome he hath made a lōg catalogue alleaging the very wordes of the histories notwithstāding so that the kingdome shuld be deuided by the decree consent of the states one while to one sometime to moe of the sonnes of the kings And that as the authority to choose kings so also the power to displace and depose them from their rule was in old time in the handes of the states of the people in the publique assembly of the Realm Therefore that kings wer created in France by fyrme lawes not tyrāts ordeyned with free authoritie power to do what soeuer them listeth For the which matter he bringeth many examples namely of the two Childerickes which kings were deposed frō the kingdome by the decree of the states of Theoderic which was displaced with Ebroin his Lord great master of Chilperic of Charles the grosse also of Ottho which was chosen king in stede of Charles the sonne of Lewis the stutter and he taketh the credite of their iudgements and most vrgent causes out of the very midst of the historie He sheweth also what things were specially handled in the solemne assembly of the states and also what was the authoritie of the same And first of al concerning the creating or displacing of a king secondly concerning peace warre and common lawes thirdly concerning greate honors high offices and gouernments of the common welth Fourthly concerning the assigning of the patrimonie in part to the children of the king being deceased and concerning the appointing of dowry to daughters finally concerning al those things which appertayne to the weale publique The power of the sayd assembly of States was such saieth he that without the authoritie or sentence of the same the king coulde determine nothing but must folowe the authoritie and will of the States which said authoritie and will were called The decrees of the states And now when as this kingdom of France hath cōtinued almost a thousand two hūdred yeeres ther are said to be in al this time only three houses of kings that is to say of the Merouins who taking their originall of Meroue continued that stock two hūdred fourscore three yeres of Charlouins who springing frō Charles the great grew in that stocke three hūdred thirty seuē yeres of Capenites who beginning at Hugh Capet haue now held the kingdome fiue hundred fourescore yeres The which Hugh Capet got the royal dignitie that Charlouins being deposed namely Lewis the fifth the .xxxj. king of France the .xij. king of the stocke of the Charlouins his children being dead in warde And then hee proueth by many examples that the royal dignitie stood
fyrme by the decree of the States in the times of the firste raigne both of the Merouins also of the Charlouins was continued also in the house of the Capenites And first by that notable cōtrouersie celebrated and made famous with the monumēts of the French histories and with the great warres which rose of the same betweene Philip Valoys and Edward borne of Isabel the sister of Charles Who when king Charles the fayre dyed without heires male contended for the kingdome When the matter grew thus to contention it pleased the States to preferre Philip Valoys being of royall line to whom the kingdom was adiudged Another example he broughte from the lamentab e tyme of King Iohn who ioyning battayle with the English men neare vnto Poictiers was taken carried prisoner into England So great calamitie being receyued the hope was left in the authoritie of the states alone Therefore by the decree of the saide States there were approued men of all sortes and conditions chosen to whome the charge and affayres of the Realme were committed howbeit there were three of the Kings sonnes namely Charles Lewis and Iohn of the whiche three the eldest was of lawfull age to gouerne A third example he bringeth from the yeare of our lord M.CCCLXXV at what time Charles the fyfth surnamed wise appoynted by his will and testament Philip Duke of Borbon his wiues brother to bee the tutor and gardian of his sonnes and Lewes Duke of Aniou his brother to be the gouernour of the Realme vntill such time as Charles hys sonne came vnto his full and lawfull age neuerthelesse it was decreed by a counsayle holden at Paris that the will should be frustrate and the gouernmente of the kingdome committed to the sayd Lewis the childes vncle vpon condition that in his gouernment he woulde do nothing without the aduice and consente of other honest and approued persons in the sayde counsayle and also that the wardship and education of the childe shoulde bee committed to the Duke of Borbon A fourth example he bringeth from the yere of our Lorde M.CCCXCII at what time Charles the sixth sonne of the said King sodaynely fell madde it was decreed by the authoritie of the states that the gouernement of the Realme should be committed to the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy Also he fetcheth a fifth example from the yeare M. CCCCXXVI when as Philip Duke of Burgundy and Humfrey Duke of Glocester were at mortall debate to the great detriment of the common wealth and at the length agreed betweene them selues to make an end of all controuersies by combate In this contention the States were vmpiers and decreed that both of them should put off their armour and rather ende their controuersies by lawe than by dinte of sworde Then he alleageth a sixt example from the yeare M. CCCC.Lxxxiiij when as Lewis the .xj. being dead and leauing behinde him his sonne Charles of the age of thirtene yeares it was decreed by an assembly of States at Towers that the education of the childe should bee committed to Anne the kings sister and that the gouernment of the Realme should bee set ouer to certayne choyse and approued persons in the sayd assembly notwithstanding that Lewis Duke of Orleans being the next of kinne required the same He setteth downe also a seuenth Argument taken from that warre which was helde in the tyme of the sayd Lewis the eleuenth which was of all other kings the most craftie and subtill which also greatly diminished the authoritie of the States at what time the kingdom was so gouerned by him that in many things the duetie of a good prince and of one louing his countrey was wanting the authoritie of the States began to be required that by the same the common wealth might be prouided for and so by the ayde of many Princes and noble men warre was holden which was therefore called the warre of the common wealth And verely at that tyme the authoritie of the States began to decay ▪ the which notwithstanding Lewis fayned to haue in great estimation Finally he handeleth that question Whether the gouernmēt of the kingdom of France by the lawe of France ought to come to the Distaffe and by many reasons and examples he sheweth that women ought to bee remoued from the gouernment of the Realme no lesse than from the inheritance of the same And thus disputing he offereth to the secret iudgementes of men by the state of the auncient kingdom an expresse Image of those calamities by which all things at the last in the kingdome of France are come to great disorder and confusion the authoritie of the states of the Realme being ouerthrowen and suppressed and a straunge woman hauing gotten into hir handes the royall gouernment M. Mombrune tooke about this time Monerb a walled town in the County of Venaiz Nium a towne bordering vppon the Countie of Daulphine and new small townes bandes of men specially out of Prouance came dayly vnto him And he inuaded the territorie of Grenoble to the great terror and feare of those that dwelt in the same Hee tooke also the riche Abbay of Viri and slew the Garrisons which kepte the same The Monkes of the great Charterhouse fearing to haue so ill a neighbour fortifyed themselues with Garrisons of Souldiers Thus M. Mombrune was feared in all that countrey rounde about Againe truce was taken for a moneth and a halfe Neuerthelesse the burning desire of warres was great in Languedoc and in Daulphine And vnder the pretence of that truce the King Queene made a great shewe that they desired peace but in deed they practised nothing els but bloudy warre Puygallard of Poictou to get Rochell byred with the kings money and by the kings commaundement certayne Souldiers of Rochell to betray the Citie And the chief of this conspiracie in the towne was mons Grandfiefe a famous man who valiantly behaued himselfe in the tyme of warre for the defence of Rochell Thus it was agreed amongst them that a Bulwarke and one of the Gates should bee taken to the which Puygallard should come incontinent with certayne bandes of Souldiers The conspiracie was discouered They of Rochell tooke many of the townsmen M. Grandfiefe was slayne And when enquirie was made of this conspiracie the conspirators answered that they had done nothing without the kings commaundement mons Puygallard being the author the which also certain letters found about Grandfiefe did plainly testify They of Rochell made complaint hereof to the king The king denied the said enterprise to be taken in hand by his commaundement willing them to punish those that were founde giltie of the conspiracie saying that he gaue them leaue and authoritie so to doe only he willed them to beware that they did nothing contrary to the Edicte Therefore they of Rochell according to their maner of execution put many of the Conspirators to death by the while of the which many were Citizens This was done about the the
order who bare about them the order of S. Michael fighting with the diuel At this feast were many noble men and amōg the rest the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde THE xxvij day of October the Senate of Paris pronounced a sore sentence agaynst the Admirall being dead and agaynst his memorie and children He was condemned as one guiltie of treason as an enimie to peace and a common troubler of the state as the authour of a conspiracie agaynst the king and against the state His memorie was condemned to euerlasting ignominie And to the ende there might remaine some monument of those faults it was decreed that his bodie if it could be found should be drawne through euery streete of the citie after it had stood in the Market place foure and twentie houres and if the same could not be found then his Image should be made stuft with straw and so be drawne in stead of the same as aforesayd and so to the place of execution called the Forkes of Montfalcon It was also decreed that his Armes Crest and Shield should be drawne in like maner to the fore named place And that in what places soeuer they were found they should be broken downe by the hangman as a token of his euerlasting ignominie Also that all his goodes that either he or his aunceters had receyued by the benefite and liberalitie of kings whether they were moueable or immoueable should come vnto the crowne His children were pronounced vnnoble and base and vnworthie to haue anye publike office or to enioy their goodes which if they had any within the Realme they were confiscate to the king His chiefe house Chastillon was beaten downe to the ground that neuer any thing might be buylded there againe The trees of the Orcharde were cut downe and the Gardens about the sayde house turned vpside-downe and it was decreed that a brasen pyller should be erected where the house did stande with this decree of the Senate in the same It was also decreed that the xxiiij of August euery yeare there shoulde be a generall procession about the Citie to giue thankes vnto God and to celebrate the memorie of that day in the which that cruel murder was committed AMIDST these troubles many of the Religion whiche sought to prouide for the safegard of their conscience and life fled into forraine nations Some into Englande Germanie Strausburge and Heidelberge also othersominto Switzerland to Basile and to the townes of Berne to Lausanna and to other Cities and the greatest parte to Geneua Also Rochel Mountauban Nismes and certaine Cities in the Countrey of Viuaretz and Seuenatz were left as places of refuge as wee will declare hereafter The two sonnes of the Admiral by the singular prouidence of God escaped imminent destruction and the Countie Laual the sonne of D'andelot with the daughter of the Admirall which was Thelignies widow came to Geneua after that to Berne and tarying certaine monethes at Basil they returned to Berne againe being very louingly enterteyned of the people ¶ The eleuenth Booke of Commentaries concerning the temporall and Ecclesiasticall state of the Realme of Fraunce in the raigne of Charles the ninth WHilest the whole Realm of France was woonderfully distract and confounded by that horrible and butcherly murder committed and amiddest the violence of contrarye motions when as some triumphed as conquerers and other some being ouercome were ouerwhelmed with sorowe and griefe all men for the most parte whether they were Catholiques or of the Religion were sore afeard and astonyed Yea the fyerbrandes of furies dyd burne euen in the very tryumph of victorie the authors and chiefe instruments themselues of that detestable slaughter in somuch that they being as it were out of their wittes at these fyrste beginnings pretermitted many occasions by whiche they mighte haue brought their purpose about conueniently Notwithstanding the outrage to bryng their cruell purpose to passe pricked them forward that the Religiō might be vtterly destroyed and extinguished in the kingdome of France But their diuelish counsayles had quite contrary successe afterwardes diuers practises also were vsed on both sydes as we will declare hereafter in order Furthermore the horror and feare of that garboyle was spread to all those countreyes bordering vpon France Strasburge very carefully held watch and warde In Switzerlande the Cities of contrary Religion shewed them selues playnely to stande in feare one of another and there were in dyuers partes musters made and rumors spread abroade for trueth That if the Kyng made a perfect conquest of hys subiects he woulde sowe ciuill discordes in Switzerlande that a nation not onely excelling heretofore in ciuill concorde but also hauing gotten great authoritie and credite with the kingdomes bordering therevppon and selling their friendship for greate stipendes and summes of money shoulde contende and be at warres in it selfe They of Bern seemed most of al to be assalted whose power is gret amōg the Switzers by reason of the amplenes of their populous dominion The cause of discord was for that the Cities in Switzerlād which were named to be of the Religion seemed not to cōdescēd and agree to giue vnto the king a band of Catholiques to ayde him to rase and roote out for euer the remnant that remayned of them of the Religion bycause they did much abhorre that butcherly murder of France for that seemed both to be againste the Religion whiche they professed and also to tende to their owne priuate perill as when that the King had destroyed hys owne subiects he myght cause troubles and tumult in Switzerland by the meanes of the townes in the which the Catholiques inhabited who were very desirous to receyue the Kings pay notwithstanding what happened afterward we will declare anon BY THE Kings commaundement horsemen were dispatched and sente into all partes of the Realme and euery man receyued charge to watch and ward diligently Also the Gouernours of euery prouince had commaundement not to be absente from their charge at any tyme without the Kings assured commaundement to looke diligently that there arose no tumultuouse trouble and with all care and industrie to seeke and syft out narrowly all conuenticles and assemblies of suche as professed the Religion and seuerely to punish them IN all partes of the Realme and in euery Citie of the same they were apprehended whiche kept their houses vpon trust and assurance of the Kings Edict Many were slayne and put to death and all men had their goodes put to spoyle by the Kings officers euen as if they had bin enimies lawfully vanquished Notwithstandyng many escaped and fled into forrayne nations There was scarse one man founde which professed hymselfe to be of the Religion all were eyther in exile or hydden in corners or els sauing a fewe constrayned to forsake the Religion and to lyue more catholykely than the Catholykes them selues THEY of the Religion beeyng after thys maner vanquished there seemed nothing to remaine but their
a noble mā caried him into the citie After certayne dayes some soldiers being priuily come from the Shippes at the firste watch when the gates were shut and beyng passed ouer the ditch were assayled by the warders of the Kings campe In this tumult the Citie was raysed and the townesmen brake foorth by whyche occasion there was so sore a fyght and skirmish that a fewe only of the townesmen beyng slayne and wounded there was of the kings part a hūdred and fyue and fyftie slayne and many sore hurt Then the Catholiques began to practise by subtil meanes to intercept them of Rochel Mons Triabalde a noble man entred into the Citie vnder a coloured pretence of fleing to them of the Citie assayeth to bring the noble men which were there but especially mons Languillier who had the chiefe authoritie ouer Rochel to defection But seeing that he could not preuaile searing least they of the town would punish him for his falsehood returned to the kings Camp at the next eruption out of the citie About this time there were new platformes made for them of Rochel but those souldiers whiche were apoynted to gyue the enterprise were for the most parte slayne in the furie of the common people the rest after examination had by the Magistrate were brought foorth of prison and hanged The Citizens of Rochel made mons l' Noe their generall notwithstanding so that the chiefe authoritie and power of other matters shoulde rest in the hands of the Magistrate And certaine other speciall thyngs befell among them the which to thys day are knowen to fewe and to me also vncertayne that I dare not commit them to writing The Citizens came alwayes thyther where they thoughte they myght fynde the enimie Therefore there was a sore battayle fought at Tadon and at Netrè two villages neare to Rochel in whych the kyngs part was put to the worst And thus they neuer suffered the enimie to be at rest The twentie day of Ianuarie mons de Guarde brought the kings nauie to the promontorie called Chef de Bois and seeking to stop thē of Rochel of their passage sunke a huge emptie Shippe commōly called the Caraque in the sea and with great waytes and towes made the same immouable and ankerfast Vpō this he reared a fort called le Eguille from whēce he thundred discharged great shot against that part of the towne which was opposite to the same Ouer against one end of the Caraque ther was another fort called Corceille oueragainst the other ende of the same a thyrde fort called the fort of the newe hauen And thus the hauē was defended on both sydes the Caraque beyng in the middest There appeared in the ocean sea a little beyonde the hauen within the vewe of the towne two Shippes whiche seemed to beare sayle as though they would ariue at the Citie Therfore the townesmen went out of the Citie euen vpon a heape to the number of fourescore hauing certayne soldiers froonting them with targets and shields intending with matter that they caried with them to fyre the Caraque The which notwithstāding they attempted in vayne beeing terrifyed with the thundring shot which flew from the Eguille for t and also with the hardnesse of the enterprise and so returned into the citie The Duke of Anoiu sente letters from the towne called Samnessan to mons le Noe and commaundeth him to signify vnto the men of Rochel in his name that the king would forgyue them both their lyues and goodes so that they woulde yeeld them selues into his hands the which if they did refuse he would by force enter the Citie execute suche punishment vpon them as they should therby be made an example for al others There fled to Rochel from the Kings armie diuers whyche aforetime had followed the Religion and were constrained by the extremitie of the tymes to fyght vnder the Kings banner By these the kings counsayle was bewrayed to thē of Rochel The syxt day of February they of the towne made another eruptiō or violet assault vnder the conduct of mons l' Noe in the which they fought so valiantly that of the Legiō of Sammartine one whole band was almost slain many also were takē prisoners whiche notwythstanding were dismist withoute paying any raunsome Notwithstanding they which were knowen to be instruments of the murder found no such fauour The eight day also the besieged townesmē gaue another assault in the which they lost only fiue but the kings part many soldiers Mons l' Noe chose vnto himselfe a wel apppoynted strong band of noble and olde experienced soldiers choise men which offered willingly their seruice THE Duke of Anjou beyng come neare vnto the city sent againe two letters to the citizens of Rochell the first concerned the noble men the second appertayned to the townesmen and forreners which were fled thyther In the which letters he declareth that the king was not so vneasie to be reconciled and vnwilling to shewe grace but that if they would repent them and craue pardon at his handes he would receyue them to his fauour againe but if they did obstinately refuse hys grace they myght assure them selues to feele the power and seueritie of their most renowmed Lord could not impute the cause of that their destruction to any other than to thē selues They of Rochell answered the Duke of Anjou wyth thankes giuing beseeching him to labour with the King that the matter myght be brought to assured peace and tranquilitie that especially they myght haue the libertie of their conscience THE fiftenth day of this month the Duke of Anjou came with great authoritie and countenance into the kyngs campe being accompanyed with his brother the Duke of Alanson the king of Nauar the Prince of Conde the Dauphin whiche were of the kings bloud the Guise Duke D'Aumal Marques d'Meyne Duke d'Bouillon Monluce Count Rochfoucalt the Lord Acier who after the death of his brother succeeded hym in the inheritance and was called Duke D'Vzes who hauing forsaken the religion tooke parte with the catholikes There were many other noble men also there was so great a multitude of noble men that to besiege and assault one citie men came from al parts of the realme with al forces that might be possible But before we come to speake of the noble siege it seemeth necessarie that we make breef descriptiō of the situation of Rochel of the most famous places therein made notable by valiant exploytes Rochel by situation extendeth it selfe so farre into the Ocean sea that it is almost compassed about therewith and it is closed almost rounde about with salte maryshes very conuenient for the making of salte but that part whiche tendeth towarde the countrey of Poictou is fyrme and fast grounde On that part standeth the temple called L'temple d' Cogne the which was fortified with a countermure and now beareth
assayed In the meane tyme monsieur Leuger being deceyued and mocked by false Messengers watched many nightes hauing his men in a readinesse in armes So that he thought these reportes to be but vaine and false Monsieur Pradelle at the length brought to passe that in the beginning of the moneth of March hauing gathered succours togither monsieur Baro came with his souldiers from Priuac to Mirebel He came in the euening notwithstanding so that hee had day light for certaine houres and the watchmen and scoutes of mon. Leuger which lay at Mirebel in secret watche certified him out of hande of the comming of monsieur Baro and telling him that he would come the same night vnto the citie Monsieur Leuger though he were oftentymes mocked yet notwithstanding by this report he being styrred to looke aboute him commaunded the gates of the citie to be shut betymes and those which abiured the Religion as suspected to be put apart in diuerse places to double the watch insomuch that the towne being conueniently walled aboute was replenished with a standing watch He commaunded bonfires to be made in euery streete of the Citie and Cresset light to stand in euery window in such wise as the whole Citie was bright and shining And he himselfe with certaine choyse men went rounde about his watche In this so diligent watching they of the Religion had nothing deceyued his expectation and if they had come at the appoynted houre they coulde not haue preuayled For one a clocke after midnight was the houre appointed at the which time watches are cōmonly of lesse force And why they came not at the sayde houre appoynted this was the cause mons Baro shewing the danger of the attempt thought it good not to take the same in hande many valiant souldiers agreed herevnto being moued with authoritie Notwithstanding mons Pradelle preuailed that the attempt might be giuen and when he had made his prayers vnto God in the midst of his souldiers all men were so incouraged that they went forward as men persuaded and assured of victorie While the matter was thus in controuersie the time was delaied Mons Leuger deeming that they were the accustomed wiles and mockes lefte off his serious watch by which time the day starre appeared Wherefore all men being desirous of sleepe departed And monsieur Leuger him selfe went home to sleepe for that he had watched all the night They of the religion come vnto the citie when all things were at rest through the compassing valleys shadowed wyth hilles with the which Villeneufe was compassed on that side And when the iron barres were pulled vp they entred in at the forsaid hole they that entred first came vnto the chief watch slue certaine souldiers whom they found asleepe some betwene sleeping and waking And thus they ranne through the citie crying the towne is taken Thus the greater part being entred in at the hole not one shot being discharged from the walles against them opened one gate Whomsoeuer they met they slue Mons Leuger being waked with the noyse of this tumult went out of his house but being constrayned by force to retyre againe he kept him self close in the same being lately well fortified The Catholikes also betooke them to the tower of the greater gate to another also of great heigth beside the temple But such as were found armed in any place of the citie were slaine by thē of the religion insomuch that the streats were filled with dead bodies Many popishe prelates also were slaine which were come thither from diuers cities therabouts to hold a Synode And after they had assailed the two towers the house of mons Leuger to the hurt detrimēt of both parts the said three places were yelded the third day mons Leuger departed being in great peril of the catholikes in somuch that he could scarsly be in safety in his house being accused of treasō Thus fayth being violated he is also accused of treason by false surmise So great feare came vpon al this countrey that no doubt they of the religion might easily haue taken the next citie but that the souldiers being busied about the pray would not go else where A great booty was caryed out of this little town and much money for raunsomes was receyued which by the negligence of the captaines was put to priuate vses The Catholikes by this suddaine feare being awaked held al those cities which were neare vnto them they which had taken Villeneufe being gone no further Notwithstanding they of the religion tooke certain little townes which bordred vpon them and fortified Gorce and Saluasse that they might haue free passage from Viuijers to Nismes D'ANVIL hauyng placed the tayle and remaynder of his armies in dyuers townes from thence foorth mitigated the force of warre Neuerthelesse by them of the religion diuers townes and castels in sundry places of Languedoc were taken dayly rather by policie than with the displaied ensigne About this time a walled towne called Florensac being not farre from Narbō was taken Neyther was there any Diocesse in Languedoc in the which day by day some newes fell out The particular repetition of which things we haue thought more conuenient to defer vnto another time and for another booke They of the religion also tooke Pusis a towne bordering vpō the riuer of Rosne which afore that time by the negligēce of the townesmen was falne into decay Cursol also whiche lieth ouer against Valentz in Dauphine was strōgly fortified These things falling out in this order after the besieging of Sommiron they of the religion in Languedoc beganne to looke more seriously about them to take better order in their affayres For in their first beginning of warre the captaines and ringleaders being none of the nobilitie but borne of base parentage euerie man gouerned his souldiers as him lysted wherevpon many dissentions arose among them when as one would not obey the others counsell according to the nature of Frenchmen which is to like well of their owne gouenment Therfore the inhabitantes of Nismes with whom they of Viuijers and Seuenatz were ioyned determined to choose certain of the nobilitie whose commaundement the other captaynes shoulde not refuse to obey And to this order of gouernment accorded mons Sauroman a noble man and one deseruing to be loued for his godlynesse and his modestie who in the verie same gouernment afore time had verie profitably bestowed great diligence and paynes Who escaping the cruell slaughter of Paris fled into Switzerlande Him after deliberation had they chose and intreated him by their letters to take vpon him that charge At the first he doubted what he were best to doe whether he were best to ioyne him selfe with them being in so great peril Neuerthelesse after certaine monthes he came vnto them at the last as we will declare hereafter ABOVT this time the Churches of Languedoc sent into Germanie to craue helpe that they might be able
townesmen shoulde pay vnto the Lorde Chastre forty thousand frankes for the payment whereof they shoulde haue theyr goodes preserued from the spoyle of the Souldiers and it shoulde be lawfull for them to carry or sell the same else where at theyr owne pleasure the whiche money was distributed to the Souldiers by the appoyntment of the Lord Chastre That the Kyng should confyrme thys agreemente by hys authoritie And last of all that the townesmen should promise vnto the King al obedience euer after And that they shuld giue twelue such hostages as the Lorde Chastre shoulde name vntill these things were fully perfourmed and accomplished Therefore the last day of August the Lorde Chastre entred into the citie with a greate trayne of armed men And by by were taken away from the Sanserreans their drummes trumpets and ensignes Mons Ianneau within certayne days after was secretly slayne and neuer knowne how There was placed in the towne a verie great garrizon And ouer and aboue the foresayde summe of fortie thousande Frankes they were very straightly charged to pay newe tributes And concerning the vse of Religion the which notwithstanding was promised in the first article of the agreement there was neyther speach nor performance to this day The king sent the armies of the Switzers into Daulphine to terrifie the inhabitants of Languedoc and mons Monbrune that they might receiue the couenant of the peace of Rochel Notwithstanding when they had remayned certayne weekes in Daulphine when also Monbrune had trauelled diligently to and fro to withstande them and could not rayse them of Languedoc in so much that a great masse of money shoulde haue bene spent to no purpose those returned againe into their countrey which were returned from the siege of Rochel had escaped the perils of their iourney ¶ The twelfth Booke of Commentaries concerning the Temporall and Ecclesiasticall state of the Kingdome of France in the raigne of Charles the ninth THE Rochelleans had made a peace with the King withoute the knowledge of them of Nismes and others of Languedoc although they also were expresly contayned in the couenants of agreemente Notwithstanding the Edict beyng read did not satisfye them but affyrmed that the experiments of the former tymes replenished with diuers murders did proue that these pacificatorie meanes were snares to intercept and intangle those with the pretence of peace whome they coulde not by force of Armes with warre ouercome Therfore they thought good to consult and participate this matter with their fellowes and perceyue it needefull to prouide for the same by a common assembly of the Churches whiche were left So that after tydings was brought vnto them of the Edict made they sente into the Armie a messenger to the Duke of Anjou to giue him thanks on their behalfe beseeching him that for so muche as the cause in hand was generall and bycause it belonged to many of the reformed Religion to know these things in conuenient time that he would giue them leaue to assemble them selues together in a fit place and that to the same ende he woulde graunt them his letters patents for their assurance These letters patents were graunted and made and all they of the Religion to whome knowledge might be gyuen were warned to be at Milliaud in Languedoc Wherevpon there came many from all partes of the Realme according as the tyme would suffer them THIS was a notable occasion to prouide for thinges againe time to come For in this assembly they considered and scanned how they might order their affayres afterwarde and so prouided for thē selues both lawes ciuill and also martiall In the large prouince of Languedoc there are many prouinces the which were replenished with a great number of the Religious whiche helde diuers cities and Townes in sundry parts of the same hauing also amongst them the Catholiques in somuch that the keeping of those places was very perillous by reason that their enimies were so mixed with them Therefore to the ende their affayres might euer afterwarde be ordred after a more firme constant maner they appointed two generalties or Lieftenantships for the territorie of the Religion in the whiche all the Religious of that prouince were contayned namely the Liefetenantship of Montauban and the Liefetenātship of Nismes Montauban to haue the preheminēce ouer those parts of the higher Languedoc and Nismes of the lower in the which the territorie of Seuenatz and Viuaretz were coprehēded They apoynted to euery Liefetenantship a Liefetenant which was some famous noble man And they appointed the office of these Liefetenantships to endure so lōg as the ciuill war should hold eyther opēly or secretly that they might haue the chiefe authoritie in martiall affayres notwithstanding so that their power might be subiect to the iudgemente of the Senate Euery coūtrey or diocesse had his senate according to the ancient maner of France and they continue in vse especially in that part euē vnto this day these Senats they call particular states But the Liefetenātship in the which many diocesses are contayned is called the chiefe or high Senate whiche consisteth of certayne choice men out of euery countrey or shyre notwithstanding so that the sentences of euery Senate in matters of great waight were examined and straightly ouerlooked It was also ordeyned that by the decree of that high Senate or court the Lefetenant shuld rule and gouerne those affayres which belonged vnto the warre These Liefetenants had a certayne stipend assigned vnto them the whole rule and charge of the treasure belonged to the Senate the Liefetenant by his office hauing nothing to do with the same AND to mayntaine warre they tooke these wayes namely that the people might be restrayned so muche as might be from martiall robbing and that countreys might not be wasted and spoyled they charge the townes and villages by a writ out of the kings Excheaker to pay tribute yea and those townes also in the whiche the Catholikes inhabited lenying suche a summe as might be sufficient to mayntaine garrizons in them They call for a Cōtribution Thus they were gently intreated which payed the commaunded tribute husbandry also was permitted and mayntained So that those places inhabited by the Catholikes did obey for feare of robbing spoiling and burning Thus they went about to cut off all occasion of martiall libertie so much as might be taken away among so many outrageous furies of warre and they prouided for the continuance of longer warre if so be no reasonable and indifferent condition were offered by the king Furthermore they gathered the tythes and reuenues of the priestes and appoynted collectors for the same Hytherto all occasion to holde warre seemed after so great slaughters of men made to be taken away from the Religious but this way which they nowe deuised brought to passe that they of the Religion were able to mayntaine garrizons in diuers places the which when neede required being come together in one by the commaundement of the Lieftenant
of the alterations of such good quiet prosperitie into such miserable commotions and extremities wherwith the countries are now suppressed your maiestie shall find them to spring out of the malice and enuie whiche some being about your Maiestie do beare to the prosperitie and welfare wherwith God almightie hath blessed your countries and subiectes Which enuie and cancred malice being further incensed stuffed with vnsatiable auarice vnmeasurable prodigalitie hath brought thē to such crueltie and tirannie that they altogether forgetting al affection seruice which they did owe vnto the countrey wherein they haue gotten great honour benefites haue to the great preiudice of the seruice of your Maiestie and common wealth of these countries prooured by all meanes and practises this most haynous fyre of commotion to thintent to aspire to the dignity surpassing the states of the lande yea of your maiestie And knowyng wel that to compasse that deuise it was a matter impossible the customes and liberties of the coūtryes remayning in force which do altogether contrarye their wicked pretence considering besides howe diligent and faithfull they of the saide countries were euery one in his vocation according to their othe to stand to the maintenaunce of the same they attempted in peruerse manner to interprete to your Maiestie the doings and procedings of the Lordes gouernours and states of the land tending to the mayntenaunce of the sayd rightes and liberties in suche sorte as if they tended to disobedience or rebellion towardes your Maiestie Amongst which specially some being spirituall persons haue by all meanes attempted and sought vnder pretence and shadowe of religion to confederate wyth other foraine prelates and so by secret attempts and practises to bring the countrie in hatred of your Maiestie to thintent that they with their confederates which are by oth allyed not with your Maiestie but with straunge rulers and countries in Italie and else where specially with the Pope of Roome might here beare rule and gouernaunce c. and as possibilitie and commoditie serued to enlarge and confirme the same For when they first perceiued that in all the countries here abouts yea ouer all Christendome their rude and manifest abuses and errours by reason of the negligence and auarice of the priestes were discribed and specially whē it began to greeue the chiefe notablest persons that they which ought onely to meddle with instructing of the people in the faith and feare of God and to execute his seruice with all fidelitie according to the example of the Prophetes and Apostles did in steade therof not onely contrarye to God his commaundement but also to the decrees of the former Popes and to al ordinances of the old counsels yea against all statutes and vsages of Princes and countries take vppon them to deale in worldly and Ciuil pollicies yea also in matters touching warfare and rule of countries seeking to suppresse all degrees and to reserue the generall gouernement too themselues taking in hande too bring all estates in disdaine and hatred of the Princes aswell the subiects of your Maiestie as of diuers other kinges and Potentates accusing them slaunderously with sedition and rebellion whereby they haue styrred and prouoked in all cuntries troubles and dissention warres and bloudshed setting the subiectes at discorde with their rulers and the rulers against the subiectes and generally turned all things vpside downe and brought in execrable confusion errour not esteeming who was endamaged so as they might atchieue the accomplishment of their rule and dominion and bring all things vnder their rule and aucthoritie And to that intent haue they sought to plant in this countrey the inquisition deuised and inuented in Spaine by certaine Iewes and Renegados by that meanes to breake all priuileges rightes and auncient customes and to make frustrate all sworne contracts vsages and counselles and so to get a full power and dominion ouer all your Maiesties faithfull seruants which stand to the othe whiche they haue made to your Maiestie not acknowledging any foraine Lords spiritual or temporal which might seeke by false accusations to impute vnto your subiectes heresie rebellion to the intent thereby to attaine to their purpose For better accomplishing whereof haue they by force vrged and brought in the newe Bishops contrary to all landrights and sworne priuileges to the empairing of your Maiesties aucthoritie chosing them not for vertue prudēce or learning being most of them of the most rude and vnlearnedst sort but onely for that they take them as faithful and true assistentes in the executing of their tiranny and crueltie Their saide vngodly enterprises and consequences of the same being the longer the more espied haue the most notablest Lords Gouernours and Gentlemen with the townes and countrey giuen intelligence knowledge to your Maiestie by continuall supplications remonstrances and other possible meanes howe much the aucthoritie of your Maiestie should be empaired shortened and deminished by the said Inquisitors and Bishops being most of them strāgers and outlanders by othe bound vnto foraine Princes and as they pretende exempt of your iurisdiction and by the same haue alleged the euident impossibilitie to bring in such innouations and nouelties but that it would tend to the vtter ruine and destruction of the whole countrie seing that it was most apparant that the bringing in therof was but a borowed cloake to shadow their doings in abusing of your Maiestie and suppressing of suche as would controle their wicked and moste notorious procedings and abuses whiche they themselues can scarce conceale Of which the number in these countries is so greate and manifolde and dayly doth yet more encrease that if your Maiestie would haue bin ruled by their persuasions and counsel in executing of rigour and extremities they would haue made your Maiestie a king without subiects and your subiects without rulers as is most notorious by the innumerable number of those which in these countries haue vnder pretence of religion bene executed and murthered aswell with fyre and water as with the sword besides an infinite multitude whiche are fled out of the countrie bearing with them all occupations and notable sciences to the instructing of others vnspeakeable preiudice of your Maiestie and countries Whereupon your Maiestie was in the ende occasioned to a myld moderation of the placardes by the same declaring that your meaning was not to bring in the Inquisition which likewise was by the Duchesse of Perma and the Lordes and Gouernours of the countrie in the behalfe of your Maiestie solemnly promised to all the Townes and subiects and accordingly published by open proclamations by commaundement of the Magistrates But shortly after all that was ouer turned by meanes of the aforsaide persons who in deed seeme to haue firmely perswaded your maiestie that such was to the diminishing of your maiesties reputation and dignitie vniustly alleadging that your subiects woulde withdrawe them selues from the duetifull obedience of your maiestie So that it is euident that