a due consent is wanting between tongue and hand between lip and life It was far otherwise with this reverend man of God he was none of those that say and do not but as he taught so he wrought his Doctrine and practice concurred and went hand in hand together His actions were though silent yet reall and effectual Sermons of that which he preached in the Pulpit The course of his life was uniform with the tenour of his teaching and both joyning and concentring in one were a means to draw on many who by the one alone probably had not been so easily won to Christ. In a word for his teaching many that were his constant Hearers have given him a large testimony and they that knew his conversation have done the like for his life He was not a flash one of those which shew all in a Sermon or that spend all upon one curious good work that they mind to make their Master-piece But both in his life and teaching he held on such a constant tenour that the more men especially such as were wise and judicious were acquainted with either the more they reverenced and esteemed him for both There are two things saith one that make a compleat man Integrity and judgment the one whereof is but lame and maimed without the other and yet in few they use to meet together yet there was an happy conjunction of them both in this worthy man One sign whereof will appear by the frequent practice of many who made use of him for to be an overseer of their last wills and craved his assistance by way of direction for the disposall of their outward estates and all know how cautious men use to be in that kind Another testimony of it was by those Reverend Brethren of the Ministry as well as others who either by Letters or otherwise out of all parts of this Realm did usually seek to him as to one more then ordinarily able to give them satisfaction for the resolution of their doubts These two then made him a compleat man but there is something more required to make a compleat Minister viz. That he be able to speak his mind fitly for what use can there be of a mute Messenger and that he dare do it freely for of whom is courage and freedom of speech more required then of Gods Messengers Nor was Mr. Stock defective in either For as for the former how well able he was not to expresse only but to urge and presse too not to confirm alone but to commend also that that he delivered with clear method sound proof choice words fit phrases pregnant similitudes plentifull illustrations pithy perswasions sweet insinuations powerfull enforcements allegations of antiquity and variety of good literature that both the learnedest might receive satisfaction from him and the very meanest and dullest might also reap benefit by him and so as might well leave a deep impression in the hearts and minds of the Hearers they cannot be ignorant that for any space of time heard him In a word in this kind he was such an one as many strove to imitate but few attained to equalize him Again Because it is in vain to be able to speak to good purpose if a man dare not use his tongue if as one said of the Eretrians he belike the sword-fish that hath a sword in his head but no heart in his body or like a cowardly companion that carries a weapon to ruffle with but dares not draw or make use of it though just occasion be offered For his freedom of speech therefore in reproving of sin and that even to the faces of the greatest whether in publick or private when occasion 〈◊〉 many even now living are able to testifie and some accidents made it more publickly known then his desire was that it should have been He was very zealous and earnest for the reformation of some prophâ—nations of the Sabbath Wherein he prevailed also for the alteration of something offensive in that kind as well with the main body of the City as with some particular Societies as for their meetings upon St. Thomas day He perswaded also some of the companies to put off their solemn Festivals from Mundaies to Tuesdaies that so the Lords day might not be prophaned by their preparations for those Feasts His prudence also appeared in his order of Catechizing the young persons of his Parish by examining them apart the youths on one day and the maids on another The riper and forwarder first in the presence of the ruder and rawer and the ruder and rawer apart by themselves when the former were departed that so they might reap what fruit they could by hearing the others and yet might receive no discouragement by being heard of them Neither was his pious diligence and care lesse seen in the Religious instruction and education of those that were under his private charge as Children and Servants for whom his care was greater to provide for their souls then their bodies for their spirituall then for their temporall estate yet not neglecting that neither by bringing them up in the nurture and fear of the Lord. In a word time and speech would sooner fail then matter If I should proceed to write of all the gifts graces and praise-worthy qualities of this eminent servant of Christ. In his publick Ministry his usuall manner was upon occasion to quote the sayings of many of the Fathers which some taking exceptions at he thus Apologized for himself If any saith he take exceptions at my alledging of Fathers as some have taken offence at my using of Reasons to confirm the Doctrine but with very little Reason as I suppose I must pray them to give me leave to use them till I can see that unlawfulnesse which they affirm to be in the practice and to censure me in charity for the use of them as I do them for not using them I will look as well to my heart in the use of them as God shall enable me and when I shall see the hurt of them I will endeavour as much to avoid them In the mean time I will make as much use as I can of them to edifie the Church of God In his younger dayes being called to preach at Pauls Crosse he dealt somewhat plainly and freely in taxing some abuses in the City in unequall Ratings whereby the meaner sort were overburthened whilest the rich and great ones escaped with more ease This was ill taken by many of them who checked him as over-rash for dealing in such matters calling him a green-head but in his latter daies being called to preach at the Lord Maiors Election he fell again upon the same subject and told them a gray-head spake now what a green-head had done formerly But to draw to an end together with his end the end of his labours but the beginning of his rest the end of his work but the receit of his reward
When he was Bishop he was a constant Preacher and Performer of Family-duty both evening and morning and kept his Servants and Attendants in good order Being called to London in the beginning of the Parliament he made at Westminster a worthy and zealous Sermon wherein he inveighed against the corruptions that were crept into the Church especially in respect of Ceremonies so eagerly prest by sundry Bishops as bowing to the Altar and such like innovations His Sermon was well approved of by the best but he seeing the tumults that were then raised in London about the Parliament House and hearing that he himself was censured as Popish because a Bishop he took it grievously to heart sickned and died there about the great climactericall year of his age He was a great favourer of zealous Professors and Lecturers and therefore he was accounted by many a Puritanical Bishop and indeed some at the Court in King James his time said That Organs would blow him out of the Church He was well skilled in the Hebrew tongue and for his further Progresse therein disdained not to learn of one of the Fellows even when he was Provost He utterly disliked the Book of sports for Recreation on the Sabbath day and told a Minister with whom he was acquainted that if it were sent down to his Diocesse he would sleight it and urge none of his Jurisdiction to read it He was of a weak constitution of body melancholick and lean as being a hard Student and therefore to recreate his spirits he loved vocal musick and to this end he sent divers times for such Scholars in the Colledge as could sing well and he would bear a part with them in his lodgings after supper where they made most excellent melody He was the last Bishop that died as a Member of the Parliament and was Bishop of Carlisle some fourteen years The Life of Master Richard Sedgwick who died Anno Christi 1643. RIchard Sedgwick was born at East Deereham in the County of Norfolke Anno Cbristi 1574. His Father was a Clothier but by reason of a great losse by fire fell into decay He had an Uncle living in Yorkshire who was very rich and of large yearly revenues having no Children whereupon he took this Richard in his tender years home to himself and put him to School with an intent to make him his heir but God had laid up a better portion for him His Uncle and his Family were prophane hating the power of godlinesse and wedded to games and sports yet even in such a Family God visited him in mercy and awakened his soul by working in him hearty desires after himself While the rest of the Family were at their games and dancings he would be in a corner mourning His Uncle at first thought his retirednesse to have been bookishnesse and therefore rebuked him gently and called upon him to take more liberty but at last perceiving the truth of the thing he began to hate him and to deal roughly with him and not being able to bring him to his will cast him out of his Family saying that a Puritane should never inherit his land Before this his Father died and his Mother being industrious and sparing out of the little means she had left her maintained him at Peter-house in Cambridge where he profited greatly in all kind of learning He began the exercise of his Ministry in Kent where he being called to preach in the Cathedral at Canterbury in his Sermon touching the corruption of the Prebends and their Cathedral service he so far displeased them as that by threats they brought him to condescend through weaknesse to promise to recant and a day for this was appointed Upon his return home and his second thoughts he became very sad and in his perplexity took his Bible and opened it and at the first lighted on that encouraging Word of God to Jeremiah Jer. 1.7 8. Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord. By this he was so strengthened that he resolved to stand to what he had formerly delivered whatsoever dangers did attend him At the time appointed he preached again in the Cathedral having a very large Auditory both of the Countrey and City in which Sermon he confirmed what he had before delivered earnestly pressing the Prebends to reform the abuses amongst them By this they were so offended that they complained of him to the Bishop and so persecuted him that he was forced to forsake his place and to retire himself into private and was entertained for a time by Sir Edward Bois the elder a man eminent for Piety in those daies During this his retirement he came upon occasion to London and by the meanes of Master Egerton Pastor at Black-fryers was received into the Family of Sir Edward Anslow who lived in the City during the winter and in summer at Crawley in Surrey a place destitute of a preaching Ministry In this Family his encouragement was great but his labours aboundant Every day his usuall course was to pray in the morning at six a clock with the Husbandmen and at ten to pray with the rest of the Family and expound a Chapter in which course he went through the four first Books of Moses His course at night was after Prayer to catechize the Family by turns wherein he used no respect of Persons the meanest not being left out and the chiefest not forborn On the Lords day during his abode at Crawley he preached twice constantly and after publique exercise called the whole Family in private to render an account of what was delivered in publique In the winter when the greatest part of the Family was at London under an able Ministry he was ready to help others and by Providence was called to improve his talent at Battersey in Surrey Master Wybourne a Reverend Divine who constantly preached in that place having by a fall broke his legge and being disabled thereby to continue his labours desiring his assistance At this place the people were so affected with his Ministry that they requested him to continue to preach among them promising to strain themselves to provide him maintenance He had a fair call and opportunity denying himself to answer it for Sir Edward Anslow about this time had an estate befallen him in Hertfordshire whither he resolved to go to dwell in which place was an able and godly Minister Master Sedgwick seeing that by continuing in this Family he should not have occasion of exercising his publique Ministry relinquished fifty pounds annuity during his life assured to him by this worthy Knight and accepted of this call to preach at Battersey Before his departure out of this Family he married a Wife of an honest and Religious stock in the City of London He had not long exercised
where he continued his former diligence as well in the exercise of Religion as the improvement of his learning both in his private Study and in the performance of Exercises in the University and Colledge notwithstanding the exemption which Fellow-Commoners in Colledges are ready to plead from the performance of them After that he had there taken the degree of Master of Arts about the year 1622. he was in the year 1623. constituted Fellow of Queens Colledge in that University where although he were a Gentleman that beside his Fellowship had an estate of his own and so had the lesse need in point of maintenance to take that trouble of Pupils upon him yet not satisfying himself to take a place upon him without performing the Office thereunto belonging he took many Pupils of whom he was more then ordinarily carefull being very diligent both in praying with them in his Chamber and instructing them in the grounds of Religion as also keeping them to their studies and the performance of disputations and other exercises of learning privately in his Chamber beside the more publique exercises required of them by the Colledge to the great benefit of those that were his Pupils While he was Fellow of Queens Colledge about the year 1624. he was solemnly ordained to the work of the Ministry whereunto from a Child he had addicted himself And about the year 1626 was called to the publique exercise thereof as a Lecturer in the City of Canterbury where for divers years notwithstanding the great oppositions he there met with from such as were enemies to the power of godlinesse he did with much diligence and very great successe discharge that great work to the spiritual edification and comfort of many yet alive to whom his memory to this day is precious The occasion of his coming thither was this Coming from Cambridge to give a visit to his Brother Sir Thomas Palmer at Wingham he did at the intreaty of some Friends preach a Sermon at the Cathedral Church in Canterbury and that with so much true Zeal and reall savour of Piety as did much affect the godly hearers The report hereof coming to the knowledge of Master Delme a godly faithfull prudent and laborious Minister of the French Church in Canterbury he made a journey to Wingham on purpose to gain a further knowledge of him and acquaintance with him with whom he was already not a little in love from that good report he had heard of him though as yet by face unknown to him and hereby not only obtained the knowledge of the man but was also by his gracious and savoury discourse and carriage very much confirmed in that good opinion which he had before conceived of him And this was the first foundation of that intire and Christian friendship which with much spiritual advantage to them both was contracted between these two holy men which continued and increased daily to their mutual comfort and contentment while they were both living and the memory thereof is still precious to him that doth yet survive After this before his return to Cambridge having at the request of Master Delme preached a second Sermon at Saint Georges Church in Canterbury on a week day Lecture the most godly and best affected in the City were more and more taken with him and expressed great desires of enjoying his Ministry amongst them if it might be obtained Hereupon Master Delme with divers others of the most considerable Gentlemen and Citizens having earnestly sought direction from God in a matter of such concernment did seriously advise about it and being first assured of the concurrent desires of many others did by letters and messages to Cambridge signifie to him the desire of the godly in that City that he would undertake to preach a Lecture amongst them This invitation after mature deliberation he thought good to accept of preferring the opportunity and probability of doing good in that populous place before the hopes of preferment either in the University or elsewhere which by reason of his many Friends and acquaintance great at Court and otherwise he might likely have attained unto holding steady to that resolution which long before that time he had taken up so to imploy himself as might probably most promte the Work of God whatever became of his own advantages Whereupon a License being obtained for him from George Abbot then Arch-bishop of Canterbury authorizing him to preach a weekly Lecture on the Lords day in the afternoon at Alphage Church in that City He left his Fellowship in the University and undertook this work During his abode in this employment he did much edifie the people there both by sound doctrine and exemplary conversation His Sermons were altogether spiritual and heavenly full of solid explications and practicall applications of the Word of God whereby the City was well seasoned as with savoury salt and much preserved from those innovations and corruptions both in doctrine and Worship which in those dayes were creeping on apace by reason whereof that leven of formality which many of the Cathedralists were promoting who preferred pompous Ceremonies before the power of Godlinesse was stopped from spreading and corrupting so much as otherwise it might have done For although he was not then perswaded of the unlawfulnesse of the then Government and some Ceremonies then in use yet he could no way approve of the corrupt innovations coming on in those daies but did with all wisdome and zeal reprove them countenancing goodnesse and good men And by this means he was a great stay and comfort to the godly Ministers and People both in the City and Countrey thereabouts whom not only by his publique preaching but by many other Christian and Ministerial helps administred in his more private Converses he did very much incourage in true Piety Of this very many Families in that City had great experience even those of the meanest ranke whom he was wont often to visit as he had opportunity that he might the better understand their spiritual condition admitting also persons of all ranks freely to apply themselves unto him as they had occasion and to partake the benefit of private Conferences Prayers and other religious exercises as likewise affording his Christian advice and direction in cases of difficulty especially to distressed Consciences in which cases by most of his prudent and judicious resolutions he was frequently consulted with as a kind of Oracle And that not only during his abode at Canterbury but wherever else the Providence of God did cast him And herein he had an excellent ability and dexterity and took much delight in it And his assistance he afforded not only to those of that City but also to many of the most Religious Families of the Nobility and Gentry thereabouts to whom both by his personal Converses and his Christian letters of which there are great numbers yet to be seen he afforded frequent
the Kings Navy He was also made Governour of Picardy and of the Isle of France and Captain of a Troop of men at Arms and one of the Kings Councel Anno Christi 1554. Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany and Queen Mary of England raised great Armies against the King of France and to resist such potent Adversaries none was thought so fit by the suffrage of all as our Gaspar and therefore he was chosen by the King to that place who presently raising Forces hasted to the Confines of France towards the Belgick Provinces to secure them against the approach of their enemies At this time France was in great fear considering the conjunction of such potent adversaries and the King of France his want both of Money and Arms to resist them so that many thought that the ruine of France was approaching Whereupon our Admirall perswaded the King to treat of Peace which counsell was so gratefull both to the King and his Nobles that the charge of it was presently committed to the Admirall which within few daies he effected to the incredible joy and rejoycing of all the Orders of France and he was looked upon as an Instrument of saving his Countrey especially considering upon what honest honourable and profitable conditions he had concluded the Peace About this time it fell out that the Guises who were Lorrainers by extraction and pretended a Title to Sicily and Naples which they said the King of Spain had injuriously taken from their Ancestors perswaed King Henry of France that for divers years they had held correspondency with a great part of the Neapolitane Nobility so that if the King would but assist them with some competent Forces they doubted not to make an easie conquest of that Kingdom By this their counsell they violated the Peace which was made a little before with Spain and solemnly sworn to on both sides which was a great grief to our Admirall who sticked not to say that such perjury proved alwaies as dishonourable so fatall to Kingdoms and that God in all ages had been a severe revenger of it Yet the King would not hearken to him but commanded him to raise Forces in his Province This was the first cause of that deadly feud which arose between the Guises and him There were some other smaller causes which further kindled that fire which for brevity sake I omit The Emperour hearing of these preparations in France thought to be before hand with them and therefore raises an Army in the Low-Countries to invade France which the King being informed of and knowing that the first storm would fall upon Picardy he presently dispatched away the Admirall for the securing of it and before he he had marched two daies journey he was informed by his Scouts that the Spaniards intended to besiege San-Quintan in Picardy He also received Letters from one Captain Brullius that as soon as the Citizens of San-Quintan heard of the Spaniards intention they were seized with such a Pannick fear that many of them left their houses and fled into the woods with their Wives and Children Our Admirall hearing these things dissembled the matter before his Souldiers as well as he could and shewing much alacrity by great journeys hastened to San-Quintans Whereupon two of his Captains Gernacus and Lusarcius endeavoured by all means to disswade him from it telling him that the City was not fortified neither provided with food and other necessaries to sustain a siege and that the enemies would beleaguer it before he could furnish it with such things and therefore they told him that it was better and more for his honour to disturbe the enemy in the open fields then by shutting himself up within the Walls to expose himself to such danger But he considering of what consequence that place was and what advantage the getting of it would be to the Spaniards adhered to his first resolutions and having by the way adjoyned to himself about two hundred and fourty Souldiers he hastily flies to the City and sets all hands on work for the fortifying of it The Spaniards being informed hereof presently begirt the City with a siege and began to draw their Trenches about it and possessed themselves of the Suburbs whereby by rolling Trenches they approached the Wals. This our Admirall taking notice of Sallied out upon them and firing the Suburbs drave the enemies further off yet when he had throughly viewed the City and found the weaknesse of it he began to suspect that he could not long hold out against so potent an adversary Yet considering that Gods Providence had cast him upon these straits he resolved rather valiantly to die then to give the enemy so great an advantage against France by surrendring that Town to them And therefore he laid out all his care labour and industry for the defending of it and for the greater incouragement of the Citizens and Souldiers he laid his own hands to every work that was to be done Whilst he was thus busily imployed a Messenger brought him word that his Brother Andelot was gotten safe into the City with about five hundred Souldiers the remains of a greater Army which the King had sent under the Constable for the victualling and relieving the City which Army was encountred by a great party of German Horse and Foot who in the incounter had routed the French slain many and dispersed the rest only in the time of the medly Andelot with his five hundred men had slipped into the City As soon as this defeat of the French was known to the Souldiers and Citizens they were possessed with so great a fear that the incouragements of the Admirall were little regarded Hereupon he calls them all together makes a Speech to them and shewed them that the safety of their Countrey should be preserved before their lives and thereupon caused them all to take an Oath that if any one spake about the surrender of the City he should lose his head for it himself also took the same Oath In the mean time the Spaniards being elated with their former victory presse upon the City harder then before and for twenty daies together continue their battery against the Wals whereby they beat down a great part of them The Admirall seeing this and perceiving that they were approaching to give a generall storm he encouraged his Souldiers stoutly to make resistance telling them that if they did but withstand the first stroke the enemy would not be forward to attempt a second Where the greatest breach and danger was there himself stood armed to resist in the very face of danger Other places he commended to his Brother and his other Captains But whilest he was valiantly fighting in the breach word was brought him that the enemy was entred in two other places of the City Whereupon taking some of his trustiest Friends with him he ran thitherward to oppose them but before he came he found that
Christ 1566. the King passed this sentence That having heard both parties and consulted with his Nobles and Counsellours who were all unanimously agreed in the same sentence he pronounced the Admirall clear and innocent from the murther of the Duke of Guise and therefore absolved him from that crime commanding his Proctor and all others that they should never dare hereafter accuse him for the same He commanded also that neither his present accusers nor any other of his Subjects should dare hereafter to make any mention of it Nor that any of his Judges or Parliaments should ever admit any plea against him for it He declared also that seeing both parties had freely referred themselves to him his will was that they should live lovingly and peaceably together never contriving any thing against each other and that if any of them their Friends Kindred of Partakers should violate this Decree that they should be held contemners of the Kings Majesty as guilty of Treason as disturbers of the publique peace and lastly that this his definitive sentence should be recorded in all the Parliaments of his Kingdom But to return to something that hapned before this the Admirall had in his Family one Hambervilleries born of a Noble house whom he made use of in his most weighty and honest affairs and it pleased God that some Letters of his being intercepted came to the Admirals hands wherein he wrote to some great Courtiers that he was ready to obey their commands in giving the Admirall a Soporiferous Potion Our Admirall having read these Letters called the man to him commanding him to write some verses in a paper that lay by which when he had done comparing both the writings together he asked him whether he would acknowledge his hand in those Letters which he looking upon being stricken with guilt for his wickednesse he presently fell upon the ground and begged his Masters pardon The Admirall told him that he was willing to pardon him but upon condition that he should presently depart out of his house nor should ever come into his sight again Not long after the aforementioned Edict of Peace was published the Queen Mother took counsell to go to Baion to meet her Son-in-law the King of Spain and to take her Children with her This afterwards proved the cause of many tragicall events though for the present things were kept very secret and first she ordered her journey to Lyons which hitherto had been in possession of those of the Religion because of the great number of them there and as soon as she came thither she presently set her Italian Artificers to work to build a Citadell upon a neighbouring hill which commanded all the City A little before this the plague began to be very hot and now it had seized upon the Court it self yet could not the Queen Mother be perswaded to remove her self and children from the danger till she had seen the foundations of the Castle laid At last making Lossius Governour of that City a cruel and barbarous man and and an implacable enemy to those of the Religion and adjoyning to him some insolent Souldiers that might daily vex the godly inhabitants she departed But this is very remarkable that whithersoever she removed the Court in Cities Towns Castles c. the plague still followed her so that for three moneths together the King was in continuall danger and was still forced to remove from place to place by reason of the infection At last they came to Baion where the Queen Mother met her Daughter the Q. of Spain and Embassadors from the King with whom she communicated her counsels In the mean time the Marshall Monmorancy whom the King had made Governour of Paris in his absence had certain intelligence brought him that the Guises had imployed their Agents to the common people of Paris to stir them up against those of the Religion in that City he heard also that the Cardinall of Lorraine intended suddainly to be there with a great number of armed attendants though the King by several Edicts had commanded that none in their journeys should carry Harquebushes or Pistols about them Therefore so soon as Monsieur Monmorancy heard that the Cardinall was entred Paris with his followers thus armed he presently taking his guard went to them commanding them to deliver up their Arms This the Cardinall and his Nephew the young Duke of Guise took as an intollerable affront to them and were often heard to say that that fact should cost Monmorancy his life The Cardinall was very potent in this City and could easily have raised sixty thousand armed men to have slain the Governour whereupon he resolved to call in some of his Friends to his aid and in the first place he wrote to the Admirall to hasten to him who accompanied with three hundred Horse entred Paris Jan. 22. which did so terrifie the multitude especially the Priests Monks and Canons of the great Church that they began to think of flying thence The day after Monsieur Monmorancy sent for the Presidents of the Parliament and the chief Magistrates of the City to come to his house to whom he complained before the Admirall of the audaciousnesse and factious counsels of the Cardinall of Lorrain as also of the seditious speeches cast abroad in the City as if the Admirall taking advantage of the Kings absence at so great a distance consulted about plundering that rich City and therefore he thought fit to call the Admirall before them that so he might clear himself from that aspersion Then said the Admirall I have long since found out what my malicious and implacable adversaries have aspersed me withall as if I intended to seize upon this City which is the Bullwark and Eye of France But such counsels as these are fit for those that claim an interest I know not how it comes in in the succession of the Kingdom and contend to have certain Dukedomes and Countries restored to them For my own part I neither challenge any right to the Kingdom nor to any part of it which yet if I should do I think there hath not been a Noble man in France these five hundred years which had the like opportunity to disturb the publique Peace as I. Ye remember after the Duke of Guise was slain that I had the Constable Prisoner in Orleans and what a great occasion I had thereby of doing greater things if I would have embraced it But on the contrary I was never more earnest with the King and Queen Mother for peace then at that time when our affairs prospered best Who can be ignorant how sollicitous and importunate I was for peace at that very time when many potent and flourishing Cities had delivered up themselves into my hands and divers other great Cities both of Normandy and Brittany sought my favour and protection Who knows not that after Peace was concluded instead of begging Honours and
and scattered flying to Lusinian for safety leaving all their bag and baggage behind them so that the booty which the Admirall gat was estimated to be more worth then fifty thousand Crowns Two daies after they intercepted Letters from Fizius the Kings Secretary to the Queen-Mother much bewailing that losse Presently after the Admirall going to the Town of Jarnac fell into great danger and without a speciall providence had become a prey to his enemies For the enemy understanding that he purposed to transport his Forces over the River in that place by a bridge of boats they secretly laid an ambush on the other side and observing the Admirall where he was they let fly all their Harquebushes at him and others endeavoured to break the bridge of the Admirals side there was one Harquibushier that had often shot at the enemies and at last was by a bullet slain whereupon twelve more ran to his aid so that a tumult arising the Admirall ran with his naked Sword not having time to put on his arms and endeavoured to cut in sunder the cords wherewith the boats were fastened all which time the enemies ceased not continually to shoot at him yet God wonderfully preserved him and from that time forwards he resolved never to be without a Lifeguard for his assistance in such suddain accidents Two daies after the enemies having passed over the River Charenton the Prince of Conde feared lest they would compasse him about having lately joyned to them three thousand German horse and six thousand Swissers yet being of a very resolute and couragious mind he resolved to stop their course yet withall if possible to avoid a set Battell In the mean time word was brought to the Admirall that some of his Forces which were quartered in a neighbour village were circumvented by their enemies and yet valiantly defended themselves our Admirall hastened therefore upon the spur to their succour with some horse whom as soon as the enemies espied they compassed round about which being told to the Prince of Conde being more valiant then advised he brake into the midst of them where being oppressed with the multitude and his horse killed under him which also fell upon him he lifting up his beavour rendred himself to some of the Kings Captains who gave him their faith for his safety but presently after came Montisquius Captain of the Duke of Guise his guard not without the secret command of his Master as it was believed and setting upon Conde behinde his back as he was talking with the Captains dispatched him with a dagg shot into his neck He was a Prince inferiour to none that lived in that age for courage and courtesie he was eloquent in speech liberall affable to all and a most excellent Commander in Warre After his death his body was basely abused and at last in scorn laid upon a Shee-Asse and carried to Jarnac The Admirall being exceedingly grieved with this great losse and suspecting the issue made a retreat together with his Brother Andelot into the Town of St. Jan de Angeli and whereas he might have revenged the indignities done to the body of the Prince by shewing the like to the bodies of many of his great adversaries whom he had slain yet he would not do it but afforded them decent buriall which thing he also did during all the time of the Warres The Queen of Navarr being at Rochell and hearing of this great losse hastened to the Camp comforted the Captains and exhorted all the Souldiers not to be disheartned nor to forget their former valour telling them that she had brought her only Son Henry that was to succeed her in the Kingdom to be their Generall professing that she preferred the safety of the Army before the life of her Son To him was also Henry Prince of Conde Brother to Lewis that was lately slain adjoyned in this honour but the whole care for managing the Warre by the joynt consent of all the Commanders and Officers was wholly divolved upon the Admirall none having the like credit or authority amongst those of the Religion as he For it was well known that besides his singular skill in military affairs his justice and temperance there was none amongst all the Peers of France that had so openly embraced and professed the Religion as he He was the first that reformed his Family according to the Rule of Gods Word He was the man that presumed to prefer their Petition to King Francis the second that was nearly allied to the Guises by affinity He gave the first example to the Nobility of France of Piety who were grown extream loose by reason of the dissolutenesse of the Court and after he had once embraced the Reformed Religion he never gave the least occasion of scandall to the Churches And whereas many Delegates repaired often to him from the Churches he alwaies gave them wholsome and prudent counsell He first took up arms not to fight against the King as some misreported but at the request and Prayers of the Queen Mother Neither yet did he it either by his own private counsell or of the Queen Mother but by the Authority of the Parliament of Orleance the King being not yet twelve years old As also after the Kings Edict for Peace established and promulgated by the advice and consent of all the States of France because it was so notoriously violated by the Guises to the utter undoing of many honest Families and almost the ruine of many flourishing Cities and to the losse of the lives of many famous Captains to the great prejudice of the whole Kingdom and to the oppression of many flourishing Churches dispersed almost in every Town of France By all which that poor Kingdom was laid open to be a prey to any forreign Prince that should invade it After these things a grievous affliction befell the Admirall by the death of his Brother Andelot who in the City of Xantone died of a violent disease suddainly not without suspition of poison and the rather because it was a usuall saying of Biraguus shortly after made Chancellour That the War was not to be finished with so much hazard by armed men but rather by Cooks and Kitchin boyes Upon this occasion the Admirall wrote a Letter to his own and his Brother Andelot's sons who were with their Tutor at Rochel for comforting of them the tenour whereof was this Although I believe that the death of my Brother Andelot is very grievous unto you yet I thought fit to admonish you that you have great cause to rejoyce that you had so good a Father and Uncle of whom I dare affirm that he was truly Religious and eminent for his valour and skill in military affairs the remembrance of which vertues ought to be dear unto you that as much as may be you may be imitators of them yea I believe I may boldly affirm this of him that there is none in all
that by this means the City was relieved with much provision and three hundred fresh Souldiers which encouraged them to make divers sallies The King also wrote to them to hold out promising speedy aid which animated them valiently to defend themselves But it was evident that if the Lord had not laid that affliction upon the Admirall the City had been theirs About this time there was one of the Admirals Servants called Dominicus Albio who having been taken prisoner by the Kings party and stayed some moneths with them returned to his Master where after a while he was suspected by reason of some words that fell from him and therefore being strictly examined he brought forth a box of poyson which one Riverius a chief man about the Duke of Anjou had given him together with one of his Secretaries both of them promising him two thousand Crowns if he would poyson his Master Upon this his confession he was condemned to death and though some would have had him tormented yet the Admirall caused him only to be hanged for the terrour of orhers The Admiral being not yet fully recovered of his Disease news was brought him that Castelheraut being about seven miles off was besieged by the enemies whereupon in his Horselitter he presently advanced thitherward and having relieved the place with fresh men he easily raised the siege and drave away his enemies killed many especially of the Italians neither gave he over the pursuit till they had passed the River which for the depth of it is called Creusa In the mean time the young Duke of Guise who was Governour of Poictiers in the night time removed out of the City with a great company putting a fresh Garrison into it and the Duke of Anjou having recruted his Army with many French Germans and Swissers came to Chinon whereas the Admirals Army was tired out with the long siege of Poictiers and much wasted with want of provision and with great tempests and of those which remained there were very many sick especially of the Germans and most of those of Xantone were gone home to refresh themselves Many also were gone to La Charity and Sancerre which were in the Protestants hands For which causes the Admirall judging it best to protract time restrained the eager mindes of his Souldiers from fighting yet both Captains and common Souldiers would not be satisfied threatning to go home and provide for their own safety They also judged it farre more fit to fight there in their own Countrey where they might be supplied with necessaries then in their enemies especially considering that they had divers strong Towns in Aquitane the Delphinate and Leige into which they might retreat and from whence they might make excursions for the depopulating of their enemies Countries The Germanes also cried out that having wanted their pay for divers moneths it were better for them to fight then to be so long from their own Countrey and relations Thus it being resolved that they should come to a Battell both Armies advanced to Monconture striving which should possesse the place and the Van being led by the Admirall was suddainly set upon by the enemy the Admirall seeking for his Armour-bearer could not find him yet unarmed as he was he rushed into the midst of his enemies Count Mansfelt seconded him so that they forced them to give ground Hard by there was a rivolet which the enemies contended earnestly to passe over whereupon the Admirall taking some Harquebushiers with him hastened to the Rivers bank to oppose them where he continued all that evening â—n the mean time the enemy continually shot at him both with great and small shot who if they could have gotten the passage might have brought great detriment to the Army for the enemies exceeded the Protestant Army by a third part besides they were fresh and in good plight the other were weary and harrassed out but this holp them only for two daies space for on the third day six hundred Germans set upon the Admirall who had only two hundred French horse with him and in the fight the Admirall being often shot at at last received a wound on his face by the right side of his nose the bullet piercing into his mouth which wound bled so fast that he could not spit out the blood his sword also by many blows fell out of his hand and the buckles of his Breast-plate were so broken that it hung by very little but in this extremity by the assistance and faithfull help of one â—lorinerius a young Norman whom he had brought up from a Child in his Family he was rescued and conveyed out of the crowd and his Forces being overthrown he was by his Friends conveyed to Parthenaeus Here we might wonder at his constancy and magnanimity for whereas in this great calamity most men gave way to despondency he laboured to comfort and confirm each of them he also caused his Secretaries presently to write into all the parts of France to the Protestants that were in arms not to be discouraged or to think that he had received so great a blow which might not be repaired within a few daies The very next day he removed to Niort where having setled his affairs he went into Xantone and there stayed seven daies for the cure of his wound which could not be perfectly healed in lesse then twenty five daies space Being thus tosâ—ed up and down with various afflictions word was brought him that the Parliament of Paris Sept. 13. 1569. had made a Decree wherein they had declared him guilty of treason and had proposed a reward of fifty thousand Crowns to any one that would bring him alive to the King At the same time he had intelligence that one Martinengus an Italian banished his own Countrey for treason being made by the King Commander of some Troops of horse had been at Castellion and surprized his Castle and plundered it of all his rich Furniture which for divers ages had remained there the value whereof was not lesse worth then one hundred thousand Crowns besides he had so burned the whole Town adjoyning to the Castle that there was scarce any footsteps remaining of it which sad tidings were so farre from causing any dejectednesse in him or disfitting him for his employments that he did not so much as shew the least change in his countenance And whenas his Friends and kindred flocked to him to comfort him he told them That through Gods grace he had this frame of spirit given him that for those things which are usually called Goods he possessed them and not they him and that his Fortunes were subjected to him not he to them And whereas in those Civil Warres Princes Peers Nobles Knights Horsemen and Footmen had large allowances from the King whereby they maintained themselves he on the contrary was alwaies carefull to discharge his quarters both for himself and Family whereby
explain himself more fully to them which afterwards he did accordingly And so after long communication and great promises of favour the King gently dismissed him with these words Let every man have his Doctor as himself best liketh this shall be my Doctor His adversaries seeing and hearing this dust never after that time molest him any further He did many excellent works of Piety and Charity and amongst the rest he erected that famous foundation of Pauls School London where one hundred fifty three poor mens sons should be taught freely and for this end he built a very convenient dwelling house for the Schoolmaster He assigned also a large annual stipend both for the Head-Master and Usher whom he willed rather to be chosen out of the number of married men then of single Priests with their suspected chastity He left sundry rents and houses for the payment of those stipends which he committed to the oversight of the Worshipfull company of Mercers in London He caused to be ingraven upon the School in Latine Schola Catechisationis puerorum in Christi Opt. Max. fide bonis literis Anno Christi M.D.X. The first Moderator of this School was Mr William Lilly a man no lesse eminent for his Learning then Dr Collet was for this Foundation he made the Latine Grammer which ever since by authority hath been used in all Schools Dr Collet was very expert in the Scriptures especially in Pauls Epistles which he hath illustrated by his Commentaries He held Justification freely by the merits of Christs and not by our own works He was an enemy to the idle and unchast life of the Popish Clergy He abhorred those that persecuted the Professors of the truth He died Anno Christi 1519. and was buried in Pauls Church upon whose Tomb Mr Lilly engraved this Motto Disce mori mundo vivere disce Deo The Life of Miles Coverdale sometimes Bishop of Exester who died Anno Christi 1568. MIles Coverdale was born in the North of England and from his childhood was much given to learning and by his diligence and industry profited exceedingly therein so that in the reign of King Henry the eighth he was one of the first that professed the Gospel in England He was very well skilled in the Hebrew and translated the Bible into English and wrote sundry Books upon the Scriptures which Doctrine being new and strange in those daies he was much hated and persecuted for it especially by the Bishops whereupon he was forced to fly into the Low-Countries There he printed the Bibles of his Translation and by sending them over and selling them in England he maintained himself But John Stokesly Bishop of London hearing thereof and minding to prevent their dispersing in England enquired diligently where they were to be sold and bought them all up supposing that by this means no Bibles would be had but contrary to his expectation it fell out otherwise for the same money which the Bishop gave for these Books the Merchant sent over to Miles Coverdale by which means he was enabled to Print as many more which he also sent into England This caused the Bishops to pursue him with such eagerness that he was forced to remove himself out of Flanders into Germany and to settle himself under the Palsgrave of the Rheine where he found much favour At first he taught children for his subsistence but having learned the Dutch language the Prince Elector Palatine gave him a Benefice at a place called Burghsaber where he did much good by his Ministry and holy life maintaining himself partly by his Living and partly by the liberality of Thomas Lord Cromwell who was his good Lord and relieved him very much At length when by the happy coming in of King Edward the sixth Religion was altered in England and the Gospel had a free passage he returned into his native Countrey where he did very much good by Preaching At the time of the commotion in Devonshire for Religion he was appointed to go down as Chaplain with the Lord Russell who was sent to suppresse the same and after the work was over for his excellent learning and godly life he was made Bishop of Exester being consecrated thereunto at Lambeth by Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1550. He most worthily performed that Office that was committed to him He preached constantly every Sabbath and Holy day and most commonly twice in the week he read a Divinity Lecture in one Church or other within the City of Exester Considering his Means he was a great lover of Hospitality and kept a very good house He was sober and temperate in his diet holy and blamelesse in his life friendly to the godly liberall to the poor courteous to all men void of pride full of humility abhorring covetousnesse and an enemy to all wickednesse and wicked men whose society he shunned and whom he would in no wise intertain or keep in his house or company His Wife was a most sober chast and godly Matron His houshold another Church in which was exercised all godlinesse and Vertue He suffered no one person to abide in his house who could not give an account of his faith and Religion and who lived not accordingly And as he was very carefull to promote Religion in his Diocess so was he as ready to give direction for good Government in all Ecclesiasticall affairs And because himself was not skillfull therein neither would be hindred from his godly studies nor encumbred with worldly matters and yet judging it meet that the Government should be carried on with all uprightnesse Justice and Equity he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his Chancellour and by the assistance of his Friends he obtained Mr Robert Weston Doctor of the Civil Law and afterwards Lord Chancellour in Ireland unto whose fidelity he committed his Consistory and the whole charge of his Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction allowing him not only all the Fees belonging thereto but also lodged and found him his Wife and Family horse and man within his own House and gave him a pension of 40lb lb per annum besides which was a very great matter in those daies so liberall was this good Bishop in the allowance which he made to this good Chancellor And surely the Bishop was no more godly and carefull in performing his Office of preaching then his Chancellor was diligent strict and just in doing of his Office without the reproach of partiality or bribery Yet notwithstanding that this godly Bishop lived most holily painfully and virtuously the common people whose old bottels were not capable of new wine could not brook nor digest him and when they could find no other cause this was judged a crime sufficient that he was a Preacher of the Gospel an enemy to Papistry and an honest married man Hereupon many devises were set on foot for his disgrace and removing him out of his
piously affected party after diligent inquiry received such ample testimony that whereas divers other made first for the place and by their labouring with some friends had wrought a siding among them to prevent such obstructions as thence might arise they sent an express to Cambridge on purpose with instructions in the first place to Master Chaderton to entreat him that he would not any wise give consent to have any other designed to the place but him only whom he had already propounded for that they rested in his choice and longed much to see and hear him And in the next place to Master Bradshaw to request him that he would make no doubt or delay of coming to them wherein he would not be slack if they knew how earnestly they longed to see and enjoy him and withall to signifie to him what had been delivered to Master Chaderton from them that they desired only the sincere milk of Gods Word and a Pastor bearing a sincere affection and tender heart to his people that they had wrought great meanes to obtain him that if he refused to come to them he did not know what he did and if he came and found them not worthy of him yet his labour and charge should be fully made good Thus being importuned as by his own Letter to a Friend of July the eighth 1601. appeareth though by some still pressed for Abington with hopes suggested of clearing the way there for him he came up to London and after advice had with some Friends in the City from thence went down to Chatham And though it go for a common buy-word oft verified that personal presence abateth much of foregoing reports and great expectations preconceived are wont seldome to receive full satisfaction and it be true that Master Bradshaw was not a man of much out side nor forward to put out himself of a very bashfull and demiss but not fawning deportment insomuch that his bodily and personal presence might as the Apostles sometime seem weak and not to promise much with such especially as look no further then the face Yet when he came and was heard and his meek and discreet carriage by the generality observed by the wiser sort well weighed he was by joynt consent agreed upon and a solemn Letter of invitation appointed to be drawn up by Master John Cook sometime Fellow of Trinity Colledge then enjoying an Office under Sir Fulk Grinvel Treasurer to the Navy and afterward Secretary of State to King James subscribed by the Officers there belonging to the Navy and the most of any note and repute in the place intimating their election of him by joynt consent to the place professing a willingness to submit themselves to his Ministry and promising to afford him all due support and assistance in the same Upon the receit hereof he fully now resolved without farther delay to entertain the call and accept of the place and having signified so much unto them was very lovingly received by them and quietly for some good space of time to wit from July 1601. unto April 1602. laboured in the Word and Doctrine among them together with Master John Philips who enjoying the Vicarage did as Pastor of the place therein joyn with him with good success and much comfort and to the great contentment and gladsomness of people well affected in those parts Being thus then setled there with good hope of continuance motion was made to him by some of his Friends there supposing that might be some means of farther engagement of him for to stay with them of a match with a Widow an houswifely Woman and one that had lived alwaies in good repute with them Which not fore-seeing in likelihood what would afterward ensue he did not unwillingly so farre forth hearken unto as to entertain some good liking of the Woman howsoever in regard of the ensuing change of things the business was no farther then proceeded in but by mutual agreement between them laid aside and delayed untill God should see good to make way by some means for their more convenient coming together and comfortable cohabitation of either with other For those Halcyon seasons lasted not long the common adversary of God and man who out of his inveterate envy and enmity can in no wise brook the propagation of the Gospel and dilatation of Christs curtains began at first more covertly and under hand to contrive some course whereby to cast a rub in his way and to procure a restraint of his farther proceeding in a course so successefull and advantagious for the glory of God and the good of his people For about the time above-mentioned some neighbour Ministers envying the recourse of people to his teaching began secretly to plot against him though they would not be seen in it by suggesting to the Bishop of the Diocess that he was a man not conformable to the Rites of the Church nor well-affected to the present Government This how far forth it prevailed with the Bishop that then sate there doth not appear but the business being smelt out and by some means discovered to prevent trouble from him and settle Master Bradshaw as they supposed more surely in the place it was by divers of his people and friends there deemed most expedient though therein peradventure much mistaken to have some means used to obtain a Confirmation of him therein from the Archbishop of Canterbury unto whom Rochester was as Suffragan and no man being deemed fitter to deal in this business with the Archbishop then that Noble and Religious Knight Sir Francis Hastings he was by a Letter from Master Bradshaw requested to make some tryal of his interest in and power with Archbishop Whitgift to that purpose in his behalf He upon the receit of Master Bradshaws Letter the very same day April 22. 1602. returned him this most kind Christian and affectionate Answer My love to your self you know and shall ever know it in any thing wherein I can make it known my duty your duty and all our duties to God his Church you know better then my self and my duty to further a good people to a good Minister a longing people to hear to a a labouring speaking Minister to teach them is a bond of duty that I may never forget and a work of duty that I must ever be ready to perform Assure your self therefore my velle shall not be slack and if my posse can prevail I shall be glad I will say no more but pray to my God to encrease his graces in you to teach profitably to encrease grace in your people to hear diligently and to multiply his graces both in speaker and hearer that they may speak and hear fruitfully c. Subscribed Your true Christian Friend Francis Hastings Nor was he more ready to promise then forward to perform For within three daies after to wit April 25. he wrote to the Archbishop this modest pious and zealous Letter May it
were checked and threatned that suffered it upon his non-appearance he proceeded so far as to send out an Excommunication against him which he for the mistake before-mentioned little regarded only by advice for some time kept out of the way untill the Bishops translation or evection rather unto the lofty pitch of his Primacy which shortly after did ensue During his stay in these parts looking down to Chatham he there consummated that businesse which hitherto had been delayed And in regard that Master Redich with his Wife and retinue were by reason of his urgent affairs in divers kinds likely to continue for a longer space of time in the City then at first was expected Master Bradshaw having brought up his Wife with him from Chatham did for a while board her with a sister of hers before married and seated in the City and afterward took part of a tenement for himself and her who being a woman that affected employment for their better support taught there a few Scholers Much about this time by occasion of that formall conference acted and transacted at Hampton-Court wherein some of our chief Prelates endeavoured to possesse the Kings Majesty with a prejudice against those that made suit for a Reformation of things amisse in Church-affairs his disaffection to whom he had himself also in some writing of his partly discovered already and to perswade him that for Ecclesiastical affairs all things were so well setled that no Reformation needed but some strict injunction only of a precise conformity unto and constant observation of things already established which began thereupon in many places with much vigor to be pressed It came to passe that many Books came abroad being privately printed wherein divers godly Ministers who were of a contrary judgment declared their grievances laid down their exceptions set forth their grounds of dissent and returned answer to the Arguments produced and urged against them to induce them to Conformity For Books of this nature search was made in the City for one more especially among the rest that had it seems given our great Clergy-Masters most offence and Master Bradshaw being known to abide then in the City a man in much suspition with them two Pursuivants accompanied with Master Norton the Kings Printer were sent with Commission to search his house both for it and him Whither accordingly repairing but not finding him at home they enforced his Wife to open his Closet or Study the Chests Trunks Boxes and Presses to make search for such Books but found nothing For the truth is and there was a good Providence of God in it after that Master Bradshaw was that morning gone out not above half an hour before that this business fell out his Wife looking into his Study and seeing some of those Books there to prevent future danger which yet she then little deemed or dreamed to be so near at hand as it proved to be afterward had taken them out from thence and cast them into a hole between two Chimneys where being covered over with old besomes they remained undiscovered But howsoever they could meet with nothing of that which they looked for yet on his Wife they seized who would rather have had him her they took and led unto Doctors Commons where having presented her before Doctor Stanhop Doctor White and a third party whom she knew not a number sufficient to make up a compleat High Commission Court they examined her yet without oath first Where her Husband was whereunto she answered she knew not then What meanes of Maintenance she had and from whom to which she made answer that she gat her living by her work and teaching of a few young Children after that What Children she had she told them none yet but one she hoped in her belly being then great with Child which was her first-born Sonne now a Minister of the Gospel afterward born in that House they then dwelt in in Thred-needle-street and baptized in the Church near thereto adjoyning where the Minister of the place somewhat thick of hearing by a mistake instead of Jonathan naming him John which name therefore he bare afterward and doth to this day But after divers such questions to little purpose propounded and answered in conclusion they told her that they knew well enough that the Book they then searched for was none of her Husbands making though he might have a hand in the venting of it and withall that if they had been disposed they could have had him for all his keeping in a Lancashire Gentlemans house So they termed Master Redich because his own Lands of Inheritance lay in those parts Thus hauing parlied with her they dismissed her not suffering those greedy Harpyes the Pursuivants who were eager upon her for their fees to exact ought from her only binding her at a daies warning to appear again before them Thus through Gods goodness and watchfull eye over his Servant too regardlesse in some sort of his own safety having escaped the snare that was set for him he returned after some space of time Master Rediches main businesses being now dispatched together with him and his unto their former place of abode at Newhall taking his Wife and little one together also along with him Being there arrived the Gentleman both enlarged his maintenance and assigned him and his Wife certain Chambers in his own House conveniently furnished as also herbage in the Park for a certain number of Kine and of Swine and some Poultry together with a convenient room for a Dary wherein she might exercise her huswifery which she very well could do and accordingly did Now while they thus lived together in Master Rediches House Master Bradshaw went on cheerfully in his wonted course both of private exercises for the instruction of the Family and of publick employment on the Lords day for the benefit of others also abroad But the old Lady Ferrers Mistresse Rediches Mother a woman of a great spirit and a resolute Papist though not an absolute professed Recusant could by no means brook Master Bradshaw and the lesse now because married and for that he had brought his Wife also to live with him in House with them yea she had conceived such an extream hatred against him professing to hate him above any man in the world that she had made a vow that she would never set her feet in the house where he was and it was therefore feared not without some just ground of suspition that the Family might from her fare the worse for him But the hearts of all men and women also are in Gods hand and he can wind and turn them which way he will and when a mans waies do please the Lord he can if he see it good yea doth oft when he seeth it will be for the good of his make of his utter foes his Friends And even so fell it out here For the Lady notwithstanding this her extream disaffection so deeply
restlesse condition and to translate him hence to a place of endlesse rest and peace never to be interrupted again the force of the disease within the space of a few daies fretted asunder those bands that kept soul and body together and leaving the one behind to be laid up in the bowels of that element whence it had its first original set the other at full liberty to return unto him from whom alone it immediately received its existence at first During the short time of his sickness wherein yet through Gods goodnesse he continued free from any notable sense of pain and was accompanied with much freedom of mind and memory he had his heart and tongue in meditation set wholly upon God acknowledging his special favour and goodnesse unto him who had so far forth vouchsafed to cast a gracious eye upon him so vile and loathsome a creature while he yet continued in his native condition as to give him an interest by Faith in his Christ yea so farre farther to grace so unworthy a wretch as to call him to be a Minister of his Word and Publisher of his Will and to make his weak endeavours and worthlesse labours at any time in any measure efficacious to any of his people as he hoped in some sort with some at least they had been either for the conversion and bringing of them home unto him or for the establishing and building of them up in the saving knowledge and belief of his truth and in the graces and comforts of his Spirit Withall seriously professing this to be his comfort the testimony of his conscience in the sight of God bearing witnesse in his behalf that in sincerity of heart though with much weaknesse and amidst many failings through the whole course of his Ministry his main end and scope in all his labours and endeavour's had been both in publick and private to seek the glory of God the delivery of his truth the peace of his Church the spiritual good of his people in all things to approve himself to him and continue faithfull with him who hath been pleased to take him into his service and desiring now nothing more then that he might be so enabled through the support of his good Spirit that by his Christian and comfortable carriage under his Fatherly hand in this close of his day-work he might confirm and seal up to others the truth of those things that he had formerly professed and taught Withall earnestly exhorting all that came about him to learn now to die before they came to it to be sure to lay a good foundation in time of life and health for matter of firm support and sound comfort in time of sickness and at the hour of death and to make as much provision and strong preparations against that time as they could assuring themselves that they should find all their utmost endeavours and carefullest addresses to be little enough when they came once to that Work Amidst these and the like Religious Meditations and Pious Employments peceiving his desired end now to approach and having requested prayer to be conceived in his behalf by a special Friend who had accompanied him most part of his sicknesse not long after that Office performed by him he quietly and peaceably resigned his soul into the hands of his blessed Saviour no lesse ready doubtlesse to receive it from him then himself was desirous and forward to recommend it unto him His Funeral rites were performed at Chelsey where he drew his last breath most of the Ministers of better note about the City either constantly residing or occasionally detained there besides a very great multitude of private persons well affected repairing thereunto Who were all there after the usuall manner in such cases and on such occasions entertained at the charge and by the bounty of that worthy Gentlewoman of singular Piety in whose house he deceased From which place his Corps being conveyed on the shoulders of six of his Reverend Brethren of the Ministry who of their own accord offered themselves unto that Office to the place of publick Assembly where it was to be interred Master Thomas Gataker his ancient and inward Friend though full of grief for the loss of one who so entirely affected him and whom as well for the high esteem he had of him and his worth as for that entire affection which he constantly bare to him was most deservedly exceedingly dear to him and in regard thereof not so free or fit for performance of that Office yet enforced himself to preach at his Funerall and to give though very briefly such Testimony of him as was generally approved of by his Reverend Brethren there present And he was indeed a man of very eminent parts for sharpnesse of wit clearnesse of apprehension soundnesse of judgment exactnesse of method and powerfulnesse of delivery of singular dexterity in beating out perplexed and intricate debates descrying and discovering where the knots lay stating of Controversies aright and dissolving of difficult cases of conscience to which purpose not only many even from remote parts resorted unto him either of their own accord or directed and recommended unto him by other his Brethren of the Ministry as one most likely of any to give them satisfaction in their doubts but divers of them also of good note as by their Letters to him may appear deemed it no disparagement to seek resolution from him in questions of that nature themselves Neither was he one that kept his talent wrapt up in a Napkin but though he were cooped up mostly in an obscure corner through the harsh courses of those that would not suffer his light to shine forth in any eminent place yet was he exceeding laborious in those parts wherein he lived both in private employments at constant set times in the Family and in publick also where he might be permitted though without benefit to himself that which may appear by abundance of papers and note-books yet extant though by many casualties a multitude of them have miscarried Besides his constant course of preaching at Stapenhill for the most of his time from his first admission into that Family save only by interruption through occasion of removals which neither usually lasted over-long nor though distracted him in his Studies did any whit lightly lessen his labours he was frequently drawn forth to joyn with other his Reverend Brethren in their meetings and exercises at Ashbie de la Zouch in Leicester-shire at Repton in Darby-shire and at Burton upon Trent at some of which meetings the manner being that some one of them preached his hour on the Scipture propounded the meeting before and the rest or a certain number of them spent afterward each one his half hour or thereabout on some other portion of Scripture one being appointed to moderate by minding each that spake if occasion were of the time and to close up all with some succinct rehearsal of what had been delivered
imperium adoptato nihil in vultu mutatum quasi magis imperare posset quam vellet His honours altered nothing in him but gave encouragement to all the godly Party and his Sermons at Lincolns-Inne much wrought upon the Parliament so that a bold Petition was contrived and presented to the King at Whitehall from both Houses of Parliament April 23. 1624. against the spreading and increase of Popery and the Indulgence given unto Priests and Jesuites King James was in the evening of his glory his Party in the Court under a cloud another Sun almost in view and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or day-star already risen and accordingly he answered warily to their Petition bewails his want of information as the reall ground of this their trouble which otherwise he had prevented acknowledged that whilest the Treaties lasted with Spain and Austria he was obliged to comply but now both being broken off he would be rigid and severe against the Priests and Jesuites bids them find out a way for to restrain the growth of Popery and he would second them but resolves to pay the Duke of Buckingham for all this and gives order to the Earl of Bristol to prepare an information for that end but the Match with France and other intervenient accidents obstruct it for the present The Duke having told tales out of School and broken off the Match with Spain was much obliged to further and promote the French which he did seriously excuse to Doctor Preston upon this ground that there was not any Protestant for to be had and for to marry with a subject had alwaies been unlucky and fatal to the Kings of England that the French would not be ridged in religious observations but the Doctor constantly opposed only acknowledged this difference that Spanish Popery was an absolute ingredient to their intended Western Monarchy but French was not so and so this was lesse evil But the French found out this obligation and were untractable unlesse the Duke would aid the King of France against the Rochellers This was a hard chapter for one so much obliged unto the Puritans and Doctor Preston and he therefore declined all he could but nothing else would serve and he knew King James lay ready to take advantages so in Conclusion eight Ships were granted to oppose the Rochel-fleet and many colours sought to cloude it and hide it from the world but from that time Doctor Preston doubted of the Saint-ship of the Duke of Buckingham whom otherwise he honoured and loved very much But it was high time for the Duke to look about him King James was not to learn now how for to play his Game he was an old but not a foolish King Eccl. 4.13 and therefore failed not to make Provision and lay rods in pisse that he might use upon occasion Kings use for to account an ague in the Spring their Physick yet Physick till March be past is not good but this ague antidates the moneths and comes in February The King was then at Theobalds and the Ague was made but small account of He feared death but was the most impatient and disordered of any living what rules soever the Physicians gave he would observe none which intemperance might very well occasion the growing strength and vigour of the disease which howsoever more and more increased and at last began to be considerable then he began to take advice and to submit to rules but now it was too late for March 27. 1625. on the Lords day in the morning about ten of the clock at Theobalds the King dies Doctor Preston then attended in his moneth and was sometimes hastened to the Prince to comfort him and sometimes to the Duke and indeed it was a very mournfull morning Death is a serious thing and knocks alike at Pallaces as at the meanest Cottage King James was very much beloved of all his servants some of the Huntsmen could not be gotten from him the Prince and Duke were both of them retired and wept exceedingly But Sir Edward Conwey and some of the Lords drew up a Wiring and proclaimed Charles Steward King with all his Titles and hast was made to pack away to London The Prince and Duke and Doctor Preston in Coaches shut down hasten to White-hall and there he is proclaimed again with more formalities and the Lord Maior and the City sent to where it was done with much solemnity and great rejoycing of the people for the Prince had that exceeding happinesse to come upon the stage unprejudiced For he had never interposed nor acted but in the Spanish businesse and that succeeded to his great advantage so that if he listed he might have been as popular as ever any were This fall occasions many alterations in the Court the Bishops generally and Doctor Prestons enemies and all that had contended with the Duke were Crest-fallen King James was like enough to have out-lived the Duke of Buckingham who had been very sick since his return from Spain but all is altered and the Duke does all But he had many things to do the affronts received in Madrid and at the Counsel-table by the Agent were to be sent back by a puissant and mighty Navy and Provisions made accordingly King James to be interr'd a Parliament to be summoned the French Lady to be sent for and brought into England which the Duke especially intended and spake to all the Gallants of his Retinue to attend him and to many other of the Gentry and Nobility throughout the Kingdome But he found it hard thus in the morning of the Kings affairs to be abroad there being then a Parliament and the sicknesse much encreasing in the City so he was constrained to employ the Earl of Holland and attend himself at home All were not gratified in this great revolution and mutation of affairs and the discontented Party murmured and let flie at the Duke and the sicknesse much encreasing began to make a mutiny and it was much desired that the Parliament might be prorogued till some other more healthfull and lesse dangerous time But the Navy against the Spaniards and the pressing wants of all sorts that depended on the Court would not permit so it was only adjourned to Oxford yet there the sicknesse was as soon as they and some of their Members smarted for it but hast was made to gratifie the new King and the Provisions for the Navy went forward many men ingaged and the King resolved to attend that businesse as admitting no delay There was one thing that invited Doctor Preston to a journey that year and that was a strong suspition that the plague was in the town in which case there is a liberty to dissolve the Colledge without any detriment unto the Officers and Members of it He was not willing to omit the opportunity because he had many invitations into the West The Bishop of Salisbury he desired to consult withall about a Book of Master Montagues that was commended to him by
much good but of no blood nor division between the two Nations He was one of Gods special Remembrancers in behalf of England begging fervently that the Lords and Commons in Parliament might be preserved from the two destructive rocks of pride and self-interests He poured out his soul before the Almighty that he would appear for the Non-conformists cause in England and set up the Presbyterial Government according to the Scripture Rules He often professed himself to be no enemy unto the Persons of Bishops but an opposite to their Pride and Prelaticall Rule When news came unto him of the Battell at Edge-hill thus he spake with tears Oh Lord wilt thou write Englands Reformation in red Letters of her own blood yet preserve thine own People and maintain thine own cause for Jesus Christ sake He greatly bewailed the obstructing of Church reformation in England by them who professed themselves zealous for Reformation and it was no small offence unto him to hear of the Letters which came from some Independents at London into Holland wherein falshoods were reported to the reproach of some Presbyterians his known godly Friends in England He was a true Nathaniel indeed in whose spirit there was no guile and therefore all falshood and unworthy juglings were an abomination to his heart There was an holy harmoniousnesse in his whole conversation his life was a well-spun thread from the beginning to the end and tended much to the honour of his Profession and particular Calling Although he walked exactly with God and maintained the comfort of constant peace with him yet Satan was suffered to give him one furious assault the night before he died as was perceived by those who were then with him for rising upon his knees with his hands lifted up he spake these words He is overcome overcome through the strength of my Lord and only Saviour Jesus unto whom I am now going to keep a Sabbath in glory And next morning March 28. 1644. being the Sabbath day about the time when he was wont to go unto ministerial work in the publique Congregagation and the sixty two year of his life he was taken from his labours into rest unto the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven where he shall sing Hallelujahs for evermore The Life of Master John Dod who died Anno Christi 1645. IOhn Dod was born in Cheshire at a town called Shotlidge bordering on Wales not far from Malpus His Parents had a convenient estate worth a hundred marks a year which went to the eldest Brother This John was the youngest of seventeen and much beloved of his Parents He was sent to School to West-Chester and when he was about fourteen years old he was disposed of to Jesus Colledge in Cambridge where though he had little acquaintance yet the Lord prospering his studies he was chosen first Scholar and after Fellow in that Colledge he there remained near sixteen years The manner of his Conversion was thus The Steward or Boucher of the Colledge accused him to the Master for the non-payment of a considerable summe of money due for one of his Pupils which Master Dod had truly paid but he forgot to set it down Hereupon there was a vehement contest betwixt them about this businesse and the vexation of mind that he should be accounted a defrauder did so trouble Master Dod that he fell into a Feaver and was dangerously sick yet all this while he was but in a natural estate For though he had some good skill in the Theorick part of Divinity yet he was without any application and his affliction was this that he should be blamed for that which he from the Law and light of nature hated All his sorrow as yet was but worldly sorrow and as himself saies he neither did nor could tell how to pray At length the Lord put into his heart that Scripture Rom. 7. The Law is spiritual but I am carnal and sold under sinne and presently his sins came upon him like armed men and the tyde of his thoughts was turned and he left musing how he was wronged and seriously considered how he had offended God and he betook himself to great humiliation and earnestly besought the Lord for pardon and peace in Jesus Christ. Yet for some time he could find no comfort but going on to seek the Lord there follows after much humiliation much consolation and the Lord sealed to him that his sins were washed away with the blood of Christ. Then did he desire his accuser to come to him and told him that though he had accounted him to be his great enemy yet now he acknowledged him to be his good Friend for that he was a means to bring him unto God And afterwards it so fell out by Gods good Providence that it came to this mans remembrance that Master Dod had paid him the money and he was very sorrowfull for the wrong which he had done him and did him all the right he could for the healing of his name and Master Dod said that he had not a more faithfull Friend in all the Colledge during his abode there then this man proved When he was some years standing Master of Art he was appointed to oppose in the Philosophy Act at the Commencement which he did with great approbation insomuch as it was desired that he should dispute again the next Commencement but that he avoided When he preached his first Sermon in the University he had bestowed much pains about it binding himself to words and phrases but in his Sermon he was at a Non-plus whereupon he resolved afterwards never to pen his Sermon verbatim but his usuall manner was to write only the Analysis of his Text the proofs of Scripture for the Doctrines with the Reasons and Uses and so leaving the rest to meditation in which course he never found defect And whereas Doctor Fulk Doctor Chaderton Doctor Whitaker and some others had their frequent meeting to expound the Scriptures and therein they chose the Epistle to the Hebrews they were pleased from their loving respect to Master Dod to take in him amongst them While he continued Fellow of Jesus Colledge by the importunity of some godly people of Ely he went weekly and preached amongst them in that City where the Lord gave a great blessing to his Ministry His removall from Cambridge to Hanwel in Oxfordshire was thus occasioned Master Cope afterwards Sir Anthony Cope a man of eminent note who was much wrought upon by Master Dods Ministry sent a Letter to Doctor Chaderton to provide him a Minister for Hanwel which was then vacant Doctor Chaderton moved Master Dod to go to the place and after he had been a while and preached severall Sermons by the desire and consent of the people and by the approbation of the neighbour Ministers who had heard him he was setled as their Pastor While he was at Hanwel he preached twice every Sabbath catechizing also
of unbelief that I may not depart from thee the living God Deliver me from tentation Accept of Jesus Christ for me Teach me to improve all Providences To live upon the Promises Let Christ be my life O Lord let me never shrink from thee For the good of the publique Lord turn the heart of this Nation and all our hearts Turn the heart of the King Sanctifie the Parliament and make them faithfull Blesse the Assembly and make them faithful and upright with thee Let not the Army do unworthily but what thou would have them to do Blesse all the Ministers For other Nations Lord do good to Scotland and the Churches in France Blesse New-England and forrain plantations For the places to which he was related Lord provide a faithfull man for Queens-Colledge A faithfull man for this place New-Church in Westminster A faithfull Pastor for those in the Countrey For Friends and those about him Lord remember all those that have shewed kindnesse to me and have taken pains with me and recompence them Thou hast promised that he which giveth a Cup of water in the name of a Disciple and he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward Afterwards having forgotten to crave a blessing upon somewhat given him to take he prayed Lord pardon my neglect and forgetfulnesse of thee and deliver from tentation and the evil of tentation Thou art holy if thou shouldst forsake us Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered Lord glorifie thy name in my poor spirit and let none of thy people ever see me shrink from thee for Jesus Christ his sake Being spoken to to cast the burden of his sicknesse and pain upon God he answered I should do very unworthily if when I have preached to others that they should cast their burdens upon God I should not do so my self In these and many other the like Christian expressions he did manifest the same savour of holinesse even to the time of his death which had been constantly discovered in the time of his life He departed this life Anno Christi 1647. and of his age 46. having served God faithfully and painfully in his generation being a very great Instrument of much good and an excellent pattern for imitation His body lieth interred in the New-Church at Westminster and his memory yet liveth in the minds of those that knew him The Life of Gaspar Colinius Great Admirall of France GAsppar Colinius or Coligni was descended of a very Ancient and Honourable Family his Predecessors had Kingly Priviledges in their own Country as the Power of Life and Death of Coining Money Imposing Taxes and Tributes c. His Father was Gaspar de Colonia or Colinius who lived under King Francis the first and had to Wife Ludovica Monmorancy the Sister of Annas Monmorancy Great Constable of France When in the year 1522. the Admirall Bonivet had taken Fontaraby in the Confines of Spain as soon as he was returned into France the Spaniards came and besieged it with a great Army The siege lasted twelve moneths whereby the Inhabitants suffered much extremity by reason of Famine King Francis hearing of it commanded this Gaspar to raise an Army and relieve Fontaraby which Army he presently Levied but in his march he fell sick and died at Ax August 4. Anno Christi 1522 leaving three Sons behind him Odet Gaspar and Francis Ludovica his Widow was made one of the Ladies of Honour to the Queen of France and was very carefull of the education of her Sons and lived a most chaste and vertuous life all the remainder of her daies dying in Paris Anno Christi 1547. Pope Clement the seventh seeking to increase his Authority in France made the elder Brother Odet a Cardinall knowing that by reason of the eminency of his Family he might be very usefull to him By which means the Inheritance fell to this our Gaspar the second Brother who was born Feb. 16. Anno Christi 1517. whose ingenuity and towardlinesse appearing in his childhood his Mother was very carefull of his education and for his Instruction in Learning she made choice of Nicholas Beraldus to be his Schoolmaster a man famous in those daies in France She also provided him Tutors to instruct him in Military Arts of such as were most skilfull therein This Gaspar being thus furnished both for Peace and Warre when he came to the age of twenty four the Dolphin of France the Kings eldest Son besieging Baion at that time Gaspar went to serve under him and to put in practice what he had before gotten in the Theory In which Service he shewed much alacrity and courage and in advancing near to the enemies Trenches he was wounded with a Bullet in his throat The same year also the King having intelligence that his and the enemies Army were ready to joyn battell in Insubria Gaspar obtaining leave hastened thither and in that battell gave great proof of his Valour and Prudence so that shortly after K. Francis dying and his Son Henry succeeding to the Crown he advanced him to great honour and whereas his Uncle Annas Monmorancy was Generall of the Horse he made this Gaspar Colonel of a Regiment of Foot In which Office he carried himself so well that in a little space he gat much repute for his Justice Valour and Prudence and thereby became very gratefull to the common people For whereas the Souldiers formerly by their rapines and plunderings used much to oppresse them this new Colonel kept them in awe by military Discipline especially he severely punished them for incontinency swearing and blasphemy and his Orders were so generally approved of that shortly after the King put them amongst his Military Laws The same King also advanced him to greater honour taking a great liking to him making him one of his own Horsemen which vulgarly are called of the Kings Order And whereas contention arose about that time between the King of France and King Henry the eighth of England about the Town of Bulloine which a little before upon conditions of peace had been pawned to the English the King of France distrusting the English made this Gaspar Governour of all that Countrey who presently going into Picardy whither King Henry of France had sent an Army to besiege Bulloine He with admirable art and diligence built a Castle near to it which was such a shelter to the French and did so hinder the Sallies of the English that in a short time they were forced to treat about surrendring of the City For the finishing of which Treaty the whole businesse was referred by the King of France to our Gaspar and his Uncle Rupipontius which being ended and the Town surrendred Gaspar returned to the King and was shortly after made the Great Admirall of France which amongst the French is counted the greatest honour in the Kingdom having the command of the Sea and
if she were a stranger but it redounded to the great hurt of France and was the cause of many Civil broils When the day of the publique Convention of the States came he which made the Speech in the behalf of the Nobility about the end of his Oration presented the King with a Supplication that they of the Reformed Religion might have publique places allowed them for the exercise of the service of God in To this one Quintin a Doctor of the Civil Law and Professor of Paris opposed himself and made a long Oration in the name of the Clergy which he rather read then pronounced by heart wherein he took the boldnesse to affirm That all they that moved for publique places for those of the Religion were guilty of Treason against the King and Kingdom the authors of sedition and bringers in of a new Religion and therefore ought severely to be punished Of which when the Admirall in the Kings Councel afterwards complained Quintin to excuse himself professed that he had spoken nothing of his own head but only had pronounced that Oration which was penned and put into his hand by the Clergy and that he was ready again in the Convention of States before the King and all the company to avow that in all that he had said he had no thoughts of hurt to the Admirall In conclusion there was an Edict sent forth in the Kings Name commanding and requiring all the Judges and Magistrates through France to release all those of the Religion that were in prison and it was forbidden them upon great penalties hereafter to meddle with or to trouble any for their Religion sake As for the businesse of allowing them publique places for worship that was put off to the next Generall meeting of the States which was appointed but held not to be at Ponthoise in Piccardy January following there was a meeting of all the Princes and Nobles of France appointed to be held at St. Germans whither also repaired the Deputies from all the Parliaments and there it was decreed that Churches should be allowed to the Protestants in the Suburbs belonging to each City Upon the publishing of which Edict the Peace of the Kingdom seemed to be setled and in the Suburbs of all the greater Cities yea of Paris it self those of the Religion met publiquely and had Sermons preached without the least disturbance But presently after was news brought that the D. of Guise in Campania had basely murthered about two hundred persons who were met together at Vassiac to hear a Sermon according to the power given them by the Kings Edict in a barn and it was conceived that the D. of Guise took this boldnesse relying upon the friendship of the K. of Navarr whose weak mind he had bowed and bound to himself by promising him the Kingdom of Sardinia and other favours and upon this confidence adjoyning his other Brethren to him with a great Army he went to the Court and there seized upon King and Queen Mother who seemed with many tears to bewail the violence profered to to them and carried them away to Paris Hereupon the Queen Mother sent divers messengers to the Admirall and writ with her own hand to the Prince of Conde requesting them to help her and to deliver the King out of this captivity This caused the Prince of Conde with many of the Nobility upon deliberation to resolve to raise an Army for the rescue of the King and to curb the insolency of the Guises often saying that he ought not to be deterred with reports as if he intended to propagate his Religion by arms or to offer violence to the Person of the young King For said he After such a publique Decree made by the King and all the States in favour of those of the Religion What had the D. of Guise who is a Lorrainer by extraction to do in France Or by what confidence doth he exercise such cruelty against the Kings faithfull Subjects And therefore he saw that there was no way left but to repell force with force and that he was not the author of the War but by War defended those that were unjustly oppressed by War There was also a publique report that the D. of Nemours had endeavoured by flatteries to perswade the young Prince Henry the Kings Brother who was afterwards chosen King of Poland to go with him out of the bounds of France which the young youth had declared to his Mother There was much speech also of the Massacre at Vassiac and of their leading the King and Queen Mother as their captives to Paris where they had a powerfull faction They had also sent to the German Princes desiring to be admitted into the league of the Protestants The Cardinall of Lorraine had also sent to Christopher Duke of Wirtzberge a prudent and valiant Prince pretending that both he and his Brethren would embrace the Protestant Religion and desired to be enrolled in the number of the Protestant Princes These things being publiquely divulged the resolution of the Prince of Conde to take Arms was generally approved of and in a few daies many Cities sided with and assisted him as Orleans Biturg Roan Lions Vienna Valentia Mont-alban c. And whereas by the common consent of all the Protestants in France the Prince of Conde was chosen Generall he prevailed so far with them that the managing of the War was conferred upon our Admirall to whom he also delegated his own power and interest for the opinion which he had of his excellent justice gravity and prudence This being generally taken notice of the Queen Mother interposeth as a Mediatrix for peace and sends for the Prince of Conde to come to their tents intreating him that for the convenient situation of it he would deliver up into their hands for a few daies as the fittest place for the Treaty the City of Boience where there is a bridge that passeth over the River Loir which bridge she affirmed to be the fittest of all other places for the Parlee The Prince of Conde upon the perswasions of his Brother the King of Navarr and of the Queen Mother and upon their faithfull promise that the Town should be delivered back to him again and that his person should be in safety during the Treaty without taking any further pledges delivers up Boience to them only desiring that whilst the Treaty lasted the Constable Guise and Saint Andrew who were called the Triumvirate for the ruine of France might be commanded to withdraw from the Camp When these things were done the Queen Mother and the Guises put a garrison into the Town of Bogener fortifie it strongly and keep the Prince of Conde prisoner The Admirall being justly incensed by this perfidiousnesse and resolving not to be wanting in his aid to the Prince of Conde he presently with all his Cavalry sets upon the enemies Camp which brought such a terrour amongst them
that thereupon the Queen Mother commanded the Prince of Conde to be set at liberty And a few daies after the Admirall assaulted Boience and at last took the Town though with some losse of his men About this very time the Admirals eldest Son called Gaspar being a youth of nine years old but of admirable towardnesse fell sick and died at Orleance which was an exceeding great grief to his Father In the mean time the Guises perceiving that they were forsaken by the greatest part of France which now adheared to and assisted Conde they resolved to call in forraign helps and thereupon sending much Money into Swisserland and Germany they hired from the former Foot and from the latter Horse to come in to their aid which the Admirall used often to say was a plain demonstration of their treacherous and hostile minds against France and therefore that he might not be wanting to himself and Friends who had committed so great a trust to him he resolved to oppose Forraign by Forraign forces And for this end he sent his Brother Andelot to the Protestant Princes in Germany of whose good will to the French Churches he had good assurance requesting aid from them who accordingly within three moneths space sent him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot into France Whilst these things were transacting intelligence was given to the Admirall that some Cannons and a great quantity of Gunpowder was carrying to the Duke of Guise who now besieged Biturg guarded with six Troops of Horse and some Foot Hereupon the Admirall taking some Horse with him by long journeys hastened to meet the Convoy and coming up to them they scarce stood the first shock but throwing away their Arms fled and left the Booty to the Admirall who wanting Horses to draw them away by over-charging the Guns brake them and blew up the Gunpowder and so returned to his Camp Andelot returning out of Germany brought with him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot so that the Prince of Conde having a good Army of French and Germans hasted to Paris which the Guises hearing of intended to meet him having gotten a Regiment of Swissers in whom they put most confidence and so the two Armies meeting a Battell was fought but with a doubtfull event for on the one side the Constable was taken prisoner by one Will. Steward a valiant Scots man and on the other side the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner which made many of his Foot to throw away their Arms and fly But the Admirall rallying the Horse and encouraging them to prefer their Religion Country and honour befor their lives he valiantly charged the Guisians in which medly he slew Marshall St. Andrew a potent man at Court and Prossaeus Collonel to the Duke of Guise and divers other Noble men The fight being ended the Admirall carried the Constable to Orleance where he made his abode for a while But shortly after came the Duke of Guise to besiege the City whereupon the Admirall leaving his Brother Andelot for the defence of it flies into Normandy and there besieged the Castle of Cadonius where the Marquesse of Elboeve one of the D. of Lorrains Brothers was and within a few daies had it with all the Arms and Ammunition surrendred to him About this time there was one John Poltrot a young man of a Noble Family in the Army of the Duke of Guise who having embraced the Reformed Religion and served for some moneths under the Prince of Conde took up privately with himself a resolution to kill the D. of Guise as a publique enemy to his Countrey and a cause of all the present calamities And said he If I had been bound to him by any oaths I must not have been perfidious but being free why should I not venture as Scaevola did for my Countries safety With this resolution he went to the Duke of Guises Camp and watching his opportunity shot him into the shoulder of which wound he died within a few daies after The very same day in the morning the Duke of Guise being ready to give an assault to Orleance wrote to the Queen Mother that within twenty four hours he would send her word of the taking of that City and that he would make the day very memorable by sparing neither sex nor age and that after he had kept his Shrovetide there he would extinguish the memory of the Town by utter subverting of it But man knows not his destiny nor what shall happen to him for that the same evening he was slain as you heard before Presently after which a Peace was concluded and the Edict renued for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion through all France as formerly Not many moneths after the Admirall being sent for to Court by the Queen Mother the Widow of the Duke of Guise comes in and falls down at the Kings feet crying out with many tears for revenge for her Husbands death charging the Admirall as the contriver and author of it The Admirall apprehending that this was but the device of others which set her on to seek his destruction by fraud which they could not effect by War before the King and all the Councel he clears himself shewing that Poltrot had at his death professed that he was set on by none but God neither did he doubt but that he had done God good service in it and freed his Countrey from a Tyrant that raged and thirsted after Christian blood and therefore he was not sorry for what he had done c. He also desired that if they questioned the death of the Duke of Guise he might have leave also to put in a Charge against him for that he doubted not but that he could easily prove the Duke of Guise guilty of murthering wickedly the Kings Subjects and of violating all the sacred Laws and Decrees of the King of taking up arms of his own head without Authority and thereby making himself guilty of Treason and of kindling those flames in France which had continued about thirteen moneths Notwithstanding this resolute speech of the Admirall his enemies ceased not for some years still to call upon the King for justice against him whereupon the King at last appointed a Convention of all the Peers of the Kingdom at the City of Molincum whither also he called his chiefest Senators and Counsellours commanding the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Widow of the Duke of Guise to produce what proofs they could and the Admirall to defend himself against them When both parties had pleaded their Cause the King told them that he had referred the judgment to his Counsellors and therefore asked them if they had any exceptions against any of them they answered No. Then he asked them if they would refer the determination of their Cause to him and would stand to his judgment They answered that they would willingly so do Whereupon Jan. 29. Anno
alwaies very studious of the Reformed Religion of an admirable courage and constancy in bearing the manifold afflictions which befell both her self and Husband and amongst her other excellent qualities and vertues she was alwaies very pitifull towards poor people and sick persons to whom she was very liberall in relieving and assisting of them and whereas many sick and wounded Souldiers were daily sent from the Camp to Orleance she frequently visited them so that the Physicians judged her disease to proceed from the stench of them Peace being proclaimed as is before specified in many places by the Kings Trumpeters the Admirall had scarce been three daies at his own house before Letters and Messengers came to him from many of his Friends signifying that instead of peace his enemies made great preparations for a more dangerous Warre for they observed that in every place such provision of War was made that if the Prince of Conde himself and the other associates did not timely prevent it they would be circumvented by their cruel enemies before they were aware and this they gathered from the Garrisons put into Orleance Altissiodore Blesa and other Cities surrendred to them as also by the Adversaries possessing themselves of all the Bridges and Passes over the Rivers keeping the Horse together in the heart of France and continuing two Regiments neer Paris under a pretence of a guard for the King Our Admirall finding these things to be true thought it most for his safety to retire into Tanlian to his Brother Andelot and from thence he shortly after removed to Nuceria a strong City under the Prince of Conde's Government whither formerly upon the like occasion he had carried his Wife and Family In his passage thither there fell out this memorable accident Near to the Town of Molinius there is a great Lake in the passage to Altissiodore when our Admirall came near it there was in his company an old man called Gripperius that had been a great traveller by sea and one that loved the Admirall very dearly this man observing a black cloud coming towards them carried with a violent wind he called to the Admirall desiring him to gallop to the next Town so fast as he could lest he should be oppressed with the violence of the storm approaching the Admirall hearkening to his counsell spurred on his Horse but before he had passed the narrow passages of the Lake there suddainly came such a violent tempest accompanied with a Whirlwind that many Horses and men were quite overthrown many were wounded with the great hailstones and almost quite slain The wind took off the Admirals hat which afterwards could never be found and one of his followers lent him his hat but herein the great mercy of God did appear that the Admirall scaped unhurt by the hail only one hailstone hit and hurt him about the ankle and had this storm taken him and his company a little sooner whilst they were upon the Lakes bank in all probability it had made an utter end of them The tempest being over our Admirall comforted his attendants and lifting up his eyes to Heaven he said O Almighty God I thank thee from whom I know this storm proceeds to warn us of the tempest of danger that is approaching by which we shall be sorely pressed but not oppressed When they were met together at Nuceria they sent divers Messengers with Letters to the King signifying that they had daily intelligence of the snares that were laid for their lives and therefore they beseeched his Majesty to pity his Kingdom wasted already with two Civil Warres and that he would not ruine his Kingdom but rather by his clemency and wisdom quench that fire that is kindled by the Guises Our Admirall also wrote to Margaret Daughter of King Francis and new Dutchesse of Savoy whom he believed to have great power with the Queen Mother intreating her to improve all her Authority and interest for the diverting of the storm that was approaching to the ruine of her Native Countrey But when he perceived that no arguments nor intreaty could prevail for peace and understood that Tavannius who was a little after made Marshall of the Kingdom was secretly drawing his Forces towards Nuceria there to compasse them in he advised the Prince of Conde that they should presently depart from thence and make all the hast that possibly they could to Rochel which by reason of their ancient priviledges had never hitherto admitted of any Garrison By the way they were to passe over the River Liger and in the train there was the Prince of Conde's Wife and six little Children whereof one was but a year old and two daies after followed the Admirall and Monsieur Andelots Children whom the Admirall had sent for to come to them At which time this strange Providence fell out When the Prince of Conde thought to transport his company in two or three little Ships privately over the River neer unto Sancerra it pleased God that a Foard was found whereby fifty Horsemen that were of the Princes train rode over and in the mean time the Ladies Women and Children were ferried over in Boats and no sooner were they gotten all over but though the day was fair the River suddainly rose so high that the Inhabitants of Sancerra took notice of the wonderfull Providence of God praying heartily for the safety and welfare of those little ones who had escaped such a danger The King hearing of this their going to Rochel by the advice of his Courtiers presently commanded all his Horse especially those that were in the Countries of Xantone and Poicters to hasten to Rochel He sent also his Brother Henry the Duke of Anjou to raise all the Forces he could and presently to march thitherwards In the mean time those of the Religion who relying upon the Kings promise and Proclamation of peace staied in their own Cities were every where basely murthered About this time Joane Queen of Navarr who in the former troubles had kept here own house abhorring such abominable treachery and perfidiousnesse after peace so often renewed getting what Forces she could together advanced with them to Rochel carrying with her her Son Henry who after her death was King of Navarr and her only Daughter These things being thus setled the Admirall drew some great Guns out of Rochel intending to besiege Niort and within a few daies had it surrendred to him Then he led his Forces to Engolisme which stands upon an high and steep hill having only one passage to it and therefore the enemies had a little before strongly fortified it but the Admirall planting his Ordinance on that side where it was saultable within a few daies space had it surrendred to him Presently after the Van of each Army met at Jasenullius and fought together the Admirall commanded that of the Protestants who charged the enemy so gallantly that they were presently broken
France more skilfull in warlike affairs then was he and I doubt not but even forreign Nations will subscribe to the truth hereof especially those which have had experience of his vertues and this credit he got to himself not by idleness and sluggishness but by undergoing the greatest labours for his Countries sake Truly I knew no man that was more devout to Godward nor more just to men then he Neither am I ignorant that it were unfit for me thus to boast of him to strangers but I mention them more freely to you because I would have you to be imitators of his vertues for I even propose him for my own imitation and I pray God from my heart that when I come to dye I may with the like piety and assurance resign up my spirit to God as I saw him to do And that my grief for him may be the more extenuated I earnestly desire that I may see his graces and vertues to live in you Which that it may be so I exhort you with all your hearts to embrace Piety and true Religion and wholly to apply your selves to your Books that thereby you may through Gods grace be led in the way of vertue and though I willingly allow you to recreate your selves in those hours which your Master allots you yet I charge you take heed that in your play you neither speak nor do any thing whereby you may offend God Be very carefull to reverence your Master and obey him no otherwise then you would obey me for I am perswaded that he will give you no other counsel then what may be for your honour and profit In short see that you love me or rather that you love your selves so that I may hear nothing of you but what I may rejoyce in and as you grow in years and body so you may grow in Piety and Vertue The Lord bless you all and the holy Spirit preserve you for ever From Xantone May 18. 1569 Castellonius The courage and magnanimity of our Admirall did exceedingly appear in this for that though he had lost such a Brother as was second to none in piety justice vertue and the glory of his military actions so that the Admirall called him his right arm yet he told his Friends often that he wholly relied upon the divine providence and knew assuredly that the Church of God was not administred by humane counsels nor this Christian Army led by the providence and valour of its Commanders but by God And speaking concerning his Brother to his Friends he brake out into this expression O blessed Andelot who hast finished the course of thy life so holily and happily About this time news was brought him that Wolfgang Duke of Bipont had brought a strong Army out of Germany into France for the aid of the Protestants and that he had already passed the Loir and had taken Charity where was a Bridge over that River and when he understood that they were advanced as farre as Chalons he intended to joyn his Forces with them and that very day on which he came to them D. Wolfgang died of a violent disease whereupon the German Army unanimously chose Wolradus Count Mansfield to be their Generall This conjunction of theirs exceedingly troubled their adversaries and every one deemed that the Kings Army would not be able to stand before them but that the Courtiers would hereby be brought to stoop to them Yea all good Patriots that studied the publique Peace did abominate the perfidious Authors of these Wars publiquely saying that God never suffered such perjury to escape long unpunished and it was verily believed that if the Admirall had led this gallant Army strait to Paris many great Cities would willingly have yielded and put themselves into the Admirals protection which opinion was much confirmed hereby for that the Duke of Anjou pitching his tents near to them and adventuring a Battell he was easily overthrown most of his foot being either slain or taken together with their Commander in chief Strossius cosen German to the Queen-Mother The Admirall having so brave an Army hoping that now at last the Kings heart would be inclined to Peace he sent an humble supplication to him the Duke of Anjou not suffering him to send Ambassadours in his own and the Armies name intreating and beseeching him no longer to harden his heart but to pity the afflicted condition of the common people and also to consider that if the Warre should be protracted it would turn to the great prejudice of all the States of France there being twenty thousand Auxiliary Souldiers of both parts and that things were brought to this passe that by these Civil Warres mens minds were so farre from union and love to their Countrey that every one sought the blood ruine and destruction each of other They therefore humbly intreated that he would spare his poor Subjects that had so long groaned under these heavy pressures and that he would no longer be led away by the Cardinals and Italians who had too much power over him and could not have the like fellow-feeling of the miseries of France as the French men themselves They suggested also that this was the fittest time for a Treaty when both parties were so confident of their own strength and that the conditions which he and his Army would propose were very easie viz. That they might enjoy that Peace and Liberty for the exercise of their Religion which was often confirmed to them by the Decrees of all the States and by the Kings own Proclamations That it was extream madnesse in those Italians and strangers to think that those of the Religion whereof there were at least two hundred thousand men could so easily be rooted out the truth whereof the experience of the former Warres might easily demonstrate The Duke of Anjou having received that disgrace which we spake of before by the advice of his Councel dismissed a great part of his Army especially of his Horse for a moneth or two bidding them go home and refresh their bodies Things standing thus the Admirall called a Councel wherein it was determined That seeing Rochel and divers other Maritine Cities and places were wholly in the power of the Protestants That therefore they should take care for the fortifying of them and then should attempt the taking in of the City of Poictiers which would be as a Bulwark to all that Countrey but to this there seemed a main impediment which was the taking in of the Castle of Lusiniac the strongest piece in all France yet after they had besieged it a few daies it was surrendred to them and so also was Castelheraut about the same time Then they proceeded to besiege and batter Poictiers but within a few daies the Admirall being quite tired with watchings and labours fell sick of a Flux which held him so violently for thirty daies together that he could neither assist them with his Counsels nor presence so
c. Having dispatched these things he resolved to march to Vivaret and to the bank of Rhodanus and understanding that some were up in Arms for him in the Delphinate who also had taken some Towns he sent part of his forces to them to assist them in taking in some Cities of greater consequence committing the government of them to Count Lodwick of Nassaw who arriving in the Delphinate struck such a terrour into the Inhabitants as caused them to fly into the Cities but he having no Guns for battery only wasted the enemies Countrey and so with honour returned within few daies to the Admirall Shortly after the Admirall worn out with cares watchings and incessant labours fell sick and though he was greatly afflicted with his disease yet conceiving that it was of great concernment for him to get to the River Liger he made no stay but in his Horselitter marched with his Army thitherward for he was informed that about La Charity and Sancerra there were about two hundred risen in Arms for him whom he thought to be of great concernment to adjoyn to his Army the rather because Cossaeus Marshall of the Kingdom after the Battell in Xantone by the King made Generall of the Army in the room of the Duke of Anjou as he understood advanced with his Army that way and began to approach near him And whereas there came a Trumpet from him to the Admirall about exchange of Prisoners the Admirall sent him word by his Trumpet that he should not need to be at so much pains to seek him for that he himself was hasting towards him so fast as he could When he was advanced so far as the Forrest behold new Ambassadors met him from the King about a Peace for when the Courtiers heard that the Admirall whom they thought to be utterly broken by his former overthrow had in so short a time gotten so gallant an Army together again they were extreamly terrified lest he should march directly towards Paris and there should plunder and destroy the brave Countrey Houses of the Courtiers Senators and rich Citizens of Paris the like whereunto they had heard that the Senators and Citizens of Tholouse had already felt The Admirall by his march though in his Horselitter had his disease much increased upon him and the Physicians gave their judgment that if he continued still to be pressed with so great cares and multiplicity of businesses he could not hold out long whereupon the Treaty with the Kings Ambassadours brake off for a time but some Nobles that were aweary of the Warres complained that there was no reason that the Treaty should cease because the Admirall could not be present at it affirming that though he should die yet there were men enough of honour and interest that could carry on the Treaty to the establishing of Peace The Ambassadors tnswered them We wonder thrt you do not consider of how great authority the Admirall is amongst you who if he should die to day we would not offer to any of you tomorrow so much as a cup of cold water What do you not yet know that the only name of the Admirall can prevail more for you then a great Army without him Within a few daies the Admirall being refreshed and in a good measure recovered the Treaty began again and at last it was concluded That certain Commissioners should go along with the Kings Ambassadours to signifie to his Majesty in the name of them all That they of the Religion desired nothing more then Peace neither was any thing more grievous to them then Warre yet was there none of them but would undergo greater miseries yea and death it self rather then to deny the truth which they had embraced That if the King pleased to grant them Peace and the exercise of their Religion upon the former conditions and to put some cautionary Towns into their power for their security they would willingly and for ever lay down their Arms. These Messengers being dispatched the Admirall advanced forward and in his way took in the Town of Reneducium to which some of the Vantcurriers of Cossaeus were come and from that day forwards there was no day passed without some skirmishes between the two Armies and one day the minds of the Souldiers on both parts were so far inflamed that it had near come to a generall Battell there being only a little Brook between the two Armies Monsieur Mongomry having already broken the first Battell of the adversaries wherein were Valetius and Vasco men of great authority amongst the Royalists But presently came new Messengers from the King desiring a cessation from arms till the Treaty was finished and after great debate an Edict was sent from the King by which certain places were allotted to the Protestants for the exercise of their Religion in for the performance whereof they had for two years four cautionary Towns put into their hands viz. Rochel Montalban Cognac and Charity and the Kings Proclamations hereof were sent all over the Kingdom and so an en end was put to the third Civil Warres The Admirall bringing the German Forces to the borders of their Countrey dismissed them courteously and so taking the two young Princes of Navarr and Conde he went with them to Rochel where the Queen of Navarr was purposing to stay there till the Peace was fully setled in every place and after a few Moneths trusting to the Kings promises and to the oaths of the Kings Brethren and Parliaments having been tired out with so many and great labours he betook himself to rest and at the intreaties and perswasions of his Friends inclined to dispose of himself again in Marriage the rather because he was earnestly solicited thereto by the kindred of Jacoba Monbella the widow of the L. Anthony Monbell who was Daughter of Count Intermontanus of whose modesty piety and wholly life he had heard much formerly She therefore being brought honourably to him to Rochel he solemnly married her and not long after he disposed his own Daughter Ludovica in Marriage to Monsieur Teligni a young man of great Nobility and vertue Of all the Nobility of France none seemed more acceptable and dearer to the King then this Teligni by reason of his admirall ingenuity and therefore being much about the King it was he that did afterwards perswade the Admirall of the great esteem and hearty good will of the King towards him But God quickly mixed sorrow with the joy of these Marriages news being brought about that time of the death of Odet Coligni Cardinall of Chattillion who had been some time in the Court of England as the Procurator for the cause of the Protestants with Queen Elizabeth who much favoured him for the amplitude of his Family and the opinion of his vertue and integrity But the Protestants affairs being composed in France his Brother Gaspar sent for him Whereupon coming to Queen Elizabeth he obtained leave for his departure
but being taken with a suddain disease he died Feb. 14. 1571. not without the suspition of poyson and was buried at Canterbury being about fifty years old He was a man of rare courage candor and faithfulnesse of a sharp judgment so that few were to be compared with him in managing great affairs Guillin his Chamberlain poysoned him with an Apple at the instigation of the Queen-Mother as he confessed at the time of his death when afterwards he was taken as a Spy at Rochel for which he was hanged But all this while the Duke of Anjou was a great enemy to the Protestants and boasted every where of his Victories against them yet the King did what he could to perswade the Queen of Navarr and the Admirall of his great good will towards them that they might be induced the more to confide in him Notwithstanding which the Papists in some places made slaughters of the Protestants As in Orenge whither all the Inhabitants returned who had been driven away in the time of the late Warres the Popish Souldiers made an assault upon them and slew them without regard of age or sex Also in Roan and other places they were slain in great number by the Popish rabble Whereupon the Queen of Navarr the Princes and other Protestant Nobles sent to the King to complain of the violation of the Edict and to require satisfaction for the same The King entertained them kindly protested that these things were done to his great grief and that he would so punish the Authors of these mischiefs as should be for the terrour of others Not long after viz. Anno Christi 1571. the King wrote very flattering Letters to the Admirall giving him very honourable tearmes inviting him to his Court at Blesa intreating him that he would be an instrument of concluding a Marriage between Henry Prince of Navarr and his Sister Margaret and to prevail the more with him he sent him word by his Messengers that no surer way could be found out for establishing the publique Peace of the Kingdom and for uniting all sorts of persons then by this Marriage And the better to delude him the Guises seemed to be every day lesse welcome to him then other and Monmorency the Admirals Sisters Son was used very familiarly by the King who often protested to him his good will towards the Admirall communicated to him the counsels of his greatest affairs for the managing whereof he told him that he had need of the Admirall for to be his Captain and Minister The Queen-Mother also according to her manner protested that she liked nothing better then that a certain Peace should be confirmed upon equal conditions the memory of former matters being blotted out By these means the Admirall was drawn to the Court where he was intertained extraordinary lovingly even beyond expectation so that when he fell down on his knees to do reverence the King took him up calling him his Father saying often and openly that a more desired day never shone unto him then that wherein he saw an end put to the Warre and a firm Peace setled in the whole Kingdom by his presence adding with a smiling countenance Now we have you with us you shall never depart from our side hereafter He was intertained with the same serenity of countenance by the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou but especially by the Duke of Alanson who much favoured him The King also seconded his words with deeds causing one hundred thousand Crowns to be paid him out of his Treasury for his private losses in the last Warres he gave him also the Revenues of the Cardinall his Brother which were very great for one year and also the furniture and houshold stuff of the said Cardinall A few daies after the Admirals return from the Court the young Duke of Guise by the instigation of the Cardinall of Lorraine his Uncle would have put in a new complaint against the Admirall for the death of his Father but the King interposing his Authority drew up a form of agreement which he made both of them to set their Seals to and to take their oaths for the keeping of it notwithstanding which the Duke of Guise shortly after entered Paris accompanied with many armed men which the Admirall hearing of being then at his House at Castellion he moved the King by his Son-in-law Monsieur Teligni that he might have leave to keep a small Guard for his own safety Whereupon the King wrote to him with his own hand and sent his Letter by Bricmald a man of great esteem for his vertue the tenour where of was this That it was most acceptable to him that the Admirall should be exceeding cautious and carefull of his own safety and therefore he gave him power to fortifie his Castle and to raise as great a Guard as he pleased desiring him to be confident without doubting of his good will towards him and that he would be as carefull of his safety as a Father of his Childes These Letters with many such like expressions of love being written with the Kings own hand many read with great delight and were now throughly perswaded that they ought no longer to doubt of the Kings good will and sincere affections to the Admirall Hereupon Count Lodwick of Nassaw whom we mentioned before thinking this a fit time and being secretly invited to the Court moved the King in the name of his Brother the Prince of Orenge for assistance telling him that there were many Cities in the Low Countries that being oppressed and tired out with the lust covetousnesse and cruelty of the Spaniards would willingly surrender themselves into his hands And after a few daies spent in debate about this businesse the King faithfully promised Count Lodwick that very shortly he would send a great Army under the command of the Admirall thither and it was further agreed upon betwixt them that if they succeeded in that War the King of France should have all the Countrey from Antwerp to Picardy and that the Prince of Orenge should have Holland Zeland and Frisland About this very time Letters were intercepted and sent to the Admirall written from the Cardinall Peleus to the Cardinall of Lorrain to this purpose That the King was never better affected then now and therefore because of his good affections together with the Queen-Mothers and the Duke of Anjou's he hoped there would be good issue of those affairs which were resolved on in the common Councel That the King at the Admirals coming to Court had carried himself more politickly then they could have expected whereupon the King believed that he had taken away all suspition from the Admirall and had left him no occasion of doubting of his love and good will towards him which Lorrain knew to be the basis by their joynt consent upon which their future proceedings did depend That some speech was indeed raised about warring upon the King
being certified that many things were done tumultuously in the City and that weapons were brought together in many places they thought fit that counsell should be taken betimes for that no good could be expected from those proceedings Hereupon one was sent to the King to certifie him of the commontion of the people and of their carrying of Arms and therefore to request him to charge certain of his guard to stand before the Admirals door for his better security The King seeming to be moved with this news began to demand of the Messenger who had told it him and whether the Admirall knew of it and withall he sent for the Queen-Mother who was scarce entred when the King with a disquiet mind as he seemed said What a mischief What is the matter He tels me that the common people are in a tumult and take Arms. She answered They are not in any tumult neither do they take Arms but you know that early in the morning you commanded that all should contain themselves in their own quarters lest any tumult might arise That is true said the King but I forbad them to take Arms. Then the Messenger again requested that he would send some of his Guard to the Admirals lodging The Duke of Anjou being by said Take Cossen to you with fifty Harquibushiers The other answered We desire only six of the Kings Guard for their Authority will more prevail with the people then many armed men Yea quoth the King and the Duke of Anjou take Cossens to you for you cannot have a fitter man which words were pronounced very imperiously The Messenger knowing Cossen to be a great enemy to the Admirall yet held his peace and not far from the Kings Chamber he met with Monsieur Thoree Brother to Marshall Monmorency who whispering in his ear said No greater enemy could be given us for our Keeper to whom the other answered Did you not observe how Imperiously the King decreed it but pray you remember what I answered to the King when he first commanded it A few hours after came Cossen with his fifty Harquibushiers to the Admirals house and chose two shops by to place his Guard in A little after Rambulet the Kings Camp-master followed who by the advice of the Duke of Anjou commanded all the Popish Nobility that lodged in that street to remove their quarters elsewhere that he might dispose of their lodgings to the friends and familiars of the Admirall then which no more crafty counsell could be devised for those matters which afterwards fell out Towards evening this hapned which gave to many no small occasion of suspition A Boy by the command of Teligni brought two hunting poles to the Admirals house but Cossen put him back and would not suffer them to be carried in This being told to the King of Navarr who was now with the Admirall he went down and asked Cossen upon what confidence he did it Cossen answered that he had done it at the command of the King but said he since you will have it so let them be brought in That day the King sent to all the Admirals familiar friends admonishing them to go near to the Admirals house and take up all those quarters But upon the former occurrences another Councel was called under the Admirals lodging wherein the Vidam of Chartres again urged his former opinion that the Admirall should presently be carried out of Paris and that his friends should go along with him That every hour they observed many things that justly increased their suspition But most were of the contrary opinion viz. That they were only to require justice of the King and to desire that the Guises and their Faction might be commanded out of the City as being too powerfull with the people of Paris and of this opinion was the King of Navarr the Prince of Conde and many others and the rather because Teligni urged that it would be a great injury to the King if any should call his faith and sincerity into question and that it would be sufficient if justice were meekly required of him At this debate there was one Bucavannius a Picard who never spake word he was a professor indeed of the true Religion but very gracious with the Queen-Mother and very frequent with her familiars which probably betraied all to her About three a clock in the night there fell out another thing which increased the suspition for one carrying to the Admirals house the Coats of Male of Teligni and Guercius Cossen turned him back again which man complaining to Guercius who was a stout and gallant man he went to Cossen and sharply taxed him for it so that they had well near fallen to blows but Teligni who was of a meek and quiet spirit with gentle words pacified them himself being so deluded with the fair and flattering words of the King that he never thought that he spake enough in his commendation In the mean time a Councell was held at Court where were present the King Queen-Mother Duke of Anjou Duke of Nevers the Bastard of Angolisme Birage Tavannius and Radesianus and it was concluded That seeing by the death of one the mischief diffused amongst so many could not be extinguished therefore all should be destroyed And that the wrath which God would not have fulfilled with the blood of Coligni alone should be poured out against all the Sectaries therefore say they the bridle is to be let loose to the common people who are stirred up enough of themselves and when the businesse is accomplished reasons will not be wanting whereby the deed may be excused the blame being laid upon the Guises who will willingly undergo the same So they all concluded that all the Protestants were to be destroyed even every Mothers child of them Concerning the King of Navarr and the Prince of Conde it was debated Whether they were to be exempted from the number of the rest and it was alleadged that the King of Navarr was to be spared because of his royall Dignity and his affinity newly contracted for it would be without all excuse if so great a Prince next to the King in blood conjoyned in fresh affinity should be slain in the Kings Castle between the arms as it were of the King his Brother-in-law and his Wives imbraces Concerning the Prince of Conde the contention was greater he was much envied for his Fathers sake yet the dignity of his person and the authority of the Duke of Nevers who became surety for him prevailed that he should be spared After this the King calling the King of Navarr told him that by reason of the violence and boldnesse of the Guises and the common people inclining to them he would advise him to command those of his houshold whom he knew most faithfull to him to come to him to the Louure to be at hand upon all occasions This the King of Navarr took in very good part sending for
Queen of Navarr being zealously carefull to propagate the Protestant Religion in Cantabria a Province of the Jurisdiction of Navarr she sent Pastors who had learned the Countrey language which is understood by almost none of the neighbours and was before believed that it could not be written She took care also that the New Testament the Catechism and the Prayers used in the Church of Geneva should be translated into the Gascoine or Cantabrian tongue which she caused to be printed at Rochel in a most fine letter and sent to them And so upon the earnest solicitation of the King she went the March following Anno Christi 1572. from Rochel to the Court which was then at Blois with great attendance where it is incredible to think what welcome she had on all sides especially from the King and his Brethren who yet when all was done could boastingly say to his Mother Now Madam have not I quit my self well Let me alone and I will bring them all into the net In April following were the Articles concluded concerning the marriage of the Prince of Navarr with the Kings Sister And in the beginning of May the King woed the Queen of Navarr again to come to Paris for preparing things fitting for the Marriage which she at last consented to and so May the 6. she took her journey from Blois and came to Paris May the 15. After which she went from place to place in the City into sundry houses and shops to find out such things as might tend to the adorning of the day of so great a solemnity The Queen-Mother in the mean time who could not endure this good Queen and yet not finding with what colour she could dispatch her with the rest though she feared the greatnesse of her spirit in case she should survive them and judged it impossible to work upon the flexibility of the young Prince her Son whilst she lived She therefore consulted with one Rene an Italian whose practice was to impoyson things by whose devilish help she brought her accursed purpose to passe This Rene sold the Queen of Navarr certain Perfumes whereby he found out the way to poyson her therewith and afterwards he was heard to make his brags of it saying also that he had the like in store for two or three more who suspected no such matter By this means June the 4. this good Queen fell sick of a continued Feavor and though others sleighted it yet she perceiving by the strength of her disease that she should not long continue prepared her self to receive from the hand of God her mercifull Father that which he had appointed concerning her And calling her Son Henry she commanded him above all things carefully to serve God according to the confession of Faith wherein he had been educated and not to suffer himself to be plucked or diverted from the same by the smoaky pleasures and delights of the world and other incentives unto vices and that he should take care that the Constitutions concerning the same which she had published in the Principality of Berne and the lower Navarr be inviolably kept That he should throughly purge his Family and cause all bad Counsellors to be gone from thence which thought ill concerning God As also all flatterers the abusers of Princes and all other vicious Persons That he should retain with him all good men as Bellovarius Francutius and Betulus who were men of an unblameable life That he should have a special care of his Sister Katherine using her gently and lovingly without bitternesse causing her to be brought up in the Town of Berne in the same School of godlinesse which himself had been trained up in and when she should grow marriagable that he should marry her to a Prince of equall dignity professing the same Religion That he should love Henry Bourbon his Cosen German as his Brother and also Francis Marquesse of Contium taking care that as great concord as may be be cherished betwixt them and the Admirall Coligni for the advancement and propagation of Gods glory Lastly she makes her Son her Heir intreating the King the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou and the Duke of Alenson the Kings Brethren to undertake the Protection of the Prince her Son and of Katherine his Sister and to permit them the free exercise of their Religion Then she requested that she might have such nigh about her as might comfort her in her sicknesse out of the Word of God as also to pray with her and for her according to that of Saint James Is any sick amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him knowing that the Prayers of a righteous man prevail much with God According to her desire a Minister resorted to her shewing out of the Scriptures that Christians ought in all things to submit to the will of God as to the Father of spirits that they may live and albeit by reason of the severity of his chastisements sometimes it may seem to our flesh as if they were sent for no other end but for our destruction yet ought we to consider that the just God can do nothing but justly and being withall a mercifull Father he cannot but therein seek the welfare of his afflicted Children To this she replied I take all this as sent from the hand of God my most mercifull Father Nor have I during this extremity feared to die much lesse murmured against God for inflicting this chastisement upon me knowing that whatsoever he doth he doth so order the same as that in the end it shall turn to my everlasting good Then said the Minister The causes of sicknesses and diseases must be sought beyond the course of Physick which alwaies looks to the corruption of the humours or of the distemper to the more noble parts of the body And though it be not amisse to have respect to these things as to secondary causes yet ought we to ascend higher namely to the first even to God himself who disposeth of all his creatures even as best pleaseth him He it is that makes the wound and heals that kils and makes alive Deut. 32.39 and therefore to him we ought to direct our Prayers for our comfort in all our griefs and sufferings and in the end to expect full deliverance seeing it's easie with him to restore our health if it stand with his his good pleasure To this she answered That she depended wholly upon Gods Providence knowing that all things are wisely disposed by him and therefore she besought him to furnish her with all such graces as he saw to be necessary for her salvation As for this life said she I am in a good measure weaned from it in regard of the afflictions which have followed me from my youth hitherto but especially because I cannot live without offending my good God with whom I desire to be with all my heart Then said the