and grieuance of the Guises Furthermore we will declare what great alterations came to passe after this the yong King Charles comming to the Crowne As the great peace and tranquilitie giuen and graunted to the Churches by the benefite of the Kings Edictes the daily increase of the faithfull the flourishing of the Gospell in euery place the defacing of the Popes doctrine by solemne Court of Parliament the truth also embraced of many of the Nobles And here we will shewe what séedes of dissention were sowne by the subtile practises of the Guises betwéene the Nobles Then I will speake somewhat of the Actes of the parling of Possiacen Last of all I will declare the summe of the Edict of Ianuarye by which greater libertie was graunted to the Churches And bicause about that time there were great troubles of warres I will there make an ende of thys booke leauing the declaration of the rest vntill a more conuenient time Notwithstanding part thereof that is to say the explication of the first Ciuil warres shall be declared in our thrée latter bookes we looking to haue occasions offered to describe other matters which are behinde The booke of Commentaries concerning Religion vnder the reignes of Henrie the seconde Fraunces the seconde and Charles the ninth THe doctrine of Religion which in our time is amended and reformed came at the last into Fraunce But they were hardly delt withall which receyued that doctrine they were banished burnt and with all maner of torments vexed they were also called Lutheranes which name then was made a common reproch to the godly Notwithstanding all this that doctrine did more largely and vehemently spreaâ—…e it selfe abroade and the more that men were toriâ—…ented the more they came â—…o the same by flocks Many to the end they might escape the crueltie of their punishments â—… might enioy the frée vse of religioÌ„ weâ—…t vnto those places â—…n the which y same was purely publikely set forth amâ—…ng which the greatest part went to Geneua From whence many bookeÌ„s and letters being written a great number were brought to the knowledge of that doctrine The which dailie increasing more and more great matters afterwardes came to passe those things which were done in the beginning with feare and secretely were afterwarde frée and common for euery man to vse vntill such time as punishments being repressed torments taken away and the fierie flames quite extinguished that doctrine was receyued of noble men of Gentlemen and of all estates but on the other side the aduersaries of the reformed religion Resisting y same there arose great tumults which by mortall and ciuill warres vexed and much endamaged the great and noble kingdome of Fraunce But these first beginnings are particularly touched in other bookes in the which the noble and excellent triumphes of Martyrs are described I will therfore begin at that yeare since the which matters of Religion being more opeÌ„ly set forth and more vehemently againe resisted haue more happily and euidently appeared And then this was the state of the kingdome After sundrie and long warres betwéene Henrie the seconde King of Fraunce and Charles the fyfth Emperour at the length both their Legates wheÌ„ they could not by peace ende the controuersies which were betwéene them concluded a truce or peace for fyue yeares the which being shortly after broken by the Cardinall of Lorraine the warre began a freshe betwene the two kings And Fraunces Duke of Guise taketh his iourney into Italie with a great armye And Philip king of Spaine and sonne of the Emperour Charles goeth into Picardie who making hast to the towne of Sanquintine gaue the Constable which came out to mete him a great ouerthrow and toke him with a great number of Gentlemen This ouerthrowe and great slaughter of men was called Laurence day bicause it chaunced at the feast of S. Laurence â–ª After this Sanquintine was taken and certaine cities nere vnto the same So that what with the rumor of the sodeine slaughter what with the feare of the enimie which now approched to Paris the chiefe citie of the kingdome all men were wonderfully afrayde While these things were thus a working there began to be a great fame and rumor of the increase of the Lutheranes by reason whereof there followed a notable persecution against them which by the popular and vulgar name is called The winning of S. Iames streete and it was so called for this cause When the faithfull perceyued the great perill and dauÌ„ger that hong ouer the whole kingdome of France by reason of this newe plague and punishment they gaue themselues to prayer and therfore congregated themselues togither by a great number the fourth daye of September in certaine houses of S. Iames stréete in Paris and that in the night for in the daye time they might by no meanes come togither minding to heare the worde preached and to haue the supper of the Lorde celebrated But they being bewrayed the common sort of people with weapons in a great tumult ranne with all haste to this stréetâ—… of S. Iames where the faithfull were assembled who being in those houses before mentioned and séeing themselues to be compassed on euerye side with the furor and rage of the multitude had small hope to escape howbeit part of them when they sawe a waye to be made for them through a certaine gate which wonderfully opened for the safegarde of many when the houses on â—…uery side were beset repeated their former prayers and escaped by flight without harme euen as though God himselfe had gone before them the greater part were taken of the Magistrates among whom were many noble women and women of great parentage and as they were led away by the officers were shamefully intreated and vnhonestly handled of the people Now the matter being in question concerning this asseÌ„bly it was first founde that when the people were assembled togither there was a Lecture of the holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue secondly that all the congregation knéeling prayers were made by the Minister thirdly that the Minister expounded the place of the eleuenth Chapter of S. Paules first Epistle to the Corinthians in the which the vse of the Lords supper is declared fourthly that then prayers were made for the King for Princes Magistrates for all estates of people for peace and quietnesse of the kingdom and last of all that the breade end wine of the Lords supper was communicated and giuen to those which were not iudged vnworthie For these offences they were taken Being therefore taken and cruelly intreated of the people by the way were notwithstanding very vâ—…courteously delt withall in prison For théeues and murtherers and such as by the lawe deserued to die were taken out of their colde and noysome prisons and these men put into the same in their steade all men forbidden to haue any recourse vnto them Notwithstanding it was brought to passe by the singular prouidence of God bicause
should séeke to escape by flight crying out moste outrageously against theÌ„ and incouraging his soldiers to the slaughter Who making a violent assault fell vpon the fearefull and trembling multitude and suche as sought to escape by flight or by climing vp to the top of the house they slew without pity or mercy yea whomsoeuer they met withall were they men or wemen olde or yong they put them to the sword most cruelly against all humanity making hauocke of them all together In the meane time the clamors howlings and pitifull cries of these innocent shéepe appoynted to the slaughter were not ceased but were made wyth the sound of the trumpet whych blew all the time of the flanghter to be more dolefull and terrible to all those that hearde the same Wher vpon the Duches of Guise the Dukes wife walking by chaunce by the walles of the citye and hearing this feareful noise was abashed therat In so much that shée sending straight way a messenger to her husband earnestly desired and beséeched him to cease and makâ—… an ende of that miserable slaughter least wemen great with childe in the city hearing that fearful noise should be deliuered before their time Therefore the Duke of Guise being troubled and somewhat terrefied with hys owne horrible and wicked enterprise commaunded a retreit to be blowne And then was brought to hym the Preacher whom he miscalled and reuiled at hys pleasure and then committed him to the charge and custody of a souldier But yet for all this the soldiers ceased not to slay and kill committing murder in diuers places of the citye and defiling the streates wyth bloude yea with the bloud of innocents to describe the whych as it was don in déede by these bloudy butchers it wold abhorre any christian heart to heare At the last when they had made an ende of killing and slaying they searched throughoute euery corner of the place where the people had assembled them selues together they ouerâ—…hrew the seates and benches that were therein and brake them to péeces they did cut the holy Bible in péeces yea and the rascall soldiers spake thus of the same What shal I do with this word of God I passe not for it I can make no money of this geue me therefore the golde the siluer and apparell It cannot be vttered with what and howe many blasphemies the gospell was blasphemed The Cardinall Guise also had in his hande a certaine Bible which was found in the pulpet Of him the Duke of Guise demauÌ„ded what booke it was The Cardinall answered that it was the holy scripture What holy scripture is it sayeth he and loking vpon the first leafe of the booke he sayde that that booke was not made aboue two yeres since shewing by hys warlike rudenes and ignorance what litle knowledge and vnderstanding he had of the word of God. At the last euen as if the city had ben ouer runne and vanquished by the forraine enemy the lackeis and seruing men fayning the voyce of a Crier sold gowns coates cappes and wâ—…mens apparell to the popish sort of the towne which greatly scorned derided the faithfull The houses also of the outdwellers and borderers vppon the citie were despoyled and many by the waye as they went were euill intreated and slaine Then the Duke of Guise commaunded the kéeper of the Castell to come before him whome he sharply reprehended because he knew of those sermons that were made in the Citie and threatned to punish him commaunding him to follow him Many also of the townesmen were led away with them bound The Minister or Preacher of whom we spake before being sore mangled and wounded and lying groueling vppon a Ladder was so caried by the commaundement of the Guise to a towne called Sandiser being derided miscalled and euill intreated as he went. Now the fame of this horrible act and butcherly slaughter was brought by and by to the Churches bordering therabouts and thereof also diuers rumâ—…rs and reports arysing it was diuersly reported in the Kyngs Court and sodenly astonished and amazed all those that heard of the same vntill within few dayes after certaine messengers came from Vassi and from certaine of the Churches thereabouts certifying the truth of the matter and complayning of the horrible fact eâ—… the Gui ses and making humble supplicatioÌ„ that remedy might be prouided for so great a mischiefeâ—… adding hereunto that the true subiects of the King could not beare any longer the great crueltie and iniuries of the Guises being straungers The matter being thus reported séemed to all men very presumptuous rash Insomuch that the Prince of Conde the Chastilons the Chauncelour others cried out against the same saying that it was a wicked and horrible act and against the Edicts and lawes of the Realme and that therfore it was nedefull to prouide a present remedie Notwithstanding the dayly rumors of the comming of the Guises to Paris caused al meÌ„ to feare foreséeing diuers great troubles and calamities like to ensue At this time the King was at Monceaulx a house belonging to the Quéen his mother who was there also accompanied with the Prince of Conde But the King of Nauar the Martiall of S. Andrew the Brissac were at Paris to whom straight waye also came the Constable Now the Duke of Guise was come to Nantuille a place of his dominion and it was reported that he woulde come the next daye to Paris The Prince of Conde much marueiled at this sodaine and hasty comming of the Guises to Paris after the comitting of so wicked presumptuous a déede against the kyngs Edict He went therfore to the King and Quéene and declared that the matter was such that except a remedie were prouided in time great destruction would fall vppon the whole Realme Wherfore he wished that so great a mischiese might might procéede no farther For saith he if the Duke of Guise come to the Citie there will followe present perill of most gréeuous calamities The Quéene the Kinges mother liked well of this aduise of the Prince and agréed to the same Therfore she wrote to the kyng of Nauar exhorting him according â—…o his office to sée that the kinges Maiestie and the Realme also fell into no perill and chargeth the Guise also by her letters not to come to the citie but to come him self to the King with a few only wayting vpoÌ„ him To the which the Guise aunswered that hée was busie in entertayning his fréendes and could not come Whereuâ—…pon the Quéene wrote her letters againe but in vaiâ—…e Therfore after deliberation had the Duke of Guise came to Paris the twenty day of March with his brother the Duke of Aumal the Martiall of Saint Andrew which came to him to Nantueile and with a great many noble men more and with a great Armie of horsemen also And entering into the citie there went to méete and entertayne him the chief master of the marchaunts a man of great
al the faithfull of the Countries therabout The citie Montaubane in Langnedoc being taken by the faithfull townesmen therin and fortefied with their garison who being oftentimes assaulted by the inhabitants of Tholoz and M. Mōluce and encountred with all also in playue battaile with great courage and constancie defended themselues and had good successe ¶ Therfore in the prouince of Languedoc diuers things attempted had diuers successe In the Townes called Chatronouar and Limos many of the faythfull were slaine The faithfull fled out of Narbon being not able to withstand the power of Monsier de Iuoys the Liuetenant they fled also out of diuers townes about Towers the inhabitants wherof are called Rheni Castra Albiens a Noble Citie was taken by the faithfull and many other cities néere adioyning to the same Pezenac chum a Citie so called yéelded also to the faithfull but within a while after they were troubled againe Also the Citie called Blitter was taken and fortefied by the faithfull Aijgnes also a Noble hauen lying vppon the Mediteran sea was yéelded into the hands of the faith full Monpellier also a Citie very famous for Phisicke and healing diseases and very rich also for that it bordered vppon the sea was fortefied by the faythfull Also the faithfull tooke a very strong hold called S. Peters Castell thrust out a Bishop that kept the same after which they got the whole Citie the I le and the castel of Maguelon The tooke also a towne called in old time Foss Marian but now Aquae Mortuae a noble hauen of the Mediteran Sea but the Captayne thereof being slayne through treason the Papistes got the same againe Moreouer the faithfull tooke Nemaux a Citie very rich and noble by the auncient monuments of the Romanes and they tooke not only this but the whole ter ritory thereabout The whole territory also almost of Uiuar and Seuenas yéelded to the Faithfull with the Medowes on both sides the riuer called Roane from Lions almost to Auinion after the which they tooke a very strong holde called Rochmor Castell which afterwardes greatly anoyed the men of Auinion Therfore a great part of Narbon which is called Languedoc being very rich and replenished with stout and valiant souldiers yéelded to the faythfull On the other part the Inhabitants of Dolphiny being a great number which professed the reformed religion made almost the whole prouince on their side putting al such as were Papistes to silence And herein they vsed the helpe of Baron des Adretz who hauing with good successe done many valiant actes in those regions with the very terrour of his fame and name euen at the first quayled the mindes of the Papistes thereabouts The Citie of Ualentia also was taken by the faithful but not without great perill In the which Citie there was one M. Mottecondrin Deputie to the Duke of Guise who was gouernour of that prouince a man of warre and by the meanes of the Guises a mortall enemie to the reformed Religion This man to withstand the faythful gathered togither all the power hée was able to make and brought into the Citie new garrisons of soldiers apointed new watch and ward at euery gate of the Citie to the great terror of the faithfull Citizens who perceyuing the present daunger fled to the Churches that were reformed thereabouts crauing their helpe ayd Wherevpon many came from Roman and Montill ▪ noble citties and from the hyther part of Viuaretz And now when assault was made the faithful of the citie of Valencia got the gate and whilest the souldiours of Mottecondrin made hast to withstand them the faythful rescued them on euery side in so much that the Papistes were constrayned to giue backe And Montecondrin himselfe after he was come to his house from the tumult was besieged at the length by fire which was set to his house constrayned to yéeld himselfe into his enemies hands Then the Captayne 's entered into communication with Mottecondrin And while they were thus in talk togither a good while the people stood wayting at the dores and long looking when Mottecondrin shoule be slayne and at the last they threatened certaine of their captaynes which went about to saue his lyfe that except they deliuered into their handes Mottecondrin they would slay them Uppon this one Mongoni a noble man came to Mottecondrin sayd vnto him That which thou wentest about to bring vpon other thou shalt now taste of thy selfe and shalt suffer punishement for so many good men that haue ben slayne And then vnarming him he thrust his dagger into his side and so slew Mottecondrin and hoong the dead carcasse out of the window for the people to behold And thus the faith full enioyed Valentia and almoste all the chief Cities in Dolpheny as Grenoble Uienna Romans Montil Crest and others It was reported that letters of the Duke of Guise were found among the writings of Mottecondrin in whiche hée gaue commaundement to kill the faythfull in euery Citie and it was reported that the fourth of May was the day appointed for that murther the which rumour greatly stirred vp the mindes of the faithfull they plainly vnderstanding whereabout their aduersaries the papistes went. While these things were thus a working at Valencia and throughout all Dolpheny at Lyons also as commonly it commeth to passe in so great garboyles diuers mens mindes were diuersly occupied The papistes séemed to excéede the faythfull both in strength and also in nomber Who notwithstanding what with their own might and what with the help of their neighbors were not weake and as touching their mindes and courage they did no doubt far excell their enemies The Lieuetenant at that time of Lyons was one Saltain a Noble man being of quiet and modest dispositiō and was not altogither an enemie to the reformed Religion yet hée was very carefull to maintayne peace according to the prescript of the Kings Edictes Therefore hée endeuoured himselfe all that hée might to kéepe both partes and sortes of men in peace and concorde Neuerthelesse there came newes to the Elders of the reformed churches that the destructiō of the church was euen now a working certeine noble men papistes that were of the Guises faction intending to be at Lyons by a certeyne daye as Mottecondrin Aches Calmentius Mongeronius who were reported to haue gathered great armies of soldiours from euery place Soldiours also were mustered at Lyons Saltain not knowing thereof Their conspiracy and purpose was to remoue Saltain from the custody of the Citie then to destroye all the faithefull Then came Mongeron to Lyons and shewed to Saltain the kinges commaundement that hée should be ioyned with him in the custodie gouernment of Lions By whose comming the Papistes were not a litle cōforted Wherevpon the faythfull thought that in this extremitie it was not good any longer to delay the time According to their manner they had Sermons in the suburbes
and seuere conditions And if their departure out of the realme might remedy the matter he beséeched the Quéene that there might be no regarde or consideration had of them but of publike peace and quietnesse The Prince of Conde had oftētimes vsed these words Let there be no consideration had of me I would gladly bring to passe that by my exile the kingdome might be in peace and the vse of the reformed Religion restored And the Quéene euen of purpose had entised and prouoked the Prince of Conde shée hauing the Triumuiri hir Schoole maisters to vse these wordes Therefore the Quéene hauing féete occasion offered hir answered That shée had alwayes the Prince of Conde and the rest in as great estimation as became hir But for somuch as the matter was come to this point that suche remedies must be vsed as shée wished not to her great grief yet notwithstanding because of the present necessitie she said she receiued that condition namely that they should forthwith depart the Realme by whose absence the myndes of the Bishopps would be the better pacified and so the Realme should be at peace and quietnes And shée would she said make generally and particularly to euery man such assurance for their peace and safetie as they could desire The Prince of Conde and his fellowes wonderinge greatly at these wordes of the Quéen which they looked not for said at the length that they had respecte vnto others as wel as to themselues whose aduise thei would haue But the Quéene prosecuted hir former talke saying that so the common wealth should be greatly profited and there are some saith shée that threaten to prolong the kings minoritie vntill hée come to the age of one and twenty if so be néede should require to resiste their violēce she was persuaded she said that the Prince of Conde and the rest of his friends would come and help the King although he were neuer so far of Thus they made an end for this day And the Quéen came to Talsiac The day following there came a Messenger betymes in the morning to the Prince of Conde from the Quéene with short letters which made mention of the communication had the daye before of the concluding of the same for the which cause she sayd shée would haue him come vnto hir Then the Prince of Cōde and his fellowes came to the Quéene and when hée had talked with her a while séeing that the time of hys aboad with her was not limited and séeing also that hée could bring nothing to passe as he would he prayed the Quéene that he and his fellowes might haue leaue to retourne back againe to their armie for so much as also hée perceyued that those perleyings wanted not the accustomed treasons of his aduersaries And thus the Prince of Conde the same day retourned agayne to his armie who very ioyfully receyued him notwithstandinge the soldiers was almost displeased that the Prince of Conde came into so great peril with the common consent of all the Nobles saying that those parleyes should be néedefull no more and that the pollicie of the aduersaries was not perceyued and seene who go about to detract delay the the tyme to the end they may increase their power with forreyne helpe to set vppon vs whom they now feare We for slow say they the aduantage when it is offered Where we had rather suffer any extremity than to haue these delayes Let vs set vpon the enemie and contende no more with wordes but with the dynte of sworde And in very déede if the Prince of Conde had brought hys armie at the first to Paris being so well appoynted and of so great courage there had ben great hope of victory But these delayes through parleying dyd both abate the number and also the courage of the soldiours where as the enemie thereby greatly increased his power The Guises hearing of this retourned with all spéed to their hoaste and were not a little gréeued that the Prince of Conde was so escaped their handes And because they thought it necessary they remoued their host secretly in the night from Baugence leauing there only certayne garrisons of Souldiours to defende the same The day following they assaulted Blais being a Noble Citie which wanted sufficient power to defende the same because the enemie came vnlooked for This they tooke and put a great number of men to the sworde From thence they went to Towers and sought to haue the same rendered vnto them the which when they had taken by surrender they spoyled horrible slaughter was committed by the Papistes in the same towne agaynst the faythfull Men and women without anye respect of age were drowned in the Riuer by shipfulls And diuers also were beheaded These sodayne and vnlooked for rumours stayed the Prince of Conde also the great and huge stoare of raine which fell in that Region being of it selfe very déepe and foule made the Prince of Conde to alter his purpose and to leaue following the enemie For there was no ioyning of battayle by reason of the foulnesse and dyrtinesse of the Countrey the tyme rather seruing to assalt and besiege Cities Wherefore hée determined to reserue his power vntill better occasions were offered and so retourned to Orleans agayne with hys whole Armye About this tyme wel néere the Aumal brother to the Duke of Guise assalted Roan in Normandie and battered a very strong and well fenced Castell commonly called the Castle of Saint Catherin with great store of ordinaunce but he preuailed not but had euill successe the City being stoutly defended by the soldiers in the town Moruilleirs a noble man being their Captaine Therefore the sixtéene day of the seege the Duke Aumale with out his purpose remoued his hoste from Rhoane and departed with losse of a great nomber of his Soldiers at this séege At Lyons and about the vtmost regions as Dolpheny Burgundy and the prouince of Langres the faithful were diuersly vered and troubled In Burgundie the losse of Chalon which in old time was called Cabilo was the occasion that many other Townes also were lost Tauuanies the vicegerent of that prouince hauing alwaies at euery occasion an armie ready and appointed to fighte Matisco was kept and defended by the garrison of soldiers of Lions whose Captaine was Mombrun This Mombrun geuing to the Soldiers in the night a watch word or signe to depart stale away by ship and lefte the City and came to Lyons Then Tauan easely tooke the Citie of Matisco being quite voide of defence Herevppon all Burgundie yéelded to the Pope In Prouince which is a Region nere vnto the Meditaran Sea the faithfull were very euill intreated and murthered Before the first motions of this Ciuil war there was stirred vp a greuouse sedition the chiefe author and Captaine whereof was one Flacean a desperate person who had gotten vnto him a band of wicked and lewde men the which sedition notwithstandinge was easely
Prince of Conde and also the falsehood trechery and vniust dealing of our aduersaries may appeare as is more at large set forth in those writinges published concerning this matter Of the which matters because thou art certified alreadie most noble Emperour we will at this tyme be no longer tediouse vnto thée This one thing the Prince of Conde requesteth at your highnes hand that you will take into your custody the crowne of our yong King from those thrée priuate persones which haue brought him into so great daunger and to restraine them of their willes séeing it is manyfest that these thrée priuate persones the one of them a strauÌ„ger the other two not comparable to the Prince of Conde in no condition haue caused Ciuill warres to the destruction of the Realme And aboue all thinges this he requesteth that you would deliuer the King the Quéene and the Realm from their presumption tiranny and falsehoode and that you would helpe the states of the Realme to their authoritie and the Kinges Subiectes to peace and to the benefite of the Kings Edictes Also because vnder the couller of defendinge the King the Rokendolfe and the Rhengraue haue brought troupes of horsemen out of Germanie into Fraunce notwithstanding meaning to helpe our aduersaries whereby there cannot chuse but ensue great hurte to the King and to the realme the Prince of Conde humbly beséecheth you that by your commaundement and by the commaundementes of your noble Princes they may with all spede be called backe againe and may be seuerely straightly charged not to beare armoure against vs and also that hereafter it be lawful for none within the limmits of the empire to musture either horsemen or footemen to serue the Guises which vse not but abuse the Kinges name and authoritie The which dede most noble Emperour shal become you very wel since God hath made you a refuge for the afflicted in time of trouble and a helpe for Kings especially when they are in daunger of men by reason of their tender yeares Defend therefore our Kinge oure Quéene his mother the Kingdome and the lawes and states of the Realme from the tyrrannie of the Triumuiri Concerning the vayne assaulte that was giuen to Cesteron a Towne in Prouance by Monsuer Sommeriue a Captain on the Papistes side we haue spoken before Yet notwithstanding they came to the same place again the xxvi day of August with a greater armie with al maner of artillery better appointed carying with them from Marsiles certain great fielde péeces Therefore the Citie began to be battered with greater force of ordinance than it was before TheÌ„ word was brought that Monsuer Monbrun came with an Army of men to rayse the siege his Army contained a thousand footemen and two hundred horsemen Monsuer de Suze hearing of this went out to méete him with a company of wel appointed Souldiers and geuing the on set vppon Monsuer Monbrun he slew an hundred and fiftie of his Souldiers and put the rest to flight Monsuer Monbrun also himselfe fledde leauing behinde him two field péeces which afterward came into the handes of Monsuer de Suze At the coÌ„maundement of Baron des Adretz Monsuer Monbrun came to Cesteron minding with the ayd rescue of moÌ„suer de Adretz which on the other part had inuaded the County of Venaâ—… both to remoue the siege from Cesteron and also with the greater force to assault Prouance Against the men of Auinion which went about to resist hym Baron des Adretz preuailed and had the victory geuing vnto theÌ„ the ouerthrow at a village called Orgo Notwithstanding when Baron des Adretz heard that Monsuer Monbrun was put to flight he retourned into Dolpheny New Monsuer Someriue and his Souldiers at the returne and good successe of Monsuer de Suze and his men were not a little incouraged in so much that with greater force vehemency they began to assault the city wheÌ„ by battery they had made a great breach in the wals the soldiers began with great violâ—…ce to enter therat who notwithstanding were coÌ„strained to retire again many of theÌ„ being sâ—…ain by the faithfull But when their vitualles were wel nigh spent and that they were dayly oppressed more and more with penury and scarsitie Monsuer Senaz the lifetenaunt of the Towne Monsuer Mouens whose helpe he greatly vsed began to consider concerning the yéelding vp of the Citie and placing certaine Souldiers in the breach of the wall to kepe the Citie accordinge to the custome of warres they in the night without noyse caried out a great multitude of the Townsmen with Wemen and Children and aged persones at a certaine place to the which the enemy could scarcely come being let with a riuer and a hill which lay betwene them The enemyes scoutes were wary of the noyse and gaue intelligence thereof vnto the Army but rather thinkinge that some came to helpe them than that the faithfull went out of the City suspected nothinge and therefore held themselues still in their tentes Thus Monsuer Mouens and a great multitude of people escaped the peril But Mon suer Someriue being certyfied of the whole matter by the Papistes of the Towne entered into the Citye and there slew all that he found in the Citye both Papistes and Protestantes without respecte of persones Monsuer Mouens caried the people which he brought out of Cesterâ—… most miraculously through diuers places which were possessed by the enemy yet notwithstanding escaped their handes and came at the last to Gratianople a Citie in Dolpheny And so all Prouans when the faithfull were ouercome yelded to the Papistes by whom all kind of cruelty beside the custome of warre was committed in Cityes and Townes as at Marsiles and at Aijques and in that whole Region Many Women also in those Cityes were so outragious best lyke cruell â–ª contrary to their kind that it is almost incredible to be tould These when they had gathered themselues to gyther to a sufficient nomber would in the night as if they had bin dronke or out of their wittes go vp down the Citie searching and ransackinge the houses of the faithfull and when they had founde a woman they led her and scourged her through the Citie vntill she came to the common place of slaughter which they had prepared for the purpose and then hanged her vp by the féete the which being done they draue vp a wedge or wodden pin into the body through the shame and secrete part of the woman and so slewe her an acte most horrible and shamefull to be eyther spoken or heard Euery where robbery rapine and spoyle was committed the Senate in the meane tyme not only suffering these thinges to escape vnpunished but also approuing the same Upon the Territorie of Lions there bordereth a Region called Forestes the chief Citie wherof is Monbriso Therefore the inhabitants of Forrestes hauing Monsuer Monselas their Captayne anoyed the
faithfull held Therfore Monsuer Ioyse tooke shipping and in his shippes great store of Ordinaunce with the which hee so battered the Castell that the kéepers thereof for want of helpe yéelded and deliuered the same into his handes The men of Montpellier in the meane time not know ing of the yéelding vp of Maguelon intended to go with all the power they were able to make out of the Citie to set vpō their enemies camp being busied in the besieging of the Castell Therfore they went out of the Citie to the number of eight hundered horsemen and twelue Ensignes of footemen leauing behind them a Garrison to kéepe the Citie carying with them also certaine fielde péeces And they had not gone farre but they met with the Campe of Monsure Ioyse whether hee was retourned with al his men from the siege of Maguelon and al that day was spent betwéene them only with discharginge shot one at another Monsuer Ioyse woondering at the boldnes and courage of the men of Montpellier And while he was in a certaine Manner Place or ferme sitting at supper with certaine of his Captains and talking of the helpe and aide which he looked for at which time they assured them selues of the victory it came to passe that a certaine pellet which came out of the shot of the Protestants fell vppon the toppe of the house in the which he sate and shaking the house it berayed the whole table at the which he supt with dust made their eares to ring with the cracke and rashing rent of the house Then all of them began to feare and tremble doubting least the house would fall vppon their heades Then Petrus Lapas that spanish théese of whom we spake before being merily disposed cried to Monsuer Joyse in the Spanish tongue saying Behold Mon sure Ioyse the keyes which Montpellier offereth vnto thee deriding hereby his security The same day being the xiii day of September Baron des Adretz came out of Dolpheny with eight hundred well appoynted horsemen to the Protestants Campe of Montpellier by the rumor of whose comming Monsure Ioyse and the rest of his souldiers were not onely greatly afeard but also much offended with the delay of their fellowes Then Monsure des Adretz when he had found out the situation of their Campe minded to besiege them First therfore he got betwéene them and the Marsh or fenne thē did so beset or inclose them on euery side round about with men and ordinance that they could by no meanes escape nor yet by any way attaine to ayy vittailes And the mindes of the Papistes which had conceiued that the Protestants were many mo in num ber than they were as they were in déede were so discouraged and amazed that they durst by no meanes set vppon their enemies nor yet aduenture any waye to escape But now when the souldiers of Montpellier were throughly incouraged by the aide of Adretz to the battaile and that their enemies on the other part were quight discouraged behold Baron de Adretz tolde the Captaines that he must néedes depart from thence that night for so woord was brought vnto him from Lions And entering into the Citie of Montpellier by the break of the day he commaunded the Aldermen of the towne to giue vnto him 15000. Frankes Who for feare of force and sedition gaue vnto him so much money after the receipt wherof he departed out of the Citie minding no doubt to play the false Judas and Apostata which afterward came to passe Thus the siege being broken vp word was brought to Montpellier that Monsure Sommeriue and Monsure de Suze were come with a great Armie and that they went about to make a Bridge to come ouer the Riuer called the Rosne and that on the other part the power of the men of Auuergnoys came to the teritory of Seuenas vnder the charge and conduct of the Graun Prier Word hereof also came to the Campe of Monsure Joyse who when they vnderstoode that they were deliuered from the perill of the siege and that there had happened so soden a change they were excéedingly cōforted and reuiued as commonly it happeneth to men that haue escaped great daunger This rumour therfore dayly increasing more and more the men of Montpellier sawe that it was necessa ry for them to learne and know both what power the enemie of Fraunce had because he was nere and perillous and also how farre which way he minded to go whether there were any way to stop him Therfore by the common aduise of the Captaines Monsure Grill Monsure Bari Monsure Bulargues men very expert in the warre went to Nisines the twentie day of September with fiue hundred horsemen and thrée hundred foote men leauing the rest of their army behind thē to kéepe the Citie Who in the meane time suffered not the enemy which lay néere the citie to be in quiet comming out oftentimes euen to their Camp and skirmishings with them Now Monsieur Bulargues being a man expert and paynfull in warlike affaires was put in trust to vewe the Town of Sangiles whether the enemie minded to come and to sée whether the Towne were sufficiently fortefied to defende it selfe and what garrison it had who cōming thyther saw that the Citie was indifferently fortefied and was certefied by the inhabitants of Sangiles that they had ben summoned by the enemie to yéelde vp the citie and while monsieur Bulargues was there the enemie summoned them agayn with the same commandements saying that monsieur Sommeriue and monsieur de Suze required them to yéeld vp vnto them forthwith the citie vnlesse they would suffer and abyde all manner of extremity and cruelty if the same were wonne by force of battery So monsieur Burlargues leauing twenty of his men at Sangiles they scarse hauing in their own gar rison in the towne so many more good able souldiers and incouraging the townsmen with promise that out of hand they should haue more ayde he returned to Nismes conferring with his fellowes he had charge committed vnto him to conduct to the Towne of Sangilles two hundred Gonners And monsieur Grill and Bars promised that they would follow with the reste of the footemen and horsemen In the meane time word was brought to Sangiles that the enemie was come with a great army contayning six thousand footemen and eight hundred horsemē hauing with them also thrée great Canons that they intended to make a bridge ouer the riuer called the rosne and so besiege the towne of Sangiles The proud boasting Souldiour approched to the walles of the citie who notwithstanding were driuen backe agayne by those the kept the walles with gonnes Then the enemies began to batter the walles with their great Canons and to set ladders to the walles to scale them They of the towne séeing this called vpon their Captaines to make al spéed to defende them for they were gréeued at the proude wordes of
againe with two ensignes and a very greaâ—… spâ—…il â–ª The rest of the Army caâ—…e to Narbon with monsieur 〈◊〉 â—…oyse and 〈◊〉 These were the euentes and exploytes of both partes in Languedoc But for all this â–ª the Guise â–ª and his compartners ceased not to procâ—…de in their former wicked purpose For Poictiers being wonne as we said befoâ—…e by the marshall of Santandâ—… the army was conducted with all the power that might be made to assault and winne Burges in Berry being a citie of great force and nerâ—… to Orleans Moâ—…sieur de Iuoy a man of noble birth was gouernour of this citie vnder the Prince of Conde had vnder his charge a well appointed garrisoÌ„ conteining to the nomber of ten engsignes of footemen â–ª CC. horsemen Now all the cities of Berrâ—… being rendered vp and the whole Region almost being spoiled Burges was also besieged the â—… day of August with a verie stronge Army In the which Army there were thrée thousand horsemen and fiuetéene hundered footemen and they had with them very many great gunnes The King and the Queeue the King of Nauar almost followed the Campe. The citie being shaken and â—hattered very sore with their great gunnes they made at the length great breaches in the walles â–ª the souldiers of the Guise lustely geuinge the assault Notwithstandinge they of the Towne lyke taule Souldiers â–ª manly defended themselues â–ª and gaue their enemies the repulse also dayly they brake forth of the citie to the great anoyance and hurte of the enemy But whilest there were sending from Paris more men both horsemen and foote men to ayde the Guise â–ª and greater gunnes also â–ª with store of shot and poulder â–ª the Admirall remoued from Orleans with a bande of well appointed souldiers and set vppon them at Chasteaudun as they were going with the forsaid prouision And he slew many of them tooke their great gunnes and caried away all their artillery â–ª But for want of horses and cariage to cary away the great gunnes the Admirall gaue commaundement to ouer charge the great gunnes with poulder and so to shake them in péeres and to fier the 〈◊〉 poulder that remayned Notwithstanding the same day monsieur de Iuoy either for want of ayde and vittayles as he afterwardes excused himselfe or else by treason as the souldiours for the most part commonly reported tooke truce with the Guises about the yéelding vp of the ciâ—ie vpon these condicions namely that monsieur de Iuoy his Captaynes hys souldiours and all in the towne shoulde escape with their liues and goods and be left to the libertie of their consciences and to be in no perill of harme for bearing armour or for their religion â–ª Furthermore â–ª that all his army should ioyne with the Kings power and so be vnder the kings protection and vnder the protection of the King of Nauar â–ª and of all his Princeâ— â–ª also that moÌ„sieur de Iuoy his Captayâ—…es noble men should haue leaâ—…t to salute the king And because monsieur de Iuoy sayde that hée had made an othe to the Prince of Conde preten ding the obediâ—…ce of the King it was agréed that he shold haue leaue his souldiers remayning in the mean time with the Kinges power to goe to the Prince of Conde and comming backe agayne from him should signifie vnto the King his whole mynde and conscience as whether hée and his fellowes could find in their hartes to be sworne to the King without any exception or condition if not hee shold haue leauâ—… to go home to his house without perill of any manner of harmâ—… eyther to him or too any of his Captaynes or souldiers vpon this condition that they should neuer after beare armour against the king or enter into any citie which was kept against his Maiestie And finally it was â—…gréed that whatsoeuer monsieur de Iuoy at the commaundement of the Prince of Conde had taken out of the Kings treasury or from the Church to 〈◊〉 this warre should neuer be layâ—…d to his charge or to the charge of any of his deputies or substituts and that the Decrées of the Senat of Paris or of any other Court against these things should bée â—…ayde Upon these conditions the Citie was rendered vp possessed by the Guises souldiours and the Garrison of monsieur de Iuoy brought out of the Towne to the Guise â–ª army Then monsieur de Iuoy went towarde Orleans sending a messenger before him to signifâ—…e the whole matter to the Prince of Conde and to declare the cause of his comming Who when he vnderstood that 〈◊〉 de Iuoy madâ—… request to be discharged of his othe he sent him word that hée should not approche néere the Ciâ—…ie willing him to consider what it is to make an othe to God and to Religion certyfying him herewith that he would not be an instrument and partaker of his treason and falshehood And so monsieur de Iuoy retourned to the Guiseâ—… army agayne the which hée followed afterwardes almost during all that warre and certayne other Captaynes and souldiours with him NotwithstaÌ„ding the greatest parte by the sufferance of the Guise were dismisâ—… and returned to Orleâ—…ns vnder the coÌ„duct of Damplerre Therfore al that region euen to 〈◊〉 yéelded to the Guise the faithfull being euerywhere cruelly handled to whom notwithstanding a certain town called Montargis was a present refuge by the benefite of the Duchesse of Ferrer called Râ—…nee the daughter of Lodowic the xii King of Fraunce the Duke of Guise being greatly offended thereat and threatening the Duchesse whom notwithstanding hée fauoured as his moother in Law and the Kings daughter The Duke of Guise hauing gotten the victorie remoued from Vâ—…aron the eleuenth day of September came to 〈◊〉 the chief Citie in Normandie which we sayde before Duke de Aumall besieged in vayne But now it was more strongly besieged both with a mightyer army and also with more valeant and expert Captaynes and was so assaulted that notwithanding the manhood strong defence of Countie Momtgomery and his souldiours in the towne the Guise obtayned both the Castell of Sancatharine and also the Citie Notwithstandinge Countie Momgomery and a great number of souldiours with him tooke shippe and escaped Great murther was committed in the Citie and the same throughly sacked And among others that were put to death in the Citie Augustine Marlorat was one being a Minister of gods word in the reformed Church of Roan whom they hanged openly vpon a payre of Gallowes yea the professors of the Gospell in euery corner of the Citie went to the pot In the tyme that the Citie was besieged the King of Naâ—…ar as he was leaning vpon his Tenâ—…e or makinge water agaynst the same with his backe towarde the towne was shot in the shoulder with a small pellot being sore wounded was caryed from thence by the ryuer of Sâ—…in to Paris and there within fewe dayes after
as farre foorth and as longe as it shall seeme good and expedient For wee knowe what authoritie and power we haue receyued from aboue of God which we do meane to vse with all moderation and integritie to the profite and commoditie of our subiectes of which as we haue next to the glorye of God chiefest care and regarde so doe wee wishe that it may be aduaunced and furthered by that our Edict And ther fore whereas we vnderstand that there are certain things comprised therein very generally which beeing eyther wrong vnderstood or not rightly executed haue gyuen occasions of great troubles are like hereafter to breed greater inconueniences and broyles if they be not spedely prouided for which we are fully purposed to doe VVherefore for these considerations our pleasure is to the intent we may aunswere and satisfie the iust complayntes of all our subiectes to giue a full and playne declaration of our mynd as concerning certayne clauses of the Edict which be now in controuersie and diuersly taken And because that all things may be done in better order for the profit and common vtilitie of our subiects for which we are most carefull we haue consulted with the wisest and greatest of our Counsell by whose aduise we haue here set foorth a more full and expresâ—…e declara tion of our pleasure concerning the Edicte the which we will and commaund to bee established and ratified not that we meane to take any thing from the Edict but too enterpret it according to our will and meaning to whom it appertayneth so to doe least that such clauses as bee doubtfull breed contention and strife To the first Article which is That al noble men that were of chief authority might liue quietly without trouble or molestation in their mantions dwelling places to enioy togither with their families subiectes free bertie of conscience the peaceable vse of the religion which they terme reformed this exception is to be added in the way of interpretaion It shall not be lawfull to be done or practised in any places that were either bought or takeÌ„ froÌ„ the Ecclesiasticall liuings or in any which wer holdeÌ„ of the church to which we forbid the vse of the re formed Religion both publiquely and priuately For there were dyuers of the church liuings that were sold at the Kinges coÌ„maundement were by that meanes holden possessed of the Protestantes who vsed the benefite of the Edicte for the administration of Religion in those places to the great griefe of the Papistes There were also diuers that had great and fat benifices brought to the knowledge and profession of the reformed religion but chiefely one of great reputation the Cardinal Chastillon a man endewed with many goodly church liuings and was Archebishop of Aeges and many other of the noblest houses in France Who if they once had gotten by the Edicte libertie of Religion it was very likely that it should haue ben spred and sowen abrode far and wide in diuers places For many places where those benefises lay had preuiledges of great authority and very large and ample dominion rule so the Papistes by this interpretation were well eased to the greate hinderance discomodity of the faithful To the first article of the Edict wherin was Be it fre and lawful for al cities in which that religioÌ„ was vsed the vii day of march besides other Cities that are perticularly to be set out appointed in euery Prouince stil to haue and enioy the vse thereof There was added a newe interpretation That those Cities were vnderstood meant which were kept and holden in warlike maner and in which the reformed religion had bin publiquely and openly practised at the day beefore assigned So by that meanes there were certaine Cytyes barred and shutte out from the vse of their religion To the sixt article wherein was meÌ„cioned That the citie the whole prouince of Paris should be free and cleare from the vse of that religion There was added a more straight restraint and prohibition That it was not lawfull for any that dwelte within the Citie or precinct of the Prouince of Paris to goe to any Cities licensed by the king of the prouinces neere adioyning to exercise that Religion vnlesse they dyd dwell in them neyther shall it bee lawfull for any such persons to haue any maÌ„sion place or dwelling within the limites of the Citie or prouince of Paris This restraint was manifestly knowen to be annexed for no other purpose but only in despight and hatred of certain Senatours and Aldermen of Paris worthie Patrones of the truth and other worthy and famous men that thereby they might bee constrained to leaue Paris and remoue to other places And where as in the fourth article mention is made That all men might liue quietly in euery place without any trouble or daunger for the freedome and vse of their Religion and conscience it was restrayned with a very straight exception That none neyther man nor woman were accompted in that number which eyther in or after the tyme of warre had forsaken eyther Abbayes Nunries or other religiouse houses and these were streightly commaunded eyther to returne agayne to the places of Religion they came from and if they were maried to forsake their wiues or else forthwith to depart the Realme So that by this meanes many families but with greater discommoditie and wrong of a more number were eased and helped to the whiche both yong men and maydes that were in tymes paste thrust and shut vp into Abbayes were now retourned being endewed with a more pure and syncere knoweledge of the trueth and sued by the lawe for their patrimonie and partes left by their parents But by this exception all libertie and licence to sue and pleade for their owne was taken from them and they either com pelled to reenter the Cloysters they had forsaken or else enforced to depart out of the Realme And by this meanes there were many occasions gyuen of diuers great and gréeuous iniuries as for example That horrible accursed murther committed by M. d' Anuille as we haue before declared vppon A. Motton a minister of the woord of God which detestable facte was cloaked and defended vnder pretence of this Inter pretation Furthermore the vse of the religion which was termed by a common name The administration of religion was maruetlously abated and diminished by a new deuised interpretation That it should not be lawfull for any man to be a minister of that religion but for such as were borne there that is bred within any of the Prouinces of the kingdome of Fraunce So that by this fetch diuers of the Churches were bereft and spoyled of their good Pastors and Doctours as namely the Congregation at Lions of that learned and eloquent man Petrus Viretus who dyd very effectually and faithfully trauel in aduauncing and spreading abroad the Gospel in that most famous and populous Citie and mart Towne of
and inuasions of them of Tholouze Aboute this tyme by the adâ—…ise and consent of the Quéene and the counsaile order was taken in certaine graue and waighty matters betwixt the King and his Brother The Dukedome of Orleans was by olde vse and custome of inheritance alwaies giuen to the Kings eldest Brother But bycause many contentions and controuersies did commonly arise betwéene the Kings of France and their second Brothers Dukes of Orleans for diuers considerations of the coÌ„modities of that City and countrey it was thought good and profitable both for the King and the Kingdome that that Dukedome should be taken from the Kinges Brother Wherefore the two Brethren agreeing themselues Alexander â–ª the Duke of Orleans yéelded and gaue vp his Dukedome to the King and had of him for it the Dukedome of Aniou and the Title of Viceroy generall ouer all the prouinces of Fraunce was gyuen him and had also a yerely stipend of an hundreth thousand Crownes which afterward was largely augmented Thus was Orleans taken from the Kinges brother and hée very liberally recompensed for it We spake before of the Prince of Conde and how the Papistes laboured by all meanes possible to entice him from the reformed Religion And surely they had made a great breach wyde entrie to their purpose thorough the to much licentiousnes of the Court that the Princâ—… vsed and the great hope of large gayne that was offred him on all sides But as they were in the midst of their iolitie and triumphing as though they had quight vanquished and reclaimed him to their lure he manfully luckely escaped all their traynes and by this occasion as the Prince did thus gyue himselfe to all pleasure and loosenesse of liuing his wife a most godly and chast matrone tooke sorrow and inward thought at hir hushaÌ„ds imtemperate and disordered conuersacion and thereby with other causes fell gréeuously sicke and stryuing wrestling long with her disease in great sorrowe and laÌ„guishing of mynd at length departed out of this troublesome world but before her death she had very wisely and wittely admonished her husbande to looke well about him and to remember what dutie the knowledge he had of Christian religion and the dignitie and place that God had called him to did require of him The death and this counsell of his wife of whose singular deare and chast loue in his greatest extremities and distresse he had alwayes had sufficient proufe and triall did so moue and stirre him that waying and pondering his estate and calling more néerely and wisely euer after hée tooke vnto him a myraculous and most valeant courage and diligently and willingly obeyed and hearkened to the counsell of such as were good and godly and wexed euery day more and more earnest and zelous in the study of true godlynesse pietie And yit at the first his wifes death seemed to giue great occasion to further and aduaunce the papistes wishe and desire for it was common then in euery mans mouth that the Prince of Conde should marrie with the Quéene of Scotland a veryfaire and beautiful woman and that then the Prince and the Guises should be all one But hee vsing and obeying better aduise did manfully and valiauntly coÌ„temne and despife all those vayne baytes and enticing allurements and afterward married the Dukes sister of Lon gueuille a famouse and worthy man. In the meane time newes came out of all quarters of the cruell slaughters that the papistes committed vpon the protestants which if I should goe about to tehearse it would be a thing of an infinite and endlesse labour nothing appertaining to our purpose for there was accompt made as is euident and to be séene in the commoÌ„ registers of an hundreth and thirtie great slaughters committed in diuers places vpon the faythfull since the publishing of the Edict But there was no mencion I warrant you nor talke of punishment wherefore the Papistes were by this loose and negligente impunitie more and more encouraged to al vnnaturall and outragious crueltie The men of Mayne vnder the conduct and leading of their Bishop who had waged Souldiours for that purpose made horrible hauocke and spoile in many pla ces vppon the Protestantes both man woman child without all respect of yeares younge or old Many complaintes and supplication were put vp to the kinge and the faithfull company of that Countrey set out a wryting openly wherein they declared the horror and abhomination of those mischieuous factes with example of such â–ª furie crueltie as was not erst hard of amongst the Frenchmen Such sauage and cruell madnes had by reason of impunitie enflamed the Bishops mind wyth hatred against Religion Wherefore through all the Câ—…untrey of Maynes in euery Towne and Citie great cruelty was exercised at the Bishops coÌ„maundemente as God willing shall one day be more plainly seene in a full and large discourse of these matters At Creuan a Towne of Burgundy a place appointed by the Kinges commaundement to preaâ—…h the woord of God in when as there was gathered togyther from diuers places of that Prouince a greate nomber of men wemen old men and children altogyther naked and vn armed to heare a Sermon â–ª the Papistes that dwelt in the Towne assembling togyther ranne violently and rushed with force vppon the Protestants And as they began to kill and murther them there was by and by a great vprore and tumult raysed on the contrary parte the papistes were sodenly amased and fearing least the aide of the Protestantes neare adioyninge and of other noble men professoures of the reformed Religion had bin there craftely lefte of their enterprise and so by that meanes the faithfull escaped Notwithstandinge many of them as they stroue to get home to their houses were slaine at the first brunt so the Papistes in Burgundy what by the sufferance of their Lieftenaunt by the setting on of the Counsaile and through the help and ayde of Moâ—…sieur Begat â–ª a seditious and factious Counsailour waxed more and more bould and insolent against the Protestantes Moreouer there assembled vnder coulour of gathering togither the states of euery Prouince certaine companies which they termed the Confraternities or Brotherhoodes of the holy Ghost to the intent to proclaime and denounce euerlastinge and perpetuall warre against the Hugunotes and vnder pre tence of these assemblies many things were haynously seditiously committed Wherfore the Prince of Conde complayned of these misorders to the king Where vppon these conuenticles by the Kinges Interdicte were forbidden and prohibited but all in vaine for the letters wanted that pâ—…iuie signet whereby by the Cardinalles subtiltie and other Papistes of great estimation such letters were knowen as it were of any wayghty matter or importance Monsieur â–ª Begat â–ª the counsailour had alwaies very ryfe in his communication the greate renowne of the Spanish Kinge whereat many men marueiled to see such a fellow borne with all and to be in
Protestants and to send away the aid which came out of Germany which hee knew could not afterward easely be gotten into Fraunce againe because the Prince had spent his money alreadie about the affaires past And yet notwithstanding let all posterities know that the Catholiques had confirmed this Edict by an othe which they obserued not but boldly cast aside all reuerence of Gods holy name the Kings faith and all the bondes of humane societie as shall appeare both by that which we will more at large declare and also by the lamentable effectes which haue brought great destruction to this noble Realme The Edict therfore being brought to the prince of Condes Campe and there solemly proclaimed euery man reioyced desiring to sée their wiues their children and their houshold and specially they reioyced because some libertie of Religion was graunted by the Edict The prince of CoÌ„de by and by dismist his Army Casmire after thankes receiued of the prince for so great a benefite going homeward with his armie whom the prince very honorably brought â–ª on his way Then he hauing a few attending on him went into Picardy And sending diuers letters vnto the faithfull commaunded them ac cording to the tenor of the Edict to deliuer vp out of hand the Cities which they held and the most part of them did so The King also dismist the Germanes and certaine bandes orÌ„ French men the rest of the armies he commaunded to abide in armour and appoynted the horsemen a day of payment But contrary to that which was looked for these thinges were done the faithfull being very heauy to sée such lamentable beginnings nothing lesse than peace séeming to bee meant For there was great silence euery where of the Edict which was in very few places proclaymed They which went home to their houses were either not suffered to enter into the Cities by the commaundement of the gouernours in diuers places or els such as had leaue to enter into the Cities were commaunded to lay downe their armour at the gates of of the Citie and being entred into their houses were so straitly dealt withall that they might not come out of their houses nor salute one another without leaue So that it was better dwelling without the Cities than within These thinges troubled the faithfull and encreased suspicions they fearing some new garboyle â–ª both for that there were great garrisons maintained in euery Citie and also because the Kings armies almost remained whole Many therfore standing in feare durst not enter into the Cities but aboade in villages and Countrey townes â–ª of the which notwithstanding a great ma ny were there taken and put to death by the townesmen Therfore they began to straye abrode by heapes through the fieldes and villages not daring to come within the kenning of any Citie being feared by other mens harmes howbeit commaundements came forth willing them to haue leaue to enter into the Cities according to the benifite of the Edict The Protestants which held any Cities at the first sight of the princes letters surrendered them vp Notwithstanding diuers vnderstanding of this straunge dealinge were more slow in deliuering vp their Citie But by the example of the men of Orleans and by the second letters of the prince of Conde the Inhabitants of Dolpheny gaue vp their Cities and after them diuers other Cities did the like also In the which Cities garrisons of the Catholiques were presently placed Nowbeit there were certaine Cities which resisted as Castelalbiat Miliac Aubenac Priuac and diuers others which were very well reserued as shal be hereafter de clared Rochel also refused to receiue any such garrison pleading for the same their anncient priuiledge graunted to them by the Kynges of old time The like also did the men of Sanserre At the Kings commaundement bothe Cities and hauens and all other passages by water were stopte and fortefyed And commandement was geuen to the warders to loke dilligently to their busines to looke carefully to the protestantes which beinge knowne brought greate suspicion There was allso a Rescript sent abroade the xix daie of Maye in the Kinges name to this effect Where as I vnderstande that many which professe the new Religion hauing no regarde to the leaue geueÌ„ vnto theÌ„ to repayre to theire Cities do wander abroade in the fields by heapes to the greate hurte discoÌ„modity of many pretendinge that they shoulde disobeye my coÌ„maundement if they shoulde vnarme them selues at the gates of the Citty I protest that it is my will that it be lawfull for them to go into the Cities without breakinge my ordinance of laying downe theire weapons at the gate and also to dwell safely in those Cities according to the prescript of the edicte Wherefore I commaunde that those vagrant personnes which walke vp down through the fieldes be admonished quietly to goe vnto theire Cities and to repayr to theire owne houses Yf they shall refuse so to do I wil that the Magistrates gatheringe together suche ayde as they shall thinke coÌ„uenient set vpon them as open breakers of the peace and to put them to the swerde The Issue of this declared that it was a praye and bayte to snare the Protestants with all And contrary to the expresse woordes of the Edicte not one man that had borne office vnder the Kinge beinge of the reformed Religion was restored to the same againe suche as complained hereof were caste into prison The prince of Conde also had no passage into Picardy of the which notwithstanding he was Liefe tenant and Senarpont his deputy was remoued from his office Allso the houses of Noble men of the reformed Religion nere adioyning to any Citty were committed to the charge and ouersighte of others as to bocald to Martingue to Guian to Esternay and to Foissi Who by the Industry and meanes of the Cardinall of Lorayne was chosen into the order of Nobility who littell before was accused of thefte and homiâ—…ide all meÌ„ wonderinge at this so sodeine a chaunge The Senate of Tholoz had earnestly withstoode the proclamatioÌ„ of the Edicte and Rapine the prince of CoÌ„des seruant which was sent with the Kinges letters of trust to Tholoz to signify to the Senate the Kinges coÌ„ maundement concerninge the proclayminge of the â—…dicte they of the Senate coÌ„demned as a Seditious persone and put his necke to the axe The prince of Conde makinge earnest complaint hereof to the Kinge at the laste by the Kinges commaundinge letters sent the fourth tyme they proclaimed the same addinge this exception Serteine Clauses reserued which are contayned in the secrete exposition of the Senate The lyke was done almost about the same time in the latter ende of the Moneth of Maye at Lions two câ—… trary predictes beinge proclaymed in one daye which was a notable ieste for with the Edicte of pacification there was another proclaymed by which commaundements were geuen to the Lefetenant to persecute the faithfull with the swerde
many of the inhabitants of that place because they had destroyed suche as at that time fled through their villages for succour The Prince of Condes bandes wan and spoiled Saint florent a very rich Abbay néer vnto Salmure which was garded with two hundred Souldiours but when they had slaine the souldiours because they stood stoutly in the defence therof they set fire on the Abbay Countie Brissac one of the Duke of Anious Captains and a very expert yong man in the warres goinge out of Salmure came sodenly vpon a troupe of horsemen being in number 100. vnder the conduct of Monsieur Borsauld part wherof he flew and part he put to flight The same also came sodeynly and vnlooked for vppon Countie Momgomery in the village of la Motte in so much that Momgomery was constrayned to flée into a Castle hard by but his brother Corminuille with certain others were taken For want of vittailes the Prince of Condes Armye went from Tuarz and from Montrebell and one Army came to Partenay and the other to Niort Thither came also the Quéene of Nauarre to consult with the Prince of Conde and with other Noble men there concerninge diuers things And among all other this was decreed That for so much as the papists to maintain this war did pluck away and sell the land of Churchmen according to the prescript of the Popes letters patents whether they were Catholiques or protestants the Quéen of Nauar the Prince of Conde also should doo the like in those places which they held and kept To bring this thing to passe letters wer giueÌ„ forth in the names of the prince of Nauarre of the Prince of Conde of the Admirall of the Andelot and of the Rochfoucault By whiche letters certaine meÌ„ were commaunded to sell the land of Ecclesiasticall persones and to assure and warrant the byers in their names quietly to enioy the same By this meanes within a short time they had gotten a great masse of money And on the contrary part the Kinges Edictes of the which we spake before were executed with great rigor against Religion All the moueable goods of the faythfull at the first which were taken in spoyle reserued by the Magistrate were openly sold their landes were made to paye great fynes and subsidies to mainteyne Garrisons and souldiours Garrisons were set to keepe Noble mens housholdes and the landes of the faithful by the commaundement of the Kings letters were appointed to be solde The Prince of Conde gaue an attempt against Lasignan being a very strong Castle being come thyther with the greatest part of his armyes but fayling of his purpose he departed againe from thence Sanser a Citie in Burgundy was besiéeged by the catholiques whose captaine was Martinenge an Italian To this siege came Monsieur Nemours bringing with him thrée thousand footemen at the least and certayne troupes of horsemen all which he broughte out of Prouance to ayde Martinenge in the seige The Generall ouer these was Countie Tende Lieftenant of Prouance Wyth these also there came certayne Armies oute of Dolpheny vnder the charge and conducte of Baron des Adretz whom we sayde before forsooke the faithfull in the first warre The Townsmen valiantly for certain Monethes defended themselues and by diuers eruptions vpon the enemies and skirmishes with them they had slaine manye of them and broken manye of their great gunnes Therefore Martinenge when he had wearyed in vayne his souldiers with the extreme coulde of winter he toke vp his caryage raised the seige and departed away secretly in the nighte Then the warders watchmen of the Citie suspecting that the enemyes fled gaue knowledge thereof to the chiefe Captaynes in the Citie who goyng forth by the breake of the day with certaine souldiers slewe many straglers that lingered behinde the armie without order or raye After this countie de Tende went to the Duke of Aniou and Baron de Adretz taking Nemours with him went to the Duke D'aumall This was about the beginning of Februarie The King was nowe at Mets and before he came thether he had forbidden the Protestants to vse the reformed religion vpon paine of death The power of Duke D'aumall beyng greatlye encreased with newe and freshe ayde he determined to encounter with the bandes of French souldiers which wayted for the Armies of the Duke of Deuxpons and came to Sauerne a towne belonging to the Bishoppe of Strasburge which fauoured him and there he stopped al the passage ouer the ryuer against the enemie But he could not there abide beyng repulsed I put to flighte by the FrenchmeÌ„ his enemyes These French bands that put him to â—…light were such as had fled out of the hither part of Fraunce thither partly which were left of the Armie of the prince of Orange Aboute this time MonsGenly dyed at Bergasiber in the Dominion of Deuxpous and bycause he was generall of those Armyes Mons. de Moy a Noble man and a good Captaine was chosen in his stéede While Duke D'aumall behaued himselfe thus about the borders of Loraine there came to the Duke of Aniou two thousand and two hundred Germane horsemen conducted by the Rheingrane Bassompierre He himselfe when he had payed the rest of the armie their wages went with all his power towarde the Territorye of Engolmoys mynding to wyn Engolesme a verye fayre and copious Citie But bycause the passage to the ryuer of Charente woulde be a necessarie helpe for him be mynded to kepe the bridge And therefore he commauÌ„ded Mons. Riuiere to go and take the Citie the Castell of Iâ—…rnac which bordereth vpon the ryuer of Charente Thys was the occasion of a great and lamentable battaile The Prince of Conde beyng certified of the purpose of the Duke of Aniou came to Niort with his main battaile the first daye of Marche and from thence he came by the Towne of Sanlan Angely the Citie of Saintes The Admirall went with the Uauntgarde to Cognac and the next daye after being the fourth day of Marche he with his brother the Andelot brought all the horsemeÌ„ of the Uauntgarde both with lawnce and shot to larnac and with them two Canons two dimi Canons Then straight way the Admiral beseiged the castell of Iarnac bycause Mons. Riuiere by and by at the discouery of them left the citie and went into the castell But the roaring Canon shot did so shake the castell gates and the walles thereof that Mons. Riuiere desired parley and the next day after vpon condition that he and his sâ—…uldiers shuld escape with theyr lyues he surrendered the Castell Leauing therefore to defende that place the Uicount de Montanmoy with his LegioÌ„ the Admirall and the Andelot dâ—…parted to viewe espie the force of the enemies bicause they were said not to be far of The sixte daye of this moneth the Prince of Conde with the Admirall and the Andelot taking with them all the horsemen of the vauntgarde and maine battaile sauing certaine
in the same opinion in the whiche they concluded with the Ministers of the reformed Churches that they had made a compacte and agréemente with the Ministers and therefore they were not suffered to conferre or dispute any more after that Therfore the ministers hauing occasion offered sente this explication of that article vnto the chosen men that disputed for the Prelates VVe affirme that no distance of places can let the communicating which wee haue with the body and bloud of Christ bycause the Supper of the Lorde is a heauenly thing And althoughe we receiue in earthe with oure mouthe the breade and wine beyng true signes of his body and bloud yet notwithstanding by faithe and by the operation of the holye Ghost our myndes of which this is oure speciall meate being lyfted vp to heauen doe receine there his bodye and bloude And in this respecte wee saye that the bodye doth truely ioyne it selfe to the breade and the bloude to the wyne and yet notwithstanding no otherwyse than after a Sacramentall manner that is to saye neyther locally nor naturally but bycause they effectually signifie and declare that God doth giue them faithfully and without all doubt to the communicants who do truly and certainely receiue them by faith This therefore is the plaine opinion and iudgement of the reformed Churches concerning the presence of the bodie and bloud of Christ Iesus in the sacrament of the Supper But there were nowe come certaine ministers oute of Germanie by the meanes of Baâ—…duinus as we sayde before But they bewraying the councell and purpose of the Cardinall of Loraine by whose practise these things were spedely brought to passe returned home again with losse of their labour and their expectation being deceiued The purpose and practise of the Cardinall was to bring these ministers and the other into one disputation and contention and so contending and striuing together he might cause the conference to cease and make them to be a laughing stocke to all men The Prelates doubting of the fayth and trust of their men which they had chosen to dispute for them as we said before woulde haue no conference after this with the ministers wherevpon the conference brake vp the â–ª xxv day of Nouember And this was the ende of the Conference of Possiac manye being gathered together for the same the space of thrée monethes â—…fter the whiche there ensued not onely no profyte but also great trouble and motions of warres Thus the conference being ended withoute fruite there was no waye founde for peace and concorde but rather the mindes of both parts beyng exasperated there insued great quarels and discentiens So that great discorde rose dayly betwéene the Papists and the Protestants more and more some complayning and finding fault with the Prelates for their disordered departing from the conference the which in deede sufficiently declared the weakenesse of their cause and other some misliking of the authoritie of the Generall Councell shortly alter to come and of the Churche of Rome Neither were these dissentiâ—…ns onely among the common people but also among the Peeres Nobles of the realme mens mindes being distracted and drawne into manifest factions whiche foreshewed not onely bare contentions of wordes but also greate and mortall warres at hande For the compactes and manifest practises of the Guises of the Constable and of the Marshall of Santandra were well ynough sene Yet notwithstanding their purpose and indeuour was very muche let and hindered at that time by the authoritie of the King of Nauarre whome they thought good to assay by all meanes possible to the entent they myghte drawe him from taking part with the Protestantes In the which matter the Cardinal of Ferrer of whom we spake before being the Popes Legate in Fraunce take verye muche paines promising vnto the king of Nauarre in the Popes name the full possession of the kingdome of Nauarre affyrming that the Pope should easily obtaine this thing of king Phillip for that he already promised to doe the same for the Catholique Churches sake Moreouer the Cardinall of Towers the Bishop of Ansseren and Escarsius also certaine of his houshoulde confirmed him in this matter and vsed dayly persuasions being wicked men and set on for money by the Cardinall of Loraine Among whom also was that Frances Balduine of whome mention was made before as diligent and busie as the best to bring the matter about whereby he thought he shoulde reape no small gaine This man forging a new Gospell caused the king of Nauarre to hate both the doctrine and also the men of the reformed Churches So that now he began to hang betwene diuers opinions to forsake the loue of Religion openlye to shew himselfe an enimie to the reformed Churches to bée more coâ—…uersant and familiar with the Guises to giue him selfe to lightnesse filthy pleasure also to go to the Masse and to the Popishe Churches When the Duke of Guise had deliberated and consulted of the matter with the Constable and the Marshall of Santandre and willing them to gathered vnto them forthwith so great power as they could he departed from them leauing them in Fraunce and came to Imuilla in the moneth of Nouember and after he had taryed there certayne dayes he wente to the Cittie Tabernas whiche bordereâ—…h vpon Germanie to prouide for his businesse and to consult with many of the Princes of Germanie about this matter Notwithstanding the number of the faythfull dayly more and more encreased and was wonderfully confyrmed a great part of the Nobles comming to the reformed Churches Therefore there were assemblies and congregations in great number almost in all the noble Cities of the Realme in the whiche the worde of God was openly preached and the Sacramentes ministred notwithstanding the Edict of Iuly of whiche we spake before Wherevpon notwithstanding there arose oftentymes greate discâ—…ntions and of those seditions ensued great perils For they whiche were grieued and offended at these assemblies of the faythfull made exclamation that Edictes were broken and did so prepare themselues to trouble the faythfull that there séemed to be present occasions of great mischief whiche brake foorthe in many places but specially at Paris For the faithful being gathered togither the. 26. day of December to heare the word of God in Paris in the suburbes of Sanmarcellus a place specially appointed vnto them by the King for the same purpose the Priestes of the Temple of Sanmedardus hard by in the time of the Sermon caused such a noyse to be made with ringing of bels that the voyce of the Preacher coulde by no meanes be vnderstoode Whervpon two of the Congregation men vnarmed and without weapon came to these Popishe Priestes and beséeched them that they woulde not make suche a dynne with ringing their Belles that so greate a companie of menne shoulde be lette from hearing the woorde of God. The Priestes hauing with them diuers other men began to abuse them and
the true Religion with holines of life least in the middest of these troubles of warres the care of true godlinesse be quight extinguished The best weapons that may be had to fight against our enemies is holines of life and godly prayers If these be wanting our words shall runne through our owne sides And because saye they we sée before our eyes such horrible calamities we following the approued custome of the Church haue appoynted by a common decrée of all men that in all congregations their should be fasting and sollemne prayers for certaine dayes which we admonish you to vse modestly deuoutly and godly and also that God should be prayed vnto publiquely and priuatly to send a happie successe of all these troubles to the glory of his name and to the peace and tranquillitie of his Church They wrote letters also in the name of the whole Synode to Frederike County Pallentine at Rheine whom the refourmed Churches of France had found alwayes in time of cruell persecution a fréend and ready to helpe at néede This was the coppie of their letters We are not ignorant that the basenes of our condition is such that we should not trouble you with our letters but notwithstanding both the experience which we haue had of your singuler clemency and humanitie and also the waight and sharpenes of our miseries and calamities do constrayne vs in these our extremities to flée vnto you for ayd séeing that of long time you haue professed the trueth and haue had a singuler care to pro mote the glory of God and to mayntaine and defende those which professe the trueth of the Gospeel in what place soeuer they are First of all therfore we pray vnto God omnipotent and to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which will haue Kings and Princes to bée Nourses of his Church that he will vouchsafe to confirme and strengthen your highnes in true fortitude constancy by his holy spirit which fortitude you haue hitherto aboundantly shewed with great commendation in setting forth and promooting the woord of God in your Churches And we giue you most harty thankes for those benefites which we receyued of you within these few yeares oftentimes intreating our kynges on the behalfe of our bretherne which were afflicted for the doctrine of Christ. And now we being gathered together of late out of all partes of the Realme for a common Counsell or Synode gladly call to mind the benefits which you haue shewed vppon vs and so much the more willingly also because at this time the truce being broken by which we began to enioye the benefite of the Kinges Edict we stand in great néede of your clemency We foresée the great tempest and calamities of our Churches like to ensue the state of your Churches of Germany in that Ciuill warre comming into our mind the which troubles and calamities being ended by God so happely who hath promised without all doubt to helpe his seruants there is no cause why we should feare Notwith standing we cannot chuse but be very carefull for our flockes commited to our charge But to make the matter more playne because we know that ye vnderstand already our care by certaine Noble men we will not be tedious vnto you Thus much we ad concerning our Churches namely That there is such a conspiracy made against our Churches that except God in his mercy do prouide for the same there is like to ensue no lesse calamitie and confusion than there hath happened long agoe to the Orientall Greeke and Affrican Churches For to conclude the matter in few wordes when the Duke of Guise and they which haue conspired with him perceyued that by the Edict of Ianuary men had leaue fréely and openly to preach the Gospell and that they were restrayned of crueltie which till that time they had declared by all maner of punishments many of the Kinges officers Noble men imbracing the doctrine of the Gospell they made a conspiracie with the enemies of the true Religion to kill in euery Citie the professors of the Gospel Of which their conspiracy we haue had manifest arguments First by the horrible slaughter committed at Uassi it may appeare and then by the cruell and bloudy murther of the men of Sens the Bishoppricke wherof pertayned to the Cardinall of Guise so great slaughter of them being made that for the space of fower dayes there was such killing and steying of men women children without any respect of person that the only remembraunce therof cannot but cause teares to bée shed Yea the dead bodies of such as were slayne came swimming down the Riuer of Seine to Paris requiring as it were their buriall and complayning of this tiranie or rather calling for vengeanee of God and man And now although we know it rather to be our dutie to pray for our enemies and for those which do persecute vs than to accuse them yet notwithstanding we trust that you will interprete to the best these complaints of our iust grief of our manifold calamities And for so much as those our aduersaries to leaue no thing vndone that might be to our destruction haue required your Realme of Germany to ayd and assist them we earnestly pray and beséech you for the loue which you beare to the Church of Christ that you will bend all your might to withstand and put away this euill least Germany imbracing the same truth of the Gospell which we do be euill spoken of for séeking to hurt and anoye vs And we intreat your honour by the tender mercy of God that you will vouchsafe to be a meane for vs to the King and Quéene that there may be some consideration had of our Churches and that you would helpe to mayntayne and defend so iust a cause the time requiring the same Concerning the Letters which the Prince of Conde sent to the refourmed Churches of Fraunce we haue spoken before in the which he willed them when they sawe warres to begin to prepare themselues to the warre with a good courage Whereuppon in many places they obeyed his commaundements some prospering very well in their affayres othersome not hauing so good successe They fortefyed with men and munitiō so much as they could the Cities And after the inhabitants of Towers of Blais and of Angewe had so done also the men of Poicters did the like and then the Normans which fortefied diners Cities tooke their chiefe Citie called Roane But at Burdeux and almost through but Gascoyne except in certaine meane townes the faith full were molested by Monsiere Monluce the Lieutenant who delt very cruelly with the faithfull euery where but specially at Bourdeux By the meanes of this Monsire Monluce there was a great slaughter committed vppon the faithfull at Tholoz and the rest of the multitude which were many in number and had escaped this gréeuous murther brake out of the Citie being a necessary place of refuge both for them and also for
repressed by Monsuer Cursol whoÌ„ the King sent for the same purpose and by the helpe of the reformed churches notwithstanding that Monsuer Sommeriue the gouerners Sonne of Prouince and many Noble men and diuers other in authority for bicause of the Guises assisted those lewde persones Neuerthelesse the Gouerner of Prouince Counte de Tende of Sauoy openly maintained the faithfull and being oftentymes assaulted by his Sonne came in great peril of his life Therfore Monsuer Sommeriue so soone as he heard that warrs should begin fortyfied the Cities of greatest trust as Marseile Aiigues and others gathered togither so great an armie as he could and euery where euell intreated the faithfull Thus the matter daily waxing woorse and woorse and both partes being bent to battaile the faithfull also gathered an Armie with no small nomber of soldiers and captained â–ª but they had small store of great goonnes and of cities out of which they were excluded by the subtil practises of the papistes Their Captaines were these Monsuer Cardet Monsuer Bari Monsuer Panard and Monsuer Mouans a very good and expert captaine These marching forth with their armies came to Pertus and beséeged the same and for want of greate goonnes they intended to vndermind the citie Notwith standing when they heard of the comming of their enemies which in dede were mani mo in nomber they raised their séege and came to Cesteron which at that time they themselues possessed But while Monsuer Sommeriue intended to follow and pursue them behold hée got a new occasion to commit great wickednesse There was at Auinion which was a towne belonging to the Popes iurisdiction or territory and of great wealth a certain man called Fabricius Cerbello of Bononia béeing Gouernour of the same towne expert in the warres the Bishop of Romes Nephew and a mortall enimye to the reformed religion This man intreated Monsuer Sommeriue by his letters that for so much as he had already an army prepared he would come out of hand to Orenge which is a Noble citie and the Lordship or seignorie of the house of Nassau to the whiche there came dayly a great multitude of Huguenotes who vnlesse they were oppressed euen at the very first not only Auinion which bordered vpon the same should be endammaged but also all Prouence should thereby receiue great detriment Therefore by this mans aduise and counsel â–ª Mon sieur Sommeriue marched with his armie toward Orenge and had this occasion offered vnto him easely to assault the same Monsieur Parpalia of Auinion Lord chief Iustice of the Parliament of Orenge returning from Lions was taken at Bourg which is a towne in Languedoc néere vn to the riuer called the Rosne the inhabitants of the same towne being sworne enemies to the reformed religioÌ„ Therefore to deliuer and redéeme this Parpalia the inhabitants of Orenge and the borderers thereabouts leauing a small garrison to kéepe the Citie came in battail array to Bourg Whereupon the army of Monsieur Someriue being ayded with many of Dolpheny and AuinioÌ„ whose Captain was Monsieur Suze a notable enemy to the reformed Religion besieged the Citie of Orenge being voyd of men to defend the same battered the walles thereof with ordinance the which being shaken downe they easely obtayned the Citie After the taking wherof the furiouse and outragiouse soldier exercised al maner of crueltie vpon the poore inhabitantes For besyde the accustomed cruelty vsed in warres and at the raysing ouerthrowing of cities as rapines forcing of women the deflowring of virgins they vsed a new kind of torture â–ª as by casting downe the prisoners froÌ„ Turrets other high places the soldiers in the meane time watching the fall that they might receyue them vppon the toppes of their speares and points of their swoords They vsed also to hange vp men with their héeles vpward boaring holes through their féete for the thouges and tye ropes to hold by And after this they burnt and destroyed the chiefest principal buildings in the city The victorie being in this wise gotten the army by and by marched to Cesteron which we saide before the faithfull possessed and determined to giue the assault vppon the Citie Notwithstanding after certayne dayes they hearing of the comming of the army of Monsieur Sorez and Moneâ—…s with other necessary aydes helpes thei raysed their sieg departed without their purpose The losse and destructioÌ„ of the citie of Orenge brought great terrour and feare vpon all that Region and vpon the Inhabitants there abouts but especially to all Dolpheny Monsieur de Suze of whom mencion is made before abyding still also about that Region after the departure of Monsieur Sommeriue with a prepared army playing the mortall enemie and was of great might power both by the helpe of the inhabitants of the same countrey of whom he had gathered togither a great army by his own authoritie and also by the ayde of Monsieur Fabricius gouernour of Auinion Where vppon hée tooke the Cities bordering thereabouts some yéelding vp themselues without assault and some being coÌ„ssrayned thereunto by siege as Pierlot Mornac and diuers other little townes All the villages in that Region are walled round about because of their often and accustomed warres and in the territorie of Auinion whiche men call the Countye of Venais being a very frutefull soyle he wan many little Townes For in that Countye the faithfull held many of them And if hée had marched with his army toward Dolpheny he had woon with litle ado diuers Cities being slenderly fortefied all men quaking for feare and the cities almost being quite voyd of men to defende themselues For at that time the faythefull were gone to winne the citie of Puj in the Region of Vellay Notwithstanding at Lions was M. Adretze at that instaÌ„t gouerner of the city This man by his singular diligence and indeuour hauing gathered together from diuers places an Army of men came from Lions to Montiil a noble Citie of Dolpheny at whose commaundement suldiers came to him froÌ„ diuers places For at that time his name was of such authority throughout all those Regions that he might rule and gouerne as he listed himselfe al those places in the which the faithfull abode as the Prouinces of Lions Dolpheny and Languedos Monsuer de Suze hauing gotten a great Armie went to besiege the City of Vauriac in the Countie of Venais but being the more bold by reason of the successe that he had at Orenge hee was carelesse and rechlesse in his busines Therfore hée incamped him selfe néere vnto the Citie and willed the Citizens to yeeld vp the same vnto him In the meane time the souldiour being carelesse talked of the spoyle and of the pray assuring himselfe of the same and the Captaines euen as if they already had gotten the victory began to deuide the spoyle among them selues Also Monsuer de Suze him selfe sate wholely vnarmed in his tent playing at the Dyce after hee
men of Lions all that they could Wherevppon the men of Lions hauinge the Baron des Adretz the Generall came with an army to suppresse them and being entered in that Region they besieged the head Citie Monbriso and the Townesmen refusing to yéeld vp the Citie being encouraged to fight by their Captaine Monselas at the length their city was battered downe and taken by force then the souldioure that got the victorie shewed such crueltie that the streats of the citie were couered with dead carcasses Baron des Adretz himselfe vehemently encouraging the souldier to murder There remayned a fortresse in the citie into the which Monsieure Monselas with certayne of the chief citizens sled The same notwithstanding being shortly after taken partly by force partly by surrender Mon sieur des Adretz after hée had vewed all places of the castle sent in certayne souldiours to murder and spoyle who presently tooke Monsieur Monselas and his souldiours that were with him and cast them downe hedlong from the top of the houlde The which cruell kynde of death made many to mislike of Baron des Adretz the rather because hee had giuen his faith as it is reported to Monselas and to others with him to saue their liues Thus the citie Monbriso was sacked and rased and the whole Region therabout spoyled And Baron des Adretz returned againe to Lyons in the moneth of August About this tyme in the Region of Languedoc there was much businesse The inhabitants of Tolouze at the prouocation and setting on of Monsieur Monlace oftentimes assaulted the citie of Montauban into the whiche we sayd before many of the faithfull fledde from diuers places but by the singular Industrie vertue and constancy of the men of Montauban the inhabitants of Tolouze preuayled nothing at all Notwithstandinge the faithfull were thrust out of Pezenac and out of certaine other Townes by Monsieur Ioyse Liefetenant of Languedoc But Monsieur Sommeriue had very good successe in his affaires in Prouance as wée declared before the which gaue courage to the papistes to set vppon the faithfull that were in Languedoc Therefore Monsieur Ioyse Liefetenant of Languedoc Monsieur Sommeriue Fabricius of Auinion and Monsieur de Suze with others consulted among themselues determined to make so great a power as thei were able and to ioyne togither in one with as much spéede as they could to ouercome the faithfull in Languedoc All Prouance belonged to the charge of Monsieur Sommeriue to whom because of his victorie and late good successe of warre many came from diuers places Monsieur Fabricius had a great armye which came vnto him some being Italians and some comming out of the Townes territorie of Uenais And a great number attended and followed Monsieur de Suze out of Dolpheny But Monsieur Ioyse was of greater power thaÌ„ the reste who had out of the mighty cities Tolouze and Narbon both a great number of Souldiers and also all manner of artillerie and other necessaries for the war. These also were ayded by the men of Auuernoys they had hope to receyue helpe of the Spanish borderers from whom came diuers bandes whose Captain was Petruâ—… Lapia a notable theefe who came from the Mountaynes of Pyrren But the faythfull had many wel fenced and fortefied Cities â–ª land and ground enough with sufficient store of cattell Notwithstanding in men and other necessaries for warre their enemies were mightier In so muche that the Papistes perswading themselues to haue the victory thought it best to ioyne battayle out of hande Monsieur Ioyse setting vpon the faythfull on the one side and the men of Prouâ—…nce and of Auernoys on the other side Therefore while great armies were a prouidinge euery where Monsieur Ioyse Liefetenant of Languedov first of all remoued with his army with Monsieur Forquenoz LieftenaÌ„t of Narbon Their armies coÌ„tained seuen thousand footemen and a thousand horsemen they had sir great Canons and many other small péeces They pitched their Tentes the fourth day of September at a Uillage called Lates being a myle from Montpellier In this place he aboade lookinge for his fellowes thinking himselfe so sure to winne Montpellier that thei deuided the spoyles among them â–ª as if they had already wonne the Citie Thither came the Bishop of Montpellier whose name was Pelisser This man being sometime well accounted of among learned men and one that knew the trueth but now hauing forsaken the same became a notable enemie bought and sold Montpellier to certayne Marchaunts which only wayted vpon him for the pray At Montpellier beside the ordinarie and accustomed Garrison of the Towne there were certayne rescuing armies belonging to the churches contayning the num ber of eight hundred horsemen whose Captain was Iacobus Bellodine borne of a noble house who afterwarde was called Acierus according to the name of the territorie of his Lordship and did very notable seruice in the ciuill warres following and also twelue Enseignes of footemen After they vnderstood that the enemie had encamped himselfe they intended to breake out vppon them the same day to the ende they might take a better vewe of them and so they came néerer the enemie with twoo hundred horsemen and fiue hundred Gonners vnder the charge and conducte of Monsieur Ays of Nismes The enemie being ware of their comming rushed out of their tentes to méete them with all spéede and thus the battaile began to waxe hot on both parts the men of Montpellier fighting with such a courage that they constrayned the proude enemy to retire and flée backe euen to their tents from whence they discharging certaine great péeces but in vaine the faithfull retourned safe into the Citie againe with losse of two of their men only whereas on the other part there were slayne 100. For this good beginning and happie successe the faithfull caused publique and sollemne thanks to be giuen vnto God the which being done they prouided diligently for the safetie and fortefying of the Citie and at the commaundement of Monsuer Bellodine the Suburbes in the which there were certaine great Churches and great stoore of houses were with the diligent labour of the people throwne downe And after this there were certaine Skirmishes dayly betwéene both partes the Protestantes most commonly hauinge the victory Insomuch that Monsuer Ioyse was discouraged from befieging the Citie before he had more helpe and aide from his fellowes Notwithstanding because hée would not in the meane while spend the time in vaine he intended to assault a Castell which is in the I le of Maguelon For in that part bordering vppon the Sea coast there is a certaine Fen or Marshe which the Sea at certaine times ouerfloweth being of a great compasse both in length and breath in the which also there is a certaine Ileland lying out in length almost thrée miles and vppon this Ileland there standeth a Castell both of great antiquitie and also of sufficient force the which at that time the
condition also that they shall within sixtene dayes after the publication of these Letters put of their armoure and depart from those places and assemblies prohibited and forbidden Whatsoeuer he be that shall do otherwise shal fauour support and mayntayne his obstinate subiectes he straytely chargeth and commaundeth his Magistrates and officers seuerally to execute vppon hym such punishmentes as by the Lawes are appoynted ¶ The Duke of Guise vsed these letters which were published vnder the Kynges name to the intent hée might entangle and snare his enemies by all manner of meanes possible After the besieging of Burges the Duke of Nemours with certaine troupes of horsemen came at the coÌ„mandement of the Duke of Guise into Burgundy that ioyning the inhabitantes of Dolpheny and of Auernois with Monsieur Tauuanes Liefetenant of Burgundy he might assay to winne Lions and Dolpheny And at the very first assay he wan Vienna a noble Citie néere vnto the Rosne and bordering also vpon Lions by the meanes of the paâ—… pistes which were in the towne The souldiours were coÌ„ducted by Monsieur Mogeron who after the surrender of the Towne committed great murder and rapine The losse of Vienna was very hurtful to Lions the passage being shut vp into Dolpheny and Languedoc Then Nemours picking out so many souldiours out of his owne men and out of the Burgundians and Indwellers of Auuergnois and of Forest as would make an army remoued with the same néere Lions to besiege the Citie The Liefetenant of Lions as we sayd before was Monsieur Soubize a very wyse man who with great diligence prosperously prouided for the fortyfying of the Citie Notwithstanding Nemours dyd not incampe him selfe hard by the Citie after the manner of besieging but taking the suburbes and places bordering thereaboutes sought to kéepe them from vittailes and other necessary prouision Notwithstanding the Townes men diuers tymes brake forth vpon the enemie and lightly skirmished with them But for all this the enemie at the length was in hope to winne the Citie yet their hope was frustrated to their owne dammage and hurt There came into the handes of Nemours a certayne inhabitant of Lions of a reasonable good wit and at that time of some estimation and countenance This man declared vnto Nemours certayne meanes and wayes to obtayne Lions promising vnto him that if he might be sent thither he would prepare and make an easie enterance for him into the Citie For sayeth he I when I am in Lions am appointed to watche and kéepe the citie ioyning diuers other of the Garrison with me can open the Gate vnto you and can let in such a sufficient multitude of souldiers as coÌ„ming vnlooked for may easely take the Citie Onely set me at libertie and gyue me leaue to goe into the citie gyue me my reward when I haue brought it to passe Nemours tooke his offer and after fayre promises made hée set him frée and bad him go to Lions Hée when hée was come into the Citie declared the whole matter to Monsieur Soubize gouernour of the citie who coÌ„manded the man to kéepe the matter secrete and also to flatter Nemours in hope thereof still Therefore he appointed Nemours the tyme and place where and when hée should come to the Citie watch wordes were giuen and the matter was so appointed that Nemours had great hope to haue his purpose Wherevpon he commaunded a great number of harquebusiers and certayne troupes of horsemen when the tyme was come to go before and hée himselfe followed after with his whole army In the meane time Monsier Soubize had very wel fortified the Citie in euery place and corner the which being done he commaunded him to go toe the Gate of the citie whom Nemours had put in trust for the treason the watchmen about the gate to be very hush and silent without any manner of noyse as if they were a sléepe and then to giue the watchword The souldiours of Nemours hearing the watchword came with all spéed and were let into the Citie And wheÌ„ thrée hundred of them or there abouts were entered the warders of the gate perceyuing that the whole army of the enimies followed after a pace they discharged with all spéede a great péece of Ordinance against those that were without Whereby Nemours perceyuing that he was betrayed fled backe agayne with the reste of his armye so fast as hée conld then the Townesmen fell vpon those that were entered the Citie and slew them very fewe escaping their handes After this Nemours went his way and would neuer more come so néere Lions to besiege the same Notwithstanding they had after this certayn small skirmishes betwéene them Agaynst the comming of Nemours MoÌ„sier des Adretz had gathered togither out of all Dolpheny so many souldiours as he could to helpe the men of Lions and he conducted 1500. footemen with a very small troupe of horsemen The reporte hereof caused Nemours to take a newe deuise in hande and because he vnderstoode that the army of footemen of Monsieur des Adretz wanted horsemen to garde and defend them hée determined to set vpon him with his horsemen Wherefore not farre from Beaupere he met with Monsieur des Adretz and his men and skirmishing with them troubled them sore had slain a great nomber of them if so be both the oportunity of the place also the maÌ„lines of M. de Adretz in conducting his meÌ„ had not holpen theÌ„ So that notwithstanding the greatest part escaped few were lacking Notwithstandinge for this cause the inhabitants from Vienna all a long the ryuer Rosne were greatly afeard and greatly also the newes hereof dismaied Turnon although it was strongly fortified with Garrisons of Souldiers And about this tyme the inhabitantes of Nonay sought to winne the Citie of Sanstephen beinge a very Noble and famouse Citie in the Territory of Viuaretz and this was the occasion there is in the countrey of Forrest a Citie called Sanstephen nere vnto Nonay where dyuers kindes of weapons and artillery the place being very conuenient for the same are made by Copper Smithes of which there are there great store The men of Nonay being desierouse both to haue weapones and also the spoyle of the City which was of reasonable wealth by the aduise and counsayle of their gouernour they intended to winne the same Imageninge that by reason of the nearenes of Nemours and of Monsieur Caumont a man of greate power in that Region and of diuers other noblemen which dwelt about them they were secure and careles and might therefore more easely be opprest And in déed it came to passe according to their imagination For the greatest part of souldiers and almost al the young men and boyes in the Towne hauinge the gouernour of the Towne their Captaine went out of Nonay and trauailing all the nighte wyth great spede through woodes and secret places were very early at the Citie of Sainstephen And so soone as
we were neuer kept by any maner of violence nor Captiued any maner of waye But haue alwayes enioyed bothe the fredome of our bodyes mindes and haue euer fouÌ„d those our subiectes which are accused in this behalfe to be most louing faythfull and obedient Furthermor we haue not coÌ„mauÌ„ded or giueÌ„ leaue to those our seditious Subiectes to put themselues in armoure and to ioyne with for reyne Nations as we think now the Marshall Hess himself well perceyued so soone as he cam into the Realme both by the late successe of the battaile also by the infinite nomber of murders rapines and spoyles which that seditiouse sort do dayly commit against our poore subiectes whereby there cannot be a more firme and certain argument to declare what the purpose and mind of those seditious persones is In so much that we must néedes perswade our selues that those Souldiers of Germany by the admonition of these our letters will be certified of the truth and beware of that errour with the which those seditious persones go aboute to blinde them In so doing they shal both win â—…ame to theÌ„selues and also deserue wel at our handes but especially main taine and defend the glory of God. To these letters subscribed Alexandre the Kinges brother Duke of Orleans Henry Borbon Prince of Nauar Charles Cardinall Borbon Lodowicke Borbon Duke of Monpenseir Fraunces Burbon countie de Alphine and Charles Borbon Prince Rochsurion the xxiiii day of Ianuarie After this the Duke of Guise beséeged Orleans wyth a great host of men and with aboundance of great guns which he planted against that 〈◊〉 of the Citie by which the Riuer of Loire ran 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the middest of the same by reason whereof the Guise perswaded hymselfe the more easely to win the same For on the other side of the Citie the ground lay leuell and playne which was very vnméete to incampe vppon and besides this the Citie had very stronge fortes and Towers on that parte to defend it selfe At the first therefore he toâ—…e the Suburbes called Porterell and the Germaine footemen that were set to kepe the same fled away at the receyuing of whom into the Citie ther were a great nomber of Gascoynes and inhabitantes of Languedoc slaine which made the Citizens sore afraide After this the Guise bent his ordinance for the battery against the citie and gaue a very whot assault to the same In the meane time thâ—… Andelot though he was sore troubled with a quartern ague toke great paynes in forteâ—…ing and defending the Citie At the length by treasâ—…n the Guise got the tower which standeth vppon the bridge foote by which the townesmen might haue bin greatly anoyed if so be they had not beat downe a great part of the bridge from the same at the commaundement of the Andelot the Iland being very well fortified and defended ¶ Whyle these thinges were thus in hand at Orleans the Admirall was in Normandy and had ioyned himself to the Englishe men â–ª whereby his army was not only much encreased but also he receyued a great summe of money whereby the Germanes were not a little encouraged The Duke of Guise dayly more and more vrged the men of Orleans and sought newe wayes to worke theyr destruction But behold as the Guise mused and deâ—…ised with himselfe to worke mischiefe there came a certain Souldier from Lions called Pultrot Merae carying letters of Monsieur Soubize to the Admirall being of body great taull and strong but in courage and stomacke a very coward This Pultrot when he had deliuered his letters to the Admirall declared vuto him that he knew an easie way to discomfite the Guises army yea if néede were to kill the Guise himselfe shewinge himselfe very ready and willing to bring the same to passe The Admirall wondered at the boldnesse of the man being to him a mere straunger and also had no great trust in him at the first Notwithstanding bycause he was commended vnto him by Monsieur Soubize he graunted vnto hym according to his owne request leaue to be a spye and secret beholder of the Guises doinges and commaunded him also to certifie him thereof so soone as he could deriding and little regarding that his immagination concer ning the killing of the Guise First of all therefore the Admirall gaue vnto Merae for to play the spye twenty french Crownes after the receyte whereof he went to the Guise in his campe at Orleans and made protestacion vnto him that he was very sory that he had borne armour against the king crauing pardon for his offence of the Guise and promising â—…uer after to shewe himselfe a true and faithfull subiecte towardes the king The Guise hearing this very louingly receyued and entertained Pultrot Merae Then from the Guise he went to the Admirall againe shewing vnto him how well he had sped and receyued of him againe a hundred crownes to by him a Horse Therefore he retourned againe to the Guises campe with a better horse and tarying there cerdayes he earnestly studyed in himselfe how hee myght bring to passe to slay the Duke of Guise and he made the more spéede to finish his purpose bicause he saw the Citie of Orleans lyke to come in perill Wherefore when he had fully determined with himselfe what hee would do he began to deuise with himselfe whether he were best to kill hym when he had many men or fewe about him When he had fully resolued himselfe how and after what maner he would accomplishe this enterprise he came to the Guise as he was vewing the strength of the Towne and the maner of his siege and wayted vppon him according as he had done before At the length the Guise being weary mounted on his horse intending to go home to his house with two men only waighting vppon him and Merae followed him also And when the Guise and the rest were come ouer a certain Ferry not far from his house Merae suffred the Guise to ride about six or seueÌ„ paces before him and then discharged at the shoulder of the Guise a pistolet which he had charged be-before with thre pellettes With the which hee being sore wounded within a fewe dayes after he dyed But Merae so soone as he had done the déed set â—…rres to his horse and fled with spéede And riding al the night from place to place the night being very foule and tempestious as it is commonly in the winter he came againe to the same place from whence he had â—…ed the daye before which was at a Uillage called Oliuet nere vnto the Riuer Lerâ—… the which village was the appointed place for the Army of the Switsers And runninge vppon the Switsers vnawares was by their outcry bewrayed Not withstanding he fled again but was taken within few miles of the Guise campe Now the death of the Guise for certaine dayes was kept from the knowledge of the men of Orleans the captaines slacking neuer a whit lesse
of the Catholiques and priests whom we will and commaunde to be restoared from this tyme forwarde to the full enioyinge of all their Goods Houses Landes Possessions and Profytes whatsoeuer that they may enioye the same as they did before these troubles were begon that they maye vse their diuine seruice in those places where they were wont without interruption or trouble of any man VVe will also and commaunde that the citie and Court of Paris bee free from the whole vse of that Religion Notwithstanding whatsoeuer he be of the reformed Religion that hath any house or reuenewe in the citie of Paris or within any part of the same may freely come and goe therevnto and shal be in no perill of harme for any thing past or to come concerninge Religion All Cities shal be brought agayne to their former and wonted entercourse of bying and selling and al Straungers shall forthwith be sent out of the Realme And to the end we may the better quiet and stay the mindes of our subiectes we will and commaund that all men be vnder our protection patrociny and defence that thei be restored to their offices and reuenewes what state degree or condition soeuer they bee of notwithstanding the statutes ordinaunces and decrees made since the discease of our deare Father Henry of happie memory for Religion or for the Armour which our welbeloued Cosen the Prince of Conde hath borne or any other at his commaundement The which statutes and decrees we commaund to be voyde and of none effecte least through them they their children executors heyres or assignes should be stayed hereafter from the vse and possession of their goodes and dignities Bee it therfore sufficiently prouided by these our letters and let all men be out of doubt that we set and restore them to the possessions of all their goodes and landes which they now haue or had heretofore AND least any man should stand in doubt of the faith and true meaning of our cosen the Prince of Conde we say and affirme that we do take and accompt him for our welbeloued cosen and for a louing subiect and faithfull seruant in all our affayres In the which nomber of faithfull subiects wee esteeme and accompt al the Peeres Lordes and Nobles and all the inhabitants of the Cities Townes and Villages within this Realmes which haue taken part with our said cosen and haue serued in these tumultes of Ciuill warre in any maner of place within this Realme Thinking that those things which our subiects haue done haue proceeded frō good intent meaning and for their dutie and obedience sake Furthermore wee will and commaund that the Prince of Conde our welbeloued cosen be fully discharged of all accompts for such sommes of money as he hath himself or any other at his commaundement taken out of the Treasury and to be free also from making an accompt of such money as he hath taken out of Cities or corporat Townes or from Ecclesiasticall persons or for the coyning of money the casting of great Goonnes the making of Goonpoulder the fortefying of Cities or for the pulling downe of Edifices or buildings at the Prince of Condes cōmaundement to build vp any fort or hold Of all which thinges we discharge and fully acquite both him and all others at that time vnder his seruice by these our Letters and Edict by vs subscribed and sealed And so many as were taken either in warre or for Religions sake or which are kept in durance for any other cause wee dismisse and set at libertie by these presents Such notwithstanding excepted as are theeues and murtherers to whom the benefit of this Edict shall not appertaine AND because wee specially and aboue all thinges wish that all these causes of these troubles may be cut of and all mens mindes truely reconciled and pacified that by this consent and agreement the obedience due vnto vs may be confirmed wee will and commaund also these thinges following First that all iniuries and offences which haue growne by iniquitie of the time and by the occasions comming therof and that all othes thinges sprong vp by these tumultes may be extinguished forgotten and buried vnder foote euen as if they had neuer bene VVe denie and forbid also vppon payne of death all our subiects what state condition or degree so euer they be of to prouoke one another with contumelious woordes and to stirre vp anger by enuie of thinges past but do exhort them rather to behaue them selues louing ly one towardes another as bretherne and fellowe Citizens him that shall otherwise do wee will and commaund too bee executed forthwith without any further examination or iudgement according to the seueritie of our Edict For the which cause to the end all scruple maye bee quite taken away those our subiects shall shake of and reiect the making of any manner of Leagues or partakinges eyther within this Realme or without neither shall they make hereafter any conuocatiōs moysterings of men nor collections of money otherwise than they are permitted to do by this our Edict and that without Armour The which we straitely forbid them to do vnlesse they will incurre the punishment for breaking this Edict And we will and commaund that this our Edict be sollemnely proclaimed throughout the whole realme and that it be also put downe in the Court Roolles and diligently obserued and kept of all men THIS we commaund by our authoritie to abide firme and irreuocable for euer THE XIII day of the same Moneth Poltrot Merae the same whom we sayd before had killed the Duke of Guise was examined and after examination confessed him selfe to be giltie of the death of the Guise and for the same was by the iudgement of the Senate of Paris con demned to be drawne in peeces with fower horses This is a most cruell kind of death which hath bene euer of olde time vsed vppon Traytors The maner of the death was this They tied to the wrest of ech arme a strong rope and likewise to the small of both his legges and then the other endes of the same roopes being fastened to foure great horses the horses wers made to drawe two of them against the other two til they had rent his lims one frō another This kind of death Poltrot suffered After this his deathe there was a Libell set out concerninge his examination and published and reported also among the Germanes in the Admiralles Campe that Merae appealed the Admirall to bee the author of his wicked déede and Theodore Beza and a cer taine other Minister which he named not to be prouokers of him thereunto and the Countie Rochefoucaut as accessary to the same To this accusation the Admirall answered and affirmed the same to bee false saying that either Maerae had made no such accusation at all or els if he had made it that then he did it falsely being prouoked thereunto eyther for feare or for hope For probation wherof he alleaged the rash and
Germain horsemen waxed faint weary he would driue me into such straights and distres that eyther he would make them to come vnto him or els which was more would cause them bend their force against mee And bycause I feared that most of all other I told Merae that it was conuenient he went againe to the Guises campe to certifie me what the Duke meant to do To which he aunswered that he was ready and willing to do it but he wanted a horse for that purpose and truly quoth I I would to God I had one to giue thee But to say the truth I haue not one left to which he replied that hee could quickly buie one if so be hee had money Marie quoth I I will giue thee money with a good will so that thou bring me certain and true tidinges what the Duke meanes to do thou shalt want for no money only make diligēt enquirie whether the Duke meane to pursue me or no if he attempt any thing against Orleans see thou carriest word of it to my brother the Andelot After this talke I gaue him 100 ▪ crowns and hee forthwith not once salutinge my brother the Andelot although he passed through the Suburbs of Orleans came to a Towne called Nun. And this was the cause why I gaue him the 100. crowns Moreouer I protest that when he began to talke with me of killinge the Duke I made him no aunswere as though I had eyther allowed or disallowed the facte for I little cared whether hee eyther would or could do it And when I gaue him the hundred crownes I protest I did it for no other end and purpose but only that he might spedely certifie me whether the Duke ment to pursue me or no. And why I should feare this thing there were both waighty and manifest causes which I will not sticke to set forth here perticularly I could not be ignorant that the Duke knew of my iourney for I was constrained to prouide and take order for it in a great assembly of horsemen eyght dayes before I departed neyther could I set forward any sooner bicause the Germaine Horsemen were faine to leaue their carriages and other necessaries behinde them and surely I had very much a do to bring that matter to an end beeing a thing neyther heard of nor practised amongst the Germanes And that the Duke of Guise knewe of this it is past all peraduenture for there were diuers that remayned amongst our horsemens bandes to entice and moue the Germans to defection and slyding away from vs to the Guises in so much that some of them were in such case and so mynded that the Marshall of Hesse and others their chief Captaynes began to mistrust them Moreouer besides that I was admonished by Mere I dyd also know for a certaintie that ther was cōmaundement geuen throughout all Normandie that all manner stops lettes and hinderances that might any waye trouble our armie should be practised against vs And for the more assurance of this matter there came certaine letters into my handes wherein was contayned very straight charge for the accomplishement thereof and for the furnishing of the Cities with victualls as afterwards we vnderstood to haue bin done in many places that the Milles shold bee so spoyled of their furniture that they should not grynd and that in euery place they should set vpon mee with all their force and power VVherefore all the Cities being takē before hand and the wayes where I shold passe stopped it was impossible for me to get to the sea side to receyue money out of England for which I longed very sore to paye the Germaine horsemen their wages The which thing as soone as they once knew there was great daunger that sedition should haue ben stirred vp amongst the souldiours in so much that they feared not to talke and mutter of it in their common and open communications VVherefore if the Duke had attempted to haue skirmished but with the straglers and tayll of our armie it was likely that we should haue bin greatly endamaged by him and shamefully foyled but sure it was past all peraduenture that he might so haue hyndered and troubled vs that we should neuer haue gotten to the sea coast wherein did consist as farre as mannes reason could reach the whole and only hope of all present aid namely of monie without the which I could not haue payd the Germaine horsemen their wages wherevppon without doubt would haue followed a most miserable calamitie and ouerthrow of all my affayres especially being thereby not of abilitie to encounter or ioyne battaile any more with my enemyes For after we had bin past the plaine of Neufburge the waye was so vneuen and discōmodius that 500. harguebuzeres did compell ten thousand horsemen most shamefully to fly and the best remedy that I could wish to ridde vs out of ◅o great distresse was that I might haue both oportunitie and occasion to ioygne battaile which neyther I could haue done without very excedinge greate and gr◅uous losse and danger being beset on euery side and as it were hedged in with fensed and fortified cities to which our enemies had free recourse and passage There was also an other let of great waight and importance and that was that the Villages and Townes were so desert wast and so forsaken of all men and the families in that countrey so scatered and dispersed abrode that very hardly there could be gathered togyther the nomber of fiftie horsemen All which difficulties and lettes the Duke and his Captaines knew full well which made mee to iudge that he would rather set forward towardes Normandy to pur sue me then to attempt the siege of Orleans For if so be my armie had bin once destroyed it was very likely that Orleance should soone haue come to ruine and wrack but if my armye had bin safe and preserued there was good hope yea although Orleans had bin won to haue maintained and gon forward with the war. These things I haue here more particularly declared and set forth to the intent I might shewe to them that haue any experience in these matters whether it had bin expediente and fit for me to haue spared my money in such an extremitie wherein it was necessary to know what way the Duke ment to worke and for this purpose I had hyred very many who receiued of mee good round summes of money and yet do not make their bragges and vauntes thereof And whereas I amongst all these distresses and daungers that I knewe to be certaine did aduenture vppon that iourney I was truly against my will compelled therevnto by the extreame perill and hazarde I should haue bin in if I had bin forsaken of the Germane horsemen through want of money To these foresaid causes that I haue shewed why I gaue this money I may ad also this that M◅rae was wont as it is to be proued by the testemonie of diuers and sundrie men
all Fraunce to the great griefe and hart sore of the Papistes for whose cause especially they had procured this exposition of the Edict Wherefore he departing thence went first to the Countrie of Orange and afterwardes at the Quéene of Nauarres commaundment he came to Bearn to confirme and set in order the Churches and Congregations that were there The Papistes now began to mocke and laughe in their sléeues to sée this Declaration gyuen out by the King and published abroad in open writing whereby it was made manifest what an ouerthrow was gyuen to the Edict and being in a brauery and al vpon the hoigh set day and appointed the time and that with threatnings when as it should be vtterly abolished and quite done awaye and warrantinge them selues vppon this beginning they euery day more more without checke violated the Edict There be also new deuises put in practise whereby they might entyce and allure the Prince of Conde from the reformed Religion This fetch was practised before by the Cardinal of Loreine against the king of Nauarre and had preuayled therefore he thought good to proue and trie once againe against the Prince thinking with himselfe that hée might as easely and with the same deuises wherewith he had ouercome the king of Nauar winne also vnto him the Prince of Conde the Quéene of her selfe was ready and desirous to take this matter in hande many other meanes there were that séemed as it were to profer their helpe for the accomplishmeÌ„t thereof The Prince of himselfe was of a myld and soft disposition desirous of peace and euen glutted with the lothsomenesse of the former warres and being altogither bent to kéepe and maintain peace did from his hart abhorre and detest strife and contentious troubles Wherefore hée was much and often at the Court and very familiar both with the King and the Quéene hys mother The Guises also of set purpose séemed not too come so often to the Court nor to be in such fauour with the Quéene as they were wont to bée and all for the Princes sake to win whom there was no fetch no deuise no subtiltie left vntried The Quéene her selfe vsed very often and louingly to shew the deare good will she bare to the Prince and told him that of her self and for her part she dyd fauour and loue him that it was should be both the Kings and her will mind to estéeme and loue as right reason required the Princes their néere kinsmen in their degrée and place that there was good cause why there should bee more néere and deaâ—…e friendship betwixt her and him aboue all others that he should not thinke that any thing had or might hereafter happen that should stay or sâ—…ack the true and perfect good will she bare him so that he would doe his dutie let no occasioÌ„ slip that might aduaunce and enlarge the glory and honour of hers his And many other trayns were intermingled with this talke whereof that subtil and alluring woman thorough her courtly trickes and baytes had great store Beside this there were more particular promises made and that olde forged deuise was renewed of the yéelding and gyuing vp of the I le of Sardina which had ben diuers tymes before that offered to the King of Nauarre and was now agayne promiâ—…ed to the Prince by the Quéen and that in the name of the King of Spayne And that it should not be thought that the matter were but triffled withall in wordes ther were many great gifts bestowed vpon the Prince and his Children Mariage also was attempted that there might be a more sure band and coniunction of amitie amongst them The Marishall of Saint Andrew a man of excéeding great wealth being slayne in the battayle of Dreux had left behind him one onely daughter who was heire of all those goodly and ample possessions To her beinge almost mariageable the Quéene went about to couple the Prince of Condies eldest sonne who was then called the Duke of Augnien the mother of the gentle woman doing all she could to bring that mariage to passe And although the honour and nobilitie of the two howfes were nothing like equall yet the Marshialles daughter had great aboundance of ritchesse on her side which surely is the thing that striketh the strok and beareth greatest sway in marriage matters now in these our dayes wherein men are altogyther gyuen to get wealth and riches The Prince himself was not very vnwilling and therefore kept company very fami liarly with the widowe the Marshialles wife and great curteousie was exercised betwixte them The Marshalles wyfe gaue vnto the Prince of Conde a very fruitfull and beautifull place called the Territory of Ualeri and the Marishiall him selfe had bestowed there for the trimming and beawtifying of it much rickes which King Henry had giuen him in giftes and rewardes this place dyd shée giue vnto the Prince withall the right Title and possessions thereto belonging the Quéen ratifying and allowing the matter very well wherefore euery man looked euery day when that mariage should be solemnized And who in the Courte then but the Prince of Conde who as the nature of man is to slyde and fall through ill companie from exercise and vertuouse trauaill to pleasure and idlenesse began contrary to the institution of the reformed religion and good conuersation to gyue himself to the wanton desire and lust of women and tasting very licentiously of the baytes snaring traynes that were layde for him séemed euery day more and more carelesse of that good and vertuouse Matrone his wife who was of the howse and family of Roye and waxed cold and faynt in the profession and defence of the reformed religion to the great grief feare of all good men but to the great ioy of the papistes who made their vaunts and crackes saying that the Prince would daunce the same daunce that his brother the king of Nauarre had lead defore him And surely there was great likelihood of most lamentable and sorrowfull decay and ruine had not the mercyfull prouidence of god speedely preuented it as hereafter in his place shal bee declared In the vttermost part of the prouince of Languedoc in the way as they go to the mountaines Pyrenâ—…es there is a Citie called Paniez a very rich and populous towne This towne was kept and holden by the Protestants in the time of warre but after that Truce was taken and peace concluded and that Monsieur de Anuill as wee haue before declared was come into Languedoc and had euen wearied all the cities thereof with his outragious and vnruly garrisons the InhabitaÌ„ts of Paniez foreséeing their own dauÌ„ger by other mennes harmes wrote vnto Monsieur de Anuille desiring him that hée woulde not presse and charge them with néedlesse garrisons whereof there should be no need nor vse séeing that they were and would be ready prest to obey all his commauÌ„ dements and did purpose truly
great dangers are herein to be looked for and feared the one is that if your maiestie doe not spéedily méete with these outrages but suffer them to range and spred abroad further it is very lykely that when you would redresse them then you shall not be able the other is your afflicted and persecuted subiectes shal be driuen in to such distres and desperation of mind that when they shall perceiue all right iustice to be taken from them by treachery of your officers flat against your maiesties pleasure they wil of themselues defende themselues from wrong and also reuenge the iniuries And yet I speake not this as though I knew not that your maiestie had commaunded comissions should bee graunted out both for examination and correction of such spoiles which on thing doth sufficiently proue that it is your graces wil and pleasure that the Edict should be kept and obserued But I beséeche your maiestie to consider was there euer any remedye of anye complaint whatsoeuer onward out by them to whom you haue committed the correction and punishment of malefactors Your highnes Presidents and Lieuftenants whose charge aud office is to redres and restrain such disorders and are for that purpose garded with Garrisons of Souldiours at the cost and charge of those ouer whom they gouerne do abuse that aide giuen them to maintaine Iustice alwaies to the fauour of one part of your subiectes and vtter destruction of the other And if so be it chaunce now and then that they go to any place to sit vpon any such matters there is nothinge done according to Iustice but the catholiques defaultes and offences cloked and couered and as for the examination to be had there it is eyther quight omitted or els done in hugger mugger and corners that no man can know of it But if any complaints be brought to your maiesty of those whom disdainfully and spightfully they cal Huguenots foorth with in post hast before commission bée giuen out for the trial of the matter ther is iudgement awardeÌ„d against them not once waying the accusation whether it be true or false and they condemned either to lose their liues or els their goodes and their houses to be beaten downe flat to the ground as doth appeare by this example For when as Monsieur de la Taride only moued by a vayne and vncertayne rumor had written not vnto your Maiestie but to a priuate friend as concerning a certayne commotion which he thought was at Montauban the report hereof was scant crept abroad when straightway commaundment was geuen to raze and beate downe the walles of that Citie And like sen tences to this were executed in diuers places especially where the number of protestants was thought to be great as of late in Ualence and Sisteron but no suche thing don in those townes wher the Catholiques beare rule althought it be playne manifestly knowne that many seditions haue ben raysed by and through them And very slender was the trauayle and labor that was bestowed in the examination of Monsieur Cures death although he was your Maiesties Lieuetenant and represented your owne person For when his bretheren executors did sue for punishment of the murderers they very hardly in sixe long wéekes obtayned a Commission to haue their matter examined which thing doth plainly bewray in what estate and estimation wée stand And agayne on the other side we knowe what commission the Duke Monpensier had to be executed vppon Monsieur Câ—…agier who had done nothing in the eâ—…aminatioÌ„ of Monsieur Cures death but that which the coÌ„missioners appointed for that purpose had commaunded him and yet notwithstanding was charged eyther to appeare presently vppon sight of the Attachement sent for him or else that his howse should be made equal and euen with the ground Which thing importeth nothing else but the vtter subuersion of Iustice and manifestation of their gréedy desire they haue to vioâ—…ate breake the Edict by al wayes and meanes possible but sâ—…ecially by thrée By parciall administration of Iustice By vniust and vnequall tolleration and sufferaÌ„ce of mischief and lastly By deadly and cankred hatered against all thâ—…se that professe the reformed Religion And this last is that wherewith both the chief doers in this matter who ought chiefly to seeke the obseruation of the Edict are caried headlong and also the common people who through impunitie of mischiefe and sufferance of the noble men ar waxen shamelesse in al â—…ind of tyrannie and crueltie For when they perceyue the Iustices and Iudges of Law and equitie so haynously offended agaynst vs that when we haue any matter be fore them that doth concerne both our safegarde and reâ—…esse of wrongs done vnto vs we finde them a sléepe loth to ease our grieâ—…es but to be both ready and careful in all things that are to procéede against vs yea and too condemne vs not once hearing our cause they do hereby take occasion proudly to triumphe ouer vs and conspire against vs Of these iniuries after long and weary sufferance the afflicted company of the faithfull haue complayned to your Graces Presidents and other your Officers and to certayne who are néere about your Highnesse but can receyue no other aunswere but that your Maiesties whole care and studie is to content and satisfie both partes and that the Catholiques do no lesse complayne of the protestantes then thei of them which in very déede is nothing else but to suffer euery man to be hurt and wronged without Law and Iustice and to giue the Catholiques large reynes and full swing to do all things that their cankered hatred against the faythfull doe driue them to and fréely to kill murther them without eyther feare of punishment or daunger least that they shold at any tyme perceyuing that they were suffered too bee iniured of euerye man with oute all lawe and equitie take armour and so by force defend them from that violence which by lawe they could not auoyde We sée this also happen diuers tymes and oftener than néedeth that your Graces Iustices in stéede of administring Lawe and right to those that haue proued their causes doe vse to couÌ„teruayle their iniuries done vntotheÌ„ with some other offences that thei haue coÌ„mitted or else cause some rumour to be spread abroade of some euill fact or other done by the protestantes wherwith thei vse to stop the plaintifes mouthes and so send them home in as euill case as they came without any redresse of their wrongs And yet it is well knowen that the Protestantes crimes be not so haynouse but that they may be easely redressed as to goe to another place to heare Gods woord then your Maiestie hath appoynted or not to haue restored and set vp agayne popish religion in certayn places But far vnlike to these be the offences of the papistes cruell and sauage bloud-suckers who haue filled ai places with rapines horrible murthers so that we do not doubt but God wil
the Images as done againste all order and the publique authority of Magistrats They refused also the letters of the Duches of Parme as to helpe any thing at all the offenders herein Therefore gatheringe togyther a great number of Souldiers to serue their turne they toke many in all places of the protestantes and cast them into prison and after examination put them to death After this also Norcam Manques of Berge a notable enemy to the reformed Religion came with foure bandes of horsmen v. Ensignes of footmen minding to besiéege Ualencia toke as he came a Towne called Sainctaman and committed their most cruell tyrannye as rapine murther and the defiling of Uirgins beside most horrible kindes of torment then practised Thys was done in the moneth of Nouember By these cruell actes of the papistes which threatned extreame destruction the protestants sawe that it was now hygh time to prouide for themselues Therefore dyuers practised sondry wayes meanes for theyr defence but God altering and orderinge all thinges by his prouidence would not suffer theÌ„ to come to good effect Great was the multitude of people and great was their courage but they wanted Counsayle and Captaynes to guyde them There were sufficient men enough which could haue gouerned them and conducted them both with wisdome and pollicie agayn the number of Noblemen was not smal that fauoured that side who if they had taken parte with them there had bene good hope of victory and to haue had more quiet gouern ment But such as were of highest calling standing stil as lookers on and séeking neyther to defende nor to resist the one nor the other all good occasion to bring any thing happely to passe was lost The whiche brought great ruine to the protestantes of the lowe Countrey and great calamity to those noble men themselues So hard perillouse a thing it is for a man to séeke to serue two maisters so coÌ„trary the one to the other The grea test part of the Nobilitie professed the reformed religion and yet there was scarse one of them which came at any tyme to the sermons of that Religion Wherefore we must néedes confesse that our sinnes haue caused the Lord not to finish that good worke which he had begonne Herevpon came the pitiefull calamitie of the churches of the low countrey The Protestantes therefore were both destitute of counsaile and also of a goide but the Catholiques waÌ„ted neyther of them both Wherefore their cities were dayly fortified with garrisons and they besieged as is sayd before Valencia which was quight voyde and destitute of any Captayne There came diuers bandes of Souldiours also as scattered shéepe to ayde the Protestants at ValeÌ„cia and that with good courage and while they vainly looked for a Captayne the greatest part coÌ„ueyed themselues away Therefore al this mouth was spent with diuers troubles and diuers cities of the pro testantes were wonne and the inhabitants therof put to flight Antwerpe being vnder the authoritie and gouernement of the prince of Orange was not pertaker of those troubles that other places felt But the foolish men being weary of peace and ease and as though there were not at Antwerpe troublesome heades ynough they sent for Matthâ—…us Illyricus and for Flaccus Spangenberge and other to contende with the men of the reformed religion about the Supper of the Lord and the presence in the Sacrament All things growing daylye from euill to woorse the Protestantes offered vp at diuers tymes Supplications to the Magistrates to whom most humbly and reuerently they committed themselues and their cause promising vnto them a great summe of money vppon condition that they might be in safety Also when dyuers of the Princes of Germany had sought to intreat the matter and could not obtayne that which they wisshed Brederode and certayn noble men confederat with him offered vp a Supplication the eight day of February which consisted of these speciall poyntes That the agreement made betweene him and the Duches of Parme in the moneth of August might be obserued and kept that the libertie of Religion might be graunted and that the soldiours gathered togither contrary to the forme of the othe might be dismist To this within a while after the Du chesse of Parma made answere That shee neuer ment to graunt the publique administration of the Religion nor the vse of Sermons Sacraments and Consistories and as fos the interpretation of the agreemeÌ„t that saith shee dependeth vpon mee Concerning the Request to haue the souldiours dismist all men may see whereunto that tendeth VVherefore sayeth shee I pray and com maund euery man vppon payne of the Kinges displeasure to goe home to his owne house This aunswere made Brederode and his fellowes to doubt to feare the calamitie lyke to ensue And when they had taryed in vayne thirtéene dayes at Antwenpe they got them home to Uian a towne in the borders of Holland and thyther strayghtway a great many fled The reste of the moneth of February was spente with diuers troubles the faithfull Protestants beinge dayly anoyed and vexed more and more with proscriptions banishments and such lyke All this while was continued the siege of Valence which at the laste by the letters of the Duches of Parma wherein shée promysed all clemeney and fauour was surrendered to Noircarm the xxiii day of March. After the which it cannot be expressed what great cruelty was showeÌ„ vpon the townsmen the chief both of the Citie and also of the Church were taken prisoners and among these two ministers the one called Guido Bresse the other Peregrine Grage and certayne other honest Citizens were put to death for that they had Sermones in the Citie without the Kings will and pleasure and had also vsed the administration of Sacramentes In the middest of these garboyles it was reported that Fraunces de Tolede Duke of Alba was comming with a great army to ouercome and subdue all the lowe Countrey otherwyse called Belgio IN this yéere also â–ª the Churches of Fraunce were not a little troubled occasion being taken of the cruel murther committed in the lowe Countrey the whiche the Cardinall of Loraine thoughte fitte for his purpose to afflict and destroy the Churches of Fraunce with the help of the Duke of Alba of whose comming he was truely certifyed by the letters of Granuellan The same Cardinall also procured the Popes letters and the letters of King Philip to the Quéene putting her in minde therby of her promyse of the holy league Therfore this yéere they mynded to worke the vtter ruyne and destruction of the Churches of Fraunce So that they hauing theyr consultations at Marches and at Monseaux at whiche places the King and Quéene moste commonly aboade determined to prouide out of hande bandes of souldiers and to require the helpe and ayde of the Switzers all the which they determined to do vnder the collonr that the Duke of Alba with the Spaniardes ment to giue some
to be certifyed and persuaded and to assist vs with your aide and fauour In the meane time the mother and hir children commend themselues to your Maiestie to whom thei wishe most happy preseruation This letter was written the xv of October Certainly England did greatly fauour the cause of the faythfull as may appeare by the second demonstration of their good will in time of extreame perill binding the Frenchemen vnto them for euer by the great benefits and good turnes bestowed vppon them For they gaue liberally to such as were exiles and banished meÌ„ places to dwell in and very much comforted succoured the poore néedy and oppressed in these tumultes and garboyles of ciuill warres But to returne to our former purpose The Prince of Conde ioyned himself with the Army of Monsieur Acier the first day of Nouember at Aulbeterre and then out of hand they consulted concerninge the pursuing of Monpensier of which when they had agréed they tooke certain troupes of horsemen of the first Armie and the greatest parte of harquebuziers whiche came out of Languedoc and then the Admirall went toward a certain village called Bertrizi where it was reported the enemie aboade but when they had diligently enquired out the matter it was founde that hée was departed from thence with great spéed and so with losse of that iorney the Admirall retourned backe agayn to 〈◊〉 to the Prince of Conde To whom when hée was come agayn they determined and decréed togither to séeke all occasions of battail and sâ—… straightway they pursueâ—… Monpensier who with great expedition traueiled toward the Duke of Aniou For the Duke of Aniou with the reste of the army was at Chastelleraud in the territorie of Poictou who had also with him greate store of great Gunnes Therefore the Admirall wyth the first Army pursued Monpensier who was not farre from the Duke of Aniou in so muche that the Duke of Aniou béeing moued with so greate celeritie remoued his Campe néerer the Citie and more strongly encamped himself his souldiers the Admirall not bidding him battaile but extending his army and displayng his Ensignes in great quantitie of ground Notwithstanding this day there was nothing don The day following he marched his army more néere but first of all he gaue knowledge thereof to the Prince of Conde who sending before him his footemen came vnto him with the troupes of horsemen of the seconde Army but as he was comming on from the Admirall met hym and tolde him that he coulde not cause the Duke of Aniou to ioyne battaile with him bycause he had incaÌ„ped his souldiers within certaine valleys inuironed with hils and also by reason of a thicke myste which was so foggie that one of them coulde scarsly discerne and knowe another Therfore this day also was spent with charge and discharge of thundering shotte one agaynste another The Prince of Conde had taken a very strong castle called Caâ—…uigny by surrender which was situate near to the riuer of Vienna This castel he battered downe to the hard ground bycause it should not afterward stand the enemy in any stéede Then the Prince of Conde to the end he might entice the lingering Duke of Aniou to battail after deliberation had of the matter retired backe agayne with the Admirall and went asyde passing ouer the riuer agayn In the meane tyme Monsieur Bocard was comming to the Prince of Conde with the rest of the army and with good stoaâ—…e of great Ordinance when he had takeÌ„ Pont a strong and well fenced citie The Duke of Aniou vnderstanding of this determined to set vpon Monsieur Bocard he being yet a good way of from the Prince of Conde and passing ouer the riuer of Uienua he came to a certain Towne called Pamprui where Monpensier taried for him with the first army The Prince of Conde also was mynded to ioyne himselfe with Monsieur Bocard that if it were possible by this occasion hee might procure and allure the Duke of Anion to battaile Therfore the Prince of Conde came to that place the xvii of November was no farther then half a league from Monpensiers camp And by and by ther was a smal skirmish betwéen them which was but short by reason that night approched The Duke of Aniou was froÌ„ thence aboute a league Monpensier as though he had encamped himselfe made certaine fiers to deceiue the enemy and in the dead tyme of the night came towardes the Duke of Aniou at Iazenail By the breake of the day the Admirall sent Monsieur Briguemauld with certaine Troupes of Horsemen as scoutes to view the coste and hee himselfe aboade there still the Prince of Conde being not far from him Then Monsieur Briguemauld when he came to the place froÌ„ whence the enemy was fled found certain tentes empty and horses tyed with cariage which they had left behinde them and riding a little farther he might discern the enemy going forward then he sent Monsieur la Loe with twenty Horsemen to take a better and more certaine viewe of them who when he had ridden more neare gaue knowledge to Briguemauld that they were their enemies who straighte way with the rest of the horsemen rode against them at the sighte where of the Souldiers of Monpensier were so terrefied that thei forsoâ—…ke their cariage and fled towarde Mongontour hee leauinge his purpose to ioyne with the Duke of Aniou And it séemed now that they had occasion offered them to giue notable attemptes if so be the Admirall had not altered his purpose fearinge least the Prince of Conde on the other part should be troubled with the Duke of Aniou because hee hard oftentymes the sounde of the gonnes For the Prince of Conde fought with the Duke of Aniou with whom hee skirmished diuers tymes euen at his campe Notwithstanding this was not done without sheadinge of bloud six hundred of the Duke of Anious Souldiers being wanting and of them fiueteen captains And if they had not bene preuented by night it was to be feared least the battaile had bin more blou dy by the rescue of the Admirall The next day again the Prince of Conde came with his whole power to the same place but in vain The Duke of Aniou marched with his army to Poictiers and the Prince of Conde with his army to a towne called Mirebell within foure miles of Poictiers which straight way was yelded to the Prince of Conde where he taried eyght dayes Then the Admiral when he hard that certain bands of Souldiers taried at the citie Pontauzane tooke all his horsemen both with lawnce and shotte and trauailed in the night set vppon the whole Legion of the which the Brissac was Captaine and slewe thrée hundred of them There was also the greatest part of the enemyes horsemen whom he durst not set vpon both for that he knew not where the Prince of Conde was and also because there were great showers of rayne which muche anoyed them Therefore
troupes whiche taryed behynde at Iarnac with Briguemauld came to Beauuoire besyde the ryuer of Mate where the Duke of Aniou was with hys armie So soone as the prince of Conde sawe him he set his army in aray and commaunded certaine drummes to stricke vp behynde a lyttle hill harde by them in couert as if an Armye of footemen had bene there Notwithstandyng all that daye was spent wyth certaynâ—… small skirmishes The Duke of Aniou beyng driuen froÌ„ thâ—…nce which is a place of passage ouer the ryuer sought another way and certayne miles beyonde Engolesme he passed ouer the ryuer Charente with hys whole armie and in hys iourney he sodenly gaue assault vpon the citie of Mele and on the castell of Ruffec slewe the garrisons tokâ—… the same and after this also he toke â—…y surrender thâ—… citie of Chasteau neufe and there passed ouer the riuer â–ª Report hereof being brought to the Prince of Conde he perceiued well that there was no lingering of time he went therfore with his maine battaile from Saintes to Cognac and the Admirall came with the vaunt garde â—…o Iarnac The eleuenth day of this moneth the Duke of Aniou hauing commaunded a strong bridge to be made at Chasteâ—…uneuf came neare in the meane tyme vnto Cognac with the greatest part of his armies makinge a countenâ—…unce as though he would presently besiege the Citie The princes of Nauar and of Coude were then at Cognac their Armies being distributed lodged among the Uillages there aboutes Then by and by they sente word to the Admirall commaundinge him to come vnto them with al spéede The Admiral bicause it was nedefull for them to be at Iarnac sente his brother the Andelot to the princes to the ende they might both vnderstand the necessitie of his abiding still and also to deliberate with them what was néedeful to be done The Andelot was not so sâ—…ne gone but the Duke of Aniou with his whole army which was at Cognac rushed with great violence mindinge to recouer and get the bridge of Iarnac But beinge forced to retire by the Admiral they turned their backes and many of them and of the other part also at this conâ—…ict were slaine In the meane time the prince of Conde deliberating of the matter minded on the day followinge to remoue his army and he on the xii day came to Iarnac the Admirall remoued to Bassac And the same day the Admirall came with the Uauntgard before Chasteauneuf to viewe the place He knew that the enemy had made another Bridge of woode neare vnto the stone Bridge of Ghasteaunâ—…f that he might passe and repasse ouer them with his wholâ—… army the more spéedely And then hée â—…eturned to Bassac againe leauing there certain bandes for defence till he came backe againe But bycause of the incoÌ„modiousnes of the place which caused the army to be dispersed abroade the prince of Conde sent to the Admirall willing him to be with hym 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day earely in the morning and to bring wyth hiâ—… all his bandes and his ordinance and to sée that the horsemen were with him euen at the breake of the day So soone as the Admiral had receiued the message he sent word that night to euery captaine hereof But many of them were so slacke that they had the nexte day in the morning scarsly taken their iorney by nine of the clock The Admirall taryed their comminge at the Riuer to kepe the same with certaine bandes of Harguabuziers In the meane tyme the Catholiques Campe passed ouer the riuer of Charente all the night with as great spéede as myght be and were come before Bassac in the sight of the prince of Conde But bycause the said prince lacked the Lord Pluueaus horsemen and his regimen of footemen leaft as you haue heard behinde and were nowe comminge he had no intent as yet to fight The morrow after being the xiii of March the prince with his horsmen that were already arryued presented himselfe in the morning in order of battaile before the enemy aboue the Uillage of Bassac When all was arryued the said prince returned with the battaile drue to Mattâ— neare Saint Iean de Angelie which the Admirall did also leauing behinde to direct the retracte the Lord de la Noue who retiring a reasonable pase and yet not far of was charged with a great hoste of horsmen which forced him to take the charge and chased hym to Bassac where the Admirall was ready to resist and repulsed the catholiques vnto the other side of the Uillage In the meane while certayne troupes of shot of the Catholiques entered the said village sought to skirmishe with the Admirall who likewise droue them out of the village Notwithstanding they were reléeued by the reste of the Campe that folowed at hand and returned to the village The Lord Admirall séeing that the Catholiques were so nye sent a Gentleman with spéede to the Prince to aduertise him that the whole campe of the coÌ„trary side was there and almost at his héeles so that séeinge no meane to retire without fightinge desired him to aduaunce such powers as he had of the battaile Immediatly the prince reculed till he was very néere the Admiral ringing himselfs in battaile at the foote of a hill on the left hand The Admirall was in battaile raye on the right hand along a little Coppies lookings towarde Bassac He had about him the Lord Pluueaus regimen of fiue Enseignes of footemeÌ„ who made a long skirmish and séeing that the Catholiques in the meane while were readie to charge him comming betwéene the Prince him turned his face right vpon them and with certain Cornets which were with him pressed vppon them so whotly that he brought to the ground a great number and so passed further At the same instant the Prince when hée had mads his praiers vnto God went to battail with great corage vpon whoÌ„ rushed a great Squadron of Reisters or Germanes and set vpon him on the syde at which charge his horse was killed and fell vppon him and his horsemen put to the chase whom the Catholiques pursued Albeit as they passed further a French Gentleman named the Lord of S. Iean knew the Prince of Conde and also the Lord de Argence both which promised him to saue his life or else to leaue theirs in aduenture Where vppon as an Archer being descended on foote to helpe to shifte the prince of Conde from vnder his horse and had set him on his féete one named Montesquion who was thought to be the captain of the garde to the Kings brother knowing the Prince shot him thorough the head with a pistolet the shot entering behinde came forth vnder his eye of which he presently dyed They which were present were very sore offended for this deed but specially they which had giuen vnto him their faith to saue his lyfe This was the ende of the Prince of Conde a Noble Prince â–ª who hath left behind him
Chastelleraut amongst whom were specially the lord of Boniuets companyes sonne to the Lord of Creuecâ—…ur and of the baron of Numburg a Normande which being knowen to the garrison of the sayde Chastelleraut together with the certaine place where the sayd lord Boniuet was wonte to come the tenth of August two or thrée hundreth horsemen with certaine shot of the Captaine Norman made a sally vpon them and toke the sayde L. Boniuet with his company in a village néere to Liguers â–ª where they entred withoute let as kéeping negligente garde and were founde layde and lodged after the french maner the Lorde Boniuet was prisoner and almost all the rest of his company either killed or taken About the same time the Marquis of Rancon an Italian was takeÌ„ néere to Myrebeau as he bayted and was led prisoner to Nyort The lord of Tarrides gouernour for the King in Quercy maintayned war all this while in Bern a country belonging to the Quéene of Nauar hauing almost brought all the country vnder his authoritie wherfore the countie Montgomery sent as is saide into Gaseoyne assembled the forces of the ii vicountes to apply spéedely to the succours and rescue of the Citie of Nauarre in Bearn besieged by the said Lord of Tarrides he deuided his iorney into such diligence and spéede as about the 7. of August he was very néere Nauarreis at whose so sodaine comming the Lord Tarrides raised his siege and retyred into a towne there ioyning where the Montgomery besieged and toke him with his brother and the lord de S. Colombe and of Negre-pelisse with many other great lordes and knightes of the order and captaines to the number of xxx The Lord of Tarrides lost his artillerie with a great number of his horsemen footemen The countie Montgomery by meane of this discomfeit restored the whole country of Bearn to the obedience of the Quéene of Nauarre Touching the siéege of Poictiers they within were in greate amaze with the breaches made in the Abbottes meade the rather bycause they could not defend them whervpoÌ„ entring into counsail they found it most best and necessarye to stem the ryuer of Clyn to the ende to make it runne ouer his cannell and so drowne the said meade this counsaile was put in spéedy execution and plantinge stakes and pales proper for the purpose beneath the arches of the bridge of Rochereul they daÌ„med the riuer so that in a moment the mead was all ouerflowen with water about thrée cubites high the same so troubling the protestants as it driue them from their determinations notwithstanding after they had considred wel of the subtilty they began as in a couuter polli cye to beate the pales and giue vent to the water and therefore the next morning discharged so many shottes of artillery against the said waterworke as the water retyred and left the meade drye which the catholiques the night following restored and countergarded in this order they cast behind the said damme vnder the arches a very thicke wall fastening certayne fléeces or balles woll to the pales to receyue and dampe the cannon shot which made the water swell and ouerflow more highe than afore Notwithstanding the catholiques were closed very nere and straight yet made they many sallies vpon the Protestantes who skowred them back again euen to the verye posternes of their Citie not without great losse to the one and other side Amongst these sallies they made one of such a sodaine the xii of this moneth that they tooke a cornet of Reistres and caried them without let into the towne In this moneth the town of Orillac in Auuergne â–ª was taken by night by the L. de la Roche and Bessonniere professoures of the religion in that countrey accompanied onely with seuen or eyght score men This was their meane and pollicie there is in the saide Orillac a gate of quarrie in the wall towardes the ryuer which the in habitauntes of the place caused to ramme and wall vp leauinge onely a posterne so straighte that one person could scarcely enter This posterne was cloased with two portes or gates of wood the one within and the other without the town the saide Lord of la Roche and Bessonniere came to the gate without the postern and with a great yron instrument made a hoale or creuish by the which they cast in about a hundreth poundes of cannon pouder betwéen the said two gates and then closing vp theâ—… said hoale or creuish and making vnder the said first gate a train to the same pouder they put fire to it which forthwith flushed with in the saide two gates and blewe them both vp the one caried forty pace of and throwen vppon a house within the towne and the other inforced with the violence and strength of the pouder rushed against a wall without the towne and brake a breach containing his own compasse by which thei entered the town wherein was no other garde than of the inhabitantes whereof they killed a hundreth or sixe score resisting them in armoure The Lord of S. Heraut gouernour of the countrey appeared certaine dayes after afore the towne thinkinge to recouer it but finding such warme resistance hee returned forthwith to S. Floure The longe continuance of this stéege afore Poyctiers brought the Catholiques in a great necessitie and want of vittailes aswell for men as horses and aboue al forrage was so scant with them that thei were driueÌ„ for to turne abroade parte of their horses to the vynes medowes landes and other voyde places of the towne whereof the Princes hauing vnderstanding by certain stragling souldiours issuing out of the towne determined to breake the mylne in the bottome of the medowe néere to the port de Tyson And for this purpose planted ouer ii Canons in that quarter which they discharged against the sayd mylne and after retyred them as beyng discouered and anoyed by the Catholikes who pinched now with an extreme want of vittailes determined to thrust out of the town a great number of vnprofitable persons which as they beganne to execute the. xvi of this moneth so the Protestantes to pine and sterue the towne more driue theÌ„ backe with force to enter the towne againe For want of pouder and bollets the batterie ceased for a time wherof the Princes hauing receyued a new prouision from Rochell renued also the batterie the. xx of August on that side towardes the Abbottes meade where the breach being forced they sent in the euening to surueye it by certaine numbers of Souldiers wherof xvi or xvii entred by y breach into the sayd medow from whence beyng discouered by the watch in S. Peters steple who ronge the alarum bell they were constrained to retire with spéede The night following the protestants builded a bridge vpon Clyn towardes the suburbes of S. Sornyns to passe to the Byshops meade stretching towardes the temples of S. Rudegonde and S. Sulpiee the bridge was made of quarreis of wood hurdles pypes earth and plankes
Admiralles friendes woulde proceede to the reuenge of his hurt and bycause they were suspected to be the authours thereof were so stirred vp this laste nyght that a great and lamentable sedition arose thereof in so muche that the Guarde by mee appoynted for his defence about his house was sette vpon and hee himselfe wyth certaine of his Gentlemen slayne and hauock of other made in diuers places of the Citie whiche was handled wyth suche a rage that I coulde not vse the remedie that I woulde but hadde muche a doe to employ my Guardes and other defence for the safetie of my selfe and my brethren within the Castle of Louure to giue order hereafter for the appeasing of this sedition whiche is at this houre well appeased thankes be to God and came to passe by a particular and priuate quarell of long time fostered betwixte those two houses VVhereof when I foresawe that there woulde succeede some mischieuous purpose I did what I coulde possibly to appease it as all men knowe And yet hereby the Edicte of Pacification is not broken whiche I will to bee kepte as straightly as euer it was as I haue giuen to vnderstande in all places throughout my Realme And bycause it is greatly to be feared that suche an execution might stirre vp my subiectes one against an other and cause greate murthers through the Cities of my Realme whereby I shoulde bee greatly grieued I praye you cause to be published and vnderstoode in all places of your gouernement that euery person abyde and continue in the safegard of his owne house and to take no weapons in bande nor one to hurt an other vpon payne of death commaunding them to kepe and diligently to obserue our Edict of Pacification And to make the offenders and resisters and such as would disobey and breake our will to be punished you shall assemble out of hande as great force as you can as well of your friendes as of them that bee appoynted by me and others aduertising the Captains of Castles and Cities in your gouernement to take heede to the safegarde and preseruation of the sayde places so that no faulte ensue on their behalfe aduertising me also so soone as you can what order you haue giuen herein and how all things haue passed within the circuite of your gouernement Herevpon I pray God to keepe you Cousin in his holy safegard At Paris the. xxiiij of August Signed Charles and vnderneath Brulard ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE KING to the Lorde of Prye his Lieutenant generall in Touraine vpon the same matter that the former Letter was MOnsieur de Prie you haue vnderstoode howe my cousin the Admirall was hurt the last day and in what readinesse I was to do as much as in me lay for the tryall of the fact and to cause so great and spedie iustice to be done as should be an example throughout all my Realme wherin nothing was omitted Since it is so happened that my cousins of the house of Guise and other Lords and Gentlemen their adherents which are no smal partie in this towne as all men know hauing gotten certaine intelligence that the friendes of my sayd cousin the Admirall intended to pursue and execute vpon them the reuenge of this hurte for that they had them in suspicion to be the cause and occasion therof haue made such a stirre this night passed that among them on both partes hath bene raised a greate and lamentable tumulte the Garde that was set about the Lorde Admirals house was distressed himselfe slayne in his house with diuers other Gentlemen as also great slaughter hath bene made of other in sundrie places and quarters of this towne which hath bene done with such furie that it was impossible for me to giue such remedie as was to be wished I hauing enough to do to employe my Garde and other forces to keepe my selfe in safetie in the Castle of Louure to the end to giue order for the appeasing of the whole vproare which at this houre thankes be to God is well quenched for that the same happened by the particular quarrell that hath of long tyme bene betwene those twoo houses whereof alwayes hauing some doubt that some vnhappie effecte woulde ensue I haue as is well knowne to all men before this tyme done all that I coulde for to appease it nothing in this last fact tending too the breache of my Edict of Pacification which contrarywise I will in all things to bee mainteyned as at any time heretofore as I do giue it to vnderstand thorowout my Realme And forasmuch as it is greatly to be seared that this may stirre vp and cause my subiectes to rise one against another and to commit greate slaughters in the townes of my Realme whereof I would bee maruelously sorie I pray you that immediatly vpon the receyte hereof ye cause to be published and done to vnderstande in all places of your charge that euery man as well in towne as in countrey remaine in reste and suretie in his house and do not take armes one against another on payn of death And that more diligently than at any time hertofore ye cause the last Edict of Pacificatiō to be kepte and carefully mainteyned and obserued To the intent abouesayd and to punish such as shal do to the cōtrary to distresse all such as shal rise dysobey our pleasure ye shal immediatly assemble al the strength that ye are able as well of your friends being of our allowance as others aduertising the gouernors and captaines of townes and Castels within your charge that they take good heed to the suretie and safe keeping of their peeces in such sort as there ensue no default informing me with speede of suche order as you shal take therin and how all things shall proceede within the compasse of your authoritie I haue here with me my brother the King of Nauarre and my cousin the Prince of Conde to take suche hap as my self I pray the creator Monsieur de Prie to holde you in his holy safegarde From Paris this xxiiij of August Thus signed Charles and vnderneth Pinart These letters are all of one argument as the former be and written all in one forme and al one day to Monsieur de Prye the Lieutenant of Touraine THE KINGS LETTERS TO THE OFFI cers of Burges vpon the same matter that the former were OVr louing and faithfull wee doubt not but by this tyme you knowe of the sedition which to our greate griefe happened in Paris afewe dayes sithens wherin my cousin the Admirall and certaine others of his side were slaine and a greate murder committed vpon diuerse in many places of this Citie And least the newes thereof should change the quiet estate wherin Burges hath hitherto bene maintained since the Edict of Pacification if remedie were not foreseene it is the cause that wee writ this letter presently vntoo you wherby wee commaund and expressely ordeyne that euerie one of you according to his
of crime Some goard with sword some choackt with rope some battred down There many pareÌ„ts wer dispoild of their beloued sonnes Their tongâ—… cut out wheÌ„ they shold dye for feare that they shold speak with guns And more entyse vnto their god that alwayes aydes the weake Oh Fraunce thou famous realm before and eke most populous place Thou art dispeopled wasted tourne thy owne doe thee deface Thy Cities cract thy Townes bereft thy men and nobles rackt Thy faythful subiects burnt and slaine thy welth and strength is sackt Ah pity pity for to heare how altered is thy state Through tyrannous popish cruel carles that Christ his truth did hate The Lord hath iustly plagued thee for so defacing his VVho in the end will ayd his flocke thou maist be sure of this If euer land might loth her lucke and lamed lowring state Fraunce thou hast cause for to deplore and waile thy cruell fate One of thy owne a pearle of thyne by learned treaties loo And true discourse thy mangled state le ts all the world to kno Thy Ramus here thy Phoenix France thy worthy learned clarke In volumes three conioind displaces thy broiles that he did marke And like a good and natrall child lest thinges should be forgot Hath painefully here pend thy brunts that do thy glory blot And like enough through cruell spite for these his learned paines Among the Popish crew of late dasht out was Ramus braines VVhose death ech scholler may bewaile for learning had a fall VVhen Ramus fell replet with skill thy chiefest clarke of all VVhat chief in France some may obiect ther liueth better still If I haue mist I pardon craue I speake it for good will. That I did learned Ramus lend for his sure grounded skill In learnings lore who for because he wrote in Latin stile VVhich only learned vnderstand well pew'rd with learnings file â–ª Tymme truly hath disrobed him of all his Romane tier And decked him in English clothes with zelous good desire To profit all his countrie men that they may see and vew The stormie tempestes of the French and partes of Popish crew The whole three volumes painfully Tymme hath absolued here And offers them vnto thy sight at last good Reader dere VVhich doth conteine the Ciuill warres or true Religions cause The spights of Papists that repind against Gods sacred lawes VVorthy the sight worthy the vew a mirror to beholde Of Gods elect of tirants fell of Papistes proude and bolde How God his chosen Church doth saue among her perillous foes And cancred cursed currishe kind that it oppresse with woes Therfore good Reader here embrace the founder of this frame And honor Ramus painfull pen the author of the same Giue Tym that Tymme doth wel deserue for Englishing this for thee VVhose paines do merit worthy praise let praise then be his see And waile the wracke of frushed France and giue God hâ—…rtie thanks That hath preseru'd this Royall realme froÌ„ such proud popish pranks FINIS Robertus Rollus in Historiam de Gallicae Ecclesiae statu recens editam UExata est olim priscis Ecclesia seclis Carceribus flagris ignibus ense cruce Haud minor est hodie cedes tu Gallia testis â–ª Sis dudum paribus sanguinolenta modis Qui fidei nuper multis fulsere magistri Prôh pudor indignam sustinuere necem Quoque magis possent inceptum absoluere factum Nullum papicola preteriere scelus Penè datur sceleri lex hoc qui credere posset Vix est tale nephas vnus alter erit Ante erat historia hec libris quasi manca duobus Nunc prodit numeris vndique plena suis. Si authorem spectes plena est si rem quota pars est â–ª Omnia nam tangi tempora nostra vetant Ascraei verba illa senis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quà m sunt huîc mirè consona dicta libro Nempe haec quae legimus quasi dimidiata supersunt Et quasi de domini clade relicta sui Quaeque modò aspicimus librisque notata videmus Debemus scriptis Rame deserte tuis Sed neque Tymme tua merita fraudabere laude Cuique oneris pars est pars honôris erit Τελοσ The summe of those things which are contained in these three first bookes of Commentaries IN these thrée first bookes of Commentaries we comprehende the space of foure yeares namely from the yeare 1557. vnto the yeare 1562. which was in the first motions of the ciuill warres beginning at that time which seemeth to be most fitte for this purpose the matter so aptly offering itselfe that we may very néere begin at the same time in the which Iohn Sleidan that learned man left and ended his Commentaries concerning the state of the CoÌ„mon welth and Religion First of all we set forth that great destruction and losse of men which is commonly called by the vulgar people Iacobs slaughter which séemed wholy to deface not onely the Church of Paris but also the Churches of Fraunce being now as it were but in the swadling clothes then we shew what cruell afflictions came at that time vpon the faithfull what the aduersaries did then and what our men also did We declare also that while newe deuises and practises are sought for to abolishe the Gospell quite nowe beginning to growe in Fraunce the whole kingdome being moued and troubled with newe threatenings of Edictes and punishmentes and the kings of Fraunce and Spaine being nowe in councell concerning this matter in the very league euen in the middest of their consultation when a scourge was a preparing for the Church by the solemnitie of mariage eueÌ„ at that time came the sodeine death of Henrie the king of all men vnlooked for Then howe the â—…uises had the gouernement of the Realme during the time of the nonage of king Fraunces the second how Annas Burgaeus a noble Senatour of the Parliament of Paris at that time was cruelly burned and what other persecutions there were also among which persecutions how the tumult of Ambaxian chaunced the causes and effectes whereof shall be declared After this the solemne assemblies had at the kings house at Fontisbellaquaeum to mitigate the tumultes who agréed to call a Parliament and a Nationall Councell or Conuocation to stay the controuersies of Religion of the which also we will intreate in order Also howe the king set forth an Edict promising them to forget and forgiue all former offences committed for Religions sake Then how the Guises went about to subuert and extinguish the Gospell coacting an assemblie to be made at Aurelias for the same purpose howe the deathes of the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were conspired the tumult and trouble of Ambaxian being maliciously and falslye layde to their charge But while the Prince of Conde was straitly imprisoned and his death a preparing we will shew howe the sodeine death of king Fraunces the seconde happened to the great amasing
confession of the true doctrine were condemned by great consent of the people to dye and were burnt with fire and suffering most excellent Martyrdome by death they woonderfullye triumphed of the crueltie of their enimies The which thinges bicause they be specially touched in another Booke it shall not be néedefull here to speake any more of them Many deliuered theÌ„selues from death by diuers meanes and wayes that were not lawfull But they to whome this charge and trust was commited boldly doing their office and being nothing slow to exercise crueltie certaine of their friendes which 〈◊〉 in holde propounded causes of refusall against the Iudges desiring that there might be other Iudges set in their places This thing for a time stayed the rage of the persecution Notwithstanding the king being certified hereof sendeth letters by which he declaring those refusals to be nothing commaundeth that all other things set apart they giue their diligence only to intende vpon this thing and that the Nobles which were in authoritie should choose out according as they thought good Counsellours to supplie the places of those that were absent and that in the Praetor Munerius â—…oume bicause for the causes before alleaged he was remooued other should serue to be short that final iudgement might be giuen of those matters howbeit that he might haue warning before any matter were ended These letters did againe displease and anger the mindes of those iudges which tooke it heynously that they were refused So that choller was then set on fire against many for this cause séemed as though it would rage and burne in the new yeare following For the aduersaries went about of late to establish bring in the like inquisition that was in Spain which they thought was the only way vtterly to ouerthrow the gospel letters at the last being obtained froÌ„ the Pope by which thrée Cardinals were appointed chief inquisitors they weÌ„t about all that they could to set forward this deuise The king for his part consented Notwithstanding the senate of Paris hauing better consideration of the matter greatlye withstode this new practise alleaged these causes to the king of their withstanding and prohibition saying If this thing should be brought to passe looke how much the power of the ecclesiasticall Iudges and Inquisitors should be enlarged so much should the supreme authoritie of the king be diminished Secondly that it was a matter of great weight for the naturall subiects of the king to be made destitute and after a sort depriued of their King and to be brought to the power of forreine Iudges and to be made subiect to an Offy â—ciall or Inquisitor Thirdlye that it shoulde be a defrauding of the kingdome but specially of the subiectes to be spoyled of the helpe safegarde of the king and to be themselues and all their goodes iudged disposed after the supreme iudgement of an ecclesiasticall Iudge Fourthly that it would come to passe that when they had gotten infinite power and the greatest part of the kings authoritie that is to say when they had gotten power to iudge of life death as theÌ„ listed without further appeale to any higher Court they might easily abuse their offices For say they the libertie to appeale is the onely sanctuarie and defence of innocencie Fiftly and last of all they say that the King to whoÌ„ the appeale should be made is the reuenger and the defender of violated and wronged innocencie and that iniurie shoulde be done if this thing went forward not only to the people but also to Princes to Dukes to Nobles yea and to the Kings nere kinsemen who also shoulde be bounde with this bonde By this prohibition and resistaÌ„ce the matter was delayed for a time at the length when the Kings Court was at Paris the verye same aduersaries of the truth brought to passe that those letters were confirmed of the King as he went to the Senate or Parliament for this cause Thus when they had gotten the lawe into their owne handes and had written new Edictes appointing mortall punishments for the faithfull whome they called Sacramentaries Sectaries and such lyke euery man looking now for grieuous persecutions it pleased God for a time to disappoint those cruell practises and threatenings by troubling the kingdome with warre and other businesse Neither is it to be buried in silence by what meanes God shewed his vengeaunce vpon many of those persecutors which were the chiefe Capitaynes in S. Iames slaughter That Munerius the Praetor which was the first that delt with the causes of the faithfull and had many wayes cruelly intreated them being afterwarde at the length condemned of falshoode in the cause of the Countesse of Senigana suffered by the decrée of the Senate punishment openly in diuers places and being thus ledde from place to place to be made an open spectacle for all men to behold to his great infamie and reproch was also banished his countrie This man while be was kept in prison sayde that he knew that the punishments which he suffered were a iust reward and recompence to him for his euill intreating of the Lutheranes and that he woulde neuer after séeke to do them any harme In like maner one of the Counsellers which were appoynted to vnderstande and iudge of the causes of the faithfull not long after died by sodaine death Another of them likewise being sodenly striken with a most grieuous sickenesse and being also at the poynt of death sayde I see plainly that I haue grieuously sinned against the Lutheranes which so godly pray vnto the Lorde In lyke maner two other whiche were very cruell against the faithfull in the slaughter that was made on S. Iames daye sodenly dyed in the sight of all men Moreouer two other when they retourned from the murther of the afflicted faithfull fell at contention within themselues and at the last were slaine one of another Thus the Lorde shewed many examples of his iust vengeance vpon his aduersaries Then the Church obtayned peace for a time and some occasion to rest and breath for a whyle â–ª by reason of those tempestes They which were before as it were discouraged through that former great slaughter receyued nowe heart and courage againe many others which were eyther confirmed by the constancy of those blessed Martyrs which suffered or els were lately brought to the knowledge of God ioyned themselues to the Church they also which to flye persecution went aside from out of the citie were not altogither vnfruitful Among these there was one which came to a towne called Crucillum in Britayne neare vnto the sea coaste the which towne was at that time greatly giuen to superstition but it was brought to passe by his meanes within short time after that many of the townesmen were called to the acknowledging of truth insomuch that there was a congregation there At the which good successe Satan was greatly grieued Therfore when the fame of this thing was
spred abroade the Bishop of Nâ—…auetensis or Nâ—…auntes with a certaine power of his men came thither whome he had gathered togither for this matter he giueth commaundement that clothes of tapistry work and other ornaments be hoong forth of euery house vpon the solemne daye in the which he with his wandring power shoulde passe through the Citie thinking by this meanes to fynde out who they were that were Lutheranes then he commaundeth the Drumme to be stricken vp and a signe to be giuen for men to prepare themselues to sight and thus he filleth the Citie with armour and tumult There was then present a certaine noble man who was appoynted by the Kings commaundement to presse and muster men for the warre this man admonisheth the Bishop into what perils he may bring the Citie the Englishe men their enimies approching neare who if they had knowledge of these troubles might easily obtaine the Cuie but his perswasion preuailed so little that he was also in daunger of his life and hardly deliuered himselfe from the mad rage of the common people Therefore the franticke people through euery corner of the Citie are as it were drunken mad by the guidance and leading of the Bishop and doe besiege and forciblye set vpon the houses in the which there were ninetéene of the faithfull congregated to make their prayers vnto god But the faithfull earnestlye beseech the people to be quiet and if there were any thing to be obiected against them they were ready to put themselues into the hands of the magistrate The Bishop aunswereth that the cause of their comming was onely to haue the Minister which they knewe to be among them The faithfull intreate that the Magistrate of the Citie might be called forth and he shoulde vnderstande the truth of the matter When the Praetor or Magistrate of the Citie had entred the houses and made diligent search through the same he declareth that the Minister is not there Notwithstanding the Bishop commaundeth the souldiers to set vpon and assault the houses the which thing the people did with all the force they were able to make seeking also to vndermine the houses But all in vaine for the faithfull that were in the houses affirmed that vnlesse they woulde depart they would driue them away And thus they being nothing dismayed or troubled commended themselues vnto God in Psalmes and songs The Bishop hereat being more angry commaundeth them to yéelde themselues the faithfull refused not to come forth to him if the people might depart saying that they were ready to make answere to those thinges whereof they were accused But for all this the gunnes and other instrumentes of warre were set to and bent against the houses The faythfull séeing into what straytes and extremities they were brought thought nowe within themselues that there was no remedie but that they must defende themselues but bicause it coulde not be done without great slaughter of the people if they did rashlye fall to offer strypes they thought it good not so to defende themselues vntill the verye extremitie came Notwithstanding when the people ranne with haste into the houses through the holes of the walles which they had made with Gunnes and other weapons the faythfull shotte at them with Crossebowes by force whereof many of them being stayne the myndes of the other were so discouraged that by and by the whole multitude ranne awaye and great quietnesse was made throughout the whole Citie They therefore being thus miraculouslye deliuered came forth singing the hundreth and foure and twentye Psalme as they went through the middest of the Citie and so escaped The next daye following the people being gathered togither againe ouerthrewe those houses in the which the faythfull had bene yea and their houses also whome they suspected to bée fauourers of their cause The Bishoppe vnderstanding that the Senate of Paris dislyked of this his facte went to the King and brought it so to passe by the meanes of them that were companiens and confederates wyth him in the same hys wicked furoâ—… that the King allowed all that he had done So lyttle was the equitie of the cause of the faythfull estéemed And very neare about this time also there séemed to be giuen a newe occasion to scirre vp affliction For at Paris in a medowe or fielde nere adioyning to the same commonly called the Clearks field â–ª many of the faithfull when others were busie at their sport and playe began to sing Psalmes little thinking that others would be stirred vp to do the like by their ensample Notwithstanding at the length it grewe to this that when this â–ª exercise had bene vsed certayne dayes many and men also of great estimation and fame came togither to heare the swéete and pleasant harmonie of the singing multitude They which coulde not sing and which had not as yet the knowledge of God went into the most conuenient places of the fielde to heare that which was soong and hearing the same confessed that it was wickedly done to forbid the singing of so honest godlie songs But while this went forwarde the aduersaries as though they were vtterly spoyled went to the king and declared to him that the Lutheranes had mooued sedition at Paris that they were ready to thrust his maiestie out of his kingdome that a great number of them were gathered togither in armour to conspire against him and therefore they requested him to prouide for this mischiefe for say they the Catholike Church and your whole kingdome is in great daunger When the King heard this he commaundeth that there be prohibition and stay made by a publike Edict that men sing no more in that place nor in that companie and also that there shoulde be inquirie made of those which had sooâ—…g They which were the chiefe of the reformed Church séeing into what suspitious those companies were brought giue admonition to their friendes that they neuer againe gather themselues togither in that place to sing as they did before if they woulde sing to sing at hâ—…me In the meane time many for this matter were apprehended who notwithstanding afterward for the lightnesse of the cause were set at libertie At the last when the Bishops preachers saw that the king did fauour them they perswaded with the people that it was an atteptable thing vnto God and a meritorious worke as they call in for a man â—…o kill a Lutherane And truly the beastly rage and madnesse of that people by these perswasions was prouoked insomuch that the reynes of temperancie loosed they ran headlong to commit what mischiefe they could of the which matter among many we will bring certaine examples â–ª On a certaine day after a Sermon it so fell out that two men contended togither by wordes in the Churchyarde of S. Innocentes the one of them to the ende he might stirre and procure hatred to the other by a reprochfull and odious name cried that the people might heare which were nowe going out of
it is done against the pure and sound iudgemeÌ„t of the Churche which hath decréed and appoynted Water and the Worde to be only necessarie in the Sacramente but as for Exorcismes and Prayers not to be necessarie to the Sacrament Furthermore they saye that in Baptisme the wordes of the auncient Catechismes are reteyned still the vse wherof is nowe gone and therfore at this tyme is vsed in vayne in Baptisme Also many do very much misselike that a diseased or infected priest should spit his vncleane spittell into the mouth of the infant wherby some great euill and perill mighte arise All these inconueniences she sayd might be remedied if it might be left in the choyce of al men eyther to vse Exorcismes and prayers in baptizyng their infantes or else purely and simply without any additions to kéepe the substance of Baptisme that is to saye water and the word and to haue the same ministred in the vulgar tong that the people may vnderstand it The whiche libertie were more tollerable than eyther the offence or separation of many men and so no infantes shall be baptized out of the Congregation of the Romishe churche 3 As concerning the holie Comunion many good men do misselyke thrée things in the same Of the which the firste is that it is giuen to communicate only vnder one kynde Whose consciences in this matter can not bée quieted and stayed eyther by the authoritie of the Councell of Constance or by the obseruation of custome receyued not many yeares agoe seing that Iesus Christ playnly sayth Take yee eate ye drinke ye Paule the Apostle also sayth VVho soeuer eateth of this bread and drinketh of this cup. To the which expresse word of God is ioyned also the auncient custome of the Churche constantly obserued for a thousande yeares and more And although for reuerence sake whiche they owe vnto the Church they will not condemne the couÌ„cell of Constance yet notwithstanding seing thorough feare of erring they leane only to plaine testimonies of Scripture and to the auncient custome of the Church it is to be feared that whyle there is controuersie aboute this matter others whiche are weake will easily be broughte to their opinion and so withdrawne from the fellowship of the Churche of Rome For the obiection of the aduersaries séemeth to be of greate force seing they bring bothe the expresse word of God and also euident reasons for that whiche they alleage Maye it please him therefore to consider whether it be not best to giue libertie that the communion may be ministred vnder both kindes although the councell of Constance be against the same 2 The seconde thing they misselyke in the holie Communion is this Manie are afeard to come to the holy communion being ministred in such order as it is in the Romishe Churches that is to say to one or to a few alone vsing no prayers that may be vnderstode of the common people neither yet expounding the vse of the Sacrament the aduersaries on the contrarie part saying and openly shewing in verie deede that they haue restored in this poynte the approued maner of the auncient Church The which matter when diuers reasons and wayes of communicating are alleaged on both sydes can not be tolde howe many of oure countreymen it doth pierce and moue in so much that there is no doubt but that very manie shal be constrayned for this cause to depart from the Church â–ª For when â—…n the one part they sée some one alone or a cerâ—…ain smal numbre without prayers without a sermon without giuing of thanks to 〈◊〉 any part of the sacrament and that in an vâ—…knowne tongue on the other part a congregation of a great number of men together plainly to make confession of their faith publikely to confesse their synnes to giue thankes vnto God to pray vnto God to sing Psalmes in the vulgar tong to come to the Sermon by which they may be instructed to liâ—…e a godly and a chrisâ—…ian lyâ—…e and to prepare themselues alâ—…o to receyue the Sacrament it is harde to say but that they whiche take oure parte onely for a zeale and true desyre of Religion will take these occasions to fall awaye from vs. To remedie this inconuenience let the Pope himselfe consider if it shall not be well doone to suffer the holy câ—…mmunion to be ministred euerye moneth according to the maner of the primitiue Church that the Pastors and Elders of Churches may call all those togither whiche wyll communicate the first Sunday of euery moneth or oftner if they be required and that there in the vulgar tongue Psalme maye be soong and a generall confession of fayth and of sins lykewise to be made publike and coÌ„mon prayers also for the preseruation of Magistrates for the purenesse of the ayre for the frutes of the earth and for suche as are afflicted deuoutly to be sayde And to them thus assembled togither some place either of the Euangelistes or of Paules Epistles whiche concerneth the vse of the Lordes supper may be red and so to be receyued to the coÌ„munion vnder both kynds And although this seemeth to be newe and not customably heretofore to be vsed yet notwithstaÌ„ding seeing the Apostles and they which straight after succeded them did so it can not be sayde that the holy father hath done or appoynted any thing against the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of God and the maner of the Church And to the end he may vnderstande for what cause they vrge and so earnestly desire this thing it may please him to know that there is nothing that so much troubleth and burdeneth their consciences as the feare of not rightly receiuing the Sacramentes And here the aduersaries triumphe and crie that the commaundement of God is broken and thus by little our ministerie and all our doctrin groweth out of credite insomuch that the shame and reproche hereof will redound to the holie Father himselfe at the length except it be foreséen For the which they thinke that there can not be a better more present remedie founde than if the Lordes Supper be celebrated in that order as is before declared The whyche thyng she hir selfe so muche the more vrgeth and earnestly craueth that he might helpe and remedie so greate troubles in tyme. 3 The thirde speciall poynt of offence is this There are many men of the more learned sort in al the realme which are offended at that rite or feast whiche is commonly called Corpus Christi day at which yearely feast the bodie of the Lorde is caried about the Cities to the which solemnitie they saye they can not with safe consciences come and that for these causes Firste bicause it is against the expresse institution of the Sacrament Take ye eate ye drinke ye Also Doo this in remembraunce of me That is to saye Do yée as I haue doone And therefore they say that there is so great difference betwéen the giuyng of bread to be
shamefully to missecal them saying that they would not leaue of their ringing and straytwaye they ranne vpon them and made haste to shut the Churche dores but one of them escaped by flight the other they toke whome they wounded so sore that he presently dyed Then they ranne vp into the Churche stéeple and toppe of the church they rang the Belles and tumultuously cryed Toc-sanctum whiche worde the people vse when they crye Alarum At the which crye the people ranne with all spéede possible from euery part of the Suburbes So that what with the crye of the people and what with the hurling of stones into the place where the sermoÌ„ was then made there was a great terrible noyse The which noyse being heard but specially Toc-sanctum or Alarum aboue the reste they whiche were chiefe of the Congregation least the whole assembly shoulde be quite discomfited thought it néedfull to prouide helpe out of hand Therefore when they had willed euery one to be quiet and not to stirre they chose out of the whole Congregation whiche was in number about 13. thousande men a certaine small number of experte souldiers willing the Minister to procéede and sent the Lieutenant his seruant for he was then there by the Kings authoritie to wil and commaunde the Priestes in the Kings name to cease the tumulte whiche they hadde begonne Notwithstanding the Arrowes and stoanes came so â—…aste aboute his eares that hee was constrayned strayte waye to returne backe agayne The faithfull fearing the Sedition like to ensue whereby they being naked and vnarmed were like to be oppressed thoughte it good before the matter wente any further to sette vpon the Popishe Priestes and to staye their rage Therefore euen at once they ranne vpon them with all their myght euen through the thicke Hayle of stoanes and arrowes and brake open the Church dores behinde the whiche they founde the deade carkas of their slaine brother and the Priests with their coherentes armed who at the first outragiously like mad men behaued them selues but afterwardes being easily repressed tamed by the faithfull part of them being constrained yelded themselues into their handes and part fled into a high tower shutting the doreâ—… faste to them from whence they casâ—… downe stones tymber arrowes many other things yea whatsoeuer in their madnesse came nexte to hande in so much that breaking the Images of their Saints as they call them in peeces which they had caryed out of the Temple least they should be violated and defiled most furiously they threwe them downe still crying Toc-sanctum Allarum But the faithfull seyng their outrage threatned them to fire them out of their holde or Tower wherevpon the Popishe Priests their coherentes ceassed at the last froÌ„ their Popishe madnesse fortie of them being sore wounded and fiftene of the authors of the Sedition being taken and deliuered into the handes of the Magistrate And thus was that sedition pacified But the congregation of the faithfull was garded safe-conducted by the same Lieuetenaunt and Centurion of the Citie least the people shoulde begin againe some newe sedition It was reported that this sedition was appointed and deuised certaine dayes before by the knowledge consent of many of the gouernours and Senators of the Citie who promised to the Curate of Sanmedarde that he should be blamelesse and escape vnpunished whatsoeuer happened It was also founde that they had caryed before into other houses fearing what woulde come to passe their Albes Crewets Censers their Chalice their Copes and precious vestments and the resâ—…e of their implementes which they sayde Masse withall The daye following the outragious multitude hauing certaine Popishe Priests their guides came into the houses of the faithfull broke chaires stooles settles and spoyled all things euen to the bare walles and set fire vnder thus they set fire on the houses on euery side vntill they were chased away by certaine horsemen and the magistrate of the citie Then were those that were before taken prisoners examined Howbeit the Senate ioyning with them such men whoÌ„ they thought méete for their purpose brought to passe that they were deliuered and many of the faithfull cast into prison as giltie of that matter whereof the other were accused and writing letters to the Queene they layd all the cause of that sedition vpon the faithfull The which notwithstanding was manifestly found false by the open voyce of the people deriding the faithfull and boasting of the fauour of the Senate But by suffering so great a fault to escape vnpunished the people of Paris which before were prompt and ready ynough of themselues to sedition began nowe to be more incouraged to worke mischiefe against the faithfull Therefore newe rumours were spreade abrode of the wickednesse of the people in that copious citie and manye of the Bishoppes and nobles of the Realme made exclamation that the Kings Maiestie was greatly offended bycause the authoritie of the Edict of Iuly was contemned the Huguenote â–ª hauing their Sermons euery where for so were the faithfull called And euerye daye complayntes were broughte of bothe partes from euery coast of the Realme But the reformed Churches dayly increased and had their Sermons euerye where whether the king gaue leaue or no And thus the kings will and pleasure not knowne great troubles were like very shortly to insue The matter standing thus the Quéene fearing what would come to passe perceiued that it was needefull to prouide a spedie remedie But the king of Nauar being also doubtfull what to doe and beyng made afearde with dayly Rumors and reportes sawe that it was â—…ie time to prouide saying that those matters coulde not be ended withoute the benefite of a more large Edicte Therefore by the authoritie and commaundement of the king the Quéene and of the king of Nauarre and by the consente of the Princes and the kings priuie Counsell the kings purseuauntes were sent to summon a Parliamente to be holden concerning this matter the. xvij of Ianuary at Sangermane Men also of singular discretion and knowledge were sent for out of all partes of the Realme The whole assembly being called together in the which also were the Princes and the kings kinsmen the king declared howe néedefull and necessarie a thing it was to prouide meanes and remedyes to pacifie so greate troubles when as euerye daye greuous rumours of Seditions did aryse Wherefore he prayed them to shewe with pure and vpright myndes such meanes and wayes to pacifie them as might be to their owne profite and for the benefite of the Realme promising that he woulde followe their Iudgementes so farre as shoulde be nedefull Therefore when the Chauncelour according to custome had propounded the cause of their assembly and had shewed the necessitye of thyngs euery man spake his Iudgement And when they hadde all concluded a newe Edicte was set forthe by the Kings commaundemente whiche was called the Edicte of Ianuarie the summe was this following FOr so much
Religion and of the professors therof but also was angry and sore offended with them Insomuch that he coÌ„maunded the Ministers of Gods word which were with him in house to depart from him and went him selfe oftentimes to the Popish Churches heard Masse and earnestly coÌ„maunded his wife which was a very honest vertuous Lady who also refused to do the like gaue him selfe to filthy pleasures of wemen and was also very familiarly conuersant with the Guises the Constable the Martiall of S. Andrew and with the Cardinals Notwithstanding all this the reformed Religion so preuailed that new reportes and rumors were daily brought into the Court concerning the same The Prince of Conde the Admiral and many of the Nobles diligently séeking to haue the same preferred The Quéene mother also was ruled by good couÌ„sell And as for the king of Nauar he was vncertain what to doe in the middest of these troubles and was like vnto an vnskilfull marriner destitute of counsell hauing diuers cogitations in hys minde vncertaine whether to go and yet neuertheles standing stil as one amased In the meane time the Edict of Ianuary wherof mencion is made before toke place and was put in execution But then were the minds of the Guises of the Constable and of the Marshall of S. Andrewe so vexed gréeued that they thought good not to delay the time any longer they being encouraged to procéede wyth their purpose for that they might rule the king of Nauar as them list Therfore euery man being appoynted what to do the Duke of Guise departed from the court The Constable went home to his house and sent for his retainers and fréendes to see if they woulde sâ—…icke vnto hym and such as he doubted of he sought to win The Marshal of S. Andrew did euen the like The Guises as is sayde before had taken vpon them to winne the Princes of Germanie to take their parte and therfore they wrote letters oftentimes to diuers of them And to further their busynes they vsed the helpe of the Rokendolfe and the Rheingraue the Cardinall trimly countenancesing and dissembling that he imbraced the Ausburgue Confession And that he minded not long agoe to establishe the same in Fraunce but he sayde that the men of the newe Religion did greatly gainsay let the same whome he blamed in all things as vngodly men and the vpholders of all monsterous opinions Moreouer he sayd that the Prince of Conde by the meanes and counsel of the Admiral went about to aspire to the kingdome and that vnder the pretence of Religion he liued a licentious and voluptuous life After these practises the Duke of Guise him selfe came to Sauerne a towne bordering vppon Germanie and there he talked wyth the Duke of Wirtemberge fained that he embraced the Confession of Ausburge slaÌ„dered and falsly accused the prince of Conde and the reformed churches and craued his aide against them and vnder the pretence of that communication the Duke of Guise vaunted and bragged muche of the fréendship of the Duke of Wirtemberge saying that he was sure that he would wythout all doubt take his parte and also alleaging that he had taken these enterprises in hand by the Dukes aduise and counsell For the which the Duke of Wirtemberge afterward blamed hym and proued that he perswaded him selfe to haue more frendship at hys hands than euer he meant vnto him and did falsly disseÌ„ble wherfore he earnestly exhorted the Guises to cease from persecuting the reformed churches After this the Duke of Guise hauing gotten to take his parte certaine valeaâ—…t captaines by the meanes of the Rokendolfe and the Reingraue came to Jnuille there in the townes thereabouts he chose out armed horse men when he had so done vpon occasion of letters sent from the king of Nauar he intended straighte way in all hast to come to the Court with an army of meÌ„ and after deliberation had he began hys voyage with a lamentable slaughter as you shall heare There is a certen Town bordering vpon Champaigne nere to Jnuille the Lordship of the house of Guises called Vassi within the dominion of Fraunce but no parte thereof In thys towne there was a certen number of the faithful but because the Guises bordered so néere vnto them they durst not professe the reformed religion so frankely as they wold haue done Notwithstanding they being at the last prouoked and incouraged héerevnto by the meÌ„ of Troyâ—… their neighbors were fully bent to vse the benefit of the kings Edictes procured of the congregation of Troyâ—… a minister of Gods worde to attend vpon them so after the disputation in the Conuâ—…cation at Possi they had a church established among them wherby the nomber of the faithful wonderfully increased more â—…ore The Guises hearing of this greatly grâ—…dged againste it were much displeased therwith and sent theÌ„ worde that they should euill fauoredly enioy their liberty Therfore the Duke of Guise returning from Sauern and making hast into Frauâ—…ce to the King fully determined to set vppon the enhabitantes of Uassi which earnestly folowed the reformed Religion with force of armes as he went So that he charged all his retainers whych dwelt in the villages about Uassi to be in a readinesse against his comming to Uassi by the which he meant to take hys iorney withall spéede into Fraunce The which commaundement of his was fulfilled Therfore the Duke of Guise vpon the first day of the moneth of Marche being the Saboth day on the which he knewe the faithfull would chéefely assemble them selues together came by the breake of the daye to a village called Dammartine from whence after he had heard Masse he went to Uassi And when he was entred the citye be heard that the Huguenotes were assembled together to heare a sermone to the which place he went in 〈◊〉 Nowe the people whych were assembled together were in nomber a thousand and fiue hundred persons and the Preacher had begonne hys Sermon Therefore the Duke of Guise hauyng hys Brother the Cardinall wayting vppon hym sent for manye of the townes men and for the chéefe parishe priest as they call him the gouernor of the citie to come vnto him Wyth these men he entred into a popish church which was not farre from the congregation of the faithfull And after that he had disclosed vnto them hys purpose he went out again and commaunded hys men to make haste to go to the Huguenotes sermon The soldiers being come to the place where the sermon was made began to cast their dartes among them At the first the faithfull maruelled what the matter was but incontinently many of them were slaine and the soldiers of the Guise in great number rushed and fell vpon the congregation and thus they being hemmed in on euerye side and hauing no waye to escape the Duke of Guise himselfe stode at the doore wyth his sworde drawne in hys hand ready to receiue such vpon the same as
the Edicts which haue ben made in these our kings dayes pertaine to no other end than to kéepe the kings subiectes in their obedience and to auoyde seditions vntill such time as the kyng were come to his full age for all those Edictes are temporall and serue but for a tyme to the intent they may be chaunged â–ª if so be necessitie and experience of things shall so declare it to be best The Edict of Iuly was not so soone made as abrogated at the making wherof you your selfe were present and yet notwithstanding the same ought not therfore to be defended by violence â–ª After this there was made another Edict in the moneth of Ianuary And least it should rather bring trouble than tranquillitie at the first we doubted to confirme the same but when we had good hope of peace and tranquillitie we confirmed the same otherwise we would not haue doon it And vppon the same hope of peace thrée dayes agoe we confirmed and published another Edict like to the Edict of Ianuary in euery poynt sauing that Paris the Metropolitane Citie is excepted The which exception was not made without great cause For when the sedition which was there of late dayes wared more gréeuous than in other places it could not be otherwise appeased The end of those Edicts was not to bring in news Religions but as it is sayd already to kéepe the people in peace and tranquillitie If the offence be as great in the first as in the second the Kyng hath power of himself to continew or to alter lawes and not the subiects by priuate aucthoritie by force of Armes The whiib thinge truly wee cannot couller or hide séeing wée read in your declaration how that you say that you and fiftie thousaÌ„d more which are of the same mind wil speÌ„d your liues in this cause We wish that you may receiue this our admonition to your profite to consider that it is a great deale more méet for you being the kings néer kinsman to defend his dignitie than to ioyne your selfe to others which are not in the same conditioÌ„ If by your following of other counselles the dignity of the king be deminished the greater blame reproch shal be youres You know that we haue maintained your InnoceÌ„cie and do perswade wyth you to vse wholesom Counsell least you hurt your selfe We cannot offer vnto you a better testimonye of our good wil ready to serue you which we wil constantly retaine so long as you shew all due obedience to the King and Quéene Concerning other matters which are written in the same your declaration because they doe not appertaine vnto vs you shall vnderstande the Kings will to whome they do appertaine This one thing we adde That the examination of the slaughter committed at Uassi is appoynted to vs to be examined the which shall be handeled of our parte according to oure office and manner wyth iustice and equitie WE haue spoken before concernyng the letters which the Quéene sent to the Prince of Conde In the which shée perswaded him to come vnto the King vnweapened and wythout Armor that the matter might be ended quietly among them and that he might by his presence put away those slanders which were reported of him For there went diuers euell reportes abrode of hym and the more by reason of the Declaration which he caused to be published the Kings Letters being set forth against the same insomuch that the causes of all the troubles were openly layd vpon him Wherevpon the Prince of Conde published another wryting the. ix of May in the which he declared that the Guises whych were called the Triumuiri and not he were the causes of al the troubles declaring reasons by which it might appeare that he had soughte peace did and would still séeke the same And although sayth he I haue alwayes hitherto declared by vndoubted Arguments not only a singuler loue and an obedient mind towards the King and Quéene but also a notable desire and care for the profite and concorde of the Realme the which also of late I declared when as I deferred the putting my self in Armor euen vntil the very pinche and extréeme necessitye at what time I was constrained to doe it that I might resist their violence which threatned to kill and slay and made great bragges and which of late when they had gotten an Army of men contrary to the King and Quéenes commaundement armed them selues entred into Paris where I was at that time being not ignorant what they ment to do yet notwithstanding I made no sturre or do least I should put the City in pearill Yea I hauing no consideration of my estate and condition although I was not the first that put my self in Armor yet notwithstanding at the first commaundement of the Quéene least I might séeme to omit any thing lawful that might bring peace I with mine weÌ„t from Paris minding to get me home to my own house and to dismisse al my train thinking that my aduersaries would haue done the same who notwithstanding coÌ„trarywise kéeping Paris still and doing many things there against their office and also hauing vsurped the Kings authoritye kept the King and Quéene captiues not only in body but also in minde I on the contrarye part ceassed not from that time forward to propounde al reasonable conditions that might be to the end all things might be ended peaceably as testify my wrytings and those men them selues whome I vsed as meanes to bring matters to quiet ende although I say all these things were done thus by me that it might plainly appeare that I desired nothing more than the Kings dignity and the peace and tranquilâ—…ity of the Realme yet notwithstanding fearing least my answers to the Rescripts from the Quéene after I had offered the conditions of peace be not so truely and wholely brought to her handes as they passed from me I thoughte good to haue the whole matter put in wryting both to the ende they may be considered of the King and Quéene and also that they being published throughout all Christian Realmes may be known to all Princes to our Frends in Fraunce and specially to all Courts and ParliameÌ„ts of this Realme of the which but specially of the Court of Paris to the which before this time I haue sent my Declaration I require and craue that these explications of my reasons may be put in the publique Regester to the ende I may geue accounte of all my actions to my Prince and soueraigne Lord the King at what time be shal come to that age that he may Iudge of the merites of his subiects and of their euell desertes also which haue don any thing during the time of the kings Minoritie First of all this I thinke for a suertie that it neyther can nor ought to be sayd that I haue ben the cause either of stirring vp or of maintaining these commotions and troubles when as my ennemies them selues wil
haue sought to the vtmost of our power the aduauncement of your dignities for the mayntenance whereof next to the glory of God we will spend our liues and all that we haue we pray and most humbly beséech you that ye will vnderstand our very purpose and meaninges which we wholely and truely declare vnto you in this Supplication to the end also we might declare the causes why we came vnto you and why also we are with you as yet and why we do thinke in our conscience that we ought not in coÌ„sideration of the offices coÌ„mitted vnto vs to depart from you except we woulde incurre the daunger of perpetuall oprobry and shame both to vs and our posteritie as carelesse and vntrustie seruants to you and as despisers of the glory of God the safetie of the Kyng and of the common peace and tranquillitie of the countrey the which wée sée in most gréeuous perill at this time of ineuitable destruction vnlesse it be holpen in time by the only remedies of these Edictes which we hope you will preferre and which ought to be confirmed by all Parliaments but specially by the Parliament or Court of Paris The which remedies we propound here before your Maiestie with all obedience and reuerence in manner and fourme following First we thinke it necessary not only for our conscience sake but specially for the conseruation of the Kynges dignitie and for the defence of that othe which the Kyng tooke at the time of his coronation by which he bound him selfe to mayntaine the peace tranquillitie and safetie of the whole Realme least the Lawe both of GOD and also of man should be confounded whereby the perturbation and vtter destruction of all Realmes Kingdomes and Monarchies must néedes follow For these causes it is necessary that the Kyng declare by and euerlasting Edict that hee will not suffer hereafter diuersitie of Religion and of Churches diuers doctrines and sundry fashions of administrations of Sacraments and of Ecclesiasticall rites nor the Ministers of such in his Realme But that he would will and commaund one Catholike Apostolique and Romish church which he and the Kyngs his Auncetors before him had receyued to be retayned kept throughout his whole Realme forbidding all other assemblies or congregations to set forth and teach any thing to the contrary That all such as beare any office in this Ralme as Iustices Treasurers or any other such like officer vnder the King be coÌ„maunded to imbrace and follow this only Religion and openly to professe the same and such as should denie or refuse so to do by any maner of waye to be depriued of their offices Prouided notwith standing that for the same thei be indammaged neither in body nor in goods so that they be found not to be the auâ—…thors of troubles of Seditions and of forbidden assemblies That all Prelates of what state or condition soeuer they be of make the same confession of faith of Religion and such as shall disobey this to lose their spiritual promotions and the profites therof to go to the kings treasury or els to place fit men ordinarily called in their roomes That all temples and churches throughout the Realme which were violated spoyled broken downe and defaced to the dishonour of God the contempt of the church and of the king and the manifest breaking of the wholsome lawes made both of late and also aforetime should be reedefied repayred restored to the former comlines deceÌ„t beauty that it euer at any time had that the breakers of the Kings Edicts shuld be punished according to the prescript of the kings Edicts That all maner of men what state or condition so euer they were of throughout the Realme or what couler or pretence soeuer they had should put of their armoure except they had put on the same by the expres coÌ„maundement of the king of Nauar the kinges visegerente of the whole Realme and if any refuse so to do that then they bee proclaymed and accompted of all men for Traitours Rebels enemies to the king the whole Realme That it may be lawfull for the king of Nauar the kinges deputy or for whom soeuer he shall appoint to haue bandes of armed Soldiers for the orderinge of these things and such other like which shal séeme mete for the conseruation of the king and quéene That those Armies which were gathered togither at the Kinges coÌ„maundement for the causes afore sayd may be maintayned for certain monethes in the which space there is great hope that there wil spring some frute of these remedies and that we shal sée publique peace Other matters and necessary Cautions for the workinge of thys peace shal be supplied and put in by the counsell iudge ment of the highe courte of parliment in Paris These things without the which we must néedes looke for the destruction of the Realme being thus ordered and appointed we are euery one of vs ready not only to go home to our houses if it so séeme good vnto you but also to be banished for euer into the vttermost parte of the world wée being fully perswaded that wée haue gyuen vnto God to the king to our countrey and to our selues that honour obedience loue natural affection which wee owe vnto them in so great perill and daunger as is now to auoyd the which wée are ready to spende our lyues and whatsoeuer els wée haue in this world The which we signifie to you and to the king of Nauar both to the end ye may be Iudges witnesses to vs of these thinges and also that ye may apply these conuenient re medies to those inconueniences And wée testifie protest before God and you that we only séeke the safetye peace of your dignities and of the whole Realme And we trust that all they which séeke the same will gladly yéeld vnto the things contayned in this Supplication which we wishe to take effect for the duties sake which wée owe vnto God and you This was the summe of their Supplication To which the King and Quéene made answer that it was not their willes that they should departe thence to any other place Therefore the same day they offered another supplication to the Quéene to this effect Beside those things which wée haue already offered to your Maiesties in writing that ye might plainly vnderstand that wée will submit our willes and opinions to your Iudgements after we hearde that it was your pleasures that we should not depart to any other place wée thoght good to make this offer namely That if they which were at Orleans laying asyde their armour and yéelding vp to the King the Cities and Townes which they had taken would be sworne to shewe all obedience toward the King as to their soueraigne Lorde would also obey the Kings Edictes which were al ready made and shal be made hereafter by our coÌ„sent and confirmed by the Senat of Paris we would depart of our
and order the whole matter least the victory one the onâ—… part being to great bothe the Kingdome should be brought to great calamitie also the Church to extreame ruine and destruction Herein therfore moste miraculously appeared the great prouidence of God in afflicting his seruantes and yet notwithstanding sauing them from destruction and in punishing the great outrage of the whole Kyngdome and yet not vtterly ouerthrowing the same The Guises therfore perceiued that they must néedes stop and represse the proceedings of the Prince of Conde and his adâ—…erents with whom they had not ben equall if they had ioyned battaile and also intended to shift of the couragious forwardnes of the Prince of Condes Armâ—…e by subtill meanes vntill they had the helpe of these Straungers whom they looked for To bring y which theyr purpose to passe the vehement inclination of the Prince of Conde to peace did greatly helpe them While the faâ—…hfull were in good hope one while to haue peace another while to haue victory by dayly rumors and the Cities being more negligently kept than they were wont to be certaine of them were lost as Angeu and CaloniuÌ„ and others the which were at the first counted but small losses but afterwardes great losses as the faithfull found Now séeing there ensued no frute of the communication had betwéene the Prince of Conde the Quéene the King of Nauar as we haue before declered both Armies prepare themselues to take their iourney The Army of the Guises was neither very great in number nor yet furnished with many expertsouldiers Ther were certaine bands of souldiers footemen gathered out froÌ„ among the rascall sort of people of Paris which were so rawe that they were faine to be taught euen the first principles of Martiall feates and among thâ—…se were many popish Priestes which had obtained leaue from the Pope of the Bishoppes to go to the warre And as for horsemen they had scarse one whole army many of the Noble Captaines being with the Prince of Conde The chiefest part of the Garisons of souldiers which were appoynted to defend the strong holdes in diuers partes of the Realme were called home to helpe the Guises of the which a great number stale away secretly to the Prince of Conde The Armie of the Prince of Conde was the greater in number the moste couragious and the best appoynted The greatest and most principall part of the Nobillitie being very well appoynted and furnished both with courage and armour and a great multitude of souldiers comming vnto him from all partes of the Realme almost the which was deuided into thrée parts The first part consisted of Uascones of the which Monure Grammuntiuâ—… was general The secoÌ„d of Oscitanes of the Inhabitants of Dolpheny of whom Monsure Rohainus was Captaine The third consisted of those Inhabitants of FrauÌ„ce that are called Franci in Latine of which the Andelot was Captaine who notwithstan ding was made the Captaine generall of all the footemen Concerning field péeces or great Goonnes the enemie had great abundance wherof the Prince of Conde had small stoore which either he had taken at Orleans or els were cast of purpose for him The common Counsell and consent of all men was to go to Paris with all their power being the chiefe Mee tropolitane Citie and the head of their enemies and to assault the same Notwithstanding the Guises remoued their Armie from Paris commaundement being first of all giuen by the Kyng of Nauar that all those which professe the reformed Religion should depart out of the Citie with in three dayes And then they came to Stapulas towardes Orleans The Prince of Conde also remoued from Orleans with all his Army the twenty of June to méete the enemie Then sent the Quéene Letters to the Prince of Conde intreating and perswading him to peace and coÌ„cord vppon indifferent and reasonable conditions The Prince of Conde alwayes desiring peace sent Letters back againe was contented to come to Parley Whervpon truce was taken for sixe dayes Then the King of Nauar wrote to his brother the Prince of Conde more louingly than he was wont to do desired of him to haue for himselfe and his familie only a Citie lying neare to the riuer Loyer called Bogencia which Citie was kept with Garrisons of the Prince of Conde the which he desired but vppon this condition that if they did not conclude vppon peace he would yéelde it into his handes againe The Quéene also came into the army of the Guises wrote to the Prince of Conde very louinge frendly letters desiringe him earnestly to come and talke with her By reason hereof it was commonly reported through out the whole army of the prince of Conde that there should be peace the Guises intending nothing lesse but a farther mischiâ—…fe as the euent afterward declared The Prince of Conde in the tyme of the truce talked oftentimes with the Quéene and with his Brother the King of Nauar. Then the Prince of Conde wheÌ„ he had told his fellowes that the Quéene had promised him that the Guises and his adherentes should foorthwith depart to their owne houses and vnarme themselues vpon condition that he himselfe should come vnto her as a pleadge for the confirming of the peace that should be concluded when I say he had reported these things to his fellowes he crediting the same perswaded his fellowes to giue him leaue to bring this thing to passe that he might séeme to leaue nothing vndone that might bréede peace and concord To the which they graunted making this request in maner and forme followinge Before the matter procede let the Guises the Constable Momorentius and the Marshall of saint Andrewe departe home to their owne houses immediatly after the which departing we desire that the Prince of Conde may remaine and abide in the handes of the Quene and of his Brother the king of Nauar as a hostage pleadge of our faith promising with one consent that we will gladly and readily obey al things that shal be commaunded vs to do which concerne our obedience and dutie to the kinge the profite and commoditie of the Realme and the conseruation of our liues and goodes but specially for the glory of God and the libertie of our consciences Then was this request which the adherentes of the Prince of Conde had made brought to the Quéene with letters oâ—…t of hand the same night al to soone it was subscribed by the Prince of Conde the rest of his frends and solemnly also subscribed by the King of Nauar and sealed with the Kings seale and then it was sent backe again with letters by which the Quéene and the King of Nauar declared that thei liked very wel of the condicioÌ„s This returne was made the fower and twentye day of June being the last day of the truce taken at which time notable occasion was offered to the Prince of Conde to anoie and gaule his enemies Notwithstanding
as a seditiouse person aud a Rebell Therefore they thinke it lawfull for the kings subiects to haue liberty to take which religion the ilist that is to say eyther the coÌ„mon Romish Religion or els the Religion reformed according to the Gospell and to cleaue to none other and that all violence eyther pryuate or publique against eyther parte ought to be prohibited and that the Ciuill magistrates should prouide Temples for the ministers of the reformed Religion to haue their diuine seruice in and that no man should receiue any maner of violeÌ„ce or harme for vsing the benefit hereof But because those constitutions manifestly touched the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Saint Andre the Guises for that there were two Cardinals of them which were chosen to be of the Kings Counsaile also the Duke of Guise and the Duke de Aumal also because the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine his Brother were the Kinges treasurers And they touched the Constable and the Marshall of Saint Andrew because they by the same meanes were come to great aboundance and wealth For these causes they haue sought by all meanes possible to adnihillate and disanull these Lawes In the meane time the Quéene the Kings Mother as she hath ben alwaies in al her doinges wyse and circumspecte the which she declared when she had full liberty and was not Ruled by other mens power and violence indeuoured her selfe to make an vnity and concord betweene the Churches by frendly and quyet conference To the which Conference and Disputacion came all the chiefe Prelates of France and many Doctors out of the vniuersitie of Paris many Moonkes also which were sent from Rome and the Cardinall of Ferrer the Popes Legate and beside all these twelue Ministers of the Gospell both partes hoping it would come to passe by this friendly conference that they should come to some concord and agréement The which was greatly hindered and let by the Cardinall of Lorraine by whom after certaine principall pointes of the CoÌ„fession of Ausburge were disseÌ„blingly imbraced the Assembly was dissolued Then the Guises tooke other practises in hande and perswaded the Quéene and the King of Nauar to sende for the Iudges and Counsellers of all the Parliamentes of the Realme that they with the Princes and the Kinges Counsaile might giue their aduice for the present necessitie And to this Counsaill they sent suche as they had bound vnto them afore time by one benefite or other that by this meanes they might abolishe that which the States had decréed The which notwithstanding by the prouidence of God fell out otherwyse than they looked for And to the end they might the more craftely bring their purpose to passe they departed from the court â–ª But before they should go to the ende they might leaue nothing vndone that might serue to worke their wills they subtilly practised to carry with them the Duke of Orleans our Kings brother that if their deuises had not had good successe they might haue had one with them of the Kings linage whose name they might abuse â–ª This thing was plainly proued by diuers arguments and coÌ„fessed also by the Duke of Orleans himselfe who stayed the matter Here it may please you to consider at what time and by what meanes the Guises began to be iniuriouse and to shewe violence to the Quéene out of whose lap shée being a widow and in great trouble they went about to take her sonne Afterward the Guises departed not only from the Court but also to the vtmost partes and limites of the Realm and came to Sauern And there they fayned to like of the Confession made at Ausburge before one of the Princes of the Empire that by theis meanes they might insinuate themselues into the num ber of the Princes of the Empire the which as known to your highnesse we touch by the way But their departure out of France caused all men to hope for peace concorde which was euery where receyued by the rumour of their absence For in all places euery man of what religioÌ„ soeuer he wereof liued peaceably without any offence committed for the diuersitie of Religion all men receyuing that religion which liked him best And the word of God was preached in diuerâ—… places many ioyfully imbracing the same if a few had made any stour or businesse for ReligioÌ„ they by and by were easely suppressed About this time there was an assembly of Iudges and Counsellers which sate in the Court that belongeth to the Princes and to the Kings priuy Counsaill amonge whom was the Constable and the Mashall of S. Andrew who wayted for new troubles The Bourgeses or chosen men for the states declared that there was nothing in those things which the States had decréed to be altered but must stand wholy vpon their determination liking and they sayd that before they began with any other matter they must séeke to purge and to reforme the Kings Counsaill On the contrary part they which were to be thrust out of the Kings counsail by the same decree of the States bare themselues so bold vppon that assembly that they perswaded themselues to escape vnpunished notwithstanding all that the â–ª States could do Who neuerthelesse when they vnderstood the power authoritie which beloÌ„ged to the States would not giue their consent to doo any thing contrary to their decrees And although many of them openly declared that they fauoured the Guises and his fellowes yet notwithstanding there was an Edicte made called the Edicte of Ianuary because it was made the 18. day of Ianuary by the which Edict liberty and leaue was graunted for the word of God to be openly preached â–ª as it was decreed by the States Notwithstanding with this exception So that it were done without the walles of the Citie and that the Churches dedicated to the vses of the Church of Rome were not vsurped The Magistrate being commaunded to take an othe of the Ministers of the gospel that they should preache the word of God purely sincerity quietly without any sedition as is more at large declared in that Edict which was confirmed by the decrees of the States And although that same Edicte was suspected of the men of the reformed Churches least when they were out of the Cities and vnarâ—…ed and farre from their houses to helpe themselues they should easely be made a pray for their enemies as it came afterward to passe in deed yet notwithstanding because they would not be importunate and troublesome to the Queene to the King of Nauar to the Princes to the whole assembly they agreed thereunto vpon this condicion That they should deale vprightly and in good fayth the which also the whole assembly promised vnto them And then euery man sware to obserue and keepe the Edict faithfully truly and the men of more noble calling sware agayne before the Queene that they would not craue pardon for those which had violated or broken
the papistes which bragged as if they had already wonne the towne And oftentimes the souldiers of monsieur Sommeriue would crye out to the townes mē saying Say vnto thy God Judge me O God for that psalm was made a common ryme Therefore monsieur Bulargues remoued in the night to goe from Nismes with hys two hundred gonners and troupe of horsemen which we sayd were appointed to ayde those of Sangilles hys fellowes followed after notwithstanding with not so much spéede and thereupon hée sent vnto them to make more haste from Estegell where they taried their comming In the way to Nismes from Sangiles there aryseth euen at the first a little hil which lying out in length maketh an euen playne and then assendeth agayn with an other hill betwéene both which hilles there are certaine small valleyes and then againe that playne or leuell at the entrie whereof the towne of Sangiles is situate is bounded with the Riuer of Rosne for the space of fower and twenty furlonges and so extendeth it selfe to the Castle called the Fourques which lyeth ouer against the city of Arles the riuer of Rosne running betwene them on the other part there lyeth a very large Iland and excéeding frutefull which in the vulgar tonge is called Camargua corruptly as it is thought of Campus Marius because Marius aboade there while he warred against the people of Denmarke or else of the Gréeke worde wyth the which the people of Phocis that built the citie Massilia in Prouance called the same which Gréeke worde is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the goodnesse and fertility of the ground By this meanes following there was a bridge made by monsieur Sommeriue and his men First they tooke certayne Shippes and tyed them syde to syde with ropes crosse the Riuer vpon which then they layed bourdes plankes and so the whole armie of monsieur Sommeriue went ouer to the other shoare of Languedoc For the ryuer called the Rosne diuidteh Prouance and Languedoc asunder Monsieur Bulargues therefore looking for his soldiours at Estegel there came ryding out of the armie of monsieur Sommeriue ten horsemen not ware of monsieur Bulargues at whose commaundement eight of thē were presentlye hemde in the other twoo with great feare fled backe agayne to the armie and made report that a great number of their enemies lay hid in the valleyes besyde Estegell Therefore monsieur Sommeriue cōmaunded the horsemen to set themselues in aray and euery one to marche from thence and the footemen to arme themselues with spéede Then monsieur Bulargues hauing placed certaine scoutes vpō the top of the hill which lay betwéene them and their enemies for from thence they might easely behold the whole armie vppon the leuell was by them tolde that the horsemen of monsieur Sommeriue were comming towardes them in battayle aray Here monsieur Bulargues being like to be ouercom easely by the greater number of his enemies deuised a way out of hand and brought all his souldiers out of the valleyes and set them vpon the top of the hill to make the greater shew to terrifie his enemies Whose pollitique deuise had good successe for so soone as the enemie sawe them vppon the top of the hill they suspected that it was a trayne made to beguile them imagining also that so small a nūber durst not come so nighe except they were sure of more ayde and that therefore they shewed them selues because they would allure them forwarde vntill they had gotten the aduantage of the place and then with a great number to ioyne battayle with them Thē they stayed euen right ouer against them and so keeping a while their battaile aray they retourned backe agayne to their campe In the meane time some were sent againe to accelerate and hasten the comming of Monsure Grill and Bari who at the last came with the rest of the Army which being ioynd with those that were before with Monsure Bulargues made the whole Army to be in number one thousand fiue hundred of them horsemen and the other fiue hundred being footemen and for the space of certaine howers they abode there still in battayle aray in the sight of the Army of Monsure Sommeriue which Army when Monsure Bulargues perceyued to be quiet they came to the towne of Sangiles that as it was appointed they might both aid the Citie and also retourne out of hand to Nismes Therfore Monsure Bulargues leauing his fellowes hard by the towne sent into the towne two hundred goonners and shortly exhorted them and the souldiers that were in the towne to play the men promising vnto them that he would not be long from them And then going out of the Citie he perceyued that the enemy had raysed their siege therfore he ran in hast to sée which waye they were gon And he sawe the Army going towardes the Rosne as though they fled away Then hée ran and told this thing ioyfully to his fellowes that thei might sée the discomfited enemy fléeing away and therfore he sayde that they must not neglecte this occasion which God had offered them for God fighteth for his be therfore saith he of good courage and let vs pursue the enemy And thus talking a while with his souldiers many of them because they were a few in number refused so to do for he had with him only a hundred twentie horsemen Then he sayd Let him that loueth me followe me And so setting spoures to his horse he and so many as were with him pursued after the enemie vntill he came within thrée hundred paces of them at the sight wherof the horsemen of Monsure Sommeriue fled by and by before the footemen which were appoynted to kepe the ordinance Monsure Bulargues making no stay put forth his horse and began to skirmish and after the discharging of two small péeces the horsemen of Monsure Sommeriue leaning their great ordinance tourned their backes and brake through the raye of the footemen so the whole Army began to flée Then Monsure Bulargues with the rest of his fellowes began to crie The victory and killed whom soeuer they met though they made no resistāce and so they made a great slaughter And by reason of the comming of more aide to Monsure Bulargues there was the greater slaughter made euery where some sleing and some pursuing and ouercomming Notwithstanding they which came last delaying the time because they beléeued not the same to be true which Monsure Bulargues told them many horsemen of Monsure Sommeriue which were on the other part of y Army and had the better horses escaped by flight ouer the Bridge and among these were monsure Sommeriue and monsure de Suze who breaking the Bridge for feare least their enemies should followe after them caused a great number the more of their men to be slayne Ther fore the scattered souldiers ran vp and downe to and fro séeking how to escape but found no way Wheruppon many cast themselues into
the Riuer called the Rosne that they might swimme ouer to the other side notwithstanding many perished in the water It is said that monsieur Sommeriue lost of his men beside those that were drownde foure thousand at the least and of the faithfull but one onely and the same was slayne by one of his fellowes vnwares And in this skirmish the most wicked murtherers and spoylers of the people of GOD were slayne of which the greatest part of that Army did consist The faithfull then caried away their tents and all other moueables of which there was great stoore thrée great field péeces and a great number of Calleuers they found also certaine letters in the cariadge of monsieur Sommeriue and monsieur de Suze by which it appeared that they were fully perswaded to haue the victory and determined also to make hauoc and spoile of the Churches in Languedoc But monsieur Sommeriue and the rest that were escaped to excuse this their effeminate consterantion and feare afterwardes pretended That they thought that Baron des Adretze had benâ—…come with an Army from Lions and Dolpheny and that beside the credible suspition the great boldnes of monsieur Bulargues and certaine red Ensignes like to the Ensignes of Baron des Adretz made them to beléeue more firmly their conceiued opinion So that of so great a number there were not many that retourned backe againe into Prouance and to Aâ—… and that without the spoyles of Languedoc While these thinges thus came to passe at Sangiles monsieur Beaudisne and the townesmen also were great ly carefull and occupied in fortefying Montpellier and in prouiding all thinges necessary for the same Notwithstandig the souldiers of monsieur Joyse boldly went about to inuade them and after consultation they went about to ouerthrow a Mill which the townesmen great ly occupied being about halfe a myle distant from Montpellier notwithstanding in vaine being driuen awaye by those that kept the Towne and some of them flayne among whom was Petrus Lapia the Spanish théefe Then newes was brought concerning the slaughter of the Papistes at Sangiles the which as it dismayed Monsieur Joyse and his men so it greatly confirmed and incouraged the inhabitants of Montpellier Whervppon they caused a sollemne assembly to be made to giue thanks vnto God the which being done monsuer Beaudisne gaue commaundement that fiers should be made vppon the toppes of euery house for at Montpellier euery house hath a tower built higher than it selfe of stone and open in the top both to put the enemies in minde of the viâ—…tory and also to discourage them quight And there were so many fiers made throughout the Citie that it seemed to be on a light fier Monsuer Grill taking his handes of men returned towardes Montpellier and was come to a little Town called Lunell being in the midway betwene Montpellier and Nismes This was well enough knowen to the enemy but not vnderstoode of monsuer Beaudisne monsuer Grill not thinking it necessary to giue intelligence here of to the inhabitants of Montpellier and because of the fame of the late victorie he conducted his Souldiers out of order and carelesly When monsuer Joyse vnderstoode of the comming of monsuer Grill he chose out the moste seruisable men in his whole Army and went out of his campe by the breake of y day making a shew as though he would go toward the sea but casting about again â–ª he toke his iourney toward Lunell The which when the watchmen that were in the Towers saw they admonished monsuer Beaudisne there of who suspectinge where about monsuer Joyse went he armed and appointed souldiers so fast as he could went out of the City and marched forward in hast and when he was come to his iournyes end he found his fellowes disperst out of their array and fléeing monsuer Joyse folowing full fast Then there began a whot skirmish betwene them But at the first méeting the Souldyers of Montpellier being the stronger part monsuer Joyse began to retire till he came to an Oliue groue behind him and there he and his men planted themselues and skirmished whotly with their guâ—…nes by which thâ—…y had now the vantage for their gonners were foote men and the place into the which they had gotten was both very san dy and also full of trées at the last monsuer Joyse entered into a vineyard so returned back again to his campe â–ª The dead bodies of both partes that were found in the fieldes were a hundered and fiftie of which the greater part were Protestantes This was done the third day after the victory of Sangiles Notwithstanding monsuer Joyse hauing no hope to be ayded from Prouans and Auuergnoys â–ª thought it not best to attempte any farther for that he was more lyke to be in perill of his enemies than to anoy them Therefore packing and trussing vp his bagge and baggage he marched his armye to Lates the third of October hauinge thus spent in vaine all the moneth with losse of C C C. of his men at the foresaid skirmyshes And the souldiers disdaining almost ready seditiouâ—…y to fall vpon monsieur Joyse bycause they wanted their wages vnder the couller of the spoyles of Montpellier for that was promised them for their seruice they sacked and spoyled by the sufferance of monsieur Joyse a litle Towne called Florence in the territorie of monsieur Cursoll Where vpon this iest was made of them They fauoured of purpose Montpellier bicause they Wanted Surgeans that they might spoile and sacke Florence but not Florence in Italy From thence they went to Villeneufue and there tariing certain daies they minded to go to Agde â–ª which bor dereth vpon the Sea to assault the same This Agde was kept by the Garrison of montpellier monsieur Senglar hauing charge of the same There were sent also from the borders of Blitter a hundred hargabuzeres to ayd those of Agde â–ª To assult this Agde monsieur Joyse planted his ordinance and began to baâ—…er tâ—…e walles and at the length maâ—…e a breach in the same forty paâ—…es brode at the which monsieur Joyse and his men seking to enter the Townes men valyantly desended themselues and gaue them the repulse â–ª slew at this skiâ—…mish CCCC of them at the â—…east among which were the Captaines and chiefe men of the Army When â—…nsieur Joyse sawe that he could not pâ—…uayle â–ª was certifâ—…ed by his scouts that the men of Mâ—…tpellier prepared theÌ„selues to raise the siege he remoued his campe from thence and had scarsly â–ª passed ouer the riuer when as the men of mont pellier came to Agde and being certified that the enemie was â—…n they went 〈◊〉 the riuer â–ª and began to pursu after monsieur 〈◊〉 in pursuing 〈◊〉 with CCC footemeÌ„ which had for saken the army went to the hill countrey to rob spoile these he with a certain troupe of horsemen sâ—…ew and then he retoâ—…rned to montpellier
handes without aide and succour and that he was so forced by them that he would suffer his authoritie to be abused to the murthering of his poore and innocent people to the besieging and spoyling of his Noble Cities to the breaking of good and wholesome Edictes to the iniury of the Kynges kinsmen and Nobles and to the ruine destruction of the Kynges faithfull seruants beside an infinite number of wickednesses mo and all to satisfie their willes and mindes which determined to breake the Kynges Edictes without punnishment which Edictes were made by thē States of the Realme for the preseruation of peace and tranquillitie and for the safetie of the Kyngs Maiestie When also I perceiued that they went about and had already put in practise to ouerthrowe and destroye the Religion and the professors and followers of the same I thought it good and most necessary for these causes to prouide out of hand a more effectuall and forceable remedy that the authors of these troubles might at the last he constrayned to come to peace and concord vppon reasonable conditions least the whole Kyngdome of Fraunce through the vnbrideled and outragious willes of a fewe should bée brought into so great perill And for these causes I sent some of my Counsayle Ambassadours into Fraunce wise graue and experiensed men and addicted to neyther part that in the extremitie of these matters there might bee a remedy found out whereby their Kyng and soueraigne Lorde might be obeyed and the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme mayntayned Notwithstanding this my labor and good indeuour was not thankfully taken neyther could I haue any answere frō the yong Kyng nor from his Mother the Quéene being made a feard by that part which was the cause of all these troubles Whilest therfore I was carefully busied about these thinges and had no other care than for the profite of the Kyng my welbeloued brother without condemning of either part I was other wise delt withall than I looked for Wherby appeared that their will and minde was which so often times denied the bearing of those things which were propounded by me and mine at my commaundement for peace and concordes sake For al my Marchaunts of London and of other partes of my Realme which came into certaine places of Brittaine only about their Marchandize and were preparing to retourne home againe were taken and robbed and dispoyled of all their goodes and they which sought to defend them selues were cxuelly slayne their shippes Marchandize taken by the Magistratrs of those places whereunto they arriued and that for no other cause but for that they were reported to be Huguenotes By the which woord although it séemed strange to those poore Marchaunts and Marriners who knew not what it ment it sufficiently appeared from whom they receyued commaundement to doe these thinges and what they would do more if time and occasion would suffer This was no small rapine or light spoyle but of great waight it was not done sodenly or marage but by the common Magistrate vpon the commaundement of the Gouernour of those partes and that by great contencion with my subiectes The matter being complayned of to those that should haue reformed the same nothing was done but to make a mendes one of my messengers comming homwards with letters of my Ambassadour was robbed the which also escaped vnpunished without any farther examination Wherby I perceiue that the Kyng or Quéene his Mother or rather the Kyng of Nauar do rather want authoritie than good will. And certainely it is manifest both by this and by an infinite sort of other arguments in what state and condition the young Kyng standeth when as he maye not preserue his people and houshold establish his lawes and Edicts nor giue no iust answere to other Princes and Nations By which and by other wicked deuises practised against me and my Realme it appeareth to all men of sound iudgement how greatly that violence which is now vsed in Fraunce by the Guises and his fellowes doth toutch not only Fraunce but also mée and my whole Realme more than any other Prince Therfore forsomuch as the dignity and authoritie of the Kyng and the Queene his Mother of his Counsellers louers of peace cannot at this time so much preuaile as to haue abillitie and leaue to rule and gouern or to do any thing els appertaining either to their own people or to other Nations or to their owne proper persons séeing also the Kynges tender age and the Quéene his Mother are so circumuented and snared that they must condescend and agrée to whatsoeuer the Guises will haue them as may testifie those great destructions and manifold calamities which the authors of these troubles haue brought in besieging assaulting and sacking the Kynges Cities and Townes and in shedding the innocent bloud of his subiects also séeing they haue caused ciuill warre that they might abolish and extinguish in euery place the reformed Religion do séeke to make mortall warre in euery part of the whole world furthermore séeing they are the authors and fautors of these pitifull and lamentable troubles are noted so to be of all men who if they might haue time and oportunitie would séeke by all meanes possible to violate and diminish the state and dignitie of my Realme and to conclude séeing of late also they haue openly gone about to cōtend with me by force of armes but by the grace and goodnes of God were disapoynted of their purpose and do yet diligently séeke the same also to aduaunce them selues to my incōmoditie shall I suffer and beare with those sworne and mortall enemies to peace and concord Shall I suffer the bloud of my neighbours to be cruelly shed if by any maner of meanes I might let the same Shall I suffer the young Kyng my welbeloued brother to bee besieged and in great perill and not to be counted vnthankful and mercilesse Shall I as vnwise and negligent haue no consideration or regard to my mortal enemies and to their practise Therfore for these iust euident and necessary causes of the Kynges subiects requiring my helpe and aide in these tempestes and calamities I commaunded many of my subiectes to be armed both by Sea and land to deliuer the subiectes of my welbeloued brother the Kyng of Fraunce from tirrany Rapine murther and destruction and to kéepe certaine Cities bordering vpon the sea coast and more néere vnto vs in saftie from those enemies least the peace made betwéene me and my brother the Kyng being broken they might the more easely warre against my Realme To prouide for the which thinges tyme calleth vpon me For I haue the testimony of a good conscience and do protest that I in these thinges do vse such sinceritye and integrity that I séeke and iusue christian peace as I ought and I doubt not but that the protection and defence of innocent bloud is acceptable vnto God wil be taken in verye good parte of my wel
Moreouer bicause the Germanes which came to ayde them vnder the conducte and charge of the Râ—…kendolph the Rheingraue vnderstanding some what of our cause refused to warre against vs they deuysed a new practise and brought the King and Quene into their Army to couller hereby al that they had done Neither do they omit any subtiltie or crafte to allure straungers to ayde them and yet notwithstanding they deryde and scorne the Germanes and their Religion as though they for the gredines of money came into Fraunce to subuert and ouerthrow the Gospel which before in their owne countrey they had defended with perill of their lyues And they impudently lyed and fained vnto them to bring the confession of Ausburge into France which they said they had done long a go if so be I had not bin a let vnto them Besides these thinges they obiect against me mine most shameful slaunders saying that we are Rebelles destroyers of the worshippe of GOD vsurpers of the Kinges Crowne possessores of the Kinges Cities and treasure Heretiques Anabaptistes Atheictes without any Religion or faith With these and diuers other like crimes they do so fasty sclaunder vs that we appeale to the consciences of our aduersaries if they haue any conscience at all But by the grace of God we haue a firme and sure testimony of our Religion that is to saye the confession of the reformed Churches so euidently declared and offered to the King to the Quéene to the Kinge of Nauar to the Princes the Kinges kinsmen and to al the kinges Counsaile as they can testify which now go about to suppresse the same and sealed with my hand with the handes of a great nomber besides which also we doubt not to seale with our own bloud The which as it ought â—…o stoppe the aduersaries mouth so also it ought to sâ—…oppe their eares to whom our aduersaries are not afeard to sclaunder and backebyte vs. But and if the life and manners of both partes if the effects of our Religion be compared with our aduersaries although I will not altogether excuse our selues froÌ„ many sins yet notwithstanding this I say that our life by â—…he grace of god is not defiled with blasphemies with whordome with impieties with horrible lustes against nature as the life of many of our aduersaries is which notwithstanding call them selues Catholiques glory in those filthy crimes As for Heresie and Anabaptisme we are so farre from them as it is manifest that our aduersaries are giltie in them and haue ben by vs proued so to be Can they cléere them selues of Anabaptisme which haue rebaptized those infants that were baptized in the reformed Church which is an herisie in all times reprobaled and condemned also by the Decrees and constitutions of Counselles And as for the worship of God we haue not abolished the same for the defence whereof we are ready to spend our liues desiring uothing more than to haue the same purged in the Realme of Fraunce by the puritie and truth of the Gospell from so many superstitions and also that it would please God to illuminate our King with the pure know ledge of his word to blesse the Scepter of his youth and also to deliuer him from all corrupt Tutors masters But how shamefull a thing is this for the Cardinall of Loraine to make as though he loued the confession of Ausburge the which he vtterly refused to allow in the disputation of Possi And it may appeare what loue hée and the rest of them beare toward that confession by y horrible murther committed at Vâ—…ssi As for the Cities which they say we possesse they haue not hitherto disobeyed the kyng neyther will they hereafter so long as they obey my commaundements And whereas they obey not our aduersaries the cause is least they being at their commaundement should be vtterly destroyed The Kynges money also is kept from their hands least they hauing the same should spend it vppon warre against the Kyngs subiectes But whereas they say that I go about to vsurpe the Crowne of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 actions of my life past frée from ambition and 〈◊〉 and my handes pure from innocent bloud do so playnely proue this to be a false lie that I am fully perswaded that no man of sound iudgement will approue the same When as ou the contrary parâ—… al men know by what and how many meanes my aduersaries haue gone about to trouble and molest al the whole Realme by ambition and couetousnes and haue so inriched theÌ„selues that they haue made a plaine and ready way to â—…et the Crowne To put away the suspicion whereof they can neuer bring sufficient reasons the effectes of their desires being so manifest the euents also so lamentable that they shall neuer be able by any maner of meanes to hide them All men sée since the time that they haue had the gouernement in their handes they haue brought the Realme into so great troubles that it was neuer in so miserable an estate being brought all most to ruine extreame destruction the King brought into great debt and his subiectâ—… oppressed with tributs and customes There is yet another exquisit lie deuised by the same Cardinall For he is not afeard to giue out to diuers straungers by his letters that the Kyng and Quéen hauing established and confirmed the assurance of the common faith do giue pardon to all thâ—…se that will put of their Armour go home to their owne houses and liue there without offence But none of al these thinges are contayned and set downe in the forme of any Edict or Rescript for they are but deceitfull baites and snares to intangle men with all and so are they to be counted Dayly many men are both cast into prison and also put to death and that for no other fault but only because they professed the reformed Religion which they make The cause of Sedition of Conspiracie of vnlawfull assemblies and of the breaking both of Gods lawe and mans lawe And being not contented with so great bloud shed knowing that many haue escaped the crueltie of their Decrées they haue caused the Bishoppes their Popish officers to publish and thunder out Excommunications giuing charge that they which knew any of the Kynges officers which came either to the publique or priuate sermons of the reformed Churches to the administration of the Lordes Supper to their prayers or to any other rite or ceremony contrary to the church of Roome or if they knew any that did either eate or drinke with those preachers that they should within three dayes after disclose their names And of late also they haue published a Decrée In the which they commaunded and do commaund â–ª That so many as are come from Orleans Lions Burges Roane Poictiers and from other Cities which are kept at my commaundement to Paris and that all men or women of the reformed Religion should be taken and punished accordinge to the forme of the
Edict what Priuiledge soeuer to the contrary they were able to bring Whereuppon many were taken by the force of those decrées put to death which came home to their houses vppon trust of the Kyngs Letters of warrant Whereby it may euidently appeare how falsely they haue made report to Princes of other Nations of the securitie that men should haue if so be vppon trust thei would put them selues in their handes And because certaine Princes knowing the goodnes of our cause and the vniust dealing of our aduersaries haue sent vnto mee aide to auoyde those miserable calamities at hand they make exclamation to discredit me and my cause that I bring forreyne ayd and power into the Realme But what I dyd before I tooke thys remedie in hande many Princes know whom I entreated to be meanes to make a pacification and who caÌ„ testifie that their Legates were hindered herein Also séeing they haue replenished the whole Realme with straungers as with Spaniardes Switzers Germanes and with Italians to the ende they might execute their tyraÌ„nie how shamelesse be they to reproche and discredite me in saying that I bring forreyn power into the realm And I protest that as I was constrained to take this remedie in hand so I haue determined euer hereafter to séeke by all lawfull meanes and wayes to deliuer the Church of God the King the Countrey and my self froÌ„ this oppression But whereas they haue euery where published abroade the Decrée of rebellion against me and myne which they haue caused to bée made sure cause not knowne nor heard by certayne seditiouse persones which displacing certayne good men out of their roomes take vpon them the name and countenance of Senatours of Paris I haue appealed from them and shewed in wri ting the causes of my appeale And to the ende their fraude and deceit may appeare the more impudent they haue exempted me from the number of those whom falsly they cal rebelles Howbeit if this good and iust cause may be called rebellion I my selfe aboue all the reste ought to be burthened with the same séeing that I account my selfe to be their Captayne and haue taken vpon me the defence of that cause haue called those that attende vpon me to shewe their obedience to the King at the commaundement of the Queene and doo as yet retayne them with me to this ende And I affirme that there can be greater iniury done vnto me than to be separated from so honest and faithfull a company in whoÌ„ I do note so great fidelitie and obedience toward the king in this so present a necessitie that I think that the same their dutifull obedience wil be commended amonge all posterities for euer This therefore is the summe of those things which I haue don vnto this day the which I haue with great simplicitie and without all cooller declared And I pray all those that loue the trueth moste earnestly which shall reade this writing that they will vprightly and without all preiudice waigh the matter and to Iudge not by the words but by the actions God for his mercies sake order and direct the whole matter to the glory of his name to the peace of the Church â–ª to the tranquillitie of the Realme to the confusion of those his enimies which are the authours of these troubles This writing being published abroad and all maner of warlike prouision being prepared the Prince of Conde as we sayde before remoued with his armie from Orleans and conducted the same by the Countrey of Beausse toward Paris And as hée went hée besieged a town called Pluâ—…iers which was kept with seuen Enseignes of footemen and at the length when hee had sore battered the same with his ordinaunce he had it deliuered vp vnto him Then he tooke twoo of their principall Captaines and caused them to be put to death as for the reste of the common soldiers he spared them After this many Townes yéelded vnto him as Escampes la Ferte Dordan and others which hée receyued into his seruice vpon trust Also he minded to besiege the Citie of Corbeil which the Guises kept and mayntayned with a great garrison of souldiours This Citie is of great forte bâ—…rdering vpon the riuer of Sein by which ryuer great prouision and store of vittailes were caryed to Paris And while he was making al things ready for the siege word was brought vnto him of the death of his brother the King of Nauar. Whose office of Uiceroy he perceyuing that he ought to haue by order during this tyme of the Kings minoritie and then hoping to moderate and end al things by peace he left of his purpose of besieging Corbeiâ—… and comming néerer Paris he pitched his campe at Arcel â–ª the first day of DeceÌ„ber Therfore the Queen sending letters vnto him desired to conferre and talke with him not purposing neuerthelesse as the euent declared to conclude concorde and peace but onely to delay and differre the time and to diminishe the force of the Prince of Conde his armye vntill the armies came out of Spayne and Gascoyne which were dayly looked for this was done by the subtill practises of the Guises But because the Prince of Conde was not at that tyme very well at ease the Admirall went firste to talke with the Quéene passing ouer the ryuer of Seyn by the port Angloyse In the meane tyme the Constable came to the Prince of Conde for a pledge But this iourney was in vayne the Quéene saying that she would neuer agrée that the reformed Religion should be vsed in any parte of the Realme Then was the parley appointed againe in a more conuenient place â—…éere vnto the suburbes of S. Mâ—…rceau in a certayne Mill. At which méeting the Prince of Conde propounded these condicions of peace First that the vse of the reformed religion might be frée in those Cities in the which it was before the warre began and that the faithful might liue peaceably in other places and that they might goe vnto such Townes as they knew the reformed Religion to bée vsed in also that there might be diligent héed taken that they sustained no manner of perill for enioying the benefite of religion Secondly that it might be lawfull for all men of the reformed Religion to enioy their goods offices dignities but specially their religion in what part of the Realme soeuer they dwelt and that all sentences and iudgements of any Court pronounced against them for religion be voyd and of none effect that they which for religions sake were fled the realme or hauing before fled were now come home againe might enioye y same benefite and might haue leaue at their retourne to enioy all that they had that euery Noble man might haue libertie to vse the reformed Religion in his house and also that it might be lawfull for euery one of the Kings Counsell to haue the same religion in or about the Court so long as he shall there giue his attendance
the Porters and Warders of the gates had carelesly suspecting nothing lesse thaÌ„ the comming of the enemie opened the gates of the Citie they violently rushed in and oppressed and slew a great number of the Townesmen as they were making of them ready to arme and defend them selues Their purpose was to retourne back agayne to Nonay with as much spéede as possibly they could when they had gotten them armour and weapons and taken the spoyle of the Citie But when by the example of their Gouernour the soldiours gaue themselues to spoyling of houses and spent the time in vayne vppon dalliance with women they gaue great occasion â—…o Monsure Caumout which was not farre from them to worke their destruction For he being certified of their delay and securitie gathered togyther by and by so great a multitude as he could from the places thereaboutes alarme being sounded in euery streat and corner Therefore the men of Nonay béeing busied in their pray in so much that they neyther remeÌ„bered to departe nor yit suspected the comming of their enemies in so great number were sodeynly hemde in with a great number of souldiours which came vnder the charge of Monsieur Caumout and falling into their handes were slayn for the most part of them with their Gouernour and the rest fled And when Monsieur Caumont vnderstood the matter hée marched with his army taking with him certein fielde péeces towards Nonay and finding the same voyd of any garrison and greatly amased with much feare grief after hée had battered the walles at the length tooke the Citie And then shewed extréeme crueltie killing rashly both Papist and Protestant togyther with women also and children which murther most cruelly continued for the space of two dayes But when it was reported that Monsieur des Adretz was comming by Turnon with a very great hoaste Monsieur Caumont remoued in the night and causing great sileÌ„ce to be kept throughout all his armye he stale away secretly And what soeuer the souldiour at his departure could not carry away that hee spoyled as corne and wyne such like casting the corne abroad in the streates knockinge out the heades of Toonnes of wyne and setting fier on diuers places of the Citie I my selfe which haue written these things am also an eye witnesse of this horrible crueltie being present at the same and carying yet and shall do while I liue certayne markes by woundes in my body to remember the same Nonay being desolated with this horrible murther Monsieur Sainmartin a Captaine Liefetenant of the Region of Viuaretz came within few dayes after with a garrison of souldiers and repayred the broken walls and fortified the same so well as hée could Monsieur des Adretz hauing gathered an army entered into consultacioÌ„ about the besieging of Vienna whether Nemours was come with the greatest part of hys army and remoued his army which hée had taken out of Dolpheny and Languedoc to Uienna myndinge to besiege a citie in the vtmost partes of Viuaretz called Saincte Columbe but he bare at that time a false and trayterouse mynde as experience afterward declared Therefore after certaine small skirmishes they entered into parley with Nemours and Monsieur des Adretz was let into Uienna and comming out from thence agayn shewed manifest tokens that his mind was altered And he agréed with Nemours to yéelde vnto him forthwith Roman and Ualentia cities of Dolpheny Therefore he remoued his army from Vienna and appointed Nemours to be at Roman that day where he himselfe had giuen his fayth at the self same time to be and he himselfe went to view and win other cities When his other fellow captaynâ—… vnderstood of this as Cardet Lieftenant of Ualentia Blacon Bari Mouens and others they admonished Monsieur Cursol of the same and they with the help of Mouents tooke Monsieur des Adretz while he was at Valencia thei hauing sitt occasion offered them therunto And then the subtil lying in wayt of Nemours being detected and bewrayed who came with his souldiers at the day appointed to Romane he returned agayne to Vienna disappointed of his purpose And so the treason of Baron des Adretz being discouered he was brought to the citie of Nemaus in the prouince of Languedoc but because of the benefite of peace which was concluded by an Edict he escaped present and deserued death In the meane time the Duke of Guise hauing augmeÌ„ted his army and prouided all things necessary for war remoued from Paris and went to besiege Orleans in the moneth of Ianuary The Admirall was gone from Orleans with the greatest part of his army and with al the troupes of Germane horsemen to ioyne with the English men leauing to kepe and defend Orleans his brother the Andelot with the other part of the army For the Admirall stood in great néed of money Of the which when the Guise vnderstood he sought all that he could to draw away the Germanes from tâ—…king part with the Prince of Conde because they were discouraged from the Guises because he warred against religion and because the faithfull contended for no other cause than to deliuer the King from captiuitie and to defende the Edicte which concerned the reformed religion the Guise affirmed and protested that hée neyther mayntayned warre against Religion nor kept the Kinge nor any of his Captyues And for this cause he procured the Kings letters in the which the King and Quéene declared to the Marshall of Hessen and to the Germanes which ayded the Prince of CoÌ„de vnder hys conduct that neyther of them were captiues This is the summe of their letters In consideration of the great frendship and vnity which hath bin heretofore betwene the Germane Princes and the Kinges of France our auncetoures and in respect of the mutuall loue which the one hath alwaies shewed towardes the other to the profit and commodity of both parties it could not but séeme wonderful and straunge vnto vs that certaine of those Princes of Germany our frendes should ayde and helpe our subiectes which haue lifted vp the swerd against vs and haue seditiously brought our Realme into great troubles But we thinke that it commeth hereof that those seditious persons haue deceiued the Princes with a false couller and pretence making them beleeue that we are captiued and that they for the duty and obedience which they owe vnto vs haue gone about to deliuer vs from the same In the which opinion euen at this day also they go about to perswade and retaine both the Captaines and also the Souldies of those Germanes whom for the cause and pretence aforesaide they haue broughte into this Realme of whose goodnesse and estimation we are so perswaded that we doubt not but that they will for very grefe and sorow be offended that they haue bene so deceyued For these causes we signifye declare to the Marshall Hess the Captaine generall of those Germanes and to the vnder Captains and souldiers that
the siege that the Guise had begon Notwithstanding the army being herewith much discouraged ▪ and the Queene and the Prince of Conde geuing commaundement that truce might be taken on both partes they raysed their siéege and departed Then a peace was intreated the Constable faithfully as it might séeme promising the same to the men of Orleans Therefore there was oftentymes mutuall conference betwéene both partes frée communication had also euen among the common Souldiers In the meane time the Admirall prospered very well and had good successe in Normandy and hauing wonne Cane a noble Citie in Normandy and hauing great store and aboundance of money had no doubt brought greater things to passe within a short tyme if the peace had not bin a stay vnto him Therefore the peace was now in question betwéene the Quéene and the Prince of Conde the Constable earnestly soliciting the same by his letters The Quéene although she sawe her parte to be in worst cace two of her principall Captaines being destroyed and the third taken and on the contrary part although the Prince of Conde were taken yet that the rest of the Captaines florished and preuayled although I saye she sawe these things yet notwithstanding she dissembling with a double hart made the Prince of Conde beleue and hope for greate matters and made him bende vnto her will so much as she could Therfore certain cōditions of peace were propounded to the Prince of Conde but not indifferent in the which conditions many thinges were discided concerning the Edict of Ianuary by which Edicte the Prince of Conde would haue had the peace formed and framed Then the Quene the Prince of Conde the Constable and the Andelot came togyther to Parley in a certaine Ileland called Boum neare to Orleans the Admirall which at that tyme was in Normandy being aduertised of the same And after much communication to and fro the peace was at the last concluded the xiii day of March in manner and forme following ALL men see and knowe with what troubles seditions and tumultes this our kingdome for certayne yeres by the iust iudgement of God hath ben tormoyled and tossed our subiectes being the occasion and cause therof through the diuersitie of opinions concerning religion To prouide a remedie for the which there haue ben hytherto had many conuocations of the most singular and wyse men of the whole realme by whose aduise and coun saile many Edictes and decrees haue ben made as the necessity of the tyme required meaninge thereby to preuent a mischief and stop greater inconueniences like to ensue Neuerthelesse the iniquitie of tyme by little and little hath so preuayled and the Lorde by his secrete and iust iudgement prouoked by our sinnes and wickednes hath not restrayned but suffered those outragiouse trou bles to haue their course and that so far forth that an infinite sorte of murders bloudshed rapine spoyle and destruction of Cities haue come thereof beside the violating of temples the ioyning of battayles and an infinite number of mischeeues mo in diuers places In so muche that if this mischief proceed any further seeing there are so many straungers in our Realme and more dayly lyke to come we may playnly see and beholde the ineuitable ruyne and destruction of the whole Realme beside the great losse of so many Princes and noble men and valeaunt Captaynes already made by the authours of these troubles which Noble men vnder the mighty hande of God are the onely strength and true defence and protection of this our Crowne The which things we haue diligently considered and deuised alwaies and remedies to helpe in time yet notwithstanding seeing we see that all the inconueniences whiche come of this warre doe redownde to the diminution and detriment of this our realm and haue felt by experience to our great hurt and losse that this remedy is not sufficient for this purpose we haue thought that there can be no better way thā first of all for vs to flee vnto the infinite grace and goodnesse of our Lord God by his help to seeke for peaceable quiet remedies to cure the soarenesse of this great and mischeuous disease in the eyes of man almost incurable to bring the willes of our subiects to vnitie and concord and to the acknowledging of that obedience and duety which belongeth vnto vs being speedy remedies to kepe our subiectes in peace trusting that the frute of a generall or nationall Counsell will bring suche assured peace and certayne tranquillity to the honor and glory of God that wee shall haue all great cause to ioye in the same In the which matter we wil haue the good and wholesome Counsayle of the Queene our most louing and reuerend mother of our most louing Cosynes the Cardinall of Borbon of the Prince of Conde of the Duke of Monpensier and of the Prince Rochsuryon of the Princes that are of the Kings bloud of our beloued Cosines also the Cardinall Guise Duke de Aumall Momorencius the Constable of the Duke Estamp of the Marishalls Brissac and Burdillon of the Lords the Andelots and of other peeres of the Realme and men of the Kings counsail All the which with one consent and mynde haue thought meete and necessary that these thinges following should bee ordayned and decreed for the common wealth and profit of our realme the which wee will and commaund to abyde firme and immutable that is to say THAT all noble men hereafter hauing the rule and go uernement of Prouinces may peaceably and with the libertye of their consciences liue in those houses in the which they shall dwell with their families and seruaunts and enioy the vse of the reformed religion so called with out any impediment or trouble And it shal be lawefull for all noble men and their families what iurisdiction soeuer they haue to vse the same religion at home and in their houses so that they dwell not in those villages and townes that are subiect to the greater Iurisdiction In which places they cannot haue the vse of the Religion without the leaue and licence of the higher powers VVe appoint to euery Office Senate or Court whose first appeale belongeth vnto the higher courts a citie at the peti ciō of the mē of reformed religion to the which citie the men of those offices and Courtes may come and haue the vse of the reformed religion and no otherwyse nor any where else Notwithstanding all men may liue euery where peaceably at home without any perill or harme for the vse of religion and their cōscience Furthermore all men in those cities in the which that religion was exercised the vii day of this moneth of March beside those cities which shal be specially appointed to euery Court shall haue leaue to vse the administration of that religion still in one or two Cities which shal be appointed vnto them Notwithstanding it shall not be lawfull for the men of the reformed religion to occupie the churches
sodayne punishment of Merae which was so spéedy that hee had not leaue to come before the Iudges according to order of Law to haue the accused present before the accuser Now concerning the peace it was reported of euery where euery one reioyced because of the same yea the naming of peace was pleasant in the eares of all men euery one hoping that so great troubles and calamities were now at an end Notwithstanding the Protestants greatly mâ—…ruelled what the Prince of Conde ment to agrée vnto those slended conditions séeinge the principal heads of their enemyes were destroied some taken and the â—…ost 〈◊〉 discouraged whereas on the contrary part the Prince of Conde had now the lawfull gouernment of the Realme and many couragions captaines to take his part whereby they were like to haue â—…etter successe than euer they had Moreouer the Admirall in Noâ—…ndy and Monsieâ—… Cuâ—…sol in Languedoc prospered very well notwithstanding by letters sent to him from the King and from the Prince of Conde concerning the Edicte and to Monsieur Cursol also which was then besieging of the Castell of Pyle they vnarmed themselues imbraced the peace And the Edicte was there by and by 〈◊〉 â—…ed and in al Townes also where the Protestants inhabited The Catholiques also were suffered fréely to go vnto their Cities and enioyed all thinges to them appertayning according to the benefit of the Kinges Edict Notwithstandinge at Bourdeux and Tholoze the Papistes made much a do about the receiuing of the Kinges Edicte in so much that the Protestants durst not go home to their houses but were faine to make often complaintes here of to the Kinge The English men by the sufferance of the Prince of Conde kept the Portele Grace which is a Citie bordering vppon the Sea in the edge of Normandy who refusing for certain causes of couenant betwéene them to go out of the Citie the Kinges armye remoued to besiege the same the Prince of Conde also himselfe being present with a great part of his army at the which the English men greatly marueiled thinking that he requited them not as they had deserued Notwithstandinge at theyr Quéenes commaundement they departed from thence vppon certaine conditions a League being made betwéene the King of France the Quéene of England Both Armies also of the Germanes went home almost in euery place men wholy vnarmed themselues notwithstanding certain of the Guises armye and of the Prince of Condes also wer reserued stil in their armour for another purpose as shal be hereafter declared The end of the second part ¶ The thirde parte of Commen taries Conteyning the whole discourse of the ciuill warres of Fraunce vnder the raigne of CHARLES the nynth Translated out of Latin into Englishe by Thomas Tymme Minister Seene and allowed Imprinted at London by Frances Coldock And are to be sold at his shop in Pawles churchyard at the signe of the greene Dragon 1574. The Table for the third part A ABbay of Saint Florent burnt page 201 Actes in the time of the Kyngs progresse 46 Admirall accused by the Cardinall of Loraine 11 Admiralls purgation 13 Admiral cleered of the Guises death by the Kings sentence 47 Affaires of the lowe Conntrey 77 Agreement betweene the king and the Duke of Orleans 40 Amanzi slaine 131 Answere of the faithfull to the oth which they should take 124 Andelot commeth to the Prince of Conde with a great armie 174 Andelot passeth ouer the Riuer of Loyer 176 Andelot ioyneth with the Admirall 176 B Battaile woone by the Protestants at Auuergnoys 107 Battaile in the which the Prince of Conde was slaine 208 Brotherhoodes of the Papistes 43 Brissiac slaine 215 Boysuerd slaine 175 C Cardinall accuseth the Admirall 11 Cardinall taketh foolishe and â—…ain journeyes 70 Cardinall of Loraine practiseth too take the principall protestaÌ„s 118 Cardinall of Loraine practiseth too take the Prince of conde 121 Cardinall Sâ—…astillion fleeth into England 162 Church of Lions diuersly vexed 50 Chartres besieged 108 Charite besieged and taken 221 Cities and Townes which tooke part with the Protestants 107 Cities yeelded to the Prince of Con de 174 Cipiere cruelly slaine 119 Conference betweene the Nobles and the Duches of Parme. 86 Conspiracie of the Papistes to destroy the Gospell 92 Constable slaine 102 Countie Panpadon slaine 215 Counsell of Trent traueileth to hiâ—… der the Gospell 23 Congregatiou of the Protestants at Pamiz 37 Craftie disposition of the Queene Mother 11 D Death of the Prince of Condes wife 41 Death of Châ—…els Sonne to Kyng Philip. 162 Death of the Lord of Morueile 227 Death of the Duke of Deuxpons page 223. Declaration of Rossilion gaue a great ouerthrow to the Edict 50 DescriptioÌ„ of the Dukes camp 223. DescriptioÌ„ of the princes army 224 Discipline appointed by the Prince of Conde 164. 165. Duches of Parme causeth an assembly of states 83. Duke of Alba commeth into FlauÌ„ders with the Spaniards 94. Duke of Aniou marcheth toward Loraine 106. Duke of Aniou put to the worse in fight 193. Duke of Deuxpons promiseth aide to the Prince 197. E Edict wrested by the Anuil 5. Edict falsely interpreted 27. Edict enterpreted 45. Edict against the Gospel 106. 177 Edict collerably made by the Catholiques 112. Edict not obserued 115. Edict of peace 300. England a fuccor to Fraunce 109. Endreau reuolteth 212. F Fortresse built at Lions 49. G Germans take both partes 196. Gouernment of D'anuil ouer the Churches of Languedoc 3. Gospell begynneth to florishe in â—…launders 77. Guyses seke to disturb the peace 20 I. Impunitie for the murder done at Towers 69 Images in Flanders go to wrack 85 Iniuries done to the Protestantes pag. 60. 113. Interdiction of Sermons 48. K Kinges progresse with the causes thereof 38. King commeth to Lions 48. King commeth to Languedoc 74. King Philip certified of the increse of the Protestantes in the Lowe countrey 79. King and Queene remoue to Paris 97. L Letters of the king to the Prince of Conde 67. Letters of the Prince to the Kâ—…ng page 98. 132. Letters of the papistes intercepted page 130. Letters of the Queene of Nauar â—…o the Kinge 168. to the Queene mother 169. and to the Cardinal of Borbon 173 Lett es of the Queene of Nauar â—…o the Queene of England 187. Letters pattens from the Pope 184. Lord Boccard dyeth 216. Luzig surrendered 241. M Messenger sent by the Prince of CoÌ„ de taken 162. Merindol apointed for the exercise of the reformed religion 73 Monsuer Cure slaine 44. Monsuer Saltane displaced oute of his office and Monsuer Lossay succedeth him 50. Mons. Cochay taken and many of his men slaine 197. Mons Mouens and his souldiours slaine 186. Motton commaunded to be hanged by the Anuil 6. Murders most horrible 119. Musters of Souldierâ—… 130. N Niort besieged 237. Noyers wonne 198. O Oth of the prince of Nauar. 212. Oth collerably made 130. Order of gods fâ—…ruice in Nemaux â—… P Papistes brag of
the Protestantes he came with ranged and warlike armies as though he had ment to haue encountred with some enemie By his commaundement also there was watch and ward appointed at euery gate and flagges set out vpon the battlementes of the walles lyke as the manner is in Cities that be vanquished by force Moreouer he very straightly commaunded the Protestantes that they should bring all their armour to the common halles of euery Citie and charged his owne men that they should ransacke all the houses of the faithfull At Nemaux he caused one to be beaten with cudgelles bycause he had brought in hys armour somewhat to late and vnder colour and cloke of that example did very haynously sclaunder before the King the whole company of the faithful in Languedoc as obstinate and stubborne And deuidinge Garrisons of Souldiers into euery Citie where any congregation was surueyed and vewed them hymselfe and with certain troupes of Horsemen whom he had reclaymed to his owne lure and made fit for his owne pitch did spoile and waste all thinges wheresoeuer he came The Souldiers that were in Garrison and also they which waited vppon the Anuille began very cruelly to rage against the whole families of the faythfull euen as though they had bin taken captiue in war neither did they abstaine from robberies and rauishing of Uirgines but did scotfrée and without checke commit horrible murders the Anuille being in the meane tyme wholy giuen ouer to the filthy loue of whores beastly excesse of that good and gentle wyne of Languedoc and for these two causes he went diuers times to Auinion and there did compell a sight truly almost of incredible impudencie his owne wyfe a noble woman of the wor thy honorable house of the Duke of Bullion to salute entertain at her owne table an whore of that towne a wydowe whom he being taken with her bewty had caused to run headlong after filthy gayne And whereas fhere was an order appointed by the Profestantâ—…s in the Court of Nemaux that before they tooke any thing in hand thereshould be prayers made vnto God whose aide and helpe in administring iustice ought to be craued and sought for the Anuille commaundeth that that custome should be fortwith layde aside and when the chiefe Justice had said vnto him who then shall teach vs true Justice if the righteous and iust God be not called vppon He made aunswere that if he or any of his had anye care or regard of that inuocation or calling vpon Gods name yet not withstanding it was not the Kinges pleasure to lay any such burden vpon them who did little set by any such customes and rytes as that was and so at the commaundement of the Anuille the inuocation of Gods name was vtterly banished out of the Court of Nemaux Through the vnreasonable outrage of this furious raging president ther were diuers iniuries and damages wrought againste the Protestantes eyther vnder coloure of the Edict or els by playne and open force Of the which these thinges that follow being taken out of almost an infinit nomber of other may be sufficient examples The Kinges Edicte of peace did giue frée liberty to exercise the reformed Religion in all those Cities in which it had bin practised the vii day of March as it was prouided by flat expres wordes of the v. braunch of the Edicte besides other Cities that were seuerally to be appointed throughout all and euery one of the Prouinces Against this did the Auuille set this interpre â—…acion So that it be thought Lawfull by the chiefe Lordes of those places And so by these meanes he hindered the vse of the reformed religion in many places and euery wher scatered and dispersed abrode the congregations And although by the expresse tenure and forme of the Edicte liberty of Religion and conscience was graunted to all and in all places of the Kingdome yet he did so curtall and weaken the lihertie of the Edicte that he did not only compell those which were newly come out of the Cloisters and Abbies or els had forsaken some other Popish Rites in the tyme of warre but also those who long a go had left that kind of life and were entred into some better trade of lyuinge to take againe their former lyfe of monkish supersticion and to put awaye their wiues if they had maried any or els to depart out of the boundes and limites of his Prouince And by these meanes he plucked away many of the ministers of Godes woord from their congregations and droue them out of al the Countrey where he ruled A notable example of this extremitie was shew ed in Moton the minister of the congregation Who hauing long before forsaken all kynde of Monkery had maried a wife in honest and lawfull matrimonie and laboured verâ—… frutefully there in that Church To him straight commaundement was giuen eyther quight to forsake hys wife and leaue the ministery and then to take vpon him h is former kind of lyfe or els to depart out of the coast of Languedoc within thre daies who when he had made answer that he was content to depart for that he was so commaunded and hauing prouided al thinges necessarie for his familie and being set forward on his iourney as he passed by Monfrin a little towne of Languedoc by the way that leades to Auinion he went to visit the congregation ther and was requested by the elders of that Church that according to the custome he would preach a sermon to the people Moton was content and preached The matter was signified vnto MoÌ„scur Anuil who by and by coÌ„maunded the chiefe executioner forthwith to hang vp Moton as guilty of breaking the kings Edicte for that he had preached contrary to his forbidding Wherfore Moton was violently apprehended the â—…earefull Protestanteâ—… of the Church of Monfrin standing round about him and being haled and drawen out of his wiueâ—… armes that pitifully cryed out was bound vnto an almon trée Where after that he had comforted his wife and protested that he did willingly seale there with his bloud the truth of his doctrine for which vnwor thely he was so troubled he was strangled to death by the coÌ„mon hangman All which time while this was in doing MoÌ„suer Anâ—…ll lay carelesly at AuinioÌ„ wallowing in the filthye pleasures of whoores and wyne The churches of Languedoc did complaine of these iniâ—…ryes to the Kings maiesty and the Quéene his mother The like did the Prince of Conde being desired there vnto by them of Languedoc but all was in vain For the Constable was a careful maintainer of his lonnes mischiefes and so wrought that all the complaintes that were put vp against his sonne were voyd and to no purpose in so much that they which complayned were in perill and daunger â–ª Whereby it came to passe that â—…he congregations in Languedoc which had any thinge at all borne out the bruntes of the former warre were very hardly
faythefully to mayntayne and kéepe the peace Monsieur de Anuill was therby more earnest and hâ—…te and did straightly charge the Consuls of the Citie for so they in that Countrey do cal their chief Officers that they should leaue of their sute and enterprise otherwise they should be sure to smart for the common peoples faultes wherewith they being terrified made answere that they were ready to obeye him in whatsoeuer it pleased him to lay vpon them and calling the commons togither to an assembly did bitterly and very sharply rebuke them for their stubburnes But the commons on the other side protested that it was agaynst all law and right and that it was done con trary to the tenor and forme of the peace concluded that they would rather complayne to the King of the tyranny of thâ—… President Finally that they would not for any cause commit themselues their goods their wyues and children into the handes of the Lieuetenant being as he was so sore incensed and angrye against them But whilest wordes went too and fro amongest them there begaÌ„ a whot contention betwixt the Magistrates and the commons The people being set on a furie chased away the Magistrates and forthwith fortified and â—…ensed the citie and no entrance would be graunted to M. de Anuilles garrison Who coÌ„plaining to the King of the matter receyued commission from him to punnishe the offenders very seuerely with commaundement also that the Townsmen should receiue in the Garrison The King also sent thither Monsieur 〈◊〉 a noble man with charge that they should eyther receyue such Garrison as the Lieuftenant the Anuill should appoint or els to be greuously punnished who comming thither to the Citie was forthwith receiued in by the Citizens who declared vnto him that they had not committed that fact in way of rebellion but were ready to obey the King their chiefe soueraigne Lord and gouernour that it happened through the rashe and hasty dealing of the Magistrats that the commons being moued and stirred vp with feare of further harme to ensue had behaued themselues otherwyse against them then became them finally that they did willingly and gladly submit them selues their children and goodes to the Kinges will and pleasure So vppon this M. Ramâ—… being entered the Citie certified M. de Anuill of the Townsmennes minds who straight waies comming thither accompanied and garded with certaine bandes of horsmen and footemen was very reuerentlie and humbly receyued of the Citizens But he was no sooner entered the Towne but he immediatly began to vse and handle them as enemies The Citie was spoyled of all her priuiledges the walles razed the Noble men diuersly fined and punnisht many of them beheaded their Minister haÌ„ged their goodes giuen ouer to the Souldiours for a pray and a spoyle the furiouse Souldiers were let loose vppon the honest matrones and Uirgines of the Citie to the number of 800. Citisens were banished to be short that worthy Citie was vtterly wasted spoiled made desolate of the greatest parte of her inhabitantes by the cruell and detestable villany of the Anuill Aboute this tyme there came newes abrode of the Kinges prograce throughout the whole Realme and forsooth there was a cause of this prograce deuised and that was that it stoode the Kinge vppon to take a suruey and a vew of his whole kingedome that he in his owne person might heare and receaue the complaintes of his subiectes and with present remedy help and ease their gréeâ—…ed mindes and that with his presence hee might confirme and encourage euery on to do his duty And though this cause was pretended yet the Quéens had another fetch purpose in her head Whereof the Cardinall of Lorraine both knew and was also authour and first inuenter of it although for other causes hee was not in this prograce the marke she shot at as it is reported of diuers that were more thorowly acquainted with the matter was the King himselfe as it being ignorant of it that the sacred league with the King of Spaine which was begon in the Counsaile of Trent might bee ratified and confirmed and that in the meane season the tender mind of the youug king might be by all meanes possible prouoked and stirred vp against the reformed Religion and al thinges were of set purpose so ordered in euery Citie where the Kinge should come that the Protestantes might complaime as long as they would but al should be in vain and to no purpose yea and they themselues rather accompted and taken for the causers and authours of troubles then obtain any thing where by to redresse their wronges and iniuries Whilest preparation was made for this iourney there came a coÌ„maundement from the King to all those Cities that were holden of the Protestantes in the time of warre VVhere as now after pacification of all former troubles therâ—… is nothing that we more wish and desire than that peace and quietnes may be restored in al partes and quarters of our kingdome wee do now will and commaund to the intent all occasion of new broiles may be remoued and quight taken away that all such munitions fortifications and bulwarkes as were made and built in the tyme of warre for the defence of your Cities bee quight defaced and taken away that all our subiectes hereafter may quietly and without feare of further danger kepe and maintain our peace especially for that our faith and promise sufficiently declared in our Edicte ought to be to all true and faithfull subiectes in sâ—…eede of a sure wall and sheild of defence c. So by this meanes all kind of munition and fortifications was defaced in diuers Cities as in Orleans Mountaubane valence and diuers other of the most famous Cities in France to the great discommoditie and destruction of the whole Realme And that chiefely in 〈◊〉 a moste necessarie and profitable Citie to the whole countrey yea and that in the moste daungerous times of the Kinges and kingdome especially in the tyme of Charles the vii 〈◊〉 the Englishmen were conquerers farre and neare and when all Normandy and Paris the Metropollitane Citie of the Realme were wâ—…nne and vanquished togither with the Countries to them adioyning all the Kingdome in an vprore with enemyes then was Orleans a chiefe and special place of succour and refuge both for the King and all his Notwithstanding these Cities were defaced and marked with the tokens and blemishes of Rebellion for that in tyme of trouble they had preserued a nomber of good and true subiectes especially Orleans was shamefully spoiled and made almoste a poore simple Oraunge or Uillage and a Castle builte at the gate it leades to Paris to gouerne and kepe vnder the Citizens and a very cruell Carrison of Souldiours placed there And yet for all this the administration of Religion was not left of there Like crueltie was exercised vpon Montaubane bycause they had manfully and couragiously defended themselues against the assaultes
commaundemente of the Duches of Parme made the Catholiques not a little ioyfull but greatly discomfited the mindes of the protestantes but specially the nobles and those of the richer sorte which sawe that their goods were sought for For what could be free from the outragiouse cruelty of the inquisitours seing they had to help them the Kinges Edictes the Quéenes artillery the Kinges prisones and their owne executioners When as the noble men could not escape their tirannye Therefore the Nobles and all the inhabitauntes of the lowe Countrey were brought into great perill Amidst this so great feare and maze of all that dwelt in that region certaine of the noble men séeing that the ruyne of the Gospell which they had professed besides the calamitie of the whole countrey and their peculiar destruction was at hand deuised a waye in so great extremity to rid themselues out of perill namely to defend themselues against the rigour tiranny of the inquisitours so far as the Kinges dignitye and authoritye would giue them leaue Thus when they had entred in to league and solemly confirmed the same with an oth they sought such wayes and meanes as séemed best vnto them to withstand that calamity like to ensue To this league thrée hundreth Noble men had giuen their consent who determined and agréed that it was the best way to go to the Duches of Parme and to shew vnto her the present daunger that she might according to her duty prouyde a remedy for the same But bycause they con sidered that if they should make any mention of religion it would giue occasion to the inquisitours to execute their tyranny first of all vpon them they thought it best and most necessary to auoyde the force and rygor of the Edictes and the Inquisition if they pretended onely the libertie and ancient priuileges of their countrey This way pleased the most part but some feared the seueritie of the Inquisition from the which the Kyng himself was not free howbeit the most parte of them thoughte it vnreasonable that the lawes and liberty of the countrey shoulde be violated and broken and such tyrannie executed vpoÌ„ their bodyes â–ª goods and consciences wherbâ—… would followe the vtter ruyne and subuersion of the whole Countrey Therefore thrée hundred Noble men almost agréed together in this confederacie at Brussels the third day of Aprill in the yéere of our Lorde M. D. LXUI and by a Noble man whose name was Brederod they offered a Supplication to the Duches of Parme In the which after they had protested their reuerence obedience and singular loue which they ought vnto the King to the Duches of Parme the Kings vicegerent by dyuers and sondry reasons they made their petition That the Inquisition might be taken away that the Kings Edictes concerning Religion mighte be suspended vntill suche time as the King and the states of the Realme had deliberated and determined concerning the same and theÌ„ they protested that they would in euery poynte doe the duetie and office of faithfull Subiectes saying that if there were not a remedy prouided for these thinges in time the ruyne of y countrey woulde followe To this the Duches of Parme made answere That she woulde doe any thing that she was able that was either good or profitable for the common wealth that she would endeuour her selfe to bring to passe that the Inquisitours and officers vnder the King should wisely behaue them selues and not deale with any according to the seuerity of the Edictes and that she woulde wythin sixe monethes vnderstande the Kings pleasure concerning these things Then shée wrote letters to the Gouernours of the Prouinces willing them not to execute the Kings lawes with seueritie vntill suche time as they were farther certified of the Kings will and pleasure She sent also to the King the Lorde Montignâ—… and the Marques of Berge Noble men In the meane time the Church of the faithfull increased and were ioyfull that they were for some while deliuered from tyranny the cruel slaughter hoping at the length to enioy peace and quietnesse On the contrary part the catholikes were euill apayd â—…earing that hereby they shuld haue euill successe Ther fore they came ofteÌ„ times to the Duches of Parme and declared vnto her that she went about to bring her selfe and the whole Countrey into extreame perill if so be these men of the newe Religion so greatly preuayled with her â–ª many other pernicious perswasions also they vsed to this effect The Duches of Parme being led by them called all the States together choosing out suche men as séemed vnto them fitte for their turne and not such as shoulde haue bene of that assembly by order and course of euery citie And before euery man had vttered his iudgement as the order of suche assemblyes requireth they made a lawe which they called the ModeratioÌ„ of the Edicts and then were commaunded to subscribe to the same and â—…o confirme it with an oath The summe of this Moderation was this That all such as followed the newe religion â–ª or did by any maner of meanes fauour or allow the same should be seuerely puÌ„nished that hanging should be the death for suche offenders and not burning that also the punishments of proscriptions and banishment shuld be executed vpon those that professed the new religion according to the Kings former Edictes Therefore nowe the matter séemed to be in worse case than before bycause these thinges were giuen forthe in the Kinges name and commaunded by the solemn authoritie of the States And thus the petition of the Nobles seemed to be satisfied It is sayde that these things were done without the Kings consent and knowledge The Rumor of this Edicte being in all places the gréene wound which before was scarcely salued began to ware sore againe and the people began to complaine a freshe perceyuing that great calamities were like to fâ—…ll vpon them Notwithstanding great was the number of such as professed the reformed religioÌ„ and â—…t dayly increased howbeit they were fayâ—…e to haue the vse of their religion priuily and in priuate houses But at the length the people waxing zealous in this cause that which before was done in secrete began to be publikely and openly exercised in so muche that Sermones were made in publike places that all men might resort thervâ—…to that woulde nothing fearing the late made Moderation whiche notwithstanding in some places was seuerely executed many by this occasioÌ„ feelyng the smart of the Inquisition In the very vtmost partes and borders of Flaunders first the protestants began to come togyther openly in â—…lockes and in congregations to heare the word of god then straytway at Antwerpe after that diuers other cities and townes following their example did the lyke This was toward the latter end of the moneth of Iune At the first the people assembled them selues togyther without the Cities notwithstanding in such number that a man might see continuall passage of people
Wherfore they appointed the day to go vnto the King and because they might the more effectually declare the matter before the King and also escape the perill and lyinge in wayâ—…e of the Cardinall they determined to go with the greater number that armed to defend themselues Therefore a hundred and twenty noble men hauing the Prince of Conde theyr Captaine came to Mâ—…nceaux to talke with the King and to offer vp vnto him a supplication in the name of all the faithfull the suâ—…ine whereof was this That for so much as the King had made an Edict to kepe his subiectes in peace and concorde which was necessary both for them and his Realme they most humbly beséeched him that the same might bee better obseruid and kepte than it had bin aforetyme And forso much as vntill that same day they had made the same complaintes afore in vain and that often times they now at that time trusted séeing there were so manifest perill of such greate troubles at hand that he would effectually declare that he made account of the faithfull as of the rest of his subiectes who being abused and iniuried haue no other refuge to flée vnto in their extreame calamities than to his grace their soueraigne Lord and King. The Cardinall of Lorraine vnderstoode of the comming of the prince of Conde with the rest of the nobles declared vnto the King and Quéene what great perill and daunger it was vnto their persons for the Prince of Conde to come vnto them with so greate a power of men intending he sayde nothing else than to take the king his mother and his whole family that then he might doe what him lyst The King and Quéene beyng made afearde wyth these rumors remoued to Paris being garded with the bandes of the Switzers The Prince of Conde being sory for this feare of the King and Quéene stayed at Rozoi a village therabout to the which place the Marshall Momorencius was sent declaring vnto him the causes of his comming saying that he was very sory that he was fallen into so great suspition To whom the Prince deliuered a Supplication and prayed him to deliuer the same to the King and to certifie him of his whole intent and meaning Then he came to Clay whether the Kinge sente vnto him the Chauncellour Hospitall the Marshall Vielleuil Moruilliers to whome when he had more at large declared the cause of his comming he sent letters agayne to the King in the which he protested his fayth and reuerent mynde which he bare towarde the King refuted the sclaunders of his Aduersaries by which they wente about to make hym hated of the King declared also that he was readye to render all obedience to the King for whose sake he sayd he woulde spende his life and goods notwithstandyng he sayde he sawe wicked and vngodly men abusing both the Kinges name and also his age and will whome alone he thought to be the causers of all these troubles and therefore woulde gyue place to none of them vnlesse he ment to shewe himselfe a traytor to hys King and Countrey The Prince of Conde also declared his reasons more particularlye and put downe this in writing as the summe of all his petitions First That accordyng to the firste forme of the Edicte all other interpretations and exceptions taken awaye the faythfull maye enioye their Religion and that all the Kinges Subiectes what Religion soeuer they be of may accordyng to their degree and callyng beaâ—… office vnder the King and bycause both the people and the Nobles haue bene oppressed with tributes vve desire saythe hée that it maye please the Kynge to ease vs of the same After this he remoued from Clay to the Towne of Sandionyse bycause the same beyng néere vnto Paris he might the more conueniently haue conference with the king But all was in vayne the Cardinall of Lorayne inflaming the mindes of the King and Quéene against the Prince of Conde and agaynst the cause of the faithfull But bycause the Prince of Conde woulde if it myghte possible be bring somewhat to passe he made this last request of the King That it would please him to haue some consideration of peace and mens consciences and that all thinges hereafter might be ordered not at the pleasure of their aduersaries but by the Kings will but by a firme and infalliable Edict But the Papistes thinking the Protestantes to be quite done and out of harte with vnaduised rashnesse rushed to warre again the Constable very immodestly and contrary to his gray heares behauing himselfe at Paris euen as thoughe already they had gotten the victory Therefore besyde the Souldiours which they had alreadye gotten and prepared there was choosyng and mustering of men at Paris and manye were preste to the warre in so much that a man might thinke that the Prince of Conde woulde easily now be oppressed and ouercome hauyng so fewe men wyth him notwithstanding within fewe dayes a great number came to him oute of all partes of the Realme and the faithfull in all quarters armed and prepared themselues The. viii Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth WAR being thus a fresh begonne all men wayted and looked for new thinges to come to passe NotwithstaÌ„ding these affayres of warre in dyuers places had diuers successe The Catholiques had many mo Cities and Armies of souldiours than the Protestants had howbeit they agayne far excéeded the other in courage and boldnesse being as men after long oppression by iniuries brought into pâ—…rill of their lyues and goodes The Protestantes had but a few cities in their possession Lions a towne of notable force â—…ell from them which by the diligence of the Gouernour of the Towne was out of hand very strongly fortified with new garrisons of men Then went the faythfull to wracke being robbed spoyled and murthered the souldiour the townesman furiously running vp and downe the Citie ransacking the houses of the faythfull their Temples wer set on fire which were very costly builded in two conuenient places yea the honest Citizens went to wrack in euery corner of the citie Howbeit many escaped by the meanes of the castell of Sansebastian the which notwithstanding was appoynted for the destruction of the faythfull but the kéeper was their friend Geneua was their Sanctuarie and refuge in this extréeme tyme of trouble Notwithstanding diuers Cities tooke parte with the Nobles of the reformed Religion as in Dolpheny Ualencia Vienna Roman and Montill In Languedoc Nemaux Montpellier notwithstanding the papistes held the Castell of S. Peter but afterwards were dryuen out of the same by Monsieur Mouents Castra-Albien certaine Cities also of Rhodes of Seuenas and of the territorie of Viâ—…aretz also by the industrie of Uicount Burinquet they had Montaulban and all that bordered vppon the same Moreouer Orleans and the Cities and townes therunto adioyning was
possessed by the Protestantes and so was Rochell In al partes of the realm thoâ—…e was some number or other of Protestantes but they were banished out of the Cities whiche made the army of the Prince of Conde to be the greater The misdemeanour and cruelty of the inhabitantes of Lions made the protestants in other places that wer more mighty in power to aryse Therfore diuers murthers were committed in diuers places and because the Catholiques had burned the churches of the protestants they in lyke manner burned their Churches to requite their crueltie In so much that in all those cities which the protestantes possessed there was not almost a church to be found which thei had not burned spoyled and beaten down to the ground the people crying that all the remnaunts of superstition must bee so taken away that afterward there may be no remembrance or signe thereof to be found While this businesse and garboyle was abroade in diuers places at Paris the papists were very extréeme and cruell agaynst such as they could but suspecte to bée fauourers of the reformed religion All men therefore were set vpon warre and tumult In the meane tyme the prince of Conde wayted for his souldiours at Sandionyse and waxed dayly more strong with new ayde The Constable being verily persuaded that he should oppresse ouercome the prince of Conde marched with all the power he was able to make from Paris takinge with him great gonnes bragging boastinge that the prince of Conde had none such to put him in perill withall but his bragges and boastes had euill successe For after that the Parisians had discharged their great shot and that the battayle began to waxe whote they being not able to abyde the charge of the Prince of Conde and his souldiours though they were the smaller number began at the first to retire and afterwards when their araye was brokeÌ„ to quayle and to flée séeking to recouer the gates of the Citie so fast as they could In this battayle the Constable was sore wounded with a shot his horse also and falling to the grounde was wounded agayne and then was spéedely caryed away by certayn horsmen to Paris after the which within certayn dayes after he dyed This man had liued fiue kinges raignes being of great authoritie in Fraunce many yeres yeâ—… he was the second person in the realme he was also a faythfull and trusty seruaunt to the King being wyse circumspect to auoyde the daunger of his enemies vntill such time as he ioyned himselfe vnto them for the hatred of Religion Concerning the calamitie of the churches of Belgio we spake before After therefore that the people were in good hope by reason of the authoritie and promises of the Noble men that were of the Confederacy they receyued notwithstanding at length the aunswere of the Noble men which séemed to bee of greatest power in these matters That it séemed good vnto them to commit the whole matter to Maximilian the Emperour and the Princes of the Empyre whereby they should be sure to enioye the libertie of the confession of Ausburg But Valence being left destitute of ayde and therefore cruelly spoyled and the whole countrey being desolat that their purpose was frustrate For the protestantes fledd out from all places of the borders of Belgio by heapes also the Ministers chiefe Gouerners of the church of Antwerp yea and the Prince of Orange himselfe leauing his sonne at Louayne fled out of the countrey and that in good tyme as the pitiefull deathes of Counte Egmond and Horne afterwarde declared of the which we will speake anon A great parte of the Protestantes of the low Countrey fled into Englande and part into Germany and into Cleueland the Quene of Enland the princes of Germany but specially the Countye Palatyne graunting vnto them Cities to dwell in God thus prouided for his people who is always a continuall preseruer and vphoulder of his Church the whiche when horrible destruction coÌ„meth he buildeth vp with out the helpe of man. The Duke of Alba therefore came into Belgio otherwyse called the Lowe Countrey where he placed in diuers Cities garrisons of Spayniardes and then proclaimed the Kings Edicte concerninge the establishing of the Inquisition by whiche hée willed and commaunded the reformed religion to be altered and ordered Then also he ordeyned a new senate consisting of twelue men comonly called the Bloudy Counsaile which should sit vppon all matters concerning lyfe and death He displaced also dyuers Magistrates and set others in their roome After this he tooke a great number and cast them into prison hauing no regard or consideration of them what Religion soeuer they professed to such as were fled the countrey he appointed a day for their return and before the day was fully expired he adiudged their goodes to be confiscate Howbeit in the beginning he dissembled this cruelty and made the people beléeue that whatsoeuer had bin done before tyme for religion should be pardoned by the Kings Edict And thus were County Egmond Horne Noble men brought caught in the snare And when sharp lawes wer made concerning the inquisition the inquisitoures were not idle but played their part and cast a great number into pryson Infantes whych had bin baptised before in the reformed Churches were constrained to be rebaptised Women whose husbandes were fled for religion were constrained to be maried agayn to new husbandes and at the commaundement of the Duke de Alba many of them were forced to mary with his soulders Now the Spanish souldier began to pray and spoile in euery City Also when the dissembled clemency of Duke de Alba shewed at the first had drawen a great many home to their houses againe the Bloudy Senate was set a worke some were beheaded some hanged and some had their tungues first of all cutte out of their heades and then a bodkin thrust through their lippes these lamentable sightes were dayly to be sene but specially at Brusselles and at Antwerp Diuers Noblemen also were partakers of these punishmentes as the Battemburges which were Bretheren of a noble house and were cruelly put to death but these had more coÌ„pany for heapes were brought at once to the place of execution And at the same time County Egmond and County Horne noble men and such as afore time had borne great offices and done to their King and Countrey good seruice wer also with this bitter reward of cruel tyranny requited and after they were beheaded their heades were set vp on forkes County Horne all the tyme of his imprisonment and euen in death shewed a singuler zeale of religion It was reported that the Duke of Alba bare towardes both of these an olde grudge but specially towardes the County Egmond for that which he had done in the affaires of France not for religions sake which neyther of them at any tyme had professed These thinges were done in the yeare of our Lord 1568 the which we haue
very carefull for his Sonne as well as for the citie made great mone to the Quéene Then the Quéen sent messengers to the prince of Conde to intreat peace promising vnto him that if he himselfe would the same should bée confirmed out of hand The Prince of Conde although nowe hée was in the way to preuayle greatly agaynst his enemies this noble citie being almost wonne yet notwithstanding reioysing more at this newes of peace very modestly aunswered the Quéen That there was nothing more deare vnto him than peace for the which cause also hée was constrayned to take this warre in hande And to the ende hée might appeare to speake in good fayth hée brake vp the siege The Quéene being glad at this beginning sente word agayne to the Prince of Conde to appoint what conditions of peace he would that the King might consider what was néedefull to be don both for his dignitie and also for the safetie of the Realme Shée desired also truce for certayn dayes This was a notable fetch of the Quéene both to deliuer the city frō perill and also disarme the Prince of Conde as the ende afterward proued Then the prince of Conde propounded the conditions of peace namely that According to the tenour of the Edict made in Anno 1562. the vse of the reformed religion should be receiued and imbraced that all added interpretations should be taken away that men might enioye the peace of consciēce and that such as should hereafter offer any iniury to the protestantes might not escape vnpunished This being done there was some contention about certayne particular pointes of the prince of Condes petitions notwithstanding at the last Peace was concluded according to the forme of those conditions which he had put downe and the same was confirmed by this Edict of the King. The King to prouide for his kingdome which hath bene hytherto ouerwhelmed with troubles and as yet is not free from the same with the aduise and consente of his mother brethren and of his priuie Counsayle after wise and diligent deliberation had of all thinges hath thus decreed and appoynted and therewithall straytly charged and commaunded the same to be faythfully obserued of euery one And first of all he willeth and commaundeth that the former Edicte of pacyfication made in anno M. D. LXVIII abyde firme in his full strength and vertue and that the men of the reformed religion so called vse and enioye the benefite therof and that all interpretations added to the same be voyd and frustrat also that the same exception which so straytly byndeth the noble men in their libertie of vsing the reformed religion be quight taken away Furthermore his maiesties pleasure is that the noble men which inhabite Prouance enioy the same benefite and that Merindoll only be reserued to the whole lieuetenantship That it be lawefull for all men of that reformed religion to retourne home to their houses and to enioy their goodes landes and tenements That the bearing of armoure nor any thinge else that hath ben done at the commaundement of the Prince of Conde or in his name bee called hereafter in question Also that all Edictes arestes sentences and decrees made agaynst those whiche haue done any of the sayd things be abrogated and quit taken away that neither the Sentences themselues nor yet their executions be iniuriouse to them or to their children Moreouer his maiesty professeth that he doth esteme and make account of the prince of Conde as of his nere kinsman and faythfull seruaunt and subiectes and also all those for his good and faythfull subiectes vniuersally and particularly which ayded him in this warre Also that he doth forgyue him all that money which he hath eyther taken out of the kings treasure or else out of the Church goods and in such wise that no man neuer hereafter shall demaund any thing of him or of them which haue spente the same In lyke mauner he pardoneth the coyning of money the making of artillery of gonpowder and of other munition for the warre Also it is the kings pleasure that those things which haue ben taken out of the reuenewes of farmes or of Cities from the beginning of this warre vntill the day of proclamation of this Edict which he willeth to be proclaymed in the Senate of Paris the third day after the making of the same and in al other Parliaments within eight dayes And he commaundeth al Lieuefenants of euery Prouince to see that this Edict bee proclaymed with all speede in euery place least any man should pretende ignorance He also commaundeth euery Parliament too proclayme this Edict out of hand and too Register the same without delay Notwithstanding his pleasure is that Paris and the liberties of the same shal be free from the exercise of the reformed Religion so called according to the tenour of the former Edict Furthermore he straytly chargeth and commaundeth all those of the reformed religion by and by after the proclamation of this Edict to vnarme them selues to render vp and restore those Cities whiche they holde and all such artillery as they haue and that al captiues taken in warre or for religion bee speedely deliuered after the proclamation if this Edicte And to the end the occasions of all troubles may bee taken away he willeth and commaundeth that the remembraunce of all those thinges done for the warres or for Religions sake be for euer forgotten and that no man be so hardie as to prouoke his neighbour by woord or deede for these thinges vpppon paine of death or to contend and dispute together about the same but too liue togither louingly quietly as it becōmeth friends and neighbours Also he commaundeth the men of the sayd Religion presently to breake and fossake all maner of Leagues and couenants which they haue made either within or without the Realme neuer to make the like hereafter nor to gather any collections and summes of money It shall not be lawfull for them to gather together any other assemblies than such as are permitted by the former Edict and that without armour It shall not be lawfull for them by any maner of meanes either in woord or deede to trouble Churchmen but to suffer thē to haue the vse of their goods and landes peaceable To conclude he willeth and commaundeth all his subiectes faithfully to obserue keepe these things vppon paine of his highnes displeasure and also that this Edict bee sollemly proclaymed according to custome This Edict came forth the xxiij day of the Moneth of March in the yere of oue lord M. D. LXUIII This was the end of this second warre which continued for the space of halfe a yere namely from the Moneth of October to march In the which there was nothing done worthy to be remembred sauing only that Edict of peace of the which we haue made mencion before The which was a notable platforme deuised by the Cardinall of Loraine to disarme the Prince of Conde and the
causes with the aduise iudgement coÌ„sent of our mother Brethren of our Princes and of our priyue counsaile vve haue do inhibite forbid by an Edict irreuocable euerlasting al men of what state conditioÌ„ or degre so euer they be of throghout our whole realme to vse any o ther religioÌ„ thaÌ„ the catholique relig oÌ„ of Rome which our auÌ„cetours haue imbraced which we following their ex ample do as yet hold kepe Also we straightli coÌ„mauÌ„d and charge that all the ministers of that religion do depart and auoide out of this our Realme with in fiuetene dayes after the proclaiming of this Edict These thinges we commaunde vppon paine of death and confiscation of the offenders goodes Notwithstanding we wil not that the men of the reformed religion so called be vexed and sifted in their consciences for their religion so that they frequent vse no other religion than that which is Catholique and of Rome Hopinge that it will come to passe at the last both by the instinct of Goddes holy spiril and also by the diligence of the prelates of the church that all our subiectes shall imbrace and receiue one religion And we do fréely pardon and forgiue euery one which with in twentye dayes after the publication of these our letters shal put of his armour and liue peaceably as it becommeth faithful subiectes whatsoeuer he or they haue committed heretofore against vs and our familye all the which if they will obey we take vnder our protection do forbid our officers to do vnto them any harme Also we will that all dissentions betwéene whomsoeuer they be whether they be common or pryuate beburied in silence and that no iniury be done to a ny eyther in woord or déed Whatsoeuer he be that doth contrary here vnto he shal be punished as a rebell But when twenty dayes are expired we wil shewe against the obstinate all manner of seuerity and rigor by lawe and will shewe vnto them no manner of fauour Wée wil and commaund that this Edict be published and pro claimed euery where and theÌ„ straightly obserued and that we bee certified from day to day of all thinges concerning the same Wherevnto ye that be our offycers looke diligently There was also another Edict made forbidding all those that professed the reformed religion to haue any manner of office committed vnto them whether they had liued peaceably at home all the time of the Ciuill warres or whether they had born armour to take part with the Prince of Conde These Edictes were first of all by the Senate of Paris then by all other Courtes of the realme very ioyfully receiued and no lesse carefully published and proclaimed the same day al solemne rites being diligently ob serued as though the kingdom after so long and so many vexations and troubles of warre had nowe 〈◊〉 peace There came also from the Pope letters patentes by which the King had libertie graunted vnto him to take out and to sell of the Ecclesiasticall lyuinges and goods so much as should be worth vnto him yerely fyue hundred thousand Crownes to mayntayne warre agaynst the heretiques that they might eyther bee vtterly destroied or else be brought to the obedience of the church of Rome But first in the beginning of his letters hee spake largely concerning the great boldnesse of heretiques and of their wicked counâ—…ayles which they had haue with the Germanes and Englishmen The Prince of Conde about this tyme put Monsieur Aciere in trust to gather an army of men togyther too whom there came a great noÌ„ber of Protestants which were by the papistes molested and thrust out of theyr houses or which could not be in sufficieÌ„t safety in their houses out of Langâ—…edoc Dolpheny and a maÌ„ might sée great heapes of men women childreÌ„ and old folks leauing their houses and fléeinge to those Cities that were in the territorie of Uiâ—…aretze and Seuenas whiche are also in Languedoc were kept by the Protestants Notwithstanding Monsieur Aciere gathered out from among these no small number of warlyke souldiâ—…urs which he mynded to conducte to the Prince of Conde to Rochel He had also of the men of Dolpheny seuen hundred and fyue Enseignes of footemen and two Giddons of horsemen The Captaynes ouer these â–ª were Monsieur Monbrune Monsieur Ancon Monsieur 〈◊〉 Monsieur Viriâ—…y Monsieur Blacon Monsieur Mirabell Monsieur Câ—…elard and Monsieur Orose all whiche were 〈◊〉 come of noble stocke Out of Languedoc he had fyue hâ—…ndred and thrée Enseignes of footemen and 〈◊〉 Giddeons of horsemen And among those were nuÌ„bered the men of Uiuaretz which were also of Languedoc of which there were xiii Enseignes of footmen vnder the charge of Monsieur Pierregord and one Giddon of horsemen vnder the conduct of Monsieur Toras The Captaynes ouer the reste were Monsieur Beaudisne brother to Monsieur Aciere Monsieur Ambri MoÌ„sieur Lâ—…mosson Monsieur Burlargues and Monsieur Espondillan And Acieres bande contayned twoo hundred well appointed horsemen Monsieur Mouents had gathe red out of the Prouancialles ten Enseignes of footemen and Monsieur Uallouore a Giddon contayning a hundred horsemen The place appointed for all these baÌ„des to méet was at Ales a town of Languedoc in the territorie of Seuenats and the time of their comming togyther was the xxv day of September But the men of Dolpheny could not come into Languedocke but they muste néedes passe ouer the ryuer called the Rosne the whiche was very hard to doo both for that the same was very swift and déepe and also because the ennemie had stopt the passages by the bridges But for all this Monsieur Meuents by his singular industrie and trauaill within â—…ower and tweÌ„ty howres builded and raysed vp a stroÌ„g Bulwarke ouer against Uiuarets and so the Armies were caryed ouer by shipp out of Dolpheny to the other side of the Ryuer After this all the Armies met togyther at Ales and with great spéed when they had passed the territorie of Seuenats and Rhodez Monsieur Aciere the xxiiii day of October passed ouer the ryuer DordoÌ„ne at Solliac with his whole Army and so came into GuiaÌ„ Monsieur Monluc the Lieuetenant daring not aduenture vpon him to resist The rumour being spred abroad of the comminge of Monsieur Acier Duke Monpensier whiche a little before was in the territorie of Poictou minded to stop his passage with fower thousand horsemen and with forty Enseignes of well appoynted Souldioures footemen Therefore taking long iorneys he came with speede to a Citie called Perigueux néere vnto the which Monsieur Acier had brought his army to a little Towne called Sainctastier where Monpensier set vppon the heade and tayle of Monsieur Acieres army with twoo seuerall bandes but by and by Acier gaue him the repulse who fearing least the enemie would goe to inuade the other bandes which were distributed among the villages he by and by gaue warning to Monsieur Mouentes and to Monsieur Pierregorde to
Lions and from among the remnante of the Borgondians and he trauayled this way bycause there was no other passage to the Prince of Conde all other wayes beyng sâ—…opt vp The Duke D'aumall went with his power thyther and béeing prepared to fight met with the bandes of footemen and horsemen trauailing without order or raye Then Mon. Cochay beyng thervnto constrayned sought to defende himselfe against the Aumall as tyme and place would suffer him and that manfully Notwithstanding the Aumall thoughe to the losse and spoyle of manye of his men gat at the last the victory and toke Monsieur Cochay and certaine of his Captaines and slewe of hys men 120. The reste of the armie which were gone before Mons. Cochay and met not with the enemy escaped in safetie without any sight of the enemy Then Mons. Cochay was brought to Ments beyng within a while after brought for the of the Citie as thoughe he shoulde haue bene exchaunged was slaine without the Citie Noyers a Towne of Burgundy from whence we said before the Prince of Conde was gone was notwithstan dinge kepte in the Prince of Condes name with a small Garrison Aboute this tyme this towne was besieged and wonne by Monsieur Barbezieux the souldiers with in the towne hauing very valeantly defended theÌ„selues so long as possibly they could The Castle also was yéelded vp on these conditions that the Souldiours should passe in safety with their lyues and carrye away wyth them bag and baggage and that Monsieur Barbezieux should giue his â—…aith for the performance hereof But these conditions were kept in no pointe For so soone as the gates were set open they cruelly slewe the Townsmen so faste as they met them only a fewe after they were ransacked spoyled escaped all manner of household stuffe was giuen to the souldier for a praye but the rest was caryed to Troy. The Germanes which were vnder the Kinges paye were by this time come ouer the riuer of Rhein wel ny to Mogunce about the latter end of December There were of them fiue thousand and sixe hundred horsmen whose principal captains were these Philbert Marques of Bade Diere Hess Leuineng Countie Rhingraue and Bassompere Duke D'aumall was so proude of this news that openly he threatned the Duke of Deuxpons and his Region Notwithstanding the Duke prouided so well for the matter that this threateninges turned to bare wordes and nothing else But let vs come now to the affaires and exploites of Poictou After those skirmishes by horsemen agaynst the Duke of Aniou wée saide that the Prince of Conde tooke the towne of Mirebell and there aboade and the Duke of Aniou at Poictiers Within certaine dayes after the Prince of Conde brought forth his armies and wonne the castle of Champiniac in the territory of MoÌ„penser and after this he tooke the Castle of Sauuigniae and beat downe the same to the ground In the meane time the Duke of Anious army being increased and fortified with fresh bandes of Souldiers both horsemen and footemen which were brought vnto him by Monsieur Ioyse Lieuetenant of Languedoc hée determined to besiege Mirebell because it would stand him in good stéede being so néere Poictiers the Prince of Conde being gone with his army to the same And when by battery he had made the towne sautable the souldiers being not able to defende the same any longer for want of vittaile other prouision they surrendered the same howbeit the Souldious that were in the Castell stood still in the defence thereof But the Duke of Aniou leauing there the Lieuetenant of Poictou called MoÌ„ sieur Lude to besiege the same went with the rest of his army to a towne called Lodun which was kept by MoÌ„sieur Acier Who being summoned by a Heralt to surrender the same at the commaundement of the Duke of Aniou aunswered that the citie was committed vnto him by the Prince of Nauar the kings general President of Guian to whom agayne he sayd he would restore the same to none other if any man would goe about to take the same by force he wold by force again make resistance and if he could giue him the repulse And then hee certified the Prince of Conde of euerye thing as it fell out In the meane tyme the Castell of Mirebell was taken certayne souldiers being let into the same vnder the coulour of parley The Duke of Aniou hearing the aunswer of Monsieur Acier brought his army neerer the citie The prince of Conde also came thither in so much that both armies being in their battayle araye and their Ensignes displayed might sée one another very plaine Then they discharged shot one at another with their great gonns spending all that day with shot and certaine small skirmishes and when the night came both partes encamped themselues This was done the sixtéene day of December The xvii xviii dayes following were spente as the other day before The xix day the Duke of Aniou toward the euening gaue place and went to Chinon the Princes souldiours pursuing the armie at which time there were on the Princes syde two hundred Switzers slayne and on the Dukes side thrée Ensignes of footemen About this time the cold of the winter wared verye eager in so much that it was wonderfull that the Armies would lye in the fieldes vnder the colde ayer â–ª but such was the burning heat of hatred that many of both Armies by reason of the extreme cold fel into greuous diseases of the which many dyed Therefore both Armies for this tyme of winter retired The Duke of Aniou brought his Armie to Poictiers to Salmure to Chinon other places thereabouts and the Prince of Conde brought his armie to Tuars to Montriuibellay And he made Monsieur de Iuoy which in the time of the first ciuill warre was Lieuetenant of Burges Lieuetenant of Lodune And these were the exploites of this yere Notwithstanding the troublesomnesse of the tyme the coldnesse of the winter these garboyles of warre were not quite ceassed So that this yéere also was speÌ„t and ouerpassed with lamentable troubles There was sent into Gascoyne Monsieur de Pilles man very expert in the warres which shold make new collections and Moisters of souldiours and carry them with hym For there what with the aid of the town of MoÌ„taulbane what with the help of the armies of the which the Uicountes had the charge the faithful were of no smal power yea they had also many townes in their possession although the inhabitants of Toloze and Monsieur Monluce went about still to anoye them So soone as Monsieur Pilles was come thyther he tooke the towns of Beegerac and Saintfoy by surrender and when he had gathered togither banâ—…es of horsemen and footmen hée retourned to the Prince of Conde And by the waye as he retourned by that place in the which as we said before Monsieur de Mouents his men wer ouerthroweÌ„ he wounded and flew
place they sente out of the Towne la Riuiere who was not sooner without than the Canon began to beat which caused him to cutte off his further procéeding with spéedy returne Thus the batterie began the xxii daye of October beating the Tower of the Towne neare to the porte de Aulnis and continued all the day and towarde night it enforced a breach of fortie or fiftie pase wide wherevppon the catholiques sent one of their companie to view it who being come to the brink of the ditch and discouering him selfe to suruey the breach was killed with a shot so that that day passed without assault or any other speciall attempt or acte In the night the Protestantes with great diligence repaire their breache let downe to the ditch certeyne labourers and Souldiours to ryd away the ruine and broken stuffe of the Wall falne into it These labourers and souldiours afore they came out of the ditche they set vp a pretie wall of a mannes height to make the place lesse accessible Besides the protestants kéeping still a carefull mynd of their town and estate considered diligently where and howe they might be annoyed by the batterie planted in the vyne which had there remained about eight dayes withoute discharge of Canon wherevpon they cast a trench wel flanked behind the breach vpon the which they bestowed certeyne Uessells and hoghesheades to pauise their shot In the effecte the breache was so supplied as the place was stronger than afore From this battery the morrow after came certeyne thunders of Canon ageinst the fort of the Port d'Aulnis and likewise thrée or foure discharges agaynste the port of Nyort not forbearing notwithstāding their first battery But séeing this battery brought forth smal effecte not many dayes after they bestowed in place of the canons fiue coluerines Remouing the sayd Canons to the entrey of the suburbes d'Aulnis both directly before and also so néere the sayd Fort that onely the ditch was between thē From thence began a vehement battery against the said fort as well by these Canons as the Coluerins planted in their place which bestowed certeyne bollettes flankes wyse within the sayd breache euen to the Castell The battery continued all the daye all that night ▪ and all the next morrow of one violent furye without ceassing so that both the Fort and the Portall by which is the ordinarie entrie into the Towne were almost beaten to pouder In the meane whyle the protestants made a couert way betweene the Fort and the gate to the ende that the ruine falling from the gate should not annoye nor hinder the entry of the Fort. After this long and vehement batterie the Lorde de Guitiniers demaunded to speake with the Protestants and vnder the honour and vertue of their word entred the Towne the foure and twenty day of this moneth about two of the Clocke in the afternoone He laboured to induce them to render the towne but the L. de Pilles remayned constant in his first answere that ther could no other price buy the Town than an assured peace to the profite and quiet of the Realme Wherevppon the Lord de Guitinieres retourned againe and came to the campe without other effect of his purpose Hée was no sooner out of the said Town then the catholiques rushed fiercely to the assault so vnlooked for that the protestants doubted of their sauetie the rather bycause the assaulte was maynteyned as well at the breache of the Fort as on the right and lefte side of it within the ditche the better to come to the gate of the Towne which they had battered as you haue heard And for their more easie comming to the breache of the Fort they had prouided great numbers of pyonners to beare sackes ful of earth and cast them vpon the breach who besides turning vp the earth threw stones against the protestants by which they greatly gréeued diuerse of them They presented vpon the breach vi ▪ target men followed with a good number of shot who albeit ventu red farre to enforce the protestants yet being repulsed they retyred without any great effectes This assaulte lasted from thrée of the clocke in the afternoone til night during the which was great wast of shot and pouder by the protestantes in sustayning so hoat assault in the night they fortified and repayred their breaches as wel as they could as they also forbare not to do euen in the tyme of the battery filling them vp as fast as they wer made with sackes of dung In this night also they entrenched them selues within the Forte whereby the breaches the morrow after were put in defence Albeit the Lord de Sansac after the siege of Charité was sent for to go into Tourayne to ioyne with the Catholiques camp as is said yet whether it were by coūtermaundement or other speciall occasion hee sturred not from where he was And yet in the same month of October he besieged the Town of Noyers in Bourgogne the which without great resistance he tooke by composition the same notwithstandinge not obserued bycause forty of the souldiours that defended it being ledde to Troy in Champaigne and afore they entered into prison were cut in péeces by the people After he had taken Noyers he determined to besiege Vizeley in Borgoigne gouerned at that tyme by the lorde de Sarazin There was for the garde of it only two com panies of footemen vnder Captayne Rybaupierre the yong Lord de Sarazin with two cornets of horssemen of the Lord de Blosset aud of Belanseau with certayn numbers of Gentlemen retired thither to ayde the siege The lord de Sansac had to furnishe this siege about xxii enseignes of footmē wherof the L. de Foyssy was Colonell often cornets of horsmen foure canons ii Culuerins Hée arryued with his horsemen to suruey the towne the sixt of October retyring at night to lodge at Aquiens and S. Pere villages scituate at the hill foote vpon the toppe whereof standes the Citie The eleuenth of the same moneth he made approche with thrée of his companies of footemen at the gate du Barle otherwise called S. Stephen certaine of the Towne ▪ but specially the nobility that were there issued out and repulsed presently the said thrée Ensignes whereof two were put to disorder and flight afore they could get to Aquiens where they ment to make their retrait In the chase were killed about sixe and forty and as many hurt all the Captaynes Lieuftenauntes Ensigne bearers and Sergeauntes of these two companyes were there killed sauing thrée which wer led prisoners within the towne the third company hid themselues within a tuft of vines from whence being not discouered they retyred in the night to Aquiens Notwithstanding this charge and chase the Lord de Sansac marched with hys campe the Saterday the eyght of this moneth and towardes the euening inuironed the Towne the same euening hée approched his artillery which the tenth day following in the morning began to
other assemblyes than suche as shal be alowed of vs excepte they meane to suffer the punishment of rebels and traitours 21 I will also that all Prouinces Cities and townes all other places doe enioy those offices and priuiledges which they haue enioyed before these tumultes of wars 22 And to the ende all occasions of complaintes and quarrels may be quite taken away we will that all fauorers of that Religion without respect may be in authoritie and be pertakers of all manner of offices as well as other men also that they may lawfully be present at all assemblyes Counsels and consultations depending vppon those offices and in no wise to be put frō the said offices after the proclamation of this Edict 23 VVe will and cōmaunde that the men of the said Religion be not oppressed more than the catholiques but to beare all a like one burthen according to the consideration had of their goods And because of the great burthens which the men of the sayd religiō haue borne we will that they be not subiect to the payment of the tributes of Cities which shall be hereafter vppon consideration of those things which haue bene done heretofore Notwithstanding they shall be tributary vnto vs at our commaundement as well as the Catholiques 24 VVe will and commaunde that all they whiche because of these warrs are kept in prison be set at libertie and that without any manner of raunsome 25 If any controuersies happen to be for those raunsomes and that the prisoners goods be taken awaye for the same we will that the parties so disagreing and contending do repaire to our brother the Duke of Aniou who shall order and ende the matter 26 VVe will and commaunde that all men of the reformed religion be vnder our protectiō and may peaceably enioy their offices and dignities notwythstanding we will not that their Lieutenāts the deputies belōging vnto thē be restored vnto those offices because we haue otherwise prouided notwithstanding they shall haue our pay for the same 27 The booties and spoyles not taken in wars which as yet shall remaine shal be restored to their owners again the buyers hauing their money gyuen to them againe in such quantitie as was put down in the regester of the court Thus would we haue all moueables restored againe 28 Also we will and commaunde that all owners may receiue the reuenewes of their lands peaceably this yere and we abrogate all sentences to the contrary 29 VVe will and commaunde that the houses Castles Cities and other places of the men of the reformed Religion be free from Garrisons of souldiers and that they be in the same state condition in the which they were before the beginning of these tumultes 30 VVe will and commaunde that the Prince of Orange and the countie Lodouic his brother be really restored to all their dominions which are within the borders of our Realme and that the dominion of Orange be in the same state and case in the which it was before the troubles of warres according to the prescript of the graunt made King Henry our Father and other Kings our Auncetors commaunding also that al instruments Dedes writings belonging to the same be forthwith restored 31 VVe will also that all writinges and euidences of any landes bee presently restored too all men which are owners of the same of what Religion soeuer they be 32 And to the end the remembrance ▪ of all troubles past may so much as may be quite and cleane forgottē VVe will and commaund iudgements against the men of the said religion pronounced since the death of King Henry our father for because of warres or Religion whi ther the sayd sentences or iudgements concerne death or losse of goodes to be voyd and of none effect and to be rased out of the Regesters of all Courtes and that all goods with the ground of houses ouerthrowne and the appertenances be restored to their owners 33 In like maner we abrogate all sentences in controuersie during the time of this warre gotten and obtained against the men of the said Religion in what cause soeuer it be and we will that the controuersies bee in the same state in the which they were before the beginning of these tumultes ▪ 34 VVe will and commaund the men of the said religion to obserue and keepe all pollitique lawes of our Realme as that which concerneth holy dayes and fasting dayes on the one to do no worke and on the other to eate no flesh 35 And to the end all men may haue the lawe without suspicion of hatred or fauour we will that such controuersies as haue bene already moued or shal be moued hereafter betweene the men of cōtrary Religion be first of all brought before the ordinary Iudges and if any appeale be made in the higher Parliaments in respect of the Parliament of Paris which consisteth of seuen Courtes then the men of the reformed Religion may if they will refuse foure of the Iudges or Senators and yet shew no cause of their refusal howbeit the law is against it which will not suffer any man to challenge or refuse a Senator without he shew some lawfull cause And it shal also be lawful for them to refuse any other Senator shew ing according to custome lawfull causes 36 As touching the controuersies of which the appeale is to be made to the Parliament of Tholoz except the parties shall chuse another Parliament to decide the controuersie it shal be lawfull for them to appeale to our Masters of Requestes in the Pallace of Paris who shall define and decide all controuersies in high Court. 38 In the Parliament of Rhoane of Aijgues of Brittaine and of Granople it shal be lawfull for them too refuse sixe Iudges or Senatours that is to saye three in eche court And in Burdeaux foure in euery courte 38 It shall also be lawful for the catholikes to require that all they which haue bene at any time depriued of their offices may not know or vnderstand their controuersies withoute expressing of any farther cause and withall they shall haue leaue to make exception against any other counsellers according to the custome 39 And bicause so many haue bene offended in the time of these warres that they cannot easily forget the iniuries done vnto them which we woulde gladly haue thē to do to the end therefore all occasions of troubles may be taken cleane away we giue vnto the men of the reformed religion the Cities of Rochel Montaubane Cognac and Charite to keepe In the which they maye dwell which woulde not returne home so quickely for feare of troubles And for the safetie of the said Cities the Prince of Nauar and the Prince of Conde our welbeloued kinsmen and twentie Noble men more of that side will stand bound vnto vs and will be sworne vnto vs to saue them from all perill and to
amoÌ„g them nowe speaketh thrée wordes without moste filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of god Who can longer beare the vile vnchastities the bawdes and Ruffians of the Court Finally very nature it selfe doth nowe as it were expostulate with God for his so long sufferance and for bearing and the very earth can no longer beare these monsters Nowe as touching the Admirals supposed conspiracie who can thinke it likely that he shoulde enterprise any suche thing within the walles of Paris For in the Court there is continually watching and warding a garrison of the Kings and at the entrie of his Castle the guards of Gascoines Scottes and Switzers are continually attending and the King himselfe both alwayes before and specially at that time by reason of his sisters mariage had a great trayn of Princes great Lords noblemen and Gentlemen about him Moreouer it was well knowne that in Paris within thrée houres space might be assembled and put in armour threescore thousand chosen armed men specially against the Admirall whome no man is ignorant that the Parisians most deadly hated beside that the noble yong men that came thither with the King of Nâ—…uar and the Prince of Conde by reson of the mariage and brought with them their wiues their sisters and their kinswomen thought at that time vpon nothing but vpon triumph and exercises of pastime and gay furniture of apparel and ornaments Finally at whither of these two times can it be likely that the Admirall attempted this conspiracie was it before he was hurt why at that time he founde the King his most louing or at least his most liberall and bountifull good Lord neither could he hope euer to haue a more fauorable soueraigne in France Was it then after he was hurte as though forsoth he lying sore of two so great woundes aged maimed of both his arms the one whereof the PhisitioÌ„s coÌ„sulted whether it were to be cut off accompanied with thrée hundreth yong men would set vpon thréescore thousande armed men or in so small a time coulde lay the plot for so great and so long and so haynous a facte for he lyued scarce fortie houres after his hurt in which time he was enioyned by the Phisitions to forbeare talke Againe if he had bene detected of any suche crime was he not committed to Cossin and to his kéeping and so enuironed all the wayes beset about him and so in the Kings power that if it had pleased the King he might at all times in a momeÌ„t be caried to pryson why was not orderly enquirie anâ—… iudiciall procéeding vsed according to the custome and lawes and generall right of nations and witnesses produced according to the forme of lawe but be it that the Admirall and a fewe other of his confederates and followers had conspired why yet procéeded the outragious crueltie vpon the reste that were innocent why vpon ancient matrones why vpon noble Ladies yong Gentlewomen and virgins that came thither for the honor of the wedding why were so manye women greate with childe against the lawes of all nations and of nature before their deliuery thrown into the Ryuer why were so many aged persons many that lay sicke in their beds many gownemen many Counsellers Aduocates Proctors Phisitions many singularly learned professors and teachers of good artes and among the rest Petrus Ramus that renoâ—…ed man throughout the worlde many yong students executed without hearing without pleading their cause without sentence of condemnation moreouer if the Admirall had â—…aine the thrée brethren who doubteth but that all couâ—…eys al Cities all Parliaments finally all sortes and degrées of men would haue spéedily taken armour and easily haue destroyed all of the Religion hauing them enclosed within their towns and hauing iust cause to render to all foreine nations fâ—…r their common slaughters and killing of them As to that whiche toucheth the King of 〈◊〉 what caÌ„ be imagined more absurd and vnlikely had not the Admirall him foure yeares in his power â–ª Did not he professe the same Religion that the Admirall did which of those 〈◊〉 the Religion which of them I say as Cassius was wont to reason should haue gained or receyued profit by the killing of the King of Nauarre did not the Catholikes hate him and the Admirall coulde not hope to haue any man more friendly to him nor by any other maÌ„s meanes to haue reueÌ„ge of his iniurie Lastly in their houses that were slaine what armour what weapons were found by which coÌ„iectures iudges vse to be lead to trace out a facte These matters wyse men throughout the towne of Paris commonly muttered But now to retourne to our purpose At such tyme as the Kings prâ—…hibition abouesayd was proclaimed at Paris not only in other townes as at Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre the like butcheries and slaughters were vsed but also in the towne of Paris it selfe in the verye gaoles that are ordeyned for the kéeping of prisoners if anye had escaped the crueltie of the day before they were now tumultuously slayne by the raging and outraging multitude in which number were thrée Gentlemen of greate reputation captaine Monins a man very famous in marciall prowesse Lomen the Kings secretarie a man of greate estimation for his long seruice in the Courte and Chappes a lawyer neare fourscore yeare olde a man of greate renowne in the Courte of Paris And bycause we haue made mention of Angiers we thinke it good not to omitte the case of Masson de Riuers This maÌ„ was a pastor of the church and estéemed a singular man both in vertuousnesse of life and in excellence of wit and learning and was the first that had layd the foundacion of the Churche at Paris As sone as the slaughter was begon at Paris Monsorel a most cruell enimie of the Religion was tente to Angiers in post to preuente al other that might carie tidings of the murdering As sone as he came into the towne he caused himself to be brought to Massons house There he met Massons wife in the entrie and geÌ„tly saluted hir and after the maner of Fraunce specially of the Court he kissed hir and asked hiâ—… where hir husband was she answered that he was walking in the garden and by and by she brought Monsorell to hir husbande who gently embraced Masson and sayde vnto him Canst thou tell why I am come hither it is to kyll thée by the Kings coÌ„maundement at this very instant time for so hath the King commaunded as thou mayste perceiue by these letters and therewith he shewed him his dagge ready charged Masson answered that he was not guiltie of any crime howbeit this one thing only he besought him to giue him space to call to the mercie of God and to commende his spirit into Gods hande Which prayer as soone as he had ended in fewe wordes he méekely receiued the death offered by the other and was shot through with a pellet and dyed Now to returne to Paris â–ª the Admirals
of coÌ„meÌ„taries The conditions offered by the Prince of Conde at the first par ley The reasoÌ„s that staied the Prince of Con de from going into exile The forme of the gouernement of the Realme in Kinges minoritie The Prince of Conde remoued from Paris to Ioyne to him the EnglishmeÌ„ The Duke of Guise se keth to stay the Prince of Conde froÌ„ ioyninge himselfe with the EnglishmeÌ„ Anno 1572 Decem. 19. If that geâ—… tle Reader thou loke in the printed battailes and descriptions of the skirmishes of the Ciuill warres of Fraunce this shal be much more plaine vnto thee for in them thou shalt haue a liuely vew The first battaile in the which the Consta ble was taken and the Swisers dispersed and slaine The second battaile The third battaile The Prince of Conde taken prisoner The fourth battaile The Kings Edict Nemours winneth Vienna Soubize LiefetenaÌ„t of Lions Nemours deceiued of his purpose The winning of Sanstephen and Nonays Nonay cruelly spoiled The Admi rall goeth into Normandy The siege of Orlean â–ª The Kings letters to win from the Prince the Germanes Pultrotseâ—…t from Lions to the Admirall Pultrot killeth the Guise Pultrot taken Peace takeÌ„ Cane in Normandi wonne The state of the com moÌ„ wealth of the church after peace was taken â–ª The state of the chur ch at Orlcaunce Odet Cardi nall of Cha stillon the state of the church at Lions Petrus Vire â—…us the state of the church in Dolpheny the state of the church in Burgun dy and Pro uance the gouern ment of M. Anuil ouer the Churches in Lan guedoc Albanoys The order of calling vppon god his name in Nemaux The Edict violently corrected by the Anuille Monsieur Anuille coÌ„ maundeth Moton to be hanged the state of the church of Venais The state of the chur ches of Orange The state of the churches of Paris The state of the chur ches of Picardie The churches of Brit tanny and Normandy The Churches of Gas coigne and of al Guian The Churches in the dominion of Bearne The Churches in the Cuntrey of Metz. The Churches of Pie mont The Papists brag of abolishing the Edict an D. 1563. The fetches of the Guises to disturbe the peace The craftie wiâ—… of the Quene the Kings mother The Cardinals sharp accusation against the Admirall The Admirall publisheth a wri ting wher in hee cleareth himselfe The words of Merae Monsieur Granmonâ—… Scoutes Monsieur Tranuie The Marshal Hesse The trauell of the CouÌ„ cell of Trent to hinder and stop religioÌ„ in Fraunce The King being of the age of 14. yeares iâ—… declared to be of ful lawfull agâ—… The suâ—…til and craftie deuises of the aduersariâ—…s against Religion violent and false interpÌ„tations of the Edict set â—…orth by the Kings commaundement New sleights put in practise to entice the Prince of Conde froÌ„ the reformed Religion The spoyle wasting of the congregation at Paniez by d'Anuille The Kings progresse causes therof MontaubaÌ„ MontaubaÌ„ agrements made betwene the King his brother the Duke of Orleans The Prince of Conde eseapeth the papists snares and baytes The death of the prin ces wife The slaugh ters of the faithfull Brother hodes of the papiste Monsieur Cure that famous valeant cap taine is slaine And yet scaped vnpunished Moâ—… interpretations of the Edict The Kings progresse The suÌ„me of all that was don in the time of the Kinges Progresse The Admirall adiudged free of the Dukes murther by the kings own iudgement The Guises and the Chastillon are charged to be reconciled The Kings comminge to Lions and what he did there An enterdiction for Sermones A fortresse built at Lyons Monfieur Saltane remoued froÌ„ the gouern ment of Ly ons mon suer Lossay succeded him The sundry troubles of the church at Lions The declaclaration of Rossillon a great ouerthrow to the Edict Restraine of Sinodes ProtestaÌ„ts coÌ„manded to returne to Monachisme The great slaughter of the faith full at Tours The Prince of Conde complaineth of these iniuries The greâ—…ous iniâ—…ries coÌ„mitted against the Protestantes The Kings letters to the Prince of Conde New proclamatioÌ„s for the obserua tion of the Edict The punnishment appointed for the mur ther done at Tours made frustrate The fond and foolish iorneâ—…s of the Cardynall the bloudy suruay that the Marshial of Burdillo made thorough out all Guian Merindol a place appointed for the reformed religion The kinge commeth to Langue doâ—… an do 1566 〈◊〉 do 1566 The affairs of the low Countrey â–ª The beginning enâ—… of the church of Flaunders King Philip certified of the increase of the protestantes in the lowe countrey aâ—… do 156â—… The supplication of the nobles of the confederacy The Duches of Par me causeth â–ª an assembly of States 〈◊〉 Serâ—…ones Images in Flaunders went to wracke The conference betweene the nobles the Duches of Parme. The Prince of Orange commeth to Antwerpe Valleucia besieged Valence surrendred an do 1567 The last coÌ„ spiracy of the Catholiqnes concerning the ruine of the Church of Fraunce The comming of the spanish army with the Duke of Alba. The King Quene remoue to Paris Letters of the Prince to the king The last pe tition of the Prince of Conde The state of the faith full in the beginning of this second war. The Cities townes that tooke part with the protestantes the slaugh rer of the Parisians at Sandioâ—…yse The CoÌ„sta ble wounded to the death The state of the chur ches of the low countrey after the comming of Duke de Alba. The Prince of Conde marcheth to Lorain The Duke of Aniou marcheth towarde Loraine The Kings Edict against the faithfull A battayle in Auuergne the pro testants ha uing the victory an do 1568 Chartres besieged Peace concluded and the summe of the kings Edict The deceit of the Catholiks by this Edict Greate iniures done to the Protestants VVatch ward at hauens bridges Violation â–ª of the Edict Violations of the Edict Troubles â—…t Lions Troubles at Paris 〈◊〉 Sermones Practise of the Cardinal to take the principall profes sors of the Religion Horrible murthers Cipiere cruelly slaine Ten thousand protestantes slain with in the com passe of three Monethes The prince of Conde remoueth to Noyers The Card â–ª of Lorrain practiseth to take the Prince of Conde The Spye taken 90000. Frankes is in our coin foure score and eightteen thousand and nyne hundred and seuen and thirtye poundes ten shillings Victor Vticensis lib. 3 pers Afric the answer of the faith full The coulered deceit in this oth Rochel coÌ„ maunded to be besie ged Musters of Souldiers Letters of the Catholikes souÌ„d out Amanzi a noble man slaine The Prince of Conde in greate perill Letters of the Prince of Conde sent to the Kyng The Prince of Conde goeth to Noyers The Cardi nall ChastilloÌ„ fleeeth into England The death of Charles sonne to King Philip Anno Domini 1568. in the moneth of Au gust The state and condition of both parts The Kings â–ª Decree The messeÌ„â—…er sent froÌ„ the Prince of Conde 〈◊〉 â–ª Discipline appointed by the Prince of Conde A descripâ—… on of tâ—…e disciplin of warre A practisâ—… to draw away the Prince of Nauar froÌ„ the Prince of Conde Letters of the Quene of Nauar to the Kinge Letters of the Quene of Nauar to the Quene Mother Cities yeelded to the Prince of Conde The Ande lot coÌ„meth to the Prince of Conde with a great Army Boysuerd slayne The Andelot passeth ouer the forde of Loyre The Andelot ioyneth with the Admirall An Edict prohibiting the vse of the reformed religion â–ª The Kinge was xii yeâ—… old when his brothâ—… Frances dyed Letters patâ—…es from the Pope Mouents and his souldiers slaine Lettees of the Quene oâ—… Nauar to the Quene of England England a succour to Fraunce The Prince of Conde seeketh to encounter with Monpensier The Duke of Angâ—…we put to the worse The Duke of Aniou by Pollicy delayeth to loyne battaile Duâ—…e Dau maâ—… in Loraine Prince of Orange in the lowe countrey Prince of Orenge seketh to ioyn with the Prince of Conde Tiranny of the Duke of Alba. The Germaneâ—… take both parts Duke of Deuxpous promiseth to helpe the Prince of Cond Mon sieur Cochao taken many of his men slaine Noyers wonne an D. 1569. the Abbay of Saintflo rent won spoyled Sancer besieged The batail in which the Prince of Conde Was slaine The oathe of the Prince of Nauar. l'Endureau reuoltes Brissac slaine Conte Pâ—… padon slaine The Lord Boccarde dead Charite besieged and taken The Duke de Deux Pons dead Description of the Dukes Campe. description of the princes army Snccours from the Pope â–ª the Quene mother en courageth the Souldiours The Lorde Strossi takeÌ„ Strossies men flame â–ª The death of â—…e lord of Moruill The siege of Niort The Lord pluneau succours it The protes tants request to the king for peace To whom the troubles ought to be imputed Luzig rendered Lordes Captains within poâ—… tyers Poictiâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…esieged Battry against Poytâ—…ers Battery against Poie Three assaults giueÌ„ to the suburbes of Roell Assault of Italians The Edict of peace Concord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Noble men that are 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Noble men of 〈◊〉 calling The Queene of 〈◊〉 All 〈◊〉 Places 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Kinges Courâ—… â–ª Paris 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â–ª Hospitals and Colleges The good will of the king toward â—…he prince of Conde and the rest The Duke of Sweburge other Princes The Queene of 〈◊〉 Priuiledges of Cities Offices Payments to be indifferent Deliuery of prisoners Raunsomes All vnder the Kings protecon Mouables restored Reuenewes Of houses castles cities Princes of Nassau Writings of Landes Iudgementes Abrogation of Sentences â–ª Obseruaaion of dollitique Lawes Instice equal ly ministred Appeales froÌ„ Parliaments â–ª Refusall of Iudges Foure Citties graunted for Securities sake Concerning this Edict Trafike Punishments for breaking this Edict Disanulling of all former Edictes The othe of Magistrates Solem proclamation of this Edict
which were not entered into the cities More ouer when the Inhabitants of the Churche of Lions made request vnto the Kinge that they might haue liberty to exercise the reformed ReligioÌ„ answere was geuen them that the Kinge would not haue the administratiâ—… of that Religion in the city but woulde shortly appâ—…int theÌ„ a place without the citye But not only the liberty of the Religion was taken from them but also leaue to go home to theire owne houses Yea bloudy murther Rapines were coÌ„mitted throughout the city of LioÌ„s the people she winge theire outragiouse madnes euen vpon the very houses of the faithfull At Paris by the comminge of the Kinges letters the Garrisons of warders and wachemeÌ„ were increased in diuers places throughout the city vpon the bridges watchmeÌ„ were set to warde the people also had leaue to arme them selues whereby it manifestly appered that the deathe of protestants with in the city was conspired In the meane tyme the popishe Prelates in theire Sermones on the other parte encouraged theire meÌ„ to warre but specially the Iesuites of which there were greate noÌ„bers in euery principall city of the Realme these were pestiferouse Locustes procedinge out of the bottomles pyt and sent abroade to be troublesome vnto men in his laste age These I saye in theire Sermones tohght that there ought to be no faith kepte with hereâ—…iques nor any agrement made that it was a godly and meritoriouse dede to laye violent haÌ„des vpoÌ„ suche vngodly men and that al Christian people ought to arme them selues against them Beside this they brought also examples of suche as were killed by the Leuites at the coÌ„maundement of Moses of those which had woorshipped the golden Calâ—…e of Iehu which by dissimulation shut vp the Preistes of Baale and shewe them Thus the people beinge styrred vp and pricked forward boath with the vngodly persuasions of suche preachers and also with the wordes of mighty men were dayly more more inflamed to â—…uror madnes Moreouer it was geueÌ„ for the that it was the Kings will and pleasure that the Huguenotes shoulde be vtterly destroyed and that it woulde please him very well if the Catholikes would do what they coulde too hinder the execution of the Edicte and also that all his subiectes might be brought to one vniformity of Religion Whereby the people were prouoked a freshe sought nothinge more than to arme theÌ„ selues againâ—… the faithful who were now as naked meÌ„ by the meanes of the Edicte Thus the people were brought to tumult and not only by the meanes aforesayd â–ª but also by societies and coÌ„fraternities made in diuers places which they called the Confraternities of the holy Ghost â–ª By these Fraternities which confirmed and moderated by consistories did they prouide money and souldiers for the warre Therfore wheÌ„ a great number of men were gathered togither at Diuinion for this confraternitie the common sort of people began to cast forth sedicious words threatening the faithfull that they should haue only thrée monethes vse of their goods to liue by after that haruest and grape gathering was done affirming that the Kyng himselfe if he would should not alter there purpose and if he once sought to hinder it they would make a Moonke their king Therfore the raynes of impudent boldnes being losed all things began to war out of order throughout the whole Realme The faithfull wanted both armour and Cities all passage both by hill and dale by water and by land were restrained the Catholiques were very strong in each condition with all thinges in a readines for the warre so that the faithful being thus hâ—…mmed in on euery side might continually loke for nothing but sodaine death and destruction And in déede al meanes waies were sought to bring this thing to passe and as the Cardinall sought diligent ly to bring this to effect so wanted he no necessary seruants and wayters to fulfill his commaundements throughout all partes of the Realme Also to the end his purpose might haue the better successe he thought good to followe the counsaile of the Duke of Alba with whom he consulted oftentimes by messengers which was That the principall heades of those that professed the said Religion should bee taken and then the rest would bee tamed well inough Wherfore hée sought diligently by al waies possible to take the prince of Conde the Admirall the Andelot and Cardinall Odet his brother Rochfoucalt and diuers other noble men of the reformed Religion In the meane time notwithstanding very louing and fréendly letters were sent to the prince of Conde in the Kyng and Quéenes names But so great libertie wherof we spake before being giuen to the furious and outragious people was not Idell It would abhor any Christian mind to heare the declaration of so many horrible murthers which happened in so short a time I meane not to repeate al if I would I cannot Straite after the proclamation of the Edict the people of Ambian a faire citie in Picardie â–ª assembled themselues togither and conspiring the death of the faithfull slew of them to the number of a hundered and forty â–ª At Altisiodor otherwise called Auxer a citie of Borgondy which was rendered vp by the faithfull there were fiftie slayne and their dead bodies cast openly into cannells of the streates â–ª At Rhane at Orleans at Bery at Sanleonard and at diuers other cities horrible murthers were committed vppon the faithful as they went to their churches to diuine seruice Also Monsure Cipiere the sonne of County de Tande Lieuetenant of Prouance a young man about the age of twentie yeres was also cruelly slaine at ForuÌ„-Iuly a citie of Prouance It was reported that commaundemeÌ„t came from the court that this Monsure Cipiere should be slaine The manner of this slaughter was this Monsure Cipiere was retorned from Nice whether he went to sée how the Duke of Sauoy his kinsman did of whom he was very honorably entertayned but wheÌ„ he came nere to the towne of Forum-Iuly he perceiued that some laye in a bushe in the wood hard by for him wheruppon he fled with all spéede into the citie with his whole traine which were in number thirtie and fiue Then they which lay in waite being three hundered armed men hauing Baron de Arsi their captaine en tered also into the citie and crying Toxcin or Alleyum a great number of people were gathered togither by by to the number of a thousand and two hundred who beset the house in the which Cipiere was round about But the Consulls and Magistrates of the citie being carefull for Monsure Cipiere made intreatie to the peo ple and at the length brought to passe that Baron de Ar si promised that he would depart with the whole multitude if so be Cipiere would yéeld vnto them his men armour The which being graunted he departed but the people were scarse gone out of sight when Baron de