feared both for that the same was addicted to the Romish Religion and also an enimie to the house of Nauar. The King said that he would not haue the manner of royall mariages altered which were wont to be celebrated there and the rather bicause the same did greatly make for the assured signe of peace when the same should be seene to be openly celebrated in the Metropolitane citie of the realme as it were in the face of the whole worlde And now although both partes were perswaded that this maryage might bee made very profitably yet notwithstandyng there was great doubt concernyng the manner of celebratyng the mariage The Queene of Nauar beyng zelously addicted to the reformed religion would in no wyse consent that the maryage should bee celebrated after the Romish fashion neyther the Queene mother would condiscend that they should bee maryed after the order of the reformed Religion Thus there was greate dissention betweene the two women whereas they were agreed of the principall matter The King at the fyrst intreated the Queene of Nauar to graunt vnto him and to his sister this libertie for that it appertayned to his dignitie that the forme of the auncient Religion which he had receyued from his auncetors might bee vsed in the mariage of his sister When the Queene of Nauar had constantly excused hir selfe and that the King perceiued he preuayled nothing at all it is reported that vsing his accustomed othes he sayd that he would set his sister at libertie from the lawes of Rome and also from the rytes of the Religion and that hee him selfe would celebrate the mariage than the which there could not be a more pompous celebration The which rumor was spred abroad among the Courtiers and this new imagination pleased many very well for whatsoeuer the King saith or doth that doth the Frenchman lyke insomuche that they frame both their speach and their apparell according to the Kings guise To remooue this doubte respite was taken on eyther parte The Kyng sente letters vnto Pope Pius the fyfth to obtayne lycence for hys Syster to marry with Henry Borbon hys Coosyne leaste the respecte eyther of consanguinitie or of Religion might hinder the mariage for that it was for the wealth of the Realme Furthermore that it would please his holines to giue them leaue to vse such rytes in celebrating matrimonie as might best serue theyr turne The Pope altogether misliketh of the Kings request the which he often tymes denyed to graunt affyrming the same to be most vnlawfull On the other parte also the Queene of Nauar consulted with the ministers of the reformed Religion what might be done in this matter Of the which diuers verdictes and iudgementes were giuen Some vrging the simplicitie of the word of god thought it wicked by any manner of meanes to contracte such matrimonie the which was therefore muche more daungerous in noble personages bicause the affayres in hand did not belong to one house alone but also almost to the whole Realme The which speaches notwithstanding were not gracious and acceptable to the Queene of Nauar and to the rest of the nobles perswading themselues that they should all generally receyue great profite by that maryage Therefore the matter was committed to a fewe by whose determination the same was to be ended and they concluded nothing but that which they knew would please the Queene of Nauar the nobles Then the matter being approued vppon their sentence determination began to grow in greater likeing to please more of the ministers whose iudgemēts were afterward required in publique assēblies of the churches of Frāce Thus the woorser counsaile tooke place and not only the Queene of Nauar but also the greatest part of them of the religiō earnestly wished that mariage All the cōtrouersie stood on this poynte by what way most conueniently and with lest offence of eyther parte the mariage might be solemnized THE Admirals wyfe being dead hee maryed another of the noble house of Royen being daughter to the Countie of Entremont and heyre to greate possessions This stocke belongeth to the Countie of Sauoy and thys riche noble woman was desired in maryage of many noble men and peeres also of Sauoy Notwithstanding the Admirall preuayled both by the meanes of the Kings letters to Philibert Duke of Sauoy whose authoritie was greate in makyng that noble maryage and also by his owne fame and name of Religion which was most acceptable to that heroicall Lady and so tooke hir to his wife which many gathered to bee an argument of most fyrme peace THE Admirall thought it necessarie for the expedition of the affayres in the lowe countrey to enter into league with Elizabeth the Queenes maiestie of Englande And good occasion as he thought was offered for that hir maiestie is single and the Duke of Anjou the Kings brother wanted a wyfe The Duke of Anjou thought him selfe woorthy so great a maryage both for that hee was the Kyngs brother and also bicause he had wonne to him selfe great renowne and prayse by his valiant actes in martiall affayres The charge to bring this matter to passe was committed to M. Momorencie a wise man and one of the chiefe nobles and gouernours of France The ende declared the causes of this league both that by this practise the myndes of the Admirall and of all the rest which ought necessarily to be blynded for the better finishing of the wicked facte might be deceyued all the whole matter being cloked with prouident care for the dispatche into the lowe countrey and also that Momorencie a man of sharpe wit myght not through hys familiaritie and conference with the Kyng smell out the counsailes of the tragedy which was in hande and finally that England being bounde by the name of this league might not stirre as offended at the wickednes of the facte the which also came to passe These were the reasons why the league was made with the Queenes maiestie of Englande as hath since appeared by the successe it selfe AVTVMNE of this present yeere was very vnseasonable flowing with continuall vehement showers of rayne A great parte of the houses and buildings of Feraria fell downe to the present ruine of the whole Citie Nere vnto Geneua at the straytes of Ecluse a great parte of a hyll was broken down with the freat and violence of the waters and fel down into the Riuer of Rosne with the which the water was so stopte that it dyd ouerflowe and the sayd Ryuer was so checkte with the floude that the streame hauyng hys contrary course backewarde caused the wheeles of those milles that stoode vppon the same to runne amisse and to turne the Milstones the wrong waye to the woonder of suche as sawe the same the lyke whereof was neuer seene before There was also so greate an Earthquake in a certayne village neere vnto Geneua that all the houses in the same were ouerthrowne and a certayne peece of
eyght leagues Wherevpon he returning belayed the countrey that suche as fledde awaye mighte bee taken Thus certayne of the noble menne of the Religion were preserued Also the Lorde Assier mons Sanroman Cugier and dyuers other noble men and Gentlemen were saued by the Guyses meanes To thys ende and purpose to laye all the enuye and blame vpon the king and people as though it had bin hys only purpose to reuenge his owne priuate spight vppon the Admiral and also that they whome he had saued in so greate peril might for euer by such a benefite be bound vnto him the which in deede came to passe THE Munday following whiche was the .xxv. daye of August the Sunne shined very bright and cleere Wherevppon the king looking out of his windowe of the Lower cryed with oathes that the fayre day did reioyce for the slaughter of the Hugonots Thus also sayd other of the court And Iames Carpenter by a publique bill called this bright day the lyghte of August About noone in the Churchyarde of Saint Innocent there sprang vp a bremble bushe which the Frenchmen call white thorne contrary to the time and season of the yeere Of the which when the people heard they ran thither in greate number to see this straunge miracle the like whereof hathe not bin seene Some say that this was made to growe by the practise of a certaine Priest whiche is not vnlyke But the common people sayd that God by a manifest signe did approoue the murther lately committed and that nowe both the Catholique fayth and also the kingdome of Fraunce had recouered theyr former glory and shoulde after this triumphantly flourishe Therefore the trumpets sounded in diuers places of the citie Notwithstanding it is certayne that the like kind of white-thorne or hauthorne sprang vp about the same time in other places also whether it were long of the temperatenesse of the season or no I knowe not Many seriously alluding to the names of the things affirmed that the white thorne sproong vp to the commendatiō of the Innocents not to approoue the murders bycause it florished in that place which had to name S. Innocēts But if so we mark this miracle what other thing doth the same signifie vnto vs thā this That albeit the Church seemed by this deadly wound to be quite slain yet notwithstāding it should come to passe that it being reuiued by a certaine singular extraordinarie power should flourish shuld firmely stand amidst these ouerthrowes It is not farre vnlike the myracles shewed to Moyses in the bushe the which though it were set on fire was not consumed THE King and the Queene determined by their priuie counsell to haue this murther proceede against other cities also thereby mynding to destroy vtterly them of the Religion least mons Momorencie by their helpe and ayde shoulde take in hande any newe enterprise He at this time was gone apart to Insuladam a towne of his dominion D'Anuil was at Paris who with the rest of his brethren had drunke of the same cup with the Admirall if they might haue bene brought altogether within the compasse of the same snare But it seemed not a sure and safe way to kyll one and to leaue the reste of the brethren aliue no so great power of the house and stocke of Momorencie The Thursday folowing being the eight and twentie of August the King commaunded a Iubile and a generall procession about the citie in the which he in his own person with the rest of the Court was present to giue God thankes openly as they sayd bycause their enterprise had such desired successe The same day the King caused it to be openly published that he was the authour of that murther forbidding the vse of the reformed religion throughout his whole realme vntill he had taken other order notwithstanding he sayd that he wold not haue these things so to be taken as though his Edictes of pacification were broken And this is the summe of the sayde late Edict The King desiring that all his peeres noble men gentlemen and others might vnderstand the true cause why the Admirall and his adherents were slayne of late in this citie bycause it may otherwise be reported than truth would he certifyeth all men generally That what so euer was done herein was done by his expresse commaundement and not for Religions sake or by any manner of meanes to breake his Edict of pacification which he woulde haue to stande in full force and to be faythfully obserued and kept but that he might preuent the wicked conspiracie of the Admirall and his felowes against his person his royall dignitie his mother his brethren the King of Nauar and against the Princes and other noble men which were in fauour with the king Therefore he giueth all menne to vnderstande that he willeth and commaundeth all those of the Religion to liue in securitie and peace at home with their families vnder his protection and garde as they had hytherto done And he giueth straight charge and commaundement to all gouernours of prouinces and other officers that no man doe oppresse them of the Religion eyther in life or in goods vpon paine of death Notwithstanding his will and pleasure is to take away those troubles and offences which may growe by sermons and other exercises of the Religion that none of the Religious noble man or gentleman of what state and condition so euer he be shall haue any priuate or publike assemblies for no cause vntill he hath otherwise prouided vpon payne of losse both of life and also of goods The which things howe well they doe hang together all men may see The King sayth heere that he would haue the former Edictes of pacification stande in force and yet neuerthelesse forbiddeth holy sermons and other assemblies vpon payne of death He affirmeth that he would haue all men to liue in peace and securitie at home and yet notwithstanding he playnely testifieth him selfe to be the authour of murthers And as touching the conspiracie made by the Admirall and the rest which were at Paris they themselues which take part with the Catholikes do scorne it as a forged lye GREAT murthers were committed at Lions and in diuers other cities so that within one monethes space there were at the least three thousande men slaine But of all the rest the wicked and cruell murther committed in the citie of Paris in the kings presence exceeded and farre passed the rest AND al gouernors of prouinces obeyed not those bloudy commaundements giuen by the king The Countie d'Tende answered the kings commaundement and his letters sealed with his priuie seale saying That he did not thinke this to be the kings deede but the deede of such as forged and pretended his name for that a fewe dayes before hee had receyued quite contrarie commaundements by the kings letters And he affirmed that he would obey those first letters as meete and worthy to proceede frō a king woulde fulfil the same
pray and bootie they were beseeged the ninth day of Ianuary of thys presente yeere with a copious armie contayning fyue hundred horsemen and fyue thousande footemen besyde those whych were borne and dwelling in that countrey who came thither of their owne accord to get them renowne The Lorde of Chastre knight of the order the kings gouernour of the countrey was general of the Armie He had for the batterie sixtiene great peeces and he caused a greate number of trenches and bulwarkes to be made for their defence in the seege When they of the towne sawe them selues besieged and then too late fearing the scarcitie of corne they determined to thrust out of the Citie the rusticall multitude But they to whome the executing heereof was committed so handled the matter that the greater part of the common people remayned still in the Citie wherevpon ensued both to the miserable people and also to the whole Citie an intollerable mischiefe So many groase ouersights coulde not but bring great calamitie to them of Sanserre The Lord of Chastre sending an Heralt summoned them of Sanserre to yeeld vp the towne the which if they would doe willingly he promised that he would perswade the Kyng to deale with them in clemencie but if they refused he threatned to shew all seueritie agaynst them To this the Sanserreans made no answeare but stayed the Heralt from returning agayne and kept him in the Citie the whych acte was agaynste the lawe of armes and committed by the vndiscrete counsayle of the chiefe rulers which notwithstanding was disliked of the most part of the townesmen This Acte tourned afterward to the great displeasure of mons Iohanneau the author of the same Thus the Sanserreans prepared themselues for their defence being greatly incouraged by the good successe of theyr former beseeging of the which we haue spoken in another place They disquieted the enemie by often eruption by the good conduct of mons Flore an expert and valiant Captayne who both tooke great paynes and also had happy successe in his affayres And it is certayne so farre foorth as we may iudge of humane matters humanly that if the Sanserreans had prouided in time sufficient store of corne the enemie had had the same successe whiche he had in the former warre All thyngs necessary for the siege beyng diligently prouided by the Lorde of Chastre the syxteene day of February of thys present yeere the walles of the Citie began to be battered with sixteene great peeces of ordināce two of the which were planted vpon a higher place of ground and bent against the face of the Citie to the great anoyance of the townesmen But before that time of the batterie there was fled a certayne souldier out of the Kings armie vnto the townesmen which bewrayed the place which the enemie by batterie intended to make sauteable to the which place the townesmen came with speede fortifying the same with a new countermure notwithstanding they sawe the enemie bend his force againste another place of lesse strength Yet neuerthelesse by proofe hee found the same contrary to hys expectation so well fortefyed that when he had for the space of three dayes done nothing but batter the same for in those three dayes space there were certaynely tolde three thousande and fyue hundred shot of ordinance they had made a very small breach in the wall Also credible persons whiche abode in this seege euen vntill the end of the same report a wonderfull thing worthy to be remembred namely that amiddest so many terrible thundryng shot there was not one hurt except one onely damsell whyche was slayne not with the shot but with the fyery flame of a peece howbeit houses in diuers places of the towne were shaken and rent and the weapons in the hands of soldiers broken in peeces also the helmets taken off from some of their heads and the rubbish and stone worke flewe about the eares of many withoute doyng them any hurt Also at what time there was a sermon the house it selfe wherin the people were assembled togeather was fylled with the rubbish of the next houses were beaten downe whiche things I would not report except they were approued true that it may appeare that not without cause the Sanserreans almost all perished with famine which were deliuered out of so great perilles but that God by his singular prouidence ordered the whole matter in whose hande is both life and death The breach beyng made as is aforesayd the L. Chastre determined to approche the walles with Engines that hee mighte winne the gate Viet which was next vnto the breach Also at other partes of the wall the soldiers vndermined that with dyuers assalts made together the Sanserreans might be vnable to resist The ninetienth day of March the Kings armie bente with might and mayne gaue an assalt at the breach and in the mean time the ordinance whiche was planted on the higher grounde discharged lustely at the face of the towne The townesmen feared the shaking and blowing vp of the mines standyng in doubt least they should breake foorth at those places where they were and fearing least while they were occupyed in one place on the other part an entrie mighte be made for the enimie So that they were in sore conflict with dyuers extremities Notwithstandyng they had suche successe in the ende that the enimie was not only repulsed but slayne also with a greate slaughter in somuch that he was discouraged any more to giue any assalt vnto the towne beeyng taught by the example of the former warres Wherefore the L. of Chastre perceyuing that it was but lost labour besyde the great spoyle also of his men to giue any more assalts to the towne and beeing warned by the error of mons Martinenge who aforetime was generall in the other seege but in vayne deuised another way of beseeging thinking it good to leaue off the assalting of the same and rather wyth strong bulwarkes to inclose it that neyther they whiche were within the Citie might come foorth nor yet those whych were without myght haue accesse to them whych were within that so he might cōstrayne the townesmē beyng brought to extreame famine to giue vp the towne the which in deede came to passe Therefore the daye following whiche was the twenty of March he displaced hys Artillerie and ouerthrewe and brente the fortifications which he had erected about the Citie and the whole armie almost trussed vp bagge and baggage Then the townesmen thought that the L. Chastre beeyng out of hope to take the Citie discamped but his intente was otherwise for he practised another kynde of strayt seege as we haue sayd Therefore the L. Chastre erected seauen bulwarks seuerally situated according to the conueniencie of the place in necessary places fortifyed such places of the hamlets adioyning therevnto as serued hys turne hemde in the Citie with broade trenches that the townesmen myghte haue a narrowe space left them betweene the Citie and
the ditche placed horsemen and footemen in conueniente order and commaunded a most strayt kynde of watche and ward in suche wise that it was not possible by any meanes that any man should goe out or come into the Citie When the townesmen sawe them selues to be thus inclosed they sente to diuers places for succours but specially into Germanie and into Languedoc But what came thereof we will shewe in order hereafter VVE sayde before that Harlem a towne in Hollande was beseeged by the Duke of Alba in winning whereof the Spanyards and contrariwyse in defending of the same the Prince of Orange hys souldiers tooke great paynes The wall being battered downe with shot was so fortifyed agayne by the garrison in the towne that trenches beeyng conueniently made by woonder labor round about within the Citie the inner partes of the Citie were deemed more fyrme and strong than the very walles were before Whilest this Citie was beseeged and valiant actes shewed on both parts many things in the meane time diuersly fel out The seauen and twentie day of Ianuary the Spanish nauie was taken by the Flisshiners notwithstanding it escaped away agayne with great slaughter IN THE meane tyme the Prince of Orange laboured by all meanes possible to vittayle them of Harlem beyng oppressed with famine and by due and conuenient arriuall from the bordering Cities ther aboutes as frō Leyden and Delfe and by the benefyte of the hard colde winter the way beeing frosen hard with Ise he brought to passe that victuals were conueyed to the townesmen In the beginning of March a new supply of Spanyardes to the number of fyue ensignes came into the Camp. The Flisshiners encountered happily at Ternese with the nauie of the Duke of Alba. THE Prince of Orange according to the variable chance of warre or rather by the manifolde prouidence of the Lord of hostes going about to succour them of Harlem with shippes Countie Bossu the Kings Liefetenant of Hollande encountering with him and being of more force tooke certayne shippes wherevpon ensued a new slaughter vpon the Prince of Oranges part by the meanes of them of Amsterdam ABOVT this time also the Reisters whiche were vnder the paye of the Duke of Alba taking with them the footebande with shot made an inroade in the territorie of Leyden robbing and spoyling the same and carying away a greate bootie VVITHIN fewe dayes after they of Harlem brake foorth vpon the kings armie as they were triumphing vpon the successe of their victories and were celebrating the feast of Easter and slewe a greate many and wounded many and for the good successe heereof they brake foorth agayne the daye following vppon the Duke of Alba hys campe and hauyng slayne certayne and disturbed the campe they returned into the Citie agayne But when they brake foorthe in the euenyng of the same daye and came in the dead time of the nighte vpon the Reisters Campe the Reisters were wyth feare so astonyed hauyng not yet breathed synce theyr late Conflictes that leauyng theyr Tentes they betooke them vnto theyr heeles most cowardlye they of Harlem following the chase and making a great slaughter of their enimies Notwithstandyng the townsmen hauing this successe not mynding to assaile the rest of the army for that they sawe them selues vnable to make their partie good retyred into the Citie agayne THE Kinges power wherof the Countie Bossu was generall and the power of the Prince of Orange striued who should be Lords of the Sea wherevpon diuers conflictes were had betweene them bycause the preheminence of the water might eyther helpe or hinder the towne of Harlem Therefore the Orengians wente about to winne the rampier thereby to stoppe the entercourse and passage of Amsterdam by whyche vittayles were carried into the Duke of Alba his campe But the men of Amsterdam came foorth and skirmished wyth the Orengians and beholde as they were buckeling togeather a greate number of Rusticall laborers were discouered The Orengians suspecting that the Spanyards were come were discomfyted and so for feare leauing eyght of theyr Shyppes in the power of the enimies were slayne by heapes by them of Amsterdam the reste cowardlye ranne away Thus the other practise to ayde the beseeged in Harlem was made frustrate the County Bossu defending that sea coast with the Spanish nauie But when the Duke of Alba had supplyed fresh soldiers in the roome of such as were slayne picking them out both from among the Reisters and Burgundians and also out of the old seruitours of the garrisons of the lowe countrey and thē procuring a more strayt seege notwithstandyng the constante seeking of the Prince of Orange to succour there came in the meane tyme a sore famine vpon them of Harlem for it is a Citie both copious of it selfe and was also replenished with a garrison of soldiers The Prince of Orange being only busily occupied in delyuering of Harlem leuied so greate an armie as hee coulde out of Hollande and Zelande minding to breake into the Citie to helpe the besieged The generall of this armie vnder the Prince of Orange was VVilliam Bronchorste Lorde of Battēburge He came at the last with his power to the duke of Alba his camp hauing slayne at the first onset the rereward of the Reisters encoūtred couragiously with the rest of the armie But the duke of Alba his part taking vnto thē courage so defended them selues that they did not only repulse the Orengians but also destroyed them with a great slaughter For it is sayde that there were a thousande and fiue hundred slayne the enimie hauing taken in the spoyle fourtene ensignes tenne fielde peeces and thirtie waggons Also the Lorde of Battemburge him selfe was slayne THVS the Duke of Alba hauing a great victorie folowed more vehemently the siege of Harlem Then they of Harlem being brought to great distresse by the siege whiche dured eyght monethes and by the sore famyne yeelded vp the towne vpon euyll conditions as that they shoulde submit them selues to the will and pleasure of the conquerer And to the ende the souldiers shoulde not haue the spoyle and bootie of the citie he commaunded two hundred and fortie thousande crownes to be gyuen vnto them Then the Spaniardes shewing all crueltie vpon the townesmen tormenting them by all manner of meanes The Duke of Alba commaunded sixe hundred of the souldiers to be hanged three hundred were brought out of the citie halfe naked and cast into the water a sight most pitifull and an acte with barbarous crueltie moste detestable seeing that the greatest parte of victorie consisteth in lenitie and mercie This happened the eleuenth day of Iuly NOw to returne to Rochell The Rochellians perseuered in their defence notwithstanding that they were nowe by no small occasion weakned And as the matter then seemed to require they committed the whole ordering charge of the war to certayne approued mē namely to mons Normā Riuier Charle Essarz Garguole reseruing
order who bare about them the order of S. Michael fighting with the diuel At this feast were many noble men and amōg the rest the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde THE xxvij day of October the Senate of Paris pronounced a sore sentence agaynst the Admirall being dead and agaynst his memorie and children He was condemned as one guiltie of treason as an enimie to peace and a common troubler of the state as the authour of a conspiracie agaynst the king and against the state His memorie was condemned to euerlasting ignominie And to the ende there might remaine some monument of those faults it was decreed that his bodie if it could be found should be drawne through euery streete of the citie after it had stood in the Market place foure and twentie houres and if the same could not be found then his Image should be made stuft with straw and so be drawne in stead of the same as aforesayd and so to the place of execution called the Forkes of Montfalcon It was also decreed that his Armes Crest and Shield should be drawne in like maner to the fore named place And that in what places soeuer they were found they should be broken downe by the hangman as a token of his euerlasting ignominie Also that all his goodes that either he or his aunceters had receyued by the benefite and liberalitie of kings whether they were moueable or immoueable should come vnto the crowne His children were pronounced vnnoble and base and vnworthie to haue anye publike office or to enioy their goodes which if they had any within the Realme they were confiscate to the king His chiefe house Chastillon was beaten downe to the ground that neuer any thing might be buylded there againe The trees of the Orcharde were cut downe and the Gardens about the sayde house turned vpside-downe and it was decreed that a brasen pyller should be erected where the house did stande with this decree of the Senate in the same It was also decreed that the xxiiij of August euery yeare there shoulde be a generall procession about the Citie to giue thankes vnto God and to celebrate the memorie of that day in the which that cruel murder was committed AMIDST these troubles many of the Religion whiche sought to prouide for the safegard of their conscience and life fled into forraine nations Some into Englande Germanie Strausburge and Heidelberge also othersominto Switzerland to Basile and to the townes of Berne to Lausanna and to other Cities and the greatest parte to Geneua Also Rochel Mountauban Nismes and certaine Cities in the Countrey of Viuaretz and Seuenatz were left as places of refuge as wee will declare hereafter The two sonnes of the Admiral by the singular prouidence of God escaped imminent destruction and the Countie Laual the sonne of D'andelot with the daughter of the Admirall which was Thelignies widow came to Geneua after that to Berne and tarying certaine monethes at Basil they returned to Berne againe being very louingly enterteyned of the people ¶ The eleuenth Booke of Commentaries concerning the temporall and Ecclesiasticall state of the Realme of Fraunce in the raigne of Charles the ninth WHilest the whole Realm of France was woonderfully distract and confounded by that horrible and butcherly murder committed and amiddest the violence of contrarye motions when as some triumphed as conquerers and other some being ouercome were ouerwhelmed with sorowe and griefe all men for the most parte whether they were Catholiques or of the Religion were sore afeard and astonyed Yea the fyerbrandes of furies dyd burne euen in the very tryumph of victorie the authors and chiefe instruments themselues of that detestable slaughter in somuch that they being as it were out of their wittes at these fyrste beginnings pretermitted many occasions by whiche they mighte haue brought their purpose about conueniently Notwithstanding the outrage to bryng their cruell purpose to passe pricked them forward that the Religiō might be vtterly destroyed and extinguished in the kingdome of France But their diuelish counsayles had quite contrary successe afterwardes diuers practises also were vsed on both sydes as we will declare hereafter in order Furthermore the horror and feare of that garboyle was spread to all those countreyes bordering vpon France Strasburge very carefully held watch and warde In Switzerlande the Cities of contrary Religion shewed them selues playnely to stande in feare one of another and there were in dyuers partes musters made and rumors spread abroade for trueth That if the Kyng made a perfect conquest of hys subiects he woulde sowe ciuill discordes in Switzerlande that a nation not onely excelling heretofore in ciuill concorde but also hauing gotten great authoritie and credite with the kingdomes bordering therevppon and selling their friendship for greate stipendes and summes of money shoulde contende and be at warres in it selfe They of Bern seemed most of al to be assalted whose power is gret amōg the Switzers by reason of the amplenes of their populous dominion The cause of discord was for that the Cities in Switzerlād which were named to be of the Religion seemed not to cōdescēd and agree to giue vnto the king a band of Catholiques to ayde him to rase and roote out for euer the remnant that remayned of them of the Religion bycause they did much abhorre that butcherly murder of France for that seemed both to be againste the Religion whiche they professed and also to tende to their owne priuate perill as when that the King had destroyed hys owne subiects he myght cause troubles and tumult in Switzerland by the meanes of the townes in the which the Catholiques inhabited who were very desirous to receyue the Kings pay notwithstanding what happened afterward we will declare anon BY THE Kings commaundement horsemen were dispatched and sente into all partes of the Realme and euery man receyued charge to watch and ward diligently Also the Gouernours of euery prouince had commaundement not to be absente from their charge at any tyme without the Kings assured commaundement to looke diligently that there arose no tumultuouse trouble and with all care and industrie to seeke and syft out narrowly all conuenticles and assemblies of suche as professed the Religion and seuerely to punish them IN all partes of the Realme and in euery Citie of the same they were apprehended whiche kept their houses vpon trust and assurance of the Kings Edict Many were slayne and put to death and all men had their goodes put to spoyle by the Kings officers euen as if they had bin enimies lawfully vanquished Notwithstandyng many escaped and fled into forrayne nations There was scarse one man founde which professed hymselfe to be of the Religion all were eyther in exile or hydden in corners or els sauing a fewe constrayned to forsake the Religion and to lyue more catholykely than the Catholykes them selues THEY of the Religion beeyng after thys maner vanquished there seemed nothing to remaine but their
tyme. They of Sanserre beyng styrred vp with the newes of that horrible slaughter of Paris and beyng assaulted wyth continuall lyings in wayte of the bordering enimie kept theyr citie wyth diligent watch and warde thyther those of the Religion whyche were escaped the murthers fled from the places there about from Burges for Sanserre is in the territorie of Berry from La Charite from Orleans from Gijon and from other places Notwythstanding commaundement was gyuen out of hande to them of Sanserre in the Kings name by mons Castres gouernour of that part to admit and obey the Kyngs decree by which he forbad the seruice of the Relygion and accordyng to the fourme thereof to abstayne from holy Sermons and to receyue a garryzon to keepe the city The same forme of commaundemēt also had the same answere of the men of Sanserre whiche they of Rochel Nismes had gyuē as we haue sayd namely that they neyther could nor ought to receyue the armed enimie agaynst them selues And that therfore they must wayte for that tyme in the which they myght safely commit them selues to the externall and foreine souldier also they affyrmed that they were by theyr auncient pryuiledge exempted from that burthen Wherefore they fortify them selues all that they may and repayre the breaches of theyr wastes whych were sore battered in the former warre They sende a messenger to the Court commendyng theyr cause to monsieur Fontenei one of theyr corporation and libertie that he would make intercession to the Kyng for them and would excuse them Notwythstanding all things were prepared for mortall warre and what happened thervpon we wyll shew when we come to the time and place belongyng vnto the same IN Daulphine they of the relygion had not one town in theyr possession no not so much as a village All the cityzens were taken by the Kyngs garryzons the greatest part of them of the relygion beyng desirous to saue theyr lyfe eyther fayned an abiuration of the relygion or else fled into the next cities of Viuaretz and into forreyne countreys To tell it is incredible howe many defections and Apostacies there were in a very shorte tyme euen in the greatest cities where the congregations were most peopled At the first very many wythout constraynt euen by the very reporte of the murther at Paris at Lions fel away and came by heapes to the catholikes some beyng scarsly threatned became weakelyngs and turne-coates So that a man myght see great heapes of hypocrites and dissemblers of the Relygion which frequented the temples and vsed all the rytes of the Catholiques euen as it were with stryuing who should be most forwarde Many of the nobilitie also whych had folowed the relygion and had valiantly behaued them selues in the tymes of the former warres abiured now the relygion others were dumbe at home wyth great astonyshment of continuall feare leaste they shoulde be intercepted and taken by monsieur d' Gordes Lieftenant who notwithstanding went about to persuade them of theyr secure and safe estate and to seduce them from the relygion by louing letters MONS Mombrune one of the most noble men in Daulphine came not to the assembly of the funeral mariage For the prouidēce of God reserued him to do him great seruice as we wil declare whē we come to the time of the same But he hauing by his seruice in the former warres diuers sundry ways emploied gotten great fame among thē of the religion mons d'Gordes at the kings cōmandemēt only labored to intercept him fearing that he wold be another occasiō of new troubles Mombrune kept his house therefore mons d' Gordes sent verie louyng letters vnto hym seekyng thereby to persuade him of the singular good wyll and beneuolence towarde him Only keeping him selfe quiet he should be in rest and securitie and in the Kings high fauour Thus Mombrune seemed to many to haue giuen ouer the care for religion to be quyte discoraged with the vnhappinesse of the time notwithstanding he at the last cast aside al negligēce as we wil declare hereafter THE kings Edict is published to reduce thē home again which were fled away eyther into forreine nations or else into those cities which they of the religion held That by the prescript of the kings Edict pardon shuld be graūted for al things past to such as would returne home againe with prouiso for the safety of their life and conscience so that they woulde lyue peaceably at home And in the same Edict the king threatned those that would not obey his commandement to make their goods confiscate as if they were rebels And he testified that he did not punish the Admiral and his adherentes to this end and purpose that he might shewe seueritie for euer vpon his subiectes of the newe opinion for so he called the Religion but rather to prouide a necessary remedy for the disordred kyngdome though the same in outward shewe seemed to be sharpe Also whereas many of his people through feare were fled eyther into those cities which the rebels held or else into forrein nations that he earnestly lamented their case euē as it becōmeth a good master of a house for that they receiued so much hindrance losse by being banished frō their houses Therfore he willeth and straightly commaundeth them to repayre with al speede vnto their houses being assured that they should haue peaceable cōming so that they came within twentie days the religious leauing the cities which they held seditiously to giue their names vnto the lieftenant of the Prouince and to promyse faythfully that they woulde be heereafter the trustie subiectes of the king But if so be they would obstinatly absent them selues and carelesly contemne his clemencie then to be assured that he would be seuere in punishing them according to their desertes Also excepte they appeared at the daye appoynted that hee woulde confyscate theyr goodes to the end they myght knowe what it is to abuse the clemencie of their prince That he did offer and proclayme thys in time least any man should sustayne the punishment afterwarde for his presumptuouse boldnesse and rashnesse Thys was published the .xix. of Nouember But howsoeuer the kyng by those words of the Edict would seeme to prouide for the consciences of the Religious it cannot be of any wayght or credit in the iudgement of wise men For a little before many of the kings letters patents were sente abroade thorough out the Realme by which most vniustly he constrained those which had not once set theyr foote out of the Realme and whose condition for that cause ought to haue bin much better to renounce the Religion and to imbrace Papistrie Many there imagined and coniectured that the great masse of money gathered out of the proscription of the Religious woulde bee sufficiente to mayntayne warre and so they of the Religion should be wounded with their owne swordes Therefore the goodes of the Religious were dayly
assayed In the meane tyme monsieur Leuger being deceyued and mocked by false Messengers watched many nightes hauing his men in a readinesse in armes So that he thought these reportes to be but vaine and false Monsieur Pradelle at the length brought to passe that in the beginning of the moneth of March hauing gathered succours togither monsieur Baro came with his souldiers from Priuac to Mirebel He came in the euening notwithstanding so that hee had day light for certaine houres and the watchmen and scoutes of mon. Leuger which lay at Mirebel in secret watche certified him out of hande of the comming of monsieur Baro and telling him that he would come the same night vnto the citie Monsieur Leuger though he were oftentymes mocked yet notwithstanding by this report he being styrred to looke aboute him commaunded the gates of the citie to be shut betymes and those which abiured the Religion as suspected to be put apart in diuerse places to double the watch insomuch that the towne being conueniently walled aboute was replenished with a standing watch He commaunded bonfires to be made in euery streete of the Citie and Cresset light to stand in euery window in such wise as the whole Citie was bright and shining And he himselfe with certaine choyse men went rounde about his watche In this so diligent watching they of the Religion had nothing deceyued his expectation and if they had come at the appoynted houre they coulde not haue preuayled For one a clocke after midnight was the houre appointed at the which time watches are cōmonly of lesse force And why they came not at the sayde houre appoynted this was the cause mons Baro shewing the danger of the attempt thought it good not to take the same in hande many valiant souldiers agreed herevnto being moued with authoritie Notwithstanding mons Pradelle preuailed that the attempt might be giuen and when he had made his prayers vnto God in the midst of his souldiers all men were so incouraged that they went forward as men persuaded and assured of victorie While the matter was thus in controuersie the time was delaied Mons Leuger deeming that they were the accustomed wiles and mockes lefte off his serious watch by which time the day starre appeared Wherefore all men being desirous of sleepe departed And monsieur Leuger him selfe went home to sleepe for that he had watched all the night They of the religion come vnto the citie when all things were at rest through the compassing valleys shadowed wyth hilles with the which Villeneufe was compassed on that side And when the iron barres were pulled vp they entred in at the forsaid hole they that entred first came vnto the chief watch slue certaine souldiers whom they found asleepe some betwene sleeping and waking And thus they ranne through the citie crying the towne is taken Thus the greater part being entred in at the hole not one shot being discharged from the walles against them opened one gate Whomsoeuer they met they slue Mons Leuger being waked with the noyse of this tumult went out of his house but being constrayned by force to retyre againe he kept him self close in the same being lately well fortified The Catholikes also betooke them to the tower of the greater gate to another also of great heigth beside the temple But such as were found armed in any place of the citie were slaine by thē of the religion insomuch that the streats were filled with dead bodies Many popishe prelates also were slaine which were come thither from diuers cities therabouts to hold a Synode And after they had assailed the two towers the house of mons Leuger to the hurt detrimēt of both parts the said three places were yelded the third day mons Leuger departed being in great peril of the catholikes in somuch that he could scarsly be in safety in his house being accused of treasō Thus fayth being violated he is also accused of treason by false surmise So great feare came vpon al this countrey that no doubt they of the religion might easily haue taken the next citie but that the souldiers being busied about the pray would not go else where A great booty was caryed out of this little town and much money for raunsomes was receyued which by the negligence of the captaines was put to priuate vses The Catholikes by this suddaine feare being awaked held al those cities which were neare vnto them they which had taken Villeneufe being gone no further Notwithstanding they of the religion tooke certain little townes which bordred vpon them and fortified Gorce and Saluasse that they might haue free passage from Viuijers to Nismes D'ANVIL hauyng placed the tayle and remaynder of his armies in dyuers townes from thence foorth mitigated the force of warre Neuerthelesse by them of the religion diuers townes and castels in sundry places of Languedoc were taken dayly rather by policie than with the displaied ensigne About this time a walled towne called Florensac being not farre from Narbō was taken Neyther was there any Diocesse in Languedoc in the which day by day some newes fell out The particular repetition of which things we haue thought more conuenient to defer vnto another time and for another booke They of the religion also tooke Pusis a towne bordering vpō the riuer of Rosne which afore that time by the negligēce of the townesmen was falne into decay Cursol also whiche lieth ouer against Valentz in Dauphine was strōgly fortified These things falling out in this order after the besieging of Sommiron they of the religion in Languedoc beganne to looke more seriously about them to take better order in their affayres For in their first beginning of warre the captaines and ringleaders being none of the nobilitie but borne of base parentage euerie man gouerned his souldiers as him lysted wherevpon many dissentions arose among them when as one would not obey the others counsell according to the nature of Frenchmen which is to like well of their owne gouenment Therfore the inhabitantes of Nismes with whom they of Viuijers and Seuenatz were ioyned determined to choose certain of the nobilitie whose commaundement the other captaynes shoulde not refuse to obey And to this order of gouernment accorded mons Sauroman a noble man and one deseruing to be loued for his godlynesse and his modestie who in the verie same gouernment afore time had verie profitably bestowed great diligence and paynes Who escaping the cruell slaughter of Paris fled into Switzerlande Him after deliberation had they chose and intreated him by their letters to take vpon him that charge At the first he doubted what he were best to doe whether he were best to ioyne him selfe with them being in so great peril Neuerthelesse after certaine monthes he came vnto them at the last as we will declare hereafter ABOVT this time the Churches of Languedoc sent into Germanie to craue helpe that they might be able
to sustaine the force of warre whiche they were assured would shortely be moued against them For this treatie mons Calueri and Valli strong wise men in the midst of the continual assaults of the enimie were sent They went especially to the countie Pallatine of whose cōpassion good wil in pittying their estate in redinesse to help thē they certified their felowes put them in hope of aide But for the present necessitie they receiued nothing And as they returned home againe making a longer iourny bicause of the lyings in waite of the enimies mons Valli came home in safetie but mons Calueti was taken by mons d' Gordes in Dauphine being kept in ward certaine monthes was at the length by reason of a peace which came in the meane time and by the intreatie of d'Anuil restored Al which things we will intreate of together hereafter in one place WE spake before of mons Monbrune and of the noble men of Daulphine He lying secretly at home seeming to haue no care for religiō but to prouide for his own priuat ease profit to seke to win the kings fauor came forth at the last contrarie to the expectation of all men and armed him selfe Mons d' Gorges sent vnto him straight after sugred letters promising vnto him euer and among in the kings name both domesticall peace and also libertie of conscience feeding him with friendly promises if so be he would serue the king or at least if he would be quiet and seeke his own profite Neuerthelesse in the meane time he went about to betray him seking to spoyle him of al the succours of his friendes and so to intercept him Mons Monbrune being certified hereof hauing both conscience towardes the religion and hauing abandoned out of his mynde the whole conceiued feare of the butcherly murder and they of Languedoc hauing good successe of their constancie began to persuade with his priuate friendes of the nobilitie which fauoured the religion and kept their houses to come abroade and after deliberation had they agreed together to take Valentz Mōtil Leucrest which were noble cities in Daulphine by them of the Religion whiche as yet were in them And they made their neighbours of Viuaretz acquainted with this matter But when their purpose fayled in taking those townes certaine bands of the inhabitantes in the territorie of Viuaretz also when they were come ouer the riuer of Rosne being intercepted by the horsemen of mons d'Gordes the sayde mons Monbrune tooke certain smal emptie towns of no fame in the hil country of Daulphine neare vnto the Diocesse of Dien as Orpier Diofet and Serra which were kept with no garizons Mons d'Gordes being in securitie and nothing at all fearing the styrring of them of the Religion and the townesmen whereof fauouring also the Religion And then mons Monbrune hauing with hym a fewe of his friends to the number of eyghteene horsemen and two and twentie olde souldiers only wente out of his house not knowing certaynely what to do hauing no sufficient trust in the strength of those fewe so great feare remayned by the remembrance of that lamentable tyme. About the same tyme by hys trauayle in the parts of Troiz whych lieth among the hilles of the Alpes and yet no barren soyle these noble men mons Ledigner Champolian Morge tooke the chiefe Citie called Meuza and dyuers other small townes and gathered togeather a great multitude of the Religious whyche are many in those parts which at that tyme lay hyden in secret places after the cruell slaughter committed MONS d' Gordes notwithstanding not deeming the perill of that hill countrey to be so greate in so weake and small beginnings sent out certayne troupes of horsemen only to intercept Mombrune and his fellowes but hee preuayled not Wherevpon he certifyed the King of a new commotiō Notwithstanding euen at these fyrst beginnings Monbrune tooke certayne troupes of Souldiers belonging to mons de Gords straggling heere and there and offered vp the fyrst fruites of greater slaughter to come OF these smal beginnings it can scarse be told how greatly his strength increased within fewe dayes insomuch that the kings syde had not a more terrible and fearefull enemie in the Realme of France whiche wee will briefly note hereafter in due tyme and place VVE sayde before that the Citizens of Sanferre were in great extremities by reason of domesticall dissentions and that a Castel was taken from them and recouered also by them the same day agayne Being taught by this dangerous admonition they begin more exquisitely to order and appoynt all things in the Citie and ordaine mons Ioanneau the Lieftenant of the towne and a payneful man to be their General and gouernour by his name and authoritie and their captaynes for the warre they chose mons Flore and Mine and certayne others they mustered the townesmen and appoynted bands of Souldiers Notwithstādyng as yet they were not beseeged by the kings armie and many but especially mons Ioanneau coulde not be perswaded that the king amidst the extremities of Rochel and Languedoc warres would beseege the Citie Neuerthelesse the more wise and prouident sort considered and thoughte that hee would not leaue that vnassaulted which was in the very harte and middest of the Realme Thys securitie brought to passe that they of Sanserre left many necessary things vndone but especially it caused them to neglect the prouision of corne for the Citie of whiche they might haue prouided great store in so fertile a countrey in the which their store houses so neare after haruest were replenished almost with all manner of fruites The pulling downe also of the suburbes and other villages adioyning vnto them was pretermitted whiche notwithstandyng was necessary to be done against the seege least the same places myghte serue theyr enemies tourne whyche they dyd afterwarde in very deede to the great anoyance of the towne But principally their carelesnesse in prouiding corne brought vpon them so great a famine that the same myght seeme to be nothyng inferioure nay rather to exceede the famine of Hierusalem and that of Samaria Besyde thys they erred in hopyng for succors by whyche they persisted constant to theyr owne hurt and detriment they whyche ought to haue ayded them eyther not doyng theyr duetie or els so vnfurnished that they could not help Notwithstandyng both their constancie and also theyr wonderfull industrie is woorthy to be remembred of suche as shall come heereafter and specially beeyng in a good cause it deserueth great prayse and commendation Thys history is written in French by one named Lerry an approued witnesse to bee credited beyng at that seege euen to the last moment from whose writing and others information we will according to our manner and purpose set downe that which is only necessary After that they of Sanserre had skirmished certayne dayes with theyr neyghbours of Cosne and had taken from them the