vnto him Hee sent Cotteblanch Prouost of Paris and the president Neuilly to Paris to see whether they could reduce that seduced people to their dutye the Lords Vilaguier and D'Abin did the like but neither of them could do any good About the fifteenth day these strange alterations beeing done in Paris vnder colour of the authority of the States there called and holden by few seditious persons letters were sent from they sayd assembly of rebels there vnto all citties of their confederacy to go forward in the like outrages and furie as they had done And first to autorise their seditious procéedings with great honourable tytles they call their letters a declaration of the Princes Catholikes vnited with the three estates of France touching the Massacre committed vppon the persons of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinall his brother First they doo warne their fellowes to beware of any manner of instructions giuen vnto them by the King himselfe or any others contayning any excuse of the execution committed at Bloys vppon the Duke and Cardinall his brother Secondly they doo aduertise them that they haue as yet of that broode the Dukes de Mayne Aumale Mercure and Nemours and that the Duke de Mayne hath a great armie in readines to defend them Thirdly they go about to cléere the Duke of Guize of the crime of treason saying that it is but calumnies of hereticks denised against that house the space of 25. yeares So with them to spye from time to time the trayterous attempts and Note secrecies of the house of Guize is heresie and a worke of heretickes Fourthly they accuse the King of violating the publike faith and prophaning their corpus Domini as they tearme it vpon the which hee had sworne the edict of reunion But in déede the King swore the edict and not to suffer himselfe to bée murthered by the Duke of Guize Note At length they doo aggrauate the death of the Cardinall of Guize and the imprisonment of the Cardinall of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lions and exhort their companies to vnite themselues and to followe theyr example In the first page of this letter was this marke in the other side the Image of the Duke of Guize Now wee will leaue these confusions of Rebells assembled vnder the colour and name of the States of France to procéede further to fill the measure of their trespasse and will goe to see what the King doth at Bloys and elsewhere Immediatly after the death of Guize the King thought good to make Orleans sure of his side The Citadell in the middest of all these tumults and rebellions of Cities was and did hold for the King And the Lord Antragues who a little before had giuen ouer the League did all that euer he could doo to hold the Citie in the Kings obedience But the inhabitants being seduced afore hand by the Leaguers partakers of the Duke de Mayne encouraged by the conduct of Captain Breton and others who did promise to the inhabitants readie succour from the Duke de Mayne tooke weapons and by the confidence which they had in their riches and strength of their walles did openly reuolt It is commonly said that the Citie of Orleans is the Citadel of France as well for the commodious situation of the same vpon the riuer Loyre as for the fortifications thereof These reasons among others caused the King to trie by gracious and fayre meanes to bring them backe to their duetie But reason not preuayling with a people carried away with passion and seduced by the louers of alteration from the obedience of their King he was compelled to trie by force the meane of the Citadell He therefore sendeth the Marshall Haumont with forces as well of footmen as of horsemen with him hee sendeth part of his gardes and the Swissers The inhabitants on their side goe about by all meanes possible to rid themselues of the Citadell as of a heauie burthen they doo besiege it within the towne side doo trench themselues and couer themselues with horsmen and platformes doo vndermine it to blowe vp that Fort which nothing els but onely one of the gates commonly called Porte-bamere they make issues out and euen vpon the Swissers with some successe they doo thunder and rase that Fort with shot of Ordinance on the inside thereof They of the Kings side doo what they can there is a great number slaine on both sides The Lord Antragues promiseth notwithstanding to the King to keepe during the space of a moneth the out side although it were but broken walls and ruines during the which time he might call backe the armie which was in Poytow at the siege of Ganache vnder the conduct of the Lord of Neuers The inhabitants made two Mines vnder the Citadell but they were vented by them within About the 17. of Ianuarie there went forth out of Paris thrée thousand men well furnished but young souldiours and not trained vp in warre to goe to succor Orleans but they were discomfited by the Lorde Montigny and other Gentlemen who charged them betwéene Estampes and Orleans many of them were slaine the remnant were turned home naked The Duke d'Mayne about the last day of Ianuarie sending some supply of succour to Orleans stayed so their estate which did seeme to hang a side that they tooke courage partly by ruines partly with shot of ordinance and other meanes so wrought that they of the Kings side were inforced to giue ouer the ruines that rested of that which was called the citadell By these meanes Orleans remained hardened at the deuotion of the League So good Christian reader thou séest how the right of God and man is turned vpside downe their popish religion which they would séeme so much to honour reuerence and defend they haue most wickedly prophaned vsing it for a couering of their rebellion thou séest how the reuerence of all soueraigne power and authoritie is blotted out of the minds of them the respect of all lawes troden vnderfoote the sanctuarie of iustice violated and poluted thou séest here a damnable and diuelish anarchie the séeds and foundation of a barbarous and intollerable seruitude laied downe in France by the Duke d'Mayne and his partakers in a manner in like sort as Mahomet began his rebellion against the empire of the Romans Therefore yée O Noble Princes and Nobles of all the Kingdoms of Europe all men who are the louers of vertue and ciuility desirous to resigne to the posteritie good lawes christian libertie and discipline vp make hast to runne vppon these accursed enemies of all mankinde put out by time that fire which dooth threaten all authorities and powers of an horrible cumbustion Now there remaineth but thrée things for the League to bring to passe to set vp and dedicate their Idoll which they haue made to wit the Duke d'Mayne and to finish that piece of worke which his brother the Duke of Guize had brought almost to an end if he had
argument to walke in they cryed out that he serued himselfe of the forces of heretickes no maruel if they cry out now when they see a whip prepared for their backes and that now they are further from bringing to passe theyr wicked thoughts thâ—â— euer they were By these execrable outragious and seditious inue ctiues of these damnable Iesuits and Fryers hyred to sound the trompet of rebellion in a maner throughout all France but specially froÌ„ the riuer of Loyre north west and east and among other Prouinces Normandy was so infected with their poysoned and detestable rebellions that there was not so much as a Uillage to bee found where there was not some of all qualities dronken with their cup of abominations It is sayd before how the King had pardoned Brissak Boysdaulphine and Chastre with many others who within a while abusing the Kinges facility and ascribing their impunity to the Kings puâ—â—llanimity fled and reuolted to the League agayne After this reuolt Brissak and Boysdaulphine went to Anger 's as it is sayd and procured that great Citty to rebell but after the reducing of the sayd Cittye to the Kings obedience by the Marshal Haumont the said Brissak and Boysdaulphin fled and in their flight caused by the meanes of their partakers the Citty of Mans which was already wauering to rebel against the King To these 2. manipuli furum resorted the Lords la Mot Serrant Touchet Angeruile and Normandiere who by theyr treacherous solicitaâ—ion procured almost all the townes of Normandy to rebell and to open their gates to them as Roan which was reuolted long before Luseulx Falaize Newhauen Seas Bayeux Argenton and afterward Alcencon all these opened their gates to the rebels who afterward a most in a litle space consumed them There remained Caen Constances few other towns in base Normandie in the kings obedience by the good and prouident counsel of the Lord de la Veaue Beuuron the Presidents Aulbiguy and Lizeres and some other loyall and Noble men We sée how the cities of Normandie for the most part at the solicitatioÌ„ of Brissak Boysdaulphine and others whose names shall be knowne hereafter and by the preaching of the furious and frantick Iesuites and Friers are brought from the Kings obedience to a damnable rebellion The countrey men also and pesants were induced by the selfe same meanes to rebellion vnder colour of the defending the Catholick religion and hope of libertie There is in high Normandie a certaine place called la Chapelle Gantier thereupon the perswasions of the desperat Iesuites and Friers to countrey men were stirred vp to rebellion both against the King and the Nobilitie and began to commit horrible excesse and cruelties by reason of this beginning all the rebels in Normandy were called Gantiers these Peasants ioyned to themselues a number of Priestes but specially the Priestes of Sees and a great number of bedlem Friers furious Iesuites Parsons and among others the Parson of Vimonstier the most pestiferous desperat and seditious firebrand of all Normandy About the 19. the King vnderstanding of this rebellion in Normandy and foreséeing the mischiefe which might ensue if this euill were not in time remedyed thought good with all spéede to send the Prince Montpensier generall Lieutenant for his Maiestie into that Prouince to reduce them into the true way of their duetie and obedience and commaunded the Lord Saint Cire one of his counselers and Master of the requests of his house to accompany and assist him The King to bring this seduced people in the right way of iust obedience gaue charge to the saide Prince to offer pardon and impunity vnto the rebels in case they woulde liue quietly and peaceably vnder his gouernement Secondly hee discharged them of the third part of all taxes due vnto him hoping to haue a better opportunity and more happie season woulde come when he might gratifie them in some greater matter Thirdly hée gaue a forme of an oath to the said Prince to commaund all men to liue peaceably vnder his Gracious gouernement and to forsake all Leaguers and associations whatsoeuer and in case they would refuse either to returne vnder his protection or else to take that oath he gaue him authority to chastise them with strong hand as traitors and rebels About the 30. the saide Prince departed from Tours accompanied with the Lords of Backeuile and Archant and came to Luce where hee vnderstoode that Boysdaulphin and la Mot Serrant and other rebels had surprised the towne of Mans and purposed to méete with him to stop his way The 31. day this noble Prince of the house of Bourbon passed hard by the nose of the enemies and came as farre as Alencon where hée found the inhabitants amazed for the surprising of the towne of Mans by the enemy whome the rebels also had enueigled to enter into their rebellon and confirmed them in their obedience and duetie toward his Maiestie There this noble Prince with great deuotion and solemnitie kept his Easter and hauing taken order for the safetie of the towne appointed the Lorde Reuty gouernour of the said place with two companies of shot on horseback to kéepe the towne and Castell and to make roades in the villages about to repulse the rebells when they should come to forrage and constraine the inhabitants to pay them taxes and other tributes due to the King The 4. day the Prince vnderstanding that the citie of Sees were minded to ioyne to the rebels and had refused to take the oath according to the prescribed forme of the King purposed to passe that way and sent worde before to the Bishop and inhabitants that they shoulde open the gates for him who vpon a short consultation answered that they were ready to receaue him and being met by the citizens a great way out of the towne hée accompanied with the Lordes of Bakqueuile Archand and their troupes passed through without any stay The said Prince shewed vnto the Bishop and the inhabitants that he came from the King to offer pardon vnto the rebels and that the King ment to deale fauorably with his subiects to make account of them according to their duety and obedience towards him to chastise the rebels obstinat The inhabitants protested though with fained lippes of their loyaltie affection and obedience toward his Maiestie The departing from Sees met with the Lordes de Hallot and Creueceur his brother with a good and honorable tronpe of nobilitie to whome they proffered with many protections faithfully to serue the King as long as breath was in their bodies The 5. of Aprill the Prince departed from Escouche had intelligences that the Lords Touschet Angeruile Normandiere Captaines of the rebels with many Laâ—nciers and a good number of footemen haue come forth out of Falaize and marched on to stop the Princes way and went as farre as a village called Perrefit distant two miles from Falaize where they being met by the Lords Bakqueuile Archand Creueceur were
committed treason but also solicited others to the like offence The sayd Citty had admitted the Duke of Sauoy for their Soueraigne who had put in garrisons to keep them in subiection and about the beginning of this yeare began also to build a citadel in the Citie whereuppon the people fell to a mutiny refused to receaue any more garrisons in his be hoofe The Citie of Marseilles is an ancient Colonie of the Greckes named Phocoei who forsook their countrey when Cyrus king of the Persians did war and subdue Asia the lesser that citie had been commended in the time of the Romans by reason of learning and good discipline which florished there It is a Citie gouerned by their owne Magistrates as Rochel is vnder the protection and obedience of the kings of France and hath continued very long in their sidelity vntill now a dayes degenerating greatly from their ancient vertue they haue shewed great inconstancie in their duty of sidelity vppon these occasions The king of Spayn hath beene greatly iealous of that Citie and hath vsed all the meanes possible to reduce that Towne vnder his obedience since that he dreamed of some possibility to inuade FraÌ„ce supposing that it would haue been a fit Port as a gate for him to passe and repasse to goe in and out of France vppon all occasions at pleasure To bee short to make it an Arsenall to subdue all those Southernly Prouinces lying vppoÌ„ the Mediterran Seas Therefore at the beginning of the League this citie was one of the pledges that should haue béen deliuered him by the Leaguers which practises haue been put to execution twise all ready but through the watchfull dilligence of some faithfull Citizens haue beene disappoynted of their purpose The King of Spayn notwithstanding the great charges which hee sustayned by giuing great pâ—nsions vnto some Captayns and Inhabitants there to fauour his proceedings seeing himselfe still disappoynted yet would he not geue ouer but began to worke another way to wit to continue or rather increase his beneuolence towards the inhabitants perswading theÌ„ in the mean time to associat themselues to the League and to accept the Duke of Sauoy their neighbour for their Protector supposing by these meanes in time the faction of the League preuailing there to make himselfe master of that place The Citizens corrupted with Spanish money and otherwise greatly addicted to Popish vanity and superstition to continue this Spanish liberality among them and to please thus farre the king of Spayne at his request accepted the Duke of Sauoy for Protector of their City and in signe that they were Leaguers aduanced the Standerd of the holie League and set it vppon their walles which is an Idoll which they called the Crucifix in that state they continued nigh a yeare But now vnderstanding the cogging and double dealing of the sayd D. at Aix in intending and attempting there to build a Citadell and how both the nobillity of the Countrey had forsaken him and the people resisted his attempts pulled downe the Standerd of the League and erected the armes of France publishing that they would hold for the King of France Wee haue left the King with his Princes at Chartres there to take possession of that great riche and florishing Citie and haue walked through part of Piemont Daulphine and Prouance Now let vs returne to Chartres there to know what the King doth and shew also the prosperous successe which haue followed the taking of this Cittie of Chartres The Citie of Chartres beeing in the Kings power the Parisiens conceaued a great amazement and terror knowing very well that this exploit would be a scourge vnto them For as in the ancient time Alexandria and Sicilia were the Nurces of Rome so the countrey of Beausse and this Citie of Chartres were the chiefest prouiders for the Cittie of Paris Now therefore the carriage of any kind of victuals and prouisions beeing stopped both aboue and beneath the riuer from the North side and the South and finding themselues destitute of victuals money and all other warlike prouisions for their strength and succour they fall to their olde custome that is to demaund bread of their Idols therefore the Bishop of Placentia their Fryer Gregory the thirteenth his Legat after the returne home of Fryer Henrico Caietano Sponte insanientes instigat set them on to running and gadding about the streetes to carry their Idols with or a pro nobis there is mourning weeping and beâ—ayling there is stridor dentium horror â—empiternus and regnum tenebrarum Yet the Fryers and Iâ—suits do comfort them with seditious sermons and bitter wordes as well as they can but venter non habet aures During the Kings soiourne at the siege of Chartres the Duke de Maine with such power as he could make went and layd the siege before Chasteauthierij situated vpon the riuer Marne The gouernour which was within sâ—nt word to the King that he would hold it against the enemie a whole moneth The King hauing taken order of the safe kéeping of the Citie about the twelfth day of Aprill remoued his armie from Chartres to Aulneaw and Macheuile which townes were reduced to his obedience About the fiftéenth day the armie remoued to Dourdan which towne immediately his armie entred by force where was found great store of victualls gathered with intent to be conueighed to Paris The sixtéenth day the castell a very strong place was assaulted and taken So by this expedition Paris is disappoynted of victuals and prouision and distressed neerer and neerer The same day the King separated himselfe from his armie and leauing the same to the leading of the Marshall Biron with a great troup of horsemen took his iourney toward Chasteauthierij purposing to rayse the siege and to see his face whome he had not seene many yeares before and to craue more acquaintance The Duke de Mayne ashamed and afeard to shew his face for the guiltines of rebellion and parricide procured had no great liking of that acquaintance neither durst be so bold to stay there and contrarie vnto the promise of the captaine of the place and the Kings expectation the Castel being râ—ndred to the sayd de Maine he fled as fast as his horse could cary him to the Citie of Reames The King hearing not onely of the hastie retire of the Duke de Maine from Chasteauthierij but also that he had deuided his armie into sundry parts and that they should continue in that sort for a certaine time determined to stay at Sanlis there to view the countenance of the enemie and in the meane while to take the townes of Dowserie and Claye where the enemies kept garrison which thing was speedelie done In this pursuite the king also tooke the towne of Tremblay by Mountfort which is nowe a great hinderance fo the enemie by reason of the passage The one and twentith day of Aprill while the King pursued the enemies the Duke Espernon and the Lords d'Ho and Vicres
by time with a good will the meanes thereof then to take the same enforced by necessitie The Queene said that they should then stay the armie of strangers and did much braule about the forme of pasportes Then the Vicount replied Madam if yee bee so vnwilling to giue vs good wordes we are not come to that passe to expect good effects for the which we should stay the longer if we should stay for the meanes whereby to enforce you thereunto Madam the time is no more that we will assure our selues vpon a single promise seeing that the edicts haue fayled vs. The Queene did so giue eare to these reasons that shee seemed to haue her minde occupied more vpon the aduertisements which were giuen her on euery side for they set before her face the apparance of a great rebellion and the King was ill prouided of companie The Duke d'Mayne was in Paris practising against the Kings person the Duke of Guize was about to put himselfe into Paris also They made her see in their aduertisements the occasions which the heads of the League had to giue the last blow of dispaire they did shew her that the hope which the Leaguers had of England was dead with the Quéene of Scottes and that the deuotion of the Cleargy did coole as fast as the ambition of the League did heate They shewed her how the sixe armies alreadie were spent and consumed without dooing any thing that they of the reformed religion were growne strong so that there was no more hope for them to build out of the ruines of them whereby it appeared euidently in what daunger of them the King stoode All these things being set before her eyes made her to take her iourney in haste from Niort to Paris fearing least these seditious persons who had left nothing more to enterprise would execute their mischieuous intents vpon the Kings person therefore at the same time the mistrust did greatly encrease at the Court where there were diuers factions for the King mistrusted the Leaguers and the Leaguers the King and among the Leaguers one mistrusted another Euery one going about vnder the colour of defending the Romish religion to lay downe the foundation of their greatnes by rebellion murther and particide which sturring of rebellion caused also that this generall truce which was in hand was not brought to effect It is saide before that the 13. day of December 1586. the Q Mother required of the King of Nauarre that a truce for a whole yeare might bee taken which the King of Nauarre graunted so that it might be by the consent and aduice of his friends seruants and confederats and such as had elected him for their protector and defender whome the King had forsaken by his edicts ploclaiming warre against them and also to certifie the Germans thereof which were his friends and alyed whereupon shee agreed to giue passeports that with safety of the messengers they might be aduertised thereof Vpon this promise of passeports the 29. of December the King of Nauarre to omit nothing which might shew the desire hee had to pacifie the miserable troubles of the realme and for to dispose as well them of the religion as his friends confederates and seruants he sent forth notable gentlemen into diuers countreyes as well of the realme as out of the realme with letters of credit and ample memories to informe them of all that had passed in the interuiew betweene him and the Q. Mother to that end that nothing should be disguised and falsified to them as it had chaunced often times in the former ciuil dissensions by them who doo watch nothing more then to disunite the heartes vnâ—ted to so good a worke as is the quarrell debated so many yeares against the Romish League enemie to al quietnes these were the contents of these letters of credit The King of Nauarre sent to them to whom he directed his letters this Gentleman N. carrier of the said letters to visit them and to let them vnderstand the state of the common affaires and how all things had passed at the meeting of him and the Q. Mother hee praieth them to beleeue the messenger as well about the particularities of the meeting as about all those things which he had to tell them from him he praieth them also to be of good courage and not to bee wearie because of the good hope which hee hath of the blessed issue of so many labours and for his part he will omit no point of his duetie touching the preseruation of the common cause As touching the memories the write inclosed in the letters contained the summe of them The King of Nauarre protector of the reformed Churches in France supposing that to bee the charge of his duety after so many stormes passed to visit and to confirme the remnant of the dissipation hath sent this the Lord N. to represent vnto all them of the religion in the Prouince N. what the estate of the common affaires is And to this effect the saide Lord shal repaire to the Lords Gentlemen other persons of meaner qualitie who haue retired to their owne houses or vnto other places of the said Prouince for the rigour of the edicts if it can be possible that he may find them and shall certifie them how that after so many lettes and delayes which mistrust bringeth hee hath seene the Q. Mother nigh Coignak that hee hath entred into no treatie of peace but onely hath hearkened vnto all that should be proposed to him touching the attaining to the same that he hath promised to doo nothing therein without the aduise of the Churches kinsmen friends confederats and seruants And that acknowledging the honor which the sayd Lady hath done to him considering the labour which she had taken at that tyme of the yeare and in that age that she is of after many discourses which she hath made of her desire and inclination to peace he hath consented to a truce of two moneths in the prouinces of high and low Poytow Laudonoys Mirabaloys Angomoys Xainctonge as well on this side of Charante as beyond as also in the towne and gouernement of Browage and Aluert the countrey of Aunis the town and gouernment of Rochel in the meane tyme to send for the deputies as well of the churches of France as of the conâ—ederats out of the realme for to intreat of the peace by theyr common aduise But hauing sent the Lord Turenne with six men of honor with him to Coignak for to agree vpon the conditions necessary for the entertaining of the sayd truce The sayd Q. mother among other discourses had declared vnto him that the king would suffer but one religion in the realme to wit his owne which determination of the King she saâ—d shee would playnely shew least any man should bee deceaued therein commaunding him to declare the same to the king of Nauarre to his partakers Which message the sayd Vicount reported vnto the king
the premises are according to trueth and for the certitude of the same wee haue sealed this report with our hands andseales at S. Ihan d' Angely the 6. day of March 1588. Medicis Bontemps Pallet Poget Mesnard Chotard About the same time the King of Nauarre came out of Gascoyne who being aduertized of his death commaunded that such as were suspected of that villanous fact should be pursued Whereupon a page suspected saued himselfe by flight many more were apprehended The processe was made vnto many with all the solemnities requisite thereunto whereof within a while after the condemnation of one Brillaut ensued the page also was condemned vpon centumacie executed in Picture Brillaut was drawne vpon a hurdle through all the streates of S. Jhan and in the chiefest place of the sayd towne was torne in peeces with foure horses Now we see how the Leaguers when they haue not been able to destroy the Princes by valour haue vsed treacherous procéedings For first hauing treacherously shortned the life of the Duke of Alençon by poyson as it is saide in the first booke and seduced the Cardinall of Bourbon making him dreame of a kingdome in his old doting age and to oppose himselfe to two Kings to wit the King and the King of Nauarre and to all the house of Bourbons out of which God had made him that honour as to haue issued one of the chiefest as is sayd in the second booke They also haue condemned the King of Nauarre to dye by their Italian figges and there uppon proclaymed his death which they had promised to themselues both in Lorreyne and in the Court and in Townes and Cities of their fauourers but God hath disappoynted them of their murtherous purpose At length by the long suffering of God to plague France they haue preuayled agaynst that good godly vertuous famous Prince of Conde and that vpon such a day as hath béen fatall to the house of Guize to work mischief murther and rebellion The death of this noble Prince amazed all men in Xainctonge knowing that God had some heauie iudgements to execute vppon France and that GOD had taken that noble Prince least he should see euill dayes as the Prophet Esay saith It is sayd before how the Lord Lauerdine who was master of the Campe saued himselfe by flight out of the slaughter of Coutras betooke himselfe to the towne of Niort to the Lord Malicorne his vncle where hée soiourned as his Lieutenant Here Christian Reader wee haue to obserue that although the King and the Leaguers hated in wardly one another and in outward appearance did deepely dissemble their affections yet wee doo see that as Herode and Pilate did excercise priuie hatred betweene them and at length in persecuting Christ did well agree as friends so in men of like degrées and in like actions the like affections are boyling in their hearts For the rumour of the death of the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde which the Leaguers hauing set some secret price vppon their heads had promised vnto themselues did cause the King and the Leaguers in outward apparance to be great friends and to promise vnto themselues an vtter rooting out of them of the religion and a sure subduing of all things beyond the riuer of Loyre With speede therefore they sent eight or nine regiments conducted by the Lord Courbe to the Lord Lauerdine Lieutenant of his vncle the Lord Malicorne at Niort in Poytow who with al the forces which he could gather both in the lowe and high Poytow the 16. day of March about two a clocke after midnight descended into Marans by boates through the marishes of Beauregard and with fiue hundred footmen seazed vppon the house and farme of the sayd Beauregard hauing found no resistance but onely of two of the inhabitants of Marans with a little boate who were gone to discouer the Iland Cicoigne these two discharging their peeces vpon the enemies retyred to the trenches of Beauregard there they found but fiue or sixe Souldiers as well of the inhabitants as others who also discharged certaine shot vpon the enemie who notwithstanding aduanced and came to land The cause why the Lord Lauerdine subdued these Ilands so easily was first the certayne newes of the death of the Prince of Conde and the rumours bruted abroade touching the supposed death of the King of Nauarre which thing caused great amaze and discouraging among all men Secondly the ill order and prouidence of the gouernour for if he his troups and inhabitants had done their duetie Lauerdine had not entered that Iland at that price or els had been chased out to his dishonour and losse The Lord Iarry had béen aduertized three dayes before of the enterprize of Lauerdine and might haue put into the Ilands forces sufficient to resist the enemie for the companies of the Lord Trimouille conducted by the Lord Boysduly returning from Cotaudiere were very nigh him to wit at S. Radagond Champaigne and Puyreneau who desired nothing more then to enter into Marans But the gouernour and the inhabitants fearing the preace of Souldiers which was excessiue indeede would not admit them but sent to Rochel the Captaine Plaute Lieutenant of the Gouernour to request them of Rochel to send them about fiftie Souldiers whom they would entertayne vntill they might see what the enemie would doo which thing they of Rochel could not doo for that time Notwithstanding this refuse and that the gouernour was well aduertized that he had not sufficient forces to let y e enemie to take land yet the companies of the Lord Boysduly passing through the Brault were sent further as farre as Esuand through foule wayes ouerthwart the Marshes whereas they should haue been stayed to be vsed as the necessitie had required They sent notwithstanding the same day at euening to the said Boysduly but arriuing not before ten or eleuen a clock in the night was the cause that succour could not come in time although that the diligence of the sayd Boysduly and his companies was wonderfull for without any leasure to lodge and without any respect of the indignitie proffered him and his troupes the day before they departed presently and repayred to the fort Brune one houre and a halâ—e before the enemie tooke lande at Beauregard But whilest the gouernour and the inhabitants made some difficultie to let in all his troupes being not willing to receaue aboue 50. or 60. the enemie on the other side entred at Beauregard as is sayd so that the entrie into Brune was not opened to the sayd Boysduly nor his troups afore that the enemy had already gotten the farme house of Beauregarde There had beene meanes to driue back the enemie if speedely the troups who were entred at Brune about three a clock after midnight had gone to meete the enemie as some did giue their aduise to doe For the L. Lauerdine was not yet well accompanyed and it had beene an easie thing to cut the way to the
had beene still in the Loure and knowing that there rested nothing more to doo but to haue his person for a gage of the Crowne determined to besiege the Loure and to bring out of hand the Artilery before the gate But vnderstanding that he was issued out and gone already a great way of hee remayned Master of Paris séeing that the Master and the seruants had yeelded him the lodging Hetherto wee haue conducted the King to Trappes and his forces are sent packing and the Duke maketh merrie in Paris in hope likewise to be Master of all the rest The Duke and his partakers perceauing how the King had giuen the slip and auoyded their bloudie hands doo scratch their heads and see their error for although the ouerthrow was great yet the victorie was not full the enterprise not well executed and the King being not taken the issue thereof was doubtfull and full of perplexitie For their consciences doo represent before their eyes the perfidious rebellion which they had committed as to haue not onely dispossessed him of his house of whome they holde all that euer they had but also to haue sought to murther him whom God had consecrated to represent before their eyes the image of his Soueraigne iustice to destroy their Prince who had loued them so tenderlie their benefactor who had cherished them as a Father his owne naturall Children They accurse their negligent folly in that they had not beene more watchfull to attend vpon his person feare seazed their hearts when considering the greatnes of their offence doo also knowe that yet hee will haue meanes inough to bring their dooings to iudgement and to take reuengement of them according to the haynousnes of their offence To be short they are very sory not for that which they had done but for that they haue not done worse But the Duke of Guize considering well that the stincking fame of his villanous fact would flee abroade vnto the eares of forraine Princes who will thinke themselues interesâ—ed in this iniurie and that they will not forsake such a mightie Prince in his distresse hee thought good that the execution done this day might be reported vnto Princes neighbours and friends of the Crowne in such a manner that whatsoeuer was therein most odious and damnable might bee either concealed or else coloured Therefore among others he forgot no courtesie and honest offers to the Lord Ambassodor of England to whome he sent the Lord Brissak accompanied with some others to offer him a protection and to pray him not to bee dismayed and not to remoue thence with assurance of safetie The Ambassador answered that if he had been as a priuat men in Paris hee would haue gone to prostrate himselfe at the feete of the Duke of Guize for to giue him most heartie thankes for his courtesies and honest proffers but being there nigh the King for the Queene of England his Mistresse who had aliâ—unce and couenant of amitie with him he could not nor would not take any protection but of the King onely The Lord Brissak shewed him that the Lord of Guize was not come to Paris to enterprize any thing against the King or his seruice but that hee hath resolued himselfe vpon the defensiue and that there was a great conspiracie against him and the Citie of Paris and how the towne house and other places were ful of gibets whereon the King had determined to hang a great number of the Citie and others The Lord of Guyze prayed him to aduertize his Mistresse of all these things to the end the worlde might be informed of the trueth The Ambassador answered that he could easilie beleeue that he saide as he thought but that hauty and hard enterprises oftentimes doo remayne incommunicable and closely shut vp in the hearts of them who doo enterprise them which also when they thinke good doo produce them forth with such colour as they iudge most fit for their aduantage And that he would say freely that whatsoeuer had passed in Paris would bee iudged very strange and wicked by all the Princes of Christendome who were interessed in it and that no colours were they neuer so fayre could make it to seeme good being the simple duety of a subiect to remaine in the iust obedience of his Soueraigne And that if there were so many gibets prepared it would bee beleeued more easily when the Lorde of Guyze shoulde bring them in sight And graunt that so it were yet is it a hatefull thing and intollerable that a subiect would let by force the iustice which his Soueraigne will execute with strong hand He promised him that willingly he would aduertise the Queene his Mistresse of all that which he tould him but to serue him as an interpreter of all the conceites of the Duke of Guyze and of them of his part it was no matter belonging to his charge The Queene his Mistresse being wiser then hee to beleeue and iudge what would please her Maiestie vpon that which he would write vnto her The Lord Brissake seeing that neither by fayre offers words nor prayers the Lord Ambassadour could be mooued to allowe their actions ended his speaches with threatnings saying that the people of Paris had a quarrell to him by reason of the crueltie which the Quéene of England had shewed to the Quéene of Scots To this word of crueltie the Ambassadour answered I arest you vpon this word of crueltie my Lord no man euer named a iustice well qualified crueltie Moreouer I beléeue not that the people of Paris haue any quarrell to mée as you say for vpon what occasion seeing that I am here a publike person who neuer molested any bedie Haue you any armour sayd the Lord Brissake If you did aske it me sayd the Lord Ambassadour as as of him who hath béen sometime friend and familiar of the Lord Cosse your vncle it may be I would tell you but being that which I am I will not tell you You shal be searched here sayd Brissake ere it belong for it is thought here is armour and it is to be feared you will be forced I haue two gates in this house sayd the Ambassadour I will shut and defend them as long as I may that it may appeare to the world that vniuftly in my person they haue violated the right of Nations To that Brissak replied but tell me in good friendship I pray you haue you any armour The Ambassadour answered seeing you aske me as a friend I will tell you as a friend If I were â—ere as a priuate man I would haue armour but being here as Ambassadour I haue none other armour then the right and faith publike I pray you sayd Brissak keepe your doores shut vp I ought not to doo it sayd the Lord Ambassour for the house of an Ambassadour ought to be open to all goers and commers considering that I am not in France to dwell in Paris onely but to bee nigh the King wheresoeuer he be
sinister and malitious interpretations the sincerity of his meaning And last of all he complayneth of the partialities and corruption of the Deputies of prouinces exhorting them to assist his vertuous and royall enterprises He protesteth of his zeale to popery and good affection to Papists which he hath testifyed by sundry benefytes most largely bestowed vppon them by the victoryes and conquests which he obtained against the heretikes being then but a child and that now being a man hauing more experience then euer he had he hath also more wil and courage which hee would haue playnly shewed in his voiage to Guyen entended to haue béen performed in his owne person if the League had not let him After these complaints and protestations hee giueth the charge to the assembly that when they haue conferred wisely and aduisedly about their instrucions they will specially shew him the means howe to reforme and represse swearing and blasphemies and corruptions in bestowing ecclesiasticall liuings which he called simony selling of offices of iustice which things he was about to reforme when the League rose vp in armour Anno 1585. He promiseth them that hereafter he will make a better choyce of men in prouiding them of dignities and offices He commendeth to them the carefull prouision for the aduancement of learning crafts and traffick to seeke for the meanes to cut off excesse and waste and to pull downe the excessiue price of things He commendeth vnto them the royall authoritie and the ancient laws for the preseruation of the same As for the feare which they haue coâ—â—eiued to fall hereafter in the gouernement of an heretick Prince as he hath prouided therefore already by his Edict of preunion so hee pretendeth to make it in the next Session a fundamentall law of the Realme He willeth them to prouide for the ease of his subiectes for the reformation of his reuenues tributes and treasury so that consideration be had to the entertaining of the royall dignity and publike charges promiseth for his part to reforme himselfe and his house exhorteth them to goe faithfully about their businesse And calling heauen and earth to witnes protesteth the fayth of God and men that the fault shall not remayne in him if the realme be not reformed but in them if they do abandon their lawfull King in such an holy laudable action Last of all citeth them to appeare before the righteous Iudge who shal make open their craft hipocrisyes and dissimulations and punish their treachery and vnfaithfulnesse in case they do not their duty in this matter The King hauing ended his â—peech the Lord keeper of the Seales began by the Kings commaundement to open the matter to be intreated of in that assembly more at large and hauing spoken of the originall Ordinance Power Authority and of the benefites thereof First he exhorteth the Priests to propound vnto the people the word of God which sayth he is liuing full of efficacy and more pearcing then a two edged sword and confirme the same in their hartes by vertuous life shewing that for lacke of dooing these things on their parts had issued out all the corruptions and miseryes of the realme but all these good speeches are aeren verberare laterem lauare oleum operam perdere Secondly hee directeth his speech vnto the nobility shewing them what their dutie was how they should excell in all iustice goodnes and godlines and specially to assist the king in obeying him in the execution of iustice tantundem efficit He sheweth them the great execrable swearing and blasphemyes to be much vsed among them willeth them to follow the ancient manner of the nobility of France which was to sweare in the word and faith of a gentleman and that with great reuerence and circumspection sheweth them the great mischiefs which do procéed out of duels fraies or priuy combats abhorred in all ages of all good christians and that they should shew themselues valiant in commaunding ouer their owne affections Thirdly hee spake vnto the third estate whereof the iudges and ministers of iustice did hold the first roome and vpon which all Monarchies soueraignties and powers are grounded and stablished Sheweth the ouerthrow of the distributiue iustice done by the delayes subtiltyes disguysing of the truth and malicious interpretation of the law which thinges commonly are done euery where attributing all these faults partly vnto particular coueteousnes of the ministers of iustice partly to their ignorance and wicked life partly to the multiplicity of offices in the realme He sheweth the horrible faults committed in not obseruing the lawes for the punishment of swearers blasphemers players vnthrifts vsurers vniust purchassars deceauers in selling vncleane persons such as do resort to brothel houses and such like vicâ—s Willeth them to consider the maintenance of royall dignity his charges and debtes and last of all to bee carefull to preserue the Catholike religion The Priests Nobility for the most part Deputies Commissioners and Assignes of the Prouinces appointed for that assembly did harken to that doubtfull yet wise and graue orations of the King and Lord keeper with a mery countenance as it seemed but with a dissembling and treacherous hart So that they who for his vndooing and ouerthrow were assembled and sworne fed him with fancies And first the Archbishop of Bourges doth closly couer all the dissimulations and traitrous thoughtes of the Priestes with a low courtesy and great grammarcy and wee hartely thanke you for your great paines in so opening the way to the assembly prayseth his great eloquence and wisedome compareth him with Vlisses and Nestor both he and the rest of his fellowes do shew themselues ready not onely to kisse his foot but also to runne into his tayle with their noses if it please him to giue them leaue gratia sit auribus He exhorteth him to execute his charge which saith he is to persecute the heretikes as he tearmeth them to establish popery and with tooth and nayle to defend the holy Mother the church by holy Church hee meaneth the swarms of Masmonging Priestes and the legions of the Fryery and Monkery which thing if hee doth he doth not onely promise him the long life of Argantonius and Nestor but also euerlasting life because belike the more bloud of the Saynts he shall spill for that is to â—efend the church the more he shall merit to win heauen When the Archbishop had ended his flattering Oration the Baron of Seuecy in the name of the Nobility doth awake the King of his sleep bloweth the Trompet soundeth the alarum crying out vppon heretikes set vppon heretikes down with heretikes strike kill murther spoyle rooâ— out heretikes restore the church ease the people establish the realme in the first dignity and brightnes proffereth to the King in that respect and in the name of the nobility to expose all vnto the last drop of theyr bloud This being ended the Prouost of Paris least he should seeme to haue neither
they became more insolent which they haue shewed in surprising his townes fortresses and in rebelling agaynst him his Officers and Magistrates couering their treasons vnder the name of Catholike religion Therefore he doth declare the sayd Dukes de Mayne and Aumale to haue forfayted all estates and offices honors power gouerments charges dignities and prerogatiues which they haue receaued of his predecessors and himselfe hee doth declare them attaynted of fellony rebellion and high treason commaundeth his Officers to proceed agaynst them by any maner of way and agaynst their posterity as agaynst such as he hath declared them if they do not submit themselues by the first day of March next following This proscription was declared the first day of February The same day also the King pronounced the like proscriptions against the rebellious and trayterous Citties of Paris Orleans Anjous Roen Abeuile and others declaring them conuicted of fellony rebellion and treason in the highest degree willing all his officers to proceede agaynst them and against al them that doo or shall assist them by any meanes and against their posterity as agaynst such as they be declared if they do not returne vnder his obedience by the 14. day of march next following The King intending by these thunderclaps to call them to their dutie purposing yet to haue forgotten all offences for the loue which he had to popish religion common to the rebels with him and for hatred of the reformed religion gaue them as is aforesaid a certayne day prefixed by the which tyme if they did not returne to their duty he determined to chastise them by force and therefore the sixt day of February hee sent forth his commissions to all Nobles Gentlemen and Captaynes to prepare themselues with all furniture necessary to repayre to him the 12. of March following Neither is the sentence of the King an ydle threatning but is as if it were a condemnation of Gods law pronounced by the soueraigne Magistrate whose punishments God hath partly executed and partly hath reserued to execute hereafter in the fulnes of time About the middle of February the King vnderstanding what had passed in Paris how the rebels had enforced the Senat to swear an vnion against him his life person and estate did transport the exercise of iustice and of all his courts and chambers of Parliament from Paris and also all other courts of iustice in the aforesaid townes of Orleans Aujous Abeuile Roen and others to his citie of Tours vpon Loyre deprauing the sayd trayterous cities of al offices dignities charges and priuileges commaunding al his Iudges Counsellers officers of al his courts in the said cities to repaire to the citie of Tours vpon Loyre by the fifteenth of Aprill next following there to execute their charges vpon payne of depriuation of their wages offices forbiddeth also that no apparance be giuen by any officer vnto any suter and also no parties to appeare in any other place saue in Tours onely before his Iudges there vpon payne to be declared rebels It is sayd before how wee haue left the King of Nauarre sicke in bed of a dangerous pleuresie whilest the League haue nigh filled the measure of their execrable treasons and rebellion Now the Lord reseruing that noble Prince if not to restablish the flourishing estate of that Realm yet he hath raised him as it were out of his graue to prolong the vtter dissipation of it and in the middest of the horrible confusions thereof to reunite the hearts and mindes of the godly and vertuous to saue some corner of the sayd Realme for a place of refuge for the remnant of the Israel of God Behold therefore O great King the Lord hath restored thée to health strengthened thine armes to warre and thy hands to fight he hath girded thée with force constancie wisedome and iustice the Lord of Armies doth call thee to restore true religion iustice iudgement Discipline and peace vtterly decayed through the malice of thine enemies be strong and faint not for the Lord will put a great worke in thine hand to execute Followe the vocation of God and the Lord will be a shadowe at thy right hand to kéepe thée from euill doo good things with good meanes and thou shall see thine enemies to fall before thy face thou shalt pitie them and do them good Whilest the King doth so thunder the threatnings of Gods lawe and the claps of his iustice agaynst those Rebels forsaken and reiected of God as is afore sayd the King of Nauarre perceiuing the King to be in distresse persecuted and dispossessed out of his Towns and Cities euen out of his owne houses by his enemies abroade and to liue in great mistrust of his domesticall enemies who did daily eate bread at his owne table did greatly lament his case keepeth himselfe quiet beyond Loyre ceaseth from all acts of hostilitie and exployts of warre least he should encrease his affliction and heauines And desirous greatly to make a proofe of his fidelitie towards the King and to crosse the actions of the leagued rebels proffereth peace to the King and watcheth diligently that his enemies might not set foote in any place where hee had meanes to make sure for the kings seruice as for the ease of them of the religion So that after the taking of Niort as is afore sayd in the latter end of Ianuary the inhabitants of S. Meixant and Maillezay two Townes nigh neighbours of Niort yeelded themselues vnto him The Lord Aubiguy was appoynted Gouernour of that Iland About the 14. of February the King of Nauarre hauing recouerd his perfect health and strength with part of his forces tooke the field marching toward the riuer of Loyre The inhabitants of Lodune Lisle Bouchard Mirabean Chastelerault Vinonne and other places and Castles of the countrey of Turenne and Poytow offered to open the gates of their townes vnto him and also proffered vnto him their seruices He receiued them very courteously and without innouation of any thing he suffered them of the Romish religion to liue with all libertie with their ordinarie exercises onely he commanded them of the reformed religion with the exercise of the same there to be established commaunding them of both religions to liue in amitie and peace About the same time many Townes and places in diuers parts of the Realme which before did seeme to bee at the deuotion of the Leaguers were made sure for the Kings seruice as well in Bourgondy as in other Prouinces and among others the Towne and Castle of Sancerre in Berry was seazed for the King That Towne had béen greatly defaced in the former warres for the walles of the Towne had béen rased by the Lord Chastre Gouernour of Berry who did put a Captaine within the Castle for the kéeping of the same and to bridle the inhabitants there who were all of the religion But after the death of the Duke of Guize the Lord of Requien of the house of Montigny Captayne of
doo leauing of all suspitions and despising the counsell of many who would haue him to differ that interuiewe vntill another time considering also that there was no apparance of danger he passed ouer the riuer at the bridge of Saint Saphorine went to méete the King accompanied with the Marshall Hautmont and many of his nobilitie and his gardes leauing the rest of his forces to stay for him at the passage He found the King staying for him in the alley of the Parke of Plessis there was so great throng as well of Courtiers as of the inhabitants of the Citie who ran thether from euery where that the two Kings stayed the space of halfe a quarter of an houre stretching their armes one toward another before they could touch one another so great was the preace for the place though very spacious would not receaue the multitude so that the trées were loaded with men to beholde that blessed méeting The embrasings the salutations were reiterated diuers times of both Kings with a shew of mutuall ioy and contentation The reioysing of all the Court and of the people was incredible for all men did crie by the space of halfe an houre God saue the King a voyce that had not been hard either at Tours or in any place else where the King had béen in more then foure moneths before Another acclamation followed the first God saue the Kings God saue the King and the King of Nauarre all men praised God and blessed that happie and long desired reconsiliation The two Kings parting thenâ—e entred into counsell where they were the space of two houres and after the counsell they tooke their horses and roade together accompanied with the Court vnto Saint Anne which is halfe the way to the Suburb called Roches the streates were so full of people that it was hard for them to passe all the way sounded with acclamatioâ—s and voyce of ioye for the hope which euery one had conceaued that these two Kings being so vnited would ouercome their enemies and restablish the state of the kingdome and would end the miseries which had vexed France so long The said King of Nauarre departed from the King at Saint Anne repassed Loyre where his troupes stayed for him lodged at the Suburbs of Saint Saphorin nigh the bridges end The morrow after being the first day of May about sixe a clock in the morning the King of Nauarre entred into the towne to goe to salute the King All that morning was employed in counsell vntill ten a clock that the King would goe to Masse where hée was accompanied by the said King of Nauarre vnto the Church doore from thence hée went to salute the Princesse of Condy and County staying for the Kings returne from Masse Afterward the said King of Nauarre as long as hée made his aboade there oftentimes visited the King and tooke counsell together for the common benefit of the realme The same day the said King of Nauarre obtained of the King for them of Sedan ten thousand Crownes for to helpe them in their affaires with letters written vnto the Duke of Lorreyne commaunding him to make warre no longer vppon Sedan declaring that they were vnder his protection Whilest these things were a dooing at Tours the Duke d' Mayne did batter Chasteaurenault but vnderstanding of the interuiew of the two Kings at the selfe same houre of the interuiew hée brake the siege and in haste retired to Vendosme The King as is before said stoode in great danger to be either murdered or else deliuered to the enemy by the intelligence which the Duke d' Mayne had with some traitours which were of his counsell in the Court and in the Citie Now by this blessed reconsiliation here is a great change to bée séene on a suddaine for by this the King is put out of feare liueth out of danger of the rebels is fortified by ariuall of this mighty Prince and army vnlooked for the hearts of all good subiects are herewith encouraged and the conspiratours are terrified for the Duke of Mayne being at Vendosme and in the territory there abouts with a mighty army of traitors had committed such insolencies vppon the people of their owne League and vnion that the countrey was replenished with outcries curses and imprecations Feare therfore of the King of Nauarre and of some insurrection of the people of the countrey constrained him first to place part of his army in garisons in the townes of Beausse Anjou Mayne and Perche to make hauock of all that he left behind and afterward to returne to Paris The Duke d' Mayne hauing so deuided his army with one part of the same giueth to himselfe many alarum in that retire to Paris It is said before how about the beginning of Aprill the King considering the reasonable proffers of the King of Nauarre who in his great prosperity and when he might haue enlarged his authority farre and wide throughout al France proffered peace and ayd vnto the King to his great disaduantage at length necessitie inforced the saide King to conclude a truce with the King of Nauarre for a whole year beginning at the 3. day of Aprill 1589. and ending the same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1590. inclusiuely The conditions of the said truce were agreâ—d vppon and promised to be obserued by the two Kings the 26. of Aprill First in publication of the same truce the King with a long discourse doth protest of his consiancy in the Catholick religion and opposeth the proofes which he hath shewed from his youth vp as well in his priuat profession and exercises as in pursuing the contrary religion by all meanes and restablishing the said romish religion in places where it had béene abolished against the calumnies false reports and slaunders of the Leaguers On the contrarie sheweth how his enemies haue taken the pretence of religion and discharging the people of sundry exactions to make associations to strengthen themselues to replenish the realme with tumults and confusions whereby they haue giuen opportunity to the heretickes to abolish the Catholik religion and to enlarge theirs and they themselues haue by sundry cruelties and extortions oppressed his subiects of the Catholick religion he complaineth that the Leaguers hauing attempted against his person and proclaymed an open war against him and his authority who through their iniuries haue enforced him to call the King of Nauarre to his naturall and lawfull defence against their rebellions and treasons Secondly he declareth how the King of Nauarre acknowledging his duty toward his Maiesty and pittying the miserable state of the realme subuerted brought to a lamentable confusion by the Leaguers hath instantly required peace of him Whereupon by the aduise of the Princes of the bloud officers of the Crowne and Lords of his Counsell he hath concluded a truce and ceasing from all hostility throughout the whole tralme therein comprehending the County of Venisse and state of Auignon belonging to the
the Kings will and promise made vnto him proffered vnto him their faithfull seruice Thus the present estate and summe of affairs being managed he retired into Normandy hauing not with him aboue eight thousand men of all sortes and stayed there a while beholding what the enemy would enterprise Now we wil leaue the King about the Sea coast in Normandy where we haue brought him with eight thousand men of all sorts and will goe to see what is done in other places what preparations the Leaguers do and after we will passe ouer the Alpes to see how doth Frier Sixtus and what iolly diuinity is with him and his Chaplains About the 31. of Iuly which to the Papistes is the 21. of August the D. of Lorreine thought good to blow the fire of rebellion to make it burne more furiously There is Langres a noble City in that part of Bourgondy which commonly is called Bassigny the citizens had euer remayned faithfull to the King and could neuer bee brought to associat themselues to the League smelling the breath of the Lorreins as nigh Neighbours to Nancie This noble Citie the Duke of Lorreine desired greatly to bee of the association of the rebellion knowing the importance of that place by reason of the strong situation thereof to make much for the affayres of the rebellion First he sheweth his sorrow for the Kings death to be so great that hee cannot keepe himselfe from weeping This weeping and teares are to be supposed to proceede from ioy he himselfe beeing one of the procurers of the murther Secondly he fayneth a great feare least the Gospell which he calleth heresie entring into their City should breake the necke of Popery and so rid their Citie of that deceitfull guest which by all meanes possible hee would haue courteously entertained Thirdly he exhorteth them to admit none of the Kings fauorers within their walles and in so doing promiseth them all ayde and fauour The noble Citie of Langres after curteous thanks geuen him for an answere the third of August doth first protest of their zeale goodwill and constancie in the Catholike faith Secondly doth protest of their great sorrow conceaued for the death of their late King of blessed memorie proffering themselues their liues their goods and whatsoeuer is deare vnto them for the iust and due reuengement of that most vilanous and execrable deede Last of all doth protest of their dutifull obedience to their King promising all assistance with all their meanes todefend him and nobility ioyned with him both in the defence of the Crowne and State and also in pursuing the authors of that murther vntill that a sufficient reuengement be taken of them The Citizens of the Noble Citie of Langres perceauing by these letters of the Duke of Lorreine that further matters might be attempted to procure a rebellion within their Citie to preuent all that might happen the third day of August and in their Popish calender The twelfth they assembled al the Magistrates Officers Citizens and Inhabitants of their Citie in the Towne-house after ripe consideration of the euils procured by the Leaguers and rebels and of their duties of their lawfull obedience did all with accord and minde promise and sweare First the keeping of the Catholike faith Secondly they do sweare neuer to admit any confederacy society faction or conspiracie neither with the Lorreyne nor any other forreine nor within the Realme without the expresse commandement of their King Thirdly doo acknowledge Henry of Bourbon the 4. to bee their lawfull King and naturall heire and successour to the Crowne of France and sweare neuer to depart from his obedience but to obey him and to defend him and the fundamentall lawes of the right succession of the Crowne proffering all their liues goods and meanes to preserue his person his state Crowne and kingdome and not to admit any sedition or conspiracie against him Last of all doo sweare to assist him with all their power and meanes to reuenge the vnworthie death of Henry de Valoys lately deceased Many other Townes on the North side of Loyre as in Gastinoys Hurepoys Auxerroys Bourgundie Bassigny and Champaigne being wauering encouraged with the example of the noble Citie of Langres did resolue themselues in reiecting the entising perswasions of Rebels to remayne in the Kings obedience and tooke the like oath voluntarily as the sayd Citie of Langres had done As the Rebels in the rest of Townes and Cities tooke occasion by the proclayming of the King to stirre the people to their societie of vnion that is to rebellion crying still the Catholike the Catholike religion heresie heresie heretikes heretikes so in like manner the heads of the rebellion doo prepare all the forces that euer they can for the Duke of Lorreyne gathered a great power of horsemen and footmen which he sent to the Duke de Mayne to Paris conducted by his eldest sonne the Marquesse du Pont. The Duke de Mayne also sent to the Duke of Parma for succour supposing that with the great forces which he was able to make within Paris the succour which was expected from Lorreyne and some companies of horsemen of Wallons and Germanes he would easily make an end of the warre The Duke of Parma therefore sent lustie companies of horsemen and Wallons vnder the conduct of the Duke of Brounswicke and Countie Egmond who did arriue about the beginning of September Now let vs leape ouer the Alpes to see Frier Sixtus and pray to God that the pockes may neuer depart from him nor from that holy sea seeing that his predecessor Iulius the great warriour being either the first or one of the first in all Italy which was infected with it if Ihuigo doth not lye and of a speciall grace and Apostolicall fauour left it to all the legions of Friers and Massemongers for a token of their honest and chast life The Rebels hauing committed that sauage murther vpon the person of their Soueraigne King and Prince whom God commaunded them to obey serue and reuerence and such as in Catholicisme did surpasse the best Catholike in the world and to bee short with one blowe hauing executed the secret counsell of Rome for the rooting out the rase of Valoys and put out the Lamp of France as for the Bourbons they had made their account to haue destroyed them all ere now they sent in post to Rome to congratulate Frier Sixtus for their good successe and also to haue his Frierlike counsell to bring their worke to perfection according to the sacred counsell of Rome as is aforesayd In this message as it appeared in Frier Sixtus oration they had certified him how miraculously the Frier went out of Paris in great daunger to be searched out and afterward miraculously passed through the Campe of the heretikes and through the Kings gardes not perceiued of any man but as if the diuell should conuey him inuisible in a clowde vntill he came into the Kings presence so that no man had no power
course taken to wit the siege of Paris raysed therefore the siege and marched toward Paris The 25. of Aprill the king layed the siege agaynst Charanton a towne situated vpon the fall of Marne into Seine in the sight of the City of Paris There was in a Tower ten souldiers of Paris which did obstinat themselues in the defense of the same whom he forced and caused their Gouernour to be hanged Hauing seazed vpon Charanton the king doth present himself before the Citie about the 28. of Aprill tooke the Villages about began to lay downe the forme of the siege where he determined to send part of his forces on the South side of the Cittie therewith to compasse that side And with the other part to besiege the North side and the Towne of S. Denis all at once there he maketh all things ready maketh his approches sitteth still without proffering any force but onely doth stop the entring in of victuals hoping that scarcenes and neede would haue mollifyed their hartes and the present danger of the very famin which did threaten them would haue mooued them to some moderat counsell Now wee will leaue the king before this siege harkening what the determination of the Parisiens is and goe to see what is done in other places About the beginning of May there was in the noble and loyall Citie of Renes in Britaine a sauey sot prating Frier who in the pulpit to stir vp sedition in the cittie tooke it for a poynt of diuinity and an ornament of Fryerlike Rhetorike to call the king heretike but the Court of Parliament there so gagged him with a cord about his necke that when hee had preached his last Sermon on the top of a Ladder he brake his necke with a sore fall there were also sixe of the chiefest Cittizens hanged with him for company for hauing procured this seditious Frier in his Sermons to stirre vp sedition About the selfe same time the Lord Rieux defeated the Duke of Lorreyn nigh Mâ—tes and tooke away all his artillery It is sayd before how the King sent the Duke of Longueuille with part of the army to scoure and stop the riuer Oyse who accompanied with the L. la Nouë tooke Beaumont which was gouerned by the Lord Pierrencourt there the Duke of Longueuille caused the chiefest men of the Towne to bee hanged Paris beeing besieged by the king as is sayd the people do harden their harts more and more being perswaded by the Fryers and Iesuits and by them whom that sottish and Idolatrous people had in admiration to wit the Popes Legat the Spanish Ambassador the Bishops of Paris Lyons Glasco Placentia Aste Rhemes Sanlis there were the Duchesses de Nemours Mayne Montpensier The Prouost Escheuins other officers they partly encourage partly do terrifie the people doo yet once agayne gather a great somme of money vpon the inhabitants they doo cast great store of artillerie and prepare all things to withstand the siege They made a search of all the grayne and prouision of victuals which were within the Citie They made also a reckoning of the people which did amouÌ„t to two hundred thousand persons the corne came to that quantitie as would suffice the citie for a whole moneth allowing a pound of bread to euery one a day and besides fourtie thousand bushels of Oates They appoynted one Anthony L'amy a rich Marchant of the Citie to haue the charge of the market and to appoynt Bakers in euery quarter of the Citie to whom he deliuered the corne at foure Crownes the bushell and not aboue after that rate they should sell the pound of bread at halfe a Spanish royall This order being taken they went about to assure themselues of the wil of the Citizens for feare that any sedition should arise by reason of the scarsenes which vndoubtedly they sawe would ensue They gathered all the chiefest Citizens and Captaynes in the halles of their quarters and there they were made sweare neuer to consent to receaue any hereticall King They were sworne also to detect and reueale any man whom they knewe to dissent from this their vnion and oath This last part of the oth taken replenished the citie with proscriptions confiscations banishments cruell torments executions funeralls and lamentations for a great many were murthered many iudicially executed many emprisoned many saued them by flight but all lost their goods and substance which was no small pray to the heads of the rebels And that they might molest the King with sallies they hyred the Lord Vitry Captayne of one hundred and fiftie horses with the somme of two thousand Duckets which the Ambassadour of Spayne did pay Thus hauing set a Militarie policie in the Citie touching the strength of the Citie and the sinewes thereof they sometime would set their heads out of the gates to see what weather was about but fearing some shewer of blowes they ranne in agayne The King hauing distressed Paris alreadie twentie dayes or very nigh and looking that vpon some reasonable condition they would haue sought meanes of peace and seeing them contrary to his expectation hardened and waxed more obstinate and malicious with part of his forces set vppon the Suburbs of S. Martin which he tooke without any great resistance From that day vntill the beginning of Iune the time passed away without any great exployts but onely certayne light skirmishes For the king would not shewe any extreame force hauing a care of them hoping still that famine would haue mooued them to hearken to reason and to remember their dueties In the meane time the King caused the peeces of artillerie wherwith the Duke of Longueuille had battered Beaumont vpon Oyse to be brought to Paris which being arriued the King battered the walles with thirteene péeces of double Canon The Duke of Nemours had in the meane time cast great store of Ordinance whereof hee caused threescore and fiue peeces to bee set vppon the walles About the 13. of Iune there came foorth out of Paris a strange kinde of men of warre which were neuer seene in the field before Quintus Curtius in the life of Alexander if I remember well reported of such a kind of strange warriours For when Alexander came into India with his victorious armie they perceaued on the top of a mountaine an army of men as they thought with pikes and long staues whereupon that terrible armie of Macedonians sounded the alarum Alexander sent horsemen to viewe the enemie when they came néere they perceaued an armie of Apes which had imitated the armie of the Macedonians whom they had spyed out of the trees and mountaynes All the courage of the Macedonians was turned to laughter So the Bishop of Sanlis would play the like part he made himselfe a Captain his Souldiers were the Cartusien Friers the reformed Bernardines and barefoote Friers the Cartusiens are of the dyet of the Otter for they eate nothing but fish their cowle is like vnto the bag wherewith the Apothecaries doo
naturalis libertatis conuoâ—ationis trium ordium huius regni Whether the people may with a safe conscience take armâ—s vnto theÌ„selues and make collections and contributions for the defence and preseruation of the Catholick Romish religion against the haynous practizes and attempts of the aforesayd king and all other his adherents and against the breach of publike faith committed by him at Bloys in the preiudice of the aforesayd Catholicke religion and of the edict of holy vnion and of the naturall liberty of the assembly of the three Estates of the Realme The seauenth day these priestes of Apollo after a generall procession of all the orders of the said facultie and a Masse of the holy Ghost adsit reuerentia auribus sung in the sayd colledge of Sorboune at the request of the Prouost Escheuins Consuls Catholick citizens of the Citie of Paris the maisters of the said facultie assembled to the number of threescore and tenne hauing debated these questions as they say by the holy scripture but specially by the Cannons and decrees of the Popes al with one consent either extreamely wicked or else most pernitiously ignorant or both rendred this oracle out of the bewitching hell of Apollo to wit The people of France may doe all things which are propounded in the questions against their lawfull king and his adherents onely they required that this their oracle of rebellion might be sent to Rome there to be sealed by the pope and be burned with the mark of the spirit of diuels and beare the Image and print of Antichrist The eight of Ianuary the said Vrban came to knowe the answere of the oracle which he brought to the counsell of the citie and after they had perused it taking it for an answere of Vrim and Thumim and a voyce of God by whose authoritie they were put at liberty to doo what they would with armed hand brought it to the Senate of Paris which was the second Maiesty of France and with drawen swordes required of the same to approoue the said oracle The Senate flatly denied such a wicked vnnaturall and diuelish act to bee lawfull and worthy of the ancient loyalty of France requiring to take some deliberation vpon it and whilest they satte vpon it the mutinous rebels impacient of delay brake open the gates of the Pallace and seazing vpon the whole bench casting them into prisons so now the Senate being carried away in a triumph all reuerence of Magistracie being troden downe the Temple of iustice is poluted forsaken and vsurped by robbers The ninth day of Ianuary the seditious doo in hast choose a new counsell to the number of seauen and forty who should administer the State in stead of the kings prime counsell of the most vilest and factious persons in the citie as Rowland Compan the villanous and incestious Picheuard Louchard Rue Clerke Oliuer Seuault others of such like sortes men neither of abilitie authoritie wisdome nor counsell but onely because they had solde themselues to the League to worke all manner of villany and shewed themselues bitter enemies vnto the King This new Senate of conspiratours firebrands of Hell to replenish the Citty with confusion and mischiefe considering â—â—at to preserue an vnity among their company of robbers they must needes haue a head and rather then they should haue none they will make one of an old blocke they aduised themselues whom they might make that would vphold their misâ—eedes To take some of the Princes of the bloud they knew well them to bee wise ynough from leauing their lawfull vocations to become heades and leaders of theeues murtherers and traytors Therefore they concluded to continue the rebellion in the house and family where the conspiracy the mother of this rebellion sprang out was nourished and entertayned these 40. or 50. yeares continually The Duke de Mayne was thought to be most fit as one who in so vile an enterprise should succeede his brother considering that he was brought vp and nourished in the same schole learned the same bookes and had proceeded in the same degrees as his brother had done was well acquaynted with such matters from his infancy will and ambition boyling in him as hot as euer it did in his brother after his brothers death not much inferiour in fauours of partakers to his brother though not equall in haugtines of mind He therefore by the earnest sute and solicitation of his agent and partakers is made the head of the rebellion and inuested in his absence of that proude and new title of Lieutenant Generall of that state and Crowne of France which is a Periphrase of this word King The Duke de Mayne now beeing made manipulus furum must play the King for he doth assemble all the Captaynes of the sedition as namely the aforesayd counsell newly established with the Dukes Aumale and Nemours with other seditious persons few in number nothing in countenance nor authority to hold the States of the Realme as they did tearme them assembled of the Princes Nobillity and Commons when as there was not one Prince nor any communalty but few seditious persons The Dukes Aumale and Nemours and Cheualier Aumale were made gouernours of Paris to lead the seditious people to do such outrages and robberies as neuer were done yet in any towne or Citty in this world These three Captaynes of robbers and murtherers dayly went to the houses of them which were knowen to be the Kings friends depriued them of their authorities if they had any put them in Prisons ransacked their goods lodged their robbers whom they called garrisons in their houses whereof many by a wise and prouident mynd foreseeing the horrible tempest and thunderclaps which would fall from heauen vppon that sinke of traytors fled out of their houses carrying their liues for a pray The Ladie of Monpensier sister to the Duke de Mayne the Ladyes of Mayne Aumale 〈◊〉 Nemours beeing then in Paris caused a booke of the riche men to be geuen them so that there was no day but they sent some of these Captayns to raunsake and cary away the goods of some rich Marchant or other vnder colour that they were royals heretikes or fauorers of them After many robberies and murthers committed in Paris the seditious people were lead by their Captayns vnto the Loure the royal house where they committed such outrages vppon the goods mouable which did partayne to the King that the posterity will scarse beleeue it They violated the seale of France the sacred instruments of Soueraigne iustice brake it to pieces trampled it vnder foot they did breake and dragged in the stréets in a most spitefull sort the armes of France Valoys and Bourbons The tenth day whilest these things were dooing at Paris the King caused an expresse commaundement to be published at Bloys that all the partakers of the house of Guyze should depart and retire to their houses with pardon of their offences so that they would remayne faythfull seruants