alwaies very studious of the Reformed Religion of an admirable courage and constancy in bearing the manifold afflictions which befell both her self and Husband and amongst her other excellent qualities and vertues she was alwaies very pitifull towards poor people and sick persons to whom she was very liberall in relieving and assisting of them and whereas many sick and wounded Souldiers were daily sent from the Camp to Orleance she frequently visited them so that the Physicians judged her disease to proceed from the stench of them Peace being proclaimed as is before specified in many places by the Kings Trumpeters the Admirall had scarce been three daies at his own house before Letters and Messengers came to him from many of his Friends signifying that instead of peace his enemies made great preparations for a more dangerous Warre for they observed that in every place such provision of War was made that if the Prince of Conde himself and the other associates did not timely prevent it they would be circumvented by their cruel enemies before they were aware and this they gathered from the Garrisons put into Orleance Altissiodore Blesa and other Cities surrendred to them as also by the Adversaries possessing themselves of all the Bridges and Passes over the Rivers keeping the Horse together in the heart of France and continuing two Regiments neer Paris under a pretence of a guard for the King Our Admirall finding these things to be true thought it most for his safety to retire into Tanlian to his Brother Andelot and from thence he shortly after removed to Nuceria a strong City under the Prince of Conde's Government whither formerly upon the like occasion he had carried his Wife and Family In his passage thither there fell out this memorable accident Near to the Town of Molinius there is a great Lake in the passage to Altissiodore when our Admirall came near it there was in his company an old man called Gripperius that had been a great traveller by sea and one that loved the Admirall very dearly this man observing a black cloud coming towards them carried with a violent wind he called to the Admirall desiring him to gallop to the next Town so fast as he could lest he should be oppressed with the violence of the storm approaching the Admirall hearkening to his counsell spurred on his Horse but before he had passed the narrow passages of the Lake there suddainly came such a violent tempest accompanied with a Whirlwind that many Horses and men were quite overthrown many were wounded with the great hailstones and almost quite slain The wind took off the Admirals hat which afterwards could never be found and one of his followers lent him his hat but herein the great mercy of God did appear that the Admirall scaped unhurt by the hail only one hailstone hit and hurt him about the ankle and had this storm taken him and his company a little sooner whilst they were upon the Lakes bank in all probability it had made an utter end of them The tempest being over our Admirall comforted his attendants and lifting up his eyes to Heaven he said O Almighty God I thank thee from whom I know this storm proceeds to warn us of the tempest of danger that is approaching by which we shall be sorely pressed but not oppressed When they were met together at Nuceria they sent divers Messengers with Letters to the King signifying that they had daily intelligence of the snares that were laid for their lives and therefore they beseeched his Majesty to pity his Kingdom wasted already with two Civil Warres and that he would not ruine his Kingdom but rather by his clemency and wisdom quench that fire that is kindled by the Guises Our Admirall also wrote to Margaret Daughter of King Francis and new Dutchesse of Savoy whom he believed to have great power with the Queen Mother intreating her to improve all her Authority and interest for the diverting of the storm that was approaching to the ruine of her Native Countrey But when he perceived that no arguments nor intreaty could prevail for peace and understood that Tavannius who was a little after made Marshall of the Kingdom was secretly drawing his Forces towards Nuceria there to compasse them in he advised the Prince of Conde that they should presently depart from thence and make all the hast that possibly they could to Rochel which by reason of their ancient priviledges had never hitherto admitted of any Garrison By the way they were to passe over the River Liger and in the train there was the Prince of Conde's Wife and six little Children whereof one was but a year old and two daies after followed the Admirall and Monsieur Andelots Children whom the Admirall had sent for to come to them At which time this strange Providence fell out When the Prince of Conde thought to transport his company in two or three little Ships privately over the River neer unto Sancerra it pleased God that a Foard was found whereby fifty Horsemen that were of the Princes train rode over and in the mean time the Ladies Women and Children were ferried over in Boats and no sooner were they gotten all over but though the day was fair the River suddainly rose so high that the Inhabitants of Sancerra took notice of the wonderfull Providence of God praying heartily for the safety and welfare of those little ones who had escaped such a danger The King hearing of this their going to Rochel by the advice of his Courtiers presently commanded all his Horse especially those that were in the Countries of Xantone and Poicters to hasten to Rochel He sent also his Brother Henry the Duke of Anjou to raise all the Forces he could and presently to march thitherwards In the mean time those of the Religion who relying upon the Kings promise and Proclamation of peace staied in their own Cities were every where basely murthered About this time Joane Queen of Navarr who in the former troubles had kept here own house abhorring such abominable treachery and perfidiousnesse after peace so often renewed getting what Forces she could together advanced with them to Rochel carrying with her her Son Henry who after her death was King of Navarr and her only Daughter These things being thus setled the Admirall drew some great Guns out of Rochel intending to besiege Niort and within a few daies had it surrendred to him Then he led his Forces to Engolisme which stands upon an high and steep hill having only one passage to it and therefore the enemies had a little before strongly fortified it but the Admirall planting his Ordinance on that side where it was saultable within a few daies space had it surrendred to him Presently after the Van of each Army met at Jasenullius and fought together the Admirall commanded that of the Protestants who charged the enemy so gallantly that they were presently broken
that by this means the City was relieved with much provision and three hundred fresh Souldiers which encouraged them to make divers sallies The King also wrote to them to hold out promising speedy aid which animated them valiently to defend themselves But it was evident that if the Lord had not laid that affliction upon the Admirall the City had been theirs About this time there was one of the Admirals Servants called Dominicus Albio who having been taken prisoner by the Kings party and stayed some moneths with them returned to his Master where after a while he was suspected by reason of some words that fell from him and therefore being strictly examined he brought forth a box of poyson which one Riverius a chief man about the Duke of Anjou had given him together with one of his Secretaries both of them promising him two thousand Crowns if he would poyson his Master Upon this his confession he was condemned to death and though some would have had him tormented yet the Admirall caused him only to be hanged for the terrour of orhers The Admiral being not yet fully recovered of his Disease news was brought him that Castelheraut being about seven miles off was besieged by the enemies whereupon in his Horselitter he presently advanced thitherward and having relieved the place with fresh men he easily raised the siege and drave away his enemies killed many especially of the Italians neither gave he over the pursuit till they had passed the River which for the depth of it is called Creusa In the mean time the young Duke of Guise who was Governour of Poictiers in the night time removed out of the City with a great company putting a fresh Garrison into it and the Duke of Anjou having recruted his Army with many French Germans and Swissers came to Chinon whereas the Admirals Army was tired out with the long siege of Poictiers and much wasted with want of provision and with great tempests and of those which remained there were very many sick especially of the Germans and most of those of Xantone were gone home to refresh themselves Many also were gone to La Charity and Sancerre which were in the Protestants hands For which causes the Admirall judging it best to protract time restrained the eager mindes of his Souldiers from fighting yet both Captains and common Souldiers would not be satisfied threatning to go home and provide for their own safety They also judged it farre more fit to fight there in their own Countrey where they might be supplied with necessaries then in their enemies especially considering that they had divers strong Towns in Aquitane the Delphinate and Leige into which they might retreat and from whence they might make excursions for the depopulating of their enemies Countries The Germanes also cried out that having wanted their pay for divers moneths it were better for them to fight then to be so long from their own Countrey and relations Thus it being resolved that they should come to a Battell both Armies advanced to Monconture striving which should possesse the place and the Van being led by the Admirall was suddainly set upon by the enemy the Admirall seeking for his Armour-bearer could not find him yet unarmed as he was he rushed into the midst of his enemies Count Mansfelt seconded him so that they forced them to give ground Hard by there was a rivolet which the enemies contended earnestly to passe over whereupon the Admirall taking some Harquebushiers with him hastened to the Rivers bank to oppose them where he continued all that evening â—n the mean time the enemy continually shot at him both with great and small shot who if they could have gotten the passage might have brought great detriment to the Army for the enemies exceeded the Protestant Army by a third part besides they were fresh and in good plight the other were weary and harrassed out but this holp them only for two daies space for on the third day six hundred Germans set upon the Admirall who had only two hundred French horse with him and in the fight the Admirall being often shot at at last received a wound on his face by the right side of his nose the bullet piercing into his mouth which wound bled so fast that he could not spit out the blood his sword also by many blows fell out of his hand and the buckles of his Breast-plate were so broken that it hung by very little but in this extremity by the assistance and faithfull help of one â—lorinerius a young Norman whom he had brought up from a Child in his Family he was rescued and conveyed out of the crowd and his Forces being overthrown he was by his Friends conveyed to Parthenaeus Here we might wonder at his constancy and magnanimity for whereas in this great calamity most men gave way to despondency he laboured to comfort and confirm each of them he also caused his Secretaries presently to write into all the parts of France to the Protestants that were in arms not to be discouraged or to think that he had received so great a blow which might not be repaired within a few daies The very next day he removed to Niort where having setled his affairs he went into Xantone and there stayed seven daies for the cure of his wound which could not be perfectly healed in lesse then twenty five daies space Being thus tosâ—ed up and down with various afflictions word was brought him that the Parliament of Paris Sept. 13. 1569. had made a Decree wherein they had declared him guilty of treason and had proposed a reward of fifty thousand Crowns to any one that would bring him alive to the King At the same time he had intelligence that one Martinengus an Italian banished his own Countrey for treason being made by the King Commander of some Troops of horse had been at Castellion and surprized his Castle and plundered it of all his rich Furniture which for divers ages had remained there the value whereof was not lesse worth then one hundred thousand Crowns besides he had so burned the whole Town adjoyning to the Castle that there was scarce any footsteps remaining of it which sad tidings were so farre from causing any dejectednesse in him or disfitting him for his employments that he did not so much as shew the least change in his countenance And whenas his Friends and kindred flocked to him to comfort him he told them That through Gods grace he had this frame of spirit given him that for those things which are usually called Goods he possessed them and not they him and that his Fortunes were subjected to him not he to them And whereas in those Civil Warres Princes Peers Nobles Knights Horsemen and Footmen had large allowances from the King whereby they maintained themselves he on the contrary was alwaies carefull to discharge his quarters both for himself and Family whereby
that thereupon the Queen Mother commanded the Prince of Conde to be set at liberty And a few daies after the Admirall assaulted Boience and at last took the Town though with some losse of his men About this very time the Admirals eldest Son called Gaspar being a youth of nine years old but of admirable towardnesse fell sick and died at Orleance which was an exceeding great grief to his Father In the mean time the Guises perceiving that they were forsaken by the greatest part of France which now adheared to and assisted Conde they resolved to call in forraign helps and thereupon sending much Money into Swisserland and Germany they hired from the former Foot and from the latter Horse to come in to their aid which the Admirall used often to say was a plain demonstration of their treacherous and hostile minds against France and therefore that he might not be wanting to himself and Friends who had committed so great a trust to him he resolved to oppose Forraign by Forraign forces And for this end he sent his Brother Andelot to the Protestant Princes in Germany of whose good will to the French Churches he had good assurance requesting aid from them who accordingly within three moneths space sent him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot into France Whilst these things were transacting intelligence was given to the Admirall that some Cannons and a great quantity of Gunpowder was carrying to the Duke of Guise who now besieged Biturg guarded with six Troops of Horse and some Foot Hereupon the Admirall taking some Horse with him by long journeys hastened to meet the Convoy and coming up to them they scarce stood the first shock but throwing away their Arms fled and left the Booty to the Admirall who wanting Horses to draw them away by over-charging the Guns brake them and blew up the Gunpowder and so returned to his Camp Andelot returning out of Germany brought with him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot so that the Prince of Conde having a good Army of French and Germans hasted to Paris which the Guises hearing of intended to meet him having gotten a Regiment of Swissers in whom they put most confidence and so the two Armies meeting a Battell was fought but with a doubtfull event for on the one side the Constable was taken prisoner by one Will. Steward a valiant Scots man and on the other side the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner which made many of his Foot to throw away their Arms and fly But the Admirall rallying the Horse and encouraging them to prefer their Religion Country and honour befor their lives he valiantly charged the Guisians in which medly he slew Marshall St. Andrew a potent man at Court and Prossaeus Collonel to the Duke of Guise and divers other Noble men The fight being ended the Admirall carried the Constable to Orleance where he made his abode for a while But shortly after came the Duke of Guise to besiege the City whereupon the Admirall leaving his Brother Andelot for the defence of it flies into Normandy and there besieged the Castle of Cadonius where the Marquesse of Elboeve one of the D. of Lorrains Brothers was and within a few daies had it with all the Arms and Ammunition surrendred to him About this time there was one John Poltrot a young man of a Noble Family in the Army of the Duke of Guise who having embraced the Reformed Religion and served for some moneths under the Prince of Conde took up privately with himself a resolution to kill the D. of Guise as a publique enemy to his Countrey and a cause of all the present calamities And said he If I had been bound to him by any oaths I must not have been perfidious but being free why should I not venture as Scaevola did for my Countries safety With this resolution he went to the Duke of Guises Camp and watching his opportunity shot him into the shoulder of which wound he died within a few daies after The very same day in the morning the Duke of Guise being ready to give an assault to Orleance wrote to the Queen Mother that within twenty four hours he would send her word of the taking of that City and that he would make the day very memorable by sparing neither sex nor age and that after he had kept his Shrovetide there he would extinguish the memory of the Town by utter subverting of it But man knows not his destiny nor what shall happen to him for that the same evening he was slain as you heard before Presently after which a Peace was concluded and the Edict renued for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion through all France as formerly Not many moneths after the Admirall being sent for to Court by the Queen Mother the Widow of the Duke of Guise comes in and falls down at the Kings feet crying out with many tears for revenge for her Husbands death charging the Admirall as the contriver and author of it The Admirall apprehending that this was but the device of others which set her on to seek his destruction by fraud which they could not effect by War before the King and all the Councel he clears himself shewing that Poltrot had at his death professed that he was set on by none but God neither did he doubt but that he had done God good service in it and freed his Countrey from a Tyrant that raged and thirsted after Christian blood and therefore he was not sorry for what he had done c. He also desired that if they questioned the death of the Duke of Guise he might have leave also to put in a Charge against him for that he doubted not but that he could easily prove the Duke of Guise guilty of murthering wickedly the Kings Subjects and of violating all the sacred Laws and Decrees of the King of taking up arms of his own head without Authority and thereby making himself guilty of Treason and of kindling those flames in France which had continued about thirteen moneths Notwithstanding this resolute speech of the Admirall his enemies ceased not for some years still to call upon the King for justice against him whereupon the King at last appointed a Convention of all the Peers of the Kingdom at the City of Molincum whither also he called his chiefest Senators and Counsellours commanding the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Widow of the Duke of Guise to produce what proofs they could and the Admirall to defend himself against them When both parties had pleaded their Cause the King told them that he had referred the judgment to his Counsellors and therefore asked them if they had any exceptions against any of them they answered No. Then he asked them if they would refer the determination of their Cause to him and would stand to his judgment They answered that they would willingly so do Whereupon Jan. 29. Anno
Happy is he that hath not bowed a knee to Baal he bad us sing Psal. 120. he sung a while but in the singing of the Psalm he died Anno Domini 1627. and in the year of his age 64. Thus have I given you as true an account as I could of this famous Champion of Christ who notwithstanding his Non-conformity may be called with Austin Haereticorum Malleus The Hammer of Hereticks and with Ambrose Orbis terrarum Anglicarum oculus The eye as bright as any other in the English Orbe Two things amongst many others I think worthy the inserting into his life which have been omitted in the fore-going story The one is a strange sicknesse and recovery he had once at Bernards Castle His sicknesse was a Vertigo capitis he would have fourty fits at least in an hour and every one of them accompanied with mischievous temptations which when the fit was over he dictated and I writ down these held him about three weeks in which time he had the advice of learned Physicians from London York New-Castle Durham and other places they all jumped in their judgments imputing it to much study fasting and inward trouble of spirit their Prescriptions wrought kindly but removed not his disease He desired divers Christians to pray for him on a day prefixed and promised to joyn with them as well as he could with some others that should be with him assuring them That he was confident that disease would not he removed but by Prayer and Fasting The morning of that day he had a fit continued four hours together upon him and the devil set upon him all that while with most dreadfull temptations telling him he would make him the scorn of Religion and every man should reproach it for his sake that had before by his means looked towards it That he should never preach more but should blaspheme the name of God he had preached with many like suggestions God gave him courage comfort and Victory over them all The devil told him if he did fast and pray that day he would torment and hinder him c. We met at the time appointed and Master Rothwel would needs have me to perform the duty which through Gods goodnesse I did and the devil was not permitted to hinder or interrupt him or us and God heard our Prayers so that he had never a fit after that and the Sabbath-seven night following he preached but after many wrestlings with Satan who told him he would make him mad and before all the people in the Pulpit make him a scorn if he did adventure to preach Neverthelesse his Faith in Christ overcame his fear of Satan and he preached with great assistance and comfort upon that text Psal. 116.9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living Neverthelesse that sicknesse did so weaken his brain that ever after he was enclining to some infirmities Which love must cover The other is a relation which I had from himself and from divers others to whom the story was known that are yet alive As well as I can recollect it it is thus There was one John Fox living about Nottingham who had no more learning then enabled him to write and read This man was possessed with a devil who would violently throw him down and take away the use of every member of his body which was turned as black as pitch in those fits and then spake with an audible voice in him which seemed sometimes to be heard out of his belly sometimes out of his throat and sometimes out of his mouth his lips not moving He lay thus if I mistake not some years many prayers were put up to God for him and great resort especially of godly Ministers to him amongst the rest Master Bernard of Batcomb then of Worksop and Master Langley of Truswel betwixt whom and John Fox I have seen divers passages in writing he relating by pen his temptations and they giving answers when he was stricken dumb As Master Rothwel was riding to see him the Devil told all that were in the House Yonder comes Rothwel but I will make a fool of him before he goes The people looked forth and saw him coming a-about a quarter of a mile from the house As soon as he entered the room the Devil said Now Rothwel is come and as some say spake thus Rothwel Thou sayest there is no possession what thinkest thou now Here is a man opens not his lips and yet he speaketh And after a while he further said Devil Say nothing to me of this man for I tell thee he is damned and he added thereto many fearfull blasphemies Rothwel Thou art a lyer and the father of lies nor art thou so well acquainted with the mind of God concerning this man which makes thee thus to torment him therefore I believe thee not I believe he shall be saved by Jesus Christ. Devil He is a murtherer and thou knowest no murtherer must come into Heaven Rothwel Thou liest again for David murdered and is in Heaven and the Jews with wicked hands crucified the Lord of Glory yet both Christ prayed for them and Peter exhorts them to repentance that their sins may be blotted out Devil But this man hath not cannot shall not repent Rothwel If he had not thou wouldst not have told him so but if he have not I believe God will give him repentance and thou shalt not be able to hinder it Devil Thou art a murtherer thy self and yet talkest thou thus Rothwel Thou liest again I have fought the Lords Battels against his known enemies the idolatrous and bloody Papists in Ireland Rebels to the Queen my Sovereign by whose authority I bore armes against them otherwise I have killed no man Devil Swore and blasphemed Thou didst murther one this day as thou camest hither and there is one behind thee will justifie it Rothwel looked over his shoulder and with that the devil set up a hideous laughter that nothing could be heard for a great while and then said Devil Look you now did not I tell you I would make Rothwel a fool and yet it is true thou didst murther one this day for as thou camest over the Bridge which he named there I would have killed thee and there thy horse trod upon a slie and killed it Master Rothwels horse you must know stumbled there it seems the devil had power to cause it but without hurt either to Master Rothwel or his horse Rothwel Thou hast oft beguiled me I hope God will in time give me wisdome to discern and power to withstand all thy delusions and he it is that hath delivered me out of thy hands and will I doubt not also deliever this poor man The Devil blasphemed fearfully quoted many Scriptures out of the Old and New Testament both in Hebrew and in Greek cavilled and played the Critick and backed his Allegations with Sayings out of the Fathers and Poets in their own
affairs but gave peremptory order that his beloved Mariamne should be put to death for this only reason because another should not enjoy so great a beauty So the Duke would not another should enjoy the great abilities of Doctor Preston but was resolved to break him if he could yet in a civil Court way But the Doctor was too knowing not to see this afar off Prov. 22.3 Quae alii levia faciunt diu patiendo ea sapiens diù cogitando and had accordingly provided a succession of reserves wherein to hide himself The first and surest was his conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world If a man be wellcome into his conscience he need not fear the stormes and blusters that he meets abroad In te recedas cum cogeris in turba esse When a man is forced to be where he would not as Peter was foretold he should be Joh. 21.18 yet he may in despite of them retire into himself Paul made it his businesse to have his conscience alwaies void of offence Act. 24.16 and so did Dr. Preston for though his actings being many of them above the common size were not alwaies understood and very often mis-interpreted yet he was innocent and upright alwaies in them An undeniable argument whereof was that he never sued for the least preferment as we have said but studied and often consulted how without breaking he might avoid them And though he lived like himself and gave relief to others yet it was ever of his own as very many yet alive can witness And indeed he was a man of very much Communion and sweet Society with God prayed much in private and by himself besides as Tutor with his Pupils and after as Master in his Family Whatever weakness he was in or business did occur kept many private daies of Fasting by himself especially before the Sacraments and Sabbath-daies and accordingly enjoyed a constant clearnesse and assurance of his Justification and interest in the blood of Christ even then when frailties and infirmities did most of all afflict and wound him He never that I know was troubled or perplexed about Adoption though very often about the imperfection of his graces and the unconstancy of Sanctification so as he studied most exactly that Treatise of the Saints Infirmities and there is nothing in all his works that may more properly be called his His next retreat was Lincolns-Inne for now he said the Duke was Chancellour and would endeavour to ingratiate himself and be a Benefactor and had bought Erpenius Manuscripts and did verily intend to found a Library and so it would be easie and in his power to out him of the Colledge and University For there was a resolution in some of the Fellows to petition the Duke without him and to annul the Statute of continuance or Commoration in the Colledge yet he conceived the Lawyers would pretend a kind of freedom and exemption For he saw when that holy blessed Dr. Sibbs was outed both of Fellowship and Lecture in the University yet by the goodnesse and prudence of Sir Henry Yelverton that constant Patron unto godly Ministers a vertue yet running in the veins of his posterity he was received and retained at Grayes-Inne unto his death therefore he would in no sort leave his title unto and interest in Lincolns-Inne but reserved it in his power unto his dying day But he knew Kings had long hands and that the Dukes were nothing shorter and that Lincolns-Inne though a great deal stronger and better built then Grayes-Inne yet would not hold out long in case the Duke should seriously beleagure it therefore he pondered of removing farther off if need were And having weighed all retreats resolved upon Basil in the Switzers Countrey as a place which the longest handed Kings had seldome touched even when it was a receptacle of their greatest enemies and therefore he resolved in case he could not be free in England to settle there and spend the residue of his surviving dayes in writing what he was not suffered to preach or had not published according to his mind He was naturally very affable and courteous unto strangers of any Countrey and by conversing much with them endeavoured to preserve his knowledge in the French and Italian languages But after he had thus resolved upon Basil he was very friendly to all he Germans that were dispersed from several Universities especially from the Palatinate for whom he procured several sorts of entertainments both in the Countrey abroad and in the University for which as he had very many Gratulatory Epistles from particular persons so one of note from the King of Bohemia under his Hand and Seal But he knew that these were but the Foxes earths that might successively be taken and possessed He therefore also thought upon that unum magnum of the Cat or rather of the Holy Ghost Prov. 18.10 the Name of the Lord that is the goodnesse mercy power of the mighty God where he was well assured he should for ever be free enough from Kings and Dukes Yet these did no way retard his industry in using means Obstructions quicked industrious and active minds but damp and clog the dull There is a Statesman of no mean esteem that writes professedly against the use of Cittadels and Forts because it makes the Souldier lesse resolved in engagements And the Spartans were forbidden to wall their City because it would incourage Cowardise But it did not take off Dr. Preston from his duty For finding that his standing at Court was untermined he resolved upon Buttresses to underprop him in the Countrey There was in the Countrey of Northampton a Gentleman of very able parts and clear affections to the publick good no stranger to the Court in former times nor to the Duke of Buckingham with whom the Doctor used to communicate affairs and who was then a Parliament man of much esteem to him the Doctor in a Letter discovers all shews him the hopelesse posture of the Duke how much they both were disappointed in him layes some directions what to do and urgeth activenesse This Letter by a sad misfortune was let fall by him that was intrusted to convey it about Temple-bar and handed from one to one untill it came to Sir Henry Spillers who having viewed and pondered the contents concluded it was a purchase that would ingratiate him unto the Duke and so immediately presents it to him The Duke was troubled to read his faults and face so shrewdly intimated and presaged His temper was exceeding good and he could mannage his affections many times with much serenity and moderation but now he was quite off and could not think of any thing but a revenge I have not known any thing so trouble and afflict the Doctor as this did that the Duke should have his hand against
where he continued his former diligence as well in the exercise of Religion as the improvement of his learning both in his private Study and in the performance of Exercises in the University and Colledge notwithstanding the exemption which Fellow-Commoners in Colledges are ready to plead from the performance of them After that he had there taken the degree of Master of Arts about the year 1622. he was in the year 1623. constituted Fellow of Queens Colledge in that University where although he were a Gentleman that beside his Fellowship had an estate of his own and so had the lesse need in point of maintenance to take that trouble of Pupils upon him yet not satisfying himself to take a place upon him without performing the Office thereunto belonging he took many Pupils of whom he was more then ordinarily carefull being very diligent both in praying with them in his Chamber and instructing them in the grounds of Religion as also keeping them to their studies and the performance of disputations and other exercises of learning privately in his Chamber beside the more publique exercises required of them by the Colledge to the great benefit of those that were his Pupils While he was Fellow of Queens Colledge about the year 1624. he was solemnly ordained to the work of the Ministry whereunto from a Child he had addicted himself And about the year 1626 was called to the publique exercise thereof as a Lecturer in the City of Canterbury where for divers years notwithstanding the great oppositions he there met with from such as were enemies to the power of godlinesse he did with much diligence and very great successe discharge that great work to the spiritual edification and comfort of many yet alive to whom his memory to this day is precious The occasion of his coming thither was this Coming from Cambridge to give a visit to his Brother Sir Thomas Palmer at Wingham he did at the intreaty of some Friends preach a Sermon at the Cathedral Church in Canterbury and that with so much true Zeal and reall savour of Piety as did much affect the godly hearers The report hereof coming to the knowledge of Master Delme a godly faithfull prudent and laborious Minister of the French Church in Canterbury he made a journey to Wingham on purpose to gain a further knowledge of him and acquaintance with him with whom he was already not a little in love from that good report he had heard of him though as yet by face unknown to him and hereby not only obtained the knowledge of the man but was also by his gracious and savoury discourse and carriage very much confirmed in that good opinion which he had before conceived of him And this was the first foundation of that intire and Christian friendship which with much spiritual advantage to them both was contracted between these two holy men which continued and increased daily to their mutual comfort and contentment while they were both living and the memory thereof is still precious to him that doth yet survive After this before his return to Cambridge having at the request of Master Delme preached a second Sermon at Saint Georges Church in Canterbury on a week day Lecture the most godly and best affected in the City were more and more taken with him and expressed great desires of enjoying his Ministry amongst them if it might be obtained Hereupon Master Delme with divers others of the most considerable Gentlemen and Citizens having earnestly sought direction from God in a matter of such concernment did seriously advise about it and being first assured of the concurrent desires of many others did by letters and messages to Cambridge signifie to him the desire of the godly in that City that he would undertake to preach a Lecture amongst them This invitation after mature deliberation he thought good to accept of preferring the opportunity and probability of doing good in that populous place before the hopes of preferment either in the University or elsewhere which by reason of his many Friends and acquaintance great at Court and otherwise he might likely have attained unto holding steady to that resolution which long before that time he had taken up so to imploy himself as might probably most promte the Work of God whatever became of his own advantages Whereupon a License being obtained for him from George Abbot then Arch-bishop of Canterbury authorizing him to preach a weekly Lecture on the Lords day in the afternoon at Alphage Church in that City He left his Fellowship in the University and undertook this work During his abode in this employment he did much edifie the people there both by sound doctrine and exemplary conversation His Sermons were altogether spiritual and heavenly full of solid explications and practicall applications of the Word of God whereby the City was well seasoned as with savoury salt and much preserved from those innovations and corruptions both in doctrine and Worship which in those dayes were creeping on apace by reason whereof that leven of formality which many of the Cathedralists were promoting who preferred pompous Ceremonies before the power of Godlinesse was stopped from spreading and corrupting so much as otherwise it might have done For although he was not then perswaded of the unlawfulnesse of the then Government and some Ceremonies then in use yet he could no way approve of the corrupt innovations coming on in those daies but did with all wisdome and zeal reprove them countenancing goodnesse and good men And by this means he was a great stay and comfort to the godly Ministers and People both in the City and Countrey thereabouts whom not only by his publique preaching but by many other Christian and Ministerial helps administred in his more private Converses he did very much incourage in true Piety Of this very many Families in that City had great experience even those of the meanest ranke whom he was wont often to visit as he had opportunity that he might the better understand their spiritual condition admitting also persons of all ranks freely to apply themselves unto him as they had occasion and to partake the benefit of private Conferences Prayers and other religious exercises as likewise affording his Christian advice and direction in cases of difficulty especially to distressed Consciences in which cases by most of his prudent and judicious resolutions he was frequently consulted with as a kind of Oracle And that not only during his abode at Canterbury but wherever else the Providence of God did cast him And herein he had an excellent ability and dexterity and took much delight in it And his assistance he afforded not only to those of that City but also to many of the most Religious Families of the Nobility and Gentry thereabouts to whom both by his personal Converses and his Christian letters of which there are great numbers yet to be seen he afforded frequent
that part of the City was filled with his armed enemies against whom whilest he opposed himself he was invironed by his adversaries and taken Prisoner who presently carried him away to Antwerp Whilst he was Prisoner there he fell dangerously sick and lay fourty daies tormented with a Fever and as soon as he began to recover he called for a Bible by reading whereof he much eased and refreshed his mind and body and by the diligent study thereof he began to embrace the reformed Religion and to have a tast of true Piety and the right manner of calling upon God Not long after he payed his Ransome which was fifty thousand Crowns and so returned home and being weary of the Factions and Affairs at Court and seriously thinking of his change of Religion he gat leave of the King to turn over his Regiment of Foot to his Brother Andelot and his Government of the Isle of France to his Brother-in law Marshall Monmorancy and shortly after he sent one of his intimate Friends to the King humbly to signifie to him that he intended also to lay down his Government of Picardy and therefore desired him to think of one to succeed him therein The King answered that he wondred at his resolution and scarce thought him wise to divest himself so suddainly of so many places of honour and profit and from that time he began generally to be suspected of his change in Religion shewing a minde so free from ambition and desire of rule Monsieur Andelot also discovering his resolution in Religion the Cardinall of Lorraine who hated the Family of Coligni with a deadly hatred as the greatest enemies to the greatnesse of his Family watched his opportunity and suggested to the King that all men took notice that many great men of France were infected with the poison of Calvinisme which they scattered amongst the inferiour sort of people and in particular that Monsieur Andelot had blabbed out many things to the dishonour of the solemn sacrifice of the Masse c. The King being incensed hereby commanded the Cardinall of Chattillion his Brother and Monmorancy his Cosen to send for Andelot and to admonish him to answer modestly to the questions which should be proposed to him When he came before the King he professed his great good will towarde him and spake many things of his great merits and then told him that he was sorry to hear that which was reported viz. that he thought ill of Religion and therefore he required him to tell him what he thought of the Mass which the Calvinists spake so much against Andelot being a man of great courage answered confidently according to the truth which the King being offended at exhorted him to look to himself and to prevent the danger before it were too late Whereunto Andelot with greater courage answered that he had hitherto shewed himself obedient in all things to his Majesty whom he had found alwaies bountifull to himself and his Family but in the cause of Religion he could neither daub nor dissemble with God That his Body Wealth and Dignity were in the Kings power of which he might dispose as he pleased but his Soul was subject to God only that gave it to whom therefore in this cause he must needs be obedient as to his greater Lord. At this the King was so inraged that snatching up a dish he therewith hurt his Son the Dolphin that sat next him and then he commanded one of his privy-chamber to carry Andelot to the City of Meaux where he remained a Prisoner in the Bishops house till he was removed to the Castle of Melodune Not long after King Henry the second dying his Son Francis succeeded him who was married to Mary Queen of Scotland the Daughter of the Duke of Guises Sister by which means the Guises ruled all at Court and they also boasted often of the Kingdom of England to which this Mary was Heir apparent as they said The Admirall knowing their cruel barbarous and bloody dispositions who would never be free from turbulent Counsels and especially from pesecuting those of the Religion he was now without further delay resolved to lay down his Government of Picardy and for that end acquainted Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Conde concerning his intention wishing him to beg that place of the King which accordingly he obtained Our Admirall being thus eased of these publique Burthens and the troubles of them which withdrew his mind from Religion he kept at home in his own Castle and the rather because of his Wife Carola Lavollia born of an Illustrious and Ancient Family which was wonderfully given to the study of Religion exhorting her Husband also that casting off the remainders of Idolatry and Superstition he should wholly betake himself to the true service of Christ. The Admirall having often heard her presse this upon him dealt seriously with her telling her that he never knew any either in France or Germany which embraced in truth this reformed Religion but that they were overwhelmed with manifold afflictions under which they almost perished He told her also that by the Laws of France which were confirmed by all the Parliaments Whosoever made profession of this Religion was to be burnt alive and all his estate to be forfeited to the King Yet saith he if you be so prepared with Faith and courage that you can be content to undergo the same lott with others you shall see that I will not be wanting to do my duty To this she answered That the condition of the Church at this day was no other then what it had been in former ages even from the beginning and she perswaded her self that it would be the same to the end of the world And thus each of them incouraging other the Admirall began to instruct his Family in the true knowledge and worship of God and gave them Bibles and other good Books to read for their furthtr edification Withall he stoutly forbad them those oaths and blasphemies which were common in France especially in the Court He provided also godly Governours and Schoolmasters for his Children so that in a short time there was a wonderfull change in his Family yea by his example his two Brethren Odet the Cardinall and Andelot were exceedingly stirred up to the study of Religion The Admirall from his childhood had been bred in the Court which did in those daies exceedingly abound with luxury and other vices from which he was not altogether free but so soon as he imbraced the true Religion there was such a strange alteration in his life and deportment that the powerfull work of Gods Spirit did wonderfully appear therein Before he durst come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper he conferred with divers Godly Ministers both about Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation for the setling of his judgment in the truth and once being present in the Town of Vatevill at a private
and scattered flying to Lusinian for safety leaving all their bag and baggage behind them so that the booty which the Admirall gat was estimated to be more worth then fifty thousand Crowns Two daies after they intercepted Letters from Fizius the Kings Secretary to the Queen-Mother much bewailing that losse Presently after the Admirall going to the Town of Jarnac fell into great danger and without a speciall providence had become a prey to his enemies For the enemy understanding that he purposed to transport his Forces over the River in that place by a bridge of boats they secretly laid an ambush on the other side and observing the Admirall where he was they let fly all their Harquebushes at him and others endeavoured to break the bridge of the Admirals side there was one Harquibushier that had often shot at the enemies and at last was by a bullet slain whereupon twelve more ran to his aid so that a tumult arising the Admirall ran with his naked Sword not having time to put on his arms and endeavoured to cut in sunder the cords wherewith the boats were fastened all which time the enemies ceased not continually to shoot at him yet God wonderfully preserved him and from that time forwards he resolved never to be without a Lifeguard for his assistance in such suddain accidents Two daies after the enemies having passed over the River Charenton the Prince of Conde feared lest they would compasse him about having lately joyned to them three thousand German horse and six thousand Swissers yet being of a very resolute and couragious mind he resolved to stop their course yet withall if possible to avoid a set Battell In the mean time word was brought to the Admirall that some of his Forces which were quartered in a neighbour village were circumvented by their enemies and yet valiantly defended themselves our Admirall hastened therefore upon the spur to their succour with some horse whom as soon as the enemies espied they compassed round about which being told to the Prince of Conde being more valiant then advised he brake into the midst of them where being oppressed with the multitude and his horse killed under him which also fell upon him he lifting up his beavour rendred himself to some of the Kings Captains who gave him their faith for his safety but presently after came Montisquius Captain of the Duke of Guise his guard not without the secret command of his Master as it was believed and setting upon Conde behinde his back as he was talking with the Captains dispatched him with a dagg shot into his neck He was a Prince inferiour to none that lived in that age for courage and courtesie he was eloquent in speech liberall affable to all and a most excellent Commander in Warre After his death his body was basely abused and at last in scorn laid upon a Shee-Asse and carried to Jarnac The Admirall being exceedingly grieved with this great losse and suspecting the issue made a retreat together with his Brother Andelot into the Town of St. Jan de Angeli and whereas he might have revenged the indignities done to the body of the Prince by shewing the like to the bodies of many of his great adversaries whom he had slain yet he would not do it but afforded them decent buriall which thing he also did during all the time of the Warres The Queen of Navarr being at Rochell and hearing of this great losse hastened to the Camp comforted the Captains and exhorted all the Souldiers not to be disheartned nor to forget their former valour telling them that she had brought her only Son Henry that was to succeed her in the Kingdom to be their Generall professing that she preferred the safety of the Army before the life of her Son To him was also Henry Prince of Conde Brother to Lewis that was lately slain adjoyned in this honour but the whole care for managing the Warre by the joynt consent of all the Commanders and Officers was wholly divolved upon the Admirall none having the like credit or authority amongst those of the Religion as he For it was well known that besides his singular skill in military affairs his justice and temperance there was none amongst all the Peers of France that had so openly embraced and professed the Religion as he He was the first that reformed his Family according to the Rule of Gods Word He was the man that presumed to prefer their Petition to King Francis the second that was nearly allied to the Guises by affinity He gave the first example to the Nobility of France of Piety who were grown extream loose by reason of the dissolutenesse of the Court and after he had once embraced the Reformed Religion he never gave the least occasion of scandall to the Churches And whereas many Delegates repaired often to him from the Churches he alwaies gave them wholsome and prudent counsell He first took up arms not to fight against the King as some misreported but at the request and Prayers of the Queen Mother Neither yet did he it either by his own private counsell or of the Queen Mother but by the Authority of the Parliament of Orleance the King being not yet twelve years old As also after the Kings Edict for Peace established and promulgated by the advice and consent of all the States of France because it was so notoriously violated by the Guises to the utter undoing of many honest Families and almost the ruine of many flourishing Cities and to the losse of the lives of many famous Captains to the great prejudice of the whole Kingdom and to the oppression of many flourishing Churches dispersed almost in every Town of France By all which that poor Kingdom was laid open to be a prey to any forreign Prince that should invade it After these things a grievous affliction befell the Admirall by the death of his Brother Andelot who in the City of Xantone died of a violent disease suddainly not without suspition of poison and the rather because it was a usuall saying of Biraguus shortly after made Chancellour That the War was not to be finished with so much hazard by armed men but rather by Cooks and Kitchin boyes Upon this occasion the Admirall wrote a Letter to his own and his Brother Andelot's sons who were with their Tutor at Rochel for comforting of them the tenour whereof was this Although I believe that the death of my Brother Andelot is very grievous unto you yet I thought fit to admonish you that you have great cause to rejoyce that you had so good a Father and Uncle of whom I dare affirm that he was truly Religious and eminent for his valour and skill in military affairs the remembrance of which vertues ought to be dear unto you that as much as may be you may be imitators of them yea I believe I may boldly affirm this of him that there is none in all
c. Having dispatched these things he resolved to march to Vivaret and to the bank of Rhodanus and understanding that some were up in Arms for him in the Delphinate who also had taken some Towns he sent part of his forces to them to assist them in taking in some Cities of greater consequence committing the government of them to Count Lodwick of Nassaw who arriving in the Delphinate struck such a terrour into the Inhabitants as caused them to fly into the Cities but he having no Guns for battery only wasted the enemies Countrey and so with honour returned within few daies to the Admirall Shortly after the Admirall worn out with cares watchings and incessant labours fell sick and though he was greatly afflicted with his disease yet conceiving that it was of great concernment for him to get to the River Liger he made no stay but in his Horselitter marched with his Army thitherward for he was informed that about La Charity and Sancerra there were about two hundred risen in Arms for him whom he thought to be of great concernment to adjoyn to his Army the rather because Cossaeus Marshall of the Kingdom after the Battell in Xantone by the King made Generall of the Army in the room of the Duke of Anjou as he understood advanced with his Army that way and began to approach near him And whereas there came a Trumpet from him to the Admirall about exchange of Prisoners the Admirall sent him word by his Trumpet that he should not need to be at so much pains to seek him for that he himself was hasting towards him so fast as he could When he was advanced so far as the Forrest behold new Ambassadors met him from the King about a Peace for when the Courtiers heard that the Admirall whom they thought to be utterly broken by his former overthrow had in so short a time gotten so gallant an Army together again they were extreamly terrified lest he should march directly towards Paris and there should plunder and destroy the brave Countrey Houses of the Courtiers Senators and rich Citizens of Paris the like whereunto they had heard that the Senators and Citizens of Tholouse had already felt The Admirall by his march though in his Horselitter had his disease much increased upon him and the Physicians gave their judgment that if he continued still to be pressed with so great cares and multiplicity of businesses he could not hold out long whereupon the Treaty with the Kings Ambassadours brake off for a time but some Nobles that were aweary of the Warres complained that there was no reason that the Treaty should cease because the Admirall could not be present at it affirming that though he should die yet there were men enough of honour and interest that could carry on the Treaty to the establishing of Peace The Ambassadors tnswered them We wonder thrt you do not consider of how great authority the Admirall is amongst you who if he should die to day we would not offer to any of you tomorrow so much as a cup of cold water What do you not yet know that the only name of the Admirall can prevail more for you then a great Army without him Within a few daies the Admirall being refreshed and in a good measure recovered the Treaty began again and at last it was concluded That certain Commissioners should go along with the Kings Ambassadours to signifie to his Majesty in the name of them all That they of the Religion desired nothing more then Peace neither was any thing more grievous to them then Warre yet was there none of them but would undergo greater miseries yea and death it self rather then to deny the truth which they had embraced That if the King pleased to grant them Peace and the exercise of their Religion upon the former conditions and to put some cautionary Towns into their power for their security they would willingly and for ever lay down their Arms. These Messengers being dispatched the Admirall advanced forward and in his way took in the Town of Reneducium to which some of the Vantcurriers of Cossaeus were come and from that day forwards there was no day passed without some skirmishes between the two Armies and one day the minds of the Souldiers on both parts were so far inflamed that it had near come to a generall Battell there being only a little Brook between the two Armies Monsieur Mongomry having already broken the first Battell of the adversaries wherein were Valetius and Vasco men of great authority amongst the Royalists But presently came new Messengers from the King desiring a cessation from arms till the Treaty was finished and after great debate an Edict was sent from the King by which certain places were allotted to the Protestants for the exercise of their Religion in for the performance whereof they had for two years four cautionary Towns put into their hands viz. Rochel Montalban Cognac and Charity and the Kings Proclamations hereof were sent all over the Kingdom and so an en end was put to the third Civil Warres The Admirall bringing the German Forces to the borders of their Countrey dismissed them courteously and so taking the two young Princes of Navarr and Conde he went with them to Rochel where the Queen of Navarr was purposing to stay there till the Peace was fully setled in every place and after a few Moneths trusting to the Kings promises and to the oaths of the Kings Brethren and Parliaments having been tired out with so many and great labours he betook himself to rest and at the intreaties and perswasions of his Friends inclined to dispose of himself again in Marriage the rather because he was earnestly solicited thereto by the kindred of Jacoba Monbella the widow of the L. Anthony Monbell who was Daughter of Count Intermontanus of whose modesty piety and wholly life he had heard much formerly She therefore being brought honourably to him to Rochel he solemnly married her and not long after he disposed his own Daughter Ludovica in Marriage to Monsieur Teligni a young man of great Nobility and vertue Of all the Nobility of France none seemed more acceptable and dearer to the King then this Teligni by reason of his admirall ingenuity and therefore being much about the King it was he that did afterwards perswade the Admirall of the great esteem and hearty good will of the King towards him But God quickly mixed sorrow with the joy of these Marriages news being brought about that time of the death of Odet Coligni Cardinall of Chattillion who had been some time in the Court of England as the Procurator for the cause of the Protestants with Queen Elizabeth who much favoured him for the amplitude of his Family and the opinion of his vertue and integrity But the Protestants affairs being composed in France his Brother Gaspar sent for him Whereupon coming to Queen Elizabeth he obtained leave for his departure
those that were stout of hand to lodge about him Now it was observed that armed men rambled up and down in the City every where and about the Louure also that the common people grumbled and gave forth threatning speeches The Admirall being informed of these things sent one to the King to tell him of it The King answered that there was no cause why Coligni should be affraid for that these things were done by his command to represse the motions of the people who were stirred up by the Guises and therefore bad him to rest assured It was also told Teligni that Porters were seen carrying Arms into the Louure but he slighted it saying that these were unnecessary suspitions the Arms being carried in for the winning of a Castle in the Louure that was built for sport Presently the Duke of Guise to whom the charge was chiefly committed to see the businesse executed calling together the Captains of the Popish Swissers and the Tribunes of the French bands late in the night he discovered to them what the will of the King was that the hour was come wherein by the Kings commandement punishments should be inflicted on the head and by consequence upon the whole faction of the Rebels that the beast was caught and entangled in the net and therefore they must do their endeavoer that he might not escape Be not therefore said he wanting to so fit an occasion of carrying home a most glorious triumph over the enemies of the Kingdom the victory is easie the spoils will be rich and great which you may obtain as the rewards of your good service without shedding your own blood Then were the Swissers placed about the Louure unto whom certain bands of French men were added and charge was given them that they should suffer none of the King of Navarrs nor of the Prince of Conde's men to come forth Cossen also was charged with his Harquibushiers to suffer none to come out of the Admirals house That evening Guercius with some others had profered Teligni to keep guard in the Admirals house suspecting danger but he told them that there was no need for them so to trouble themselves and so with gracious words dismissed them by which means it came to passe that none lodged in the Admirals house but Cornaton Labonnius Yolett the Master of his Horse Merlin his Chaplain Paraeus the Kings Chyrurgeon and some four or five Servants Teligni was gone to the next house where he lay with his Wife In the Admirals Court were the five Swissers whom the King of Navarr had sent him Then did the Duke of Guise send for John Caronius lately made Provost of Merchants whom he commanded to signifie to the Aldermen that they should bid those in their severall Wards to appear in Arms at the Town-house about midnight to understand the Kings pleasure He commanded also Macellus who was very gracious with the people to signifie to them that liberty was given them from the King to take arms to destroy Coligni and all the other Rebels that therefore they should see diligently that they spared none nor suffered them any where to be concealed That order should be taken to do the like in all other Cities of the Kingdom who would follow the example of Paris That the sign for the beginning the assualt should be the ringing of the little Bell in the Palace That the sign whereby they should know one another should be a white handkerchief about their left arm or a white crosse in their hats That therefore they should come armed in good numbers and with good courages taking care to have candles lighted in their windows that no tumult might arise before the sign was given And thus the Duke of Guise and the bastard of Engolisme did all they could that things might be effected according to the agreement At midnight the Queen-Mother fearing the Kings wavering who was somewhat startled at the horridnesse of the fact reproved him for it saying that by his delaies he would overslip so fair an occasion offered by God for the utter vanquishing of his enemies The King being netled with this which seemed to charge him with cowardlinesse commanded the matter to be put in execution which word the Queen-Mother speedily taking hold of caused the little Bell to be rung in St. Germanes Church about an hour before day Aug. 24. being St. Bartholmews day and on a Sabbath Presently the Duke of Guise with Engolisme and d' Aumal went to the Admirals house where Cossen watched and a noise being raised the Admirall was awakned with it and heard of a sedition yet rested secure relying upon the Kings word and favour But the tumult growing greater when he perceived a Gun to be discharged in his Court he then conjectured though too late that which was the truth and so rising out of his bed and putting on his night-gown he stood and prayed against the wall Then came a servant to Labonnius and told him that there was one at the door who by the command of the King desired to be brought to the Admirall Labonnius therefore taking the keys ran down and opened the door then did Cossen catch at him and stabbed him with his dagger and so with his Harquebushiers he set upon the rest killing some and chasing away others Thus all things were filled with noise and another door at the stair foot was easily broken open and one of the five Swissers sent by the King of Navarr was slain yet were the stairs so barricado'd with chests that he could not presently enter In the mean time Monsieur Merlin went to prayer with the Admirall and the rest and at the end thereof a servant coming in said to the Admirall Master It is God who calleth us to himself they have broken into the house neither is there any ability to resist Then said the Admirall I have prepared my self for death a good while ago shift you for yourselves if possibly you can for your endeavour to help me would be in vain I commend my soul into Gods hand It was observed that the Admirals countenance was no more troubled then if no danger were at hand Thuanus relates his words thus I perceive what is in doing I was never afraid of death and I am ready to undergo it patiently for which I have long since prepared my self I bless God that I shall die in the Lord through whose grace I am elected to an hope of everlasting life I now need no longer any help of man You therefore my Friends get ye hence so soon as ye can lest ye be involved in my calamity and your Wives hereafter say that I was the cause of your destruction The presence of God to whose goodness I commend my soul which will presently fly out of my body is aboundantly sufficient for me Then all his company gat up into an upper room and crept out at a window upon the tiles and by the
benefit of night some escaped By this time Cossen with some Swissers of the Duke of Anjou's guard had removed the chests and were come up the stairs One Beheme a German was the first that entred the chamber who seeing the Admirall sitting there said Are not you the Admirall I am quoth he but you young man should have regard to my hoary head and old age But Beheme exchanging no more words struck him with his Sword and first embrued himself in the Admirals blood then Cossen Atinius and the rest followed and slew him with many wounds This Atinius reported afterwards that he never saw a man in so present a danger to have born out death with so great a constancy Then did the Duke of Guise from below ask if the businesse were done answer was made that it was But said he the Duke of Engolisme will not believe it except he see him himself therefore cast down his body out at the window with that they hurled it down headlong into the Court all defiled with gore blood whereupon the bastard of Engolisme wiping the blood from his face with his handkerchief and thereby knowing him kicked him in a scornfull manner Some say it was the Duke of Guise that did it Then one of the Duke of Nevers servants cut off his head and carried it to the King and Queen-Mother who caused it to be embalmed and sent it as a present to the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorrain to assure them of the death of their capitall enemy The people fell upon his Corps as mad men one cuts off his hands another his feet another his privy members and for three daies space drag his poor carcasse about the streets with all indignity Then some boyes would have thrown it into the River Seine but others dragged it to the gallows at Mountfaucon where they hung it up by the thighs and the shoulders downward but within few daies Francis Monmorency who had seasonably withdrawn himself from the danger caused some trusty persons to take it down by night and bury it in the Chappell at Contilia This was the end of this brave man who was the very first Noble man in all France that durst professe himself a Protestant and a helper of them He was marvellous zealous in performance of the exercises of Religion He used to rise very early and then putting on his night-gown and calling his Servants about him he went to prayer with them Then he set time apart to hear the Deputies of the Churches which were sent to him or for such like publique businesses Each other day in the forenoon he had a Sermon preached before him after which he returned to his businesse till dinner which being ready his Servants came in and there the Admirall standing by the Table and his Wife by his side one of David's Psalms were sung and a blessing craved upon the meat which course he did not only observe at his own house but every day in his Camp without intermission When the cloth was taken away he presently arose and standing with his Wife by him either himself or his Chaplain returned thanks At supper-time the same was done both with Prayers and Psalms And because he found it difficult to get all his Servants together at bed-time in regard of their various employments he caused them all to come in presently after supper where after a Psalm he went to prayer with them By this his excellent example very many of the French Nobility were enduced and encouraged to use the same discipline in their Families the Admirall often admonishing them that if they would embrace godlinesse in the life and power of it it was not enough for the Master of the Family to hear Sermons and to order his life in an holy and religious manner unlesse by his authority and example he brought all his houshold to joyn with him in the same When the time for receiving the Lords Supper approached he used to call his Friends and all his Family to him and shewed them that he must render an account to God for them as well as for himself If any discord was between them he reconciled it If any were ignorant he took care that they should be better instructed If any were obstinate he plainly gave them notice that it was better for them to remain at their own homes then for him to maintain such ungodly persons in his retinue He alwaies esteemed the carefull education of Children in good Schools a singular benefit of God and he called it the Seminary of the Church saying that ignorance of good letters was the cause of errour both in Church and State and that Popery crept in and kept in by that means Hereupon he erected a fair School at Chattilion under his Castle in a pleasant and wholesome place and bestowed great cost on it where he maintained Learned Interpreters of the Hebrew Greek and Latine tongues he maintained also many poor boyes and young men in that School He was modest and moderate in his desires after the world for though he had great Honours and Offices conferred upon him whereby he might much have enriched himself yet he added not so much as one Lordship or plough-land to the Inheritance left him by his Fathers He husbanded his estate and houshold affairs frugally yet having very many Noblemen and Gentlemen that resorted to him upon publique business he gave them free and hearty entertainment whereby he spent all that he saved at other times by his frugality Yea his extraordinary expences were so great that he left his Heir in debt no lesse then fourty thousand Crowns paying to his creditors yearly use-money no less then six thousand Crowns There was such incredible love and concord betwixt him and his two Brethren that all three seemed but to have one mind betwixt them He lived fifty three years six moneths and eight daies and was slain Aug. 24. 1572. He was of a middle stature of a ruddy colour his members equall and well compacted of a mild and cheerfull countenance of a small and pleasant voice yet somewhat slow and gentle of a healthy constitution of a comely gate and gesture abstemious in the use of Wine of a moderate diet and sleep for he never used to sleep above seven hours at the most After the Edict for Pacification he suffered no day to passe but before he went to bed he set down the things in his journall which fell out in the Civil Warres and were of any moment which being found after his death was carried to the King and admired by his very adversaries who thereby saw his quiet constant and composed mind in the midst of his greatest businesses When the Warre was finished and he was retired to Rochel no day passed over his head wherein he did not morning and evening read over one of Calvin's Sermons upon Job which History he used to call
if she were a stranger but it redounded to the great hurt of France and was the cause of many Civil broils When the day of the publique Convention of the States came he which made the Speech in the behalf of the Nobility about the end of his Oration presented the King with a Supplication that they of the Reformed Religion might have publique places allowed them for the exercise of the service of God in To this one Quintin a Doctor of the Civil Law and Professor of Paris opposed himself and made a long Oration in the name of the Clergy which he rather read then pronounced by heart wherein he took the boldnesse to affirm That all they that moved for publique places for those of the Religion were guilty of Treason against the King and Kingdom the authors of sedition and bringers in of a new Religion and therefore ought severely to be punished Of which when the Admirall in the Kings Councel afterwards complained Quintin to excuse himself professed that he had spoken nothing of his own head but only had pronounced that Oration which was penned and put into his hand by the Clergy and that he was ready again in the Convention of States before the King and all the company to avow that in all that he had said he had no thoughts of hurt to the Admirall In conclusion there was an Edict sent forth in the Kings Name commanding and requiring all the Judges and Magistrates through France to release all those of the Religion that were in prison and it was forbidden them upon great penalties hereafter to meddle with or to trouble any for their Religion sake As for the businesse of allowing them publique places for worship that was put off to the next Generall meeting of the States which was appointed but held not to be at Ponthoise in Piccardy January following there was a meeting of all the Princes and Nobles of France appointed to be held at St. Germans whither also repaired the Deputies from all the Parliaments and there it was decreed that Churches should be allowed to the Protestants in the Suburbs belonging to each City Upon the publishing of which Edict the Peace of the Kingdom seemed to be setled and in the Suburbs of all the greater Cities yea of Paris it self those of the Religion met publiquely and had Sermons preached without the least disturbance But presently after was news brought that the D. of Guise in Campania had basely murthered about two hundred persons who were met together at Vassiac to hear a Sermon according to the power given them by the Kings Edict in a barn and it was conceived that the D. of Guise took this boldnesse relying upon the friendship of the K. of Navarr whose weak mind he had bowed and bound to himself by promising him the Kingdom of Sardinia and other favours and upon this confidence adjoyning his other Brethren to him with a great Army he went to the Court and there seized upon King and Queen Mother who seemed with many tears to bewail the violence profered to to them and carried them away to Paris Hereupon the Queen Mother sent divers messengers to the Admirall and writ with her own hand to the Prince of Conde requesting them to help her and to deliver the King out of this captivity This caused the Prince of Conde with many of the Nobility upon deliberation to resolve to raise an Army for the rescue of the King and to curb the insolency of the Guises often saying that he ought not to be deterred with reports as if he intended to propagate his Religion by arms or to offer violence to the Person of the young King For said he After such a publique Decree made by the King and all the States in favour of those of the Religion What had the D. of Guise who is a Lorrainer by extraction to do in France Or by what confidence doth he exercise such cruelty against the Kings faithfull Subjects And therefore he saw that there was no way left but to repell force with force and that he was not the author of the War but by War defended those that were unjustly oppressed by War There was also a publique report that the D. of Nemours had endeavoured by flatteries to perswade the young Prince Henry the Kings Brother who was afterwards chosen King of Poland to go with him out of the bounds of France which the young youth had declared to his Mother There was much speech also of the Massacre at Vassiac and of their leading the King and Queen Mother as their captives to Paris where they had a powerfull faction They had also sent to the German Princes desiring to be admitted into the league of the Protestants The Cardinall of Lorraine had also sent to Christopher Duke of Wirtzberge a prudent and valiant Prince pretending that both he and his Brethren would embrace the Protestant Religion and desired to be enrolled in the number of the Protestant Princes These things being publiquely divulged the resolution of the Prince of Conde to take Arms was generally approved of and in a few daies many Cities sided with and assisted him as Orleans Biturg Roan Lions Vienna Valentia Mont-alban c. And whereas by the common consent of all the Protestants in France the Prince of Conde was chosen Generall he prevailed so far with them that the managing of the War was conferred upon our Admirall to whom he also delegated his own power and interest for the opinion which he had of his excellent justice gravity and prudence This being generally taken notice of the Queen Mother interposeth as a Mediatrix for peace and sends for the Prince of Conde to come to their tents intreating him that for the convenient situation of it he would deliver up into their hands for a few daies as the fittest place for the Treaty the City of Boience where there is a bridge that passeth over the River Loir which bridge she affirmed to be the fittest of all other places for the Parlee The Prince of Conde upon the perswasions of his Brother the King of Navarr and of the Queen Mother and upon their faithfull promise that the Town should be delivered back to him again and that his person should be in safety during the Treaty without taking any further pledges delivers up Boience to them only desiring that whilst the Treaty lasted the Constable Guise and Saint Andrew who were called the Triumvirate for the ruine of France might be commanded to withdraw from the Camp When these things were done the Queen Mother and the Guises put a garrison into the Town of Bogener fortifie it strongly and keep the Prince of Conde prisoner The Admirall being justly incensed by this perfidiousnesse and resolving not to be wanting in his aid to the Prince of Conde he presently with all his Cavalry sets upon the enemies Camp which brought such a terrour amongst them