Oaths which were not only connived at but cherished On the contrary every Day new punishments are invented against a sort of Men who could never yet be convicted of any wicked Attempt for how can they injure the Prince who never name him but in their Prayers for him Are they accused of breaking our Laws perverting the Allegiance of our Cities or Provinces No the greatest Tortures could never extort a Confession that they so much as thought of any such thing Are they not accused of Sedition only because they have by the Candle of Scripture discovered the shameful and encreasing Villanies and corruptions of the Roman Power which they defire may be reformed Christopher Harlay and Peter Seguier the two Presidents said with great Modesty that the Court had hitherto justly and rightly discharged its Duty in this Particular and that it would still do the same without changing to the Glory of God and therefore neither the King nor People of France would have cause to repent the trusting to it Christopher de Thou with great freedom reflected on the King's Attorney and Advocates for presuming to defame the Proceedings of that Court and indangering its Authority Renatus Baillet desired the Judgments which were blamed might be re-examined and more maturely considered Minart having made a short Preface to soften the Envy which had been raised against them only added That he thought the King's Edicts were to be observed After these Maistre the President made a sharp Harangue against the Sectaries instancing in the Severities which Philip the August is said to have employed against the Albingenses 600 of which he burnt in one day and in the Waldenses which were massacred with Fire and Smoak partly in their Houses and partly in the Dens and Caves they had fled to The King having obliquely reproached the Court for entring upon this Debate The King's Answer without his Order added He now clearly saw what he had heard before That there were some among them who despised both his Authority and the Popes That this was the fault of but a few but it was dishonourable to the whole body of them but only they that were guilty should suffer the Punishment And therefore he exhorted the rest to go on in their Duty The Reflections of la Faur and du Bourg who mentioned the Story of Ahab and the frequent Adulteries exasperated the King more than the rest and therefore he commanded Montmorancy to apprehend them who again ordered Gabriel de Montgomery a Captain of the Guard to take them and carry them to the Bastile Afterwards Paul de Foix Anthony Fumee Eustace de la Porte were also taken into Custody but la Ferriere du Val and Viole were concealed by their Friends and escaped this Storm Men censured these Proceedings as they stood affected but the Wiser were much disgusted That the King should be so far imposed on by others as to come personally into his Court to subvert those Laws he ought to have protected That he should make use of Threats and Imprisonments saying That this was a clear Instance that he was subject to the Passions of others and who could think but these things were the forerunners of great Changes A French Synod held by the Protestant Ministers The Ministers of the Reformed Religion notwithstanding held a Synod at S. German June 28 one Morelle being President in which they setled the order of their Synods the Authority of the Presidents the taking away the Supremacy in the Church the election of Ministers and their Office and Duty Deacons and Presbyters Censures the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity of contracting and dissolving Marriages which yet were only temporary Decrees to be varied as future Synods should think fit but to oblige particular Persons till so altered About the same time came Embassadours from the Protestant Princes of Germany The Protestant Princes of Germany write to the King of France with Letters to the King subscribed by Frederick Cout Palatine of the Rhine Augustus Duke of Saxony Joachim Elector of Brandenburg Christopher Duke of Wirtimberg and Wolfang Count of Weldentz In which they represent to the King How much they were afflicted to see so many Pious Quiet and Holy Men who professed the same Religion Imprisoned Spoiled Banished and put to Death as Seditious Persons in France That they thought themselves bound by Christian Charity and the Alliance which was between them and France to beseech him well to consider this Affair which concerned the Name of God and the Salvation of so many Souls that he ought to free himself from Prejudice and imploy great Judgment and Reason in it They assured him they were no less solicitous for the Glory of God and the Salvation of their Subjects than he and upon the Differences of Religion had maturely considered how they might be composed That they had found by degrees and insensibly through Avarice and Ambition many Corruptions had crept into the Church which were dishonourable to the Majesty of God and Scandalous to Men and that they ought to be reformed by the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures the Decrees of the Primitive Church and the Writings of the most Ancient Fathers That the Corruptions and Disorders of the Court and Church of Rome had long since been complained of in France by W. Parisiensis John Gerson Nicholas Clemangius and Wisellius of Groeningen the Restorer of the University of Paris under Lewis XI and other Divines That King Francis his Father of Blessed Memory was convinced of this and had wisely endeavoured to put an end to the Differences of Religion and to reform the Discipline of the Church That now France was not involved in War abroad they besought him the Difference of Religion might by his Authority and Conduct be quietly ended That this might easily be effected if the King would but appoint Learned and Peaceable Men who should examin their Confession of Faith without Partiality or Prejudice by the Holy Scripture and the Ancient Fathers That in the interim he should suspend all Legal Severities discharge the Imprisoned recal the Banished restore their Estates to those that had been ruin'd This they said would be acceptable and pleasing to God Honourable to the King Profitable to France and very Grateful to them The King entertained the Embassadors kindly and having read the Letter said he would suddenly send them a satisfactory Answer but by that time they were arrived at the Borders of France the Fire their coming seem'd to have abated raged more horribly than ever June 19. A Commission issued to try the suspected Members of Parliament Du Bourg first tried a Commission was issued to Jean de Saint Andre the President and Promoter of these Troubles Jo. James de Memme Master of the Requests Lewis Gayaut Robert Boet Eustace Bellay lately a Member of the Court of Parliament but then Bishop of Paris and Anthony de Nouchy to try the Members of Parliament which had been imprisoned
King's Letter 605. Franciscan Friars at Orleans their Imposture about the Provost's Wife 170. A Franciscan Freaches a Bloody Sermon before the Emperor at Wormes 349. Franco Jerome the Popes Legate Sollicites the Switzers against the Protestants 390. Franconian Bishops commended by the Emperor to submit to Marq. Albert 575. They appeal to the Imperial Chamber 577. Cannot conclude with him at Heidelberg 578. Are invaded by him ibid. Frederick K. of Denmark publishes a Declaration against Christian II. 62. Is called to the Danish Crown from the Dutchy of Holstein ibid. Frederick Prince Palatine goes Ambassador to Char. V. upon his Election 18. Desires the Emperor to go into Germany ibid. Represents him at the Diet at Nuremberg 63. Writes to the Senate at Strasbourg to desist from Innovations 76. Restrains the Soldiers from Cruelty to the Boors at Wormes 81. Succeeds his Brother Lewis in the Electorate 321. Establishes the Protestant Religion in the Electorate 356. Goes to Spire with the Landgrave to meet the Emperor 368. Treats with Granvell 372. Demands to know the Reasons of the War against the Protestants 383. Endeavours a Reconciliation amongst all sides 384. Reconciled to the Emperor 413. Receives the Interim 461. Helps the Confederate Princes against his will 569. Frederick D. of Saxony Connives at Luther 2. Intercedes with Cajetan for him at Augsbourg 7. Answers Cajetan 's Letter 11. Sends Cajetan 's Letter to Luther ibid. Reads none of Luther 's Books nor hears his Sermons for some time 12. Gives his Vote for Charles K. of Spain to be Emperor 18. Refused it when offer'd ibid. Would take no Money of the K. of Spain 's Ministers ibid. Falls sick 25. His Suit at the Court of Rome 33. His Answer to Ditlebius ibid. His Answer to Aleander and Caracciolus 39. Conveys Luther away privately 49. Writes to the Vniversity of Wittemberg to act calmly in taking away the Mass 50. Dies 84. Frederick of Brandenbourg made Arch-Bishop of Magdebourg 526. Frederick Son to John Frederick of Saxony Marries Duke Maurice's Widow the Landgrave's Daughter 616. His Wife dies 628. Fregoso and Rink Ambassadors from Francis to Solyman killed upon the Way 284. Frisius John Answers Popish Questions at Wurtzburg 603. Friars Great Men desire to be buried in Friars habits 251. G GEneva Popery abolished there 112. Disturbances there upon Calvin 's Expulsion 616. Genovefe or Genevieve the Patroness Saint of Paris 178. Six Lutherans burnt on a Procession day to her ibid. Genoa vide Doria. George Duke of Saxony writes to Henry the VIII against Luther 65. His discourse with Muncer 86. Returns a Spiteful answer to Luther 's Letter 101. Disowns any Confederacy against the Reformed Religion 114. His Tricks against the Lutherans 167. He complains of Luther to the Elector of Saxony 168. Quarrels with John Frederick Elector of Saxony 206. Dies and leaves his Dutchy to his Brother Henry 249. George Duke of Mecklenbourg makes War against the Magdebourgers 500. Defeats them Ibid. Is taken Prisoner by them 505. Is killed with a great Shot after he had joined Duke Maurice 569. Germany a Plague in Germany 285. German Bishops write to the Pope about the Council of Trent 439. Gerson what he was 10. Ghendt a City in Flanders an Insurrection there 251. They are Punished for it 262. Gonzaga Frederick made first Duke of Mantua by Charles the V. 127. Gonzaga Ferdinand siezes upon Piacenza upon Petro Aloisio 's death 439. Reduces it to the Emperors Obedience Ibid. Granvel outs Eldo from his Interest in Charles 's Court 255. He sends Ambassadors to the Protestant convention at Smalcald 255. Goes to Wormes 270. His Speech at the Diet Ibid. Presents a Book to the Diet at Ratisbon of the heads of the Conference 276. His Speech at Norimberg in the Emperors Name 306. Answers the Landgrave's Letter about the War intended against the Protestants 357. Treats with the Landgrave and the Elector Palatine at Spire 370 372. Treats with the Deputies of the Protestant Cities at Ratisbon 377. He urges the Strasburghers to receive the Interim 464. and insists upon it 465. Dies 499. Granvel Anth. Perenot Bishop of Arras succedes his Father in the Ministry 499. Grey Jane Married to Guilford Dudley 580. And proclaimed Queen of England pursuant to King Edward 's will 588. Grignian Francis Amb. his Speech at Wormes 350. Gritti Lewis Councellor to Solyman 175. His Son Andrew made Bishop of Five-Churches Ibid. He is beheaded Ibid. Gropper John and Phlugius vindicate themselves from Eckius 's Aspersion 282. Invites Bucer to Cologne 288. Falls off from the Bishop and Writes the Anti-Didagma as it was thought 311. Is very insolent in the Council of Trent 535. Guelderlanders rebel 232. Custavns King of Sweden alters Religion 391. Guteling 's Balthasar Speech to his Soldiers 381. H HAguenaw a Diet there 267. The Acts of the Assembly there Ibid. The decree at Haguenaw 266. Heideck takes several Towns for the Protestants 388. Routed by Duke Maurice 504. Taken into the service of Duke Maurice Assists the Magdeburghers 514. Henry the VII Emperor refuses to pay Allegiance to the Pope 38. Henry the VIII Writes against Luther 50. Is called defender of the Faith Ibid. Is Pensioner to Charles the V. 51. His Daughter Mary is Betrothed to Charles Ibid. Writes to the Princes of the House of Saxony against Luther 65. Receives a Golden Rose from the Pope 75. Writes a Scornful answer to Luther's Letter 101. Makes a League with France in the absence of King Francis 102. Makes a League with Francis against Charles 112. His answer to the Protestant Princes of Germany 150. Is dissatisfied about his Marriage with Catharine 169. Sues to be Divorced Ibid. They are Dilatory at Rome Ibid. He Marries Anne Boleyn 170. Is declared in Parliament head of the Church Ibid. Revokes Peter Pence Ibid. Sends Fox Bishop of Hereford Ambassador to the Protestants at Smalcald 188. His Ambassadors winter at Wittemberg 205. His Letter to the Protestants Ibid. He beheads Anne Boleyn 206. Quells a rising in England 209. His Reasons against the Council of Mantua 231. His Reasons against the Council at Vicenza 250. He enacts in Parliament several things about Religion 251. Marries Anne of Cleve Ibid. His Answer to the Elector of Saxony's Ambassador 255. Beheads Cromwel Earl of Essex 267. Is divorced from Anne of Cleve Ibid. Marries Catharine Howard Ibid. Burns Papists and Protestants for Religion 269. Beheads Catharine Howard for Adultery 289. Marries Catharine Parr Ibid. Makes a successful War in Scotland 324. He makes an Expedition into France 327. Takes Bologne Ibid. Makes a Treaty of Peace with France 355. Forewarns the Protestants in Germany of their danger 356. Dies 418. Henry of Zutphen suffers for Religion in Germany 75. Henry Duke of Saxony refuses to change his Religion to gain the Dutchy 249. But gains it by George 's Death 250. Henry Dauphin of France has a Daughter 382. Henry the II. of France succeeds to Francis the l. 424. Is Crowned 435. The
one Horse for his own use having reserved an hundred thousand Crowns for his Subsistence which was not over well paid neither spending his Time in the innocent Arts of Grafting Gardning and Reconciling the Differences of his Clocks which yet he could never make to strike together and therefore ceased to wonder He had not been able to make Men agree in the Nicities of Religion Here he first heard of the breach of Truce between his Son and the King of France and though he was something concerned at it Thuanus yet he concluded the Rashness of the Old doating Pope and the Perfidy of the Caraffa's would end in the Ruine of the Prosperity of France as it came afterwards to pass The last Day of October saith the great Thuanus John Sleidan John Sleidan's Death and Character when he had brought down his History to that time with an exact Faith and Diligence dyed of the Plague at Strasburg in the one and fiftieth Year of his Age. He was born at Sleidan a Town in the Dukedom of Juliers near Dueren and from thence he took his Name a Person who for his Learning and great Experience in Affairs was much esteemed by that Age He had spent the greatest part of his Youth in France and being entertained in the Family of Bellay had both learned and done great things in the Service of Cardinal John Du Bellay but a sharp Persecution arising in France against those that were suspected of Lutheranisme he went and lived at Strasburg and served that Free City and being by his own Employments much enformed of the Carriage of Affairs he added to what he had seen what he had learned from Men worthy of Credit and wrote his Book of Commentaries Paul IV had succeeded Marcellus a short lived Pope the twenty sixth of May Natura iracundus pene implacabilis Natalis Comes Paul IV a furious Hare-brained Prince in the Year 1555 as John Sleidan has set forth in his last Book he was a Man of a Furious and unquiet temper and made it his great Design to raise the See of Rome to its former Greatness and Authority but not considering the present state of things mistook his Measures The Submission of England had raised in him extravagant Hopes of Reducing Germany too under his Obedience but then the Peace of Religion appeared so contrary to that Design that it irritated him to the utmost and he threatned the King of the Romans and the Emperour That in a short time he would make them know to their Sorrow how much they had offended him if they did not prevent it by revoking and disallowing the things they had granted That he might have no occasion to proceed as he intended to do not only against the Lutherans but even against them too as Abettors of them But all this Ranting Zeal missing its due Effect he began his Revenges on King Philip the Son of the Emperour who was the best Friend that See had then in Christendom by denying to admit him to the Kingdom of Naples Marc Antony Colonna a Favorite of Philip King of Spain had about this time dispossessed Ascanius his Father who was a Subject of the Popes but had a great Estate in the Kingdom of Naples of all that lay in that Kingdom upon pretence that he was infected with Heresie that he favoured the French Interest against the Emperour and that he lived a dissolute Life And the Accusation had been countenanced and encouraged by King Philip to that height that the Father as much as in him lay at his Death disinherited his Son giving his Estates in the Papacy to the See of Rome and those in the Kingdom of Naples to Victoria his Daughter the Wife of Garzia de Toledo This was made the Pretence of the ensuing War between the Pope and the King of Spain into which the French and English were drawn too and all Christendom almost imbroiled again The Pope however considering that he was not able to deal alone with so Potent a Prince as King Philip under pretence of sending Cardinal Caraffa into France to congratulate the five Years Truce imployed his Interest with the King of France to persuade him to break his Faith so lately given and to renew the War with Philip The Pope had before upon several Pretences clapt up the leading Cardinals and great Men of the Spanish Faction And when the King with all the Respect his Zeal for that See could inspire him with by his Ambassadour desired the Discharge of these Prisoners and the Restitution of Marc Antony Colonna to his Fathers Estate and Castles in the Papacy the angry Pope Replyed That he had Authority and Right to punish his Subjects for their Offences And commanded his Ambassadour to write to his Master not to meddle with what did not belong to him and that he should permit him as Pope to exercise his Soveraignty freely on his own Subjects And accordingly he seized all Colonna's Castles and Estates in the Dominions of the Church pretending to revenge the Wrongs he had done to Ascanius his innocent Father with the consent of his Mother who was also severely treated by the Pope and not contented with all this he declared the Kingdom of Naples forfeited to the See of Rome because King Philip had neglected the Payment of eight thousand Crowns due as a yearly Tribute for that Kingdom He annexes the Kingdom of Naples to the See of Rome and now many Years in Arrear whereupon his Holiness published an Edict by which he annexed that Kingdom as forfeited to the See of Rome and began to fortifie Paliano a City of Champagna di Roma thirty miles from Rome to the East and put a thousand French into it for a Garrison which the more exasperated the King of Spain The Duke de Alva who was then Vice-roy of Naples did all that was possible to mitigate the Pope The Duke de Alva begins a a War upon the Papacy but his Submissions and Protestations more incensed him his Flatterers persuading him they proceeded more from Fear than a Reverence of the Holy See which he so much pretended Whereupon the Vice-roy raised twelve thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and entring the Popes Territories he took Ponte Corvo upon the River Garigliano one of the Pope's Towns in the Borders of Terra di Lavoro without resistance and after that Frusilione the Pope's Forces flying out of it in the Night Hereupon the Pope also levied ten thousand Italian Foot and seven hundred Horse to which he added two thousand Gascoigners which were old Soldiers sent him by the King of France and imprisoned one Lofredo who was sent by the Duke de Alva to persuade the Pope to a Peace before the War was begun and staid at Rome for the Pope's Answer The Duke de Alva hearing this presently marched to Anagni another City in the same Province Anagni taken which the Pope had made his Magazine but here
In the Year 1556 the Thirty first of July Ignatius Loyola the Founder of the Order of Jesuites died in the Sixty fifth year of his Age. He was born in Spain and at first served as a Soldier which Employment he deserted in the Year 1521 upon a Wound received at Pampelune In the Year 1528 he began to gather Companions In the Year 1534 or 35 this Order was first framed by him and in the Year 1609 he was Canonized by Pope Paul IV. And as Petavius saith it was confirm'd by Paul III in 1540 the Twenty seventh of September James Lainez a Spaniard was this Year his Successor and the second General of that Order which had then obtain'd One hundred Colleges in several Parts of Christendom as one of that Society assures us In the beginning of this year Albert the Son of Casimir Marquis of Brandenburg year 1557 having lately by the Interposition of some of the Princes obtain'd leave from the Dyet to return into Germany to defend his Case Albert Marquis of Brandenburg dies and sojourning then with Charles Marquis of Baden at Pforzheim in Schwartzwalt being extremely worn out with the Troubles of his Affairs and a Disease which sprung from the Intemperance of his former Life died the Eighth Day of January This Prince was an Illustrious Example of the Instability of Human Greatness and of the Divine Justice For He that was once surrounded with so many Thousands of Fighting Men that his Name was terrible to all Men and almost the whole German Empire lay exposed to his Ravage at last by a change of his Fortunes was deserted by all Men and now ended his Life in great Misery and Poverty being despised by his very Enemies as the great Thuanus represents it The Eleventh of March the Dyet began at Ratisbonne the last year was ended In it there was a Decree of Recess made That a Friendly Conference should be held the Fourteenth of August at Wormes for the putting an End to the Differences of Religion That a double Supply of Eight Months should be granted to King Ferdinaud to enable him to carry on the War against the Turks That the Peace of Religion and that of the State should be preserved with great and exact care and for the Renewing the Imperial Chamber of Spire which is the Supreme Court of the Empire In April died John Count Palatin of Simeren President of the said Imperial Chamber and the Father of Frederick who about two years after succeeded Otho Henry in the Palatinate of the Rhine He was a Prince of great Learning and managed this Trust with the highest Commendations both for his Prudence and Justice Soon after the great Controversie between the Families of Nassaw and Hesse The County of Catzenellobogen setled by Agreement which had been depending Fifty Years and is often mention'd by Sleidan concerning the County of Catzenellobogen was friendly ended at Frankfort upon the Main by the Interposition and Mediation of Otho Henry and Augustus Electors William Duke of Cleves and others who were made Judges in this Affair for both Parties the Landgrave of Hesse by their award retaining that County upon paying to William Prince of Orange 1600 Crowns and resigning up to him the Earldom of Diez for 1050 Crowns When the time of the Conference appointed by the Dyet drew near the Divines who were of the Agustane Confession had a Meeting at Frankford on the Main the First of August to adjust their own private Differences before they entred into a Conference with the Roman Catholicks The Conference at Wormes so that this latter was not begun till the beginning of September At the opening of it Julius Pflug Bishop of Naumburg who was President in this Conference desired those of the Augustane Confession that they would in the first place shew openly their Disagreement with and Detestation of the Zuinglians Osiandrians Synergists and Adiaphorists Because the Peace of Religion was only granted to those of the Augustane Confession by the Dyet and this Conference was appointed with none but them and the Emperor besides knew that most of them had Orders to do this That therefore some benefit at least might result from this Conference they would once for all by a common consent condemn these Errors and there would be much less danger and difficulty in the rest The younger Ministers and Deputies of Saxony easily assented and producing their Instructions were very forward to separate the Augustane Confession from these Errors But Philip Melancthon an old wise Man who saw the drift of this cunning Gamester said the Examination and Explication of their several Doctrins ought to go before the Determination and Condemnation of them and that till this was done they ought not to be condemned The Roman Catholicks who were weary of the Conference thereupon would go no further in it till they had given an Account of this to the Emperor Ferdinand commanded them to go on and said it was enough if in the Progress of the Conference when they had explained the several Articles they did at last remark what was disallowed by the common consent in each of them But the Bishop of Naumburg refusing to go on except he were first certain of the Faith of those he was to dispute with the Conference broke up without effect when there had only been some Papers exchanged between them concerning the Rule of Judging Controversies and Original Sin. And all the blame was by the Roman Catholicks thrown upon the Divisions which were among them Thus far Thuanus Now the design of this Condemnation was a Division of the Protestant Interest that whereas they were too many for the Romau Catholicks while they were united they might hâ—ave the Consent of those of the Augustane Confession to ruin the Zuinglians and then they should with the less difficulty extirpate by the Sword the Lutherans too and in the mean time they knew very well they were never able to convince them by a Disputation when it was utterly impossible they should ever agree about the Rule that was to end these Differences the Roman Catholicks Assigning the perpetual Consent of the Church And the Lutherans the Old and New Testaments and the Ancient Creeds and allowing no other Writings but as far as they agreed with these some Ages being purer than others Certainly no wise Man of either Side ever did think that any of these Conferences could put an end to these Controversies though they have made use of them to promote by Ends. And that Side that was uppermost hath ever yet reaped the Advantage and so it will be till God himself put an End to this Controversie But to return now to the War between France and Spain The War between France and Spain The Truce being broken by the Attempt upon Doway which I have mention'd already the War went heavily on because the Flower of the Nobility and Gentry were gone with the Duke of Guise into Italy which had
much dispirited and weakned France And the Duke de Montmorancy who from the beginning had a great Aversion for this War which he foresaw would end in the Ruin of France was more intent in levying Soldiers to defend the Borders of the Netherlands than in prosecuting the War against King Philip and Invading his Dominions In the mean time Queen Mary of England Queen Mary joyns with Spain being over-persuaded by King Philip her Husband and disposed to it by the Arts of Dr. Wotton who was then her Embassadour in France and by his Nephew who found the French were well disposed to a Rupture with England if Calice might be the Prince of it she I say entred into the War too and sent an Herald to the French Court with a Declaration to that purpose who deliver'd it the Seventh of June The French King took no less care to raise a War between England and Scotland by way of Diversion Mary the Queen of Scotland being before this sent into France to be married to the Dauphin his Eldest Son. So that he thought he had now a Right to Command that Nation to espouse his Quarrel but the Scotch Nobility thought otherwise and would not Engage in a War against England when they had no interest of their own to do it The Spaniards were all this while intent in providing Men and Arms and the Twenty fifth of July attack'd the Fort of Rocroy in the Borders of Champagne and Hainalt four Leagues from Maribourg to the South but finding there a greater Resistance than they expected they marched away towards Picardy with an Army of Thirty five thousand Foot and Twelve thousand Horse The Body of the French Army being but Eighteen thousand Foot and Five thousand Horse and for the most part both Sides Germans so that the French thought it their Interest to coast along by the Enemy and defend their Borders and cover their Towns which was all they could safely do in this inequality of Forces There was then a very small Garrison in St. Quintin The Siege of St. Quintin under the Command of Charles de Teligny Captain of the Troop of Guards belonging to the Dauphin but the Army coming suddenly before it the Sieur de Coligny the President of Picardy put himself into the place with some few Forces and sent to Montmorancy to come up and succour him This was disapproved by those about him as Dangerous and if things succeeded not Dishonourable In the beginning of the Siege Teligny was slain in a Sally by Engaging imprudently beyond his Orders who was a Person of great Courage and Strength Industry and Fidelity and an Experienc'd Commander And Andelot The Battel of St. Quintin who was sent by Coligny to bring Two thousand Foot into the Town was by a mistake of his Guides misled and falling into the Trenches of the Besiegers he was slain and most of his Men cut off and Montmorancy attempting to relieve the same place was beaten also and lost Two thousand five hundren Men and himself was taken Prisoner This Battel had a fatal effect upon France for it made the Life of Henry II ever after Unfortunate and reducing France to the necessity of a dishonourable Peace it became the occasion of the Civil Wars which followed to the great hazard of the Ruin of that Potent Kingdom and may serve as an Example to Princes not to violate their Faith whoever dispense with it Montmorancy was from the beginning averse to this War Montmorancy ruin'd by being taken Prisoner and foretold the ill Consequences of it as he was an old experienc'd wise Commander and a great Lover of his Country so till then he had lived in great Power and enjoyed the Favour of his Prince but now when his good Fortune left him he lost the good Esteem and Regards of all Men which from thence forward were conferred upon the Duke of Guize who employ'd them to the damage of France The News of this Victory fill'd France with Terror and Sorrow and the Netherlands with Joy and Courage The Duke of Nevers and some others of the principal French Commanders however escaped If the Victorious Army had forthwith marched to Paris they might have taken it but King Philip was resolved to hazard nothing but commanded his Army to go on with the Siege of St. Quintin and the King of France leaving Compeigne where he then was and going to Paris so quieted the Minds of the People by his Presence and good Words that things began to settle and the fear in a short time to abate Coligny kept the Townsmen of St. Quintin two days in Ignorance of this Loss and when they came to hear of it though he saw the Town would at last be taken yet he persuaded them to hold it out to the last that so the King might have time to recollect his Forces and be in a condition to oppose the Victorious Enemy Another of the Andelot's got into the Town with about Five hundred Chosen Men and some few Volunteers of the Nobility but when all was done King Philip coming in Person into the Camp and the Siege being carried on with great diligence the Town was taken by Storm the 27th of August The Day of the Battel and Coligny and Andelot became Prisoners too and the latter was wounded At this Siege there was Eight thousand English employed who did great Service but finding themselves ill used after the Town was taken they returned to Calis St. Quintin taken by Storm There were above Four hundred French Soldiers slain in this Town and Three hundred taken Prisoners and more had perished if King Philip who was present had not entred the City and by Proclamation restrain'd the fury of his own Soldiers to whom he granted the Plunder of the Town which was great and took particular care that those who had not been concern'd in the danger of the Storming the Town might have no share in the Plunder of it Soon after this Victory King Philip sent an Express to the late Emperor Charles his Father who was then in his private Retirement in Spain desiring him to send his Advice how to proceed the wise and good Prince return'd him an Answer to this purpose as the Great Thuanus relates it A Letter of Charles V to his Son Philip. Though this Retreat gives me the utmost security yet I received the Account of your Victory with a joyful and a pleased Mind and I congratulate the happy and fortunate Beginnings of my beloved Sons Reign and I render to God Almighty my humblest and devoutest Thanks and Praises who hath not suffer'd the Persidy of his Enemies to go long unpunished but has thus suddenly chastised the Truce-breakers both in Italy and on the Borders of the Netherlands For though my mind foretold me it would come so to pass and I comforted my self with that hope yet I was vex'd that just at that time when I had restored Christendom
Peace which is disliked by Coligni THIS Year there began a sharp Persecution against all that were suspected to favour the Reformation in the Netherlands year 1561 and for the greater terror they burnt the Houses of all those they Convicted for holding private Meetings Perrenot Bishop of Arras A Persecution in the Low-Countries and Cardinal Granvel hoping by this means to prevent the spreading of a Religion in that Country which had made such progresses in Germany and France They that imbraced this Religion were no less scandalized by the multiplying the Bishopricks and thereupon drew up a Confession of their Faith to be exhibited to King Philip beseeching him in the end of it that he would put a stop to the bloody Executions which destroyed so many of his innocent People This Confession was the same in substance with that published by the French Protestants and amongst other things they took particular care to insert That the Civil Magistrate was the Ordinance of God and therefore was to be obeyed Their Tributes to be duly paid and all manner of Respect and Reverence to be shewed to them and that Prayers were to be made to God for their preservation In the month of February The French Affair the new King of France left Orleans and went to Fontainbleau where the Prince of Conde waited upon him and being introduced into the Privy Council asked the Chancellor if there were any Accusation depending against him and was told by him and the whole Council they were intirely satisfied of his innocence and leave was given him to demand an Acquital in the Parliament of Paris And a Decree was made to that purpose and Published by the Order of the Council March 13. after which he went to Paris to prosecute his Discharge before that Court. In the mean time Queen Catharine Queen Catharine favoureth the Protestants the Regent of France seemed very much to favour the Protestant Party and by her Arts and Dissimulation so far prevailed upon the spirit of the King of Navarre who was their Head that he told the Danish Ambassador he did not doubt but he should see the Reformed Religion settled in France within one year The Queen on the other side told Montmorency That she counived at them for the present that she might the more easily elude the designs of the King of Navarre by seeming to comply with him But then she said he and the other great Men of that Kingdom ought to oppose them and to complain that the Religion of their Ancestors was every where violated and despised She designed by this First To divide the great Men in the Point of Religion Secondly To weaken the Interest of the King of Navarre And thirdly To preserve the Romish Religion in France But Montmorency who was her Instrument designed only the last yet he was very active in it The Queen in the interim carried her dissimulation so far that she ordered Jean de Monluc Bishop of Valence who was a great favourer of the Reformation and no Enemy to the Protestants Doctrine to Preach frequently at Court and She and the King were sometimes present at his Sermons He would sometimes speak very freely against the Corruptions that were in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church and obliquely tax the Papal Authority The favour the Queen shewed to this Bishop made Montmorency suspect that in her Heart she had a kindness for the Protestant Party and that underhand she and Navarre had one and the same design And thereupon he deserted her and joyned with the Guises his till then Mortal Enemies the Duchess de Valentois procuring the Reconciliation Magdalen of Savoy Wife to Montmorency was also an implacable enemy to the Reformation and hated Coligni the Admiral for that and other causes and therefore she perpetually stimulated him against the Protestants Francis Montmorency The younger Montmorency's Advice to his Father Son of the Constable was a person of great Prudence and he wisely advised his Father not to lose the least of his friends in so necessary a time for he foresaw a Tempest would arise in France of what Religion soever they were that it did not become a wise Man to endeavour to gain new friends with the loss of his old ones and to prefer the uncertain friendship of reconciled enemies before the tried affections of his old Acquaintances That if he rejected Conde Coligni and Rochefoucault on the Account of Religion he would deprive his Family of the affistance of three great Men and perhaps the Queen would think never the better of him therefore his advice to his Father was to sit still and let Coligni and the Guises fight it out without taking part on either side and in all probability Guise would be worsted and he would become the Arbitrator of the two contending Religions And in the mean time it was most certain there were many great Errors by length of time crept into the Church which he ought not to defend because they were injurious to the Majesty of God. The good old Gentleman was much moved at this Advice from his Son but made no other answer to it than That he certainly knew that if the Religion were changed the Civil Government would be changed too That he cared not what became of him if his little Masters did well and the Actions of Henry II. might not be called in question who was a wife Prince and his good Master So he perished in his first resolves believing he was obliged to defend the Cause of Religion against his best and most ancient and tried friends The Pope seeing his Jurisdiction and Authority decline so fast in Germany year 1560 England and France The pretended Submission of the Cophthites greedily embraced a pretended Overture made by one Abraham a Syrian Impostor who pretended he was sent by the Copthites an Eastern Sect of Christians to make a submission to the Holy See whereupon he sent Christopher Roderick and John Baptista Elianus two Jesuits to them who gained nothing by this Mission but an exact Account of the Opinions of these Cophthites and a certainty of the Frauds of this pretended Ambassador Abraham who had feign'd this Mission to the Pope for his own Ends. This Mortification was soon after attended by another Livonia falls off from the See of Rome not less afflictive to his Holiness for Gothard Ketler Master of the Teutonick Order in Livonia intirely submitted to Sigismond King of Poland which put an end to that Order when it had flourished there 357 years He was thereupon made Duke of Gurland and Semigallen and Governor of Livonia and Marrying a Wife withdrew himself and his Subjects from the See of Rome The Archbishoprick of Riga was also about the same time changed into a Dukedom John Kothewick ☜ ☜ the last Archbishop of that See embracing the Augustane Confession put himself under the Protection of the Crown of Poland and was by Sigismond made Duke
not God would Punish them After him the Cardinal of Tournon spoke and Thanked the King Queen and Princes for being present and approved highly of what the Chancellor had said but defired a Copy of it which the Chancellor refused though it was seconded by the Cardinal of Lorrain because he perceived they craftily designed to mischief him by it Beza speaks Theodore Beza being next commanded to speak fell upon his Knees and after a Prayer and reciting his Faith complained to God that they had been injuriously treated as Enemies of the Publick Peace Then he shewed wherein they agreed with the Church of Rome and wherein they differed and discoursed of the way of attaining Salvation of Faith Good Works the Word of God the Authority of the Councils and Fathers of the Sacraments and of their use and true Interpretation of Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation and lastly of the Ecclesiastical Order and Discipline and obedience to Princes he was so long and so sharp in some of these things that they had scarce patience to hear him out and the Cardinal of Tournon presently replied with a Voice trembling for Rage Tournon replies with rage That he and the other Prelates had done violence to their Consciences by condescending to this Conference in compliance with his Majesties Commands by hearing these new Evangelists That he foresaw if they were heard many things would be spoken by them injurious to the Majesty of God which would offend the Ears of the King and of all good Men. And therefore he beseeched his Majesty not to believe what was said That if he could have prevented it the King should not have been present but however he desired he would not suffer his Mind to be pre-ingaged in their false Opinions but to suspend till the Bishops had Answered it and the King and the rest there present should know the difference between Falsehood and Truth He Asked a Day to Answer in and prayed the King that he would persevere in the Religion of his Ancestors Lastly he added that but for the respect they bore to the King the Bishops would have arisen and put a stop to those horrible and abominable Words The Queens Answer The Queen calmly said she had done the thing without the Advice of the Parliament of Paris the Princes and Privy Council That no change was designed but that the Disturbances of France might be appeased and Men friendly brought from their Errors into the Old Way which belonged to them to effect The first Dispute was The Points debated about the Lords Supper The second which was the 17th of August was about the Church which the Cardinal of Lorrain said could not Err That if any particular Church did Recourse was to be had to the Head the Church of Rome and the Decrees of a General Council and the Concurrent Opinions of the Ancient Fathers and before all to the Sacred Scriptures explain'd by the Right Sense and Interpretation of the Church As to the Lord's Supper in effect he said That if the Protestants would not embrace their Opinions there was no hope of an Agreement The Cardinal of Tournon thereupon applauded his Harangue and said he was ready to lay down his Life for this Faith intreating the King to continue stedfast in it and was contented Good Man that if the Protestants would subscribe these two Points they should be admitted to dispute all the rest but if they refused this all hearing was to be denied them and they were to be expell'd out of his Dominions Beza desired to Answer him Extempore but the King delayed the Answer to the next day Upon a Petition the Ministers were heard at last again the 24th of September before the Queen only when Beza discoursed of the Church and its Notes which he said were the Preaching of the Word and a Pure Administration of the Sacraments As for the Succession of Persons and Doctrines it had been often interrupted He discoursed of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Vocation of the Universal Church and her Authority of Councils which he affirm'd had and might err of the Dignity of Scripture and whether the Scriptures were to be preferr'd before the Church or did borrow their Authority from the Church Claud d' Espence a learned Man Claud d' Espence opposeth Beza who desired very much the Church might regain her former Peace being Commanded by the Cardinal of Lorrain to answer Beza began with a Declaration that he had a long time wished that there might have been Conferences and said he had ever abhorred those Bloody Proceedings which had been used against those miserable Men. Then he said The Ordination of the Protestant Ministers Questi'd he wondered by what Authority the Protestants took upon them the Office of the Ministery and by whom they were Ordain'd and Instituted and that seeing they had received Imposition of hands from no body how could they be accounted lawful Ministers for it was manifest they had no Ordinary call And they must prove an Extraordinary Vocation by Miracles which they had not And thence he concluded they never came into the Church either by an Ordinary or an Extraordinary call As to Traditions if any Controversie arose about the Sense of Scriptures which could not be otherwise adjusted they must of necessity have recourse to the Fathers who had their Authority from their lawful and ordinary Call or Succession because upon them the Guifts of the Spirit were bestowed As it was written of the Levites whose Answers were not to be question'd That many things were setled by Traditions which were not written in the Scriptures As that the Father was not begotten That the Son was of the same Substance with the Father That Infants were to be Baptized That the Blessed Virgin continued a Virgin after she brought forth That the Decrees of General Councils should be valid and that they cannot err in Matters of Faith and that it cannot be shewn that any of the later Councils have corrected the former Beza replied Beza Replieâ— that the Imposition of hands was no necessary note of a lawful Call The two principal were a due Inquiry into the Doctrine and Manners of the Person and an Election of them to the Ministery That they were not to expect Imposition of hands from the Bishops who opposed the Truth and persecuted those that Preached it And that Miracles were not always necessary to an extraordinary Call which he endeavoured to prove by Isaiah Daniel Amos Zachariah and St. Paul. In the next congress Beza spoke much about the Calling of the Protestant Ministers but in such a manner as tended more to the exasperating of the Prelates than the appeasing them so that these two days were spent in mere squabble without order and to no purpose There was then in France John Laines a Spaniard General of the Jesuits Laines General of the Jesuits his Rudeness in the Conference who came thither with Hippolito d' Este
since that time they have made it their business first to hinder all Treaties of Peace wherein any liberty was granted to the Protestants and when they could not gain that point to make them be broken as soon as was possible tho this too has for the most part turn'd in the end to their great loss and shame The French Court shew their Reasons for it The French Court perceiving how the Fathers of Trent took the Peace Ordered the Cardinal of Lorrain to shew the great Dangers which from the Civil War threatned that Kingdom and to assure the Council that it was the intention of the King to dissipate the Factions of France by a Peace that he might be at leisure to attend seriously the restitution of the Peace of the Church But when this would not be allowed neither the Queen sent Renate de Birague President of Dauphine to assure the Fathers That their Intentions were not to settle a New Religion in France nor to suffer it to grow up and encrease but that having disarmed their Subjects and quieted the Tumults they might with the less trouble return to the Methods used by their Ancestors for the reducing their people into the way and the Unity of the same Catholick Religion That this could never be done but by the Authority of a lawful and free either General or National Council that a General Council seemed the safer way but then it was necessary that a liberty and security should be given to all that would to come That tho' this had been done by the Pope and the Fathers yet the place was such and so situate that being rather in Italy than Germany the Protestants could not think themselves sufficiently secure For they desired a Council in Germany and thought they were not safe if it were any where else That not only they of Germany but the English Scotch Danes and Swedes were of the same mind and it was very unjust to condemn so many Nations unheard and besides it was unprofitable too for whereas all good men hoped that this Council would procure an Unity on the contrary it would cause a greater opposition and enmity when these Nations saw themselves neglected and by the inconvenience of the place as it were excluded out of the Council For it was fit for none but weak and credulous men to think they would ever submit to the Decrees of a Council in which they had never been admitted nor heard but it was to be feared on the other side that their minds being exasperated their patience would turn to fury and they would traduce to Posterity the Decrees of the Council and in the present age treat them with a virulent sharpness in their Writings Therefore Birague was Ordered to desire the Council might by the consent of the Fathers and Pope be transferr'd into Germany to Worms Spire Basil or Constance This Discourse would not edifie at Trent and he was sent on the same Errand to Inspruck to the Emperor and to Vienna to his Son Maximilian There were two others sent at the same time one into Spain and another to Rome but this latter found the Pope enraged to the utmost with the Peace so that he was resolved to treat France without any favour In order to this The Pope's Bull to the Inquifitors the Pope puts out a Bull dated the 7th of April by which he grants power to the Cardinals appointed Inquisitors General for all Christendom to proceed smartly and extrajudicially as shall seem convenient to them against all and singular the Hereticks and their Abettors and Receivers and those who are suspected to be such abiding in the Provinces and places in which the filth of the Lutheran Heresie hath prevailed and to which it is notorious there is not a safe and free entrance tho' the said persons are adorn'd with the Episcopal Archiepiscopal Patriarchal Dignity or Cardinalate without any other proof to be made of the safety or freedom of the Access But so that Information be first made and that they be cited by an Edict by them to be affixed to the Doors of the Palace of the Holy Inquisition c. admonishing and requiring them to appear personally and not by their Proctors before the said Inquisition within a certain and limited time as the said Inquisition shall think fit upon pain of Excommunication denounced Suspension and other lawful pains And if they shall not so appear they shall be proceeded against in the secret Consistory and a sentence decreed against them tho' absent as convict and confirm'd with a clause of Derogation Tho' this Bull was contrary to all Laws Several French Cardinals and Bishops cited to Ronte yet the Inquisitors presumed upon it to cite some Bishops of France and with them Odet de Coligni Cardinal de Chastillon who had embraced the Opinions of the Protestants and was now call'd Count de Bâ—auvais he having been formerly Bishop of that City St. Roman Archbishop d'Aix John Monluck Bishop of Valence Jean Anthony Caracciolo Son of the Prince de Melphe Jean Brabanson Bishop of Pamiez And the Queen of Navarr also Charles Guillart Bishop of Chartres And as if this had been intended but for a step to her the Princess Joan Labrett Queen of Navarr Relict of Anthony late King of Navarr All which I say by a Bull dated the 28th of September and affixed at Rome were cited to appear before the Inquisition within six Months and the Queen was told That if she did not she should be deprived of her Royal Dignity Kingdom or Principality and Dominions as one convicted and the same should be pronounced to belong to whosoever should invade it The King and Queen of France and all the Nobility were extremely exasperated with these proceedings of the Pope and the Bull being read in the Council of State D'Oisel the then Ordinary Ambassador in the Court of Rome The French King declares against these Proceedings against the Queen of Nevarr was ordered to acquaint the Pope That the King could scarce give any credit to the first reports which were spread in several Pamphlets in France till the Citation which was fixed up in several places in Rome was read to him at which he was much troubled because the Queen of Navarr was in Majesty and Dignity equal to any other Prince in Christendom and had from them the Title of Sister 2. That the danger which threatned her was of ill example and might in time be extended to any of them and therefore they were all bound to assist and defend her in this common cause and the more because she was a Widow 3. But the King of France above all other because nearly related to her and her late Husband who was one of the principal Princes of the Blood Royal and had lost his Life in his service in the last War against the Protestants leaving his Children Orphans the Eldest of which was now in the King's Court and under