Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
father_n	king_n	prince_n	son_n	18,335	5	5.4465	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10586	A legendarie, conteining an ample discourse of the life and behauiour of Charles Cardinal of Lorraine, and of his brethren, of the house of Guise. Written in French by Francis de L'isle; Legende de Charles, cardinal de Lorraine et de ses frères, de la maison de Guise. English	La Planche, Louis Régnier de, ca. 1530-ca. 1580.	1577 (1577)	STC 20855; ESTC S115805	138,427	198

conquest of the realmes of Naples and Sicill and there had continued in wages with the Venitians a certayn space did now returne into France there to chalenge his right in the Countyes of Prouence Anjou with the Dutchye of Bar. This Dutchy was graunted vnto him conditionally that he and his successours should for the same doe hoÌ„mage vnto the King of France who thereby remained soueraine lord ouer the same but as for the Countyes of Prouence and Anjou it was answered that they being parcel of the demaynes of the crowne might not fall vnto the distaffe so that finally by consente of King Charles the eight and this Duke Rene the controuersie was referred vnto the arbitrement of three vmpiers whiles in the meane time the King committed vnto the Duke a regiment of an hundred men of armes with the enterteinment of sixe and thirtie thousand frankes of yerly pension Now in the yere of our Lord 1489 the Neopolitanes detesting the tyranny of yong Alphonsus required the ayde of this Duke Rene who thereunto prepared him selfe but duringe his preparation the three vmpiers aforesaid pronounced their arreste wherein it was found thaâ— not onely Anjou and Prouence but also Sicill and Naples did apperteine vnto the King of France vpon which occasion Charles the eight vndertooke that voyage him selfe Howbeit notwithstanding this arrest Yoland mother vnto this Duke Rene euen after the deceasse of her father Rene the great did still reteine the title of Queene of Sicill yea this Rene the seconde chalenged the title of King of Sicill and Ierusalem in the name of the conquestes oâ— his ancesters causinge his eldest sonne Anthony to be called Duke of Calabre still quarteringe the armes of Anjou with his owne for which his presumptioÌ„ togither with diuers other his practises Kinge Lewes the twelueth stomaking him expelled him out of France and tooke away all his pensions but he founde meanes to be reconciled and afterward dyed as he rode on huntinge hauing remained Duke fiue and thirtie yeres This man had by his second wife named Philippe the sister vnto the Duke of Guelderland twelue children of whom seuen dyed in their youth whereby he left only fiue who all were sonnes named Anthony Claude Iohn Lewes and Francis. Anthony succeeded his father in the Duchyes of Lorraine and Bar also in the Countye of Vaudemont and Marquisat of Ponte and by the death of this Charles Duke of Guelderlande his mothers brother in the said Duchye of Guelderlande and in the Countye of Zutphan leauing behind him three children Francis who succeeded in his dominions Anne maried vnto the prince of Orange and Nicolas first bishop of Verdun and afterwarde of Metz and finally as presently he is earle of Vaudemont and at this present father in law vnto Henrye the third King of FraÌ„ce Francis the successour of his father Anthony had by Christian the daughter vnto the King of Denmarck issue one sonne named Charles and two daughters Charles the seconde and sonne vnto Francis succeeded his father in the yere 1545. and presently liueth hauing to wife Claude the daughter of King Henrye the second by whom he hath diuers children now liuing Claude the second sonne of Rene Duke of Guise and Baron of Ginuille repayred vnto the French courte where in short space he obteined the gouernement of Champagne and Burgundye and marying Anthoynet of Bourbon aunt vnto the late King of Nauarre he had by her issue six sonnes namely Francis Charles Claude Lewes Rene and the great Prior of France of whom but especially of Francis who after his father was Duke of Guise and finally slayne by Poltrot at the siege of Orleans and of Charles afterward Cardinall of Lorraine we wil hereafter speake more largelye not omitting what so may be incident touching the other brethren of whom Claude obteined the Dutchye of Aumale and was slaine at the siege of Rochel Rene enioyed the Marquisat of Allebeufe Lewes was created Cardinall of Guise and the yongest was made great Prior of France Iohn the thirde sonne of Rene and bishop of Metz was through great sute vnto Leo the tenth electe Cardinall in the yere 1518 and afterward being ordinarily resident in the French courte obteyned great fauour with King Francis the first for he neuer medled with matters of estate but passed ouer his time in pleasure The other two sonnes namely Lewes and Francis dyed in the warres the one in the realme of Naples and the other at the battayle of Pauie Duke Anthony the first sonne was of a reasonable good disposition and voluntarily came vnto Dijon vnto King Francis and there did him hommage for the Duchye of Bar shewing him selfe very sorye for his offence which he had committed in seeking to defraude the same King Francis of the Duchye of Guelderlande which he pretended to fall to him by succession in the right of his mother For he had practised by one Iames Canis the Borowmaster of Nemegue to rayse the commons and keepe the said King out of his possession but then seing that the people would not accept him but had submitted them selues vnto the Duke of Cleuelande he fought all meanes possible to be reconciled to cure this skarre which through the helpe and fauour of his brother Iohn Cardinal of Lorraine he soone brought to passe and King Francis did cleerly pardon and forgiue him This Cardinal Iohn was the iollyest encrocher of benefices aliue as might plainly be perceiued by the estate wher into he brought the whole French Church but because he otherwise was of a reasonable courteous disposition a great spender and therewithall very liberall all was taken in meetly good parte The third brother who was Duke of Guise and father vnto this Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorraine with the rest was neuer put in any great credite neither had the charge of any waightie affayres committed vnto him For his leading of the Kinges power without his loue or leaue into Lorraine to the succour of his brother Duke Anthony who as the talke went was sore ouerlayed with Anabaptistes was taken in very euil parte and him selfe had not the Constable at that time great master and Marshal of France entreated for him would King Francis haue committed vnto prison and hardely dealt withal For King Francis was such an one as would not permit those who without his owne liberalitie were of them selues of no reputation so farre to encroche vpon his auctoritie as appeared at another time when the said Lord of Guise being gouernour of Burgundye sought to enter into the castle of Aussonne which at that time was a seueral charge and in the custodie of a french gentleman of the retinewe of the Marquise of Rotelin named the Lord of Rouueray who withstoode him forbade him the entrie therinto which the said de Rouueray durst not haue done in case the said Lord of Guise had bene a prince who for that cause complained vnto King Francis but he for that deede

place hereafter Howbeit if so be that such of the race of Guise as do remaine might obteine so much fauour of God as that it would please him to turne their hearts so that they would suffer our realme to be in quiet and that contenting them selues with that which is past and so through courteous and faithful behauiours would blot out the remembrance of their former mischiefes I would be glad to breake promise and would endeuour to be the first that should cast the remembrance thereof into the pit of obliuion but in continuing the race which hitherto they haue runne they shal find both braines hands enough to resist theÌ„ And although that through crafts and treason they and their semblables haue hitherto rather then by force of armes so highly aduaÌ„ced them selues yet wil the trueth in the end ouercome and haue his course so that they shal get nothing by following the steppes of their auncesters saue onely they shal become so much the more odious both vnto God men Yea they shal builde their pinacle so high that finally it shal fall vpon their owne heads and ensnare them selues If therefore they wil preuent this danger and assubiect them selues vnto their duetie it is the thing whereof I should be verie glad neither can I denie but that the house of Guise conteining them selues within their limites might haue done good seruice to the crowne of France but of seruants seeking to become masters they haue marred all and ouerthrowne both themselues and others Thus loth to be in this matter ouer tedious I beseech you friendly readers to shew a good countenance vnto this first booke vntill the comming forth of the rest which shortly shal be presented vnto your view This do I assuredly trust that you wil do in case you be natural French men that is to say affectionate vnto the seruice of God the commoditie of your countrie and the conseruation of your auncient and noble libertie Fare wel THE LEGENDE of Charles Cardinal of Lorraine and of his brethren of the house of Guise IN the yere of our Lord 1362 after the deceasse of Iohn Duke of Lorraine succeeded his eldest sonne Charles the firste who by Margaret daughter vnto Robert of Bauieres Countye Palatine had issue three sonnes as many daughters The sonnes named Charles Robert and Federic dyed without issue But of the daughters the eldest named Marie was maryed vnto Enguerand Earle of Coucy who also died without heyres The seconde called Katherine was giuen to Iames Marquise of Baden with the dowrye of three preuostshipps namely S. Dier Arches and Bruettes besides a good summe of money in consideration whereof the said Marquise renounced his whole title vnto the succession in the Duchye of Lorraine The third daughter Isabell was maried vnto Rene of Anjou the sonne of Lewes of Anjou the seconde sonne to Iohn King of France This Rene the first succeeded his father in lawe Charles in the Duchye of Lorraine seeking also the possession of the Duchye of Bar in the right of his mother Yoland of Arragon wherein Anthony Earle of Vaudemont sonne of Ferry Duke Charles brother withstood him and chalenged the sayd Duchye whereunto he was assisted by Philippe Duke of Burgundye who was offended with the mariage of the said Rene of Anjou vnto Isabell of Lorraine Hereupon in a conflicte neere vnto Bulainuille the said Rene was taken prisoner and thence conueyed vnto Dijon vnder the custodie of the Duke of Burgundye aforesaid where he was deteined fifteene yeres at the petition of the Englishmen and Burgundions vnder whom at the same time Ferry of Vaudemont sonne to this Earle Anthony did serue howbeit finally it was agreed that Duke Rene the prisoner should giue his eldest daughter Yoland in mariage vnto this Ferry of Vaudemont with the summe of two hundred thousande crownes in the name of a ransome In the meane time Lewes of Anjou Duke Rene his eldest brother intending the conquest of Naples whereof Pope Clemente had crowned him Kinge dyed without issue whereof so soone as Duke Rene was aduertised he purposed the possession of the same Realme but notwithstanding the ayde of most states of Italie as Genes Milan and other Potentates he was by the Spanierdes finally expelled Naples and forced to retire into France vnto his brother in lawe King Charles the seuenth whereas after some warre against the citie of Metz hauing knowledge of the death of his wife Isabell he resigned the whole gouernement of Lorraine vnto his eldest sonne Iohn in full intente to liue the reste of his time quietly and peaceably within his dominions of Prouence and Anjou Iohn surnamed of Calabre after he had gouerned Lorraine eighteene yeres dyed leauing a sonne named Iohn of Anjou who in the time of his grandfather Rene aforesaid fianced Anne the daughter of King Lewes the eleuenth albeit afterwarde breaking of with his said father in law through the persuasions of the Duke of Burgundye and entending by repudiating the daughter of France to conclude a mariage with Marie the said Duke of Burgundyes daughter being euen at the very point so to doe he dyed By meanes whereof Rene the seconde of that name sonne of Ferrye of Vaudemont brother vnto Duke Rene of Anjou and of Yoland sister vnto Duke Iohn succeeded in the said Duchyes of Lorraine and Bar in the yere 1473. for want of other heyres during the life of his grandfather on the mothers side Rene of Anjou of his mother Yoland whome the inhabitantes of the countrie would not accept for gouernour This Duke waged continuall warre against the Duke of Burgundye whome finally he ouerthrewe before Nancy in whose time liued his great grandfather Rene of Anjou termed King of Sicill who rested his old bones within his Duchyes of Prouence and Anjou him did Kinge Lewes the eleuenth greatly cherish and quietly entertaine fearing his association with the Duke of Burgundye and the English men who greatly thereunto sollicited him This King Rene sent worde to his nephew Rene that in case he intended to be his heyre he should wholy take vpon him the full armes of Anjou which proffer he refused well was he content to quarter togither the armes of Anjou Sicill Prouence and Lorraine howbeit vpon his other refusall his grandfather King Rene instituted Charles Earle of Maine his nephew by his brother Charles also Earle of Maine for his inheritor whereof Rene being certifyed he hasted toward his grandfather but all being done and past he returned backe againe in a great heat and King Rene died in the yere 1482. Shortly after also dyed Charles of Maine his competitor whereby Lewes the eleuenth King of France remained lord of the countries of Prouence Anjou and Maine by the gifte of the last will of the said Charles who also left vnto him the Duchye of Bar. After the death of King Lewes the eleuenth Rene of Lorraine who through the persuasion of Pope Sixtus was gone into Italie to seeke the

greatly commended the sayd gentleman and laughed to scorne him who vndertooke the person of a prince of his blood This Duke pinched to the quicke and did extremely persecute diuers marchantes of the best townes of France but finally beginning with the marchants of Paris who hitherto were not accustomed vnto the rasor the whole citie tooke vpon them the matter and caused his commissions to be reuoked imprisoning some of his promoters whereat the rest vanished away like snow against the sunne for which cause he coÌ„ceiued so grieuous an hatred against the inhabitants therof that neither for dearth or plenty what abundance of corne wine or other victuals so euer there were within the couÌ„trey of Champagne or Bourgundy during his gouernement of either of them the said citie of Paris could euer come by any either for money or loue without plentie of letters of marte which were sweetely payed for and deerely bought howbeit by that meanes he neuer after durst deale with any whole estate or communalty not that he therefore quite quayled but still hauked after confiscations here and there and so lightely mette with one or other wherefore his whole rigourous force he executed ouer the inhabitants of his owne iurisdiction whom he euen flaied with al extremitie which was the cause that King Henry through his fathers aduice would neuer after commit vnto him any matter of weight although his two eldest sonnes the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine did beare great sway for he was at that staye that coÌ„ducting his children vnto the court gate he there left them and so returned backe againe whereof I doubt whether the father or children ought most to haue bene ashamed Finally this man dyed through poyson and as became a good Christian pardoned those persons who mistaking him for an other had hastened the course of his dayes His childreÌ„ did his brother Cardinal Iohn aduaÌ„ce who seing him selfe furnished with many benefices chose Charles to be his successour whom a fewe yeres he maintained in the college of Nauarre from whence he was preferred to the gouernment of the Dauphine For although in France were no want of men farre more meet to vndertake such a charge and execute that function yet did the credit of his vncle Iohn procure this fauour at the handes of the great King Francis together with some tokens of his quick wit and capacitie herein al which notwithstaÌ„ding during the reigne of the said great King Francis they were not of any estimatioÌ„ For this Charles was simplie named lord of Reims his brother FraÌ„cis Earle of Aumale their father being yet liuing the rest of the brethreÌ„ were forced to preferre thrust theÌ„ selues forward with might maine Again King Francis was not ignorant that these men might stirre vp coales and procure some broiles vnder pretence of the counties of Prouence and Anjou and so trouble the state vpon which causes he credited them no further then needes he must In deede he so highly honoured the beautie of their eldest sister as that he permitted her at the entrie of Queene Eleanor to be attired in Princesse araye although afterward perceiuing these strangers to preuaile as if they had alreadie bene Princes of France he denied the wife of the Marquise of Maine of the mantel royal It is not also vnknowen how the same King toward his end made but smal accompt of the Constable who therefore withdrew him self vnto his owne house the chiefe occasion of which displeasure arose of that that through the commendation of the said Constable his sonne the Dauphine Henry had reteined into his fauour the said Lords of Guise the consequence whereof he doubted Their alliaÌ„ce also vnto the daughter of the great Seneschal of Normandie whom al that time the said Dauphin kept caused that the same King Francis who before had highly fauoured her did now also disdaine and mislike her This Ladie who was called the great Seneschal was daughter vnto the late lord of S. Valliers and with her owne maydenhead redeemed her fathers life but afterward to the great reproche and slander of our France after she was halfe spent was giueÌ„ to the Dauphine Henrie whose hearte she so stedfastly wonne as that finally she was created Duchesse of Valentinois and in effect became Queene of France Wherupon the house of Guise accompting her as a conuenient bridge by the which they might passe ouer into France did think it meete to take holde of so good an occasion although it were in effect but an homelie shift and therefore procured the marriage of their thirde brother afterward Duke of Aumale vnto the yongest daughter of this said Seneschal by whose meanes they the further insinuated them selues into King Henries fauour vpon whom in the meane time they practised two seueral drifts wherein we may as in a glasse behold the rest of their behauiours toward the estate of France First by meanes of this Seneschal they presumed so farre as to attempt to wrest from the Dauphine Henrie a promise of restauration vnto the counties of Prouence and Anjou as part of a dowrie toward this their brothers marriage Howbeit as God doeth for the most part euen by the simplest persons abate the pride and crueltie of the mightiest so likewise did he now cause the onely countenance of the Lord de la Chesnay to force theÌ„ most shamefully and euen as it were in despite of their hearts to release this grant being in this only respect to be accompted happie that through the throwing of the same into the fire they did also therewithal consume and reduce into ashes the assured proofe and manifest detection of their trayterous fellonie considering that in case King Francis had but once had anie inckling of the same it would haue bene the vtter extirpation and vndoing not onlie of them selues but of the great Seneschal also Let vs now therefore proceede vnto the second point which was this On the one side King Francis not long before his deceasse was much accompanied with two persons of whome he made great accompt The one was the Cardinal of Tournon chanceler of the order and Master of his chappel The other was the Lord Annebaut Marshal and Admiral of France and besides both these there was the Constable also who notwithstanding he came not to the court yet did he reteine the office of great Master of France On the other side the Dauphine was entangled with the Ladie great Seneschal vpon whom two of the brethren of Guise did continually attend namely Francis Earle of Aumale and Charles Lord of Reims because of the alliance aforesaid al which notwithstanding yet was he most addicted vnto the Lord of S. Andrews whose father had bene his gouernour Now then seing that the sicknes whereof the late King Francis the first died was long and in most of the phisitions opinions in maner incurable the Lords of Guise persuaded the aforesaid Dauphine that so sone as he had gotten possession

of the crowne he should set forth an edict the contents whereof were that no man should from thence forth retaine in his hands two offices by meanes of the which they promised vnto them selues the spoyle of the noble men aforesaide besides that vnder colour therof they might haue free accesse vnto the handling of the whole estate and so in time atteine vnto their aspiring drifts purposes and that the rather because they perceiued none of the Princes of the blood ouer hastie to intrude them selues thereinto Howbeit now before we go any further we haue to coÌ„sider two other notable chaÌ„ces which happened presently at the death of King Francis afore named This King lying on his death bed called for his sonne the Dauphine to the end familiarly to talke with him In which communication like as the soule approching vnto his departure is for the most part more free and deuoyde of worldly cares earthly burdens and al other transitorie affaires and so consequently lesse tied vnto the bodie also that in maner al men in that extremitie time and place do entreat vpon more mystical and heauenly matter then before time they are wont yea diuers through a certaine prescience of things to come which surpasseth mans natural vnderstanding and reason do prognosticate of that that is most likely to happen euen so now among diuers other aduertisements and notable instructions which this King gaue vnto his sonne one was that he desired yea and charged him not to deale with the Children of Guise neither to permit them to haue any rule in the affayres of the estate For saith he I haue manifestly perceiued and am wel assured that the whole stock of theÌ„ is naught also that in case you transgresse this my precept they are to strip you into your doublet your subiectes into their shirtes This admonition deserued both to be marked put in excution but the simplicitie of the Dauphine being bewitched by this Seneschal together with Gods heauy displeasure against FraÌ„ce would not permit the childe to followe his fathers counsaile which in this case proued but ouer true for his affirming the whole race of them to be naught did shortlye after proue it selfe certaine The same day that this great King Francis let his life at Rambouillet whereas the Dauphine for very sorowe and griefe seeing his father lie in such extremitie and therewithal being in a maner ouercome was layed downe vpon his wiues bed who the whiles sat vpon the floore shewing great tokens of anguish and heauines the great Seneschal the Duke of Guise who yet was but Earle of Aumale walked there also although contraryly affected for she was very pleasant and ioyful seeing the time of her triumph drawe on and he stil from time to time walked to the doore to hearken after newes vsing alwayes at his returne this phrase Now the yonker goeth his waies but had not that yonker seing it pleased him so to tearme him bene both he and the rest of his whole familie had bene but simple vnderlings in Lorraine still But now to our former matter let vs marke the execution of the forenamed edict concerning retaining of sundrie offices The same being concluded vpon King FraÌ„cis dead was put in practise before it was eyther sene or published For preseÌ„tly the Lord of Reims displaced the Cardinal of Tournon of his office of Chanceler of the order who in displeasure resigned to theÌ„ his mastership of the chappel also The Admiral d' Annebaut loste his office of Marshalship likewise nowe therfore I wil procede to the Great Mastership for the obteining whereof the Guisians were importunate mouing King Henry to write vnto the Constable that before his coÌ„ming to the court he should by proxy resigne one of his offices either the CoÌ„stableship or els the great mastership for they supposed that he would stil kepe the Constableship as being of greate auctority credite But were it that the King was at that time determined to exempt his gossippe from their ambition or els that he sought through the others voluntarie resignation to coÌ„ferre the said office vnto the Marshal of S. Andrewes to whome he had already broken his minde to the end by such ordinary meanes to suppresse some part of the furious attemptes of the Earle of Aumale and his brother or what other occasion soeuer there were yet certain it is that he wrote to the said CoÌ„stable with al speed to repaire to him but not to resigne any of his estates referring that vnto their owne priuate communication at their next meeting After his coÌ„ming the King who before euen burned with earnest zeale desire to see the said Constable who so long had bene absent out of his sight was now so farre froÌ„ taking from him any of his estates that contrariwise at their first embrasings he professed him self to be ashamed that he had in his hands no office worthy his person therefore in respect of such default the more to honour his welcoÌ„ming he yelded and presented vnto his said gossip his owne person Now the Lord of Reims had gotten the great seale and the Earle of Aumale had seased vpon the keies of the castle as a seasine fallen to him euen by succession But hearing the King call to the one to render the keyes and command the other to carry the seale vnto the great master whereby they should be driuen necessarily to slepe vnder the locke of the said great Master walke at the coÌ„mandement of the Constable not in any wise to deale in matters of estate without the said gossips permission it may be easy for eche man to comprehende into what part the affections of these brethren were bent Seeing also at the same instant an other estate of Marshal of France erected to the behoofe of Iames of Albon lorde of S. Andrews which was euen the last office that remained in the Kinges hands vpon the which as vpon his last refuge the Earle of Aumale had fixed his whole hope and truste This therfore hath bene one of the fouÌ„dations rootes of their quarell against the Constable and his progenie wherein besides their manifest iniurie offered vnto their owne persons in this respecte they haue also shewed them selues verye vnthankful toward the said Constable For it is not vnknowen vnto all those who duringe the reigne of the great King Francis had anie dealings in matters of estate that as wel the father as also the vncles of the said Lords of Guise had neuer any more assured or faithful friend in France then the said Constable who long before their comming into that country was alreadie in great creditte and estimation with his Prince and afterward with incredible fauour did succeede two great masters of France the one the Lord of Boisy his cousin germaine the other the Duke of Sauoy his Father in Law and finally atteined vnto the hiest degree next vnder the Princes of the kings blood that

euer any man of what estate couÌ„trey or condicion so euer he were might clime vnto in France To him onely aboue al other I say is the whole generation of Guise bound beholding for their descent from a Princesse of France and daughter of Vendosme because that he the said constable was the motioner of the marriage betwene their father and mother who alreadie nothing hoping or once thinking vpon anie so good hap had begonne to cast his eye toward another Ladie of farre meaner estate and calling Againe the onely request and peticion of the Constable were of sufficient force in their behalfe at the returne of King Francis out of Spaine to keepe free their father out of prison for his leading of the Kings power and forces into Lorraine without the said Kings loue or leaue yea and to restore him againe into fauour Again after the deceasse of the Kings daughter who was Queene of Scots and that the King of Scots was desirous to take another wife in France the Constable was the only preferrer of the said Lords of Guises sister the late Queene mother vnto Marie Stuard how Queene who by his meanes was preferred before many other both more marriageable and meete for such a man then her selfe Howbeit I can not denie but that it was necessarie to send her into places vnknowen for that whiles she remained at Nancy she endeuoured to haue forsaken the court of Lorraine and haue yelded her person vnto the Abbot of Beaulieu great vncle vnto the late Duke of Bouillon yea had not the Countesse of Lignanges warned the Lady Rene of Bourbon of her determination she had assuredly departed with the said Abbot into his cloyster of Beaulieu For the which practise the afore named Abbot was rewarded with the natural courtesies of this race for after that vpon their fidelities he had yelded him self into their clawes and that it seemed they had forgotten the wantonnes of their said sister they procured his murder at vnwares accompanying their cruelty both with periurie and great ingratitude For notwithstanding the house of Sedan hath alwaies stood the race of Lorraine in great steade yet haue the Lords of Guise in diuers wise since persecuted the same Now therefore to returne vnto their ingratitude towarde the Constable King Henrie the second comming vnto the crowne in the yere 1546 and hauing as is aforesaid committed the whole regiment therof vnto his good gossippe the Constable did shortly after take the Earle of Aumale his brother the Lord of Reims and the Lords of Sedan and of S. Andrewes and present them vnto the said Constable with these wordes Gossippe these schollers do I giue vnto you to the end they may learne of you and obey you as my selfe I pray you traine them vp in my affaires so that vnder you during your life they may do me seruice And then turning vnto them he said I do giue you this man for your father and Scholemaster him loue and honour doing whatsoeuer he shal command for my selfe do accompt him my father and the most deare friend and faithful seruant which euer my father had or my selfe may haue Afterward the said Lords of Guises father at his next meeting with the Constable said vnto his sonnes Behold your father for my selfe hath he also created him honour and serue for we al be bound so to do The testimonie also of the late Cardinal their vncle which he gaue in the presence of the Cardinal of Lenoncourt describeth more plainely their dueties vnto the Constable for it was pronounced in his absence and they practising some conspiracie against him Take heede sayd he of displeasing that man for had not he bene both your father and whole kindred had had enough to do neither should your selues haue euer atteined vnto that estate wherein you are now placed nor your sister neither euen my self am in his debt for mine owne promotion and for whatsoeuer fauour coÌ„moditie or credit that I haue reaped at the hands of the late king Al which admonitions were neuerthelesse not of sufficient force to restraine them froÌ„ practising as wel openly as priuately the ouerthrow of the said Constable notwithstanding that so long as King Henrie liued their driftes came but to smal purpose in deede during the raigne of Francis the second they were euen with him and paid for their scholing as hereafter more at large wil appeare We haue alreadie spoken of the marriage of their brother the Marquise of Maine vnto the great Seneschals daughter which was the first roote of their hatred against the Lord of Chastillon afterward Admiral of France the which through new occurrences hath since so encreased that finally they haue brought both him al his brethren vnto their ends not yet ceasing from practising the vtter extirpation of al his race and familie vnlesse them selues may first be dispatched and made away To begin therfore at the foundation of al these euils which since haue almost subuerted the whole estate of France we are to vnderstaÌ„d that the Constable seeking the prefermeÌ„t of his nephues did about eightene yeres since procure vnto the eldest brother of the house of Chastillon the degree of a Cardinal which in that time through ignorance and superstitious zeale was greatly desired among al estates and afterward did by al conuenient meanes aduance as it were steppe by steppe the other two brethren Iasper and Francis into al commissions and offices of warfare both by sea and land by meanes whereof they hauing obteined great credite among the whole nobilitie it was an easie matter for the Admiral then but Lord of Chastillon as wel through the support of his said vncle the CoÌ„stable as also in respect of the debates and quarels that then were prosecuted betwene the Lords of Dampierre S. Andrewes to insinuate him selfe into the especial fauour of King Henrie then Dauphine This the Earle of Aumale perceiuing who in those daies was in least reputation with King Francis he thought it meete for the atteining of the said Dauphines good wil to ioyne in familiaritie and straight league with the said Lord of Chastillon which familiaritie eche of them so firmely obserued for the space of foure or fiue yeres that these two Lords could not liue one without an other but as a token of their more mutual agreemeÌ„t did for the most part apparel them selues daily in like sutes of raimeÌ„t In the meane time it so fel out that the father of these Lords of Guise purposing the preferment of his familie by al meanes possible sought to ioyne his third sonne the Marquise of Maine in marriage vnto the yongest daughter of the great Seneschal the mother being as then the Dauphines harlot Of this marriage the Earle of Aumale could in no wise like and for that cause fearing to prouoke the Dauphine against him selfe he brake the matter vnto his companion the Lord of Chastillon desiring him as his especial friend to giue him some

good counsaile how he might herein behaue him selfe affirming and that euen with teares that whatsoeuer might happen he could neuer giue his consent thereunto The Lord of Chastillon seeking to comfort him endeuoured to appease him and after diuers debating of the matter betwene them their resolute determination was that better were an inche of authoritie with honour then a whole fathome with shame Howbeit after this resolution the Earle of Aumale did so farre stray from following the aduice wherein before he had so obstinately persisted that now to the end to displace the said Lord of ChastilloÌ„ out of al fauour with the Dauphine he shewed the Marshal of Vieille ville their coÌ„mon frieÌ„d how that he could hardly haue beleued that the Lord of Chastillon had so enuied his honour and aduancement as thus to haue encouraged him to withstand the aforesaid marriage This therfore was one occasion of their displeasure of the rest we wil speake more in place conuenient Through this mariage one of the brethren is now prouided for let vs therefore procede to the preferment of the rest Duke Rene their graÌ„dfather maried Margaret the daughter and onely heire of William Duke of Tancaruille of the house of Harcourt in Normandie by whome they doe enioye the Countie d' Aumale the Marquisate d' Albeufe al other their possessions in France except Ginuille But because this ladie was crouchbacked and found barren he forsooke her and as is aforesaid married the Duke of Guelderlands sister by whome he had issue the Duke Anthony the Duke of Guise their father and the Cardinal Iohn their vncle Duke Anthonie as they pretend was borne during the life of his first wife and left a sonne named Francis who was father to Charles at this present Duke of Lorraine whom at his decease he left very yong as hauing scarce atteined the third yere of his age Then as for the most part it stil chanceth that widowes orphanes are commonly entangled in the snares of the wicked and couetous the Earle of Aumale began to bestirre him seeking to haue founde a dore open into the Duchy by publishing Duke Anthony to be a bastard But seing that he could not wel bring his purpose to passe before he had gotten at the least one foote into the said Duchy he sought by al meanes possible the marriage of Christian the widowe of the late Duke Francis. Howbeit she being both wise and of good capacitie according to the nature of a good mother entending the preseruation and maintenace both of the country and orphane aspired vnto the custodie of the one through the wardship of the other and therfore kept this hastie wooer in breath who through her marriage assured him selfe of the same wardship which afterward might yeld vnto him a fauourable and honest entrye vnto the possession of this desired Duchie And therefore presently vpon the marriage of their brother the Marquise of Maine al these Lords of Guise in triumphant wise hasted into Lorraine there to put the widowe in ful possession of the wardship of her sonne But so sone as she had gotten her desired pray she gaue them a rosemarie wipe dismissing them sending them away with fleas in their eares vtterly disapointed of their purpose Hauing therefore thus missed of their intent against their cousin germaine for the Duke of Lorraines father and they were brothers children they cast forth their nettes to entrappe their other kinsefolke on the mother side for likewise the King of Nauarre and they were brothers and sisters children They therefore endeuored to stoppe the mariage betwene Iane d' Albret princesse of Nauarre Anthony of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme afterwarde king of Nauarre But as a widowe standing in some neede of their helpe coulde closely despise them euen so could a Kings daughter who regarded not their aid openly disdaine them For said she to King Henry who motioned the matter vnto her would you my Lord wishe that of her who by duetie ought euen to cary vp my trayne I should make my sister in Law either that the daughter of the Duchesse of Valentinois should go cheeke by ioule with me with which answere the King found him selfe satisfied and therefore neuer communed any further with her in that respect which caused the Guisians from that time forwarde to bende their whole driftes against him selfe making him finally to pay for their mariage in maner and forme following Hercules d'Este Duke of Ferrara had a daughter whom he loued better then his owne wife For it is not vnknowen to all the worlde after what maner in her life time he entreated the noble Lady Rene the daughter of King Lewes the twelfth coÌ„monly called the father of the people neither is any maÌ„ who had to deale in those daies in matters of estate ignoraÌ„t vpon what consideratioÌ„s she was denied vnto so many noble persons who sued for her mariage then finally placed in so base estate as was Ferrara This Duke had I wot not what share in certaine poulders boulets and munition with such other like trash which he had bestowed to his owne behoofe yet now sought to make our King to pay for the same which in the time of King Francis he coulde not doe for he knew ouer wel what iugling had therin bene practised against him To be briefe his right herein did this Duke giue in mariage with his daughter and King Henry payed for it whose lenitie made them to waye downe to much on that side and boldly to vndertake greater matters whereunto they added yet an other drifte which was that accoÌ„modating themselues vnto al kinde of pleasures or delightes correspondent vnto the age of the King they vsed him as a foundered horse or stale ouer whome they might the farther cast their sight I neede not here rehearse their infamous dealings for the very walles beds and candlestickes of their house of Reims and other their Manours can beare more then sufficient record thereof in that they haue as we may say euen blushed at such whoredomes fornications and baudries as the Guisians haue bene ministers and assistants of Thence haue they proceeded forwarde For they were so maleperte as to counsaile King Henry to send his wife Katherine de Medicis home into Italie wherupon had not the Constable and Cardinal of Chastillon withstoode their determinatioÌ„s she had assuredly repassed the Alpes howbeit afterwarde trusting that she should haue remained barren which was their whole desire they yet liued in hope of recouering the Counties of Prouence and Anjou yea and peraduenture of the crowne of France it selfe which was one cause of their alliaÌ„ce vnto the daughter of that great Seneschal and manifest harlot through whose meanes they sought to drinke vp as with a sponge all the substance of this poore kingdome for the atteining wherunto they first procured to her the custome commonly called Tilletage which is as much to say as an incredible summe of money rising

marchants among other beholding this shamefull dealing did after diuers motions finally offer to acquite the party deceased of al his dettes for one quarter or at the most a third part of the yerely reuenue of al his benefices and yet could come to no end part of them neuertheles did finally obteine some a quarter others a fifth part others a tenth part some more some lesse but the greatest number coulde get nothing at al. And yet for so much as ech one did acquitte al or at the least the most part were driuen to giue acquittance as for money receiued to what end ech one may sone perceiue namely to defraud the creditors of their honour the Cardinal of the remembrance and thinking vpon their liberalitie Thus by litle and litle he dispatched away the Marchants of Paris and such others to the end the more easily to fight against the mightiest and generally against al the estates of the realme whome he and his brethren must necessarilie subdue before they can attaine to touch the white whereat they do leuel their shot They had wrested a promise from King Henrie whiles he was Dauphine whereby when he were King the Countie of Prouence and Duchie of Anjou should returne into their haÌ„ds But because the General de la Chesnay had therfore clawed them to the quicke that matter lay stil vntil the Kings entrie into Anger 's for then they begun afresh to quarel this Duchie desiring the only title thereof for one of them Howbeit one only frowning looke of the Constable did quite so ouerthrowe them that from that time they neuer durst once open their mouthes any more for that matter In the meane time therefore they went another way to worke which was by seeking openly to become princes both openly secretly to suppresse the princes To which effect their practises haue bene of long continuance and as strange as possibly might be as by the onely historye of the late Prince of Conde is most euident and our selues wil heere and there shew by diuers particularities worthy to be remembred First in as much as neither the worthines of their blood neither their family could preferre them before diuers french gentlemen but only the prerogatiue of their lands therfore to couer the default of their race they haue caused to erect their simple baronages into Duchies priÌ„cipalities Marquisates and Counties which is the thing that hitherto hath blinded the eyes of the commons who are vtterly ignorant of matters of estate Secondly they haue endeuoured to make the estate of the Peeres for the Cardinal was one equal vnto the Princes yea euen to preferre the said Peeres before the Princes whereupon happened in the yere 1551 a notable matter as thus The court of ParliameÌ„t of Paris had sent six of the chiefest members of their body vnto King Henry to vnderstand his wil and pleasure concerning certaine articles whereof one was The second point is to enquire of the King whether it be his pleasure that my Lordes the princes of the blood with other great Lords entring into the said Courte may weare their swordes For time out of mind that hath bene lawful for the King onely as an especiall prerogatiue of his Royal dignity who hath the haÌ„d of iustice as being iustice himself mainteyning in assured safety the ministers of the same And notwithstanding sundry times some princes or lordes haue entred with their swordes that hath bene only when comming sodenly they haue founde the dore open or els by entring at vnwares either haue so done by the Kings expresse commandement at such time as he hath bene displeased or prouoked to wrath against his said Court vpon some other occasions whereof neuertheles no rule or custome ought to take place For contrariwise the late King Francis when he was Dauphin together with the Lord Charles of Bourbon comming in left their swordes at the dore which order King Lewes the twelfth caused stil to be obserued This iudgement of that courte which according vnto right and equitie preferreth the princes before al lords whomsoeuer togither with the sitting to this day obserued in the same and the arrest pronounced against their father did so grieuously moue the Lords of Guise that to the end to breede some debate contrarietie betweene the iudgement of the King of his said Court of Parliament also to augment their owne credit and so by litle and litle to exalt them selues aboue the PriÌ„ces they closely practised that wheras the secretary accoÌ„modating himselfe vnto the request of the court the order in the same obserued had in his rowl as hiÌ„self hath since testified named the princes first they were neuertheles in the Kings answere placed after the Peeres in maner folowing The Kings pleasure is that when soeuer in his absence the Peeres of France the princes of the blood the Constables and Marshals of France shal come enter into his Court of Parliament into the chamber of Audience whether the dores be open or shut they shal neuertheles stil weare their swordes the which the said King meaneth not that any other of what estate or calling soeuer he be shal doe Giuen at Fountainebleau the last day of August in the yere 1551. signed Henry and contresigned Du Thier. Thirdly they practised a wonderful subtiltie whereby with the time to yelde a kinde of prescription vnto such principalitie as they sought to vsurpe which was in seeking to allye themselues on al sides in the most high and riche maner that possibly they could and so to slyde in among the princes and beare the like port as they As also at the entry of King Henry into the towne of Suse Francis Duke of Guise presumed to marche cheeke by ioule with the King of Nauarre the first prince of the crowne Also at king Francis the second his first comming forth of his chamber in his mourning weed the said Lord of Guise intruded him selfe betweene two princes of the blood to the ende with them to beare vp his traine Againe during the reignes of Henry the second Francis the second and Charles the ninth and euen at this present also euery man both hath seene and plainely may beholde with what presumption the house of Guise both haue and stil do encroche aboue the said princes of the blood whom they haue oppressed and troden vnder foot as we will more plainely declare after that we haue yet touched a few matters more tending vnto the discouery of their raging ambition in this respect Fourthly the house of Guise being thus aduanced grew very suspicious and ielouse of their honour stoutly opposing theÌ„ selues against al such as withstode their atteÌ„pts as is manifest in this The FreÌ„chmen doe so highly reuerence their princes that as they are not to be accoÌ„pted wronged or in their honours diffamed for any thing that their said princes either doe or say vnto them so doe they also neuer set hand to their sword

but what they lusted because the Cardinal had so enured him to his signes that at the least motion of his countenance the King spake walked or helde his peace c. In so much that he was also termed the Kings life or soule for to say the truth he caused the King to moue or stand still yea to counterfaite what couÌ„tenance so euer he thought good Hauing scatered the princes and lordes whom they suspected let vs behold how they dealt with the rest As touching the priuy council after they had once assured them selues of the Chanceler Oliuer whom they reuoked who also so farre forgot God and him selfe that he gaue them his conscience they brought thereinto whomsoeuer them selues reposed any confidence in After the time of Henry the Parliaments consisted of such men as had brought in most money and the chiefest fauour of mighty men The Guisians considering that they stood in need of such men had brought in by litle and litle the children of the greatest vsurers and extortioners with such other maner of people who haue corrupted all diuine humane equitie and retailed such offices as they bought by great or had in recoÌ„pence of some bribes reueiled contrary to their othe the secretes of the Courte and finally violated iustice in all sortes so that it was an easie matter for the Guisians to order these courtes at their owne deuotions brideling some and replenishing other some with vaine hope That which touching these matters they had practised in the time of Henry they did now vnder Francis the seconde more hotely proceede in in so much that since they haue had great supporte on that side They began also to order the estates of the Kings houshold vsurping therein the office of the Constable as then great Master still To the ende to bring in their owne seruantes and men of their owne conditions they displaced parte of the late Kings officers who before had still continued from the father to the sonne whom they least vnder pretence of good husbandrie others they dismissed giuing them halfe paye in the name of pensions notwithstanding the new estate of houshold officers did farre surmount the other The prouinces of the Realme and frontier townes were furnished with their supposts and such as liked them not were sente home to their dwelling places All gouernours heades and captaines of warres and townes were commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the Kinges owne person The reuenues were put into the handes of such as the Cardinal most fauoured and all the courtes of Parliament were admonished that he had the superintendence ouer all matters of estate To the ende them selues only may remaine armed they forbid the wearing of all armes especially of dagges and fyer woods also of long clokes and great hosen For the Cardinal being of a cowardly nature was warned by a Necromantian at Rome that he should be slaine with some fyer staffe through the enuy of such enemies as he should procure in France when he were at his highest degree of honour Their first tyrannous practise was in persecuting the Protestantes in the persons of certaine counsaylers of the Parliament of Paris especially Anna du Bourg whose proces is amply described in sundry treatises and discourses especially in the history of Francis the second lately set forth which reueileth sundry villainous iniustices and wickednesse committed by certain iudges whom the Cardinal had apposed and suborned An other practise was in raising the commons against the Nobility in maner following For to suppresse such as might contrary them also to obteine the goodwill of the commons and to make their gouernement agreable vnto them they published letters of reuocation of all alienations as wel for life as yeres whether they were in recompence for seruice or otherwise except sales the coyne whereof had bene bestowed vpon the Kinges great and weighty affaires without any collusion togither with the appanage of the daughters of France and the dowry of the late Queene Eleonor which the infante of Portugal did possesse all the rest were thereby reunited vnto the Kings demaines and ordinary receyts This was the way to bring the mighty into their handes and procure them selues more seruants then before by obteining for them such declaratory letters as them selues listed The third practise was by driuing away the King of Nauarre the first prince of the blood through the most vnworthy meanes that might be which also shall be mentioned in the treatise of their dealings against the princes of the bloud By the fourth they wrested from the CoÌ„stable the office of great Master for the Duke of Guise bought the Marshall Brissac with the gouernment of Picardie which they plucked out of the handes of the Admiral of Chastillon In the fifth to the ende to fortifie them selues against the preparatiues framed for the repressing of their tyranny they made eighteene knights of the order at one clap making of a marke of knighthood throughly tryed and vnblameable a collar vnto all kinde of beastes For the sixt coÌ„sidering that al this was not sufficient but that with the time it was to be feared lest the estats would chaleÌ„ge their auncieÌ„t priuiledges liberty by meanes wherof their licentiousnes would lye on long first they caused the King woÌ„derfully to mislike of the voice that wente that the people was determined in the Kings minority to demande the estates this brought they very subtilly to passe through diuers sleights the principall wherof was to bring the mightiest into feare through some notable meanes so to winne the Queene mother that she might be the instrument to strike this stroke They therfore propounded vnto this woman who otherwise was sufficiently pinched with the burning yrons of her owne ambition that if the estates should take place as the enemies of her auctority wished she shold be sent to dresse trimme her gardeÌ„s or els coÌ„ueyed ouer the mountes therefore that as her faithfull seruaÌ„ts they counsayled her to loke to it Now they regarded not her so much for in case King Francis had ouerliued the King of Nauarre Prince of Conde whom they were determined to put to death a litle before that the estates were houlden at Orleans they would sone haue made her to haue scudded for they marueilously suspected her minde nature it was therfore their owne commodity wherat they leueled But this woman feining not to perceiue their subtilties told them that she beleued their words stil the more more to establish her self play them some fine praÌ„cke she writ to her sonne in law the King of Spayne complaining vpon the King of Nauarre the princes as if they had sought by meanes of the estates to reduce her vnto the estate of a handmayd Sone after returned the pacquet out of Spaine wherein King Philippe writ how he was certified that certaine seditious persons rebels endeuored to moue some troubles seeking to alter the regiment of the kingdome

vnto diuers that he had not of long time heard anie newes that more contented him Ye haue heard already how the estates holden at OrleaÌ„s were proroged vnto May and afterward through diuers disturbances of such as intended to giue no account but on horseback in armour they were adiourned vnto the end of August at Pontoise where they had bene appointed There among other things which touched the Guisians but especially the Duke of Guise there present the propositioÌ„ of the lord Bretagne in his oratioÌ„ in the name of the third estate coÌ„cerning the euil dealings of the said GuisiaÌ„s did chiefly pinch them the wordes because they be notable haue we here set downe Your subiects said he speaking to the King haue bene molested with infinite subsidies both ordinary extraordinary wherupon haue ensued also the augmeÌ„ting of impost the wages of fiftie thousand footmeÌ„ the collations the twentie franckes vpon euery steeple in the Realme the leuie of eight crownes vpon the officers royal sixe vpoÌ„ the aduocates of the Parliament foure vpoÌ„ the Burgeses widowes artificers two vpon the rest of the aduocates practitioners notaries and sergeants borowed not borowed free holdes new gaines money leuied after the battaile of S. Laurence alienation of the demaines helpes gables fines taken vpoÌ„ offices both olde new the suppressioÌ„ of certain of the same money for coÌ„firmations coyne raised vpon houses towne houses pay leuied vpon consignatioÌ„s vessels of gold siluer billeted warlike munitions victuals for campes and armies leuied within these thirty yeres horse and furniture of artillarie erecting of sales of wine furniture apparrel and food for souldiers wages and pay for souldiers in diuers particular townes saultpeter and poulder which the people must furnish officers wages men of armes and footmen vnpayd conduct money into Bretagne with other infinite suÌ„mes vnder sundry names and titles and al tending to the getting of your subiects money so that by reason of the said in supportable charges your pore subiects are so weakened enfeebled impouerished that at this present Sir they haue nothing left to offer or present vnto your maiesty other theÌ„ their good faithful willes They ofteÌ„ haue examined them selues tryed their whole abilities in your maiesties affaires but to their great griefe they haue fouÌ„d themselues destitute of al meanes of helping or succoring you and therefore doe most desire that it may please you to deferre put of the succour which you at this time do attend at their haÌ„ds vntil some other time wheÌ„ through as wel their own diligeÌ„ce labour trauail sparing sobriety as also through such good entreaty as they hope for at your hands they shal haue recouered part of their former abilitie power Neither can they be perswaded considering the great subsidies of them leuyed during the reigns of the Kings your late father and brother that you can be so greatly endebted Calling also to minde whatsoeuer all auncient histories or recordes as wel holy as prophane haue left of al antiquitie as testimonies of valiant deedes they do finde that neuer any monarch King or soueraigne Prince hath died indebted in such excessiue summes as did the late King Henry your Honorable father how long or continual warres the said Monarches haue susteined or enterprised for the augmenting of the boundes and limites of their realmes and empires And to say the trueth so great and wonderful are the debts that quite emptying al the treasuries of your dominions and particularly researching euery subiect yet shal you hardely finde goulde or siluer in their possessions equiualeÌ„t vnto the said suÌ„mes Which notwithstanding it seemeth very hard and incredible yet is the knowledge thereof more grieuous vnto your subiectes because their power is not equal to their desires This therefore hath moued them to coniecture that such great summes of money leuied among your people neuer came wholy into your coffers neither was euer conuerted to the coÌ„moditie of your predecessors but through vnreasonable giftes and such other meanes haue in part remained in the hands of some particular persons whose houses do now triumph and florish through the harmes of your said subiects For the reparation therefore of such former gouernment also to preuent that in time to come you fall not into any such bottomles pit of debts they do most humblye besech you to ordeine that the treasurers ouer seers of your treasury who hitherto haue had the haÌ„dling disposing of the same during the reignes aforesaid may come bring in an accoÌ„pt of their administration before such delegates as your selfe shal chuse or through the assistance of the estates euery prouince and gouernment shal name by this meanes may such be quailed and reuoked to their dueties as in time to come might coÌ„mit the like trespas Again one of the first articles conteined in the roules which the third estate presented were these wordes That such might bring in their accompts as were accomptable had had the ordering of the treasurye for that the said thirde estate could not beleeue but that thereby sundrye great abuses might be found out also that in the meane time aswell such as were accomptable as also al other who had bene dealers in the treasurie euen being of the priuie counsaile might neuerthelesse be forbidden entrie into the said council together with the execution of their said offices vntil the said accomptes were made other where then in the chamber of accompts and in the presence of the delegates of the estates and that al restes and debtes were payed also that especial reuiew might be made of the accompts of those who had receiued the particular loanes of the sommes of eight six foure and two crownes the twenty frankes of eche steple the munitions and victuals the furnitures of the sales of wines and other necessary things for the warres the money leuied vpon the walled townes after the battaile of S. Laurence and al other extraordinary payes leuied vpon the people Also that al excessiue pensions vnreasonable giftes whatsoeuer might be reuoked without exception of any person sauing the Queene mother who had sollicited the estates to pursue these matters for the causes rehearsed in the discourse of her gouernement for that it was euident that this money had neuer bene employed vnto such vse as it had bene destined vnto namely the relieuing of the kings affaires now may we wel thinke whether these motions clawed the Guisians The Cardinal more staied theÌ„ his brother the Duke made no shew of ought as if he had sought to make ready his accompts but in the others forhead a man might reade a thousand threats against the estate of the realme the effects whereof appeared within fiue or six moneths after For their better prouiding therefore for their own affairs they determined as touching the giuing vp of their accompts that they would practise al meanes possible rather then be brought into any such necessitie also that in case

were the kindlers which also so long as the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal had the dealings about King Henry waxed stil more and more yet were they not content to hazarde that part of the Kings estate who thereby lost Tirwine and Hesdine together with many great lordes and gentlemen besides prisoners of name but they also procured to him an other great blowe in Italie It is not therefore requisite that we should here rehearse al our damages and losse of battailes wherein were slaine foure or fiue thousand Frenchmen together with the Captaines and gentlemen of Name neither the losse of the citie of Siene which hath cost this realme so much money buried so manie frenchmen and beautified Florence with our shame neither the bringing of the poore inhabitants thereof into perpetual bondage and in a maner vtter destruction for to whome is al this more iustly to be imputed then vnto the ielousie of the said Lordes of Guise who then gouerned al things This happened in the yeres 1554. and 1555. when they desired rather to deferre the promised aide and so to put the whole armye in despaire then to suffer it to be reported that without them the King had gotten Tuscane or at the leastwise compelled the inhabitants to come to such composition as him selfe woulde haue graunted them These Lords of Guise did in the meane time frame sundry conspiracies in Italie whereby somewhat the more to increase their owne honour and al with the treasure of the realme and vnto the Kings confusion It is not vnknowen how they quareled for the crowne of Naples Sicil neither how the Cardinal al his life time gaped after the Papaltie perswading him selfe to procure wonderfull and strange alterations in case he might once atteine to be God vpon earth And so soone as the olde Pope was deceased the Cardinal prouoked through his wonted ambition went not reasonably but ranne so fast as possibly he coulde to catche vp the triple crown which imaginatiuely with a vaine hope he did already deuoure At that time did experience teach the French nation that this man where euer he became drew al mischief after him For immediatly after his departure the Emperour Charles the fifth King Henry were sone inclined to yelde vnto the better couÌ„sels of such as spake of quietnes to be granted vnto the pore people in so much that notwithstaÌ„ding the peace might be coÌ„cluded yet through the graue aduice of the Constable and the Admiral there was the fifth day of February in the yere 1556 an abstinence and truce agreed vpon for fiue yeres This Cardinal according to his wonted maner minded not to goe his iourney to Rome at his charge and therefore had assured King Henry that in Italie he would practise such leagues against the Emperour Charls that then he might easely be ouercome which the King liking of it stood the Cardinal in steade as a couer to hide his ambition and couetousnes who with many circumstances stil at the realmes charges made Hercules the secoÌ„d Duke of Ferrara the Kings lieutenant general in Italie But his chiefe drift was to make friends and entertaine seruants through whose aide together with the power treasure of France he might conquere the Papaltye for him selfe and the realmes of Naples and Sicil for his brother So soone therfore as he was aduertised of the aforesaid truce he was with the same greatly displeased for that it was the assured death of all his driftes in that respect in so much that he could not restraine his speach before diuers but said openly as he passed through Neuers that this was not it that the King had promised him also that he knew a meane to breake this truce fully perswading him selfe so to doe immediatly vpon his comming to the Court which then lay at Bloys whereas so soone as he was arriued and had spoken with the King he finally obteined through the meanes of his clients and especially of Cardinal Carasfa whom the Pope had sent to present the King with a rich sword a graunt to breake the truce notwithstanding whatsoeuer reasons the Constable Admiral and other great Lords could alleage The Guisians principal instrument was the Duchesse of Valentinois who was to them a bridge both in body and minde wherouer to passe vnto the Royal throne for she commaunded King Henry and they commaunded her Hereby did they intangle the King in open periury the realme in new troubles procuring the ouerthrow on S. Laurence day the taking of S. Quintins the spoile of Picardie and the peace vnprofitably concluded for the French nation None but the Guisians hoped for any commoditie of this newes for the eldest of them aspiring vnto the Crowne of Naples and Sicill procured for him selfe a commission to goe and breake the truce in Italie accompanied with six thousand Swithers foure thousand FreÌ„ch men fiue hundred men of armes and fiue hundred light horses It is not vnknowen to al men that he transported with him al the best souldiers that he could get leauing according to King Francis prophecie his sonne Henry in his doublet and his subiects in their shirts For besides so many men whom he led away the Cardinal who had the ouersight of the treasury had so soked the same that finally the King was brought to that stay that through persons whoÌ„ the Cardinals couetousnes had brought forth interposed the King was driuen to borowe the money which proceeded from his owne treasury Moreouer the rowles and records of that time and of the next yere following wil declare what excessiue rewardes the said Cardinal his brother did wrest forth of the Kings lenitie while in the meane time the commons were vncoÌ„scionably pilled the treasury as is aforesaid wasted the demaines receits and cities morgaged the warre reuiued and the coast of Picardy come into the King of Spaines hands For the enterprises of Henry who then followed the onely aduice of the Cardinal were so wide from prosperous successe that within short space after he lost the lamentable battel vpon S. Laurence day wherein were slaine Iohn of Bourbon Duke of Anghien the Vicounte of Turaine besides many other French lordes and gentlemen the footmen for the most part hewen in pieces and the Constable taken prisoner besides a great number of other valiant lordes and gentlemen Againe within twelue or fiftene dayes after was the towne of S. Quintins taken by assault whereby the King there also susteined a shrewd foyle We must not here ouerslippe a testimonie of the Cardinals good wil toward King Henry and his estate as this After the ouerthrowe of S. Laurence daie the King being destitute of men money and counsaile for as the mischief was the Cardinal only was left about him this reuerend father in stead of helping the King with his goods or of relieuing his necessitie with such coyne as he had fished out of the said Kings reuenues euen the next day after this mischance enforced the

of Lorraine Loued he the Duke of Alenson Nay but contrariwise at the Kings departure into Poland he defrauded the said Duke of the lieutenantshippe conferring the same to his nephue the Duke of Lorraine and vnder colour thereof gouerned more malepartly then euer before But al these iniuries do require a more exact discourse which hereafter we will looke vpon Thus therefore hauing scorned Henrie and al his they haue replenished his house with abominations and his realme with troubles they haue destroyed the mightie entrapped the meane sort and brought al things into such confusion that in mans iudgement the kingdome is past al hope of restauration or being reduced to anie smal forme of the pristinate and auncient glorie In this Prince Henrie the seconds life time also they began to note out such of his seruants as displeased them dispersing some of them abroad bringing others into displeasure remouing froÌ„ the King his faithful counsailers bringing in their own minions bondmeÌ„ through whose meanes this Prince was persuaded that the Lords of Guise were his most trustie and faithful seruants who sowed dissension among the other Princes and great Lords to the end that drawing the one partie vnto their side they might with the lesse labour destroy the other All these particularities shal better be seene hereafter in their order whereby these iniuries shal plainely be perceiued At this present thus much we wil say which also al true Frenchmen wil stand vnto that considering the breuitie of King Henries life he did them in so short time more good then anie King his predecessor did euer vnto al his whole houshold together he suffred more he bare more with them indured more sorowe grief vnduetiful behauiours losses and hinderances by them then euer master friend or father susteined at the hands of their seruants companions or children For besides that while he liued they infinit waies and times turned away from him seking the destruction of both his bodie and soule to their powers they haue also contaminated his house marred his children and consumed his people euen at his death they haue shewed what regard in his life time they had vnto him We heard before how the eldest brother perceiuing the death of the great King Francis at hand scorned him calling him yoncker They al now haue bene nothing behind but haue vttered many more signes of disobedience and of their trecherous hearts toward King Henrie at his death who was their especial friend natural Lord and mightie benefactor What a sight was it to the French nation bewayling the so vntimely and vnlooked for death of their Prince to beholde at the same instant of his deceasse the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine with ioyful countenances taking their yong King and nephue and transporting him from the Tournelles vnto the Louure Yea there was one who semed to name that day and that not impertinently the Euen of the feast of three Kings For there was no man so ignorant but that viewing these Lordes on horsebacke might wel iudge that France should now haue the King inheritour King in name only and the two Lords of Lorraine Kings in effect or at the least two craftie and cruel tyrants a since they haue manifested them selues Moreouer it is the duetie of the great chamberlaine to take the charge ouer the dead Kings corpes vntil it be buried Now the Duke of Guise was great chamberlaine for he had euen in maner forcibly taken the same office from the house of Longueuille Who then letted the Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorraine hauing a King at their deuotion yea if we may so say at their commandement from doing their dueties but that needes they must presently forsake the corpes as some filthie carrion What may be said of them that so shamefully abandoned the corpes of their King and Lord nothing caring or thinking vpon the garde and burial of the same for the which cause both the Constable and al other the Kings trustie faithful seruants remained stil behind Yea if they had but stayed vntil the bodie had bene colde and assuredly dead or at the least if they had but shewed some countenance of sorow Howbeit peraduenture this inhumanitie proceded of that they had gotten some inckling that King Henrie was minded to driue them away presently after the triumphes and feastes were ended or rather their owne ambition permitted them not long to deferre the discouerie of that which their hearts conspired which was vnder the name of their nephue Francis to raigne ouer vs waiting better occasion to proceede Well peraduenture they dealt better with Francis the second and so behaued them selues that now they deserued to haue their former offences concealed Let vs therefore see whether it be so or not This yong Prince being sixteene yeres old at the most reigned scarce seuenteene moneths fully but we may say and lye not that neuer Realme in seuenteene moneths space was so shaken as our poore France all through these mens ambition yea I dare affirme that in case God for the iust punishment of our sinnes had prolonged the said Francis reigne other seuenteene moneths the house of Valois had vtterly lost the crowne and the whole nobilitie might well haue prepared them selues vnto death or other strange bondage and violences The people the officers of iustice and euen the Clergie them selues could haue assured them selues of no other then most horrible tyrannie To the end therefore that all this may the more euidently be perceiued let vs marcke the ordering of the Realme in the said seuenteene moneths space First they rauished the King out of the handes of the Estates of the Realme and officers of the crowne conueying him euen at the houre of his fathers death into the Louure with his brethren mother and wife There they so warely watched him and diligently kept him that no man might come neere him vnlesse some of the GuisiaÌ„s were at haÌ„d At the same time also began they to be called the Kings kepers They driue away the Constable and others they send away the Princes of the blood one to carie the order into Spayne an other to conduct the lady Elizabeth another to confirme the peace in Flanders and finally vsed them as we shal see comming to speake of their dealings toward sundry Princes of the blood They take or rather wreste from them the dealings in the affaires of estate for when the Parliaments had sent their deputes to the King he gaue them to vnderstand that his two vncles the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise had the whole dealinges commanding that thence forth all men should resorte vnto them in all matters touching the estate of him and his Realmes and dominions charging all men to obey them as him selfe Here you see them by their owne instrument declared Kings for this yong Prince being of no experience and miserable in that he was lincked in to such companie said and did nothing

so wisely already established by so many counselers by the late King Henry his good brother father in law as if the King his brother in law were not of him self capable to administer it or to coÌ„mit it vnto such as he thought good without the intermedling of any other consent or receiuing any lawe at his subiects hands which he ought not to permit wherefore for his part he woulde willingly employ his whole power in the maintenance of the authoritie of him and his ministers although it should cost both the life of him selfe and of fourty thousand men whome he had in a readinesse if any man should attempt the contrary for said he he bare him so great good wil that he woulde declare him selfe the tutor and protectour both of him and his kingdome and also of his affaires the which were to him in no lesse recommendation then his owne Thus may you see how the heredital enemie of the crowne of FraÌ„ce was called to the defence of their tirannye Many accounted these letters ful of wonderful presumptioÌ„ that a forein prince durst thus openly in the presence of the whole priuie counsel for these letters were read among them al euen before the King of Nauarres face abolish the french liberty and ouerthrowe the auctoritie of the estates But the Guisians had already aduertised him in what estate all thinges stood and in case matters had so fallen out as they began to doe he had had his share among them So at the same instant these the spaniardes letters were as effectual as they desired for presently the King of Nauarre began to cappe them and of his owne accorde to seke al occasioÌ„s wherby to returne to the defence custodie of his couÌ„try howbeit the better to walk him he together with the Cardinal of BourboÌ„ the Prince of la Roch Suryon who were ioined in his commission were appointed to coÌ„duct the Lady Elizabeth the kings sister who was maried to the spaniard her at the frontiers both of FraÌ„ce Spaine to deliuer vp Now therefore peceiuing that the more they sought the hastening of the ouerthrowe of France the more they opened the mouthes of al true Frenchmen they determined to fortifie them selues by alluring the Parliaments the Clergie and the men of warre to their partes The Cardinal supposed the aduancement of religion and multiplication of the professors thereof to be to him a goodly pretence wherewith to intice the Clergie As for the Parliaments in as much as manie of the counsaylers and presidents placed in the same came in at the windowes and were men but of smal consciences they needed no great labour to hasten them forward to the assubiecting of them selues to the house of Guise for such good men as remained being terrified with the examgles of Anna du Bourg and others laid their handes vpon their mouthes Also the men of warre seing the Princes holde their peaces and perceiuing the Duke of Guise in his armour whilest others both high and lowe were in their shirtes wayting euerie houre for to be slaine toke part with the mightiest And notwithstanding al men one and other were assured by sufficient coniectures that the drift whereunto the house of Guise aspired was farre other then they represented yet they being watered with a certaine vaine hope also to the end to maintaine theÌ„ selues in their imagined prosperitie as men vtterly deuoid of vnderstaÌ„ding did wholy cast them selues headlong into this goulfe The Guisians being thus in fauour and hauing expulsed al such as were not of their bande did determine better to looke to their matters vpon this occasion As King Francis grew so did he more and more reueile an assured iudgement of his euil health Now had they married him to their niece the Queene of Scots and had betimes procured him to taste all worldly delites and bewrapped in his wifes swathing cloutes to the end to yealde him the more supple and delicate to their handling But this Prince being sickely who also in his youth had foreshewed a most dangerous euil disposition by reason he could neither hoake nor spit forth caused that certaine his physitions of the creation of the Guisians secretely warned them to prouide for their owne estates for as much as the King was no man of long continuance Vpon this report the Cardinal hauing alreadie most men bound to his hand to the end to finde out their affections towarde the King woulde sometime bewayle the miserie of the present time also the Kinges vnweldines who shoulde not peraduenture haue leysure said he to punish the heritikes so that al thinges might after his death happilie be turned otherwise Hauing then strooke this stroke and finding that manie did euen halfe wishe that he would inuent some stedfast meanes proceeded on inferring vpon the Kings sicknesse whome malitiously he after a maner taxed of leprosie and that in double consideration First to bring the Frenchmen out of taste in their natural loue which they beare to their Kings because the King was as they made men to beleeue infected with such a contagious disease and so to prepare them against a new change and next to bring the protestants into such hatred whome he pretended to make authours of this bruite with the King that through his commandement they might be vtterly extermined to the end that they being thus made away the Guisians might finde no man to withstand them Following this determination they bruited abroade through their partakers that the King went to Bloys to take physicke for the spottes in his face and when anie man asked the meaning of such speach these spies woulde closely whisper them in the eares saying that assuredly King Francis was infected with leprosie and that to the end to procure his health he must necessarilie be bathed in the blood of manie yong children also that there was alreadie a commission giuen forth for the taking vp of the most beautiful and healthfull from foure yeres olde vnto sixe To be briefe these ruffians which followed the Court being hired by the Cardinal went abroade into the boroughes townes and villages along the riuer of Loyre enquiring of the number of children being presently followed by an other number who inquired whether anie had bene there to take a register of their said children willing them to take heede how they did deliuer them because it was to the end to bathe the King in their blood These voices mightily terrified al the countrey about Loyre and the King after his comming to Bloys heard therof also whereat both he and his mother were greatly moued But the Cardinal cast al the fault vpon the Protestants so persuading the King that he kindeled in him such a hatred as remained printed in his heart vnto his liues end Howbeit one of these villaines who had spred these newes and vnder colour of warning the parents had gathered great store of money being taken nere vnto Loches and found guiltie and so finally

hauing wrested this confession out of the Kings mouth whom herein they caused villanously to lye they did afterwarde stiffe and stoutly denie whatsoeuer might be obiected against them laying all vpon the dead mans backe offering the combate to any that woulde saye that euer they of their owne heades had enterprised any thing at all Besides all the aforesayde practises with straungers at the ende of the Estates in the Kinges name all the power of France shoulde haue bene deuided into foure partes and led by the Marshalles of Saint Andrewes of Brissac and of Thermes and by the Lorde of Aumale to make such hauocke as all the worlde may well thinke For beside the vtter subuersion of all Estates and destruction of al the mightiest and most auncient houses which should haue bene assaulted were it for their religion eyther for hauing taken the Princes parte either for hauing spoken amisse of the King with infinite suche other meanes France should haue bene reduced to the Turkes order of liuing to the ende afterwarde no man might haue had power to resist or withstande the tyrannie of the Guisians Also if through importunitie they chaunced to forgiue any it should haue bene with the condition of perpetuall ignominie Moreouer the Cardinall had vsed such diligence that there was no corner in all the Realme where he had not the names and surnames of all the inhabitants who eyther were Protestantes or of any dealing or enterprise to be able to hurt him or that had not ranged them selues after his deuotion and this had he gotten by the meanes of certayne Apostataes and secret seruantes who ordinarily went ploding about here and there to the end to sounde the heartes and willes of men insomuch that such truandes were made iudges and ordered the sentences of lyfe and death vnto all the worlde Now were they determined so to haue prouoked the people agaynst the Protestantes especially that they shoulde neede no other hangman herein it was to no purpose to say I am none for the Monkes other preachers hyred to the same purpose in going about should pronouÌ„ce the condemnations The graunting of this libertie to the common people was commonly called as a watch word The letting loose of the great Greyhound and there was no part of France which coulde haue bene exempt from this calamitie Also the King of Spaine was on his parte so forwarde according to his tyme and promise made to the Guisians that sixe thousand Spanierdes had already taken the way toward Bearn entending sodeinly to surprise the Queene of Nauarre and both her and her childreÌ„ to put to death committing like murther of her subiects as of the King of FraÌ„ces and in so doing to stay and breake the forces which were in Guyen But so soone as the Spanierd had aduertisement of the Kings death also that the Queene of Nauarre had discouered him and so fortified her selfe in her strong holdes that he should hardly without long siedge come by her not knowing what fould the affaires woulde take doubting also to haue those on his backe who had caused his troupes to come into the couÌ„trey among whoÌ„ Monluc was one of the first vpon promise of the Countie of Arminack wherefore he retired without dooing any thing coÌ„sidering also that such of the Kings letters wherby he had graunted theÌ„ passage through Bayonne which is one of the principall forteresses keyes of the realme whether they were many or few and his commandement to ayde them with as much victuals artillery and munition as they would require would not nowe be of any force or vertue after the said Lordes death how plaine full of threates so euer the same were If the Guisians during the yong King their nephues life behaued them selues outrageously they did not assuredly at his death recouer their honour In his lyfe time they kept him so diligently that no man without their fauour might come at him I will not here speake how they ordered him priuatly For besides that they glutted him with all fleshly pleasures before he was of age they did also replenish his houshold with corruptions and infamous dealings Also through their earnest desire that their Niece might haue issue and yet knowing King Frauncis but simply disposed thereunto in that his generatiue partes were altogither dulled and hindred they permitted many courtiers to haue her companie who did their endeuours to make her very fruitfull yet am I ashamed to know that in a certayne table which an Italian of Laques found meanes to get conueyed into the Cardinall of Lorraines chamber with certeyne letters from the Pope in steade of our Ladie of Grace wherein were the sayde Cardinall of Lorraine the Queene his Niece the Queene mother and the Duchesse of Guise most liuely set out their bodyes naked their armes one about an others necke and all their legges enterlaced togither Willingly would I haue forgotten the execrable filthinesse which I haue hearde reported of him and his brethren by such as in Francis the seconds time followed the Courte and were witnesses of such things as appeared almost manifestly in all mens eyes Francis had despised all the world to the end to honour them he had displeased all his Realme to satisfie them and to set them alofte he prepared to thrust the knife into his owne blood a man may saye into his owne bodie thereby to saue them to be briefe he had hated him selfe to loue them and abased his owne person for their exaltation and yet was there euer person dead of the pestilence whose bodie men did more abandon then them selues did this Thus it was The Custome at all tymes in France obserued after the deceasse of the Kings is such as that they whom in their liues they haue most fauoured and who especially haue had the ordering and dealing in their affayres ought to accompanie them to their graues and during the fourtie dayes that they be kept and solemnely serued wayte vpon their funeralles This ceremonie did the Guisians cause to be most straightly obserued after the death of Henrie and hereunto the Duke of Guise was in double maner holden and bounde for enioying togither with the soueraigne authoritie the great Mastership of France which doe namely binde those that doe enioye such a dignitie yet all this notwithstanding so it was that none of the house of Guise did this honour to their King and Master the husbande of their Niece who in his life time was so deare to them but by their counsaile and aduice he was both by day and night sent to be throwen into his Fathers tombe without any kinde of pompe or funerall soleÌ„nitie whereof arose a prety quippe namely that the King who was mortall enemie to the Huguenots could him selfe neuerthelesse not choose but be buried after the Huguenots maner That which brought the Guisians and their partakers to this point was the assembly of the estates where they would nedes assist for feare lest any thing should

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