The Traytor executed The young Prince of Conde born The Admirall honoured New designs against the Protestants * Roch-sur-yon The Prince of Conde and Admirall complain to the King They are answered with scorns The second Civil War Paris blocked up by the Prince A Battell The Admirall wonderfully preserved The Royalists routed They joyn with the Germans The Admirals prudence Caen besieged by the Prince Peace concluded The Admirals Wife dieth His counsell to his Children His charge to Grelleus His Wives character Popish treachery A remarkable Providence A Prediction They send to the King The third Civil War A special providence The Protestants basely murthered The Queen of Navarr assists them Niort taken Engolisme besieged A Battell The Royalists beaten A special providence The Admirals danger His valour Prince of Conde basely slain His character The Prince of Navarr in his room The Admirals piety His Authority to take up Arms. Andelot's death The Admirals Letter to his Sons and Nephews His Faith The Germans aid the Protestants The Royalists beaten The Admirall sends to the King for Peace Lusiniac surrendred Poictiers besieged The Admirals sicknesse Treachery against the Admirall The Traitor executed The Royalists beaten The Admirall forced to fight His policy A special providence He is wounded His Army overthrown His courage He is condemned by the Parliament of Paris His house plundered His contentation His justice His Letter to his Sons and Nephews They send to the King for Peace A Tyrannical speech The Admirall falls sick Ambassadours from the King The great esteem of the Admirall The Treaty goes on Peace concluded The Admirals second marriage He marries his Daughter to Teligni Coligni's death in England His character Popish cruelties The Kings dissimulation The Kings dissimulation with the Admirall Royal dissimulation The Admirals entertainment at Court The malice of the Duke of Guise The Kings dissembling Letter The King dissembles with C. Lodwick Intercepted Letters which shewed the dissimulations The Admirals security The Queen of Navarr's death Her character The King sends for the Admirall His friends advertisements His security He went to Paris Warnings to the Admirall His confident answer Royal treachery The Protestants flock to Paris Deep dissimulation Rochel blocked up The Admirall deluded The King of Navarr married The Admirals Letter to his Wife The Kings dissimulation The Admirall wounded His admirable patience and Christian courage His charity His Prayer His comfort His Faith The Kings prophane dissimulation The King visits the Admirall His speech to the King The Kings answer Deep dissimulation The Bullet viwed Psal. 32.1 A Councel held by the Protestants Presages of the Massacre Monluc's advice The Kings dissimulation Deep dissimulation An ill omen Popish subtilty Counsell that the Protestants should leave Paris A Judas The Massacre projected The Kings dissimulation with the King of Navarr The Duke of Guise excites to the Massacre Fatall security The Queen-Mothers mischievous mind The sign of the Massacre The Admirals house assaulted The Admirals speech The Admirall slain His body basely abused His Head sent to Rome Yet buried His character His piety and zeal Examples prevalent His manner of preparing for the Lords Supper His care for education of children His contempt of the world Brotherly love His age His abstinence His daily exercise Teligni murthered and his young Son Her Parentage Her marriage Popish policy King of Navarr turns Papist The Queens constancy Popish policy The King of Navarr slain Treason against the Queen Gods providence over her Her going to Rochel Her Letters to the King c. Prince of Conde slain She encourageth the Army Her Countrey surprized And regained The Kings Edict Popish subtilty The match propounded Her pious care about it Ministers dissent about it Her zeal to propogate the Gospel She goes to the Court. The Kings dissimulation She goes to Paris She is poysoned Her sicknesse and religious carriage therein Her charge to her Son James 5.14 Her conference with the Minister Long life a blessing 1 Cor. 15.55 Her Prayer A Prayer Her patience The Minister Absolves her The Admirall came to her Her death
the way basely murthered the Nurse Infant and some other of the company with it Consider I pray you how great the wickednesse was and how Honourable yea how Glorious it will be to your name not to suffer such cruelty to escape with impunity Unto this Speech of the Admirall the King returned this answer That he had never called his loyalty into question That he reputed him a good Commonwealths man and a valiant and excellent Captain before whom he preferred no man in his Kingdom And said he if I had had any other opinion of you I had never done as I have heretofore About the Flemish businesse he answered never a word But for the third thing he answered that he liked nothing better then that his Edicts for Pacification should be holily and inviolably observed for which end he had sent his Deputies into all the Provinces of his Kingdom for the confirmation whereof he called the Queen-Mother to witnesse who turning to the Admirall said My Admirall there is nothing more true Commissaries and Deputies are sent into all parts Yea forsooth said the Admirall of those men who have imposed Fifty thousand Crowns as the price of my Head Then said the King My Admirall there is danger lest your earnestnesse may hinder your health it is better that you take your rest the harm hath befallen you but the dishonour reflects upon me but I swear by Gods death that I will so severely punish this wicked deed that the memory thereof shall continue to all posterities The Woman and Lacquy that were found in the house we have committed to safe custody Whom further do you require to be examined or whom would you have to exercise judgment To this the Admirall answered I leave this businesse to your Wisdom and Fidelity yet because you ask my judgment I humbly desire that Cavanneus and Masparrot may be employed therein for I think that the author of this deed is not farre off The King and Queen-Mother coming nearer to the Admirals pillow spake a while softly and at last the Queen-Mother said Although I am but a woman yet I perceive we must provide betimes The King at his departure advised the Admirall to be transported into the Kings Castle and the Earl Rhetius pressed the same divers times saying that he feared lest such a commotion should be raised amongst the common people of Paris as the King with all his authority should not be able to quell To this it was answered That the Physicians and Chyrurgeous would not allow of his removall lest the stirring of his body should inflame his wounds That if the King pleased to manifest his love and favour to the Admirall there was no more fear of the people of Paris then of a company of women That the authority of the Kings name was so great in France especially in Paris that were the common people never so mad and furious yet the mention of that alone would easily suppresse them Then did the King call for the brasen bullet wherewith the Admirall was wounded and asked him if he felt not very great pain when his finger and arm were cut To which receiving an answer he replied that there could not be a more constant and valiant man found this day in the world and so restoring the Bullet the Queen-Mother looking on it said I am glad that the Bullet is got out for I remember that when the Duke of Guise was shot in his Camp the Physicians often told me that though it were poysoned yet there was no danger when the Bullet was out But said a by-stander Madam we rested not upon that but we gave the Admirall Physick to prevent the danger if there were any poyson After the Kings departure came in John Ferrers Vidam of Chartres who comforted the Admirall with many words concluding that the enemies had betraied their great cowardlinesse in that they durst not encounter the Admirall but through a grated window but that the Admirall was an happy man who had lengthened out the praise of his vertue to so great an age Yea said the Admirall in this I account my self happy that the Lord hath been pleased to shew me mercy for they are truly blessed whose sins are forgiven and whose transgressions are covered The King of Navarr Prince of Conde and some other Christians of the Protestants being present they resolved to go down into a lower Chamber to consult what course to take for their present security At this debate Ferrers was very earnest that they should with all speed depart out of Paris assuring them that this was but the first act of a more dangerous Tragedy that would suddainly ensue Others on the contrary argued That it was enough for the present to require justice of the King desiring that judgment might be speedily executed In this opinion Teligni stood stiff affirming that he knew the Kings mind throughly and that they ought not to suspect his faith and good will Yet it was alleadged again that many seditious reports were scattered about That many Papists on the Wedding-day when the Protestants came out of the Church that they might not be present at Masse spake publiquely That within a few daies they should hear Masse Also some of the chief Citizens said that there should be more blood then wine shed at that Marriage Also the President of the Senate advised a Noble-man of the Protestants to go into the Countrey with his Family for a few daies Also John Monluc Bishop of Valentia when he was going Ambassadour into Poland advised the Earl of Rochfaucand not to suffer himself to be blinded with the smoak of the Court and its unsuall favours which are deservedly suspected by wise and wary men Therefore said he be not too secure cast not your self into dangers but withdraw your self and other Noble-men betimes out of the Court But these things could not be heard by reason of Monsieur Teligni's confidence In the mean time the Woman and Lacquy who were found in the house of Villemur were examined by the Presidents of the Parliament The Woman confessed that a few daies before Villerius Challius a retainer to the Guises brought a Souldier to that house commending him to her as if he had been the Master of the house but his name was concealed The Boy confessed that he had served this man a few daies who called himself one while Bolland and another while Bondol and that he was sent that morning to Challius to intreat him that the Horse might be ready as he had promised Hereupon Challius was sent for the more to delude the Protestants The King also wrote to the Governours of the Provinces wherein he detested the wrong done to the Admirall and required them to do their endeavour that all might understand how greatly it grieved him and that he would most severely punish it to the terrour of all others The day after some of the Admirals friends being
THE LIVES Of Two and Twenty English Divines EMINENT In their Generations for Learning Piety and painfulnesse in the Work of the Ministry and for their Sufferings in the Cause of CHRIST Whereunto are annexed the LIVES of Gaspar Coligni that famous Admirall of France slain in the Parisian Massacre and of Joane Queen of Navarr who died a little before By Samuel Clarke Pastor of Bennet-Fink London Qui sanctum virum imitatur quasi Exemplum aliquod intuetur seseque in illo quasi speculo prospicit ut adjiciat quod deesse virtutis agnoscit Minus enim seipsum homo considerat sed dum alterum intendit id quod minus est virtutis addidit Isiod de summo bono LONDON Printed by A. M. for Thomas Vnderhill and John Rothwell in Pauls Church-yard 1660. The Names of those whose Lives are contained in this Part. Dr. Collet p. 1 Bishop Coverdale 4 Dr. Sands 7 Mr. Richard Greenham 14 Mr. Thomas Cartwright 19 Mr. Paul Baines 27 Mr. William Bradshaw 32 Mr. Richard Stock 78 Mr. Richard Rothwel 85 Dr. Preston 95 Mr. Arthur Hildersam 144 Dr. Thomas Tailor 157 Mr. Hugh Clarke p. 160 Dr. Sibs 166 Dr. Chaderton 168 Mr. John Ball. 171 Bishop Potter 182 Mr. Richard Sedgwick 184 Mr. Julines Herring 188 Mr. John Dod. 198 Mr. Robert Balsom 213 Mr. Herbert Palmer 218 Gaspar Coligni Admirall of France 243 Ioane Q. of Navarr 297 To his loving Friend Master CLARKE upon his Lives of these eminent DIVINES SAMUEL CLARKE Anagr. Make us recall MAke us recall the lives of Worthies dead Herein thou art blest soul our learned Clark In suffering times thereby to hold up head And live their lives Herein thou art our Mark To soare aloft their Glories to ascend And sing such Praises here thou art our Larke To live when we are dead and so to end Our Pilgrimage and enter Noah's Arke Thy paines and pattern Make us to recall Their Graces Glories and their Lives withall John Herring Mr. of Arts and Minister of Gods Word The Life of Doctor Collet Dean of Pauls who died Anno Christi 1519. JOhn Collet was born of Worshipfull Parents in London his father Henry Collet having been twice Lord Maior of London by whom he was carefully trained up in learning In his younger daies he travelled into France and Italy whereby he much improved his learning At his return into England he went to Oxford commenced Doctor of Divinity and began to read publickly upon Pauls Epistles instead of Scotus and Tho. Aquinas which before were only in request in that University When he came to London he Preached often and had a very great Auditory both of Courtiers and Citizens His diet was very frugall his life upright and unblamable In discipline he was very severe in so much as being made Dean of Pauls his Canons complained that they were held in too much by him He alwaies preferred the honest and honourable estate of Matrimony before the unchast single life of Priests At dinner time he used to have some portion of Scripture read to him either out of Pauls Epistles or Solomons Proverbs He used no supper at all He was no friend to the irreligious religious orders of Monks and Friars He was an enemy to the barbarous Divinity of the School-Doctors as of Scotus and Thomas Aquinas insomuch as when Erasmus highly commended Aquinas for his learning and acutenesse Doctor Collet answered What tell you me of the learning of that man who unlesse he had been of an arrogant and presumptious spirit durst never have taken upon him to discusse and define all things so boldly and rashly as he did And except he had rather been worldly minded then heavenly he would never so have polluted Christs wholsome Doctrine with mans prophane Doctrine as he hath done The Bishop London at this time was Fitz James who of a long time bore a great grudge to Dr Collet and therefore joyning with two other Bishops they entred an action of complaint against him before Dr Warham Archbishop of Canterbury The Articles exhibited against him were three First For preaching against the worshipping of Images Secondly About hospitality for that he preaching upon those words in the Gospel Feed feed feed having expounded the two first for feeding by Doctrine and example the third he expounded for feeding by hospitality yet not so much for feeding the body as the soul by good counsel and conference The third was for speaking against such as preached bosom Sermons declaring nothing to the people but what they bring in their Papers with them This the Bishop of London used to do and therefore took it as spoken against himself which much irritated him against Dr Collet But the Archbishop more wisely weighing the matter and being well acquainted with the worth of Collet so took his part against his Accusers that at that time he freed him out of trouble Another design of Fitz James was to make him an heretick for translating the Pater noster into English but the Archbishop holp him out of that also Yet the Bishops malice was restlesse for when he could not prevail against Dr Collet before the Archbishop he laid a train to accuse him to the King and the occasion thereof was this About this time King Henry the eighth was preparing War against France and the Bishop with his complices took advantages against Dr Collet for that in one of his Sermons he had seemed to preferre Peace before any kind of Warre though never so just For this they inveyed against him in their Sermons and traduced him also before the King Yet on good Friday after Dr Collet preached before the King at which time he treated upon the Victory of Christ exhorting all Christians to fight under Christs standard against the devil adding moreover what an hard thing it was so to do He shewed also that all they who upon private hatred or ambition took weapons against their adversaries one Christian to destroy another they did not fight under Christs Banner but under Satans He exhorted therefore all Christians in their Wars rather to make Christ their Prince and Captain in fighting against their enemies then to imitate Julius Caesar Alexander c. The King hearing this and fearing lest the hearts of his souldier should by these words be withdrawn from the Wars took him aside into his Garden after Sermon and had much private conference with him Bishop Fitz-James and his a associates seeing this were now confident that they should see Collet presently sent Prisoner to the Tower and therefore they waited for his return out of the Garden But contrary to their expectation the King used him very courteously bad him put on his Cap much commended him for his learning and integrity of life and agreed with him in all points that he had taught onely he desired him lest the rude Souldiers should misinterpret that which he had said that in his next Sermon he would
that thereupon the Queen Mother commanded the Prince of Conde to be set at liberty And a few daies after the Admirall assaulted Boience and at last took the Town though with some losse of his men About this very time the Admirals eldest Son called Gaspar being a youth of nine years old but of admirable towardnesse fell sick and died at Orleance which was an exceeding great grief to his Father In the mean time the Guises perceiving that they were forsaken by the greatest part of France which now adheared to and assisted Conde they resolved to call in forraign helps and thereupon sending much Money into Swisserland and Germany they hired from the former Foot and from the latter Horse to come in to their aid which the Admirall used often to say was a plain demonstration of their treacherous and hostile minds against France and therefore that he might not be wanting to himself and Friends who had committed so great a trust to him he resolved to oppose Forraign by Forraign forces And for this end he sent his Brother Andelot to the Protestant Princes in Germany of whose good will to the French Churches he had good assurance requesting aid from them who accordingly within three moneths space sent him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot into France Whilst these things were transacting intelligence was given to the Admirall that some Cannons and a great quantity of Gunpowder was carrying to the Duke of Guise who now besieged Biturg guarded with six Troops of Horse and some Foot Hereupon the Admirall taking some Horse with him by long journeys hastened to meet the Convoy and coming up to them they scarce stood the first shock but throwing away their Arms fled and left the Booty to the Admirall who wanting Horses to draw them away by over-charging the Guns brake them and blew up the Gunpowder and so returned to his Camp Andelot returning out of Germany brought with him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot so that the Prince of Conde having a good Army of French and Germans hasted to Paris which the Guises hearing of intended to meet him having gotten a Regiment of Swissers in whom they put most confidence and so the two Armies meeting a Battell was fought but with a doubtfull event for on the one side the Constable was taken prisoner by one Will. Steward a valiant Scots man and on the other side the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner which made many of his Foot to throw away their Arms and fly But the Admirall rallying the Horse and encouraging them to prefer their Religion Country and honour befor their lives he valiantly charged the Guisians in which medly he slew Marshall St. Andrew a potent man at Court and Prossaeus Collonel to the Duke of Guise and divers other Noble men The fight being ended the Admirall carried the Constable to Orleance where he made his abode for a while But shortly after came the Duke of Guise to besiege the City whereupon the Admirall leaving his Brother Andelot for the defence of it flies into Normandy and there besieged the Castle of Cadonius where the Marquesse of Elboeve one of the D. of Lorrains Brothers was and within a few daies had it with all the Arms and Ammunition surrendred to him About this time there was one John Poltrot a young man of a Noble Family in the Army of the Duke of Guise who having embraced the Reformed Religion and served for some moneths under the Prince of Conde took up privately with himself a resolution to kill the D. of Guise as a publique enemy to his Countrey and a cause of all the present calamities And said he If I had been bound to him by any oaths I must not have been perfidious but being free why should I not venture as Scaevola did for my Countries safety With this resolution he went to the Duke of Guises Camp and watching his opportunity shot him into the shoulder of which wound he died within a few daies after The very same day in the morning the Duke of Guise being ready to give an assault to Orleance wrote to the Queen Mother that within twenty four hours he would send her word of the taking of that City and that he would make the day very memorable by sparing neither sex nor age and that after he had kept his Shrovetide there he would extinguish the memory of the Town by utter subverting of it But man knows not his destiny nor what shall happen to him for that the same evening he was slain as you heard before Presently after which a Peace was concluded and the Edict renued for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion through all France as formerly Not many moneths after the Admirall being sent for to Court by the Queen Mother the Widow of the Duke of Guise comes in and falls down at the Kings feet crying out with many tears for revenge for her Husbands death charging the Admirall as the contriver and author of it The Admirall apprehending that this was but the device of others which set her on to seek his destruction by fraud which they could not effect by War before the King and all the Councel he clears himself shewing that Poltrot had at his death professed that he was set on by none but God neither did he doubt but that he had done God good service in it and freed his Countrey from a Tyrant that raged and thirsted after Christian blood and therefore he was not sorry for what he had done c. He also desired that if they questioned the death of the Duke of Guise he might have leave also to put in a Charge against him for that he doubted not but that he could easily prove the Duke of Guise guilty of murthering wickedly the Kings Subjects and of violating all the sacred Laws and Decrees of the King of taking up arms of his own head without Authority and thereby making himself guilty of Treason and of kindling those flames in France which had continued about thirteen moneths Notwithstanding this resolute speech of the Admirall his enemies ceased not for some years still to call upon the King for justice against him whereupon the King at last appointed a Convention of all the Peers of the Kingdom at the City of Molincum whither also he called his chiefest Senators and Counsellours commanding the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Widow of the Duke of Guise to produce what proofs they could and the Admirall to defend himself against them When both parties had pleaded their Cause the King told them that he had referred the judgment to his Counsellors and therefore asked them if they had any exceptions against any of them they answered No. Then he asked them if they would refer the determination of their Cause to him and would stand to his judgment They answered that they would willingly so do Whereupon Jan. 29. Anno
Christ 1566. the King passed this sentence That having heard both parties and consulted with his Nobles and Counsellours who were all unanimously agreed in the same sentence he pronounced the Admirall clear and innocent from the murther of the Duke of Guise and therefore absolved him from that crime commanding his Proctor and all others that they should never dare hereafter accuse him for the same He commanded also that neither his present accusers nor any other of his Subjects should dare hereafter to make any mention of it Nor that any of his Judges or Parliaments should ever admit any plea against him for it He declared also that seeing both parties had freely referred themselves to him his will was that they should live lovingly and peaceably together never contriving any thing against each other and that if any of them their Friends Kindred of Partakers should violate this Decree that they should be held contemners of the Kings Majesty as guilty of Treason as disturbers of the publique peace and lastly that this his definitive sentence should be recorded in all the Parliaments of his Kingdom But to return to something that hapned before this the Admirall had in his Family one Hambervilleries born of a Noble house whom he made use of in his most weighty and honest affairs and it pleased God that some Letters of his being intercepted came to the Admirals hands wherein he wrote to some great Courtiers that he was ready to obey their commands in giving the Admirall a Soporiferous Potion Our Admirall having read these Letters called the man to him commanding him to write some verses in a paper that lay by which when he had done comparing both the writings together he asked him whether he would acknowledge his hand in those Letters which he looking upon being stricken with guilt for his wickednesse he presently fell upon the ground and begged his Masters pardon The Admirall told him that he was willing to pardon him but upon condition that he should presently depart out of his house nor should ever come into his sight again Not long after the aforementioned Edict of Peace was published the Queen Mother took counsell to go to Baion to meet her Son-in-law the King of Spain and to take her Children with her This afterwards proved the cause of many tragicall events though for the present things were kept very secret and first she ordered her journey to Lyons which hitherto had been in possession of those of the Religion because of the great number of them there and as soon as she came thither she presently set her Italian Artificers to work to build a Citadell upon a neighbouring hill which commanded all the City A little before this the plague began to be very hot and now it had seized upon the Court it self yet could not the Queen Mother be perswaded to remove her self and children from the danger till she had seen the foundations of the Castle laid At last making Lossius Governour of that City a cruel and barbarous man and and an implacable enemy to those of the Religion and adjoyning to him some insolent Souldiers that might daily vex the godly inhabitants she departed But this is very remarkable that whithersoever she removed the Court in Cities Towns Castles c. the plague still followed her so that for three moneths together the King was in continuall danger and was still forced to remove from place to place by reason of the infection At last they came to Baion where the Queen Mother met her Daughter the Q. of Spain and Embassadors from the King with whom she communicated her counsels In the mean time the Marshall Monmorancy whom the King had made Governour of Paris in his absence had certain intelligence brought him that the Guises had imployed their Agents to the common people of Paris to stir them up against those of the Religion in that City he heard also that the Cardinall of Lorraine intended suddainly to be there with a great number of armed attendants though the King by several Edicts had commanded that none in their journeys should carry Harquebushes or Pistols about them Therefore so soon as Monsieur Monmorancy heard that the Cardinall was entred Paris with his followers thus armed he presently taking his guard went to them commanding them to deliver up their Arms This the Cardinall and his Nephew the young Duke of Guise took as an intollerable affront to them and were often heard to say that that fact should cost Monmorancy his life The Cardinall was very potent in this City and could easily have raised sixty thousand armed men to have slain the Governour whereupon he resolved to call in some of his Friends to his aid and in the first place he wrote to the Admirall to hasten to him who accompanied with three hundred Horse entred Paris Jan. 22. which did so terrifie the multitude especially the Priests Monks and Canons of the great Church that they began to think of flying thence The day after Monsieur Monmorancy sent for the Presidents of the Parliament and the chief Magistrates of the City to come to his house to whom he complained before the Admirall of the audaciousnesse and factious counsels of the Cardinall of Lorrain as also of the seditious speeches cast abroad in the City as if the Admirall taking advantage of the Kings absence at so great a distance consulted about plundering that rich City and therefore he thought fit to call the Admirall before them that so he might clear himself from that aspersion Then said the Admirall I have long since found out what my malicious and implacable adversaries have aspersed me withall as if I intended to seize upon this City which is the Bullwark and Eye of France But such counsels as these are fit for those that claim an interest I know not how it comes in in the succession of the Kingdom and contend to have certain Dukedomes and Countries restored to them For my own part I neither challenge any right to the Kingdom nor to any part of it which yet if I should do I think there hath not been a Noble man in France these five hundred years which had the like opportunity to disturb the publique Peace as I. Ye remember after the Duke of Guise was slain that I had the Constable Prisoner in Orleans and what a great occasion I had thereby of doing greater things if I would have embraced it But on the contrary I was never more earnest with the King and Queen Mother for peace then at that time when our affairs prospered best Who can be ignorant how sollicitous and importunate I was for peace at that very time when many potent and flourishing Cities had delivered up themselves into my hands and divers other great Cities both of Normandy and Brittany sought my favour and protection Who knows not that after Peace was concluded instead of begging Honours and
Offices ambitiously of the King which happily I might have obtained I retired my self to my own house and there even to this time have lived a quiet and private life But omitting these things and speaking to the present occasion Being sent for by Monmorancy I am come hither not to disturb the peace of the City or to innovate any thing but rather to preserve peace against the audaciousnesse of some that would disturb it It is not unknown unto you how much confidence those of the Religion do put in me These being stirred up with new rumours and terrified with the counsels and factions of the Guises do daily flock to me bring me intercepted Letters of the meetings of certain Captains who command their old Souldiers to be ready in arms that when they have occasion to use them they may be at hand What needs more words Letters are intercepted written into Normandy the originall whereof is sent to the Queen Mother and I will shew you a copy of them wherein amongst others there is this passage There is no readier means of restoring the Crown of France to those to whom it doth belong of old then by rooting out the house of Valois and by massacring all the Hugonots which are the chief upholders of it for this end their woods are to be sold that with the price thereof we may arm our selves and get money and if the Hugonots sue for them the businesse being once adjudged against them they will never move for their charges of the suit Now also what should I speak of the daily plunderings and murthers It 's sufficiently known that after the peace was published more then five hundred of those of the Religion were basely murthered in severall places and yet not one of the murtherers were ever punished by the Magistrates and they which have complained of these things to the King or Queen Mother have carried away either only words or some empty paper or parchment instead of satisfaction Who knows not that in the City of Turon lately and openly many of the Religion were cruelly massacred even under the Ensign and by the Souldiers of him who was sent thither by the Duke of Monpensier to settle the peace These things being so yet I hear that there are many of your Priests who are so terrified by my coming hither that they consult about leaving the City and yet there is no place in all France no City Town or Castle where the Priests live and attend their services with more freedom and safety then in my Town of Castelon The Admirall having ended his speech the company was dismissed and two daies after there came to Monmorancy about thirty Delegates from the Parisian Merchants and with them the Bishop and divers Priests to all whom the Admirall spake very Friendly bidding them be of good cheer and fear nothing and within few daies after going to the Court of Parliament he made a speech to them and told them That nothing was more desirable to him then the Peace and welfare of the City neither did he come to them with any other mind then to advance it and therefore he exhorted them that they also would do their endeavours that the Citizens might behave themselves peaceably and quietly and so shortly after he returned home At his return he was informed that there was one Maius who lived not far from him a famous thief that was hired by the Duke of Aumale the Brother of Guise to lie in wait for him when he should ride forth on hunting for which end he had given him an hundred pieces of gold and an excellent Horse many also complained to the Admirall against him for his thefts and robberies whereupon having gotten sufficient witnesses he complained of him to the Parliament at Paris and a few daies after having apprehended him he caused him to be carried to Paris but when he came before the Parliament this villain accused the Admirall as if he had dealt with him about killing the Queen Mother and had promised him a great reward for the same The Parliament after examination finding this to be but a Calumny and proving him guilty of many thefts condemned him to be broken upon the wheel which accordingly was effected Shortly after the Prince of Conde had a Sonne born to whom the King would be Godfather but because he could not himself be present by reason of his Religion he substituted the Admirall to supply his room which businesse was celebrated with very great pomp for at the Feast a Table was prepared as if it had been for the King himself at which the Admirall sat alone and was attended like a Viceroy which every one interpreted as a pledge of the Kings singular love and favour to him Not many daies after news was brought that the Duke de Alva had by the command of the King of Spain brought a great Army into the Low-Countries to suppresse and root out the Protestants and this Army being to passe by the borders of France the Admirall moved in the Kings Councel that Burgundy might be looked to and lest any tumults might arise about the difference in Religion he advised that a guard might rather be appointed of the Swissers then of the French men and it was commonly reported that six thousand Swissers should be ready to oppose the Duke de Alva in case he attempted any thing against Burgundy But a few daies after the Prince of Rupisurias of the royoll blood wrote to the Admirall to send him some trusty Person to whom he might communicate a secret which would much conduce to his safety he also being a Friend to the Prince of Conde by reason of their propinquity in blood told him that there was secret counsell taken at Baion for the utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion and all the Professors of it and for that end those six thousand Swissers were hired and brought into France under pretence of opposing the Duke de Alva the Admirall also was informed of the same by many Letters and Messengers from severall of his Friends These things coming forth first the Prince of Conde and presently after him the Admirall went to the Court and told the King the Queen Mother and all the Councel that they saw no sufficient reason why so many Swissers should be brought into France except it were to oppresse them and many other honest Families which embraced the Reformed Religion But they should find more that had devoted themselves to that Religion then commonly was thought of an experience whereof they had in the late Wars They told them also that if their adversaries attempted any innovations they would not be wanting to themselves nor like sheep would suffer their throats to be cut by murtherers They therefore earnestly intreat and beseech the Kings Majesty that he would be moved to pity so many honest Families and the afflicted condition of his Countrey and of the common people
alwaies very studious of the Reformed Religion of an admirable courage and constancy in bearing the manifold afflictions which befell both her self and Husband and amongst her other excellent qualities and vertues she was alwaies very pitifull towards poor people and sick persons to whom she was very liberall in relieving and assisting of them and whereas many sick and wounded Souldiers were daily sent from the Camp to Orleance she frequently visited them so that the Physicians judged her disease to proceed from the stench of them Peace being proclaimed as is before specified in many places by the Kings Trumpeters the Admirall had scarce been three daies at his own house before Letters and Messengers came to him from many of his Friends signifying that instead of peace his enemies made great preparations for a more dangerous Warre for they observed that in every place such provision of War was made that if the Prince of Conde himself and the other associates did not timely prevent it they would be circumvented by their cruel enemies before they were aware and this they gathered from the Garrisons put into Orleance Altissiodore Blesa and other Cities surrendred to them as also by the Adversaries possessing themselves of all the Bridges and Passes over the Rivers keeping the Horse together in the heart of France and continuing two Regiments neer Paris under a pretence of a guard for the King Our Admirall finding these things to be true thought it most for his safety to retire into Tanlian to his Brother Andelot and from thence he shortly after removed to Nuceria a strong City under the Prince of Conde's Government whither formerly upon the like occasion he had carried his Wife and Family In his passage thither there fell out this memorable accident Near to the Town of Molinius there is a great Lake in the passage to Altissiodore when our Admirall came near it there was in his company an old man called Gripperius that had been a great traveller by sea and one that loved the Admirall very dearly this man observing a black cloud coming towards them carried with a violent wind he called to the Admirall desiring him to gallop to the next Town so fast as he could lest he should be oppressed with the violence of the storm approaching the Admirall hearkening to his counsell spurred on his Horse but before he had passed the narrow passages of the Lake there suddainly came such a violent tempest accompanied with a Whirlwind that many Horses and men were quite overthrown many were wounded with the great hailstones and almost quite slain The wind took off the Admirals hat which afterwards could never be found and one of his followers lent him his hat but herein the great mercy of God did appear that the Admirall scaped unhurt by the hail only one hailstone hit and hurt him about the ankle and had this storm taken him and his company a little sooner whilst they were upon the Lakes bank in all probability it had made an utter end of them The tempest being over our Admirall comforted his attendants and lifting up his eyes to Heaven he said O Almighty God I thank thee from whom I know this storm proceeds to warn us of the tempest of danger that is approaching by which we shall be sorely pressed but not oppressed When they were met together at Nuceria they sent divers Messengers with Letters to the King signifying that they had daily intelligence of the snares that were laid for their lives and therefore they beseeched his Majesty to pity his Kingdom wasted already with two Civil Warres and that he would not ruine his Kingdom but rather by his clemency and wisdom quench that fire that is kindled by the Guises Our Admirall also wrote to Margaret Daughter of King Francis and new Dutchesse of Savoy whom he believed to have great power with the Queen Mother intreating her to improve all her Authority and interest for the diverting of the storm that was approaching to the ruine of her Native Countrey But when he perceived that no arguments nor intreaty could prevail for peace and understood that Tavannius who was a little after made Marshall of the Kingdom was secretly drawing his Forces towards Nuceria there to compasse them in he advised the Prince of Conde that they should presently depart from thence and make all the hast that possibly they could to Rochel which by reason of their ancient priviledges had never hitherto admitted of any Garrison By the way they were to passe over the River Liger and in the train there was the Prince of Conde's Wife and six little Children whereof one was but a year old and two daies after followed the Admirall and Monsieur Andelots Children whom the Admirall had sent for to come to them At which time this strange Providence fell out When the Prince of Conde thought to transport his company in two or three little Ships privately over the River neer unto Sancerra it pleased God that a Foard was found whereby fifty Horsemen that were of the Princes train rode over and in the mean time the Ladies Women and Children were ferried over in Boats and no sooner were they gotten all over but though the day was fair the River suddainly rose so high that the Inhabitants of Sancerra took notice of the wonderfull Providence of God praying heartily for the safety and welfare of those little ones who had escaped such a danger The King hearing of this their going to Rochel by the advice of his Courtiers presently commanded all his Horse especially those that were in the Countries of Xantone and Poicters to hasten to Rochel He sent also his Brother Henry the Duke of Anjou to raise all the Forces he could and presently to march thitherwards In the mean time those of the Religion who relying upon the Kings promise and Proclamation of peace staied in their own Cities were every where basely murthered About this time Joane Queen of Navarr who in the former troubles had kept here own house abhorring such abominable treachery and perfidiousnesse after peace so often renewed getting what Forces she could together advanced with them to Rochel carrying with her her Son Henry who after her death was King of Navarr and her only Daughter These things being thus setled the Admirall drew some great Guns out of Rochel intending to besiege Niort and within a few daies had it surrendred to him Then he led his Forces to Engolisme which stands upon an high and steep hill having only one passage to it and therefore the enemies had a little before strongly fortified it but the Admirall planting his Ordinance on that side where it was saultable within a few daies space had it surrendred to him Presently after the Van of each Army met at Jasenullius and fought together the Admirall commanded that of the Protestants who charged the enemy so gallantly that they were presently broken
France more skilfull in warlike affairs then was he and I doubt not but even forreign Nations will subscribe to the truth hereof especially those which have had experience of his vertues and this credit he got to himself not by idleness and sluggishness but by undergoing the greatest labours for his Countries sake Truly I knew no man that was more devout to Godward nor more just to men then he Neither am I ignorant that it were unfit for me thus to boast of him to strangers but I mention them more freely to you because I would have you to be imitators of his vertues for I even propose him for my own imitation and I pray God from my heart that when I come to dye I may with the like piety and assurance resign up my spirit to God as I saw him to do And that my grief for him may be the more extenuated I earnestly desire that I may see his graces and vertues to live in you Which that it may be so I exhort you with all your hearts to embrace Piety and true Religion and wholly to apply your selves to your Books that thereby you may through Gods grace be led in the way of vertue and though I willingly allow you to recreate your selves in those hours which your Master allots you yet I charge you take heed that in your play you neither speak nor do any thing whereby you may offend God Be very carefull to reverence your Master and obey him no otherwise then you would obey me for I am perswaded that he will give you no other counsel then what may be for your honour and profit In short see that you love me or rather that you love your selves so that I may hear nothing of you but what I may rejoyce in and as you grow in years and body so you may grow in Piety and Vertue The Lord bless you all and the holy Spirit preserve you for ever From Xantone May 18. 1569 Castellonius The courage and magnanimity of our Admirall did exceedingly appear in this for that though he had lost such a Brother as was second to none in piety justice vertue and the glory of his military actions so that the Admirall called him his right arm yet he told his Friends often that he wholly relied upon the divine providence and knew assuredly that the Church of God was not administred by humane counsels nor this Christian Army led by the providence and valour of its Commanders but by God And speaking concerning his Brother to his Friends he brake out into this expression O blessed Andelot who hast finished the course of thy life so holily and happily About this time news was brought him that Wolfgang Duke of Bipont had brought a strong Army out of Germany into France for the aid of the Protestants and that he had already passed the Loir and had taken Charity where was a Bridge over that River and when he understood that they were advanced as farre as Chalons he intended to joyn his Forces with them and that very day on which he came to them D. Wolfgang died of a violent disease whereupon the German Army unanimously chose Wolradus Count Mansfield to be their Generall This conjunction of theirs exceedingly troubled their adversaries and every one deemed that the Kings Army would not be able to stand before them but that the Courtiers would hereby be brought to stoop to them Yea all good Patriots that studied the publique Peace did abominate the perfidious Authors of these Wars publiquely saying that God never suffered such perjury to escape long unpunished and it was verily believed that if the Admirall had led this gallant Army strait to Paris many great Cities would willingly have yielded and put themselves into the Admirals protection which opinion was much confirmed hereby for that the Duke of Anjou pitching his tents near to them and adventuring a Battell he was easily overthrown most of his foot being either slain or taken together with their Commander in chief Strossius cosen German to the Queen-Mother The Admirall having so brave an Army hoping that now at last the Kings heart would be inclined to Peace he sent an humble supplication to him the Duke of Anjou not suffering him to send Ambassadours in his own and the Armies name intreating and beseeching him no longer to harden his heart but to pity the afflicted condition of the common people and also to consider that if the Warre should be protracted it would turn to the great prejudice of all the States of France there being twenty thousand Auxiliary Souldiers of both parts and that things were brought to this passe that by these Civil Warres mens minds were so farre from union and love to their Countrey that every one sought the blood ruine and destruction each of other They therefore humbly intreated that he would spare his poor Subjects that had so long groaned under these heavy pressures and that he would no longer be led away by the Cardinals and Italians who had too much power over him and could not have the like fellow-feeling of the miseries of France as the French men themselves They suggested also that this was the fittest time for a Treaty when both parties were so confident of their own strength and that the conditions which he and his Army would propose were very easie viz. That they might enjoy that Peace and Liberty for the exercise of their Religion which was often confirmed to them by the Decrees of all the States and by the Kings own Proclamations That it was extream madnesse in those Italians and strangers to think that those of the Religion whereof there were at least two hundred thousand men could so easily be rooted out the truth whereof the experience of the former Warres might easily demonstrate The Duke of Anjou having received that disgrace which we spake of before by the advice of his Councel dismissed a great part of his Army especially of his Horse for a moneth or two bidding them go home and refresh their bodies Things standing thus the Admirall called a Councel wherein it was determined That seeing Rochel and divers other Maritine Cities and places were wholly in the power of the Protestants That therefore they should take care for the fortifying of them and then should attempt the taking in of the City of Poictiers which would be as a Bulwark to all that Countrey but to this there seemed a main impediment which was the taking in of the Castle of Lusiniac the strongest piece in all France yet after they had besieged it a few daies it was surrendred to them and so also was Castelheraut about the same time Then they proceeded to besiege and batter Poictiers but within a few daies the Admirall being quite tired with watchings and labours fell sick of a Flux which held him so violently for thirty daies together that he could neither assist them with his Counsels nor presence so
that by this means the City was relieved with much provision and three hundred fresh Souldiers which encouraged them to make divers sallies The King also wrote to them to hold out promising speedy aid which animated them valiently to defend themselves But it was evident that if the Lord had not laid that affliction upon the Admirall the City had been theirs About this time there was one of the Admirals Servants called Dominicus Albio who having been taken prisoner by the Kings party and stayed some moneths with them returned to his Master where after a while he was suspected by reason of some words that fell from him and therefore being strictly examined he brought forth a box of poyson which one Riverius a chief man about the Duke of Anjou had given him together with one of his Secretaries both of them promising him two thousand Crowns if he would poyson his Master Upon this his confession he was condemned to death and though some would have had him tormented yet the Admirall caused him only to be hanged for the terrour of orhers The Admiral being not yet fully recovered of his Disease news was brought him that Castelheraut being about seven miles off was besieged by the enemies whereupon in his Horselitter he presently advanced thitherward and having relieved the place with fresh men he easily raised the siege and drave away his enemies killed many especially of the Italians neither gave he over the pursuit till they had passed the River which for the depth of it is called Creusa In the mean time the young Duke of Guise who was Governour of Poictiers in the night time removed out of the City with a great company putting a fresh Garrison into it and the Duke of Anjou having recruted his Army with many French Germans and Swissers came to Chinon whereas the Admirals Army was tired out with the long siege of Poictiers and much wasted with want of provision and with great tempests and of those which remained there were very many sick especially of the Germans and most of those of Xantone were gone home to refresh themselves Many also were gone to La Charity and Sancerre which were in the Protestants hands For which causes the Admirall judging it best to protract time restrained the eager mindes of his Souldiers from fighting yet both Captains and common Souldiers would not be satisfied threatning to go home and provide for their own safety They also judged it farre more fit to fight there in their own Countrey where they might be supplied with necessaries then in their enemies especially considering that they had divers strong Towns in Aquitane the Delphinate and Leige into which they might retreat and from whence they might make excursions for the depopulating of their enemies Countries The Germanes also cried out that having wanted their pay for divers moneths it were better for them to fight then to be so long from their own Countrey and relations Thus it being resolved that they should come to a Battell both Armies advanced to Monconture striving which should possesse the place and the Van being led by the Admirall was suddainly set upon by the enemy the Admirall seeking for his Armour-bearer could not find him yet unarmed as he was he rushed into the midst of his enemies Count Mansfelt seconded him so that they forced them to give ground Hard by there was a rivolet which the enemies contended earnestly to passe over whereupon the Admirall taking some Harquebushiers with him hastened to the Rivers bank to oppose them where he continued all that evening â—n the mean time the enemy continually shot at him both with great and small shot who if they could have gotten the passage might have brought great detriment to the Army for the enemies exceeded the Protestant Army by a third part besides they were fresh and in good plight the other were weary and harrassed out but this holp them only for two daies space for on the third day six hundred Germans set upon the Admirall who had only two hundred French horse with him and in the fight the Admirall being often shot at at last received a wound on his face by the right side of his nose the bullet piercing into his mouth which wound bled so fast that he could not spit out the blood his sword also by many blows fell out of his hand and the buckles of his Breast-plate were so broken that it hung by very little but in this extremity by the assistance and faithfull help of one â—lorinerius a young Norman whom he had brought up from a Child in his Family he was rescued and conveyed out of the crowd and his Forces being overthrown he was by his Friends conveyed to Parthenaeus Here we might wonder at his constancy and magnanimity for whereas in this great calamity most men gave way to despondency he laboured to comfort and confirm each of them he also caused his Secretaries presently to write into all the parts of France to the Protestants that were in arms not to be discouraged or to think that he had received so great a blow which might not be repaired within a few daies The very next day he removed to Niort where having setled his affairs he went into Xantone and there stayed seven daies for the cure of his wound which could not be perfectly healed in lesse then twenty five daies space Being thus tosâ—ed up and down with various afflictions word was brought him that the Parliament of Paris Sept. 13. 1569. had made a Decree wherein they had declared him guilty of treason and had proposed a reward of fifty thousand Crowns to any one that would bring him alive to the King At the same time he had intelligence that one Martinengus an Italian banished his own Countrey for treason being made by the King Commander of some Troops of horse had been at Castellion and surprized his Castle and plundered it of all his rich Furniture which for divers ages had remained there the value whereof was not lesse worth then one hundred thousand Crowns besides he had so burned the whole Town adjoyning to the Castle that there was scarce any footsteps remaining of it which sad tidings were so farre from causing any dejectednesse in him or disfitting him for his employments that he did not so much as shew the least change in his countenance And whenas his Friends and kindred flocked to him to comfort him he told them That through Gods grace he had this frame of spirit given him that for those things which are usually called Goods he possessed them and not they him and that his Fortunes were subjected to him not he to them And whereas in those Civil Warres Princes Peers Nobles Knights Horsemen and Footmen had large allowances from the King whereby they maintained themselves he on the contrary was alwaies carefull to discharge his quarters both for himself and Family whereby
of Spain which the King made such use of that the Admirall thence collected arguments of his greater good will towards him That they must use such artifices whilst they expected an opportunity to effect what was resolved on That the King of Spain was throughly acquainted with all these proceedings that so he might suspect nothing by reason of those great preparations which were made for Warre for he was assured that this was done upon good grounds as subservient to the principal end That therefore he desired the Cardinall that whatsoever he had heard or should hear hereafter yet he should assure himself that the King would never depart from his first purpose and that whatsoever he did did but conduce to hasten the end of their Counsels and that both the King Queen-Mother and the Duke of Anjou were all very solicitous for this thing and that as soon as ever the businesse should be effected they would instantly send away Messengers to acquaint Lorraine with it And as for the businesse of the Prince of Navarrs marriage they hoped that it would quickly be effected for this was ro begin all their future designs c. He that sent these Letters to the Admirall hoped that he would have been warned by them to look to himself and his affairs but he had such a strong confidence of the Kings love and good will towards him which also was daily nourished in him by his Son-in-law Teligni that he which was most provident and sharp-sighted in all others businesses was fatally blind in this In the beginning of May 1571. the King desired the Queen of Navarr to go to Paris to provide all things necessary for the marriage where she arrived the fifteenth day of the same moneth and the fourth day of June she fell sick of a feavour whereof she died five daies after to the extream grief and sorrow of all her Servants and Friends Two daies before her death being in perfect memory she made a most Christian Testament and last Will finishing her course with singular piety and joy in God She was a Princesse of great experience by reason of her manifold adversities in all which she shewed an invincible constancy and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her Religion very carefull of the education of her children training them up in the fear of God In her words most grave and full of motherly affections to them She had a ready and well advised wit was pitifull and easie to be intreated constantly maintained that which she judged to be good and agreeable to the will and good pleasure of God She had a great vivacity of spirit whereby she was able to comprehend all her affairs and had a lively grace in representing them either by word or writing She died June 9. 1572. and of her age 44. It was believed that she was poysoned by the smell of certain perfumes the Doctors and Chyrurgions which opened her were commanded not to open her brain where the mischief lay and therefore could not determine about the cause of her death The Admirrll in this time was at his house aa Castallion where he received many Letters and Messages from the King to come to him and because he stirred not the King sent Cavagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him that they might come to a conclusion about the Warres in Flanders and special commandment was given to the Provost of Merchants and other chief men that at the Admirals coming to Paris there should be no affronts done him About the same time the Admirall had many advertisements from his Friends both within and without the Realm that though he could not conceive any sinister opinion of the King his Mother or Brother that yet at least he would consider into what place he was about to thrust himself amongst so many implacable enemies But he resting upon the testimony of a good conscience and the providence of God rejected all those counsels as proceeding from mens covetousnesse or desire of new troubles which he abhorred worse then death and therefore taking a small train with him he went to Paris and was very honourably intertained by the King Queen-Mother the Kings Brethren and others to the great astonishment of the whole City At the Admirals coming to Paris amongst other Letters that were brought to him there was one that gave him these warnings Remember the Popish Maxime confirmed by the Authority of Councils That faith is not to be kept with Hereticks in which number the Protestants are accounted Remember the implacable spirits of the Papists at this time irritated by the last Warres There is no doubt but it is the fixed purpose of the Queen-Mother to destroy the Protestants by any means whatsoever Consider that she is an Italian of a most crafty wit born of the Progeny of Popes who contrives all extream things against her enemies Remember in what School the King hath been brought up from his childhood how he hath been taught to swear and forswear To pollute himself with whoredomes and adulteries To compose his countenance To counterfeit Faith and Religion How he hath been accustomed to cruelty and bloodshed How he hath been taught not to suffer above one Religion in his Kingdom How it hath been whispered into his ears That the Protestants seek to dispoil him of his life and Kingdom That he is not bound to keep Covenants made with armed Subjects That he is taught the Mysteries of State Policy Remember that Commodus caused Julianus to be slain whom he pretended to honour and imbrace as a Father That Antoninus Caracalla under the pretence of a Muster caused all the chief youths of the City to be slain That Lysander under the pretence of friendship commanded the throats of four hundred Milesians to be cut That lately Atonius Spinola invited all the chief men of Corsica to a Banquet where they were all slain That Christian King of Denmark used the same art to commit that horrid massacre at Stockholme c. That the Kings speech to his Mother at Blois was no secret when swearing fearfully he asked her whether he had not carried himself well at the coming of the Queen of Navarr To whom she answered That he had begun well but that would profit little unlesse he went on But I quoth he swearing often will bring them all into the net Wherefore if you be wise haste both out of the Court and City with all speed as out of a most impure sink The Admirall having read this Letter though he were offended yet lest he should seem to neglect the prayers and warnings of his Friends he returned this answer That there was no place left any longer for these suspitions That he was verily perswaded that so great perfidiousnesse could not enter into the heart of so good a King That indeed the Duke of Anjou was more estranged from the Protestants but that hatred would by degrees cease by
or ten hours and now by the same mercy I am wholly freed from them I promise thee that in these great Feasts and Pastimes I will trouble none Once again Farewell Thy most loving Husband Chattillion About the same time their Counsels for the Massacre being not yet ripened the King with the greatest demonstrations of good will that might be thus accosts the Admirall My Father Remember what you have undertaken to me that you will be injurious to none of the Guises whilst you are in the Court they also have interchangeably given their faith that they will carry themselves honourably and modestly towards you And truly I put as great trust as may be in your words but I have not the same confidence in their promises For besides that I know that the Guises seek occasion of revenge I know their disposition to be bold and haughty and with what great favour and affection the people of Paris do follow them It would be a great grief to me if they who have brought into the City many men of Warre notably furnished with arms under colour of coming to the marriage solemnity should go about any thing for your destruction which would extreamly reflect upon me and therefore I think it fit if you be of the same minde to bring a Regiment of Praetorian Souldiers into the City under the command of such men meaning some that were least suspected who may not only be ready for the publique securiry but upon all emergencies if turbulent spirits should attempt any thing against you This friendly speech so prevailed with the Admirall that he gave his consent and so a Regiment was brought in without the suspition of the Protestants which afterwards helped to cut their throats Five daies after as the Admirall came from the Court where he had been all that morning accompanied with twelve or fifteen Gentlemen being on foot about a hundred paces from the Louure walking softly and reading a Petition just over-against the house of one Villemure a Canon and Tutor to the young Duke of Guise one shot with an Harquebush at him through a lattice window the Gun was laden with three brasse bullets one whereof brake his forefinger of his right hand the other two pierced his left arm He that shot it had a horse ready at the back door whereon being mounted he escaped through St. Anthonies gate where finding a Spanish Jennet held ready for him he posted away to the place appointed for his retreat The door of the house being burst open the Harquebush was found with a Lacquey and another servant who belonged to Challey Steward of the Kings house and a great dealer in the Duke of Guises affairs who also the day before had brought this Harquibushier to that house desiring that he might be well intertained the Lacquey also was sent that morning by this Harquebushier whose name was Maurevel to the Duke of Guises Groom of his Stable requiring that the Horse should be ready that was promised him The Admirall being brought to his lodging shewed singular piety and patience Chyrurgions were sent for and amongst the rest Ambrose Pareus the Kings Chyrurgion who began first with his finger which he cut off but his pincers not being keen he opened and pressed them three times before he could cut it off Then he lanced both those places in his arm which the bullets had pierced all which the Admirall bore not only with a couragious heart but with a constant countenance insomuch as seeing his Friends to weep which held his arm whilst the incisions were made he said unto them My Friends why do you weep I judge my self happy that bear these wounds for the cause of my God And withall looking upon Monsieur Merlin his Minister he said These wounds my Friends are Gods blessings the smart indeed of them is troublesome but I acknowledge the will of my Lord God therein and I bless his Majesty who hath been pleased thus to honour me and to lay any pain upon me for his holy name sake let us beg of him that he will enable me to presevere unto the end And seeing Monsieur Merlin to weep and lament he said to him My Merlin you should rather comfort me To whom he answered Indeed there can be no greater comfort then to think upon the honour which God hath done you in judging you worthy for his Name and Religions sake to suffer these pains My Merlin answered the Admirall if God should have dealt with me aâ—cording to my deserts or have used his power over me he must have deâ—â— far more severely with me but blessed be his Name who hath dealt so mildly and lovingly with me his unworthy Servant Then said another that stood by Go on with this your piety foâ— God ought to be praised by you who hath left the greatest part saâ— and untouched for which cause you have greater reason to admire hâ—â— mercy in these wounds then to complain of his justice especialâ—â— considering that neither your head nor your mind are wounded Thâ—â— said Merlin You do very well Sir that you turn your thoughts froâ— these murtherers to God for truly it was his hand that inflicted theiâ— wounds neither ought you at all to think upon the blâ—ody-mindednesse of your adversaries Truly said the Admirall I freely and from my heart forgive both him that shot at me and those also that set him on for I know assuredly that it is not in their power to hurt me no though they should kill me for my death is a most certain passage to eternal life Thâ— same words he shortly after spake to Marshall Danvill when he came to visit him And whereas Monsieur Merlin told him that the afflictions and calamities which happen to Gods Children use to quicken theâ— more in Prayer The Admirall thereupon with an audible voice and fervent soul poured out this Prayer unto God O Lord God and my heavenly Father have mercy upon me for thy tender mercies sake Remember not against me my former iniquities neither charge me with the sins of my youth If thou Lord shouldst strictly mark what is done amiss or shouldst impute to us our breach of Covenant what flesh could stand before thee or endure thine anger As for me disclaiming all false gods and worship I only call upon thee the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and worship thee alone for Christ his sake I beseech thee to bestow thy holy Spirit upon me and give me the grace of patience I only trust in thy mercies all my hope and confidence is placed on that alone whether thou pleasest to inflict present death upon me or to spare my life to do thee further service Behold Lord I am prepared to submit to thy will in either nothing doubting but if thou pleasest to inflict death upon me thou wilt presently admit me into thine everlasting Kingdom But if Lord thou sufferest me to live longer here grant O
certified that many things were done tumultuously in the City and that weapons were brought together in many places they thought fit that counsell should be taken betimes for that no good could be expected from those proceedings Hereupon one was sent to the King to certifie him of the commontion of the people and of their carrying of Arms and therefore to request him to charge certain of his guard to stand before the Admirals door for his better security The King seeming to be moved with this news began to demand of the Messenger who had told it him and whether the Admirall knew of it and withall he sent for the Queen-Mother who was scarce entred when the King with a disquiet mind as he seemed said What a mischief What is the matter He tels me that the common people are in a tumult and take Arms. She answered They are not in any tumult neither do they take Arms but you know that early in the morning you commanded that all should contain themselves in their own quarters lest any tumult might arise That is true said the King but I forbad them to take Arms. Then the Messenger again requested that he would send some of his Guard to the Admirals lodging The Duke of Anjou being by said Take Cossen to you with fifty Harquibushiers The other answered We desire only six of the Kings Guard for their Authority will more prevail with the people then many armed men Yea quoth the King and the Duke of Anjou take Cossens to you for you cannot have a fitter man which words were pronounced very imperiously The Messenger knowing Cossen to be a great enemy to the Admirall yet held his peace and not far from the Kings Chamber he met with Monsieur Thoree Brother to Marshall Monmorency who whispering in his ear said No greater enemy could be given us for our Keeper to whom the other answered Did you not observe how Imperiously the King decreed it but pray you remember what I answered to the King when he first commanded it A few hours after came Cossen with his fifty Harquibushiers to the Admirals house and chose two shops by to place his Guard in A little after Rambulet the Kings Camp-master followed who by the advice of the Duke of Anjou commanded all the Popish Nobility that lodged in that street to remove their quarters elsewhere that he might dispose of their lodgings to the friends and familiars of the Admirall then which no more crafty counsell could be devised for those matters which afterwards fell out Towards evening this hapned which gave to many no small occasion of suspition A Boy by the command of Teligni brought two hunting poles to the Admirals house but Cossen put him back and would not suffer them to be carried in This being told to the King of Navarr who was now with the Admirall he went down and asked Cossen upon what confidence he did it Cossen answered that he had done it at the command of the King but said he since you will have it so let them be brought in That day the King sent to all the Admirals familiar friends admonishing them to go near to the Admirals house and take up all those quarters But upon the former occurrences another Councel was called under the Admirals lodging wherein the Vidam of Chartres again urged his former opinion that the Admirall should presently be carried out of Paris and that his friends should go along with him That every hour they observed many things that justly increased their suspition But most were of the contrary opinion viz. That they were only to require justice of the King and to desire that the Guises and their Faction might be commanded out of the City as being too powerfull with the people of Paris and of this opinion was the King of Navarr the Prince of Conde and many others and the rather because Teligni urged that it would be a great injury to the King if any should call his faith and sincerity into question and that it would be sufficient if justice were meekly required of him At this debate there was one Bucavannius a Picard who never spake word he was a professor indeed of the true Religion but very gracious with the Queen-Mother and very frequent with her familiars which probably betraied all to her About three a clock in the night there fell out another thing which increased the suspition for one carrying to the Admirals house the Coats of Male of Teligni and Guercius Cossen turned him back again which man complaining to Guercius who was a stout and gallant man he went to Cossen and sharply taxed him for it so that they had well near fallen to blows but Teligni who was of a meek and quiet spirit with gentle words pacified them himself being so deluded with the fair and flattering words of the King that he never thought that he spake enough in his commendation In the mean time a Councell was held at Court where were present the King Queen-Mother Duke of Anjou Duke of Nevers the Bastard of Angolisme Birage Tavannius and Radesianus and it was concluded That seeing by the death of one the mischief diffused amongst so many could not be extinguished therefore all should be destroyed And that the wrath which God would not have fulfilled with the blood of Coligni alone should be poured out against all the Sectaries therefore say they the bridle is to be let loose to the common people who are stirred up enough of themselves and when the businesse is accomplished reasons will not be wanting whereby the deed may be excused the blame being laid upon the Guises who will willingly undergo the same So they all concluded that all the Protestants were to be destroyed even every Mothers child of them Concerning the King of Navarr and the Prince of Conde it was debated Whether they were to be exempted from the number of the rest and it was alleadged that the King of Navarr was to be spared because of his royall Dignity and his affinity newly contracted for it would be without all excuse if so great a Prince next to the King in blood conjoyned in fresh affinity should be slain in the Kings Castle between the arms as it were of the King his Brother-in-law and his Wives imbraces Concerning the Prince of Conde the contention was greater he was much envied for his Fathers sake yet the dignity of his person and the authority of the Duke of Nevers who became surety for him prevailed that he should be spared After this the King calling the King of Navarr told him that by reason of the violence and boldnesse of the Guises and the common people inclining to them he would advise him to command those of his houshold whom he knew most faithfull to him to come to him to the Louure to be at hand upon all occasions This the King of Navarr took in very good part sending for