neede should requyre in respect wherof it was good ryght that seing God had cōmitted them too his charge and trust he should defend them from the ouermyghtinesse crueltie of their aduersaries And their humble petition was that thensforth they myght with his good fauour openly woorship God in publicke places be instructed in the knowledge of trew godlinesse by their preachers and inioy the Sacraments that God hath ordeyned leaste for wāt of being knowen their religion myght any lōger lye opē too the malicious speeches of their aduersaries bycawse of their secret meetings Uppon the reading of theis bookes euerye man vttered his opinion howbeeit their talk was not so much of Religion as of the greate dette wherwith they complained that the king was in maner oppressed and ouerwhelmed But the Admirall spake manie things verye boldly specially concerning the men of warre which the howse of Gvvyse had gathered toogither in the hart of the realme vnder colour of garding the kings persone as thowgh the King were in a straunge countrie and not in his owne dominion and therfore needed so great a garde for the safety of his persone Saying that the name of king was of so great preeminence in Fraunce that any herault comming with commission in the kings name was able too appeaze anie vprore without further trubble It is certeine that this speeche of the Admirals sank verie deepe intoo the stomacks of the Gvvisians that it kindled their hatred ageinst him the more vehemently Dyuers other were of opinion that it were moste conuenient too summon a generall assembly of the whole Realme which they comonly terme the assembly of the States and it was shewed specially by Marilliak archbishop of Vien by Michaell de l'Hospitall Lord Chauncelour of Fraunce whose authoritie bare greatest sway at that tyme that the same had bin the most auncient and cōtinewall custome of the Frenchmen and yitnotwithstāding had bin omitted by the space of .87 yeeres through the slaunders of certein flatterers About the same tyme dyed king Frauncis the second and his yoonger brother Charles the nyneth being abowt ten yeeres old succeeded him byandby the old petition of Summoning a generall Councel was renewed Untoo that tyme Katherine Medicee the kings moother a Florentine borne had liued in such state as Queenes are woont to doo in their widowhoods that is too wit as a commaūder of hir owne women a keeper of the persone of hir sonne but in no wyze admitted too haue too doo with matters of the state and at that poynt was shee hild most streytly by the Gwisians as long as they bare cheefe sway Now forasmuch as at this tyme it seemed that the nobilitie of Fraunce woold not any longer indure the burnings tormentings and other punishments that were woont too bee executed vppon the protestants and therfore it was too bee dowted least some new commotions woold ryze therof bycause the Queene moother pretēded a mynd not ildispozed towards religiō The Admirall labored by all meanes possible at lēgth brought it to passe that she was matched as a companion partaker of that great charge of gouernment with Antonie King of Nauarre too whom the Protectorship of the Realme was committed Which deuyce of his there were many men that loued well their countrie which mislyked shewing by the hystories of all ages that the gouernment of the Realme was neuer yit committed to Queene Mothers specially if they were straungers borne but it was too the vndooing and destruction of the commonweale of Fraunce and a cause of ciuill discord When the day of the Generall Counsell came he that spake in the name of the Nobilitie did in the end of his Oration offer vp a booke of supplication too the Kings maiestie requesting that the pure religion which they terme comonly the reformed Re ligion myght lawfully bee haunted and exercyzed openly in publicke places Her against stoode vp an aduersarie called Quintin a Doctor of the Canon law and a professor of it in Paris who not making but rehercing in wryting a verie long oration in the name of the Clergie not without prōpting of somme preests that stoode redie at his elbowe too whisper him in the eare when he was at anie stoppe was so bold as too say that all such as demaunded publicke places too exercyze religion in were woorthie too bee punished as traytors and fauorers of newfownd religion Wherof when the Admirall had complayned too the kings Counsell Quintin being afrayd confessed that he had not spoken any thing of his owne head at that tyme but only reherced the booke as it was deliuered him in wryting by the Clergimen offering himself redie too protest and avow in the same open assembly before the Kings Maiestie that he ment not any thing at all of the Admirall which thing was doone within a feawe dayes after and so the Admiralles demaund was satisfyed At the last all Magistrates of Fraunce and all that had commission too execute Iustice were commaunded by the kings authoritie that they should out of hand dismisse all such as were held in ward or prizon for religions sake and they were streytly forbidden too molest any man herafter for religion As towching the publicke places where it should bee lawfull for them too haue Sermons the determination therof was put ouer too another Generall Counsell which was appoynted too bee at Ponthoyse a towne of Picardie but not performed The moneth of Ianuarie next insewing a meeting of all the Princes and noble men of Fraunce was summoned too bee at S. Germans and there by the aduyce of certeine counsellers of euery Parlament an Edict was made by the kings authoritie proclaymed throwghowt all Fraunce that it should bee lawfull too exercyze the religion in the Suburbes of all Townes When this Edict was published and the realme seemed too bee setled in quietnesse and the comon weale too haue taken somme breth ageine so as Sermons began too bee preached peaceably and quietly in the suburbes almoste of all great townes yea and euen of Paris it self newes was browght that the Duke of Gvvyse who had at that tyme withdrawen himself intoo Shampayne had made a slawghter about .200 men at Vassey as they were at a Sermon vpon trust of the authoritie of the kings Edict and were singing of Hymnes after the end of comon prayer in a certein berne The Duke of Gvvyse is reported too haue executed this butcherly crueltie vppon presumption of the new frendship of the king of Nauarre whose weake mynd he had drawen vntoo him by warranting him the kingdome of Sardinia and bownd him vntoo him by manie other promises Therfore presuming vppon that trust within feawe dayes after he came too the Court accompanied with his brothers and with a greate trayne of armed men and there tooke the yoong king and his moother who seemed too shunne that violence with greate lamentation and weeping whom he conueyed first too Melune and anon after too Paris
such periuries had alwayes bred mischief in the end and that God had in all ages bene a most seuere reuenger of such forswearings To the furtherance whereof he was compelled by the Kings commaundement to fall to practises of warre in his prouince against the peace against his owne promise Hereoutof sprong first priuie hartburning afterwarde an enterance to the open hatred that was betwixt them Also this was a furtherance thereof that wheras the King had graūted a combate betweene two Gentlemen in the borders of Picardie although the Duke of Guyse was then present yet the Shatilion thought it stoode him on hand so to deale as he himself might be chiefe vmper in the matter bycause the chalendge was to be performed in his prouince Moreouer another cause of the Guyses hatred is reported to be this that wheras in their youth they had ben linked together with singular familiaritie insomuch that to testifie their frendship with all they went appareled in like rayment the Duke of Guyse asked the Admiralls aduice how he liked of his brother the Duke of Aumalls intent in purpozing to marrie the Seneschall of Valentinoes dawghter who was highly in King Henries fauour and as highly diffamed among good men To whome the Admirall answered that he made more account of an ynch of good name then of neuer so greate riches which saying of the Admirals the Duke of Guyse and the Duke of Aumall tooke in greate displeazure as though it had bene spoken to barre the howse of Gvvyse from greater power preferment and preheminence Howbeit when the Kinge was aduertized that the Spaniards leuied men of warre in the frontiers of the Lovve countreis and that their forces assembled into one place he thought it moste for the safetie of Picardie to send the Admirall thither out of hand with an armye whome we haue shewed alreadye to haue btn the Lieuetēnant of that Countrie He had scarsly marched two dayes iourney but he was certified by his espialls that the Spanyards were minded to beseege S. Quintines a towne of Picardie not vnrenowmed and to batter it out of hand with greate store of dubble Canons Therwithall he had worde sent him by Brullio the Captaine of the Castle of Ham that as soone as the townesmen had tydings therof ther rose such a feare throughout all the Citie that many housholders left their wiues children and all other things behind them and tooke them to flight When the Admirall hearde that yet he thought it meete to conceale it among his men of warre and pretending greate lustinesse of corage marched on in great iourneys towards S. Quintines When Iernacke and Lusarche whome the Admirall had made Lieuetennāt of the men at armes disswaded him from it with many wordes declaringe vnto him that the towne was nether well fortified nor well vitteled and moreouer that the townesmen were striken in feare a greate power of the enemies would be come thither before any thinge coulde be prouided for the defence of the towne therfore it was more for their commoditie praise to maintaine the warres in the open field than to studye howe to saue them selues cooped vp within walls the Admirall beinge no whit moued with those words of theirs continued in his purpozed exployt declaring to them of how great importance that towne was both to the puttinge backe of the Spanish force from the destruction of his countrey to the safetie of his prouince how greate occasion of speache he should giue to spiteful and malicious persones if he shoulde alter his purpoze The next daye worde was brought him that the most part of the sowldiers which were appoynted to him by the Kinges commaundement for the defence of the towne and whome he had sent one night afore him to cheere vp the harts of the townesmen had hid them selues in the next woods for feare and were slipt euery man home too his owne howse by bywayes That day therefore there folowed him no mo but a hūdred twentie whom six score mo followed the next day Wherof the enemyes hauing intelligēce by their skowts came too the towne in haste diuiding their woorks began too make a trenche abowt it When they had taken certein little cotages in the suburbes and drew neere too the dyches with their wynding trenches the Admirall making a salye owt vppon them commaunded faggots and fyrebronds too bee thrust intoo those howses and set them on fyre wherby he draue the enemie further of The next day when he had vewed all partes of the towne and found no bulwarkes no rampyres no towers of defence he begā too distrust the towne and too bee afrayd of long seege Neuerthelesse forasmuch as the cace stoode so with him that he was driuen either too defend the towne and too stoppe the rage of the enemies from the destroying of his countrie or else too dye manfully in the quarell looke what was possible for him too deuyze and bring too passe by care trauel and watching he did it not ouerslipping anie thing in making of fortifications in cutting of trenches and in rayzing vp rampyres euerywhere And too the intent too giue example of peynfulnesse and trauell too the townesmen and too his sowldyers and too the Gentlemen that came with him he was the first man that did set hand too the woorks and neuer departed from them til they were ended Whyle he was in this perplexitie soodeinly vnlooked for newes was brought him that Mounsyre d'Andelot his brother of whom mētion is made afore was comme intoo the towne and had browght about .500 sowldyers with him Besydes this the King being aduertized from him intoo how greate perill the Towne seemed too bee browght commaunded the Constable too hye him thither with certein Gwidons of horsmen too carry in vittells with him and too fortifye the towne with a greater garrison But the Spanyards cōpassing him with a greater companie of Launceknyghts with a great power of footemen ouercame him in battel and tooke him prizoner and hauing made a greate spoyle of his men draue the rest backe agein further intoo Fraunce Uppon the report of which newes in the towne such a feare strake into the harts of al mē that the Admirall could scarce doo any good with his incoragements Being moued with sorrowe herat greeued with so greate perill of his countrie he called his people toogither and told them that more regard was too bee had of their countrie then of life and thervppon he tooke an othe of them all as well the townesmen as his souldyers that it should bee death for any of them too make mention of yeelding and that it should bee lawfull for euery man too kill such a one vnpunished He himself tooke the othe first of all The Spanyards being puffed vp with so greate a victorie returned too the seege of the towne neuer left beating of it with greate ordinance by the space of .20 dayes toogither and moreouer made wynding trenches
In that tyme the Queene Moother sent messengers oft tymes too the Admirall and also wrate with hir owne hand too the Prince of Condey that he should succour hir and hir yoong children and haue a care of the welfare of the realme The Prince being moued with theis things and moreouer perswaded by the intreatance of moste of the noblemen of Fraunce determined too put on armes and too make warre vppon the howse of Gvvyse too set the King at libertie protesting oftentymes openly that he feared not the slaunderous speeches of some men as thowgh he ment too inlarge the religion by force of armes or too make warre ageinst the king being a chyld For a general assembly of the whole realme had bin hild at Orleance wherin bothe the comons and the nobilitie had requyred the reformation of Religion and afterward an Edict was made in that greate assembly that it should bee lawfull too exercyze the same in suburbes and villages And what ryght in the kingdome of Fraunce had the Duke of Gvvyse being borne in Lorreine Or vppon what grownd should he presume too execute such crueltie vppon the kings subiects Finally there was no good too bee doone ageinst force but by force and therfore he himself did not moue warre but bi warre defend peaceable people ageinst warre made vppon them Saying it was alredy bruted ouer all Fraunce and also reported intoo Germanie that the Duke of Nemovvrs at the prouocation of the Gvvisians had with fayre woordes intyced Henrye the kings brother a little chyld who since that tyme was created king of Poole too haue conueyed him owt of the precint of the Realme which purpoze and drift the chyld bewrayed too his moother and so that discouerie of that matter was at that time in all mennes mouthes that the Gwisians despyzing the authoritie of the generall assembly and of the king executed butcherly crueltie at Vassey with extreme furie and pryde layd violent hāds vppō the king Queene moother caryed them away ageinst their willes to Melune and Paris as seemed moste for the Gwisians commoditie went intoo the borders of Germanie a little before and requested certeine princes of Almanie too bee admitted intoo the nomber of the Protestants Inuited Christopher Duke of Wirttemberg a prince of great corage and wisdome too Sauerne a towne next too Strawsborow where the Cardinall of Loreine made twoo such Sermons openly in the Churche before the sayd Prince and a greate nomber of the professers of the religion bothe Germanes and Frenchmen as he perswaded verye manie that bothe he himself and also his brethren imbraced the Religion and were desyrous too professe their names among the protestant princes When theis things were knowen the prince of Condeyes enterpryze was so well lyked in manie places of Fraunce that within feawe dayes dyuers Cities yeelded themselues too him and ioyned with him in societie of the warre Among those were Orleance Bloys Towres Burgis Roan Lyons Vien Valentia Nemowrs and Mountalbon which were the beginners of the Ciuill warre wherof the butcherly slawghter of Vassey is certeinly knowen too haue bin the cawse Now when as on the part of the protestants the cheef charge of the warres was by comon consent of all men put too the Prince of Condey soodeinly the Prince with lyke consent of all men surrendered the charge of his gouernment too the Admirall and for the singular opinion that was had of his Iustice grauitie and wisdome ordeyned him too bee his leeuetennant and deputie too rule in his sted Whyle these things were a doing the Queene moother began too treate of peace for the dooing wherof she desired the Prince of Condey too come too her tent and to graunte hir the vse of Boigencie for a few dayes which towne hath a bridge ouer the riuer of Loyre and therfore was as shee sayd most fit for cōmunication The Prince vppon single promis made vntoo him without taking of any pledges but onely trusting to the faythfulnesse of his brother the King of Nauarre and too the promises of the Queene mother went to their Cāpe Only he desired the Queene that the Cunstable the Duke of Gvvyse the marshall of S. Andrevves which were comonly called the three rooters vp of the comon weale shoulde depart out of the Campe whyle that communication lasted Which thing being doone the garrison was withdrawen out of Boigencie and the towne deliuered to the Queene Byandby shee manned it and pretending a communication to outward showe of peace reconcylement not only reteyned the Prince but also tooke the towne and fortified it with all things needfull for the warre With which trecherie the Admirall being sore moued determined not to fayle in his dewtie towards the Prince but went out of hand with his horsemen to the Campe of his aduersaries and strake such a terrour into them that the Queene cōmaunded the Prince too be deliuered immediatly And within a fewe dayes after the Admirall leading his armie too Boigencie woone the towne by force not without somme losse of his owne people recouered it agein Abowt the same tyme the Admiralls eldest sonne named Iasper being consumed with sicknesse dyed at Orleance scarce nyne yeeres old but of singular towardnesse which cawsed the Admirall too take his death very sore to hart In the meane whyle the Gvvysians seeing them selues forsakē of many Frenchmen whom the cace concerned and perceyuing that the most part fauored the Prince of Condey mynded too seeke help of forren Realmes And therfore sending money into Svvisserland and into Germanie they hyred footmen of the one horsmen of the other which thing the Admirall did oftentimes avow to be a most sure proof of treason and of their enemy like mind to the Crowne of Fraunce For whither the cace quoth he bee to bee decyded by the auncient maner of the Realme there are publike decrees in force made by act of parlament the authoritie wherof is certeinly knowen to haue bin highest euer since the settling of the kingdome of Fraunce or if the matter bee to bee committed to rightful indifferencie of chalenge who seeth not that the greater part of Fraunce is on our side and that to call in forrein forces to oppresse our owne countrymen is not the nature of a frenchman but the token of a barbarous and sauage mind and a proof of an enemylyke hart Notwithstanding lest the Admiral might disappoynt the willingnes of so many of his freends the expectation of so many cities which had ioyned in freendship with him forasmuch as he was aduertized late afore of the singular good wil of certeine Germane Princes towards the churches of Fraunce to the intent to match straungers ageinst straungers he desired his brother the Andelot to go to those Princes and to sew to them for their helpe which thing he did and within three monethes after brought three thowsand horsmen and six thowsand footemen with him into Fraunce While theis thīgs were adoing word was
matter was too bee committed too the swoord rather than too lye lingering so long from their owne countries and dwelling places And it was almost comme too the poynt that certein noblemē of great authoritie were abowt too haue forsaken the Camp and too haue led a great part of the armie away with them When it was once determined too put the matter too the swoord and that bothe the armyes drew neere too Mongontur to incamp there the Capteins of the armie of our aduersaries did soodeinly set vppon our lyght horsmen that were the foreriders and vppon certein bands of our foreward whereof the Admirall had the charge The Admirall hauing sowght a good while for his harnes bearer and finding him not did at length neuerthelesse aduenture intoo the thickest of his enemies After him followed the foremencioned VVoolrade Erle of Mansfeeld who compelled the battell of the enemies too forsake their grownd Heere ran a riuer which the aduersaries labored by all meanes too passe The Admirall being garded with certein Hargabuts marched sumwhat before the foreward and stayed at the bank of the brooke and stopped the enemies of their passage prouiding there for all things necessarie vntill the shetting in of the Euening when as notwithstanding his enemies neuer left beating of that place of all the while bothe with greate Ordinance and with small shot And surely if they myght haue passed the Riuer at that time and haue broken in vppon our armye it had bin horrible too think what a slawghter they had made of our men For they were mo in nomber than our hoste by a third part Besides this they were fresh and lusty and our men faint and weerie at the ioyning of the battell and therfore it was but twoo dayes respit For the third day when it came too hand strokes the most part of our footemen went too wrecke and our horsmen were put too flyght The Admirall giuing charge vppon six hundred Almanes with twoo hundred French horsmen was shot at with thicke shot of pistolets and wownded on the right side of his nozethrilles insomuch that hauing his Beuer beaten too his face and being not able too spit owt the blud that issewed from his wound and moreouer hauing his swoord striken from him and his swoord girdle broken of with the continewance of the Pistolet shot and almost all the lethers of his corslet burnt asundre with the heate of the pellets that lyghted vppon his armour so as his brestplate hung but by the vppermoste thonges he was at length conueyed owt of the battel by the help and faythfull seruis of one Ploriner a yoongman of Normandie whom he had browght vp of a chyld in his howse and after the ouerthrow of his hoste was conueyed by his freendes too Partheney Here a man may well woonder at the constancie and greatnesse of his corage For wheras vppon the receyuing of this so greate losse most men did cast away bothe corage and hope he tooke vppon him too comfort and harten euery man and calling all his secretaries and clerkes vntoo him sent letters abrode into all partes of Fraunce least the Protestantes that were vp in armes in other places should faint or think the losse too bee so greate as myght not bee recouered within feawe dayes space The next morning he tooke his way too Niort and when he had set things in order there he went thence too Santon and abode there but seuen dayes for the curing of his wownd which could not be healed throughly in lesse than .25 dayes While the Admirall was thus greeued with the burthens of his former trauels and with great heauinesse and distresse newes was browght him that he was atteynted of high treason by act of parlament made at Paris the 13. day of September .1569 and that whosoeuer could bring him aliue too the king should haue fiftie thowsand Crownes in reward for his labour Welneere at the same time it was told him that one Martinengo an Italian condemned of Treason in his owne countrie was sent with certein antsignes by the king to Shattilion and that when he came there he not only ransacked the Castle and spoyled caried away the costly plate and houshold stuffe that had bin layd vp there of manie ages as an ordinarie furniture of the howse too the valew of a hundred thousande Crownes at the leaste but also did so burne vp the Towne that standeth vnder the Castle as there scarcely remained anie incling of a Towne At the receyt of which newes the Admirall was so farre of from conceiuing anie greater greefe of mynd that coulde appall him in going foreward with his affayres that there appeered not so much as anie alteration at all in his countenance insomuche that when his freendes and kinsfolk resorted too him too comfort him he was woont too say stowtly vntoo them that God of his singular goodnesse had giuen him such a mind at the present as could possesse the things that are termed goods and not be possessed of them so as his goods were alwaies subiect to him not he to his goods And therfore in al the ciuil warres wheras for the most part all the princes noble men gentlemen men of armes footemen mainteined thē selues by the warres liued vpon the pray frō hand to mouth when the king had seized their possessiōs Only the Admiral a few other payed their hostes vittelers alwayes redy monny for themselues and their retinewes by reason wherof he had not only browght himselfe farre in dette by borrowing vppon interest but also had layd a great part of his wyues apparell Iewelles and ornaments too gage and continewed that trade so long vntil that being in maner left destitute of all howsehold helpes which happened almoste abowt the end of the third ciuill warre he sewed in an assembly of the states too haue some releef graunted too him also for the mayntenance of his howshold charges Abowt the same tyme the Admirall wrate a letter with his owne hand too his owne sonnes and too his brother the Andelots sonnes which were browght vp all toogither vnder one Schoolemaister at Rochell as is shewed afore Which copie and handwryting of his I hauing gotten thowght it woorthie too bee translated in maner woord for woord and too be put intoo this place It had quoth he bin moste too my contentation too haue spoken theis things vntoo yow presently and to haue seene yow and talked with yow But forasmuch as I am not able now so to doo I thowght it good too warne yow too haue godlinesse and the feare of God continewally before your eyes specially sith tryall and experience may now teache yow that there is no greate trust too be giuen to the things that are termed goodes Our hope must bee settled in another place than in this earth and other Artes are too bee gotten than those which are seene with eyes and handled with hands Howbeeit forasmuch as that lyeth not in our owne power
euerywhere Within feawe moonethes trusting too the Kings promises and too the othes both of the King himself and of his brethrē and of all the Parlamentes forasmuche as he hoped that after the owtwearing of so manie toyles he should now gette some rest he inclined his mind too mariage agein at the perswasion of his freends and specially being inuited by the kinsfolk of the Lady Iaquet of Moulet the widow of the Lord Antonie Moulet ¶ daughter of the Countie Entremont of whose modestie godlinesse and holie cōuersation he had herd much a good while ago Therfore being honorably browght vnto him too Rochell he tooke hir too his wife And within a while after he gaue a dawghter of his named Loyse in mariage too Mounsyre Telignie a yoong Gentleman of great Nobilitie and singular vertew No gentleman in all Fraunce seemed more dere and delightfull too the king than this Telignie was for his singular towardnesse And therfore it is the comon brute among all men that this mannes report was the only thing that perswaded the Admirall too conceiue good opinion of the kings faithfulnesse and fauour towardes him Anon after in the yeere of our Lord. 1571 the Admirall being inuited by moste gentle and honorable letters of the kings repaired too the Court then lying at Bloys and was requested too bée the maker of the mariage betweene the kings sister and Henry the yoong king of Nauarre for the better bringing wherof too passe the King had declared by his messengers and commissioners that there could not bee deuized a more sure bond too link toogither the publik peace and concord nor a certeiner meanes too bring all the states too an attonement Within a feawe dayes after the Admiralles departure the yoong Duke of Gwyse being perswaded by the counsell of the Cardinall his vncle and by his moothers inticement began too renew the old quarell of hys fathers murther The King therfore vsing his authoritie in the matter did set downe a forme of composition which he determined too haue them bothe sworne vntoo and too confirme it with their seales so as all rememberance of that dissension should bee vtterly wiped away Notwithstanding when as the Duke of Gwyse came too Paris within a feawe dayes after with a greate traine of armed men and the Admirall who was then gone home too Shattilion being certified therof by Telignie his sonne in lawe requested the king too giue him leaue to keepe somme conuenient garde about him in his house the King wrate to him with his owne hand which letter was deliuered too Mounsyre Brikmavv a man of greate estimation too cary vnto him that he liked very well that he should take as good heede too himself as he could giuing him leaue too gard himself his castle with as great a cōpanie as he listed and he required him too trust too his good will towards him and not too dowt but that he should bothe hope for and looke for as much maintenance at his hand as any good subiect might looke for at a good princis hand This letter indited with manie woordes too that purpoze many men red with greate pleasure bycawse it was wrytten with the Kings owne hand and now they thowght that his good will towardes the Admirall was not too bee dowted of anie more In respect wherof Levvis of Nassaw of whom I haue made mention afore thinking that it was not for him too let slip this occasion of speeding his owne affaires began to breake with the king who had inuited him secretly too the Court on the behalf of his brother the Prince of Orendge and told him how there were manie Cities in Lowe Duchland which were so werye of the madnesse lecherie couetousnesse and crueltie of the Spanyardes that if he woold reache them his helping hand they woold willingly and gladly submit themselues too his tuicion and iurisdiction When certein dayes had bin spent abowt this matter at length the king made the Countie of Nassawe faithfull promis that he woold send the Admiral thither owt of hand with a great power and it was couenanted betwixt them that if that warre had good successe then the King should haue all the Lowe Countrie from Antwarp too Picardie and Holland Zeland and Fryzeland should bee left too the Prince of Orendge Abowt the same time were letters intercepted from Cardinall Perlewe too the Cardinall of Lorreine the conteintes wherof were that the king was neuer in better mynd and therfore he was in verye good hope of the prosperous successe of their comon conceites by reason of the singular earnestnesse of the king himself and of the Queene Moother and of Henry the Duke of Aniow For the king had behaued himself much more wysely and played his part farre more cunningly at the Admiralles comming too the Court than anie of them had looked for by meanes wherof the king had made the Admirall beleeue that there was no occasion left why he should suspect him or think amisse of his good wil towards him which thing the Cardinal of Lorrein knew wel ynowgh too bee the growndwoork of all the deuyce which they had in hand And wheras communication was ministered of making warre vppon the king of Spayne and the king had accepted the same with so free a corage as the Admirall conceiued verye good opinion of his good will towardes him those shiftes were too bee pursewed till their secret practyze might take his expected euent As for the king of Spayne he was diligently informed of all things and such meanes vsed as he should not mislyke of the preparature of warre that was pretended too owtward showe bycawse all those things were applyed too the accomplishing of a singular good purpose Therfore whatsoeuer the Cardinall had herd too haue bin doone afore or should heere herafter let him assure himself that the king wold not start from the thing that he had once begonne For whatsoeuer was doone or too bee doone was directed and applied too the end of their determined purpose and there was not anie thing wherof the king and his mother and his brother had so great a care Wherfore as soone as the matter were dispatched he woold wryte too the Cardinall of Lorrein with all speede send him a sure and faithfull messenger for the nonce As towching the king of Nauarres mariage he hoped it woold bee browght of a hand within a little while For that must sette their matters abroche In the which meane season the time that was appoynted for the laying of the fower townes too pledge woold bee ronne owt He that sent the Admirall the copie of this letter hoped that the reading therof woold forewarne him too take heede too himself and too lay for the safetie of his state But he trusted so much too the kings faithfulnesse and great good wil towards him specially bycawse it was confirmed by the continewall perswasions of his sonnylawe Telignie that wheras in all other things he seemed most
children from thence vntil shee had seene the fowndacion of the Hold laid When shee saw that the plage was crept euen into the Court Shee made one Mounsyre Lossie gouerner of Lyons a cruell and barbarous man and a most deadly enemy of Religion appoynting him a garrison of certein prowd and ruffianly souldyers too vex the Citizens which were giuen too religion wyth continewall wrongs and despites Afterward which way so euer the king made his progresse with that greate trayne intoo whatsoeuer Citie towne village or Manour he was browght woonderfull it is too report but yit most certeinly knowen and talked of in all mennes mowthes so greate a plage followed the kings traine continewally that for the space of three moonethes toogither he neuer lodged in any howse but the present perill of the plage draue him owt of it agein Whyle theis things were a doing the Queene mother communicated hir deuyces with hir dawghter the Queene of Spayne and with the king hir husbandes Ambassadours the Marshall Memorancie whom the king had left gouernour of Paris was certifyed that the Gvvisians wrowght secret practizes too stirre vp the comons of Paris ageinst such as professed the trew and vncorrupted religion and that the Cardinall of Lorrein woold bee there within a day or twayne with a greate trayne of armed men It had bin forbidden dyuers tymes afore by the kings Proclamations that no man should iourney with hargabusse or pistolet or haue anie abowt him When it was told the Marshall that the Cardinall and his companie were come intoo the Citie armed with such weapons by and by he went and met him with his garrison and commaunded them too lay away their weapons Which dooing of his the Cardinall and his brothers sonne the yoong Duke of Gvvyse taking in greate despyte and reproche were herd oftentymes afterward too say that that deede should cost Memorancie his lyfe When this vprore was stirred vp in the Citie where the Cardinall myght haue rayzed threescore thowsand armed men in one day too haue slayne Memorancie Memorancie thought it good too call his freends abowt him and specially the Admirall who being accompanied with three hundred horsmen or therabowts came too Paris the .22 day of Ianuarie which thing did so scare the feeble harted people giuen woonderfully too superstition and cheefly the Preests Moonks the Canons of the Cathedrall Churche that a great sort of them began too deuyze how too flee away The next day Memorancie sent for the prouostes of the Parlament and for such as bare cheef authoritie at that tyme in the Citie home too his howse Too whom in the presence of the Admirall he spake of the Cardinall of Lorreines ouerbold and seditiows enterpryzes and of the flocking toogither of certeine Citizens telling them that forasmuch as they had giuen it owt euerywhere that the Admirall leuyed men of warre and practized meanes too sacke that riche Citie whyle the king was farre of in his progresse he thowght it best too call him owt before them that he myght tell them playnely what he mynded too doo Then I knowe wellynough alredy quod the Admirall what things are spred abrode of mee by leawde and maliciowse persones as who shoulde say I sowght meanes too sacke this Citie which is knowen too bee the cheef fortresse of the Realme and the Noblest lyght of all Fraunce Theis kynd of dealings are meete for such as chalendge I wote not what kynd of ryght too the succession of the Crowne and beare the worlde in hande that certeine Dukedommes and Erldommes owght too bee restored vnto them As for mee I put yow owt of dowt I clayme not anie maner of ryght too the Kingdome nor too anie parte therof And if I did I beleeue there was neuer any Nobleman of Fraunce this fyue hundred yeeres that had so good oportunitie offered him too trubble the state Yee remember howe greate occasion of settyng the matter abroche I had at such tyme as the Duke of Gvvyse was slayne and the Cunstable my prizoner at Orleance if I had bin minded too rebell But I neuer sewed more earnestlye too the Queene Mother and too the Kings Counsell for peace than when I was in my cheefest prosperitie Who knoweth not that I sowght peace with moste earnest intreatance and sewte at such tyme as a nomber of noble Cities had alredye put themselues vnder my protection and manie mo bothe of Normandie and little Brittaine offred mee their freendshippe and societie vnrequested Who knoweth not that wheras vppon the conclusion of the peace I myghte haue serued myne owne turne by ambitiowse crauing of roomes of authoritye and honoure at the Kings hand yit I choze rather too get mee home and there too leade a priuate lyfe modestly and quietly vntoo this day But too let theis things passe and too go forward with the things that wee haue in hand being called by the Marshall Memorancie I made haste too comme vnto yow not of purpoze too make anie innouation or trubble in anie thing but rather too quenche such broyles as were lyke too bee stirred vp a late throwgh somme mennes ouerboldnesse I thinke there is none of you all but he knoweth how greate credit the professers of the purer Religion doo giue mee Surely a nomber of them being moued with theis straunge rumors and put in feare throwgh the factiows deuyces and enterpryzes of the Gvvisians resort vntoo mee dayly bringing letters intercepted concerning the flocking toogither of certeine vndercapteines which commaund their old souldyers too bee redye with their armour that they may step foorth owt of hand whensoeuer neede shall requyre What needeth manie woords Certein letters were intercepted written intoo Normandie and fathered vpon the authoritie of the Queene moother a Copie wherof I bring yow here owt of myne owne cofers and will reherce one poynt therof which is this There is no fitter vvay too restore the Crovvne of Fraunce too such as haue ryght too it by auncient inheritance and too destroy the hovvse ofspring of Valoys than by killing all the Hugonotes vvhich are the vpholders therof Therfore vvee must confiscate their goodes that the monny vvhich is made of them may yeeld vs armour and treazure And if the Hugonotes go too lavv for it the matter shal be so handled in iudgment as they shall haue smal list too make any sevvt for domages Besydes this what shall I speake of the slawghters and robberies that are committed almost day by day It is sufficiently knowen that since the proclayming of the peace aboue .500 protestants haue bin slayne in sundrie places and yit the magistrates haue not punished the murther of anie one of them They that complayne of it too the king or the Queene moother receyue nothing but words or sum emptie sheete of paper or els sum skin of parchment Who knoweth not that a greate slaughter was made alate of the protestants openly in the citie of Turon yea euen with standerd and antsignes displayed
euen in the presence of him whom the Duke Mompaunser had sent thither to make peace And yit for all this it is said that diuers of your clergimē are striken with so great feare of this my comming into the citie that they cōsult how to forsake it yit notwithstanding there is no place in al Fraunce no towne so strōg no hold no village where Preests dwell more safe and sure or where they exercyze their ceremonies and massings more freely then in mine owne manour of Shatilion Uppō the making of this oratiō the company was dismissed The next day came abowt a thirtie of the cheefe merchantmē of Paris to Memorancy and after them the Bishop of Paris with the Chauncelour of the vniuersity and a great rable of Clergimen to whom the Admiral speaking very courteously bad them be all of good cheere Also within a feawe dayes after being brought into the Parlamenthowse he confirmed with many words that he wished nothing more then the concord and quietnes of the Citizens nor vndertooke that iourney vppon any other purpose then that requyring them likewize that the Citie might be ordered peaceably and quietly When things were thus set at a stay the Admirall at his returne home was certified by his friends that one May a man of bace calling which had a ferme not farer frō the castle of Shatilion played the theefe vnder pretence of Inkeping was hyred by the Duke of Awmall the Duke of Gvvyse brother to lay wayt for him if he happened to go abrode any whither a hunting that he had paied him a hundred crownes aforehand in that respect also giuē him a very goodly great horse To the furtherāce herof came this also that the Admiral being often told of his theeuery had threatened him to cōmit him vppon felonie if he herd of those things any more hauing gotten sufficient witnesses had lately before indited him of diuers robberies in the parlamēt of Paris When Mayes trecherie was knowen bewrayed to the Admiral there was a bayt laid for him and being apprehended within feawe daies after brought forth to his arreignement at Paris he began to appeache the Admiral diuers others as though they had delt with him to haue killed the Queene mother and had promised him a great reward for so dooing Notwithstāding the Senators of the parlament of Paris finding out the slaunder and cawsing the indytement of felonie too bee followed ageinst him condemned him too death according to which sentence he was executed vppon the wheele in the cheef streete of all Paris Ere long after the Prince of Condey had a sonne borne to whom the King intended to be Godfather to giue him his name after the accustomed maner But forasmuchas he could not wel do it bycause of his religion it pleazed him to giue the honour therof to the Admiral willing him to cawse the infant to be baptized christened in his name which thing was doone with exceeding great pomp royall preparation as is wont to be in Princes Courts For at the feast a table was laid for the Admirall as if it had bin for the King himself wherat he sat alone as the King is wont to do was serued as a King which dealing all men constrewed to be a sure token of the Kings singular good will towards him Anon after tidings was brought that Ferdinando Duke of Alua was cōming with an hoste into nether Dutchland by the Spanish Kings commission cōmaundement to suppresse the vprores that were raised ther for religiōs sake Now forasmuchas he was to conuey his army by the borders of Fraunce the Admiral sitting with the Kings coūsel desired that regard might be had of Burgundy and that a garrison might be sent thither for defence of the countrie rather of Svvissers than of Frenchmē lest perhaps sum broyle might be made for religions sake And it was comōly thought at that time that the said army of Svvissers which consisted of six thowsand men were for none other purpoze than to withstand the Duke of Aluaze force if he should attempt any thing in the marches of Burgundie But anon after the Prince of Rochsurion a Prince of the Kings blud wrate to the Admirall desirīg hī to send hī priuily sum freend of his whō he might best trust and he would bewray such things vnto him as did very greatly concerne his welfare were not to be vttered to all mennes hearing And so within a feawe daies after the Prince of Rochsurion being freend to the Prince of Condey by reason of his alyance too the Kings howse bewrayed vntoo him secretly how consultatiō was had at Baion to extingwish the religion comonly called the reformed religiō to oppresse such as were the professers therof and that the hyring of the Svvissers vnder colour of fortifying the fruntiers of Fraunce ageinst the Duke of Aluaze power was for the same purpoze The same tyme the Admiral was aduertized both by letters and by woord of mowth at many mennes hands that the armie of the Svvissers was conueyed into the borders of Fraunce and into the innermore part of Burgundie Uppon knowledge wherof first the Prince of Condey afterward the Admiral himselfe went to the Court and told the King the Queene mother and the Counsell that they sawe no sufficient cause to brīg these armies of Svvissers into the Realm except it were perchaunce to oppresse them a nomber of other honorable howses which professed the religion neuerthelesse that the number of such as had professed themselues to be of the religion was greater than it was comonly taken too be whereof they had tryal in the last warres therfore that if they perceyued their enemies to attempt any innouation of things they would be euen with them and not suffer themselues to be murthered at those cutthrots hāds wherfore they prayed and besowght the Kings maiestie to be moued with compassion eyther towards so many howses of honour and worship or at leastwise towards his afflicted countrie and the forlorne people of Fraunce Being shaken of in the Court vnhonorably delt with and moreouer vnderstanding themselues to be in great daunger of their liues they tooke counsell not to faile themselues so many christiā churches specially at the request of the most part of the nobilitie gentlemen and at the earnest intreatance of an innumerable sort of their good countrymen which cōplained that they were no lōger able to abide the wrongs wherwith they were continually vexed at the Magistrats hands When they had determined vppon that poynt forasmuchas they perceyued tkat the Kings name would beare a singular sway among the cities and that therfore the Duke of Gvvyse had in the former warres indeuered to haue the King in his owne tuicion they communicated their intent to very few and tooke their iourney priuily to the court to see if they could by any meanes conuey the King away from the custodie of the Queene moother
and of the Gvvyses that they might prouide for the comon peace and concord by remouing vngracious counsell from him But being bewrayed of one of their confederacie they lost the opportunity of bringing that matter to passe by reason wherof they were driuen to trye the matter by open warre When they cāe at Paris they mustred their adherents found that there were on their side sumwhat lesse then a thousand horsmen about a threehundred footmen For the Andelot had caried away the most part of his armie with him too Poysye the day before to cut of vittels from the Parisians by taking the bridg ouer the riuer of Sean There went out of Paris fifteene thowsand footmen and mo then six thowsand horsmen vnder the Cunstable who ioyning battel with them was sore wownded and died within feawe dayes after In that battell a man might haue seene the singular woorking of God in preseruing the Admiral For wheras he rode vppon an ouerfeerce horse that would not in any wise welneere be ruled his muzrol brake asunder his horse caried him twice through the battell of his enemies where they were thickest and yit he was not hurt at all notwithstanding that the pistolets discharged their shot at him on all sides with one of the pellets wherof his horse being hit suffred him to bring him backe agein easly into his owne battell After the receyuing of greate losse on both sids but specially on the prince of Condeis side the Kings armie was discomfited and driuen into the Citie of Paris and it seemed best to the prince and the Admirall to take their way into Lorrein too the horsmen that wer sent thē thither by the appointmēt of certein Princes of Germanie For they saw it was needefull agein to impugne forreiners with forreiners In that iourney being ouertaken by their aduersaries with a great power wherof the Generall was Henry the Kings brother then Duke of Aniow afterward King of Polland now King of Fraunce who preassed continually vppon their reereward they oftentimes receiued many harmes When they came into Lorrein whither Casimire the Palsgraue electors sonne was come before them with a great host of Almaynes there rose a new occasion of trouble and incomberāce For there was owing to those Almaynes a certein tymes wages and there could no meanes be fownd to pay any peece of it were it neuer so litle Out of hand the Admirall found a remedy for that mischeef He required that all men as well the Rascalls Lackeys of the hoste as the horsmen and the comon souldiers should be taxed by the poll so farre foorth as euery mannes abilitie would beare First of all the Admiral himself cawsed fiue hundred french crownes to be told out of his owne cofers The like was doone of all the rest according to euery mans abilitie and Collectors were sent to euery band to gather it vp And moreouer looke whatsoeuer siluer the Prince of Cōdey the Admirall the Counties of Andelot Rochfocawlt had of their owne it was deliuered eueriwhit of it to the Collectors Thus in very small tyme there was gathered with the singular good will of al men the summe of fowerscore thowsand pownds it was iudged that by that coūsell of the Admirals the whole army was saued which not only was persecuted by the aduersaries but also threatened by the Germanes their leagefellowes and succorers Whē the powers of the Germanes Frenchmen were once ioyned togither the Aduersaries returning suddenly backe wēt in great iourneies vnto Paris which thīg Hēry the kīgs brother deemed to redownd to his greate dishonour The Prince of Condeies men being now wel cheered and full of good hope went to beseege Sharters which when they had beaten a good while with greate ordinance cast downe a peece of the wall insomuch that the Andelot was now redye to haue led them to the assault suddenly the Kings Trumpetters came in poste and sending a Herault declared that peace was concluded For commissioners had mette on both sides neere Paris for the same purpoze certeine dayes afore Thus was the seege broken vp the Prince of Condey dismissed his power Whyle the Admirall was kept occupyed at that seege his wife of whome mention is made afore who in the beginning of the warres had gotten hir selfe with hir children to Orleance being consumed with sore sicknesse and vnable to beare out the brunt of it departed out of this life The Admiral being aduertized of that greeuousnesse of hir diseaze had left the Camp and was gonne too hir in poste and taking the best phisicions to him that he could get performed the dewtie of a louing and faithfull husband towards hir But when he sawe that the force of hir diseaze ouercame the cunning of the phisicions he commended hir departing sowle vnto God withdrew himself into a parlour whither a greate sort of his freends acquayntance came to him to comfort him of whom many remembered that he vttered these words with great sobbing teares Wherin haue I sinned my God or wherby haue I deserued that thou shouldest chastize me so sharply and ouerlode me with so many miseries at once Would God I coulde leade a holyer lyfe and giue better example of godlinesse O holy father let thy mercifulnes looke vppon mee and asswage these my sorrowes Afterward being cheered by the godly talk of his freends he commaunded his children too be browght vnto him told them that this so greate losse of their mother owght too bee a lesson too them that there remayned no help for thē vnder the sonne whervntoo they myght trust or leane affirming that howses and Castles were they neuer so strong and stately are not giuen vs for dwelling places but lent vs for bayting places nor tyed too vs for euer by purchace and freedeede but graunted too vs for a tyme vppon courtesie and finally that all things in this world are flightfull and transitorie sauing only Gods mercie whervntoo he woold haue them too commit themselues wholly casting away all worldly helpes and then should they not neede too dowt but they should haue moste sure defence in the same The next day he called Grelley his childrens schoolemayster and told him that he must needes returne too the Camp and he could not tel what should becomme of him there Wherfore he warned and desyred him too haue a care of his children and too bring them vp in religion godlinesse and all good artes as he had oftentymes charged him As concerning his Ladie or late wyfe shee had alwayes a singular and earnest zele too religion as is shewed afore and was indewed with singular constancie in bearing owt all calamities as well hir owne as hir husbandes so that it is truly auowched of many men that looke what promis shee made too hir husband for the professing of Religion as I haue shewed afore shee performed the same moste holily too the full There were dyuers vertewes and gifts of nature
commendable in hir and specially her singular louingnesse and liberalitie towards the poore and towards sicke folkes Therfore inasmuch as shee continewally visited the sowldyers that were browght eyther sicke or wownded too Orleance the Phisicions were plainly of opinion that hir diseaze was cawght and bred cheefly of those ill sentes and stinking sauoures After that the Peace was proclaymed by the sownd of Trumpets in manie places as is sayd afore the Admirall had scarsly taryed three dayes at home but he was certifyed from all partes of the Realme bothe by letters and by messengers from his freendes that the sayd Peace was not a Peace in deede but a practis too renewe most horrible warre For they perceyued so greate preparation for warres in all places that if he looked not too it betymes bothe the Prince of Condey and himselfe and all they that had bin Capteines in the late warres should bee intrapped and abandoned too the crueltie of their enemies The tokens wherof were theis the bringing in of garrisons intoo Orleans Auxerre Bloys and the other yeelded Cities the keeping of all bridges passages and foordes the reteyning still of the men of armes in the hart of Fraunce and the keeping still of twoo Legions neere abowte Paris vnder pretence of garding the Kings persone Uppon the knowledge of theis things he thowght it moste for his safetie too withdraw himself intoo the towne of Tanlay too his brother the Andelotte and anon after to Noyers a towne of meetly good strēgth in the Prince of Condeyes territorie whither he had withdrawen himself a little afore with his wyfe and children and his whole howsehold for the same cawse In that iourney there happened a thyng which bycawse of the straungenesse therof is not to bee ouerslipped Not farre from the towne of Molins as yee go too Auxerre there is a Lake whervntoo when the Admirall was comme a certein olde man of his companie named Gripper a man skilfull by reason of manye long voyages by sea and singularly faithfull and loouing towardes the Admirall espyed a blacke clowd driuen with the wynd beating very vehemently ageinst that part of the Lake whervppon he began too warne the Admirall in the heering of a greate nomber too put spurres too his horse and too hye him apace too the next village least they myght bee ouer taken with the tempest at hand As soone as he had sayd so thinking that the rest had beleeued him and followed after him he hyed him on afore He was scarsly owt of syght but suddeinly there arose such a storme as the Admirall was passing the narrow bankes of the Lake that manie not only men but also horses were throwen downe with the whirlewynd and dyuers hurt with the violence and weyght of the Hayle and had much adoo to scape with their lyues The wynd blew the Admiralles hat from his head which could neuer be fownd agein when the tempest was ceassed But one of his companie deliuered him another nether was he for all that hurt in any part of him sauing in his ancle where the vehemēt dryuing of the hayle gaue him a good pretie pelt Surely if the violence of the wynd had lyen ageinst the head of the lake no dowt but that day had bin the last of the Admiralles lyfe and of all his companies When the tempest was alayd the Admirall hauing comforted his companie sayd I thanke thee O almyghtie God whose present miracle I deeme too foretoken that wee shall shortly bee pressed howbeeit not oppressed with manie sorrowes As soone as they were comme too Noyers they sent often messengers with letters too the King informing him that they were daylye aduertized of traynes that were layd for their liues wherfore they humbly besowght his Maiestie too haue respect of his Countrie alredy tyred with twoo ciuill warres and fynd meanes that the fyre which was kindled by the Gvvisians might bee quenched not with the destruction but rather with the safetie of his Realme and with his owne wisdomme And therwithall the Admirall directed letters too Margaret the dawghter of the greate King Frauncis and wyfe too the Duke of Sauoy whom he thought too bee of credit and authoritie too wey much with the Queene moother beseeching hir with all maner of intreatance too deale so by hir authoritie as shee myght turne away the tempest that was lyke by somme fatal mischaunce too fall vpon hir afflicted and forlorne countrie When he sawe no roome left for peaceable remedyes and vnderstoode that Tauanne who anon after was made Marshal of Fraunce was bringing of his power priuely too Noyers of purpoze too incloze him and his he counselled the Prince of Condey too get them thence and too hye them too Rochell as fast as they cowld which towne by reason of certein auncient customes and priuiledges had neuer receyued any garrison of sowldyers vntoo that day In their way they must needes passe the Riuer of Loyre and in their companie there was the Princesse of Condey with six yoong children wherof one was not past a yeere old After them the next day followed the yoong children of the Admirall and of the Andelotte whom their keepers couueyed away in the dead of the nyght by the Admiralles commaundemēt and passing the riuer of Loyre browght them too their companie in the borders of Berrey And there happened a woonderfull thing wherof innumerable witnesses and beholders remaine yit alyue Wheras the Prince of Condey thowght too haue taken twoo or three boates soodeinly on the hitherside of the water and so too haue ferryed ouer secretly as soone as he came at the riuers side where it ronneth by the foote of the hill of Sanxerre there he fownd a foorde at the which abowt a fiftie horsmen that wayted vppon him went ouer when in the meane whyle the Ladye his wyfe with hir children hir whole Nurcerye were conueyed ouer in botes They were no sooner all wasted ouer but the riuer did so ryze in three howers space notwithstanding that the day was most fayre and cleere that the people of Sanxerre and all the dwellers therabowts acknowledged it too bee the wonderfull prouidence of God praying him to blisse those yoong children and babes krying in their Cradles The King hauing knowledge of theis things gaue cōmaundment by the counsel of his Courtiers that all his men of armes specially which were in the borders of Santonge and Poytiers should owt of hand go too Rochell and he sent his brother Henry of whō wee haue made mention afore too leade thither as great a power as he myght In the meane season the Protestants which had returned home euery man to his owne Citie countrie vppon the making of the peace and vppon trust of the kings assurance were euery where oppressed murthered by the multitude While theis things were a dooing Ioane Queene of Nauarre who had hild hir self at home in the former warres abhorring now the lawlesse and often renewed treacherie rayzed such power
as shee could with all speede and went too Rochell carying hir sonne Henry with hir to whom the inheritāce of the kingdome of Nauarre descended after hir death and one dawghter When the foresaid matters were set at a stay as is sayd alredy the Admiral toke certein peeces of ordinance out of Rochell and went to beseege the towne of Niort within feawe dayes after tooke it by composition From thence he led his armie too Angolesme This towne stādeth vpon a hygh hill cut steepe on all sides sauing one into the which Towne the aduersaries had conueyed a greate Garrison a feawe dayes since The Admirall cawsed his batterie too bee layd too that side of the Towne where it myght bee cumne vntoo and when he had assailed it certeine dayes it was yeelded vntoo him by the townesmen Anon after there was a battell fowght at Iaseneul betweene the vawardes of bothe the parties The Captein of our vaward was the Admirall who brake in vppon his enemies with such violence that they being vnable too abyde the brunt sowght too saue themselues by flyght and drewe towardes Lusignian leauing all their caryages behynde them The pray that was taken was esteemed almoste at fiftie thowsande Crownes The next day a letter of one of the Clerkes of the Counsell named Fizie wrytten too the Queene Moother was intercepted wherin he bewayled that losse adding also that since man was first made neuer anie sonne of Fraūce it is a vulgar phraze among the Frenchmen was in so great hazard of his lyfe as he had bin Not long after the Admirall going too Iarnacke a Towne neere by was driuen too fight whither he woold or no and he was euen at the verye poynte too comme intoo his ennemyes handes For his aduersaries spyes vnderstanding that he pourpozed too passe the Riuer that ronneth by the Towne which is not verye brode vppon a bridge of Boates ambushed them selues secretly on the other side of the Riuer and assoone as they perceyued the Admirall too bee there by and by the Hargabuts began too discharge at him and other some indeuered too get ouer the bridge by force As God woold there was one Hargabutter that stopped their brunte with his often shoting of of his peece but yit was he strikē through with a nomber of shot and fell downe dead Abowt twelue other being stirred vp with his noyze succeeded in his roome The Admirall himself stepping too the banke with his naked swoord for he had no leyzure too put on his corslet did cutte asunder the ropes wherwith the boates were fastened during the which tyme his aduersaries which hild the further side of the Riuer neuer left shooting at him which thing cawsed him too haue a gard abowt him from that day foorth for the defence of his persone against such suddein chaunces A twoo dayes after when the aduersaries had passed ouer the riuer of Sharent the Prince of Condey for feare of being inclozed by them althowgh he had lately hyred thre thowsand swart Rutters and had more ouer six thowsand Swissers whom he had interteyned from the beginning of the warres yit notwithstanding being a man of a noble and stowte stomacke in battell he determined too stop them of their passage howbeeit not too fight in pitched battell In the meane whyle woord came too the Admirall that his men which had taken the Towne next their enemies the day before were beset browght too vtter perill but yit stood manfully still too their defence The Admiral minding not to abandon them gathered certein horsmen quickly togither marched to them apace Whom when the enemies knew they suddeinly cast themselues in a ringe and beset him rownd abowt with greate force Wherof the Prince of Condey being certified and being much redyer in corage then fortified with strength brake into the middleward of his enemies and there being oppressed with multitude had his horse striken throwgh so that he was ouerthrowen slayne The Admirall being soore greeued with the greate losse and distrusting what might insew to the whole retyred with his brother the Andelot intoo the towne of S. Iohn d'Angeli And wheras the foyle that he had receyued in the bodie of the Prince of Condey he could haue reuenged vppon the bodies of dyuers his enemies that were of greatest power and nobilitie and haue requyted their dishonorable dealing with like for like yit determined he to hold himself within the bownds of nature and manhod and to giue the dead their dewes and in that mind did he continue as long as the warre lasted As I told you before Ioane Queene of Nauarre was the same time at Rochell who hearing of the greate losse that was receyued went with all haste intoo the Campe where hauing comforted the cheef of the whole host and incoraged the sowldiers too be myndful of their auncient prowesse shee told them that shee gaue and deliuered vntoo them hir only sonne Henry too whom the kingdome of Nauarre should descend after hir dicease to bee their Generall protesting openly that the life of hir only sonne was not deerer vnto hir then the welfare of the whole armie Henry Prince of Condey the sonne of the foresayd Levvis late deceased was ioyned with him in societie of the honorable charge Neuerthelesse the Lords and all the Capteines and vnder capteines betooke the charge of the warres and the ordering of all martiall affaires to the Admirall with one consent as to him that was knowen to be of greatest credit and authority among the protestants For besids his singular skil in martiall affaires and besids his iustice his stayednes it was wel knowen to all men that he was the first of all the nobilitie of the Realme which imbraced the trew religion and professed it openly which reformed the order of his howse according to the order of religion which durst breake with King Frauncis the second who was hild intangled with the alyance of the howse of Gvvyse concerning the demaunds of the Churches put vp supplications in their names to the Kings counsell which gaue example of godlines to the french nobilitie whom al men knew to haue bin most horribly infected with euill manners by reason of that wicked custome of the Kings court And it is further knowen that after he had once imbraced the religion he neuer gaue any cause of offence to the reformed Churches and that wheras men resorted vnto him on all sids in the name of those Churches he alwayes gaue them the wyzest counsell and tooke weapon in hand not to rebell ageinst the King as sum reported of him but at the request and intreatance of the Queene mother which thing neuerthelesse he did not vppon his owne head or to satisfie the Queenes mind but bycawse the King was not yit full twelue yeeres old he grownded himself vppon the authority of the generall counsell holden at Orleance as is sayd afore and also vppon the Kings edict that was wrotten and proclaymed at Paris
within certeine dayes after by the full consent of all men wheras on the contrary part it was by the Gvvyses procurement and counsell that so many honorable and worshipful howses were turned out of all their goods and possessions that so many florishing and noble Cities were sacked that so many Princes noblemen Capteines and Maysters of chiualrie were slayne to the exceeding greate preiudice of the whole Realme and which is the cheef of all other that so many florishing congregations were oppressed welneere in al the townes of Fraunce finally the Realme brought to that point that it lay open to any forrein Prince as a bootie to pray vppō These things were no sooner finished but the Admiral had a sore mischaunce by the death of his brother the Andelot who died of a suddeine diseaze in the town of Santon not without suspicion of poysoning which was so much the more lykely bycawse Birague the Uicechauncelour who anon after was made Chaūcelour a man of Piemount was herd to say oftentymes in the Court that all these warres were too bee dispatched not by armed men nor with so great ado and with so great losses but by cooks skullions with small adoo And forasmuch as the Admirall wrate a letter with his owne hand a feawe dayes afore to his owne sonnes to the Andelots sonnes which were browght vp all vnder one Tutor to comfort them which letter of his written with his owne hand I haue now presently in my keeping I thowght it not amisse to translate it in maner word for word and too set it downe here in this place Although I dowt not quoth he but the death of my brother Andelot was a great greef vnto you yit notwithstanding I thowght it good to put you in mynd of your happines in that you be the Sonnes or Neuewes of so noble a gentleman whom I dare auow to haue bin both a faythfull seruant of God and worthy of singular commendacion and renowme for his excellencie in martiall affayres The remembrance and example of which vertewes owght too stand alwayes before your eyes that you may imitate them to the vttermost of your power And I thinke verily that I may well affirme this of him that in all Fraunce there was not any that went beyond him in matters of warre nother do I dowt but that forrein nations will yeeld him like record specially such as haue had experiēce of his prowesse heeretofore He purchaced not this so great estimation by sloth and ydlenes but by induring of greate peynes for his countries sake Surely I neuer knew man eyther iuster towards the world or more zealous of righteousnes to godward nother am I ignorant that it were not comly for mee too report these thinges of him among straungers But I am the bolder to speake them vnto you to the intent to incorage and sharpen you too the imitating of so great vertewes for I my self also do set this example before mee to followe the same praying beseeching our God and Lord to graunt mee to depart as godlily and blessedly out of this life as I saw him do And bycause I find myself to haue a great want of him to the intent I may beare this greef of mine the more patiently I craue of you that I may see his vertewes reuiue shine forth in you For your better atteinement wherof giue your selues with your whole hart to godlines religion and while you be in these yeeres spend your time in the study of such learning as may lead you into the way of vertew And although I can well abide that you should be from your books at such howres as your mayster giues you leaue too play yit looke to it that in your playing you nother do nor say ought that may offend god Specially reuerence your Schoolemaister and obey him no lesse then myself For I am sure that he will not giue you any precept or counsell which shall not bee both for your honour profit As concerning all other things if ye loue me or rather if ye loue your selues so deale as I may alwaies heare glad tydings of you looke as ye growe in yeeres and body so growe yee also in godlines and vertew God blesse you all and be your defence and vphold you euermore with his holy spirit From Sauton the xviii of May .1569 Shatilion Nother was the Admirals stowt corage in bearing out the greatnesse of that greefe vnknowen too straungers For although he had forgone such a brother as he knewe to bee peerelesse in godlinesse Iustice valeantnesse renowme of noble deedes and cōmendacion of chiualrie insomuch that for his owne part he termed him his right arme yit did he oftentimes protest among his freends that he himself rested vppon the prouidence of god For he both vnderstoode and also was wont to say oftentimes that nother the Churche of God was gwided by mānes pollicy nor the christian army ordered by the prowesse of the Capteines And in talking of his brothers death among his freēds he was wōt to cry out O happy Andelot which ended the course of his lise so godlily luckily About the same time word was brought of the cōming of VVoolfgang Duke of Bipount into Fraunce with a mighty armie of Germanes whome he browght to our reskew how he had already passed the Loyre with his power and had woone the towne of Sharity bicause there was a bridge ouer the riuer in that towne into Berrey When the Germanes were come to the towne of Shalluce in the borders of Limosin the Admirall determined to ioyne with them the which self same day the Duke of Bipount being oppressed with a sore sicknes departed out of this life and the cheef charge was by cōsent of al the Germanes committed to VVoolrade Earle of Mansfeld who had bin his lieuetennant The aduersaries were greatly abashed at this ioyning of thē togither there was no place in all Fraunce where this opinion was not spred that if the Germanes and Frenchmen might match togither the Kings power was like to go to wrecke and the Courtiers should be glad and fayne to stoope to their aduersaries Also such as shewed themselues desirous of peace and of publike quietnesse did openly both in the Camp and in the Citie curse the authors of falshod saying that it was neuer yit seene but that the end of periurie was alwayes mischeuous This was certeinly thought of all men that if the Admiral ioyning his owne power with the power of the Germanes had led them rightforth into the hart of Fraunce towards Paris many cities would haue yeelded vnto him and haue committed themselues to his tuicion This opinion was very greatly confirmed within feaw daies after For at such time as Henry Duke of Aniow being incamped neere vntoo him had giuen him battel he was easily driuen back and compelled to retyre with the losse of a greate number of his footemen with the taking of Mounsyre Strossie the
sharpwitted and of very greate foresight in this one cace he was by a kynd of destinie stark blynd Howbeeit forasmuch as there is a treatise set foorth alredy intitled the declaration of the Hellish slawghter conteyning the discourse of the whole matter with the tragicall issew therof and the celebrating of the king of Nauarres mariage with all maner of pomp and royaltie of showes I will as now set downe no more but the things that concerne the last time of the Admiralles life wherof I haue gotten most certein testimonies Notwithstanding I will first set downe a copie of a letter which he wrate the self same day with his own hand from Paris too his wife then great with chyld For seing I had the originall copie in my hād which seemed to cary greate weyght with it for the setting foorth of the truth of the storie I thowght it was not to be let passe in this place And therfore I haue trāslated it thus in maner woord for woord Greeting This day my right deer beloued wife is the mariage of the kings sister of the king of Nauarre celebrated Theis next .3 dayes wil be spēt in playes bākettings masks triūphs The king hath promised me faithfulli that afterward he wil bestow some time in heering the cōplaints that are brought to him from sundry partes of his realme for violating of his edict of peace In which matter it is good right that I should imploy myself to the vttermost of my power For although I haue great desire to see thee yit wold it be a greef both to me to thee also as I think if my indeuer duetie should want in the furtherance of that matter Neuertheles this let wil not stay my departure out of the Citie so long but that I may come away the next weeke If I had no further respect thā of my self it were more pleasure for mee too bee with thee thā to tary any lōger in this Court for causes which thou shalt know of mee when I comme home But I must haue more regard of the comon weale than of priuate loue or cōmoditie I haue diuers other thīgs too impart too thee as soone as I may conueniently talke with thee wherof I assure thee I am desirous night and day But all that I can tell thee of as now is this It was this day past fower of the clocke in the afternoone ere the mariage masse was celebrated Whyle that was a singing the king of Nauarre walked vp and downe with certein noblemen of our Religion which followed him in a certein yard with owt the Churche There are a nomber of smaller things which I will deferre till wee may talk toogither In the meane while I beseeche God too preserue thee my deerbeloued and moste louing wife At Paris the .18 of August 1572. A three dayes ago I was diseased with the cholik and the stone But as God woold it lasted not past a .9 or .10 howres and as now such is Gods goodnesse I am free from all such peynes I promis thee I will trubble none of them in the thronges of their feastes playes Once agein Farewell The subscription of the letter was this Thy louing husband Shattilion The .5 day after the Date of this letter which was the .22 day of August as the Admirall went homeward frō the kings counsel abowt dinner time and passed by the house of Villemure a canon scholemaister too the yoong Duke of Gwyse he was striken with a hargabus shot owt of a Lattiswindowe and wownded in three places For the forefinger of his ryght hand was broken in peeces and hys left arme shot throwgh with two pellets of brasse which thing the foremencioned storie of the hellish slawghter hathe breefly towched Hervppon the Phisicions and Surgions were sent for owt of hand among whom was Ambrose Parey the Kings Surgion which was takent too haue greate skill in Leachecraft He that was witnesse of the things insewing did bothe see them and also hold vp the Admiralles arme as he lay vppon his bed The sayd Ambrose began his cure at the broozed finger and did cut it of not without putting his patient to great peyne For inasmuch as his pinsons were not sharp ynowgh he was fayne to open them thryce and thryce to grype them ageine togither Afterward he launced bothe the sids of his left arme where the pellets had perced through the peyne wherof the Admirall abode not only with a stowt corage but also with a stedfast coūtenāce Yea and wheras they that hild vp his armes and behild those launcings were not able to forbeare weeping the Admirall perceyuing them too bee dismayd sayd vnto them Why weepe yee my freends I thinke my self blissed in suffering these wounds for Gods name sake And therewithall looking vppon Merline a minister of Gods word my freends quoth he these are Gods benefits In deede I am full of peine but I acknowledge this to bee the will of our Lord God and I think his maiestie that he hath voutsafed me so greate honour as to lay somme crosse vppon mee for his moste holie names sake Therfore let vs pray him too graunt mee the gyft of perseuerance Then beholding Merlyne moorning and lamenting My Merlyne quoth he why dost thou not rather comfort mee Yee say truth sir aunswered Merlyne nother is there any greater or surer comfort for you than to thinke continually that God doth you greate honour in deeming you worthye to suffer these greefes for his name and religions sake My Merlyne replyed the Admirall if God should handle mee according to my deserts and woorthynesse and deale with mee according too his iustice I shoulde haue farre other maner of greefes too indure But blessed bee his Name for vsing his mercie and clemencie towards mee his moste vnwoorthie seruant O Sir quoth another hold yee still in that godlye mynd For you haue cawse too giue greate thankes too him for his goodnesse in that he hathe left you the moste part of your bodie whole and sownde Therefore you haue in these wowndes a greater warrant of Gods mercye than token of his wrath specially sith he hath lefte you your head and mynde vnwounded Then answered Merlyne You do verye well too turne awaye your mynde and conceyt from your strykers and from them that gaue you these wowndes vntoo God alone For surely it was his hand that layd these strokes vppon you and it is no tyme for you too thinke now vppon the cutthrots and murtherers As for mee quoth the Admirall vndowtedly I forgiue freely and with all my hart both him that strake me and them that did set the striker to do it For I am sure it is not in their power too do mee anye harme no not euen thowgh they shoulde kill mee for I am out of all dowt that deathe is too mee a passage vntoo lyfe which saying he repeted ageine anon after too the Marshal Mounsyre Damuyle who came too him too
professing the purer religion should notwithstanding bee so hyghly in fauour with the Queene Moother and resort so often too the Countie Rhetes and others of the Queenes familiar freendes Abowt the third howre of the nyght there rose another occasion of suspicion throwghe Mounsyre Cossins frowardnesse who espying the Corselets of Mounsyre Telignie and Mounsyre Gvverchie too bee browght in did put backe the bringer Uppon the knowledge wherof Gvverchie being of warlike disposition and very feerce of nature went owt too Cossins and giuing him euill language was like too haue made a fray with him But Telignie appeazed the quarell with gentle speeche for as all men report he was a yoongman of a meeld and meeke dispozition and such a one as being deceiued wyth the Kings fayre words was woont to aduance and commend his sinceritie without meazure or end Therefore when as Gvverche and diuers others asked of him whither he thought it good for them to tarie and keepe watch all night in the Admiralls howse he answered them all that it was labour more than needed and gaue them thanks with very louing words By meanes wherof it fel out that none lodged in the Admirals house that night but only Cornaton Labon Yolette the Mayster of the Admiralls horses Merline the minister of Gods word Ambrose the Kings Surgion the Admiralls chamberseruants and a fower or fyue other seruants at the most For Telignie had gotten himself with his wife intoo his owne howse which ioyned wall to wall to the Admiralls lodging Neuerthelesse there watched fyue Svvissers of the King of Nauarres gard at the gate of the owtter court whom he had commaunded to tarie there all night for the Admiralles defence Sommewhat before daylyght woorde was browght to Labon that there was one at the gate sent by the King to the Admirall who desired too bee let in Labon taking the keyes ranne too the gate out of hand and opened it Byandby Cossens cawght hold of him and killed him with his dagger and being garded with his hargabuzers he rushed foorthwith into the howse killed somme running away amazed and othersomme as they met him and set all on a noize and vprore Then brake he open the doore at the stayers foote and althowgh he slew one of the Swissers with the shot of a hargabut yit was he kept from comming vp the staires by setting certeine chests in his way The Admirall and they that were with him being waked with the noyze of the pistoleâ—s and Curriers dowting not but that their enemyes were broken in vpon them did forthwith fal flat vpoÌ„ the ground began to pray for peace at Gods hand and too call vnto him for mercie The Admirall himself being lifted out of his bed and hauing put on his nightgowne commaunded Merlyne too make prayers before him and he calling vpon Christ our God with vehement sighing fell too commending of his spirit intoo his hands which he had receiued of God to inioy When the witnesse of all theis things came into his chamber being demaunded of Ambrose the SurgioÌ„ what noyze that was he turned himself to the Admirall and sayd Sir it is God that calleth vs vntoo him They haue broken intoo the howse there is no way too withstand them As for mee quoth the Admirall I haue prepared myself vntoo death afore hand Shift yow for yourselues if yow can possibly for it wil bee in vaine for yow too go abowt too saue my life I commend my sowle to Gods mercy They that are the witnesses of theis things noted that the Admirall did no more chaunge his countenance at theis dooings than if no straunge thing at all had happened vntoo him All the residew sauing only Nicolas Muskie a right trustie seruaunt of his his interpreter for the Dutche tong getting themselues away intoo the garrettes of the howse and finding a windowe in the roofe fell too shifting for their liues by flight and diuers of them scaped by the benefite of the night By that time Cossins hauing remoued the chests and the other stoppes that were cast in hys waye browght in first certein of the Swissers apparelled in longcotes garded with blacke white and greene wherby it was perceyued that they were of the Duke of Aniowes gard Theis beholding their fower countrymen vppon the stayers did hurt none of them But Cossins being armed with a Corslet a sheeld and brandishing his naked swoord in his hand did by and by commaunde the hargabuzere that was next him too shoote at them with which shot one of them was striken stark dead owt of hand Assoone as they were broken intoo the Admirals chamber one Beheme a Germane borne in the Dukedome of Wirtemberg whose father by report was the maister of the ordinance being the first that stept intoo the chamber and seeing the Admirall sitting there said Art not thou the Admirall Yis I am he quoth the Admirall and thou yoong man haue regard of my hore heade and old age But Beheme without giuing him any mo woordes strake him on the heade with his swoord and was the first that imbrued himself with the Admiralles blud After him followed Cossins Attignie and all the residew As for the rest of the things that concerne the murthers saccages that were done in Paris those .2 whole dayes togither they be recorded alredy in the foresaid discourse of the hellish manslawghter The Admiralls bodie being throwne downe out of a windowe was trampled vnder foote by the yong Duke of Gvvyse and anon after tumbled into the myre in the open streete and mangled and vsed with all the vilanie that might be and a three dayes after caried out of the Citie by the furious multitude and hanged vp by the feete vppon the gallowes of Mountfalcon There it remayned certeine dayes as a banner of the people of Parisis victorie and as a monument of their madnesse and crueltie which they executed vppon him bothe quicke deade which deede will not only neuer be forgotten but also bee the destruction of Paris as a nomber of wise and discreete men foredeeme But within a feaw dayes after the Admiralls bodie was taken downe in the night by certeine horsmen and buryed in a secret place Among diuers wrytings that were taken in the riffeling of his stuffe was fownd his will made a litle before the end of the last warres which the Queene moother commaunded too bee red before certeine of hir familiar freends In the same there was one article wherin the testator counselled the King that he should not gine his brothers too greate richesse and authoritie At the heering wherof the Queene turning too Frauncis Duke of Alaunson the Kings brother said Lo heere your odde frend the Admiral whom you loued so deerely and set so much store by To whom the Duke of Alaunson answered I cannot tell how much he was my freend but surely he hath well shewed euen by this counsel how greatly he loued the king Not vnlike too
this was the Quene of Inglands Ambassadours answer Who when the Queene moother told him that the Admiral had coūseled the king too bee alwayes gelows of the power of Ingland answered surely that mind of his was euill towardes Inglande but singularly good towardes Fraunce When tidings of the slaughter at Paris was caried into Ingland Scotland and Germanie too such as hild the same Religion of the Gospell which the Admirall had doone it is incredible too tell how greate hatred it procured too the king and the Queene moteer specially forasmuch as in those feawe dayes almost ten thowsand Protestāts being striken in feare and amazed with that storme fled intoo those countries who making report that the Admirall was a noble gentleman a great and wise capteine and the glorie of their countrie blazed the authors of that wickednesse for ranke murtherers Too the increace wherof made also the speeches and complaintes of diuers yoong Gentlemen of Germanie who being sent into Fraunce too studie there and being striken in feare with the sayd storme returned home for the moste part spoyled and stripped owt of all that euer they had and therfore cursed not only the owtrageous heinousnesse of the fact but also the whole realme of Fraunce among their parentes and kinsfolke Othersomme which had serued the Admiral in the former warres commended his vertue euerywhere among the princes of Germanie For which is thowght too bee the hardest thing in Martiall affayres he excelled not only in counsell but also in prowesse wheras comonly wisdome breedeth fearfulnesse and corage breedeth rashnesse Furthermore not a fewe which were familiarly acquainted wyth the Admirals life and cōuersation at home in hys owne house going abrode among princes commended him with singular praises for his innocēcie stayednesse mildnesse and woonderfull zelowsenesse in following the religion which thing might bee cheefly perceiued by the inward conuersation of his life at home wherof I wil adde sumwhat heere which I know for certeintie partly by the record of other men and partly by mine owne sight and beholding At his first rizing in the mornings which was meetly early adayes he woold cast his nightgowne abowt him and kneeling downe vppon his knees take vppon him too be as the mouth of his whole companie in praying and calling vppon god And so the residew kneeled all downe after his example and Prayer was made in the same maner that is vsed comonly in the Frenche Churches After the end of prayer looke what time was betweene that and the Sermon time he bestowed it euerywhit either in hearing of the delegates of the Churches that were sent vntoo him or in the dispatching of other publik affaires For afterward eche other day there was a sermon at warning giuē and some certeine Psalme of Dauid was sung Whē the Sermon was done he returned too his businesse vntill dinner time Which being redie all his household sauing a feawe that were occupied abowt dressing of the meate came togither into the hall where the table was couered and there if there had bin no sermon a Psalme of Dauids was sung in his presence standing at the table with his wife standing by his side and the Table was blissed with ordinarie grace Which kind of order he was woont too keepe euery day without faile not only at home in time of peace but also euen in the Camp. Wherof not only innumerable Frenchmen but also a greate nomber of Almaine Knightes Capteines and officers which were oftentimes bidden too his table can bee witnesses As sone as the table was taken away byandby the Admiral rose vp and standing on his feete with his wife likewise by him and the rest of the cōpanie that sate with him at his table did either himself pronounce the praier of thanksgiuing vnto God or cawse it too bee doone by the preacher And at Supper times not only the same thing was doone bothe in prayer in singing of the Psalmes but also forasmuch as he sawe it woold be harder for him too get all his folk togither too nightprayer at bedtime bicause that that time was vncerteine by reason of sundrie businesses which they had too doo he commaunded them too be all with him immediatly after supper and caused the nightprayers to bee sayd as soone as the Psalme was ended Through the which example it cannot bee sayde howe manie of the French Nobilitie tooke vp the same order in theyr howses the rather for that the Admirall warned them that if the maister of a howse intended to mainteine godlinesse aright it was not ynowgh for him too frequent sermons and too leade a godly and holie life to himself vnlesse he did also bring his household and acquaintance too the same trade of life by his example Certein it is that his godly and holye conuersation was had in so greate admiration euen among them that were of the Catholik side that if it had not bin for feare of the horrible persecution butcherie that followed afterward the greatest part of Fraunce had turned too the same religion and reformation of manners When the time of the Lords supper was at hand he vsed too call his houshold seruauntes and reteiners abowt him and too tell them that he was too yeeld account vntoo God not only of his owne life but also of their ordinarie dealings If any iarre were falne among them he appeazed it by setting them at one If any man seemed not altoogether so foreward in vnderstanding and reuerencing that greate misterie as he owght too bee him did he cause to be instructed more diligently in religion If any seemed ouer stubborne he wold tell them openly that he had leuer to dwel at home alone than to kepe a rowt of leud lozels Agein he thought the institution of schooles and the well training vp of yong children to be the singular benefite of god This he termed the seedleape of the Churche and the Nurcerie of godlinesse Affirming that the want of learning had cast a mist not only vppon the Common weale but also vppon Religion and that the tyranny of the bishop of Rome had bin bred and borne in that dungeon who had reigned ouer the blind and ignorant wretches as father Dis is reported among the Poetes too haue reigned ouer night and darknesse And therfore he founded a schoole in a pleasant wholesome place hard by the Shattilion howse and when he had finished the building of it at his great cost he mainteined many children and yoongmen there and manie lerned Hebricians Grecians and Latinistes too reade those languages too them Moreouer of his singular stayednesse this was one proof that wheras he was indowed with greate offices of honour and could haue sowght his owne commoditie and gleaned riches too himself after the example of other Courtyers yit did he not purchace one Acre of grownd nor increace his fathers inheritance wyth one cotage And although he played the good husband in vsing and spending of his owne goodes yit notwithstanding when any Princes noblemen gentlemen or men of any degree came vntoo him as they came vntoo him from all partes of Fraunce abowt the publik affaires of the Realme loke whatsoeuer monny he had gotten before by his sparing he spent it liberally vppon them in hospitalitie By meanes wherof it is certein that he left his heires or successors charged with the dette of not so little as fortie thowsand powndes besides the yeerly loan of six thowsand powndes which he payd too his creditors for interest And I must not heere let passe in silence the incredible vnitie of minde loue and concord that was betwene the three brethren Shattilions which was so greate that there seemed too bee but one mynd made of all the three The Admirall liued three and fiftie yeeres six monethes and eight dayes He was of stature meetly tall of colour ruddie of all his members well proportioned and agreeable of countenance stable and cheerfull of voyce gentle and sweete howbeeit of speeche sommewhat slowe and soft of helth meetly good of gesture and gate comly specially when he was at home in his gowne walking with his wife or his freendes a small drinker of wine euen by nature measurable in meate and sleepe for comonly he rested not aboue seuen howres And since the tyme of the last pacification he suffered no day to passe wherin he entered not intoo his daybooke with his owne hand before he laid him downe too sleepe the things that seemed woorth the noting in the former ciuill warres Which being fownd after his death and browght too the kings coūsell purchaced him great commendacion for his quiet and vncombered mind euen among such as hated him moste Besides this when the warre was once ended and he had withdrawen himself too Rochell as is sayd afore he let no day passe without reading one of Caluins Sermons vppon the storie of Iob bothe morning and euening which storie he termed oftentimes the comfort of his sowle and his necessarie medicine at all assayes in all his aduersities By his first wife he had fiue children of whom he left aliue his eldest daughter Loys maryed as is sayd heertoofore vntoo Mounsyre Telignie who was murthered in the same furiows slawghter the selfsame night that his father in lawe was and also Frauncis Odette and Charles of whom the twoo eldest were conueyed speedily from the butcherly slawghter and the third which was but seuen yeere old and eyght moonethes whom his father loued moste intierly for his pleasant conceytednesse being takē by the aduersaries was tawght too beare Christes crosse euen from the pryme of his chyldhod The Admirall left his later wife with childe of a dawghter wherof shee was deliuered a fower moonethes after and then returning home intoo the borders of Sauoy was committed too warde within feawe moonethes after by the commaundment of Philibert the Prince of that Countrie FINIS Laus Honorsoli Deo filio eius Iesu Christo.