concerns the glory of God and the perfect restauration of the Roman Catholick Apostolick Church should since be changed or less at this present than he shewed it to be during the said troubles But so far is it from being so that his Majesty desires every one may know that he made the said Peace purposely to try if by means of it he could reunite his Subjects in the Church of God which the malice and licentiousness of the times had separated from it having so long proved with the hazard of his Person and State and with the price of the blood of a great number of Princes Lords Gentlemen and others of his Subjects who lost their lives in those broils that the discord raised about Religion and that took root in this Kingdom during the minority of the late King his brother and of himself to the great grief of the Queen their Mother could not be setled by the way of Armes without destroying his said Subjects and putting his Kingdom into evident danger Wherefore his Majesty resolved for Peace when once he found that all sorts of Persons were tyred and afflicted by the too long continuance of those said Tumults and that he wanted the means of supplying any longer the expences of so destructive a War Which would not have come to pass if in the Assembly of the States General of this Kingdom held at Blois the Deputies who were there had made request unto His Majesty to prohibit absolutely the exercise of the pretended reformed Religion in this Kingdom for then that course would not have been decreed which was there taken and Sworn to and which his Majesty laboured to put in execution with those conditions which are clearly expressed in it For if it had been concluded in good earnest to prosecute the War care would likewise have been taken to provide a certain stock of money from time to time to maintain it till the end as it was necessary to do and as his Majesty insisted that they would and they should then have had no pretence of complaint who nevertheless publish That every one was quickly deprived of that glympse of good hope which appeared to them at the resolution taken by the States though it be neither decent nor lawful for a Subject to judge of the actions of his King if for no other reason but because he is often ignorant of the secret causes that are the motives of his commands which sometimes are more pregnant then those that are apparent and known to every one it not belonging to any one to do so save onely to God the Searcher and Judge of all hearts and of the actions of Princes who knowes the causes that then forced his Majesty to conclude Peace before any thing else being certain that if he had deferred so to do this Kingdom would in a moment have been filled with Forraign Forces and with diverse Factions and new divisions which would have been wonderfully prejudicial to the State His Majesty therefore to prevent all the aforesaid inconveniences to hinder the effects of them and to try the best remedies condescended to the aforesaid Peace and not to settle and establish Heresie in this Kingdom as is published abroad for such a thought never entred into the mind of so good and so Christian a Prince as is his Majesty who having foreseen felt and proved the difficulties of War thought fit so much the sooner to consent unto the aforesaid Peace to the end that by means thereof he might at least satisfie his good Subjects with that ease which they expected from those other points propounded and required in the Assembly of the said States General for the publick good of the Kingdom Peace and concord being the principal necessary foundation for the establishing of good Laws and the reformation of manners which businesses His Majesty hath since continually prosecuted as appears by the Edicts and Constitutions made for that purpose which he hath laboured to cause to be observed and put in execution and if his intention hath not been fulfilled according to his desire it hath been very much to his grief and it may be also as well through the negligence of some of his Officers and through the cunning of his evil-willers as by reason of the advantage and footing which wickedness corruption and disobedience had taken in this Kingdom during the said War By that Peace many Cities full of Citizens and Catholick inhabitants were freed from Soldiers that had seised upon them and the exercise of the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion was restored to its being as by the diligence and care of his Majesty it is brought to pass in almost all the Towns of this Kingdom wherein nevertheless those that make profession of the said pretended reformed Religion have since those Commotions been and at this present are still the strongest and by whom the said exercise had till then been banished both before and since he came unto the Crown Likewise the face of Justice hath appeared in them and if not so fully and perfectly as might have been desired yet so that sometimes it hath had sufficient strength to relieve the good and terrifie the bad The Prelates and Clergy-men are setled again in their Churches and in the possession of those goods that were taken from them The Nobility hath been able to live securely in their own houses without being liable to those expences they were wont to make during the War to keep themselves from being suddenly surprised The Citizen deprived of his possession and wandring about the Country with his Family is also entred again into his own house by means of the said Peace The Merchant hath likewise wholly betaken himself again unto his Traffick which was interrupted by occasion of the said Tumults And the poor Peasant pressed down under the weight of intolerable burthen proceeding from the unbridled liberty of the Soldier hath had means to breathe and have recourse unto his ordinary labour to sustain the poverty of his life Briefly there is no kind of Estate or Person that hath not effectually shared in the fruit and benefit of that Peace And as his Majesty hath alwayes been most jealous of Gods honour and as solicitous of the publick good of his Subjects as a most Christian and truly good Prince ought to be knowing that the evils and calamities of a State do spring chiefly from the want of true Piety and Justice he hath since the said Peace continually laboured to set those two Pillars up again which the violence of the said Tumults had as it were overturned and thrown to the ground and that he might so do had begun to nominate such persons to Ecclesiastical dignities that have cure of Souls as were fit and capable and such as are ordained by the holy Decrees He hath also invited his Subjects by his example to reform their manners and to fly unto the Grace and Mercy of God by Prayer and Austerity of life
which hath confirmed the Catholicks in the duty towards the Divine Majesty and moved some of those that were separated from the Church of God to reunite themselves unto it He hath also graciously taken time to hear the discourses and complaints of the Clergy after having given them leave to meet together for that purpose and provided amply and favourably for them having since rather eased then burthened them with new extraordinary Tenths without having any respect to the necessity of his own affairs being very sorry that he could not also free them from the payment of the ordinary ones having when he came to the Crown found them engaged for the payment of the rent of the Town-house of Paris The said Prelates and Clergy-men have likewise had conveniency by His Majesties permission to call and hold their Provincial Councels by means whereof they have consulted and provided for the reformation of abuses introduced into the Church during the said Tumults and have made many very good and holy Ordinances for the Government of it which have been commended and approved by his Majesty These are the fruits and publick general advantages which the Church of God and the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion have reaped from the aforesaid Peace besides infinite other private and particular ones which it would be too long to recount Then as concerning Justice every one knowes the pains his Majesty hath taken in drawing it out of the darkness where those troubles had buried it to set up the light thereof again in its first force and ancient splendor having by death disannulled those Offices that were supernumerary and moreover prohibited the sale of the said Offices which the necessity of money had forced his Predecessors to introduce without having any regard of his own wants though they were no less then those of his Predecessors Besides that his Majesty hath excluded all Pardons and evocations which in times past were wont to be dispatched by his own will and pleasure knowing that the hope of the one gives encouragement to wickedness and the too much easiness of granting the other brought a confusion in matters of Justice Moreover His Majesty since the said Peace hath had opportunity to send Courts composed of the Officers of the Parliament of Paris into divers Provinces of this Kingdom to do Justice to his Subjects upon the place from whence that fruit hath been gathered which every one hath tasted and which yet would have been greater to the great contentment of good men if his good intentions had been better assisted by those who naturally and by the particular obligation of their Offices were bound to do so But as the misfortune of the times hath made some so bold as to attribute the faults of others to his Majesty so the corruption and malignity of them hath been filled with so much impudence and indiscretion that many have also taken pleasure to defame his most holy and best actions and in that manner gain themselves credit at the cost of his reputation and have had so high a degree of boldness as to interpret too too much rigour and severity that laudable resolution he had taken to make the Sentences and Decrees of the said Courts be executed against Malefactors Thus his Majesty having by these means begun to provide for the setting up again of these two Pillars the true and onely foundations of all Monarchy had promised himself that he should settle and restore them absolutely by the continuation of Peace if God had been so merciful to him as to make his Kingdom and Subjects worthy of it Which it appears having been as soon feared as foreseen by those who at this present would stir up his Subjects to take Arms but under colour of providing for both their points They do also publish that they have taken Armes to prevent those troubles which they say they fear will happen after the death of his Majesty about the establishment of a Successor to the prejudice of the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion being perswaded or at least publishing that they are so that his Majesty or they that are near him do favour the pretensions of those who have alwayes shewed themselves persecutors of the said Religion a thing which his Majesty prayes and admonishes his Subjects to believe he never so much as thought for being yet God be thanked in the force and flower of his age and in perfect health as also the Queen his Wife he hopes that God will give him issue to the universal contentment of his good and loyal Subjects And it seems unto his Majesty to be too great a forcing of time and nature and too great a distrust of the mercy and goodness of God of the health and life of his Majesty and of the fruitfulness of the Queen his Wife to move such a question at this present and after to go about to decide it by force of Arms. For in stead of freeing and curing this Kingdome of the evil which they pretend to fear may one day come to pass for that cause they go directly about to hasten the paines and mortal effects of it by beginning a War now upon that occasion it being certain that by means thereof the Kingdom will be quickly filled with Forreign Forces with Factions and endless discords with blood slaughter and infinite murthers and robberies And see now how the Catholick Religion will be established how the Clergy-man will be disburthened of Tenths how the Gentleman will live in quiet and security in his own house and how he will enjoy his Rights and Priviledges how Cities and the inhabitants in them will be exempt from Garrisons and how the poor people will be free from the Taxes and Impositions that lie upon them His Majesty exhorts and admonishes his Subjects to open their eyes here and not to perswade themselves that this War will end so easily as they give out but to comprehend and maturely consider the inevitable consequences of it and not to suffer their reputation to be blemished and their Armes to serve for instruments of their Countries ruine and the greatness of those that are enemies of it For whilst blinded to our own good we shall fight against one another succoured in appearance but in effect fomented by their assistance they will reign happily and establish their own power They complain also of the distribution of Offices and Honors in this Kingdom saying that those are deprived of them who have deserved best in his Majesties service a weak and dishonourable foundation to build the ruine and subversion of so flourishing a Kingdom whose Kings were never constrained to make use of one more then of another for there is no Law obliges them to do so save that of the good of their own service Yet hath his Majesty alwayes honoured and favoured the Princes of his Blood as much as any of his Predecessors and hath shewed a desire to advance others in credit honor and
the Duke of Nevers unto the Assembly he caused them to propose that it being requisite to make War with powerful Armies against those that were disobedient to the Catholick Church great sums of money were also necessary and that therefore the Kings Treasury being exhausted he desired the States to assist him with two millions of Ducats to maintain the vast expences of War which none ought to refuse since they had all solemnly taken the Oath of the League and thereby obliged themselves to contribute their Fortunes in common at which demand the Deputies for the City of Paris not being present because some were indisposed and the rest gone home to elect the Prevost des Merchands the chief Officer of that City and therefore Iean Bodin being President of the Order of Commons and knowing all that burthen was to be laid upon the people rose up and answered That the Third Estate had always propounded and protested to desire unity in Religion and the reducing of those that went astray but without the noise of Arms and War and that if they looked into the Records of the Assembly they should find those very words formerly expressed in the Vote of the Commons which he had caused to be registred and that since they had not consented to the War neither were they bound to contribute to the expences of it to satisfie the fantastical humours of some of the Deputies and consume their own Estates to renew the yet bleeding wounds of the Kingdom to which speech of his not only the other Orders but the Clergy themselves assented who having sworn that in words which they were not so forward to perform in actions and desiring no less than the rest to ease themselves of those contributions wherewith all of them were equally wearied and burthened the ardour and constancy of those began to waver who had so readily resolved upon a War at the charge and danger of other men whereupon the King turning his sail according to the wind the next day he himself propounded to the Deputies That since they thought the charges of War so grievous a burthen they should patiently expect the Duke of Montpensier and Monsieur de Byron sent by him to the King of Navarre to procure his conversion in a friendly and peaceable manner with which motion notwithstanding the opposition of many the major part of the Deputies were contented Not many days after the Duke of Montpensier returned and being brought into the Assembly by the Kings command related in order all that had passed in his Negotiation and in substance shewed them that the King of Navarre being most desirous of the Peace of the Kingdom would be contented with such reasonable conditions as cutting off all exorbitant superfluous matters which were granted in the last Edict might moderate and compose all differences without putting themselves upon the necessity of a War and gave almost assured hopes that he himself though he would not give occasion to have it thought that he turned Catholick by compulsion might yet in time condescend to alter his opinion and make a happy conclusion of all things which relation coming from the Duke who was of the Blood-Royal Brother-in-law to the Duke of Guise and always partial to the Catholicks wrought such an effect in the minds of all as encouraged Iean Bodin and others of the Order of Commons again to try the way of agreement with express protestation that unity in Religion ought to be procured without War Which Vote being some days stiffly opposed and as constantly maintained was at last carried and a Writing drawn up in the Name of the States beseeching the King to endeavour an unity in Religion by peaceful means and without the necessity of War which being propounded by the King himself in his Council the opinions concerning it were diverse for the Duke and Cardinal of Guise the Duke of Mayenne the Duke of Nevers and others were against the proposition of the States alledging that the end they aimed at could not be obtained without the extirpation of the Hugonots who were up in Arms and moreover had already renewed the War and affirming that last proposition of the Deputies to be artificially contrived and extorted whereas the first had been voluntarily and generally agreed on and the Oath taken in approbation of the League which was directly contrary to the present proceedings But the Queen-Mother the Duke of Montpensier the Mareschal de Cosse Monsieur de Byron the High Chancellour Byâ—ago Morvillier Chiverny Bellieure and Villeclaire with the major part of the Council being of the contrary opinion alledged that there were many other means though such as required more time to bring those that were out of the way home into the bosom of the Church and that to destroy so much people would exceedingly weaken the Kingdom and bring it again into the late miseries and dangers Wherefore it was concluded that the Duke of Montpâ—â—sier should return to the King of Navarre to know his last answer concerning his conversion and reconciliation to the Church and the setling of a lasting reasonable Peace In the mean time many other things were debated in the Assembly about the rule of justice the ordering of the Finances the payments of debts and the reformation of manners among which matters some of the Prelats moved that the Council of Trent might be received and observed but the Deputies of the Nobility and those of the Commons opposed it stoutly with which the major part of the Clergy concuring for the conservation as they said of the priviledges of the Gallique Church and such as had been granted to it by several Popes it was at last resolved that it should pass no further The Heads of the Catholick League and their followers omitted not to seek some way of restraining the Kings power and propounded that his Council might be reduced to the number of four and twenty Counsellors which should not be chosen at the Kings pleasure but by every Province of the Kingdom as is the custom in other States But this motion being made but coldly and stifly opposed by many as contrary to the anâ—ient constitutions and all former precedents it was in the end cast ouâ— â—est the mention of it should too much exasperate the King With these deliberations not only ambiguous and uncertain but also opposite and disagreeing among themselves the Congregation of the States broke up which having neither concluded Peace nor War the King was left free to do what pleased himself who having happily though not without much pains and industry overcome the conspiracies of the League was in good measure confirmed in the resolution of his first designs having not only increased his inward hatred toward the House of Guise but found by experience his own weakness and the too great power of their Faction Wherefore being resolved to establish Peace because both parties were nourished and fomented by the War he first of all put the Bishop of
other Heads of the League should be so nearly engaged and interessed with the Catholick King whose assistance was necessary while the War continued that they would no longer have power to dispose of themselves in conclusion That both duty and profit were joyned together in this resolution for having received so great a blessing from God it was no longer time to defer his Conversion since now by the favour of his Divine Majesty he might do it with reputation and glory and without suspicion of baseness of mind or meanness of spirit The King answered graciously That he commended the Sieur de Villeroy's intention to endeavour the peace of the Kingdom and was glad to hear that the Duke of Mayenne was well disposed to it That he acknowledged the Victory he had obtained first from the hand of God and then from his Nobility That God the Protector of Justice and Right had protected his Cause and that those invincible Lords and Gentlemen that followed him had been the instruments of his Divine mercy That the Kingdom appertained to him of right by a direct and natural succession and by a lawful way known to all so that forraign Princes were most manifestly to blame for disturbing him in the possession of it and much more his Subjects for denying him their due obedience That he had never offended any nor deserved so unjust an opposition as was made against him That he had alwayes moderately and modestly defended himself and had done neither violence nor injury to forraign Princes nor to the Subjects of the Crown for which they now had any reason to revenge themselves but that when he called to mind the miraculous power and merciful favour of God wherewith he had preserved him in the times of his weakness and miseries and had defended him from so many and so long persecutions when the whole World seemed to have conspired against him he could not believe his Divine Majesty would leave so great a work unperfect but was assured in himself that he would look upon the justice of his Cause and those Prayers which he to that end always made unto him from the bottom of his heart and therefore he neither feared the Arms of Spain nor the Forces of Rebels but trusted in God and the faithfulness of his Nobility that he should ruine and defeat them That he knew well modesty and moderation were more profitable in Victory than at another time but he neither pretended to oppress nor wrong any body but only to make himself be rightfully obeyed by those who by nature were his subjects and put under his authority That his aim was to be King indeed as he was by right and that the end of the D. of Mayenne and those that followed him ought to be to live in peace security and honor under the obedience of that King which God and Nature had appointed for them by lawful succession That in this he was ready to give them all security and all satisfaction and to afford them a gracious share in his favour without ever calling to memory what was past That he desired to conquer rather by pardon benignity and liberality than by the Sword as well because it was the shorter way as because it was sutable to his genius and nature averse from blood and revenge and inclined to do good unto his Subjects and to pacifie the troubles of his Kingdom That it belonged to him to give the Law unto his Subjects and not to receive Conditions from them yet nevertheless if jealous of their Consciences and of Religion they desire to secure it any way he would give them all convenient satisfaction and that the candour and firmness of his Faith was already known to every one by many proofs which having never broken for the time past he was most fully resolved never to break for the time to come That the Princes Lords and Gentlemen that followed him which were much more numerous than those that followed the Duke had contented themselves with the promise he had made them and with the security he had given them that they should live peacefully in their conscience liberty and religion and that therefore the others ought to be contented with the same and being secured in their own particulars ought to permit him to think of his own salvation by those means which it should please the Lord to inspire into him in a seasonable time and a fitting convenient manner Then he asked the Sieur de Villeroy if he had seen his Promise and Declaration made after the death of the late King who answered him That he had and that the Duke of Mayenne and the other Lords of his party had seen it likewise but that they all believed they could not in conscience upon any condition whatsoever obey a King that was not a Catholick but of a different Religion from that which they held by succession from their ancestors To which the King replied That he was neither Infidel Pagan nor Idolater that he adored and served the same God with the Catholicks and that he esteemed the Religion in which he had been bred up not to be incompatible with the Roman That in such a case as concerned his Conscience and Salvation God was to work and not men That it ought to be done by kind gentle instruction and not with Sword and Pistol That if he had not yielded to turn in the late King's time when he saw his ruine and destruction before his face much less would he do it at the request of those that rebelled against him now that by the favour of God he had the upper hand That he was not obstinate but would yield to the truth and be informed and instructed in it yet that he would satisfie his Conscience in it and if he left freedom of Belief unto his Subjects it was not fit that he should be constrained by them to do that in a rash humour which ought to be done with maturity of deliberation and in the time prefixed by God's Divine will and pleasure That he was a man of Conscience and one that esteemed more the salvation of his Soul than all earthly things and therefore he would go very circumspectly about that business with due and convenient cautions The Sieur de Villeroy replied That because he was by all accounted a Conscientious Prince affectionate to his Religion every one doubted so much the more that being setled in his Kingdom he would not tolerate his Subjects to live in a Religion different from his and which he held to be false and damnable That he had ever heard say and even by Theodore Beza himself in the Conference at Poissy that the belief of the one is further from the other than Heaven is from Earth but that those Disputes were not to be made with Arms That his Majesty had alwayes said he would cause himself to be instructed but never came to the act of that instruction That there wanted not
made against those Rebels and disturbers of the publick peace That this had been chosen as the least evil to the end that the people enraged might not make some bloody tumult That those who had been executed were manifestly guilty as he might see by the proofs which though they were not accompanied with the wonted Forms of Justice were at least true real and manifest That the Articles propounded to the Councellors of State were by them accounted reasonable yet that nevertheless they submitted them to his censure And finally they put him in mind how much they had done and suffered for the greatness of his House and for his own exaltation and besought him to make himself be known for an indulgent loving Father and not for a punctual severe Prince The Duke who desired not to receive an obstacle at his entring into Paris but to be let in with his Forces without resistance excellently dissembling the injury he had received and the anger that was kindled in him welcomed them all severally and answered them in general that he came to the City for no other end and with no other intention but to secure it as he that knew well the sustentation of Religion and his own hopes were all founded and placed in that people and in the Council of Sixteen the first authors and framers of his party With which words and outward shows having in great part assured their minds he entred that night into the City when it was late and being conducted to his Hostel he held the same discourse with many knowing that by proceeding so if he should find opposition he might attribute the pardon to his own will and if he could execute his intentions those outward demonstrations could not hurt or prejudice him in any manner A while after him arrived Diego d' Ivarra who being come to him with the other Spanish Ministers they strove together to perswade him not to shew any resentment of what was past but to give satisfaction to the people for the time to come since the things that had happened though they were done without due orders and forms of Justice were yet good in themselves and profitable for the conservation of Religion and that in the distractions of Civil Wars the ordinary rules of good Government cannot be so well observed but many things are done to a good end in the heat of dangers which in quiet peaceful times would in no wise be suffered That he himself had proceeded in that manner at la Fere without forming any Process against the Marquiss de Menelay whom he had caused to be killed for otherwise that place could not have been kept That therefore it was better to quiet all things by approving what was fallen out than by going about to punish any one to kindle new discords and more dangerous tumults The Duke answered with the same moderation and so parted with the Spaniards but having taken information of the Forces that were in the City and having been told by the Governour and the Prevost des Merchands that the greater and better part of the people would be at his devotion he caused the Colonels of the City to guard their several Quarters that night and in the morning having put in Arms the Foot and Horse he brought with him he went up to the rüe St. Anthoyne and sent to command the Sieur de Bussy at that very instant to deliver up the Bastille into his hands he excusing himself interposing delays and demanding security that he should be harmless the Duke caused the Artillery to be taken out of the Arcenal and began to make them be drawn that way whereat the Governour of the Bastille affrighted being a man more accustomed to any thing than the exercise of Arms and not seeing that any in the City stirred in favour of him for the Governour and Prevost had possessed and blocked up all the ways he at last after many Treaties agreed to leave the Bastille receiving a promise not only from the Duke but from many others that his life should be given him and yet being come home to his house he was assaulted the same evening and was necessitated to save himself by getting over the tops of houses with much ado and with very great danger and after some few days the Duke winking at it he fled secretly from the City and went to live in another place Bussy being out of the Bastille the Duke chose the Sieur du Bourg a man valiant and trusty Governour of it and put such a Garison into it as secured it from all danger that might happen which done he the next morning sent the Sieur de Vitry with his Horse the streets being still blocked up and the Militia in Arms and caused to be taken prisoners at their own Houses Commissary Louchart Captain Emmonot Barthelemy Auroux Colonel of the Quarter of the Carmelites and Ameline the Advocate Cromay the Counsellour being stolen away and secretly fled for being hid by the Spaniards he continued many days in the habit of a Souldier among those of the Garison and went afterwards into Flanders where he lived in great necessity These four judged to be the most faulty of the Sixteen were the next day strangled by the Hang-man in a Chamber of the Louvre and after publickly hanged upon the Gallows the example sufficing the Duke to recover his authority and reputation without shewing cruelty in the blood of so many others that were guilty of the same crime This severity did wonderfully terrifie the Preachers and the Colledge of Sorbonne but the Duke not willing to lose them nor to put himself upon an enterprise that might be sinisterly interpreted nor yet to make so great a confusion as might cause some division in his party went personally to the Church of the Sorbonne and there with grave and moderate words assured them of his favour and protection and said That in consideration of their former vertue and constancy he pardoned the present disobedience and conspiracy and making shew to do it for their sake he caused an Edict to be published wherein declaring that he had satisfied Justice by the punishment of four seditious persons he granted pardon to all the rest imposing silence and oblivion to what was past Out of this Pardon he excepted the Counsellor Cromay Adrian Cocher and the Greâ—â—ier that wrote the Sentence against Brisson who afterwards perished diversly by divers ways At the same time he also decreed that experience having shewn how pernicious those Meetings and Conventicles were which were made secretly without the presence of the publick Magistrate none should upon pain of death any more assemble any other Councils within the City or without save the ordinary Council of the Union with the assistance or presence of the lawful Magistrates These Decrees registred with full consent of the Parliament put an end to the power of the Sixteen and did something slacken and retard the designs and machinations
acknowledge the King of Navar for Superior though he should turn his Religion and make show to live as a Catholick to which the Duke of Mayenne not consenting as a thing very different from his practices and intentions the other Deputies that were present spake against it with divers reasons But the Legat urging with wonderful vehemence at last the Archbishop of Lyons said that the States were Catholicks obedient to the holy Church under the superiority of the Apostolick See in such cases and met together in obedience to the Pope and that therefore they would not be so impudent as to go about to bind his hands and presumptuously to declare that which he had not declared preventing his Judgments and declaring the King of Navar irreconcilable to the Church by a vain determination which was out of the Secular Power and wholly proper to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and that therefore they were resolved not to proceed to that Oath lest they should offend their own consciences and the Majesty and Jurisdiction of the Pope and the Apostolick See Which reason with the decency thereof stopt the Legat's mouth and the Duke of Mayenne's intention not to proceed to that Declaration prevailed But upon the Twenty eighth day there came one of the King's Trumpets to the Gate of the City desiring to be brought in that he might deliver a Packet of Letters directed to the Count de Belin Governor of it and being ask'd what his business was he answered freely and publickly That he brought a Declaration of the Catholicks of the King's party addressed to the Assembly of the States and being come before the Governor he gave the Letters into his hand and made the contents of them more fully known among the People The Governor carried the Packet to the Duke of Mayenne who lay troubled in his Bed and not being willing to open it but in the presence of all the Confederates he sent for the Legate the Cardinal of Pelle-vé Diego d Ivarra the Sieur de Bassompiere Ambassador from the Duke of Lorain the Arch-bishop of Lyons Monsieur de Rosne the Count de Belin the Viscount de Tavannes the Sieur de Villars by him newly declared Admiral Monsieur de Villeroy President Ieannin and two of the ordinary Secretaries which they called Secretaries of State in the presence of whom the cover being taken off there was a Writing found with this Title The Proposition of the Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and chief Catholick Lords as well Counsellors of the King as others now present with his Majesty tending to the end of obtaining Peace so necessary to this Kingdom for the conservation of the Catholick Religion and of the State made to the Duke of Mayenne and the Princes of his Family the Lords and other persons sent by some Cities and Corporations at this present assembled in the City of Paris Having seen the Title and every one being desirous to hear the contents the Writing was read by one of the Secretaries being of this Tenor following THe Princes Prelates Officers of the Crown and Chief Catholick Lords as well of the Council as attendance of His Majesty having seen a Declaration Printed at Paris in the name of the Duke of Mayenne dated in the month of December published with the sound of the Trumpet in the said City upon the Fifth day of this present Month of Ianuary as is found at the bottom of it and which came into their hands a◠Chartres do acknowledge and are of opinion with the said Duke of Mayenne that the continuance of this War bringing the ruine and destruction of the State doth also by necessary consequence draw along with it the ruine of the Catholick Religion as experience hath but too well shewed us to the great grief of the said Princes Lords and Catholick States who do acknowledge the King whom God hath given them and serve him as they are naturally obliged having with this duty ever made the Conservation of the Catholick Religion their principal aim and have then always been most animated with their Arms and Forces to defend the Crown under the obedience of his Majesty when they have seen strangers enemies to the greatness of this Monarchy and to the honor and glory of the French name enter into this Kingdom for it is too evident that they tend to nothing else but to dissipate it and from its dissipation would follow an Immortal War which in time could produce no other effects save the total ruine of the Clergy Nobility Gentry Cities and Countries an event which would also infallibly happen to the Catholick Religion in this Kingdom Thence it is that all good Frenchmen and all those that are truly zealous thereof ought to strive with all their Forces to hinder the first inconvenience from which the second is inseparable and both inevitable by the continuation of the War The true means to prevent them would be a good Peace and a reconciliation between those whom the misfortune hereof keeps so divided and armed to the destruction of one another for upon this foundation Religion would be restored Churches preserved the Clergy maintained in their estates and reputation and Justice setled again the Nobility would recover their ancient force and vigour for the defence and quiet of the Kingdom the Cities would recover their losses and ruines by the re-establishment of Commerce Trades and employments maintainers of the people which are in a manner utterly extinct the Universities would again betake themselves to the study of Sciences which in times past have caused this Kingdom to flourish and given splendour and ornament unto it which at this present languish and are by little and little wasting to nothing the fields would again be tilled which in so many places are left fallow and barren and in stead of the fruits they were wont to bring forth for man's nourishment are now covered with thorns and thistles in summ by Peace every one might do his duty God might be served and the people enjoying a secure Peace would bless those who had procured them that happiness whereas on the contrary they will have just cause to complain and curse those that shall hinder i◠To this effect upon the Declaration which the said Duke of Mayenne makes by his writing as well in his own name as in the names of the rest of his party assembled in Paris where he alledgeth that he hath called the States to take some course and Counsel for the good of the Catholick Religion and the repose of this Kingdom it being clear that if for no other reason yet because of the place alone where it is neither lawful nor reasonable that any other but they of their own party should interview no resolution can proceed from it that can be valid or profitable for the effect which he hath published and it being rather most certain that this can nothing but inflame the War so much the more and take away
after eight months siege 1573. The Duke of Anjou with mighty preparations goes to the siege of Rochel The strong situation of Rochel The Duke of Anjou not to prejudice his election to be King of Poland moves slowly in the enterprise of Rochel Rochel yielded to the King The Conditions The Peace is published and the Army dismissed A third party called Politicks and Male-contents composed of Catholicks and Hugonots Prancâ—s Duke of Alancon the Kings youngest Brother makes himself Head of the Male-contents with hope to usurp the Crown The Hugonots begin again to take Arms. The Duke of Alancon and the King of Navarre imprisoned 1574. A new Insurrection of Hugonots stirred up by Monsieur de la Noue The Queen sends three Armies into three parts of the Kingdom to suppress the Insurrections The Mareshal d' Anville Son of Anna de Momorancy is by the Kings decree deprived of his dignities Villers Brother-in-law to the Author St. Lo is besieged by the Catholicks Montgomery being in it Montgomery flees from St. Lo. The Count Montgomery is taken in Danfront sent to the Court and executed Charles the IX dieth the 30 of May 1574. In the absence of the new King Henry 3. a Truce is made for two months The Parliament of Tholouse ordains that the Truce shall not be accepted noâ— executed The Rochellers break the Truce 1573. Henry the III. ill affected to the King of Navarre and Prince of Câ—ndâ— Heads of the Hugonots as also to the Duke of Gâ—ise Heaâ— of the Catholicks The Prince of Conde is made Head of the Hugonots Henrâ— the III. returning out of Poland stays at Thurin and restores certain places to the Duke of Savoy kept by the Kings of France for sâ—curity * Qu' il estoit temps de metâ—re les Roys horâ— Page Henry the III. ill-affected to the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde Heads of the Hugonots as also to the Duke of Guise Head of the Catholicks The King demands the Sister of the King of Sweden to Wife The death of the Cardinal of Lorain 1575. The King is consecrated at Reims by Lewis Cardinal of Lorain Brother to the Duke of Guise and next day marrieth Louyse de Vaudemont Neece to the Duke of Lorain Mombrun who had taken the Kings carriages is taken himself and executed Francis Bonne made Head of the Hugoâ—ots and after High-Constable of the Kingdom Henry the III. frames a new Model of Government The manner observed at Court in the granting of Petitions The Duke of Alancon excluded from the Crown of Poland and Stephano Battori a Hungarian elected to succeed Henry the Third The Duke of Alancon his flight and Declaration The Mareshals of Momorancy and Cosse set at liberty The Prince of Conde comes with a great Army out of Germany The Prince of Conde declares the Duke of Alancon General of the Hugonots The Duke of Guise is shot in the face A Cessation of Arms for six months 1576. The King of Navarre displeased for many causes flees from the Court and proceeds against the Catholicks The King of Navarre publisheth that he was forced to turn Catholick Charles Duke of Mayenne commands his mutinous Solâ—diers to be cut in pieces The Duke of Alancon mustered 35000 fighting men The King of Navarre and Prince of Conde offended at the Duke of Alancons power think to free themselves of him by a Peace Peace is made with the Hugonots the fifth time The Prince of Orange formerly declared Rebel is restored to his Estate The Assembly of the State is appointed at Blois the 15 of November By the Duke of Guise his cunning politick discourses are brought into those assemblies which were instituted for devotion The form of the League or Covenant Causes that moved the Guises to frame the Catholick League The King of Spain becomes Protector of the Catholick League The King of Navarre declared General of the Hugonots and the Prince of Conde his Lieutenant-General At the intercession of the King of Navarre the Rochellers permit the Catholicks to say Mass in their City The Assembly of the States at Bloys King Henry the Third his speech at the beginning of the Assembly of the States at Bloys It 's an ancient question whether the Assembly of the States or the King be Superiour Iean Bodin contradicts the Prelates in tâ—e general Asseâ—bly 1577. The Prince of Conde will not acknowledge the Assembly of Bloys to be the States General nor treat with their Commissioners Henry the III. declares himself Head of the Catholick League After many disputes the general Assembly is dismissed without concluding any thing The King sends two Armies against the Hugonots The Duke of Alancon made the Kings Lieutenant-General Through weakness of both parties the Peace is concluded and published by torch light * High jurisdiction authority to judge and determine all criminal or capital matters except High-treason within his own precincts and all civil actions or controversies except in Royal cases and such as concern Gentlemen and the high ways * Courts of justice wherein half were Catholicks half Hugonots The High-Chancellour Biraâ—o being made Cardinal Philip Hurault is chosen in his place 1578. 1579. 1579. Henry the III. his manner of life * Including the Gentry who are alwayes meant by the French Nobless as well as the Lords The Guises foment the Peoples hatred against the King Henry the 3d institutes the order of Knighthood of the Holy Ghost Bellegarde by intelligence with the Duke of Savoy usurps the Marquesate of Saluzzo The Low-Countries being withdrawn from the King of Spain's Dominion first seek protection from the King of France and then put themselves under the Duke of Alancon * The Italians under the name of Flanders usually comprehend all the Low-Countries The Hugonots stir up new commotions 1580. Cahors is taken 〈◊〉 sackeâ—â—y 〈◊〉 â—â—gonots At the news of these stirs the King sends forth three Armies La Fâ—re recovered by Monsieur de Matignon * Geographers call these Islands the Acores and only one of them the Tercera as being third in the passage from Spain towards Virginia Florida and those parts 1581. 1582. 1583. The Duke of Alancon rejected by those who had called him into Flaâ—ders is driven thence by the Prince of Parma returns into Fraâ—ce and a while after dies there 1584. The Guises foreseeing their own ruine contrive new designs * Lord High Steward of the Kings Houshold heretofore called Le Comâ—â— du Pâ—lais le Senesebal de France Henry the III. takes upon him the protection of Geneva The Duke of Guise by means of the Preachers and Friars in Pulpits and other places of Devotion labours to insinuate the Catholick League into the people The Catholick League composed of men disaffected to the present Government and Zealous in Religion The Sieur de Vins at Rochel receives a Musquet shot to save Hen. 3. * De Robe Longue Charles Cardinal of Bourbon Uncle to the King of Navarre is desired for head of tke