and perish when their time is come as well errore medici as vi morbi Doctor Ashworth was perswaded that the Scorbute was his disease and that the London-Doctors had all mistook their mark and therefore pitcheth upon applications suitable A great errour for so experienced and grave a Doctor Desire of restitution into a state of health made shift to flatter him into belief it was so The old man upon this perswasion comes over unto Preston with him strains and steeps Scurvy-grass and gives him Drenches able to have weakned a stronger man then he was now and having stayed and tampered with him about three weeks and finding nothing answer his expectation he takes his last leave of him giving such order and direction as he thought good and so leaves him and returns to Oxford July 9. 1628. When this dream and fancy of the Scorbute failed and Dr. Ashworth was gone he resigned up himself to God alone and let all care of Physick and the Doctors go He had a Servant who had been laborious with him and whom he often used as a Friend he would say Servi sunt humiles amici was very true of him To him he therefore now unbosomed himself not only touching the vanity and emptinesse of all things here below but his own belief and expectation of a suddain change not of my company said he for I shall still converse with God and Saints but of my place and way of doing it His Will was made as we have said some years before but he was doubtfull if it come to proving it might be baffled and affronted and therefore purposed to wave it and make a Deed of Gift to him that was in that Will his Executor with such restrictions and limitations as he thought good all which he set down with his own hand wherein he carefully provided for his Mother during life and both his Brothers His Books and all the furniture and goods belonging to and in his lodgings at Emanuel-Colledge he gave one of his Pupils that was Fellow there whom he alwaies greatly favoured Some exhibitions he gave Scholars there to be disposed of from time to time by him that was Executor And as he truly valued so he liberally rewarded his Servants faithfulnesse who liveth yet in very good condition and reputation of whom is verified what is said Prov. 27.18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof so he that waiteth on his Master shall surely come to honour And having thus discumbred himself of worldly cares he took care for the places he now possessed prayed for the Colledge that it might continue a flourishing Nursery of Religon and Learning told those about him as David before his death 1 Chron. 29.2 3 c. what he had done towards that goodly building since erected and what care he had taken to get those Rectories in the Kings Letter mentioned whereof we spake before prayed God to furnish Lincolns-Inne from time to time with able preaching Ministers and so the Lecture at Cambride that had cost so much trouble in the procuring Then for his Sermons that they might not come into the world like Vagabonds but seeing the Father lived not to see them setled and provided for those would be carefull whom then he named and is long since intimated upon occasion In all which great things God hath so answered him as I think no man was since Elisha 2 King 2.9 10. The night before he died being Saturday he went to bed and lay about three hours desirous to sleep but slept not then said My dissolution is at hand let me go to my home and Jesus Christ who hath bought me with his precious blood And so lay still as in a slumber till about two of the clock in the morning then drinking and resting on his servants armes he fell into a cold and clammy sweat which he told them was the Messenger of death and so continued for about two hours very silent About four of the clock he said I feel death coming to my heart my pain shall now be quickly turned into joy And so his Friends were called that were present in the house who spake unto him but had no answer from him as they were used to have They kneeled all down and a Reverend Divine there present prayed When Prayer was ended he looked on them and turning away his head gave up the ghost It was about five a clock on the Lords day but to him an everlasting Sabbath He never by his good will rested that day since God was truly known unto him untill now God gave him therefore now an everlasting rest No man deserved better Funeral solemnities But Master Dod was much against it and his Friends at Cambridge who did highly honour him and desired nothing more then to have waited on his dust unto its long home were now obliged to attend the Election of another Master that they durst not so much as make it known or do any thing from which it might be gathered So he was buried decently but without state in Fawsley Church in the County of Northampton Old Master Dod the Minister of that place preached and a world of godly people came together July 20. 1628. being within a little of one and fourty years of age Dr. Preston just before his death asked what day it was and being answered that it was the Sabbath day A fit day said he to be sacrificed on I have accompanied Saints on earth and now I shall accompany Angels in Heaven Also Mrs. Chaterdon telling him of his preaching so profoundly on Gods Attributes he answered If it shall please God to prolong my life I will make all so plain that every one shall be able to understand it This Life was written by my Reverend Friend Master Thomas Ball of Northampton The Life of Master Arthur Hildersam who died Anno Christi 1631. ARthur Hildersam was born at Stetchworth near New-Market in Cambridgeshire Octob. 6. 1563 He was Sonne of Thomas Hildersam of the said Town a Gentleman of an antient Family and Anne Poole his second Wife daughter to Sir Jeffery Poole fourth Sonne to Sir Richard Poole who was Cousen Germane to King Henry the seventh and Margaret Countesse of Salisbury that was Daughter to George Duke of Clarence the second Brother to King Edward the fourth and Isabel the eldest daughter and Co-heir of Richard the great Earl of Warwick and Salisbury Thus much for his Birth For his Education In his childhood he was brought up in the Popish manner taught to say his Prayers in Latine both his Parents and their Kindred specially his Mother being zealous Papists When he was to be sent abroad to School his Fathers aim was only to send him to a good School where many Gentlemens Sons were taught but God so ordered it by his good Providence that his Father unawares placed him at Saffron-Walden School in Essex with one Master Desborough a godly man and a Religious Protestant who
that part of the City was filled with his armed enemies against whom whilest he opposed himself he was invironed by his adversaries and taken Prisoner who presently carried him away to Antwerp Whilst he was Prisoner there he fell dangerously sick and lay fourty daies tormented with a Fever and as soon as he began to recover he called for a Bible by reading whereof he much eased and refreshed his mind and body and by the diligent study thereof he began to embrace the reformed Religion and to have a tast of true Piety and the right manner of calling upon God Not long after he payed his Ransome which was fifty thousand Crowns and so returned home and being weary of the Factions and Affairs at Court and seriously thinking of his change of Religion he gat leave of the King to turn over his Regiment of Foot to his Brother Andelot and his Government of the Isle of France to his Brother-in law Marshall Monmorancy and shortly after he sent one of his intimate Friends to the King humbly to signifie to him that he intended also to lay down his Government of Picardy and therefore desired him to think of one to succeed him therein The King answered that he wondred at his resolution and scarce thought him wise to divest himself so suddainly of so many places of honour and profit and from that time he began generally to be suspected of his change in Religion shewing a minde so free from ambition and desire of rule Monsieur Andelot also discovering his resolution in Religion the Cardinall of Lorraine who hated the Family of Coligni with a deadly hatred as the greatest enemies to the greatnesse of his Family watched his opportunity and suggested to the King that all men took notice that many great men of France were infected with the poison of Calvinisme which they scattered amongst the inferiour sort of people and in particular that Monsieur Andelot had blabbed out many things to the dishonour of the solemn sacrifice of the Masse c. The King being incensed hereby commanded the Cardinall of Chattillion his Brother and Monmorancy his Cosen to send for Andelot and to admonish him to answer modestly to the questions which should be proposed to him When he came before the King he professed his great good will towarde him and spake many things of his great merits and then told him that he was sorry to hear that which was reported viz. that he thought ill of Religion and therefore he required him to tell him what he thought of the Mass which the Calvinists spake so much against Andelot being a man of great courage answered confidently according to the truth which the King being offended at exhorted him to look to himself and to prevent the danger before it were too late Whereunto Andelot with greater courage answered that he had hitherto shewed himself obedient in all things to his Majesty whom he had found alwaies bountifull to himself and his Family but in the cause of Religion he could neither daub nor dissemble with God That his Body Wealth and Dignity were in the Kings power of which he might dispose as he pleased but his Soul was subject to God only that gave it to whom therefore in this cause he must needs be obedient as to his greater Lord. At this the King was so inraged that snatching up a dish he therewith hurt his Son the Dolphin that sat next him and then he commanded one of his privy-chamber to carry Andelot to the City of Meaux where he remained a Prisoner in the Bishops house till he was removed to the Castle of Melodune Not long after King Henry the second dying his Son Francis succeeded him who was married to Mary Queen of Scotland the Daughter of the Duke of Guises Sister by which means the Guises ruled all at Court and they also boasted often of the Kingdom of England to which this Mary was Heir apparent as they said The Admirall knowing their cruel barbarous and bloody dispositions who would never be free from turbulent Counsels and especially from pesecuting those of the Religion he was now without further delay resolved to lay down his Government of Picardy and for that end acquainted Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Conde concerning his intention wishing him to beg that place of the King which accordingly he obtained Our Admirall being thus eased of these publique Burthens and the troubles of them which withdrew his mind from Religion he kept at home in his own Castle and the rather because of his Wife Carola Lavollia born of an Illustrious and Ancient Family which was wonderfully given to the study of Religion exhorting her Husband also that casting off the remainders of Idolatry and Superstition he should wholly betake himself to the true service of Christ. The Admirall having often heard her presse this upon him dealt seriously with her telling her that he never knew any either in France or Germany which embraced in truth this reformed Religion but that they were overwhelmed with manifold afflictions under which they almost perished He told her also that by the Laws of France which were confirmed by all the Parliaments Whosoever made profession of this Religion was to be burnt alive and all his estate to be forfeited to the King Yet saith he if you be so prepared with Faith and courage that you can be content to undergo the same lott with others you shall see that I will not be wanting to do my duty To this she answered That the condition of the Church at this day was no other then what it had been in former ages even from the beginning and she perswaded her self that it would be the same to the end of the world And thus each of them incouraging other the Admirall began to instruct his Family in the true knowledge and worship of God and gave them Bibles and other good Books to read for their furthtr edification Withall he stoutly forbad them those oaths and blasphemies which were common in France especially in the Court He provided also godly Governours and Schoolmasters for his Children so that in a short time there was a wonderfull change in his Family yea by his example his two Brethren Odet the Cardinall and Andelot were exceedingly stirred up to the study of Religion The Admirall from his childhood had been bred in the Court which did in those daies exceedingly abound with luxury and other vices from which he was not altogether free but so soon as he imbraced the true Religion there was such a strange alteration in his life and deportment that the powerfull work of Gods Spirit did wonderfully appear therein Before he durst come to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper he conferred with divers Godly Ministers both about Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation for the setling of his judgment in the truth and once being present in the Town of Vatevill at a private
who suffer most in such Warres But they could get nothing at Court but scoffs and scorns whereby they perceived their lives to be in great danger which caused them to withdraw and to consult about the preservation of themselves and the Reformed Churches and hereunto they were earnestly solicited by many of the Nobility and by multitudes of honest Citizens who complained that they could no longer bear the manifold injuries wherewith they were daily oppressed by the Magistrates in every place These things being so the Prince of Conde and the Admirall knowing of how great Authority the Kings Name was through all France which caused the Guises in the former Warres to get him into their power communicating their counsels but with a few they resolved to go privately to the Court to see if by any means they could get the King away from the Guises and Queen Mother that so by removing him from his evil Counsellours they might the better establish peace but being betrayed by one of their Society this design was wholly frustrated whereby they were forced openly to prepare for War The Prince with five hundred Horse went to St. Denis where some others arriving in few daies made up the number of two thousand Horse and four thousand Shot and the Prince considering that the Parisians were not accustomed to fast hoped that if he could take their victuals from them he should either force them to fight or draw his enemies to a more assured peace Whereupon he sent Andelot with five hundred Horse to Poissy and Pontois to seize upon the passages of the Seine beneath Paris and other Troops to seize upon such passages as were above the Town Some others he sent to joyn with the Forces that were coming out of Guinne himself and the Admirall with about eight hundred Horse and a thousand two hundred Harquebushiers kept St. Denis to curb Paris on that side But the Constable who was the Kings Lieutenant Generall hearing that the Prince had thus divided his Forces issued out of Paris with about a thousand six hundred Foot and two thousand Lances and well furnished with Artillery and having chosen a commodious place for the Battell the next day he gives the Prince Battell wherein the Constable was wounded of which he died within a few daies after In this Battell the Admirall had wonderfull experience of Gods goodnesse in his preservation for riding upon a very fierce and head-strong Horse the curb of his Bridle being broken his Horse ran away with him and carried him twice through his enemies Army yet did not the Admirall receive any one wound though many Pistols were discharged at him and whenas his Horse had one Bullot shot into him he suffered himself to be easily reduced into his own Troop In this Battell many fell on both sides especially on the Prince of Conde's yet was the Kings Army routed and driven into Paris whereupon the Prince and Admirall thought best to retreat into Lorraine to meet those Horse which were sent for their assistance from divers of the Germane Princes for they again thought fit to oppose Forreigners against Forreigners In their march thitherwards they were eagerly pursued by their adversaries especially by Henry Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother afterwards King first of Poland then of France who taking all advantages to presse upon their rear put them to many inconveniencies When they came into Lorraine and met the Germans who were commanded by D. Cassimire the Son of the Elector Palatine they met with new troubles for the Germans began to mutiny for their arrears and to cry Gelt gelt according to their usuall custom but how to satisfie them or to raise the least part of that Money the Prince and Admirall knew not Yet in this strait our Admirall found out this remedy He advised that a certain Tax should be imposed upon every man in their own Army according to the rank and place which he held and for example himself disbursed five hundred Crowns and the Treasurers going through all the Regiments collected the Tribute Besides whatsoever Monies the Prince Admirall Andelot or others had was all put into the Treasurers hands so that in all they collected eighty thousand pounds which was given to the Lanceknets by which prudent advice of our Admirall they were extricated out of that great strait These Forces being thus united their adversaries hastily retired and by long journeys returned to Paris which the D. of Anjou looked upon as a great dishonour to him But the Prince of Conde's Army being much encouraged hereby went presently and besieged Caen. and having battered the Wals and made a sufficient breach just as Monsieur Andelot was ready with his Brigade to have given the assault the Kings Trumpeters came upon the spur and proclaimed that Peace was concluded for the effecting whereof Commissioners had been sent from both parties a few daies before to Paris whereupon the siege was raised and the Prince of Conde dismissed his Army But some daies before this word was brought to the Admirall that his Wife who together with her Children in the beginning of the War had betaken themselves to Orleance was taken with a violent disease whereupon he presently posted to Orleance and sending for the best Physicians he could get he performed the Office of a dear and loving husband to her yet it pleased God that she died This was a very great affliction to him and when many of his Friends came to comfort him being overwhelmed with sighs and tears he said Oh my God wherein have I sinned and offended thee that thou correctest me so bitterly and loadest me with so many calamities O that I could live more holily and be more exemplary in my life then I have been Most holy Father look upon me with the eyes of tender mercy and ease me of these pressures Then being comforted by his Friends he commanded his Children to be called to him and told them that by this losse of their dear Mother they might see the instability of all earthly comforts and that there was nothing here below which they could confide in and that Houses and Castles though never so strong were not given them for habitations but as Inns and that therefore they ought not to trust in any of these frail and fading things but only in the mercy and goodnesse of God and then they need not doubt but that they should find him alwaies ready at hand for their comfort and so two daies after calling Monsieur Grelleus his Sons Tutor he told him that he must needs return back to the Camp where he knew not what might befall him and therefore he required him to have a special care of his Sons and as he had often requested him to be carefull to bring them up in true Religion and the fear of God as well as to instruct them in other Arts and Learning His Wife had been
alwaies very studious of the Reformed Religion of an admirable courage and constancy in bearing the manifold afflictions which befell both her self and Husband and amongst her other excellent qualities and vertues she was alwaies very pitifull towards poor people and sick persons to whom she was very liberall in relieving and assisting of them and whereas many sick and wounded Souldiers were daily sent from the Camp to Orleance she frequently visited them so that the Physicians judged her disease to proceed from the stench of them Peace being proclaimed as is before specified in many places by the Kings Trumpeters the Admirall had scarce been three daies at his own house before Letters and Messengers came to him from many of his Friends signifying that instead of peace his enemies made great preparations for a more dangerous Warre for they observed that in every place such provision of War was made that if the Prince of Conde himself and the other associates did not timely prevent it they would be circumvented by their cruel enemies before they were aware and this they gathered from the Garrisons put into Orleance Altissiodore Blesa and other Cities surrendred to them as also by the Adversaries possessing themselves of all the Bridges and Passes over the Rivers keeping the Horse together in the heart of France and continuing two Regiments neer Paris under a pretence of a guard for the King Our Admirall finding these things to be true thought it most for his safety to retire into Tanlian to his Brother Andelot and from thence he shortly after removed to Nuceria a strong City under the Prince of Conde's Government whither formerly upon the like occasion he had carried his Wife and Family In his passage thither there fell out this memorable accident Near to the Town of Molinius there is a great Lake in the passage to Altissiodore when our Admirall came near it there was in his company an old man called Gripperius that had been a great traveller by sea and one that loved the Admirall very dearly this man observing a black cloud coming towards them carried with a violent wind he called to the Admirall desiring him to gallop to the next Town so fast as he could lest he should be oppressed with the violence of the storm approaching the Admirall hearkening to his counsell spurred on his Horse but before he had passed the narrow passages of the Lake there suddainly came such a violent tempest accompanied with a Whirlwind that many Horses and men were quite overthrown many were wounded with the great hailstones and almost quite slain The wind took off the Admirals hat which afterwards could never be found and one of his followers lent him his hat but herein the great mercy of God did appear that the Admirall scaped unhurt by the hail only one hailstone hit and hurt him about the ankle and had this storm taken him and his company a little sooner whilst they were upon the Lakes bank in all probability it had made an utter end of them The tempest being over our Admirall comforted his attendants and lifting up his eyes to Heaven he said O Almighty God I thank thee from whom I know this storm proceeds to warn us of the tempest of danger that is approaching by which we shall be sorely pressed but not oppressed When they were met together at Nuceria they sent divers Messengers with Letters to the King signifying that they had daily intelligence of the snares that were laid for their lives and therefore they beseeched his Majesty to pity his Kingdom wasted already with two Civil Warres and that he would not ruine his Kingdom but rather by his clemency and wisdom quench that fire that is kindled by the Guises Our Admirall also wrote to Margaret Daughter of King Francis and new Dutchesse of Savoy whom he believed to have great power with the Queen Mother intreating her to improve all her Authority and interest for the diverting of the storm that was approaching to the ruine of her Native Countrey But when he perceived that no arguments nor intreaty could prevail for peace and understood that Tavannius who was a little after made Marshall of the Kingdom was secretly drawing his Forces towards Nuceria there to compasse them in he advised the Prince of Conde that they should presently depart from thence and make all the hast that possibly they could to Rochel which by reason of their ancient priviledges had never hitherto admitted of any Garrison By the way they were to passe over the River Liger and in the train there was the Prince of Conde's Wife and six little Children whereof one was but a year old and two daies after followed the Admirall and Monsieur Andelots Children whom the Admirall had sent for to come to them At which time this strange Providence fell out When the Prince of Conde thought to transport his company in two or three little Ships privately over the River neer unto Sancerra it pleased God that a Foard was found whereby fifty Horsemen that were of the Princes train rode over and in the mean time the Ladies Women and Children were ferried over in Boats and no sooner were they gotten all over but though the day was fair the River suddainly rose so high that the Inhabitants of Sancerra took notice of the wonderfull Providence of God praying heartily for the safety and welfare of those little ones who had escaped such a danger The King hearing of this their going to Rochel by the advice of his Courtiers presently commanded all his Horse especially those that were in the Countries of Xantone and Poicters to hasten to Rochel He sent also his Brother Henry the Duke of Anjou to raise all the Forces he could and presently to march thitherwards In the mean time those of the Religion who relying upon the Kings promise and Proclamation of peace staied in their own Cities were every where basely murthered About this time Joane Queen of Navarr who in the former troubles had kept here own house abhorring such abominable treachery and perfidiousnesse after peace so often renewed getting what Forces she could together advanced with them to Rochel carrying with her her Son Henry who after her death was King of Navarr and her only Daughter These things being thus setled the Admirall drew some great Guns out of Rochel intending to besiege Niort and within a few daies had it surrendred to him Then he led his Forces to Engolisme which stands upon an high and steep hill having only one passage to it and therefore the enemies had a little before strongly fortified it but the Admirall planting his Ordinance on that side where it was saultable within a few daies space had it surrendred to him Presently after the Van of each Army met at Jasenullius and fought together the Admirall commanded that of the Protestants who charged the enemy so gallantly that they were presently broken
his Pancrestum or Physick for all diseases which greatly comforted his heart in all his afflictions By his first Wife he had five Children He left alive Lewis his eldest Daughter married to Monsieur Teligni who was murthered the same night with his Father-in-law then Francis Odet and Charles the two elder survived that furious Massacre the third being not eight years old in whom he took much delight for his prettinesse was taken by his enemies and taught to bear the Crosse of Christ in his tender years He left his second Wife great with child who was brought to bed four moneths after of a girl and returning to her native Countrey in the borders of Savoy was not long after committed to prison by the command of P. Philibert D. of Savoy for marrying against his consent The Life of Joane Queen of Navarr who was poisoned at Paris a few daies before the bloody Massacre Anno Christi 1572. IOane of Albert was daughter to Henry the second King of Navarr and to Margueret of Orleance Sister to Francis the first of that name King of France and by her Parents was carefully trained up in the Protestant Religion from her childhood which she constantly adhered to all the daies of her life She was married to Anthony of Bourbon Son to Charles Duke of Vendosme by whom she had Henry the fourth of that name King of France by his Fathers right and the second of that name King of Navarr by his Mothers This Anthony King of Navarr in the minority of Charles the ninth being the first Prince of the blood was to be his Protector but the Queen-Mother and the Guises seeking to draw all the power and management of affairs into their own hands laboured by all means to withdraw the King of Navarr from the Protestants that so by weakening them thereby they might rule the rost as they listed For which end they employed the Ambassadour of Spain the Cardinall of Tournon Escars and some other houshold flatterers to him who perswaded him that carrying himself a Neuter and causing the Prince his Son to go once to the Masse the King of Spain would give him the Realm of Sardinia in recompence for that of Navarr which he had lately taken from him The Pope likewise confirms him in this hope which indeed was but to take from him all means of recovering his Kingdom of Navarr when he should attempt it Yet he being drawn by those Spanish and Lorrain practises estrangeth himself by little and little from the Protestants sollicited the Queen his Wife to return into the bosome of the Romish Church and to draw her children thereunto But she being better grounded in the truth then so easily to forsake it refuseth whereupon a breach grew betwixt them and the King her Husband falls in love with one of the Queen-Mothers Maids The forenamed Guisian instruments seeing this perswade him that Heresie is a sufficient cause of dissolving marriage and that therefore he might be divorced from Joane Albert his Wife as being infected with the poison of Heresie They tell him also that notwithstanding his divorce he should retain to himself the possession of and interest in all the Dominions and Kingdoms belonging to her of which she should be deprived as unworthy of them by reason of her Heresie And instead of her he should marry Mary Queen of Scots whose Dowry say they is the Kingdom of England and as soon as the marriage is contracted the Pope would strip Elizabeth of it as unworthy thereof for the same cause and settle it upon them c. But the King of Navarr abhorring to be divorced from his Wife it remained that he should accept the conditions about the Kingdom of Sardinia for the effecting whereof they left no means unassaied and at last prevailed so far that they gulled the King of Navarr and set him at odds with his Brother the Prince of Conde Coligni the Admirall and the other Protestants The Queen his Wife distasting his change of Religion and adhering to the Popish party retired into Podium in the Countrey of Bearne where she kept her Court But it pleased God that shortly after in the siege of Orleance the King of Navarr was shot into the shoulder whereof he died about three weeks after The next design was to seize upon the Queen together with her Son Henry and her Daughter Katherine and to bring them before the judgment seat of the Inquisition of Spain and the Conspirators doubted not but that Philip King of Spain would more willingly hearken to this counsell for that this exploit would make for the advantage of his Religion the rescuer whereof he proudly boasted himself to be As also the businesse about the Kingdom of Navarr which he unjustly detained would be hereby dispatched by the taking away of the unlawfull heirs thereof They conceived also that the businesse might easily be effected by the means of the King of Spain's Souldiers that lay at Bacinona ready to be transported into Africk who by the waies of the mountains might come upon and surprize the Queen of Navarr and her Children at Podium before they were aware One Dominik a Captain born in the territories of Bearne was singled out to go to the Court of Spain to communicate these counsels with the King and to receive further instructions from him But it pleased God that this Dominik falling sick by the way Annas Hespius an honest man that tended on him smelt out the occasion of his journey and by giving timely notice prevented the effecting of it by which deliverance God shewed his watchfull providence over his handmaid this Religious Queen of Navarr Not long after in the time of the third Civil Warre for Religion this Queen having raised great Troops led them to Rochel together with her Son Henry and her Daughter Katherine from whence she wrote Letters to the King the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou and the Cardinall of Bourbon To the King she wrote That in the common Cause of Religion in regard of the duty which she owed to the King and the necessity of blood whereby she was joyned to the Prince of Conde she could not be wanting to him upon such an occasion having alwaies rejected the bloody counsels of the Guisian faction and especially the Ambition of the Cardinall of Lorrain from whose friendship she earnestly dehorted the Duke of Anjou beseeching him that he would not yield up himself a minister of his wicked will in cutting up the Royal stock by the roots In her Letter to the Cardinall of Bourbon she sharply chideth him for not being warned by his former danger For how long saith she will you be the Suffragan of the Cardinall of Lorrain Have you forgotten the treacherous plots that were laid by him for your Head and are you so credulous as to believe his oaths when he sweareth that he minded no treachery c. But these
Queen of Navarr being zealously carefull to propagate the Protestant Religion in Cantabria a Province of the Jurisdiction of Navarr she sent Pastors who had learned the Countrey language which is understood by almost none of the neighbours and was before believed that it could not be written She took care also that the New Testament the Catechism and the Prayers used in the Church of Geneva should be translated into the Gascoine or Cantabrian tongue which she caused to be printed at Rochel in a most fine letter and sent to them And so upon the earnest solicitation of the King she went the March following Anno Christi 1572. from Rochel to the Court which was then at Blois with great attendance where it is incredible to think what welcome she had on all sides especially from the King and his Brethren who yet when all was done could boastingly say to his Mother Now Madam have not I quit my self well Let me alone and I will bring them all into the net In April following were the Articles concluded concerning the marriage of the Prince of Navarr with the Kings Sister And in the beginning of May the King woed the Queen of Navarr again to come to Paris for preparing things fitting for the Marriage which she at last consented to and so May the 6. she took her journey from Blois and came to Paris May the 15. After which she went from place to place in the City into sundry houses and shops to find out such things as might tend to the adorning of the day of so great a solemnity The Queen-Mother in the mean time who could not endure this good Queen and yet not finding with what colour she could dispatch her with the rest though she feared the greatnesse of her spirit in case she should survive them and judged it impossible to work upon the flexibility of the young Prince her Son whilst she lived She therefore consulted with one Rene an Italian whose practice was to impoyson things by whose devilish help she brought her accursed purpose to passe This Rene sold the Queen of Navarr certain Perfumes whereby he found out the way to poyson her therewith and afterwards he was heard to make his brags of it saying also that he had the like in store for two or three more who suspected no such matter By this means June the 4. this good Queen fell sick of a continued Feavor and though others sleighted it yet she perceiving by the strength of her disease that she should not long continue prepared her self to receive from the hand of God her mercifull Father that which he had appointed concerning her And calling her Son Henry she commanded him above all things carefully to serve God according to the confession of Faith wherein he had been educated and not to suffer himself to be plucked or diverted from the same by the smoaky pleasures and delights of the world and other incentives unto vices and that he should take care that the Constitutions concerning the same which she had published in the Principality of Berne and the lower Navarr be inviolably kept That he should throughly purge his Family and cause all bad Counsellors to be gone from thence which thought ill concerning God As also all flatterers the abusers of Princes and all other vicious Persons That he should retain with him all good men as Bellovarius Francutius and Betulus who were men of an unblameable life That he should have a special care of his Sister Katherine using her gently and lovingly without bitternesse causing her to be brought up in the Town of Berne in the same School of godlinesse which himself had been trained up in and when she should grow marriagable that he should marry her to a Prince of equall dignity professing the same Religion That he should love Henry Bourbon his Cosen German as his Brother and also Francis Marquesse of Contium taking care that as great concord as may be be cherished betwixt them and the Admirall Coligni for the advancement and propagation of Gods glory Lastly she makes her Son her Heir intreating the King the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou and the Duke of Alenson the Kings Brethren to undertake the Protection of the Prince her Son and of Katherine his Sister and to permit them the free exercise of their Religion Then she requested that she might have such nigh about her as might comfort her in her sicknesse out of the Word of God as also to pray with her and for her according to that of Saint James Is any sick amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him knowing that the Prayers of a righteous man prevail much with God According to her desire a Minister resorted to her shewing out of the Scriptures that Christians ought in all things to submit to the will of God as to the Father of spirits that they may live and albeit by reason of the severity of his chastisements sometimes it may seem to our flesh as if they were sent for no other end but for our destruction yet ought we to consider that the just God can do nothing but justly and being withall a mercifull Father he cannot but therein seek the welfare of his afflicted Children To this she replied I take all this as sent from the hand of God my most mercifull Father Nor have I during this extremity feared to die much lesse murmured against God for inflicting this chastisement upon me knowing that whatsoever he doth he doth so order the same as that in the end it shall turn to my everlasting good Then said the Minister The causes of sicknesses and diseases must be sought beyond the course of Physick which alwaies looks to the corruption of the humours or of the distemper to the more noble parts of the body And though it be not amisse to have respect to these things as to secondary causes yet ought we to ascend higher namely to the first even to God himself who disposeth of all his creatures even as best pleaseth him He it is that makes the wound and heals that kils and makes alive Deut. 32.39 and therefore to him we ought to direct our Prayers for our comfort in all our griefs and sufferings and in the end to expect full deliverance seeing it's easie with him to restore our health if it stand with his his good pleasure To this she answered That she depended wholly upon Gods Providence knowing that all things are wisely disposed by him and therefore she besought him to furnish her with all such graces as he saw to be necessary for her salvation As for this life said she I am in a good measure weaned from it in regard of the afflictions which have followed me from my youth hitherto but especially because I cannot live without offending my good God with whom I desire to be with all my heart Then said the
of unbelief that I may not depart from thee the living God Deliver me from tentation Accept of Jesus Christ for me Teach me to improve all Providences To live upon the Promises Let Christ be my life O Lord let me never shrink from thee For the good of the publique Lord turn the heart of this Nation and all our hearts Turn the heart of the King Sanctifie the Parliament and make them faithfull Blesse the Assembly and make them faithful and upright with thee Let not the Army do unworthily but what thou would have them to do Blesse all the Ministers For other Nations Lord do good to Scotland and the Churches in France Blesse New-England and forrain plantations For the places to which he was related Lord provide a faithfull man for Queens-Colledge A faithfull man for this place New-Church in Westminster A faithfull Pastor for those in the Countrey For Friends and those about him Lord remember all those that have shewed kindnesse to me and have taken pains with me and recompence them Thou hast promised that he which giveth a Cup of water in the name of a Disciple and he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward Afterwards having forgotten to crave a blessing upon somewhat given him to take he prayed Lord pardon my neglect and forgetfulnesse of thee and deliver from tentation and the evil of tentation Thou art holy if thou shouldst forsake us Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered Lord glorifie thy name in my poor spirit and let none of thy people ever see me shrink from thee for Jesus Christ his sake Being spoken to to cast the burden of his sicknesse and pain upon God he answered I should do very unworthily if when I have preached to others that they should cast their burdens upon God I should not do so my self In these and many other the like Christian expressions he did manifest the same savour of holinesse even to the time of his death which had been constantly discovered in the time of his life He departed this life Anno Christi 1647. and of his age 46. having served God faithfully and painfully in his generation being a very great Instrument of much good and an excellent pattern for imitation His body lieth interred in the New-Church at Westminster and his memory yet liveth in the minds of those that knew him The Life of Gaspar Colinius Great Admirall of France GAsppar Colinius or Coligni was descended of a very Ancient and Honourable Family his Predecessors had Kingly Priviledges in their own Country as the Power of Life and Death of Coining Money Imposing Taxes and Tributes c. His Father was Gaspar de Colonia or Colinius who lived under King Francis the first and had to Wife Ludovica Monmorancy the Sister of Annas Monmorancy Great Constable of France When in the year 1522. the Admirall Bonivet had taken Fontaraby in the Confines of Spain as soon as he was returned into France the Spaniards came and besieged it with a great Army The siege lasted twelve moneths whereby the Inhabitants suffered much extremity by reason of Famine King Francis hearing of it commanded this Gaspar to raise an Army and relieve Fontaraby which Army he presently Levied but in his march he fell sick and died at Ax August 4. Anno Christi 1522 leaving three Sons behind him Odet Gaspar and Francis Ludovica his Widow was made one of the Ladies of Honour to the Queen of France and was very carefull of the education of her Sons and lived a most chaste and vertuous life all the remainder of her daies dying in Paris Anno Christi 1547. Pope Clement the seventh seeking to increase his Authority in France made the elder Brother Odet a Cardinall knowing that by reason of the eminency of his Family he might be very usefull to him By which means the Inheritance fell to this our Gaspar the second Brother who was born Feb. 16. Anno Christi 1517. whose ingenuity and towardlinesse appearing in his childhood his Mother was very carefull of his education and for his Instruction in Learning she made choice of Nicholas Beraldus to be his Schoolmaster a man famous in those daies in France She also provided him Tutors to instruct him in Military Arts of such as were most skilfull therein This Gaspar being thus furnished both for Peace and Warre when he came to the age of twenty four the Dolphin of France the Kings eldest Son besieging Baion at that time Gaspar went to serve under him and to put in practice what he had before gotten in the Theory In which Service he shewed much alacrity and courage and in advancing near to the enemies Trenches he was wounded with a Bullet in his throat The same year also the King having intelligence that his and the enemies Army were ready to joyn battell in Insubria Gaspar obtaining leave hastened thither and in that battell gave great proof of his Valour and Prudence so that shortly after K. Francis dying and his Son Henry succeeding to the Crown he advanced him to great honour and whereas his Uncle Annas Monmorancy was Generall of the Horse he made this Gaspar Colonel of a Regiment of Foot In which Office he carried himself so well that in a little space he gat much repute for his Justice Valour and Prudence and thereby became very gratefull to the common people For whereas the Souldiers formerly by their rapines and plunderings used much to oppresse them this new Colonel kept them in awe by military Discipline especially he severely punished them for incontinency swearing and blasphemy and his Orders were so generally approved of that shortly after the King put them amongst his Military Laws The same King also advanced him to greater honour taking a great liking to him making him one of his own Horsemen which vulgarly are called of the Kings Order And whereas contention arose about that time between the King of France and King Henry the eighth of England about the Town of Bulloine which a little before upon conditions of peace had been pawned to the English the King of France distrusting the English made this Gaspar Governour of all that Countrey who presently going into Picardy whither King Henry of France had sent an Army to besiege Bulloine He with admirable art and diligence built a Castle near to it which was such a shelter to the French and did so hinder the Sallies of the English that in a short time they were forced to treat about surrendring of the City For the finishing of which Treaty the whole businesse was referred by the King of France to our Gaspar and his Uncle Rupipontius which being ended and the Town surrendred Gaspar returned to the King and was shortly after made the Great Admirall of France which amongst the French is counted the greatest honour in the Kingdom having the command of the Sea and
reverence of the affinity contracted with the King of Navarr That the King had entred into a league with the Queen of England and endeavoured to do the same with the Protestant Princes in Germany which sufficiently shews how he stands affected to the Protestants Moreover that Faith was given to the Prince of Orenge and to the E. of Nassaw his Brother to aid them against the Spaniards That the Kings Ambassadours did daily search into the Counsels of the Duke de Alva and acquainted the King therewith as the King daily informed him That the Navy under Strossius at Broag is rigged for no other end but to disturb the Spansh Fleet and to assist the Prince of Orenge That for himself they need not fear the King having made Friendship betwixt the Guises and him faith being mutually given that neither should injure other To conclude That the King doth all he can to have Peace at home and Warre abroad and to translate it into the Low Countries against the Spaniards wherefore he prayeth his Friends not to trouble his mind any more with suspitions which is now busied with weightier matters and to joyn with him in prayer to God that he would bring those things to a good issue which are well begun for his glory and the good both of Church and Kingdom A little before Count Lodwick with some others had Commissions from the King to surprize some Frontier Town in Flanders On the other side the Duke de Alva had intelligence of every step that Count Lodwick took yet such was his diligence that he surpriz'd Monts in Henault wherewith the Duke de Alva was so netled that he said The Queen-Mother had sent him the flowers of Florence but he would for them return her Spanish thistles but upon further intelligence he was soon pacified Many Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion accompanied the King of Navarr and Prince of Conde to Paris and the King drew many more of them thither who otherwise would have kept their houses under pretence of his Warres in Flanders Count Lodwick was presently besieged in Monts by de Alva whereupon the King gave Commission to Monsieur Jenlis to raise Horse and Foot for his succour but de Alva being acquainted with all his proceedings surprized him which the King seemed to be much grieved at and presently wrote to his Ambassadours in the Low Countries to procure the deliverance of the prisoners He also encouraged the Admirall to send all the help he could to the Rutters whom the Prince of Orenge had levied for the relief of his Brother causing monies to be delivered to him for their pay The Ambassadours of Spain also seemed to be very male-content because the King began Warre in Flanders and the Kings Mother played her part in this Tragedy pretending that she knew nothing of the Kings proceedings and now she did know them she would leave the Court. These juglings were carried so handsomly that the Admirall Teligni his Son-in-law and other Lords were confidently perswaded that the King was wholly guided by the Admirals advice July the last The Rochelers wrote to the Admirall that the Kings Army approached near them that from Xantone and Gascoine it daily wasted the Countrey about them using terrible threatnings against their Town and menacing to plunder it whereupon they intreated his advice especially about receiving eight hundred men which they sought to put as a Garrison into the Town The Admirall made them an honourable answer Aug. 7. assuring them of the care he had over them adding that he found the King so well disposed for Peace that all men had cause to commend him Yet the Rochelers neglected not to look to themselves and to fortifie their Town In other Towns many were the threats of the Papists against the Protestants which much terrified some others relied upon the Admirals presence and favour at Court and to such as suggested doubts to him he said that the King had reconciled the differences betwixt the Guises and him causing both Parties to swear friendship That the King gave his Sister in marriage not so much to the King of Navarr as to the whole Church of the Protestants to joyn with them thereby in an inviolable union and therefore he besought all them that either by writing or words advised him of the hatred of the King Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou or the house of Guise no more to trouble him with those things but rather to commend all in their daily prayers to God and to give him thanks who of his infinite mercy had brought things to so good an end August 17. Henry King of Navarr and the Lady Margaret of France Sister to the King in the evening were conducted to the Louure and the next day were married by the Cardinall of Bourbon in the sight of all the people upon a great Scaffold made before the gate of the great Church in Paris which day was passed over in Banquets Dances and Masks and that very day the Admirall wrote a Letter to his Wife great with child in this tenour Most dear and desired Wife This day was celebrated the Marriage between the King of Navarr and the Kings Sister and these three or four ensuing daies will be spent in Feastings Maskings and Dancings The King hath promised me that after a few daies he will set time apart to hear the complaints which are brought from several parts of the Kingdom for violating the Edict of Peace for the prosecution whereof it 's very necessary that I should improve all my interest with the King For though I have an earnest desire to see thee yet it would be grievous to me and I suppose to thee also if I should be any waies deficient in a business of so great concernment neither will my stay here about it be such but that I hope to come to thee this next week If I should only respect my own content it would be much more pleasing to me to be with thee then to stay any longer at Court for sundry reasons which I may hereafter impart to thee but I must have more respect to the publique good then either to my own pleasure or profit I have some other things to impart to thee so soon as God shall bring us together which I much long for both day and night All that I have for the present to write to thee is only thus much at four a clock this afternoon was celebrated the Masse for the Marriage during which time the King of Navarr walked without the Church with some other Noble-men of our Religion Some other matters of smaller concernment I shall reserve till we have an opportunity to speak together in the mean time most dear and loving Wife I pray for thee that God will protect and keep thee Farewell Paris Aug. 18. 1572. Three daies since I was much tormented with the Stone and Cholick but through Gods mercy they held me not above eight
Letters prevailing nothing the Warre went on and in the Battell of Bassac the Protestants were worsted and the Prince of Conde slain which news being carried to Rochel the Queen of Navarr posted to the Protestant Army where before a great Assembly of Nobles and Souldiers she made an Oration to confirm their mindes praising the vertue and constancy of the Prince of Conde who had employed his faithfull endeavours even unto death in defence of so just a Cause and thereupon she exhorted the rest to imitate his example and to persevere in maintaining the truth of Christ and the Liberty of their Countrey For saith she the good Cause is not dead with the Prince of Conde neither ought godly men to give way to despondency in such cases God having so provided for his Cause that he gave Conde companions whilst he lived that may succeed him now he is dead I have brought with me mine only Son Henry and Conde's own Son who as he is Heir of his name so is he of his vertues These with other Nobles besides I trust will never be wanting to so good a Cause And having thus spoken to the Nobles and Army and many things privately to her Son whetting his youthfull spirit she returned again to Rochel to provide new succours In the mean time a Commission was granted to Terride Governour of Quercie to summon the Queen of Navarr and the Prince her Son to leave the party of the Protestants and in case of refusal to invade the Countreys of Bearne Foix and Navarr in which he so prevailed that he reduced all to the Kings obedience but only Navaren which he besieged as the only strong place that remained to the Queen Hereupon the Queen and the Princes sent the Earl of Montgomery to encounter him who with a small Army of five hundred Horse and four thousand Foot forced Terride to raise his siege and retire himself to Ortheze His men were dispersed and to prevent his gathering them together again the Earl besieged him forced the Town and to beat Terride with his own weapons he turned his Cannons which ht found in the Town against the Castle whereupon it was surrendred to him after which all other places were suddainly reduced to the obedience of the Queen and the Earl having garrisoned the Towns of his new conquest speedily returned to the Princes Not long after Peace being concluded betwixt the King and the Protestants the King published an Edict wherein amongst other things he hath this passage Let it be lawfull for the Queen of Navarr the Kings Aunt besides the benefit which is common to all those which have the highest jurisdiction to enjoy the free exercise of her Religion in the Dukedom of Albert in the Earldoms of Armigniac Foix and Bigorre in one place of all those Dominions which she holdeth in her own possession or which may be consigned to her by the King so that all that will come to that place though she her self be absent may enjoy it without danger Moreover lest any doubt should arise concerning the right meaning of the Queen of Navarr the Kings Aunt as also of the Princes of Conde both Father and Son the King doth declare That he acknowledgeth them all for his faithfull Cosens and Subjects and that they and all that have managed the Warres under them shall be free and not bound to render an account for monies received or taken c. The Peace being concluded the malice of the Popish party was no whit abated whereupon they sought by Policy to effect that which they could not by power and for this end Biron was sent to Rochel in the Kings name to treat with the Queen of Navarr about the marriage between her Son Henry and the Kings Sister the Lady Margaret for which end he invited them to come to the Court where businesses might be fully debated and concluded He added also that hereby a fair occasion was offered from God to settle their affairs in peace c. The Queen of Navarr having returned thanks in a set Oration answered that the matter was of that importance that she would take time to her self in deliberating of it and albeit she did professe and acknowledge that that affinity would be a great ornament and profit to her yet she was for the present doubtfull what to do in regard of the near kindred betwixt her Son and the Lady and the difference in their Religions Wherefore saith she I will consult with my Divines and what I shall find to make for Gods glory and the good of the Kingdom and that may stand with a good conscience that I will readily and willingly imbrace being desirous in all that I may to satisfie the pleasure of the King and Queen to whom I owe all due observance Yet there remained two scruples which troubled the King and the Queen of Navarr in respect of the place and manner of celebrating the marriage For the Queen would not have it done at Paris which City being extreamly addicted to the Popish Religion she feared was long since an enemy to the Family of Navarr and therefore she judged it not safe to have it celebrated there The King on the contrary said That it would make for a certain sign of sure Peace to have the celebrity of the marriage seen in the Metropolis of the Kingdom as it were on a publique Theater The other doubt was about the manner of the celebration For the Queen of Navarr being most addicted to the reformed Religion would never endure that it should be contracted after the Popish manner nor the Queen-Mother after the fashion of the Protestants But the King prayed the Queen of Navarr to pardon him in that matter for that it would tend to his great dishonour if he should suffer the marriage of his Sister to be solemnized in any other form then according to that ancient Religion which he had received from his fore-fathers therefore to resolve this doubt there was time taken on both sides In the mean time the Queen of Navarr consulted with the Ministers of the Reformed Religion what might be done in this matter Some of them insisting upon the simplicity of Gods Word said that it was utterly unlawfull for such marriages to be contracted especially by illustrious Personages in whom it is more dangerous because of more publique concernment Others judging that this marriage would be a sure and as it were an everlasting foundation of a most happy Peace assented to it The Queen of Navarr and the Protestant Nobles striving to find out remedies both for the Kingdom which was grievously afflicted and for their own bruised estates liked these mens judgments best and so the businesse proceeded and the conditions of marriage were agreed upon between the parties The King was to give his Sister for her Dowry three hundred thousand Crowns each Crown being valued at four and fifty Shillings About this time the
special Providence His humility His death His Birth His education His love of the Scriptures His remove to Cambridge His call to Cawk The education of her children His call to Shrewsbury Satans malice His suspension His judgment against separation His studiousnesse His painfulnesse His humility and charity His servent Prayers His remove to Wrenbury A character of Mr. Nicholls Mr. Herrings character His call to Amsterdam The reason of his remove His Letter martyrdome The Lady Bromleys love to Christs Ministers His arrival in Holland His entertainment there His first Sermon Return of prayers His fear of Independency His death His birth and education His first going to Cambridge His conversion His disputation at the Commencement Note He preached a Lecture at Ely His removall to Hanwel His great pains there His frequency in fasting and prayer His hospitality His second marriage The great successe of his Ministry His deprivation His preaching at Fenni-Compton His removall to Cannons-Ashby He is again silenced He had an excellent gift in conference His comforting of afflicted consciences Joy unspeakable Note He is placed at Fausley His hospitality His charity The benefit of afflictions Troubles to be expected His frequency in Fasting and Prayer His diseases His desire of death The reasons of his desire His taking occasions to do good How he prevented swearing His delight in the Law of God His mercifulnesse His love and charity Dr. Prestons love to him He comforts Mr. Throgmorton His weanednesse from the world What wicked men are like Note Afflictions Gods potions The power of his Ministry His excellency for similitudes Benefits of death Benefit of Prayer Benefit of Faith We should not be weary of hearing Sinfull recreations Promises great riches His humility Love better then Law The benefit of turning to God betimes A special Providence His Faith How afflictions may be lessened Meeknesse Comfort in dangers His Faith Cavaliers cruelty His patience Death not feared Passionate rebukes unprofitable What contention should be amongst married persons His manner of preaching The Scope of his Prayers His exposition of Scripture His custom in preaching What preaching is unprofitable True humiliation His preaching by signes Christians should be cheerfull His indefatigablenesse The benefit of plain preach-king His holy life His peace-maing His acutenesse His humility His modesty What Wise should be chosen How we may alwaies have comfort What will make us willing to suffer Assurance to be laboured foâ— Thankfulness in afflictions Prayer His tentation and victory His faith and patience His death His call to Stoke The great successe of his Ministry His flight to Warder Castle Special providences His remove to Sarum He is condemned to be hanged His courage and constancy A special Providence His remove to Winchester He is urged to recant His remove to Oxford His Release He is sent for by the Earl of Essex His going to Barwick A special Providence Possession Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom A special Providence The great successe of his Ministry His death His Parentage His birth and education He was sanctified from the Womb. His frequent reading of the Scriptures His natural endowments His skill in the French His industry His observance of his Parents Despisers of Parents usually punished by God His admission into the University He is made Fellow of Queens Colledge His care over his Pupils He is ordained Minister His call to Canterbury The occasion of it Friendship His self-denial He was a burning and shining light His opposition to innovations His humility He doth good abroad He is opposed by Sectaries and Cathedralists His Lecture put down He is again restored Tentations prevented His remove to Ashwel His great pains His humility and sincerity His prudence His diligent catechizing His prudent charity His Cathechism His manner of reforming disorders His Family-Government His care for sanctifying the Sabbath His secret duties His Fasting and Prayer His frequency in reading the Scriptures His holy and exact walking He is made University-Preacher He is made a Member of the Assembly His conscientiousnesse therein His fitnesse for it His care for Ashwel in his absence His choice to Dukes-place His self-denial His great pains The success of his Ministry His call to the new Church His temperance The reasons of his removall His great pains A faithfull Pastor His amiable and affable disposition His care about the Lords Supper He is made Master of Queens Colledge His Government of the Colledge His care to promote Religion there His care to advance learning His charity His prudence A true Nathaniel His zeal His courage and faithfulnesse His vindication of the Sabbath A special Providence His faithfulnesse His judgment about the King His temperance and sobriety His liberality and charity His last sicknesse His Prayer before death His death His Parentage His Fathers death His Mothers death Popes Policy His Birth His education His valour He is wounded His advancement His military discipline His military service He is made Admirall He is made Generall He makes Peace with the Emperour His distast of perjury The cause of the feud betwixt him and the Guises His courage St Quintan besieged His fidelity to his Countrey His industry The French Army routed The City battered St Quintan taken The Admirall taken His sicknesse a means of health to his soul. He devests himself of his Offices His temperance Andelot questioned for Religion His stout Answer His imprisonment The cause why he left his Offices His godly wife encourages him Persecution attends the Gospel He instructs and reforms the Family The power of Religion His prudent humility How Christ is received in the Sacrament He partakes of the Sacrament to the great joy of the Churches Persecution the bellows of the Gospel A meeting of the Nobility His zeal and courage The Protestants Petition His boldnesse A Parliament desired The Protestants persecuted The Admirals oversight A general convention of the States A petition for the Protestants The malice of the Clergy The Protestants freed from persecution Churches allowed them A massacre by the Duke of Guise The King seized on by the D. of Guise Why the Protestants first took arms Prince of Conde made Generall The Admirall made Lieutenant Generall P. of Condees facility The Q Mothers perfidiousnesse P. of Conde prisoner The Admirall releases him His eldest Son dieth The Guises call in forraign help And so do the Protestants The Admirall taketh their ammunition A Battell Conde taken prisoner The Admirals valour John Poltrot slew the Duke of Guise A wicked brag A peace concluded The Admirall accused He clears himself The controversie determined by the King The Admirall cleared Treachery against the Admirall He forgives the Traitor The Q. Mothers mischievous counsels Her subtilty God follows her with the plague The Guises attempts against the Protestants frustrated by the Admirall Lies raised of him His speech to the Parisians His speech to the Parliament New treachery against him
The Traytor executed The young Prince of Conde born The Admirall honoured New designs against the Protestants * Roch-sur-yon The Prince of Conde and Admirall complain to the King They are answered with scorns The second Civil War Paris blocked up by the Prince A Battell The Admirall wonderfully preserved The Royalists routed They joyn with the Germans The Admirals prudence Caen besieged by the Prince Peace concluded The Admirals Wife dieth His counsell to his Children His charge to Grelleus His Wives character Popish treachery A remarkable Providence A Prediction They send to the King The third Civil War A special providence The Protestants basely murthered The Queen of Navarr assists them Niort taken Engolisme besieged A Battell The Royalists beaten A special providence The Admirals danger His valour Prince of Conde basely slain His character The Prince of Navarr in his room The Admirals piety His Authority to take up Arms. Andelot's death The Admirals Letter to his Sons and Nephews His Faith The Germans aid the Protestants The Royalists beaten The Admirall sends to the King for Peace Lusiniac surrendred Poictiers besieged The Admirals sicknesse Treachery against the Admirall The Traitor executed The Royalists beaten The Admirall forced to fight His policy A special providence He is wounded His Army overthrown His courage He is condemned by the Parliament of Paris His house plundered His contentation His justice His Letter to his Sons and Nephews They send to the King for Peace A Tyrannical speech The Admirall falls sick Ambassadours from the King The great esteem of the Admirall The Treaty goes on Peace concluded The Admirals second marriage He marries his Daughter to Teligni Coligni's death in England His character Popish cruelties The Kings dissimulation The Kings dissimulation with the Admirall Royal dissimulation The Admirals entertainment at Court The malice of the Duke of Guise The Kings dissembling Letter The King dissembles with C. Lodwick Intercepted Letters which shewed the dissimulations The Admirals security The Queen of Navarr's death Her character The King sends for the Admirall His friends advertisements His security He went to Paris Warnings to the Admirall His confident answer Royal treachery The Protestants flock to Paris Deep dissimulation Rochel blocked up The Admirall deluded The King of Navarr married The Admirals Letter to his Wife The Kings dissimulation The Admirall wounded His admirable patience and Christian courage His charity His Prayer His comfort His Faith The Kings prophane dissimulation The King visits the Admirall His speech to the King The Kings answer Deep dissimulation The Bullet viwed Psal. 32.1 A Councel held by the Protestants Presages of the Massacre Monluc's advice The Kings dissimulation Deep dissimulation An ill omen Popish subtilty Counsell that the Protestants should leave Paris A Judas The Massacre projected The Kings dissimulation with the King of Navarr The Duke of Guise excites to the Massacre Fatall security The Queen-Mothers mischievous mind The sign of the Massacre The Admirals house assaulted The Admirals speech The Admirall slain His body basely abused His Head sent to Rome Yet buried His character His piety and zeal Examples prevalent His manner of preparing for the Lords Supper His care for education of children His contempt of the world Brotherly love His age His abstinence His daily exercise Teligni murthered and his young Son Her Parentage Her marriage Popish policy King of Navarr turns Papist The Queens constancy Popish policy The King of Navarr slain Treason against the Queen Gods providence over her Her going to Rochel Her Letters to the King c. Prince of Conde slain She encourageth the Army Her Countrey surprized And regained The Kings Edict Popish subtilty The match propounded Her pious care about it Ministers dissent about it Her zeal to propogate the Gospel She goes to the Court. The Kings dissimulation She goes to Paris She is poysoned Her sicknesse and religious carriage therein Her charge to her Son James 5.14 Her conference with the Minister Long life a blessing 1 Cor. 15.55 Her Prayer A Prayer Her patience The Minister Absolves her The Admirall came to her Her death
these tossings to and fro he should thus light upon his feet yet would not meddle for the present but wait occasions Those that were well-affected were glad he was engaged against the Court and Bishops and did presage he might be instrumental to their downfall and every body laboured to ingage him more and more against them The Spanish match was then the common talk and great unwillingnesse appeared in the people generally and Doctor Willet had presumed to offer Arguments unto the King against matching with Idolaters The King was greatly vext at this adventure and took great paines to perswade the Doctor that a Papist was not an Idolater Sed non persuadebat etiamsi persuaserat The people were unsatisfied and there being then a Parliament a very Honourable and able Member of the House of Lords prevailed with Master Preston to write some Arguments against it And though there were severe Edicts and Proclamations against scandalous Papers and intermedling with Mysteries of State yet he promised it should be scattered and divulged unto fit persons and none should know from whence or from whom it came accordingly when it was finished and written fair one gave it to a Porter whom he met in Holborne and bad him leave it according to the direction The next day a great Lord comes unto him that had perswaded Master Preston unto the service and tels him that he had met with such a piece against the Spanish match as he never saw and protested he was convinced that he must speak against it in the House what ever came of it The other asked him who made it and where he had it he assured him he knew not but it was left at his lodging by he knew not whom The Lord desired he might see it and so it was copied out and spread among those of the Parliament they thought fit but the Authour of it never known King James had something alwayes in his Writings and Speeches against the Puritans which was ill taken for that it was apparent those meant thereby were godly conscientious persons The House of Commons was the only mote in King James his eye the Remora as he conceived unto his absolute dominion for he knew not how for to engaged them as he did the Lawyers and Divines but if he stopped one mouth with preferment this Parliament there would be others open the next against him There were some now that adventured to apologize for Puritans and to say in Parliament that honest men were wounded under that name and to propose that godly Ministers might not be silenced and thrown out of their Free-holds for trifles and Ceremonies But King James would none of that stuff breaks up the Parliament and sets out Proclamations Sed quid prodest totius regionis silentium si affectus fremant People love not to be enforced unto duty Homines duci volunt non cogi The Chaplains that attended monethly at the Court were not ambitious of preaching over-often and so a Combination was agreed on for Preachers before the King when ever he should lie within twelve miles of Cambridge The King did not despair of making Scholars his and therefore used all endeavours to oblige them especially Cambridge men where a seed of Puritans had been a long time and though the Plains about Royston and New-market afforded better Winter-game then elsewhere yet Scholars he conceived might be catcht sometimes as well as Hares and so was willing they should preach before him Young men he knew would preach themselves Omnis oratio docet aut rem aut animum dicentis He should learn either things or persons By this means it came to Master Prestons turn to preach before the King at Royston he was so muffled at Court in Doctor Newcombs businesse that he knew not what to do could not decline it altogether for that would have exposed him unto too much observation and yet he greatly feared what might befall him in the doing of it therefore he changed his course with one that was to preach a little after and did it very privately that if his enemies should have designes they might be disappointed and so it was not much known When he was to preach it fell out that his course came upon a Tuesday when the King did lie at Finching brook the Court was very thin and the Prince and Duke of Buckingham were both abroad and the King himself was for an hunting match that day and gave order that the Sermon should begin at eight of the clock Master Preston had some at the Court that were solicitous as well as he and they told him it would give very great content if he would take some occasion in the Sermon to shew his judgment as he had done before about Seâ— Formes Doctor Young Deane of Winchester of whom we spake before did then attend and when the King came in and sate down in the chair he told him who it was that preached and said he hoped he would give content I pray God he do said the King The Sermon is in print upon John 1.16 which he so clearly opened and applied that the King sate all the while as quiet as could be and never stirred nor spake to any body but by his looks discovered he was pleased when all was done he came unto him as the manner was to kisse his hand and the King asked him of what Preston he was descended he answered of that in Lancashire Then said the King you have many of your name and kindred very eminent and Preston the Priest although a Papist is a very learned man Great haste was made to bring in dinner and the King was very pleasant all the time had his eye continually upon Master Preston and spake of divers passages in the Sermon with much content especially that of the Arminians putting God into the same extreamity that Darius was put in Dan. 6. when he would have saved Daniel but could not but as soon as ever he was retired the Marquesse Hamilton kneeled down and besought him that he might commend the Preacher to him for his Chaplain protested he did not so much as know him but that he was moved by the weight and strength of that he had delivered told him he spake no pen and ink-horn language but as one that comprehended what he said and that he could not but have substance and matter in him The King acknowledged all but said it was too early remembred New-market businesse and was reserved Sir Ralph Freeman one of the Masters of Requests had married a Kinswoman of the Duke of Buckhinghams and was a Kinsman unto Master Preston he makes relation of the businesse unto the Duke and told him if now he would appear in favour of his Cousin Preston he might oblige the Puritans and lay a ground-work for his own security if tempests should arise assured him that Master Preston was ingenuous and might be made that the King and all the Court were taken
with the Sermon and did approve it The Duke of Buckingham was a wise man and apprehensive of what Sir Ralph suggested seasonably saw those they called Puritans were growing and in the Parliament were thought considerable knew that the Kings affections might cool and he might need friends and took Sir Ralphs discourse into his most serious thoughts An honest man one Master Packer was then his Secretary and he set on what Sir Ralph Freeman had suggested and so it came unto a resolution that Master Preston should be owned and the Duke commanded Sir Ralph Freeman to go to Master Preston from him and acquaint him with his good opinion of him and desire to see him and indeed there was such a concurrence and concentring of opinions and desires among the Courtiers that it was assured Master Preston he might be Chaplain unto whom he would and that was now the deliberation which of these offers he should accept and whom he would acknowledge his Patron and Protector for the time to come There was not so few Clergy men at Court at any time and so no kind of opposition yet the King himself hung back and would do nothing hastily he was not reconcileable unto the Puritans and so desired not in that respect for to ingage him but he desired to deprive them of Master Preston and to divide him from them and would do any thing that might drive that on and considering how many he had wonne that Master Preston was a young man and might be drawn on he would not hinder nor oppose so it was the joynt opinion of all his friends that the best preferment was to be the Princes Chaplain who then was grown and had an houshold This therefore was represented unto Sir Ralph Freeman and his opinion required who quickly yielded and proposed it unto the Duke both Prince and Duke had been abroad and neither of them heard the Sermon when therefore Master Preston was brought unto the Duke he very seriously received him told him it was the Prince his unhappinesse and his to be absent when he did preach and therefore desired him that he would vouchsafe a Copy of his Sermon to him and believe that he would be ready to the best and utmost of his power to serve him There were many other Courtiers that desired Copies of the Sermon and the Court not staying there Master Preston came home to furnish Copies He never penned Sermon word for word but wrote what came into his mind and as it came and that in no good hand and so it was a businesse to provide these Copies which yet he seriously attended till they were written fair and then to Court he goes where the Duke presents him to the Prince and so he was made and admitted Chaplain to the Prince in Ordinary for as then the Prince had not compleated the number he intended which was six who were accordingly to wait two moneths by the year and preach unto the houshold upon the Lords daies and perform such duties as were required of them But God was making other work for Master Preston for Doctor Tolson Bishop of Salisbury dies and leaves a Wife and many Children unprovided for for he had been Bishop but a little while This Wife of his was Doctor Davenants Sister in pity therefore and commiseration of her case it was proposed to the King by those that were his Friends that Doctor Davenant a single man and well-deserving might succeed his Brother in the Bishoprick and so make some provision for his Children The King thought very well of Doctor Davenant not only for his singular abilities and labours in the University but for his pains also and service in the Synod of Dort against Arminius and it was looked on as a deed of charity and so believed he would carry it and be the man But this created Master Prestons cares Doctor Davenant had been his constant and faithfull Friend and given countenance upon all occasions to him and all his Pupils But now who should succeed and where should Master Preston find another shelter The Fellows for the most part were not his Friends envied his numbers and great relations and there was no man like so to befriend him Besides the Margaret-Professors place would be void also by this remove and many able stirring Batchelors in Divinity proposed unto him that place and assured him the Election would be easily carried for him The truth is he had no great hope to do any great good in the Election of the Master of the Colledge and one Doctor Mansel being named a very moderate good-natured man he let that care fall and was more anxious about the Professors place for though sound doctrine in the University was of much use yet English preaching was like to work more and win more souls to God He alwaies highly valued and frequently consulted with Master Dod and he perswaded English preaching as that wherein God was more immediately served and said there were others that might supply the University in the Professors place that either could not or would not labour mens Conversion And indeed the Master of Sidney-Colledge Doctor Ward a vast Scholar was then in view and nomination for the Professors place yet Master Preston was so solicited by honest men that he knew not what to do Two things he thought he wanted to enable him The one was a Latine tongue the other a Latine style in both which by reason of desuetude he was unready For his style therefore he resolves upon an exact and logical Analysis of all the Epistles which would actuate and exercise his style and acquaint him with the Scripture-phrase and language and if he were called to be Professour might serve for Lectures in the Schooles which work he immediately applied himself unto and very happily compleated a work of great pains unto him and in it self of great worth but being Latine and written only with his own ill hand was not thought popular enough to come abroad but lieth in the dark For the exercising of his Latine tongue he resolves a journey into the Netherlands where he should have much occasion of speaking Latine and see those Colledges and Universities but there was no travelling beyond Sea without a License under the hands of Privy-Counsellors this he procures among his Friends with all the secrecy that could be and a great while before he meant to use it that he might conceale it from the Colledge and University but this his secrecy begat suspition that there was some plot Velle putant quodcunque potest It is not safe for men to have abilities It was resented so much the more because no Clergy man was made acquainted with it and the opinion was that something was brewing against Episcopacy This they were sure of that Amsterdam was in the Netherlands and ever had been fatal to the Hierarchy The Lord Keeper then was Bishop Williams he sees this plague afar off Prov. 22.3 and provides a Messenger
Bishoprick he would resolve on and told at Royston by the Duke of Buckingham that the Bishoprick of Glocester was then void contends with Master Middlethwite to be Lecturer at Trinity-Church for a stipend of fourscore pounds per annum as the upshot of all his hopes and fruit of all his great atchievments at the Court and the contention was so great on all sides that it could not be concluded by any mediation but was referred to an hearing at Royston before King James who was really against the Doctors preaching in the University the consequence whereof he well saw and was informed fully of I confesse I often wondered why Master Middlethwite an eminent Scholar and like enough to get preferment as afterwards it 's known he did should stickle for so small an opportunity to preach against the inclination and disposition of the Townsmen untill I understood that he was set on by the Prelatical Heads who told him that it was a service acceptable to the King and he should be rewarded for it At the time appointed it came unto an hearing and an Argument was urged against the Doctor namely that it was a Lecture maintained by six-pences a thing unseemly for a Master of a Colledge and the Prince his Chaplain but the Duke had taken care that nothing should be ordered and concluded against the Doctors mind for the Duke resolved not to lose him so the meeting was dissolved and nothing done but that night Sir Edward Contvey then Secretary invited Doctor Preston to supper and after supper told him that the King had ordered him to tell him that if he would give over his pursuance of that Lecture and let the Heads dispose of it he should make his choice of any other preferment that was more honourable and profitable for him but the Doctors end was to do good not to get good the Kings to make him uselesse and divide him from the Puritans The Duke was more indifferent who laboured in him to win and gratifie the Puritans whose power in Parliament was now grown very formidable therefore when nothing else would content him he was confirmed Lecturer at Trinity-Church the last preferment he ever had where he preached after all his time and did much good The Duke had now obliged Doctor Preston in the judgment and opinion of all the honest Party and much displeased the Prelatical and he saw apparently that King James approved not his siding with him yet he was more expresse then ever in his affections to him and freenesse with him He had indeed a very happy and rare composure of sweetnesse and solidity would play and dally with the King as if he were a woman and yet enquire and apprehend and argue counsels and debates of State as if a Burleigh or a Walsingham saw clearly the affections of the King were fading which the Puritans though never so much his Friends could not repair and therefore eyed and adored the rising Sun who now was grown and fit for marriage but no Preparatives to find a Consort for him He knew the Spanish match was but a colour and a Treaty dandled between Bristol and King James to fool the Prince off and shut his eares against the French proposals This he discovers to the Prince tels him Kings did not love an Heir apparent how near soever that the daughter of Spain was designed to a Monastery and kept for a reserve unto the house of Austria that in France there was a Lady much before her that if he pleased he would wait upon him into Spain in a disguise and take the French Court in their way and see that Lady and so discover Bristols and his fathers jugling the Prince resents and hugs this overture They tell King James the Earl of Bristol and the Spanish Ministers abused him that it was time to bring that Treaty to some Conclusion desire they might go into Spain and play the game out The King saw who had ploughed with his Heifer feared as he was apt to do a check-mate yet for the present urgeth only his affections to them both and asketh them how he should subsist so long without their companies But they persisting signes a Warrant with his own hand for Jack Smith and Tom Smith with each of them a servant and their horses to go beyond-Sea The Duke even now was not unmindfull of Doctor Preston but leaves order with the Dutchesse and Countesse of Denbigh to be carefull for him and Sir Ralph Freeman having a child to baptize Doctor Preston is intreated for to preach and the Dutchesse and Countesse were both Gossips who shewed to the Doctor very great respect and gave him hopes of doing good and some he did for he procured by their means Master Hildershams liberty and restitution to his place at Ashby de la zouch and gave great hopes unto good Ministers of fairer times then had been formerly only he would relate with much regret that he often found Doctor Laud then Bishop of Saint Davids with them and therefore doubted of the issue and event The Doctor saw by the debates about the Lecture that he had enemies as well as friends at Court that the Duke was mutable as well as mortal knew that the King abhorred that journey into Spain and would remember it if able Dulcis inexperto cultura potentis amici expertus metuit And therefore though now he were setled and assured in the University yet would not leave his Lecture at Lincolns-Inne but being still in London in the Tearm-time about the Colledge-businesse continued Preacher at Lincolns-Inne and thought it might be a good reserve in case the naughty Heads or Factions in the Court should fall upon him and it was well he did for the Prince and Duke returned the next October highly offended with the Spanish gravity and both they and all their train did nothing but tell stories of the Spanish basenesse so a Parliament was called and the Duke cryed up by all the godly Party in the Kingdome The Spanish Agent at the Court had order from his Master out of Spain for to defie him and protest against him at the Counsel-Table but seriously he could not have done him a greater courtesie for the people universally did hate the Spaniard and now the Duke became the peoples Martyr I have seen Verses made in his defence and commendation and Agents presently dispatched in France to treat of that Match King James liked not this stuff but the Prince was able now to go alone and especially when he had the Duke for one of his Supporters all things are fairly carried for Religion and the Duke of Buckhingham the Princes and peoples Favourite The people seemed now to have the better and the Court-affairs for to decline and droop Doctor Preston like another Mordecai was very great the Prince his Master and the Duke his Friend and the Courtiers eyes upon him because they saw he came not thither for preferment as all men else Pisoni in
imperium adoptato nihil in vultu mutatum quasi magis imperare posset quam vellet His honours altered nothing in him but gave encouragement to all the godly Party and his Sermons at Lincolns-Inne much wrought upon the Parliament so that a bold Petition was contrived and presented to the King at Whitehall from both Houses of Parliament April 23. 1624. against the spreading and increase of Popery and the Indulgence given unto Priests and Jesuites King James was in the evening of his glory his Party in the Court under a cloud another Sun almost in view and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or day-star already risen and accordingly he answered warily to their Petition bewails his want of information as the reall ground of this their trouble which otherwise he had prevented acknowledged that whilest the Treaties lasted with Spain and Austria he was obliged to comply but now both being broken off he would be rigid and severe against the Priests and Jesuites bids them find out a way for to restrain the growth of Popery and he would second them but resolves to pay the Duke of Buckingham for all this and gives order to the Earl of Bristol to prepare an information for that end but the Match with France and other intervenient accidents obstruct it for the present The Duke having told tales out of School and broken off the Match with Spain was much obliged to further and promote the French which he did seriously excuse to Doctor Preston upon this ground that there was not any Protestant for to be had and for to marry with a subject had alwaies been unlucky and fatal to the Kings of England that the French would not be ridged in religious observations but the Doctor constantly opposed only acknowledged this difference that Spanish Popery was an absolute ingredient to their intended Western Monarchy but French was not so and so this was lesse evil But the French found out this obligation and were untractable unlesse the Duke would aid the King of France against the Rochellers This was a hard chapter for one so much obliged unto the Puritans and Doctor Preston and he therefore declined all he could but nothing else would serve and he knew King James lay ready to take advantages so in Conclusion eight Ships were granted to oppose the Rochel-fleet and many colours sought to cloude it and hide it from the world but from that time Doctor Preston doubted of the Saint-ship of the Duke of Buckingham whom otherwise he honoured and loved very much But it was high time for the Duke to look about him King James was not to learn now how for to play his Game he was an old but not a foolish King Eccl. 4.13 and therefore failed not to make Provision and lay rods in pisse that he might use upon occasion Kings use for to account an ague in the Spring their Physick yet Physick till March be past is not good but this ague antidates the moneths and comes in February The King was then at Theobalds and the Ague was made but small account of He feared death but was the most impatient and disordered of any living what rules soever the Physicians gave he would observe none which intemperance might very well occasion the growing strength and vigour of the disease which howsoever more and more increased and at last began to be considerable then he began to take advice and to submit to rules but now it was too late for March 27. 1625. on the Lords day in the morning about ten of the clock at Theobalds the King dies Doctor Preston then attended in his moneth and was sometimes hastened to the Prince to comfort him and sometimes to the Duke and indeed it was a very mournfull morning Death is a serious thing and knocks alike at Pallaces as at the meanest Cottage King James was very much beloved of all his servants some of the Huntsmen could not be gotten from him the Prince and Duke were both of them retired and wept exceedingly But Sir Edward Conwey and some of the Lords drew up a Wiring and proclaimed Charles Steward King with all his Titles and hast was made to pack away to London The Prince and Duke and Doctor Preston in Coaches shut down hasten to White-hall and there he is proclaimed again with more formalities and the Lord Maior and the City sent to where it was done with much solemnity and great rejoycing of the people for the Prince had that exceeding happinesse to come upon the stage unprejudiced For he had never interposed nor acted but in the Spanish businesse and that succeeded to his great advantage so that if he listed he might have been as popular as ever any were This fall occasions many alterations in the Court the Bishops generally and Doctor Prestons enemies and all that had contended with the Duke were Crest-fallen King James was like enough to have out-lived the Duke of Buckingham who had been very sick since his return from Spain but all is altered and the Duke does all But he had many things to do the affronts received in Madrid and at the Counsel-table by the Agent were to be sent back by a puissant and mighty Navy and Provisions made accordingly King James to be interr'd a Parliament to be summoned the French Lady to be sent for and brought into England which the Duke especially intended and spake to all the Gallants of his Retinue to attend him and to many other of the Gentry and Nobility throughout the Kingdome But he found it hard thus in the morning of the Kings affairs to be abroad there being then a Parliament and the sicknesse much encreasing in the City so he was constrained to employ the Earl of Holland and attend himself at home All were not gratified in this great revolution and mutation of affairs and the discontented Party murmured and let flie at the Duke and the sicknesse much encreasing began to make a mutiny and it was much desired that the Parliament might be prorogued till some other more healthfull and lesse dangerous time But the Navy against the Spaniards and the pressing wants of all sorts that depended on the Court would not permit so it was only adjourned to Oxford yet there the sicknesse was as soon as they and some of their Members smarted for it but hast was made to gratifie the new King and the Provisions for the Navy went forward many men ingaged and the King resolved to attend that businesse as admitting no delay There was one thing that invited Doctor Preston to a journey that year and that was a strong suspition that the plague was in the town in which case there is a liberty to dissolve the Colledge without any detriment unto the Officers and Members of it He was not willing to omit the opportunity because he had many invitations into the West The Bishop of Salisbury he desired to consult withall about a Book of Master Montagues that was commended to him by
the Duke of Buckingham to peruse and give his sense upon it Master Shervil the Recorder of Salisbury was a Bencher of Lincolns-Inne and a very good friend of his he had divers Friends at Dorchester and was desirous to be sea-sick and was still enticed forward and at last resolved to wait upon the King and Duke at Plimmouth whether they were gone to see the Navy set sayl Whilest he was there the Rochel fleet was broken by those ships the King lent and Mounsieur Sabeeza came into Falmouth with the remainder and thence to Plimmouth with most lamentable out-cries against the Duke who seemed to be very much affected with it and made mighty Promises of wonderfull repairs but Doctor Preston failed not to set that businesse home he did believe the Duke was over-ruled to lend them and sorry when he saw the sad effects But whilest the Duke was thus detained in the West the Earl of Bristol and the Lord Keeper Williams combined against him and drew in many to their Party among others the Earl of Pembroke and divers great ones in the House of Commons and was so incouraged and heartned in it that the Earl of Bristol May 1. 1626. preferred in the House of Lords twelve Articles against the Duke of Buckingham tending to prove That the Duke had promised unto the Pope and Ministers of Spain to make the King a Papist and over-ruled him against the judgment of the Earl of Bristol to write unto the Pope with the title of Sanctissime Pater That his carriage in the matters of Religion was so offensive that he stuck not to kneel before the Host as often as he met it That he was so licentious and unchast in his behaviour that the Spanish Ministers resolved not to have any thing to do with him That when he could not bring about the Match to his own particular advantage he used means to obstruct it and break it off That he had informed King James of all these things who promised to hear him and leave the offender unto Justice and that not many daies before his sicknesse The Duke had now reason to look about him and was very able so to do and first he labours to divide the Party by drawing off the Earl of Pembroke by promising his Daughter to the Earl of Mountgomeries Sonne which afterward he did accomplish then he endeavoured to oblige the Puritans by gratifying Doctor Preston all the waies he could and particularly in the businesse of the Colledge-suit by depriving Bishop Williams of the Seal and giving it to Sir Thomas Coventry who was one of the Colledge-counsel yea he went so far as to nominate the Doctor to the King to be Lord Keeper and the King was so firm to him that the Earl of Bristol could do no good and so withdrew his Articles Doctor Prestons Friends were Newters all this while and looked on neither engaged for him nor against him which was sadly represented to the Duke by the Bishops and that Party who wondered he should dote upon a man that either could not or would not own him in his need bad him consider whether Puritans were like to be his Friends whose waies were toto coelo different and told him plainly he could not have them both If he adhered to those that sought their ruine they must adhere to such as would support them so that the Duke was in a great strait and knew not what to do Doctor Preston also was importuned to put it to an issue and if he would not leave the rotten and corrupted Clergy then to leave him and because there had been informations against that Book of Master Mountagues they propounded it might come to a debate and not remain as now it it did unsetled The Doctor and the Duke were both of them unwilling to an open breach loved for to temporise and wait upon events But Doctor Prestons friends would not be satisfied but urged a conference whereunto they were incouraged by some Orthodox and very learned Bishops and at last it was concluded by two religious Noble-men that a conference there should be the Bishop of Rochester and Doctor White then Dean of Carlisle on the one side and the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield and Doctor Preston on the other A day was set a Satturday in Hillary-Tearm at four of the clock in the afternoon the place was York-house and Doctor Preston sent to in the morning for to attend it The Noble-men came unto the Bishops lodgings about two of the clock and sent for Doctor Preston to them who gave many reasons why he could not go but they were resolute and taking the Bishop with them went without him but the Doctor considering and fearing his absence might betray the cause and give encouragement unto the other side went afterward himself unto the place and sate by as an hearer silent untill all was done but talking afterwards occasionally of falling from grace the Bishop shewed that a godly man might go far and yet return by the instance of the Prodigal Luk. 15. but Doctor White exclaimed against any that should think the Prodigal in acts of drunkennesse and whoredome not to be fallen from grace and urged that of the Apostle Rom. 1.32 That those that do such things are worthy of death that is said he in a state of everlasting death and therefore fallen from grace so 1 Cor. 6.9 10. shall not inherit the Kingdome of God that is are not sons for if sons then heirs Rom. 8.17 But Doctor Preston answered that these sins made indeed a forfeiture of all their interest into the hands of God and he might make the seisure if he pleased but did not unto those which were his children and in Covenant with him as two Tennants by not paying of their Rent or keeping Covenants forfeited their Leases yet the Lord might seize the one and not the other as he pleased But the Bishop and the Dean both cried out this was the way to all licentiousness and looseness To which the Doctor answered That the seed of God as the Apostle calls it 1 Joh. 3.9 remained in the sinning Saint or Sonne and would repair him as in water there remains a principle of cold even when it boyleth over that will undoubtedly reduce it when the heat and fire is removed as in Peter David Sampson and others was apparent so that they could not run out into all licentiousnesse for the spirit lusted against the flesh that they cannot do the things they would Gal. 5.17 and though he did not disinherit them and blot their names out of the Book of life Phil. 4.3 yet he might and would withdraw his favour imbitter all their comforts Mat. 26.75 raise trouble to them from their dearest interests 2 Sam. 12.11 fill them with anguish Psal. 38.3 4. which in reason will keep them from running out seeing the evil is commensurable unto that good of pleasure or profit their sinne afforded and if need be he can
and Conduit-pipe of strength and power Act. 14.10 Joh. 5.8 9. as Lazarus Joh. 11.43 44. Thus God by bidding and commanding men to take grace doth thereby fit them and enable them to do it as that Creeple Act. 3.6 7 8. was by the command inabled so Saul Act. 22.13 being commanded to receive his fight was inabled the same moment to look upon him and so vers 16. being commanded to wash away his sins had the blood of Christ provided ready for to do it So these commands are not like those the Apostle speaks of Jam. 2.16 for here is something given when God bids he doth not Verba dare sed rem But it was further urged by the Doctor that God had no pleasure in the death of wicked men Ezek. 33.11 but that he would rather they should repent and leave their sins Ezek. 18.23 and vers 32. if therefore God were not ready to the utmost of his power to give them grace he could not be excused from dissembling and double-dealing But Dr. Preston answered That superiours may command unable persons for many reasons but cannot be said for to dissemble unless they refuse to give when the required condition is performed As if I bid one come unto me and I will give him six-pence if I refuse when he is come I did dissemble but if he comes not he cannot charge me for their not coming may be for want of will Joh. 5.40 as well as for want of power Joh. 6.44 Now if I know a Creeple will not come though he could I may punish him for it It 's true God delights in nothing but himself his joy and comfort is terminated only in himself not in the creature but as some way served and represented by it for God made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 yea for his pleasure Rev. 4.11 That is the exercise and illustration of some one of his attributes as his power Exod. 9.16 Rom. 9.17 his wrath Rom. 9.22 Never did strong man glory of his strength more then God doth of his Soveraignty and Omnipotency Job 40.9 10 11 12 13. Now if it fall out that in the illustration and exercise of these his glorious attributes and excellencies some creatures smart yet he delights not in their smart and sufferings but in the demonstration of his own Omnipotency Ahashuerus makes a Feast to all the States and Orders of his Kingdome to shew the riches of his glorious Kingdome and the Honour of his excellent Majesty Esth. 1.3 4. This was not done without the smart and suffering of many of the creatures yet he delights not in their sufferings but in his own magnificence and bounty When Christ was at the Feast Joh. 2.1 2. he doth not condole the death of all those innocents that went to make it up Qui fruitur poena ferus est but rejoyced in the good cheer and good will of the Friend that bade him There were few present of Doctor Prestons Friends and accordingly this conference was represented and reported with all the disadvantage that could be to him insomuch that many Parliament men that were his friends were much offended at it which occasioned him as soon as he came to Cambridge to write the several passages and send them to those friends that were unsatisfied But it was an evidence that the Duke and Dr. Preston were not so great but that he sticked to the Prelates and would in the issue leave Dr. Preston and the Puritans which much abated good mens affections to the Duke and it was believed that he had no such footing in the Kings affections as he did pretend unto Posteà Maecenas speciem potius quam vim tenuit in amicitia Principis They thought his greatnesse began to languish and it was believed in the University that there was another favourite in being though yet obscure for the Earl of Suffolke much about this time died who had been a long time Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and great meanes was used to set the Duke up for to succeed him but good men were fallen off because of his deserting Dr. Preston and others did believe his glory was departed and so the Earl of Berkshire the former Chancellors second Son was set up against the Duke and many visited for him that loved greatnesse and were servants good enough unto the times and it 's believed it had been carried for him against the Duke if the wisdome of Dr. Goffing then Vice-Chancellor and some others in the scrutiny had not prevented it but it was pronounced for the Duke and great care was taken for the investing of him in a very solemn manner A representative of the University is designed to attend him at York-house in their habits and a sumptuous Feast provided for their entertainment the Duke sate in the midst of the Table among the Doctors where by some body there was an health begun unto the King When it came to Dr. Preston for to pledge it he was uncovered and bowed as others had done but drank but very little and so delivered it unto the next but one of the Doctors took notice that he drank not all and told him he had seen him drink as great a glass of wine and did believe he could have drunk this if he would but that he loved to be singular The Dr. acknowledged he was not skilfull in the laws of drinking healths and therefore if he had offended he desired it might be imputed to his ignorance but he thought the end was to shew respect unto the persons named which was done best by the Ceremonies that preceded as being bare standing up and such like wherein he said he had not willingly offended but if it were an Engine to Court-intemperance and engage men unto greater quantities then themselves liked it fell short of that modesty and freedom of the Heathens Esth. 1.8 and was a sin in all but in men of their degree and rank and an abominable wickednesse The Duke misliked this incivility and frowned on the Doctor that occasioned it but it was believed it could not have been done without assurance that the Dukes affections were ebbing towards Dr. Preston And no wonder for his end being to make impressions of good upon the Court he could not but see if they did not succeed they would recoil If you manure and sow your land if the seeds subdues it not and conquers it it is enabled to bring forth the stronger weeds Heb. 6.7 8. If your Pearles be cast before swine they will also turn again and rend you Mat. 7.6 The Duke had now seen the worth and way of Dr. Preston he had found that he could not winne him and make him his he could not therefore in the way of policy but labour and resolve to wrack and sink him When Herod was convented by prevailing conquering Augustus for his great assistance of Mark Anthony his adversary and knew it would be in Augustus power to take his head off he setled his
affairs but gave peremptory order that his beloved Mariamne should be put to death for this only reason because another should not enjoy so great a beauty So the Duke would not another should enjoy the great abilities of Doctor Preston but was resolved to break him if he could yet in a civil Court way But the Doctor was too knowing not to see this afar off Prov. 22.3 Quae alii levia faciunt diu patiendo ea sapiens diù cogitando and had accordingly provided a succession of reserves wherein to hide himself The first and surest was his conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world If a man be wellcome into his conscience he need not fear the stormes and blusters that he meets abroad In te recedas cum cogeris in turba esse When a man is forced to be where he would not as Peter was foretold he should be Joh. 21.18 yet he may in despite of them retire into himself Paul made it his businesse to have his conscience alwaies void of offence Act. 24.16 and so did Dr. Preston for though his actings being many of them above the common size were not alwaies understood and very often mis-interpreted yet he was innocent and upright alwaies in them An undeniable argument whereof was that he never sued for the least preferment as we have said but studied and often consulted how without breaking he might avoid them And though he lived like himself and gave relief to others yet it was ever of his own as very many yet alive can witness And indeed he was a man of very much Communion and sweet Society with God prayed much in private and by himself besides as Tutor with his Pupils and after as Master in his Family Whatever weakness he was in or business did occur kept many private daies of Fasting by himself especially before the Sacraments and Sabbath-daies and accordingly enjoyed a constant clearnesse and assurance of his Justification and interest in the blood of Christ even then when frailties and infirmities did most of all afflict and wound him He never that I know was troubled or perplexed about Adoption though very often about the imperfection of his graces and the unconstancy of Sanctification so as he studied most exactly that Treatise of the Saints Infirmities and there is nothing in all his works that may more properly be called his His next retreat was Lincolns-Inne for now he said the Duke was Chancellour and would endeavour to ingratiate himself and be a Benefactor and had bought Erpenius Manuscripts and did verily intend to found a Library and so it would be easie and in his power to out him of the Colledge and University For there was a resolution in some of the Fellows to petition the Duke without him and to annul the Statute of continuance or Commoration in the Colledge yet he conceived the Lawyers would pretend a kind of freedom and exemption For he saw when that holy blessed Dr. Sibbs was outed both of Fellowship and Lecture in the University yet by the goodnesse and prudence of Sir Henry Yelverton that constant Patron unto godly Ministers a vertue yet running in the veins of his posterity he was received and retained at Grayes-Inne unto his death therefore he would in no sort leave his title unto and interest in Lincolns-Inne but reserved it in his power unto his dying day But he knew Kings had long hands and that the Dukes were nothing shorter and that Lincolns-Inne though a great deal stronger and better built then Grayes-Inne yet would not hold out long in case the Duke should seriously beleagure it therefore he pondered of removing farther off if need were And having weighed all retreats resolved upon Basil in the Switzers Countrey as a place which the longest handed Kings had seldome touched even when it was a receptacle of their greatest enemies and therefore he resolved in case he could not be free in England to settle there and spend the residue of his surviving dayes in writing what he was not suffered to preach or had not published according to his mind He was naturally very affable and courteous unto strangers of any Countrey and by conversing much with them endeavoured to preserve his knowledge in the French and Italian languages But after he had thus resolved upon Basil he was very friendly to all he Germans that were dispersed from several Universities especially from the Palatinate for whom he procured several sorts of entertainments both in the Countrey abroad and in the University for which as he had very many Gratulatory Epistles from particular persons so one of note from the King of Bohemia under his Hand and Seal But he knew that these were but the Foxes earths that might successively be taken and possessed He therefore also thought upon that unum magnum of the Cat or rather of the Holy Ghost Prov. 18.10 the Name of the Lord that is the goodnesse mercy power of the mighty God where he was well assured he should for ever be free enough from Kings and Dukes Yet these did no way retard his industry in using means Obstructions quicked industrious and active minds but damp and clog the dull There is a Statesman of no mean esteem that writes professedly against the use of Cittadels and Forts because it makes the Souldier lesse resolved in engagements And the Spartans were forbidden to wall their City because it would incourage Cowardise But it did not take off Dr. Preston from his duty For finding that his standing at Court was untermined he resolved upon Buttresses to underprop him in the Countrey There was in the Countrey of Northampton a Gentleman of very able parts and clear affections to the publick good no stranger to the Court in former times nor to the Duke of Buckingham with whom the Doctor used to communicate affairs and who was then a Parliament man of much esteem to him the Doctor in a Letter discovers all shews him the hopelesse posture of the Duke how much they both were disappointed in him layes some directions what to do and urgeth activenesse This Letter by a sad misfortune was let fall by him that was intrusted to convey it about Temple-bar and handed from one to one untill it came to Sir Henry Spillers who having viewed and pondered the contents concluded it was a purchase that would ingratiate him unto the Duke and so immediately presents it to him The Duke was troubled to read his faults and face so shrewdly intimated and presaged His temper was exceeding good and he could mannage his affections many times with much serenity and moderation but now he was quite off and could not think of any thing but a revenge I have not known any thing so trouble and afflict the Doctor as this did that the Duke should have his hand against
very strong able and healthfull body so that for the greatest part of his life there which was about fourty four years he rod four times a day winter and summer between the two Churches read the Word and preached four times a day administred the Sacraments and performed all other ministerial dutyes in them both He preached uppon several texts in each of the Churches so that divers godly persons old and young went betwixt the two Churches hearing several Sermons to their great profit and comfort Besides this every Holiday he supplied both the Churches sometimes preached but constantly expounded in each of them and for the most part twice a day also and God so blessed his labours that he begat many Sons and Daughters unto God He was very carefull in the education of his children first to train them up in the knowledge and fear of God for which end he would take all opportunities to whet the Word of God upon them when he lay down and when he rose up and as he walked by the way c. and God so blest his labours that he lived to see to his great comfort the work of grace wrought in the hearts of all his seven children And next to this his care was to train up his children in learning and to honest callings often saying that if he could leave them no other portion yet he would give them that education that they should be able to get their own livings in any part of the world where God should cast their lott Towards the latter-end of his life came forth the Book for Recreations on the Sabbath day and some young persons in the Town where he lived being encouraged thereby and by a Popish Landlord which they had would needs have a Whitson-ale and Morris-dance an heathenish sport long before through Gods goodnesse banished out of that town Master Clark laboured by his Ministry to beat down the first rising of this motion but these persons were so backed and encouraged by some that set them on that they would needs prosecute their design notwithstanding all the warnings given them by their faithfull Pastor But God that hath said He that despiseth you despiseth me c. made their sin quickly to find them out in a terrible judgment that suddainly ensued for in that very Barn standing near a Smiths Shop where their revels were most kept there was a violent fire kindled which notwithstanding all help quickly burnt it down and in a strange manner flying against the wind it went from house to house burning down all the houses of the chief of those which had an hand in these prophane sports Master Clark was a man like Apollos mighty in the Scriptures and so studied in the Body of Divinity that upon short warning he could preach very pertinently and profitably He had an excellent pair of lungs and was exceeding powerfull in his Ministry striking shame and terrour into the hearts of the wicked to whom he was a Boanerges and yet withall he was a Barnabas to humbled broken bleeding souls His old age was accompanied with a lingring and painfull disease which yet he bore with great patience and as he came nearer to Heaven so his motion thitherward was more quick and lively Many godly persons came to visit him in his disease and none of them went away without some spiritual and comfortable instructions from him At last having long glorified God on earth and finished his work he went to receive his wages quietly resigning up his spirit unto God November 6. 1634. having lived seventy one years two moneths and nineteen dayes and having been Pastor of Woolstone fourty four years This Master Hugh Clark was my Father The Life of Doctor Sibs who died Anno Christi 1635. RIchard Sibs was born upon the edges of Suffolk near Sudbury and being trained up at School when he was grown ripe and ready for the University he was sent to Cambridge Anno Christi 1595. and was admitted into St. Johns Colledge where he by his sedulity and industry so profited in Learning and approved himself by his godly and blamelesse conversation that he was promoted from one degree to another in the Colledge being chosen first Scholar and then Fellow of that House He also took all the Degrees of the University with general approbation and applause It pleased God to convert him by the Ministry of Mr. Paul Baines whilest he was Lecturer at St. Andrews in Cambridge And when Mr. Sibs had been Master of Arts some while he entred into the Ministry and shortly after was chosen Lecturer himself at Trinity Church in Cambridge To whose Ministry besides the Townsmen many Scholars resorted so that he became a worthy Instrument of begetting many Sons and Daughters unto God besides the edifying and building up of of others He sometimes had a little stammering in the time of his preaching but then his judicious hearers alwaies expected some rare and excellent notion from him About the year 1625. or 26. he was chosen Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge the Government whereof he continued till his dying day and indeed like a faithfull Governour he was alwaies very solicitous and carefull to procure and advance the good of that little House For he procured good means and maintenance by his interest in many worthy Persons for the enlargement of the Colledge and was a means and Instrument to establish learned and Religious Fellows there insomuch as in his time it proved a very famous Society for Piety and Learning both in Fellows and Scholars Dr. SIBBS His Learning was mixed with much humility whereby he alwaies esteemed lowly of himself and was ready to undervalue his own labours though others judged them to breathe spirit and life to be strong of Heaven speaking with authority and power to mens consciences His care in the course of his Ministry was to lay a good foundation in the heads and hearts of his hearers And though he were a wise Master-builder and that in one of the eminentest Auditories for Learning and Piety that was in the Land as was said before yet according to the grace which was given to him which was indeed like that of Elisha in regard of the other Prophets 2 King 1.9 the elder Brothers priviledge a double portion he was still taking all occasions to preach of the Fundamentals to them and amongst the rest of the Incarnation of the Son of God one of the chief Fundamentals of our Faith one of the chief of those wonders in the Mercy-seat which the Cherubims gaze at which the Angels desire to pry into 1 Pet. 1.12 And preaching at severall times and by occasion of so many severall texts of Scripture concerning this Subject there is scarce any one of those incomparable benefits which accrew to us thereby nor any of those holy impressions which the meditation hereof ought to work in our hearts which was not by
that we should be sure of if we unfeignedly sought it Speaking of Davids penning the 51 Psalm after his murther and Adultery he put this glosse upon it That hearty and true repentance shall have cause to praise the Lord for his pardoning mercy He said Afflictions were Gods Potions which we might sweeten by Faith and faithfull Prayer but we for the most part made them bitter putting into Gods Cup the ill ingredients of our own impatience and unbelief He gave this reason why many of Gods people lived uncomfortably for that they shut their ear against what God said where they should open it and they opened their ear to what their carnal reason and Satan and the world said where they should shut it But said he the Psalmist was wiser Psal. 85.8 He would heare none of them all I will heare what the Lord God will speake His preaching was searching and when some did suppose that he had Informers and Spies because he came so close to them he answered that the Word of God was searching and that if he was shut up in a dark vault where none could come at him yet allow him but a Bible and a Candle and he should preach as he did He had an excellent gift in similitudes which did flow freely and frequently from him as all those knew who either heard him preach publiquely or discourse privately He called death the friend of grace though it were the enemy of nature and whereas the Word and Sacraments and Prayer do but weaken sin death kills it Speaking of Prayer he said a man was never in a hard condition unlesse he had a hard heart and could not pray Having preached out of that text O woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt he invited some women to dinner and told them it was a usuall saying Let a woman have her will and then she would be quiet Now the way for a woman to have her will is to have a strong Faith and to pray as that woman in the Gospel did Upon a time when he had preached long so that it was somewhat late before he went to dinner he said you shall have some Gentlemen will follow hounds from seven in the morning till four or five in the afternoon because they love the cry of dogs which to me was unpleasant hearing so if we love the Word we should be content though the Minister stood above his hour And he added methinks it is much better to hear a Minister preach then a Kennell of hounds to bark Speaking of Recreation he said he marvelled what the vocation of many was who were so eager for recreation And if we should come into a house and see many Physick-boxes and glasses we would conclude some body is sick so when we see Hounds and Hawks and Cards and Dice we may fear that there is some sick soul in that Family He told some Friends that if he were to passe sentence who was a rich man he would not look into his purse or chest how much gold he had laid up but look into his heart what promises were treasured up there For we count him rich that is rich in bonds and the pleading of the Promises in Prayer is suing of the bonds Speaking to a Minister who was to go to a place where there was but small means he told him that his care was to preach and do God service and then God would provide for him When he preached at Fausley and was much resorted unto as it was with him in other places he told a godly man of his acquaintance that if the Countrey knew so much by him as he knew by himself they would not have him in so much admiration Speaking about going to Law his Opinion was that it was better to buy Love then Law For one might have a great deal of love for a little whereas he could have but a little law for a great deal He would frequently say That was well which ended everlastinly well and that was ill which ended everlastingly ill And that a man was never undone till he was in hell This was a speech which he often used that if it were lawfull to envy any he would envy those that turned to God in youth whereby they escaped much sin and sorrow and were like unto Jacob that stole the blessing betimes This was a remarkable passage of Providence that upon a time when it was late at night it came into his mind that he must see a Friend of his some two miles off he had businesse and would have put it off but his thoughts were restlesse whereupon he went and when he came to the place all the Family were in bed but only his Friend who was esteemed truly godly but at that time was overwhelmed with tentations the occasion whereof was some cruelty offered to his Children Master Dod knew nothing either of the tentation or occasion of it But knocking at the door his Friend opened the door to him to whom he said I am come to you I know not why my self but I was restlesse in my spirit untill I had done it To whom his Friend answered You know not why you came but God knew why he sent you and withall pulled out a halter wherewith he had intended self-murder at that time which by Gods goodnesse was by this means prevented Speaking of losing for Christ he testified from his own experience that for the losse of one carnal Brother he had two hundred spiritual Brethren Before he was married he could not maintain himself and thereupon he was thinking how he should maintain a Wife and Children his living not being great but looking out of his study window he saw a Hen and Chickens scratching for their living and he considered thus with himself The Hen did but live before and had nothing to spare and now she had as much with that great Family When he saw a Christian to look sad he would use that speech which Johnadab did to Amnon Art not thou a Kings Son He would say to those that complained of losses and crosses that which Eliphaz did to Job Do the consolations of God seem small to you God hath taken away your children your goods but he hath not taken away himself nor Christ nor his Spirit nor Heaven nor eternal life He used to instruct Christians how they should never have a great affliction nor long and that was by looking upon things which were not seen which are eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 18. What can be great to him that counts the world nothing And what can be long to him that thinks his life but a span long To perswade them that are Christians not to return railing for railing he would say that if a dog bark at a sheep a sheep will not bark at a dog In these times of war at the first beginning of them when
that thereupon the Queen Mother commanded the Prince of Conde to be set at liberty And a few daies after the Admirall assaulted Boience and at last took the Town though with some losse of his men About this very time the Admirals eldest Son called Gaspar being a youth of nine years old but of admirable towardnesse fell sick and died at Orleance which was an exceeding great grief to his Father In the mean time the Guises perceiving that they were forsaken by the greatest part of France which now adheared to and assisted Conde they resolved to call in forraign helps and thereupon sending much Money into Swisserland and Germany they hired from the former Foot and from the latter Horse to come in to their aid which the Admirall used often to say was a plain demonstration of their treacherous and hostile minds against France and therefore that he might not be wanting to himself and Friends who had committed so great a trust to him he resolved to oppose Forraign by Forraign forces And for this end he sent his Brother Andelot to the Protestant Princes in Germany of whose good will to the French Churches he had good assurance requesting aid from them who accordingly within three moneths space sent him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot into France Whilst these things were transacting intelligence was given to the Admirall that some Cannons and a great quantity of Gunpowder was carrying to the Duke of Guise who now besieged Biturg guarded with six Troops of Horse and some Foot Hereupon the Admirall taking some Horse with him by long journeys hastened to meet the Convoy and coming up to them they scarce stood the first shock but throwing away their Arms fled and left the Booty to the Admirall who wanting Horses to draw them away by over-charging the Guns brake them and blew up the Gunpowder and so returned to his Camp Andelot returning out of Germany brought with him three thousand Horse and six thousand Foot so that the Prince of Conde having a good Army of French and Germans hasted to Paris which the Guises hearing of intended to meet him having gotten a Regiment of Swissers in whom they put most confidence and so the two Armies meeting a Battell was fought but with a doubtfull event for on the one side the Constable was taken prisoner by one Will. Steward a valiant Scots man and on the other side the Prince of Conde was taken prisoner which made many of his Foot to throw away their Arms and fly But the Admirall rallying the Horse and encouraging them to prefer their Religion Country and honour befor their lives he valiantly charged the Guisians in which medly he slew Marshall St. Andrew a potent man at Court and Prossaeus Collonel to the Duke of Guise and divers other Noble men The fight being ended the Admirall carried the Constable to Orleance where he made his abode for a while But shortly after came the Duke of Guise to besiege the City whereupon the Admirall leaving his Brother Andelot for the defence of it flies into Normandy and there besieged the Castle of Cadonius where the Marquesse of Elboeve one of the D. of Lorrains Brothers was and within a few daies had it with all the Arms and Ammunition surrendred to him About this time there was one John Poltrot a young man of a Noble Family in the Army of the Duke of Guise who having embraced the Reformed Religion and served for some moneths under the Prince of Conde took up privately with himself a resolution to kill the D. of Guise as a publique enemy to his Countrey and a cause of all the present calamities And said he If I had been bound to him by any oaths I must not have been perfidious but being free why should I not venture as Scaevola did for my Countries safety With this resolution he went to the Duke of Guises Camp and watching his opportunity shot him into the shoulder of which wound he died within a few daies after The very same day in the morning the Duke of Guise being ready to give an assault to Orleance wrote to the Queen Mother that within twenty four hours he would send her word of the taking of that City and that he would make the day very memorable by sparing neither sex nor age and that after he had kept his Shrovetide there he would extinguish the memory of the Town by utter subverting of it But man knows not his destiny nor what shall happen to him for that the same evening he was slain as you heard before Presently after which a Peace was concluded and the Edict renued for the free exercise of the Reformed Religion through all France as formerly Not many moneths after the Admirall being sent for to Court by the Queen Mother the Widow of the Duke of Guise comes in and falls down at the Kings feet crying out with many tears for revenge for her Husbands death charging the Admirall as the contriver and author of it The Admirall apprehending that this was but the device of others which set her on to seek his destruction by fraud which they could not effect by War before the King and all the Councel he clears himself shewing that Poltrot had at his death professed that he was set on by none but God neither did he doubt but that he had done God good service in it and freed his Countrey from a Tyrant that raged and thirsted after Christian blood and therefore he was not sorry for what he had done c. He also desired that if they questioned the death of the Duke of Guise he might have leave also to put in a Charge against him for that he doubted not but that he could easily prove the Duke of Guise guilty of murthering wickedly the Kings Subjects and of violating all the sacred Laws and Decrees of the King of taking up arms of his own head without Authority and thereby making himself guilty of Treason and of kindling those flames in France which had continued about thirteen moneths Notwithstanding this resolute speech of the Admirall his enemies ceased not for some years still to call upon the King for justice against him whereupon the King at last appointed a Convention of all the Peers of the Kingdom at the City of Molincum whither also he called his chiefest Senators and Counsellours commanding the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Widow of the Duke of Guise to produce what proofs they could and the Admirall to defend himself against them When both parties had pleaded their Cause the King told them that he had referred the judgment to his Counsellors and therefore asked them if they had any exceptions against any of them they answered No. Then he asked them if they would refer the determination of their Cause to him and would stand to his judgment They answered that they would willingly so do Whereupon Jan. 29. Anno
Christ 1566. the King passed this sentence That having heard both parties and consulted with his Nobles and Counsellours who were all unanimously agreed in the same sentence he pronounced the Admirall clear and innocent from the murther of the Duke of Guise and therefore absolved him from that crime commanding his Proctor and all others that they should never dare hereafter accuse him for the same He commanded also that neither his present accusers nor any other of his Subjects should dare hereafter to make any mention of it Nor that any of his Judges or Parliaments should ever admit any plea against him for it He declared also that seeing both parties had freely referred themselves to him his will was that they should live lovingly and peaceably together never contriving any thing against each other and that if any of them their Friends Kindred of Partakers should violate this Decree that they should be held contemners of the Kings Majesty as guilty of Treason as disturbers of the publique peace and lastly that this his definitive sentence should be recorded in all the Parliaments of his Kingdom But to return to something that hapned before this the Admirall had in his Family one Hambervilleries born of a Noble house whom he made use of in his most weighty and honest affairs and it pleased God that some Letters of his being intercepted came to the Admirals hands wherein he wrote to some great Courtiers that he was ready to obey their commands in giving the Admirall a Soporiferous Potion Our Admirall having read these Letters called the man to him commanding him to write some verses in a paper that lay by which when he had done comparing both the writings together he asked him whether he would acknowledge his hand in those Letters which he looking upon being stricken with guilt for his wickednesse he presently fell upon the ground and begged his Masters pardon The Admirall told him that he was willing to pardon him but upon condition that he should presently depart out of his house nor should ever come into his sight again Not long after the aforementioned Edict of Peace was published the Queen Mother took counsell to go to Baion to meet her Son-in-law the King of Spain and to take her Children with her This afterwards proved the cause of many tragicall events though for the present things were kept very secret and first she ordered her journey to Lyons which hitherto had been in possession of those of the Religion because of the great number of them there and as soon as she came thither she presently set her Italian Artificers to work to build a Citadell upon a neighbouring hill which commanded all the City A little before this the plague began to be very hot and now it had seized upon the Court it self yet could not the Queen Mother be perswaded to remove her self and children from the danger till she had seen the foundations of the Castle laid At last making Lossius Governour of that City a cruel and barbarous man and and an implacable enemy to those of the Religion and adjoyning to him some insolent Souldiers that might daily vex the godly inhabitants she departed But this is very remarkable that whithersoever she removed the Court in Cities Towns Castles c. the plague still followed her so that for three moneths together the King was in continuall danger and was still forced to remove from place to place by reason of the infection At last they came to Baion where the Queen Mother met her Daughter the Q. of Spain and Embassadors from the King with whom she communicated her counsels In the mean time the Marshall Monmorancy whom the King had made Governour of Paris in his absence had certain intelligence brought him that the Guises had imployed their Agents to the common people of Paris to stir them up against those of the Religion in that City he heard also that the Cardinall of Lorraine intended suddainly to be there with a great number of armed attendants though the King by several Edicts had commanded that none in their journeys should carry Harquebushes or Pistols about them Therefore so soon as Monsieur Monmorancy heard that the Cardinall was entred Paris with his followers thus armed he presently taking his guard went to them commanding them to deliver up their Arms This the Cardinall and his Nephew the young Duke of Guise took as an intollerable affront to them and were often heard to say that that fact should cost Monmorancy his life The Cardinall was very potent in this City and could easily have raised sixty thousand armed men to have slain the Governour whereupon he resolved to call in some of his Friends to his aid and in the first place he wrote to the Admirall to hasten to him who accompanied with three hundred Horse entred Paris Jan. 22. which did so terrifie the multitude especially the Priests Monks and Canons of the great Church that they began to think of flying thence The day after Monsieur Monmorancy sent for the Presidents of the Parliament and the chief Magistrates of the City to come to his house to whom he complained before the Admirall of the audaciousnesse and factious counsels of the Cardinall of Lorrain as also of the seditious speeches cast abroad in the City as if the Admirall taking advantage of the Kings absence at so great a distance consulted about plundering that rich City and therefore he thought fit to call the Admirall before them that so he might clear himself from that aspersion Then said the Admirall I have long since found out what my malicious and implacable adversaries have aspersed me withall as if I intended to seize upon this City which is the Bullwark and Eye of France But such counsels as these are fit for those that claim an interest I know not how it comes in in the succession of the Kingdom and contend to have certain Dukedomes and Countries restored to them For my own part I neither challenge any right to the Kingdom nor to any part of it which yet if I should do I think there hath not been a Noble man in France these five hundred years which had the like opportunity to disturb the publique Peace as I. Ye remember after the Duke of Guise was slain that I had the Constable Prisoner in Orleans and what a great occasion I had thereby of doing greater things if I would have embraced it But on the contrary I was never more earnest with the King and Queen Mother for peace then at that time when our affairs prospered best Who can be ignorant how sollicitous and importunate I was for peace at that very time when many potent and flourishing Cities had delivered up themselves into my hands and divers other great Cities both of Normandy and Brittany sought my favour and protection Who knows not that after Peace was concluded instead of begging Honours and
Offices ambitiously of the King which happily I might have obtained I retired my self to my own house and there even to this time have lived a quiet and private life But omitting these things and speaking to the present occasion Being sent for by Monmorancy I am come hither not to disturb the peace of the City or to innovate any thing but rather to preserve peace against the audaciousnesse of some that would disturb it It is not unknown unto you how much confidence those of the Religion do put in me These being stirred up with new rumours and terrified with the counsels and factions of the Guises do daily flock to me bring me intercepted Letters of the meetings of certain Captains who command their old Souldiers to be ready in arms that when they have occasion to use them they may be at hand What needs more words Letters are intercepted written into Normandy the originall whereof is sent to the Queen Mother and I will shew you a copy of them wherein amongst others there is this passage There is no readier means of restoring the Crown of France to those to whom it doth belong of old then by rooting out the house of Valois and by massacring all the Hugonots which are the chief upholders of it for this end their woods are to be sold that with the price thereof we may arm our selves and get money and if the Hugonots sue for them the businesse being once adjudged against them they will never move for their charges of the suit Now also what should I speak of the daily plunderings and murthers It 's sufficiently known that after the peace was published more then five hundred of those of the Religion were basely murthered in severall places and yet not one of the murtherers were ever punished by the Magistrates and they which have complained of these things to the King or Queen Mother have carried away either only words or some empty paper or parchment instead of satisfaction Who knows not that in the City of Turon lately and openly many of the Religion were cruelly massacred even under the Ensign and by the Souldiers of him who was sent thither by the Duke of Monpensier to settle the peace These things being so yet I hear that there are many of your Priests who are so terrified by my coming hither that they consult about leaving the City and yet there is no place in all France no City Town or Castle where the Priests live and attend their services with more freedom and safety then in my Town of Castelon The Admirall having ended his speech the company was dismissed and two daies after there came to Monmorancy about thirty Delegates from the Parisian Merchants and with them the Bishop and divers Priests to all whom the Admirall spake very Friendly bidding them be of good cheer and fear nothing and within few daies after going to the Court of Parliament he made a speech to them and told them That nothing was more desirable to him then the Peace and welfare of the City neither did he come to them with any other mind then to advance it and therefore he exhorted them that they also would do their endeavours that the Citizens might behave themselves peaceably and quietly and so shortly after he returned home At his return he was informed that there was one Maius who lived not far from him a famous thief that was hired by the Duke of Aumale the Brother of Guise to lie in wait for him when he should ride forth on hunting for which end he had given him an hundred pieces of gold and an excellent Horse many also complained to the Admirall against him for his thefts and robberies whereupon having gotten sufficient witnesses he complained of him to the Parliament at Paris and a few daies after having apprehended him he caused him to be carried to Paris but when he came before the Parliament this villain accused the Admirall as if he had dealt with him about killing the Queen Mother and had promised him a great reward for the same The Parliament after examination finding this to be but a Calumny and proving him guilty of many thefts condemned him to be broken upon the wheel which accordingly was effected Shortly after the Prince of Conde had a Sonne born to whom the King would be Godfather but because he could not himself be present by reason of his Religion he substituted the Admirall to supply his room which businesse was celebrated with very great pomp for at the Feast a Table was prepared as if it had been for the King himself at which the Admirall sat alone and was attended like a Viceroy which every one interpreted as a pledge of the Kings singular love and favour to him Not many daies after news was brought that the Duke de Alva had by the command of the King of Spain brought a great Army into the Low-Countries to suppresse and root out the Protestants and this Army being to passe by the borders of France the Admirall moved in the Kings Councel that Burgundy might be looked to and lest any tumults might arise about the difference in Religion he advised that a guard might rather be appointed of the Swissers then of the French men and it was commonly reported that six thousand Swissers should be ready to oppose the Duke de Alva in case he attempted any thing against Burgundy But a few daies after the Prince of Rupisurias of the royoll blood wrote to the Admirall to send him some trusty Person to whom he might communicate a secret which would much conduce to his safety he also being a Friend to the Prince of Conde by reason of their propinquity in blood told him that there was secret counsell taken at Baion for the utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion and all the Professors of it and for that end those six thousand Swissers were hired and brought into France under pretence of opposing the Duke de Alva the Admirall also was informed of the same by many Letters and Messengers from severall of his Friends These things coming forth first the Prince of Conde and presently after him the Admirall went to the Court and told the King the Queen Mother and all the Councel that they saw no sufficient reason why so many Swissers should be brought into France except it were to oppresse them and many other honest Families which embraced the Reformed Religion But they should find more that had devoted themselves to that Religion then commonly was thought of an experience whereof they had in the late Wars They told them also that if their adversaries attempted any innovations they would not be wanting to themselves nor like sheep would suffer their throats to be cut by murtherers They therefore earnestly intreat and beseech the Kings Majesty that he would be moved to pity so many honest Families and the afflicted condition of his Countrey and of the common people
but being taken with a suddain disease he died Feb. 14. 1571. not without the suspition of poyson and was buried at Canterbury being about fifty years old He was a man of rare courage candor and faithfulnesse of a sharp judgment so that few were to be compared with him in managing great affairs Guillin his Chamberlain poysoned him with an Apple at the instigation of the Queen-Mother as he confessed at the time of his death when afterwards he was taken as a Spy at Rochel for which he was hanged But all this while the Duke of Anjou was a great enemy to the Protestants and boasted every where of his Victories against them yet the King did what he could to perswade the Queen of Navarr and the Admirall of his great good will towards them that they might be induced the more to confide in him Notwithstanding which the Papists in some places made slaughters of the Protestants As in Orenge whither all the Inhabitants returned who had been driven away in the time of the late Warres the Popish Souldiers made an assault upon them and slew them without regard of age or sex Also in Roan and other places they were slain in great number by the Popish rabble Whereupon the Queen of Navarr the Princes and other Protestant Nobles sent to the King to complain of the violation of the Edict and to require satisfaction for the same The King entertained them kindly protested that these things were done to his great grief and that he would so punish the Authors of these mischiefs as should be for the terrour of others Not long after viz. Anno Christi 1571. the King wrote very flattering Letters to the Admirall giving him very honourable tearmes inviting him to his Court at Blesa intreating him that he would be an instrument of concluding a Marriage between Henry Prince of Navarr and his Sister Margaret and to prevail the more with him he sent him word by his Messengers that no surer way could be found out for establishing the publique Peace of the Kingdom and for uniting all sorts of persons then by this Marriage And the better to delude him the Guises seemed to be every day lesse welcome to him then other and Monmorency the Admirals Sisters Son was used very familiarly by the King who often protested to him his good will towards the Admirall communicated to him the counsels of his greatest affairs for the managing whereof he told him that he had need of the Admirall for to be his Captain and Minister The Queen-Mother also according to her manner protested that she liked nothing better then that a certain Peace should be confirmed upon equal conditions the memory of former matters being blotted out By these means the Admirall was drawn to the Court where he was intertained extraordinary lovingly even beyond expectation so that when he fell down on his knees to do reverence the King took him up calling him his Father saying often and openly that a more desired day never shone unto him then that wherein he saw an end put to the Warre and a firm Peace setled in the whole Kingdom by his presence adding with a smiling countenance Now we have you with us you shall never depart from our side hereafter He was intertained with the same serenity of countenance by the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou but especially by the Duke of Alanson who much favoured him The King also seconded his words with deeds causing one hundred thousand Crowns to be paid him out of his Treasury for his private losses in the last Warres he gave him also the Revenues of the Cardinall his Brother which were very great for one year and also the furniture and houshold stuff of the said Cardinall A few daies after the Admirals return from the Court the young Duke of Guise by the instigation of the Cardinall of Lorraine his Uncle would have put in a new complaint against the Admirall for the death of his Father but the King interposing his Authority drew up a form of agreement which he made both of them to set their Seals to and to take their oaths for the keeping of it notwithstanding which the Duke of Guise shortly after entered Paris accompanied with many armed men which the Admirall hearing of being then at his House at Castellion he moved the King by his Son-in-law Monsieur Teligni that he might have leave to keep a small Guard for his own safety Whereupon the King wrote to him with his own hand and sent his Letter by Bricmald a man of great esteem for his vertue the tenour where of was this That it was most acceptable to him that the Admirall should be exceeding cautious and carefull of his own safety and therefore he gave him power to fortifie his Castle and to raise as great a Guard as he pleased desiring him to be confident without doubting of his good will towards him and that he would be as carefull of his safety as a Father of his Childes These Letters with many such like expressions of love being written with the Kings own hand many read with great delight and were now throughly perswaded that they ought no longer to doubt of the Kings good will and sincere affections to the Admirall Hereupon Count Lodwick of Nassaw whom we mentioned before thinking this a fit time and being secretly invited to the Court moved the King in the name of his Brother the Prince of Orenge for assistance telling him that there were many Cities in the Low Countries that being oppressed and tired out with the lust covetousnesse and cruelty of the Spaniards would willingly surrender themselves into his hands And after a few daies spent in debate about this businesse the King faithfully promised Count Lodwick that very shortly he would send a great Army under the command of the Admirall thither and it was further agreed upon betwixt them that if they succeeded in that War the King of France should have all the Countrey from Antwerp to Picardy and that the Prince of Orenge should have Holland Zeland and Frisland About this very time Letters were intercepted and sent to the Admirall written from the Cardinall Peleus to the Cardinall of Lorrain to this purpose That the King was never better affected then now and therefore because of his good affections together with the Queen-Mothers and the Duke of Anjou's he hoped there would be good issue of those affairs which were resolved on in the common Councel That the King at the Admirals coming to Court had carried himself more politickly then they could have expected whereupon the King believed that he had taken away all suspition from the Admirall and had left him no occasion of doubting of his love and good will towards him which Lorrain knew to be the basis by their joynt consent upon which their future proceedings did depend That some speech was indeed raised about warring upon the King
or ten hours and now by the same mercy I am wholly freed from them I promise thee that in these great Feasts and Pastimes I will trouble none Once again Farewell Thy most loving Husband Chattillion About the same time their Counsels for the Massacre being not yet ripened the King with the greatest demonstrations of good will that might be thus accosts the Admirall My Father Remember what you have undertaken to me that you will be injurious to none of the Guises whilst you are in the Court they also have interchangeably given their faith that they will carry themselves honourably and modestly towards you And truly I put as great trust as may be in your words but I have not the same confidence in their promises For besides that I know that the Guises seek occasion of revenge I know their disposition to be bold and haughty and with what great favour and affection the people of Paris do follow them It would be a great grief to me if they who have brought into the City many men of Warre notably furnished with arms under colour of coming to the marriage solemnity should go about any thing for your destruction which would extreamly reflect upon me and therefore I think it fit if you be of the same minde to bring a Regiment of Praetorian Souldiers into the City under the command of such men meaning some that were least suspected who may not only be ready for the publique securiry but upon all emergencies if turbulent spirits should attempt any thing against you This friendly speech so prevailed with the Admirall that he gave his consent and so a Regiment was brought in without the suspition of the Protestants which afterwards helped to cut their throats Five daies after as the Admirall came from the Court where he had been all that morning accompanied with twelve or fifteen Gentlemen being on foot about a hundred paces from the Louure walking softly and reading a Petition just over-against the house of one Villemure a Canon and Tutor to the young Duke of Guise one shot with an Harquebush at him through a lattice window the Gun was laden with three brasse bullets one whereof brake his forefinger of his right hand the other two pierced his left arm He that shot it had a horse ready at the back door whereon being mounted he escaped through St. Anthonies gate where finding a Spanish Jennet held ready for him he posted away to the place appointed for his retreat The door of the house being burst open the Harquebush was found with a Lacquey and another servant who belonged to Challey Steward of the Kings house and a great dealer in the Duke of Guises affairs who also the day before had brought this Harquibushier to that house desiring that he might be well intertained the Lacquey also was sent that morning by this Harquebushier whose name was Maurevel to the Duke of Guises Groom of his Stable requiring that the Horse should be ready that was promised him The Admirall being brought to his lodging shewed singular piety and patience Chyrurgions were sent for and amongst the rest Ambrose Pareus the Kings Chyrurgion who began first with his finger which he cut off but his pincers not being keen he opened and pressed them three times before he could cut it off Then he lanced both those places in his arm which the bullets had pierced all which the Admirall bore not only with a couragious heart but with a constant countenance insomuch as seeing his Friends to weep which held his arm whilst the incisions were made he said unto them My Friends why do you weep I judge my self happy that bear these wounds for the cause of my God And withall looking upon Monsieur Merlin his Minister he said These wounds my Friends are Gods blessings the smart indeed of them is troublesome but I acknowledge the will of my Lord God therein and I bless his Majesty who hath been pleased thus to honour me and to lay any pain upon me for his holy name sake let us beg of him that he will enable me to presevere unto the end And seeing Monsieur Merlin to weep and lament he said to him My Merlin you should rather comfort me To whom he answered Indeed there can be no greater comfort then to think upon the honour which God hath done you in judging you worthy for his Name and Religions sake to suffer these pains My Merlin answered the Admirall if God should have dealt with me aâ—cording to my deserts or have used his power over me he must have deâ—â— far more severely with me but blessed be his Name who hath dealt so mildly and lovingly with me his unworthy Servant Then said another that stood by Go on with this your piety foâ— God ought to be praised by you who hath left the greatest part saâ— and untouched for which cause you have greater reason to admire hâ—â— mercy in these wounds then to complain of his justice especialâ—â— considering that neither your head nor your mind are wounded Thâ—â— said Merlin You do very well Sir that you turn your thoughts froâ— these murtherers to God for truly it was his hand that inflicted theiâ— wounds neither ought you at all to think upon the blâ—ody-mindednesse of your adversaries Truly said the Admirall I freely and from my heart forgive both him that shot at me and those also that set him on for I know assuredly that it is not in their power to hurt me no though they should kill me for my death is a most certain passage to eternal life Thâ— same words he shortly after spake to Marshall Danvill when he came to visit him And whereas Monsieur Merlin told him that the afflictions and calamities which happen to Gods Children use to quicken theâ— more in Prayer The Admirall thereupon with an audible voice and fervent soul poured out this Prayer unto God O Lord God and my heavenly Father have mercy upon me for thy tender mercies sake Remember not against me my former iniquities neither charge me with the sins of my youth If thou Lord shouldst strictly mark what is done amiss or shouldst impute to us our breach of Covenant what flesh could stand before thee or endure thine anger As for me disclaiming all false gods and worship I only call upon thee the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and worship thee alone for Christ his sake I beseech thee to bestow thy holy Spirit upon me and give me the grace of patience I only trust in thy mercies all my hope and confidence is placed on that alone whether thou pleasest to inflict present death upon me or to spare my life to do thee further service Behold Lord I am prepared to submit to thy will in either nothing doubting but if thou pleasest to inflict death upon me thou wilt presently admit me into thine everlasting Kingdom But if Lord thou sufferest me to live longer here grant O
most heavenly Father that I may spend all the remainder of my daies in advancing thy glory and in observing and sticking close to thy true Religion Amen His Prayer being ended Monsieur Merlin asked him if he pleased that they also should go to Prayer with him Yea said he with all my heart and whilst Merlin was praying the Admirall with his eyes fixed upon heaven joyned with very great devotion And after Prayer when Merlin minded him of the examples of the ancient Martyrs telling him that there was never any man from the beginning of the world that laid out all his labour and interest for God and his true Religion but that he met with manifold afflictions the Admirall interrupted him saying I am refreshed and confirmed with this speech and the examples of the holy Fathers and Martyrs do much comfort me and mitigate my pain Presently after the two Marshals of the Kingdom Monsieur de Cosse and Danvill came to visit him telling him that they were extreamly grieved for his mishap and that nothing could have happened more bitter to them yet withall say they we judge it equal and agreeable to your former valour to recollect and shew your self a man for your vertue hath given you far more then this ill chance can take from you Then the Admirall turning to de Cosse said Do you not remember Sir what I told you of late Truly so much attends you also But said Danvill My Admirall I purpose neither to comfort you nor to exhort you to courage and constancy for your self is the man from whom such Consolations and Exhortations use to proceed only I request you to consider wherein I may be serviceable unto you I wonder from whence this mischief did proceed Then said the Admirall Truly I can suspect none but the Duke of Guise yet dare I not affirm that it was he However through Gods mercy I have learned neither to fear mine enemies nor death it self which I am sure can do me no hurt but may forward my eternal peace and happinesse For I know that my God in whom I have put all my confidence can neither deceive nor lye unto me Only herein I am sorrowfull for that by this accident I am disabled to shew the King how much I would have done for his service meaning in the Warre of Flanders Would to God I had an opportunity to speak with his Majesty for I have some things to impart ro him which much concern his interest and I believe there is none that dare tell it him but my self In the mean time the King of Navarr and the Prince of Conde complained grievously of this vile and treacherous fact to the King To whom the King cursing and swearing grievously called God to witnesse that he would so severely punish this wickednesse towards the Admirall that he would leave the example to all future ages to take heed of such villany and thereupon the Lacquy and Woman that were found in the house were apprehended and cast into prison At two a clock in the afternoon the King hearing of the Admirals desire to speak with him went to him accompanied with the Queen-Mother his two Brethren the Duke of Monpensier the Cardinall of Bourbon Marshall Danvill Tavenes de Cosse c. When the King came first into the Admirals chamber he caused all his servants to go forth except Monsieur Teligni his Wife and Merlin then going to the beds side the Admirall said to him I humbly thank you Sir that you have been pleased to put your self to so much trouble for my sake Then did the King with flattering words congratulate his valiant mind and bid him be of good courage and hope well of the issue To whom the Admirall replied Sir There are three things wherewith I was desirous to acquaint your Majesty First To professe my fidelity and observance to your Majesty and I pray God so to be mercifull unto me before whose Throne I may be brought shortly to appear by these my wounds as I was alwaies studious and carefull of your honour and dignity Neither yet am I ignorant how often mine adversaries have calumniated me to your Majesty and accused me for a disturber of the publique Peace but through Gods mercy though I should hold my peace yet my actions will sufficiently clear me from this charge Indeed this hath been the fountain of all these calamities because I resisted their fury and impudency and because I asserted the authority of your Edicts against their turbulent and violent proceedings neither could I endure to suffer them so often to violate the faith confirmed by your oathes to your Subjects God is witnesse of the sincerity of my mind herein who also fully knows the difference between me and my adversaries and will righteously judge the same Furthermore also considering the great Honours and Offices conferred upon me by your Father and Grandfather and confirmed by your self I should be ungratefull and unfaithfull if I should not humbly request your Majesty to provide a remedy against all those maladies and perturbations which already disturb the peace of your Kingdom And now to proceed to the businesse of Flanders Never any of your Predecessors had the like opportunity of getting Honour as your self You know that many Cities in the Low Countries desire your favour and to throw themselves into your protection This occasion I perceive is in your Court laugh't and scoff't at and through the default of some few men the opportunity is like to be overslipt Those Forces which were lately led by Genlisse thitherward were circumvented and destroyed by de Alva you know what a great number of Catholicks were in that Army Of what Religion then I pray you are those who make a jest at the slaughter of so many of their Countrey-men and of their own Religion There is scarce any secret word spoken in your Privy-Councell but presently the Duke de Alva knows of it I pray you Sir What good can we expect when those that sit in your Privy-Councell and should assist your Majesty and your Brethren do betray your most secret counsels to your publique and professed enemies I beseech you Sir that you take care of a businesse of such concernment as this is yea again and again I intreat it of you And lastly I beg with the like earnestnesse that you will not suffer your Edict of Pacification to be so ordinarily broken You know how often you have sworn to keep it You know that forreign Nations and all your neighbour Princes have taken notice of it What an unworthy thing is it Sir that an Oath so solemnly sworn should be so much slighted and neglected Do you think that forreign Princes will hereafter make any account of your Oath But the other day in Champaigne as the Nurse carried a child home from Baptism and from a Sermon which was held in a place allowed by your authority certain seditious persons lying in wait by
being certified that many things were done tumultuously in the City and that weapons were brought together in many places they thought fit that counsell should be taken betimes for that no good could be expected from those proceedings Hereupon one was sent to the King to certifie him of the commontion of the people and of their carrying of Arms and therefore to request him to charge certain of his guard to stand before the Admirals door for his better security The King seeming to be moved with this news began to demand of the Messenger who had told it him and whether the Admirall knew of it and withall he sent for the Queen-Mother who was scarce entred when the King with a disquiet mind as he seemed said What a mischief What is the matter He tels me that the common people are in a tumult and take Arms. She answered They are not in any tumult neither do they take Arms but you know that early in the morning you commanded that all should contain themselves in their own quarters lest any tumult might arise That is true said the King but I forbad them to take Arms. Then the Messenger again requested that he would send some of his Guard to the Admirals lodging The Duke of Anjou being by said Take Cossen to you with fifty Harquibushiers The other answered We desire only six of the Kings Guard for their Authority will more prevail with the people then many armed men Yea quoth the King and the Duke of Anjou take Cossens to you for you cannot have a fitter man which words were pronounced very imperiously The Messenger knowing Cossen to be a great enemy to the Admirall yet held his peace and not far from the Kings Chamber he met with Monsieur Thoree Brother to Marshall Monmorency who whispering in his ear said No greater enemy could be given us for our Keeper to whom the other answered Did you not observe how Imperiously the King decreed it but pray you remember what I answered to the King when he first commanded it A few hours after came Cossen with his fifty Harquibushiers to the Admirals house and chose two shops by to place his Guard in A little after Rambulet the Kings Camp-master followed who by the advice of the Duke of Anjou commanded all the Popish Nobility that lodged in that street to remove their quarters elsewhere that he might dispose of their lodgings to the friends and familiars of the Admirall then which no more crafty counsell could be devised for those matters which afterwards fell out Towards evening this hapned which gave to many no small occasion of suspition A Boy by the command of Teligni brought two hunting poles to the Admirals house but Cossen put him back and would not suffer them to be carried in This being told to the King of Navarr who was now with the Admirall he went down and asked Cossen upon what confidence he did it Cossen answered that he had done it at the command of the King but said he since you will have it so let them be brought in That day the King sent to all the Admirals familiar friends admonishing them to go near to the Admirals house and take up all those quarters But upon the former occurrences another Councel was called under the Admirals lodging wherein the Vidam of Chartres again urged his former opinion that the Admirall should presently be carried out of Paris and that his friends should go along with him That every hour they observed many things that justly increased their suspition But most were of the contrary opinion viz. That they were only to require justice of the King and to desire that the Guises and their Faction might be commanded out of the City as being too powerfull with the people of Paris and of this opinion was the King of Navarr the Prince of Conde and many others and the rather because Teligni urged that it would be a great injury to the King if any should call his faith and sincerity into question and that it would be sufficient if justice were meekly required of him At this debate there was one Bucavannius a Picard who never spake word he was a professor indeed of the true Religion but very gracious with the Queen-Mother and very frequent with her familiars which probably betraied all to her About three a clock in the night there fell out another thing which increased the suspition for one carrying to the Admirals house the Coats of Male of Teligni and Guercius Cossen turned him back again which man complaining to Guercius who was a stout and gallant man he went to Cossen and sharply taxed him for it so that they had well near fallen to blows but Teligni who was of a meek and quiet spirit with gentle words pacified them himself being so deluded with the fair and flattering words of the King that he never thought that he spake enough in his commendation In the mean time a Councell was held at Court where were present the King Queen-Mother Duke of Anjou Duke of Nevers the Bastard of Angolisme Birage Tavannius and Radesianus and it was concluded That seeing by the death of one the mischief diffused amongst so many could not be extinguished therefore all should be destroyed And that the wrath which God would not have fulfilled with the blood of Coligni alone should be poured out against all the Sectaries therefore say they the bridle is to be let loose to the common people who are stirred up enough of themselves and when the businesse is accomplished reasons will not be wanting whereby the deed may be excused the blame being laid upon the Guises who will willingly undergo the same So they all concluded that all the Protestants were to be destroyed even every Mothers child of them Concerning the King of Navarr and the Prince of Conde it was debated Whether they were to be exempted from the number of the rest and it was alleadged that the King of Navarr was to be spared because of his royall Dignity and his affinity newly contracted for it would be without all excuse if so great a Prince next to the King in blood conjoyned in fresh affinity should be slain in the Kings Castle between the arms as it were of the King his Brother-in-law and his Wives imbraces Concerning the Prince of Conde the contention was greater he was much envied for his Fathers sake yet the dignity of his person and the authority of the Duke of Nevers who became surety for him prevailed that he should be spared After this the King calling the King of Navarr told him that by reason of the violence and boldnesse of the Guises and the common people inclining to them he would advise him to command those of his houshold whom he knew most faithfull to him to come to him to the Louure to be at hand upon all occasions This the King of Navarr took in very good part sending for
those that were stout of hand to lodge about him Now it was observed that armed men rambled up and down in the City every where and about the Louure also that the common people grumbled and gave forth threatning speeches The Admirall being informed of these things sent one to the King to tell him of it The King answered that there was no cause why Coligni should be affraid for that these things were done by his command to represse the motions of the people who were stirred up by the Guises and therefore bad him to rest assured It was also told Teligni that Porters were seen carrying Arms into the Louure but he slighted it saying that these were unnecessary suspitions the Arms being carried in for the winning of a Castle in the Louure that was built for sport Presently the Duke of Guise to whom the charge was chiefly committed to see the businesse executed calling together the Captains of the Popish Swissers and the Tribunes of the French bands late in the night he discovered to them what the will of the King was that the hour was come wherein by the Kings commandement punishments should be inflicted on the head and by consequence upon the whole faction of the Rebels that the beast was caught and entangled in the net and therefore they must do their endeavoer that he might not escape Be not therefore said he wanting to so fit an occasion of carrying home a most glorious triumph over the enemies of the Kingdom the victory is easie the spoils will be rich and great which you may obtain as the rewards of your good service without shedding your own blood Then were the Swissers placed about the Louure unto whom certain bands of French men were added and charge was given them that they should suffer none of the King of Navarrs nor of the Prince of Conde's men to come forth Cossen also was charged with his Harquibushiers to suffer none to come out of the Admirals house That evening Guercius with some others had profered Teligni to keep guard in the Admirals house suspecting danger but he told them that there was no need for them so to trouble themselves and so with gracious words dismissed them by which means it came to passe that none lodged in the Admirals house but Cornaton Labonnius Yolett the Master of his Horse Merlin his Chaplain Paraeus the Kings Chyrurgeon and some four or five Servants Teligni was gone to the next house where he lay with his Wife In the Admirals Court were the five Swissers whom the King of Navarr had sent him Then did the Duke of Guise send for John Caronius lately made Provost of Merchants whom he commanded to signifie to the Aldermen that they should bid those in their severall Wards to appear in Arms at the Town-house about midnight to understand the Kings pleasure He commanded also Macellus who was very gracious with the people to signifie to them that liberty was given them from the King to take arms to destroy Coligni and all the other Rebels that therefore they should see diligently that they spared none nor suffered them any where to be concealed That order should be taken to do the like in all other Cities of the Kingdom who would follow the example of Paris That the sign for the beginning the assualt should be the ringing of the little Bell in the Palace That the sign whereby they should know one another should be a white handkerchief about their left arm or a white crosse in their hats That therefore they should come armed in good numbers and with good courages taking care to have candles lighted in their windows that no tumult might arise before the sign was given And thus the Duke of Guise and the bastard of Engolisme did all they could that things might be effected according to the agreement At midnight the Queen-Mother fearing the Kings wavering who was somewhat startled at the horridnesse of the fact reproved him for it saying that by his delaies he would overslip so fair an occasion offered by God for the utter vanquishing of his enemies The King being netled with this which seemed to charge him with cowardlinesse commanded the matter to be put in execution which word the Queen-Mother speedily taking hold of caused the little Bell to be rung in St. Germanes Church about an hour before day Aug. 24. being St. Bartholmews day and on a Sabbath Presently the Duke of Guise with Engolisme and d' Aumal went to the Admirals house where Cossen watched and a noise being raised the Admirall was awakned with it and heard of a sedition yet rested secure relying upon the Kings word and favour But the tumult growing greater when he perceived a Gun to be discharged in his Court he then conjectured though too late that which was the truth and so rising out of his bed and putting on his night-gown he stood and prayed against the wall Then came a servant to Labonnius and told him that there was one at the door who by the command of the King desired to be brought to the Admirall Labonnius therefore taking the keys ran down and opened the door then did Cossen catch at him and stabbed him with his dagger and so with his Harquebushiers he set upon the rest killing some and chasing away others Thus all things were filled with noise and another door at the stair foot was easily broken open and one of the five Swissers sent by the King of Navarr was slain yet were the stairs so barricado'd with chests that he could not presently enter In the mean time Monsieur Merlin went to prayer with the Admirall and the rest and at the end thereof a servant coming in said to the Admirall Master It is God who calleth us to himself they have broken into the house neither is there any ability to resist Then said the Admirall I have prepared my self for death a good while ago shift you for yourselves if possibly you can for your endeavour to help me would be in vain I commend my soul into Gods hand It was observed that the Admirals countenance was no more troubled then if no danger were at hand Thuanus relates his words thus I perceive what is in doing I was never afraid of death and I am ready to undergo it patiently for which I have long since prepared my self I bless God that I shall die in the Lord through whose grace I am elected to an hope of everlasting life I now need no longer any help of man You therefore my Friends get ye hence so soon as ye can lest ye be involved in my calamity and your Wives hereafter say that I was the cause of your destruction The presence of God to whose goodness I commend my soul which will presently fly out of my body is aboundantly sufficient for me Then all his company gat up into an upper room and crept out at a window upon the tiles and by the
benefit of night some escaped By this time Cossen with some Swissers of the Duke of Anjou's guard had removed the chests and were come up the stairs One Beheme a German was the first that entred the chamber who seeing the Admirall sitting there said Are not you the Admirall I am quoth he but you young man should have regard to my hoary head and old age But Beheme exchanging no more words struck him with his Sword and first embrued himself in the Admirals blood then Cossen Atinius and the rest followed and slew him with many wounds This Atinius reported afterwards that he never saw a man in so present a danger to have born out death with so great a constancy Then did the Duke of Guise from below ask if the businesse were done answer was made that it was But said he the Duke of Engolisme will not believe it except he see him himself therefore cast down his body out at the window with that they hurled it down headlong into the Court all defiled with gore blood whereupon the bastard of Engolisme wiping the blood from his face with his handkerchief and thereby knowing him kicked him in a scornfull manner Some say it was the Duke of Guise that did it Then one of the Duke of Nevers servants cut off his head and carried it to the King and Queen-Mother who caused it to be embalmed and sent it as a present to the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorrain to assure them of the death of their capitall enemy The people fell upon his Corps as mad men one cuts off his hands another his feet another his privy members and for three daies space drag his poor carcasse about the streets with all indignity Then some boyes would have thrown it into the River Seine but others dragged it to the gallows at Mountfaucon where they hung it up by the thighs and the shoulders downward but within few daies Francis Monmorency who had seasonably withdrawn himself from the danger caused some trusty persons to take it down by night and bury it in the Chappell at Contilia This was the end of this brave man who was the very first Noble man in all France that durst professe himself a Protestant and a helper of them He was marvellous zealous in performance of the exercises of Religion He used to rise very early and then putting on his night-gown and calling his Servants about him he went to prayer with them Then he set time apart to hear the Deputies of the Churches which were sent to him or for such like publique businesses Each other day in the forenoon he had a Sermon preached before him after which he returned to his businesse till dinner which being ready his Servants came in and there the Admirall standing by the Table and his Wife by his side one of David's Psalms were sung and a blessing craved upon the meat which course he did not only observe at his own house but every day in his Camp without intermission When the cloth was taken away he presently arose and standing with his Wife by him either himself or his Chaplain returned thanks At supper-time the same was done both with Prayers and Psalms And because he found it difficult to get all his Servants together at bed-time in regard of their various employments he caused them all to come in presently after supper where after a Psalm he went to prayer with them By this his excellent example very many of the French Nobility were enduced and encouraged to use the same discipline in their Families the Admirall often admonishing them that if they would embrace godlinesse in the life and power of it it was not enough for the Master of the Family to hear Sermons and to order his life in an holy and religious manner unlesse by his authority and example he brought all his houshold to joyn with him in the same When the time for receiving the Lords Supper approached he used to call his Friends and all his Family to him and shewed them that he must render an account to God for them as well as for himself If any discord was between them he reconciled it If any were ignorant he took care that they should be better instructed If any were obstinate he plainly gave them notice that it was better for them to remain at their own homes then for him to maintain such ungodly persons in his retinue He alwaies esteemed the carefull education of Children in good Schools a singular benefit of God and he called it the Seminary of the Church saying that ignorance of good letters was the cause of errour both in Church and State and that Popery crept in and kept in by that means Hereupon he erected a fair School at Chattilion under his Castle in a pleasant and wholesome place and bestowed great cost on it where he maintained Learned Interpreters of the Hebrew Greek and Latine tongues he maintained also many poor boyes and young men in that School He was modest and moderate in his desires after the world for though he had great Honours and Offices conferred upon him whereby he might much have enriched himself yet he added not so much as one Lordship or plough-land to the Inheritance left him by his Fathers He husbanded his estate and houshold affairs frugally yet having very many Noblemen and Gentlemen that resorted to him upon publique business he gave them free and hearty entertainment whereby he spent all that he saved at other times by his frugality Yea his extraordinary expences were so great that he left his Heir in debt no lesse then fourty thousand Crowns paying to his creditors yearly use-money no less then six thousand Crowns There was such incredible love and concord betwixt him and his two Brethren that all three seemed but to have one mind betwixt them He lived fifty three years six moneths and eight daies and was slain Aug. 24. 1572. He was of a middle stature of a ruddy colour his members equall and well compacted of a mild and cheerfull countenance of a small and pleasant voice yet somewhat slow and gentle of a healthy constitution of a comely gate and gesture abstemious in the use of Wine of a moderate diet and sleep for he never used to sleep above seven hours at the most After the Edict for Pacification he suffered no day to passe but before he went to bed he set down the things in his journall which fell out in the Civil Warres and were of any moment which being found after his death was carried to the King and admired by his very adversaries who thereby saw his quiet constant and composed mind in the midst of his greatest businesses When the Warre was finished and he was retired to Rochel no day passed over his head wherein he did not morning and evening read over one of Calvin's Sermons upon Job which History he used to call
of Spain which the King made such use of that the Admirall thence collected arguments of his greater good will towards him That they must use such artifices whilst they expected an opportunity to effect what was resolved on That the King of Spain was throughly acquainted with all these proceedings that so he might suspect nothing by reason of those great preparations which were made for Warre for he was assured that this was done upon good grounds as subservient to the principal end That therefore he desired the Cardinall that whatsoever he had heard or should hear hereafter yet he should assure himself that the King would never depart from his first purpose and that whatsoever he did did but conduce to hasten the end of their Counsels and that both the King Queen-Mother and the Duke of Anjou were all very solicitous for this thing and that as soon as ever the businesse should be effected they would instantly send away Messengers to acquaint Lorraine with it And as for the businesse of the Prince of Navarrs marriage they hoped that it would quickly be effected for this was ro begin all their future designs c. He that sent these Letters to the Admirall hoped that he would have been warned by them to look to himself and his affairs but he had such a strong confidence of the Kings love and good will towards him which also was daily nourished in him by his Son-in-law Teligni that he which was most provident and sharp-sighted in all others businesses was fatally blind in this In the beginning of May 1571. the King desired the Queen of Navarr to go to Paris to provide all things necessary for the marriage where she arrived the fifteenth day of the same moneth and the fourth day of June she fell sick of a feavour whereof she died five daies after to the extream grief and sorrow of all her Servants and Friends Two daies before her death being in perfect memory she made a most Christian Testament and last Will finishing her course with singular piety and joy in God She was a Princesse of great experience by reason of her manifold adversities in all which she shewed an invincible constancy and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her Religion very carefull of the education of her children training them up in the fear of God In her words most grave and full of motherly affections to them She had a ready and well advised wit was pitifull and easie to be intreated constantly maintained that which she judged to be good and agreeable to the will and good pleasure of God She had a great vivacity of spirit whereby she was able to comprehend all her affairs and had a lively grace in representing them either by word or writing She died June 9. 1572. and of her age 44. It was believed that she was poysoned by the smell of certain perfumes the Doctors and Chyrurgions which opened her were commanded not to open her brain where the mischief lay and therefore could not determine about the cause of her death The Admirrll in this time was at his house aa Castallion where he received many Letters and Messages from the King to come to him and because he stirred not the King sent Cavagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him that they might come to a conclusion about the Warres in Flanders and special commandment was given to the Provost of Merchants and other chief men that at the Admirals coming to Paris there should be no affronts done him About the same time the Admirall had many advertisements from his Friends both within and without the Realm that though he could not conceive any sinister opinion of the King his Mother or Brother that yet at least he would consider into what place he was about to thrust himself amongst so many implacable enemies But he resting upon the testimony of a good conscience and the providence of God rejected all those counsels as proceeding from mens covetousnesse or desire of new troubles which he abhorred worse then death and therefore taking a small train with him he went to Paris and was very honourably intertained by the King Queen-Mother the Kings Brethren and others to the great astonishment of the whole City At the Admirals coming to Paris amongst other Letters that were brought to him there was one that gave him these warnings Remember the Popish Maxime confirmed by the Authority of Councils That faith is not to be kept with Hereticks in which number the Protestants are accounted Remember the implacable spirits of the Papists at this time irritated by the last Warres There is no doubt but it is the fixed purpose of the Queen-Mother to destroy the Protestants by any means whatsoever Consider that she is an Italian of a most crafty wit born of the Progeny of Popes who contrives all extream things against her enemies Remember in what School the King hath been brought up from his childhood how he hath been taught to swear and forswear To pollute himself with whoredomes and adulteries To compose his countenance To counterfeit Faith and Religion How he hath been accustomed to cruelty and bloodshed How he hath been taught not to suffer above one Religion in his Kingdom How it hath been whispered into his ears That the Protestants seek to dispoil him of his life and Kingdom That he is not bound to keep Covenants made with armed Subjects That he is taught the Mysteries of State Policy Remember that Commodus caused Julianus to be slain whom he pretended to honour and imbrace as a Father That Antoninus Caracalla under the pretence of a Muster caused all the chief youths of the City to be slain That Lysander under the pretence of friendship commanded the throats of four hundred Milesians to be cut That lately Atonius Spinola invited all the chief men of Corsica to a Banquet where they were all slain That Christian King of Denmark used the same art to commit that horrid massacre at Stockholme c. That the Kings speech to his Mother at Blois was no secret when swearing fearfully he asked her whether he had not carried himself well at the coming of the Queen of Navarr To whom she answered That he had begun well but that would profit little unlesse he went on But I quoth he swearing often will bring them all into the net Wherefore if you be wise haste both out of the Court and City with all speed as out of a most impure sink The Admirall having read this Letter though he were offended yet lest he should seem to neglect the prayers and warnings of his Friends he returned this answer That there was no place left any longer for these suspitions That he was verily perswaded that so great perfidiousnesse could not enter into the heart of so good a King That indeed the Duke of Anjou was more estranged from the Protestants but that hatred would by degrees cease by