which are the Kings neare kinsemen to bée in lesse estimation than Straungers And althoughe the Princes throughe their humanitie and great modestie woulde suffer them selues to bée so abased yet notwithstanding the Nobles woulde not beare it nor abyde the gouernement of Straungers And to confirme this which he had spoken he brought in manye examples that the Guises being Straungers were neyther in the number of Princes nor at anye time so accounted and that therefore it was not lawfull for the Guises to arrogate vnto themselues the titles and authoritie of Princes which onely appertained to the Kings bloude as the auncient custome of the kingdome woulde declare This sayth he to pacifie those of the temporaltie whose doings were the more to bée feared for that the greater part of the Nobilitie was of that side sauing such as were woonne and procured awaye by the Guiles for the Kings money Thus Planchaeus largely and fréely vttered his mynde But all the whyle that he had this talke with the Quéene the Cardinall of Loraine was hydde behinde the Tapistrie clothes that hâ—…ng before the wall of the Closet Who when Planchaeus had leaue of the Quéene to depart came forth and talking with the Quéene appointed that Planchaeus shoulde be called agayne and commaunded to procéede in his former declaration and to shewe who they were that were the authors and Captaynes of she late conspiracie the which except he woulde promise to doe that he might be caried to prison Therefore Planchaeus being called againe began to vtter his minde as fréely as he had done before shewing the parentage and stocke of the Guises and also howe they were Straungers and nothing appertaining to Fraunce adding moreouer that it was very euill done to commit the gouernement of the Realme to Straungers and speciallye to such as did contende ambitiouslye for the Kingdome and thought it shoulde appertayne to them The Quéene being offended with his boldnesse and speciallye séeing he affirmed that he knewe nothing of the conspiracie commaunded that he should be caried to prison All which Planchaeus spake was euen as it were the voyces of the people speaking by the mouth of one man. After this Michael Hospitall the Kings Chauncelour after the death of Oliuarius of whom we spake before a man verye well learned and wyse was sent to the Senate of Paris to consult with them about many matters that belonged to the gouernement of the Realme and among the rest concerning the prouiding such remedies as might take away the tumults alredie begon And thus afflictions waxed more easie than they wers before and remedies were prouided for so generall a mischiefe But the fame and report of the increasing of the multitude of the faithfull daylye was in euery place of the Realme and bicause great troubles séemed to be at hande all men had regarde vnto them more than to the report of the increase of the faithful the most part endeuouring themselues to staye and pacifie these troubles And at this time this was the state of France the Guises sent the same prouision of warre with the which they withstoode the religion in Fraunce into Scotland ouer the sea to the intent they might there deface and put downe the religion newly begon For the Nobles of Scotland with a great multitude of the people beside had cast off the Popes yoke from of their neckes had plucked downe their Images their altars and abolished the ceremonies of the Papisticall seruice causing the Quéene to get hir into a little towne by hirselfe for that she was sore offended at that which they had done Therefore lacking helpe the Guises brought to passe to haue an hoste of men sent out of France to the number of foure thousande Of this bande of men Brossaeus was Generall with whome was ioyned the Bishop of Ambianensis to the ende the one might fight with the sword and the other with Papisticall power Therfore they toke their iourney with these coÌ„mandements namely that they should seuerely punish the Rebels and the chiefe authors of sedition and that they shoulde restore the wonted and vsuall obedience of the Pope Wherfore so sone as they were come into Scotland they made proclamation that euery one should go to Masse detest and forsake the new religion The Bishop wrote vnto the King that he woulde bring all the people within fewe dayes to the catholike faith Brossaeus wrote that he woulde destroy all within sixe moneths which woulde not come to the auncient Religion But it came otherwise to passe For after the death of Marie Quéene of England the Guises made claime and title to the Crowne of Englande for their Néece the Quéene of Scottes as though she had bene the lawfull heire Whereat the moste gracious Quéene Elizabeth hauing great disdaine sent worde to the King of Fraunce of this great iniurie done to hir Grace by the Guises and biddeth battaile Nowe the Scottés to the ende they might abide the forren power of the Frenchmen féeling also that they stoode in néede of helpe and ayde from some other place went to the Quéene of England beséeching hir that although they were hir olde enimies yet that she woulde vouchsafe to ayde them in so iust a cause of Religion saying that they had rather to abide any extremitie than the tyrannie of the Pope To whom the Quéenes maiestie willingly and gladly promised and graunted helpe The Scottes therefore being encouraged by this ayde did so withstande the French power that they made great slaughter of the French men and draue them to such a strayte that except the matter had bene taken vp by peace it shoulde séeme that they had bene all vtterly destroyed Peace therfore was concluded and the reformed Religion there established And so that tumult was turned to the peace and quietnesse of the Church notwithstanding the subtill practises and cruell threatnings of the aduersaries There were also at that time grieuous afflictions layde vpon the Church in another place For in the townes of Sixtus and Guardia in the countrie of Calabria there were manye yea to the number of a thousande which by the Popes commaundement were put to death for Religions sake and many horrible cruelties also committed by the meanes of one Marchion Buciane In the Kingdome of Fraunce also in diuers places as at Paris and Rhoane many of the faythfull were murthered vpon the solemne feast daye of the Bishops deambulation For the faithfull began more and more to assemble themselues togither and exhibited vnto the King a little booke containing the confession of their faith requiring to haue libertie graunted vnto them to declare their cause Wherfore it shall not be disagréeing from our purpose to put downe here the same their confession to the ende we may therby sée what a notable consent and agréement there was in the doctrine of faith among the Churches of Fraunce notwithstanding the â—…oysterous tempestes of the first afflictions A Confession of the Fayth made
and inuasions of them of Tholouze Aboute this tyme by the adâ—…ise and consent of the Quéene and the counsaile order was taken in certaine graue and waighty matters betwixt the King and his Brother The Dukedome of Orleans was by olde vse and custome of inheritance alwaies giuen to the Kings eldest Brother But bycause many contentions and controuersies did commonly arise betwéene the Kings of France and their second Brothers Dukes of Orleans for diuers considerations of the coÌ„modities of that City and countrey it was thought good and profitable both for the King and the Kingdome that that Dukedome should be taken from the Kinges Brother Wherefore the two Brethren agreeing themselues Alexander â–ª the Duke of Orleans yéelded and gaue vp his Dukedome to the King and had of him for it the Dukedome of Aniou and the Title of Viceroy generall ouer all the prouinces of Fraunce was gyuen him and had also a yerely stipend of an hundreth thousand Crownes which afterward was largely augmented Thus was Orleans taken from the Kinges brother and hée very liberally recompensed for it We spake before of the Prince of Conde and how the Papistes laboured by all meanes possible to entice him from the reformed Religion And surely they had made a great breach wyde entrie to their purpose thorough the to much licentiousnes of the Court that the Princâ—… vsed and the great hope of large gayne that was offred him on all sides But as they were in the midst of their iolitie and triumphing as though they had quight vanquished and reclaimed him to their lure he manfully luckely escaped all their traynes and by this occasion as the Prince did thus gyue himselfe to all pleasure and loosenesse of liuing his wife a most godly and chast matrone tooke sorrow and inward thought at hir hushaÌ„ds imtemperate and disordered conuersacion and thereby with other causes fell gréeuously sicke and stryuing wrestling long with her disease in great sorrowe and laÌ„guishing of mynd at length departed out of this troublesome world but before her death she had very wisely and wittely admonished her husbande to looke well about him and to remember what dutie the knowledge he had of Christian religion and the dignitie and place that God had called him to did require of him The death and this counsell of his wife of whose singular deare and chast loue in his greatest extremities and distresse he had alwayes had sufficient proufe and triall did so moue and stirre him that waying and pondering his estate and calling more néerely and wisely euer after hée tooke vnto him a myraculous and most valeant courage and diligently and willingly obeyed and hearkened to the counsell of such as were good and godly and wexed euery day more and more earnest and zelous in the study of true godlynesse pietie And yit at the first his wifes death seemed to giue great occasion to further and aduaunce the papistes wishe and desire for it was common then in euery mans mouth that the Prince of Conde should marrie with the Quéene of Scotland a veryfaire and beautiful woman and that then the Prince and the Guises should be all one But hee vsing and obeying better aduise did manfully and valiauntly coÌ„temne and despife all those vayne baytes and enticing allurements and afterward married the Dukes sister of Lon gueuille a famouse and worthy man. In the meane time newes came out of all quarters of the cruell slaughters that the papistes committed vpon the protestants which if I should goe about to tehearse it would be a thing of an infinite and endlesse labour nothing appertaining to our purpose for there was accompt made as is euident and to be séene in the commoÌ„ registers of an hundreth and thirtie great slaughters committed in diuers places vpon the faythfull since the publishing of the Edict But there was no mencion I warrant you nor talke of punishment wherefore the Papistes were by this loose and negligente impunitie more and more encouraged to al vnnaturall and outragious crueltie The men of Mayne vnder the conduct and leading of their Bishop who had waged Souldiours for that purpose made horrible hauocke and spoile in many pla ces vppon the Protestantes both man woman child without all respect of yeares younge or old Many complaintes and supplication were put vp to the kinge and the faithfull company of that Countrey set out a wryting openly wherein they declared the horror and abhomination of those mischieuous factes with example of such â–ª furie crueltie as was not erst hard of amongst the Frenchmen Such sauage and cruell madnes had by reason of impunitie enflamed the Bishops mind wyth hatred against Religion Wherefore through all the Câ—…untrey of Maynes in euery Towne and Citie great cruelty was exercised at the Bishops coÌ„maundemente as God willing shall one day be more plainly seene in a full and large discourse of these matters At Creuan a Towne of Burgundy a place appointed by the Kinges commaundement to preaâ—…h the woord of God in when as there was gathered togyther from diuers places of that Prouince a greate nomber of men wemen old men and children altogyther naked and vn armed to heare a Sermon â–ª the Papistes that dwelt in the Towne assembling togyther ranne violently and rushed with force vppon the Protestants And as they began to kill and murther them there was by and by a great vprore and tumult raysed on the contrary parte the papistes were sodenly amased and fearing least the aide of the Protestantes neare adioyninge and of other noble men professoures of the reformed Religion had bin there craftely lefte of their enterprise and so by that meanes the faithfull escaped Notwithstandinge many of them as they stroue to get home to their houses were slaine at the first brunt so the Papistes in Burgundy what by the sufferance of their Lieftenaunt by the setting on of the Counsaile and through the help and ayde of Moâ—…sieur Begat â–ª a seditious and factious Counsailour waxed more and more bould and insolent against the Protestantes Moreouer there assembled vnder coulour of gathering togither the states of euery Prouince certaine companies which they termed the Confraternities or Brotherhoodes of the holy Ghost to the intent to proclaime and denounce euerlastinge and perpetuall warre against the Hugunotes and vnder pre tence of these assemblies many things were haynously seditiously committed Wherfore the Prince of Conde complayned of these misorders to the king Where vppon these conuenticles by the Kinges Interdicte were forbidden and prohibited but all in vaine for the letters wanted that pâ—…iuie signet whereby by the Cardinalles subtiltie and other Papistes of great estimation such letters were knowen as it were of any wayghty matter or importance Monsieur â–ª Begat â–ª the counsailour had alwaies very ryfe in his communication the greate renowne of the Spanish Kinge whereat many men marueiled to see such a fellow borne with all and to be in
be chosē to the same by lawfull election if so be the same may be had We adde this if bicause sometime as in oure time also when the Church hath bene troubled and persecuted many haue béen constrayned without ordinarie callyng by the motion of Gods holye spirite to take vpon them to repaire the ruinousnesse of the decayed Church notwithstanding howsoeuer the matter be we doe beléeue that this rule ought to be followed that all pastors and ministers maye haue sufficient testimonie of their calling 32 We doe beléeue it to be necessarie that they which are chosen to be the chiefe ouerséers of some one Churche doe diligently waye and consider among them selues by what waye or meanes the whole body of the same Churche may be best gouerned Notwithstanding so that they swerue in no poynt from that which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath appointed And this letteth not but that certaine places maye haue their peculiar and speciall institutions to them appertaining as it shall séeme best 33 And we doe exclude all humane inuentions and lawes whiche vnder the pretence of the worshippe of God doe bynde the consciences of men and we doe onely admit and alow those which tend to the maintaining of concord the keping of euerye one in due obedience in the which thing we thinke it méete to follow that which our Lord sauiour Christ appointed concerning excommunication the which with the circumstances also we allow thinke necessarye 34 We doe beléeue that there are Sacramentes ioyned to the woorde for further confirmations sake as pledges and seales of the grace of God by which our infyrme and weake faith may be stayed and holpen For we confesse these externall signes to be such that God by them worketh with the power of his holy spirit that nothing there might be set before vs in vaine Notwithstāding we doe thinke that al the substance veritie of them resteth in Christ Iesu frō whō if they be separated they are nothing but vayne shadowes 35 We doe confesse that there belong onely two Sacramentes to the whole Church of the which the first is Baptisme giuen vnto vs to testifie our adoption bycause thereby we are grafted into the body of Christ as beyng washed with his bloud and are also renewed to holynesse of life by his spirite This also we affirme that although we are but once baptized yet notwithstanding the fruite of Baptisme doth appertaine to the race of our whole life to the ende that this promise mighte be sealed in vs by a sure and certaine seale namely that Christ will be alway our sanctification righteousnesse and redemption Furthermore althoughe Baptisme be a Sacramente of fayth and repentaunce yet notwithstanding seyng God doth recken and accounte the children wyth the parentes to be of his Church we affirme that infantes borne of holy and godly parents ought by the authoritie of Christ to be baptized 36 We affirme that the holy Supper of the Lord which is the other Sacrament is a testimony vnto vs of our vnion with our Lorde Iesus Christ bicause he did not thinke it sufficient for vs onely to dye and to be raysed agayne the third day for our sinnes but also féedeth vs still ▪ and nourisheth vs with his fleshe and bloude that being made one with him we maye be partakers of life with him For although he be now in heauen and shall abide there vntill he come to iudge the worlde yet notwithstanding we beleue that he doth by the secrete and incomprehensible power of his spirite nouryshe and quicken vs wyth the substance of hys fleshe and bloude apprehended by faithe And we saye that this is done spiritually not that we go about to put fantasie and imagination in steade of efficacie and veritie but bicause this misterie of our vnion and knot made betwene Christ and vs is sodaine and far paste our reache that by no meanes we are able to comprehende it To be shorte séeing it is a thing so diuine and heauenly it can not be by any meanes apprehended but by faith onely 37 We beléeue as it is saide before that the Lord as well in the Supper as in Baptisme doth giue vnto vs in verye déede that is to saye truely and effectually whatsoeuer is therin figured Sacramentally and therfore we ioyne with signes the true possession and fruition of that thing which is so offered vnto vs Therfore we affirme that they which bring a pure fayth as a vessell with them to the holy table of the Lorde doe verily receiue that which the signes doe there testifie for the body and bloude of Iesus Christ is no lesse meate and drinke to the soule than bread and wine is the sustenance of the body 38 In like maner we saye that the element of water although it be corruptible doth truely testifie vnto vs the inward washing of our soule in the bloude of Iesus Christ by the efficacie of the holy Ghost And therefore we reiecte all those fanaticall persons which reiect these outward signes when as our Sauiour Christ him selfe spake these wordes saying This is my Body and This Cup is my Bloud 39 We beléeue that it is Gods will that the world shoulde be ruled and gouerned by lawes and politique gouernement that there may be some meanes by which the immoderate desires of the worlde may be bridled and restrained and that therefore he hath appointed kingdomes common weales and other kindes of dignities whither they come by inheritance or otherwise and not onely that but whatsoeuer pertaineth to right and equitie the author whereof he himselfe woulde be counted Therefore also he hath put the swerde into the hands of Magistrates to punishe offences not onely against the seconde table but also against the first Wherefore we must for his sake which is the author of this order not onely suffer that they may rule whome he hath set ouer vs but also honour and reuerence them as his Ministers appointed by him to take that lawfull and holy office vpon them Therefore we affirme that lawes and statutes ought to be obeyed tribute and taxes payed and all other burthens discharged and voluntary subiection yelded to magistrates yea although they be infidels so that God be not dishonored Therefore we detest all those that denie rule and gouernment and refuse to obey desiring a confusion and to haue all things common and going about to ouerthrow all lawe and good order This therefore was the plaine and simple confession of the faythfull Christians of the reformed Churches of Fraunce and a plaine explication of that Doctrine for the which they were so greatly persecuted by the Popishe Bishops Thus endeth this first Book ¶ The seconde Booke of Commentaries of the state of Religion in the kingdome of Fraunce IT was prouided and appointed as we haue shewed before by the kings Edict that there should be a Parliament by which the great perturbations which at that time all men sawe
him to be a King to this ende that he might kéepe the people vnder the knowledge feare and obedience of God that he might gouerne them by good and wholesome lawes and also to saue and defende them from the enimie and in all thinges to shewe himselfe so studious and carefull for the common wealth that he may be honoured and be beloued as a father of the people For this is the onely difference betwéene a King a Tyrant The King reigneth and ruleth with the good will loue and consent of the people but the tyrant ruleth by violence and force In a King therefore a man may behold the ordinance of God the author and preseruer of Common welthes and humaine societie In the tyrant the force and violence of the Diuel who goeth about to peruert that ende to the which God hath ordeyned Kings and Potentates Herevpon it commeth that as the King is loued of all men and hated of none but of wicked men and Rebels so the tyrant is feared of all men without exception and therefore hated of all according to the olde Prouerbe Quem metuunt oderunt him whome men feare they hate Therefore if the King will be loued and obey the commaundement of God and retaine the obedience and loue of his subiectes he must of necessitie stablishe Religion he must heare the complaintes of the people and must prouide for them remedies as a father prouideth for his children séeing that he is set in the kingdome to that ende neyther can he doe otherwise except he will make himselfe vnworthy of the grace of God by which he confesseth that he doth reigne as both examples of holy Scripture and domesticall examples also do plentifully declare The first bond therfore which confirmeth knitteth and retaineth the obedience of kings is Religion the which is nothing else than to know God as it becommeth vs that is to say according to his prescript wil. And now séeing we ought to acknowledge him to be the creator author preseruer of all things it must néedes folow that al our actions ought to tende to the setting forth of his glory Whervpon it cometh to passe that Religion which is that most assured bonde of humane actions and of the true obedience of subiects towards their Kings ought to be reformed preserued maintained But bicause that bonde is dissolued and broken in these our dayes both by the malice wickednesse of some and also by the doting madnesse and folly of other some and by the corruption of our time it is no doubt an euident demonstration and token of the wrath of God which threateneth vnto vs great destruction not farre hence vnlesse it be prouided for out of hande For besides the varietie of doctrines who euer sawe the ancient discipline of the Church so miserably abused contemned and deiected errors so dispersed and rooted euery where offences and stumbling blockes so common the life of Priests so corrupt and so much to be reprehended and also so many and great tumultes among the people The way to remedie this great euill and mischiefe is a generall Councell the only ancient vsuall meane but as it plainely appeareth that is not to be hoped for and that for two causes The one is It is not in our power to bring to passe that the Pope the Emperour the Kings and the Germanes shoulde by by agree of the time the place and maner of holding of a Councell in which things there are oftentimes great coÌ„trouersies The other cause is this Such is the disease and mischief it so grieueth euery part of the kingdome that there is small hope of any remedie Like as if a man troubled with a coÌ„tinuall feuer or with some other grieuous disease which requireth letting of bloude or some other present remedie cannot tarie to haue the Phisitions help which dwelleth farre of bicause of the great vncertainty of his coÌ„ming Therfore we must bring to passe to call a couÌ„cel of our Nation as it was before concluded the which also the King hath alredy openly promised And this parliament must of necessitie be called both for the necessitie which so vrgeth the miserable Church being brought to so great extremities also for the kings estimation and credit who by his owne letters hath openly giuen forth declared y same but specially bicause there hath nothing happened since that time which might let or hinder the same but on the contrarie part there grow new things occasions daily which do vrge and driue vs to séeke to call a Parliament vnlesse we could be contented to lose all that we haue The Emperour Charles the vâ—…lately deceased wheÌ„ he came to Bononia and had conferred with Pope Clement concerning matters of the Church he willed his Chauncelor to talke with that Pope concerning the calling of a CouÌ„cell both to reforme the maners of Church men and also to establish the doctrine which was in controuersie The Pope vehemently withstode this thing affirming that there was no néede to call a Councell neither for doctrine séeing that al new opinions are refuted condemned of the ancient Councels neither yet for Ecclesiasticall discipline which was so wel appointed that it was sufficient only to obserue kepe the decrées written concerning the same But the Emperour being not satisfied with this answere replied againe that it coulde not be but that the great assembly of the generall Councell shoulde bring great profit doe much good both to cut off that euill which daily increased more and more and also to repaire and confirme those things which were very well already receyued and allowed to hinder cut off that which might abolishe them by discontinuance and want of vse And in this minde concerning the procuring of a Councel he continued so loÌ„g as he liued In the which matter he founde no greater aduersaries than those who shoulde haue set him forwarde in so commendable an enterprise Our auncetours were woont euery fiue yeares to call generall Councels as it is to be séene in the decrees But as touching priuate Councels or Councels assembled out of our owne Nation we shall find in the histories of the Kings of Fraunce that they were called in euerye Kings tyme beginning at the raigne of Clodouaeus vntill the tyme of Charles the great and so forth vntill we come to Charles the feue uth his dayes The which Parliamentes or assemblies were sometimes gathered togither from euery part of the whole kingdome sometimes from one halfe of the Realme sometimes but out of certaine Prouinces onely By which Parliaments it was sildome séene but that there ensued great fruite and profite to the reformation both of doctrine and maners Let vs not staye therefore any longer at the matter but followe the examples and wayes of our elders and let vs not be afrayde to be accused to be bringers in of newe customes séeing that we haue so many examples to followe but
in the same opinion in the whiche they concluded with the Ministers of the reformed Churches that they had made a compacte and agréemente with the Ministers and therefore they were not suffered to conferre or dispute any more after that Therfore the ministers hauing occasion offered sente this explication of that article vnto the chosen men that disputed for the Prelates VVe affirme that no distance of places can let the communicating which wee haue with the body and bloud of Christ bycause the Supper of the Lorde is a heauenly thing And althoughe we receiue in earthe with oure mouthe the breade and wine beyng true signes of his body and bloud yet notwithstanding by faithe and by the operation of the holye Ghost our myndes of which this is oure speciall meate being lyfted vp to heauen doe receine there his bodye and bloude And in this respecte wee saye that the bodye doth truely ioyne it selfe to the breade and the bloude to the wyne and yet notwithstanding no otherwyse than after a Sacramentall manner that is to saye neyther locally nor naturally but bycause they effectually signifie and declare that God doth giue them faithfully and without all doubt to the communicants who do truly and certainely receiue them by faith This therefore is the plaine opinion and iudgement of the reformed Churches concerning the presence of the bodie and bloud of Christ Iesus in the sacrament of the Supper But there were nowe come certaine ministers oute of Germanie by the meanes of Baâ—…duinus as we sayde before But they bewraying the councell and purpose of the Cardinall of Loraine by whose practise these things were spedely brought to passe returned home again with losse of their labour and their expectation being deceiued The purpose and practise of the Cardinall was to bring these ministers and the other into one disputation and contention and so contending and striuing together he might cause the conference to cease and make them to be a laughing stocke to all men The Prelates doubting of the fayth and trust of their men which they had chosen to dispute for them as we said before woulde haue no conference after this with the ministers wherevpon the conference brake vp the â–ª xxv day of Nouember And this was the ende of the Conference of Possiac manye being gathered together for the same the space of thrée monethes â—…fter the whiche there ensued not onely no profyte but also great trouble and motions of warres Thus the conference being ended withoute fruite there was no waye founde for peace and concorde but rather the mindes of both parts beyng exasperated there insued great quarels and discentiens So that great discorde rose dayly betwéene the Papists and the Protestants more and more some complayning and finding fault with the Prelates for their disordered departing from the conference the which in deede sufficiently declared the weakenesse of their cause and other some misliking of the authoritie of the Generall Councell shortly alter to come and of the Churche of Rome Neither were these dissentiâ—…ns onely among the common people but also among the Peeres Nobles of the realme mens mindes being distracted and drawne into manifest factions whiche foreshewed not onely bare contentions of wordes but also greate and mortall warres at hande For the compactes and manifest practises of the Guises of the Constable and of the Marshall of Santandra were well ynough sene Yet notwithstanding their purpose and indeuour was very muche let and hindered at that time by the authoritie of the King of Nauarre whome they thought good to assay by all meanes possible to the entent they myghte drawe him from taking part with the Protestantes In the which matter the Cardinal of Ferrer of whom we spake before being the Popes Legate in Fraunce take verye muche paines promising vnto the king of Nauarre in the Popes name the full possession of the kingdome of Nauarre affyrming that the Pope should easily obtaine this thing of king Phillip for that he already promised to doe the same for the Catholique Churches sake Moreouer the Cardinall of Towers the Bishop of Ansseren and Escarsius also certaine of his houshoulde confirmed him in this matter and vsed dayly persuasions being wicked men and set on for money by the Cardinall of Loraine Among whom also was that Frances Balduine of whome mention was made before as diligent and busie as the best to bring the matter about whereby he thought he shoulde reape no small gaine This man forging a new Gospell caused the king of Nauarre to hate both the doctrine and also the men of the reformed Churches So that now he began to hang betwene diuers opinions to forsake the loue of Religion openlye to shew himselfe an enimie to the reformed Churches to bée more coâ—…uersant and familiar with the Guises to giue him selfe to lightnesse filthy pleasure also to go to the Masse and to the Popishe Churches When the Duke of Guise had deliberated and consulted of the matter with the Constable and the Marshall of Santandre and willing them to gathered vnto them forthwith so great power as they could he departed from them leauing them in Fraunce and came to Imuilla in the moneth of Nouember and after he had taryed there certayne dayes he wente to the Cittie Tabernas whiche bordereâ—…h vpon Germanie to prouide for his businesse and to consult with many of the Princes of Germanie about this matter Notwithstanding the number of the faythfull dayly more and more encreased and was wonderfully confyrmed a great part of the Nobles comming to the reformed Churches Therefore there were assemblies and congregations in great number almost in all the noble Cities of the Realme in the whiche the worde of God was openly preached and the Sacramentes ministred notwithstanding the Edict of Iuly of whiche we spake before Wherevpon notwithstanding there arose oftentymes greate discâ—…ntions and of those seditions ensued great perils For they whiche were grieued and offended at these assemblies of the faythfull made exclamation that Edictes were broken and did so prepare themselues to trouble the faythfull that there séemed to be present occasions of great mischief whiche brake foorthe in many places but specially at Paris For the faithful being gathered togither the. 26. day of December to heare the word of God in Paris in the suburbes of Sanmarcellus a place specially appointed vnto them by the King for the same purpose the Priestes of the Temple of Sanmedardus hard by in the time of the Sermon caused such a noyse to be made with ringing of bels that the voyce of the Preacher coulde by no meanes be vnderstoode Whervpon two of the Congregation men vnarmed and without weapon came to these Popishe Priestes and beséeched them that they woulde not make suche a dynne with ringing their Belles that so greate a companie of menne shoulde be lette from hearing the woorde of God. The Priestes hauing with them diuers other men began to abuse them and
read it is Page 51. line 20. for do read to The fourth Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of the common wealth and Religion of Fraunce in the raigne of Kyng Charles IX THe Edict of Ia nuary whereof mention is made in the end of the third Booke goinge before being at the last after the delayes of the Senate of Paris published proclaymed at Paris and in the whole Kingdome made a ioyful and prosperous end of all troubles the Gospell had peaceable passage throughout all the dominions all most of Fraunce and the faythfull according to the tenure and prescript of the Edict gladly leauing the Churches and places which were within the cities flocked together in great assemblies without the Cities insomuch that all men greatly delighted to looke vppon them But Sathan enuying that peace and tranquillitie caused after a while not only priuate perturbations and troubles betwéene man and man but also open and Ciuill warres by the deuises and practises of the aduersaries to the great hurt of the Realme The which things as briefely euen so truely will we declare in this historie In penning whereof we know into what sundry hap and hazard of iudgements we are in what a large scope wée haue to set forth diuers matters and also what hatred and perill we bring vnto our selues But the truth shal defend it selfe and shall also take away all sclaunder reproche Many gréeued and repined at the increase and good successe of the reformed Churches greatly misliking of the Edict of January for that it tended much for their peace and quietnes which fauored the Religion Of these repyning enemies there were two sortes The first sort were such as had their liuing by the Benefices reuenewes and spirituall promotions of Priestes and of these many were gentlemen and men of high calling who perceiuing that the greatest part of their substance came vnto them by the sayd Benefices thought that they should sustaine great hinderance and losse if so be they of the reformed Religion should obtaine and enioye the benefite of the Edict The second sort were such noble men as being inriched not onely with those great and huge sommes of money which came to them by the yerely reuenewes of those Benefices the fatte wherof they reserued to them and theirs but also with the innumerable giftes of King Henry the second and Fraunces the second feared least they being called to giue vp their accompts according to the custome of the Realme should be found giltie of extorcion Among these latter sort the chiefe were the Guises the fatall destruction of the kingdome of Fraunce who also as yet were to make their accoūt for great sommes of money taken out of the Kings Treasury for common affaires and other waightie matters in the time of King Fraunces the second and also of their euill demeynor wherof they were playnely accused vnder the raigne of Kyng Henry the second Also the great losse of that high auctho ritie which almost they alone had during the minority of King Fraunces the second and with the same losse the feare foreséeing the great euilles to come pinched them euen to the hart and gréeued them to the very gall To these also was ioyned the Martiall of S. Andrew a man full of all subtiltie guile and mischief who being out of measure riche with the great giftes which he receyued of Kyng Henry for his euill and cruell seruice was pricked in conscience for spoyling by sinister meanes diuers noble men of his familiar acquayntāce By the practise and endeuour of this Martiall the Constable Momorentius as we sayd in our other Booke a little before a mortall enemie to the Guises hauing diuers times experience of their hatred was brought to the familiaritie and friendship of the Guises And to the intent they might winne the Constable wholely vnto them by a new benefite they graunted franckly vnto him the dominion of Dammartine for the which afore time there had bene great contencion betwéene them Therefore the daily adhortations of the Martiall of S. Andrew and the Duches of Valence beside the domesticall and daily perswasions of his wife and of the Earle of Uillars greatly vrged and pressed the Constable as that the ancient and catholique doctrine was abolyshed that the common wealth was disturbed that they of the reformed Religion did plainly threaten to bring such as had bene officers of the kings afore time to giue vp their accoūts that those mē sought only by lit tle and little to place them selues in authoritye and to abase those that serued and had borne office vnder the kings in time past and to haue the spoil of their goods that the Queene Mother was led away with their perswasions and that shée being an effeminate weake woman would incline to that parte which was moste strong also that it was manifest that shée did fauoure those of the reformed Religion for the king of Nauar hys sake who séeketh all that he can to haue the Religion altered being thervnto prouoked by the Prince of Conde to spight those which are suspected to be the authors that he was cast into prison And therfore that they if they might bring al things to passe after their owne desire as to haue their enemies subdued and the state of the kingdome and of Religion altered would bring the Constable him selfe to their owne bent and wil wold in like manner call him to account These perswasions being oftentimes inculcated and beaten into the Constables eares being rather an enemy to Religion drewe him quite away at the last to the contrary part and so by little and little for saking the king of Nauar and the Prince of Conde he openly shewed his displeasure and choller against the Chastilions Therfore now began to be manifest familiarity and frendship betwéene the Constable and the Guises in so much that they bāketted one another and had oftentimes secreate conference betwéene them selues Wherfore at y last they conspired together namely that the Duke of Guise as a Prince of aliance to the king and Lord great master of Fraunce the Constable as chéefe officer vnder the king and the Martiall of S. Andrew as head Martiall should bend their whole endeuors in this that no parte of the ancient and Catholique Religion might be altered And because notwithstanding the constitutions and Edictes of the former kings a new Religion was brought in they would indeuor them selues with all their force and might that those hereticall doctrines might be quite abolished and destroyed And also that they would not suffer newe Decrées to be made concerning the state of the realme and the willes of the former Kings to be disproued that they would openly declare them selues to be enemies to all those which would go about this thing And finally that in this cause they wold do what they could euen to the spending of their goods and liues To performe the which they swore solemnely one to
confesse that I was not the first that toke the sweard in hand and when I did take it after them whych put them selues in Armor againste the King and Quéenes willes I had good occasion so to do For by the Lawe of Nature being a Prince and one of the Kings kinsmen I ought and am bound of duety to defend and maintain the dignity of the King and the peace and tranquillitye of the Realme So soone as I put on Armoure I protested that I woulde put of the same againe vppon suche reasonable conditions as shoulde appertaine to the libertye of the King and Quéene and to the peace and concorde of the Realme Whervpon it must néedes follow that they are the causes authours of troubles which haue refused those conditions and which when they could not abyde the peaceable gouernement of the Quéene and that shée should be the head ouer the Kings subiectes and disdayning at her for that shée looked so straytly vnto theÌ„ least they should defraude the kings creditors of any of their debt put themselues in armour came with a bande of soldiours to the King and beset him about with armed men that hauing the king and Quéene in their owne power they might gouerne the Realme as thei list theÌ„selues they committed horrible murthers vppon the kings subiectes liuing peaceably according to the kings lawes and thus haue brought vpon the whole Realme of France these stormy tempestes of trouble beginning euen a litle before to enioy peace and tranquillitie both partes being contented to liue peaceably so that they might enioye their Religion But and if leauing the present state of things wée will call to mind and consider euery mans actes in time past in good sooth wée shall finde these same men which at this day stirre vp these troubles haue ben also aforetyme the causes of great inconueniences to the Crown and dignitie séeking by the perturbation of this realme to enrich themselues whereas by peace and tranquility they decay And to omit that which king Fraunces a maÌ„ of excellent wisdome and Iudgement sayd of them and to omit also many of their bold and presumptuouse enterprises who knoweth not that they hating publique peace concord were the onely causes and authours of the truce and league breaking betwene king Henry and king Philip of Spaynâ—… to the great dammage and hurte of Fraunce In so much that they brought the same by warres in great perilles and all to haue their will and pleasure by one meanes or other Beside this after S. Laurence slaughter when thei had gotten vnto them the Treasurers office which thei had before gréedily gayed for what detriment or hurt did they not bring vnto the kingdome What did they also to King Henâ—…y who disâ—…king being weary of their violent and cruel dispositioÌ„ mynded to haue sent them away froÌ„ the Court to their howse had he not ben preuented by death But afterward in the dayes of king Fraunces the second being but yong these Straungers and violent Carters agaynstâ—… law and equitie and against the auncient constitutious of the realme of Fraunce vsurped the mere impery and gouernement of the kingdome during which time was the realme voyd of troubles Did they not in the sighte of all men go about to set that yong king being by nature very gentle and full of clemency agaynst his subiects and to haue made him infamouse with the note of cruelty for euer Did they not cause him to be a mortall enemie against his subiectes euen in the middest of his raigne in so much that except GOD in his mercy haâ—… turned away so great calamities and miseries lyke too haue ensewed we all should haue rued the same to remember â—…he which it would cause any Christian harte to tremble And to make an end of so lamentable a Tragedie When kinge Fraunces was dead these boysterouse stormes were blowen ouer the sky was more cleare the gouernement of the Realm being committed to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar vntill such tyme as their ambition hating peace and tranquillitie styred them vp and their fellowes to set heauen and earth togyther and to cause the state to be troublesome as to my great gréefe is to be séene Therefore I leaue the Iudgement of these to all indifferent men to discerne who are the authours of troubles whether they which haue sought peace and concord by all meanes possible or they which haue so mayntayned dissensions always that thei dare at this time to the great hurt of the whole Realme proclayme open warres Besides this there is so little cause for any man to marueile why I should be so busie to deale and so ware and circumspecte in the matter that I shuld be in great falte if I did otherwise For their actes in time paste againste me haue taught me sufficiently to beware how I put my selfe into their handes And it is playne enough to be séene that their purpose is to destroy the greatest part of the Nobilitie and of all estates of men which imbrace the truth of the gospell specially those that attende vpoÌ„ mée The which their meaning may easely be gathered by the talk which the Duke of Guise and the Constable had togyther of late in the Senate of Paris before a great assembly But what obedience they shewe towardes the Quéene it may appeare hereby that contrary to the Quéenes wil which she oftentimes declared they dyd frustrate the kings Edict of Ianuary adding this new exception Let not the Religion be vsed at Paris Who seeth not that they intend nothing else but euen to banish the Gospell out of all partes of the Realme when as also of late proclamation was made at Paris to banish al the new Christians To what purpose shoulde I say that by no other meanes the Inhabitants of Paris can be kept in quiet For we haue séene that the Prince of Rochesuryon and Martial Momorentius hauing about them only twelue soldiers haue kept the people of Paris in quiet without any maner of tumult the space of thrée monethes togyther The which continewed euen vntill that daye on the which the Duke of Guise entred into Paris But this is worthy the remembrance that when the same Martiall Memorency had somewhat increased the number of soldiers to kéepe the ordinary watch wherby the confederacies of certeyne factious persons might be preueÌ„ ted the Marchant maister and certeyne of the Citizens sayd that the people might be kept in peace and quyet with lesse ado a great deale Notwithstanding after the comming of the Guises into the Citie the mindes of the people were so altered that to kéepe them in quiet they were fayne to haue a band of men which they appointed without the knowledge and wil of the Quéene But I knowe it came to passe by the singular prouidence of God that the Duke of Guise and the Constable should disclose the secrets of their harts before so great a multitude that their toong
though he had neuer heard any thing concerning the truth neyther yet had had experience of the mindes of the Guises Therfore he was wholely led and caried by the Guises whethersoeuer they would haue him who to make him more sure on their side insâ—…ared him with harlots and with other intiseing vaine pleasures in the which they perceiued the King of Nauar to haue most delight He therefore fulfilling the minds of the Guises in euery point stoutly thondred out the Kings authority against the Prince of Conde and his fellowes These were the first beginninges of this Ciuill warre the kingedome and the Church of God being cast into great extremities â–ª So greatly may the subtil deuises of vngodly men disturbe the societie of the godly vnlesse the prouidence of God do gouern the euent and pronide a prosperouse ende amiddest so great outrage There were certain letters brought in the kings name to the Prince of Conde to his fellowes the which promised peace vnto them after a sort vpon these coÌ„dicions namely If the Prince of Conde and his fellowes according to their former coÌ„maundement froÌ„ the king wold out of hand vnarme themselues and would yéeld vp into the Kings power their cities The which if thei wold doo the Guises the Constable the Martial of S. Andrewe promised as they had also done before that they would go home to their houses Also that the King of Nauar should haue at his commaundement all maner of Artillery and should take and chuse out of the armye of the Prince of Conde for the vse of the King and the realme whatsoeuer séemed good vnto him To these thinges if they would yéeld and graunt the King would forgyue pardon their offence in putting themselues in armour and would leaue to euery man the frée vse of Religion so that euery man should liue peaceably at home without receyuing of any hurt for Religion This was don the twelueth day of June the Martial Vielle and the aarle Villarius being sent with the letters for this matter To these letters the Comparteners of the Prince of Conde made this aunswer First We render all humble thanks to your Maiestie for that you seeme to haue so great a care and coÌ„sideration for our peace and safety But whereas it is thought that the putting of our armour would be a great cause of the same it séemeth too vs otherwise for that you stand in néed of our ayd against those which séeke the destruction of you of your realme and of your faithful subietces For by these meanes we may séeke to restore your Maiestie and your mother too that liberty authority which ye had before the Duke of Guise came into the court It séemeth vnto vs at this time that neyther you nor your mother are at libertie as may be perceyued by the effects This we request that the Edict of January may be generally obserued kept throughout the Realme that in certayne places in the which there is most daunger of sedition the faithful mai haue leaue to haue their Temples within the Cities that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew may depart from the Court and that they come not into the same agayn nor haue any maner of gouern ment of the kingdom during the Kings minoritie Also that whatsoeuer hath ben done by the kings counsaile from that time since the which the Guises haue kept the King and Quéen in their custody by force of armes may be boyd and of none effect Furthermore wée request that the Cardinall of Ferrar a prâ—…uoker and mouer of warres may forthwith depart the Realme and spéede him to Rome and that he certefie the Pope that if hée will appoint a common counsell either at Lions Auinion or Bezance they were ready by the Kinges leaue to come to that Counsell But whereas it is sayd that wée shall haue pardon for putting on armour there séemeth to vs no cause why we should need any pardone Since we haue not horne armour against the king but for the King yea wée are sofarre fâ—…om deseruing blame herefore that wee rather deserue all commendation prayse and rewarde Which shall well appeare to the Kinge when hée commeth to that rypenesse of yeares that he may iudge of our merites and well deseruing vntill which time we desire that the writings of the Prince of Conde and of the Triumuiri might be registred in all the Courtes of Paris Moreouer it séemeth not necessary vnto vs that any manner of artillerie should be taken awaye onely it is necessary to bring to passe that the Triumuiri which are the authours and causes of the war and these troubles do lay asyde their armour for wée desire nothinge more than peace As for the Cities which we haue fortified we doe and will euer acknowledge them to be the Kings And wée vtterly mislike that the Triumuiri sould bring into the Realme any forrain power Wherefore we desire not that the armies of forrein Princes be brought into the realm but that they would only be suerties for the performance of the Condicions Therefore we desire the Emperour the Princes Electors the Quéenes of England and Scotland the King of Spaine the common wealth of Vennize and the Switzers to giue their warrantise and suertiship for the performance of these condiâ—…ions These thinges notwithstanding were attempted in vayne mens myndes on both sydes béeing inflamed to warres The Prince of Conde and those of his syde trusted to the goodnesse of their cause howbeit they sought all that they coulde for peace and concorde althoughe both in number and also in courage they farre excéeded their aduersaries perswading themselues to haue the victorye The Guises and hys fellowes greatly leaned to the Kinges authoritie and had in their custodye the Kinges treasure So that what with their own subtill practises and what with the helpe of the Kinge of Nauar they brought many things to passe For the kings name and authority carieth with it such a maiestie and reuerence throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce as euer the name of a king hath done or may in any Kingdome the subiectes hauing in them a certaine naturall loue as it were ingraffed By which name how greatly the Guises haue preuailed experience hath taughte The Guises also were holpen by the Spaniards by the Italians and by the Swizers whâ—…se helpe the Guises required euen wheÌ„ they tooke their couÌ„saile first to begin warres The Guises had also on their part the Citie of Paris the Senate the people and many other great and mightie Cities So that they were very strong on both partes insomuch that all thinges considered it was not easie to be diâ—…erned which was the stronger part At this first beginning the Prince of Conde his part were both in number and courage far surpassing the Guises but the Guises and his adherents excéeded the other part in pollicie and subtill sleightes Notwithstanding God did so moderate
the euills like to ensue Finally I will and desire that the league whiche I haue made with the Princes Péeres Nobles and with all those that follow me and shall follow me may be established confirmed by this my writing To the which my fellowes I promise and vow that séeing it hath plea sed God to aduaunce me to so great honor as to make me the Captain and principall of that league and to be a deliuerer of the reformed churches liuing vnder the Kings Edictes from the iniuries and violence of the enemies I wil be the first that will spend my lyfe goods to maintayne the pure worship of God to defende the true professours and followers thereof to restore the King to his former libertie and authoritie and his Edictes and the lawes of the Realme to their proper dignitie In like manner I pray and beséeche all my Confederates that they abyde in the same mind courage and constancy that I am of in this so godly and commendable a purpose hauing alwayes respect vnto the vprightnesse of our cause reposing all their trust in the power of God being fully perswaded of this that fighting for the glory of God for the preseruation of his Church and for the conseruation of the King and the Realme God the mighty Lord of hoastes will stretch forth his mighty hand to helpe Whom I most humbly beséeche to take vpon him the patrociny and defence of our cause and to enter into the Throne of his iudgement before whom I shew and reueale the horrible blasphemies which our aduersaries haue breathed out against his Maiestie the cruelties which thei shewed vpon his poore afflicted meÌ„bers the innocent bloud of so many of his seruauntes that hath ben shed and the bloudy and mischeuouse coun sailes against his glory and the lyfe and safetie of hys Saincts so that hée taking his people vnder his protection would shew his power Iustice and wisdome both in destroying his aduersaries and also in blessing those which séeke to defend his people whereby all the world may know that hée is a refuge for the afflicted in time of trouble a deliuerer of his Church and an enemie anâ—… Iudge of his enemies About this time also the Prince of Condes fellowes sent letters to the Emperour Ferdinande to whom they declared their cause and rendered a reason of all theyr dooings and frustrated the rumors of their aduersaries praying him that hee would be carefull to defende thys cause and also that hée would call backe the Germanes that were gone to helpe the Guises And although saye they the reportes of the troubles which were in France were euery where spred abroad and were come also to the Emperours eares by letters sent from both partes yet notwithstandinge the Prince of Conde sent to the Emperoure whom he vnderstoode should come to an honorable assembly the causes of all his actions that the Emperour himselfe might certefie the whole assembly of the same seeing so great and waighty matters were obiected against him by his aduersaries the Prince of Conde thinking that it became him in a matter of so great waight to shewe the causes of all his dooings to all men and to the Emperour himself being of so highe calling that he might leaue to the whole world euident testimony of his innocency To bring the which matter to passe he may be glad that he hath gotten so good occasion to craue helpe to be ayded in this iust cause for the preseruation of the yong King of France being of suche age that the same of itselfe requireth and ought to obtayne helpe It is no new thing neyther wanteth it exaÌ„ples that Kyngs in their minoritie and infancâ—…e haue receyued the Kyngdome of Fraunce as appeareth by the late times of Charles the sixt and the eight and of others In whose time of minoritie we do not read that there was any contention about the gouernement of the Realme because the Princes which were the Kynges kinsmen left alwayes the gouernement of the Realme to thein which were elected and created by the States of the Realme of Fraunce to whom the gouernement of the Realme was committed so long as the King coÌ„tinuing in his minoritie which was vntill he came to the age of fouretéene yeares The which order of gouernement in the Kyngs Neâ—…age hath ben alwayes so approued that Kyngs haue warely prouided in their Testaments that if they should disceace before their Sonnes were come to their perfect age to gouerne the Realme then the States should prouide for the same gouernement The which doth sufficiently declare that this kind of gouernement doth in no poynt deminish the Kynges aucthoritie or power whom whosoeuer resisteth resisteth the ordinaunce of God but is rather necessary to preserue and defend them so long as they are vnméete to take vppon them any such gouernement through the defect and imbecillitie of Nature But when the Kyng shall come to the age of fouretéene yeres that vicary or substituted gouernemeÌ„t doth cease and all things do so retourne to the Kyng that whatsoeuer he shall will or decrée shall be ratified In the dayes of Charles the sixt after he had raigned many yeres and that it pleased GOD for the sinnes of the people to depriue him of his witte and sences and when the time came that the Realme must of necessitie be gouerned there arose a certaine contention among the Princes that were the Kyngs kinsmen about the same gouernement but this was neuer heard of that a forreyne Prince would euer intrude him selfe into the gouernement of the Realme and that against the will ordinance and decrée of the States as doth now the Duke of Guise at the first with force of armes and afterwardes vnder the coullour and name of the Kyng of Nauar corrupting and breaking all Lawes constitutions and customes that by all meanes possible he might satisfie his ambicious minde and get the gouernement of the Realme into his handes And say they most renowmed Emperour you must not thinke that he is moued to do these things for the loue he beareth to any Religion but doth only make Religion a cleake to fulfill his ambicious desire but vnder this pretence he hath drawne a great part of the people vnto him whom he hath so stirred to outrage crueltie promising that they shall escape vnpunished whatsoeuer they do that now the mad and franticke people throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce do nothing els but kill spoyle and shew al maner of violence After the death of Henry the second and Fraunces the second Kynges of Fraunce it was expedient according to the auncient vse of the lawes that the States of FrauÌ„ce should be called together and that in the greater number because Charles our Kyng was of tender yeres Then the States as it was méete made certayne lawes and statutes the which should only stand in force and strength duringe this time of the Kynges minority according to the institution and
faythefully to mayntayne and kéepe the peace Monsieur de Anuill was therby more earnest and hâ—…te and did straightly charge the Consuls of the Citie for so they in that Countrey do cal their chief Officers that they should leaue of their sute and enterprise otherwise they should be sure to smart for the common peoples faultes wherewith they being terrified made answere that they were ready to obeye him in whatsoeuer it pleased him to lay vpon them and calling the commons togither to an assembly did bitterly and very sharply rebuke them for their stubburnes But the commons on the other side protested that it was agaynst all law and right and that it was done con trary to the tenor and forme of the peace concluded that they would rather complayne to the King of the tyranny of thâ—… President Finally that they would not for any cause commit themselues their goods their wyues and children into the handes of the Lieuetenant being as he was so sore incensed and angrye against them But whilest wordes went too and fro amongest them there begaÌ„ a whot contention betwixt the Magistrates and the commons The people being set on a furie chased away the Magistrates and forthwith fortified and â—…ensed the citie and no entrance would be graunted to M. de Anuilles garrison Who coÌ„plaining to the King of the matter receyued commission from him to punnishe the offenders very seuerely with commaundement also that the Townsmen should receiue in the Garrison The King also sent thither Monsieur 〈◊〉 a noble man with charge that they should eyther receyue such Garrison as the Lieuftenant the Anuill should appoint or els to be greuously punnished who comming thither to the Citie was forthwith receiued in by the Citizens who declared vnto him that they had not committed that fact in way of rebellion but were ready to obey the King their chiefe soueraigne Lord and gouernour that it happened through the rashe and hasty dealing of the Magistrats that the commons being moued and stirred vp with feare of further harme to ensue had behaued themselues otherwyse against them then became them finally that they did willingly and gladly submit them selues their children and goodes to the Kinges will and pleasure So vppon this M. Ramâ—… being entered the Citie certified M. de Anuill of the Townsmennes minds who straight waies comming thither accompanied and garded with certaine bandes of horsmen and footemen was very reuerentlie and humbly receyued of the Citizens But he was no sooner entered the Towne but he immediatly began to vse and handle them as enemies The Citie was spoyled of all her priuiledges the walles razed the Noble men diuersly fined and punnisht many of them beheaded their Minister haÌ„ged their goodes giuen ouer to the Souldiours for a pray and a spoyle the furiouse Souldiers were let loose vppon the honest matrones and Uirgines of the Citie to the number of 800. Citisens were banished to be short that worthy Citie was vtterly wasted spoiled made desolate of the greatest parte of her inhabitantes by the cruell and detestable villany of the Anuill Aboute this tyme there came newes abrode of the Kinges prograce throughout the whole Realme and forsooth there was a cause of this prograce deuised and that was that it stoode the Kinge vppon to take a suruey and a vew of his whole kingedome that he in his owne person might heare and receaue the complaintes of his subiectes and with present remedy help and ease their gréeâ—…ed mindes and that with his presence hee might confirme and encourage euery on to do his duty And though this cause was pretended yet the Quéens had another fetch purpose in her head Whereof the Cardinall of Lorraine both knew and was also authour and first inuenter of it although for other causes hee was not in this prograce the marke she shot at as it is reported of diuers that were more thorowly acquainted with the matter was the King himselfe as it being ignorant of it that the sacred league with the King of Spaine which was begon in the Counsaile of Trent might bee ratified and confirmed and that in the meane season the tender mind of the youug king might be by all meanes possible prouoked and stirred vp against the reformed Religion and al thinges were of set purpose so ordered in euery Citie where the Kinge should come that the Protestantes might complaime as long as they would but al should be in vain and to no purpose yea and they themselues rather accompted and taken for the causers and authours of troubles then obtain any thing where by to redresse their wronges and iniuries Whilest preparation was made for this iourney there came a coÌ„maundement from the King to all those Cities that were holden of the Protestantes in the time of warre VVhere as now after pacification of all former troubles therâ—… is nothing that we more wish and desire than that peace and quietnes may be restored in al partes and quarters of our kingdome wee do now will and commaund to the intent all occasion of new broiles may be remoued and quight taken away that all such munitions fortifications and bulwarkes as were made and built in the tyme of warre for the defence of your Cities bee quight defaced and taken away that all our subiectes hereafter may quietly and without feare of further danger kepe and maintain our peace especially for that our faith and promise sufficiently declared in our Edicte ought to be to all true and faithfull subiectes in sâ—…eede of a sure wall and sheild of defence c. So by this meanes all kind of munition and fortifications was defaced in diuers Cities as in Orleans Mountaubane valence and diuers other of the most famous Cities in France to the great discommoditie and destruction of the whole Realme And that chiefely in 〈◊〉 a moste necessarie and profitable Citie to the whole countrey yea and that in the moste daungerous times of the Kinges and kingdome especially in the tyme of Charles the vii 〈◊〉 the Englishmen were conquerers farre and neare and when all Normandy and Paris the Metropollitane Citie of the Realme were wâ—…nne and vanquished togither with the Countries to them adioyning all the Kingdome in an vprore with enemyes then was Orleans a chiefe and special place of succour and refuge both for the King and all his Notwithstanding these Cities were defaced and marked with the tokens and blemishes of Rebellion for that in tyme of trouble they had preserued a nomber of good and true subiectes especially Orleans was shamefully spoiled and made almoste a poore simple Oraunge or Uillage and a Castle builte at the gate it leades to Paris to gouerne and kepe vnder the Citizens and a very cruell Carrison of Souldiours placed there And yet for all this the administration of Religion was not left of there Like crueltie was exercised vpon Montaubane bycause they had manfully and couragiously defended themselues against the assaultes
of crime Some goard with sword some choackt with rope some battred down There many pareÌ„ts wer dispoild of their beloued sonnes Their tongâ—… cut out wheÌ„ they shold dye for feare that they shold speak with guns And more entyse vnto their god that alwayes aydes the weake Oh Fraunce thou famous realm before and eke most populous place Thou art dispeopled wasted tourne thy owne doe thee deface Thy Cities cract thy Townes bereft thy men and nobles rackt Thy faythful subiects burnt and slaine thy welth and strength is sackt Ah pity pity for to heare how altered is thy state Through tyrannous popish cruel carles that Christ his truth did hate The Lord hath iustly plagued thee for so defacing his VVho in the end will ayd his flocke thou maist be sure of this If euer land might loth her lucke and lamed lowring state Fraunce thou hast cause for to deplore and waile thy cruell fate One of thy owne a pearle of thyne by learned treaties loo And true discourse thy mangled state le ts all the world to kno Thy Ramus here thy Phoenix France thy worthy learned clarke In volumes three conioind displaces thy broiles that he did marke And like a good and natrall child lest thinges should be forgot Hath painefully here pend thy brunts that do thy glory blot And like enough through cruell spite for these his learned paines Among the Popish crew of late dasht out was Ramus braines VVhose death ech scholler may bewaile for learning had a fall VVhen Ramus fell replet with skill thy chiefest clarke of all VVhat chief in France some may obiect ther liueth better still If I haue mist I pardon craue I speake it for good will. That I did learned Ramus lend for his sure grounded skill In learnings lore who for because he wrote in Latin stile VVhich only learned vnderstand well pew'rd with learnings file â–ª Tymme truly hath disrobed him of all his Romane tier And decked him in English clothes with zelous good desire To profit all his countrie men that they may see and vew The stormie tempestes of the French and partes of Popish crew The whole three volumes painfully Tymme hath absolued here And offers them vnto thy sight at last good Reader dere VVhich doth conteine the Ciuill warres or true Religions cause The spights of Papists that repind against Gods sacred lawes VVorthy the sight worthy the vew a mirror to beholde Of Gods elect of tirants fell of Papistes proude and bolde How God his chosen Church doth saue among her perillous foes And cancred cursed currishe kind that it oppresse with woes Therfore good Reader here embrace the founder of this frame And honor Ramus painfull pen the author of the same Giue Tym that Tymme doth wel deserue for Englishing this for thee VVhose paines do merit worthy praise let praise then be his see And waile the wracke of frushed France and giue God hâ—…rtie thanks That hath preseru'd this Royall realme froÌ„ such proud popish pranks FINIS Robertus Rollus in Historiam de Gallicae Ecclesiae statu recens editam UExata est olim priscis Ecclesia seclis Carceribus flagris ignibus ense cruce Haud minor est hodie cedes tu Gallia testis â–ª Sis dudum paribus sanguinolenta modis Qui fidei nuper multis fulsere magistri Prôh pudor indignam sustinuere necem Quoque magis possent inceptum absoluere factum Nullum papicola preteriere scelus Penè datur sceleri lex hoc qui credere posset Vix est tale nephas vnus alter erit Ante erat historia hec libris quasi manca duobus Nunc prodit numeris vndique plena suis. Si authorem spectes plena est si rem quota pars est â–ª Omnia nam tangi tempora nostra vetant Ascraei verba illa senis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quà m sunt huîc mirè consona dicta libro Nempe haec quae legimus quasi dimidiata supersunt Et quasi de domini clade relicta sui Quaeque modò aspicimus librisque notata videmus Debemus scriptis Rame deserte tuis Sed neque Tymme tua merita fraudabere laude Cuique oneris pars est pars honôris erit Τελοσ The summe of those things which are contained in these three first bookes of Commentaries IN these thrée first bookes of Commentaries we comprehende the space of foure yeares namely from the yeare 1557. vnto the yeare 1562. which was in the first motions of the ciuill warres beginning at that time which seemeth to be most fitte for this purpose the matter so aptly offering itselfe that we may very néere begin at the same time in the which Iohn Sleidan that learned man left and ended his Commentaries concerning the state of the CoÌ„mon welth and Religion First of all we set forth that great destruction and losse of men which is commonly called by the vulgar people Iacobs slaughter which séemed wholy to deface not onely the Church of Paris but also the Churches of Fraunce being now as it were but in the swadling clothes then we shew what cruell afflictions came at that time vpon the faithfull what the aduersaries did then and what our men also did We declare also that while newe deuises and practises are sought for to abolishe the Gospell quite nowe beginning to growe in Fraunce the whole kingdome being moued and troubled with newe threatenings of Edictes and punishmentes and the kings of Fraunce and Spaine being nowe in councell concerning this matter in the very league euen in the middest of their consultation when a scourge was a preparing for the Church by the solemnitie of mariage eueÌ„ at that time came the sodeine death of Henrie the king of all men vnlooked for Then howe the â—…uises had the gouernement of the Realme during the time of the nonage of king Fraunces the second how Annas Burgaeus a noble Senatour of the Parliament of Paris at that time was cruelly burned and what other persecutions there were also among which persecutions how the tumult of Ambaxian chaunced the causes and effectes whereof shall be declared After this the solemne assemblies had at the kings house at Fontisbellaquaeum to mitigate the tumultes who agréed to call a Parliament and a Nationall Councell or Conuocation to stay the controuersies of Religion of the which also we will intreate in order Also howe the king set forth an Edict promising them to forget and forgiue all former offences committed for Religions sake Then how the Guises went about to subuert and extinguish the Gospell coacting an assemblie to be made at Aurelias for the same purpose howe the deathes of the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were conspired the tumult and trouble of Ambaxian being maliciously and falslye layde to their charge But while the Prince of Conde was straitly imprisoned and his death a preparing we will shew howe the sodeine death of king Fraunces the seconde happened to the great amasing
procéede in his well doing promising vnto him great things and to the ende he might not séeme to dallie he gaue vnto him a summe of money for an earnest peny and for the newes he brought him he called him Saint Paule the Conuert To be short this fellowe perceyuing some fruite and profite to come vnto him for his treacherie and playing the Iudas part added yet to his former wickednesse another mischiefe So many as he knew to be weak and not fully seâ—…led in the ChristiaÌ„ profession he perswaded to go to the Inquisitor and to desire his friendship that they might be absolued and discharged of the punishment ensuing Also he caried with him Catchpoles to so many of the houses of the faithfull as he knew that by them they might be apprehended By this his secrete treason he made all the chiefe of the Church to flée Nowe the other which was the Painters seruant enuying his maister for due correction ministred vnto his deserts went and tolde the Iudges that he had frequented the Lutheranes companie by the commaundement and will of his maister Whome the Judges séeing to be so readye to accuse inticed him by many faire promises to bewraye such as he knewe to be Lutheranes The which request of theirs he satisfied to the vttermost saying that the common report was true namely that they satisfied their filthie lustes one with another and saying also that he himselfe had to doe with diuers yong maydens whome he named For the which cause he required that those Maidens with their mothers might be brought before the Judge face to face and the matter throughly examined The which matter at the length being manifestly proued false this wicked accuser was constrayned to confesse that he was procured by Democharis the Inquisitor and one of the chiefe of the Senate to forge these things Howbeit this slaunderous rumor did much harme for it was noysed abroade that all maner of wickednesse was committed by the Lutheranes when they came togither The same wherof being brought to the eares of the yong King made him more cruell against the faithfull And so persecution waxed hote and vehement againe the Iudges Flyes for so were the Inquisitors called flying abrode in euery corner Insomuch that for the space of nyne monethes the faithfull were cast in prison banished murthered and their houses and goodes confiscate Notwithstanding all these things God preserued the remnant of his Church and suffered not for all this the preaching of his worde to be taken away Manye therefore were then burned for the Gospels sake whose coÌ„stancie wan many to the same And among the rest which suffered for the testimonie of the Gospell there was one woman called Margaret Riche a booke sellers wife of wonderfull constancie This woman by the falshoode deceit of hir husband was betrayed into the hands of the Judges who notwithstanding was the first that instructed hir in the truth brought hir to know reiect hir former errors Annas Burgaeus affirmed that he was much encouraged by the constancy of this woman which was kept in bonds when he liued Thus the Kingdome of the yong King Frances being gouerned as it pleased the Guises who hauing gotten the superioritie thought and deuised nowe howe to bring two things to passe which séemed to be so necessary for theÌ„ that without the obtaining of them they could not get their purpose the which two thinges were these the extinguishing and taking away of the libertie of Fraunce and the libertie of the Gospell But while they went about to bring these things to passe many complaintes of them and libeâ—…s that touched the practise of these things were cast abrode namely that the Guises did not secretly go about to conspire against the kingdome that they went about in the dayes of King Henrie by subtil sinister meanes to subuert and wast the Duchie of Andegauensis and the Countie of Prouince that they oftentimes complained that the King had doâ—…e them iniurie in this thing that they went about to proue by learned men whoÌ„ they had taken to search the Chronicles that they came by true lineall discent of Carolus Magnus that Hugo Capetus of whom come the kings of Vales that now raigne vsurped the kingdome that they sayd that they hoped for a time to come at the length when they should haue more coÌ„uenient time to reason iudge of this matter And therfore that the Guises hauing practised these things in the dayes of Henrie the King had now greater hope in these days of the yong king to bring their purpose to passe that it was done against all the lawes of the Realme that they shoulde arrogate to themselues the gouernement of the Kingdome séeing the same pertained to the Princes which were the Kings neare kinsmen whom notwithstanding they had excluded froÌ„ that lawful dignitie appertaining to them that the kingdome could not be committed vnto them without great daunger specially séeing they contended for the same that it wanted not great suspition that they banished the auncient kinsfolks of the king froÌ„ the Court to the intent they might do al things as theÌ„ listed that they did chauÌ„ge the gouernors of Prouinces and Cities to the ende such might beare office as would be ruled by them that it appeared by manye things that their gouernment was pernicious and hurtfull for the kingdome as both by the freshe memorie of the late wicked acte done in the dayes of King Henrie concerning that notable viage to Naples by which the one was minded to make himselfe Pope and the other purposed to make himselfe King and also by the sundrie exactions with the which the people were oppressed when they shoulde rather haue bene eased considering the great warres and charge that they had bene at before being charged with warre a freshe carying the souldiers that were wearied in the former warres into Seotlande and all vnder the pretence of religion And here for examples sake the dealings of those were brought in who vnder the colour of custodie protection and wardship had inuaded the kingdomes of Orphantes These were the contents of those libels dispersed abrode coÌ„cluding also that it was no offence at all but well done with the sworde to resist the tirannie of the Guises While these things were published abrode and on both sides writings of defence dispersed manye rumors were brought from farre Countries to the Guises but among the rest this in especiall namely that manye had made a conspiracie to set vpon them euen in the Kinges house The Guises therefore being moued with these writings and rumors layde the cause of all these things to the Lutheranes charge and went about to perswade the King that the Lutheranes disdaining to be so greatlye afflicted had made a conspiracie to destroy him And for the more safetie of the King they caried him to Ambaxia being a litle towne and fortified with a Castell appointing watch and warde to be in euery place through
to be imminent and readye to fall on the kingdome might be appeased and mittigated Therefore at the daye appointed diuers of the kings priuie counsel other noble men came togither The which assembly being made the King declared the cause of their comming togither at that time and commauÌ„ded that euery man should freely declare his mind both for his owne profite and for the benefite of the kingdome also The rest he said they should heare more at large of his Chauncelour of the Duke of Guise and of the Cardinall of Loraine Then the Chauncelour stoode vp made a large discourse concerning the state of the kingdome shewing that all men ought most chiefely to endeuour them selues to finde out the causes of so great perill mischiefe as the whole Realme now stoode in the causes wherof being knowne the remedyes might be the more easily prouided for And to this end and purpose he said this assembly was made namely to finde out the causes of this mischiefe to prouide remedyes for the same Adding moreouer that all things were done for the safetie of the people for whom the King had most deepe and especiall care And after hym the Duke of Guise briefly shewed the cause of his gathering together of an Armie These things onely were done that daye the next daye those which before were assembled came together againe into the same place And then the Chauncelor declared that it was the kings pleasure that euerye man shoulde freelye vtter his minde but firste of all they of the priuie counsell that by their example and beginning the reste might more boldely and cheerefully goe forwarde Then Ianus Monlucius Bishop of Valentia the last couÌ„seller being commaunded first of all to vtter his minde Gasper Castillon the Admirall strait way stepte vp came to the king and when he had reuerently saluted him he deliuereed vnto hym two supplications written in their name which called themselues The faithfull Christians dispersed through diuers places of Fraunce Both the whiche supplications at the Kyngs commaundement were read the summe and effecte wherof was that they had good occasioÌ„ offered them by this their assemblye to offer their supplications and their humble requestes to the King praying and beséeching him that he woulde haue regarde to the greatest parte of his subiectes who were euill intreated euen vntill that present time and that for this cause onelye for that they mynded to frame their lyues according to the prescript rule of the pure word of god Affyrming also that they soughte for nothing else than to haue their doctrine examyned by the same rule of Gods worde and that their cause might throughly be wayed and considered that all men mighte knowe for certaine howe greatly they did hate and abhorre those seditious and heretical opinions with the which hitherto they were falsely burthened Seyng they were thus euill intreated and oppressed they flée vnto his maiestie for succour beseching him that he would not disdaine but vouchsafe to behold and way their cause in the meane time that it would please him to omit the punishments by which their blood had béen shed in euery part of the kingdome by the wickednesse crueltie of many of the Iudges who hauyng no regard to the peace and welfare of the Subiectes but séeking rather to satisfie their owne fantasie lust and desire had shed the blood of poore men vndeseruedly and most vniustly had brought to passe to make a stay that their requests and supplicatioÌ„s might at no time come to the kings eares Wherefore they humbly beséeche his grace that he would maintaine and defende his poore subiects against the wicked crueltie of these men for which cause they acknowledge him to be their King and will render vnto him according to Gods commaundement all due and seruisable obedience and doe commit them selues wholy with all theirs vnder his patrociny and safegarde and also doe account him their bulwarke refuge and staye Protesting before God and hys Maiestie that they neuer intended any thing against hym or to omit that loyall duetie and obedience which they owe vnto him for whose prosperitie they daylie make their prayers vnto god Adding moreouer that they sought for no euill libertie or to haue sinne vnpunished but rather that they might haue libertie to liue so néere as they coulde according to the Gospell which they professed and that in this thing they might not feare the iudgemeÌ„ts of their chiefest aduersaries Againe therefore they beséech and praye his Maiestie that it would please him to graunt them leaue to heare the worde of God and to receiue his Sacraments vntill the matter were more fully wayed and considered of the Counsell and that to this end and vse they might haue Churches graunted vnto them least their congregation or assembly being priuate and secrete might come into false and euill suspicion This libell being red the Admiral desired the King that he would take it in good part bringing in diuers testimonies of his faithfulnesse towardes the kings Maiestie As when he was in Normandy to prouide things necessarye for the Scottishe warre and was appoynted by the Quéenes commaundement diligently to inquire out the dealings and behauiour of those which were called Faithfull â–ª and perceiuing that they rendred certaine reasons of their doings he promised vnto them to offer their supplications vnto the Kings maiestie To this the King aunswered that he had diuers good and notable testimonies of him and of his deserts and also that he did take all things that he had done in very good part And then the King commaunded againe the Bishop of Valentia to speake his iudgement Who in effect vttered this which followeth DIOCLESIAN was wont to say that the state and condition of those Princes was miserable which were often deceyued by those in whome onely they reposed their trust bicause they forsaking the gouernement of the common wealth and being as it were drowned in their pleasures might so be easily deceyued The which hath not happened vnto the King forasmuch as there was diligent prouision made against those perilles by the prudent wisedome of the Quéene and by the diligence and care of the Guises by which it was brought to passe that the tumultes alredy raised were suppressed The which being appeased the King did wisely foresée howe to prouide for the like to come and that for this cause he had caused this assembly to be made in the which there were so manye good men that sought the Kings quietnesse and profite that it coulde not be but that his Maiesties desires should be satisfied in euery poynt For so great is the confusion and trouble in euerye place of the Realme that it coulde not be more expressely described by the Prophete Esay to be the dissipation of all things of all orders and gouernement than it is The doctrine which hath so drawne away the mindes of men was not sâ—…wne lately as it were two yeares ago but for the
more to suche a matter To whom the Bishop sayd that he prayed God that his worde might profite and take place euery where The day folowing the Constable and the Duke of Guise went together to a sermon of a certaine Monke and from that tyme their myndâ—… began to be altenated and drawne away After which tyme the Constable was angrie with the Admirall his nephew openly bicause he did freely and publikely professe the Gospel And the wife of the Constable greatly pricked him forward to this euill who was greatly offended that the familie and stocke of the Chastillion shoulde bee aduaunced hir brother the Earle Villarius being not in that estimation that she woulde haue had him Therfore she moued prouoked him wyth these prickes saying that the Admirall wente aboute to depriue him of that benefite which the Quéene had bestowed vpon him that he did instaÌ„tly persuade the Quéene to promote set forth the true religioÌ„ for the king of Nauars sake that the CoÌ„stable ought not to suffer y authoritie of the church of Rome to be diminished he being not onely the chiefe officer oâ—… the king but also such a one as had his original ofspring of the firste Christian of the kingdome of Fraunce as the poelie of his armes did verie well testifie whiche was this Protegat Deus primum Christianum that is God defende the firste christian Also the Marshall Santandrae a suttle craftie and malicious man blew in his care that by the suttle procurement of the Admirall he was put vp by the assemblie of States to be a bryber and an extorcioner By thys meanes he thoughte to staye him for he feared that the Constable would not easily be brought to their wicked religion except it were by these persuasions Therfore he proceeded saying that he whiche came of so noble a stock and hadde doone suche woorthie and notable seruice in the kyngdome of Fraunce gouernyng the kingdome fortie yeares oughte not to suffer newe religions to be brought in to the hurte of the catholike churche The lyke persuasions also vsed the Earle Villarius hys wyues brother bearing no lesse spite and malice agaynste the Admirall than his sister did and that bycause hee vnderstoode that the Admirall did disproue before those of the kings priuie counsell that whiche he had done in Narbon against Religion Therfore they withdrewe the Constable all that they coulde The whiche thyng Marshall Momorentiuâ—… fearing and foreséeing a daungerous tempest lyke to aryse by the meanes of these dissentions hée shewed to his father the Constable so muche as he could what he thought néedfull to be doone And least he shoulde be drawne awaye from the greatest parte of his strength leaste he shoulde chaunge awaye certaine frendship for that which was vncertain and leaste he should ioyne hymself with newe reconciled fréendes he repeated vnto him their olde enmities and fallings out Adding moreouer that hée shoulde peruerte and ouerthrowe the greatest foundations of his stocke and kinred when he should alienate and withdraw himselfe from the Prince of Conde from the Chastillions from the Earle of Rupefocaldensis and from the rest which professe the reformed Religion beside this he should loose thereby the good will and fauor of the king of Nauarre and peraduenture the Quéenes fauoure too It is better sayeth hee to suffer the Chastillions and the Guiles to contende togyther than for you to take parte and yet neuerthelesse you shall kéepe youre faythe Affirming also that yf the Guyses were ouercome as it is moste lykely bycause they haue procured the hatred of all the assemblies agaynste themselues then shoulde his prudence experience and goodnesse bring to passe that he shoulde be a moderatour and a iudge of the reformation of the Churche the errours of the whiche Churche he ought not to defend bycause he was the chiefe officer vnder the King and the successour also of the firste Christian that was in Fraunce Also he sayde that he ought not to count it an iniurie that mention was made of hym by those that were of the Assemblie at Paris seing that he had doone nothing but by the authoritie of Kings and of the hyghest powers and séeing also that he hadde receyued so little of kyng Henrye that there was no manne but hée woulde iudge hym woorthie of greater rewardes bothe in consideration of the office whyche hée had so long and also for the money whiche hee bestowed in the Kings seruice Moreouer hée sayde that it appeared by the Bookes of accompte that the gyftes whyche the kyng gaue hym were not so muche by the seuenth parte as those giftes were whiche were bestowed vpon the Marshal Santandrae so farre they were from being compared with the Guises gifts and with the giftes of the Duchesse of Valentien To these persuasions onely of Momorentius the Constable made answer saying That Religion coulde not be altered without the mutation of the state ciuil regiment that he was a faithfull seruant of the king and of his brethren also that he feared not to be found guiltie that notwithstanding he woulde not suffer the actes and deedes of the Kyngs deceassed to be reproued and disalowed That hée desyred that hys nephews the Chastillions might be so good Christians in verie déede as they séemed to bée in woordes also that hée dyd willingly forgiue those that had offended him whatsoeuer they had doone After this verie shortly the Chastillions Odetus the Cardinal the Admiral the Andelot came oftentimes vnto him protesting that they bare no hatred in their heartes agaynst the Guises but went only about to frustrate their practizes and deuyses whiche as it euidently appeared tended both to their destruction and of the realme also Whome the Constable saye they oughte to resiste aboue all others But they persuaded in vayne for his mynd was drawne awaye and was linked in the freendship of the Guyses by diuers that allured him therto Thus dissentioÌ„s grew dayly more and more by the meanes of Religion and openly burste foorthe insomuche that both partes sought to iniurie and to reproche one another the fauourers of the Popes doctrine calling the professours of the Gospell Huguenotes and the Protestantes callyng them agayne Papistes Herevpon came a rumour abroade of Seditions the Popes chaplains in their Sermons mouing and pricking the people forward to the same Wherfore the king sent his letters to the Magistrates of euerye Prouince the summe and effect wherof was That no man shoulde call another contumeliously by the name of Huguenot or Papist that no man shuld abuse that ho nest libertie which euery maÌ„ ought to enioy either in his own house or wheÌ„ he is in his freds house that no maÌ„ shuld enter ei ther with gret or smal nuÌ„ber vpoÌ„ other meÌ„s houses vnder proteÌ„ce of the former edicts which prohibited forbad vnlauful assemblyes That they which were kept in bondes for Religions sake should be by and by deliuered and set at libeâ—…e before the first Edicte made
another The matter being thus agréed vppon betwéene them they did deliberate and aduise them selues what they were best to doe namely that they would gather together al the power they were able to make and that they would séeke for all the helpe and aide at their retainers and fréends handes that might be had they being assured of aide out of Spaine and Jtalie and that the Guises should proue what helpe they could get out of the partes of Germanie But first of all they thought it necessary to intise and win the king of Nauar to bryng him if they could to defend their part to get Paris and finally to haue the King and Quéene at their becke These things once obtained they perswaded them selues easely to obtaine their purpose Concerning the winning of the king of Nauar they had good hope being voluptuous geuen to ease and vnconstant and hauing his housholde seruaunts hired by the Cardinall of Loraine to vse their diligent endeuor to bring y same to passe Who being once woon to take their part they perceiued a plaine way to haue their purpose Therefore to the entent they might win him they vse very subtill and crafty meanes First they assay what they can do by his houshold seruaunts the byshop of Aussere ▪ Monsire Escars and Frances Balduinae being sent in to confer and talke with hym These declared to the king of Nauar that they of the Religion sought now to bring in new and more seuere Lawes than were woont to be to reforme Princes as though it were not lawfull for Princes to liue as they list and to do what séemeth good in their owne eyes If credit be gyuen vnto these men than must men frame a new lyfe and if these mē be made Iudges to reforme what they thinke good to be reformed the which no doubt they goe about there will ensewe no smal daunger But he being one that had chéefe authoritie in the Realme of Fraunce ought rather wisely to follow that which was agreable to the present state and to consider into what troubles he should bring the Realme if he would abolish the auncient Religion which so many Kings before time had receyued There are say they opinions of diuers Religions which as they come with tyme so with tyme they fade away agayne If therfore he shuld be of the reformed Religion the King of Spaine would be his open enemie And beside this the Pope would set whole Jtalie al Christian Realmes against the kingdome of Fraunce whiche might easely be vanquished and ouerthrowne in the middest of so many dis sentions But looke how much hurt and dammage hee should bring to himselfe and to the whole Kingdome if he should defende that new Religion and the professors thereof so much profite glory and fame should come to him and to all his stocke if he did not to much intangle himselfe in these controuersies of Religion but dyd rather frame himselfe wysely according to occasion and tyme that is to saye when occasion is offered to maintayne and defende the auncient and Catholike Religion whereby he might looke to finde great profite Thus if hée would shewe himselfe he should winne the Popes fauour and bind his holinesse to requite him with some great benefite by whose meanes he might recouer agayne the kingdome of Nauar which belonged to his Ancetours without warres ▪ for that the King of Spayne greatly estéemed the Popes Authoritie Consider therfore say they with your selfe what you were best to do least sodenly by the force of sinister persuasions you bring your selfe to great extremitie Cōsider with your selfe that as the tymes are perillous so is the euent successe of all things vncertayne wysely wey therefore with your selfe what is most profitable for you Admit the cause of Religion should be dissided by disputacion should men so leane to the opinions of a fewe that they should not imbrace other mens Iudgments For amōg those men which imbrace the doctrine of that new Gospell what contrarietie is there and difference of opinions But you which were borne not to Iudge of Scholasticall Disputacions but to the exployting of greater matters and of more waight may occupy and trouble your brayne with these matters at your leisure Therfore we wishe you according to your wisdome to weye and consider what is most néedfull to be done The King of Nauar being to much giuen to voluptuousnesse and ease harkened all to soone to these persuasions and being ouercome forgetting his authoritie he wholy gaue himselfe to his Aduersaries by whome he being spoyled of that his authoritie and of his wittes also was the occasion of many and great mischéeues The waye therefore being thus made wholely to ouerthrow and subuert the King of Nauar there came then vnto him the Cardinall of Ferrar and the Cardinall of Towers with many faier promises from the Pope that hée if he would thus imbrace the Catholike Doctrine should prosper and benefite him selfe very much For sayed they the Pope will bring to passe that the Kings of Spayne should very shortly gyue vnto him agayne the kingdome of Nauar. And also that he would geue vnto him a bill of diuorcement that he being diuorced from his wife which was to much inclined to that new Religion might marry with the Quéene of Scottes a woman of excellent beautie riche and the widow of a renowmed king And thus he should haue two Kingdomes namely the Kingdome of Nauar and by this new mariage also the Kingdome of Scotland Wherby was offered vnto him oportunitie to exployte and bring to passe great matters when as hée hauing the kyngdome of Scotland might clayme also vnto him the kingdome of Englande which bordered vpon the same which the Scottish Kyngs afore time challenged vnto themselues as their right And so he being of so great power both by his owne kyngdomes and also by the helpe and ayd which he might haue out of France out of Spaine and from the Pope should easely conquer and enioye England and so become a great Monarch Wherfore they exhorted him to consider how many occasions Fortune luckely offered vnto him to bring to passe whatsoeuer he would The which if he should forslowe and neglect and on the contrary part like of and mayntaine the new Doctrine they wished him to consider according to his wisedome what gréeuous perils and troubles he should fall into the which yet might easely be repressed and anoyded if so be he would hearken to good and wholesome counsell Adding moreouer that the Prince of Conde would do as he did and that the Chatillions would not be behind and as for the rest of the nobles and common people it should not force if so be that he would vse the aucthoritie of the Kings Edictes and his owne power and ioyne himselfe with the faythfull and trustie seruants of the King. After these persuasions the kyng of Nauar dayly more and more shewed himself not only to dislike of the reformed
long before to talke of the murthering of the Guâ—…se and yet it appeareth by his owne sayinge that I neuer spake vnto him or had any knowledge of him before the time that he brought Monsieur Subize his letters vnto me VVhere vppon I may truly conclude that it is neyther true nor like to be true that I should be the author of that thinge which he long before had conceiued and purposed in his mind Moreouer where as Merae was very nere of kinne to M. Rainold whom the Duke had caused to be slaine it was likely that he was enflamed and stirred vp againste the Guise by some priuate quarell and speciall hatred And as I haue declared beefore euen so of a truth the case standes vvhereby me thinke it is euident and plain that they who perswade themselues that I was the author and procurer of this murther besides that they vse very fonde and childishe reasons to proue the same do not know my nature for if so be I had charged him to doo any more then that I haue before declared I would not feare to confesse it with like franknes and boldnes And truly I would gladly aske this question of them whether they imâ—…gin that there was any other cause why I should cause my other answer to be published then that I desired the matter might be vnderstanded of all men And it there were any thing else why should I dissemble why should I cloake it why should I not confesse it who euer was a more deadly and open enemie vnto mee than the Duke of Guise for what other cause did he besiege Orleans but that he might vtterly destroy and cast awaye mee my wyfe and children and whatsoeuer else I held as deare and precious vnto mee yea there are men of great credite that can and will testifie that he vsed often to bragge and make his vaunts that whensoeuer the Citie were taken he would spare none neyther man woman yong nor old Neyther needeth any man to doubt that amongest all them that were in the battayle at Dreux it was he I sought for and chiefely he with whom I wished to meete And certaine it is that if I myselfe could haue discharged anie shot at him I would ful glad ly haue done it yea truely if I had ben Captain ouer ten thousand gunners I would haue charged them that they should euery one haue leueled and shot at him alone To be short I would haue left no deuise that might stande with the law of armes vntried so that I might by any meanes deliuer my selfe from an enemie so spightfull and deadly against mee and myne all good men And last of all I protest before God and his Aungelles that I commaunded nothing else but that which I haue declared in these my writings If there be any man that desiteth to knowe more let him repaire too mee and I will make him aunswer Whilest these things happened in Fraunce the Popish Prelates sat still at Trent labouring very diligently to prouide and establish the estate of Poperie with a long rable of Decrées the exact rehearsall whereof being at large already set out in a booke for that purpose shall not be néedfull to be brought in here in these oure Commentaries especially for that our onely purpose intent is briefly to shew the estate and condicion of the faithfull in Fraunce and how thei were troubled vexed in the time of Truce and how afterward they were enforced to breake out into open warre The Councell of Trent therefore did very carefully trauell in maintayning and defending the Popes authoritie and dignitie in the kingdome of Fraunce and this matter as a thing of greatest waight and importance was thorowly and most earnestly laboured of all sides And the great and large reuenew that came out of Fraunce whiche thing did chiefely enflame the zeale of those reuerend Fathers and the great daunger and present hazard they were in to loose them if the reformed Religion had preuayled did make them busily to besturre them and to take the matter in hand There was present at the Councell the Cardinall of Lorraine hauing great knowledge and experieÌ„ce in the affaires of Fraunce and a subtill and sleighty old coygner of new fetches and besides that the matter for hys owne cause stood him vppon he was also incensed with an outragious hatred and malice against the men of the reformed religion and chiefly against the trueth it self which he both knew and renounced At his request and setting on they began to consult how they might vtterly deface and roote vpp the reformed Religion out of Fraunce the readiest and fittest waye for that matter that they could deuise was that there should be a league made betwixt the King of Spayne and the King of FraÌ„ce and that the King of Spayne because it was a thing of great difficultie and could not without much a doe bée brought to passe should helpe the French Kinge at all tymes with such ayde as should be néedfull and that all wayes and meanes should be sought to abolish and disannull the Edict wherin was graunted the libertie and vse of the reformed Religion This league which was made for the rooting out of true religion the holy fathers of the Councell of Trent dyd call the Sacred and holye League The Cardinall of Lorayne doth promise all possible diligence and trauaill in this matter and that hée will perswade the King to finish the league and as for the Quéene being of herselfe prone enclining to their parte and the consents of the Nobles he accounted him selfe sure of them As the Cardinall a most bitter enemie to the reformed Religion did what possible he could for the accomplishement of these matters in the Councell at Trent the enemies of the Gospell were not idell at home in Fraunce in defacing and putting downe the Edicte and the Quéene was not onely euery day more wayward disliking of the reformed religion but was also very furiously incensed against it and dyd by all meanes shée could denise goe about to engraffe and so we hatred and malice in the tender mind of the yong King against religion that then he might proclayme perpetuall and euerlasting warre against al the reformed Churches in Fraunce The Constable Momorencie was also very forward in this matter and was very maliciously bent againste the truth bicause he purchased so great infamy and dishonour in the former warres So that the Edict had in France enemies both many in nomber and greate in power and authoritie About this time the Kinge being of the age of xiiii yeres was declared to be of ful lawfull age by the decrées and iudgemente as the maner was of all the high Courtes of parliament and within few dayes after was according to the custome solemly crowned and all such estates as had to do with the administration of the Realme as vicegerents and protectours and such other were displaced very profitablie fitly both
sory that your subiects would not perswade themselues of that securitie and peace which they should receiue from you and that they wold not obey you as it became them Truly I protest that there is nothing more gréeuous vnto me than that I cannot be with you and obey and serue you alone as I haue alwaies wished and do also at this present most earnestly desire But I pray and beséech you consider that if spies be dayly sent vnto me to vew my doinges and my house to sée if they can hurt me by any maner of meanes what peace and securitie should I haue if I were with you when my enemy hath in his owne haÌ„d the ordering of your power and authoritie Therfore if it be certaine as I neither ought nor can doubt that it is your will that your Edicts should be obserued and that the publique peace which you haue graunted and confirmed with an othe should also be of all men imbraced but contrary to your highnes pleasure your subiects are cruelly slaine and murthered throughout your whole kyngdome that fréely without redresse Againe if flat against your Maiesties commaundemeÌ„t Leagues be concluded Societies and Fraternities assembled souldiers mustered armour and harnesse made readie money leuied and all other things that belong to open and manifest warre be prepared if for law and Iustice Rapine and iniustice raigne and your Maiesty with contempt of all estates disobeyed and that which is more compelled to violate and breake your publique promise made to all your subiects vppon whom I say shall al these tormoyles be fathered but vpon the Cardinal of Loraine author mainteiner of al dissentions disorders which do so furiously rage thorow all this Realme And although your Maiestie and all those that are not wedded to the Cardinall do know this matter to be so as I haue said yet because it tendeth to the defacing ouerthrow of your graces honour in maintenance wherof I am more earnest because I perceiue the Cardinall hath long ago purposed to ouerthrow it he doth accuse both me and all other of the reformed religion and would with his wiles charge vs with treason and rebellion whereof hée him selfe is guiltie Wherefore séeing we cannot suffer so great iniurie any longer we are determined to dissemble no further in so great and so waightie matters for our longe and almost incredible patience and sufferance of wronges doth but puffe vp the Cardinall and make him to croe ouer vs And therefore to be short I beséeche yeur highnesse to consider what marke he shot at when he hys familie made claime and title to the Dukedome of Aniou and the Countie of Prouance what he ment so curiously to searche out his petigrée whereby he purposed to proue that he was of the bloud Royall of the lawefull Kings of France and that our Auncetours had wrongefully taken the Crowne from his house and vsurped it â–ª likewise I humbly desâ—…re your Grace to marke for what end and purpose they vsed such outrage and tyraÌ„me in the time of King Fraunces the second to destroy raze out the houses of Burbon Momorencie and Chastillon whose destruction they had sworne and vowed long before with al other the Princes and Noble meÌ„ which they thought would set themselues to withstande their wicked attemptes and that this was their intent their dooinges of late sufficiently proued For as soone as it was talked abroad that the Quéen your highnesse mother was not like to liue here any longer foorthwith they tooke counsel and deuised how to murther the Cardinall of Burbon the Chauncelour the Marshalles and diuers other Noble men of your Counsaill and sente moreouer letters thoroughout the whole kingdome too their friendes to raise vp and gather togither souldiers to destroy all such as did in any respect disallow of their dâ—…inges But because this enâ—…prise could not be done vnder pretence of Religion for with that cloake they vse to hide all their mischiefs because they whose bloud they sought professed the same religion that they dyd they deuised a new snare to entray them in and charge them as earnest fauourers of the protestantes therefore to be expedient yea and necessarie to dispatch them out of the way for so might they with lesse laboure destroy the protestantes them selues Wherefore they terme them Neuters and say that they are worse and more hurtfull then the Huguenotes And if so bee the Cardinall could which God forbid bring his purpose to effect both against the princes and Noble men of the reformed religioÌ„ also against them which professe the Romish religion and yet fauour not their procéedings whom they call Neuters because they loue peace and hate trouble and dissention is there any that eyther would or could defend your maiestie from their cruell handes Is there any that could stay them froÌ„ rending your Crown of your Graces head which they say your progenitours haue vsurped vnlawfully against their auncetours Can your Maiestie require a more liuely representation or sufficient proofe of the Cardinals saucie ambitious boldnesse then that he shewed when hée tooke youÌ„r grace and your highnesse mother the Quéen wéeping and lamenting as captiues prisoners with open force of armes from Fountainblean to Melune from thence in tumultuouse hast to Paris and caused your Maiesties entrance into that famouse Citie to bée as dishonorable to your highnesse as it was wont to bée honorable and glorious to your noble progenitours Which his doinges haue ben the onely and true causes of the former wars other dissentions that haue euer since raged thoroughout your Maiesties Realme And may it not be easely proued how gréeuous your graces authoritie hath ben alwaies to the Cardinall and how continuallie he hath repyned at it and done what possible he could to draw your faithfull and loyall subiectes from their duefifull obedience towards your maiestie as may appeare in that his sute wherein he sought too haue Fraunces Duke of Guyse made one of the Princes of the Empire and got for that purpose a warrant froÌ„ the Emperour which he would haue proclaimed thorough all your Kingdome had not Monsieur Ausant Monsieur Halsede staied him who although they wer of one religion with him yet could they no longer dissemble or see so great inâ—…urie done to youre highnesse as though your maiestie could not protecte and defendea Cardinall as well as other your subiectes vnlesse heâ—… fled to the Emperour for succour by whom or of whom he hath I am sure nothing vnlesse it be a cankred Imperiall and not a true French hart towardes your maiestie whereof he gaue sufficient profe in the Councell of Trent where in stéede that according to his duetie he ought to haue kept and mainteined those prerogatiues that tyme out of mind haue ben giuen and graunted to the Kings of Fraunce your auncetours He I saye in steed of this his loyall duetie called them in doubt and question séeking by all meanes
to chalenge and claymâ—… them for the Spanish king Wherein hée hath both done great iniurie to your maiestie and the wole kingdome and also sought thereby to bring your Grace in feare and to stand in awe of him by reason he is in such fauor and estimation with the king of Spayne to whom he coÌ„municateth all the affaires of this realme There was neuer any deuise inuented or practised neither in the first or second warres whereof Kinge Phillip hath not ben both an authour and fautour whose chief desire is to sée the greatest part of your Nobilitie destroyed that he might the easier conquer your kingdome For surely there is no more effectuall meanes to bring that his purpose to passe then to set vs togither by the eares by sowing of strife and dissention And to what other endâ—…â—…an those Confraternities and brother hoodes as they call them of the Holy Goste bee referred then to this For some of the Noble men which are admitted into that fellowship are so wedded vnto it that they vtterly forget their dutie and doo conspire with them the death of such noble men as professe the reformed religioÌ„ whose desire is to liue quietly with them in the bande of brotherly loue as becometh good subiects vnder one prince and friends alied togither either in kinred or affinitie And who I beséeche your maiestie hath ben the author of these holy brotherhoods but the Cardinall who hath promised to procure your warrant for them notwithstanding your highnesse hath declared them to be hurtefull and preiudiciall to your honour and therefore to be disallowed And what shall we thinke of his sendinge abroad through all the whole kingdome wherin he willed that no maÌ„ should either giue credit to or obey your Maiesties commaundements vnlesse the letters which were sent were signed with speciall signet and surely through this his dooing no commission that euer came out from your grace for the obseruation of the Edicte was in any poinct obeyed and executed so that we may both iustly and truly say that he none but he hath ben auctour of these broyles and tumultes Furthermore who did hinder the publishing of the Edict and who doth stâ—…y the execution of it who emboldened the Parliament of Tolouze to rage so tyrannically as they dyd And who but he and his confederates hath driuen your Maiestie into such streight distresse that you are compelled to violate your publique promise made and solemlie confirmed by othe and thereby to haue your credit and honor crackt amongst all forreyne nations yea we are able to proue how he himselfe wrote letters to your Maiesties mother and had the Aâ—…males hand subscribed vnto them letting hiâ—… to vnderstaÌ„d that he could not staye the conclusion of the peace whereto necessitie drane them notwithstaÌ„ding he would so work that it should neuer be kept By whose meanes is iustice equitie banished out of this realme and most fiâ—…thy and dissolute libertie of factions and seditions brought in with all kinde of trayterous murthering of those that will not yéeld to their tyrannie Who is it that sendeth ruffians and desperat persons euery day yea eueÌ„ home to my owne house to murther both me and the Admirall and this haue two whom I haue taken confessed Who entised certaine Knights of S. Michaels order other Captaines to murther the Admirall who God be thanked had warninge geuen by them that should haue done the deed Who procured Monsieur Sipierre to â—…e slaine and to the number of fiue and thirtie Noble men with him but he For his Brother the Duke of Guise would commonly boaste of it a moneth and more before it was done and being done he himselfe had the first tydings of it Yea who but he or his men flue Monsieur Amanze sitting at his owne doore with his younge daughter in his armes who had offended neyther part but liued quietly with all men of both Religions Neuerthelesse when his Nephew the Duke of Lorayn had aduertised him that it were expedient for him that hée absented himselfe from your Grace because many dyd beare him deadly hatred because he ruling al things at his owne pleasure should be charged as authour and causer of al the troubles and miseries that had or shold endammage the common weale of the kingdome Hée made him aunswere That he ruled not at all and that he made not his aboad with your Maiestie but because he did not knowe any other place wherein hee could bée more safe and frâ—…e from daunger Whereby it is euidâ—…nt that for his â—…uegard onely your highnesse Armie is maintaynâ—… tâ—… your excéeding great charges whiche must néedes bring with it a very daungerous and mischéeuous end For if so be the sauetie and strength of a king doth consist vppon the good will and loue of his â—…ub â—…ectes what cause can be inuented whereby hée shoulde enforce your Maiestie to take armour against those whose onely desire is to shewe the liege and loyall obedience they owe to your maiestie But he thinkes the pretence and shew of your name and aucthoritie sufficient to hide and cloake his mischeuous doinges in so much he spared not of late to saye that your highnesse gaue him this answere That shortly men would haue gathered in their hay and corne and haue made an end of their vinetage that the Riuers would be so highe with showers of raine that men could not passe ouer the sayd Riuers that your treasurie should shortly bee enriched with tributes and that then warre should bée proclaymed against those of the reformed religion but in the meane tyme the chief maintainers thereof were to be dispatcht out of the way Yea such is the impudeÌ„cie of the man that he is not ashamed to bragge that the Quéene hath complayning wise found faulte with him That their purpose of our destructioÌ„ was not brought to effect notwithstaÌ„ding the feast of San Ian was past in which tyme he had promised to rid the greatest parte of vs out of the way And as yet none were dispatched but onely Monsieur Sipierre whereunto hée made answere That he had done the best he could to kéepe promise but all would not serue because the Noble men were alwayes spéedely enformed of al his deuises notwithstanding he was in good hope to compasse the matter and in the meane season it was expedient that your maiestie O Christian king should féed vs with vayne hope and gentle letters till they might spye out fit occasion and oportunitie to accomplishe their desires And what other can your grace conceiue of that suÌ„me of money whiche they procured Ian Baptist to sende to you was not the vsurie beyond all reason to giue a hundreth for an hundreth do they not by this their money shewe what good will and loue they beare your highnesse wherefore can any man say that we of the reformed Religion do without vrgent and great cause assaulte the Cardinall of Loraine howe long shall he with subtill trecheries abuse your