fyrme by the decree of the States in the times of the firste raigne both of the Merouins also of the Charlouins was continued also in the house of the Capenites And first by that notable cōtrouersie celebrated and made famous with the monumēts of the French histories and with the great warres which rose of the same betweene Philip Valoys and Edward borne of Isabel the sister of Charles Who when king Charles the fayre dyed without heires male contended for the kingdome When the matter grew thus to contention it pleased the States to preferre Philip Valoys being of royall line to whom the kingdom was adiudged Another example he broughte from the lamentab e tyme of King Iohn who ioyning battayle with the English men neare vnto Poictiers was taken carried prisoner into England So great calamitie being receyued the hope was left in the authoritie of the states alone Therefore by the decree of the saide States there were approued men of all sortes and conditions chosen to whome the charge and affayres of the Realme were committed howbeit there were three of the Kings sonnes namely Charles Lewis and Iohn of the whiche three the eldest was of lawfull age to gouerne A third example he bringeth from the yeare of our lord M.CCCLXXV at what time Charles the fyfth surnamed wise appoynted by his will and testament Philip Duke of Borbon his wiues brother to bee the tutor and gardian of his sonnes and Lewes Duke of Aniou his brother to be the gouernour of the Realme vntill such time as Charles hys sonne came vnto his full and lawfull age neuerthelesse it was decreed by a counsayle holden at Paris that the will should be frustrate and the gouernmente of the kingdome committed to the sayd Lewis the childes vncle vpon condition that in his gouernment he woulde do nothing without the aduice and consente of other honest and approued persons in the sayde counsayle and also that the wardship and education of the childe shoulde bee committed to the Duke of Borbon A fourth example he bringeth from the yere of our Lorde M.CCCXCII at what time Charles the sixth sonne of the said King sodaynely fell madde it was decreed by the authoritie of the states that the gouernement of the Realme should be committed to the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy Also he fetcheth a fifth example from the yeare M. CCCCXXVI when as Philip Duke of Burgundy and Humfrey Duke of Glocester were at mortall debate to the great detriment of the common wealth and at the length agreed betweene them selues to make an end of all controuersies by combate In this contention the States were vmpiers and decreed that both of them should put off their armour and rather ende their controuersies by lawe than by dinte of sworde Then he alleageth a sixt example from the yeare M. CCCC.Lxxxiiij when as Lewis the .xj. being dead and leauing behinde him his sonne Charles of the age of thirtene yeares it was decreed by an assembly of States at Towers that the education of the childe should bee committed to Anne the kings sister and that the gouernment of the Realme should bee set ouer to certayne choyse and approued persons in the sayd assembly notwithstanding that Lewis Duke of Orleans being the next of kinne required the same He setteth downe also a seuenth Argument taken from that warre which was helde in the tyme of the sayd Lewis the eleuenth which was of all other kings the most craftie and subtill which also greatly diminished the authoritie of the States at what time the kingdom was so gouerned by him that in many things the duetie of a good prince and of one louing his countrey was wanting the authoritie of the States began to be required that by the same the common wealth might be prouided for and so by the ayde of many Princes and noble men warre was holden which was therefore called the warre of the common wealth And verely at that tyme the authoritie of the States began to decay ▪ the which notwithstanding Lewis fayned to haue in great estimation Finally he handeleth that question Whether the gouernmēt of the kingdom of France by the lawe of France ought to come to the Distaffe and by many reasons and examples he sheweth that women ought to bee remoued from the gouernment of the Realme no lesse than from the inheritance of the same And thus disputing he offereth to the secret iudgementes of men by the state of the auncient kingdom an expresse Image of those calamities by which all things at the last in the kingdome of France are come to great disorder and confusion the authoritie of the states of the Realme being ouerthrowen and suppressed and a straunge woman hauing gotten into hir handes the royall gouernment M. Mombrune tooke about this time Monerb a walled town in the County of Venaiz Nium a towne bordering vppon the Countie of Daulphine and new small townes bandes of men specially out of Prouance came dayly vnto him And he inuaded the territorie of Grenoble to the great terror and feare of those that dwelt in the same Hee tooke also the riche Abbay of Viri and slew the Garrisons which kepte the same The Monkes of the great Charterhouse fearing to haue so ill a neighbour fortifyed themselues with Garrisons of Souldiers Thus M. Mombrune was feared in all that countrey rounde about Againe truce was taken for a moneth and a halfe Neuerthelesse the burning desire of warres was great in Languedoc and in Daulphine And vnder the pretence of that truce the King Queene made a great shewe that they desired peace but in deed they practised nothing els but bloudy warre Puygallard of Poictou to get Rochell byred with the kings money and by the kings commaundement certayne Souldiers of Rochell to betray the Citie And the chief of this conspiracie in the towne was mons Grandfiefe a famous man who valiantly behaued himselfe in the tyme of warre for the defence of Rochell Thus it was agreed amongst them that a Bulwarke and one of the Gates should bee taken to the which Puygallard should come incontinent with certayne bandes of Souldiers The conspiracie was discouered They of Rochell tooke many of the townsmen M. Grandfiefe was slayne And when enquirie was made of this conspiracie the conspirators answered that they had done nothing without the kings commaundement mons Puygallard being the author the which also certain letters found about Grandfiefe did plainly testify They of Rochell made complaint hereof to the king The king denied the said enterprise to be taken in hand by his commaundement willing them to punish those that were founde giltie of the conspiracie saying that he gaue them leaue and authoritie so to doe only he willed them to beware that they did nothing contrary to the Edicte Therefore they of Rochell according to their maner of execution put many of the Conspirators to death by the while of the which many were Citizens This was done about the the
body reported that she dyed of a pleurisie the more secret cause which was the poysoning of the brayne being not found for that they did not search the head Therefore to stop the rumour hir death was spread abroade in publike writings and billes Hir body was caryed to Vendosme and there sumptuously buryed according to the maner of the religion The King and Queene to declare their sorow and griefe put on mourning weed and commaunded all the court to doe the lyke The Queene of Nauar being thus deade the King so dealt with hir sonne Henrie with the Admirall and with the rest of the noble mē of the religion that hir death seemed to hasten forward the marriage Therefore within fewe dayes the mourning for the Queene of Nauar was layde aside in the court The King practized another subtletie to appoint the day of marriage for the which so many delayes had bene hitherto made He sayd oftentimes to the Prince of Nauar and to the Admiral that this time was differred by a certaine superstitious care of his mother of his sister and of the Cardinal of Borbon who mynded to marry them looking for the Popes dispensation by which they were to haue leaue to marry He fayned therfore that he had receyued letters from Rome from his Ambassadour by which he gaue them to vnderstande that the cardinal of Lorhain by his diligence had obtained the Popes dispensation which he would send with al speede possible and that he had sent him worde hereof out of hande that the King might not thinke the same long a comming Therefore the King shewed these letters vnto his mother to his sister and to the Cardinall of Borbon The Queene reioyced and sayde that the same was sufficient to ende the matter euen as if she had not knowne that they were fayned letters and that there was no impediment nowe but that the marriage might be solemnized Therfore it was agreed by consent on eyther part that the marriage day should be the .xviiij. of August THE towne of Mountes was besieged by the duke of Alba Lodowic Nassau was in the town with a great number of the nobilitie of Fraunce M. Genlis a noble man came with 500. horsemen and .4000 footemen with the kings consent to succour the besieged But the duke of Alba hauing priuie intelligence from the king of the cōming of M. Genlis of the which he suspected nothing encountred with him and distressed verie sore many of his souldiers being slayne some wounded and some taken prysoners Also monsieur Genlis and La Noe generalles of that armie were taken prysoners The rumour of this ouerthrowe seemed to be verie grieuous vnto the Kyng and to the whole court And by and by the King sent his letters vnto mons Monducet his Ambassadour in the lowe countrey which was with the Duke of Alba to see that no iniurie nor harme were done to mons Genlis and to the reste which were taken in battell ▪ Monducet did the kings Ambassage diligently to the Duke of Alba. The Admiral being certified of these commaundementes of the king and also of the diligence of Monducet with the Duke of Alba was wonderfully persuaded of the kings faythfull meaning to take warre in hande whome he heard oftentimes to say that he woulde one day be reuenged on the Duke of Alba and on the Spaniardes In the meane time the king gaue commission to the Admirall to leuie a newe armie that with a freshe supply of souldiers he might succour the besieged The myndes of them of the religion were greatly ioyous bicause of the marriage at hand Notwithstanding pitiful rumours went abrode dayly which they for the most part wold in no wise beleue construing al things to the best It is most certaine that many wise men after the death of the Queene of Nauar suspected that there was some fraude coloured vnder the pretence of matrimony and that the same deceit was specially practized to insnare the Admirall And it is certainly true that the Admiral was oftentimes admonished both by wordes and also by letters not to aduenture him selfe in so great an assembly and that too within the walles of Paris where the Guises were in great fauour and estimation And amongst other admonitions one deliuered vnto him a book the summe scope wherof was this Remēber that this is a decree of the Catholikes confirmed by authoritie That there is no faith to be kept with Heretikes by which name they of the religion are specially called Remēber that there is euerlasting hatred kindled against those of the religion by the enuie of the former warres so that there is no doubt but that the ful purpose and intent of the Queene is to destroy by all manner of means those of the Religion That an Italyan woman of the Popes progenie and of a subtile and craftie wit can not but seke all extremities against hir enimies consider in what schole the king hath bin trayned and brought vp that for this 12. yeeres space he hath learned of his scholemasters to sweare to blaspheme to forsweare to ioyne him self with whoores and harlots to dissemble his fayth his religion and his thoughtes to chaunge and frame his countenaunce and to reioyce in bloud that he might suffer his subiects to be slaine like beasts Thou knowest that the King is persuaded in the doctrine of Machiauel howe that he ought not to suffer in his realme any other religion than that vpon the which his state standeth and that he hath often learned this that it is not possible for his kingdome to be quiet so long as there are two religions at once in the same And it is certaine that hatred is planted in the kings mind being a yong man and he hath bin often times persuaded by false argumentes that they of the religion haue gone about to spoile him both of his kingdome and also of his life Thou art deceyued if that thou thinke that the king or any other such prince as he is will at any time suffer those subiects which shall by warre rise against him though vpō neuer so iust a cause to vse and enioy the benefite of his lawes But be thou rather persuaded of this that this is naturally ingrauē in the myndes of kings and princes to reuenge that by force of armes which is done against them by like force And that a Kyng and Princes will freely breake those couenants which they haue made eyther for feare or for necessitie so soone as those causes shall ceasse And that they holde this for a lawe That those conditions which the Prince hath made with the subiectes ought not to be kepte specially when he made them in warre the fayth ought to be broken for the kyngdoms sake That they make no conscience to deceyue the subiectes vnder the colour of a solemne othe These are the subtile sleyghts of Princes this is the discipline to preserue kingdomes Antonius Commodus at the last ceassing from his pleasures
spente that time in deuising murders against the noble men of his Realme and at the last determined to kill Iulian whome in the sight of men he loued and reuerenced as a father Antonius Caracalla an enimie of Alexandria bycause certayne verses were soong agaynste him commaunded all the yong men of the citie to be gathered togither vnder the colour of a muster and to be slayne and that euery souldier shuld kill his host where he lay Thus the Citie beyng replenished with murders he had no other excuse to cloake the same but to write vnto the Senate that they had euery one deserued death and that this answer ought to suffice them Lysander the chiefe Captayne of the Lacedemonians calling fourescore of the men of Miletus togither vnder the colour of societie and friendship cōmaunded them to be slaine Seruius Galba shewed the like crueltie vppon sixe thousande Spanyardes Antonius Spinola calling vnto him colourably the chiefe men of the Isle of Corsica to make them a banquet commaunded their heads to be chopt off Charles the seuenth King of Fraunce after he had reconciled him selfe with the Duke of Burgundy and confirmed the same with a matrimoniall league had also solemnely sworne to forgiue all things past sent for him to the towne of Monterell vnder the colour of friendship and there slue him There are many other examples from among the whiche I haue taken these fewe to the ende thou mayest knowe that the King beeing a yong man hath diligently learned that doctrine whiche is contayned in the .18 chapter of that Booke which concerneth the doctrine of a Prince set foorth by Machiauell Euen as it cannot be vnknowen vnto thee that the kyng the very same day that the Queene of Nauar came to the Court of Blaij Iestingly demaunded of the Queene mother adding thervnto ▪ acording to his maner a blasphemous othe if he had not behaued himselfe exceeding wel To the which the Queene answeared agayne that he had begon very well but it woulde profit little except he went forward But I will sayth he addyng hys accustomed oathes bryng them euery one into thy nette These are the Kings wordes Heereby it may bee gathered what the ende of these familiarities and friendshippes will bee shewed towardes thee and to other noble menne of the Religion Looke diligently to thy selfe and bee assured that there is no other remedy for thee to escape theyr snares than to get thee away betimes from thys Court whyche is a most fylthy and vncleane Sodome THIS Booke beyng red the Admirall aunswered with angry moode the man in whose name the same was offered That these things serued not the time that they mighte haue bin spoken conueniently in time past but nowe there was no cause remayning of suspition God had altered the Kings mynde hee woulde neuer beleeue that suche falsehoode could haue place in his Kyngs mynde nay he was perswaded that Fraunce had neuer a better King than Charles the ninth and that although the Duke of Anjou were an enimie to the Religion yet at the last hee woulde forsake that hatred for the reuerence sake of that affinitie whiche hee shoulde haue with the King of Nauar. That a league was made with Englande into the whyche also hee minded to enter with the Princes of Germany whyche professed the Religion to shewe hys affection towarde the Religion myndyng to haue in hys company one of the sonnes of the Countie Palatine and some one of the noble men of Englande whyche was zealous in the Religion That he had gyuen his fayth to the Prince of Orange and to his brother to ayde hym agaynst the Spanyardes in somuch that he was the chiefe and efficient cause of the preparation of warre into the iowe countrey That in stead of the Armie whyche was committed to the conduct of Mons Genlis a newe supply was prepared that the affayres of the lowe countrey were in good cace That the Kyngs Ambassadour dyd dayly aduertise hym of the counsayles of the Duke of Alba. That the same Nauie of which Mons Strozzi and Baron de Guard haue charge is prepared for no other end than to remoue the Spanish nauie and to goe with speede to Vlishing to the Prince of Orange that there may be open warre in the lowe countrey Finally that the Kyng did all things with greate care for the confirmation of peace by the benefyte whereof there was no doubt but that the affayres of the Religion shoulde haue good successe Wherefore hee prayed him and all others of the same opinion that they woulde not trouble his mynde with those suspitions beeyng occupied with better thynges but rather that they woulde pray vnto GOD that he woulde bryng that to good effect whyche was happyly begun to the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme and hys Churche ABOVT the same time almost Mons Momorencie was returned out of Englande hauing entred into league in the Kings name with the Queenes highnesse of Englande concerning that marriage which was intreated in the name of Henry Duke of Anjou it is vnknowen what hindered the same It is said that hir maiestie vtterly refused the matche But howsoeuer the cace stoode I am perswaded that God of his singular goodnesse prouided for hir Maiestie and also for the Realme of Englande from the whiche hee hath turned away great calamitie THE Prince of Orange hauing gotten a great armie in the which were sayd to be twenty thousand footemen eyght thousand horsemen entred the lowe countrey At whose comming the Cities in diuers places were yelded vnto hym in somuch that within a short time he had in his power foure and forty Cities the greatest part of Zeland Holland Among these cities he had Mechline In the mean time the Duke of Alba beseeged Mounts in the which was Lodowic brother to the Prince of Orange with a great number of noble French mē Shortly after thys was the cruel slaughter of the Admiral and other noble men and gentlemen committed at Paris and in other places of the Realme whiche is at large set foorth in the tenth Booke of Commentaries already translated and therefore here omitted AFTER the murder the king commaunded the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde to come before him Who being in his presence he sayeth vnto them That after so long time of warres by which his kingdome hath bin greatly endammaged he hath found out at the length vndoubted remedies to take away cleane all the causes of warre and hathe therefore commaunded the Admirall to be slayne the wicked author of mischeuous troubles and that the same punishment was prouided in the Citie for al lewde and naughtie persons infected with vngodly superstition That he remembred what great harme he had receyued both of the King of Nauar and also of the Prince of Conde who were the Captaynes and ringleaders of desperate persons and seditiously helde warre against him to reuenge so greate iniuries he had nowe cause and occasion offered him
Duke of Alba which loused from Antwerpe to carrie victuall to Middelburge part whereof they chased away and the rest came to Middelburge Furthermore the Prince of Orange tooke the towne of Mounts in Brabant The twentith of September the Orangians fought wyth happy successe vpon the coast of Amsterdam in the whiche fyght the Duke of Alba had a great ouerthrow with losse of a great number of his Shippes and also of his men The eleuenth day of October the Orangians after a long battayle fought vpon the sea got the victorie of the King of Spaynes nauie of whome they slue a great number and tooke the County Bossu Lord Admirall of the whole nauie In the beginning of December the Duke of Alba forsaking his authoritie of gouernment in the low countrey being Brussels by the authoritie and cōmission of the kings letters put ouer his said office to Lewis de Requizence great Commaunder of Castile and then prepared for his returne into Spayne THE new King of Polonia notwithstanding that the Ambassadors of Polonia made great hast found dayly new delayes to deferre his iourney whether it wer for the pleasure and delight which he had in his owne countrey or for greefe to leaue a more noble kingdome the assured possession whereof his mother had promised vnto him The king him selfe vrged his departure in somuch that it is reported he sayde in anger That eyther he or himselfe must needes goe into Polonia For the secret grudges of emulation which was in eyther of them could not be so couertly restrayned but that often times they brast foorthe The Queene loued the Duke of Aniou more than the king whose great towardnesse she greatly feared It is certainly reported that the Queene sayde to Henry beeing very carefull cōcerning his departure Be of good cheere only goe thou shalt not remayne long in Polonia By the rumor heereof many thought that the Queene meant little good vnto the King and that hereof that euill which happened within a while after vnto him proceeded the whiche verily I would not set downe if so be the same had not bin obiected vnto the Queene hir selfe by letters written by certayne Courtiers whiche knew well ynough the affayres of the court Yea it is most certayne that the Quene was so addicted vnto hir sonne Henry that she hated hir other two sonnes HENRY hauing couenaunted and agreed with hys brother concerning those thinges whiche appertayned to their affayres departed at the length from Paris the eyght and twenty of September The king sayd that he would bring him on his way to the boundes and limits of hys kingdome The which he could not performe for that he fel sicke of a soare feuer at Vitri a towne in Champaigne most menne thinking that he was poysoned Therefore the king tooke his leaue of his brother and went no further who wente through Germany as his iourney lay and was curteously entertayned of the Princes of the same notwithstanding he hearde them in euery place greeuously detest the murders of Fraunce the principall cause whereof was layd to his charge in obeying the wicked counsayles of hys mother About the same tyme Frauncis Hotomanus a famous Lawyer a man endued with godlinesse and singular learning published a booke which he intituled Francogallia and dedicated the same to Frederic Countie Palatine In the same booke the sayde Hotomanus declareth with exquisite reason what was the state of the kingdome of France in olde time bringing the same to memorie againe out of the ancient antiquities of the historie of France And he declareth that although the Frenche Gaules tooke in olde time theyr kings from the Nobilitie and therefore chose them suche kings as were come of kingly race had bin royally trayned and brought vp whether the same were of the number of their childrē or of their neere kinsmen yet neuerthelesse the kingdome of France of olde time was wont to be gyuen not by right of inheritance as a priuate patrimonie but by the iudgemēt free electiōs of the people For proofe wherof he bringeth many things out of the expresse words of the Testamēt of Charles the great out of the elections of Pharamund of the sonnes of Pipin of Charles and of Charlemain of Chilperic of Clothar of Ottho and of other kings of whome he hath made a lōg catalogue alleaging the very wordes of the histories notwithstāding so that the kingdome shuld be deuided by the decree consent of the states one while to one sometime to moe of the sonnes of the kings And that as the authority to choose kings so also the power to displace and depose them from their rule was in old time in the handes of the states of the people in the publique assembly of the Realm Therefore that kings wer created in France by fyrme lawes not tyrāts ordeyned with free authoritie power to do what soeuer them listeth For the which matter he bringeth many examples namely of the two Childerickes which kings were deposed frō the kingdome by the decree of the states of Theoderic which was displaced with Ebroin his Lord great master of Chilperic of Charles the grosse also of Ottho which was chosen king in stede of Charles the sonne of Lewis the stutter and he taketh the credite of their iudgements and most vrgent causes out of the very midst of the historie He sheweth also what things were specially handled in the solemne assembly of the states and also what was the authoritie of the same And first of al concerning the creating or displacing of a king secondly concerning peace warre and common lawes thirdly concerning greate honors high offices and gouernments of the common welth Fourthly concerning the assigning of the patrimonie in part to the children of the king being deceased and concerning the appointing of dowry to daughters finally concerning al those things which appertayne to the weale publique The power of the sayd assembly of States was such saieth he that without the authoritie or sentence of the same the king coulde determine nothing but must folowe the authoritie and will of the States which said authoritie and will were called The decrees of the states And now when as this kingdom of France hath cōtinued almost a thousand two hūdred yeeres ther are said to be in al this time only three houses of kings that is to say of the Merouins who taking their originall of Meroue continued that stock two hūdred fourscore three yeres of Charlouins who springing frō Charles the great grew in that stocke three hūdred thirty seuē yeres of Capenites who beginning at Hugh Capet haue now held the kingdome fiue hundred fourescore yeres The which Hugh Capet got the royal dignitie that Charlouins being deposed namely Lewis the fifth the .xxxj. king of France the .xij. king of the stocke of the Charlouins his children being dead in warde And then hee proueth by many examples that the royal dignitie stood
eyght leagues Wherevpon he returning belayed the countrey that suche as fledde awaye mighte bee taken Thus certayne of the noble menne of the Religion were preserued Also the Lorde Assier mons Sanroman Cugier and dyuers other noble men and Gentlemen were saued by the Guyses meanes To thys ende and purpose to laye all the enuye and blame vpon the king and people as though it had bin hys only purpose to reuenge his owne priuate spight vppon the Admiral and also that they whome he had saued in so greate peril might for euer by such a benefite be bound vnto him the which in deede came to passe THE Munday following whiche was the .xxv. daye of August the Sunne shined very bright and cleere Wherevppon the king looking out of his windowe of the Lower cryed with oathes that the fayre day did reioyce for the slaughter of the Hugonots Thus also sayd other of the court And Iames Carpenter by a publique bill called this bright day the lyghte of August About noone in the Churchyarde of Saint Innocent there sprang vp a bremble bushe which the Frenchmen call white thorne contrary to the time and season of the yeere Of the which when the people heard they ran thither in greate number to see this straunge miracle the like whereof hathe not bin seene Some say that this was made to growe by the practise of a certaine Priest whiche is not vnlyke But the common people sayd that God by a manifest signe did approoue the murther lately committed and that nowe both the Catholique fayth and also the kingdome of Fraunce had recouered theyr former glory and shoulde after this triumphantly flourishe Therefore the trumpets sounded in diuers places of the citie Notwithstanding it is certayne that the like kind of white-thorne or hauthorne sprang vp about the same time in other places also whether it were long of the temperatenesse of the season or no I knowe not Many seriously alluding to the names of the things affirmed that the white thorne sproong vp to the commendatiō of the Innocents not to approoue the murders bycause it florished in that place which had to name S. Innocēts But if so we mark this miracle what other thing doth the same signifie vnto vs thā this That albeit the Church seemed by this deadly wound to be quite slain yet notwithstāding it should come to passe that it being reuiued by a certaine singular extraordinarie power should flourish shuld firmely stand amidst these ouerthrowes It is not farre vnlike the myracles shewed to Moyses in the bushe the which though it were set on fire was not consumed THE King and the Queene determined by their priuie counsell to haue this murther proceede against other cities also thereby mynding to destroy vtterly them of the Religion least mons Momorencie by their helpe and ayde shoulde take in hande any newe enterprise He at this time was gone apart to Insuladam a towne of his dominion D'Anuil was at Paris who with the rest of his brethren had drunke of the same cup with the Admirall if they might haue bene brought altogether within the compasse of the same snare But it seemed not a sure and safe way to kyll one and to leaue the reste of the brethren aliue no so great power of the house and stocke of Momorencie The Thursday folowing being the eight and twentie of August the King commaunded a Iubile and a generall procession about the citie in the which he in his own person with the rest of the Court was present to giue God thankes openly as they sayd bycause their enterprise had such desired successe The same day the King caused it to be openly published that he was the authour of that murther forbidding the vse of the reformed religion throughout his whole realme vntill he had taken other order notwithstanding he sayd that he wold not haue these things so to be taken as though his Edictes of pacification were broken And this is the summe of the sayde late Edict The King desiring that all his peeres noble men gentlemen and others might vnderstand the true cause why the Admirall and his adherents were slayne of late in this citie bycause it may otherwise be reported than truth would he certifyeth all men generally That what so euer was done herein was done by his expresse commaundement and not for Religions sake or by any manner of meanes to breake his Edict of pacification which he woulde haue to stande in full force and to be faythfully obserued and kept but that he might preuent the wicked conspiracie of the Admirall and his felowes against his person his royall dignitie his mother his brethren the King of Nauar and against the Princes and other noble men which were in fauour with the king Therefore he giueth all menne to vnderstande that he willeth and commaundeth all those of the Religion to liue in securitie and peace at home with their families vnder his protection and garde as they had hytherto done And he giueth straight charge and commaundement to all gouernours of prouinces and other officers that no man doe oppresse them of the Religion eyther in life or in goods vpon paine of death Notwithstanding his will and pleasure is to take away those troubles and offences which may growe by sermons and other exercises of the Religion that none of the Religious noble man or gentleman of what state and condition so euer he be shall haue any priuate or publike assemblies for no cause vntill he hath otherwise prouided vpon payne of losse both of life and also of goods The which things howe well they doe hang together all men may see The King sayth heere that he would haue the former Edictes of pacification stande in force and yet neuerthelesse forbiddeth holy sermons and other assemblies vpon payne of death He affirmeth that he would haue all men to liue in peace and securitie at home and yet notwithstanding he playnely testifieth him selfe to be the authour of murthers And as touching the conspiracie made by the Admirall and the rest which were at Paris they themselues which take part with the Catholikes do scorne it as a forged lye GREAT murthers were committed at Lions and in diuers other cities so that within one monethes space there were at the least three thousande men slaine But of all the rest the wicked and cruell murther committed in the citie of Paris in the kings presence exceeded and farre passed the rest AND al gouernors of prouinces obeyed not those bloudy commaundements giuen by the king The Countie d'Tende answered the kings commaundement and his letters sealed with his priuie seale saying That he did not thinke this to be the kings deede but the deede of such as forged and pretended his name for that a fewe dayes before hee had receyued quite contrarie commaundements by the kings letters And he affirmed that he would obey those first letters as meete and worthy to proceede frō a king woulde fulfil the same
order who bare about them the order of S. Michael fighting with the diuel At this feast were many noble men and amōg the rest the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde THE xxvij day of October the Senate of Paris pronounced a sore sentence agaynst the Admirall being dead and agaynst his memorie and children He was condemned as one guiltie of treason as an enimie to peace and a common troubler of the state as the authour of a conspiracie agaynst the king and against the state His memorie was condemned to euerlasting ignominie And to the ende there might remaine some monument of those faults it was decreed that his bodie if it could be found should be drawne through euery streete of the citie after it had stood in the Market place foure and twentie houres and if the same could not be found then his Image should be made stuft with straw and so be drawne in stead of the same as aforesayd and so to the place of execution called the Forkes of Montfalcon It was also decreed that his Armes Crest and Shield should be drawne in like maner to the fore named place And that in what places soeuer they were found they should be broken downe by the hangman as a token of his euerlasting ignominie Also that all his goodes that either he or his aunceters had receyued by the benefite and liberalitie of kings whether they were moueable or immoueable should come vnto the crowne His children were pronounced vnnoble and base and vnworthie to haue anye publike office or to enioy their goodes which if they had any within the Realme they were confiscate to the king His chiefe house Chastillon was beaten downe to the ground that neuer any thing might be buylded there againe The trees of the Orcharde were cut downe and the Gardens about the sayde house turned vpside-downe and it was decreed that a brasen pyller should be erected where the house did stande with this decree of the Senate in the same It was also decreed that the xxiiij of August euery yeare there shoulde be a generall procession about the Citie to giue thankes vnto God and to celebrate the memorie of that day in the which that cruel murder was committed AMIDST these troubles many of the Religion whiche sought to prouide for the safegard of their conscience and life fled into forraine nations Some into Englande Germanie Strausburge and Heidelberge also othersominto Switzerland to Basile and to the townes of Berne to Lausanna and to other Cities and the greatest parte to Geneua Also Rochel Mountauban Nismes and certaine Cities in the Countrey of Viuaretz and Seuenatz were left as places of refuge as wee will declare hereafter The two sonnes of the Admiral by the singular prouidence of God escaped imminent destruction and the Countie Laual the sonne of D'andelot with the daughter of the Admirall which was Thelignies widow came to Geneua after that to Berne and tarying certaine monethes at Basil they returned to Berne againe being very louingly enterteyned of the people ¶ The eleuenth Booke of Commentaries concerning the temporall and Ecclesiasticall state of the Realme of Fraunce in the raigne of Charles the ninth WHilest the whole Realm of France was woonderfully distract and confounded by that horrible and butcherly murder committed and amiddest the violence of contrarye motions when as some triumphed as conquerers and other some being ouercome were ouerwhelmed with sorowe and griefe all men for the most parte whether they were Catholiques or of the Religion were sore afeard and astonyed Yea the fyerbrandes of furies dyd burne euen in the very tryumph of victorie the authors and chiefe instruments themselues of that detestable slaughter in somuch that they being as it were out of their wittes at these fyrste beginnings pretermitted many occasions by whiche they mighte haue brought their purpose about conueniently Notwithstanding the outrage to bryng their cruell purpose to passe pricked them forward that the Religiō might be vtterly destroyed and extinguished in the kingdome of France But their diuelish counsayles had quite contrary successe afterwardes diuers practises also were vsed on both sydes as we will declare hereafter in order Furthermore the horror and feare of that garboyle was spread to all those countreyes bordering vpon France Strasburge very carefully held watch and warde In Switzerlande the Cities of contrary Religion shewed them selues playnely to stande in feare one of another and there were in dyuers partes musters made and rumors spread abroade for trueth That if the Kyng made a perfect conquest of hys subiects he woulde sowe ciuill discordes in Switzerlande that a nation not onely excelling heretofore in ciuill concorde but also hauing gotten great authoritie and credite with the kingdomes bordering therevppon and selling their friendship for greate stipendes and summes of money shoulde contende and be at warres in it selfe They of Bern seemed most of al to be assalted whose power is gret amōg the Switzers by reason of the amplenes of their populous dominion The cause of discord was for that the Cities in Switzerlād which were named to be of the Religion seemed not to cōdescēd and agree to giue vnto the king a band of Catholiques to ayde him to rase and roote out for euer the remnant that remayned of them of the Religion bycause they did much abhorre that butcherly murder of France for that seemed both to be againste the Religion whiche they professed and also to tende to their owne priuate perill as when that the King had destroyed hys owne subiects he myght cause troubles and tumult in Switzerland by the meanes of the townes in the which the Catholiques inhabited who were very desirous to receyue the Kings pay notwithstanding what happened afterward we will declare anon BY THE Kings commaundement horsemen were dispatched and sente into all partes of the Realme and euery man receyued charge to watch and ward diligently Also the Gouernours of euery prouince had commaundement not to be absente from their charge at any tyme without the Kings assured commaundement to looke diligently that there arose no tumultuouse trouble and with all care and industrie to seeke and syft out narrowly all conuenticles and assemblies of suche as professed the Religion and seuerely to punish them IN all partes of the Realme and in euery Citie of the same they were apprehended whiche kept their houses vpon trust and assurance of the Kings Edict Many were slayne and put to death and all men had their goodes put to spoyle by the Kings officers euen as if they had bin enimies lawfully vanquished Notwithstandyng many escaped and fled into forrayne nations There was scarse one man founde which professed hymselfe to be of the Religion all were eyther in exile or hydden in corners or els sauing a fewe constrayned to forsake the Religion and to lyue more catholykely than the Catholykes them selues THEY of the Religion beeyng after thys maner vanquished there seemed nothing to remaine but their
vtter destructiō Wherevpon the Kings officers were not so forwarde in theyr affayres as else they would haue bin thinking that they did but lose their labour in a matter most easie to be finished Notwithstanding an armie was prepared and the King by his letters instantly required Monsieur Beleur whiche was hys Lidgar in Switzerlande for the same purpose to sende with all speede a band of Switzers FOR there remayned as yet certayne cities whiche were held and garded by those that were left of the Religion as Rochel Sanxer and in Languedoc Montauban Castres Nismes Milliaud Aubenac Priuac Mirebel Ganges Anduz and certaine other townes of no fame in the territorie of Viuaueretz and Seuenats Notwithstanding it seemed to many yea and to the most part of such as professed the Religion greate folly ioyned with madnes after so great a slaughter almost of all that professed the Religion the kings power being nothing deminished hauing the whole kingdom redy at his cōmandemēt for thē to enterprise presume to defend them selues against the armie of so mighty a king after so great cōsternatiō feare whē as not only none of the Princes but also not one noble mā almost was lefte in Frāce which durst so much as professe the loue he bare to the Religion There were also and that not a few whiche sayd that it was great wickednesse vnlawful for subiects hauing no authoritie from princes or chiefe magistrates to beare armour agaynste their king though he were wicked that by the effect and successe it selfe it had appeared that the forceable resistance of them of the Religion hitherto was vngodly though it were collected by the authoritie of the princes and by lawfull titles both for that the king was in his minoritie and also bycause the breaking of the kings Edicts might be lawfully punished for that the kings wil was in expresse words declared That in this enterprise all things faile and that the king is a man that there wante Princes to whome the aucthoritie of gouerning the kingdome shuld belong and that the king doth playnely professe that he wil not hurt them of the Religion but that he commaunded that murder to be committed with purpose to destroy the Admiral and other the chiefe aucthors and instrumentes of the warre that the kingdome afterwarde might remaine in peace And that although in this matter he exceeded the rule of reason yet it was not lawful for the subiect to rebell against him or for the subiect to punishe his lorde and king for his offence There were also some which vtterly condemned the gouernment of the prince of Conde and of the Admirall in their actes and exployts of the yeeres past and through the enuie of the lamentable successe haue brought the whole cause in hatred And those false accusations of Carpenter and Pibrach in their Epistle to that famous man Stanislaw Heluidius were oftentimes obiected by exulcerated and gaulled mindes to make the remembrance of the former warres detestable So that a man woulde haue thought that the Religion had bin extinguished for euer in Fraunce and concerning this matter many of them disputed with odious wordes whiche in time of the former warres had highly commended the causes to take the same in hand And thus calamitie was counted for great reproch and shame such is the greate rashnesse of men in iudging of matters ALSO in those Cities whiche as yet had not receyued the Kings Garrisons these dissentions were very ryfe and the Citizens being distract and vncertayne what to do seemed not so much to delay and deferre the Kings Garrison as to spend the tyme to the ende that euery one myght get for him selfe the more conuenient oportunitie and occasion to flee and escape away or els to get fauour agayne thys was the common will and purpose of the Townesmen Notwithstanding God vsed the diligence of a fewe to bring the rest to a constant purpose and the feare of the cruell murders committed perswaded the people to defende them selues that for somuch as they were in vndoubted perill of death they myght if it so pleased the Lorde choose the more honest kinde of death by the lawfull right of necessary defence the Magistrate him selfe vrging them therevnto THEREFORE amidst so many and so great difficulties and extremities it seemed impossible that Religiō should stand by any manner of meanes and so euerlasting destruction seemed to be broughte vppon the Churches of Fraunce In these straits of great calamitie the prouidence of God of such beginnings as were so weake and so farre from the iudgemente of humane reason made a way for so much more glory as the disorder and confusion of all thinges was past hope of recouerie The chiefe Captaynes were gone the ayde and help of forreine Princes wanted yet notwithstanding the present helpe and helping fauour of God in due tyme fayled not Yet for all that there remayne suche greate things of so weake and feeble a beginning euen vntill this day that this same seemeth to be especially the counsaile and finger of God that the force and strēgth of noblemen beyng cut off he alone mighte be counted the author of his worke and mighte make manifest his manyfolde wisdome in this worke I may not dissemble and in making this a preface for the narration to come I swarue not from my purpose both those noble men and ringleaders which tooke vppon them the ordering and defence of this cause and also in part they of the Religion themselues in the former yeeres past offended many wayes Much disorder verily and many faults came by the ciuill warres in somuch that among those of the Religion the puritie of Religion beeing contaminated and defyled with true occasions of true accusations was euill spoken of For it is well knowen that the Admirall him selfe in those former warres protested not once but often That he had rather dye any kinde of death than he would be counted any longer a Gouernour and Captayne of such a leawde and wicked route of common souldiers most vnworthy of the bare name of Religion for such he knew many of his band to be God therefore iustly punished those mē which abused his Religion neuerthelesse hee dyd not neyther wyll hee leaue vnfinished the worke which he hath begonne But is there any man so blynde which seeth not what great punishments remayne for those which for the mortall hatred they beare to the poore Religion haue set to theyr helping hand to commit a most detestable fact seeing that to fyll vp the measure of extreme wickednesse all shewe of right and equitie is set asyde in so much that there remayneth no excuse for the same But to returne to our purpose agayne THEREFORE this fourth warre is more wonderfull than the three first bycause of most weake and feeble beginnings it had greater and more notable successe in so much that when the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other noble
a violent charge at the first enforced the Rochellians to gyue backe but yet they persisted so valiantly in fight that they slew Mons Goaz and diuers other chiefe captaines and souldiers and caused the rest to retyre Then came the thyrde bande who gaue the thirde assault with like successe as the other had done During these assaultes the women tooke suche great paynes in castyng downe fire woorkes in such abundant manner that they deserue a great parte of the prayse of that victorie And by the miste of a certaine smoke which the townsmen made of purpose they fought with smal losse of mē the number being fortie onely But of the Catholikes there were aboue foure hundred slaine most of the which were captaynes and souldiers of great skill which fought in the forefront At Tadon also the townesmen had as happie successe in their fight agaynst the Catholikes at the time as they had before going nowe aboute to winne the Citie by scaling the walles at that part The walles of the towne were shyning bryght with the flame of the burning fyrebrandes which lay in the ditches The next day the townesmen to scorne the enimie armed their scullyons and slaues and brought them forth at Cogne gate with naked swordes in triumphant wise in their hands The Catholikes armed themselues and they streight way retyre into the Citie the townesmen in the meane time calling the Switzers to battaile in dirision The Catholikes put into the ditches certain gunnes to shake downe the Casemates but in vaine By the commaundement of the Maior threescore men and women and children of the rascal sort of people were brought out of the Citie The Rochellians were solicited to peace a Harault being sent vnto them with letters of certaine of their familiar friendes which were in the kings campe In fine the kings singular good wil to be at peace with them was declared they were also exhorted not to depriue them and theyrs of so good an occasion of peace The townesmen went forth to displace the fortes which were made ouer agaynst the gate of Sannicolas wherevpon ensued a great tempest of shot as thicke as hayle to the annoyance of both partes The day following whiche was the first of Iune foure townesmen making those afearde which lay in the next trenches and thought no doubt that there had bene a greater number and putting them to flight no man making resistance ouerthrew their baskets and bulwarkes There entered into the Citie two Souldiers with letters from Mongomerie in the which he gaue them to vnderstande that he was constrayned to returne into Englande to bring a greater power with the which he woulde shortly come vnto them Incouraging them to goe forwarde in the same constancie in the whiche they had by the goodnesse of God continued vntill that day The Catholikes fortifyed the trench which was at the bulwarke l'Euangile and that part allo whiche was somewhat nearer to Sannicolas A certaine Souldier crauing leaue of the Maior to go forth of the Citie vnder pretence to assayle the enimie fled into the kings campe The Casemates were dayly assaulted but in vaine BVT the townesmen were not onely vrged with external enimies but also with domestical and inwarde extremities Many were wearie of the war and many feared the famine by whiche the townesmen feared greate destruction Diuerse men diuerslye communed togither mislyking all that they coulde of those extremities there were manye of the rycher sorte whiche were greeued for the wasting and losse of theyr goodes insomuche that by all maner of meanes they desyred peace Therefore they withstoode the whole assembly And certaine also had determined to take the gate and to goe oute of the same For this cause certaine of the wellbyer sorte by the decree of the Senate were put in prison As yet the penurie of corne did not grieue the townesmen and yet notwithstanding their store was greatly diminished which they feared dayly more and more But the Rochellians had store of Saltfishe and wine And it is wonderful which certaine honest and credible persons do report which were at that siege how that a certaine kinde of fishe came into the hauen in such plentifull maner contrary to their woonted custome that the poorer sorte vsed to eate them in steade of breade and that the same plentie went away almost the same day when the kings army departed vpon the conclusion of peace On the contrary part no lesse extremities vrged the king as the scarcitie of money and the impaciencie of the nobles whiche were wearie of the warre coulde by no meanes be restrayned And the king was vnable to hemme in or inclose the towne of Rochel the same being so large and populous and the sea coast being so neare vnto the same Therefore both partes were fully determined to conclude a peace And to further this matter the Duke of Anjou had ioyful and acceptable newes concerning the kingdome of Polonia For the Duke of Anjou by the meanes of the nobles of Polonia was made king of Polonia in the place of Sigismond the former king of the same MONLVCE Bishop of Valence had solicited the matter to the noble men of Polonia with great diligence and with golden sermons the whiche also he caused to be put in print thereby seeking to win vnto his maister a kingdome A great scruple and doubt was obiected about the murders of Paris the causes whereof by open rumors were layde vppon the Duke of Anjou Notwithstanding Monluce so ordered the matter that in the name of the Duke of Anjou hee perswaded the states of Polonia Concerning the successe of the which election we will speake in another place This therefore was a special occasion to rayse the siege All this while the Catholikes came oftentymes to Cogne gate to intreate for a peace Amidst these communications of peace the Citie was very neare intercepted through the great securitie of the townsmen For a hundred Catholikes with Ladders clymed vp to the toppe of the walles and tooke a viewe of theyr Fortes the which being discouered the townesmen cryed Alarme and with speedie dispatch they were repulsed and put to flight but fiftene of them were slaine by falling from the walles into the Citie For ioy of the newes of Polonia there were triumphant shouts and thundring peale of great gunnes both in the kings campe and also in the nauie There fell downe twentie cubites of the walles at this peale To the ruyne and breache whereof the townesmen ranne out of hande suspecting that the enimie was come and stoode armed in a readinesse for certaine houres After long contentions it was at the last agreed betweene the kings armie and the Rochellians that the sayd Rochellians should go and submit themselues to the Duke of Anjou and desire peace of him Wherevpon the Rochellians receyued in the name of the Duke of Anjou assurance of truce and were cleared of the name of Rebels with the which afore time they
woulde haue made a sufficient armie by this meanes also the catholikes power was weakned Vicount Pauline was made Lieftenant of Montauban and mons Sanroman of whome we spake before being come from Switzerland to Nismes was made Lieftenant of the same after he had taken his othe The comming of Sanroman brought to passe that the discordes of the captaynes disagreeing among them selues hitherto being appeased their affayres had more happy successe in Nismes and in the cities adioyning therevnto all men obeying with all their heartes the commaundement giuen by him and also by the Senate Therefore nowe at the last necessitie and experience the schoolemistresse of fooles taught the religious for their necessary defence a new kind of order not vsed in the time of the former warres and more conuenient And these things wer handled very well in the assembly or conuocation at Milliaud These things being thus prouided to establish a certaine order the men of Languedoc also determined in this conuocation to require certaine things of the king for the confirmation of peace for the former Edict did not satisfie them as we saide before neither did the name of peace so moue them by and by that without consideration and respect all conditions were receiued bycause the light credit of the Princes afore time taught them to beware Therefore they sente vnto the king Mons Yolet Philip Cherenac and others whiche were actiue and prudent men The summe of their message was To giue thanks vnto the king for singular good will which he declared that he had to establishe peace in his kingdome That the same remedy was so necessarie the kingdome by so long warres being in decay and almost ouerthrowen that it could not be any longer deferred without present destruction That they were minded to shew all obedience to their Lord king But bycause the tragicall and lamentable memorie of the murders lately committed on S. Bartholmewes daye doth shewe how dangerous a thing it is for the king theyr soueraigne to be ruled by the euill counsayles of wicked counsaylers they most humbly beseeched his maiestie not to thinke it strange that they to whom it specially belonged sought the most conuenient wayes for the establishing of peace That it was lately broughte to passe that the king by the practises of euill counsaylers contrary to hys good nature declared him selfe by his publique letters to be the author and chiefe cause of that wicked fact the whiche notwithstanding a fewe dayes before he openly detested the contrary shew whereof was too shamefull in the sight of al nations That they were perswaded of his own good will towards them but they greatly feared least his mind shoulde be led by his counsaylers as aforetime and that therfore they would prouide for them selues and seeke to saue their liues and the liues of their friendes beeyng taught by the pitifull example of their fellowes THESE things being vttered First of al they require that for the securitie of peace and to auoyd newe troubles they might keepe those Cities whiche they had already in possession with their owne garrisons of men and the same to haue their wages payed them out of the kings treasurie Secondly that beside those Cities the king woulde giue vnto thē two Cities in euery prouince of the Realme which might be thought most meete and conuenient in the iudgemente and opinion of foure men two of the whiche foure to be Catholiques and the other two Religious and the same two Cities also to haue garrisons of the Riligious maintayned in them by the kings pay Thirdly that the vse of the reformed Religion bee free through out the whole Realme without exception of any place for al those which shal require the same of the king Fourthly that they of the Religion may haue graunted vnto them new parlaments in euery prouince and that by suche iudges as imbrace the reformed Religion Fifthly that to maintayne the ministers of their Churches they may haue leaue togather those tithes which arise of their lands Last of all that they whiche were the authors of the murder committed on Saint Bartholmewes day mighte be punished as murderers spoylers and disturbers of the common peace These seemed to bee large petitions and in very deede their speech to the king extēded farther in so much that the Queene saide in displeasure and anger That the prince of Conde him selfe if he were aliue and were euen in the very middest of the kingdome with twenty thousand horsemē and fiue hundred thousand footemē had also in his hands the chiefe Cities of the Realme would not craue the one halfe of those things Wherefore shee came to euery one of these messengers sought to win thē sometime by faire promises otherwhile by threatnings But it was so prouided in the assembly at Milliaud that the messengers of themselues should do nothing but only offer the letter vnto the king should refer the kings answeares vnto the Senate that the whole matter mighte bee allowed by the authoritie of the same Dayes of respit wer takē for a moneth a halfe so the messengers being honorably receyued into euery Citie returned home againe The Catholiques coulde scarsely be perswaded but that the most mightie princes fauoured the cause of the Religious and pretended that the great libertie which the Religious had was the cause why they so thought The king was said to desire peace being warned by the successe of the warre at Rochell and in Languedoc In the meane time preparation was made for the voiage into Polonia the Queene and the new King prouiding al things for great magnificēce notwithstanding they had not money according to their wil. About the same time in the which the Ambassadors of Polonia wer at Paris a very bold wicked fact was cōmitted Ther was a certayn Citizen in Paris of greate wealth named Nantoilet a Catholique one of the chiefe magistrates of the Citie To this mans house came the new king of whom he was very courteously entertayned But the Duke of Aniou being in the house begā to quarel with the said Nantoilet first with words at the whiche the other had great marueile Then his seruāts begā to spoile caried away his plate iewels brake opē his cofers and caried away a greate masse of money Thus the outrage of murders brake the raines of shame running into all impudent boldnesse AFTER that Harlem was taken the Prince of Orāge tooke Alcmar a Citie of Holland the Citizens being deuided within thē selues at what time one gate was takē by that part which held of the Duke of Alba and bāds both of horsemen and footemen sent from the said Duke wer now within the vew of the Citie Notwithstāding the Prince of Orange putting to flight the sayd power enioyed the Citie The Flisshingers tooke the Castell Ramekins the fifth of August Also the sayd Flisshingers the thirtenth day of the same moneth encountered with the nauie of the
the Liefetenant who commaunded him to offer diligently hys traueile vnto Santaial to couenant with him for his rewarde and to appoint the day and the manner of the enterprise Then Deron without delay vnder colour of a priuy escape spake with Santaial receyued his reward and prescribeth the day the manner how hee might bring his purpose to passe The which being done he enformed Sanroman of the whole matter The manner of this treason should be thus namely that one of the gates of the citie should be lefte open for Santaial to enter Therfore the gate was left open according to couenant on the day appointed the warders vsing greate silence notwithstanding all things were prepared to receyue the enemy But none of the Catholiques appeared hauing intelligence of deceyt notwithstanding that for this purpose bandes of the catholiques were come out of the countrey of Viuaretz Daulphine and from diuers other places About the same time also D'Anuill should haue bene taken by treason which was bewrayed and the traytor hanged These were two practises of great wayght to furder the Queenes purpose if they had successe according to hir mynde ABOVT the same time they of Villeneufe of whom we spake before slue certaine bandes of the Catholiques without losse of any one of their men and tooke a little towne called Aubenac not far from the Riuer of Rosne and slue the Garrison almost which remayned of those that were slayne of Lions CHRISTOPHER sonne of the Counte Palatine ioyned himselfe with Graue Lodowic who vntill that day had borne no Armour accordyng to the forme of the othe whiche hee tooke at Mountes Who brought an armie of two thousand horsemen vnto his brother the Prince of Orange And while he taried at Mastricte the space of two monethes looking for his footeband of Gascoines and practising by counsail in the meane tyme to take the Castel of Andwerp was at the last very sore charged with the kings power in the territorie of Mokens within the dominion of Cleueland two myles from Nijmegen And hauing vntill the euening valiantly withstood their force tooke Sig. Lasso a man of great fame among the Spaniardes The daye following about the breake of the day the kings partes giuing a freshe assaulte at what tyme the Graue Lodowic had sent away parte of his horsemen to prouide forrage and the Launce knightes came on very slowly to the battaile the Spaniardes gotte at the laste the victorie but not without bloudshed the chiefe Captaynes Christopher and Lodowic being loste in that conflicte whose death was doubted a long tyme Notwithstanding this is certayne that they had receyued so many woundes before they were slayne that they being diligently sought for among the deade bodyes of suche as were slayne coulde not bee knowen Thys slaughter happened the seuentene of Aprill of thys present yeere About the beginning of Februarie there brake forth newe bandes of newe men in the countrey of Poictou which called themselues Politikes and Malecontentes of the which some professed that they sought the reformation of the realme other some the reuenge of their parentes and kinsmen which were slayne in the furies on Saint Barthelmewes day These ioyned themselues with those of the Religion who almost about the same tyme had begoon warre a freshe in the conntrey of Poictou hauyng Monsieur L'Noe theyr Captayne ALSO at the same instante almoste Countie Mongomeri comming out of England into Normandy tooke Sanlo and Charent townes neere vnto the Sea coast and in Normandy the lower he tooke the towne called Donfro Therefore these newe commotions of the Politikes and of the Religious caused newe musters of men in those partes and it was sayde that this was the beginning of great matters and that many noble men would come vnto this warre But whereunto this came we will shewe by and by Almost at the same tyme namely the last of February there was great feare in the Courte It was tolde the Queene that there was certayne troupes of horsemen seene ryding to and fro neere vnto Sangerman where the king at that tyme lay This so sodayne feare caused the number to bee thought the greater M. d'Guitri a noble man was Captayn ouer those troupes which cōtayned fiue hundred horsemen The Queene tolde the king hereof being at the poynt of death and caused him to bee remoued out of hande from Sangerman to Paris And shee sent messengers vnto M. d'Guitri to know of hym in the kings name what his entent was Who deliuered vnto the messengers certayne petitions concerning the reformation of the Realme and the restoring of the authoritie of the states and so within fewe dayes after departed not knowing what would ensue thereof In the meane tyme the Queene apprehended many in the Courte and in diuers places of Paris whom shee thought to bee giltie of this conspiracie among which of the nobilitie was M. Coconass and d'Mole of Arles one of the familiar frendes of the Duke of Alanson Also at the same tyme the Marshalles Momorencie and Cosse were in the Courte They within certayne dayes after were at the commaundement of the king and Queene apprehended by the Kings Garde and were openly in the sight of all men caryed into the Castell of Bastill The Queene also caused Rumors to be spred abroad that they were the authors of a bolde conspiracie concernyng the intercepting of the King and the settyng ouer of the kyngdome to the Duke of Alancon to the ende they might rule all things as they themselues lusted Therefore she commaunding the household seruants of the king of Nauar and of hir sonne the Duke of Alanson to be taken away caused them to be kept close prisoners that they might go no whether nor do any thing without keepers She depriued D'Anuil also of the gouernment of Languedoc as accessarie to the sayd conspiracie and she sent the Prince d'Alphine the sonne of Monpenser into Daulphine with great power to bee gouernour of Languedoc and she wrote vnto the Senat of Tholose concerning the same depriuation of d'Anuill Also shee commaunded the Lord d'Acier by hir letters who was an enemy to d'Anuill to ayde d'Alphine in the custody of Languedoc to bring vnto him all the power hee was able to make All these things were done in the kings name Mombrune about the very comming of the Prince D'Aulphine slew fiue Ensignes of footemen at a towne called Pontereaw In the meane tyme D'Anuill lay still doing all things in the kings name neyther did he enterprise any thing any whit the more when he vnderstood of the imprisonment of his brother But the kings letters which Prince d'Aulphine sent vnto the lord d'Acier were intercepted at Pusin and came to his handes and by that hee perceyued the treason wrought against him then began he more openly to deale with them of the religion and to talke also with mons Sanroman to take certayne cities but somewhat to late For he lost the more noble cities by his
predecessours But they nowe to their extreme greeke considering that all their former supplications are as nothing regarded and in vaine and that all other the remonstrances of sundrye Princes and Potentates haue sorted no such effect as might haue turned to their comfort and consolation and they in their consciences assuring themselues that your Maiestie hath no reasonable occasion vpon euil wil or displeasure so to alienate and turne your selfe from your lamentable subiectes can not but vndoubtedly suspect that through malice and false information of some who hauing more regarde to their priuate lust and appetite thā to the seruice of your Maiesty haue dayly laboured to bring your Maiesties countryes into your displeasure Wherein they haue alwayes most manifestly and vnfainedly pretended and trauayled not onely by letting and defending that our humble supplications and faithfull warnings shoulde come to your Maiesties eares misconstruing the same to the worst and peruersly accusing them to your Maiestie therby to bring the countrey into dissention and commotion and so vnder your name to suppresse and make desolate the same and so with the goods and bloud of your subiectes to quench their greedy and vnsatiable appetite This is that O most soueraigne King which your sayd subiectes do and haue not without occasion esteemed to be the greatest calamitie that might happen vnto them as cōsidering that the way and meanes wherby they might complayne and shewe their griefes to your Maiestie as to their bountiful and natural Protector so by God appointed as a refuge in their extremitie is by the vngodly dealing of their enimies taken away from them a thing whiche alwayes hath bin permitted to vnreasonable creatures namely to suffer them in their extremitie and neede to sue for remedy and redresse And therfore although they had resolued taken in hand with patience to attende the time of redresse thinking that your Maiestie would at last haue opened your eares and eyes to heare and see their miserable estate frō which your Maiesty by reason of their said euil willers is now letted But now considering in the end their suppression the longer the more to encrease and to become more vnsufferable tending not onely to their damage and destruction but also of your maiesties heritage countries which in times past haue florished in all prosperitie now come to ruine they could not for the faithfull obedience and aliance sake wherin they are bound to your Maiestie and their natiue countrey but nowe once againe by writing request your Maiestye to consider and weigh the originall occasion of the desolation of your countries and by whose meanes the same is come to passe and consequently execute the office of a true King in defending the righteous and deliuering your countries from this tiranny and oppression And first wee humbly beseeche your Maiestie to call to minde and consider that these your countries in times past hauing bin deuided amongst sundry Lordes and rulers are since by mariages agreementes and mutual treaties in time and orderly by lawfull succession and conueniences come vnder the house of Burgondie and afterwardes by meanes of mariages contracted with the most famous house of Austria and consequently allied with the moste mightie kingdome of Spaine yet alwayes with expresse condition that euery and singular the countries and prouinces should possesse and enioy their owne policies rights and liberties in tymes paste accustomed without that any prouince or countrey should be burdened of the dominion of the other or by any meanes be depriued of their customes or liberties but be bound ioyntly to lyue one with another vnder one Prince and head as many children vnder one father to the intent with one accorde to defende their Prince and common weale against al strangers and forraine force Also the Princes of the countrey willing as fathers to shewe and declare their loue and affection to euery one did at their solemnizatiō and entring into their dominion and rule by a solempne othe bynde themselues to vse and kepe eche country in their rightes and franchises without suffering that any of them should be enfringed or deminished or that the one Prouince shold haue dominion or rule ouer the other much lesse be subiect vnto any foraine dominion or power vppon which conditions he is accepted and taken as a supreme Lord and Gouernour ouer the countries and thereuppon receyueth the othe of obedience and faithfulnesse of his subiectes Of which the premises needeth not any further or larger rehersal whilest that vndoubtedly your maiestie doth sufficiently remembre howe that the Emperour Charles of most noble memorie following the presidentes of his predecessours and acknowledging that the sayde othe of solemnization is the onely and right fundation vpon which doth consist aswel the might and authoritie of a Prince as the faith and obedience of his subiectes did in his life time presence of your maiestie cause your Maiestie to receiue the sayde countries vnder the sayde othe and sware your Maiestie to the ioyful income in al the landes most of the townes as next successour and onely heire of his emperiall maiestie and afterwardes the same Emperal maiestie departing out of these countries and your Maiesty receiuing the full dominion and administration of the Lande did once againe in presence of the deputied of the countries then assembled rehearse strongly confirme the saide priuileges So that in al times past the sayde countries haue enioyed bin ruled by their former priuileges liberties Out of which hath followed such faithfulnesse and obedience of the subiectes towards their Prince and such vnitie and loue amongest eche other that the countries by god his prouidence haue florished with most happie prosperitie the Princes then adorned with all honour and high dignities and greatly redoubted and feared of their enimies And because it needes not to rehearse any thing out of the olde histories being notwithstanding explenished with many presidents it hath appeared in all the warres of the Emperiall maiestye what earnest care hee had to the defence and mayntenaunce of his countries in rest and quietnesse Likewise your Maiesty can wel remember that he taking his leaue of these coūtries did specially and earnestly recommend the state thereof vnto your maiestye Yea your maiestie being at his arriuall burdened with greeuous warres and extreeme charges hath by experience founde that all your subiectes both great and smal euerye one to his state abilitie haue bin readie to venture bothe life and goods in seruice of your Maiestie Wherein aswell the Lords and nobles as commons haue so acquited and behaued themselues that your maiestie hath vanquished and ouercome your enimies gotten great prayse and renowne of al kings and potentates and made a finall end of al warres dissentions wherwith many yeares before your auncetors and countries were troubled Now if it might please your Maiestie which your lamentable and faithful subiectes do most humbly require to enquire of and consider the original occasions