as a seditiouse person aud a Rebell Therefore they thinke it lawfull for the kings subiects to haue liberty to take which religion the ilist that is to say eyther the coÌ„mon Romish Religion or els the Religion reformed according to the Gospell and to cleaue to none other and that all violence eyther pryuate or publique against eyther parte ought to be prohibited and that the Ciuill magistrates should prouide Temples for the ministers of the reformed Religion to haue their diuine seruice in and that no man should receiue any maner of violeÌ„ce or harme for vsing the benefit hereof But because those constitutions manifestly touched the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Saint Andre the Guises for that there were two Cardinals of them which were chosen to be of the Kings Counsaile also the Duke of Guise and the Duke de Aumal also because the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine his Brother were the Kinges treasurers And they touched the Constable and the Marshall of Saint Andrew because they by the same meanes were come to great aboundance and wealth For these causes they haue sought by all meanes possible to adnihillate and disanull these Lawes In the meane time the Quéene the Kings Mother as she hath ben alwaies in al her doinges wyse and circumspecte the which she declared when she had full liberty and was not Ruled by other mens power and violence indeuoured her selfe to make an vnity and concord betweene the Churches by frendly and quyet conference To the which Conference and Disputacion came all the chiefe Prelates of France and many Doctors out of the vniuersitie of Paris many Moonkes also which were sent from Rome and the Cardinall of Ferrer the Popes Legate and beside all these twelue Ministers of the Gospell both partes hoping it would come to passe by this friendly conference that they should come to some concord and agréement The which was greatly hindered and let by the Cardinall of Lorraine by whom after certaine principall pointes of the CoÌ„fession of Ausburge were disseÌ„blingly imbraced the Assembly was dissolued Then the Guises tooke other practises in hande and perswaded the Quéene and the King of Nauar to sende for the Iudges and Counsellers of all the Parliamentes of the Realme that they with the Princes and the Kinges Counsaile might giue their aduice for the present necessitie And to this Counsaill they sent suche as they had bound vnto them afore time by one benefite or other that by this meanes they might abolishe that which the States had decréed The which notwithstanding by the prouidence of God fell out otherwyse than they looked for And to the end they might the more craftely bring their purpose to passe they departed from the court â–ª But before they should go to the ende they might leaue nothing vndone that might serue to worke their wills they subtilly practised to carry with them the Duke of Orleans our Kings brother that if their deuises had not had good successe they might haue had one with them of the Kings linage whose name they might abuse â–ª This thing was plainly proued by diuers arguments and coÌ„fessed also by the Duke of Orleans himselfe who stayed the matter Here it may please you to consider at what time and by what meanes the Guises began to be iniuriouse and to shewe violence to the Quéene out of whose lap shée being a widow and in great trouble they went about to take her sonne Afterward the Guises departed not only from the Court but also to the vtmost partes and limites of the Realm and came to Sauern And there they fayned to like of the Confession made at Ausburge before one of the Princes of the Empire that by theis meanes they might insinuate themselues into the num ber of the Princes of the Empire the which as known to your highnesse we touch by the way But their departure out of France caused all men to hope for peace concorde which was euery where receyued by the rumour of their absence For in all places euery man of what religioÌ„ soeuer he wereof liued peaceably without any offence committed for the diuersitie of Religion all men receyuing that religion which liked him best And the word of God was preached in diuerâ—… places many ioyfully imbracing the same if a few had made any stour or businesse for ReligioÌ„ they by and by were easely suppressed About this time there was an assembly of Iudges and Counsellers which sate in the Court that belongeth to the Princes and to the Kings priuy Counsaill amonge whom was the Constable and the Mashall of S. Andrew who wayted for new troubles The Bourgeses or chosen men for the states declared that there was nothing in those things which the States had decréed to be altered but must stand wholy vpon their determination liking and they sayd that before they began with any other matter they must séeke to purge and to reforme the Kings Counsaill On the contrary part they which were to be thrust out of the Kings counsail by the same decree of the States bare themselues so bold vppon that assembly that they perswaded themselues to escape vnpunished notwithstanding all that the â–ª States could do Who neuerthelesse when they vnderstood the power authoritie which beloÌ„ged to the States would not giue their consent to doo any thing contrary to their decrees And although many of them openly declared that they fauoured the Guises and his fellowes yet notwithstanding there was an Edicte made called the Edicte of Ianuary because it was made the 18. day of Ianuary by the which Edict liberty and leaue was graunted for the word of God to be openly preached â–ª as it was decreed by the States Notwithstanding with this exception So that it were done without the walles of the Citie and that the Churches dedicated to the vses of the Church of Rome were not vsurped The Magistrate being commaunded to take an othe of the Ministers of the gospel that they should preache the word of God purely sincerity quietly without any sedition as is more at large declared in that Edict which was confirmed by the decrees of the States And although that same Edicte was suspected of the men of the reformed Churches least when they were out of the Cities and vnarâ—…ed and farre from their houses to helpe themselues they should easely be made a pray for their enemies as it came afterward to passe in deed yet notwithstanding because they would not be importunate and troublesome to the Queene to the King of Nauar to the Princes to the whole assembly they agreed thereunto vpon this condicion That they should deale vprightly and in good fayth the which also the whole assembly promised vnto them And then euery man sware to obserue and keepe the Edict faithfully truly and the men of more noble calling sware agayne before the Queene that they would not craue pardon for those which had violated or broken
which we haue spoken before and that they shoulde first of all deale with matters concerning religion The company therfore being asseâ—… â–ª bled called togither the Kings Solicitor propounded vnto them these matters First that there were diuers opinions in matters that coÌ„cerned Religion founde lately in the Senate disagréeing and contrarie one to another as when lome condemned heretikes to be burnt other some woulde not haue them to be burnt but mittigated the paâ—…ne by banishment the which woulde redounde to the reproche and shame of the Senate Wherefore he required that their sentences and iudgements might be conformable and agréeing euer hereafter with the prescript and tenure of the Edictes which appointed the punishments of death The which in déede was the most speedie and readie way to detect those Iudges that were suspected of religion as after truly it came to passe For when euery man fréely vttred his minde and opinion as the custome is there were diuers iudgementes some woulde haue no punishment by death but banishment other some before any thing was determined woulde haue it knowne whether they were heretikes in déede which were counted heretikes Also he sayd that it was the Kings will that heretikes shoulde be punished and the office of the Senate to sée and finde out who they were that were guiltye of heresie And for this cause he willed them to make supplication vnto the King that according to the first article of the peace concluded he woulde cause a lawfull Councell to be assembled to iudge of these controuersies and that they shoulde in the meane time leaue off to punishe But some sayde that it coulde not be hidde but was apparant for all men to beholde what greate corruptions had inuaded the Church and howe néedefull and requisite it was a reformation to be had and that by the worde of God which is the onely rule of veritie and not custome antiquitie or the opinions of men Furthermore they added that there was daunger and therefore great héede to be taken least while they whome they called Lutheranes were condemned Innocentes also shoulde be put to death For say they the Lutheranes as we terme them haue probable reasons to defend their doctrine withall whose life is irreprouable and without blame vsing themselues oftentimes to praye deuoutly and zealously to God as it hath well appeared to the Senate to be short such is their constancie that thereby they shew themselues not to be such maner of men as they are sayde to be among the common sort of people Thus at this time some spake one thing some another howbeit the greatest part would haue either the punishment to be mittigated or else the men to be quite discharged Many feared least this sentence and determination of those that spake in the behalfe of the Lutheranes shoulde take place wherevpon two of the Councell as it is credibly reported namely Egidius and Minardus went to the King and declared the matter wholy vnto him before the Court had concluded what shoulde be done against both lawe and auncient custome saying vnto him that the matter was nowe come to such a straite that great remedie must be prouided for the same otherwise great perturbations and trouble would ensue adding moreouer that the boldenesse of some was such that they durst arrogantly deride the auncient religion and as for the Edicts of the King they made no account of them at all The King being inflamed and greatly stirred with this newes came the next day into the senate where he declared that he hauing now obtained at the handes of God the most excellent benefit of peace confirmed the same with the societie sure knot of matrimonie there waÌ„ted yet one thing which he greatly desired namely the setting of matters coÌ„cerning religion in a good vniforme order for this cause he said that he came into the Court namely to vnderstand both in what state the matter stoode also to coÌ„fort incourage them by his presence And so he signified by the kéeper of the seales that he would haue them to follow that order which they had begon in shewing their opinions Therefore of theÌ„ which resisted some were more colde fearing some subtill practise to be in hand other som notwithstaÌ„ding â–ª spake their fantasies and opinions with no lesse boldnesse than they did before especially concerning the lawfull calling of a CruÌ„cel or Parliament And among others Anoas Burgaeus a man very godly wel learned when he had first of al giueÌ„ thaks vnto God that he had so wrought in the hart of the Prince that he would be a witnesse indifferent Iudge of so weightie a matter and when he had exhorted the King to bend his minde and giue good eare to so great vrgent cause being in deede the cause of our Lord Iesus Christ which â—…ught to be defended by the patrocinie garde of Kings very boldly and fréely vttered his minde affirming at the length that he dâ—…d wholy giue his coÌ„sent agrée that there should be a couÌ„cel called that the punishments then vsed toward the Lutheranes for that time should surcease Others also after him affirmed the like When the King had heard thefe men he making first his preamble said that to his griefe and sorow he saw corruption to be crept in eueÌ„ into his Court being very sorie that any of his Nobles should be stayned therwith the good he knew as for the others he said he wold â–ª so punish that he would therby extirpe quite pull vp by â–ª the rootes that mischief which was now a growing These threatnings ended talking a while with those that stoode with him he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that Annas Burgaeus Lodouicus Faurus should be takeÌ„ y which his coÌ„mandement was streightway executed by MoÌ„gomerie Captaine of the Garde After this others also were taken as Fumaeus Foixius many others And those that were of these opinions loking to be handled as they were got theÌ„ out of the citie but afterward they were opeÌ„ly proclaimed About the same time almost a Synode was helde at Paris many ministers of the Churches which were theÌ„ called the reformed Churches being then called togither for thys matter in the which both the doctrine of the faith and also Ecclesiasticall discipline were copiously largely intreated of â–ª truly as the time required the forme of discipline which was alredy appointed which was also afterward by many Synodes and Councels inlarged and examined by the rule of Gods word and the approued â–ª customes of the auncient Church brought much profit all which matters here to declare is not our purpose Howbeit these thinges following were the principall points thereof 1 First it is agreed that the confession of the doctrine which may testifie â–ª the coÌ„mon consent of the Churches be registred to the ende that no straunge opinions craftily be conueyed in 2 That all things be done in order in the Churches 3 That so often
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
more sure accomplishment wherof after we had made our faithfull prayers vnto God and had duely and rightly wayed and considered all things wyth one heart minde and free will haue entered into league by solemne oth of the name of the liuing God the which we haue sworne and before God and his Angelles haue promised to performe and kepe by the assistance of hys grace and mercy inuiolable vpon these conditions First of al we protest that in this League we haue no manner of consideration or regard either of our priuate persons or of our goods but do only set before our eyes the honor of God and the deliuerance of the King and Queenes Maiesties the obseruation of the Edicts which they haue commaunded and a perfecte good will to punish Rebels and such as contemne the King Queenes Maiesties And for these causes only we sweare and promise that we and euery one of vs will spend and bestowe all that euer we haue euen to the last drop of our bloude And this League shall abide inuiolable vntill the Kings Maiority that is to say vntill the King come to his lawfull age and doe take vpon him selfe the gouernment of the kingdome that then we may obey him in all things with voluntary obedience At which time we trust we shall geue so good an accounte of this our League the which also we wil do to the Quene she being at her own libertie whensoeuer she wil that it shal be manifest that this was no conspiracy but our duety of true obedience to preserue their Maiesties in these perillous times Secondly to the end all men maye vnderstand and know that we haue entered into this league with a pure conscience and in the feare of God vppon whom wee call as vppon the vpholder and protector of our society VVe declare and promise by our othe That wee will not suffer any man among vs to commit any thing against the honour of God and against the Kings Edicts as Idolatry Supersticion Blasphemy VVhoredome Theft Sacriledge and all suche otherlike forbidden by the lawe of God and by the last Edict of Ianuary the which if any do commit we will seuerely punish And to the end all thinges may be done according to the prescript rule of Gods word we will haue in all our assemblies faythfull ministers of Gods word which may teach vs the wil of God and whom as it is meete we may heare that we may obey the will of God. Thirdly we elect and nominate the Prince of Conde to be our Captaine generall being the Kinges neere kinsman and therfore one of his Counsel and the lawful protector and mayntayner of the Crowne of Fraunce VVhom we promise to helpe ayd and assist with al our might and to giue to him all obedience in all those thinges which appertayne to this League and if we neglect to do our dutie in any thing we submit our selues to such punishment as it shall please him to lay vppon vs. And if it shall so happen that the Prince of Conde shall not be able to go forward with this enterprise being let with sicknes or with any other reasonable cause we promise to serue and obey him whom he shall nominate to be his Vicar or Deputie And the Prince of Conde for the glory of Gods sake and for the obedience sake which he oweth to the King byndeth him selfe to these conditions promising to all that are of this confederacy by his othe that hee will with all diligence and courage by the helpe of God according to couenant constantly do the dutie of a true Capitayne Fourthly we comprehend in this League all the Kings Counsellers except those which contrary to their office beare armour to make the King and Queene fulfill their mindes The which armoure except they put of againe and do giue an account of their doinges with all subiection and obedience to the Queene and King whensoeâ—…er it shall please her to call them VVe giue them to vnderstand that for these iust and reasonable causes we wil accompt them giltie of treason and troublers of the coÌ„mon wealth And to come to the ende of this our league the which we protest againe wee haue made only for the glory of God for the dignitie and libertie of the King and for the peace and tranquillitie of this Realme which is to be mayntayned vnder the aucthoritie of the Queene mother wee affirme and promise euery one of vs and do confirme the same by solemne othe before God and his Angelles that we will prepare and prouide out of hand all that wee are able as money armoure horses and all other thinges necessary for the warre that wee may be in a readines so soone as we shall be called by the Prince of Conde and that we may followe him whither soeuer it shall please him to commaund vs and also that we may obey him in all thinges that appertayne to this league euen to the vtmost perill of our liues And if it shall happen that any of our companions and fellowes in this seague shall sustayne any hurt or detrement for this leagues sake we promise that we will helpe ayde and assist him all that wee can at the commaundement of the Prince of Conde But if it shall happen as God forbid it should that any one among vs forgetting his dutie and othe should conspire with our enemies and should violate this league by horrible treason and should not stand to these conditions and couenaunts VVe sweare and protest with all constantnes of faith that we wil bring such an offender to the Prince of Conde and will accompt him for an enemy and handle him as a traytor And thus be it ratefied and established betweene vs with free consent and irreuocable This league being made and the causes thereof being declared in maner and fourme as ye sée then euery where published abrode the Prince of Conde sent letters diuers times to the Queene Mother and to the King of Nauar his brother tending still to this effect That they should consider and haue regard to the state and that they should set before their eyes the manifolde perilles and troubles at hand except they according to their office and dutie did better prouide for the same that they should looke to the obseruation of the Edictes made by the act of Parliament specially now in the time of the Kings minority Protesting herewith for himselfe and the rest that they would be subiect and obedient to all thinges reasonable and lawsull but if the matter should come to triall by sword he sayd that then they feared no maner of perilles but would for the mayntayning of the glory of God the Kinges aucthoritie and the libertie of their consciences spend and bestowe all that they had The Queene Mother tooke the matter very gréeuously and signified to the Prince of Conde by her letters that as her person was a Captiue so also she was resâ—…rayned of her will and could not do
his power and authoritye with these exceptions They then saide And now they go about to make that an euerlasting and irreuocable lawe which they thrée themselues haue deuised and decréed Truly we may with better reason and truth conclude that they go about to make the king a captiue and bonâ—…man vnto them not only in this his minoriti but in his maiority also Who séeth not their sondry and contrary deuises Who séeth not that they go aboute not only to haue the king in their handes and to rule him at theyr pleasure but the whole Realme also when as in a mat ter of so great waight and perillouse they dare take vpon them to determine decre what they theÌ„selues list Dyd euer those Triumuiri of Rome namely Augustus Antonius and Lepidus which by their conspiracie peruerted the lawes and the common wealth of Rome any thing more bould and presumptiouse If they had ben moued by the loue of peace as they say and not by the outragiouse heate of sedition if they had ben moued by zeale of Religion and not by the force of ambition they would not haue begon those their counsailes with force and murder they would haue come reuerentlie and modestly they would haue declared the causes whi they could not allow of the Edict of January And they would haue intreated the kinge and quéene to consulte with their CouÌ„sail for the remedeing of those troubles to the glory of God the dignity of the king and the conseruation of the Realme And so they should haue declared that they were moued by zeale of their consciences But while they go about these things they sufficiently declare that they take Religion but for a colloure to the end that they may draw away the Kinges subiectes to take their part that by their help by the help of strauÌ„gers they may bring al things to their rule Can the Princes the kings kinsmen suffer this that strauÌ„gers shal make lawes Edictes to rule the king the whole Realme 4 They require to haue the church of Rome which they call Catholike and Apostolicall to be alone through out the whole Realme and that the vse and administration of the reformed religion should be forbidden Let this be the Edict of the Duke of Guise a straunger of the Constable Momorentius and of the Marshall of saint Andrew the kinges seruauntes Let their willes mindes and decrese be set against the authority of the kinges Edict which the king the quéene the king of Nauar the Princes the kinges kinsmen the kinges Counsel and forty chosen men out of euery court of the realm haue made Let them oppose and set this their Edicte both against the decrées of the nobility and the cominaltye by their supplicatioÌ„ which they offered to the king first at Orleans then at saint German concerning the orderinge of ReligioÌ„ after this maner theÌ„ they must nedes acknowledge and confesse that their Edict will be the cause of ciuil warres and in tyme the destruction of the realme But blinde Ambition carieth them out of the way to bind the king and the Realme to them as they saye by these merits For this I affirme that the Duke of Guise and his brethren can not deny but that while they go about to molest trouble those that are of the reformed Religion what zeale soeuer they pretende they brynge the Realme into greate perill Let them remember what happened of late almost in the same counsel to theÌ„ in Scotland There both sortes of men that is to say both papistes and Protestants liued peaceably obediently vnder the gouernement of the Quéene vntill it was commaunded by the aucthority of the Guises that no other religion should be there receyued then that which is of Rome Then a certen smal nomber of men for this cause being raised and appointed to battaile by the wisdome of the quene and by the help of the Nobility were easely put down again The which thing ought to haue made the Guises sease from their former purpose for feare of greater trroubles whiche would ensue by the meanes of those Edictes But they on the contrary part more obstinately went forwarde with their purpose to hinder the reformed religion writing sharp letters vnto the Quéen because shée shewed hirself so fauourable and perswaded with hir that it was necessary that the principal authours and many of the Noble men should be put to death Therefore to bring that to passe in déed which they vttered in woordes they sent an army of meÌ„ into Scotland with M. Brosseus the Bishop of Atniens At whose comming most seuere Edictes were made coÌ„cerning the obseruation of popish rytes and comming to Masse The Bishop said that he would soone cal those that were gone astray as hée sayd to the obedience of the Church of Rome and monsieur Brosseus said that hée would quickly within few dayes by force of armes put all the rebels to flight And as cruelty hath always couetousnesse ioyned with it they beheld considered the landes and possessions of the noble men and wrot to the Guises that they could both make the people tributary to pay vnto the Frenche king two hundred thousande Crownes and also assigne to a thousand Noble men of France which should continually maintayne warre in Scotland houses and land The Guises hearinge of the which were glad but the Quéene Osellus a noble maÌ„ of Scotland said vnto M. Brosseus that the Scotts could not be so easely coÌ„quered who if they were coÌ„strayned would craue helpe of straungees which imbracinge the same Religion would not desire to haue better occasion to banish the Popes Religion out of Scotland whereby the Kings Royall estate should come in peril But they refusing these admonitions of the Quéene Osellus said that the Quéene with hir facilitie and sufferance would marre all and they called Osellus foole and dastard Ther fore these wise men so wrought that the greatest parte of the nobility gathered vnto them an army of men and within few dayes eyther slewe or put to flight the Papistes and sacrifising priests which if this had not ben might haue liued peaceably And thus thei which before would binde Beares and which triumphed before the victory â–ª did not only dishonour the Duke of Guise but also lost the aucthoritie of the Church of Rome By this example the Guises ought to acknowledge their fault and to leaue of their enterprise also to haue no more in their mouthes these wordes One of those two Religions must be banished the realme and some muste needes giue place to other some These proud words become not subiectes and seruaunts but a king of full and perfect age And whereas they would haue no religion but the Romish religion established within the realme which they go about to defende by force of armes they bring the realme into great perill and daunger And truly it were a great deale better to kéepe both partes in peace and concord and
those their subtil flightes haue once had good successe and haue bene by them abused to the destruction of many if God had not prouided for the same they wold now put them in prac tise againe although there is not one of those which taketh our part which would not willingly spend bestowe all that he hath his life to in the seruice of the kyng yet notwithstanding they call â—…e Rebelles the kynges enemies There is I say not one of vs which would not most gladly for the preseruation of our king whom we alone singularly loue serue reuerence as the only gift of God spend bestowe his life There is none of vs which hath put him self in armour to requier any thing of the Quéen or of the king of Nauar. We require no other kyng whom we may acknowledge reuerence as our liedge Lord Soueraigne Neither do wee require to haue him and his authoritye in our hands We desire not to haue tributes customes taxes other payments due to him to be made to be eased diminished nay on the contrary part we not only haue not refused to beare any burthen that hath ben layed vp pon vs but do also now of our owne accord promise vnto the king to giue vnto him whatsoeuer he wil require so far forth as our goodes wil extend The Cities which are blamed as Rebelles haue not forsaken or changed their Soueraigne they gladly acknowledge al obedieÌ„ce to the kyng They haue not put themselues in armoure against the King such wickednes be farre from them neither haue they sought by force to make the King and his authoritie subiect vnto them But they we haue put our selues in armour against the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew that with such discre tion modesty that we séeke neither their bloud goods nor offices Therfore they which shall say that we haue put our selues in Armour against the kyng shall impudently lie or els those Suppliants attribute to them selues the kyngs name dignitie But they which shal counsell perswade the king to giue vnto them his authority souldiers money although warre were enter prised against him shal truly one day make an accoÌ„pt of those their couÌ„selles shall declare who hath caused the king the Realme to contend who also hath spent the kings money contrary to the lawes of the Realme And I trust it will so fall out that the goodes which they haue taken out of the Kings treasury to mayntain warres wil be one day repayed againe out of their substance both to the profite of the Kyng and also to the easing and disburthening of the people 11 Last of all they protest that they are ready to goe home to their owne priuate houses yea to the vtmost partes of the world if néede should require and to the end we should not be ignorant they assigne the time of their departure saying When these thinges are fulfilled and brought to passe that is to say When the Edict of January by their priuate authoritie is openly broken when the reformed Religion is wholy abrogated with the preaching of the word of God and the administration of Sacraments when our consciences shal be subiect to the vexatioÌ„ of straunge doctrine wheÌ„ al they that haue im braced the reformed ReligioÌ„ shal be put to sileÌ„ce made subiect to the furor outragions madnes of their enemies being in dauÌ„ger of their liues if they liue otherwise than they would haue them and to vse their owne wordes if they shall liue without offence that is to say if they will come to Masse and to other popish ceremonies this they call to liue without offence These are the conditions which we may looke for at their handes This is their discréete counsaile ¶ But let vs now procéede a little farther and let my petition be ioyned and compared with theirs which I now make as followeth I require the obseruation of the Edict of January they on the contrary part would haue the same abolished They desire the subuersion ruine of many Noble families and of others also I desire that al the kings subiects of what estte or condition soeuer they be of should be in safty stil inioye their goodes liuinges and to be deliuered from all iniury violence and oppression They goe about to kyll and destroye all those of the reformed Religion I séeke to preserue them vntill the Kyng shall come to ryper age to iudge and determine of the whole matter as shall séeme best vnto him and in the meane time I desire that both parts may liue quietly that the papistes may enioy their liuings reuenewes with safety They séeke to deale by open violence not caryng to begin ciuill warre séeking by forrayne ayd to destroy vs spending the kings treasure to the destruction both of the king and also of the realme wherby we are constrayned to defend our selues I neyther desire warres neither do I spend the kinges treasure neither do I séeke the helpe of straungers nay I re fused them alwais hitherto when they haue offered me their seruice so wil I doe still except I be thereunto greatly constrayned by these authours of warres I desire to haue armour put of on both partes do promise that all those which are of my part shal be obedient and that loue and the reuerence which we owe to the king shal more preuail with vs thaÌ„ force of armes for whose preseruation we are ready to spend all that we haue They desire that we may be counted rebells and open enemies our cause not heard yea they séeke our bloud our offices our goods and our consciences We neyther séeke their bloud their offices their goods nor their consciences This only we séeke for at their hands to whoÌ„ wée will be bound that they and wée will go home euery man to his own house according to the tenor of those conditions which we haue more copiously declared in the Instrument which we sent to the King and Quéene con cerning this matter Neyther can they complayne say that they are hereby dishonored séeing that we submit our selues to the same conditions Our peticion is alike without any manner of inequalitie we desire nothing but that which is indifferent for both partes séeing that they theÌ„selues came otherwise then they ought to haue come to the king and were the causes of these troubles by their vntimely vsurping of armour And they haue violently assaulted so many good men that although our petitions are not alike and so indifferent yet notwithstanding it should be expedient for the peace tranquillitie of the realme to haue rather regard consideration of many men than of a few least the whole kingdome for these causes be brought into peril of ciuill warres But although there be no comparison betwéene these two peticions séeing the one is iust and equal but the other vniust and violent
to pacefie the present troubles To be short her behauiour towardes me and my fellowes when we and shée were together at Baugence do so playnely proue her consent and agréement in this matter that it shall be néedelesse to repeate many other arguments to proue this thing For there before seuen Noble men shée speaking of our dutifull obedience protested vnto vs that she did acknowledge that we by our déedes had preserued her life and the Kynges These thinges considered haue our aduersaries any reason nay haue they any coniecture of Rebellion against vs By whose aucthoritie shall we be sayd to be Rebelles Shall we be sayd to be Rebelles by the Kyng and Quéenes authoritie who haue giuen vs expresse coÌ„maundements to arme our selues who flée vnto vs for succour in these perilles who by their will letters and messages like of our doings giue vs thankes and approue the same as profitable for the preseruasion of this Realme Furthermore all men know that those our enemies haue abused the Kyng Quéenes names whose willes also they haue captiued vnto them â–ª The which is the only cause why I and my fellowes haue hitherto testified and as yet also do vnfainedly protest That we will not receiue any Edicts Rescripts or Decrées comming forth in the Kynges name so long as he enioyeth not his libertie For probation wherof this example may serue namely That the Quéene complayned vnto vs oftentimes in hir letters that she could not therfore graunt vnto vs our requestes because the contrary part was mightier and the people armed And although the Kinges name since the Moneth of Aprill last past hath ben so abused yet notwithstanding the matter thereby hath the more playnely appeared but most playnely by those letters which the Quéene sent by Monsure de Villars and MoÌ„sure Vieilleuill the xxiiy day of May In the which shée wrote that shée deliuered the Kyng into other mens handes vnderstanding by these woordes other mens handes our aduersaries Whereuppon it followeth that this sentence of Rebellion and all other thinges done in the Kynges name ought to be iudged to be done by our enemies séeing the Kyng is in their handes as appeareth by the testimony of the Quéene Let men iudge therfore what sentence that is against the condemned being pronounced by those which are both aduersaries and Iudges But let vs sée what great fault of Rebellion that is which is layed to our charge and why it is ob iected to vs Because say they they will not vnarme them selues If this be the fault I demaund what they are to be called which comming to the Court armed although they had no enemies in Armes yet notwithstanding would not vnarme them selues at the commaundemeÌ„t of the Kyng and Quéene and which continew in the same boldnes and presumption still But who is hée which at the commaundement of the enemie will laye aside the sword which he hath drawne to fight What doth the enemy els in commaunding me to vnarme my selfe than to will me to commit my goods to the spoile and my life to crueltie and also to receiue the lawe at the handes of an outlawe Is not that to breake the fence with the which God hath inclosed his Church that being destitute of fence and inunition men may fall in to the handes of their cruell and fierce enemies Furthermore all men know very well that I alwayes offered to laye aside my Armour so soone as my enemies vnarming them selues had restored the Kyng to his former libertie Was it not méete that they which were the first that put them selues in Armour and that without commauÌ„dement and aucthoritie and against the expresse Edicts and commaundements of the Kyng and Quéene should bée the first in like maner that shoulde vnarme them selues rather than they which by their example put on Armoure that is to saye by the commaundement of the Kyng and Quéene to preserue them and also to defend the Edictes from the oppression and violence of others To be short let all my actes done vntill this day be examined and it shal be found that my aunsweres my declarations conditions and all my actions are testimonies of my innocencie What condition of peace agréeable to reason and equitie haue I aâ—…any time refused nay rather I and my fellowes haue desired the same How often tymes haue I refused straungers least they should enter into thys Realme Haue I not signified the equitie of my cause to forreyne Princes that haue ben in league with thys Realme and desired them that they would be meanes to take vp and pacefie these controuersies With what modesty haue I behaued my selfe in those Cities which were in my handes Was there euer any signe shewed of violence or vniust dealing Whereas the enimies assaulting the Kings Cities and taking away the benefite of the Kings Edictes concerning Religion did all things with barbarouse crueltie in so much that they filled the streates of the Cities with deade bodies and caused the earth to flowe with innocent bloud Let men therefore iudge by the effectes who they bee that are worthy to be counted gilty of Rebellion Am I and my fellowes which haue armed our selues to defende and mayntayne the Kings Lawes made by solemne acte of Parliament so to be counted or our enemies who putting themselues in armoure without the Kings authoritie haue broken the Edictes spoiled Cities brought the Kings subiects to the slaughter and taking awaye the Kinges Edictes and specially that notable and worthy Edict of Ianuary haue made newe Edictes themselues Therefore if all the partes of this cause be vprightly wayed it shal be found that I and my fellowes are falsly accused of Rebellion of those which are theÌ„selues rebelles in déed and of sedition by those which haue ben themselues since the dayes of King Henry the causes of all those troubles which haue afflicted the Realme also of treason by those which go about to oppresse the king depraue the Kings Edictes and abuse his name and authoritie to enriche them selues to his ruine and decaye They euen they are gilty of diuine treason against the maiestie of the liuing God whose actions haue alwais declared that Ambition is their GOD Couetousnesse their Religion and worldly Pleasures their felicitie who haue proclaymed open warre agaynst the sonne of God and agaynst the professours of his word who play the Anabaptistes rebaptizing infantes again who haue their houses full of rapines and their handes defiled with innocent bloud And they are gilty of humane trea son which contemne the Kings lawes kéepe the Kinge as a captiue beset with armed men on euery syde and which seeke the destruction of the King and the Realm And to conclude they are gilty of Treason which haue encouraged and brought the whole Realme to wickednesse and to oppresse the libertie of the Gospell and which doe bind the Kinges subiectes vnto them in seruice by an othe Those outragiouse kindes of wickednesse and horrible actes do crye that the Guises
and his fellowes are rebelles seditiouse and gilty both of Diuine and humane treason Contrarywyse it is euident that they are the true and faithfull subiectes of the King which stoutely withstand their rebellions seditions and wicked practises to ouerthrow the Kings authoritie and the state of the Realme Of the which matter beside the Arguments which I haue alleadged this also may be a testimony That they haue ouerthrowne the Law and Gouernement of this Realme and that in the Senate of Paris whose helpe thei haue abused in this false and perniciouse sentence of Rebellion And truely they could not haue found more wicked and corrupt meÌ„ and more seruiseable to their mindes who either had their offices by fauor of the Guises or else hoped to come to some preferment by them and many of the chiefe of them haue conspired with the Guises the lamentable successe wherof wée féele at this day And truly we must néedes confesse that among all the calamities with the which God hath afflicted this realme this one is the greatest that this Senat which ought to be the place of Iustice the refuge and Sanctuary of the oppressed and the brydel punishment of vice is so declined from his right natu rall vse that it looseth the raynes and openeth the gate to all Iniustice violence and to all vnbrideled wickednesse And for probation hereof I do not only bring in the manifold iniuries which they haue done to diuers the complaintes the cryes and the bloud of so many oppres sed condemned and slayne innocents by them but specially I bring forth this false and peruerse iudgement which thei haue denounced against vs which is an iniury done to a great number of men whose lyfe actions haue alwaye testified the reuerent obedience which we wishe might be giuen to the king But to the end those vniust Iudges might leaue nothing vndone they pronounced this sentence the cause not heard no matters discussed and the reasons of iustification not vnderstood also they being refused and the causes of the refusall or appeale being declared yet neuerthelesse they persisted in their purpose that all men might knowe how that in the Senat of Paris there ar no other Iudges but preposterouse opinions corruptions and hatreds that there are no other lawes than the contempt open violating of the Kings Lawes Edictes and of his approued customes And here I appeale vnto you which beare the name of Iudges What is it to deale vniustly corruptly if this be not so to deale â–ª For where is there any forme of Iustice obserued where are the reasons with the which they that are gilty are conuinced where is y auncient approued custome that one Iudge in one the selfesame cause ought not to be Iudge also plaintiue Wherfore haue you made your selues Iudges of those men which haue refused you to be their Iudges hauing so many reasons mouing theÌ„ therunto as there ar argumeÌ„ts of iniustice in you And to speak truly are ye not iustly and vpon good and sufficient cause refused which haue thrust out of your society all those which yée thought would not condescend agrée to your conspiracies that is to say yée which by that your Edict put the sword into the hande of the furiouse and mad people against the law of God the law of man your own lawes and against the whole peace tranquillitie of the realm Who haue proclaymed the Ministers of the reformed Churches to be open enemies and traytors to the King whom notwithstanding the King had receyued into his fauour and which also vpon this condicion were sworn to the King. You truly which are growne to such boldnesse that by your Deputies Monsieur de Fay and Monsieur Chambo that ye durst say vnto the king that these words concerning the enterance into peace concord séemed won derfull vnto you and perniciouse and that ye would neuer allow these reasons coÌ„cerning the making of peace betwéene mée my aduersaries to take away all doubt that ye were to me and to my fellowes mortall sworn enemies But what néedeth many wordes Let men coÌ„sider the Metropolitane Citie of the kingdome in the which ye dwell let men consider the horrible cruelties which the people dayly commit before your eyes with your consent will and prouocation Let men consider the greatest part of you of the which many to the ende ye may the better shew your selues to haue cast awaye Iustice and rather to vse violence and force than the law are become of Iudges and Councellers or Senators soldiers and haue chaunged your pennes into swordes and your scarlet gownes into armour ye shewe your selues to be warlike Captaines and are openly séene in armour setting forward this kinde of wickednesse very far vnméete for your calling Let all these things be considered But and if rebells cannot iudge of rebellion and open enemies of peace tranquillitie of sedition also if the breakers of the kings lawes cannot iudge of traytours if I say they which are condemned themselues ought not to condemne others ye cannot deny but that those whom ye haue condemned haue iust and vndoubted reasons not onely to refuse you but also to haue you punished accordinge to your wickednesses committed Therfore al these things being iustly wayed in equall ballance shall euidently appeare to all those which shall bring to the discerning of this cause an vpright iudgement without preiudice although nothing be brought to defend my innoceÌ„cy the innoceÌ„cy of my fellowes against this vniust iudgmeÌ„t yet notwithstanding the matter is so apparant plain that it speaketh for it selfe and plainlye conuinceth the false and impudent sclaunders of the Iudges our aduer saries And this thing I leaue to all men to consider of what iust cause I haue to be gréeued séeing that I haue alwayes faythefully obeyed the commaundements of the King and Quéene for their defence and haue done so much as a man of my estate degrée and calling might doo for the peace and profite of the whole Realme and now to be recompenced with these rewardes as to haue my seruise done to y king called in question my obedience couÌ„ted Sedition This thing is not only greuouse vnto me but altogither intollerable And although they cannot touch me with that note of infamy which they lay vnto my charge yet notwithstandinge I professe and acknowledge that I haue a great desier to defend my estimation and credit and the estimation of my fellowes and will séeke by all meanes possible that our innocencie may appeare not only to our contrey men but also to people of forreine nations and that it may be remembred among all pâ—…sterities And because I perceaue that by so vniust a sentence pronounced against me and my fellowes and by the breaking of the lawes and auncient customes of Fraunce the way to attaine iustice is stopt against me that I can haue no hope to looke for the obseruation of the
Religious were not so contrary that the Christian name should not euery where be retayned As for that Religion which I and my fellowes imbrace it is the true and reformed Religion which is also receiued and imbraced of great Nations and pourged from Romish Idolatries and superstitions And to make the matter more plaine what say you to the late example of the Emperour Charles the fifth who after he had assayed to establish in Germany that Religion which he him selfe approued and coulde not bring it to passe thought it to be the best waye although he had gotten the victory by force of Armes to let euery man vse what Religion he would for quietnes sake What shoulde I néede to repeate many other examples when as experience teacheth vs that this is a necessary remedy to kéepe the people of this Realme in peace To let them haue the vse of what Religion they like best But for all that I could saye or do in that Parley the Quéene durst not go from that which was prescribed vnto her to speake So that the Armies were prepared on both partes againe Then we entered into parley againe by which they went about very subtilly to betray me First I yeelded vnto my brother the King of Nauar the Towne of Baugence the which he ment to vse for him and his family during the time of intreaty for peare which I had good hope to obtaine by the meanes of the Quéenes letters Then I did put my selfe into my enemies hands minding therby to winne peace The Guises and his fellowes fayned a departure away but they were not far of but had incamped themselues within the compasse of thrée miles minding to oppresse me as appeared afterwardes by their Letters which came to my handes At y length I and certaine of my fellowes came in parley and conference with the Quéene At the first we were denied to haue the liberty of our consciences We straight way affirmed that the libertie of our conscieÌ„ce was to vs the most precious thing of all and the chiefest thing that we desired and added this also that if the departure of a few would be an occasion of peace and of the libertie of Religion we our selues woulde willingly go into crile euen to the vtmost partes of the world The Queene tooke our offer and liked of the coÌ„dition and when she had made a long protestation of hir good will toward vs she perswaded vs to prepare our selues to take our iourney and she would send vnto me whether soeuer I wold appoynt ten thousand Crowns promising there withall that my exile shoulde not bee long But when I was certified of the platforme and snare which the Guises had made for me at the intreatie of my fellowes I made hast backe againe to my Armie Then theÌ„ Quéene before my departure required of vs an aunswere the which we referred to the common counsell and aduise of my fellowes affirming notwithstanding for our selues that we were ready not only to go into exile but also to suffer any maner of extremitie willingly for a common wealth But afterward I had taken deliberation and consulted with my fellowes they aunswered That except I would forsake God the Kyng and my Countrey I could not nor ought to go to any other place declaring vnto me that the auncient and approued Lawes and constitutions of the Realme were that when the king by reason of his younge and tender yeres cannot take vppon him the Gouernement of the Realme the Princes that were the Kinges néere kinsmen with the couÌ„sell and aduise of the States should prouide a forme of Gouernement The which during the time of the kings ninoritie ought to abide firme and immutable At the first begining of this kings raigne the States whose authoritie hath brideled alway their ambition which would abuse the tender age and facility of kings decréed with the consent of the Princes the Kings kinsmen That the gouernement of the King and the realm should be committed to the Quéene and that shée shold discharge and pay that debt which the Kings auÌ„cetours had left the Crowne in and should also mayntayne the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme of Fraunce Diuers other things and they decréed more particularly concerning such as had taken any otheâ—… to serue forreyn power whetheâ—… they should be of the Kinges Counsell or no and whether twoo bretheren at once excepte the Princes the Kings kinsmen should be of the same coun sell concerning also an account to be made by suche as had the trust of treasure committed vnto them in the former Kings dayes and diuers other things they decréed as is to be séene in my former declarations in writing published But amongst all other it was decréed by the Quéene that matters concerning Religion should be established for peace and vnities sake First of all therefore the matter was handeled by Disputation at Possit but in vayne Then the Queene caused an assembly to be made of the Princes the Kings kinsmen of the Kings Counsellers and of certaine choosen out of all Parliamentes of the Realme that they might make an Edict concerning this matter Then there was an Edict made in the Kings Counsel to the which they were all sworne and they also which at this day haue broken the same and which was published and confirmed according to custome throughout all Courtes in the realm by the benefite whereof the Realme in euery place séemed to be at peace Notwithstanding this thrée priuate men offended with the Kinges Counsell and inflamed with their owne desires because they knewe that they were bound to obey their Decrées aud to giue vp their accountes conspired togyther how they might remoue the Quéene from her authoritie gathered an army of men togyther without the coÌ„maundement of that Quéen contrary to the authoritie and decrées of the States denyed to go home to their owne Prouinces at the commaundement of the Quéen and to vnarme themselues came armed to the Kinge and so tooke him stirred vp warre and put the king to great expences not only entered into the kings Counsel from which they were secluded by the Decrées of the States but also did put in and put out such as it pleased theÌ„ and finally they brake the kings Edict solemly made and confirmed by the aduise and determination of the States from the time that they armed them selues they haue not suffered the same to be kept without the which notwithstanding it it not possible that the publique peace should stande By which their wicked actes and presumption they haue broken the authoritie of Magistrates and Lawes haue playnly declared themselues to be enemies to God to the king to the Realme and to coÌ„mon peace For these causes my friends sayd vnto me considering my state and calling in the Realme that it was not meete that I shold gyue place vnto them which by violence had gone about already to confound all thinges Neyther that I should forsake the
one day haue mercie vppon his poore afflicted people and heare the gronings sighes and lamentable cryes of his that do flye to him only for succour and refuge and can obtayne redresse no where else all right and Iustice being taken away from them by such as haue most barba rously contrary to their Kings commaundement spoiled and wasted all things with vnknowen and almoste incredible rage and crueltie vpon whose accurfed and detestable factes haue followed to the number of 140. lameÌ„table murthers since the publication of the Edict and yet not two of them eyther punished or like to bee punished And now I trust your maiestie doth perceiue that these be some causes why both I and other of the reformed religion do say that the Edict is violated and wée our selâ—…es euill handled besides many things that are done against vs by the greatest part of your graces presidentes and all because we are of a contrary religion to them and infinite other deuises which they dayly as it is manifest do practise against vs all which I leaue vnto your maiestie to consider how disagréeing hurteful they be to publique peace and tranquility And these things I haue thought good to signifie to your highnesse least I should séeme to haue omitted any one iot of that Loiall obedience I owe to the same â–ª most huÌ„bly beséeching your maiestie to take in good parte and patiently to ponder and consider of these things which I do with al dutifull modestie and humble reuerence declare vnto your grace O noble King and say that it is vnpossible that true and stedfast peace be kept in this Realme tho rough the often declaration of your highnesse pleasure therin vnlesse the Edict be truly and incorruptly obserued and executed in all pointes and all interpretations therto adioyned quight disanulled and taken away yea and all disorders seditions and slaughters committed by either part after the publishinge of the Edict sharply and equally punnished lastly that the loose sufferance and corrupt collusion of Magistrates and Iustices bee ouerlooked and corrected And vnlesse this be don I can not sée how an vniuersal and firme during peace can be maintained in your maiesties Realmes But contrary wyse I perceiue and foresée that they who haue suffered so great iniuries with out all remedie are so wearied and as it were tyred with long sufferance being now in desperation past hope of redresse wil indeuour to defend themselues from wrong iniury by force which must néedes be occasion of great troubles When these letters of the Princes were brought to the King and the indignation that hée and other professoures of the reformed religion had conceyued was knowen the very necessity of the tyme enforced them to make some showe of redresse and correction of these misorders For the king being now far in his progresse from Paris the chiefe Metropolitane City the Quéene greatly feared least the Prince of Conde should attempt some new troubles Wherefore the Kinge writeth to the Prince very louingly declaringe that de doeth lyke and allow of his care for the obseruation of peace and saieth that he wisheth nothing more hartely then that law and Iustice should be equall without partiality ministred to all his subiectes and that this was his chiefe and only desire And whereas he had set foorth diuers interpretations of the Edicte hée saieth hée was forced therto by dyuers and sundry vrgent and most waighty causes and that they do greatly make for the vse publique profit and comoditie of his subiects â–ª and yet he beléeueth so well of the Prince that hée iudgeth hée neuer once so much as meant or thought to gouerne and rule him and his doinges at his owne pleasure and if so bée any of his Iustices officers had offended in any thing he would so punnish them that all men should knowe that it was hys will and pleasure that the Edicte should be executed iustly and sincerely in all places and that all his subiectes should haue Iustice equitie shew ed them without respect of religion Also he trusted that he who ought to haue speciall regard for the good and safe estate of the Kingdome would so trauaile and labour that no new broiles should bee raised by theÌ„ of the reformed religion that complained of their wrongs seing it is fit that they should not reuenge themselues of such iniuries as they say are doue vnto them but rather commit the charge and orderinge of those matters to him being chief Lord and gouernour ouer both them and their causes and that vnlesse they did so they should purchase vnto themselues most greuous and seuere pu nishment only hee willed him to take héede that none were falsly accused and that that which they obiected a gainst others might not rightly and worthely be layde to their own charge Lastely he let him to vnderstand that it was his only chiefe most desired with to haue peace kept and maintayned accordinge to the order taken in the Edict which as he had oftentymes declared in woorde so like wise he would fulfil and expresse it in déedes About this time there came out newe Proclamations from the King wherin all men were very straictly charged to obserue and kepe all orders prescribed in the Edict and greuous and great punishment appoynted both for suche as did violate and neglecte the same and also for all such Magistrates as did winke at them that shoulde offende therein He declareth also that it is his will and pleasure that all his subiectes should lyue quietly together and therefore dothe appoint the Edict and the declarations that he had made thereof to be a rule and square to order their doynges by whiche he straitly charged and commaunded all men to doe least they shoulde to late repent them for so abusing his clemencie and at length proue his force and power to their owne destruction Shortlye after this the Mashall of Vielleville was sent to Tours to sée execution done vpon those seditious persons that had committed that slaughter lately done there but the matter was so handled that all was in vain for wheÌ„ the Marshal saying he wold do according to his commission had begonne to rippe vp the matter Monsieur Chauigny a wicked and desperate man was suborned who by open force resisting the Marshals doinge did so worke that nothing could be done faringe as thoughe if the matter shoulde haue bene stirred any more it woulde haue bred a further and greater trouble sâ—…ing the greatest and best part of the Townsmen was thereby so hainously moued and enflamed Wherfore the Mashall returned to the Court leauyng the matter as he founde it and when he had giuen accompt of all his procéedings there Chauigny was very liberally rewarded of the Quéene as one that had done a thing both fit and profitable for that presente tyme yea greaâ—…e offices were bestowed vppon him as to be Embassador to foraine Princes and kingdomes The
by another Edict he lefte those vnder the power of Ecclesiasticall lawes which would not come into the right way which Ecclesiasticall power is no bloudy power so that men breake not the common peace Notwithstanding for all this the Kings expectation was frystrated by the secrete conspiracies â–ª of those Noble men which went about to moue warre vnder the collour of Religion and to trouble the Realme And when he vnderstoode the whole matter throughly he was constrained to come to Orleans with an Armie of men to prenent and prouide for things in time for the which cause he called all the States of the Realme together In the whiche place he dyed and I beyng of younger yeares and therefore lesse able to take vpon me the gouernmeÌ„t of so great a kingdome was by the prouidence of God appoynted to succéede him And the conuenient and neâ—…essarie helpe which God left vnto vâ—… namely the couÌ„saile of the Quéene my mother in the gouernmente of our Realme was greatly let and hyndeâ—…d through the contempt of this our young and tender yeares by those Noble men which nexte to oure owne brenthren are most néere of bloud vnto vs and yet notwithstanding thus they haue disagréed and contended with oure mother And to make themselues the more stronge they haâ—… taken vpon them the defence of that newe opinion by whose fauour and trauaile the same is wonderfully spred abroad increased To prouids a remedie for the which matter so soone as we were anointed we commaunded our Princes our priuie Counsaile and al the Counsellers of the Senate of Paris to come to Sangermane and by their counsaile and aduise we made an Edicte in the which we cleane forbad the vse and administration of the reformed religioÌ„ or any other contrarie to that which was receyued in the Catholike church by our Elders after the receiuing of the ChristiaÌ„ faith But because the fautors and maintainers of that newe opinion sawe that their ambitious counsailes and purpose were greatly let and hyndered by this Edict they would not suffer the same to be obserued and kept but in all places styrred vp such as embraced that new opinion by whom the making of that our Edict mighte be frustrated And vnder the collour of those troubles which by their meanes were raised dayly throughoute the whole Realme they pretended that the Edict could be obserued by no manner of meanes and they were the authors that an assemblye of exquisite and learned men was made out of all Parliaments which myghte declare their Iudgementes concerning the ordering of religion and that by them an Edict might be made anâ—… by this meanes they beyng moste mightie and of greatest authoritie and hauing made whome they lysted to be of our counsaile they obteyned their purpose namely That there should be libertie graunted for the exercising of two religions the whiche was confirmed by the Edict of Ianuary the which Edict the Quéene our Mother suffered against â—…ir will which was euer godly to take place as dyd also our Cosyn the Cardinall of Borban the Cardinall of Turnâ—…n the Duke Moâ—…orencie the Constanble the Marshall of Santandrae and also the chiefest of our officers which oure Father and brother left vnto vâ—… wâ—…o at that time toulde the Quéene that it would be the lesse 〈◊〉 to suffer the same religion seing the vse ther of should not be within the cities and bicause there was good hope it would come to passe that when we should come to our full and perfect age we shoulde amend and reforme the same by our authâ—…ritie and power royall Therefore the Quéene our mother went forwarde with singular faith and constancie to retaine and kepe vs our brethren and Sister in the catholike and Apostolike doctrine of Rome which oure auncetours embraced receyued for a thousand yéeres ago and more and in those dayes florished and brought notable things to passe in consideration whereof we and all our subiectes are greatly bounde to our mother the Quéene And although those men of the newe religion should be sufficiently satisfied and contented wyth that Edict of Ianuarye if they had not another purpose and meaning than the libertie of their consciences yet notwithstanding they being not content with that our sufferance shortly after the Proclamation of that Edict openly declared their peruerse myndes of their owne priuate authoritie bearing armour against vs takyng our cities and holdes bringing forraine straungers into this our Realme and lyke mortall and sworne enemyes ioyning battaile with vs at Dreux in the which it pleased God to giue vnto vs the victory hauing compassion on his people our subiectes To the ende also we might wynne our rebellious subiects with clemencie and might 〈◊〉 them to our obedience hoping that it would come to passe that God at the length when we shoulde come to more full and ripe age woulde restore obedience and concorde to hys Churche we graunted vnto them another Edict in the whiche we graunted them some libertie to vse their religion And although from that time forwarde we had manye â—…ecrées according to their owne fantasie concerning publique peace to the ende we might put them out of all feare and suspicion yet notwithstanding they did very lycensiously breake them howbeit we made our Edicte for theyr peace and tranquilities sake the which althoughe we might haue reuoked as beyng onely made but for a certaine time yet notwithstanding we saithfully haue obserued and kept the same and haue giuen them no occasion to beare Armour against vs. The which notwithstanding they haue done of late and haue come vnto vs with force of armes pretending afterward that they came in that maner to offer vnto vs a supplication for the preseruation of their religion Notwithstanding they haue openly bid vs battaâ—…l in so much that they haue besieged our principal City Paris and haue done all that they can to win the same Yet for al this we séeking to spare the bloud of our nobility and the liues also of the rest of our miserable subiectes and indeuouring to win them by clemency haue graun ted vnto them they crauing at our handes peace the same Edicte they certainely promisinge that they wil faithfully obserue kepe the same and wil neuer hereafter trouble our Realme Who neuerthelesse brake that same their promise and refused to surrender vnto vs Rochell Montalbon and dyuers other Cities in Languedoc kept still bandes of Souldiers in sundry partes of the Realme brought in straungers and killed many of our catholique faithfull subiectes all because as they said certaine of their side were slain for the examination punishment wherof we gaue coÌ„maundement But séeing wée sée them so oftemtymes to abuse our clemency and goodnesse and can doubt no more of theyr wicked counsaile and purpose which is to appoint an other soueraign and to destroy him whom God hath appointed and by this meanes to drawâ—… from vs our subiectes for these and diuers other greate and wayghtyâ—…
Souldiers into the towne vnder colour of buying things necessarie sometime he came thither also himself The like was done at y same time in an other part of France by the horsmen of Gonzague Duke of Niuers neare to the town of la Charite whiche hath a bridge ouer the Ryuer of Loyre and remained till that time in the power of those of the Religion by reason of the great number of them there inhabiting This troupe was of those horssemen whiche the King hath accustomed to kéepe in ordinarie wages in euery countrey whereof the moste parte were Italians countrimen to their Captaine Lewes Gonzague to whome the Quéene mother had giuen the daughter and heire of the Duke of Niuers in mariage They requested of the townesmen that they might make their musters within the towne saying that they had receiued warrant from the King so to do and shewed the Kings letters therfore At Lions the gouernour of the towne commaunded a viewe to be taken of all those that professed the Religion and their names to be written in a boke and brought vnto him which boke shortely after according to the successe was called the bloudie boke After the mariage ended at Paris whiche was the time that the Admirall had appointed to returne to his owne house he moued the King concerning his departure But so great was the preparation of playes so greate was the magnificence of banquets and shewes and the King so earnestly bent to those matters that he had no leysure not only for waightie affaires but also not so much as to take his naturall sleepe For in the French Court Dauncings Maskings stageplayes wherein the King excéedingly delighteth are coÌ„monly vsed in the night time and so the time that is fittest for counsell and matters of gouernance is by reason of nightly riottous sitting vp of necessitie consumed in sléepe So great also is the familiaritie men and the women of the Quéene mothers trayne and so greate libertie of sporting entertainement and talking togyther as to foreine nations may séeme incredible and be thought of al honest persons a matter not very conuenient for preseruation of noble yong Ladies chastitie Moreouer if there come any Pandor or bawde out of Italie or any Scholmaster of shamefull and filthy lust he winneth in shorte time maruellous fauour and credite And such a multitude is there begon to be of Italians commonly throughout all Fraunce specially in the Court since the Administration of the Realme was coÌ„mitted to the Quéene mother that many do commonly call it Fraunce-Italian and some terme it a Colonie and some a common sinke of Italie These madnesses of the Court were the cause that the Admiral could not haue accesse to the Kings speach nor entrance to deale in waightie matters But when they that were sente from the reformed Churches to complaine of iniuries commoÌ„ly done to those of the Religion vnderstoode of the Admirals purpose to depart they did with all spéede deliuer to him their bookes and petitions and besought him not to depart from the Court till he had dealt in the cause of the Churches and delyuered their petitions to the King and his Counsell For this cause the Admirall resolued to deferre his going for a while till he might treat with the Kings Counsell concerning those requests for the King had promised him that he would shortly entend those matters be present with the Counsel himselfe Besides this delay there was an other matter that stayed him There was owing to the Rutters of Germanie which had serued on the part of the Religion in the last warre great summes of money for their wages in whiche matter the Admirall trauelled with incredible earnestnesse and care Concerning all these affaires the Admirall as he determined before hauing accesse and opportunitie for that purpose moued the Kings priâ—…ie Counsell the 22. of August which was the fifte daye after the King of Nauarres mariage and spente much time in that treatie About noone when he was in returning home from the Counsell with a greate companie of noblemen and Gentlemen beholde a Harquebuzier out of a window of a house néere adioyning shot the Admiral with two bullets of leade through both the armes When the Admirall felte himselfe wounded nothing at all amazed but with the same countenance that he was accustomed he sayde throughe yonder windowe it was done goe sée who are in the house What manner of trecherie is this Then he sente a certaine gentleman of his company to the King to declare it vnto him The King at that time was playing at tennise with the duke of Guise Assone as he heard of the Admirals hurt he was maruellously moued as it séemed and threw away his racket that he played with on the grounde and taking with him his brother in lawe the King of Nauarre he retired into his Castle The Gentlemen that were with the Admirall brake into the house froÌ„ whence he receiued his hurt there they found only one woman the kéeper of the house and shortely after also a boy his lackey that had done the déede and therewithall they founde the harquebuze lying vpon the table in that Chamber from whence the noyse was heard him that shot they founde not for he in great hast was runne away out at the back gate and getting on horssebacke whiche he hadde wayting for him readie sadled at the dore he rode a great pace to S. Anthonies gate where he had a fresh horsse tarying for him if néed were and an other at Marcels gate Then by the Kings commaundement a great number rode out in post into all parts to pursue him but for that he was slipped into bywayes and receyued into a certaine Castle they could not ouertake him At the sute of the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde other the King by and by gaue commission for enquirie to be made of the matter and coÌ„mitted the examining thereof to thrée chosen persons of the Parliament of Paris Thuan Morsant and Viol a Counseller Firste it was founde that the same house belonged to a Priest a Canon of S. Germaine whose name is Villemure whiche had bene the Duke of Guises scholemaster in his youth and still continued a retayner towarde him Then the womaÌ„ which we sayd was found in the house being taken brought before them confessed that a fewe dayes before there came to hir one Challey somtime a master d'hostel of the Duke of Guises house and nowe of the Kings Courte and commaunded hir to make muche of the man that had done this deede and to lodge him in the same bed Chamber where Villemure was wonte to lye for that he was his friende and very familiar acquaintance and that Villemure would be very glad of it The name of him that shot was very diligently kept secret Some saye it was Manreuet which in the thirde ciuill war tratorously slew his Captaine monsieur de Mouy a moste valiante and noble Gentleman and straightway
thus Trâ—…aeus hauing no hope to preuaile by wars against these meÌ„ certified the Duke what a hard matter he had taken in hand Afterward the men of the valleys were called to parley with whom these couenantes were made namely That they shoulde vse their accustomed exerciâ—…es of Religion that they should by no maner of meanes be accused or called to account for this warre that they shoulde haue free libertie and intercourse to bie and sell through all parts of the Dukes dominion that they shuld render vnto the Duke all dutie and obedience belonging vnto him that they also should liâ—…e without offence There were diuers other particular matters which because they serue not for our purpose we omit While these things were thus handled Philip King of Spaine on the other side left nothing vndone to punishe vex with all maner of torments so many as imbraced the Gospel in any part of his dominioÌ„s but specially in Spaine Belgio the murdering inquisitioÌ„ in euery place most cruelly was executed the houses in the which the faithfull came together were burned they which were taken were spedilye put to death some being burned some drowned some tormentes with new kinds of death yea there was no respect of persoÌ„s had were he poore or rich gentlemaÌ„ or noble maÌ„ he was not frée froÌ„ these torments The king being greatly inflamed pricked forward herevnto by the Cardinall Granuellan who a little before was made Cardinall in Belgio at the creation of new bishops Neuerthelesse the faithful of the pâ—…rsecuted churches offer their confessioÌ„ to the king of Spaine and publish the same euery where abrode by publique writing open their cause to the magistrates shew how iniurious a thing it is to condemne a man before his cause be heard beséech that they might haue libertie to be heard that their confessioÌ„ might be read which would manifestly declare that they were vniustly condemned these troubles say they do arise of two sorts of men The first are such as are led by rashe vndiscrete zeale to defend their errors which haue long time continued in the Romish Church The second are such as are afeard to haue the Gospell preuaile bicause they know that the doctrine therof reproueth their wicked doings affections It is great arrogancie to condemne those that leane to the worde of God to prefer the inuentions of meÌ„ before the same Wherfore they desire that before they be coÌ„deÌ„ned they might be coÌ„uinced by the word of God that the disputatioÌ„ might not be with fire and sword for say they the word of God is the vndoubted certaine rule of truth But this was the sum of their confession We beleue in one true God which by his glorious names titles may be discerned froÌ„ false counterfeite Gods which may also be knowne by that most mighty worke of the whole world but specially by his word we also imâ—…race receiue the only word of God by faith not so much bicause the Church receiueth the same but bicause it is sealed in the hartes of the faithful by the holy ghost We beleue that one God in esseÌ„ce is distinguished into thrée persons which are the father the sonne the holy Ghost reseruing notwithstanding to euery persoÌ„ his special propertie We beleue that God which hath created the worlde doth gouerne preserue the same by his prouidence We beleue that he created man after his owne image liknesse that is to say holy good perfect that he fell by his owne faulte hath wrapped his prosteritie in y same giltinesse of sinne corruptioÌ„ that he him selfe was in We beleue that Iesus Christ both God and man in one person is a true mediator the onely meane way to saluation We beleue that he beyng promysed long before vnto the Fathers and represented and shadowed vnder the Ceremonyes and fygures of the lawe came in his time and fulfilled all things that pertayned to oure saluation and that withoute greate sacrilege and robbing him of his honor no other meane can be taken also that the faithful are partakers of these benefites which are the Church of God which is gouerned by the holy ghost and not tyed to places or perfons We beléeue that the pure and sincere preaching of Gods worde the pure Ministration of the sacraments and the discipline by the which the Churche is gouerned according to the rule of Gods worde are notes and markes of the visible Churche We beléeue that the Sacraments were ordained to confirme our faith and doe then profite when they are ioyned to the power of the holy Ghost We beléeue that there doe belong onely two sacraments to the Church namely Baptisme which is a seale of remission of sinnes and of our regeneration and therefore a testimonie of our entrance into the Churche And the Lords supper which signifieth that we are truely made partakers of the body of Christ and of all his graces and benefites that is to saye that oure soules are nourished to euerlasting life by his fleshe and bloude euen as our bodyes are nourished with breade and wine but we muste bring faith to receiue the truth of that Sacrament that is to say Christ therefore we beléeue that the Lords Supper doth only profite the faithfull bringeth to the vnworthie that is to the vnbeléeuing condemnation We beléeue that God to defende and preserue the societie of men hath ordayned lawes and pollitique gouernement which al men ought to obey that tributes custome and other taxes ought to be payed to Magistrates who ought to be reuerenced and for whome we ought to pray vnto God. We beleeue also that Christ shall come againe with al power maiestie and glory in the latter day to iudge the quicke and the dead Thus much concerning their persecution But now to returne to our selues againe When the Duke of Guise had bene at no small variance with the Prince of Conde he purposed with himselfe partlye by his owne mind in hope of profite partly by the Counsel of his friends to come into his fauour and friendship again the Quéene and the Constable exhorting him ther vnto and helping him to haue hys purpose Therefore the King when he had called the Prime Councell together and all the Princes beyng present he called both of them before hym and when the matter was opened he commaunded the Duke of Guise to declare the whole matter to the Prince of Conde The which the Duke of Guise did protesting that he neuer caused nor counselled the King which was departed to apprehend the Prince of Conde To which the Prince of Conde answered that he did counte him a wicked and naughtie person which wente aboute to worke him that mischiefe what so euer he was The Duke of Guise sayde that hée thoughte him in lyke manner to be no lesse but he coulde not helpe it At the length by the Kings
how For if we beholde the same in the representation of a certain general Councell first it is not likely that all the force and vertue which the holy Ghost hath powred out vpon the Church is restrained to a certaine number of prelates which are oftentimes neuer the more learned nor any whit the better although they represent all those of whoÌ„ they are sent For how ofteÌ„times may it come to passe that some one man altogether vnlearned shall haue more wisedome thaÌ„ all the learned of the whole coÌ„pany beside Ane therfore is it writteÌ„ in the Glose Thou hast declared concerning elections that one priuate faithfull maÌ„ which bringeth better reasons ought rather to be beleued than the whole couÌ„cel the Pope But rather in the great Nicene couÌ„cell who did let that law of chastitie which from that time brought so manie corruptions into the Church that it might not be established One onely Paphnutius not greatly learned as the storie maketh mention Furthermore at what time was there euer so generall a Councell gathered together but that not onely the greatest part of learned men and of godly men but also of Prelates was left behind And who will denie but that they which are absent haue oftentimes had the more sound and better iudgement thaÌ„ those that were present Beside these things ye also my Lordes doe know what great confusion raigneth in the Church and specially in the greatest offices of the Prelacie in so much that we may say The greatest corruption hath bene in that part which ought to haue béen more perâ—…ect and sounde Of late we had many examples and the holy Bishoppes haue fet suche déepe sighes for these things that the sounde of them is hearde as yet And truely the saying of S. Bernard is no lesse knowne than true when he sayth Oh Lord they which loue the hyest romes and desire principallitie are the first which persecute thee they haue taken mount Sion they haue taken the arke of the couenant and by force haue set fire on the whole Citie But let this be spoken my Lordes not that I touche or meane any of you but onely to declare that seyng the principall vocations in the Churche are so fowly corrupted it cannot be that the generall Councels after so long time established by a multitude of such wicked men should be so gouerned by the holy Ghost that it cannot erre A certaine ancient Priest prophecied also although he were vngodly and wicked but it was the holy Ghost that prophecied in him being ignorant what he sayd being driuen to speake by the contrarie spirit that is to say by the spirit of the Deuill in appointing to kill an innocent namely Christ Iesus the sonne of God. Furthermore if a general Councell haue this priuiledge that it cannot erre neither in the rule of doctrine nor in the forme of maners we demaunde when and at what time it obtained this priuiledge For there was neuer at any time but one faith one Church And the Prophetes do plainly declare and the histories doe euidently confirme the same that the ancient Church in the tyme of the olde Testament hath erred All the beholders thereof are blinde sayth the Prophet they knowe nothing they are dumbe dogges And the Prophet Ieremie sayth From the Prophet to the Priest all haue gone astray And least this should be restrained to the life of singular men it is expressely sayde in the fourtene chapter of the same Prophet They prophecie lyes and set forthe a false vision Also the Prophet Esay sayth The wisedome of the wyse shall perishe and the intelligence of those that vnderstand God shall put out the eyes of the prophetes Moreouer in Ezechiel it is sayde The lawe shall departe from the Priest. But who slewe the Prophetes who put the sonne of God to death who coÌ„demned the Apostles but onely the Prelates and hie Priestes of the Iewes If any man obiect and say that these things happened in the time of the olde Testamente we reply that this is no answere for bicause it shal be alwayes a strong conclusion that the congregation of the Prelates or Papistes of the Church although it be vniuersal at the last is gouerned rather by the spirite of error than by the holye Ghoste Secondly if we come to the newe Testament hath not the Apostle Paule plainely admonished the Churche in the person of the Ephesians that wolues shall come forthe from among the shepeherdes and also that the sonne of perdition shall sit in the Temple of God And certainely yf the councels be compared one with another manye contrarieties shall be found in them in so much that we must néedes confesse that they were not alwayes led and ruled by the holy Ghost but rather that Sathan hath transfigured himselfe into the lighte of the generall Councels to couer and hide his lye and error There is also another place of S. Augustine in the which he hath these words The Epistles of particular Bishoppes are corrected by prouinciall Councels and the Epistles of prouinciall Councels by generall Councelles when as by experience that which was before hidden is now manifest and knowne This place I alledged before in my firste oration to the which my lord Cardinal made answere that it ought to be vnderstoode of external matters which might ought to be altered as necessitie shuld require But y who le matter being more diligently considered it shal appéere that the worde corrected which Austine vseth doth presuppose some error which was afterward amended And S. Austine in that place dothe not intreate of externall discipline but of one speciall point of doctrine namely of the sentence of Ciprian and of the councell of Africa which concerned Rebaptizing If also this place be obiected against vs as where our sauiour Christ saith that He will be in the middest of two or three that are gathered togither in his name hereby to proue that this promise doth appertaine rather to a general councell than to a fewe men We answere that we may thus thinke of this promise but there is great difference betwéen our imagination a most certaine knowledge For seyng the wickednesse of men is growne to that passe that it abuseth the name of God to a lie there may be some which hauing the name of God in their mouth carry his aduersarie the Deuill in their heartes we do affirme that in so great infirmitie of humane wit amidst so many troublesome desires he is in gret dauÌ„ger to be deceiued which only leaneth to meÌ„s iudgements and to the external shew of a councell What theÌ„ shal we say that the doctrine of the Church seing the Church may erre is vncertaine Nothing lesse For we confesse that although we sée in part as S. Paule saith and so error may be ioyned with the truth yet notwithstaÌ„ding God wil not suffer the knowledge of the principal grouÌ„des of our saluatioÌ„
you proteste That you haue appointed watch and ward in the ports bridges passages to no other ende than to keepe your subiectes within the boundes of peace and concorde to defende the good from the practises of the euill and to restraine the force of the wicked In déede I acknowledge your sincere and perfect good will but to the ende you maye know howe im pudently they abuse your name I beséeche you to commaunde them to exhibite vnto you a forme and paterne of the commaundementes which are giuen to those Warders that they maye order the whole matter after their owne wils preferibyng the same to be done in stéede of your commaundemente And by those commaundements you shall plainly perceiue that those warders and souldiers were appointed to no other ende than to vexe and oppresse by all meanes the professors of the reformed Religion and therefore as they abuse your name â–ª so also they abuse your will most impudently as the effectes like and agréeing with these commaundementes do sufficiently declare in the writing of the which commaundementes I do note the style of the Cardinall of Loraine But as touching that which you say in the. xi branch That your Maiestie ought to haue no confideration of appointed garrisons when the aduauncement of your dignitie is in question and that the Queenes houses the houses and landes of other noble men also haue garrisons also set to ouersee them I pray and beséeche you most Christian King to perswade your selfe that there is no man to whom I giue place in shewing my readinesse and good will to obey your Maiestie If therefore it were profitable vnto your Maiesty to appoint Garrisons to ouersée and watch my house I would estéeme it for greate honour to spende not onely my house and landes but also my life to obey you And where as garrisons are appointed ouer the Quéenes houses ouer the houses of other Noble men it is done for another consideration Moreouer I had great iniurie done to me when I was denied to haue passage into my owne Lieutenantship and circute the which cannot iustly be done except I were guiltie of Treason or of some such detestable crime For wheras I am moued in that thyrtene branche Not to credit the rumors of neither part that truely is very daungerous for those things which are reported of vs can be proued by no maner of effecte or déede as for those things which are reported of the catholikes they are euideÌ„tly proued by déedes For wheras you protest that you neuer allowed those Confraternities of the holy Ghost but counted them manifest violations of your Edicte I will not hyde from you what happened of late in this matter About the eightene day of Iuly last paste there was an open conuenticle of thrée thousande men at Diuion in the which Ian Begat a Counseller of the Parliament of Diuion wyth Fioâ—… Raimond and Malleroy his fellowes and with the two sonnes of Tauuans because he himselfe being let with sicknesse could not be there made a long oration to the whole assembly shewing howe necessary it was for euery man to be vigilant least they were oppressed by false Princes which went aboute to rule the Kyng Therefore he exhorted euerye one to prouide Armour Money great horse Gunnes and all manner of Artillerie for the which cause a Treasurie should be made that therin money might be gathered together for the defence of the Fraternitie And for collecting of this money was appointed the Abbot Bussier and when he had exhorted perswaded that assembly with many words to be contributors to the Treasurye he commaunded all that were present to holde vp their hands vpon that condition that if warre were moued euery man shuld to the vttermost of his power séeke to bring those things to passe which were deliberated deuised by the Consistory appointed to this ende without hauing any regarde or consideration of Father Mother Brethren Sisters Wife Children or Kinsfolkes And when one of those which were present by and by demaunded of him whether your Maiestie would allowe the doing of these things Begat made answere that you had alreadie confirmed these things with your letters and that Tauuans had giuen letters vnto his Secretarie for the better credit whereof he himselfe being sicke had sent thither bothe his sonnes to iustifie the same vntill he could be present himselfe which he trusted woulde be shortlye Also he added further that if your Maiestie should not allow of the same it were no great matter because there were others to whom they might safely trust and leane saying moreouer that they oughte to haue regarde to those letters whiche your Maiestie should write to Tauuans or to the Parliament concerning the obseruation of the Edicte bycause there was betwene your Grace and them a speciall and secrete manner of talke which was not of all men vnderstood Tauuans also sent letters to the men of Creuan whiche were deliuered vnto them the seuen and twenty daye of Iuly by which his letters he exhorted them to vse the like societie or brotherhood promising vnto them that he would bring to passe that your highnesse should confirme and allow the same The like confraternitie was begonne at Maine many noble men entering into that societie being Catholikes as Baron Uasse Tuarsi Surchi and manye others which were either presente themselues or else confirmed that societie by their substitutes whom they sent thither with letters The like are also to be founde in diuers other places of your Realme And to the end all men mighte be the more encouraged herevnto they which were presente at these assemblyes were tolde that your highnesse had allowed them by your letters and to other some which were more subtil it was said That the Cardinall of Loraine wonlde bring to passe that you shoulde allowe all those their doings These things O king are contrary to your Edict If they will excuse themselues and say that they had special and necessary occasions offered them thus to do as by your speciall commaundement of the which also you wrote vnto me that there should be musters of men in euery prouince especially of such as were able men I saye that these societies go beyonde that Commission and are nothing agréeable with your coÌ„maundement I saye also that the same deuise to haue a description and vew taken of your people hath giuen occasions to those pernicious assemblies to assaulte your dignitie beside that it is done contrarye to the lawes of your auncetors which were euer ware and circumspect to kéepe secret to themselues the number of their power But as touching the sixtene braunch where you say That I know that your Maiestie hath writteÌ„ to the Senate of Tholoz concerning the rapine there coÌ„mitted In dede I wil not deny but that I knew of the sending of your letters to the men of Tholoz in the whiche you sayd that you had séene many decrées giuen forthe by them expresly against Rapine in