and the King of Navarre had both by consent and assistance abetted these stirs and it was certainly known that the Visdame of Chartres and Andelot had been active in them whom it was agreed upon they could not get into their power but with dissimulation and time they resolved to set at liberty the Prince of Conde as well to confirm an opinion that they were confident of his loyalty and had not penetrated into the depth of the business as also because to take away or punish him alone if such powerful revengers of his death were left alive would rather be prejudicial and dangerous than of any advantage past examples teaching us that it is in vain to cut down the body of a tree how high or lofty soever if there be any quick roots left which may send forth new sprouts The secret intentions for matter of Government thus setled and covered over with the veil of so perfect a dissimulation they resolved that soon after a General Assembly should be called of the three Estates upon which is divolved the Authority of the whole Kingdom and that for two reasons First because the Kings resolution against the Princes of the Blood was so severe he being but young and newly entred upon the Government they thought it necessary to strengthen that act by the concurrence and universal consent of the whole Nation Secondly because by declaring a publick Treaty concerning remedies for the present disorders and a form and rules to be observed in matters of Religion and administration of the future Government the King might have an apparent and reasonable occasion to call to him all the Princes of the Blood and Officers of the Crown without giving suspition to any body neither would there be any colourable excuse left for them not to come when it should be given out that a Reformation was intended which they themselves professed that they desired But because this Assembly of the States was a thing by all Kings ever abhorred for whilst they fit with absolute power representing the body of the whole Kingdom the Kings Authority seems in a manner suspended it was therefore resolved first to call a great Council under pretence of remedying the present distractions wherein by persons set on to that purpose it should be proposed and counselled as necessary that so the Princes and Lords of the Conspiracy might not enter into any jealousie as though the King without request made by his Subjects had voluntarily of himself resolved to call an Assembly of the States Things thus resolved upon presently were published Letters Patents directed to all the Parliaments and Edicts divulged to the several Provinces of the Kingdom In the Preambles of which the King lamenting and complaining that without any evident occasion a great number of persons had risen and taken Arms against him afterwards proceeding he clearly imputes the blame thereof to the rashness of the Hugonots that they having laid aside all belief in God and love to their Country endeavoured to disturb and trouble the peace of the Kingdom But because it is the duty of a good Prince to proceed with love and fatherly indulgence He declared withal that he was ready to pardon all such who acknowledging their errour should retire peaceably to their own houses resolving to live conformably to the Rites of the Catholick Church and in obedience to the Civil Magistrates Wherefore he commanded all his Courts of Parliament not to proceed in matters of Religion upon any past Informations but to provide with all severity for the future that they should offend no more in the like kind nor keep any unlawful Assemblies And because he desired above all things to satisfie his people and to reform abuses in the Government That he therefore signified his pleasure to assemble all the Princes and eminent persons of the Kingdom at Fountain-bleau a place fitly situated in the heart of France and but few leagues distant from Paris to provide by their counsel for the urgent necessities of State to which purpose he gave free leave and power to all persons whatsoever to come to the Assembly or else to send their Deputies and grievances in writing which he would not only graciously hear himself but the supplicants should have redress in all that was reasonable or just With these and the like Decrees divulged on purpose and with dissimulation the Court Master-piece they in a reasonable manner secured the great ones from their fears and jealousies nor was there any one who believed not but that the Queen-Mother and the Guises being terrified with the sudden attempt of the Conspirators and doubting more than ever new Insurrections had determined in a fair and fitting way to satisfie the discontented Princes and so to regulate the form of Government that all should again participate according to their merits the charges and honours of the Kingdom In this interim the Prince of Conde was discharged of his Guard and left free either to stay at Court or depart as he pleased neither the King nor the Queen omitting any demonstrations of kindness that might appease him But he grievously troubled in mind not being able to quiet his thoughts for if he stayed he stayed in danger and going away he went as criminal at length he resolved to taste in some measure the Kings inclinations and to find out if it were possible the intention of those that governed Wherefore being one day at Council where the Princes of the Blood are always admitted he laboured by weighty and earnest speeches to clear himself from being guilty of any practice either against the Kings person or the Queens as had been falsly suggested by his enemies But because things done in secret cannot otherwise be cleared that he was ready to maintain his innocence with his Sword in his hand against any person whatsoever that durst calumniate him as a partaker in the late Conspiracy Which words though they were directed to the Princes of Lorain nevertheless the Duke of Guise not forgetting the resolutions already taken most cunningly dissembling added thereunto that he knowing the Princes goodness and candor offered himself in person to accompany him and hazard his life as his second if there were any that would accept the challenge These Ceremonies past over which were so artificially carried on both sides that the most suspitious and least apt to believe began to think them real the Prince not at all quiet nor secure within but thinking he had done enough for his justification departed presently from Court and with great diligence went into Bearn to the King of Navarre They omitted not to use the like artifices with the Constable the Admiral and the rest but entertained them with kind Letters and Commissions and charges of trust Neither was there less care to provide in all the Provinces against any new Insurrections for which cause the Gens d' Armes were sent into several parts of the Kingdom that were most suspected and
the Tent or Pavilion of a General in the midst of an Army Being come to the Gate and intending to go into the Court on horse-back which is a priviledge belonging to the Princes of the Blood they found the Gate shut and only the Wicket open so that they were forced to alight in the midst of the High-way and being neither saluted nor met but by very fâ—w were conducted to the Kings presence who placed between the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorain and compassed about by the Captains of his Guard received them in a much different manner from that familiarity which the Kings of France use to all men but especially to the Princes of their Blood From thence the King himself went with them but the Guises followed not to the Queen-Mothers Chamber who not forgetting her old Maxims to seem independent and not interessed in any party received them with the wonted demonstrations of Honour and with such an apparence of sadness that the tears were seen to fall from her eyes But the King continuing still the same countenance turning to the Prince of Conde began in sharp language to complain that he without any injury or ill usage received from him had in contempt of all humane and divine Laws many times stirred his Subjects to rebel raised War in divers parts of the Kingdom attempted to surprize his principal Cities and practised even against his own life and his brothers To which the Prince not at all dismayed boldly answered That these were the â—alumnies and persecutions of his enemies but â—hat he could soon make his innocence appear to all the world Then replied the King To find out the truth it is necessary to proceed by the usual ways of Justice and so departing out of the Chamber commanded the Captains of his Guard to seize upon his person Here the Queen-Mother who moved with the necessity gave her consent but forgot not the various changes of the world wholly applied herself with kind words to comfort the King of Navarre whilst the Prince not saying a word else but blaming himself to be so coâ—ened by the Cardinal his brother was led to a house hard by which being prepared for that purpose had the Windows walled up the Gates doubled and was reduced into a kind of Fortress flanked with Artillery and strait Guards oâ— every side The King of Navarre astonished at his brothers imprisonment after many complaints and long debate with the Queen-Mother who laying the fault upon the Duke of Guise Lieutenant-General sought to remove all jealousies and ill will from her self was carried to be lodged in a house joining to the Kings Palace where his ordinary Guards being changed saving the liberty of conversation he was in all other respects guarded and kept as a prisoner At the very same time that the Prince was committed Amaury Bouchard the King of Navarre's Secretary was arrested and all his Letters and Writings taken from him The same night also Tannequy de Carrouge went from Court towards Anicâ— in Picardy a place belonging to Magdalen dâ— Roye the Princes Mother-in-law and there finding her without suspition of any thing being but a woman he sent her away prisoner to the Castle of S. Germain and carried all her Letters and Papers with him to the Court. But the news of these stirs notwithstanding the Gates of the City were kept shut and Travellers forbidden to pass being come to the Constable who was still upon the way some few leagues from Paris he presently stopped his journey with a resolution not to go any further till he saw what would be the event of them In the mean while the Assembly of the States began where the first thing that was done was to make a profession of their Faith which being set down by the Doctors of the Sorbon conformable to the belief of the Roman Catholick Church and publickly read by the Cardinal of Tournon President of the Ecclesiastical Order was by a solemn Oath approved and confirmed by every one of the Deputies because none should be admitted into that General Assembly either unwittingly or on purpose that was not a true Catholick This solemn Act being past the High Chancellor in presence of the King proposed those things which were necessary to be consulted of for the Reformation of the Government Upon which and the demand of the Provinces they retired into their several Chambers where when they had debated them apart they were to make their reports thereof in publick But this was the least thing in every mans thought for the minds of all men were in suspence and expecting the issue of the Princes imprisonment whose commitment was confirmed by a solemn Decree of the Kings Council subscribed by the King himself the High Chancellor and all the other Lords except the Guises who as suspected of enmity absented themselves when the Princes of Bourbons cause was to be handled which was remitted to an Assembly of Judges Delegates who forming a Judicial Process should proceed to a final Sentence The Delegates were Christophle de Thou President in the Parliament of Paris Bartholomy de Faye and Iaques Viole Counsellors in the same Parliament and according to the Customs of that Kingdom Giles Bourdin the ordinary Atturney that prosecutes all Causes that either concern the Kings Rights or tend to the maintenance of the peace and safety of his Subjects Procuror fiscal to the King performed the Office of Plaintiff and Accuser Iohn Tilliet Chief Notary in the Court of Parliament wrote the Process and all the Examinations and Acts past in the presence of the High Chancellor In this manner proceeding upon the Examinations of the Prisoners which were on purpose brought from Amboyse Lyons and divers other places they were ready to examine the Prince upon the points already discovered and proved But the High Chancellor and the Delegates coming into the Chamber where the Prince was in prison to interrogate him he constantly refused to answer or submit himself to the Examination of any of them pretending as Prince of the Blood that he was not under any Justice but the Parliament of Paris in the Chamber called The Chamber of Peers that is in a full Parliament the King being there himself in person all the twelve Peers of France and all the Officers of the Crown which was the custom formerly and therefore he could do no other than appeal to the King against such an extraordinary and perverse way of Judicature This appeal being transferred to the Kings Council although according to the ordinary Forms and Customs of the Kingdom it appeared agreeable to reason notwithstanding the present case requiring quick and speedy Judgment and no Law making it necessary that the causes of the Princes should always be tried with such formality in the Chamber of the Peers it was declared not valid But the Prince having often made the same appeal and persisting still to make the same protestations the Kings
and believing after their own fashion and now the most Christian Kingdom and first-born of the Church was ready to turn Schismatick to separate it self from the obedience of the Apostolick See and the Faith of Christ only to satisfie the capritious humours of a few seditious persons Upon this subject he so enlarged himself with his wonted eloquence by which he used to prevail in all disputes that not any of the Hugonots favourers being able to answer the reasons he alledged but the King of Navarre holding his peace the Queen-mother not replying a word and the Chancellor startled and confounded it was resolved with great alacrity of all the Council who were exceedingly scandalized at the excessive license of the Hugonots that forthwith all the principal Officers of the Crown should assemble at the Parliament at Paris there in the Kings presence to debate these matters and resolve upon such remedies as were most necessary for the future It was impossible to hinder them from coming to the Parliament which was appointed upon the thirteenth day of Iuly for the King of Navarre durst not openly oppose it lest by declaring himself a Hugonot he should gain many Enemies and the Queen-Mother although she desired not to see the Catholick party increase in strength yet she was very much perplext in mind and above all things apprehensive lest the advancement and establishment of heresie should be imputed to her The contestations in the Parliament were very great and although the Protectors of the Hugonots employed their uttermost endeavours to obtain them a Decree for Liberty of Conscience by which Declaration they pretended that these stirs and dissentions would cease yet all was in vain For indeed it being clearly not only against the intention and authority of the Catholick Church but also contrary to the ancient customs of the Kingdom and the Councellors of the Parliament being exasperated by the continual complaints which were brought them from all parts against the insurrection of the Hugonots It was with a general consent expresly ordered that the Ministers should be expelled out of the Kingdom with a prohibition to use any other rites or ceremonies in Religion than what were held and taught by the Roman Church and all Assemblies and Meetings forbidden in any place either armed or unarmed unless in the Catholick Churches to hear Divine Service according to the usual â—ustom And to give some balance to the other party the same Edict contained that all Delinquencies found in matter of Religion before the publication thereof should be pardoned and that for the future all accusations or complaints of Heresie should be brought to the Bishops their Vicars or Surrogates and the Civil Magistrates to be assisting to them upon all occasions and that they should not proceed against those convict of Heresie further than banishment but abstain from any corporal punishment or effusion of blood This Deliberation comprehended in a solemn Edict approved and subscribed by the King the Queen and all the Princes and Lords of both Factions absolutely restrained the liberty of Religion and gave heart to the Catholick party which was not a little dejected But the Prince of Conde and the Admiral grieving at the depression of the Hugonots in whose number and force they had founded the strength of their Faction not able other ways to hinder the execution of the Edict which being imbraced with great affection by the Parliaments and the greater parts of the inferiour Magistrates they durst not oppose they advised to procure that the Calvinist Ministers should desire a conference in the Kings presence accompanied with his Prelates to propose and examine the Articles of their Doctrine hoping by indirect ways to bring it so about as again to introduce a liberty of Religion This demand of the Hugonots was opposed by many of the Catholick Prelates and in particular by the Cardinal of Tournon shewing that it was useless to dispute matters of Faith with men so extreamly obstinate and who persisted in opinions condemned by the Holy Church yet if they had a mind to have their reasons heard they might address themselves to the General Council at Trent where under safe conduct they should be permitted to propose and dispute their opinions But the Cardinal of Lorain was not against it either moved through hope by evident reasons to convince the Doctrine of the Hugonots and by that means disabuse the Consciences of simple people or set on as those that were emulous said with the vanity to shew his learning and eloquence and to render himself in such a publick Assembly so much the more eminent and renowned Howsoever his intentions were certain it is that he not contradicting the Ministers demand drew to his opinion the other Prelates and finally they all consented to the King of Navarre who being desirous to hear a solemn dispute for the setling of his own Conscience sollicited it with great earnestness in favour of the Hugonots Safe conducts then being sent to the Ministers that were retired to Geneva and Poissy a Town five leagues from Paris appointed the place for the conference besides the King and the Court there came thither on the Catholick party the Cardinals of Tournon Lorain Bourbon Armagnac and Guise and with the Bishops and Prelates of best esteem many Doctors of the Sorbon and other Divines sent for from the most famous Universities of the Kingdom There appeared for the Hugonots Theodore Beza head of all the rest Peter Martyr Vermeilo Francis de St. Paul Iohn Raimond and Iohn Virelle with many other Preachers which came some from Geneva some out of Germany and other neighbouring places There Theodore Beza with great flourishes of Rhetorick having first proposed his opinions and the Cardinal of Lorain with strength of Reason and authority of Scripture and of the Fathers of the holy Church strongly opposed him The Council of State thought it not fit that the King who being but young and not yet able to judge or discern of the truth should come any more to the Disputation lest he should be infected with some opinions less exact or less conformable to the Doctrines of the Catholick Church Wherefore the Dispute from being publick by degrees grew more private and finally after many meetings brake off without any conclusion or benefit at all The Catholick party got only this advantage that the King of Navarre himself remained little satisfied with the Hugonots having discovered that the Ministers agreed not amongst themselves about that Doctrine which they too unanimously preached but that some followed strictly Calvin's Opinions others inclined to the Doctrine of Ecolampadius and Luther some adhering to the Helvetian Confession others to the Augustan at which uncertainties being very much troubled from thence forward he began to leave them and incline to the Roman Religion But the Hugonots got much greater advantage by the Conference to which end only they desired it For being departed from the Diet they
Parliament of Paris exceedingly resented that a business of such great weight should be decided and determined in any other feat than theirs which hath the pre-eminence of all the rest and is ordinarily held as a general Council of the whole Nation But the King being already declared out of Minority and by nature of a manly masculine Spirit was much the more offended that the Parliament of Paris presumed to interpose in matters of Government which belonged not to them and sharply admonished the Councellours that they should busie themselves to do Justice to which they were deputed and not meddle with the affairs of State which depended wholly upon his will and arbitrement By which admonitions the Councellours being somewhat mortified they accepted and published without farther contest the Declaration of his Majority The King having assumed the power of the command in name and appearance the Queen whose counsels were of more authority than ever turned all her thoughts to quiet and pacifie the Kingdom which like the Sea when the storm is newly past after the conclusion of the Peace remained troubled and unquiet It was no longer necessary to keep the parties divided and balance the force of the Factions since on the one side the Kings Majority had removed all pretences of affecting the Administration of the Government and already his Authority partly by such noâ—able Victories partly by taking the power into his own hands was so confirmed and established that the past suspicion ceased of the machination and treachery of the great ones who it was doubted aspired by casting the Pupils out of the Royal Seat to transfer the Dominion of the Crown upon themselves and on the other side the death of the King of Navarre and the Duke of Guise had so notoriously weakened the Catholick Faction and the rash proceedings of the Prince and the Admiral had so abated their credit and diminished their followers that the power of both parties being suppressed discords quieted and civil dissentions removed the Kingdom might easily reassume that form in which the preceding Kings had so many ages past enjoyed it Upon this the Queen bent all her intentions having devised together with the King and the High Chancellor de l' Hospital who by their secret counsels wholly managed the affairs to try all means possible to draw the Prince of Conde from the protection of the Hugonots Faction to appease the Admiral and Andelot who being full of suspicion stood as it were retired from frequenting the Court and having in this manner deprived that party of Heads and Protectors by little and little without noise or violence to eradicate and destroy them so that at the last as in former times it hath happened with many others it should fall of it self and be extinguished as it were insensibly By these arts dissimulations wariness and dexterity they hoped so to work that the Kingdom should be setled again in that sincerity of quiet to which by violent sharp means by force and the sword it was very difficult and dangerous to seek to reduce it For the effecting these ends it was necessary to have a peace with England to renew the confederacy with the Commonalty of the Swisses and to maintain a good intelligence with the Protestant Princes of Germany that the Hugonots might be deprived of such support and stranger Nations of pretences to come into the Kingdom from whose invasions they had lately freed themselves with such infinite labour danger and prejudice both publick and particular To this purpose an Overture of a Treaty was made with Queen Elizabeth by Guido Cavalcanti a Florentine who was conversant in the affairs and understood the interests of both Kingdoms To the Protestant Princes of Germany they sent Rascalone a man formerly imployed in that Country by the Duke of Guise to quiet and gain the Protestants with power besides to treat of divers things that concerned the mutual instruments of both Nations And to the Republick of the Swisses went Sebastian de l' Aubespine Bishop of Limoges to renew the ancient Capitulations made with the Father and Grandfather of the present King But with the Prince of Conde they used all subtil arts to convert him sincerely to his obedience For the King and the Queen receiving him with great shews of confidence and respecting him as first Prince of the Blood presently conferred upon him the Government of Picardy the taking away of which was the first spark that kindled in him a desire to attempt alterations in the State and entertaining him as much as could be at Court with Plays Feasts and all manner of pastimes sought to make him in love with the ease and pleasures of peace and in some measure at least to forget the fierceness of his nature To these practises being added the death of Eleanor de Roye his Wife a woman of an unquiet nature and that continually spurred him on to new undertakings the Queen perswaded Margarite de Lustrac Widow to the Mareshal de S. Andre who was left very rich both by her Father and Husband to offer her self to him in marriage believing that the Prince by this match supplying the necessity of his fortune and living at ease and in the splendor belonging to the greatness of his Birth would not easily be induced hereafter to involve himself in new troubles which had already proved so disastrous and dangerous But to separate and withdraw him from the friendship of the Chastillons whose conversation it was plain stirred his thoughts to innovations they indeavoured by the same Court-flatteries to make him believe that the loss of the Battel of Dreux proceeded from the cowardise and treachery of the Admiral and Andelot who either too careful of saving themselves or envying the valour with which he began to conquer fled a great deal too soon leaving those alone that fought couragiously and principally him in the hands of the Enemy which things being prest home and instilled into him might distract his mind and put him in diffidence of his ancient friends and confederates But he being exceedingly enamoured of Limeville one of the Queens Maids whom she not seeming to take notice of it he enjoyed having besides the hope of so rich a match that was offered him these two Considerations contributed more to the pacifying of his natural fierceness than all the arts that were used to withdraw him from the adherence of the Admiral and the other Brothers of Chastillon who not trusting in the Queen nor believing she could ever have any confidence in them could by no means be secured but continually practising to raise new hopes in the Hugonots stood upon their guard at a distance from the Court. The common peace and the Queens intentions were not more opposed by the Hugonots than the Catholick party intent to revenge the death of the Duke of Guise and impatient to see a toleration of Religion Francis Duke of Guise by his Wife Anne d' Est Sister to Alphonso Duke
having power to do or determine any thing without the Council of Sixteen and because every one cried out tumultuously that the City ought to be kept from the machinations and violences of the Hugonots and Politicks who upon occasion of the slaughter of Blois might plot against the general peace and safety the Duke having taken the name and authority of Governor put the people in Arms and under their Commanders distributed them to the keeping of the principal places taking care that the goods and houses of the Citizens might not be pillaged by the Seditious Rabble The same evening and the next day the Preachers thundered from their Pulpits the praises of the Duke of Guise's Martyrdom and detestations of that slaughter most cruelly committed by the King in such manner that not onely the mindes of the baser people but also of the most noted Citizens were won by their perswasions and kindled with an infinite desire to take revenge Which boldness both in the Preachers and People was doubled when they heard the news of the Cardinals death also which brought them to the highest pitch of rage and madness so that upon the Eight and twentieth of December being Innocents day the Council of Sixteen caused a Writing to be presented to the Colledge of Divines called the Sorbonne in the name of the Provost and Eschevins of the City wherein relating how much the Lords of Guise deserved of the Catholick Church and their being murdered by the King as Protectors of the faith they demanded whether he might not lawfully be said to have forfeited his Crown and whether it were not lawful for his Subjects notwithstanding their Oath of Allegiance to withdraw their obedience from him as an Hypocrite Prince an open favourer of Heresie and a persecutor of the holy Church who had bloodied his hands in the sacred Order and eminent Person of a Cardinal The Colledge of Sorbonne being assembled there was no great debate about the matter For though Iehan Fabray Dean of the Colledge a man of profound Learning followed by Robert Vauvarrin and Dennis Sorbin two of the Senior Doctors argued that though it were true that the business had passed as the Writing related which was doubtful yet neither for all that could the King be said to have forfeited the Kingdom nor was it lawful for his People to withdraw their obedience from him so great nevertheless was the ardour of the younger men excited by the Preachings of Guilliaume Roze Bishop of Senlis of the Curats of St. Paul and St. Eustache of Iehan Vincestre Iohn Hamilton Father Iaques Commolet a Jesuit Father Bernard a Fuillant and of Father Francois de Feu-ardant a Franciscan that they unanimously concurred to determine both the points and with concurring votes declared That the King had forfeited his right to the Crown and that his subjects not onely might but ought to cast off their obedience and that providing for the Government they justly had power to make confederacies to impose Subsidies raise Soldiers dispose of the Revenues of the Crown and to do all other things which were opportune or convenient for the defence of Religion and their own security They added with the same universal consent that the Decree of this Declaration should be sent to the Pope that he might confirm it and make it so authentick that the validity of it might not at all be called in question for the time to come after which Declaration the people as it were loosened from the bonds of obedience and having broken the rein of Modesty ran violently to the breaking down of the King's Armes and Statues wheresoever they found them and began furiously to seek out all those which could be accounted dependents of his party by them called Narvarrists and Politicks which insolent tumultuous search forced many quiet men and such as were averse from those turbulent wayes to leave their houses to save their lives many others were fain to compound with money and some notwithstanding the Duke of Aumale took great pains to prevent it lost their lives unfortunately in the business while which things were done with infinite disorder all the streets were full of Arms noises and confusions and the meanest people raging against the marks of Royalty committed scandalous and intolerable insolencies all Churches eccho'd with voices of the Preachers who aggravated the Parricide committed by Henry of Valois no longer called King of France but the Heretick Tyrant and persecutor of the holy Church and all places were full of Libels both in Verse and Prose which contained and amplified the same things several wayes But the Council of Sixteen desiring to reduce the City totally into their power and seeing the Parliament divided part being inclined to follow the popular commotions part disposed to persevere in their obedience to the King determined that the Presidents and Counsellors which held the King's party should as enemies to the publick good and adherents to the Tyrant be not onely removed from their Offices but also shut up close prisoners in the Bastille foreseeing well that if they continued at liberty and had power to manage their affairs it would infinitely cross their designs and with very great danger interrupt the union and concord of the other Citizens Wherefore having resolved among themselves what was to be done and brought all the Heads of the people to their opinion upon the Sixteenth of Ianuary they with a great number of armed men beset the Palace-Hall where according to the custom the Counsellors of Parliament were met together and having made good all the passages and set guards at every door they called forth Achille de Harlay first President of the Parliament and all the rest by name whom they had determined to lay hold on who being come readily forth to know what they would have with them already presaging very well what would come to pass the Sieur de Bussy deputed to execute that business gave them order to follow him which command grounded rather upon force than reason being by them obeyed without resistance they were led thorough the cries and injurious usage of the people to the Bastille onely Pierre Segiver and Iaques Auguste de Thou by the help of fortune secretly saved themselves who depending upon the King's party had laboured stoutly to keep the Parliament from medling in the Insurrection The favourers of the League being encouraged and the opposers of it terrified by this vehement resolution the remaining Presidents and Counsellors chose Barnabe Brisson first President and Head of the Parliament a man of deep learning and singular eloquence but of a violent various inclination and therefore very subject to alter his opinions easily and afterward the Parliament being solemnly assembled to the number of 160 they with a publick Declaration assented to the deposing of the King and to the freeing of the City and substituted new men in the places of those whom they had put out and imprisoned Nor
his life This Counsel prevailed with the Duke of Mayenne as well for these considerations as for two other reasons one that Don Bernardino de Mendozza the Spanish Ambassador did in a manner openly contradict his election wherefore by reason of the Authority and Forces of the Catholick King he thought it would be impossible to effect that which he should attempt against his will the other that if it should be discovered that he suffered himself to be swayed by his own interests and not by the respects of Religion and the general good he feared he should be forsaken by the Pope and all the Confederates and particularly by the Parisians For which reasons he chose rather to expect the maturity of time and in the interim to cause the Cardinal of Bourbon to be declared King towards whom he saw the common inclination bent and leaving the Name and Arms of King to him that was old weak and which imported most a prisoner to keep the force and authority of Government in his own hand being certain that by how much the more favourably he should he nominated and elected by the League by so much the more closely and warily would he be kept and guarded by the King of Navarre and by consequence so much the longer would the supreme authority remain in him in which time either by his death or some other occasion and perhaps by the help of Victory more easie and expedite opportunities might offer themselves hope in the mean time serving to spur on the other pretenders whose assistance would either be quite taken away or very much cooled if they should see that place possessed at the very first which they were plotting to procure for themselves Thus the Duke preventing the peoples desire and the Council of the Vnion was the first that declared the Cardinal of Bourbon King of France with the Name of Charles the Tenth and so caused him to be declared in the Parliament in the Council of the Vnion and to be proclaimed in the streets of Paris retaining to himself the name and authority of Lieutenant-General through the whole Kingdom This Declaration was pleasing and plausible to the people who were thereby well setled and confirmed to continue the War as they said for the liberty of their King and to root out the seed of Heresie it was well approved of by the Spaniards who desired to gain time to dispose of their affairs but above all it was a great satisfaction to the Pope who in the same point saw both the lawful Succession safe and the preservation of Religion The Cardinal of Bourbon being declared the lawful King by the Council of the Vnion the Duke of Mayenne by a lofty Edict full of high words exhorted every one to acknowledge that King which God had given unto the Kingdom to yield him due obedience and to endeavour with all their might to free him from that imprisonment in which he was detained by his Enemies he commanded that every one should tye himself by Oath before the Officers of his Province to live and die in the Catholick Religion and to defend protect and confirm it and pardoned all those who within the term of fifteen dayes should separate themselves from commerce with the Hugonots and retire into those places where the Catholick Vnion commanded Which Edict as soon as it was registred and published in the Parliament he dispatched the Commendatory de Diu to Rome again who had brought the Monitory against the late King to inform the Pope of the state of Affairs giving him notice that King Charles the Tenth was declared and intreating him to assist the cause of Religion not only by his approbation but also by supplies of men and money Into Spain he only dispatched a great many several expresses with particular news of the whole business deferring to send any persons of quality till he had conferred with Don Iuan de Morrea who having been sent by King Philip before the King's death he had notice was at that time in Lorain For the Catholick King though he had not been willing openly to declare himself Enemy to King Henry the Third to whom he in appearance bore respect for many reasons yet as from the beginning he had laid the foundation of the League and helped and strengthned the Duke of Guise with great sums of money so after his death he had caused Mendozza his Ambassadour to stay in Paris and there under colour of favouring Religion cunningly to be present at all businesses who by his arts and money had so won the hearts of the Parisians that he had as much power amongst them as the Princes of the House of Lorain and though the Catholick King did never send any supplies of armed men openly to the League while the King lived yet he permitted that Count Iago de Collalto who had raised a Tertia of German Infantry for his service and which was paid by him should under shew of friendship to the Duke of Mayenne go to serve him and had by his authority and partly with moneys assisted the leavies of Swisses and Germans which the Duke of Brunswick Count Charles of Mansfelt and the Sieur de Bossompierre had made in favor of the League But now the Kings death had taken away that scruple and that so honourable a pretence of assisting the Catholicks against an Heretick excommunicated King presented it self the Duke of Mayenne hoped he would turn all his Forces to assist the League and therefore he staid to hear his mind more particularly from the mouth of Don Iuan de Morrea and then he meant to send some person of Authority to establish the agreement of common affairs But the King having heard of the Declaration which had been made at Paris and received in other places of the League concerning the Cardinal his Uncle the first thing that came into his mind was just as the Duke of Mayenne had imagined to dispatch his Confident du Plessis-Mornay to Chinon where the Cardinal was and give order That he should be removed to Fontenay and there kept more carefully with stricter Guards thinking that place more secure because it was near Rochelle and invironed on all sides with the Hugonot Forces The second thing was to sollicite the Catholicks who had acknowledged him to send the Embassie already resolved on to Rome to begin to enter into a Treaty with the Pope and to see if it was possible to satisfie him Wherefore the Catholick Lords desiring that their Embassie might have authority both by the Birth and Wisdom of the person employed chose the Duke of Luxembourg a man of most noble Blood of singular parts and great experience in businesses of the Court The Embassie to the Pope being dispatched the King desirous to shew that he remembred what he had promised to the Catholicks caused the Assembly of the States to be appointed in October following at the City of Tours which the Parliament and Court of
Pietro Gaetano and the Spanish one of Alfonso Idiaques to stay in France and absolutely to obey the Duke with whom he also left Four hundred Horse and One hundred Walloon Carabines which Supplies added to the German Tertia of Collalto paid by the King and to the other French forces he thought a sufficient Body to uphold the affairs of the League especially in a time when the King having divided his Army for want of Money and because of the past misfortunes was manifestly declining The End of the Eleventh BOOK THE HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars of France By HENRICO CATERINO DAVILA. The TWELFTH BOOK The ARGUMENT THe Twelfth Book relates the various Turbulencies in several parts of the Kingdom the progress of the Duke of Mercoeur in Bretagne and of the Duke of Savoy in Provence and Dauphine The King takes Corby he is troubled in mind by reason of the contrary importunities of the Catholicks and Hugonots of his own party He sends the Viscount de Turenne into England and Germany who raises a great Army to bring it into France the Spring following The Duke of Mayenne also is no less troubled than the King The Parisians attempt to surprise St. Denis but effect it not and the Chevalier d' Aumale is killed there The King on the other side attempts to surprize Paris and that design likewise proves vain Pope Sixtus Quintus being dead Gregory the Fourteenth succeeds who declares himself favourable to the affairs of the League and dispatches his Nephew the Duke of Montemarciano into France with strong Supplies The King in the mean time besieges and takes the City of Chartres The Duke of Mayenne not having strength to relieve that place marches towards Champagne takes Chasteau-Thierry and goes to Rheins to confer with the Duke of Lorain Marsilio Landriano the Popes Nuncio arrives there he publishes a Monitory against those that follow the King from whence divers alterations do arise The young Cardinal of Bourbon tries to form a third party of Catholicks to bring himself to the Crown the King advertised of it applies divers remedies to that important accident The Duke of Mayenne makes an attempt upon Mante which takes not effect The King besieges Noyon and after many encounters it not being relieved he takes it The Popish and Spanish Forces pass the Mountains they assist the Duke of Savoy and there happen several encounters The Duke of Guise escapes from his imprisonment at Tours The King and the Duke of Mayenne advance the King to receive the Duke to oppose the Viscount de Turenne and the Germans in Lorain The Armies draw near to one another at Verdun The King having received the Viscount with the Supplies retires The Council of Sixteen make an Insurrection in the City of Paris and cause the first President of the Parliament and other Counsellors to be executed The Duke of Mayenne hastes thither brings the City into obedience and punishes the Delinquents The King marches into Normandy lays siege to the City of Rouen defended by Monsieur de Villars and a great number of choice Souldiers and Commanders the various accidents of that siege are related The Duke of Parma with the Spanish Army marches to relieve that place The King with part of his Army goes to meet him they encounter one another and fight at Aumale the King is wounded his men routed and he has much ado to save himself Villars sallying out of Rouen enters the Trenches and gains the Artillery The Duke of Parma advances but finding the City secured by that sally resolves to retire and watch his opportunity The King returns to Rouen and renews the siege The Duke of Parma also returns to bring relief and the King his Forces being wasted rises from the siege and marches to the Banks of the River Seine MEns minds were no less inflamed nor the revolutions of the War less bloody in the other parts of the Kingdom than they were in those places where the chief Armies lay for the affections of Religion mingled in their hearts with particular interests and with the already inveterate animosities of the Factions every one forward of himself as in his own cause and as in a controversie that concerned him did with all his power apply thoughts to the exercise of Arms. Wherefore the War was made both by the Heads and Governours of the two parties and by private persons of their own voluntary accord with the same contention thorow every Province but with various successes and different fortune on both sides The principal and most dangerous commotions were in Bretagne a great and rich Province well peopled full of Gentry considerable for the greatness of its Cities and convenient for the benefit of the Ocean Sea along the coasts whereof it extends it self towards the North. Henry of Bourbon Prince of Dombes Son to the Duke of Montpensier a youth of exceeding high courage was for the King and had the name of Governour for him but there were so few Towns under his obedience that if it had not been for the help of lower Normandy which confining with that Province held of the Kings party and was governed by the Duke his Father he would either have been driven out of the Province or easily suppressed by the greater forces of the League On the other side Emanuel of Lorain Duke of Mercoeur governed the party of the Vnion who had not only from the beginning been as Governour of the Province in possession of the best Cities and strongest holds but also pretending that the Dutchy of Bretagne it self belonged to his Wife Mary of Luxembourg Countess of Ponthieure he had a wonderful great dependence of all those who rather desired a Prince of their own than the union with the Crown of France which was not very pleasing to them and longing above measure to establish himself in that possession with the opportunity of present affairs he had negotiated secretly in Spain by the means of Loreno Tarnabuoni a Gentleman of his who was sent by Sea unto that Court and had obtained that the Catholick King should send and pay Four thousand Foot for his assistance upon condition that Blavet should be consigned to him for his security a place as then not considerable but which with the benefit of a very large Port fortified and improved by the Spaniards came by little and little to be of exceeding great consequence not only to the affairs of that Province but also of the whole Kingdom Which as soon as it was known to the Prince of Dombes though his Forces were but weak so that till then he had only exercised himself in actions of small importance to keep the Kings name alive in that Province yet now helping with art in so great need he turned himself to oppose the entrance of strangers And having routed Three hundred of the Duke of Mercoeurs Light-horse which were going to join themselves with his Army he assaulted Annebont suddenly a place near
both it might hinder their commerce and the navigation of the River whereby without loss of time in besieging Meaux he might reap the same or perhaps greater fruit This was the thought of the Duke of Nevers who having had the care of executing it applied himself to it so diligently that within a few days the work began to rise apace the Fortification being made in the likeness of a Star with five acute Angles and an high Platform raised in the midst The King with his whole Army was quartered upon the Bank of the River where forcing the Peasants of all that Country round about and making his Foot Souldiers work by Companies in their turns he endeavoured to have the Fort made defensible On the other side the Parisians anxious because of that impediment which would bring them into a worse condition for matter of victual and increase that dearth to extremity wherewith the City was already much afflicted ceased not to stir up the Duke of Mayenne to oppose the raising of that Fort so prejudicial to the common interests nor did the Duke desire less than they to be able to oppose it but the small Forces he had with him constrained him to proceed slowly For it was necessary first to stay till the neighbouring Garisons were drawn together and after they were met the Count de Colalto's Germans who were many Pays behind mutinied against him and without them he could not move with any hope of good success The Germans at last were quieted a certain sum of money being paid them but in the mean time many days were past whereby the Duke of Nevers had so much the more leisure to bring the Fort into a posture of defence and so much the more difficult became the attempt of hindering it and yet the Duke advanced on the other side of the River intending to fight and to possess an Abby which standing over the River he might afterward batter the Fort from thence as from a Cavalier but the Sieur de Praslin and the Count de Brienne being in it with a very great number both of Horse and Foot they skirmished hotly for the space of two whole days together before the Duke could seat himself in a convenient place to oppugn it and as soon as the Artillery was brought and planted the King appeared who had been indisposed some days at St. Denis at whose coming a Bridge of Boats being put over the Garison in the Abby was so re-inforced that those that defended it were not content to sally fiercely every hour to skirmish with the Army of the League but had also lodged themselves with many trenches in the field and with them had brought themselves even under the Dukes Redoubts and to the same Post where the Artillery were placed wherefore it appearing not only difficult but in a manner altogether impossible to gain the Abby defended by so numerous a Garison and relieved and sustained from the Kings Camp by the conveniency of the Bridge of Boats the Duke not persisting obstinately retired to quarter in the Village of Conde there to expect the Sieur de Rosne and Colonel St. Paul whom he had sent for with the Foreign Forces and with those of the Province of Champagne judging it impossible to oppose the Kings Army if his own were not much encreased by the arrival of those Supplies but having expected them in vain from the 16. till the 22 of September he retired at last to Meaux without being able to hinder the perfecting of the Fort from whence that he might not lose his time unprofitably and that he might give some ease to the afflicted Parisians he went after not many days to besiege Crespy a place of the County of Valois and having taken it without more dispute he made the passage more easie and more secure for some quantity of victual which might be carried into Paris from that fertil Country round about While the Heads of the Parties entertain themselves with these petty actions one to straiten the City the other to enlarge it from want of provisions the Treaties of each side went on with more heat than matters of War The Kings mind was intent upon the affairs of Rome having from the Popes Equity and Prudence conceived great hopeâ— that he might reconcile himself to the Church but he wished rather that the business should pass by way of Composition and Agreement than by means of Humiliation and Pardon and therefore desired That the Venetian Senate and the great Duke of Thuscany should interpose as Mediators to negotiate that Reconciliation with the Apostolick See The treaty whereof standing thus in suspence withheld the minds of the Catholicks till the end were seen and did not alienate the Hugonots who were not yet sure that the agreement would be effected but were rather full of a reasonable hope that that manner of treating at Rome would not bring forth any fruit at all Cardinal Gondi having conferred with the King in his passage and having with his pasport taken his voyage thorow the places that were of his party had made some stay at Florence desiring that some of the Cardinals might first be gained by the Great Duke The Marquiss de Pisany took his journey at the same time and having passed the Alps was come to Desenzano upon the lake of Garda a place belonging to the Republick of Venice to procure that the Senate by means of their Ambassador might first break the yâ—e in introducing the Treaty with the Pope But these attempts were yet very unseasonable for the things that were still acted in France by the Kings Council and the Parliaments of Tours and Chalons where they had damned the Popes Bulls and the Commission given concerning the Legation of the Cardinal of Piacenza and many other Declarations of such-like nature gave small sign of the Kings Repentance and Conversion and had put the Pope as it were in a necessity of protecting the League and of resenting those injurious demonstrations which had been attempted against him with so little respect as well for the security of Religion as for the reputation of his own person nor could he yet secure himself that the King who for the time past had been so obstinate in his belief could so all of a sudden sincerely turn Catholick but he doubted that it was a meer fiction to establish himself in the Kingdom and therefore he judged it to be his office by length of time and by many Arguments and Conjectures to make himself certain of his inward Conversion that he might not compleat the destruction of Religion by a precipitate determination and such a one as was little seemly for the dignity of his Person and that opinion the World had conceived of him To this was added the power of the Spaniard who possessed the greater part of the Cardinals the obligation the Pope himself had to that party which had brought him to the Papacy whereupon he was necessitated
condition 404. having advised with the Prior and others of his Order resolves to kill the King 405. his answer to a question made to him brought in to the King gives him a Letter then drawing a Knife thrusts it into his Belly ib. cast out of the window and torn in pieces ib. Colonel Alphonso Corso's answer to Cardinal Gaetano's request 433 Colonel St. Paul kill'd by the Duke of Guise 651 Colledge of Sorbon declares Henry III. to have forfeited his Right to the Crown and his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance 378. its Decree 439. Declares Henry IV. Absolution valid and the Doctors thereof do him Homage at the Louvre 645 Conditions of Peace concluded at Orleans 88 Conditions agreed upon between the Deputies of the King of Spain and the Heads of the Catholick League Page 254 Conditions between Henry III. of France and the League 353 Conditions to be observed by Henry IV. upon his Absolution 675 Conspiracy against the person of Henry III. 334 Constable Momorancy falls in disgrace with King Francis 7. recalled to management of affairs ib. Constables Vnion with the King of Navarre and Duke of Guise 52. taken Prisoner and his Son killed 82. parlies with the Hugonots and the Lye passes between him and the Cardinal de Chastillon 115 Consultation between the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his brother 369 Corbiel besieged and taken by the Duke of Parma 477 c. Corby assaulted by the King and taken 485 Council of Trent breaks up Novemb. 1563. in the Papacy of Pius Quintus 92 Cabinet Council iâ—s beginning 127. a Proposition of receiving it made in the Assembly of the States General rejected 361. The Council â—f sixteen framed at Paris by suggestion of the Heads of the League 300. informs the Duke of Guise of 20000 men ready for any design 333. suspect a Plot of theirs discovered by the Kings preparations dismay'd thereupon send for the Duke of Guise 336. of the Union consisting of 40 of the chiefest persons of thâ— League 385 Secret Council resolves to punish the Favourers of the Hugonots 27 Counsellors of Parliament who adhered to Henry III imprisoned in the Bastille 379 Count de Bouchage Brother to the Duke of Joyeuse after the death of his wife whom he dearly loved turns Capuchin 312 Count de Brienne defeated by the Duke of Mayenne and taken Prisoner 397 Count de Brisac's Forces that came to divert the siege of Falaise defeated by Monpensier 396. is made Governor of Paris in place of Count Belin 632. deals presently with the chief of the City to submit to King Henry IV. 633. Conditions in favour of him 634 by his artifice Proclamation is made that upon pain of Death and confiscation of Goods none should assemble but in the Town-house 635. his Decree to receive the King into Paris 636 Count Egmont and his Lanciers all cut in pieces 446 Count de St. Fiore sends 26 Ensigns to Rome taken by his Soldiers 163 Count de Fuentes made Governor of the Low Countries 678. besieges Chastelet in Picardy 679. causes Goneron to be beheaded in sight of the French and besiege Dourlans 681. his manner of besieging Cambray 687 Count Mansfelt succeeds the Duke of Deux-pont 146. enters France and besieges la Chapelle 644. the Governor surrenders it 645 Count de Schomberg treats with the Duke of Mayenne but with weak hope of success 600 Count de Soissons of the House of Bourbon 363. assaulted at Chasteau-Guiron by the Duke of Mercaeur and taken Prisoner 401. removed from the Government of Poictou 501 Crown pretended to by the Cardinal of Bourbon 253. aspir'd to by the Cardinal of Vendosme 498. divolved upon the House of Bourbon 400 D. DAughter of Charles the Great and Godfrey of Bullen were Ancestors of the House of Lorrain and Guise 6 Declaration of the Duke d' Alanson 214. of the Heads of the Catholick League 261. of the King of Navarre 276. of the Duke of Mayenne for the States 511. of the Popes Legat. 577 Decree at Moulins 98 Decree of the Holy Union made to combine themselves for defence of Religion 378. for receiving the Council of Trent â—14 of the Colledge of Sorbon 439. of Henry IV. in favour of Ecclâ—siaestical Dignities and Catholick Religion 558 Deputies of Henry IV. present a Writing to the League is accepted 604 Description of the misâ—rable condition France fell into by the death of the Duke of Guise 381. of the Confederate Army 531 Design of taking Bastille Arcenal Paris and the Louvre and to cut in pieces the Kings Minions and Adherents and to take him Prisoner revealed and not effected 302 Device of the Royallists 422. of the Colledge of Sorbon 439 Discord arises between the Duke d'Espernon and Secretary Villeroy producing evil effects 280 Dreux Battel 82. besieged by Henry IV. 400 607 c. Francis Duke of Alanson the Kings youngest Brother makes himself Head of the Malecontents with hope to usurp the Crown 195. imprisoned 196. excluded from the Crown of Poland 213 his flight and declaration 214. declared Head of the Hugonots by the Prince of Condé 215. musters 35000 fighting men 219. made the Kings Lieutenant General 233. rejected by those called him into Flanders driven thence by the Duke of Parma returns into France and awhile after dyes 245 Henry Duke of Anjou made Lieutenant General of the Army 118. batters Loudun on one side and the Prince of Condé coming to relieve it on the other both resolving to fight are hindred by coldness of weather 136. dismisses the Nobility of his Army sends the rest into Garison and goes to Loches 149. recovers many places from the Hugonots 165. goes with mighty preparations to the siâ—ge of Rochel 190. not to prejudice his Election to be King of Poland moves slowly in that enterprisâ— Page 192 Duke d'Aumale made Governor of Paris by the City arms them and orders them Commanders 318. is in readiness with 500 Horse to assist the Conspiracy of the Parisians 333. bâ—sieges Senlis Longueville with small Forces raises it loses his Artillery Baggage and 30 Colours 400. going to relieve Noyen after a sharp Fight retires 506. for 40000 Crowns Pension revolts to the Spaniard with the places under his Government 642. incensed at being declared Rebel keeps with the Spaniards 695 Duke of Bouillon flies to Geneva and dyes there 328 Duke of Deuxponts enters France spoiling the Countrey dyes with excess of drinking before he joins the Princes 145 Duke d'Elbeus first of the House of Lorrain that makâ—s peace with Henry IV. 641 Duke d'Espernon sent from Henry III. to meet the King of Navarre 25â— Government of Provence conferred on him by the King 283. marries the Countess of Candale a rich Heir 312. Treats with the Suisses Army and they have leave to return home 327. is declared Admiral of the Kingdom and Governor of Normandy 348. cause of distaste between him and Villeroy ib. quits his Government of Normandy by the Kings order and retires
other discontented Lords The King of Navarre goeth to the Court solliciting the King in the name of the Princes of the blood that they might participate in the Government Queen Blanch Mother to St. Lewis having taken upon her the Government of the Kingdom in the minority of her Son the Barons took arâ—s to maintain the right in those to whom it belonged So did Lewis Duke of Orleans in the time of Charles the eighth The Admiral maketh a proposition to the Male-contents to protect the followers of those opinions in Religion introduced by Calvin and it is embraced Iohn Calvin a Picard preacheth and publisheth in print 128 Principles differing from the Roman Catholick Religion which at first are hearkned to only in curiosity but at last make great impressions in the minds of men and produce great mischief Calvins opinions had their first foundation in Geneva The Reformed Religion began to spread in France in the time of Francis the First Henry the Second was very severe against the Calvinists 1560. The Calvinists use to boast much of the death of Henry the Second The name of Hugonot derived from certain places under ground near Hugo's gate in the City of Toâ—rs whâ—re thosâ— opinions â—irst took growth The manner of the Hugonots proceedings Renaudie a man of a desperate fortune is made Head of the Hugonots Conspiracy 1560. The fifteenth of Maâ—ch was a day more than once appointed for the execution of great designs in France and this day Anno 1560. the Hugonots determined to meet at Blois where the King then was The Conspirators arrive near Ambois where the Court was and are all defeated 1560. After the suppression of the Conspirators in a secret Council held in the Kings Chamber it is resolved to punish the favourers of the Hugonots To get the favourers of the Hugonots into their power it is resolved to call an Assembly of the States at which amongst others the Princes of the blood are to assist The Prince of Conde who was as a prisoner is set at liberty By the death of Olivier Michel de l' Hospital is made High Chancellor Anne of Mâ—morancy with all his adherents goes to the Assembly at Fountain-bleau The King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde go not thither The Assembly at Fountain-bleau The Admiral pâ—esents a Petition from the Hugonots in which they demand erection of Temples and Liberty of Conscience A National Council proposed A general Assembly of the States is resolved upon and the present Assembly dismissed Saga a servanâ— to the King of Navarre is taken prisoner at Estampes with divers Letters about him and being tortured confesseth certain practices against the Crown The Prince of Câ—nde practiseth to possess himself of Lions but without success The three Estates of the Kingdom The Prince of Conde committed to prison The King of Navarre kept 〈◊〉 a prisoner The Assembly of the States begins The Prince of Conde excepts against his trial and appeals to the King but the appeal is not accepted Sentence pronounced against the Prince of Conde The King under the Barbers hands taken with an Apoplexy Charles the IX All the Nobility and the Militia is divided between two Factions Pope Iulio the second excommunicates the Kingdom of France and the Adherents thereof in which the King of Navarre being included he applieth himself to follow the opinions of Beza and Peter Martyr The Constable Anne of Momorancy restored to his Command The Prince of Câ—nde set at liberty and the Sentence pronounced against him declared void 1561 The 〈◊〉 of the States d smissed A kind of toleration permitted to the Hugonots The Kâ—ys of the Kings Palace taken frâ—m the Duke of Guise and delivered to the King of Navaâ—re The private interests and enmities are covered with the vail of Religion and the two Factions take the name of Hugonot and Câ—â—holâ—ck At Rhâ—â—ms a vial is kept with the oyl whereof the first Christian King â—louis was consecrated The Dâ—ke of Guise as first Peer of France is declared to precede all the rest The Peers are twelve six Ecclesiastical and six Secular An â—dict th t no â—oâ—y shoulâ— be mâ—lâ—sted for matters of Religâ—â—n with the reâ—â—itution â—f confiscated goodâ— The Hugonots grow insolent towards the Catholicks The Cardinal of Lorain in the Kings Council inveighs against the Hugonots The Edict of Iuly The Parliament of Paris expels the Hugonots out of the Kingdom The juâ—gment of heresie committed to the Bishops The conferenâ—e of Poissy The divers opinions of the Hereticks There are Eight Parliaments in France 1562. The Edict of Ianuary The Cardinal Hippolito d' Est Legat in France Propositions to exchange Navaâ—re for Sardinia The union of the King of Navarre with the Duke of Guise and the Constable which the Hugonots called the Triumvirat Queen Câ—theâ—ine in opposition to the Triumvirat joins with the Prince of Conde and the Admiral The Queen feigning an inclination to the Hugonots Religion In a conflict between the Duke of Guise his servants and the Hugonots the Duke is hurt wiâ—â— a stone A saying of the Duke of â—uisâ— which made him thought the author of the ensuing War Persons of desparate â—ortunes the incendiaries of Civil Wars The Queen is forced to declare her self fâ—r the Catholicks and at the same time maintains hoâ—es in the Hugonots Charles the IX wept at his restraint Orleans made the seat of the Hugonot Faction The Prince of Conde's Manifest The Parliament of Paris Answer to the Princes Manifest The Answer of the King and Queen The Prince of Câ—nde coynâ— the Plate belonging to Churches An Edict published at the instance of the Parisians to forbid the Hugonot Assemblies in their City or neâ—â— the Court. The Kings Army movâ—s towards Oâ—leans * Brigues a French word signifying factions or contentions The Cardinal of â—hatâ—llin changing his Religion calleâ—h himself Count of Fâ—â—â—vais The Parley between the Queen-Mother and the Prince of Câ—nde The Prince of Conde's demands in favour of himself and the Hugonots The Kings Edict slighted by the Hugonots The Queen perswadeth the Duke of Guise and the Constable and the Mareshal de S. Andâ—â— to leave the Court which they promise The Queen having it under the Princes hand that he woulâ— retire himself the Catholick Lords leave the Camp The Prince of Conde returneth to his Army ROYALISTS and HUGONOTS The Hugonots through the faults of their guides march all night without advancing The Armies face one another and retreat wiâ—hout fighting The Protestants of Germany are Lutherans Conditions offered by Queen Elizabeâ—h of England to the Hugonots That Montgomery who killed Hâ—nâ—â— the Second Blois taken and pillaged by the Kings Army and Tours the first Assault Poictiers taken and saâ—kt Bourges reâ—dred upon condition The Heads of the Hugonot Faction are declared Rebels * Toquesaint an allarum Bell used as the ringing of the bells backwards with us The English received by the Hugonots to Havre de Grace Diepe and Râ—â—en * The
the Riveâ— Saone at a Foâ—d and the Spaniards that lay to defend the Pass for want of Ammunition were forced to leave it and retire The Spaniar's are routed and dispersed Don Alonso Idiaquer taken prisoner The Princess of Conde being dexterously referred by the King unto the Parliament of Paris concerning an imputation laid upon her of being privy to her husbands death is cleared thereof by the Parliament having promised first to turn Catholick and that her Son should be instructed in the same Râ—ligion The Pope almost assured of the Kings sincerity inclines towards him and shews himself averse from others The Pope sends his Nephew G ovan Francesâ—o Aldobrandino into Spain to â—reat of the affairs of Hungaâ—y and also of the Kings absolution Monsignor Seâ—â—fino tells the Pope that Clâ—ment the Seventh lost England and Clemâ—nt the Eighth would lose France The Pope that he might have the more free and secure opinion of the Colledge of Cardinals resolves to hear them privately one by one The Pope in the Consistory declares that two thirds of the Cardinals had voted the absolution of Henry the IV. and that therefore he was resolved to treat with his Procurators about it Upon the 16 of Sept. 1595. the Pope in the Porch of St. Peters doth with solemn Ceremony absolve Hen. IV. from censures and he is received into the bosom of the Church The conditions established at Rome to be observed by the King of France The Kings Procurators kneeling at the Gate of St. Peters Church do with a loud voice abjure the Heresie of the Kings false belief Cardinal Alessandro Medici who after was Pope Leâ— the XI is appointed Legat into France By the death of the Archduke Eâ—nest the Government of the Low-countries is given to the Count de Fuentes Count Charles of Mansfelt goes to serve the Emperour in the War of Hungary The Sieur de Gomeron Governour of Han agrees with the Spaniards and receives their Garison into the Town but not into the Castle Gomeron having left the Sieur d' Orvilliers in the Castle of Han goes into Flanders where he is kept prisoner by the Conde de Fuentes The Duke of Lâ—ngueville Governour of Picardy killed by a musketshâ—t The Conde de Fuentes goes into Picardy and besieges Castelet with a design afterward to besiege Cambray * The open space without the Câ—stle from the edge of the Counterscarp Orvilliers having agreed with the French brings a strong party into the Castle The French go out of the Castle of Han and attack the Spaniards that holâ— the Town * The Freâ—ch sayes Harancâ—nes Many Prisoners are left with the Sieur d' Orvilliers that he might exchange his Brother-in-Law the Sieur de Gomeron The Count dâ— Fuentes upon hopes given him by Madam de Gomeron comes before Han but his design of taking it not succeeding he causes Gomeron to be beheaded in sight of the French The Count 〈◊〉 Fuentes besieges Doâ—â—lans There being no commander of authority in Dourlans and all desiring to command there grows a confusion among the Defendants Monsieur de la Motte Camp-Master-General of the Spanish Army is slain Monsieur du Rosne is chosen in his place The Duke of Bouillon intending to relieve Dourlans causâ—s the Commanders to resolve that his opinion should be executed The Count de Fuentes having left Harnando Telles at the siege draws off to meet and hinder the relief The Admiral Villars fighting gallantly is slain The Marquiss de Belin and the Monsieur de Longchamp are taken prisoners by the Spaniards While the Armies fight in the Field the besieged sally into the Trench but are repulsed The Spaniards assault Dourlans and take it and to revenge the slaughter of Han put all to the Sword without regard A great number of the French Gentry are slain there and the Town sacked The Conde de Fuenâ—es gives the Government of Dourlans to Portocarrero and applies himself to the enterprise of Cambray The Duke of Nevers having called a Councel of War resolves not to ingage himself in Cambray but sends his Son the Duke of Rhetelois who afterwards was Duke of Mantua with a good relief The Duke of Rhâ—telois having overcome many impediments and fought with two Squadrons of the Enemy enters with relief into Cambray The manner of Count de Fuentes besieging Cambray The Sieur de Vic with great difficulty enters with men into Cambray The Sieur de Baâ—agny in necâ—ssity coins copper-money The Citizens rising in an uproar make themselves Masters of a gate and send their Deputies to capitulate with the Count de Fuentes The Citizens open the gates and receive their Deputies with the Capitulations and the Spaniards are brought into Cambray The Count de Fuentes having put the Government of Cambray into the Archbishops hands leaves Picardy and goes to Bruxels The Mareschal d' Aumonâ— is killed with a Musket shot While the Duke of Nemours who upheld the League in Dâ—uphine goes to Tuâ—in and Milan to get supplies Colonel Disemieux his Lieutenant delivers up the Fortresses unto the Duke of Montmorancy whereupon he seeing himself deprived of all retreat in despair falls sick and dies The Duke of Ioyeuse who formerly turned Capuchin for his wifes death now upon occasion of his brothers death leaves the Cloister and takes arms for the League Difficulties that interposed themselves in the setling of the Accommodation with the Duke of Mayenne The King being come to Fol-ambray consults long about matters concerning the Agreement with the Duke of Mayenne The Duke of Mayenne and the Princes and Princesses his Adherents are declared innocint of the death of Henry the Third The substance of the agreement with the Duke of Mayenne Difficulties and oppositions in the Parliament of Paris about receiving the Decree of the Agreement with the Duke of Mayenne The Duke of Aumale incensed by having been declared Rebel keeps united with the Spaniards The Duke of Mercoeur Brother to the Q. Dowager persists in his proposition of keeping Bretâ—gne to himself The death of Lodovi Gonzago Duke of Nevers Upon the 8th of Novembeâ— the King lays siege to la Fere a place strong both by art and nature The Archduke Albert Cardinal of Austria goes to be Governour in Flanders 1596. 1596. The City of Marseilles in the County of Provence is govern'd by the election of a Consul and Lieutenant Carlo Doria by order from the Catholick King goes with ten gallies to Marseilles to foment the Consul and Lieutenant of that City The King of France makes complaint unto the Pope concerning the attempts of the Spaniards The Duke of Guise plots to get into Marseilles by means of Captain Liberta of Corsica who guarded a Port there Afâ—er a short fight the Duke of Guise makes himself master of the Ci y and Forts of Marseilles and drives Carlo Dorias Gallies out of the Haven Nicolo Basti under favor of a thick mist passes through the Kings quarters carries relief to the besieged of la Fere
that the Edict of Ianuary was intirely observed with full Liberty of Conscience to those of the pretended reformed Religion notwithstanding it depended wholly upon the Kings will to call in those Edicts whensoever he should think sit especially that of Ianuary made by way of provision and which was accepted by the Parliaments only for a time That the Hugonots had of themselves violated the Edict made in their favour because contrary to the form thereof they went to their assemblies armed without the assistance of the Kings Officers conditions expresly mentioned in the same And besides this rashness they were likewise so bold as in all places to raise tumults and commit disorders and slaughters Wherefore their rebellion could not be excused with so slight a pretence seeing many Towns were openly seized upon Souldiers raised the Munition consumed Artillery cast Moneys coyned the publick Revenues spent Churches thrown down the Monasteries laid desolate and infinite other proceedings no way agreeing to the Duty of Subjects but express acts of Felony and Rebellion Wherefore they exhorted the Prince of Conde that following the example of his Ancestors he should return to the King abandoning the society of Hereticks and factious persons and not so cruelly wound the bosom of his own Country the welfare whereof as Prince of the Blood he was obliged to maintain with the hazard of his own person even to the last period of his life The Constable likewise and the Guises made an Answer in their own behalf and after a long narration of the services they had done to the Crown concluded that they were ready not only to depart from the Court but to enter into a voluntary exile upon condition that the Arms taken up against his Majesty might be laid down the places kept against him delivered up the Churches that were ruined restored the Catholick Religion preserved and an intire obedience rendred to the lawful King under the Government of the King of Navarre and the Regency of the Queen-Mother After which Declarations past on both sides the King and the Queen together by the advice of the Council made another Answer to the Prince of Conde and caused it to be divulged in print in which they avowed That they were in full liberty and that they had voluntarily removed the Court to Paris to remain there in great security and to advise with the Officers of the Crown how to remedy the present disorders That they were ready to continue the observation of the Edict of Ianuary and to see it should be entirely kept until such time as the King came of Age And since the Catholick Princes whose loyalty and vertue was sufficiently known to all France were contented to retire themselves from Court That the Prince of Conde nor his Adherents had any manner of excuse longer to keep at such a distance and in Arms but that they ought presently to put both themselves and the places they possessed into obedience of the King which if they did besides a pardon for what was past they should be well lookt upon by their Majesties as good Subjects and punctually maintained in all their priviledges and degrees Whilst these things were in agitation the Queen endeavoured to bring it so to pass that both parties to colour their proceedings and not to seem to condemn themselves of any violence to the Kings person should retire to their several charges and leave the Government of the State to her and the King of Navarre who being of a facile nature was a fit instrument for the establishment of her Sons in the Kingdom But after much Treating and many Declarations on both sides all was reduced to this point That neither of them would be the first to disband their forces and upon this cavil they made large Propositions in writing without concluding any thing in fact At the same time that these Manifests were published to the world and every man busie about the Treaty the Prince of Conde and the Admiral used means to draw all the greatest Towns and those that lay most convenient for them to their party To which purpose having scattered men of understanding and trust in the several Provinces they with divers policies by the assistance of the Hugonots and other seditious persons which abounded in all parts of the Kingdom easily made themselves Masters of the principal Cities and other strong places of greatest consequence With these practices revolted the City of Rouen the residence of the Parliament of Normandy and in the same Province Diepe and Havre de Grace situated upon the Ocean on that Coast that looks toward England In Poictou and Touraine with the like skill they got into their hands Angiers Blois Poictiers Tours and Vendosme In Daulphine Valence and at last after many attempts the City of Lyons also and in Gascoigne Guienne and Languedoc where the Hugonots swarmed most except Burdeaux Thoulouse and some other Fortresses they had in a manner possessed themselves of all the Cities and walled Towns By which Insurrections all France being in an uproar and not only the Provinces but private houses and families divided amongst themselves there ensued such miserable accidents that every place afforded spectacles of desolation fire rapine and bloodshed And because the Contributions they had from the Hugonots though they gave very largely and their own private Revenues with the pillage they had in those Towns that they took was not sufficient to maintain the charge of the War the Prince of Conde made all the Gold and Silver in the Churches to be brought to him and coyned it publickly into money which was no little help to them For the ancient piety of that Nation had in every place adorned the reliques and filled the Temples with no small Treasure Nor was their diligence less to provide Munition and Artillery For in the Towns which they surprised and particularly in Tours having found a great quantity they sent it to Orleans to supply their present occasions where having appointed the Convent of Franciscan Fryars for a Magazine they kept there in very good order all the Stores and Provisions that they made with exceeding industry for the future But the Governours of the Kingdom having resolved and determined a War with no less diligence brought the Catholick Army together near about Paris where entering into consultation what they should do concerning the Edict of Ianuary though there was some difference in their opinions they all concluded it should be observed partly not more to sharpen the humours already too much stirred and partly not to add strength or colour to the Hugonots cause who whilst the Edict was maintained had no manner of reasonable pretence to take Arms. But because the People of Paris reverencing as in the greatest troubles they have ever done the Catholick Religion instantly desired that no Congregations of the Hugonots might be permitted amongst them First to take away an occasion of tumults and dangeâ—s in the principal City which
was requisite to proceed with great dexterity for they are fires that flame out with too much violence Wherefore it was necessary to slacken them by degrees and secretly to suffocate them before by breaking out they filled all places with desolation and ruine and by so fresh an example as the late War demonstrated unto them how near the Kingdom of France was to be dismembred and ruined not only by the English but also by the Germans In which regard she thought it most requisite as much as was possible to avoid the necessity of a War The opinions were thus divers by reason of the diversity of circumstances the variety of customs difference of interests and above all the different quality of the natures of men rendred the matter diverse and administred different counsels notwithstanding they disagreed not in the end For both parties aimed at the destruction of the Hugonots and the establishment of obedience Wherefore at last they made this conclusion That the one King should aid the other either covertly or openly as was thought most conducing to the execution of so weighty and so difficult an enterprise but that both of them should be free to work by such means and counsels as appeared to them most proper and seasonable praying to God that severity and clemency ways so different might nevertheless succeed to the same end The enterview of Bayon being ended in this manner and Queen Elizabeth departed to return into Spain the King following his Voyage went towards the Territories of the Queen of Navarre whom not being able to perswade to return to the Rites of the Catholick Church yet he required that in all places where Mass had been forbidden it should be restored and that the Priests should be re-established in their possessions He obtained of her further that she with her children should follow the Court which seemed no hard condition not that she was affectionate to the Kings Person or approved the manner of the present Government but there being at that time a matrimonial process depending before his Majesty between the Duke of Nemours and Frances de Rhoan her Neece whom being of the same Religion she exceedingly loved it seemed necessary for her to be present at the discussion of a business in which she was so much concerned Being therefore resolved to follow the Court the King the more to invite her to stay there made great shew of kindness both to her children and her self but his having seen with his own eyes through all the Provinces of Aquitan the Churches destroyed the Altars profaned Images thrown down Monasteries burnt and destroyed and even the bones of the dead raked out of their graves and thrown up and down the fields made him inwardly conceive such an hate against her and against all the Hugonots that he ceased not afterwards to persecute them most severely until the rage which was kindled in his breast against them were fully satisfied But the general visitation of the Provinces being ended and desiring to remedy the disorders which they had discovered in divers parts by the complaints of the people he caused an Assembly of the most eminent persons of the eight Parliaments of the Kingdom to be summoned for the year following to meet at Moulins in the Province of Bourbonois there to give such orders as should seem most proportionable to the present affairs His Majesty designed in so noble a presence of his chief Subjects to reconcile the Houses of Guise and Chastillon which were so bitterly incensed against each other their private enmity drawing along with it by consequence the division of the people and dissention in the Kingdom He thought by this occasion to get the Prince of Conde and the Admiral to come to Court to work by some fit means to separate them from the commerce and protection of the Hugonots to take them off by a present certainty from future machinations to make every one taste the benefits of peace with the advantage of publick and private repose and by this way to deprive that party of their Authority and Conduct that they might be able afterwards more easily to restrain and suppress them But all these attempts were in vain For the Admiral who had laid down his arms unwillingly and Andelot who only to free himself from the Siege at Orleans consented to a peace were more intent than ever to contrive new matters and neither trusted the Kings demonstrations nor the Queens dissembling nor believed they could ever be sincerely reconciled with the Guises And the Prince of Conde always voluble and of vast thoughts satiated with the delights and pleasures of the Court despising the marriage with the Widow of St. Andre as unequal to him in birth had taken to Wife Mary Sister to the Duke de Longeville and was more than ever united with the Lords of Chastillon So that what the Queen built up with her Art the disposition of the Prince and the subtilty of the Chastillons threw down There was no less disorder threatned from the dissention that arose in the Constables Family which being kindled before brake forth now with greater violence For Francis Mareshal of Momorancy his eldest Son drawn by nearness of kindred and a certain ill-understood ambition which inclined him though with a mind and understanding much inferiour to imitate the Admiral more than ever openly declared himself for the Lords of Chastillon professing for their sakes a passionate enmity to the Guises And on the contrary Henry d'Anville in respect of his Wife who was Neece to Madam Valentine allied to the Duke of Aumale and puft up by being newly created Mareshal in the place of Brissac lately deceased through emulation also of his Brother clearly depended upon the Catholick party and the friendship of the Princes of Lorain By reason of which discord they not only divided the followers of their Family but also held the judgment and counsel of their Father in great suspence seeing they manifestly prepared the one to side with the Hugonot party and the other to foment the resolutions of the Catholicks by their private contentions augmenting the publick distractions It hapned at the same time the more to incite the animosity of the parties that the Cardinal of Lorain returning from Rome and offering to enter Paris with a certain guard of armed men as he had power to do by a Brevet so they call it from the King sealed by the High Chancellor and subscribed by the Queen the Mareshal of Momorancy after the death of Brissac made Governour of that City first injuriously forbad his entry and afterwards in a tumultuous manner put him out of the Town pretending he knew not that the Cardinal had a Licence from the King and the Council In which tumult the Admiral who was near seeking an occasion of new stirs and burning with a desire to appear the Arbitrator and as it were the Oracle of France ran thither accompanied with a great train and appearing
a solemn oath never to suffer any one to Reign that was not of the Catholick Religion and far from all suspicion of Heresie that for the time to come none should be admitted to Offices Places and Dignities in any part of the Kingdom but such as were Catholicks and made profession of their Faith according to the Doctrine of Sorbon and the belief of the Roman Catholick Church that all past things revolts of Cities insurrections of the people taking of Fortresses levying of Soldiers withholding of the King's Revenue and whatsoever else had been done upon occasion of the late commotion should be pardoned and remitted and that the King should command a total oblivion of them as things done for the service of Religion and the general good that two Armies should be raised against the Hugonots one in Poictou under the command of the King himself or whomsoever he should best like the other in Dauphine under the command of Charles of Lorain Duke of Mayenne which should never be recalled but still paid and recruited till the work were perfectly finished that the Council of Trent should be received and observed through the whole Kingdom being only dispensed with in those parts which are contrary to the priviledges of the Gallique Church which within three Moneths were to be declared by a Congregation of Prelates and the King's Counsel that the King should permit the Lords of the League to retain yet for the space of six years the Cities and Fortresses formerly granted for their security in the year 1585. and that Dourlans Orleans Bourges and Montereau should be added unto them that the King should give the Duke of Guise a Patent to command the Forces of the whole Kingdom being to be superiour unto all in Arms and all men subject to his obedience that the King should take a course to remove the Sieur de Bernay enemy to the Duke of Aumale from the Government to Boulogne which should be put into the hands of some such Gentleman of the Province as was mistrusted by neither party that Valence in Dauphine and the Castle thereof which had been seised upon by Monsieur de Valette upon occasion of the late commotions should be restored to the Sieur de Iessan the former Governour that the Deputies chosen by the Parisians after the tumult should be approved and confirmed by the King and finally that in October next ensuing the States-General should be assembled at Blois to cause the Edict of the Catholick Union to be Sworn unto to receive the Councel of Trent and confirm the authority granted to the Duke of Guise Concerning Monsieur d'O Colonel Alfonso Corso the Mareschal de Byron and the rest there was no mention at all made for the Duke of Espernon and his Brother la Valette being removed these seemed not to have either strength or authority sufficient to oppose the so formidable power of the Duke of Guise who thought already that he ruled and governed all things nor did he design any longer to reflect upon any that were not his equals The Articles concluded and confirmed the King impatient of any delay that might retard the effects of his secret counsels presently sent forth his Letters patents into all Provinces and several Bailages to appoint the Assembly of the States in October following at Blois which place he thought more fit for his purpose then any other as well because it was far from Paris and near those Towns which were held by the Hugonots as for the conveniency and greatness of the Castle but most of all because the people were at his devotion far from any commerce or intelligence with the League and that his example might invite the Deputies which were to be elected not to delay time he departed from Rouen a very few dayes after and went toward Chartres that from thence he might go afterward to the place appointed Being come to Mante a Town upon the Road from Rouen to Chartres the Queen-mother and the Queen his Wife met him with whom having stayed there the space of two dayes the Queen-mother returned toward Paris to bring the Duke of Guise to Court and the King continued his journey toward Chartres to stay there till the rest of the Court came up to him Not many dayes after the Queen-mother came thither with the Duke of Guise attended by a more sumptuous then numerous Train with shew of great humility towards the King's Person but with a presumptuous heart and countenance puffed up with spirits of a most assured power and which imported most by those things he had atchieved and obtained become not onely glorious among his own friends but also admired and terrible to those that held and followed the King's party which as it was not unknown to the King by reason of his quick-sightedness and the suspicion of his nature so did it with wonderful impatience increase his desire to see him ruined but covering his thoughts with quite different words and gestures he seemed both in small and great matters to be sincerely reconciled to him and that for the time to come he would proceed according to his Counsels and lay the whole foundation of his Government upon his valour and prudence to which end he presently caused the Edict of the Vnion to be published in his Councel and sworn to by every one and the War against the Hugonots to be openly proclaimed for the prosecution whereof according to the Articles of Peace two several Armies were appointed one in Dauphine under the Duke of Mayenne the other in Poiciou whereof the King declared Lodovico Gonzaga Duke of Nevers his General and for both the necessary Commissions were instantly dispatched to raise Regiments of Horse and to draw Foot-forces together After this first point followed the other of greater consequence for without delay the new power of the Duke of Guise was established in the Councel published in the Parliament of Paris and summed up in his former title of Grand Maistre which except the express name of Lieutenant-General contained all that power which is wont to be attributed to that dignity the command of all Armies wheresoever he should be in person the authority of High-Constable in mustering and paying the Militia the power of limiting and putting the price upon Provisions the protection of the common People the Punishment of outrages committed by Soldiers and other circumstances of this nature which after the King 's own Person placed the Duke in the highest authority of command and setled him in that Power which the Masters of the Palace were wont anciently to have in the times of those Kings that were of the Stock of Merouee Nor did the King fail to shew the same inclination to the Cardinal of Bourbon for by the consent and with the Authority of his Council he declared him First Prince of the Blood granting him the Priviledge of creating Masters in all Arts and that his servants should enjoy the same exemptions as the
favoured and exalted their family as he desired to do again for the time to come and that therefore he prayed him not to let himself be guided and transported by his affection to his Brothers but to remember that he had been forced by those attempts which he certainly knew had ever been unpleasing to him as one averse from the ambition and evil designs of his Brothers that for that reason he had ever desired to exalt him and had alwayes conferred upon him the commands of his Armies because he knew him to be far from those wicked arts which the others had intended to practice He exhorted him to persevere in that good and laudable resolution not to make himself an instrument to divide the Catholick party and tear in pieces their common Countrey nor to joyn himself to the ambition of factious men from which even in the fervour of his youth he had ever been averse but shewing that he made more account of the general good and his own duty towards his Prince than of those private passions which use to draw and govern mean vulgar spirits he would sincerely unite himself to him to preserve the peace of the Catholicks and make War against the Hugonots which if he would consent unto he offered him all manner of security and the most reasonable satisfaction he could desire But the Duke's mind was already set upon other thoughts never believing that he could be secure much less favoured by the King who gave him those fair words because he was escaped out of the net and seeing the great distractions of the Kingdom he hoped for a much higher power and greatness then what his brothers had possessed wherefore his inclinations and hope meeting both together in the same end and thinking that it so became his honour he leaned toward revenge and the command of that faction which resolution was absolutely concluded after that Madam de Montpensier not valuing her own health nor the inconveniency of the season came with great speed to Dijon whose vehement effectual exhortations and the Letters of the Duke of Aumale and many others of the faction exciting him he at last determined to consent to the taking up of Arms and to prosecute the designs of the League making himself Head of the Holy-Vnion The resolution being taken he presently gave order to the Sieurs de Rhosne de St. Paul Chamois and d' Eschavoles to receuit their Regiments of French Foot and began to summon the Nobility and Gentry his dependents and to win the hearts of the people in every place And because the foundation consisted in the City of Paris the Duke determined to go thither with Madam de Montpensier the way being now secure by the taking of the Castle of Orleans and by the revolt of Bourges Troye and Chartres The Duke passed through all these Cities gathering Forces and drawing men together some raised with his own Money some brought in by his friends and adherents and some furnished by the People and being already grown to the number of Four thousand soldiers and Five hundred Gentlemen he came upon the fifteenth of February into the City of Paris There the Duke and Chevalier d' Aumale putting themselves willingly under his authority and the Councel of the Vnion with most ready consent of the Citizens acknowledging him for their Head the Parliament having assembled all the Chambers Bernabe Brisson first President of the League making the Proposition declared him Lieutenant-General of the State and Crown of France giving him except the name the very power and authority which uses to be natural to their Kings which yet they intended should continue but till the States-General of the Kingdom should determine otherwise they being appointed to meet in the City of Paris in the month of Iuly following Thus the Duke of Guise's death did with admirable facility and the universal inclination of that party produce that power in his brother which he with so many toils and so long machinations had so eagerly laboured for in his life-time yet never could obtain it for himself Upon the two and twentieth of February the Duke took possession in the Parliament of this extraordinary dignity having taken a publick Oath to protect and defend the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion against every one To preserve entire the State belonging to the Crown of France To defend the Priviledges of the three Orders the Clergy Nobility and Commons and To cause the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom to be observed as also the authority and power of the Parliaments After which Oath many Prayers and Processions having been made he chose and appointed the Council of the Union consisting of Forty of the most eminent perspicuous persons of the League which with his assistance was to treat of and conclude all the most weighty businesses the Council of Sixteen being nevertheless still left and particularly appointed for the especial Government of Paris Having taken the command of the League upon him the Duke began to increase the Body of his Forces to form an Army of them with which he might march whither need should require But in every Province he allotted both Forces and Commanders to order the affairs of the League and to make War against those who were yet of the Kings party Bretagne was governed by the Duke de Mercoeur who not at all moved with the Kings and his Sisters Exhortations to unite himself unto them was very strong and powerful having with his authority made all that Province to revolt except the Parliament of Renes and some few Towns and little Castles In Normandy it hapned otherwise for though the greatest part of the Towns had declared for the League yet the Nobility held of the Kings party so that the Heads were few and divided The Sieur de la Londe at Rouen Andre Braneace Sieur de Villars at Havre de Grace Long-champ at Lisieux and the Baron d' Eschaufour in the Country of Perche Wherefore the Duke sent the Count of Brissac thither with authority to command them all The Duke of Aumale who was Governour of it went into Picardy a divided Province yet one of the most favoured by the League because it bordered upon the Territories of the Catholick King The Count de Chaligny and Col. St. Paul an old Servant bred up in that Family went into Champagne a Province destined in succession of his Father to the young Duke of Guise who was yet in prison The Viscount de Tavannes an old experienced Souldier had order to command in Bourgongne the particular Government of the Duke of Mayenne The care of Lyonois was given to the Duke of Nemours and in his absence to his Brother the Marquess of St. Sorlin The command of Berry continued under the Sieur de la Chastre who being Field-Mareschal in the Duke of Nevers his Army assoon as he could free himself of that obstacle followed the party of the League as he had formerly
should be over-looked who had managed the moneys raised by the Contributions and Gabelles of the City That the moneys that came in by the ordinary Imposts should not be spent but in the payment of the Garison which should be increased with Foreigners either Walloons Italians or Spaniards That the Council of State should be filled up to a certain number and the men that should be chosen of it were named by them That likewise a Council of War might be framed whereof some Colonels of the City were to be and the chief Commanders of the Foreign Militia without the consent of which Council the Governour should not be able to resolve any thing And finally That the Seals of the Crown which the Duke of Mayenne carried about wheresoever he was himself should remain constantly in the City and not be removed to any other place This being resolved on they presently dispatched Father Claudio Mattei with Letters to King Philip in which they prayed him to take upon him their Protection and Government And having with cries and clamours made the Council of State to be assembled they propounded the Articles to the end they might be confirmed and executed The Governour and Prevost des Merchands with some of the gravest Eschevins endeavoured to get the benefit of time alledging that the day was too far spent and hoping that by delay the ardour of the people would be cooled But the Council according to their advice having determined to stay till the next day the Sixteen with the people in arms stopt Madam de Nemours as she was going out from the Council and would by all means have the Articles confirmed which the Council having chosen to do as the lesser evil the Dutchess her self carrying forth the Decree that was made about it pray'd them with gentle words to forbear the execution of it till her Son the Duke of Mayenne had given his consent without whose knowledge it was not fit things of so great importance should be done that the delay was but for a few days that the Council and she her self would dispatch the Sieur de Bourg to the Duke to carry him the Decree and bring back his confirmation of it and she assured them they should remain fully contented and satisfied The fury of the people being in part appeased with this grant they began to lay down their arms and to be quiet again expecting the resolution of the Duke who from Retel being gone to Laon to meet with the Dutchess Mother to the Duke of Guise upon the twentieth day in the evening received the news of what had hapned in Paris He was wonderfully moved at so dangerous an accident which was about to strike directly at his authority but yet would not shew any trouble of mind lest the Duke of Guise who was present should take notice of his anger against his dependents but only said that he would expect the Sieur du Bourg who the Governour wrote him word was immediately to depart to be better informed of the business and that it was good to remedy popular commotions with gentleness and not to be incensed against them to avoid greater scandals and more pernicious errours for the people drawn by a good zeal do ordinarily move without consideration These words setled the mind of the Duke of Guise who was afraid lest he should prove cruel against his dependents and the discourses of the next day quieted him much more so that though the Duke of Mayenne said he would go to Paris to prevent those mischiefs that might happen by the divisions of mens minds yet he let himself be perswaded to stay because he had the command of the Army and was to meet with the Duke of Parma who being come to Valenciennes was in the end of the month to be at Guise that they might resolve together of the time and manner of his coming The Sieur du Bourg arrived the day following from whom the Duke had the whole Narration of the business and of the Decree that had been made in the Council of State to appease the people whereupon being resolved to depart and determining with himself to establish his own power and authority by this occasion he dispatched Monsieur de Rosne to the Duke of Parma to excuse him if he could not be at the place appointed upon the prefixed day and left the charge of the Army and of meeting with the Duke of Parma to the Duke of Guise but with such caution that to the end he might not be able to do any thing in arms he gave secret orders to Rosne and Tavannes who were Mareschals of the field that they should neither draw forth Artillery nor Ammunition which were all at la Fere and he gave the Duke of Guise no Information at all of the particulars that were to be treated of with the Duke of Parma to the end he might not be able to conclude any thing of moment and having obtained of the Duke of Montemarciano and of Commissary Matteucci that the Switzers might not be dismissed at that time and that all the Forces should stay till his return shewing haste and want of time he took with him the Counts of Vaudemont Chaligny and Brissac the Sieurs de Bassompierre and Villeroy with Seven hundred of his best Horse part French part Lorainers and departed upon the Five and twentieth in the morning towards Paris leaving President Ieannin with the Duke of Guise to moderate his Counsels and to observe his carriage The same night Don Diego d'Ivarra went the same journey though the Duke had desired him to stay not being willing to let himself be deceived as the Duke of Guise had been but being by all means resolved with his help and counsel to assist against the danger of the Spanish adherents The Duke making speed in his journey would yet nevertheless take with him two Regiments of Foot that were at Soissous and having received the Sieur de Vitry with Two hundred other Horse at Meaux he arrived near the City of Paris upon the Twenty eighth day in the evening The Sixteen with the Preachers and the Colledge of Sorbonne seeing the Duke come armed and knowing that the Governour and the Prevost des Merchands with the dependents of the Council of State and Parliament would be powerful in the City though Bussy kept the Bastille for them being much affrighted propounded to appease him with words and demonstrations and sent four of the chief of them with many of the Citizens to meet him to the end they might endeavour to divert the anger which they imagined he came withal These met him at the Abbey of St. Anthoyne without the Walls and with a discourse full of submission strove to perswade him that all had been done to an extream good end for the safety of the City the conservation of Religion the maintenanâ—e of his own Authority and to satisfie the people that were desperate because there was no shew at all
made against those Rebels and disturbers of the publick peace That this had been chosen as the least evil to the end that the people enraged might not make some bloody tumult That those who had been executed were manifestly guilty as he might see by the proofs which though they were not accompanied with the wonted Forms of Justice were at least true real and manifest That the Articles propounded to the Councellors of State were by them accounted reasonable yet that nevertheless they submitted them to his censure And finally they put him in mind how much they had done and suffered for the greatness of his House and for his own exaltation and besought him to make himself be known for an indulgent loving Father and not for a punctual severe Prince The Duke who desired not to receive an obstacle at his entring into Paris but to be let in with his Forces without resistance excellently dissembling the injury he had received and the anger that was kindled in him welcomed them all severally and answered them in general that he came to the City for no other end and with no other intention but to secure it as he that knew well the sustentation of Religion and his own hopes were all founded and placed in that people and in the Council of Sixteen the first authors and framers of his party With which words and outward shows having in great part assured their minds he entred that night into the City when it was late and being conducted to his Hostel he held the same discourse with many knowing that by proceeding so if he should find opposition he might attribute the pardon to his own will and if he could execute his intentions those outward demonstrations could not hurt or prejudice him in any manner A while after him arrived Diego d' Ivarra who being come to him with the other Spanish Ministers they strove together to perswade him not to shew any resentment of what was past but to give satisfaction to the people for the time to come since the things that had happened though they were done without due orders and forms of Justice were yet good in themselves and profitable for the conservation of Religion and that in the distractions of Civil Wars the ordinary rules of good Government cannot be so well observed but many things are done to a good end in the heat of dangers which in quiet peaceful times would in no wise be suffered That he himself had proceeded in that manner at la Fere without forming any Process against the Marquiss de Menelay whom he had caused to be killed for otherwise that place could not have been kept That therefore it was better to quiet all things by approving what was fallen out than by going about to punish any one to kindle new discords and more dangerous tumults The Duke answered with the same moderation and so parted with the Spaniards but having taken information of the Forces that were in the City and having been told by the Governour and the Prevost des Merchands that the greater and better part of the people would be at his devotion he caused the Colonels of the City to guard their several Quarters that night and in the morning having put in Arms the Foot and Horse he brought with him he went up to the rüe St. Anthoyne and sent to command the Sieur de Bussy at that very instant to deliver up the Bastille into his hands he excusing himself interposing delays and demanding security that he should be harmless the Duke caused the Artillery to be taken out of the Arcenal and began to make them be drawn that way whereat the Governour of the Bastille affrighted being a man more accustomed to any thing than the exercise of Arms and not seeing that any in the City stirred in favour of him for the Governour and Prevost had possessed and blocked up all the ways he at last after many Treaties agreed to leave the Bastille receiving a promise not only from the Duke but from many others that his life should be given him and yet being come home to his house he was assaulted the same evening and was necessitated to save himself by getting over the tops of houses with much ado and with very great danger and after some few days the Duke winking at it he fled secretly from the City and went to live in another place Bussy being out of the Bastille the Duke chose the Sieur du Bourg a man valiant and trusty Governour of it and put such a Garison into it as secured it from all danger that might happen which done he the next morning sent the Sieur de Vitry with his Horse the streets being still blocked up and the Militia in Arms and caused to be taken prisoners at their own Houses Commissary Louchart Captain Emmonot Barthelemy Auroux Colonel of the Quarter of the Carmelites and Ameline the Advocate Cromay the Counsellour being stolen away and secretly fled for being hid by the Spaniards he continued many days in the habit of a Souldier among those of the Garison and went afterwards into Flanders where he lived in great necessity These four judged to be the most faulty of the Sixteen were the next day strangled by the Hang-man in a Chamber of the Louvre and after publickly hanged upon the Gallows the example sufficing the Duke to recover his authority and reputation without shewing cruelty in the blood of so many others that were guilty of the same crime This severity did wonderfully terrifie the Preachers and the Colledge of Sorbonne but the Duke not willing to lose them nor to put himself upon an enterprise that might be sinisterly interpreted nor yet to make so great a confusion as might cause some division in his party went personally to the Church of the Sorbonne and there with grave and moderate words assured them of his favour and protection and said That in consideration of their former vertue and constancy he pardoned the present disobedience and conspiracy and making shew to do it for their sake he caused an Edict to be published wherein declaring that he had satisfied Justice by the punishment of four seditious persons he granted pardon to all the rest imposing silence and oblivion to what was past Out of this Pardon he excepted the Counsellor Cromay Adrian Cocher and the Greâ—â—ier that wrote the Sentence against Brisson who afterwards perished diversly by divers ways At the same time he also decreed that experience having shewn how pernicious those Meetings and Conventicles were which were made secretly without the presence of the publick Magistrate none should upon pain of death any more assemble any other Councils within the City or without save the ordinary Council of the Union with the assistance or presence of the lawful Magistrates These Decrees registred with full consent of the Parliament put an end to the power of the Sixteen and did something slacken and retard the designs and machinations
composition of Twenty thousand Crowns The King in Council with the most conspicuous men of â—is party declares the necessity of giving some satisfaction to the Hugonots He proposes the confirmation of the Edict of Pacification made last by Henry the Third which grants them Liberty of Conscience with some circumstances and limitations and it is consented to The Cardinal of Vendosme begins to raise a third party of Catholicks to make himself Head of them and thereby to bring himself to the Crown Scipio Balbani is sent to Rome by the Cardinal of Vendâ—smâ— to treat with thâ— Pope and to communicate his design unto him The Cardinal of Lenon-court gives the King notice of the designs of the Cardinal of Vendosme The Sieur des Portes Secretary to the Duke of Mayenne informs him of the practices of the said Cardinal but a Letter being intercepted falls into the Kings hands The High Chancellor being told by the King of the Cardinal of Vendosmes designes perswades him to turn Catholick Monsieur de la Noues Answer to the High-Chancellor The Count dâ— Soissons brother to the Cardinal Veâ—dâ—sme is removed from the Government of Poictou upon suspicion Landriano the Popes Nuncio arrives at Rheims with Monitory Letters to the Prelates and Catholicks of the Kings paâ—ty After long opposition by the French Lords the Monitory is published to the satisfactioâ— of the Spanish and Popish party The Parliaments of Câ—alons and Touâ—s decree That the Pope's Monitory should be publickly burnt The Parliament of Paris makes Decrees contrary to those of the Parliaments of Tours and Chalons The Meeting at Rheims dissolves without any determination The Pope sends 1200 horse and 6000 foot into France under the command of the Duke of Monte-Marciano The people of Rouen disliking the Viscount de Tavannes their Governor make an Insurrection The Marquiss de Menelay is killed by order from the Duke of Mayenne because he would have delivered up la Fere to the King and have gone over to his party The Duke of Mayenne gives a scalado to Mante where the Prelates Lords and Officers of the Kings party were weakly guarded but being discovered is beaten off He goes to assault the Swisses at Hudan and having found them well fortified is fain to return By the Council of Mocenigo the Venetian Ambassador the King removes his Officers and Prelates from Mante to Chartres The situation of Noyon besieged by the King The Viscount de Tavannes going to put relief into Noyon is defeated and taken prisoner The Duke of Aumale going to relieve Noyon after a sharp sight retires The Duke of Mayenne having heard of the siege of Noyon marches with his Army to Han to give courage to the besieged The Duke of Mayennâ— resolves not to hazard a Battel with the King The Sieur de Ville Governor of Noyon seeing the King's Forces ready to give the assault parleys and concludes to surrender the place if it were not relieved within two dayes which is performed The Duke of Savoy obtains that the Popes Forces marching towards France should stay some time in his State to strengthen his designs against the Sieur Les Diguieres The Duke of Savoy besiegeth the Fort of Morestelâ—o The Savoyardâ— are routed and defeated by the French President Ieannin returns from Spain but brings no resolution to the Duke of Mayenne The King of Spains answers to President Iannin Charles Duke of Guise having been long kept prisoner at Tours â—scapes at 〈◊〉 and flees to Bourges The Duke of Mayenne inwardly afflicted for the D. of Guises escape strives to shew signs of joy and treats underhand with the Cardinal of Bouâ—bon and the other Lords that endeavour to set a third party on foot Charlotte de la Mark Heir to the Dutchy of Bouillon is given in Marriage to Henry de la Tour Viscount de Turenne at which the D. of Nevers iâ— disgusted The King being joyned with the German Army takes Attigny whither all the wealth of the neighbouring people had been broughtin and grants the pillage of it to the Germans The King reinforced by the German supplies brought by the Viscount de Turenne offers battel to the Duke of Mayenne in the Plain of Verdun The Dukes of Lorain and Mâ—â—enne agree secretly not to condescend to the election of any to be King of France not only that was a stranger but also that was not of their Family or at least a Prince of the Blood of the Catholick Religion The Duke of Mayenne being at Retel the Duke of Guise comes to him well accompanied and is received with outward shews of love but iâ— their secret conferences their confidence is not correspondent At the news of the death of Pope Gregory the XIV the Duke of Montemâ—rciano interposes delays and declares that he will depend upon the will of the Duke of Parma The Council of Sixteen falls into an emulation with the Parliament of Paâ—is and with the Council of State chosen by the Duke of Mayenne Brigard who had been imprisâ—ned upon suspition of Plots against the League being â—scaped the Judges that made his process are by the people in Armâ— tumultuously put in prison and by the Council of Sixteen are caused to be strangled as accomplices in his flight The Council of Siâ—teâ—n resolves to put it self under the protection of the Catholick King The Contents of certain Articles made by the Council of Sixteen The Duke of Mayenne being come to Paris to appease the Insurrection takes the Bastillâ— kept by the Sieur de Bussy and having set strong guards in the several quarters of the City causes four of the chief of the Council of Sixteen which were most guilty to be strangled * Or Notary The Duke of Parma declares that he had not been privy to the commotion of the Parisians praises the D. of Mayenne for having punished the delinquents and having met with the Duke of Guise at Valenciennes refuses to treat with him without the presence of the D. of Mayenne The Spaniards grant small supplies to divers French Heads of the League to alienate them from the Duke of Mayenne and divide them from the body of the League The Duke of Mercoeur with the Spaniards and the Prince of Dombes with the English face one another in Brâ—tagne The Sieur de la Noue going to view the breach and the works at Lambale is killed with a Musket-shot in the head Count Francesco Martinengo is defeated by Monsieur de la Valette and the siege of Vinon iâ— raised The Sieur de Sancy who was at Basil to raise men in that Canton having heard of One hundred thousand Ducats that were carrying from Milan toward German to levyforces theâ— places himself in ambush in a Wood assaults the Convoy and with much ease takes the Money * The French says Vitry * Quercy The course taken by the Sieur de Villars in ordering disposing and preparing things to receive the siege which was going to be laid to Rouen by the Kings
great party of the youth who were of unquiet spirits factious and inclined to a desire of Novelties So that the disposition of the Inhabitants answering the instigation of the complices already a great part of the people were willing to take Arms. And that things might be done in due order the Prince had the day before sent Monsieur de Andelotte to the City who entring thereinto secretly at the same time that the Prince seised upon the Court should endeavour likewise to make himself Master of the Town But though it so fell out that the Prince could not arrive at Court Andelotte not knowing what had happened armed three hundred of his followers and at the day appointed suddenly seised on S. Iohn's Gate Upon which accident Monsieur de Monterau Governour of the City getting together some few men of Monsieur de Sipierres company who by chance were then thereabouts very hotly assaulted the Conspirators with no little hope that they should be able to drive them away and recover the entrance of the Gate where they had not had time enough to fortifie themselves so that joyning in a bloody fight after a conflict of many hours Andelotte at length began to yield to the multitude of the Catholicks who ran thither armed from all the parts of the Town and had surely received an affront if he had not been opportunely assisted by an unexpected succour For the Prince of Conde not finding the Court at Fountain-bleau and therefore desisting from his voyage returned much sooner than he thought and marching with great diligence approached near to Orleans at the same time that the fight began and knowing it to be very violent by the continual shot and incessant ringing of Bells which might be heard many miles off he presently gallopped with all his Cavalry towards the City to succour his Confederates who were already in great danger of being defeated They were more than three thousand horse and ran headlong with such fury that the peasants though astonished with the unusual spectacle of civil arms in the midst of their fright and wonder could not forbear to laugh seeing here a horse fall there a man tumbled over and nevertheless without regarding any accident run furiously one over another as fast as their horses could go upon a design which no body knew but themselves But this haste so ridiculous to the Spectators had very good success to the Princes intentions For coming with such a powerful succour and in so fit an opportunity of time the Governour being driven away and those that resisted suppressed at last the Town which was of exceeding consequence was reduced into his power and by the Authority of the Commanders preserved from pillage But the Churches escaped not the fury of the Hugonot-Souldiers who with bruitish examples of barbarous savageness laid them all waste and desolate Thus the Prince having taken Orleans and made it the seat of his Faction he began to think upon War And first having appointed a Council of the principal Lords and Commanders he advised with them of the means to draw as many Towns and Provinces to his Party as was possible and to get together such a sum of money as might defray the expences which at the beginning of a War are ever very great The Catholick party were intent upon the same ends who being come to Paris with the young King and the Queen held frequent consultations how best to order the affairs for their own advantage in which Councils the Duke of Guise openly declared that he thought it most expedient to proceed to a War with the Hugonots so to extinguish the fire before it burst out into a consuming flame and to take away the roots of that growing evil On the contrary the Chancellor de l' Hospital secretly set on by the Queen proposing many difficulties and raising doubts and impediments upon every thing perswaded an agreement by which both parties absenting themselves from the Court the power of the Government should be left free and quiet to the Queen and the King of Navarre But being sharply reproved by the Constable and after the news of the revolt of Orleans injuriously treated under pretence of being a Gown-man he was excluded from the Council that was now called the Council of War by which means also a principal instrument was taken from the Queen who having no power left in that Council for there were newly admitted to it Claud Marquess de â—oisy Honore Marquess Villars Louis de Lansac Monsieur de Cars the Bishop of Auxerre the Sieurs de Maugiron and la Brosse who all absolutely depended upon the Constable and the Guises every thing on that side likewise tended to the raising of Arms. At the first as it ever falleth out their pens were more active than their swords For the Prince of Conde and his adherents willing to justifie in writing the cause of their taking Arms published certain Manifests and Letters in print directed to the King the Court of Parliament in Paris the Protestant Princes of Germany and to other Christian Princes in which very largely but no less artificially dilating themselves they concluded that they had taken Armâ— to set the King at liberty and the Queen his Mother who by the Tyrannical power of the Catholick Lords were kept prisoners and to cause obedience to be rendred in all parts of the Kingdom to his Majesties Edicts which by the violence of certain men that arrogate to themselves a greater Authority in the Government than of right belonged to them were impiously despised and trodden under foot and therefore that they were ready presently to lay down their Arms if the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Mareshal de St. Andre retiring themselves from the Court would leave the King and the Queen in a free place in their own power and that liberty of Religion might be equally tolerated and maintained in all parts of the Kingdom The Parliament at Paris answered their Manifest and the Letters shewing that the pretence was vain by which they sought to justifie their taking of Arms which they had immediately raised against the Kings Person and his Royal Authority for so far was the King or the Queen his Mother from being deprived of liberty or retained in prison by the Constable and the Guises that on the contrary they were in the capital City of the Kingdom where the chief Parliament resided and in which commanded as Governour Charles Cardinal of Bourbon Brother to the Prince of Conde and one of the Princes of the Blood That the King of Navarre Brother also to the same Prince of Conde held the chief place in the Government and the Queen-Mother the charge of the Regency both chosen by the Council according to the ancient custom and confirmed by the consent of the States-General of the Kingdom that every day they assembled the Council composed of eminent persons to consult of fit remedies for the present evils
in the Parliament a thing not usually done except in great necessity but by the King himself or by his Authority gravely advertised the Counsellors promising his care to pacifie the uproars of the people and to free them from so imminent a danger Which kind of proceeding exceedingly offended the King and the Queen it appearing to them that those people presumed too evidently to counterpoise the Royal Authority But the end at which they aimed made them artificially dissemble their displeasure With these seeds of discord ended the year 1565. At the beginning of the year following the King and Queen being really intent though inwardly exasperated to put an end to the troubles of the Kingdom rather by the arts of Peace than the violence of War went to Moulins where those that were summoned met from all parts at the Assembly in which the complaints of the people being proposed and considered and the abuses introduced according to the advice of the High Chancellor there was a long punctual decree formed in which was prescribed a form of Government and a manner of proceeding for the Magistrates taking away those corruptions and disorders that use to give the subject just cause of complaint At the same time the King insisting upon the pacification of his subjects for the general peace of the Kingdom a reconciliation was endeavoured between the Houses of Guise and Chastillon at which appeared on the one side the Mareshal of Momorancy with the Chastilâ—ons on the other the Cardinals of Lorain and Guise but with such backwardnâ—ss in both parties that there was little hope of sincere intentions where there appeared so much disorder and such an adherence to private interests For on the one part the Duke of Aumale Brother to the Cardinals had absolutely refused to be present thereat and Henry Duke of Guise yet in age of minority came thither only not to displease his Tutors but carried himself in such a grave reserved manner that it clearly appeared though his Governours brought him against his will when he was once come of age he would not forget the death of his Father nor observe this peace to which he could not being then so young remain any way obliged But on the other part also the Mareshal of Momorancy not induring so far to humble himself denied to speak câ—rtain words appointed by the Queen and the Council for the satisfaction of the Cardinal of Lorain nor would ever have been brought to it if he had not been forced by his Father who if he refused threatned to disinherit him and the Chastillons opposing by their Actions this seâ—ming Agreement ceased not to calumniate and make â—inister interpretations of the proceedings of the Guises At the last they were brought â—ogether in the presence of the King where they imbraced and discoursed but with a general belief even of the King himself that the reconciliation could not long endure which within a few days proved so indeed For the Duke of Aumale arriving at the Court denied expresly to meet with or use any act of salutation or civility to the Admiral or the rest of his Family On the contrary in the Queens presence he said that the Admiral laying to his charge that he had hired one to kill him he should think it a great happiness to be shut up with him in a chamber that he might hand to hand let him know â—e had no need of help but that he was able to determine his own quarrels himself And because the Queen being moved therewith answered That they might meet in the field the Duke repâ—yed again That he came thither with fifty Gentlemen but would return oâ—ly with twenty and if he met the Admiral he might perhaps make him â—ear moâ—e and in this fury he would have left the Court if the King had not laid an expâ—ess commaâ—d upoâ— him to stay After which new exasperations Andelot seâ—king all â—ccasâ—oâ—s of new sâ—â—â—dals publickly charged the Duke of Aumale in the Council that he had set one Captain Attin to murther him to which the Duke replyed with great shew of resentment It was necessary to lay hold of Attin who not being found culpable in any thing was at last released Both parties ceased not mutually to persecute each other both in words and deeds each of them accusing their adversaries that they went about to raise men and had an intent to disturb the quiet of the Kingdom Which though diligently inquired into proving but vain surmises at length it was thought the best way to continue the peace that the Lords of both parties should absent themselves from the Court where daily new occasions arising of conâ—estation between them the things already quieted were disturbed and subverted To this end and to give example to the rest the Constable with the Mareshal d'Anâ—ille his Son taking publick leave of the King and the Queen went to their Castles in the Isle of France So the great Lords following the same resolution within a few days after they all departed and particularly the Prince and the Admiral went severally to their own houses and the Duke of Aumale being left Heir to Madam Valentine his Mother-in-law who died about that time retired himself to Anet a place of pleasure which she had built There remained at the Court only the Cardinal of Lorain whom the King imployed in all businesses of importance and the Mareshal Momorâ—â—cy whose Government of Paris the Queen meant by some slight or other to take away that so powerful a people might not be under the command of a person that was inclined to innovations and that the chief support of the Kings Authority for the present might be put into such hands as depended absolutely upon himself At this same time happened the distastes and departure of the Queen of Navarre from Court For sentence being given by the King against Frances de Rohan by which the contract of marriage between Her and the Duke of Nemours though subscribed by their own hands was made void and he having concluded to marry Anne d' Este Widow to the late Duke of Guise Queen Iane after infinite but vain attempts in favour of her Neece at the last just as they were Marrying in the Kings presence caused one whom she had hired with promise of Reward to interpose and make a Protestation in the name of Frances but he being taken and imprisoned without interruption of the Marriage and finding her designs took no effect equally offended withal thinking her self injured and despised she resolved to leave the Court and retire into Bearn designing in her mind to raise new and more dangerous troubles She took for occasion and pretence of her departure That she could not be suffered a free exercise of her Religion For the King being advertised by the Popes Nuncio and divers others of the great resort of persons of all sorts to her lodging to hear Hugonot Sermons and knowing the Parisians were greatly